3

1.—17.

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS. Wednesday, 14th August, 1929. The Committee met at 11 o'clock a.m. Present: Mr. Bitchener, Hon. Mr. Cobbe, Hon. Mr. Forbes, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jones, Mr. MeCombs, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Wilkinson. The order of reference setting up the Committee was read by the Clerk. Election of Chairman : On motion of the Hon. Mr. Forbes, seconded by Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Wilkinson was elected Chairman of the Committee. Mr. Wilkinson accordingly took the chair, and thanked members for the honour paid him in electing him to the chair. Resolved, That the meetings of the Committee during the taking of evidence be open to accredited representatives of the press. Resolved, That interested parties may be represented before the Committee by counsel. The Clerk was instructed to advise the press of the procedure intended to be adopted by the Committee, and to invite the various interests connected with the wheat industry to place evidence before the Committee. Resolved, That the days of meeting be Tuesday and Wednesday ; and that the first meeting be held on Wednesday, the 21st August, to hear departmental evidence and fix dates for hearing other evidence, and that the hour of meeting be 9.30 a.m. The Committee then adjourned. Wednesday, 21st August, 1929. Present: Mr. Bitchener, Rev. Mr. Carr, Hon. Mr. Forbes, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jones, Mr. MeCombs, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Waite, Mr. Wilkinson (Chairman). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Correspondence : The Clerk read a list of the principal parties invited to tender evidence. It was agreed that the Associate Chambers of Commerce should be informed that it was not the intention of the Committee to hear evidence at any other place than Wellington. Procedure : After a general discussion on the procedure to be followed, it was agreed that the Committee should, as far as practicable, follow the items of the order of reference; that the evidence of witnesses representing different interests should be taken, if possible, in regular order, but that the convenience of witnesses from a distance be given consideration. Witnesses, the press, and others being then admitted, the Hon. Mr. Forbes, Minister of Agriculture, addressed the Committee, pointing out that it was desired that all sides of the case should be heard. Mr. W. H. Field, M.P., asked that a date should be fixed and notified to the New Zealand Poultry Association for the hearing of evidence the association desired to furnish. Mr. A. F. Wright, barrister and solicitor, of Christchurch, asked leave to attend on behalf of the New Zealand Wheatgrowers' Association and other interests. Evidence was then given by Dr. George Craig, Comptroller-General of Customs ; Mr. Alfred Hyde Cockayne, Assistant Director-General of Agriculture ; and Mr. John W. Collins, Secretary to the Department of Industries and Commerce. Mr. Collins's evidence was not concluded. The Clerk was instructed to obtain from the Department of Industrial and Scientific Research a copy of the report on wheat-cultivation supplied to the Department by the Wheat Institute. The Committee then adjourned until 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, 27th August. Wednesday, 28th August, 1929. Present: Mr. Bitchener, Rev. Mr. Carr, Hon. Mr. Cobbe, Hon. Mr. Forbes, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jones, Mr. MeCombs, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Waite, Mr. Wilkinson (Chairman). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Chairman explained that he had directed that the meeting set down for Tuesday, 27th August, be postponed until the following day. Evidence : Mr. S. A. Ferguson, chairman of the South Auckland Dairy Association, gave evidence and was examined by members of the Committee. Arising out of Mr. Ferguson's evidence, the Clerk was instructed to request the Farmers' Co-opera-tive Organization Society of N.Z., Ltd., of Hawera, to furnish the prices of certain wheat products on the rail at Hawera. Mr. J. W. Collins, Secretary to the Department of Industries and Commerce, recalled, gave further evidence and was examined. Mr. E. J. Fawcett, Farm Economist, of the Agriculture Department, gave evidence and was examined. Mr. Fawcett's evidence was not completed. Correspondence : It was agreed to suggest to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and others who had sent in written statements that they should give the Committee an opportunity to crossexamine a representative or the writer of the statement. The Committee then adjourned until 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 4th September.