Farmers' Disabilities Royal Commission

To His Excellency John Alfred Northmore, Administrator in and over the State of Western Australia and its Dependencies in the Commonwealth of Australia.

May it please Your Excellency— In accordance with the terms of the Commission, dated the 26th day of May, 1931, empowering the Commissioners—

(a) To inquire into, investigate, and make recommendations upon any proposals brought before the Commission for the liquidation of farmers' debts, and in particular upon certain schemes for such purpose already submitted to the Government of the State.

(b) To inquire into the disabilities affecting the agricultural industry in the State, and in particular to report on the main causes affecting the cost of production, including interest charges, the burden of the Customs tariff, and all other factors.

(c) To make recommendations generally in respect of the matters investigated, including the recommendation of such legislation, as are deemed necessary or expedient to carry into effect such recommendation as we, your Commissioners may make under the authority of the Commission.

We have the honour to submit the following report:—

Your Commissioners restricted the inquiry to the following classes of farmers:—

(a) Wheat alone.

(b) Wheat and sheep.

(c) Grazing, comprising pasture, oats, and sheep.

SITTINGS OF COMMISSION.

Your Commissioners, between the 29th May, 1931, and the 31st July, 1931, sat on 50 days, of which evidence was taken on 24 days.

EVIDENCE. Many applications were received by your Commissioners to visit country districts and take evidence from farmers in such districts. As it was impossible to visit all centres from which applications were received, and as it would have been invidious to differentiate between the various districts which could have been visited, it was decided to sit in Perth only, for the purpose of taking evidence, the districts being asked to send a representative to Perth.

Your Commissioners requested associations and others to submit plans for the liquidation of the farmers' debts and/or statements in regard to farmer' liabilities and disabilities.

The following bodies responded by sending in plans or statements, and the evidence of representatives of the undermentioned associations was taken:—

Westralian Farmers, Limited—Mr . J. Thomson. Nationalists Party of Western Australia—Mr . W. R. Murray. Wheatgrowers' Union of Western Australia—Mr . I. G. Boyle. Katanning Chamber of Commerce—Mr W. E. Richmond. The Southern Woolgrowers' Association—Mr . M. Roche. Council of Industries of Western Australia—Mr . S. J. McGibbon. The Director under the Farmers' Debts Adjustment Act—Mr . W. A. White. Trustees' Wheal Pool of Western Australia—Mr . H. E. Braine. Executive Primary Producers' Association—Mr . W. G. Pickering. Labour Party of Western Australia—Hon. W. D. Johnson, M.L.A.

The following summary gives particulars of other evidence taken:— (a) Agricultural Bank— Mr . E. A. McLarty—Managing Trustee. Mr . C. D. Mitchell—District Inspector, Narrogin. Mr . L. D. Buttfield—District Inspector, Kellerberrin. Mr . E. G. Kelso—District Inspector, Katanning. Mr . G. S. Gillies—District Inspector, Bruce Rock. Mr . H. F. Rodgers—District Inspector , Salmon Gums.

(b) Merchants and Traders' Associations— Malloch Bros.— Mr . A. H. Malloch. Wheat Merchants of Western Australia—Mr . E .F . Fethers, of J. Darling & Son. Distributing Agents for Fertiliser Manufacturers—Mr . H. D. McCallum, of Dalgety & Co.,Ltd. Wool and Stock Firms—Mr . H. V. Fry, of Elder Smith & Co. Jute Merchants—Mr H. J. Wigmore, of H. J. Wigmore & Co., Ltd. Shell and Vacuum Oil Companies—Mr . R. Allingham. Chamber of Commerce—Mr . H. E. Braine. Underwriters' Association—Mr G. L. Bowman. Flour Merchants—Mr W. Padbury and Mr . C. H. Merry. Master Bakers' Association—Mr . S. H. D. Rowe.

(c) Farmers— Messer. John Craigie— Yarding.

             J. A. Bowman—Carnamah.
             J. A. Maisie—Dowerin.
             J. V. B. Crewe—Southern Cross.
             W. H. Campbell—Nyabing.
             J. W. Diver—Yorkrakine.
             M. D. Smith—Beverley.
             F. Carter—Woodanilling. 
             E. Randolph—Goomarin.
             F. Yandle—South Kumminin.
             W. Bagshaw—Welbungin.
             J. L. Peover—Wickepin.
             M. A. McCabe and A. J. McCabe—Kellerberrin.