A Commercial and Financial One,

I would suggest that it—the commission—should consist of the Minister for Public Works, the Under-Secretary for Public Works, the General Manager of the New Zealand Railways, and one Commissioner to be appointed by each Chamber of Commerce in the Colony, but in districts where there are Pastoral or Agricultural Associations one of these to be joined with the Chamber of Commerce in selecting the Commission.

A Commission so appointed would be representative, competent, and as free as possible from political or outside influence, and we might reasonably expect a great deal of good to result from it.

In expressing a wish to have my proposals examined by such a Commission. I give the best guarantee possible of good faith, and of my thorough conviction of the soundness of my scheme. It has been before the public now for more than three years, and although it has been extensively discussed, so far there has not been even a decent attempt made to show that it is unsound. There has been plenty of abuse, plenty of "What does Mr. Vaile know?" "Where did he get his experience?" "It is simply ridiculous," etc., etc.; but not one iota of argument, no tact's, no figures, to prove me in the wrong, simply the gross misrepresentations and rude assertions of men who have neither the patience nor the ability to properly investigate the subject.

If the untruthful and contemptible document signed, "J. P. Maxwell," is all the united wisdom the Department can bring against it, I think it is quite time my plan was accorded a practical trial.

If I am right in my contention, a