1.—17.

6

Wednesday, 2nd October, 1929. Present: Mr. Bitchener, Rev. Mr. Carr, Hon. Mr. Cobbe, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jones, Mr. McCombs. Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Waite, Mr. Wilkinson (Chairman). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Evidence : The following gave evidence and were cross-examined by members of the Committee: Captain Rushworth, M.P. ; Mr. A. 6. Cathie, Wellington Grain-merchants' Association ; Mr. S. Rowe, Wellington Grain-merchants' Association ; Mr. R. W. Hawke, M.P. ; Mr. Pairere Paikea, secretary of the Ratana movement. The Committee adjourned until 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, Bth October. Tuesday, Bth October, 1929. Present: Mr. Bitchener, Rev. Mr. Carr, Hon. Mr. Cobbe, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jones, Mr. McCombs, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Waite, Mr. Wilkinson (Chairman). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. In attendance were Dr. Reakes and Mr. Fawcett (Department of Agriculture), Mr. Good (Customs Department), Messrs. Collins and Colquhoun (Department of Industries and Commerce), and Mr. M. Fraser, Government Statistician. Evidence : The following gave evidence and were cross-examined by members of the Committee : Mr. W. W. Mulholland, Wheat-growers' Association, Christchurch ; Mr. Edward Boocock, Wellington ; Mr. Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician ; Captain Rushworth, M.P. ; Mr. D. Colquhoun, of the Department of Industries and Commerce. The Clerk was instructed to secure the attendance before the Committee of Mr. West, of the Wheat Besearch Institute, and of Mr. Pratt, manager of the Northern Roller-milling Co., Auckland. The Committee expressed its thanks to Mr. Mulholland for his attendance before the Committee. The Committee adjourned until 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 9th October. Wednesday, 9th October, 1929. Present: Mr. Bitchener, Rev. Mr. Carr, Hon. Mr. Cobbe, Mr. Jones, Mr. McCombs, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Waite, Mr. Wilkinson (Chairman). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Messrs. Colquhoun (Department of Industries and Commerce), Good (Customs Department), and Fawcett (Department of Agriculture) were in attendance. Evidence : Mr. A. F. Wright, for the New Zealand Wheat-growers' Association, called Mr. W. Machin, general manager of the New Zealand Farmers' Co-operative Association of Canterbury, Ltd., and Professor Tocker, Chair of Economics, Canterbury College. Mr. E. J. Fawcett, of the Department of Agriculture (recalled), also gave evidence. The Committee adjourned until 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, 15th October. Tuesday, 15th October, 1929. Present: Rev. Mr. Carr, Hon. Mr. Cobbe, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. McCombs, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Wilkinson (Chairman). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman explained that it was necessary for him to go at once to another meeting, and thereupon the Committee agreed that Mr. McCombs should take the chair, and Mr. McCombs did so. Evidence : The following gave evidence and were cross-examined by members of the Committee : Herbert Edwin West, in charge of laboratory, Wheat Research Institute, Christchurch ; Mr. William Stewart Pratt, manager of Northern Roller-milling Co., Auckland ; Mr. Edwin Dudley Good, Customs Department, Wellington ; Mr. Duncan Colquhoun, Department of Industries and Commerce, Wellington. The Committee then adjourned to a date to be fixed by the Chairman of the Committee. Tuesday, 22nd October, 1929. Present : Mr. Bitchener, Rev. Mr. Carr, Hon. Mr. Cobbe, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jones, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Waite, Mr. Wilkinson (Chairman). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence : Letters were read as follows : (1) From Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., forwarding copy of resolution passed by the Taranaki Agricultural and Pastoral Poultry Club, New Plymouth, protesting against the high cost of poultry-foods, and a copy of statement by D. J. Pepper, of New Plymouth, to the same effect; (2) from Mr. J. Heaton Barker, asking that the expenses of the witnesses of the New Zealand Master Bakers' Association before the Committee be paid ; (3) from Mr. A. H. Cockayne, Department of Agriculture, relative to the cost of staining imported fowl-wheat. Evidence : Mr. Malcolm Fraser, Government Statistician, produced figures relative to the grainmills of New Zealand and their production. Consideration of evidence and report: There was a general discussion on what might be the basis of a report. The Committee then adjourned to a date to be fixed by the Chairman.