W. G. SMITH.]

31

1.—12 d.

15. Your only complaint is that there is too wide a range in the grade from sixty to seventyfour points ?—Yes; that is all I have to complain about. 16. Hon. Mr. Duncan.] Do you not think that that arrangement in regard to the range of points should be remedied between the millers and the merchants —that it should be quite sufficient for the Government Grader to give you the points ; that you should classify and come to an arrangement that you consider would be a fair difference?— They will not do that. 17. Then, the best thing you can do is sell your own stuff; you will soon see that they will come to you ?—That is what we want to do. 18. It is not for us to make rules and regulations. If our Graders give you the points you have the right to arrange your price with them? —With the Grader or the merchant? 19. With the merchant. We have nothing to do with the merchant. The Grader gives you points, and gives you a certificate. Let that go into the bale so that it will be secure when it arrives at the other end, and that it can be seen what the Government grade was?— That is what I would like to see inserted in ever}' bale. 20. They could then grumble at the Grader because thej' had exactly what he said about them. If in their opinion it did not come up to that, then they could complain?— Yes. 21. But the other matter with regard to your selling: do you see it is one for yourselves. You get the grade, and we should not interfere as regards the price at which you deal with the merchant. If a few of you get together and lay down what you consider a fair number of points for a certain grade, I have not the slightest doubt but the merchants will be willing to meet you in that view, if you go in for it and seek to put yourselves right ?—The merchant will not get away from the Grader's certificate. 22. He will not get away, but you say in your evidence that the range between sixty and seventy-four points is too great—that there is £2 10s. a ton difference; you think that is too long a range : that is a matter for you to fix with the merchants, and say that from sixty to sixty-six or sixty-eight is quite long enough for that particular grade, and make another grade if necessary. You will not get on well if each man runs his own little show, because he gets on well with the merchants. You will do better to fix a general thing amongst yourselves?— Would it not be better to have the grade fixed by the Government ? 23. If you do what is suggested, then we are prepared to get that done if necessary?—l believe we could fix that if you wish it. 24. Mr. Bollard.] Do you say that the merchants do not encourage you to make a high-class grade of flax because they do not pay for the points?—No, they do not encourage you at all. If you sell " fair " or " common " they pay you accordingly. 25. Do you say that the merchants do not give a fair price for the high grades?—Oh, yes, they give a fair price; but they do not encourage you to make " G.F.A.Q. T ' . 26. But if they pay you extra for a high grade they do encourage you?— Yes; but then, do you see, some of the millers cannot make it. 27. But those who can make a high grade, do the merchants pay them? —If you make a high grade you will get paid for it, certainly. 28. Then, why do you say they do not encourage you?— One miller can make " G.F.A.Q." and another only "fair." 29. If they pay you for the points you get paid for every point between sixty and seventyfour?—Between sixty and seventy-four points is " fair " grade, and they will give you a " fair " price for it, If you go over seventy-five points—from that to eighty-four —they will give you £2 10s. a ton more. 30. Then you have nothing to complain about between the miller and the merchant if you get paid for your quality? —Not between the miller and the merchant. 31. Why do you say they do not encourage you then ?—I do not see how they do. 32. If you get paid for the superior article according to points, can you expect them to do more than that? —No; but, you see, they only give you a certain price for a certain grade. 33. We had evidence that the merchants did not pay a sufficient amount between a low grade and a high grade; you say they do? —If you get from seventy-four to eighty-four points they will give you, we will say, £26 a ton ; you send a line down that only gets seventy-two points and they will deduct £2 10s. a ton off you. I say that is not right; the most they should deduct is 10s. —in fact, there is hardly that difference; you can scarcely detect a difference in three points. 34. Then, you say that the merchants do not give you the full value of the points?— They do not give you points at all. 35. No, but according to the grade?—l do not quite understand you myself. 36. You said they only allowed you 10s. when they ought to allow more?—l say they take £2 10s. off when they should only take off 10s. 37. Hon. Mr. Duncan.] I understood that you wanted to explain to Mr. Bollard that whereas there would be only two points of a difference between flax graded to seventy-three points and flax graded to seventy-five points, yet the merchants would deduct £2 10s. per ton in the case of the 73-point grade?— Yes, and I should get just as much if my stuff only got sixty points. 38. They would only give the same for seventy-four points as for sixty-one?—-Yes. 39. Mr. Bollard.] Then the contention is that the merchants do not deal fairly with the millers?—No, they do not. 40. Mr. McLachlan.] Is the difference between some millers making a high grade and others only "common " on account of the quality of the leaf? —The leaf has something to do with it; also the fact that the men do not understand it. 41. It pays you better to make flax that grades at from sixty to sixty-five points?—l believe myself now that I should make more money out of it. 42. We had it in evidence from big millers here that they would not try to make a high-grade