L—l2a.

4

[D. CUDDIE.

The Chairman: Do you wish to say anything, Mr. Kidd? 46. Mr. Kidd.] Mr. Cuddie, I understand that you have not gone thoroughly into the regulations, and that the evidence you are giving is in support of the necessity for the regulations. It is your belief that in order to bring our industry up to a high standard in regard to the quality of our butter and cheese — that we would all like to see regulations like these adopted ? —Most decidedly. 47. As to the question of regulations, 1 fail to see that Mr. Cuddie can give us any direct evidence. Do you think, Mr. Cuddie, that compliance with these regulations will pay those who have to go to the expense?— Yes, I think it will ultimately pay dairy-farmers well. 48. I think, in your evidence you justify the necessity of better provision for cleanliness, but your remarks with reference to the floors of milking-sheds were not entirely right as applied to districts such as mine, where there are swampy lands. The Chairman: Do you wish to say anything, Mr. Macpherson? 49. Mr. Macpherson.] I should like to ask one question. You have mentioned your experience during the winter months at Home. Are you of opinion that the conditions are more favourable to the winter months than the summer months ?—No, I would not say that. 50. You would say that the conditions in summer are equally as favourable as winter?— Yes, because most of them have their yards paved or properly metalled there. 51. You stated that the surroundings of the buildings were kept very clean owing to the fact that the cattle were all housed in winter. Is there the same tendency during the summer months? —I have not been there in summer, but, judging from the appearance of the yards, I should say so. 52. Are the conditions in -summer-time very different from the conditions here with regard' to cleanliness about the buildings?—l would say Yes. The Chairman: Do you wish to say anything, Mr. Hornsby? 53. Mr. Hornsby.] Mr. Cuddie, when you were in the Old Land did you visit the Channel Islands?—l did not. 54. You are aware that much of the milking takes place outside there?—l understand that is the custom in the Channel Islands during the summer months. 55. Is there any real reason why a farmer—a very small farmer, say — with a few cows, should not be permitted to do his milking in the open, if he chooses? —I do not see any strong reason why not. 56. Are you aware that these regulations would absolutely prevent that? —No, but I do not think that the provisions should be enforced to that extent in the case of the supplier to a factory. 57. With regard to these regulations, might I ask you if you think it would be any great detriment to the trade of the dairy industry, so far as it affects this colony, if twelve months' notice were given of the coming into operation of such a set of regulations as these? —In my opinion, it would keep back the good that might be done in the meantime. 58. You do not think it would be a great detriment to the trade?—lt would only mean the loss of time. We should lose the opportunity of having made a certain amount of progress during that time. 59. Might I put it this way : Do you not think it would remove the feeling of irksomeness, and which some men call injustice, in having these regulations put on at once? Do you not think it would tend to remove that feeling if due notice were given—we will not say twelve months ?— Yes, I suppose it would to some extent, but even then there would still be a certain amount of opposition from a certain section. 60. Now, will you give the Committee your opinion (perhaps this is rather a difficult matter to deal with at a moment's notice) why there should be the overlapping which is apparent from your evidence this morning? Now, would it not be for the betterment of the whole business if this overlapping were to cease?— Can I be allowed to say there is practically no overlapping, Mr. Hornsby. We begin at a certain stage with our milk, and attend to the manufacture, instruction-wo-rk, grading, and inspection of shipments. There is no overlapping whatever, so far as the work I am connected with is concerned. 61. Let me put it to you this way: You have said in your evidence that the whole trouble arises between the period of embarking and landing. Why should you not, as Dairy Commissioner, have command of the whole business? —That is a question of policy. 62. With regard to the -substitute for concrete, brick has been mentioned. Would you not advise that vitrified brick would make a very much better floor than the ordinary burnt briek — a brick which is overburnt —almost like a salt glaze? —The difficulty in connection with a brick floor is in keeping it a solid mass, and preventing leaks. 63. Do you not think it would be a good thing that these regulations should embrace a recommendation to put in vitrified brick floors where concrete is not available? Would you look upon that favourably? —I should, if properly laid down on a solid foundation. 64. There is just one other question. You say that in the Old Country it was apparent to you that the defects of the faulty milk show themselves at the other end more than they do, or can do, at this end. Is there any danger, where there are bad cases of faulty milk, of ptomaine poison developing? Has any accident ever come under your notice? —There might be, provided the manufacture was extremely poor. 65. You have never seen any well-defined condition showing any measure of development? —No. 66. You are aware that prosecutions have come about in the Old Country, and that it has been blamed upon New Zealand produce? —Nothing of that nature has come under my notice. The Chairman: Have you anything you wish to ask, Mr. Hogg? 67. Mr. Hogg.] Do you know whether there are a great number of defective cowsheds at the present time? —I am sorry to say there are a great many.