[c. gilkbs.

1.—12b.

10

216. Do you think that is a proper condition of affairs? —Do you not think it would be better to have abattoirs and an open market? —Well, I have had nearly live years' experience in dealing with the companies, and I am quite sure that I am better off when dealing with the companies than I should be if I had to deal with the small wholesale butcher. 217. Then you mentioned another matter. You said that companies would give you the whole of the offal if you wanted it? —Yes, that is when they are killing stock for clients. 218. Could you deal with the offal to advantage?— No. 219. Well, what is the use of it to you?—lt is of no use to me. The blood, for instance, is of no use. 220. W x ell, if you had public abattoirs you would get your proportion of the offal. You would get your share of everything. It would not have to be carted away. It would be manufactured, and you would get the value of your proportion ?—I was not aware of that. 221. Mr. Rhodes.] Are there many like yourself now getting their meat from the Meat-export Company? —About thirty-five, I should think. 222. And you are voicing the opinion of the others?—Y T es, of the majority. 223. If you want a particular line of meat, do you have to take what the company sends you, or do you select it?—l think we should be allowed to select it. I have heard of it being done. At the present time I have to take the best. 224. Whether you are satisfied or not?— Yes. I wanted ewes, but they told me I should have to take wethers. 225. Then, you are in their hands as regards price and as regards quality?— Yes, we are in their hands; but, at the same time, it is a good job we are situated as we are. 226. Would they call first-class mutton a carcase which has one bruise on it?— Yes; but badly bruised mutton is not first class. 227. It is classed as second class?—-If a wether is bruised slightly it would come in as first class. If it is badly bruised it would be second class. When they are killing as many as two or three thousand a day this second-class meat may be equal to the best frozen in many ways. There might be a slight tear in the fell or inner skin, or there might be some other fault in the dressing. It may not look quite so nice. 228. Hon. Mr: Duncan.] They go by the name of " rejects " ?—Y'es, " rejects." 229. Mr. Lawry.] In very hot weather when the meat is very perishable, you find it an advantage to buy just to suit your own needs I —Yes, undoubtedly. 230. You think you have an advantage over those who buy alive and kill themselves ?—Yes. 231. You can take a quarter where they will have to take a whole carcase? —Yes. 232. Hon. Mr. McLean.] You think that there are about thirty-five of you dealing with the companies ?—Yes. 233. Supposing these abattoir powers were delegated to one of the companies, would you get as much then?— Certainly, and more. I presume we should then have the option of buying live stock and having it killed there should we wish to do so. 234. But do you not think that it would be putting a definite power into the hands of the companies to squeeze your people whenever they wanted to?— Not necessarily. As far as I am personally concerned, I consider the conroanies are not treating us badly at all. 235. The companies make arrangements as to what prices they pay up country to the farmers, I believe, so you will get the advantage of that ?—lt has never struck me in that light. 1 imagine that the companies are paying very fair prices all round at present. I see by the papers they are paying as high as £1 10s. per head for sheep. 236. The sheep here I believe are sometimes shipped down to Canterbury and sold as Canterbury mutton. Where are they paying that price now?— That is in Canterbury. 237. When have they paid £1 10s. for fat sheep here? —Not here; in Canterbury. 238. Have they at any time paid £1 ss. here? —Yes, £1 7s. 6d. 239. Can you give us a case?—At Johnsonville. 240. There must have been very few sheep?—No, there was a fair quantity of sheep in at the sale. I think I remember a line of ewes withdrawn at £1 2s. 241. That is different from £1 10s.?—Yes, but I have seen wethers sold at £1 7s. 6d. 242. How often?— Not often. 243. Now, do you not think the erection of abattoirs is the fairest way to deal with this matter. There cannot then be any rigging of prices as there might be supposing these powers were put into the hands of one of the companies ?—Well, the rigging of prices by the wholesale butcher is an advantage to the small butcher. 244. One would suppose, from the way you answered Mr. Rhodes's questions, that you were getting the rejects very cheap ?—Well, Ido not think we are getting anything very cheap. Threepence three farthings for wether-mutton and 3Jd. for ewe-mutton, and 19s. for ox-beef is not cheap. 245. Is that a high price?— Yes, taking everything into consideration. 246. How many shops has the Meat-export Company in Wellington?— Not any. 267. And the Gear Company?— They have several —four in Wellington. 248. The Meat-export Company have no shops?— No. 249. Whose is that shop on Lambton Quay?— You mean Barber and Co.. 250. I think the Wellington Meat-export Company have their offices there. Is that not a Wellington Meat-export Company's shop?—l do not think so. Mr. Barber does all the business there. 251. There are no other butchers in their hands?—No, they do not do any retail business at all. 252. Are you in the hands of any company?—No, sir, lam not. There is one thing they do not allow us to do. They do not allow us to run our accounts on for more than a week.