[j. PARLANE.

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shall use or suffer to be used, in connection with the handling or storage of milk or cream in or about his dairy any can or other utensil the joints or other parts of which are not properly soldered or any can or other utensil in or on which there is any appearance of rust. ihis would entail very great hardship. We have no other material at present except the ordinary tinware, and a great many dairymen stand their milk overnight in running water in the dairy, and the outside of the can, especially the bottoms, show rust in a few days. It would be far better to say " the inside of which has become coated with rust." In the morning there may be an appearance of rust But after washing there is no appearance. It is too drastic. I may say, in explanation, that I represent the Canterbury Dairymen's Union of Employers. We wish to do everything we can to assist the Department, and we are not taking an antagonistic view. We desire to assist them in turning out a good article. Coming to section 18, this reads, "No dairyman shall use, or suffer to be used, for the purpose of removing milk from his dairy, any can that does not bear a conspicuous metal label distinctly marked with his name." I think, if a man is delivering milk in the town and his own name is on the cart that should be sufficient, but in the case of where a man is carting other milk than his own, that the name should be on, and the can be locked. No man can be responsible for milk after it has left his own premises unless it is in his own cart. There would be no advantage in labels unless the cans are locked, but in the case of a man living in the suburbs, and having his own cart with his name on, that should be quite sufficient. In section 21, " Every dairyman in whose dairy a separator or milking-machine is used shall immediately after every use of such machine thoroughly wash, clean, and scald, or cause to be washed, cleaned, and scalded, all rubber.parts and every other part thereof which comes in contact with the milk." The only exception I take to this is the scalding of the rubber. It is found in practical experience that scalding perishes the rubber. It causes the outside coating of the rubber to crack, and it is then a very hard job to clean it. It would be very much better to have in thecase of the rubber parts "otherwise sterilised." I have had a good deal of experience of machines, and have carried out experiments. Some of the experiments appeared to be very satisfactory, but it takes a long time to tell. There is something, we think, should be here inserted: All lee-ropes or other appliances." Leg-ropes get in a very filthy condition, and require washing in some disinfectant and exposing to the air. Towels also get dirty, and cause contamination. No mention is made of these things in the regulations. We then agree with everything down to section 30: "No dairyman shall permit any cow, calf, or other animal to be at large within thirty feet of any cowshed, milkhouse, or other building used in connection with the handling or storing of milk." It seems to me that if a man had a dog for getting in his cows he would not be allowed to let that dog get within 30 ft. of his milking premises. We are not sure whether it refers | (l the stockyard only :in that case it would prohibit us bringing in our cows within 30 ft., except by a race. Section 29 says, "No dairyman shall, except in the case of dairy cows brought into cowshed for milking or housing, permit any animal," &c. It should be " dairy cattle.' . It is very often necessary, if you have stud cattle, to bring in heifers to train them to the bail, or to bring in a bull to ring him. Section 31 reads, "No vehicle used for or in connection with the conveyance of milk from or to or about any dairy premises shall be used for the purpose of carrying any live or dead animal, or any manure, excrement, filth, pigs' wash or feed, brewers' grains, or any other matter likely to injuriously affect milk." It seems to me that this is a rather drastic clause. I think a man going to town with milk could not bring home a leg of mutton. _ It is quite necessary brewers' grains should be prohibited, but in the case of food, such as a little fresh fish or anything of that sort, there should be no objection. I think I have voiced the views of our association in regard to the regulations. 1. Mr. Rutherford.] How do you manage to keep manure out of the buckets when the manure is in a liquid state in early spring?-—lf you have a particular man, he can do it. It is necessary to wash the udders. When the cow is actually making deposit and a man notices it, he will quickly turn his bucket away. That is the only way'l know by which the manure can be kept out. '2. Mr. Okey.~] "Have you had any experience of dairying in the backblocks?—No : that is, the backblocks oif the North Island, where it would be difficult to get shingle for concrete. I have been there, and have taken notice of the conditions. I have a brother there. 3. From what little experience you have had you say it would be difficult for many people in the North Island to carry out these "conditions in regard to flooring?—No, I should say as to the flooring of the cowshed it is absolutely necessary there should be some flooring. I missed the word "impervious" in the regulations. It is necessary to have a solid floor in the cowshed, but the yard in the backblocks may be overlooked. 4. Do you consider there is any objection to the flooring in wood if properly constructed and jointed?— Liquid manure will percolate through joints unless the floor is properly constructed and regularly cleansed. . 5. Is it wise to crush mobs of cows into yards? Do you see the difficulty?—lt is unwise. 0. Under these conditions the cows are supposed to be placed in a concrete yard all at once? We do not read it like that. We take it we could bring in two or three cows at a time. - 7. They are supposed to be brought into a yard 30ft. away, and then through a race?— We do not read it like that. 8. Is there any harm in having a yard right against a shed?—We see no harm if there is a close-boarded fence between the yard and the shed. 9. As to the name on the car.t: The farmer will often take his milk in his ordinary trap. Is it necessary to have your name on all the carts?—l do not think it is a matter of great necessity in the case of supplying a factory, but it is a matter of importance in the case ofsupplying milk to towns. We do not think the regulations should be so stringent in connection with factory milk. 10. Mr. Witty.'] Are you in favour of a race in preference to a yard? —No, I am not in favour of a race in any shape or form.