that, and we had an uphill fight for a long time, but there were good men leading it, and they have done good work. For the last ten years the dividend has been not less than ten per cent. and as much as 15 per cent. I think that the system could be applied here. I think the mercantile companies could work on the same principles, provided that the others would co-operate, but there is only room for one such union in Western Australia. I consider our present land laws are very good, but I do not think any man should get his land free. That would be unfair. I came on to the land myself, and after I had built my house I had not half-a-crown left. I was working at odd times as a carpenter and wheelwright to keep things going, but I got the house up before I started farming. I went on clearing before I could get anything out of the Agricultural Bank. I got implements, drill, plough, and everything on the farm on the time payment system. But I think that a man should have 400 acres cleared and ready before he gets a plant. If I were to start again I would not go on to the land unless there were 500 or 600 acres already cleared, and it would be doubtless a great advantage if the Government would give the first five years of a man's occupancy of the land free of rent.

6171. By Mr. VENN: What do you think of the prospects of dairying in this district?—The trouble is getting rid of your produce. This year we have had four cows milking, and have made from 15 to 20lbs. of butter a week, but we could not sell it.

6172. What about cream?—I did not have a separator.

6173. Would you go in for sheep?—I am trying to arrange with the bank now to give me 200 sheep. A farmer should never be without 100 or 200 sheep. None of my neighbours are keeping any.

6174. By the CHAIRMAN: Are you satisfied with your prospects in this district?—No, not on the present position, because the price of wheat is too low, and everything we have to buy is too dear. There is nothing in farming.

6175. But if things alter this would be a satisfactory district?—I have every faith in it. I never had a total failure excepting in the drought two years ago.

6176. Would you sooner have the district for preference or Port Germain?—I would sooner be here.

(The witness retired.)

FREDERICK HANCEY, Farmer, Wongan Hills, sworn and examined:

6177. By the CHAIRMAN: How long have you been in this district?—Ten years, but I had previous experience in South Australia in the wheat belt for eight or nine years, at Petersburg. I have 1,460 acres of land of which 600 acres is forest, 250 rough hill, and the balance mallee and bush. Five blocks averaged me 7s. 6d., the forest was 6s. 8d., one block was 4s., another 8s., sandplain 10s., which I took up 18 months later, when the by-law was passed making the minimum price of land 10s. The property is five miles from the railway for carting purposes, but when I got my forest land first I was 50 miles away from the nearest line.

6178. By Mr. CLARKSON: Have you made an application to have your sandplain reduced in priced?—No.

6178A. By the CHAIRMAN: There are 400 acres cleared and 250 of that is forest. I have eight miles of fencing, divided into five paddocks, in all probability 600 acres is enclosed. My house is canvas sides and iron roof. The stable is a bush stable, but there is a large chaff-house, 30 x 20, gimlet-wood sides and iron roof. I have no machinery shed except a bush shed. For water supply I have a soak and also a well. The latter is permanent, and is beautiful water. It is 56 feet deep, but is only equal to providing for 14 head of great stock. I have not the full farm plant necessary for all my operations, and am short of a plough and harvester. I have six working horses, six yearlings and foals, 13 cattle, which include five cows, a bull, and young heifers. There are also six pigs and 150 head of poultry.

6179. What capital did you have when you started?—Less than £50. But I found it necessary to get financial assistance and have been with the Agricultural Bank for 18 months, and on the Western Australian Bank for the last six or seven years. The amount of my overdraft is £950 plus £100 on No. 2 account.

6180. What would be your equity if you could sell out at a reasonable price?—I cannot say. There are no sales now, but if I was forced to sell out to-day I could not pay off my overdraft. I have 220 acres under crop, of which 40 acres was fallow. I believe in fallow, and I have had previous experience of it. I have generally been able to get 40 to 60 acres done each year.

6181. If everybody fallowed, how many bushels an acre would it increase the yield?—It would almost double itself on the average.

6182. How much seed and super, do you use?—About 65lbs. of seed and, on forest land, about 50 lbs. of super per acre; on the lighter soils 80lbs. of super per acre. 6183. What do you consider the average normal yield for this district would be under present methods of farming?—Perhaps 10 bushels. 6184. What has been your own highest yield for any one year?—Two years ago I had the best crop. It went from 18 to 20 bushels. My neighbours thought it would go more than that, but, unfortunately, the whole of it went up in smoke owing to a bush fire, and I lost £400 on that. The highest average reaped was 12 bushels. We estimate that it takes 10 bushels to pay all expenses, and of course that does not include depreciation and our own labour. I use a mouldboard, three and four furrows. In my four-furrow mouldboard I had seven horses and did about three acres a day. Of course there are a lot of odd jobs about a farm in the making that have got to be done and, consequently, we do not start sometimes until nine o'clock in the morning at actual farming work. If there were not these odd jobs to be done, I think about four acres a day would be a day's work. I use a 16-disc 8ft. cultivator. I do not know exactly how much a day that would do, but with a 13-disc we have done 13 or 14 acres. I have considered the question of bulk handling, but I do not think it would answer in this district at present on account of the great initial outlay. 6185. How do you think the tariff affects you in regard to implements? Do you think they should come in free of duty?—All my life I have been a revenue tariffist, and I think the tariff is a good