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20. You told the Committee that a large majority of these men were opposed to the provisions of the Bill?—I know only one or two who would be in-favour of compulsory bandaging, 21. Are they in favour of any of the provisions of the Bill ?—Only that one provision. 22. Are they in favour of the Bill as a whole ? — No. I have received advice and been instructed to oppose the Bill. 23. Have you any experience of the orchards in other parts of the colony ?—No; personally, no experience. 24. Can you tell me whether the services of the Government experts are considered to be of any value to the fruit-growers north of Auckland ?—I have not heard the fruit-growers express anything favourable as to the result of inspection. They are very nice gentlemen, and we are pleased to entertain them. 25. Have you heard them express themselves unfavourable ?—Yes, I have. 26. You told us if this Bill became law the result would be that a great many trees would be cut down. Why would they be cut down?— Because of the imposition of compulsory labour about those trees. The result would not pay them to do so. 27. As a matter of fact they resent compulsory legislation in respect to fruit-growing?— Yes; strongly so. 28. Why do the fruit-growers object to the visits of the Government Inspectors?— Because in the first place they do not consider the Inspector can give them instruction as to what will be an efficient remedy. In the second place they think it would be interference with their general success in the management of their business, and would be carrying out operations which would be futile, and therefore wasteful, and a hardship on them as settlers inasmuch as they would have no confidence as to the result. 29. I would like to know from your experience if it makes any difference or not if the orchards are in cultivation, that is as a protection ? —Yes. I at one time kept my own orchard as clean as a flower garden ; used to cultivate it three or four times a year, and the men who are successful (the Beecrofts for instance) keep their orchards clean digging up between the trees. Ido not do so now with mine. I have abandoned it so far as digging is concerned. The return did not remunerate me for the labour. I think that orchards are better to be kept clean among the trees. 30. Did I understand you to say that it is an advantage for the growth of the trees to keep the ground worked. Would that make any difference to the spread of the codlin-moth?—Personally, I think that it makes no difference, but I have had it asserted frequently that orchards that are now left in cocksfoot have done better in respect to the moth than when cultivated. 31. You speak about the good results that have accrued from bandaging. How often do you consider it necessary to remove the bandages ?—Every week, so far, as they tell me. It should be done assiduously and periodically. It is not a haphazard process. 32. Suppose the bandage was not removed, what would be the result?— Simply futile. I have myself traced a codlin-moth start to lay eggs in November, and I am certain laid eggs in April. 33. And it would require to be removed once a week ?—Yes, not exceeding eight days. 34. Do you consider spraying with arsenical mixtures injurious to the trees ?—lt has been told me that continuous spraying must inevitably poison the ground. In my own experience I know that the strength must not exceed a certain measure. 35. If a man sprays orchards for a number of years he may destroy the trees before the moth? —Unless he counteracts it by other applications. It will certainly deteriorate the soil for the growth of plants. 36. How long has the moth been in your part of the district ?—About eight years. And I may mention the way it came to my orchard. The orchard was isolated, and I thought I was going to get immunity from the pest, but another man, some miles down the line, had a large orchard attacked by the moth, and he allowed it to take its course. He used to take his fruit to the station, and, as the train stopped, the codlin-moth was scattered up and down the line. I believe no one has escaped. 37. When the moth first appeared in your district did not the orchardists try to eradicate it? —Yes. All sorts of methods at great cost, but they failed. I spent £10 myself in spraying apparatus. 38. Do not the fruit-growers take up this position : That the Government should show them some remedy before they introduce legislation to compel them to do things which they have already considered have proved useless ?—Yes, invariably objections to this legislation are being made all over the district. 39. Speaking of the Government Instructors, I think you said that some of the orchardists consider they get no practical results from them. Is it not a fact that perhaps the majority of the orchardists are better up in fruit-growing than the Government experts ?—I would not like to put it in that form. lam certain a large number of fruit-growers in my district have got an efficient education through experience obtained in their own interests. 40. Have you a knowledge of Whangarei?—Not intimately. 41. Mr. Wason.] You have just admitted that the codlin-moth was decimated by a gentleman in your district over your own orchard ?—Yes. 42. Do you think it a good thing for your own district that that state of things should be allowed to continue? —As it is there I think we will do the best in our own interest. Our efforts will be to exterminate it as far as we can. 43. You would be perfectly willing to leave other districts alone and not send infected fruit to them ?—Those who wish to send away fruit from our district are very careful to send away only the very best fruit, in their own interest and for their own reputation. 44 What objection would you have to making it compulsory ?—lt would be a hardship to a certain number who are obtaining a benefit out of their orchards.