[l. GRAY.

60

1.—12 a.

month and a half old when carted, so the dairyman is not likely to contaminate his cart. He will keep it clean. It is a mode of protection he has in keeping his milk clean and sound lhere is another phase of inspection. We have a great difficulty nowadays in getting suitable labour and if we are to enforce these regulations in their entirety it would certainly add a good deal to the cost of and trouble with labour. Dairymen are in a very different situation from any one else It is a case of working seven days a week, no half-holiday on Saturdays, and no returning to work till the following Monday; there are no holidays. In connection with this I do not intend to touch on matters in connection with the factory system. I just wish to speak as one who is supplying milk for human consumption. I should like to see the powers of Inspectors a little more defined There seems to be too much power placed in their hands. They seem to have the making of their own law. So far I have got on very well with any Inspectors we have had in Auckland, but there is a risk to be run at all times when they have so much power in their hands. 1. Mr. Okey.] Your experience has been with the city-supply. Have you no experience ot supplying factories? —Formerly I did. 2. Do you consider the regulations too stringent ?— Altogether. 3. For factory-suppliers? —Yes. , ~ i You are in favour of handing on the cost of improvements to the landlord : how would you manage with a landlord who had no intention at the end of the lease of leasing the farm again for dairy purposes? Do you not think it would be a hardship?—lt would be a great hardship on the part of the tenant. . . , a/t^+ 5. In that case do you aot think it would be a mistake to enforce the regulations?— Most decidedly. 6. Mr. Witty.] Have you seen the old regulations? —Yes. 7. Are they more stringent?— No. 8. They leave more in the hands of the Inspector?— That is so. 9. And he can make them as stringent as he likes I —That is so. 10 With regard to 30 ft. from a dwelling, if that did not apply in the case of existing buildings, only in the case of new premises, would you have any objection to offer ?—No, i would have no objection. . . , . 11 Or in the case of new ones put 30 ft. away?—No, I would have no objection to that 12 In regard to the number of cows in a yard, are you under the impression that the yard has to be large enough to hold all the cows in the herd?—We get all our cows in at the one time. 13 The yard under the regulation is only to hold all the cows comfortably; therefore your stockyard need not be a large one?—lt is a great inconvenience if you have to bring your cows in "twice 14. Mr. Lang.] You mentioned the tax or fee for registration. Is not the object of inspection to insure a pure milk-supply to the consumer I —Yes, I should say so. 15. Would it not be more fair that the consumer should pay the fee, if any fee is charged'— Yes ; but it seems a wrong thing that a fee should be charged at all. 16. They might just as well charge you a tax on your horses and other stock? —Yes. 17 In your opinion there should be no tax charged?— No. 18. You spoke about the vehicle. I suppose even in a settled district, if one was not allowed to cart a dressed pig in a sack, or a calf, many would have to invest in a new vehicle for the purpose?— That is so. , 19. Even in a settled district, and I suppose it would be much worse in the back country J Y es _ 20. In the question of dispute between the dairyman and the Inspector do you think there should be some form of appeal ?—Undoubtedly. ..... 21. Different inspectors have different views, and one may be more drastic in his inspection .than others?— That is so. . .. 22 As to the appeal to the Chief Inspector of Stock, do you not think it would be better it there was a proper Appeal Court composed of a representative of the farmer, a representative of the Inspector, and another appointed by the two?—l would prefer to go to a Magistrate direct. 23. You mentioned something about the different hours for doing certain things. You pointed out under different conditions it would be very irksome in some cases. Would it not be better if left more open ? For instance, if the dairyman had kept his cart thoroughly clean, without stating the hours in which it should be done?—l pointed out that in nineteen cases out of twenty it is cleaned within the specified two hours. Very often it is cleaned after breakfast — that is, within the ho in-. 24. Mr. Hoffi/.] Have you much objection to the present registration fee ot OS. <—JNo, because it has never been in operation except in the case of those supplying milk to the cities. Alexander McFarlanb, Chairman of Directors of the Ballance Co-operative Dairy Company, examined. (No. 22.) Witness: While agreeing that inspection is necessary in many cases, I think that the proposed dairy regulations are rather arbitrary and will have a bad effect on the ordinary dairy-farmer. We all recognise that in sending in sound milk it is to our advantage; that we can manufacture a better article, and therefore get a better price. I may say that every dairy-farmer is trying to improve his dairy and his yards as he can afford it, and to try and enforce any arbitrary regulation or anything'that is going to be much expense on the farmer who is just starting would practically kill"the industry in a new district. Considering first the power of the Inspector : Clause <5 provides that the Inspector may withhold the certificate, <fee. I think that would be rather arbitrary that an inspector could withhold this without the farmer having some Court of Appeal, lhe Inspector may have some objection in the way of cement pavement and refuse a certificate. Then,