Part 5

Page 316
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This transcription is complete

TUESDAY, 28TH NOVEMBER, 1916.

(At public Hall, Mullewa.)

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

The Chairman stated that Mr. F. C. May, a settler of Mullewa, had prepared a written statement which he desired to submit to the Commission, and after perusing it he found that the matters contained therein did not come within the scope of the Commission or their field of inquiry in relation to the general disabilities of settlers. It was not their function to deal with personal grievances such as were contained in the documents referred to. The statement was forwarded to the Agricultural Bank for treatment.

FRANCIS COLEMAN MAY, Farmer, Mullewa, sworn and examined:

6621. To the CHAIRMAN: I came here in 1908. I myself hold 1,975 acres and a homestead lease of 160 acres, making 2,135 acres in all. I paid 5s. for the grazing lease. There are two miles to cart to the railway. It is fenced with sheep-proof fencing. I have one well on my property and three wells on my son's holding which adjoins. My own well does not yield a very large supply, but the water is very good. I have a wooden and iron house with a jarrah floor, but no stables or machinery sheds. I did have implements for cultivating, but they have been taken away. I have four working horses. I owe the Agricultural Bank £570 and the Industries Assistance Board £450. I had the stores allowance to June last, when it stopped. Nearly 200 acres are cleared. I was anxious for them to enable me to employ a man for eight weeks to put in the crop and eight weeks to take it off, as I cannot work myself owing to my health. I certainly think they ought not to refuse a man who is cropping 400 acres on his own. My son holds a little over 2,000 acres, and he has three wells. One is a small one and the other two have good supplies of water. The block is fenced and 200 acres of it are cleared.

6622. I understand from your written statement that there is someone here who desires to rent the property?—Well, the matter is not settled, but he mentioned something about paying £100 a year for it, which I do not consider sufficient.

6623. You had better find out exactly what he will give you and inform the Agricultural Bank. As you cannot attend to the property yourself, and have no means of stocking it you had better make the best arrangements you can until brighter times come. No doubt the bank would require a written offer, and I think they might be prepared to meet you.

6624. By. Mr. CLARKSON: What is the indebtedness of your son to the Agricultural Bank and the Industries Assistance Board?—I think about the same as my own. In 1915 we had two tons of hay to the acre and seven bags of wheat. One year we had only 4½ inches of rain, but last year we had over 21 inches. The original price of my son's land was 7s. 6d.; that is a grazing lease.

6625. How much of your son's land would you call good wheat growing land?—It is practically all arable; 75 per cent. is good wheat growing land and there is a flat between the two wells on the property that would pay for irrigation.

6626. By the CHAIRMAN: I see the official rainfall over a period of 20 years is stated at 12.37?—The rainfall during the growing months of the year was about 10 inches. I have never seen or heard of poison in this country. There is another matter I would like to mention. The roads board is urging the Government to resume our properties for a stock reserve as it is the only suitable site in the district, and then, again, the Farmers and Settlers Association are urging the Government to establish a State farm there. My son, before he went to the water, went to the office in Perth and said he did not intend to resume farming when he returned from the war. Originally he was in the bank and he does not care for farming. Our two properties have been worked heretofore as one.

6627. Did each of you receive an advance separately?—We have not been working in partnership, but nevertheless he has done the work.

6628. It is a pity you did not finalise matters before he left for the front?—He was in too great a hurry; but we do not blame anybody for our misfortunes. We made mistakes, particularly because we were new to this country and the official books and pamphlets stated that droughts were unknown here. We came from South Australia here.

6629. In any case we will forward your statement and your wife's statement to the bank, with some comments of our own?—I personally have very great faith in Morawa, but the mistake that has been made is going in for wheat only. We must have mixed farming with the wheat, sheep, or cattle, and, if necessary, grow feed to feed the stock. There is good sheep country here, salt bush, and grass, while the irrigation and the clovers and lucerne will thrive splendidly.

(The witness retired.)