5227. By Mr. BROWN: Were you employed by the Westralian Farmers all the year round?—I was only active during the wheat season.

5228. What time is that?—Up here we are earlier than in the Eastern districts. I was in the Eastern districts for about four weeks.

5229. What were you doing between the time of leaving the Westralian Farmers and coming here?—I was inspector at the North Wharf for the Scheme.

5230. Who made the appointment?—Mr. Sibbald.

5231. What salary are you being paid?—Five pounds ten shillings per week at a weekly engagement.

5232. By Mr. HARRISON : Do you think the growers of your port centre realise the importance of delivering uniformly good quality what, say in the matter of oats, shrivelled grain, and last year's wheat?—I am certain they have simply sent it in anyhow and did not care twopence how the wheat was.

5233. If the farmers studied their own interests they would be more careful as to the quality of the wheat they send in?—It would make all the difference in the world. We would not have so much weevil and the wheat would not be subject to docks.

5234. Which does the running bulk sample favour, the agents or the Pool?—It is very much in favour of the acquiring agent and detrimental to the interests of the Pool.

5235. But the individual bag sampling would necessitate the agent taking innumerable samples?—We have to do it and therefore he could do it.

5236. Do you consider that an important improvement could be made in the protection of wheat in transit?—Yes, there should be some cover.

5237. Would it pay the railways to cover the wheat in transit?—I think they could have a cheaper sheet for wheat trucks; it need not be as large or as strong as the sheets for chaff.

5238. By Hon. R.G. ARDAGH: Do you think Geraldton is worse than Fremantle as a breeding ground for weevil?—No.

5239. By Mr. HARRISON: When at Fremantle those get bags were stacked on top of the bags already drained. It was done for lack of space, was it not?—Space room could have been created.

5240. Was there any space at any other portion of the wharf?—Not under shelter.

5241. By the CHAIRMAN: Do you think it was for want of experience?—That is the whole explanation.

5242. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: Who put down the lime and naphthaline under the Lefroy stack?—The contractor, under the instructions from the Public Works.

5243. When did you start stacking wheat on top of that preparation?—I cannot say exactly.

5344. Has it been there three months?—Yes.

5245. What is your opinion of that system?—Naphthaline is inimical to any insect life. A fact to which I attribute more importance is the aeration under the floor which has a tendency to keep the wheat drier. Eliminate the moisture and you eliminate the weevil.

5246. Do you think the naphthaline vapour would have any effect on weevil at the top of the stack?—I do not think so.

5247. So the only effect it would have would be to prevent weevil coming from below?—That is so.

5248. You are of opinion that the Lefroy system is of value to prevent weevil rising from the ground but for no other purpose?—That is so.

5249. If the wheat were given greater aeration without napthaline is would have almost the same effect?—Yes. I am a great believer in aeration under the wheat.

5250. Naphthaline is only to prevent an infection which exists in the site rising into the stacks?—Yes.

5251. The great bulk of the wheat in that stack has been taken in under the 58lb. standard?—It was all, because it was made retrospective.

5252. So instead of a 60½lb. standard you have a 58lb. standard?—Yes, but that does not alter the quality of the wheat. The docks commenced at 58lbs

5253. The farmers' wheat has been taken on a 58lb. standard f.a.q.?—Yes.

5254. By the CHAIRMAN: You are going to tell us something about demurrage?—Demurrage is chargeable at the expiration of eight hours after the truck is at your disposal. This year instead of individualising trucks the system has been to take a number of trucks. If the demurrage was chargeable weekly, we would be able to manage things. We have arriving here om Fridays trains from all over the several lines with the result that there is a flood of wheat on the Saturday. Then they charge us demurrage. The railways leave empty trucks at the depot for days yet if there is a bag of wheat in one of them we are charged demurrage. To my mind we should never have paid one penny demurrage. In one week we had £22 to pay. Yet there has never been a week in which I have not been short of wheat.

5255. You say that trucks are left a considerable time after being unloaded?—Frequently. If the demurrage was made weekly we would not incur any demurrage and it would suit my labour very much better.

5256. By Mr. BROWN: What transport have you for your men from Geraldton to the depot?—There is a train every morning at 15 minutes to eight, returning at night at 5.10. We pay 8d. per ticket or 3s. 6d. per week for each man.

5257. The scheme pays the fares?—Yes. The distance is a little over two miles. Owing to the demurrage I have to pay 8d. per ticket instead of 3s. 6d. per week.

5258. By the CHAIRMAN: You pointed out to us yesterday that a portion of the sheds at the depot had been treated with lime alone without naphthaline. Do you think that has been of advantage?—Yes, if only as a check to white ants.

5259. We have it in evidence that lime is of no effect after a few days?—I think it cannot do any harm and as long as it is dry it must operate against white ants.

5260. By Mr. BROWN: Is there any insurance on those depot stacks?—I have no knowledge of it.

5261. Do you have anyone caretaking there during the night?—Yes, three special constables.

5261a. By Hon. J. F. ALLEN: Are they under your control?—No, they are there as police.

5262. By Mr. HARRISON: You have sand traps provided around the stacks to prevent weevils getting back into the stacks. Have you found those sand traps effective?—Very.

5263. When the sand in the trap is wet the trap is less effective?—Yes.

5264. The preventing of the weevils getting back in to the stack greatly affects their breeding?—Certainly.

5265. You think the fact that the weevils have not got more deeply into your stack is due to those traps?—Yes the building of those traps was my first work on arriving here.

5266. They have been in operation since January of this year?—Yes.

5267. By Mr. BROWN: How many men have you permanently employed under the Scheme?—I have two men employed at the depot. They make a tour of the stacks every day and attend to re-conditioning and other necessary work.

5268. By Mr. HARRISON: I notice that you have around the ends of certain bags pieces of bagging, the edges of which are tucked between the bags. Is that done without stitching?—Yes, it is simply put in with a mallet and wedge. It prevents the stack from running and so saves the stack. It is one of the cheapest methods I can employ for the protection of the walls of the stack. If I were starting again I would have every bag up to about 8 bags done that way whether it was required or not. I think it would render the bags impervious to weather.

5269. By Mr. BROWN: Are various systems of bonding stacks introduced by different men?—Yes, some are very intricate bonds. My opinion is that such bonds are too difficult to break down. If every bag is bonded so that it will not come away the men have to pull out the bags with hooks.

5270. Do you think in regard to the new season's wheat there should be a systematized form of stacking?—Undoubtedly.

5271. Is there any supervision over the lumpers building the stacks out of truck?—I have tutored all my men myself.

5272. The saving of the wheat in the stack would pay for the supervision of the lumpers in the stacking?—Easily.

5273. By Mr. HARRISON: I have noticed a rocking separator with your name on it. Was that your manufacture?—Yes, it is very effective and economical. I evolved that as the result of seeing so much wheat bagged in "E" shed in which one man holds a bag