1.—12 a.

44

|F.L:W. BEECHEY.

54. You think the Department should pay the total cost, and the farmer should not pay anything?— Yes; the farmor is not asking for the regulations. 55. You stated it would be a hardship if milkers were compelled to remove offensive matter within two hours?—l do. 56. Do you think if that was made to read " within two hours of milking " that it would meet the case? —That would apply to afternoon milking. 57. If the time in which the offensive matter must be removed was extended to mid-day, would that meet the case?—ln many cases no. 58. Would you suggest two hours before night milking would be quite reasonable? —Yes. You would have to let the night milking stand to the next afternoon. It would have to stand. 59. Is it the case that sheds are cleaned out after the evening milking? —No. 60. It is not the custom?— No. 61. Would you suggest in regard to the cooling of milk that a specified degree of temperature should be set forth instead of leaving it to the discretion of the Inspector?— Where you have the water-supply you could get the temperature. 62. Would you sooner have this matter settled by saying that it be reduced to a certain temperature instead of leaving it entirely in the hands of the Inspector? You could then show him by means of a thermometer that it had been reduced ?—lf you tell me what you consider a fair average coolness I might tell you. 63. Would you consider 65° —if this was named, would it be better than leaving it to the discretion of the Inspector ?—ln our country we could not reduce it to that unless we had a very cold night. 64. In regard to notifications by Inspector, do you think they should be registered?—l do not know it would be more satisfactory to the settler—it may be to the Department. 65. Is there not a possibility of that letter going astray by being delivered to a lad or other employee? Would it not be more satisfactory if the letter was registered than delivered in the ordinary way, when it could be shown that it had actually been received? —I cannot see much advantage in it. 66. You are satisfied with the particular clause as it stands? —Yes; I think it would be perfectly safe. 67. In regard to the question of disputes settled by the Chief Inspector of Stock: would you suggest that arbitration would be more acceptable to farmers than being left to the final decision of the Chief Inspector? Would you suggest any means of arbitration? Would you consider it in the interests of the farmer if he was represented on an appeal board? —I think the Chief Inspector of Stock would do his duty to the farmers. 68. Mr. Lang.] You quoted regulation 8, subsection (c). Did you understand by that that wooden floors could be put down? —No. I did not. 69. You would not understand that from reading the regulation?— No. 70. In a good many of the regulations a matter has to be approved by the Inspector: in three cases the Chief Inspector of Stock may be appealed to. Do you not think it advisable in cases of dispute that the matter should go to arbitration between the Inspector and the dairyman?— Arbitration between the Department and the farmer ? 71. Each party appointing one, and the two appointing a third? —It would lead to a lot of trouble. 72. You think it would lead to more trouble than if left to the one side to decide? —Yes. 73. In regard to the use of the milk-cart for other purposes. Do you not think that would be difficult to enforce in many districts where the dairymen have only one vehicle?— Yes. You could not enforce it. 74. Under the regulation a man would not be allowed to cart a dressed pig, or a live calf, or a crate of fowls. Do you not think it would meet the case if the dairyman was compelled to keep his cart clean when using it for other purposes ?—Yes, apart from matters like manures and excrement. 75. As long as it is kept clean, what does it matter what it is used for at other times?— Yes, that should be sufficient. 76. What sort of floor would you suggest where concrete is not obtainable?— There is nothing else I know of except wood. 77. What about burnt bricks set on edge in good mortar?— Not as good as wood. Not as impervious to water as wood. Bricks will absorb water. 78. What sort of wooden floor would you suggest?— Some New Zealand hardwood, such as matai. 79. How would you lay it down?—On stringers. 80. How would you fix the boards? —You would need a double-boarded floor, close boarded. 81. Suppose you hand 2 in. boards properly laid, and tongued and grooved?— That would be very well, but the two single-inch boards laid double would have a better chance of turning drainage than the 2 in. board, tongued and grooved. 82. Mr. Qkey.] Do you not think inspection of an educational nature would be sufficient for the present?— Yes. 83. If all the milk is made into good butter, is that not sufficient?— Quite sufficient. 84. These regulations would in no way stop milk being taken from one factory to another'/ —No. 85. Mr. Macpherson.] You consider having the farmer's name on his cart would be of no value. Do you not think, for the purpose of identification, that it would be wise to have the name on the cart ?—I do not think it would be any benefit. 86. Do you not think it would prevent disputes in regard to the ownership of a cart?—l do not think so. 87. It would be no assistance to the Department?—I do not think so.