E. CLIFTON.]

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28. Mr. Rhodes.] The regulations are to be enforced at the discretion of the Inspector? —1 do not quite say that. At his discretion, guided by the general principles of the Department. 29. Do you not think a statement to that effect should be included? —There are many things one might like to put in as directions. Some explanatory notes might be attached. 30. Any dairyman taking up these regulations would lead them as hard and fast rules/ — They apply in the same direction as many of our other Acts. 31. It might be obviated by adding explanatory notes? —1 should be unwilling to do anything of that kind. 32. You would rather leave it to time and tact?—l would rather leave it to the proof of action. 33. There seems to be some irritation in regard to the transfer fee. Is it necessary to make it 2s. 6d. ! —lt is an unimportant point. The object was to make people register transfers. Something attached to it brings them quickly to the mark. 34. A good many object to the license fee for ten cows?—lt is not a serious thing. It is a question of policy rather than administration. 35. Have you looked through these letters which have been handed in? One of my constituents said he had held over building a dairy for some years pending the regulations. He lias machinery for other purposes, and he wants to use the same machinery for milking. He uses it for a sausagemachine and for purposes of that sort, and it would preclude him from using it. If there are fairly clean conditions what can he do? —I am setting up a plant at Ruakirra where the machine will be 40 ft. from the engine itself. I have seen instances where it is carried further. 3G. In which case it would be advisable to comunicate with the Inspector?—lt must be judged on the conditions applying. 37. The great complaint from Banks Peninsula is in regard to the race?— The race is an alternative, and it is offered the farmer as the most reasonable means we know of to enable him to keep mud in winter and dust in .summer at a reasonable distance from the cowshed without having to go to the expense of a large concrete yard. It is answering very well in certain parts of Taranaki. This morning 1 have received another batch of appreciative letters in regard to the race. The race is one of those things people appreciate when they know it. 38. Is this required more on account of mud than of dust?— Dust applies very seriously; in fact, I take dust to be a greater cause of milk-impurity than mud. 39. In regard to allowing other animals than cows in the milking-shed, should this be strictly enforced ? —Certainly not strictly. 40. The regulations would not apply to existing buildings?— Certainly not. 41. Mr. Bollard.] After the explanation of Mr. Clifton there is very little to say about the regulations, especially as they are going to be modified. I think there is no occasion for dairymen to be alarmed, especially with Mr. Clifton's well-known tact and ability. One response struck me in conned ion with the Appeal Court. You say you would like the dispute to go direct to the Magistrate. You know perfectly well that if you go before a Magistrate he would take the law and the regulations together, and there would be no give-and-take. Do you not think it would be better to have friendly arbitration between the disputants before going to the Magistrate, leaving the Magistrate as the final Court of Appeal?— Friendly arbitration by all means, if the two gentlemen can arrange between themselves to have a consultation, not to make a statutory matter of it. The only things which would lead to disputes are the sanitary conditions of the shed and a few other matter's of that description that are not defined by any regulation. It is in that case a Magistrate would have to judge, apart from any question of law. It is decided by the evidence. 42. Suppose a case of that sort arose in regard to sanitation. The Inspector might say to the dairyman, " You are sufficiently near material to put down concrete." The man cannot say it is too expensive? —The dairyman can do either. 42a. The Inspector has no discretion?—He cannot dictate as to which the dairyman must use. 43. Mr. Buddo.] As to the arbitration, would a representative of the farmer and the Inspector appeal to you as an arbitration tribunal that would be likely to give good results ?—1 do not think it would, because the person who would appeal in that case would be almost always the unpractical. 44. Do you not think it should go to conciliation before going to the Magistrate?—l think it would only cause delay. 45. You would prefer to go to the Magistrate?— Yes, because both defendant and Inspector are on their trial. 46. In the number of prosecutions you have mentioned were there any cases where a, certain amount more latitude would have reduced the prosecutions outside the definite faults of dairymen? Has there not been found any great difficulty in controlling the inspection?— Considering the difficulties and the state of the supply it has been done with a minimum of annoyance. 47. With your experience, and considering the system of production of dairy-produce, do you consider the system of production —do you think the produce would have been benefited by withdrawing Government inspection and throwing it back on the dairy associations? —It could only lead to deterioration. At the meetings I referred to it was stated that the companies had either appointed inspectors or had made their managers inspectors, and they had been compelled to give it ii|> because of the difficulty of enforcing the necessary improvements. It was better, they had decided, to have outside independent Government inspection. 48. Is it your opinion that the produce would bring higher value in Britain as the result of the inspection? —Yes. 49. Your opinion is in that direction? —My opinion must necessarily be that, as formed by the opinion expressed by the leaders of the industry. 50. Mr. Lang.] Would it not be in the power of the local Inspector to make it harassing? — He might do it once. 51. Have you heard of cases where local inspectors in the past have been wanting in tact in enforcing things which were unnecessary?—We have found officers who have not been tactful, but they have not been allowed to continue.