W. L. FALCONER.]

71

1.—12 a.

25. A great number of farmers in the districts subscribed to the watch? —Yes, and a lot subscribed who were not dairy-farmers. 2(>. That indicated a fairly widespread satisfaction with the Inspector?—lf you had left that man there in that capacity it would have been all right. 27. You would not be here if that man was still in the district?—l was in Wellington, and I had not intended coming. 28. The fanners realise that in many cases the inspectors do good useful work? —Well, it would practically be handing over the management of our farms to inspectors. I was an experienced man when I came to the country, and I would not like to hand over the management of my farm to any man you would appoint as an inspector. 29. And give him a gold watch?— lf a man served me well I would not mind presenting him with something to encourage him. ■'SO. Hon. Mr. Duncan.] 1 suppose this Inspector did not prosecute any one? —He kept the rabbits down, and managed his affairs without fear or favour. He did his duty. He treated all hands alike. He gained the respect of the farmers of the district, and that is a good deal. 31. Is your company quite satisfied with the supplier whose premises are not in a good-enough state?—l have seen premises very dirty, and would not like to drink the milk that came out of them. There is nothing like being candid. It is the duty of the whole of the factories of the colony to give more power to managers and make them inspect the premises of suppliers. If the Government gave us veterinary surgeons and make us kill diseased cows it would be conferring a greater benefit on farmers, for £he veterinary surgeons could also inspect our premises. 32. Mr. Bollard.] You saw some very dirty premises. Do you not think the Inspector ought to visit that man's premises and make him toe the mark?—Of course, if that state of things existed at present the factory-manager would make him keep things clean. Dairy-farmers are generally poor people, and could not meet the regulations at all. Even a poor woman could not keep a couple of cows. 33. You say you saw a dairy so dirty that you would not like to drink the milk from it: do you not think the Inspector should visit that place and force the owner to keep it in a better state? —Our managers have power to refuse milk, and that is better than the work of the inspectors you appoint. 34. Inspection is necessary?—We have inspection at the present moment, and all that is necessary. •35. Mr. Okey.] And yet there is the dirty yard you spoke of?—I do not say there are dirty yards at present. We are improving them. 36. Mr. Bollard.] You say you have dirty yards?— Yes. 37. Then inspection is necessary to put these dirty yards in order? —It is going to ruin the industry if you let these forty inspectors loose. It would shut the farms down. 38. Suppose they are reasonable men like the rabbit inspector you are talking about?—He was an exception to the rule. He is naturally a good sort. 39. I do not say in every case a man with a dairy should comply with the regulations, but surely it would improve that man's position to make him supply cleaner milk? —When appointed to the Agricultural Department the Inspector gets so much red tape that he becomes obnoxious to the farmer. 40. Mr. Buddo.] What brings the better price—New Zealand or Danish?— But our butter has to go 14,000 miles, and is likely to deteriorate. If our butter was as near the market as Danish it would be second to none in the world. 41. If an experienced dairy-farmer told you that it was his opinion, judging by experience, that the reason our butter was not equal to Danish was by reason of some defect in the milk, what would you think?—lt may be, for the slightest bad flavour reduces the grade in both butter and cheese. 42. If having more careful supervision gave a better milk to manufacture from and thereby raised the value of our butter, would you not think it worth while to put on inspectors to secure that desirable result! — No. 43. You do not think our butter is as good as Danish? —It is quite as good. 44. You said the Government wanted to put a broad arrow on your farm? —Yes. 45. Do you think it would be vise to withdraw inspection of butter so that it would not be graded?— The grading of the butter and cheese is a guarantee of its quality. lam in favour of grading. 46. Supposing the regulations were in force, what proportion of your neighbours would have to make any alteration to their premises?— They would all have to concrete their yards and do other things—a glass roof over the yards to keep the pigeons out. 47. Do you think many of them would have to make any alteration at all, leaving out the pigeons?— Yes. I was made to put up an up-to-date shed, and subject to the inspector when put up. I said, "Will that comply with the dairy regulations?" He said "Yes." Now the Inspector says, " You have ten bails abutting on the vvoolshed, and you will have to shift the whole thing." I said, " I will sell the cows and close the factory down." 48. Assuming this is so, do you think there are many farmers in your district whose shed would not comply with reasonable requirements?— Were the regulations modified so that concrete or sawn timber might be used, and the yards paved with stones or properly made bricks. 49. I was going to say you are not prevented from using wood, only that it must be impervious to moisture. How long is it since you saw the dairy not fit to drink milk from?—lt is fairly clean now. They have not good foundations perhaps, but they have metalled yards. 50. With a decent inspector, like the Rabbit Inspector you spoke of, none of you would have to make alterations? — You would not get a man, except a hoary-headed man, like that man.