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J. BOSS

14. Mr. Robertson.] Who are your principal competitors in New Zealand —I mean as manufacturers ?—The Mosgiel Company, the Kaiapoi Company, the Petone Company, the Oamaru Company, the South Canterbury Company, the Ashburton Company, and there is another company in Auckland. 15. Your goods are sold ail over New Zealand ?—Yes. 16. Mr. Veitch.] You spoke of an understanding between the heads of departments. Does that mean between the heads of your departments, or between the heads of your departments and the heads of the departments of other companies ? —fn some cases, between the heads of other businesses, such as Sargood's. 17. Mr. Fairbairn.] But they are not manufacturers ? —No ; but the position is as I have stated. 18. The Chairman.] W 7 e are, as you know, inquiring into the question of the increase in the cost of living. Could you tell us anything which in your opinion leads to a rise in the cost of living— onnected with your business —which, perhaps, we have not asked you ? —I really do not take any part n the manufacturing. Mr. Glendining looks after that department. lam not so conversant with it as to be able to give any information of importance. 19. Mr. Fairbairn.] Clothing is one of the matters which this Commission is asked to report upon, and we thought you could give us some information on that subject ? —I inquired about that to-day, and T have given you the information which I received. Andrew Mathewson, master butcher, examined on oath. (No. 11). 1. The Chairman.] What is your occupation ?—I have a part-interest in the Kensington Meat Company. 2. Could you tell us about any association that controls the rates of sale of meat generally in Dunedin ? —That is rather touching on personal matters. 3. I know it is delicate ground ; but can you tell us your own process by which we have been told you are able to sell to the public cheaper than other retailers ?—We buy for cash, or from the agents; or in the market as suits us. We are buying and shipping all the time. lam paid a salary, and buy for an exporter. 4. Mr. Hall.] Do you buy direct from the farmer ? —Yes, and from the agents. I buy a good deal for net cash, and a good deal from the agents when it suits us at the price. 5. The Chairman.] Everything you buy you kill at the abattoirs freezing works ?—Yes. 6. Having regard to the price, you have paid and, the expense of making the meat fit for the market, you put on a fair profit for yourself and then let the public have the benefit ?—Yes. We sell at the lowest prices in Dunedin. We opened our shops on those grounds—small profits in order to get a big turnover. 7. The " nimble sixpence " ? —That is so. We make the most of skins and fellmongery. We buy mostly in big lines, and we have advantages through buying 8. Is it within your knowledge that there are other butchers' shops in Dunedin which do not exactly follow that line of practice—who buy from agents only ? —-I think in most cases they buy from agents only. 9. They do not go direct to the farmers ? —Some of the leading butchers do ; but the majority of the butchers buy at the Burnside saleyards. 10. That being the case, what is the reason they are not able to sell so cheaply to the public as you can 2—"We have to buy for shipping at per pound, and we must know our weights. It is the buying for export that has a lot to do with it. Others have the same chance of buying that we have. 11. Mr. Hall.] You buy at per 1001b. ? —No ; but we buy according to our judgment of what the dead-weight will be. 12. The Chairman.] You do not think it is because of certain persons having a combination to keep the prices up that is responsible for making the general price higher than yours ?—I would not like to say much against the butchers. 13. Mr. Macdonald.] Is there a ring ? —I could not give that in evidence. 14. You cannot say ?—I cannot say. 15. It would bring you into open quarrel ?—That is so. We are outside of any combination. 16. You are under agreement to no firm at all ? —That is so. 17. Is the price you sell at remunerative ?—Yes, at a very small profit. I have a list of the prices we are selling at now, and what we were selling at twelve months ago. 18. Have you ever been approached to take part in a ring or combine to raise prices ?—That would go out in evidence if I gave it. 19. You refuse to state ? —Yes. Mr. Veitch : Has the witness power to refuse ? The Chairman : I do not think he should be called on to answer questions like that. Mr. Veitch : If there is anything of the kind going on, we should get it. Witness : I refused to join a list of prices they put before us one day at Burnside. 20. The Chairman.] Who are " they " ?—That is the thing. 21. Mr. Robertson.] Will you say the majority of butchers of Dunedin ?—lt will put them all against me if I answer that. It is hardly fair to make that public. 22. The Chairman.] That is just what we are out for. Can you suggest to whom to apply or call in evidence for that purpose —some one who knows more about it than you do ?—Among the butchers, no. 23. Can you give us the name of some butcher who would know ?—The leading butchers would know. 24. Mr Hall.] Do you give any credit. ? —No ; all cash. 25. Mr. Robertson.] Have you any carts ?—We are putting on one. 26. Would that mean an extra cost to the consumer ?—We considered a halfpenny to put on for delivery.