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Wheat (1) - Part 2
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Wheat (1) - Part 2
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Scheme would agree to them. However, we always like to put in one or two things on which we can give way. 3996. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: In any future agreement you would insist on bag sample?—My advice to the Minister would be to insist on that. 3998. But you as manager of the Scheme would insist on that?—Yes. It could not the run any other way. 3999. By Mr. HARRISON: Do you remember a letter mentioned by Mr. Murray in which you made some suggestions to a farmer complaining about the dockage he had received?—Yes, a farmer up Kununoppin way. 4000. You advised that he should mix his wheat to escape the dockage?—I told him there were two courses open to him—either to have mixed the wheat in bulk, or to have worked off an odd bag. Mr. Murray seemed to think that was shocking advice to give a farmer; but it is the very thing we are trying to bring about, the trading of wheat. The grading of wheat is only the mixing of wheat. The next question I have noted is No. 1716 of Mr. Hall's evidence. 4001. By the CHAIRMAN: That is a question dealing with the taking over of the wheat from the agents in 1917. How were you able to find out that the quantity claimed to be there was in fact there?—There was only one way to find that out, and that was to take the wheat away and weigh it. We had to accept it as being correct. 4002. Correct as stated by the agents?—That is so. 4003. So that any shortage arising from carelessness the Scheme has had any to pay for?—Where we could not prove it. But the only way we could prove any shortage was to take away the whole of the stack and weigh it; and that was an impossibility. 4004. So nothing was done to see that the wheat was not damaged owing to neglect on the part of the agents?—There was an inspector who went round part of the district in December, when I was appointed. But one of the main faults of the past has been that there has not been enough inspection of agents' work, and the Scheme have not been able to check anything at all. The agents' books were all closely examined to see that the quantities they represented as being in the stacks were in the stacks. 4005. By Mr. HARRISON: How often do your inspectors visit those stacks in the country during the period or receipt?—I do not know what has been done in the past, but this season we have had only two inspectors constantly on the work, with a couple of other inspectors occasionally in the district. I suppose there would be about an average interval of three weeks. Some of the sidings, on a main line, would be visited more frequently. 4006. The rule is to ask the agent how many bags he has received?—We have not been checking quantities this year. We check it at the depots now as we receive it. 4007. The only way of assessing the quantities in the stack is by taking the square of the stack?—To count the particular stack. If a stack is properly built you ought to count it within a few bags. 4008. By the CHAIRMAN: It was understood this wheat was likely to be shipped in August, 1916-17, and there was not likely to be much greater loss than in 1915-16?—In regard to the neglect by the agents? 4009. Yes, it would not be vary much?—In 1915-16 we had trouble with mice that amounted to a plague, whereas in 1916-17 the mice trouble was hardly noticeable. 4010. Therefore, there were better conditions in 1916-17 than 1915-16?—Yes. 4011. You will not be able to tell us that until the final clean up?—That is so. 4012. What is your next question?—Question to Mr. Hall 1767. 4013. That is dealing with the inferior wheat and the fixing of the price?—I can bring that in when I am dealing with the question of inferior wheat. 4014. What is the next?—Question 1786. 4015. That is dealing with Harbour Trust charges?—Yes. 4016. Are you going to deal with that later on or now?—I prefer to deal with that later on as there is a lot of involved matter and some figures which I wish to look up and which I have not ready at the present moment. That is all the questions put to Mr. Baxter and Mr. Hall. I have some which were put to Mr. McGibbon. (The witness retired.) The Commission adjourned.
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