and several advantages they might not have in other places; we have also a good rainfall.

6083. By the CHAIRMAN: Have you any other suggestions you would like to make to the Commission?—I would like to impress the Commission with the unsatisfactory position we are in owing to the I.A.B. customers, we could not be in a worse position, our hands being absolutely tied; we cannot do anything. I have received nothing at all on account of outstanding debts. In one case here of a settler, a payment was made under the first seven clauses, but I came under clause 8 and got nothing at all.

(The witness retired.) _________________

ALEXANDER DAVID GLASS, Farmer, of Goomalling, sworn and examined:

6084. By the CHAIRMAN: How long have you been in this district?—I have been here for 13 years. I have 2,160 acres, 1,000 acres of first class land and the balance second and third class. I bought the farm. The original Government price was from 3s. 9d. to 14s.

6085. What is your water supply?—I have the Goldfields Water Scheme and wells. They charge me 4d. per acre per year, and 6s. per thousand. That price I consider is fair. I could not carry sheep without that water, and I think it more than pays the extra difference by having it. I use the well water for my sheep, and the scheme water for the other stock. It is also an insurance against drought. I have 1,200 acres cleared.

6086. By Mr. CLARKSON: How much have you in crop?—640 acres, 430 acres of it being fallow. I cultivate all fallow before seeding, the majority of it March, and approve of the principle of fallow. If that principle were generally followed here I think it would mean an increase of four or five bushels per acre.

6087. How much seed and super do you use?—I use 60lb. of wheat and 90lb. of super. That is an average. On the heavy land I put 60lb. of seed and 80lb. of super, and on the light land 60lb of seed and 100lb. of super. My average return for the last five years would be 11 bushels. In the drought year I had two bushels. My average return for five years was £2 0s. 4d. per acre, and the cost against that was £1 11s. 6d. per acre. That is for putting in and taking off, and putting my own time in at contract rates.

6088. What implements do you use?—I use a 3-furrow plough with five horses, and do four acres a day. I have an 8ft. cultivator and can do 15 acres a day, a 15-disc drill and do 15 acres a day.

6089. What harvester do you use?—I use a 5ft. harvester, and can do six acres a day. I have two ploughs and two harvesters.

6090. Do you think the principle of using larger machinery would reduce your cost?—Yes, I should think so, although I have never tried it.

6091. Do you think bulk handling would reduce your costs?—Yes. Then I think we are paying too high a price for our machinery.

6092. By Mr. PAYNTER: Have your crops or stock ever suffered from disease?—Last year I had rust in the crop. I do not grade my wheat only through the winnower. I pickle my wheat. I grow both oats and barley, and go in for rotation of crops. I have not tried fodder crops. I have a few fruit trees and they do well.

6093. Do you go in for pigs?—I have a few pigs for my own use, also a few poultry and find them profitable. They thrive in this district, turkeys particularly.

6094. What wages do you pay?—My son and I work the farm between us, but when we do employ a man we pay him 30s. a week and keep. We work an average of eight hours a day.

6095. What do you consider is the minimum quantity of land a farmer should hold in this district?—I think he should hold 1,000 acres with a view to future developments, and I think he should be able to crop 300 acres a year on the best methods of farming, that is fallow. I think co-operation would be a good thing for the purchase of supplies. I do not know anything about selling produce. Nothing has been done in that way here.

6096. Do you think our present land laws are calculated to encourage settlement?—I think our land laws are pretty easy so far as this district is concerned.

6097. By Mr. VENN: Do you go in for dairying at all?— No, but I think it is a dairying district. If a butter factory were erected in this district, it would certainly stimulate the farmers to keep more cows.

6098. Do you go in for sheep?—Yes, I have 200 sheep, and think this is a good district for them. The carrying capacity of improved land would be one sheep to three acres.

6099. What is your opinion of the future of the district?—From an agricultural point of view, the position is very bad at present, as we cannot get sufficient for the crops to make both ends meet. Cropping is not paying us for the cost of production. The drought put farming back a good bit in this district. Another point I consider is that the State should go further in the bulk handling question.

6100. By the CHAIRMAN: Was your return of £2 0s. 4d. for wheat or mixed farming?—That was from wheat alone.

(The witness retired.) _________________

ARNOLD BROOKS LOCKYER, Farmer, Goomalling, sworn and examined:

6101. By the CHAIRMAN: How long have you been in this district?—I have been in this district for 13 years. I am 4½ miles from the railway. My land is both freehold and C.P. It is all fenced. I have 500 acres cleared.

6102. What buildings have you?—I have a wooden house, but only a bush shed. I have a full farming plant and 16 horses, eight being working horses.

6103. What is your water supply?—My water supply is from wells. I have both wheat and sheep.

6104. Have you been obliged to obtain assistance to work your land?—Yes, I am financed by a private bank. They treat me very well.

6105. Have you been assisted by the officers of the Department of Agriculture?— No, and have never seen anything of their literature.

6106. Are you a married man?—Yes. There is school accommodation for my children. I have 400 sheep.

6107. By Mr. CLARKSON: How much have you in crop?—280 acres, 230 acres being fallowed. I ap-