Part 5

Page 335
image 96 of 98

This transcription is complete

6853. If a butter factory were established, it should be an incentive for a settler to go in for more cows?—It would undoubtedly, but it would take a few years to establish it.

6853a. On any of the new farms, are they in a position to carry sheep? Have they, for instance, ample water supply?—Most of them, but Yuna is the worst off district as far as water is concerned. Although the country is good for holding water, speaking generally the district is well favoured so far as water is concerned.

6854. By the CHAIRMAN: What was the principal predisposing cause of the diminution in the returns from the wheat growing district?—During recent years the chief cause has been the inferior seasons and the high cost of bags, manures and labour.

6855. Do you think the poor seasons experienced recently are only a passing phase?—I think so.

6856. Do you think with normal times some improvement may be expected?—Yes, I think so.

6857. Do you know of any other use to which the land might be put beyond wheat growing and grazing?—Close to the coast they might go in for pig raising or poultry.

6858. Is wheat growing necessary under the circumstances?—I think so. You want the produce of your crop and you want the stubble for your sheep.

6859. Do you call this a good grass season?—No, only medium.

6860. Did the rain come in time to save the grass?—Most of it.

6861. You have already suggested that the area held by each man should be larger and that tenure should be altered. Have you any other suggestion to make?—No. The main thing is this: The man who goes on the land should have sufficient capital to see him through, and there is no use any man going on the land without money.

6862. By Mr PAYNTER: Before the Government advance money for improvements, they should ascertain what the knowledge possessed by the intending settler was?—Certainly, a lot of people have gone on the land without knowledge, and what little money they have had has gone in purchasing their experience.

6863. By Mr VENN: One of the bank inspectors says that some of the most successful of them with the least money have shown the best results?—Well, my partner out here was a mining boss, and was a graduate of the Ballarat School of Mines. Till last year he was mining, but he gave that up and joined me on the land. He is out there now, and he never saw a plough before he went on the land, but he tackled the job and made a success of it. He went round and worked with this man and the other in order to gain experience, but how many men are there who will do that?

6864. That only serves to indicate how difficult it is to discriminate as to who is the suitable man to go on the land and who is not?—It is a matter of administration.

6865. By Mr CLARKSON: As the manager of a bank you work out the result of you operations and show your profit and loss. Can you give us an idea of how much it costs to put in and take off a crop here?—As far as my own experience is concerned, I should say it would cost 28s. an acre for putting in, say, 400 acres.

6866. That is without making any allowance for supervision or labour?—That is so. 6867. But that does not allow anything for the man himself. Have you allowed for bags in that and cartage and putting on the rails?—No, that is merely on the farm.

6868. By the CHAIRMAN: Do you find any difference in the position of the men who are able to do their own work with their families?—Certainly a man with a family has a big advantage over the man who employs labour.

6869. Is he about the only man who is now making a do if it?—I would not say that, but even if he has to employ labour and can rent stock he should be doing fairly well. The most successful farmer in the district is a man employing all his labour, but he has capital and has been able to develop the farm properly and on up to date lines. Every acre is fallowed. He gets his crop in early, and his sheep are feeding on the grass. I am referring to Mr Haddock, of Oakabella.

6870. Had you any experience of farming in South Australia?—All my people are farming there.

6871. Do you remember when wheat was 1s. 9d. a bushel?—The year I left it was 1s. 10d. to 2s. a bushel. That was 1894. I think a good many people left their farms and the second and third generations have been successful in South Australia for the reason that the younger people have had no development work to carry out. It was all done for them by their elders.

6872. By Mr CLARKSON: The original developers lost their capital and their lives as well?—I reckon it takes three generations to make a success of farming unless you have money to see you through.

6873. Then it will come to this: as the State is finding money for development, it must in some shape or form lose its original capital?—It looks very much like that.

6874. By the CHAIRMAN: There is this difference, however, that this country is a safer and better wheat growing country than South Australia?—You can always depend on a 12 to 15 bushel average crop here.

6875. By Mr CLARKSON: The State is doing its work in districts less safe than this?—That is so.

6876. By the CHAIRMAN: The Murray Flats and Balaklava we six bushel country?—Take Orroroo; that had only about 10in. annual rainfall.

6877. By Mr VENN: There is a flourishing butter factory there at the present moment?—The fact is that we are repeating here the experience gained in South Australia.

(The witness retired.)

WILLIAM FANNING, Police Constable, Geraldton, sworn and examined:

6878. By the CHAIRMAN: Have you had any experience in farming?—Yes, in Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. I have been in this state for 10 years on the Murchison and five years in Geraldton.

6879. Have you any suggestion to offer as to the right direction in which the settlers should be