1.—12 a.

26

[W. NICHOLSON.

trict is represented by a director, and when the inspector went to his district the director brought mischief on himself. He was blamed for everything, and when he stood for director again the suppliers put their heads together and put him out. The inspector was practically useless, and we had to do away with him. Then we had a man appointed in the main factory in Dunedin, to see if he could trace where the bad milk came from, but it was impossible to find out. Our manager was continually complaining to us about the milk. He declared we were purchasing over a ton of dirt a year, which ran into a considerable sum of money for the T. and P. Company. I was pleased to hear the Minister say at Palmerston last year what he intended to do in regard to dairy inspection. We realised it would do an immense amount of good to dairy-farmers. 1 would make careless suppliers do their duty and enhance the general value of the produce. Coming to the regulations, concreting outside the shed has not been done in the south, so far as I am aware. I quite agree with it, however. The amount of money for the concrete would be a mere nominal sum: 30ft. by 10ft. of concrete would mean 100 ft., or something like four or five yards, the cost of which would be £4, at the outside. Any man with any common-sense could put the concrete down himself. In connection with the T. and P. Company, I may say that the majority of our suppliers have been over twenty years at the business, and we find some of the oldest-settled ones are the worst ones we have. I have heard a great deal of talk here to-day about those settled in the backblocks, and the hardship the regulations would be on them. You will find that the men in the backblocks are delivering cleaner milk than the old for their premises and plant are clean. The old hands have got into such a slipshod manner that they will not do anything. Men in the new country will naturally try to do their best. In regard to the cooling of milk, there is a considerable amount of trouble. It is almost impossible in every place to get a suitable suppfy of water. The trouble is that the man who produces the clean article only gets the same price as the man producing the dirty article. A man who milked for a factory used to milk with his hands in such a state that you could take the dirt out with a knife, but when he milked for his own house he washed his hands and washed the udder of the cow. Dairy Inspectors going round and noticing these things would enhance the value of the butter and cheese going out of the country. In many cases we have trouble with the separators, which have to be cleaned out in the middle of the separating operation to get out the dirt. In cheesemaking all that dirt would have remained in the vats. 1. Mr. Okey.] Have you had any experience of the race?— No. 2. Is your evidence what you have found in the South Island?— Yes. 3. I do not like this statement about our suppliers in the North Island? —I have no doubt it is as bad. 4. You have no experience of concrete flooring in the back country of Otago ?—Yes, at Catlin's bush the country is worse than in the north. 5. Do you not think timber would do as well as concrete in the back country?—No, by no means. 6. Where is the man to get it? —He will do the best he can. 7. Do you think these Inspectors should have power to put a cow out? Have they experience enough to tell if a cow should be destroyed ?—I should think not. 8. Are they veterinary surgeons?—l understand that if an Inspector desires to condemn a cow he has first to consult another officer of the Department. 9. Mr. Witty.] Are you a dairy-farmer?— Yes, for twenty or thirty years of my life. 10. You say there are no concrete yards in the south. What do they use?— They use gravel, but in some cases there are no yards at all. I have none; I bail up ninety-six cows. 11. It will not allow us to do that? —It does not say so in the regulations. Where there are yards I would be strongly in favour of the race. 12. Which do you prefer—the race or yard? —It all depends on the number of cows. Mr. Witty: In the case of the connection of yard and shed. Hon. Mr. McNab: The witness is speaking of a shed where there is a bail for everj cow. 13. Mr. Witty.] There are no cows standing out at all?— No. 14. Are all the farmers in your district working on your system?— No. 15. What do they use for the yards?— Generally shingle. 16. A great deal depends on the Inspector as to compelling you to do anything?—l suppose a little depends on it. 17. Have you had any complaints of the Inspector?—No; but I know there are some complaints. 18. Do you think the complaints are justified?— Some of them are, T know; but it would take longer to fight the Inspector than to do what the Inspector wants. 19. Suppose you had a short lease, and the Inspector wants you to make improvements? That was a trouble that cropped up at Palmerston twelve months ago. I spoke to Mr. McNab about it, and suggested that it would be advisable for the Government to advance a certain amount of money for improvements under the circumstances. 20. Suppose the Government advanced to the settler of a short lease?—lt would not do under a short lease. 21. Do you believe in the regulations in their entirety?— Yes, they are very good. There are some people who want working up to a higher standard. 22. Can you suggest any improvements?— The first gentleman who spoke suggested covering the milk-cart. In the south we use a can, the lid of which covers the whole of the can. Tt would he a good thing, however, if the cart was covered. 23. You must not allow stock to depasture within 30 ft. of the shed or yard 1 Ido not think there is much in that.