into this property. I have a full farming plant, 13 working horses and 135 sheep, 30 donkeys and 13 pigs. We use the donkeys for wheat carting and can go where teams of horses cannot go. I work 15 in a team, I used to bring in 55 cwt. where Billy Dean could only bring in 40 with is eight horse team. I have 430 acres under crop this year. I believe in fallow, but I have not got any. I sow from ¾ of a bushel to one bushel per acre and 50lbs. of super., but less on heavy lands. The highest average yield I have had was 2,300 bags over 400 acres. I expect 1,500 bags this year. To pay the actual expenses of putting in and taking off would amount to 12 bushels. I use a 10-disc Shearer plough, but there is no doubt the larger machinery would lessen costs, as well as the selection of wheat that is best suited to the district. My experience is that one has to try and find out what is best. I have experimented and I found Bunyip and Federation are the two standard wheats for our locality. Bulk handling should reduce costs. The grain could be carted in tanks in drays. I have not considered the question of the tariff.

7509. To Mr PAYNTER; I have never had any disease in my crops. I pickle, but do not grade my wheat. I have tried fodder and artificial grasses. I had a sample of Japanese millet which has grown to a great height and only had one rain on it. Our pigs do very well here. I do not think a man could make a decent living on less than 2,000 or 3,000 acres here with the water supply given in. A man should do 400 acres himself annually, 400 in and 200 fallow. My son has put all my crop in. I suggested to the Midland Company that they should extend the terms of payment of rent for three years and make the payments due later.

7510. To the CHAIRMAN: we put down 12 bores without satisfactory results; that is why we have no sheep. I have hopes of getting well water as all my neighbours have it. Sir Walter James was watching me at work on my 12ft bore. he borrowed my plant and got water within half a mile at 50ft. So long as a farmer has to pay these ridiculous rates of wages he has no hope of prosperity. I think they ought to drop the duty on bags. They cost about 10d. to 11d. delivered and we only get 1½d. for them back. The rise in freight on a single bale of bags is abnormally high.

(The witness retired.)

The Commission adjourned.

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