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Wheat (1) - Part 2
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3909. By Mr. HARRISON: With regard to dockages, do you think it would have been better if they had had a running sample at the receiving centre?—It would be better for the farmer. 3910. How could you administer it?—Supposing a farmer brings in a load of wheat, anything from 10 up to 50 or 60 bags, he might have a bag practically of oats in that, and if you take the average bags you have to accept that bag of oats as wheat. Going strictly on the dockage system 50 bags of prime wheat would almost carry a bag of oats. I say almost, it would go closely to it. 3911. Would it not be wrong to the Scheme?—It would be better for the farmer. 3912. Could it be administered?—You have to take samples from each load and keep them?—You could not treat the farmers' consignments on that basis. 3913. Was it not at the farmers' request to have a running sample of the whole of the crop?—Yes. 3914. But could the administer it?—No. Each sub-agent would have to have a staff of clerks. 3915. Would there be any danger of the samples getting mixed?—I think great danger. 3916. You think the thing impracticable?—Absolutely. 3917. It is quite a different matter to have a running sample at the receiving depots?—No. 3918. Equally with the other?—Yes. you have no chance of checking a man if you have a running sample. 3919. What is the Scheme's proposal to have a running sample at the depot?—No. 3920. It is in the agreement?—Yes. 3921. By Mr. BROWN: In regard to buying by weight, speculators would always take a bad sample?—Always. 3922. And they do the same for their agents?—Yes. 3923. By the CHAIRMAN: When they receive from their agents. 3924. by Hon. J. F. ALLEN: If the running sample was not the proposition of the Scheme, whose was it?—That is getting into the history of the agreement. To put it briefly, the first quotation in regard to this year's agreement was sent in by the old agents excluding the Westralian Farmers. They put down a number of conditions as a basis for argument. It was then suggested that there should be a running sample. 3925. So that the suggestion came from the old agents?—Yes. When the scheme got that letter, so as to get a quotation from the Westralian Farmers on the same basis, they asked them to quote and gave them the conditions suggested by the other agents. That was contained in a letter which Mr. Murray refers to as the famous letter of 23rd August. The Westralian Farmers knew that the conditions were imposed by the old shippers and was put in for them to quote on. When it came to the agreement it appeared there was rather a doubt which claim they would quote on. I referred the matter to Mr. Sayer and he said their quotation was not based on the letter of the 23rd August. It came down to a few matters and we gave way on the point. The Westralian Farmers knew all along the reasons attached to the letter, and when it came to the finish, they took it to James & Darbyshire. The Scheme were not quite as businesslike as they might have been. The Westralian Farmers said, "Here is a golden opportunity to catch something." 3926. by the CHAIRMAN: That is the only opportunity they had?—There was another quotation put in by the agents which also contained conditions, and when that was sent to the Westralian Farmers the Scheme did not send the conditions on. 3927. Then they tendered on the letter of the 23rd August?—Yes, and they said the second quotation was on the same basis. They specially mentioned the letter on which they accepted the conditions they were to ship the wheat. 3928. They were accepted on the price submitted by the Minister. The same price was sent to the Westralian Farmers. The other agents were written to asking to accept on certain conditions competing at the various sidings, which they did not do, nut the Westralian Farmers accepted it at the time, but, according to previous letters, and I think one afterwards, it was based on the condition set out in the letter of the 23rd August?—The letter of the 23rd August was not mentioned about the date the conditions were disposed of. 3929. What were the other conditions?—No conditions were signed. 3930. If they made up a price?—The services were set out in a fresh letter. 3931. By Mr. HARRISON: Is the letter you refer to about having the sole agency?—I think that was the letter of the 12th October. 3932. By the CHAIRMAN: You stated just now that Mr. Sayer was of opinion that the conditions set out in the letter of the 23rd August did not apply?—Yes. 3933. I suppose you are aware that he concurred with the Attorney General?—I am quite aware of it; he changed his opinion apparently. 3934. if it would apply as far as a running sample was concerned, it would also apply as to shipping?—It could apply as to shipping but the shipment of the wheat does not mean anything. I do not know what it means in that agreement. 3935. No doubt it was meant as previously?— They are not handling it as previously. 3936. You had a separate amount for shipment previously?—No, it was included in the total services. 3937. If it had not taken place then they would. They verbally agreed to waive it, but afterwards they twisted on it. We had the wheat now at Midland Junction depot; we load it, send it to Fremantle Harbour Trust do all the slinging and private companies provide the stevedores. The only work done by the agent is the tallying of the wheat. 3938. Would they make a good profit on the tallying?—Depends on the price they got it at. No amount is stipulated. 3939. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: That is why you say it has no meaning to you?—That is so. I wrote a minute to the Minister in regard to the shipping. 3940. By Mr. HARRISON: Do you believe in the system dockage?—Yes. It is the only wheat at the present time can get any compensation. Say you are a farmer delivering wheat which is 63lbs. to the Imperial bushel. You cannot get any premium on that, but the man who delivers under 59lbs. is docked, and if that dockage is not imposed at the port of discharge and the Scheme make a profit, you get a portion of it. If you do not dock it, you as a farmer delivering clean wheat would say that you were not going to clean it. It would not be a business proposition to receive wheat unless it was docked. 3941. What would be the position if you did not have dockage when you received inferior wheat?—We would be receiving inferior wheat from farmers and paying full price for it, and probably on selling some of it would realise 1s. a bushel less than the price. 3942. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: It would have a tendency to make farmers dishonest?—You might have them stripping dirty spots in their paddocks. Docking is essential for good farming. 3943. By Mr. HARRISON: Have you got the particulars of the dockage at Spencer's Brook for this season?—I have never had them worked out, but I can get them for you. 3944. You as a manager of the Scheme would have no knowledge of the dockages of the sub-agents?—We know what the dockages on the certificates are/ 3945. Then you could make a comparison between the sub-agents' dockages and yours?—Yes. 3946. This dockage business has been one of the chief causes of complaint?—Yes. When it was first standardised we had great trouble. We had a deputation to the Minister about it. The position was not helped at all by some of the officials of the Westralian Farmers, Ltd., Mr. Murray said that the single bag system of sampling wheat was preposterous, and Western Australia was the only place in the world where such a thing was done. As a matter of fact the system has been in vogue in Australia ever since wheat has been delivered here. of course, Mr. Murray did not know
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