come in. Most of them are Agricultural Bank settlers. I do not think that more than 25 per cent. of the settlers in the Goomalling district are on the Agricultural Bank.

6066. How did the settler weather the storm of the droughts of 1911 and 1914?—Fairly well, but the new settler did not fare well, owning to not having his farm sufficiently improved to run it as a mixed proposition. 1914 was particularly disastrous for some of them.

6067. What are the farming methods like in this district?—Those who have sufficient area cleared recognise that they must cultivate their land as much as possible, and the general impression is that they must work on fallow to make a success of wheat growing. I would suggest the difference in the number of bushels per acre in favour of fallow as against other methods would be five or six bushels per acre. It is a rather difficult question to answer as to the exact amount, but there is no question as to the principle of fallow being most sure.

6068. Is there good rainfall in this district?—Yes, we have had a good rainfall, and I should think the average yield for the last 11 years would be 10 or 11 bushels, taking the two droughts into consideration. The average price obtained during that period would be 2s. 10d. to 5s. 2d. It would average about 3s. 4d. I think the district is stronger financially at the present time than when I came here, and consider that the improvement is due to the increased value of the land through cultivation. I think it is also due to more mixed farming, and it is absolutely necessary to mix farm in this district.

6069. What would you consider the value of the farms in this district?—The average value of our best farm, given normal conditions apart from the war, would be about £4 10s. per acre. Mortgages are fairly heavy here in the matter of interest. More farmers continue wheat growing in order to carry more stock. Mixed farming is absolutely necessary; you must cultivate your land to keep suckers down, and you must have stock to keep weeds down. There is a general dissatisfaction regarding the Agricultural Bank men here; they have not had sufficient money to develop their farms to get a return, and the position, I think, of some of them is very doubtful financially. They must be carried further in order that they make a success of it. So many men have gone on the land that are not capable men, and they must be weeded out.

6070. You think the men have not been able to clear enough?—Yes, they have not been able to get sufficient cleared land to enable them to produce the maximum from their own efforts. Men have been trying to improve their farms on Agricultural Bank advances, and have not been able to clear sufficient land to put a large enough crop in. I think more money should have been put into clearing to put the farm in such a state that they can get a sufficient return straight away. I think the settlers should have enough cleared to enable them to put in 250 acres of crop, and 250 acres of fallow, then they can keep one team fully employed. I think having gone so far the Bank should go a bit farther, and allow them the best machinery, and bigger machinery, and the power to work it.

6071. What is your opinion of the water supply?—I think there should be a permanent water supply on each farm. Too much money has been spent in carting water. Before a man gets a team I think his water supply should be assured.

6072. What do you consider a man should be able to put in and take off in a year?—300 acres with one six horse team. The Agricultural Department men have so much other work to do that they have not the necessary water supply, and various conveniences.

6073. By Mr CLARKSON: What is your opinion of bulk handling?— I think it would be the best method of handling wheat. Regarding the tariff I think we should encourage local industry, and would not like to commit myself on the point.

6074. What is the housing accommodation like in this district?—The Agricultural Bank settlers are housed very poorly, the reason in my opinion being that they have not had sufficient advance to build a house. If the advance is £30, I consider it is much too small, and you could not build a fowl house for that in some of the out-back districts.

6075. By the CHAIRMAN: What are the educational facilities?—In this district they are pretty good. I think the Government is making an honest attempt to cope with the educational question in the back blocks.

6076. What are the medical facilities here?—We have one doctor, and one private hospital, but no chemist.

6077. By Mr CLARKSON: Do the majority of settlers cover their machinery?—Most of them do that can afford sheds.

6078. By Mr PAYNTER: What is your opinion of the payment of land rents?—The land rents under present conditions are hard, as the settlers have not been making anything out of their farms. To the new settler who is taking up land under the Agricultural Bank it would be a good thing if he could have exemption from rents for five years.

6079. Is there much poultry grown in the district?—No, not very much. None of the farmers make a specialty of it. If they did it would be a help to them, and I think every farmer should have a few fowls.

6080. By the CHAIRMAN: Have you much outstanding to the I.A.B. settler?—I have about £1,500 on my books through the I.A.B. and I think some scheme should be initiated of funding the settler's liabilities, and making them go on with the proceeds of their crops. I am certain it would be an advantage to us as business people. It would also tend to give the men more heart and make them more independent. I think it is a good scheme they are working under now, as the inspector is visiting the farms and can see exactly what the men are doing.

6081. By Mr VENN: Is there much dairying done in this district?—No, not much. Most of the farmers do a little, but there are no dairy farmers pure and simple, in this district. We handle a certain amount of butter about three months of the year, and send most of it into the fields. The butter made here is not too good.

6082. Do you think if a butter factory was established at Northam it would encourage the farmers to go in for more cows?—Yes, I think so, but I would sooner see such a factory at Goomalling. If a creamery were opened here it would encourage the farmer to go in for dairying. I always keep a cow myself, and think they would pay handsomely if they were properly attended to. We have the water scheme,