onsider the various charges in connection with bulk handling. For instance, at Geraldton we would have to contribute a certain percentage of the construction of that new wharf. That would be put on to the bulk handling, and would mount up considerably. Nevertheless, I would like to see it tried in a small way at first before I would give a definite opinion about it. The experience in South Australia is against it.

(The witness retired.) —————————

ARTHUR DAVEY, Farmer, Yuna, sworn and examined:

7051. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been settled here for five years. Previously I was a farm labourer for two years in South Australia. I took up 1,000 acres here with my partner. I hold it now, as my partner died some time ago. The cost price was 10s., and the whole of it is fit for cultivation. Part of it is really second class land, although they called it first class. There are 700 acres of that. The land is three miles from the siding. I have 250 acres cleared, and a boundary sheep-proof fence on three sides. I am a married man with two grown-up children. I have a three-roomed house, a bush shed for horses, but no shed for implements. The water supply is a dam of 500 cubic yards, which is not covered in. I cannot say what it cost, as my partner did it himself at the beginning. When the dam goes dry I have to cart water six miles. I did that for 12 months. I have a set of implements and five working horses, but no other livestock. I put £400 into the venture, and borrowed £500 from the Agricultural Bank. I have been assisted by the Industries Assistance Board since is it started, and according to their accounts, I owe them about £230, which includes all my liabilities.

7052. To Mr. CLARKSON: I have 200 acres under crop ; 40 acres were fallow. I had no fallow in previous years. I have stripped the fallow for three bags, and the rest of it is going four bags. I fallowed in September and ploughed it the following March. Fallow is not a good thing here without sheep, on account of the rubbish that grows up. I sow 60 lbs. of seed and 50 lbs. of super on the good land and 80 lbs. of super on the poor land. The highest yield I have had is three bags from 150 acres. That was in 1913, but I estimate the crop will yield 12 bushels this year. I would be quite satisfied with four bags to the acre, I do not know much about bulk handling, or whether it would reduce costs, but the tariff affects us considerably, and our implements should come in free of duty.

7053. To Mr. PAYNTER: I have had septoria in the crop, and last year I had rust. I have rust this year in one place. I do not grade the seed. Vines grow well here, and my fig trees have just started.Vegetables also grow well. I keep fowls for my own use, but I have not been able to employ a labour. A man should make a decent living on 1,000 acres single-handed if he had plenty of water, and he ought to be able to crop 300 acres. No doubt co-operation would be a good thing, and I believe a move is now being made in this direction.

7054. To Mr. VENN: I think it is impossible to get fresh water by sinking. The assistance that the government gives is by way of a loan for dam making. If I had another 600-yard dam I could run 300 sheep easily. Sheep are most essential in this district. I had a good deal of experience of them in South Australia, and the majority of this land is good sheep country. There is a lot of stubble now being wasted on which wool could be produced. In regard to clearing, the Government assists us to clear. I have 250 acres cleared, but it is impossible for me to work that land properly and do any more clearing. I could not pay sufficient to have it cleared. The bank advances only 20s. an acre, and in normal times it costs 30s. an acre. if the bank would advance the full amount one could improve one's position considerably. Although I have 250 acres cleared it would be impossible for me to clear another acre, that is to work it properly. I have had some land cleared for 30s., but the man who had the contract could not make a living wage out of it. I could only fallow 30 or 40 acres, and that would only give 200 acres to crop.

7055. Do you think that eventually you can make a sucsess of farming?—Undoubtedly, if I had more sheep, and could get more land cleared. Then I could make a very good living indeed.

(The witness retired.) ————————— RAE DONALD, Farmer, Yuna, Sworn and examined:

7056. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been nearly eight years in this district, and was brought up on a farm at Home, but never took much interest in farming there. I served my time to the carpentering and joining trade. I hold 1,200 acres now. It is all first class according to the Government, but only 1,000 acres are really first class, and the price is 10s. an acre. It is situated 2½ miles from the railway. I have cleared 400 acres, and 1,000 acres are ring-fenced and subdivided into five paddocks. I am a single man. I have a house, stabling of a kind, but no shed for implements. I have a shed for my horse feed. My water supply is a dam which was originally 500 cubic yards, but is now not not more than 400 yards. I made an effort to clear it out, but i had to start cropping again. The bank have advanced money this year to get it enlarged. I have a set of implements, and eight working horses, three pigs, some fowls, a riding hack, and foal. I put £550 roughly into the farm, and borrowed about £600 from the Agricultural Bank. I do not know exactly what I owe the Industries Assistance Board, but possibly £250 would cover it. I have outside creditors to the extent of about £200.

7057. To Mr. CLARKSON: I have 250 acres under crop; 60 acres was fallow. I had fallow in previous years. Last year a storm knocked it all down. Fallow is better than the other methods. The fallow this year is on lighter country, but is absolutely the best crop I have ever grown. My highest yield over the whole acreage was 11½ bushels; that was in 2913-14. I got nothing in 1914, but last year I averaged four bushels, and the low yield was due to rust. I think this year it will go four bags to the acre. I have cut 20 acres for hay. It takes me nine bushels to pay expenses for putting in and taking off. I do my own work and have a four- furrow mouldboard plough and can do five acres a day with it, a 13-disc drill with which I do 10 acres, and a 5ft. harvester with which I average five acres.