H.—3o.

The Commission desires to acknowledge the assistance it received from the witnesses who gave oral evidence and from the persons who submitted written statements. In the great majority of cases, it was evident that much care and thought had been devoted to the preparation of material. The Commission desires also to thank the officers of a number of State Departments and of the Dairy Produce Control Board for supplying much valuable information in the form of reports and returns which were compiled at the request of the Commission. In making its report and recommendations, the Commission has found it necessary to depart from the scheme of subdivision of specific subjects of inquiry, as set out in the order of reference supplied t'o it. The several specific matters are, however, dealt with in appropriate sections of this report. The Commission is satisfied that there is abundant evidence of an urgent need for making financial assistance, at low rates of interest, available to dairy-farmers. They are at present, after a period of low prices, facing the prospect of receiving still lower prices for their produce. The Commission has given particular consideration to methods of providing them with financial relief, and, to the formulation of a scheme of reorganization of the administration of the industry that will enable it to cope with the many problems with which it is faced. The Commission has realized the need for continued improvement in the quality of our dairy-produce in all the stages of production, processing, and manufacturing, and for a system of marketing that will enable the industry to obtain the best results under the difficult conditions that at present exist and are likely to continue for a considerable period. The recommendations of the Commission are interrelated, and it is felt that, if the needed financial assistance is forthcoming as recommended in this report, the dairy industry can reasonably be expected to respond by accepting the scheme for reorganization of the administrative side of the industry, and accepting also the measures of discipline necessary for the attainment of further improvement in the quality of New Zealand dairy-produce. The Commission wishes to place on record its appreciation of the capable and conscientious assistance and co-operation of Professor W. Riddet and Messrs. E. J. Fawcett and H. L. Wise, who were attached to the Commission as an expert secretariat, and of Mr. J. A. Gilmour, General Secretary to the Commission, and his assistant, Mr. P. D. Steel. Our detailed report and recommendations are as follows.

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