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108. How many of those were paid for ? —I cannot tell that exactly. I should think there may have been from twenty to forty, not more than that. We have only paid compensation in very hard cases, or where there had been a mistake made in the diagnosis. 109. On the subject of compensation have you made any estimate that would be a guide to the Legislature in dealing with the Bill before us—as to the total amount that is likely to be required under the Bill ?—I have made some calculations, but have not yet completed them. I shall have them when the Stock Bill is before the Committee. The number of cattle destroyed in many districts has been extremely small. I may say that I bear out what Mr. Gilruth has said as to the dairy districts; and would emphasize the importance of bringing in some legislation requiring milk to be pasteurised. I think it is absolutely necessary that this should be done in some form, and would prefer to have the whole-milk pasteurised. It should, however, be pasteurised either in wholemilk form, skim-milk form, or whey. 110. Do you mean for human consumption ? —Yes, and also for factory purposes. Many of the factories are doing it now. 111. This is in order to kill all germs ?—Yes, and the milk also keeps much longer. 112. Do you think it would cause great expense to the dairies?— Not very much: they do it now in some factories ; they also started in Napier, but gave it up for some reason. If the milk were pasteurised in whole-milk form, it would be safer for human consumption as well as for feeding to calves. 113. As to Inspectors, I understand from the evidence given that you depend mainly upon the Sheep Inspectors for inspection ?—Yes, for both cattle and sheep. 114. Do you think they are really competent as regards cattle ?—I think they are quite competent ; and according to their instructions, if they are in doubt, they advise me of it and isolate the beast, and one of the veterinary surgeons is told off to make an inspection as soon as possible afterwards. I have at the present moment one or two applications for a veterinary surgeon to make such an inspection. The Inspectors have particular instructions not to destroy any animal unless they are absolutely certain that there are unmistakeable signs of disease. I think Mr. Gilruth bears this out; he has stated that in every case that he was called in to examine he found that the Inspectors were correct. I may say that last year we called the bulk of the South Island Inspectors together, and got a number of diseased cattle, which were tested with tuberculin, and afterwards a post-mortem examination was made by the veterinary surgeons before the Inspectors. 115. Take, for instance, your West Coast Inspector; has he any special knowledge of cattle?— There are three Inspectors on the West Coast. The one in the dairy district has no special knowledge ; he is a very careful young fellow, and has taken a great interest in the work. The veterinary surgeons have been in that district more, I think, than in any other; he always accompanies the veterinary surgeon. I have not heard any complaint of anything that he has done. The farmers there, indeed, seem to want more inspection. At the last annual meeting of the National Dairy Association several of the delegates stated that they wanted more inspection in the Taranaki district. 116. Mr. Lang.] Of the 1,600 cattle destroyed for tuberculosis, were these evenly proportioned all over the colony, or were there more in any one district ?—The dairy districts are the worst. I agree with Mr. Gilruth that there is a good deal attributable to want of attention to the cattle; where they were not treated as they ought to be, they get into low condition, and are more apt to contract disease. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given : printing (1,625 copies), £16 18s.

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