[W. L. WRIGHT.

1.—12 a.

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place they would, with the help they are getting from the Department, be able to give valuable information to dairymen, and dairymen would rather welcome their presence than otherwise. People supplying the cities require the Inspector pretty often during the year. The first thing in the regulations the Canterbury dairymen took exception to was the concrete surface : they wanted it rough. I am absolutely against any race whatever. In regard to open and closed sheds, I think it is quite possible the dairyman could have a yard sufficiently large outside the door to hold the surplus cattle. In regard to the provision for whitewashing the inside of the shed twice a year, I think the partitions between the cows should be coated with lime once a month. We do not agree with the provision to keep the stable a certain distance from the cowshed. We consider there is no necessity for it. In regard to notifying the Inspector before making any structural alterations to dairy premises, I fail to see why, with the dairy regulations before him and being a practical man, he should be interfered with. I quite agree with Mr. Parlane that milk should be cooled to 65°. There should be a fixed standard. If this was so the Inspector could come to the dairyman at any time and correct him for not doing as the regulations specified. It says in section 17, (a), that the work of cleansing the utensils should be commenced within the hour. I would like to point out in that case that there are a number of farms where the husbands and wives do the whole business themselves. In such cases some latitude should be given, provided the buckets were washed out at once with cold water. The same thing applied in section 17, (6). In regard to rust, I do not see that rust would be detrimental, provided it is not allowed to remain on the inside of cans. We quite agree they should not be rusty on the inside. In regard to the rust on the outside, a little discretion might be allowed. In regard to section 20 (No dairyman shall use a can that does not beat a metal label with his name thereon), I retail milk, and I have about a dozen cans in my cart. Ido not think it would be necessary only in the case of the largt cans. It would be right in connection with the large drums. 1. Mr. Okey.] You have no experience of factory-supply? —No. 2. You do not know the difficulties of the backblocks where there are no roads?— No. 3. In the case of a tenant, do you think it would be hard on the tenant having to pay 5 per cent, on the improvements? —No; it would be a fair thing. I have had to pay 10 per cent. 4. Mr. Witty.] Can you give an instance where there has been hardship in the case of a short-lease tenant? —Yes. It has cost me a few pounds, and our leases are out in nine months. My expenses were in the neighbourhood of £20. Some of the improvements I had to do myself, and the trustees did the rest. 5. Was it because of negligence, or because it did not please the Inspector?—l had no grievance with the Inspector. 6. Was it because of the regulations, or because your dairy was not clean? —lhe regulations applied to the stable adjoining the shed. I was ordered to shift it. I went to the trustees, and they agreed to put a new stable if I paid 10 per cent. 7. Who do you consider are the proper persons to fill the position of Dairy Inspector?—He should be a qualified dairyman. He should be able to give dairymen advice in respect to cattle, in the first place. If an Inspector was qualified he would be able to get rid of certain cattle which were not profitable, which could be fattened off. A neighbour is fattening all his cows and buying in springers. 8. Cans get knocked about in a cart. New cans would get bruised, and consequently rusty ( —I have had cans for five years, and there is no sign of rust upon them. 9. Is there any hardship in regard to the clause dealing with rust? —No, not in regard to the inside of cans. If allowed to stand on frosty mornings you soon see the rust. 10. How many cows should there be to the bail? —If a man has twenty cows he should have at least six bails. 11. That is about one to three? —About that. 12. How often do you think the Inspector should come round? —I would not care if he came once a month. With people supplying towns the Inspector should come at any time. 13. Taking the regulations in all, you are satisfied? —Yes, with the exception of the few amendments mentioned. : 14. Mr. Shades.] If a man has six bails for twenty cows, should he increase the bails m proportion if he has a hundred cows? —I think with a hundred there should be thirty bails. In one case I know there are sixty bales for a hundred. We were supplying the town, and it was necessary to have as many in as possible at the one time. It is no advantage to a man to have a small shed. 15. Have you gone through these regulations with other dairymen, and discussed them? Yes, as far as the city-supply dairymen are concerned. 16. Were their views in accordance with the views expressed this morning?— Yes. 17. You are really their mouthpiece?— Yes. 18. Mr. Buddo.] You favour regulations generally to control the industry?— Decidedly, for the city. 19. Would you suggest any method by which the regulations regarding the yard and shed accommodation could be improved, especially in subsections (1) and (2) of (/c)? —In the case of an open shed I think it would be better if the yard were at the back of the shed, because that would prevent the dust from blowing in, providing the yard is paved. If it was at the back it would save a considerable amount of dust. 20. Do you favour a race in any way to bring in cows from a distant yard or from a paddock? Would it be beneficial to the industry?—l do not believe in races at all, except in the case of the entrance to the sheds, which might be very bad. Something should be done to prevent mud being carried into the shed.