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3. During that period, is it within your knowledge that the wholesale price of meat has risen considerably? —No, I do not think I would care to answer that question in the affirmative. It has fluctuated very much. 4. But, generally, is it not much higher at the end of seven years? —I think, so far as beef is concerned, that it has risen; that is, however, a line which the South Island is not specially concerned in. There is practically no exported beef from the South Island. 5. The purchasing-price of sheep has not risen?—At times it has. The price fluctuates from time to time. 6. Can you give us the percentage? —It fluctuates so much at different times of the year that I do not think it would be possible to give any absolute data on that question. As far as sheep is concerned, they steadily rise in price from shearing-time onwards as the wool grows. 7. About what is the weight of meat that is exported—approximately? —I could give the number of carcases. The number of carcases which pass through my company's various factories runs from about 1,300,000 to 1,600,000 carcases. 8. What would those carcases average in weight? —About 35 Ib. or 361b. for lamb, and possibly 54 lb. or 55 lb. for sheep. 9. Is it within your knowledge that the export of so many sheep from New Zealand would naturally raise the price to the consumer in New Zealand?—lf it were not for the export of sheep, sheep would practically have no value here at all. The demand in New Zealand as compared with the total quantity of stock available, I should say, would be a negligible quantity, and if it were not for the export stock would have little or no value save for wool and tallow. 10. Could you give us any idea how many carcases of sheep are used for consumption in New Zealand? —No. 11. In your opinion, it is a negligible quantity as compared with the export?—lt would be so small that there would be a huge surplus which would be of little or no value, save for the wool and tallow. Of course, the consumption here runs into a very large figure, taking into consideration the whole population of the Dominion. Perhaps the words "negligible quantity" are rather strong words, but it would be so small that the surplus left would practically have no value whatever, except, as I have said, for the wool and tallow, as was the case before the inception of the freezing industry. In other words, the cost of stock for consumption within the Dominion is entirely regulated by the export trade. 12. You have not any knowledge of any combination or ring controlling in any way the supply of meat?— Not the slightest. Ido not believe for one moment that it exists here, whatever it may do elsewhere. 13. You have your own agents for your company who buy direct from the farmers? —Yes, and we also buy in the yards. We buy in every possible way. 14. Mr. Veitch.] Have you a retail branch in New Zealand at all? —Some years ago retail shops were started in Christchurch by the then manager of the company, and I think at one time the company had about nine shops. 15. Do they not have any branches now?—We still have three. I have been steadily reducing them as opportunity offers, and I intend to reduce them still further until there are none. 16. What difference is there between the retail prices in New Zealand and the prices got on the English market for what is exported?— You could not make, a comparison very well between the two. 17. You do not retail on the English market?—-No. 18. Can you give us the difference between the retail prices here and the retail prices at Home? —No, I could not give you that. They vary at different centres at Home. We only deal wholesale with the United Kingdom. 19. Mr. Hall.] Do any farmers ship direct to your company? —To a limited extent. They can do so at any time if they choose. We give them facilities for doing that. 20. What would be about the cost of the charges per pound, including freezing?— That varies. It depends on how the meat is disposed of at the other end. Meat may be put on the market and sold ex ship or sold ex store, and it may eventually go on the market and be sold carcase by carcase. 21. Suppose it is sold ex ship?— That is, roughly speaking, about ljd. for lamb. 22. And what for sheep?— Rather less. 23. Mr. Fairbairn.] Is there a fixed charge for freezing? Do the export companies fix a rate where they take consignments in that way?— Yes, we have a rate that we are prepared to quote, but there is not much of that done. 24. It was at one time quite a practice?— Yes, but it is not now. We are buyers, and in addition to that, there are large exporting firms representing either London interests or colonial interests who operate through our factories. In addition to that individual owners avail themselves of the facilities offered them by our factory, and ship on their own account. 25. You have already said that the cost of freezing works out at about ljd. for lamb and Id. for sheep ?—Yes, those are the charges if you sell ex ship. 26. You gave that as the cost ex ship : did you mean ex store?—l was asked what it cost to sell ex ship, and I replied accordingly. 27. Can you give us any idea of the total consumption of meat in New Zealand? Does it approximate the export?—Oh, no, I should not think so. I have not the figures here, but I cannot conceive that it approximates the total export, at any rate, so far as lamb is concerned. 28. Dr. Bight.} We have had it stated that the price of mutton here is higher than it is at Home : how do you explain that statement ? Have you any remark to make upon it ? Which price ? 29. The statement made to us was that the price of mutton was higher here than it is at Home? —I cannot understand such a statement being made. It is possible that the retail prices of certain joints here may be higher than the wholesale price of the carcase at Home.