Fremantle Harbour Trust and Port Charges:

Your Commissioners recommend that in the interest of the primary producer, a strict investigation should be made into these charges with a view to reducing same

. Railway Freights—Charges on Wheat and Wool:

From the evidence, your Commissioners recommended that all Government charges on wheat and wool be revised and brought into the same lines as was current before the war; the rates were no doubt increased in view of the high prices ruling at the time, but with the decreased market prices, rates should be reduced in conformity therewith.

Railway freights on wheat have practically increased 15.8 per cent. and 17.5 per cent. on wool since 1914. In view of the low prices prevailing for wool and wheat, your Commissioners are of the opinion that railway freights should be reduced; a decrease in tonnage of wheat and wool (which must follow unprofitable returns to the primary producer) must eventually more adversely affect the earning of the Railway Department and render economies more drastic than if the present position is met in a ready manner by the Department.

Water Rates and Charges:

Your Commissioners find that the further a settler is away from the Goldfields Water Supply pipe line, the greater he is charged for water rates and excess water. For instance, a farmer 20 miles away from such Pipe Line is charged up to 10d. in the pound water rate and 6s. 8d. for every one thousand gallons excess water used. The settler nearer to the Main Pipe Line is charged 4d. in the pound rate and 2s. 6d. a thousand gallons excess water.

Your Commissioners recommend a levelling up of these rates—increase the one and decrease the other.

Road and Vermin Board Rates and Taxes:

The excessive rating by certain road boards was stressed by some witnesses. Your Commissioners recommend that during the present period of the depressed prices, Local Governing Authorities should reduce rates to the minimum prescribed under the Act.

The pastoralists and agriculturalists combined to request the Government to establish a central fund for the purpose of destruction of dingoes, wild dogs, foxes and eaglehawks, and an Act was passed empowering the Government to raise such a fund by taxation on unimproved land values on pastoral lands of 1d. in the pound and farming lands ½d. in the pound. The tax was first levied in 1926-27 at the maximum rates. For 1929-30 the tax was reduced by 50 per cent., which is the current rate.

For the years 1926-1931 a sum of £174,042 was received into the Fund and £168,046 expended; presumably the balance has been retained for administration purposes.

It is to be noted that the Government does not shoulder the responsibility for the destruction of rabbits and the emus, the responsibility for so doing is placed on the respective Local Vermin Boards, who have, in most cases, instituted a local tax for the purpose.

Your Commissioners are satisfied that the continuation of such a fund is essential, but at the present the tax falls heavily on the pastoralists and farmers, and your Commissioners recommend that a tax be levied on the unimproved value of all lands within the State.

Land Tax:

Your Commissioners recommend that during such time as the wool and wheat industries are fighting for their very existence, the burden of Land Tax should be removed.

At the present time, farming lands have little taxable values, and both the Federal and State Parliaments should acknowledge the fact, and, at least for the present, free those lands from this burden of taxation.

Inspection of Books—Wheat Acquiring Agents:

In the opinion of your Commissioners, authority should be given to Agricultural Bank Officers to have free access to inspect the books and records of all persons to whom farmers deliver wheat.

Abolition of Stamp Duties:

During the present crisis, your Commissioners are of the opinion that stamp duties and registration fees on all securities should be abolished in so far as farmers, who come under the Plan recommended by the Commission, are concerned.

Agricultural Bank Act:

If the Plan recommended be adopted, then Section 37A of the about Act should be amended, giving the Trustees discretionary power to waive their lien, thereby created, in favour of the liens created by Parts (1) or (2) of the Plan.

If the recommendations made by your Commissioners in respect to Sheep farming are adopted, "The Agricultural Bank Act" should be amended, giving the Trustees discretionary power to forego interest, including accommodation interest for, say, a period of two years. In this regard "The Land Act" would also be amended if necessary by providing for the holding over of land rents during the above period.

Wheat Areas outside Twenty Miles Radius from Existing Railways:

Your Commissioners recommend that all expenditure by the Agricultural Bank in these areas should be discontinued, as it is not profitable to produce wheat thereon. The maintenance of these areas must necessarily diminish the available funds of the Agricultural Bank, and it is thought these funds can be expended with more benefit to the State in consolidating the position of the farmers within a 20 mile radius of existing railways and in carrying into effect the suggestion in the next succeeding paragraph.

Your Commissioners further recommend that, as occasion offers, the farmers who have settled in these outside areas be given the opportunity of acquiring improved or partially improved areas from the Bank within the 20 mile radius of existing railways on such terms as the Trustees of the Bank may from time to time determine.