I. -10.

12

[f. WILLIAMS.

90. Is that [Exhibit K l ] one transaction of flour with Mr. Heslop, or more ?—That is tbe last one. 91. One order amounts to 290 sacks,.of the value of £319?— Yes. 92. The second letter from Mr. Heslop [Exhibit J] reads: " Irwell, December 13, 1902. — Mr. F. Williams. —Dear Sir, —I enclose you statement of account for the flour delivered by Mr. Evans. The association has requested me to come down and pay it, less 2f per cent, for cash. I will call and see you on Wednesday next re this. Had I been a day longer to ask them to deliver it to you it would have cost £29 more. So if you will give me a little for expense I will be so glad, as I have had my troubles. However, Mr. Williams, I will see you. Did you send for the Lake of the Wood? After I got Elder to telephone to you I wrote, but got no answer from you, and have wondered if you got my letter. —Yours truly, Geo. Heslop." I put the invoice in. Can you tell the Committee how, after the association blocked you, you got your flour partly from Heslop?—l got it partly from Mr. Heslop, partly from Auckland, and partly from Sydney. 93. Is this invoice for 250 sacks of Champion flour, of the value of £287 [Exhibit X], from Auckland ?—Yes. 94. What was the Sydney flour? —American flour. 95. Manitoba flour?— Yes. 96. " 27th March, 1903. —Mr. F. Williams, Christchurch.—Dear Sir, —Your wire to ship 10 tons of Pillsbury's Manitoba flour to hand. The ' Lochthrool' commences discharging on Monday, 30th, and I hope the flour will be landed in time to catch the ' Mararoa ' leaving on the Ist. If this is impossible it will catch the ' Zealandia' on the Bth. You will find this flour the best you ever received. The only brand that is perhaps better is the ' Gold Medal,' which I will be able to ship any time after the third week in April up to the end of May. Same quotation as last. Would strongly recommend you booking some of this brand. —Yours, &c, E. G. Barker." [Exhibit L.] Is that the letter referring to the Sydney shipment ?—Yes. 97. How long were you forced to get flour in this irregular way?—l should think for six or seven months. 98. During which time you were completely blocked by the association?— Yes. 99. Do you remember what dates that would be from ?—lt was about October. It was within a week of the Master Bakers' Association beginning to levy fines on me. 100. Did you try to get flour from other sources than the association ?—Yes, various. 101. Did you succeed ? —No. 102. Why? Have you any idea?—l could not get it from the Millers' Association. 103. Do you think they tried to stop you getting supplies from other points ?—I do not know ; but it was impossible to get a sack of flour. 104. Where did you apply to?—To Chrystall and Co., and also to Mr. Caverhill, but he could get none. 105. Was that immediately after you were fined? —Yes. 106. You could have got Auckland flour ?—Yes ; but it was higher in price. 107. Did you ever make application to the association at any time for a large quantity of flour —for 100 tons ?—Yes, for 50 or 100 tons. 108. Did you tender the money for it ?—Yes. 109. Did you offer cash for it? —Yes. 110. Do you remember the price of flour at that time? —No ; but it would be about £10 10s. 111. Did they decline to take that order?— Yes. 112. What reason did they give ?—Well, my not being a member of the Bakers' Association. 113. You have no doubt that they tried to control your business ? —There is no doubt about that. 114. What effect would the taking-off of the duty on imported flour have ? Would it free the bakers from the influence of the association ?—Yes, it would bring things about right. During most years you could get it here as cheaply as the local article. 115. Did you apply to the Atlas Milling Company of Timaru for flour ?—Yes. 116. I have a letter from the Atlas Milling Company dated the Bth August, 1902 [Exhibit M]. It is as follows : " Mr. F. Williams, Christchurch.—Dear Sir, —Yours dated 4th inst. to hand, and should have been replied to before, but the writer has been in Dunedin, and only returned by to-night's express. Re delivery of flour :We are at liberty to sell our output outside the association should we desire to do so, but have promised them we will not go outside them, except they fail to let us have the output to which we are entitled. Just now they are trying to deal fairly by us, and we do not care to rail to Christchurch, for if we did so we would cause dissatisfaction with Christchurch millers. Have therefore to, for the present, decline to quote for Christchurch delivery. —Thanking you for your letter, I remain (for Evans and Co. (Limited)), Wm. Evans, Managing Director." Was that letter addressed to you ?—Yes. 117. When did you commence to get flour again from the Millers' Association without difficulty ? —I really forget. 118. Had it anything to do with the Bakers' Union breaking up ?—No. The Bakers' Union has not broken up. 119. Do you know why they commenced to supply you again ? Did they interview you at all ?—I met two of them in the street, and they said we could get any flour we wanted. 120. They changed their policy ? —Yes. 121. Did they tell you why they changed their policy?— No. 122. The Chairman.] What date would it be ?—lt would be about March of this year. 123. Mr. Taylor.] Did they give you any reason at all for being willing again to supply you