Wednesday,29th November,1916 ( At Geraldton Court House)

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

JOSHUA MILLS, examined

6680.By the CHAIRMAN ; What is your position? —I am the district officer in charge of the Agricultural Bank and the I. A. B. My boundary extends to near Latham, on the Wongan Hill line, which is the base of the official who takes in Coorow from Marchagee south. Agricultural land extends to about 14 miles east there and from Mullewa seven or eight miles east My district extends north to the Murchison river.

6681. You have sub-inspectors under you? —Yes.

6682. How long have you know this district ?—I am native of it .

6683. What is your impression of the farming capabilities of the country from Latham to Perinjori do you think it will be a successful farming area?—I think so.

6684.What do you think of the Morowa area? — I think it is all right.

6685. And of Mullewa?.—That is all right too, but it is rather suited for grazing.

6686. Would you class that stretch of country as being as good or about as good as the line running from Marchagee to Geraldton?—It is farther east and it has a smaller rainfall, but apart from that there is no great difference in the quality of the land. I think perhaps the eastern country has rather the advantage in the quality, but there is no question that there is very fine land there; but there is the difference in the rainfall.

6687By Mr. CLARKSON: What do you mean by "all right"?—I hardly think that wheat growing alone in a treacherous climate can succeed too well. The difficulty is water, and if the season is dry you cannot grow sufficient wheat. It will take time to demonstrate whether it will be successful or not.

6688. As a rule it is not suitable for water at about 100 feet in some places, stock water like the human creature, and if you want to keep stock fit towards the latter portion of the year they must have fresh water.

6689. Experience has shown that sheep will do well on indifferent water?— I know they will live and thrive as stores, but if you want fats you need fresh water.

6690. But it would be better to breed on indifferent water than do without sheep and make the best of the opportunities that nature has offered? — That is so, but do you think it pays on small areas to breed sheep?

6691. It is better to have sheep under conditions that nature will allow you to keep them on ?—There is also the poison difficulty. East of Latham there is any amount of poison.

6692. Is not that on poorer land?—It particularly applies to ti-tree country and second class land; still it is agricultural land.

6693. Speaking generally of the man working under the I. A. B., do you think to a large extent their method are as good as they should be?—I do not think they have been in the past, but under the present supervision they will certainly improve.

6694. Do you think any considerable proportion or what proportion, if their liabilities were funded at the present time and the repayments were spread over 10 years, could finance themselves from this time on?—I cannot answer that right away.

6695. Do you think any proportion of them would do so ? —Yes.

6696. Do you think the scheme would be a good one and that you would have to cull out men who probably never would succeed on the land?—I think a big personage in the hands of the I. A. B. are absolutely hopeless. They are going from bad to worse, no matter what supervision is exercised over them.

6697. It is difficult to devise a grading machine to get these men out, but it struck me that if we funded the liabilities there would be an opportunity for those who had the elements of success in them?—No doubt that is so.

6698. Supposing, for instance, a man owes the I. A. B. £600 - £700 and that he were given a fixed term to repay it in and was stopped from receiving any more assistance from that source then he would have to stand on his own feet? — But would you protect him against other liabilities?

6699. The Board is supposed to have those other liabilities at the present time . The Board would have to take them over and give him practically a clean sheet from the present moment with so many years to pay off his gross indebtedness. That would put him practically on his feet. It strikes me that for a number of settlers the I. A. B. constitutes a kind of leaning post . The proposition I have outlined would tend to make them more independent and in time would cull out those who will never be successful?.