File #105253: "Image 61"

Image 61

1453. If a farthing per bushel could be saved to the farmer instead of going to a company , you would be prepared to save it ? — That farthing per bushel really comes back to the farmer. Over the cost of the wheat it is not a great matter. I believe the majority of the wheat growers are shareholders in the Westralian Farmers. 1454. Is it not a limited company ? — Yes. 1455. By Mr.HARRISON : I understand the Westralian Farmers Ltd. now claim to be truly co-operative? — Yes. 1456. Is it a fact that a person putting either sales or purchases through that company, whether he be a shareholder or not , derives a benefit from the gross returns of his trade? — I believe it is a fact , but I believe his first pound would have to go towards a share . After that he would get his distribution. 1457. Then he automatically becomes a shareholder? — It is possible for him to become automatically a shareholder. 1458. For that reason you think the Westralian Farmers is a co-operative concern? — I do not think you will find anything more truly co-operative in the Commonwealth , if you examine the Articles of Association. (The Witness retired)

THOMAS SYDNEY JOHN HALL,Secretary State Wheat Marketing Scheme , sworn and exmined:

1459. By  the CHAIRMAN : I believe you are about to give us a statement in regard to the subject of this Commission's inquiry? The main criticism against the Scheme seems to have started towards the end of 1917,when important decisions were made by the Minister in control , which were strongly conceived to be in the interests of the Pool and of the State. The apparent grounds for criticism are: 1, The monopoly to Dalgety & Co. of the selling agency of inferior wheat the objections being raised mostly by other produce merchants and the Wetralian Farmers Ltd. 2,The construction of wheat depots instead of silos , the objectors in this instance appearing to be the Westralian Farmers , the Farmers' and Settlers ' Association and the local co-operative societies. 3, The alteration of the personnel of the Advisory Committee and the subsequent resignation of Mr. Hammond. Mr Bickford retired at that time. Mr. Sibbald also resigned on the day the new advisory Board were appointed , but that is merely a coincidence. 4, The demand for an independent executive board ; that being raised by the Farmers and Settlers Association and the Perth Chamber of Commerce to the Minister in Control. 5,The demand for a special independent audit , or what we regard as a roving commission which was made by the Farmers and Settlers executive and the Perth Chamber of commerce. 6, The non-acceptance of the four old mercantile firms as wheat acquiring agents — Dalgety , Dreyfus , Bell and Darling, from whom the objection came. 7,The monopoly of acquisition by the Wetralian Farmers , the objectors to this being the sub-agents of the old firms and the opponents of the co-operative movement.8 , The millers's gristing arrangements the principal objectors in this instance being the executive of the Farmers and settlers Association . 9, Objectors raised by the Wetralian Farmers to the proposed appointment of Mr.Keys as general manager. 10, The scale of dockages for inferiority the objectors being farmers and Settlers Association and the Wetralian Farmers Ltd. 11, Equitable payment to old agents for uncompleted services relative to the 1916-17 crop on the 31st December. 1917 , their stacks being then taken over by the Scheme. The objectors were the Framers and Settlers Association. 12, Maladministration by the present general manager which is alleged by the Wetralian Farmers. 13, The price of inferior wheat sold to poultry farmers.14, The storage charges amounting to £12,000 per year, paid to the Fremantle Harbour Trust ; the objectors being the Framers and Settlers Association. 15, Personal , but undefined objections against the Minister in control. I am placing most of the files in connection with the above matters before the Commission. I can if desired have a precis prepared of each cause of complaint that the Commission desire to investigate specially. It is impossible for officers to remember on the spur of the moment all the reasons — and perhaps vital ones — actuating certain decisions given some time ago.In most cases the files will show the Schemes standard point. If there are any omissions they can probably be filled in or explained by the individual officers who dealt in detail with them at the time. With regard to Mr. Hammond's complaints , it is assumed that Mr.Hammond's objective to the Scheme so far as the executive officers are concerned , date only from about the middle of 1917.They refer particularly to the accounts. His individual charges will be answered by the present accountant ( Mr.Child). In the meantime I would just like to say that with regard to any of the fortnightly financial returns submitted to the Committee, full verbal information and explanations were always available either at or after the meetings. Each member knew this. Very seldom was this opportunity availed of by Mr. Hammond , particularly during Mr. Sibbald's regime. Mr.Baxter has asked me to supply further details in connection with some of the questions put to him by the Commission. These are referred to in your secretary's memorandum of the 4th inst. I am able to answer some of the questions. There are however , one or two that should , I suggest , be answered by  the general Manager (Mr. Keys) when he gives his evidence. They refer more particularly to the period of his management. Follow-up questions in that case can be answered by him with more satisfaction to the Commission. Question 405 dealing with gristing books  and millers—the reasons, so far as they can be ascertained for the refusal by mills to allow their gristing books to be examined by the Scheme's officers are twofold. Some of the millers considered that the information disclosed therein might be availed of by Mr.Sibbald for the use of Thomas & Coy., when he returned to that company at Northam mill after the expiry of his term as  manager of the Scheme; secondly , under the Imperial flour order , millers were to supply 70 per cent of flour extraction and one of the biggest mills was making a larger extraction and evidently did not desire this to be verified from the mill's own figures as disclosed in the gristing book, if trouble should arise at either the port of shipment or port of discharge. This particular miller evidently considered that his flour, no matter how obtained or what extraction it represented. would pass any ordinary teat. Some of the other mills, due perhaps to a sense of loyalty to a fellow member of their association , stood behind him in his attitude and refused their gristing book also. This of course does not obtained now that the mills grist for the Scheme. Question 449— The following 1915-16 reconditioning claims have either been settled , or substantial amounts have been paid on account: — Bell & co.,  £4,959; Bell & Co ., Kumminin dump , on account  £600 ; Darling & Sons ,  £4,217 ; Dreyfus & Co .,  £8,062; Dalgety & Co., Ltd., on account  £600; and the Westralian Farmers , on account ,  £ 2,742. Question 417 — The expenditure incurred on the reconditioning sheds and plant at Fremantle is £1,756. Question 510 - There were no notes taken of the inerview that the Minister had with the Westralian Farmers , Limited's , representatives on the 27th August , 1917 , if , indeed, the meeting actually occured on that date. Many appointments were made but few were kept at that period. Question 528- regarding the 1917-18 agents - The telegram sent to Mr.Gregory at the Australian Wheat Board Conference in Melbourne was in the nature of a warning as the Scheme had ascertained that there was a likehood of there being a concerted attempt who had been refused business in Western Australia to move the Melbourne Board to pass a resolution which would have the effect of stultifying. If not nullifving, the appointment of the Westralian Farmers Ltd.  as sole acquiring agents in Western Australia . Question 537 and 541 - with regard to the deputation from the shipper agents that waited on Mr.Baxter on the 2nd November , 1917 , no further note except that appearing on the Westralian Framers' file

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