I am 33 miles from Wongan Hills. From the farming point of view there is the difficulty that we have only two trains a week, and that is one of the greatest inconveniences in the district. Could you do anything for those of us who are such long distances from the railway in the way of exemption of rents? I have secured 12 month's exemption, but I tried for give years. I think, instead of having 20 years to pay our rent in, we should have 25 years. When I put in my application they gave me to understand that the land was 12½ miles as the crow flies. That is ridiculous, because we cannot fly. We have to go by the road. There are about 50 settlers in the district, but not many West of the line. The settlement is practically due east of it. For 14 miles from here there are farms on both sides of the road all the way, and two settlers beyond me.

6230. Do you think you could get through if you received sympathetic treatment in regard to your rent and repayments to the Industries Assistance Board?—Yes, I could. So far as rabbits are concerned, I have not seen one, but there are plenty through the fence, although there are none this side. But in any case I do not think they will be much of a menace to us.

(The witness retired.)

ALFRED ERNEST KIMBER, farmer, Ballidu, sworn and examined:

6231. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been seven years farming in this district, and have been farming all my life, principally at Clare in South Australia. When I came here I took up 1,000 acres. I now hold 1,300, practically all forest, and I inspected it before survey and was quite satisfied with it. Before coming here I spent 12 months on the goldfields, and afterwards farmed at Armadale, paying 10s. an acre for the land. Here I have ten miles cartage east of the railway. I have cleared 550 acres, and fenced about 300 acres. I have a dam 800 cubic yards; it is full of water, also a small soak, which will last till Christmas. It is not covered, and is eight feet in depth. I put it down by contract at 1s. 3d. a yard, and it keeps me in water all the year round. If, however, I was heavily stocked it might not do so. I am married and have a family of six children. My home is a bush humpy made of canvas with an iron roof. I have a thatched stabled, and a bush shed for implements with a straw roof. I have a farming plant and six working horses, three foals, a cow, and two calves. Four of my children are at school. When I came here I had about £1,000 capital, but it has been dwindling away. In addition, I have had assistance from the Agricultural Bank, and have borrowed about £420 or more. From the I.A.B. I received assistance on account of the drought. I think I owe them approximately £150 to £200.

6232. To Mr. CLARKSON: I have 300 acres under crop, and fallow 100 acres. I picked out the spots in which to fallow. The fallow is the better, but the rain stopped so soon. I believe in the principle of fallowing, and under ordinary circumstances it must increase the yield; in fact, the yield should be quite double that of the unfallowed land. Most people around here plough their land and reckon that it is fallow. I sow both early and late wheats. I find the best result from the late wheats is from Baroota Wonder. I have the heaviest hay and the biggest yield as a consequence. The selection of seed is one of the main things towards success. Many folks here use to laugh at Baroota Wonder in an early district, but they have been coming to me for the seed. For hay I use seed 60lbs. per acre down to 45lbs. I never use less than 50lbs. of super. The more you use the better your returns. I have had up to 11 bags to the acre. That was not of course the average, and it was from one place, but taking average for the year six bags would be my highest, and about 4½ bags for the district. It takes 12 bushels per acre to pay for putting in and taking off. Bulk handling would reduce the costs. I should think the best way would be to cart the wheat in bags on a wagon to the siding. Farming implements should undoubtedly come in free of duty.

6233. To Mr. PAYNTER: I have had no diseases. I pickle my wheat, but have not graded it lately, as I have no grader. I have tried experiments with fodder crops and artificial grasses, but the result has not been too good on account of the drought. I grow my own vegetables, and have tried fruit trees, which do well in picked spots. I have pigs, and I have lived on them, and have not troubled about marketing them. I intend to go in for them to a much larger extent. I will feed wheat to them until I am entirely fenced in, and then I will let them run. Poultry we raise for our own use only. I do not pay any wages, as I do all my own work with the assistance of my boy. I work about ten hours a day on the average. No man can be expected to make a living in this district upon less than 1,000 acres, and no man can be expected to crop more than 300 acres per annum under the best methods. Co-operation would, however, among farmers be of great benefit, although no scheme has yet been suggested to us. The price of land at the present time is much too high; 10s. an acre under the old conditions was fair, but if a man had to pay more than that I would advise him to keep off the land. The terms are easy enough. If the seasons were favourable I should be able to carry along very satisfactorily, provided that my liabilities were funded and time given to me over which repayments would be spread. But I would sooner be independent and work that way than be tied down as we are now.

6234. By Mr. VENN: What is the grazing capacity of your country for sheep?—One sheep to three or four acres. I intend to go in for them. Water here is no trouble. The dogs will give trouble unless the sheep are yarded overnight, and kept out of the bush. I consider that the Government ought to supply us with stock on extended terms. The milking cow is a great saver of the tucker bill, and a farm is not a farm without a cow. You are then sure of your milk, butter, and beef, and you do not miss the feed or the water. I have seen no rabbits, although a neighbour told me he had seen a couple a few months ago.

6235. By the CHAIRMAN: Do you think you will be able to successfully establish yourself as time goes on?—Yes. A man likes to battle on, and I never intend to give up.

6236. What are your comparative prospects of settlement around Clare and around this district?—I know men there who were battling when I was there, and are still battling. But there are others who are driving their motors. But this district is one of the best in Western Australia without a doubt. I