to be reasonable, but most of those on the land have gone on through false representation as to the assistance that they would receive. It depends upon the position a man is in when he commences his career on the land. Many have gone thinking they would receive assistance but have not secured what they were led to believe they would obtain in the direction. For instance, it was represented that a man should obtain up to the full value of his improvements, but if clearing cost 25s. an acre it is found that the bank will not pay more than £1.Settlers thought that if they did the work themselves there would be a surplus, but the actual fact has been that they have had to put their hands in their own pocket to pay differences between what the bank advanced and what it actually cost them. If the price of super could be reduced it would be a big factor in favour of the wheat farmer. If super was cheap enough and the crop was taken off fodder could be grown for sheep, but under present condition that is out of the question.

7855. Would the adoption of larger team and larger implements tend to reduce costs?—It depends upon the area; with a big area the larger the team the less the labour, but then there is the looking after the team to be considered.

7856. What is a man capable of looking after properly?—I think seven hoses quite enough for any man.

7857. By Mr. VENN: Can you carry 700 sheep all the year around?—We have not had 700 until this year. The best system here to work under is the three-years system. Crop one year, Leave it out next year and crop the third year. The land would then carry 700 sheep all the year round. We have had no trouble with dogs, and I have not seen a rabbit about here.

7858 By the CHAIRMAN: Have you been assisted by the experts of the Department of Agriculture with information as to what crop to grow , what seed to secure and any other directions that would be of assistance to the settler?—I have got information through Professor Paterson, bot apart from that I have not had any information conveyed to me any literature from the department.

7859. Do you see any efforts made by the department to get into touch with the farmers so as to understand their requirements?—No.

7860. Of what service has the department been to your district?—I can not recall any at all.

7861 Are you satisfied to go on farming ere?—Yes, I will keep struggling along. My opinion is the district on the whole is satisfactory if the conditions were satisfactory, bot we must recognise that the farmers must struggle through. If a man was on a properly improved farm and had the means of working it, he certainly could work it up, but all the farmers here are strugglers.

7862. Do you find the country more costly to handle than you anticipated?—I cannot say that I do. Taking it all through it has machinery is prohibitive.

7863 Have your expectations regarding the rainfall been realised?—The rainfall is not what I expected, but if the land well worked and well fallowed the rainfall is quite sufficient to grow a profitable crop.

7864. if the land is properly fallowed and worked it would go a long way to making the district successful?—Yes.

7865. why do men fallow properly?—The reason is the want means. A man going on to unimproved land if he has no capital to enable him to clear and fallow can only clear a certain amount in order to get a return from it straight away. Perhaps he could not get another 200 acres to fallow, and it takes him perhaps five years before he begins to work on a proper system.

7866.Do you think average farmer does all he can to assist himself?—I think so.

7867. Have you a good class of settler here?—Yes. I was brought up on a farm in Victoria myself and was afterwards engine-driving on the goldfields.

7868 By Mr. PAYNTER: comparing your position now , If you had your time over again would you take up land in preference to the life of an engine-driver?— I would think twice about it, bot there is this about it. that on the land you have a home and the means of making a living, and. you are always looking forward to better condition. On the goldfields one could not depend upon having regular employment. On the whole I would undertake the land again every time.

(The witness retired)

——————————

GEORGE E CO0K, ,Dangin, Farmer, sworn and examined: 

7869. By the CHAIRMAN: How long have you been on the land?—I have been seven years on the land here. I have 700 acres of land for which I paid 10s. an acre , three-quarters of which is first class. I am 12 miles from a railway. The block is fenced and subdivided. I have 675 acres cleared. My water supply consists of two dams excavated in clay and covered and they have proved permanent up to date. one dam is 700 and the other 500 cubic yards and the average depth is 8 feet 6 inches. I am a married man, with two children . one of whom is attending school. Hew is seven years old and has to go 5¾ miles every day. The doctor has warned me that he must not take this long journey again. he walks 1½ miles and than goes the rest of the journey in a sulky. This is one of the great disabilities of farming life but of course I have but one alternative, and that is leave the land, otherwise I have been successful. To overcome that difficulty I can hardly make a suggestion. The Education Department have been very liberal. My house is of iron and wood. I have stables with an iron roof, and also a machinery shed which is better than my house. I have a full farming plant and eight working horses, two cows and five pigs .Formerly I was a builder and contractor. When I started farming I had approximately £800, and I went to the National Bank, who treated me exceeding well. I have no objection to their treatment .My overdraft is £500. 7870.You are at liberty to make a statement on behalf of your friends, If you so desire? — I am president of the South Caroling branch of the Farmers and settlers' Association, and this Royal commission is directly of interest to us, as it is has been instituted for our benefit. It seem futile to bring you here unless we laid our collective ideas before you.