FRIDAY 15th DECEMBER, 1916.

(At Mingenew.)

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

FRANCIS JAMES MORGAN, Farmer, Three Springs, sworn and examined:

7353.  To the CHAIRMAN: Three Springs district has been settled agriculturally for nine years. There has been a reserve of 9,000 acres for an experimental farm on the western side of the line, but everything is on the eastern side, with the exception of what is known as Mickey Brown's property, consisting of 17,000 acres. That property is still on the market. I have been there for six years. I was farming on the Chapman for about seven years previously. I took up 3,000 acres at Three Springs and I hold it still. It was Conditional Purchase land. For some of it I paid 10s., some of it 4s. 3d., and for the rest 3s. 9d.

7354. At what price did the Midland Company sell the land of a similar quantity in this district?—Some was £1, some up to 30s., but of no better quality.

7355. They made a much better sale of their land than the Government did?—Certainly.

7356. How did the Midland Company sell their land?—By auction. Some was sold for as much as £3 12s. 6d. an acre.

7357. By Mr PAYNTER: Is there any more Government agricultural land available here?—No. There is any amount of sandplain.

7358. By the CHAIRMAN: Would you call the sale of land by the Midland Company a genuine business transaction?—My opinion is there is no land in this district worth more than 10s.

7359. By the CHAIRMAN: Are any of those who paid that price going ahead?—No; some are holding their own and some are not making a living.

7360. By the CHAIRMAN: The Midland Company appear to have sold their land for twice the price asked by the Government?—More than twice as much.

7361. If the seasons had been normal and there had been no drought, would the settlers be able to keep their engagements here?—They would have done no more than keep them.

7362. Do you think the land sold by the Midland Company is cheap?—It is far too dear.

7363. But so far as the sale is concerned, it was legitimate and in the open market?—Yes.

7363A. Was the Government land available at the same time?—There was a little available at the same price as mine at the time, and it was very mixed. It was indifferent land.

7364. How far are you situated from the line?—Five miles south-west. I have cleared about 650 acres and none of it is ringbarked.

7365. Do you believe in ring-barking? —Not in that class of country. Salmon and York gum I have cleared. The rest wants scrub rolling. It costs 25s. to 30s. to clear. I have 2,500 acres fenced. My water supply is one well and two dams. The well is 35 feet deep and has a good water supply. There are not many wells of good water here; most of them are of inferior quality. The capacity of one dam is about 1,000 yards and the other about 600 yards. They are not covered in.

7366. What do they cost per yard? —One cost 1s. 6d. and the other about 1s. they were done by myself and the price mentioned is what it would have cost by contract. The one dam is about eight feet deep and the other about four feet deep. They will see me through the summer and no more. They have been dry two or three times, but not last year because we had a storm in the summer. Usually they dry in April. I am a married man with six children, who have not attended school yet, because it is too far to send them and I have not been able to make any arrangements for them, but I shall do so next year. There is no chance of getting a school nearer, because there is no one out there but myself. The school is five miles distant, but I do not blame the State for the absence of a school. Moora, about 80 miles distant, is where the nearest doctor resides. The Government has offered to subsidise a doctor and annual subscriptions have been promised to make up a salary of £450. The doctor was appointed, but he only stayed a day and went away again, because he was offered a better position among the timber mills. The fact is there are not many doctors in the country. I understand he was offered £100 a year more in the other position.

7367. By the CHAIRMAN: Have you a set of implements? —Yes, and 15 working horses. I have 850 sheep and seven head of cattle. When I went to three Springs first I had no capital, but I had 500 sheep, nine horses, and a plant of machinery. I have had financial assistance from Elder, Shenton & Co. through them a loan was arranged with Mr George Lukin. I was privately financed, and Elder, Shenton still hold the line over my stock. The financial institutions are quite reasonable in supplying capital for stock purposes.

7368. the Government has a department of experts for the purpose of assisting farmers, wheat expert, fruit expert, dairy expert, and other experts, to investigate disease in plants, etc. What assist