Wheat (2)

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would be effective. It is recorded, however, that these solutions, on being tried, were found to be ineffective, as it was not practicable to treat completely the whole of the truck. Steaming the trucks has also been tried, but without success. The plan of reserving certain trucks for the purpose of conveying weevilly wheat has been suggested, but is considered impossible of application by the railway authorities. Mr. A. F. Pearse, since his return from the Easten states, has devoted considerable time to devising a method whereby railway trucks could be heated to a temperature sufficiently high to destroy the weevils in them. His endeavours, however, have not yet met with success. It will be seen that the practical solution of the problem is a matter of extreme difficulty. Its difficulty is illustrated by Mr. Newman in a report dated the 11th July last, in the course of which he states:—

The question re the prevention of the carriage of weevils per medium of railway rolling stock and the treatment of same by some cheap and effective process, has been exercsing my mind for some time. The same problem exists in the Eastern States, but so far no solution of the difficulty has been discovered.

This goes to show that the matter has certainly not been treated apathetically, but in a serious and sincere manner. Now I would like to deal with the question of combating the weevil generally in stacks, and quite apart from railway trucks. I raise this matter because of the answer given by Mr. Newman to Question 8360.—

The position, then, is that we have an insect which was destroying wheat and fruit, and is likely to attack the harvest shortly to be garnered, and that no attempt whatever has been made to destroy this pest?—Practically none, except gristing, and the reconditioning which is being done at Fremantle.

The only conclusion I can come to regarding Mr. Newman's answer is that he must have misunderstood the question; his answer is certainly not in accordance with the facts. Not only has something been attempted, but a good deal has been done.

8464. You might tell us now what has been done. Never mind Mr. Newman. We have been unable to discover that anything has been done?—It is for that reason that I have asked to appear before you. I have something here to show what has been done. Mr. Newman and myself were associated as far back as September of 1911 in connection with combating the weevil est. At that time, upon the request of the Agricultural Department, made on Mr. Newman's recommendation, the Fremantle Harbour Trust covered the floors of their sheds with an asphalt called Neuchatel, and arranged to clean and disinfect the sheds before the commencement of the wheat shipping season. In the same year, at my request, Mr. Newman kept in touch with the progress of the work, which, on its completion on the 11th December, 1912, Mr. Newman was able to assure us was as perfect as was possible to get it. During the same year, at my request, a consignment of weevil infested wheat from Geraldton was prevented from being taken to the wheat shed at Fremantle; and the introduction of weevils from that source was thus prevented. The name of the boat which brought that wheat is, I believe, the "Kurnalpi." During the first year of the Wheat Scheme, in October of 1916, Mr. Newman, at my request, visited the Fremantle stacks in company with Mr. Inspector Paton, for the purpose of reporting on the presence of weevil in the stacks, and on the best means of dealing with the pest. In December, 1916, the same year, the presence of the lesser grain borer at Fremantle was reported by Mr. Newman. In conjunction with that officer, drastic steps were taken, and every effort at extermination was made. Since initiation of the Wheat Scheme, the menace of the weevil trouble has never been lost sight of, but every practical method of dealing with it has been adopted. In addition to what has been done to combat the evil as regards railway trucks, other extensive action has already been taken. Inquiries have been made re the merits of heating appliances for destruction of weevils. Inquiries have been made regarding practical methods of making carbon dioxide cheaply from combustion products in the country districts. Experiments have been made with sulphur; these proved a failure. Experiments have been made with vacuum cleaning; these likewise proved a failure. Trials have been made with Prof. Lefroy's deterrent methods. There has been a thorough cleaning of "J" shed to exterminate the lesser grain borer. There was also the establishment of depots in the country rather than the accumulation of wheat at the seaboards; the distribution of quick lime around the foot of the stacks at all depots; the publication in the Press of Mr. Newman's report of the results of the experiments showing that wheat was weevil free when stripped; the adoption of sand traps, and the destruction of weevils caught in them; special agreement with millers to grist weevilly wheat and consequent concentration upon the wheat of this character; the thorough disinfection of stacking sites and dunnage; the use of double floors at depots; the decision to truck no weevilly wheat whilst new season's wheat was being handled so far as such procedure was practicable.

8465. When was that decided on?—I cannot tell you without looking up the date.

8466. Last year all the weevilly wheat was being trucked at the same time. Are these all this year's decisions?—Oh no.

8467. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: Most of these decisions you have been quoting are in connection with the coming harvest?—No. I am pointing out that there has been a continuous attempt to combat the pest.

8468. By the CHAIRMAN: In 1911 when the wheat was cleared out of the Fremantle sheds you though those sheds were clean?—Yes, we thought they were clean on the advice Mr. Newman gave us.

8469. Never mind about Mr. Newman's advice; you thought they were clean?—Mr. Newman is the man who examined them.

8470. I examined them myself at that time and could not see any sign of weevil?—My. Newman's report at that time was that the sheds were as clean as we could get them. I have no reason to doubt that. What I am trying to make out is that in the first place the weevil problem is a difficult one, and that it has been receiving continuous attention. All reasonable remedies have been tries, and every practical method adopted.

8471. That is so far as you are aware?—Yes, so far as we are aware.

8472. Not we; I am asking you?—Yes, so far as I am aware.

8473. You said that so far as you were concerned the plans prepared and the suggestions made by Mr. Newman were passed on the Advisory Board on the day you got them?—I believe that is so.

8474. Mr. Newman said in his evidence that the report and the plans were submitted to the Commissioner for the Wheat Belt on the 24th September, since when he had heard nothing officially about the matter, and that he could not say whether or not the Public Works Department had the report and plans?—There are certain things which are not recorded on the file, but I have placed the whole position as it occurred before the Commission.

8475. Mr. Newman gave evidence on oath, and when he stated he was not aware whether the Public Works Department had received his plans and reports he was saying what was correct?—I am not suggesting that he said anything which was not correct.

8476. It is rumoured that Mr. Newman has been taken to task over the evidence which he gave here; if that is so it is a serious matter?—Mr. Newman has not been taken to task by me. I asked him why he did not inform me about what he regarded as a delay in dealing with his proposals, because he must have known that I was interested in the matter.

8477. You stated just now that you were away in the country for a time, and that when you came back to town Mr. Newman was away?—I stated that between the 8th October and 2nd November I had seen Mr. Newman on at least two occasions, and that he did not refer to the matter on either of those occasions, and then when I asked him why he had not done so he replied that I was away for a fortnight, and then on the other occasions when I was in town he happened to be away.

8478. And you added the words "which he did not state"?—I do not think I said that. If I did I had no intention of saying so. As a matter of fact I do not know whether he said so or not.