not a good cooking potato as compared with those from the Eastern States. It is said that Ballarat Reds are nice and mealy, and that better results are obtained from them so far as selling in this State is concerned. I always sell local potatoes if I can. I recently had two trucks from Mr. Clark, of Burekup, and a truck from Hortin's Siding, near Albany.

9992. What is the cost of bringing potatoes from the Eastern States?—About £2 per ton I think. I have not imported any since last year, and there has been some alteration in the regulations, I understand. The cost used to be 1s. per bag or £1 per ton, which was excessive.

9993. Are potatoes likely to rise or receded in price?—I should think there was a considerable quantity of potatoes left in Western Australia. If they were as good as Eastern States potatoes they would be preferable to deal in. Many of the hotels and clubs like mealy potatoes, and if one cannot supply them they will go to some other firm. It is, therefore, necessary to have on hand a certain quantity of imported article in order that one may keep one's customers.

9994. By Mr. CLARKSON: What is your opinion with regard to the use of second-hand cases?—In Victoria the second-hand cases are refilled. The Fruitgrowers' Association here seem to run the Agricultural Department, and whatever they say seems to go. The association even went so far as to compel us last year to use new cases for tomatoes, which is ridiculous. I pointed out to Mr. Moody that within five miles of the coast, out towards Osborne Park and Wanneroo, no fruit was grown, and that we could economically use second-hand fruit cases for carting our tomatoes in and distributing them in Perth. The Association, however, had a resolution carried at their conference, as a result of which the department would not allow us to use the cases. The case costs 10d., and tomatoes at factory prices would not fetch more than 1s. We have, therefore, to pay 10d. for the case, and can only receive 1s for the case and its contents.

9995. Do you find that these cases can stand refilling?—The local cases are not good for re-filling purposes, though I believe the collapsible cases act very well. If the cases can be re-filled immediately after being emptied I understand that they can be made use of, but if they are left out in the weather it is impossible to use them because they immediately split when nails are driven into them. Soft wood cases can be used three or four times.

9996. From the fruitgowers' point of view the percentage of cases (jarrah) which would not stand re-filling would be so great that it would not pay to take the risk?—It would not pay the fruitgrowers to send such cases by train, because the vibration would probably cause the cases to open owing to the splits in the timber and there would be a consequent loss of the contents. Under present conditions the second-hand case can only be used for tomatoes and such-like produce where the local people can cart their own stuff to market. They could not be used for consignment by train.

9997. Have you any suggestions to make as to the betterment of conditions in the industry?—If the Municipal Council established open markets I should like to see that ample provision is made to cater for the small producer, in order to do away with the tax upon him. It is too much for the producer to pay £75 to an agent to sell his vegetables when with proper facilities he could sell them himself. In Melbourne a producer would take in £30 worth of stuff and sell it to the consumers in a few hours, getting his cash in return. In the bad times the vans used to be backed up along Queen-street, the consumers would buy their goods in the markets, label them, and hand them over to the vans, which would deliver them at a small cost. In this State there is no such facilities for the ordinary public, and the people have so much difficulty to contend with under the auctioneering system that if they go once they do not go again.

9998. By Mr. PAYNTER: Have any of the growers tried to start a scheme for open markets?—Mr. W. B. Gordon made a start in Stirling Street, but the auctioneers bought up practically all the supplies, so that he could not get in at all. The auctioneers killed the open market system. I was interested in the matter with Mr. Gordon, as I thought it was a system which should be adopted in this State, namely, that of dealing direct with the consumer. The auctioneers crowded him out and, no doubt, they will do the same thing again. The market committee had a conference the other night with the Mayor and the Councillors and I told them that in the event of the Council building a market they should provide for the small grower. A man should be able to draw his cart into the market and back it into the place provided for him, sell his goods, and get his money straight away. The people will require to be educated up to this sort of thing. The trouble is that women come in, buy a few vegetables and insist on the goods being put up in a brown paper parcel, instead of their doing what women in Victoria do, come along with a bag or a perambulator and take away their own stuff. Provision should be made to enable the producer in the metropolitan area to dispose of his own produce.

(The witness retired.)

CARYL CROSBY MOLYNEUX, Secretary Stirling Street Markets, sworn and examined:

9999. To Mr. CLARKSON: I have been engaged in the fruit and vegetable business for the past 11 years. For seven years I was manager of the Producer's Markets, when they were situated in Stirling Street. I think the time has come for the establishment of central markets. Having markets in different parts of the State is not conducive to the best interests of the producers, inasmuch as buyers find that their purchases become more costly, and it also leads to a serious fluctuation in prices. The best site for markets depends upon the intention of the authorities, whether it be to fulfil the two purposes, wholesale and retail, or purely wholesale. If the latter, the question of site is immaterial, provided proper facilities can be given for the handling of the goods and also provided there is cool storage in connection with it. That is one of the chief essentials in regard to the handling of fruit economically and beneficially for the producer. In times of glut the agent, or whoever might be handling the fruit, could then decide whether it would be required for an im-