5

1.—12 a.

D. CUDDIE.J

68. Do you think enforced compliance with these new regulations would severely test the policy —I mean financially and otherwise? —I think not if they are carried out in reason, which they would be under the proposed scheme. 69. Appreciating how many are mortgaged, and really working for landlords, do you think they would be able to stand the cost?—l believe that, although the cost might seem heavy at the outset, the expenditure would be recouped in the end, and that speedily. 70. A good many dairymen are working on shares, and others are virtually working for the landlord or mortgagee. In the case of a badly kept dairy that required thorough renovation, do you think the penalty under these regulations should be imposed on the landlord or on the dairyman '! —ln a case where a man is working on shares, it would, of course, be on the landlord. 71. I think some reference has been made to the dairyman in the backblocks, and you are aware there is a great deal of difficulty in getting concrete and good suitable material, and, in some cases, appliances? —Just so. 72. In such a case as that, do you think the regulations might be suspended?— Yes, I believe that in cases of that kind every consideration should be shown. 73. And in the case of giving twelve months' notice, I presume you would be inclined to deal with each case according to the circumstances? —So long as the milking shed and yard was kept in a fair state of sanitation, and not a menace to the welfare of others. 74. When I was in Auckland the other day I noticed on the Waikato some very fine dairy farms. The paddocks were covered with turnips, and the cows were feeding on turnips. When turnip feed is used is the milk generally badly flavoured ?—The feeding of cows with turnips seriously affects the flavour of tke milk, and it is almost impossible to make a good product from that class of milk. 75. Does that account for the deterioration of butter and cheese? —No. It is nearly all grassed butter that we export. It sometimes obtains to a small extent in the South. Perhaps the first shipment at the beginning of the season and the last shipment at the end, but it is scarcely mentioned in the Home market. 76. Turnip feeding does not prevail during the whole year?— No. 77. I suppose you have seen places where the dairying is carried on in the open air? —Yes, I visited some where this was done. 78. Do you approve of that system yourself? —Well, no, not in our climate. There is too much rain, for one thing. The Chairman: Do you wish to say anything, Mr. Lang? 79. Mr. Lang.] I understood you, Mr. Cuddie, to say that you had never had a Court case for the last five years, and I understood you to qualify that by saying that it is only with reference to the export regulations?— That is so. 80. But there have been many Court cases under the Dairy regulations? —Yes. 81. Then I understood you spoke about Denmark sending the best dairy-produce imported into Great Britain. Do you know whether the dairy-farmers in Denmark work under similar regulations to what are now proposed ?—I could not say. 82. You spoke about the cattle being housed in winter in the Old Country, and compared the accommodation in New Zealand rather unfavourably with it. Is it not a fact that here the same accommodation is not so necessary as where cows are kept continually housed?— They would certainly not require the same class of building for milking in New Zealand, but it is just as important that the surroundings should be clean. 83. Do you think if these regulations were carried out strictly it would inflict a great deal of hardship ?—lf the spirit of the regulations were carried out, I take it there would not be any hardship. 84. What do you mean?—l feel sure that reasonable amount of time would be given to have the necessary alterations made, where necessary. If the farmer does his best and makes every effort to comply with them according to his means, then the Department would not expect him to carry out to the letter every clause in the regulations. 85. And if they were enforced they would inflict a good deal of hardship?— Yes, in some cases. 86. Mr. Witty.] Mr. Cuddie, I think you said that the cheese that was manufactured at Home was superior to the cheese manufactured here? —Yes. 87. Is not that a good deal owing to the feeding at Home? At Home it is artificial feeding, which may have a good deal to do with it?— The bulk of cheese is made in the summer-time, when the cattle are in pasture; consequently the feeding of cattle would not be very different from what it is in New Zealand. 88. The Chairman.] When you were in the Old Country, did you visit the Cheddar Valley? —No. 89. Would you be surprised to know that for twenty square miles in that valley, celebrated for making cheese, there is not a single cowshed? —I was not aware of it. 90. And I think you will be prepared to admit that there is no better cheese made in the world than the Cheddar Valley cheese. That is all. I thank you for your evidence. John .Leslie Bbuce examined. (No. 2.) 1. The Chairman.] What is yoiir full name? —John Leslie Bruce. 2. You are an Inspector of Dairies?—l am Inspector in Charge of the Otago District. Regulations under the Dairying Industry Act of 1898 came into operation in 1901, and I have been continuously since that time connected with the administration of these regulations of 1901