pay, land tax, income tax, and all the other pests to provide for.

6743. Cannot that class of land be taken up under pastoral lease? -- In certain places, but in many instances it is already surveyed ready for selection; therefore you cannot take it up under pastoral lease. Good land in this district, northward, is often adjacent to sand plain country which could be made good use of on good tenure and cheap lines, but under existing conditions it is useless to try and do anything with it. They will not fence it in because the cost is too great and the security is not there.

6744. I would like your opinion as to the price of land? - I think the back rents should be wiped out as the price is too high, and if that were don't it would restore hope and confidence. There is a number of men and women struggling against heavy odds, and if they have any encouragement given them I think a lot of them would succeed.

(The witness retired) _______________

WALTER McLaren, Town Clerk, Geraldton, sworn and examined:

6745. By the CHAIRMAN: How long have you been in Geraldton in your present position? - Thirteen months.

6745A. What size vessels can come here and be accommodated? - At the present time the harbour is being improved, but beyond 24 feet draught it is unsafe for a vessel to come in here. There was the case of the "Kangaroo," which came here to take a certain amount of loading and then go on to Fremantle to fill up, but she could not take a full cargo, but that was not because there was insufficient wheat here. We have in Geraldton a flour mill which is actively employed, but there is no bacon or butter factory here, although a question of its establishment arose through the agency of the Farmers' and Settlers' Association in conjunction with the Association at East Chapman, to whose meeting I was invited when the discussion on the establishment of this factory was held.

(The witness retired.) ________________

EVELYN PEARPONT ERSKINE, Customs Collector ,sworn and examined:

6746. By the CHAIRMAN: What are the principal exports from Geraldton? - Wheat and wool. There is also some sandalwood.

6746A. I shall be glad of some comparative figures of the wheat and wool exported during as period of years, say five? - I will prepare them for you.

6747. We want to observe the increase of agricultural production? - I have copies of my reports for the past five years, which will be made available to you.

6748. What are the principal imports? - The oversea imports are spirits and beer, from which we get the most duty. There are also miscellaneous imports, but as far as revenue is concerned they consist principally of beer and spirits.

6749. Does wool show an increase of export? - This year we lost our export of wool as, owing to the war conditions, it is all to go to Fremantle and not via Singapore. The reason of this is that there is inadequate shipping. The wool is sent to Fremantle by boat or by rail, and the Railway Department could furnished you the quantity sent by them.(See Monthly Statistical Abstract for export figures.)

(The witness retired) _______________

OSWALD CANNON DALZIEL, Acting Harbour Master, sworn and examined:

6750. By the CHAIRMAN: How long have you been here? - I have resided here for three and a half years, but I am not in the Government service. I am a stevedore, but I was at one time in the Harbour and Light Department doing pilot duties and during Captain Miller's absence I am undertaking his position of harbour master.

6751. What are the shipping facilities for wheat and produce and what class of vessels can berth here? - Two years ago the Government supplied us with two small portable elevators which proved satisfactory, but as far as the other local facilities are concerned, they are nil, practically; everything is trucked to the ship's side and slung in trucks. With good gear you have good despatch, but as far as jetty appliances are concerned, with the exception of the two elevators, they are nil. The narrowness of the jetty is a great drawback.

6752. What berthing accommodation have you? - We have No.1 West berth to accommodate ships with a maximum draught of 23 feet. No. 1 East for those with a draught of 22 feet and No. 2 West for those with a draught of 20 feet , and No. 2 East, for those with a draught of 19 feet to 20 feet. Two vessels can be berthed on each side. I brought a vessel drawing 21 feet in on one occasion and could not get to the second berth.

6753. Have you had vessels fully loaded here? - Only sailing vessels with light draught, approximately, 1,800 to 2,000 tons. I do not think 30,000 bags of wheat have been taken away by a sailing ship.

6754. Under the wheat scheme, how did the Geraldton charges compare with those of other ports? - I can not tell you that.

6755. But most of it has to go away in part loads? - Yes, in a vessel of any draught.

6756. Is there any difference in overseas freights as between Geraldton and Fremantle? - Speaking as a master mariner, the charter generally includes two ports.

6757. Have you ever experienced difficulty in getting away the harvest from here? - Last year we got all the wheat that was stacked in Geraldton, away.

6758. Take the year before the draught, 1913? - I could not go back further than 1914 harvest, but there was a great deal of wheat that went to Fremantle.

6759. Was that lack of tonnage or lack of facilities and greater costs? - I presumed had there been better facilities the tonnage would have been offering.

6760. Have you plenty of harbour? - Not at the present time, we are handicapped, as the war has