4226. Have you ever been obliged to exchange the goods you got for money for other things you were more in want of?-No; I have never been so hard pushed as that, but I know some people who have.
4227. Were these acquaintances of your own?-Yes; I know them quite well.
4228. Have you ever taken goods from them, and given them money or provisions in exchange?-Yes; I have given a few groceries occasionally, but very few. I have also bought groceries from a knitter, such as tea, which they had taken out in exchange for their work.
4229. How did you pay for that? Did you give the woman money for it?-Yes, I gave her money to help her through for a time.
4230. What was she to do with the money?-That was no business of mine; I don't know.
4231. Did she not tell you what she was to do with it?-No; she did not say, and I did not ask.
4232. Did she come and ask you to take the tea off her hands?- Yes.
4233. Who was that?-I will give the name privately. There was more than one of them. [Witness gives two names.]
4234. Then you think it would be better for the knitters that they should be paid in cash?-Yes, it would be better for all the Lerwick knitters especially.
4235. Why for the Lerwick knitters especially?-Because they are most dependent upon their knitting, especially in the winter season.