Wheat (1) - Part 2

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If you go back to your work I think I can assure you that the Westralian farmers, Ltd., will act to the best of their ability in your interest." I also assured them that as far as I was concerned they would get a fair go. On the 21st May I got the following letter from the Westralian Farmers, Ltd.:— Dear Sir,—1916-17 season.—We are in receipt of your letter of the 17th inst., re railing our stack. We are very much surprised to learn from the Scheme to-day that they had received a quote from Lumper Quinn to do the whole work in connection with the cleaning up of the stack at 1½d. per bag. We are unaware as to how Mr Quinn came to send his quote to the Wheat Scheme. Probably you would be able to ascertain this from him. We wired you to-day as per confirmation herewith and are now awaiting your reply with some anxiety. Naturally, it would be with the greatest regret that we would pass your company in the matter, but we have already received definite instructions from the Scheme to accept Quinn's quote, and are delaying carrying out same pending receipt of your advices, which we trust to receive promptly. In two cases already contractors have not firmed on quotes made to Inspector Sabine, and we are wondering whether there has been any mistake in this instance. On receiving that letter I at once went to the lumpers and said, "There is evidently some cross work somewhere. I want you to be frank with me. We have worked all through the season and have come to the last stack. It is surely possible for us to work that stack through. I want you to say whether any of you have sent a quote to the Scheme for the removal of the stack." They were all there and assured me that no quote had been forwarded for the removal of the stack. I felt that some influence was at work somewhere, but it was difficult to ascertain exactly from which direction the cross current was coming. Inspector Sabine on the following day happened to be inspecting the line, and thinking that he would be able to throw some light on the position, I asked him if he was aware if there had been any quote sent in to the Scheme for the removal of the stack. He said he did not know anything about it. I then pressed the point and asked him to be frank with me. I said, "If you happen to know anything about this tall me what you know. Here am I removing the stack from this place, and apparently someone has come in and submitted a quote, or forwarded information to the Wheat Scheme, which is preventing me from getting the wheat handled in a satisfactory manner. Tell me exactly what is doing." he then said he did know something about it, inasmuch as he had received a statement from lumper Quinn. He went to the lumpers and asked them what they were getting for the removal of the stacks, and they said they were getting 1¼d. per bag, or 10s. 5d. per hundred bags. He asked them if they were content with that rate, and actually stated that the Scheme was paying 1½d. for the removal of the stack. That was true, but it was only a half truth in the way it was given, for we, the local company, were offered the removal of the stack at 1½d. The work was not for lumping only. That was to the company. The construction was naturally put upon it to the effect that we were trying to undercut the rate. Anyhow the lumpers said that 1¼d. was the amount they were getting, and he asked if they would commit that to writing. They replied in the affirmative, and stated in a letter, which was ultimately handed to the Scheme, that for removing the stack, and the roofing material and cleaning up the dunnage they were paid at the rate of 1¼d. per bag, which was quite true. Perhaps the following correspondence will clear up the matter from that point. I wrote on May 20th, 1918, to the Scheme— I have your wire reading "Scheme have quote from lumper Quinn to undertake all services our old stack penny halfpenny, etc., etc." There has, as you are already aware, been some trouble to keep the lumpers going at the old stacks, and I submitted their application for an additional farthing thinking there was a reasonable chance of its being granted. Quinn denies all knowledge of the tender made to the Scheme, and it is just possible there may be someone in Dumbleyung or elsewhere submitting this tender so as to further complicate matters. I would be obliged if you would ask to see the letter (or wire) wherein that tender was submitted, and if possible forward it to me. If Quinn submitted it, which he has a perfect right to do, I will then know how I stand. Should another party have done so, then in fairness to Quinn the doubt that at present exists would be dispelled. He asks me to get you to interview the Scheme on his behalf, and get all information possible. He had no idea at all about the statement he had made to the Scheme being considered in the form of a tender. Meanwhile I have been successful in getting the lumping commenced on the old stack on the promise that you will do your utmost to get them the increased price. Trusting that they will find that this confidence in you will not be misplaced, and that success will attend your efforts. Yours faithfully,—E. Brewis. Then I got a wire from the Westralian Farmers, dated 21st May: If Quinn denies all knowledge tender, get him wire us accordingly. Do not break into stack pending our definite instructions. Scheme say you only paying ten shillings sixpence hundred to lumpers. At the time I got this wire I had broken into the stack. I took the responsibility on myself of commencing loading so as not to delay the work, and not to give cause for complaint to the Railway Department in connection with the railage. I replied as follows:— Quinn denies all knowledge tender. penny three farthings our price. Lumpers commenced removing stack on my assurance you do utmost obtain increased price. Wire urgent. I then went to Quinn and asked him to wire them definitely that he had not signed any tender. Accordingly he sent the following telegram on the 21st May:— No tender sent Wheat Scheme by me. Signed Quinn. Quinn had received a letter direct from Mr Keys. It is contained in this letter, which outlines the whole of the business in connection with the trouble with the lumpers. On the 22nd May I wrote the following letter:— Sir,—1916-17 wheat.—I am now able to give you the particulars regarding the grievance of the Dumbleyung lumpers in regard to the removal of the Westralian Farmers' stack. As you know we have been receiving 1½d. per bag from the Wheat Scheme, and 1¼d. of this has been going to the men. They then made an application for an additional ¼d. on this stack, seeing that it was in a worse state than the others. This I recommended to you and asked for an additional farthing, all of which would have gone to the lumpers, our commission, viz., ¼d. per bag, remaining the same. Some fourteen days ago Mr. Sabine was at Dumbleyung and he questioned the lumpers as to the rate they were receiving, and they informed him they were receiving 10s. 6d. per hundred bags, which included removing the roof, cleaning up the site, and stacking dunnage. He asked them to state that in writing, which they did, and Sabine handed the letter to the Wheat Scheme authorities. On your making the application for 1¾d. bag on this stack, they informed you that there was already a tender in for 1½d. from Quinn. That was quite untrue. What was before them was a statement that they, the lumpers, were receiving 10s. 6d. per hundred, and with which they were dissatisfied. After receiving this letter and whilst bargaining with you about the price to be paid, this letter was forwarded to the lumpers:—"May 20th, 1918. Mr Frank Quinn, Dumbleyung. Dear Sir,—Dumbleyung 1916-17 stacks. Your letter undated to Mr. Sabine has been handed to me. We not you are only receiving 10s. 6d. per hundred bags, and we