competing with Melbourne. We are in open competition, buying wheat from the Scheme at 6s. 4½d.

8001. By Mr. BROWN: Is that the minimum charge throughout Australia?—Yes.

8002. Is it not possible for the Scheme here to be charging local millers more than 6s. 4½d.?—The price is published in our newspapers every morning.

8003. We were told in evidence that Mr. Padbury is paying 7s. for the South African market?—I rather think it is for Egypt. When an inquiry comes to hand from a foreign place, before we can quote a price we have to approach the board and ask whether we can ship and what price we shall be charged for the wheat. Then we make a calculation. I think that 7s. is for Egypt.

8004. Then what is the 6s. 4½d.?—It happens to be for Java and Singapore.

8005. Is your agreement for gristing for any fixed time?—No. I am to grind according to the direction of the Minister. If the Minister ceased to send me any wheat I would have to stop grinding.

8006. In the same way you have the right to stop gristing?—But you can hardly contemplate my closing down. I want to keep my mills running. But if circumstances should arise, the fact that the Minister has the right to shut down on me when it suits him would give me a similar right.

8007. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: The weevily wheat which you have been gristing varies in the percentage of flour that you get out of it?—Yes, as we receive it, according to the quality of the wheat they supply.

8008. Consequently, your payment being per bushel of wheat received this does not affect your profit much?—No. I get my sixpence on every bushel of wheat that is turned over the scales into my mill.

8009. But if you were paid on a flour-ton basis, then the varying quality of wheat would materially affect your profit?—Yes. I have not thought out what the effect of that flourton basis is. It appeals to me that there must be times when I have to treat far more wheat to get a ton of flour, than at other times.

8010. As a matter of fact, to make it equitable you would need to know the quality of the wheat you were to grist?—Yes.

8011. What check have the South Australian Scheme on your products output as against your intake of wheat?—Only the returns supplied by our officers weekly.

8012. Those weekly returns give accurately the amount of wheat received and the products?—I do not report the quantity of wheat received. The Scheme have their own figures of the wheat delivered to me. I report to the Scheme each week how much wheat I have ground, and what the products were, and the quantities of flour, bran, pollard, and other stuff I have sold; and I hand in my cheque every week for the previous week's products disposed of.

8013. I suppose that before you started working under this agreement an accurate calculation was made of stocks on hand?—Yes.

8014. There has been no difficulty in that respect between you and the South Australian Scheme?—No.

8015. That does not apply as regards the contract in this State with your mill?—No. In this State we are working on other lines. In South Australia I am not responsible for anything except honestly delivering to the Scheme the goods they have placed in my charge. There I am under no other obligation whatever. One cannot guarantee an out turn of flour when does one does not know what the quality of the wheat is, or what damage the wheat has sustained before it reaches the mill.

8016. Have you any idea of the size of the stack which was treated with gas in South Australia?—No; but I believe it was a good sized one.

8017. Do you know where it was?—At the Outer Harbour, I think; or else in Port Adelaide proper.

8018. We are advised that in South Australia they are erecting small depots at country sidings for the storage of wheat?—The South Australian Scheme's policy for the coming season is to keep the new crop as far away as possible from risk of contamination by possible weevil in the old crops. So they are opening new depots at fresh places.

8019. Does that course meet with your approval?—Entirely.

8020. And do you think it would be advisable to do the same as this State?—In a general way, it is certainly a most reasonable thing to do.

(The witness retired.)

The Commission adjourned.

THURSDAY, 24TH OCTOBER, 1918.

(At Perth).

Present:

Hon. W. C. Angwin, M.L.A., Chairman. Hon. J. F. Allen, M.L.C. | T. H. Harrison, Esq., M.L.A. S. M. Brown, Esq., M.L.A.

WALTER WILLIAM MORRISON, Manager, Perth Roller Flour Mill, sworn and examined:

8021. By the CHAIRMAN: As you are aware this Commission is making inquiries into the handling of wheat under the Wheat Marketing Act. Gristing forms portion of that work, and we are trying to get some information in regard to the subject. We have had it in evidence from Mr. Ockerby that the millers are at present negotiating with the Wheat Scheme with a view to fixing up a further contract. Can you tell us if anything has yet been finalised?—Yes, I believe so. At any rate, by one of the millers, Messrs. F. & C. Piesse.

8022. Are the other millers likely to come in also?—So far as our mill is concerned it is practically arranged. We have not yet had confirmation, but I arranged matters yesterday morning.

8023. Your impression is that the matter is likely to be fixed up?—Yes. The basis of the arrangement is for the largest mills to receive 29s. per flour ton, 31s. for three other mills, and 33s. for the smaller mills.

8024. There has been a difference in the quality of the wheat sent into the mills in the past. Has any arrangement been made in regard to the quality of the wheat to be sent into the mills in the future?—No, but I understand the Scheme is going to ask for an average extraction of 42 pounds of flour to the bushel.

8025. It is intended to insist that every miller shall do that?—Yes, I understand that is so. We are prepared to guarantee that extraction, but I do not think the smaller mills can do it.

8026. According to returns we have received , some of the mills have only been turning out 38 pounds?—They may have since made alterations to their machinery. In our own case we have made extensive alterations.

8027. Can you tell the Commission the cost of bags to you per ton?—For the six months, 3rd November to 8th June, bags cost us 8s. 4d. per ton or 10d. over that allowed the Scheme. We have been unfortunate with the bags, and I think our mill has been receiving the worst bags of all the mills.

8028. Is the cost of all the smaller bags included in that price?—Yes, and includes the cost of repairing the bags. It cost us £7 per week for repairing bags.

8029. By Mr. HARRISON: You pay a certain amount for cleaning bags?—That is not included.

8030. By the CHAIRMAN: Seeing that you have fixed upon an agreement for next year, I do not desire to take up any more of your time, as I do not consider there is anything of advantage to be gained by further investigation on this particular point. I would like to ask some questions on bulk handling.

8031. By Mr. HARRISON: In regard to the smaller millers do you not think that they can get the required percentage of flour extraction from 48 bushels of wheat?—I cannot say. We have to use 47.6 bushels to the ton for 42lbs. extraction.