91 THURSDAY, 18th JANUARY, 1917. (At Perth). Present: Charles Edward Dempster, Esq., Chairman. Matthew Thomas Padbury, Esq Ranald McDonald, Esq. EDWARD ALEXANDER MANN, Government Analyst, further examined: 1003. By the CHAIRMAN: We understand you wish to amplify the evidence you have already given on oath? — Yes. i simply wish to make a further statement which I submitted to you in writing on the 13th January. It is as follows:— There is one technical matter which I would like to explain lest a false impression should have been taken by members of your Commission, although it would be readily understood by chemists it is possible that some of the figures which I put before you may be misunderstood. Chlorine which occurs in any soil may be associated in combination between lime, potash, soda, magnesia, etc., and when one speaks of chlorides in the soil that term will include any one of the four compounds — chloride of lime, chloride of potash, chloride of soda, chloride of magnesia. The chlorine is very easily and accurately estimated while the base with which it is combined is not so easy of determination, nor is it possible to declare with accuracy what proportion of the chlorine is combined with these various bases. It is, therefore, customary in soil analysis to determine the chlorine exactly and then to calculate it into the corresponding amount of chloride of sodium (common salt).