I,—Ba.

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163. Have you visited Port Albert ?—Yes ; last summer. 164. And you did not see a good spray-pump there ?—No. 165. Not in Mr. place ? —I saw one there which was supposed to be good; but I could not say that it was good. 166. Did you visit Otahuhu?—Yes. 167. And saw the orchards there ?—-Yes. 168. And you did not see a good spray-pump there?— No. 169. Not at Mr. ?—No. 170. Nor at Mr. ?—No. 171. Did you not see a Strawsoniser ?—Yes, some years since ; but it is a very different thing. There is nothing like a good spray-pump, and the first requisite is that there should be a large airchamber. You can then pump properly and at the same time economize your material. 172. I want to finish with this Strawsoniser : why do you object to it; why do you not think it is as good as a spray-pump ?—Of course, the Strawsoniser is adapted for spraying, but since the manufacture of proper spraying-pumps it is not used. 173. Where did you see the Strawsoniser at work ? —At Otahuhu. 174. You saw it in use ?—Yes ; and I have used one myself. 175. Did you visit Tuakau ?—Yes. 176. And you saw no good spray-pump there ?—No. 177. Not at Mr. ?—No. 178. Do you not think that he treats his orchard properly ?—Well, he has a better idea of fruit-growing than a great many who profess to be fruit-growers. 179. Does he not profess to be a fruit-grower?— No. 180. Have you been to Mr. place ?—Yes. 181. And what do you think of that: did you see any codlin-moth there?—l saw them in thousands. I think I might safely say that the apples were lying under the trees in tens of thousands with the codlin-moth in them. 182. How long ago was that ?—During the past summer. Of course, 1 can give you the reasons why. 183. I have only one more question to ask you, and it is whether you can tell us what is about the proportion of the total acreage in the Auckland District under cultivation as orchards as compared with the rest of the colony ?—I could not tell you that exactly, although I know almost every orchard throughout the colony. 184. Mr. Flatman,] What is your opinion with regard to the use of cases ? Is it prudent to use cases a second time for the portage of fruit, or do you think that it would be instrumental in distributing various pests?—l should like to see a law passed which would prevent cases going back to the orchard again—in fact, the most reliable and go-ahead men are now using nothing but new cases. Using cases a second time has been one of the chief agencies in distributing the codlin-moth throughout the country, and unless that practice is stopped there is no doubt it will continue to do so. 185. Hon. the Chairman.'] You would prevent the use of a case twice over?— Yes; I would prevent its being returned to the orchard from which it came. 186. Or to any other orchard? —Yes. 187. We understand from questions put to you that you have been in the Auckland District, and that you have been in other districts as well ? —Yes; I have been through the chief fruitgrowing portions of the colony. 188. Has it been patent to your notice that the people in Auckland have been less diligent in working their orchards than they are in other provincial districts ?—ln visiting their orchards I simply felt quite down-hearted to see the neglected condition of many of those orchards. I complain of the fruit-trees that have been put into places which are totally unsuited to the varieties which men have chosen to plant. 189. Do you think that other districts have chosen varieties suited to the particular soil—do you think that they have been more careful in choosing the variety suitable to the soil, and in keeping their orchards clean ?—To a certain extent they have. 190. Would you recommend that the fruit-growing districts of Auckland should be exempt from coming under the provisions of this Bill ?—I think that is the wisest course at present; but I think there will be a time when they will be only too glad to come in together with all the others. 191. Would you recommend that their fruit should be distributed all over New Zealand?— Not in an infected state ; the Bill prevents that. 192. Why would you recommend that the people of the North should be exempt from coming under the provisions of this Bill ?■—l think the northern people have pretty well moved heaven and earth to prevent any Bill of the kind passing, while the southern people want some measure which will improve the condition of the industry. If the Auckland people do not want the Bill carried, and are determined to distribute their infested fruit throughout New Zealand, you must simply prevent them doing that, and let them stand outside the provisions of the Bill. 193. You infer, then, that Auckland can govern New Zealand in this respect at the present time ; we might just as well allow thieves to prosecute their trade in Auckland, and prevent them from doing so in other places. Do you think that, in the interest of New Zealand generally, Auckland should be allowed to stand out ?—Yes, under present circumstances. 194. Why ?—I have just said that the Auckland fruit-growers are determined, if possible, to prevent the passing of any Bill of this kind. 195. That is no reason why they should stand out. I thought probably you had some reason which would be beneficial to them, and at the same time not detrimental to the rest of New Zealand ? —I do not think there is anything to complain of if they are allowed to stand out, while