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104

Hon. the Chairman : You would have to show carelessness on the part of the Inspector, I take it. Mr. Lance : There is a clause in the Act which provides for a case of the kind. 2468. Mr. Buchanan.] You would have your legal remedy in any case? —I am quite willing to mention the names of the two Inspectors who have had machines made, if required. 2469. You have stated your opinion that the Inspector should give notice ?—Yes. 2470. Supposing the Inspector travelling has given you notice that he would enter upon your run from such a direction, but that bad weather prevented him, would you have him wait ?—I would have nothing to do with that. He would have power to enter by the ordinary way by which the public travel. 2471. You said that the Inspector before entering at all should give you notice : how if he is delayed by bad weather ? —When he comes he should come to the house. 2472. But, supposing he is coming from a different direction altogether, would you compel him to go thirty miles round, when possibly ten miles would be sufficient ?—ln our district seventeen thousand acres is considered a large run. Mr. Lance : There is an instance where a run was entirely cleaned by Mr. Foster. Indeed Mr. Foster was told off by the Government to do the work, that is, for no other purpose than to clean this run. Mr. Foster never went near the homestead. He was constanly about the run. He was constantly dropping in without either the master or men knowing anything about where he was. Mr. Foster suceeded in cleaning that run. 2473. Hon. the Chairman.] You have two amendments to clause 89? —Yes ; one new clause. The general effect of it is that the Inspector shall be compelled to grant a permit when any owner of sheep shall have several flocks. He should have power to call on the Inspector to examine any other flocks for removal if there be no infection. It provides simply that the Inspector shall be compelled to permit sheep travelling from certain portions of the run where no scab is found. 2474. Mr. Buchanan!) You raise a very important question as to permitting part of a flock to travel. You said there is one Babbit Agent and five Inspectors?— Three are at one end and two at Masterton. 2475. Have not two Inspectors been appointed because they could do rabbit-work : that is, is it within your knowledge that two Babbit Inspectors were also made Sheep Inspectors that they might do both classes of work ? —Yes. 2476. In despite of that, do you say that a Sheep Inspector goes over the ground to-day and a Babbit Agent to-morrow ?—I have seen three men on the ground in one day. 2477. Sheep Inspectors and Babbit Agents?— Yes. 2478. Do I understand you to say that in your opinion scab was not actually diminished ?—I cannot say ; there has always been a gradual decrease in the autumn. 2479. Mr. Dodson.) Do the sheep in the back country of the Clarence and the Tarndale Buns come down in winter, or do they stay in the snow? —During the first year I was there I brought them down and held them. 2480. You do not think the snow drives them all down ?—No.

Fbiday, 3ed Octobee, 1884. -*- ■* Mr. G. S. Coopee, examined. 2481. Hon. the Chairman.) You remember giving evidence before a Committee on the petition of Telford on the subject of the working of the Sheep Department, especially the Babbit Act ?—Yes; I remember having been before a Committee on the petition of Telford. 2482. In the evidence I observe you say that you think some alterations would be desirable. Do you remember to what that referred ? —Well, it is so long since I gave the evidence I hardly remember what I did say. .- «. 2483. The gist of the whole evidence before that Committee apparently was that there was divided authority. The Chairman, I think, put it that there seemed to be a trinity in the department, there was Mr. Bayly, Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Maunsell? —Yes. 2484. And I believe, in reply to something of that sort, you said that there ought to be some change?— Yes; I do remember that. 2485. I see also the report on that petition recommends that a change should be made in the department: has any change been made : has that report been acted upon ? —lt was not acted upon at the time; but subsequently changes have taken place from Mr. Maunsell dropping out of the service. 2486. How does the department now stand ?—The external working is entirely done by Mr. Bayly, with very little direct control; and the secretarial part of the work is done by me. 2487. Then, all the correspondence, I suppose, is conducted by you ?—Yes; it is all recorded in my office —every letter. 2488. And then referred to Mr. Bayly, if it refer to the external working ? —Yes ; for his report and suggestions. 2489. Does he recommend everything that is done : has he to gej the sanction of the department ? —Yes ; for everthingni^importance. 2490. For instance, the appointment of Inspectors?— Yes; certainly. 2491. Who has the appointment ? —The Colonial Secretary; but he makes them, as a rule, on the recommendation of Mr. Bayly. 2492. Is every appointment referred to him for his report: before the appointment is made, is the name submitted to him ?—Yes ; it it has been so now for some years. 2493. And his recommendation, I suppose, is generally acted upon ? —Yes ; I think it always has been, as far as I can remember. It would certainly be, unless there was some strong reason otherwise; but Ido not remember any case having occurred.