14,139. But you don't know of any special arrangement between merchants to that effect?-No.
14,140. And you have not entered into any such arrangement yourself?-No.
14,141. Did any of the men object to the debt which they had incurred to Mr. Adie being transferred to you?-No; I think they were rather pleased at it, because they were afraid Mr. Adie would have been hard upon them for it.
14,142. Might he have been harder after they left his service?- There is no doubt he would, and he would have had a right to be so.
14,143. Do you purchase kelp on the Lunna estate?-Yes.
14,144. Does your tack include a lease of the kelp shores?-In point of fact I have no tack, but merely a letter, and just now I am acting upon a verbal agreement from year to year. I can give it up whenever I choose, on giving it short intimation.
14,145. Does that arrangement include the kelp shores?-Yes.
14,146. What is the price allowed by you for kelp?-4s. 6d. when paid in goods.
14,147. Is there a different price when it is paid for in cash?-Mr. Sutherland manages that matter; but I am pretty sure that he pays only 4s. in cash, and anybody can get that who chooses.
14,148. But I suppose most of them take it in goods-Many of them do. It is it very convenient way for them, and the goods are not charged any higher in consequence, but we consider that the profit on the goods enables us to give a higher price.