and all sheep-proof fenced and subdivided into nine paddocks. My water supply is three wells with an abundance of water. I have windmills and troughs. I am married and have seven children, one of whom is married; but the six others are dependant upon me. The youngest is 16 years of age. I have a set of implements, 13 working horses and a saddle horse, four mares and some young stock, in all about 30 horses. When I started farming here I had £800 in horses and money but I found it necessary to get £650 from the Agricultural Bank, but from that there is a credit for the land that they have resumed, so that it would make with interest probably about £500, and I owe the I.A.B about another £500.

6643. To Mr.CLARKSON: I have 410 acres cropped; 120 acres is fallow. The fallow looks very much better than the other. Owing to the heat wave in September much damage was done. I thought the fallow would go 30 bushels but now I think it should strip 20. I have had little experience in this district but am sure that fallow is the thing. The highest average I had here all over was 15 bushels in 1913, over about 130 acres. Last year I got off 300 acres only 70 bags of pinched wheat. If we get four bags to the acre it would pay us, but you cannot crop wheat under 30s. an acre, which at present prices would be about nine bushels. I find the early wheats are the best, although I have had good crops of late wheats. I work a four-furrow and a six-furrow plough, and on the latter I use eight horses; they pull it very easily. The land has not been worked very much. I have a stump-jump mouldboard and one disc plough , and we average about seven to eight acres with the one and about 10 acres with the disc. We have a five-foot harvester, averaging six acres a day with two changes of horses. The cost of production would of course be reduced with larger implements, but a good deal would depend upon how long the land had been turned over. It would be no good in land freshly mullianised. I have not gone into the matter of bulk handling, and I should think a good deal would depend on the wages. I think that all farming machinery should come in free of duty. The prices are altogether too high.

6644. If your liabilities were funded by the Industries Assistance Board and you were given a period for repayment, would that be of assistance to you?—It would depend on the seasons, but under ordinary conditions I should certainly prefer such a system, and if a farmer cannot finance himself in 10 years it is better for him to let the Government have his property altogether. I have 650 acres cleared. but cannot clear any more unless the Government advances me money for the purpose. If they want to advance money it is far better to give it to the farmer than to squander it on harbour works. I should like to know what they are going to give the ships to take away from here.

6645. To Mr.PAYNTER: I have had rust in my crops. I pickle my wheat but do not grade it, but I am particular in getting the cleanest wheat from the machine. I have experimented with artificial grasses. Fig trees and fruit trees do well here. I keep pigs for my own use, but have not yet sold any, and so also with poultry. We work all hours on the farm, and taking the year round I suppose we would average seven or eight hours a day, but no work is done on Sunday. Of course, there are horses to feed and other odd jobs to do apart from hours that I have mentioned. We generally start about 7 a.m. and knock off at all hours, mostly at dark. In this district 2,000 acres of first class land is not enough. There is a lot of land in this country that is not suitable for wheat although it may be all right for stock, for it is a good stock country. On the whole I should say no man should have less than 3,000 in a district like this. With fair teams he should be able to crop 300 to 350 acres. I certainly think the farmer should take up the matter of co-operation, but so far as the land laws are concerned, I do not think they are an encouragement to the people to take it up. The prices is altogether too high. In a district like this subject to droughts it is absurd to charge 10s., and in some instance should exceed 15s. I do not see why we should pay an exorbitant price for the land when you can get better land so very much cheaper in other parts of the State. True, some of it has been re-valued and the rents reduced, but none of mine has come under that category.

6646. To Mr. VENN: It is good grazing country. We sold our sheep in 1912, and since then we have had no means of re-stocking. What we do want here very badly is for the Government to supply settlers with breeding ewes on extended terms. I for instance, could myself carry 500 mixed sheep.

6647. By the CHAIRMAN: After your experience of this district do you think there is any prospect of farming becoming a profitable occupation here?—Yes, if it is carried on on proper lines and if the rents were reduced, but the land must be fallowed. We seeded in April, and the land should be all ready then. There are only June and July to fallow in here. Every settler should have a larger acreage and should be provided with stock as well as obtain more money for clearing. If the Government encouraged good settlers they and with interest. There is nothing that grows in this country that sheep will not eat, but cattle do not do as well as sheep here. I fattened 500 wethers at Karara in 1912. As fast as the sheep ate it down the grass grew again. The danger to avoid is over-stocking. All the settlers here would be holding their own excellently if it had not been for the droughts, but of course the price of living and labour must be taken into account. Some little time ago I was asked to engage two harvester drivers and they asked £5 3s. a week and their keep.

(The witness retired)

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A deputation of women waited on the Royal Commission and asked for the provision of a district nurse. Those present included Mrs May, Mrs G.C Smith of Wokawa, Mrs Warren of Mullewa, Mrs. Carsen of Mullewa, Mrs. Pilkington of Cosy Creek, Mullewa.

6648 . Mrs. May said that in view of the increase in population, the great consideration was a well trained nurse in the district. They had none at present. They were 65 miles from Geraldton , and although the district was a healthy one a nurse was indispensable. Quite recently Mrs. Warren's child had convulsions and there being no doctor here they had to do the best they could for him, and were happily able to bring him through. There was another instance of a little child having died suddenly, and she believed that had there been a skilled nurse available a life might have been saved, although the child was naturally delicate. Only a few days ago a little boy had his leg broken and it was 24 hours