I.—lo.

14

[P. WILLIAMS.

167. You say that you were refused supplies for about six or seven months from the Millers' Association?— Yes, that would be about it. 168. You are quite sure about that ?—Yes, I think so. 169. And on this one occasion you refer to you were refused by Mr. Jameson the supply of an order for 100 tons ? —Yes, that is quite so. 170. When was that ? Do you remember the date ?—lt would be in November or December, 1902. 171. What was the price of flour then ? —I think it was £10 10s. when I gave the order. 172. Was there a rising market ? Was flour going up about that time ?—Yes, I think it was. 173. About 25 tons was your usual monthly order? —About 25 to 30 tons. 174. And when you gave an order for 100 tons and were refused, the market was rising?—l said it was for 50 or 100 tons. 175. You evidently gave that order to protect yourself as far forward as possible ?—Yes. 176. What reason was given to you for the refusal ?—Because I was not a member of the Bakers' Association. 177. You do not think the reason would be that the millers wanted to avail themselves of the advantage in the rising price of flour as well as you did?— They might. 178. Do you not think that would be a good reason? —No. 179. You do not think that in the face of the rising market they would do that ?—No ; I do not think that was the market price, and 50 or 100 tons would be nothing to them. 180. You say that the occasions when you were refused supplies of flour extended over six or seven months ? —Yes. 181. Will you glance through this return [Exhibit N]. You will find the supplies of flour granted to you from September, 1901, to August, 1903?— Yes, that is correct. 182. You will see that there were only three months in which you got no flour from the association ?—Yes. 183. During the months of December, 1902, and January, 1903, there was no flour delivered to you through the association ? —The reason of that is that the association had taken over Heslop's flour to deliver to me ; and another reason is that, I believe, the association gave a certain miller an opportunity to sell his flour. The flour was not of very good quality, and caused some trouble, and they said, " You sell it if you can," and, being pushed, I bought off that man through the association. That is the reason why it does not show in that return. 184. You say you also got flour from Auckland and Sydney ?—Yes. 185. Would it cost you above the price you could get flour in Christchurch at ?—The expenses and duty cost £2 to bring it over. 186. What was it landed here to you for ?—At the early part I thought it was about the same price as we were paying here for it, but then it went up over there and became very expensive. 187. You say you have no doubt that the Millers' Association tried to control your business ?— Yes, I have no doubt about that. 188. When you met these millers in the street, what reason did they give you for saying that they would supply you with flour again ? —They said something to the effect that they had cut themselves adrift from the Bakers' Association, and would supply any one who brought the money. 189. On how many occasions did you tender cash to the Millers' Association and were refused supplies of flour? —It would be three or four times. I never took the cash with me. 190. That.would probably be in December, 1902, or January of this year? —Yes, about that time. 191. Did you know anything about the deliberations of the price committee ?—I did at the time, but I have mostly forgotten. I was not on the price committee myself. 192. Did you know what influence the millers had on the price committee?—l do not know, but I think we got on better while the millers were on the price committee. 193. What was the reason for that ?—Well, I think the millers were rather in favour of the two prices—or the one miller that was on the committee. 194. You are aware of certain statements that were made by Mr. Taylor in the House with regard to the Lyttelton bread-supply ?—Yes. 195. Now, you can clear this matter up a good deal. Did the association have any influence whatever on you in the action you took in regard to the supply of bread in Lyttelton ?—None. 196. Absolutely none ? —None. 197. You admit that you got flour during the time you referred to through the association from Mr. E. Evans?—Yes. 198. He was an associated miller, was he not ?—Yes. 199. That was during the period you say you were refused flour by the association—during the six or seven months referred to?— Yes. 200. You say you did purchase flour from Mr. E. Evans ?—Yes, on the one occasion; but I could not have got that flour if I had gone to the association. 201. You are cognisant of the fact that Mr. E. Evans was a member of the association ?— Yes; but I think what be did was hardly aboveboard. I do not think Mr. Evans would have been allowed to sell it if it had been known where it was going to. 202. Was it invoiced by the association? —I think it was. 203. Do you not think, if that were so, that Mr. Evans would have been brought to book for supplying you ?—Yes; but they gave him a free hand, for about a week, to sell his flour where he liked.