1.—12,

14

brought to him, if he does not like it, and if he knows his duty, he puts his nose into the can and he judges of the milk in his own way. If he considers it bad, or that there is anything wrong about it,' he would order it to be taken away. lam not very well acquainted with the law, but under the Adulterations Prevention Act, any man exposing or offering adulterated milk for sale, or bringing adulterated milk or offering it to any person for sale, is liable to be taken up. There is one recommendation in this connection which our association has made to the Government and got its assent —namely, that factories should have power, in case of any dispute arising, to cause the milk to be sealed up in the presence of both parties and sent to the Government Analyst for analysis. That was our recommendation made two years ago. Ido not consider myself an authority upon matters of law, but, so far as I can see, there is no necessity for all this inspectorship which is provided by the Bill. 63. Mr. Wright.'] You have suggested that some of the descriptions and definitions contained in the clauses require alteration : would you be good enough to indicate what they are ? —ln the first page, line 23, "full-cream cheese;" that, I think, should be. "full-milk cheese." There is such a thing as " cream cheese " already made in the colony. The term, " full-cream cheese," I do not think a correct definition; it is likely to mislead. If you commence in that way you will probably defeat some of the other clauses. In line 1, page 2, the word " three " should be struck out; the word " pure " should also be struck out in line 9. Cheese is spoken of in the trade as three-quarter skim, half skim, or skim. Ido not see why you should insert the word " pure." You put it " pure milk "in all the clauses. I think it should be struck out. 64. Then, in branding, you think it should be described as "full-milk cheese"?— Yes, full milk ; or skim milk, according to what it is. 65. You have said that all the inspectorship provided would lead to friction and unpleasantness : what particular clause of the Act do you refer to ?—There is one section—section 10. 66. That is struck out. —It seems to me that a man can bring his milk along in the morning, and put it into the factory if it is accepted by the factory manager. The factory manager is there for the purpose of rejecting any milk that comes to him. for reasons which he may think sufficient. There is such a thing as milk going sour or going to curds without any apparent reason for such thickening. The most important thing is to determine, whether the milk should be rejected or received. That is what the factory manager is for. 67. He should test every can and see it weighed. You would have him inspect every can?— Yes. With regard to the definition "pure milk," I am not perhaps sufficient of an expert to give the Committee a definition of my own, but I am told on good authority that pure milk has been known to go as low as 3 per cent, of butter-fat. [Page 1, line 24.] 68. Mr. Laivry.] That would only be in exceptional cases?— That refers to the spring of the year —in wet weather. 69. Mr. Wright.] Then do you suggest that " three and a-half " should be altered to "three?" —I will not make any suggestion on the point. I merely mention it as exceptional; that it has been known to be so. The great point to be remembered is that the factories are getting to the habit of paying for milk according to its productive value. It is tested once a month through the directors in company with the manager ; they do not tell the day they are coming. They test for productive value. The test now coming into vogue is almost equal to chemical analysis. I think if that is retained it would shut out milk of inferior quality being worked at all. 70. The Chairman.'] As a matter of fact it would be ignored ?—Yes, but the factory manager would be responsible in every case. The directors would take the average all through the month. 71. Mr. Wright.] What do you suggest instead of a Government Inspector?—l suggest that there should be a Board. 72. What would be the functions of that Board, and how would it be composed : you would want a Board in each district ?—At the present time our association has six members in the North Island ; they have appointed a secretary in Wellington. In the South we have twenty-five factories. We have nearly all Otago and Southland with us. There is an annual meeting at which a committee is elected. This committee deals with all matters connected with the association, and work up all matters for the general benefit of the industry. Our attention at present is directed to shipping. 73. Will you state on what basis this committee is elected ? Has it one representative for each factory?— All the members send two delegates from each factory. These annually elect their committee; they do not always elect a man in the district, or in theii own district, for that would involve travelling. They frequently elect a man in town in whom they have confidence. The Inspector has always access to our meetings. 74., These different interests are represented by the several factories ?—Yes ; they are represented on this Board. 75. It is a voluntary system?— Yes; a voluntary representation for mutual protection. We have now in view getting together air we can, so as to lower freight rates. We can give a guarantee of 1,200 tons from the ports of Otago alone. We think we are entitled to some reduction. 76. Your Committee exercises to a limited degree the function of a board of directors ?— We are not a commercial association. We do not deal in cheese, or buy or sell, or anything of that sort. 77. Have you any suggestion to make as to how such Boards may be appointed under this Act, or whether you prefer to leave the working of them exactly as they are now ?—I think I would prefer to leave them exactly as they are now. Government has given us some support from time to time ; if they continued that, and did away altogether with the present system of inspection, letting us have our own Inspectors, one or two for the North Island, we should be able to carry the thing out