Minutes of Evidence p.1401-1509 - Parliament of Victoria

c, w. Derbam,
contmued,
8th May 1883.
Ronu.Jd Robb,
lltb May 1883,
1474
49829. By Jlfr. Lobb.-Do I understand you to say that the Victorian climate is not suited to the
growth of oats ?-Of course I am only repeating what I have heard. 1 have heard it, not from any one
person in particular, but from several persons.
·19830. I say that we can grow as good oats as any country in the world ?-In some parts no doubt
it eau be done.
The witness withdrew.
Ronald Robb sworn aud examined.
49831. By the Chairman.-What are you ?-A trader.
49832. And importer of grain ?-Not particularly; I am more particul::wly in trade, buying and
selling ; occasionally I import.
49833. You are a dealer in grain?-Yes.
49834. Where is your place of business ?-Flinders-street.
49835. How long have you been in the business ?-About seventeen years in Melbourne ancl
suburbs.
49836. You have hea-rd the evidence of the previous witness in relation to the duty upon the various
grains-do you desire to add :1nything to tha.t evidence, or to contradict it in any way ?-There is nothing
I can contradict so far. I perfectly agree with his evidence so far that the duties ought to be entirely
removed from all grain and bags. ·
49837. You used the words "so far ''-clo you go farther than he does ?-In reply to a question
from the Hon. Mr. Lorimer, he said he would approve of the duty being reduced upon oats ; now I
think that the duty upon all grain ought to be entirely removed in this country.
49838. He said so too; he said if we cannot take it off entirely, a reduction would be advantageous?
-Yes, I agree with that.
49839. Have you anything to add to his evidence that he omitted to state ?-I have had a great
deal of experience in the trade, and I know the working of it. I know that the duty upon oats is
hampering the Melbourne trade entirely. :For instance, Queensland buyers go now to the Sydney
market. Oats are sent direct from New Zealand now in large quantities to Sydney, instead of coming
to Melbourne. The Queensland buyers go there and buy, because in sending oats from New Zealand to
Sydney the consignor knows that he has not to pay the duties. If he cannot sell the oats for transhipment
in Sydney, he can sell them in Syclney without having to pay duty. Therefore the consumer in
Sydney gets oats at a much less price than the consmner in Melbourne does, and, >ts a representative
of the consumer, I say it is taking it out of his pocket and putting it into the pocket of some one
else.
49840. Now, not speaking as a representative of the consumers, but simply as a dealer, will you
explain to the Commission what injury is done to Melbourne and :Melbourne dealers by this business being
done in Sydney instead of Melbourne ?-We do not get the handling of it here; the ships are laid on direct
to Sydnfly. and it does not come here.
49841. Are the ships Melbourne or Sydney ships ?-They may be either, it makes no difference; a
ship will go wherever the trade is.
49842. But is the trade carried on in Sydney ships or Melbourne ships ?-The "Union Steamship
Company has now gone to New Zealand; it will eventually leave Melbourne altogether, I think.
49843. Then it is a New Zealand company that carries it ?~It was a Melbourne firm, the firm
of McMeckan, Blackwood, and Company; but on account of these duties and one thing and another, it has
entirely taken it out of the hands of the Melbourne shipowners.
49844. The Melbourne port loses the duties ?-The Melbourne port loses the duties, and the
Melbourne dealer loses the profits.
49845. And the Melboi1rne workman loses the wages of handling ?-Yes. I may state a fact that
happened this week. A gentleman from Brisbane asked me the price of oats; I gave him a quotation for ·
oats in bond. He told me he could buy them cheaper in Sydney; therefore he saves the freight from here
to Sydney, and buys a penny cheaper in Sydney than here; and I used to trade with him, but Sydney has
cut me entirely out of the market.
'
49846. Have you anything to add ?-I think the duty upon bags is entirely unnecessary.
49847. There is the same duty upon bags in Sydney; that does not affect you as to the Sydney
market; so if the duty upon bags were removed, it would give you a pull against Sydney, would it not, in
that item ?-I do not see that it would make much difference.
49848. If it makes a difference against you when the cluty is on, it must make the same difference .
in your favour if it is off ?~I think there ought to be a rebate or refund of the duty upon bags when
exported with the grain. Upon the other goods there is a drawback ; why should there not be upon the
bags when they are tilled? In that case it would benefit the farmers and every one. The only one who
has to pay through the nose for it is the Victorian consumer; he pays clearer.
49849. Have you anything further to say ?-No.
498.50. By l'rb-. Lobb.-Are you in favour of a Custom-house ?-If it could be clone without, certainly
uot.
49851. I understood you to say that all the protection of the farmers, the duty, should be taken off?
-Yes, if bags and implements were free.
49852. Would you not go a little further and do away with the Custom-house altogether ?-If
possible, I would. I may state that I deal a great deal with the farmers, and I think the general feeling
amongst them is that, if the duties upon agricultural machinery and other things were removed, they would
be quite satisfied to concede the question of grain. It is merely because they feel that they are handicapped
so heavily with other duties. And there was another question with regard to South Australia, and the
reason why South Australia can or did produce cheaper was because the agricultural machinery can be
bol1ght at a mucille8s price than ours. It is not altogether a question of cost, for I think that labour in
South Australia and hero is about equal, while the reason tl1at produce is a less price is that they can
buy agricultural implements for a less price.
49853. By tile Cltairman.-In making that statement, are you speaking from your own knowledge,
or just giving t\5 the experienc