1.—12 a

38

W. FUGE

8. Is the estimate given heie of an improvement of ,£25,000 in the quality of our dairyproduoe per year resulting from the inspection a high one?—l do not think we will get any benefit. Everybody in our district tries to bring his milk to the factory in as good condition as he can, and all the inspection in the world will not make it any better. 9. What are we going to get for patting farmers to this expense?—We might have 2 to 3 per cent, of bad farmers. A good instructor is far better than an Inspector. 10. An instructor would do better than these regulations?— Yes. 11. Mr. Witty.] You consider that there should be no inspection at all?— There should be a certain supervision. All the inspection wanted would be from September to March. 1.2. You could liot sack the Inspector- for six months and then _take him on?—lf you selected capable men from the district who are suppliers. 13. Then there would be good inspection?—lf you selected a man whom the suppliers know is a good farmer they would be more satisfied. 14. Have you known cases where milk has been rejected by the manager ?—We give our manager- full power to reject all milk. 15. Do you know cases where the manager has been sacked because he rejected milk?—l have not heard of it. .1(5. What is your method of inspection?—We give the manager full power-, and hold him responsible for the quality of the produce. I am chairman of the Featherston Dairy Company, and we graded the highest in New Zealand last year. 17. The manager will not see the surroundings of the shed : he will just see the milk? —The manager will often go out of his way if there is something the matter. He will go out and look around himself. 18. If it is not very clean? —He will refuse it. 19. You hear regulations have been in force for ten years, and more drastic than these regulations?— Yes, and I was surprised to hear it. 20. If these regulations were carried out on common-sense lines?— They would be very useful. 21. All it wants is a tactful instructor? —Yes; not a man who just goes round to show his authority. 22. Eon. Mr. McNab.] Can you suggest in what way subsection (k) could be made any clearer that it must apply to either a yard or a race?—l would simply say a yard, because every dairyman makes a yard to suit his own herd. For instance, Mr. Fisher, in his evidence, says he does not put his cows in a yard. He has different country; it is shingly country, which will not cut up. In my district it is swampy and soft country. We are therefore bound to have yards. It is an advantage to us to have yards. 2;-!. You think the regulations should be so worded as to state that a man should have a yard? —Yes. 24. If there is a man who says I prefer to have a race and have no specially made yard, would you give him the privilege of having the race? —Yes, certainly. 25. What other way can you do it without putting it in as an alternative: the race may be cheaper?—lt may. I would make it clear. 26. I ask again, what way would you suggest, except in bringing out " either " or " or " in italic type ?—What other way could it be put more simply ? 27. Mr. Lang.] In your- district some dairymen have only one vehicle?— Most of them. 28. So they have to use it for every purpose, as well as for taking milk to the factory or creamery ?—Yes. 29. Would it not meet the case if a clause was inserted saying that the cart must be cleaned thoroughly?— Yes, I think so. 30. You have read the regulations? —Yes. 31. Could you give the Committee the average cost if they had to carry out the regulations to the very letter?— Anything from £20 to £100, according to the size of the farm. 32. As to the registration fee: it has been argued that it is right dairymen should pay it, as they would derive benefit from the regulations. According to your statement, they would have to pay a good sum to bring their premises up to the requirements of the regulations ? —Yes. 33. Mr. Buddo.] Do you favour- any inspection other than your own factory manager's inspection? —We could do without it. ... 34. That is to say, you are satisfied your output is equal to anything rt could be made mto without supervision ?—lf we were Home on the spot we could get the full value. 35. At present it does not?—l believe every dairyman brings his milk to the factory as good as he can. There might be about 8 per cent, you have to improve. The dairy industry is a struggle to get a start. 36 We have evidence that the value of a vat of milk is of the value of the lowest grade milk put into it?—Oh, no ! It may deteriorate a little. 37. You would not deteriorate it to the worst class of milk?—Oh, no ! 38. How many cows would you suggest should go to the one bail? What number would you suggest for fifty cows? —From fifteen to twenty. 39 A bail for two and a half or two cows?—lt is to the dairyman's interest to have a certain number of bails for feeding his cows. , . , «, , , , 40. Assuming the dairyman was not ready to erect extensive sheds s —He could do with one bail to five or six cows. 41. With fifty cows you would do with eight bails?— Yes. 42. You have been asked a question as to the cost of erecting a shed. You said that a dairyman would have to spend £100 on a shed for fifty cows. You do not presume your district requires any such expenditure? —I do not.