9348. Settlers have put it to us that the question of the minimum rates is one of their principal grievances?— I am surprised to hear that. At the same time, I know that, say, a drill part can go by post for 2d., whereas by rail up to 250 miles, it costs 9d. In the Eastern States there is a minimum of 3d. on three pounds weight. Here we could have that rate up to a certain mileage, but after that the farmer has to pay a heavier rate according to the distance. Whilst, on the surface, there may appear to be cause for complaint, so far as our firm is concerned we have found, on going into the question, that the complaints are of a very trifling nature.

9349. By Mr. CLARKSON: Probably the absence of complaint is due to the fact that the settlers know that the railway charges added to the cost of machinery are inevitable?—Where possible our firm pre-pays all passenger rates. There might be more complaints against those firms through which these rates are paid at the other end. There is a much better rate when the amount is pre-paid. If, on investigation, it was found that there had been an overcharge, such overcharge would be refunded.

]9350. By Mr. PAYNTER: Do you think that the rates on, say, a harvester are fairly reasonable?— I would prefer not to go into that question. We, as a firm, are determined, owing to the opposition which was brought about, to relinquish that part of our trade. Our trade has mostly to do with small parts of machines which were supplied some time ago. (The witness retired.) _________________

HAROLD STEPHEN BICKFORD, Manager, George Wills & Co., sworn and examined:

9351. By the CHAIRMAN: During our tour of the country districts everywhere we had bitter complaints as to the railage charged on small consignments; from the experience of your staff do you consider the minimum charges on consignments of farm goods, machinery parts, and merchandise, are or are not high?-- I do not think they are high except where the railways stipulate the minimum charge. I will illustrate this by giving you instances where I think the minimum charges might be reduced. Take twine and oil. They are usually consigned together. To send two bales of twine, which weigh 1 cwt. 6 lbs. charged as 1 cwt. and a quarter, it works out at a railage of 6s. Take oil, 4 gals, and packing, weighs 40lbs, charged as 2 qrs., and at the rate prescribed it costs 3s.; whereas you get 1 cwt. twine for 6s. and 4 gals of oil for 3s. There is no doubt that when the railways made out their schedules they had in mind the weight. Take machinery: a cultivator weighing 10 cwt. 1 qr. goes as 1 ton, the freight for which is £3 15s. 9d. Another size cultivator weighs 9 cwt. 2 qrs., and is consigned as 10 cwt., which costs £1 17s. 11d. A chaffcutter, one class weighs 4 cwt. 2qrs. and is consigned as 5 cwt., the freight for which is 18s. 11d. No. 3 chaffcutter weighs 5 cwt. 1 qr. and is consigned as 10 cwt., the cost for which is £1 17s. 11d. There is a difference in freight of 19s. Sundries, such as bags, sacks, and woolsacks, railed to Wagin- 12 bales consigned as 4 tons, under "A" rate costs £4 2s. 8d. two bales, say, 13 cwt., costs £1 1s.; one bale as 10 cwt. costs 16s. 1d.; 5 cwt. as 10 cwt. would cost 16s. 1d., whereas 3 cwt. would cost 12s. 9d. The comparison is this: 12 bales costs £4 2s. 8d., two bales £1 1s., and one bale 16s. 1d., and on that two bales would cost 32s. 2d.; as you get smaller quantities it is a higher rate. The man who gets 3 cwt. pays 12s. 9d. In regard to superphosphates, there is a special rate for 5 tons to Wagin at £1 0s. 1d.; 1¼ tons at the "M" class rate would amount to 17s. 2d. If a man orders two bags, which would weigh 3 cwt., it would cost him 12s. 9d. In regard to small consignments of merchandise, generally the parcels rates are not excessive, except where the parcels go 100 miles or over exceed 14lbs.; when they just exceed this rate they are in consequence charged at the 28lbs. rate. The difference is to our minds too large. It should be reduced and we suggest that there should be a 21lb. rate. If parcels are sent freight forward then they are charged at 50 per cent more than the ordinary rate. We contend that this is a hardship on the merchants as it necessitates prepaying all parcels, consequently having to stand out of our money in some instances a considerable time. We consider that parcels should be forwarded to stations where there is an officer-in-charge, and he could collect the freight before delivering the parcels. We wish to point out that the goldfields express refuses to take parcels for stations this side of Merredin, and this is a great hardship on the farmers who require parts in harvesting season, and whose harvesting operations are probably at a standstill waiting for the duplicate parts to set their machines going again. While on the subject of railway rates, there is one great injustice farmers are subjected to in machinery. If a machine weighs anything over 10 cwt., say 10½ cwt., it is charged at 1 ton rate. Therefore a machine weighing 10½ cwt. costs twice as much as a machine weighing 9½ cwt., and we think it should be suggested that there should be a 5 cwt., a 10 cwt., a 15 cwt., and a 1 ton rate. I wish to stress the point of the goldfields express. We have know farmers who have wired down for duplicate parts and the goldfields express declining to take them.

9352. By Mr. PAYNTER: They will take them at double rates?-- They have declined to take them at all.

9353. This is important especially in view of the fact of the reduced train service?-- Yes.

9354. By the CHAIRMAN: Do you have any difficulty in adjusting the claims you make on the railways in what you think are errors in delivery and faults attributable to carelessness?-- Yes, but after much correspondence in most instances we arrive at a settlement.

9355. Do you think the establishment of an appeal court in connection with the railways, at which you could produce your complaint, and the railways could produce rebutting evidence, would be an advantage?-- Yes; at present the railways have the right to say yes or no.

9356. Reforms might be introduced to make for less friction?-- At country stations the officers are very willing to assist in rectifying errors and giving attention to our requests, but it is at the metropolitan end that the trouble exists.

9357. A cultivator weighing 9 cwt. 2 qrs. and another weighing 10 cwt. 1qr., occupy the same space in a truck?-- Yes, both would take a truck.

9358. By Mr. PAYNTER: They have no rate; they charge for the truck or the weight?-- Yes.