Wheat (1) - Part 3

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4720. Do you know the cost of malthoid as compared with timber?—No. In South Australia they have been putting malthoid on some of their sheds, over a solid timber roof.

4721. By Mr. HARRISON: Do the specifications of sheds come before you before they are finalised?—Yes. I see the specifications. Not that I pass judgement on the size of the timber or anything like that.

4722. Is it correct that this year half-inch boards, overlapping the joints, are being used for the bottoms of the sheds?—That is proposed.

4723. Do you think that will make a good proposition?—It would make the floor grain proof.

4724. Will it not be more expensive than larger sized timber, chamfered half an inch and a little more and a smooth bottom?—We went into the question of a tongued and grooved floor, but we think green timber would shrink and would prove useless. Wheat would get through.

4725. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: With regard to weevil, have you visited the stacks at Goulburn and Orange, New South Wales?—No.

4726. Has there ever been an investigation whether weevil is brought here in the new bags?—No.

4727. Is it likely that the weevil may be brought thus, seeing that the bags come from weevil-infested country?—It is possible, but not likely. I do not know where the jute is grown. The jute might not be grown where the wheat is grown. For instance, jute is shipped form Calcutta, and I do not think any wheat is shipped from Calcutta. Karachi is one of the main wheat shipping ports.

4728. But the weevil might be brought in the vessels?—That is so. The source of infection from new bags would be small at the present time as compared with other sources of infection.

4729. As far as you know, the weevil is not native to Australia, but is an imported pest?—I would not like to venture an opinion offhand. The weevil has been with us for years, though not so extensively as now, because previously we have never had the same quantity of food for it.

4730. By the CHAIRMAN: Regarding the statement you handed in to-day, I see you say "Estimated cost for issuing certificates for ten million bushel requirements." It pans out about the same as the contract this year for issuing certificates?—Practically the same. We pay the Westralian Farmers, Ltd., a farthing for issuing certificates, and then, of course , we pay them a farthing for profit, and an eighth of a penny for checking at the depots, which is work we do ourselves now and would not have to do over again.

4731. You have cut that out altogether?—Yes. We shall save that service.

4732. That is the work which the Westralian Farmers have girls doing at the present time?—Yes.

4733. In other words, you are paying an eighth of a penny now for the girls checking your check?—That is the position.

4734. Or the Westralian Farmers are being paid an eighth of a penny for nothing?—For very little. They had a man at each depot. The whole lot might cost them £1,000 for the year.

4735. You do not think that is necesary?—No, because we are doing it ourselves now, and if we were issuing certificates we naturally would not check ourselves; the one check would do.

4736. I notice you say, "For wheat received from farmers, put in stack, thence into trucks and consigned to Minister's order, one penny per bushel." That means weighing and sampling?—That is so.

4737. By Mr. BROWN: In the 1918-19 conditions that you are inviting tenders for, did the Minister approve of those conditions?—The Minister was at the meeting of the Advisory Committee at which the conditions were gone into. He did not say if he approved or otherwise.

4738. The Minister wrote to you as manager and stated the services and conditions on which they are to be invited to quote should be specifically stated. Was that done?—In regard to the letter sent to the agents, we sent them a copy of the agreement and asked them to fill it in.

4739. That was Mr. Baxter's orders?—That would meet his wishes.

4740. In the communication to the various firms, did you ask for suggestions for alternative proposals?—No, I do not think we did; I think we asked for the quotation on this line by a certain date.

4741. And since then you have extended it for a fortnight?—Yes.

4742. You wrote to the Westralian Farmers telling them among other things that any alternative propositions that they might desire might be sent in?—That is so.

4743. Did you write a similar letter to the other agents?—No.

4744. By the CHAIRMAN: Why was that distinction made?—We were replying to a letter from the Westralian Farmers.

4745. By Mr. BROWN: It left it optional for them to send in anything that the other agents had not been asked to do?—The other agents can send in alternative proposals.

4746. But you asked them to quote on the conditions sent out?—We asked to have the quotation by a specified date.

4747. Does the Scheme know exactly what services they require from the acquiring agents?—Yes.

4748. Could not these conditions be sent out without alternative proposals being made or asked for?—The Minister might decide to accept some alternative suggestions.

4749. It was largely due to that condition that the trouble arose last year and there was a misunderstanding?—I cannot say from the Minister's point of view there was any misunderstanding.

4750. One set of people thought one thing and another set of people thought differently. When you were appointed, were any specific duties set out for you as manager?—A letter was sent to me pointing out the contracts current.

4751. As manager you were controlling the Scheme subject to the Minister's approval, and you never got any instructions similar to those the Minister gave to the late manager, Mr. Sibbald?—I do not know what instructions Mr. Sibbald got.

4752. You have not read the file, then?—No.

4753. Mr. BROWN: Then I advise you to do so.

4754. By the CHAIRMAN: Could you get a return made out of the amount of claims made by each firm up to date in this year, what the claims were made for, and what amount has been paid?—Yes, I can get that; you mean special claims, you do not mean ordinary commission?

4755. Claims for negligence, for re-conditioning. I should also like a column showing the amount the Scheme deducted for negligence?—Yes.

(The witness retired.)

The Commission adjourned.