1.—9.

9. In that case you would not hold the owner of the land responsible? —In cases, the owner of the land where the mill is may not be the owner of the flax, which may be miles away. 10. Did you find anything of the nature indicated by some witnesses of sanitary neglect on the part of the men ?—I must say that in some cases the places were very dirty. 11. Was it susceptible of improvement on the men's part?— Yes, in some cases. In places where the whare is on a swamp, and the men have a distance of slime to go through, it is very difficult to keep the place clean. 12. I suppose in most cases the whare is put in the most central part?— Yes; but the flaxcutters in the swamp have a tent generally. 13. Hon. Mr. Millar. .] Do you think 240 ft. enough air-space for sleeping accommodation?- — I think it is a fair space. 14. I do not suppose there would be any way of getting over the necessity for tent-life for men working outside: would portable houses be any improvement?—l hardly think it would be workable. It does not necessarily follow that there is a road through the swamp. So far as flaxmilling is concerned, there is very little flax cut in the winter generally. 15. The Chairman.] Most of it is done in the North Island?— Yes; there are 2,400 men employed here now. 16. Hon. Mr. Millar.] If we made the Bill apply to what is called " homestead accommodation," so far as providing the air-space is concerned, then the tent could apply to the swamps, as the hills in the case of the agricultural labourer I —Yes. 17. The Chairman.] Then you would include " flax-mill employee " in the scope of the Bill?— Yes. 18. Mr. Arnold.] You say there are over two thousand employees in the flax-milling industry? —There are about two thousand. 19. They have a union?— Yes. 20. And I presume you represent their views? —I am not authorised to do so, but I may say I do. 21. You have sufficient knowledge of them to say you represent their views?— Yes. 22. The Chairman.] What class of men do you generally find employed in flax-mills? Could they be described under one heading? —If you take Foxton, where they have some eight strippers going, you could not help remarking, as I did the last time I was there, that the flax-mill employees are the finest class of men in New Zealand. If you go into some of the remoter country districts there is a slight difference. They have good men, but it is apparent to every one that the best class go nearer civilisation. Taking him all through, I find the flax-miller quite up to the level of the ordinary man. 23. How do they spend their Sundays, as a general rule?— They must spend them at the mill in most cases. Some go into town if they have bikes. 24. Did you find most of their camps fitted with the means of getting a fire? —No. I think they should be, because a number of the men get wet. 25. And they have no means of drying their clothes?—No, not generally. 26. You found many of the places without any facilities for a fire?— Yes. I would like to mention the water-supply. In many instances they had nothing but swamp-water to use. When the Conciliation Board was inquiring into the matter it was found that the water was not fit to be used at all. 27. And you did not find any measures taken to insure good water being provided for the men? —No. In some cases there is a natural supply.

4