L—l2a.

24

[j. R. SCOTT.

the directors, and all sorts of trouble. This is the reason why we in the South are anxious to see the regulations carried out. If Parliament passes these regulations in their entirety, in a few years' time everything there will be done with a hearty goodwill by the dairy-farmers of New Zealand, because they will find it pays. I have heard a great real of discussion about the expense. While 1 sympathize very fully with the farmer in every way, I am certain of this: it is up to him, and it is good for him, to do something to improve the milk-supply, even if it costs him a little. For instance, I believe that in three years concrete yards would recoup the farmer for the cost by the convenience and saving of labour alone. We have heard a good deal about the condition of dairying and the nastiness of it; but, if concrete yards and modern premises were adopted, the business of milking would become less arduous and dirty, and generally people would take more kindly to it. In some places it has been very bad —so much so as to dissuade people from embarking in it. We have the same variety of conditions in the South as in the North. Take Canterbury :it is more difficult to deal with than Otago. In and around Christchurch it is very flat, and drainage must be difficult in many cases, and special attention would have to be there paid to cleanliness in connection with the city milk-supply. You will remember when the old Dairy Industry Act was brought into force, in Sir John McKenzie's time. Farmers were up in arms against it, as well as the trade. London men said they were the best judges of the butter, but now they were buying according to the grade. I have been in communication with Mr. Swinburne, Victorian Minister of Agriculture, and he informs me that they are quite satisfied we have been going on right lines in this country. If these regulations are, however, effectively carried out they will place us on a footing better than we have ever occupied before. We want to get upsides with Denmark in the matter of cleanliness. We want to educate the farmer up to it, and that is the object of the Bill. There is nothing in the requirements which cannot be safely intrusted to the administration of the Department. If you are going to hamper the Chief Inspector with many restrictions, or not give him full power, I do not think a great amount of good would be done. •1. Mr. Okey.] Your experience is not as a supplier?— No. 2. More of a business nature? —Yes. They look to me to organize conferences and generally take an interest in the industry. 3. You have had no experience of milking?— No. 4. The object of the regulations is to improve the standard of our dairy-produce?— Yes. 5. If I said we have factories of 140 suppliers grading from 95 to 97 points, do you think that could be improved ?—I very much doubt if factories would grade that consistently throughout the season. 6. One of the difficulties in spring-time is feed-flavour? —Yes. 7. Will regulations help to get feed-flavours out?—l dare say cooling the milk would assist very materially. 8. That is done at the present time? —Most factories want it done, but the regulations will enforce it. I would like to say this: that a great mistake is made by even small farmers—that they are apt to be a little too parsimonious about expenditure. 9. Mr. Witty.] You have no actual experience. You say that if the regulations are carried out effectively it will raise the standard of the milk produced?—We would generally improve all the milk. Ido not want you to misunderstand me. There is a large percentage of dairj'-farmers who are doing good work and supplying good milk, but there are from 30 to 40 per cent, who are not so careful. By the mixing of the two milks in the factory-vats the quality of the former is reduced to that of the worst milk in it. 10. Do you believe in the regulations in their entirety?— Yes. 11. Could you suggest any improvements?— No. They would not, of course, apply to everybody. 12. You said they could not be carried out in their entirety? —Not with every one. 13. Could there be some modification made in regard to backblocks and town-suppliers?—lt would be much better not to weaken the hands of the Department at all. It should be left to the discretion of the Inspectors. It would never do to have two sets of regulations. 14. It wants tactful administration? —Yes, the whole success of it lies in tactful administration. 15. Suppose you get a tactless Inspector?—He should be turned out of the service. But I do not think you would get him. In the South many of the regulations have been quietly and willingly carried out. 16. I think the regulations are carried out with tact in Otago, but they are not carried out with tact everywhere? —In some places it is much more difficult than in others. Probably the conditions were worse in some cases than in others. 17. I am speaking of individual tactless men. What is required is a tactful man who will get the farmer to carry out the improvements without friction?— That is so. 18. I am not blaming the Department?—My experience of Inspectors has been that they have all been men thoroughly enjoying the confidence of farmers. 19. Mr. Lang.] I understood you to say that you approved of the farmer paying a tax of 155., or thereabouts?— That was the resolution we passed. 20. I take it that these regulations and the inspection generally are with the view of assisting the consumer as well as the producer?— Yes. 21. Then why should the tax fall on the dairyman?—lt is not a very heavy tax. 22. I ask you the reason why the tax should fall on the dairyman when the regulations are more for the sake of the consumer?—lt is for other people to say who shall be taxed. I made a remark about my people saying they were willing to pay a tax to indicate the readiness of our people to have the thing done, and rather than not have it done they were willing to be taxed.