1.—12 a.

J. G. HARKNESS.)

33

77. Do you consider this portion too much?—l say so, to start with. 78. What proportion would the proposed scale provide towards the cost of the supervision? —I do not know what the cost of the inspection is. 79. What relation would you suggest one should bear to the other? —That is a difficult question to answer. 80. Would you be satisfied with half?—No; suppliers could not be asked to contribute half. 81. Less than half I— Yes. 82. Would you say 25 per cent. ? —A third might be reasonable. 83. With regard to giving-away of milk or butter : would you consider it a hardship in back-country districts if a farmer could not give away a portion of his milk or butter to a deserving individual or neighbour?—At first sight it seems somewhat drastic. The idea is that everything sold should come under the direction of the Department. 84. In regard to giving away: there are many farmers who do not suppty any factory or creamery, and if they desire to give away some milk or butter to deserving people in their own neighbourhood would you prevent it being done?—ls that an unregistered dairy? 85. Yes?— Well, they can do what they like with it. 86. Not according to the section. Do you consider it too drastic?—" To give it away " might probably be struck out. 87. Mr. Lang.] In regard to the registration fee, does not the consumer benefit by enforcing cleanliness in milk even more than the producer? —No; the producer will benefit the most. He will get a higher price for his products. 88. Do you not think people receiving benefits should pay something for it?—lt will never be welcome to the producer. 89. Why not pay a certfrin amount of the fees?—l should think they should. 90. If the produce was enhanced to the extent of \d. a pound it would benefit the whole colony as well as the producer I —Of course, the benefit goes to the man who is the farmer. 91. In speaking of the floor you referred to boards, tongued and grooved and tarred. Do you understand, in subclause (c) of clause 8, that the dairyman will be allowed to put down a wooden floor?—It could be amended. 92. .To make it clear?— Yes. 93. Do you know of dairymen who have had to take up wooden floors and put down concrete? —Yes. 94. In regard to cleaning of cans within two hours of being emptied, do you not think in some cases that would be a hardship? Some suppliers, who do not get their cans home till late at night : would it be a better regulation that they should be compelled to have them cleaned two hours before being used ?—No, certainly not. 95. Do you think if these regulations were enforced to the very letter it would cause a great deal of hardship on a great number of suppliers, more particularly in new districts?—lt would. 96. Mr. Hogg.] What would be a reasonable maximum fee for registration?— There should be a graduated scale up to the 10s. 97. Do you think the regulations generally are too drastic?— Not with the amendments I suggested. 98. Are farmers, apparently doing their best to keep their places clean, to be prosecuted?— I do not think the regulations in any case would do that. 99. Assuming he cannot comply with the regulations, and is doing his best? —No. 100. You would not prosecute in that case?— No. 101. You would give beginners who usually have great difficulties a little breathing-time?— Yes, a certain amount of latitude. 102. Would you extend that breathing-time for years?— That would depend on circumstances. 103. You have had experience of the backblocks?—Yes. 104. Have you seen a case where a farmer erecting a new building has had to use an unoccupied room for storing his milk in? —Yes, that is possible. 105. Do you think there is anything very improper in that? —Yes. It ought not to be allowed if the milk can be kept anywhere else. It would be very much better kept outside. 106. Have you ever known a struggling dairyman being compelled to convey his milk in kerosene-tins, place it in a wheelbarrow, travel over a log fallen across a river, through some swamp land to the dairy factory?— No. 107. You have never seen illustrations of that kind?— No. 108. Would you be surprised to learn that such things as that occur not very far from Wellington ?—Yes, it is possible. 109. Do you consider in cases like that there should be a good deal of allowance made by the Inspector ?—ln the first place, I do not think it is advisable to milk in such a place. 110. Mr. Buddo.] Do you think the contribution to the fees of town and factory suppliers should be the same where with the former the inspection is far more frequent ?—The benefits probably would be the same, and I think the same fees should be paid in the two cases. 111. Would you say the maximum for town supply should be 10s.?—-That would depend on the scale of fees you fixed. 112. You have experienced backblock dairy-farming?— Yes. 113. You have also extensive experience in the management of dairy factories?— Yes. 114. Generally, you approve of-these regulations?— Yes. 115. Mr. With the elimination of the pin-pricks, do you consider these regulations would improve the value of our butter ?—Undoubtedly. The raw material would improve, and with it the quality of the butter.

5—T. 12a.