2745. He stated that the worsted for a 30s. shawl would come to at least 10s.?-If it is Shetland wool, the worsted for a 30s. shawl would cost me about 12s. 2746. If a 30s. shawl is made with any other kind of wool, is there a difference in the cost of the wool?-There would be a difference of about 3s. 2747. The English wool would be about 3s. cheaper?-Yes. 2748. And the shawl would sell for how much?-I suppose for about that much less, or about 27s. 2749. A shawl exactly the same in other respects would be made out of English wool for 3s. less?-Yes; for 2s. or 3s. less. 2750. And it would also sell in the market for 2s. or 3s. less?- Yes. 2751. The knitting in that case would be paid at the same rate?- Yes. 2752. Do you buy much wool in Shetland?-We buy all the fine wool we can get. In fact, we cannot get supplied with as much Shetland wool as we want. 2753. You don't buy it to resell?-No; I just buy it for my own use. 2754. Is it the fact that some of your Shetland hosiery is sold without any profit at all?- There is some of it sold below cost price when it comes to be bad stock. 2755. Are gentlemen's drawers, for instance, sold without a profit?-I think they are sold at no reduction. 2756. Do you make any profit upon them?-Yes, I make a profit. 2757. You sell them south at a higher rate than you pay to the knitters for them?-Yes; at a shade higher, some of them. 2758. I have had evidence today from one gentleman that he bought them and sold them at a lower price. Do you think that is the case?-It is quite possible, and I have known instances of that with myself. 2759. Does that happen with you in some kinds of goods?-Yes; with certain kinds of goods which are produced in larger quantities than are required. 2760. But that over-production does not continue over a long period of time?-It does in the knitting trade with myself. I don't pay off any of the knitters; I keep them on. 2761. Can they not turn their attention to some other kinds of work when there is too much stock of a particular kind?-It is generally lacework, veils or shawls, that I give out for knitting. 2762. But when there is an over-production of that kind of goods, can the knitters not turn their hands to something else?-They do so occasionally. 2763. So that you have not an increasing stock of goods which you cannot sell at a profit?-Very often they cannot get the wool with which to make the coarser sort of goods. It is not to be got, and there is a very large proportion of the Shetland wool sent south, and sold as raw material. 2764. Then the women are restricted to the articles for which they have suitable wool?-Yes; both those who knit for themselves, and those who knit with the wool which we give out.