Part 5

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This transcription is complete

WEDNESDAY, 22nd NOVEMBER, 1916. (At Wubin.)


Present: J. O. Giles, Esq., Chairman, B. L. Clarkson, Esq., H. H. Paynter, Esq., F. E. Venn, Esq.

GEORGE JAMES RICHARDS, Richards Bros, Wubin, sworn and examined:

6356. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been settled here for five years, and had previous farming experience. I was for many years in the carrying trade, but I was brought up to farming, and we took up 6,000 acres here six miles from the siding. Eleven hundred and fifty acres are forest and the balance practically grazing land. I prefer the forest; it is the best land. We have cleared 1,400 acres and 400 acres are partly cleared; 5,000 acres are fenced, and the water supply is permanent, consisting of a well 46 feet deep. It is quite fresh. We have another well of good stock water 33 feet deep. It is on the fringe of the timber. The water seems to be at the surface, and by sinking further we think we can get water almost the quality of rain water. I am a single man but my brothers are married. Our home is a six-roomed wood and iron house. All the horses are under cover in bush stables, and we have a wood and iron machinery shed. There is a full set farming implements, and 11 draught working horses, a cow, and a calf, and a pony. Fortunately, we had capital when we started and that was connected with the business in Perth. We had £4,000 or more. We have not had a rain gauge, but have kept tally for the past two years. Last year we had 18 inches of rain, and so far this year nine inches.

6357. To Mr CLARKSON: We have 1,100 acres in crop, 100 acres fallow. We had fallow in previous years, but with poor results on account of the drought. We could have stripped two bags to the acres on three inches of rain. Altogether we have had five crops. The highest yield over the area cropped was between nine and ten bushels last year over 700 acres. We prefer early and late wheats. The latter to stand by and the early wheats for hay. The early wheats give the best returns if you get them in in time. We sow 52lbs. of seed on the heavy land and 58lbs. on the light; 50lbs of super. on the heavy and 100lbs. on the light soil. We would require about four bags per acre to pay working expenses and wages, but the actual cost of putting in and taking off crops would be 3½ bushels at 3s. 4d. per bushel. We use mouldboard ploughs, four and three-furrow. With the four-furrow we use six heavy draught horses and plough three to five inches in depth. The average per day with this plant is five acres. We have a spring-tooth cultivator 22-tine, and a Massey-Harris, in which we put four horses and do 12 acres. They do good work. We have a 5-disc drill doing an average of 14 acres, and a reaper-thresher which does satisfactory work. It does not waste much, and does eight or nine acres on an average per day. Bulk handling would undoubtedly save the cost of bags. We have been trying to work out some plan to get the produce off the machine and land it in here at the station without bagging, but of course there would have to be a certain quantity of bags. If the Government could turn out as good am implement as we have to import we would certainly adopt it.

6358. To Mr PAYNTER: Last year we had fire and rust. We pickle and grade our wheat, but we have not tried fodder crops yet. We have fruit-trees and vegetables. The trees are growing well, and we started raising pigs. We have tried poultry with some success. When employ men some are paid 35s. and 40s. a week and found, being a satisfactory class of labourer, No man un this district could make a living on less than 1,000 acres. A man working one team all the year round should do 300 acres. Co-operation would be a good proposition if the Government too all the responsibility, as they are doing now. It is the best scheme, if they continue it, for the disposal of the wheat. I am not going into the question of co-operating amongst farmers for the purchase of supplies. I do not think the present land regulations are reasonable. I think a man should get his land for nothing right through. If he is game to come out here in the early stages he should certainly be encouraged by getting free land. 6359. By Mr VENN: Do you intend to go in for sheep later on?—Yes. We are ready for netting when we get it. There are dingoes and we are ready to fence against them as soon as we get the sheep. But this cannot be called good grazing country. There is a good deal of sandplain, some of it fit for cultivation, but we do not know if there is any poison there. I think there is what is called heartleaf poison there, and towards evening when coming here the horses will snap at it as they go along, but they have not been affected by it. I have not seen any York road, but there is brelia, or what is called kiteleaf. Still, if horses are properly fed they would not pick up anything injurious when they are turned out.

6360. to the CHAIRMAN: So far we have had unfavourable seasons, but this season we are looking forward to good returns. If the question was put to us two years hence as to whether we can successfully establish ourselves, I might be able to give you a definite reply, but to date the seasons have been bad and the prospects are gloomy. I do not