that some wheat had gone in that had not been docked at all, and that a week or two afterwards I heard four or five farmers complaining of the amount docked, and they asked my opinion about it. 1210. Do you refer to dirty wheat or lightness of wheat?— More to dirty wheat. It is in barley, smut, and foreign matter. In the lightness of wheat there is a standard. only when stacking wheat like that we would have to use a proper tester. 1211. In regard to the stacks which you referred to in three of four places, being removed, was that done for the purpose of sampling or when taking the wheat away to the depots?— The contractor told me he was told to break it down in two or three places so that there would be no chance of its being kept there too long. 1212. Was it understood this year that the wheat was not going to be kept too long at the depot or sites but would be sent to the depots early?— It was the same thing every year. We never took any chances at all. We had to cover our stacks and we had to build the stacks to stand the test. 1213. This time then it was the exceptional circumstances. previously you had to undertake the shipping; you had to wait for ships. On this occasion there were depots and sites for the reception of wheat. Therefore, it was different from previously?— In regard to the bulk of the wheat I handled I do no think I got three telegrams during the whole of the time telling me to get it down to the sheds. 1214. That was the intention?— They cannot shift it. The State Railways are not capable of shifting the wheat sufficiently fast. 1215. You wre surprised, or perhaps you were aware of it, but it was understood this year all the wheat would be shifted from the sidings by about April?— No; not being in the business I only heard the contractors' remarks that they would have to get the wheat away early. 1216. in such circumstances, if there had to be depots such as is proposed for the purpose of holding the wheat, do you think Dreyfus & Co, would take the same care in stacking when they had no responsibility, and when the wheat was supposed to be sent to the depots earlier than under their own contract?— It is hard to say what a firm would do under the contract existing. 1217. Therefore, you cannot strike a comparison?— Certainly not. 1218. You made a statement that neglect had been shown, and I want to show that it was so?—In 1916 we were distinctly informed that no wheat would be held at certain stations and non-stacking stations, and my instructions were to build the stacks at the non-stacking stations as well as those at the stacking stations. 1219. Have you heard complaints from the farmers of the way the wheat was handled in your district this year compared with other years?—That is the hard question to answer. I am out of the business now, but I have heard it all the same. 1220. Has it been beneficial this year, or detrimental?— That I could not say; I have heard remarks both ways. Some say they carried out their duties well, and others say they did not like the way it was done. 1221. You stated that you did not think it was necessary to have an intermediate man. Do you think the Pool should take the entire control?— I am sure it should. They are bound to have some men there who are competent to manage their own firms, and therefore they would be competent to manage for the Government and control the Pool in the country.