before milking in order to prevent the dust from rising.

( The witness retired)

FRANKLYN HIGGS, Inspector Health Department , sworn and examined:

11970. By the CHIARMAN : Have you been to the South-West ? — Quite a number of times . I have no set time for going there. I may have gone down three or four times in the year,but between those visits other inspectors have gone there.

11971 . What is the condition of the average country dairy as you have found it ? — Structurally they are on the lines described by Mr Huelin , but I question whether you will find any , or at any rate very few , actually comply with the letter of the by-laws. The dairies around Bunbury we regard just as we do the dairies at Osborne Park.

11972. Do you find that the average farmers displays any reluctance to improve the conditions of his milking sheds and appliances? — There has been a certain amount of reluctance owing to the cost, but not to any great extent. Sometimes they think that what suited their grandfathers should always obtain. At the same time it has always been the policy of the inspectors of the department to act more in the capacity of instructors. I am referring of course more to those dairies in the South-West which produce cream and butter These questions have been discussed with them and there has been no reluctance to receive instructions or enter into a discussion. It has always been pointed out to them that our chief desire is to encourage them to follow the best lines possible.

11973. One dairy farmer, if not more , told us he had been so harassed by the representatives of the Health Department that he had decided to go out of the dairying business altogether ? — I know for a fact that that has happened. Quite recently I have met at least two of these people and I have met others in the last few years , but all have acted under a misapprehension . All those who have listened to our instructions and have entered into a discussion with us, have viewed the matter in a different light from that in which they had previously regarded it. On approaching some of them I found that they were apprehensive of the department , but after a discussion they held a different view.

11974. By Mr VENN : Quitea number of witnesses who were examined told us they would not go on with dairying owing to the regulations. For instance , they were under the impression that they were obliged to put down cement floors and that sort of thing. Is it not true that you have not enforced that particular regulation for some years ? — I believe there was a modification of it. I have been with the department for even years and it has never been enforced in that time. The feeling which existed years ago has largely broken down.

11975. By The CHAIRMAN : If a little benevolent compulsion is exercised by the department, it is a good and not a bad thing ?— very often some of the dairy farmers do not appreciate to the full that there is no food which is so easily contaminated as milk , and whilst we are anxious to encourage the dairy farmers , we must bear that in mind too.

11976. By Mr PAYNTER: Do you also inspect butter factories ?— yes , if we happen to be in the distrcit where butter factories are operating. they are included in the general inspection, which also embraces piggeries , slaughter-houses , hotels , lodging houses , etc.

11977. By the CHAIRMAN : Di you inspect the late Government butter factory at Busselton ? — yes.

11978. Was that considered to be sanitary and an example of how things should be kept? — it is a good while since i was there. McFarlane had it at that time. Some of the other inspectors saw it when it passed the Government control.

11979. I never saw anything so terrible or so disreputable as that factory. That was not the fault of the manager ; it was due to structural defects and general dilapidation; it was in a shocking condition ? — i never saw it while the Government were in occupation of it.

11980. What was the department doing to allow that factory to run so long in that condition? — I cannot answer that , because i personally did not see it. Our experience is that we can do better with a private individual than wit ha Government department.

11981. By Mr PAYNTER : Doyou make bacteriological tests of milk ? — No.

11982 . By Mr. VENN : Do you take the health of the stock into consideration ? — No , that is a matter for the Stock Department.

(The witness retired)

HARRY VINCENT FRY, Assistant manager, Elder , Shenton & Co ., sworn and examined:

11983. By the CHAIRMAN : During our travels through the South-West we have been much impressed by the urgent need there is for a supply of cheap explosives to enable people to clear their land. Statements have been made to us that the prices charged for explosives are unduly high. Can you give us any information on the subject ? — Owing to the difficulty in obtaining explosives at the present time we have not been pushing this class of business. In fact some little time ago we were debarred from selling explosives at all for agricultural purposes. Since then , however a little more latitude has been allowed and we are now practically supplying all orders for agricultural purposes. As regards the price , we charge the same price for explosives for other requirements. With regard to some of the bigger mining concerns, they made contracts before the war for the supply of explosives, and they are working under those contracts . If a man came to us to-day for a quote, we would quote on the same basis we would for the supply of gelignite for any other purpose.

11984. By Mr VENN: Has the cost of gelignite increased very much ? — The cost of manufacture, the cost of shipping , and insurance have gone up tremendously , and naturally the price has advanced. Take gelignite in small quantities for agricultural purposes. Before the war a case cost 39s 6d. while to-day the price is 52s.

11985. The railway freights on a single case of explosives is very heavy ? — yes. If a man gets four