SATURDAY, 9th DECEMBER, 1916. (At Northampton.)

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

SAMUEL CHARLES ROGERS, Farmer, Oakabella, sworn and examined:

7072. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been settled here for seven years and hold 1,165 acres. There are only 400 acres in it cultivable. I had no previous experience of farming. I was a miner. I bought 520 acres at 18s. 6.d and 640 acres at 8s. on Oakabella repurchased estate and interest is added to that price. I am distant three miles from the railway station, have 350 acres cleared, all fenced and subdivided into eight paddocks. I am married with four children, two of school age, but the school is six miles away. I have a girl of 13 who is boarding at the convent in Geraldton. There are enough children for a school in our locality and we are applying for one to be established, but they cannot find a teacher it seems, for the school was held at Mrs. Jackson's house and so it had to be closed. We have asked for one to be built. I have a four-roomed timber and iron house; no stable. I have a machinery shed and a good water supply, a well of 20 feet deep containing good stock water, and also a shallow well with a fair supply of drinking water. I have a set of implements and 10 working horses as well, four young and light horses, a cow and calf. I have 530 sheep, about 20 pigs, and 100 poultry. The nearest doctor is at Northampton or Geraldton, which is 25 miles away. I have not been assisted by any of the expert staff of the Agricultural Department with advice as to farming methods, but a few weeks ago Mr. Sutton visited Oakabella for the first time, and I consider the settlers would be assisted if experts would come round constantly. I often wonder what benefit we derive from the Commissioners, unless it is reading an odd lecture that has been delivered. My capital was £150 and I borrowed £600 from the Agricultural Bank, and this year I was assisted by the I.A.B. to the extent of £300 or £400. My only other liabilities are to a machinery agent and some items, making in all about £150.

7073. So that for a total debt of £1,150 you have a good farm of 1,165 acres as a result of seven years' work?—Yes.

7074. To Mr. CLARKSON: I have 200 acres in crop; about 160 acres is fallow. I believe in fallow and have had previous experience of it. Taking one year with another, there would be three or four bushels difference in favour of fallow per acre. On new land I fallow two inches or two and a half inches the first year and increase it in depth, but not beyond four inches for fallow. The stiff land I cultivate sometimes twice with a spring tooth, and also the lighter soil. I sow about one bushel to the acre of seed and 40 to 100lbs. of super., according to the quality of the land. Twenty-one bushels over 130 acres was my best average yield, in 1912-13. In the drought year, 1914, there was a total failure, but I got my own seed wheat and I sold some, probably three or four bushels. Last year I had rust and the crop went seven bags from 26 acres, and from the rest less than a bag to the acre. This year I estimate it will go 15 bushels. To pay the actual expenses of putting in and taking off at 10s. a bag I would require 13 bushels. That would pay expenses, and anything over that would be for myself. I have a mouldboard plough, four-furrow. I work five and six horses, according to the land; and about five acres is a fair day's work. I have a 17-disc which does 10 acres a day, and a 5ft. Sunshine harvester. With two teams we do eight to nine acres, but not more than six with one team. I have done most of my own work up to last year. I do not think that larger machinery would benefit us, as we have only small patches, and the work is too short for large machinery. I should think that bulk handling would assist us, as bags are very dear. To get the crop to the siding I thought a tank on a lorry would answer, and one could tip it at the siding. I do not think farmers' implements should come in free of duty, because we should encourage our own industries.

7075. Have the present duties proved a success in the direction of improved local manufacture?—They do not make machinery much dearer.

7076. If your liabilities to the I.A.B. were funded and you were given 10 years to repay them in, would you be able to finance yourself?—Quite easily. I was quite satisfied up to last year and had fairly good luck, and did most of my own work, but now my health is not as good as it was. At the same time, my chief trouble is schooling for my family. I have two girls of school age and one of them cost me £40 last year for her education. I consider these small schools are not satisfactory. I could carry on without further assistance if my liabilities were funded, but I would prefer to be on my own and handle my own stuff.

7077. To Mr. PAYNTER: Last year and in previous years there was a slight blight in my Federation, but last year was the only year that it suffered to any extent. I pickle and grade my wheat, but I have not tried fodder crops or fruit trees. I have started with pigs during the last six months. We have only a few poultry as they are very hard to rear. We are troubled with crows and wild cats. I am paying 30s.