bottom, or in the middle, they would thrive? — But they do not make the headway in the middle that they do at the outside of the stack.

7240. They do not become visible? — They do not make the same headway, I do not know why, in the middle of the stack as they do on the outside of the stack.

7241. They come on the outside at certain periods in their existence. Is that not an accepted fact? — It is said so, but I think they are always on the outside.

7242. Have you any idea what proportion of last year's harvest was loaded direct into the trucks? — Twenty per cent. was loaded direct.

7243. Such wheat temporarily stacked would cost no more if it was put into open sheds or if into stacks? — That is so.

7244. Consequently your figures given this afternoon of the extra cost of stacking would not apply? — I said one penny per bushel for temporary stacking; if we stacked at the sheds at the sidings it would cost three farthings. Therefore the extra cost of sending wheat from sidings to depots would be a farthing a bag and I gave the sidings that advantage on the total crop. In the summary I mentioned it.

7245. If you had depots of, say, 20,000 bags at small country sidings, would it not enable you to concentrate your available rolling stock in centres whence wheat could be sent direct to the central depot? — Yes, if we could ear-mark certain sidings and say we did not want trucks for those sidings; it would mean that more trucks would be available for the other sidings.

7246. And so you would be able to get your wheat away more quickly? — Up to the capacity of the railway, yes.

7247. And you would avoid the danger of wheat getting wet in transit? — Of course we could do that also by providing temporary roofs.

7248. Which would cost almost as much as the shed by the time it was put on and taken off again? — Certainly it is not a cheap proposition at present.

7249. If the depot at country siding plan were adopted you would have the advantage of utilising the railway stock to better advantage, and would avoid the chance of the stacks getting wet? — Yes, sheds at country sidings would preclude the possibility of the wheat getting wet after it was once received.

7250. By Mr BROWN : When the farmers and the acquiring agents disputed about dockage and it was submitted to the Scheme for finality, can you say whether the Scheme further increased the dockage? — No, but I have known instances where the Scheme should have increased it.

7251. By the CHAIRMAN : You will have noted from this file that on the 19th July the Commission drew the attention of the Premier to the fact that quotes were being invited for the handling of the new harvest? — Yes.

7252. And that on the 24th July that letter was replied to, notwithstanding which no action was taken by the Advisory Board or by the Government? — I know that a letter was sent.

7253. And you will have noticed that later 63 protests were received from co-operative societies and branches of the Farmers and Settlers' Association? — I am aware of certain letters coming in.

7254. And you know that in response to those protests the Government agreed to postpone for two weeks the acceptance of quotes? — So far as I know, the reason for withdrawing the tenders was the attitude of the Royal Commission.

7255. The Royal Commission never asked that tenders be withdrawn? — I think they supplied the reason for postponing of the tenders.

7256. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN : Can you say definitely why they were postponed? — No, it had nothing to do with me.

7257. By the CHAIRMAN : The board did not consider it? — I do not know, the minute book would not show.

7258. By Mr BROWN : The Minister postponed receiving of tenders and finally had them withdrawn? — Yes.

7259. By the CHAIRMAN : A letter sent to us on the 1st August asked us to submit a report by the 14th. It was afterwards decided to postpone the receiving of the quotes? — The letter was sent afterwards.

7260. The Commission was never notified that the time appointed was the 12th August? — I was under the impression that the Commission were written to and notified that the time for receiving quotations had been extended.

7261. It was not so much that the wishes of the Commission were deferred as that the action was taken in response to the protest of the country? — I cannot say. It was dealt with by Cabinet.

(The witness retired.)

The Commission adjourned.