I.—lo.

44

[m. w. woodfield.

they believe in cash trading. Kindly book our order for 25 tons of flour at current rate, sending us a letter or sale-note before to-morrow midday.—Yours, &c, Mark W. Woodfield, Secretary." 57. Did you get any reply to that ?—-No reply in writing. We could not get any reply in writing. 58. Did you take steps to get them to put it in writing ?—The letter I have read was the step. 59. Was that letter sent to the association [produced] ?—Yes. " November 1, 1902. —To the Secretary, New Zealand Millers' Co-operative Association.—Dear Sir, —Mr. Calder having delivered a message which he received by telephone to the effect that your association cannot execute our order for 10 tons of flour, and as Mr. Calder does not attend committee-meetings, we shall deem it a favour if you will reply in writing.—Yours, &c, Mark W. Woodfield, Secretary." 60. Did you get any reply to that ?—No. 61. Did you send that letter [produced and handed to witness]? —Yes. " March 18th, 1903.— General Manager, New Zealand Flour-millers' Association.—Dear Sir, —A few days ago we received two price-lists from your association re the price of flour —one marked ' Bakery Department,' and the other ' Grocery Department.' The one for the bakery has the discount erased, and is marked ' Net cash.' We think this must be an error, or are you putting bakers on a different footing to grocers? An early reply will oblige. —Yours, &c, Mark W. Woodfield, Secretary." 62. Did you get any reply to that ?—No. 63. You did not succeed in getting the association to reply in writing during the whole of the transactions? —Never once. 64. After some time they commenced to supply you with flour, did they not? —Yes, in small quantities. 65. Have you ever joined the Bakers' Union ?—Never. 66. Then, they changed their policy at some time ? —Yes. 67. Was it Mr. Buchanan or Mr. Jameson who told you that they would not supply you with flour unless you joined the Baker's Union ? —lt came through the secretary, Mr. Buchanan.) 68. Did he tell you personally ? —-No, it was sent through the telephone to Mr. Calder. 69. Did you ever see Mr. Jameson yourself? — Yes, .Mr. Calder and I interviewed Mr. Jameson once. 70. What was the nature of the interview ?—I think it was about the time we wanted to place a 25-ton order with the association, and it was just about the time we were not receiving the quantites we wanted. We waited upon Mr. Jameson, and he decided then to allow us a little to go on with, because at that time the bakers were holding a conference in Christchurch—the whole of the bakers in New Zealand, the Federated Baker's Association—and probably there was something being done about the matter. Anyhow, we got small quantities at that time. 71. Of your own knowledge, you do not know that that conference resulted in the bakers and millers separating ?—I do not know. 72. When you could not get flour from the association where did you try to get it from ?— From any one we could. 73. Did you apply to Mr. Heslop, of Irwell ? —Yes. 74. Is that a copy of the inquiry you made from him [produced and handed to witness] ? — Yes. " October 20th, 1902.—Mr. G. Heslop.—Dear Sir, —Will you kindly quote for flour in sacks delivered at our store in Colombo Street?- -Yours, &c., Mark W. Woodfield, Secretary." 75. That order followed the inquiry, did it not [produced and handed to witness] ? —Yes. " October 30th, 1902. —Mr. G. Heslop, Miller, Irwell.—Dear Sir, —Kindly send to our address, Colombo Street, Christchurch, 1 ton of flour in sacks.—Yours, &c, Mark W. Woodfield, Secretary." 76. Was that ton of flour supplied by Mr. Heslop ?—Yes. 77. Is this another order [produced and handed to witness] ?—Yes. " November Bth, 1902. — Mr. G. Heslop. —Dear Sir,- —Kindly book our order for 6 tons of flour in sacks, delivering 2 tons per week, commencing the week after next. —Yours &c, Mark W. Woodfield, Secretary." 78. Did you get that flour ?—Only 2 tons of it. 79. What happened in connection with that ?—We received a letter from Mr. Heslop in reply to that, 80. Have you the letter you received from Mr. Heslop ? —I think it is the one where he says he is joining the association. 81. Dated 22ud November [produced and handed to witness] ?—Yes. " 22nd November, 1902.—Mr. Woodfield, Working-men's Co-operative Association— Re yours of 21st for pollard and bran, I cannot now supply you. I have joined the Millers' Co-operative Association, and any orders must now be through them. I have come to the conclusion that it was the best thing for me to join the association. —Yours, &c, George Heslqp." 82. Now, if Mr. Jameson says that Mr. Heslop never joined the association, can you reconcile his statement with that letter? —No ; I could not on the face of that letter. 83. Did you write that to Mr. Heslop in reply [produced and handed to witness] ?—Yes. " November 28th, 1902. —Mr. G. Heslop.— Dear Sir, —Yours of the 22nd to hand, which came as a surprise after the conversation we had only a few days previously, and, while we see no advantage to yourself and much to the other party, we recognise that you have a perfect right to please yourself on the matter. Kindly send the 4 tons which are still needed to complete our 6-ton order.—Yours, &c, Mark W. Woodfield, Secretary." 84. Did Mr. Heslop reply to that effect ?—Yes. " Irwell, 29th November, 1902.—Mr. Woodfield.—Dear Sir, —Your letter just to hand, asking me to send 4 tons flour. I cannot send any more orders unless through the association. Try them, and if they allow me I will send you what I can. —Yours, &c, G. Heslop."