away. There is a fair number of farmers to the east of the line, but the location is 15 miles from here.

6204. By the CHAIRMAN: What is your opinion of the future of this district from a farming point of view?—Fortunately or unfortunately, we are nearly all under the Industries Assistance Board and I understand they are going to compel us to use better methods of farming, when they consider the future will be assured. Personally, I do not think that anybody will make wheat farming pure and simple a paying proposition. There must be stock in addition and the labour problem will always be a difficulty, even if we fallow; but we have all had some seven years' apprenticeship to the land here and we ought now to do well. The two principal drawbacks to successful farming here have been want of experience and want of capital. I was induced to sign a memorial to be presented to you asking for a bounty on wheat, and if the Government can assist farmers who can carry a few sheep and have both water and fencing, it would be of vast assistance to the place, and if five years' terms were granted the farmer should be easily able to pay for them. The Government expert should travel around and tell us how to manage them, because we are not all experienced men. Many have been as long here as I have, but I do not think some of them will ever do any good farming, although I have heard of no cases of distress so far.

6205. Is the new scheme of the Minister working well here?—We are all jubilant about it. Personally, I am not satisfied with it, but I believe the majority of the settlers are. I have three grown up sons and two of them are married, and the Department treats us as one individual and allow 9s. a day only, and then give the same amount to the men with no family. They treat us the same as the men with only two or three implements to repair. Besides, we have a traction engine to keep in order. So far I have not received any account of my wheat last season. If my liabilities to the Government were funded and I were allowed five or 10 years for repayment, I would greatly appreciate it. The fact is we have very little idea of what we actually owe. We sent in 2,600 bags of wheat last year, but still I do not know how much we owe the board. We anticipate sending them 2,000 bags this year, or 5,000 bags in all, and I consider they ought to square that off. We have made repeated application for our accounts but have received no reply from the board. For the last three months, we have ceased to ask them, as the present Minister requested the farmers to refrain from writing if possible, and we have done what he asked us. I would like to see something of the Government experts, because I am in need of advice. For instance, I would like to know the reason that so many horses in this district are dying off.

6206. You should make application to the Chief Inspector of Stock, Mr. Weir?—We lost three horses after the last harvest. I do not know if the rusty chaff had anything to do with it. It certainly was not due to poison, because sheep, cattle, horses and foals are running there.

6207. A deputation consisting of Mrs. Joshua Greaves, senior, Mrs. Ernest Greaves, junior, and Mrs. John Norwood, waited upon the Royal Commission to explain certain disabilities under which the district is labouring. Mrs. Greaves mentioned that she and her husband had been on the land for two years, but things had been so hard with them that they could not procure even enough iron for a house. They have suffered two years discomfort. The camp is worn out and even the bedroom offered no shelter. They only got 30 acres in and spent their money on that, and she had decided that if she could not be made more comfortable she would return to England. We have been sleeping in a bush shed and in the winter the rain came through, and they were constantly damp. They were nine miles from the town. The Agricultural Bank is assisting the husband. We did not have enough clearing done to cover the rent and when they sent the papers in, the Industries Assistance Board said they would take the overdue rent out of the next clearing money. They wanted to clear more land, but it could not be done if the Board took the rent first. Mrs. Ernest Greaves, junior, daughter-in-law of the foregoing, stated that she lived in a bush house, her child had been in the hospital with bronchitis for 11 weeks due to the exposure in the camp. A neighbour used to give her milk for the child, but not now. Had been three and a-half years out from England. The camp is constructed of manure bags and the husband had cleared 400 acres. They cart water three or four miles when the summer comes in as they have no permanent supply. If one had a fairly comfortable home one would be more satisfied, but it is very hard on those who come out here and have no friends. Mrs. John Norwood mentioned that her house was all right, but it was not floored and in winter was surrounded with water. Had only been here for two years; their neighbours are the Greaves'. They have six children and one of them is in the hospital. It would be a great boon if they could get a cow to help bring up the children. They could pay the price of the cow back afterwards. Otherwise, the district is healthy, but the exposure of the women and children is very severe. Her son, who is 20 years of age, and has been in the hospital, was always strong and hearty in England, but the life has knocked him out. Periodically, Inspector Falconer comes round the district, once a month.

(The deputation then withdrew.) _________________________

E.J. ROGERS, Wongan Hills, Storekeeper and Farmer, sworn and examined:

(Witness handed in a statement on behalf of the farmers of the district.)

6208. To the CHAIRMAN: I am a farmer and storekeeper, and the statement above referred to, Mr. W. C. Reynoldson, who was formerly an engineer on the Goldfields Water Scheme, asked me to submit to you. Some of the farmers here are of good class, probably half of them are of the right type, but the other half I think will never make farming pay. They have a slovenly way with them and I have to close my eyes to a lot of things. There is so much going on amongst them and greater thrift will have to be observed in order to keep expenses down and avoid waste. Ignorance is the main cause of it and in some cases idleness. However, if I say too much on that point, it will only injure me afterwards. Some of them seem to think that they should get all they can