J» W. DEEM.]

19

1.—12 a.

8. That is, you leave it iv the hands of the Inspector?—l do not see how you can do anything else. If you do not allow the Inspector to use his discretion, how are you going to do it? 9. Do you think there should be a backblocks area, and leave that in the hands of the Inspectors to gradually bring the farmers up to the right standard? —I do not think it is necessary. Considering our experience of other regulations, the backblocks settler could well be left in the hands of the Inspector. 10. These are the same regulations for town and factory dairies? —Yes. 11. Do you think it has anything to do with clean milk, having a man's name on his cart?— Yes, because if a man's name is on the cart it will have a tendency to make him keep it much cleaner. An Inspector may meet a farmer carting a dead animal or pigwash in his cart, and the farmer might deny it is his milk-cart. 12. I know of men who would have to carry back sugar and flour or bonedust. Do you see any harm in taking back bonedust? —Yes, I should say so. 13. In the cart with his skim-milk? —Yes. 14. The can would be washed and steamed? —They should be. 15. The regulations demand they should?— You cannot have a man supervising every farmer all the time. 16. Could a person in the backblocks carry out these regulations? —Yes, to the satisfaction of the Department. 17. The question is, what does the Department want?— The backblocks man will be left to the last. When we come to a man badly situated it will be our place to show him and help him to the best of our ability. 18. Mr. Witty.] Do you think there should be any difference in the regulations for the townsupply dairyman and the backblocks settler who has not the same facilities ?—There would be considerable difference in the administration of them. 19. Are there not Inspectors who do not use that discretion? —I do not think so. They are all working under one head. An Inspector may abuse it once, but he would be very short-lived if he did so. 20. Could it be safely left to the Inspector in all cases?—l think so. A case or two may crop up, but they would soon be rectified. 21. When an Inspector gets a position it is hard to turn him out? —He is under the supervision of superior officers. 22. If you saw a man doing his best you would be satisfied? —Yes. 23. You would not penalise him? —No. The regulations outline the conditions we hope to reach by educating the farmer, and by getting any new work done on a system. If the farmer works on this principle we shall finally arrive at the right conditions. 24. You believe in educating the farmer as to what is required?— Yes. 25. Can ) r ou suggest any improvements in the regulations?—No, except a regulation to provide for "the covering of the cans, to prevent dust entering and prevent the milk being heated by the sun-rays. When the milk is being conveyed from the farm to the factory the lid goes down four or five inches. The recess becomes a receptacle for dust. The covering would require to be, put on a simple frame fixed on the cart. 26. You would cover the whole cart?— Yes. 27. How many cows should there be to the bail?— From three to four. 28. You would not enforce the bail for every cow?— No. 29. In regard to cooling, it is stated that it must be some approved method. Would it not be better to have a fixed heat? —I think that would be impossible. A great many of our backblocks people could not do it at all. 30. You may approve of a system and the next Inspector may not?—lt is the intention of the Department to leave it to the individual Inspectors. .31. In regard to rust, if they show rust the cans are, of course, to be condemned? —I do not think it necessary at all. Ido not think the cans would be condemned unless in a very bad state. It would be straining the regulations, because there was a little rust, to condemn a can. It would only be condemned if unfit for use. 32. Suppose concrete was out of the question, what would be the next best material? —Twoinch timber or burnt bricks. 33. Are you in favour of having the floor perfectly smooth?— What do you mean? 34-. It says here "perfectly smooth"? —I am in favour of having the floor made.smooth, not smoothed by means of an iron trowel, but done over with a wooden trowel. The surface should not be polished. If left really rough it is a means of accumulating filth. 35. Suppose grooves centre into the channel, would that do?—Oh, yes! if a man would clean them. 36. Mr. Rhodes.] You say the carrying-out of the regulations must be left to the Inspector? —Yes, to a great extent. 37. Do you think it wise to leave it to the individual Inspector?— They would have their instructions as to carrying out the regulations. In my district I have eleven Dairy Inspectors. I would instruct each Inspector in his respective district as to how he should carry out the regulations, taking into consideration the character of the district. 38. Then the enforcement is really left to the Department in Wellington?— Yes. 39. Hon. Mr. McNab.] You say you have eleven Dairy Inspectors under you?— Yes. 40. Some of the Inspectors would have backblocks country to deal with? —Yes. 41. Others would have fairly open, settled, and well-off districts?— Yes. 42. And do you wish the Committee to understand that you would issue instructions guiding the Inspector in the backblocks district as opposed to the Inspector in the central district ?—Yes.