the grape and currant growers of the Swan. When we took them on first they simply graded them by hand. We have been successful with the currant business. To-day we are shipping ten tons of currants, on account of Mr. Lennard, to Winnipeg, in Canada.

9458. Is there much currant growing here? — It is going to be an enormous industry. The people who are growing table grapes will now turn their attention to currants. The price we are getting is 61/4d., and that is above the Renmark price. The Dried Fruits Association of Renmark, through Wood, Son and Company tried to work in with us and we could not help ourselves. They bought the biggest lot of our currants, but as soon as they got hold of the currants, up went the price because we were their chief competitor, but the growers got a better price this year .We have the fruit here, and it is a question as to whether the plant which we have is in the right place, that is in Perth. Our experience teaches us that it should be in Guildford .We grade and pack the fruit, and our grading has been accepted by the Dried Fruits Association.

9459. We are importing currants at the same time as we are exporting them? —Of course the wholesale people have arrangements with the Eastern houses.

9460. By the CHAIRMAN: What is the price of Renmark currants? —It started at 5 3/4d., but it has gone up to 6 1/4d.

9461. Is it accidental that you are getting a market in Winnipeg? —It is through agents here who are looking out for currants. Most people are surprised at what we are doing. According to the Press, it would appear that we are doing nothing. Our idea was eventually to start evaporating plants in every centre that wanted them.

9462. By Mr. VENN: What district do you think is best suited for currants? —You need never get away from the Swan —out at Caversham.

9463. What yield do they get per acre of currants? —I could not say.

9464. By the CHAIRMAN: What evaporation is done now? —The growers do it themselves. I suppose 100 tons of currants were grown this year on the Swan.

9465. Have any peaches or apples been treated? —Very few. Gus Sharpe and Preson are about the only persons who are doing anything. Mr Sharpe evaporates most of his crop. Apples have to be very cheap to pay to evaporate.

(The witness retired.)

TASMAN NELSON, Produce Salesman, Perth, sworn and examined.

9466. By the CHAIRMAN: What is the nature of the business you carry on? —I sell poultry, eggs, carcase meat and dairy produce. We have been established for eight years.

9467. Do you find that the supply of your lines is increasing? —Yes. At this time of the year poultry is very plentiful; it is always plentiful between March and July. Eggs are also increasing in numbers. Carcass meat is also increasing. We draw our supplies from pretty well all over the country. Pork comes from all the piggeries around the town.

9468. Have you any competitors in your particular line? —No.

9469. What rate of commission do you charge? —Five percent. Some get weekly terms and others pay cash.

9470. Is the railway transport satisfactory or otherwise? —Delivery is very bad. Stuff comes through to Perth all right, but in the yards it is all messed up. I have no complaint except in regard to the delivery in the yards. For instance, meat that should be in and sold on Friday morning , very often does not arrive until 11 or 12 o'clock, when it should be disposed of by 9 o'clock. Last Friday some meat from Serpentine, instead of arriving at 3 o'clock in the morning, arrived at 7. The chief trouble is that they will not put enough men on to give delivery early in the morning. Last week my carrier reported to me that there were only four men to load nine lorries.

9471. Is most of your stuff sold for metropolitan consumption? —Yes.

9472. Are you in favour of the creation of a central market in Perth, where all classes of produce could be sold under the one cover, with refrigerating and railway accommodation? —A central market would not affect me because I am fortunate enough to have a good central stand.

9473. You recognise that the suburban distributors want to get a certain amount of stuff to take round to their clients? —At the present time I do practically all this; I suppose I handle 80 percent of the eggs. From the experience we have had from Government control of markets, they would cripple the concern by the rents they would charge.

9474. The proposal is for the local authorities to undertake the establishment of markets? —I recognise it woudl be a good idea, if they did the thing reasonably. People handling lines on a 5 percent basis cannot pay exorbitant rents.

9475. Do you get much local butter in for sale? —During the winter there is a fair quantity, perhaps a couple of hundred lbs. every Friday; that is increasing a bit now. Some of it is very good and sells readily. We get 1s. 8d. and 1s 8 1/2d. per lb. for it, and it is generally bought by hotels and cafes. Some of the retail people will also pay more for local butter. It certainly holds its own, provided the quality is good.

9476. By Mr. VENN: Is the bacon you sell farm cured? —It is Northam cured.

9477. Do you get any home made? —No

9478.By the CHAIRMAN: Are you selling much from Northam? —We get 12 or 18 sides every Friday. The price runs from 9 3/4d. to 10 1/4d. The bacon is improving. It looks much better than it did when they started sending it down. Of course, it has not the appearance of Hutton's bacon, but it is very good. It is purchased by butchers. restaurants, and hotels, and also by some private people.

9479. Are Foy & Gibson's and Boan's represented at your markets? —Yes, but they do not handle that stuff. They will, however, presently. Being a local article, I suppose they think it is not so good.

9480. By Mr. VENN: You sell a lot of veal too; do any heifer calves come in? —Yes, a good percentage.

9481. By Mr. PAYNTER: Do you have much meat condemned? —Very little at this time of the year, but in summer we get some condemned through faulty packing. I have not had any condemned for disease for some time. Everything we sell is inspected by the officers of the Health Department.