1.—12 a.

Monday, 21st September, 1908. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. McNab, Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. Buddo, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Lang, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Okey, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Witty. Messrs. Ritchie, Clifton, Harkness, and Cumming were also present. The Hon. Mr. McNab moved, and it was agreed, That Mr. Hogg be Acting-Chairman in the absence of Mr. Lawry. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Sixth witness, Mr. John Watt Deem, Inspector in Charge West Coast District, North Island, Wanganui, gave evidence and answered questions. Seventh witness, Mr. James R. Scott, secretary, National Dairy Association, South Island, Dunedin, gave evidence and answered questions. Eighth witness, William Nicholson, Hanipden, Otago, Director of the Taieri and Peninsula Company, Dunedin, gave evidence and answered questions. Ninth witness, Mr. Deem, recalled, and answered questions and handed in numerous letters favouring the " race." On the motion of Mr. Witty, Mr. Okey was authorized to consult the dairy-farmers in his district and ask them to select three representatives to give evidence before the Committee. The Committee then adjourned.

Tuesday, 22nd September, 1908. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. McNab, Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. Bollard, Mr. Buddo, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Hornsby, Mr. Kidd, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lawry, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Okey, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Witty. Messrs. Ritchie, Clifton, and Cumming were also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following gentlemen gave evidence and answered questions: Witness No. 10, Mr. George Harkness, secretary, National Dairy Association of New Zealand; witness No. 11, William Fisher, farmer, Carterton; and witness No. 12, W. Fuge, dairy-farmer, Kaiwaiwai. The Committee then adjourned. Thursday, 24th September, 1908. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. McNab, Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. Bollard, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Hornsby, Mr. Kidd, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lawry, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Okey, Mr. Rhodes. Mr. Graham, M.P., Messrs. Cuddie, Ritchie, Clifton, and Cumming were also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Hon. Mr. McNab read and put in letters, dated March, 1898, and February and August, 1902, from Mr. J. Moncrieff, jun., secretary, Dalefield Co-operative Dairy Company, each requesting that inspection be made by an officer of the Department of Agriculture on several of the farms in his district with a view of reporting thereon. The following gentlemen gave evidence and answered questions: Witness No. 13, Mr. Henry Ernest Carey, managing director, Riverdale Dairy Company, Lower Hutt; witness No. 14, Mr. F. W. Beechey, Utiku; Mr. Carey, by his own desire recalled, gave further evidence; witness No. 15, Mr. David Thomson Roy, dairy-farmer, Dunedin; and witness No. 16, Mr. Robert Thomas Souness, Inspector of Dairies, Eltham. The Committee then adjourned to 10.30 a.m. on Friday. Friday, 25th September, 1908. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. McNab, Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. Bollard, Mr. Buddo, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Kidd, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lawry, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Okey, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Witty. Messrs. Remington and Major, M.P.s, and Ritchie, Clifton, and Cumming were also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following gentlemen gave evidence and answered questions: Witness No. 17, Mr. A. E. Remington, M.P.; witness No. 18, Mr. James Burgess, farmer, Warea; witness No. 19, Mr. Angus John McCurdy, secretary of the Dairymen's Union, Upper Hutt; and witness No. 20, Mr. C. E. Major, M.P. The Committee then adjourned. Monday, 28th September, 1908. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. McNab, -Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. Buddo, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Hornsby, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lawry, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Rhodes. Mr. Graham, M.P., Messrs. Ritchie, Kirk, and Hallam were also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Hon. Mr. McNab proposed that the time for receiving evidence re, the proposed Dairy Regulations be extended to Thursday, the Ist proximo, inclusive.—Agreed to. The Committee then adjourned.

Thursday, 24th September, 1908. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. McNab, Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. Bollard, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Hornsby, Mr. Kidd, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lawry, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Okey, Mr. Rhodes. Mr. Graham, M.P., Messrs. Cuddie, Ritchie, Clifton, and dimming were also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Hon. Mr. McNab read and put in letters, dated March, 1898, and February and August, 1902, from Mr. J. Moncrieff, jun., secretary, Dalefield Co-operative Dairy Company, each requesting that inspection be made by an officer of the Department of Agriculture on several of the farms in his district with a view of reporting thereon. The following gentlemen gave evidence and answered questions: Witness No. 13, Mr. Henry Ernest Carey, managing director, lliverdale Dairy Company, Lower Hutt; witness No. 14, Mr. F. W. Beechey, Utiku; Mr. Carey, by his own desire recalled, gave further evidence; witness No. 15, Mr. David Thomson Roy, dairy-farmer, Dunedin; and witness No. 16, Mr. Robert Thomas Souness, Inspector of Dairies, Eltham. The Committee then adjourned to 10.30 a.m. on Friday.

Pbidat, 25th September, 1908. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. MoNab, Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. Bollard, Mr. Buddo, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Kidd, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lawry, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Okey, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Witty. Messrs. Remington and Major, M.P.s, and Ritchie, Clifton, and Cumming were also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The following gentlemen gave evidence and answered questions: Witness No. 17, Mr. A. E. Remington, M.P.; witness No. 18, Mr. James Burgess, farmer, Warea; witness No. 19, Mr. Angus John McCurdy, secretary of the Dairymen's Union, Upper Hutt; and witness No. 20, Mr. C. E. Major, M.P. The Committee then adjourned.

Monday, 28th September, 1908. The Committee met at 10.30 a.m., pursuant to notice. Present: Hon. Mr. McNab, -Hon. Mr. Duncan, Mr. Buddo, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Hornsby, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lawry, Mr. Macpherson, Mr. Rhodes. Mr. Graham, M.P., Messrs. Ritchie, Kirk, and Hallam were also present. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. The Hon. Mr. McNab proposed that the time for receiving evidence re the proposed Dairy Regulations be extended to Thursday, the Ist proximo, inclusive. —Agreed to. The Committee then adjourned.

III