bushels of seed to the acre. On the poor land we sowed 100lbs. of super. On the better land we sowed 54lbs., averaging throughout 75lbs. Ten bushels last year was the highest average we have had. It costs about six bushels to put in and take off a crop. I have a four-furrow mouldboard plough and a six disc cultivating plough which does five acres a day, an eight foot spring tooth cultivator which does 15 acres, a 13-disc drill which does 12 acres, also a Sunshine and a Federal harvester, each five feet, which do eight acres each. Bulk handling would be a good thing. There has been no disease in my crops. I pickle my wheat, but the Board will not grant me a grader. When I am clear of the Board I will get one. I have a fairly good garden. To make a decent living a man must have at least 1,000 acres, and 600 acres should be cleared before he goes in for horses and plant. A man working a team should do singlehanded from 250 - 300 acres annually. The price of land is easy to take it up, but not to keep us on it. We thoroughly understood that the railway would be here within eighteen months, and we put in four years for it, and now our capital has been spent. We lost that because we had to cart everything from Wickepin, 43 miles. We had no water for two years, and worst of all the rents were going on the whole time on the land, and also the interest on the land. As S. A. and C. Gordon we took up 2,000 acres and we had the land cleared. We had to leave, but the interest and the rent still went on. It is the interest that grieves me. We should be exempt from all rentals for at least six years. It is the rent that takes the heart out of us. When the war broke out two of my sons went to the Front at the start. I had 2,000 acres, myself and a boy, and we could not work it ourselves. My eldest son has land in Kondinin. I asked him to put his labour into my block and he did so. I wrote to the Department stating the position, and asked them to protect his block. They did so. A letter came from him a fortnight ago stating that the interest on the rent on his blocks has to be met. My son has been working on the block and has no interest in my block. We did not ask for any wages for him.. They paid us £8 a month for provisions for the two families. My sons wife has had to undergo two operations, and had to go over to Victoria. All this extra burden has fallen upon us, and the Board refused to pay the expenses on the daughter-in-law's operations. It would take two months at 9s. a day to pay our outlay in this direction. Railway freights are also far too heavy. (The witness retired.) ---/--- CHARLES FIRTH ROWDEN, Farmer, Lake Geelakin, via Wickerpin, sworn and examined:

8245. By the CHAIRMAN : How long have you been settled here--- Since 1910. I previously worked with other farmers in Meckering, Narrogin, and Wickepin. I hold 864 acres, one half of which is first class land, the balance is second and very poor third class. It is priced at 14s. It is 14 miles from the railway. The property is ring fenced with three wires; 260 acres are cleared and 80 acres are ready for burning. I have one dam of 1,000 yards capacity which is three parts full. I am a single man. I have a canvas house, stables, and shed 24 x 30. I have a set of implements, four working horses, a pig and 30 fowls. I had £200 capital. I borrowed £600 from the Agricultural Bank. I owe the Industries Assistance Board about £200. I have 150 acres of crop, but I only harvested 100 acres on account of the rabbits. The yield was 170 bags.

8246. Have you any statement that you would care to make?- My land was originally priced at 17s. and has been reduced to 11s., but I am 14 miles away from a railway, and the land is not worth nearly that at that distance. I inspected the land previously and it is not worth now more than 7s. 6d. Rabbits too are increasing very rapidly as it is lake country. We have been trying to get wire netting, but unsuccessfully. They have only advanced us for clearing and they would not give us any wire netting. The land is not suitable for wheat. I am willing to battle on if the Board will give us longer terms. My intention was to go in for mixed farming. Wheat alone is impossible, but we could make a do of it if we had sheep and wire netting. (The Witness retired.) ---/--- JOHN BURGESS WILSON, Farmer, Lake Geelakin, sworn and examined :

8247. By the CHAIRMAN : When did you first come to this district?- In 1912. I had had previous experience in Victoria. I and my two sons hold 3,000 acres; 2,600 are first class land, 450 acres sand plain and 300 acres of second class. We have been paying 15s. and 13s. 6d., which is now reduced to 11s. and 10s. per acre. We are 11 miles from the railway. I have 700 acres cleared, one dam nine feet deep, 1,000 yards capacity, which is now dry. I have five children, who are past school age. Two of my sons are at the Front. I have a house, but no stables or sheds, a set of implements, two working horses, two cows and two pigs, When I came here I had £100 capital. I borrowed £750 from the Agricultural Bank and I owe altogether about £500 besides. I have 400 acres in crop, averaging 11 bushels, which has been our average for three years. I consider the railway freights are too high and I would like to complain of the manner in which perishable goods are delayed on the railway. Vegetables are often shunted at Narrogin, we will say today (Friday), and we will not get them until next Thursday. We have had no rain since the beginning of October and, therefore, we cannot grow anything. We are very short of water and have to cart. The rabbits are very troublesome in our locality. There is no doubt that dams of 1,000 yards capacity are quite insufficient. (The witness retired.) ---/--- HENRY DAVIES (Davies and Grange), Farmer, Lake Geelakin :

8248. By the CHAIRMAN : I understand that you wish to make a short statement to us?- Yes. The rainfall, as you know, has been very unreliable. Dingoes are on the increase and so are the rabbits, which are burrowing everywhere. We are the furthest settlers out, being 17½ miles from Kulin. With mixed farming, we hope to be successful. We have salt bush country, which is splendid for stock. I and my partner hold 3,000 acres of pas-