79

1.—12 a

Copy of Resolution passed at a Special Meeting of Directors of Tai Tapu Dairy Company, held on Tuesday, 22nd September, 1908. That this meeting of directors of Tai Tapu Dairy Company considers that some regulation and inspection of dairies is necessary to improve the conditions of dairying, but are of opinion that the proposed new Dairy Act is too drastic, unworkable, and practically prohibitive, and means ruin, especially to the small farmer. The farming community has by careful attention in the past brought the dairy industry up to its present high standard, and if such a stringent and unwarrantable change is to be forced upon it at this juncture it will give a great set-back to the industry in this county. Tai Tapu, 23rd September, 1908. W. K. Watson, Secretary.

Cambridge Co-operative Dairy Company (Limited), Dear Sir, — Cambridge, 23rd September, 1908. Replying to your wire of the 21st instant the following are objections which we think should be amended :— Clauses 4 and 6 : No fees should be charged. {(I.) : Should be deleted. (c.) : Once a year, in August. ((/.): 15 ft. ample if on the south or south-west side of milking-shed, otherwise 60 ft. The remainder of this clause quite necessary. (A.) : " No new erection of buildings shall be," &c. (k.) (1) and (2): If cowshed is properly paved or concreted and drained, no other condition necessary. (m.) : Included in other clauses. 2. A milker may commence operations clean, but certainly would not finish so. Subclause (11): The latter portion would not be carried out. (15): Provided for in clause (g). (20) : This should not bo retrospective. (29) : " Enter " should read " remain." (31) : This clause would prevent skim-milk being returned in factory-cart. The words "excrement, filth, and pigs' wash" are all that should remain. Section 23 provides for condition of conveyance. (33) : Too arbitrary. The power practically in the hands of one man. I nun say that we fully recognise the importance of the industry, and that it is necessary to have regulations as to cleanliness of handling, See., and that a short Act is necessary; but'the Bill now circulated, if carried into effect, will drive a good many of those, especially of the better class, out of the industry. Many of the settlers in this part have already spent a good deal of money in concreting their sheds, and there is a decided improvement in the surroundings of their sheds, and at the present time any additional burdens would be detrimental. Another point is that there are practically no cows housed, and they are in the sheds for such a short time that the removal of the milk to a safe point after being milked is quite sufficient. We, with other colonists, are proud of the position gained by the New Zealand dairy-produce in the world's markets, and if this has been brought about when the methods of handling the raw material were very questionable, the advance that has taken place in the condition during the past year in this district must still enhance its merits. I have, &c, Hon. R. McNab, Wellington. Martin Butler, Secretary.

Mauriceville Dairy Company (Limited), Dear Sir, — Mauriceville West ; 25th September, 1908. The dairy-farmers of Mauriceville, Mauriceville West, Hastwell, and Mangamahoe met at the A.O.F. Hall, Mauriceville West, yesterday afternoon for the purpose of considering the regulations of the new Dairy Act. The meeting was an unusually representative one of the whole district. Mr. E. Pedersen, chairman of the dairy company, was voted to the chair, and in opening the meeting gave the leasons for calling the meeting. The Secretary read the copy of the new Act, and, after some discussion, Mr. E. W. Nielsen moved, and Mr. H. E. Thorley seconded, " That a committee be set up to consider the regulations, and 7iiake a strong protest against those which were not found workable." A committee of nine was appointed, and went into the matter, clause by clause, with the following results : — Clauses 1, 9, 14, 20, 24, 29, 30, 31, 33 were objected to in their entirety. Clause 8 : Part (c), not objected to, provided three years are given in which to complete the concreting. Part (g) objected to. Part (h) : No objection, except to the stable. Part (j) : Restrictions too drastic in regard to piggery. Part (k) : Objected to. Clause 19 : Branding process objected to. Clause 27 : Part (c) objected to.