6169. By Mr HARRISON: Do you think any site should be drained first?—I do not think land lends itself for a site for stacking where it holds too much moisture. this existing site is fairly suitable because it is possible to dran it, but further down there is no chance of draining the clayey ground. The property which has just been cleared is Mr McMillian's. He also owned this paddock on which the stacks are now. On this site, of course, it is possible to work, but I am present site holds quite enough moisture.

(The witness retired) 

HUBERT VIOLET COX, Tally Clerk and Sampler, Spencers Brook, sworn and examined:

6170. By the CHAIRMAN. How long have you been here?—Since the end of January

6171. Had you any previous experience in regard to sampling wheat?—No, I had previous experience of wheat as a grower

6172. Have you seen any damaged wheat coming into the stack?—Yes

6173. And still remaining in the stacks?—Yes

6174. What was done with it?—It was simply put into the stacks in the usual way as it came out of the trucks . 6175. What part of the stacks would that be in?—That was the time we were stacking B shed . 6176. We opened B 45 which we heard was a specially damaged bay. Is some of the wheat in that the wheat to which you refer?—So far as my memory serves me nearly all the wet wheat is near the floor.

6177. We sampled 16 bags?—There was no elevator in use there at the time it was coming in. The west bags so far as I remember would be from two to eight bags high.

6178. If we were down 16 bags from the top we would get to where the wet bags were supposed to be. we saw some bags with a growth on them?—That would be the natural result of the wet bag . 6179. We got into the wet portion of the stack and any bags we sampled would be a fair average of the quality of the what?—I do not think so from what I have seen in other parts of the stack. We pulled some out that were quite hot.

6180. We have had evidence here that a lot of the wheat got wet under 10 bags before the roof was on?—This was all before the roof was on . 6181. Were those bags up-ended and dried before the other bags being up-ended before we worked on A and D sheds. I do not think those sheds were built at the time.

6182. There is a lot of damaged wheat coming in. Do you think a good portion of it could be sold at the sidings where it was sent from?—Undoubtedly. Wheat has come here which should never have been debited with the carriage on it, particularly when there is a demand in the country for it. There is always a demand for wheat in the country . 6183. Would you be surprised to learn that they say they have been able to make more money by selling this wheat in the metropolitan area than in the country?—I know a man in Northam who has been running after wheat for feeding purposes . 6184. I notice that the weevil is not too bad here. It has not got too great a hold?—In most of the sheds stacking had started before weevil came in. As far as possible weevil has been isolated . 6185. It would be almost impossible to keep weevil out by using dirty trucks?—You have to work very carefully on infested trucks . 6186. Do you not think that am agent sending wheat to a depot should notify whether there is weevil in it?—Undoubtedly he should . 6187. By Mr Brown: Who appointed you to the position of sampler?—Mr Hayes.

6188. By Hon J.F. ALLEN: You saw what we opened up today. You are of opinion that if we had gone to the bottom we would have found damaged wheat?—If there is damaged wheat it will be nearer the floor.

6189. You saw the way wheat was put in there wet?—Yes

6190. Did you actually see it put in there wet?—Yes, and I have seen it afterwards in the stack, we were called upon to pull bags out on account of the state they were in.

( The witness retired.)

The Commission adjourned.