1.—17.

5

Wednesday, 18th September, 1929. Present: Mr. Bitchener, Rev. Mr. Carr, Hon. Mr. Cobbe, Hon. Mr. Forbes, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jones, Mr. McCombs, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Waite, Mr. Wilkinson (Chairman). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Dr. Reakes and Mr. Fawcett (Department of Agriculture), Mr. Good (Customs Department), and Messrs, Collins and Colquhoun (Department of Industries and Commerce) attended. Evidence : The following witnesses tendered evidence and were examined by members of the Committee : Mr. E. D. Good, of the Customs Department; Mr. W. D. Hunt, of Wellington, chairman of the Unemployment Committee ; Mr. J. H. Barker, secretary, New Zealand Master Bakers' Association ; Mr. F. H. Hawker, of Messrs. Stacey and Hawker, Bakers, Christchurch ; Mr. A. House, of Auckland, master baker ; Mr. W. A. Kellow, of Wellington, master baker ; Mr. J. W. Collins, Secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce. On the motion of Mr. McCombs it was agreed to recall Mr. W. W. Mulholland, managing director of the New Zealand Wheat-growers' Association, and Mr. R. McPherson, the manager. The Committee adjourned until Tuesday, 24th September, at 9.30 a.m. Tuesday, 24th September, 1929. Present : Rev. Mr. Carr, Hon. Mr. Cobbe, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jones, Mr. McCombs, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Wilkinson (Chairman). The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The question of securing further evidence from bakers was discussed, and held over for further consideration. Dr. Reakes and Mr. Fawcett (Department of Agriculture), Mr. Good (Customs Department), and Messrs. Collins and Colquhoun (Department of Industries and Commerce) attended. Evidence : Mr. A. T. Donnelly, for Distributors Ltd., called Mr. R. K. Ireland, chairman of directors of Ireland and Co., Ltd., of Oamaru, flour-millers, and Mr. J. C. Young, of Palmerston North. Mr. Young's evidence had not been completed when the Committee adjourned until 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 25th September. Wednesday, 25th September, 1929. Present: Mr. Bitchener, Rev. Mr. Carr, Hon. Mr. Cobbe, Hon. Mr. Forbes, Mr. Jones, Mr. McCombs, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Waite, Mr. Wilkinson (Chairman). Dr. Reakes and Mr. Fawcett (Department of Agriculture), Messrs. Collins and Colquhoun (Department of Industries and Commerce), and Mr. Good (Customs Department) were in attendance. Evidence : The examination of Mr. J. C. Young, managing director of Messrs. Hodder and Tolley, general produce-merchants and flour-millers, of Palmerston North, was resumed and concluded. Mr. R. K. Ireland produced, confidentially, the balance-sheets of Messrs. Brown and Son, Ltd., and of the Atlas Roller Flour-mills, and was cross-examined. Mr. R. J. Lyon, grain manager for Messrs. Wood Bros., Ltd., Christchurch, produced, confidentially, the balance-sheets of his company and was cross-examined on the same. The Clerk was instructed to ask the Government Statistician to attend before the Committee at a suitable date. The Committee adjourned until 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday, Ist October. Tuesday, Ist October, 1929. Present: Mr. Bitchener, Rev. Mr. Carr, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. Jones, Mr. McCombs (in chair), Mr. Waite. The minutes of the two previous meetings were read and confirmed. Correspondence : Telegram from Mr. A. F. Wright, Christchurch, asking that three witnesses be heard on 9th October : The action of the Clerk in agreeing to this date was confirmed. A telegram from Mr. A. Wood, president of the Auckland Poultry Association, to the Hon. Mr. Forbes, passed on to the Committee, was received. A telegram was received from Mr. W. W. Mulholland asking to be heard on Bth October. Date agreed to. A letter from Mr. J. Montgomery, Christchurch, suggesting the staining of imported fowl-wheat, was received. A letter from. Mr. L. A. Woodward, Christchurch, forwarding certified details of the cost of producing a 41b. loaf, was read by the Clerk. It was agreed that Mr. Woodward should be called later. Evidence : Evidence was given by the following witnesses : Mr. G. S. Bates, of Upper Hutt, president of the New Zealand Poultry Association ; Mr. A. G. Mumby, of Heretaunga, poultryfarmer : Mr. J. Heatoi); secretary of the New Zealand Master Bakers' Association ; Mr. A. J. Clegg, manager of Denhard Bakeries, Ltd., Wellington; Mr. T. S. Searle, of Dunedin, master baker: Mr. H. P. Burton, of Auckland, master baker ; Mr. A. House, of Auckland, master baker ; Mr. G. K Matheson, of Auckland, master baker. Mr. J. H. Barker produced figures relating to the costs of a Dunedin business. The Clerk was instructed to call the manager of the Northern Roller-milling Co., Auckland. The Committee then adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 2nd instant.