WHEAT SCANDAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 92, 13 January 1920, Page 5

WHEAT SCANDAL

REPORT OF NEW SOUTH WALES COMMISSION SEVERE CONDEMNATION OF MUDDLE Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Sydney, January I' 2. The report of tlio Wheat Commission deals only with the administration of the State Wheat Office. Other matters are still in abeyance owing to the illness of Geomeson. In the aggregate the rcnort is a severe condemnation ol' the confusion ami muddle which prevailed at the Wheat Office until practically the beginning; of !!)ID. 'l'he presiding Judge finds that there have been heavy losses, both in wheat and money, but at present it. is impassible to estimate the loss of wheat, lie comments severely 011 the failure to appreciate the seriousness of the mouse plague until extensive damage had been done, and he comes to the conclusion that, with the belief that the handliiiL' of the wheat would not last for more than a year, the office was not ade : onatelv stalled with expc-vienced men, and thev became overwhelmed with the macnitude of the business which ultimately confronted them. It also reported that certain persons appeared to nave consniroil to defraud the oflicc in connection with contracts for supplies.— Press Assn. ESTIMATED LOSS ON 1310-17 CHOP. (Rec. January 12, 8.55 p.ru.) Sydney, January 12. Without attempting an accurate estimate the Wheat Commissioners' report suggests that there was a loss on the 1916-1" crop through neglect, mice, weevils, thieving, aud over-payiuents ol between two and a half and three million bushels.—Press Af,sn,