FRANK SISSON.]

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I.—loa.

Nelson was unsuitable; —the climate was not suitable, and they could, not make a profit out of the industry. They did not listen, and the consequence is just what I thought— that is to say, the growers are in an awful position. We are sorry that that shoulel have happened, and think the Government should help them, but we do not sec why the Government should help them at the expense of the growers who are in more favourable circumstances. 5. Mr. Forbes.] How long have you been in business ?—All my life. lam now sixty-two years eif age. 6. Do you remember whether the pooling scheme was tried before-—diel they try it in Canterbury ?— I have a case in point. Mr. Longton, through tho help of the Government, built cool stores, and he tried to pool the fruit, but ho got himself into such a hopeless muddle that he did not know where, he was. In the first balance-sheet there: was an item of £3,700 overpaid to growers. He elid not know where he was. That was an attempt that I know eif to organize the pooling system. If we are; going to have that experience: in every part of New Zealand, then all I can say is that we; are: geiing to lose a hit eif money. 7. You said something to the: effect that your association passed a resolution against the Bill ? — Yes. 8. How many members are there in your organizatiem ?—I think there: are' one hundred and forty —perhaps there are nearly one hundred and fifty. As a matter eif fact, the secretary of the association will have: all the figures in that respect. 9. I understand, that Mr. Brash received a letter from the Rangiora fruitgrowers, and they saiel they supported the Bill?—The:v supported tho Bill at first, but em the: 6th September they had another meeting and discussed the Bill. I may say that they elid not have: the Bill when they sent the; first resolution ; but at the meeting on the 6th September they passed a resolution against the Bill—-that is, almost unanimously they opposed it. 10. Then it is not correct to say that the Rangiora fruitgrowers favour the 'Bill ? —No, that is not correct. 11. I had a le:tter from them a little while ago saying that they approved the; Bill, but evidently they have; hael another meeting since: ?—Yes. That letter was sent in August, and this later meeting was held on the: 6th September'. 12. 1 understand what you have said refers to North Canterbury : what is the: position with respect to South Canterbury ?—There are very few growers in South Canterbury ; there are only a few eleiwn at Timaru anel Waimate. I cannot say much about that district. That is a hundred miles away from Christchurch. But there are not many growers down there. 13. Where; are the main growers in your association ? —All around Christchurch. 14. How far out? —Round the foot of the, hills, and right round Riccarton and Papanui. The: bulk of thorn are in Papanui. There are also some at Kaiapoi. 15. That covers the hundred and forty ?— There are more, growers than that. The one hundred anel forty are, I think, members of the association. 16. In regard to the question of voting if the: Bill is put into operation : elo you think what is proposed would meet your views ? —No. I know something about electioneering. 1 have: been at it for twenty-five years in connection with local-body and parliamentary elections, anel I do not like it. Ido not think you should have anything like: that in connection with the fruit industry. 17. As far as the Bill is concerned, yeiu can. speak canelidly that it has not emanated from Cantorbury ? —lt has not emanated from Canterbury- —1 can assure you of that. It came from Nelson —that is where it came from. 18. You do not even favour the export clauses ?—No ; not the export clauses, or anything else. The. export clauses would not assist us. We do not ship for export, anel have not done so for the last ten years. 19. Would you have any objection if the Bill was confined to Nelson alone ? —No, I would have no objection if the: Bill was confined to Nelson. If Nelson wants it, let them have it by all moans. I shoulel have no objection so long as it did not interfere with me. 20. Has Canterbury had any of the Government money in connection with the: export eif apples ? — Nei, we; do not export a single case. 21. You elo not get any of that money ? —No, of course we: elo not. We: do not' get any of that money ; we do not export. 22. Mr. Hawken.] Do you think that there is too much fruit grown in New Zealand for local consumption ?—No. This year there were 200,000 cases sent away, and I am of opinion that if that 200,000 cases had been left in New Zealand the prices woulel have been very fair to the growers. That is what I think of New Zealand consumption. 23. But is not the, quantity of fruit being grown increasing all the time ? —Yes. 24. Out of all proportion to the population ?—Oh, 1 could not say that. 1 del not know the; proportion that is being grown to the population. The; year before last the; fruit was seiling at a fair price. Last year it was not, be:cause that was a slump ye;ar, and we only got slump prices. But this year the' prices have been good, right from the start. We have boon able to sell thousands eif cases this year at ss. a case direct from the: tree's tei the consumer. Anel that pays us admirably. But if we came: under this Control Bill we would have to pay something like 12s. in-expenses for storing, packing, and other expenses. 25. But if there is overproduction—and that seems likely—do yeiu not think it is absolutely necessary to work up some system of getting rid eif the: surplus fruit by export ? —Well, you see, Canterbury eioes not export. 26. Yes, that may be so ; but I. will put it this way'to you : you would not like: Nelson being forced on to the Christchurch market ? You would rather that they exported ? —1 would, of course, sooner