ever, to duplicate the main as far as Yerbillon would be as good a scheme as Sir John Forrest's goldfields scheme. We should build up Western Australia from our production of wool and other primary products, and this way the indirect benefit to the State would be increased; dam sinking would absorb a good deal of money, and the evaporation they say is nearly seven feet. That means that dams would have to be protected from evaporation, and you would have to have deep water, and as narrow a surface as possible. A great many farmers would contend that the uncertainty of the rainfall would be against that proposition, but personally I would prefer it.

7653. By Mr CLARKSON: At what price do you think the farmers could profitably use it?—personally, I do not think at more than 2s. 6d. I am using it, and I have not been stocked regularly. I have had to buy a good supply of feed, and then at that time throughout Western Australia there is a good supply of feed everywhere. Then if the season turned short, I have to see on account of the feed cutting out, and I am forced on the market when otherwise I would not sell. I bought some young sheep, and had to sell them as four-tooth on account of the drought, because I had no feed for them. I believe if we could be put on a stock basis similar to the Canadian system, we could start in the Eastern districts with 50 or 100 ewes of breeding age, and gradually breed up, and we should not be allowed to see the female stock, except by giving notice to the Government; the inspector would know when we were going to sell, and it would be on his authority that we could sell.

7654. By the CHAIRMAN: What price would pay? —I would not give a cent, over 2s.6d. I have nit been able to make a profit on sheep at 2s. 6d. per thousand gallons, bought sheep.

7655. BY Mr PAYNTER: Would it be solely on account of the high price of water? —No, you have the other contingencies to work against.

7656. By Mr CLARKSON: Referring to dams and tanks, under ordinary conditions, what is the percentage of years in which they would not be filled if they were assured of a two years supply—would that be sufficient if some scheme were inaugurated to supply tanks and sites picked by competent men and proper catchment, would you say that a man with two years supply was safe?—Ordinarily.

7657. By Mr VENN: You preferred that to relying upon the pipe water?—At present people are not using it for stock. If they were supplied with stock I think they would be in a precarious condition.

7658. By Mr PAYNTER: What do you think of a series of tanks which would be filled during the slack season? Would that be feasible in overcoming the difficulty of low pressure?—I fancy the cost would be heavy.

7659. You advocate the duplication of the main?—Yes, but so that the extensions would be larger and you would have that as a reserve for the present pipe, and we know the capacity of that. But the whole thing is a matter of calculation and finance.

7660. What do you think of the zone system?—You take a lot more people under the application of the water. It appears to have value in it but you are bound to hit somebody.

7661. But that would mean encouragement for further extensions?—They would have to have further extensions.

7662. By Mr CLARKSON: Would it not be better if the supply of tanks be carried out and the 4d. tax were lifted. And for the Agricultural Bank to advance money to put in tanks and be supplied by the ordinary rainfall?—That was my contention at the Katanning conference. I like it much better personally but I am afraid a large number of the farmers would not agree with me and would give me a rap on the knuckles if I advocated it. They have not had the stock but they have not been drawing on it. I am afraid the people outback would rather depend upon it than upon the uncertainty of nature's supply. Personally I think you would know exactly where you were and could see your dam going down. I speak of course as a farmer and not as a politician.

7663. By Mr VENN: The witnesses is the country say that the extensions were not big enough. Sometimes they had to wait half a day for a tank of water?—That is correct, and in the hottest weather there is a bigger draw and they cannot do it.

7664. I think the dam system is the safest? —What I understood from Mr Paynter's remarks was that there should be fixed Government tanks.

7665. By Mr PAYNTER: I referred tot he duplication of the main. It occurred to me that if they had tanks and reservoirs at the junctions of the extensions with the main and they filled them up in the slack season at the main. My first and original idea when the settlers were applying for main water was that officers should be sent to see if it were possible to provide their own water supply on their own property by means of roof catchments and dams?—Following on that point the rate and charge is continuous for all time. If a man had provision on his own property he could clean his dam and he never cleans the other and he has everlasting trouble and worry.

7666. By the CHAIRMAN: We take it from the statements you have made that you are a consumer from the scheme. How much land do you hold?—680 acres and I pay 2s. 6d., am rated at 4d. and the £5 fee.

7667. What is your total payment on the 680 acres?—I think £22 10s. per annum, but I am always in excess.

7668. Can you use all that water?—They charge me on an average and there is always something going wrong.

7669. You prefer to have that supply cut off?—No, I am on the scheme at 2s. 6d. I said the extensions were at 6s. a 1,000.

7670. You prefer that to having your own water?—Personally I would prefer both. If my holding was cleared and I could carry stock I would pay the rate as an insurance. I am speaking of the 2s. 6d. water against the 6s. per 1,000.

7671. it is the shortage of water of the shortage of feed which compels you to sell your stock from time to time?—I have a large storage tank, otherwise when I had sheep I would be short of water. it is the shortage of feed that affects me.

7672. By Mr PAYNTER: Do you think it is the high price of water that has anything to do with the shortage of stock in the eastern districts?—It must play its part.