L—l2a.

8

[j. L. BRUCE.

26. So far as many sheds in swampy lands are concerned, the floors are above the surface of the ground, and the drainage is provided for by outlet-drains. In some cases, however, this condition does not obtain, and hard clay floors are used, and you cannot get material for concrete. Would not a boarded floor do if it were tarred? Would not that be as good a floor as you could get?—l certainly should not condemn it. 27. I do not say it is as good as a concrete floor, but where this is not available, would you in your position as Dairy Inspector order the floor to be pulled up and another put down in its place I —Certainly not. A boarded floor well cramped up and tarred should be impervious to water. For example, the deck of a steamboat is impervious to water. 28. Now, in reference to clause (k) in the same section, which reads, " Every cowshed in which more than six cows are to be milked at either the morning or evening milking, and which is not provided with sufficient stalling accommodation to hold all the cows at one time, shall have either— (i) a yard, sufficiently large to hold all the cows brought in at any one time for milking, attached thereto but divided therefrom by a partition or fence, the floor of such yard to be properly concreted or paved; or (ii) a yard of such dimensions as aforesaid situated at least 30ft. from such cowshed, and connected therewith by a race the floor of which is properly concreted or paved You will notice it says " a yard sufficiently large to hold all the cows brought in at any one time,' , and in the second section a yard should be situated 30 ft. away from the shed and connected with a race. That means the shifting of every stockyard from its present position, and having it connected with a race. Do you consider that an essential? —The previous subsection provides for the yard being quite near the byj;e. It is an alternative section. The Chairman: Do you wish to ask any questions, Mr. Macpherson ? 29. Mr. Macpherson.] Mr. Bruce, you said that you believed it was not necessary to have a bail for every cow. I would like to ask you, What proposition would you be satisfied with? Take, for instance, a herd of forty cows?— While I would prefer to see half the cows bailed up at one time, if I could not obtain this I would be contented with bails to hold one-third of the total number. 30. With regard to the giving-away of milk, there is a point which I do not quite understand. Would you approve of a clause being inserted in the regulations to enable a farmer, who is not registered, to give away milk for which he had no use?— The object is that by registration the farmer's herd is brought under inspection. Now, we all know that in herds where it is least expected there are sometimes several highly tuberculous animals. In my experience I have found this frequently, and I prefer registration just to bring that place in touch with the Department's officers. I would further point out that the interpretation of the word " dairy "is far-reaching, inasmuch as in the case of any person selling butter and cheese, or any other dairy-produce, his place becomes a dairy within the meaning of the Dairy Act, and therefore would have to be registered. 31. I admit that, but there are many cases where they never sell butter or milk. I keep three or four cows generally in milk, and we often have a large quantity of milk is absolutely superfluous to us, but it is of considerable value to others. Would you not think it would be a considerable hardship if that had to be thrown away?— This is another question of discretion. The Chairman: Have you anything to ask, Mr. Hornsby? 32. Mr. Hornsby.] Mr. Bruce, with regard to having a stall for every cow, how would it be in the case where milking-machines are used? —I do not see any difference. 33. Where milking plant is erected for only six cows, would there be any necessity for more that six stalls for the cows?— How many cows do you estimate you would have? 34. Supposing you have as many as a herd of forty to a hundred? —Yes. Then you mean to bring in six cows. 35. Yes?— The objection is, if you are continually letting out and taking in cows during milking operations the animals become restless and do not give their milk freely. I would therefore recommend a larger milking plant, but according to the method you mention, in which you are continually bringing in one or two, it is not a good thing. 36. But how can that be avoided where you are using a machine? —To provide more bails and extend your plant. 37. They are practically a fixture where I have visited?— The suction-pipe goes along the wall, and could easily be extended, provided your plant has sufficient capacity. 38. If a farmer has got a yard concreted for his cows to stand in, would you say then that there was any necessity for a race?— No. 39. The race should be dispensed with where there is a properly concreted yard? —Yes. 40. With regard to another element. Would you, from your practica> experience, where there is in a district a cooling-station for milk where the milk is treated before it goes away for human consumption—such as, for example, in the case of milk for the City of Wellington—be in favour of putting in any regulation making it compulsory for all the milk that is produced in that district to go through the public cooling-station's process before it is used for human consumption? -Provided there was a cooling-station; it would depend upon how soon the milk could be treated at a public cooling-station. 41. We have in Featherston a cooling-station of the most approved kind. From Featherston a large quantity of milk is sent to the City of Wellington. A number of farmers cool their milk there. Would you be in favour of making it compulsory for farmers to cool their milk there?— And not make cooling on the farm compulsory ? 42. Yes? —I have had no experience of a cooling-station. I like the sound of it. There is just one point, where the dairyman's farm is too far away from the cooling-station, and several hours might elapse before the milk is cooled, and considerable harm might be done through its being cool before it has reached the cooling-station; but where it can be delivered to the coolingstation quickly it must have a great deal to recommend it.