J. G. HARKNESS.]

31

1.—12 a.

13. So that a farmer could not go back to the town and bring home his produce in his milkcart?—That is not my contention. I would forbid all tainted material being carried with the whole or skim milk. 14. We have seen in the papers all kinds of costs of what it would take to put up one of these sheds to comply with the conditions. Could you give any idea of the cost of sheds and yards for fifty cows to comply with the regulations?— That would depend very materially on the size of your cowshed. 15. You could not give evidence on that point? —I have not worked out the details. 16. What would you do with suppliers who have sufficient sheds for their use, and possibly a stable within 30 ft. : would you interfere with them? —No. I have already said it is advisable to have a cowshed standing by itself from other buildings, and I would not be arbitrary in connection with that matter. It is very much better for the buildings to be some distance apart, principally for the sake of ventilation. 17. Do you think it right that a man going on to new country, with no roads, should be asked to comply with these conditions? —If the regulations are carried out in the spirit as the Government purposes carrying them out, I think you must have some definite line to go upon. You are working up towards an ideal. We do not suppose in a case such as that that the Department is going to be severe. When they started the grading system they were not so strict as they are to-day, and during the last ten years we have improved our dairy produce by great strides simply owing to that. 18. Under the regulations the chairman of directors would be responsible for unclean cans just the same as the owner, according to the interpretation given to " dairyman "I —l do not see that in the regulations. 19. In the interpretation of " dairyman "?—I do not interpret it that way. 20. "Dairyman " means "occupier of dairy, and includes," &c. ?—There is no reference to a factory. 21. It refers to " dairyman "I —lt simply means that I may have a large farm and manage it by my agent, or I may be in a company owning a farm, but that does not refer to a factory. The regulations have nothing to do with factories. 22. It is to do with the supply of milk? —Yes, from the farm, not to the factory. Factory directors have nothing to do with the matter. 23. Mr. Witty.] You think these regulations absolutely necessary?— Yes. 24. You say there is still room for improvement?— Yes. 25. Chiefly at the farm end?— Yes. 26. You have been speaking purely from the factory end? —No. 27. You have had experience of the wear-and-tear and turmoil of the settler except for the few years you mention I —l have been on a farm practically all my life. I milked for two years in the backblocks, where there was neither shed nor yard. J was then milking for four or five years twenty cows night and morning myself. 28. Was your milk as clean when you milked out in the open as to-day in a shed?— Milking out in the open was better, only for the bad weather. 29. In regard to clause 6, you say the registration charge of 10s. is heav}'. Would you call it a heavy charge where a man had a hundred cows, which would come to lj,d. per cow per year? — Then graduate it. 30. If there is a hardship it is on the smaller man?—No, Ido not think so. The amount of 10s. is too heavy. It will bring in a considerable income to the Government. 31. What about the man with 100 cows?—lt is the man with fewer cows who would have to pay it. 32. It applies to all? —It simply means in a case of a factory of £100 or so off the profits. 33. Have you any idea what it costs the Department for inspection?— No. 34. Then you think the Department should do all this for nothing?—No, I do not say that. 35. Unless you are going to get fees, where are you going to get a return? You must have some charge. You object to blocks or bricks for flooring. Would not blocks be all right if tarred and sanded, and be as good as boards? —No. 36. Nor bricks, if cemented hard down?— Yes, hard-burnt bricks; but bricks, sooner or later, become exceedingly porous 37. Do you think clay would do for a floor?—It would do, but you want the best and most serviceable floor. 38. Do you think the floor should be perfectly smooth? —The floor we are using is perfectly smooth. The cows stand with their hind feet on the pavement, and it slopes from each cow towards the centre, and from one end to the other. We have milked sixty or seventy, and have had no accidents. 39. How far should the grip be from the back of the cow to the drain?—We have our drain right in the middle of the shed. 40. Yours is a double shed?— Yes. 41. How far would that be?— 2 ft. 6 in. or 3 ft. 42. In regard to the dwellinghouse being within 30 ft. of the dairy, would you compel those who now have their dwellinghouses closer than that to remove them, providing the sheds are kept fairly clean? —No. It would be advisable for them to have them removed, but I would not compel them. 43. Mr. Rhodes.} You think discretion ought to be given the Inspector in the matter of flooring?—Tn those districts where it is impossible to get metal for concrete. 44. You think discretionary power should also be given in regard to the other regulations? —In reference to what ?