total country, which is all lakes and clay pan. We have 450 sheep, but we have to feed them at the present time. The whole of the property is fenced, 1,000 acres with sheep proof fencing. We are giving our sheep chaff and it keeps them fat, while the feed is going off. The price of the land should be lowered or else the payment of rent should be extended over a long period; 7ds. 6d. is quite ample for our land. We find that it is unsuitable for wheat growing. The country is morel and requires more rainfall to grow crops than ordinary forest land. It should be classified as grazing country. When ring barked it will carry a sheep to every five acres and I think that a perpetual lease at ½d. an acre would be the best system in regard to this land, and would save the situation. The country is known as fluffy morel. We will, of course, have to grow some crops to feed stock. We have one dam of 2,000 yards, another of 3,000 yards, both of them 13 feet deep, with three miles of drainage, and we also have a Government dam handy. It is in what is known as Fitz's country. (The witness retired.) AUGUSTUS GERVASINI, Farmer, Kulin, sworn and examined :

8249. By the CHAIRMAN : You desire to make a statement to us?- Yes, I came here four years ago, with no capital and have been working out most of the time, and in between times clearing my own block. I have now 540 acres cleared. I could not pay the rent and keep my family, but I pay the Agricultural Bank interest. I want the rent held over for five years until I can get a return from the land. I have 210 acres of crop on the share system. I got two bushels for my share. I intend to go in for sheep, but rabbits are already a trouble. I had previous experience of farming in Victoria.

8250. You should induce your roads board to constitute themselves a vermin board. when they can raise the rates and arrange for the distribution of poison and the fencing of dams?- The trouble is there is a vast quantity of Crown lands surrounding us and netting is very hard to get, and will be for the next few years. Letters are constantly coming to me demanding rent, and this is a source of great worry to my wife. I have to pay cash for everything, and I really do not know in the future how I am going to keep my family. I owe the Agricultural Bank for clearing and stock. The local inspector of the Industries Assistance Board told me the board were not taking any more clients on, otherwise I should like to go to them for assistance. (The witness retired.) RICHARD McINNES (R. & I. McInnes), Farmer, Kulin, sworn and examined :

8251. By the CHAIRMAN : You wish to make a statement to the Commission?- Yes. It is in connection with land rents, chiefly the price and classification of which I must complain. One of my blocks is priced at 19s. It is not worth 8s. I have been here six years, but the railway has only been here two years, so what I spent four years without this boon, which I was lead to expect would be constructed immediately. We cannot go in for cultivation. They should let us clear the first class land and leave the second class land until afterwards. We hold 1,900 acres. The price has been reduced to15s. and 12s., and we have 360 acres cleared. I owe £1,200 to the Agricultural Bank and the Industries Assistance board, and the highest yield I have had was this year-- 11 bushels. The cost of clearing is 25s.,yet we are only allowed 20s. an acre. Rabbits have increased. The people in Perth do not know how bad the rabbits are, and the question must be faced sooner or later. There does not seem any prospect of getting netting for years to come, therefore the roads board should be made into a vermin board, and have power to compel people to destroy them. The Government should also do their bit, as their vacant lands and scrub afford cover for the rabbits. Moreover, there should be more and larger dams provided. A 1,000 yard dam is too small, and only lasts for about four years, and then silts up. (The witness retired.) SVIN HANSEN THULSTHRUP, Farmer, Lake Geelakin, sworn and examined :

8252. By the CHAIRMAN : You wish to make a statement?- Yes. I hold 1,000 acres, and have cleared 500 acres. I borrowed £250 from the Agricultural Bank. I have good grass country, but it is unsuitable for cropping. Moreover, I am afflicted with the rabbit pest. I have only had one season in five years, and want my land reduced to the grazing basis. One thousand acres would carry between 400 and 500 sheep when cleared and suckered. (The witness retired.)

ANGUS WILLIAM TROTTER, Barbabilling soak, Kulin, sworn and examined :

8253. To the CHAIRMAN : I wish to make a statement. My land rents have been reduced from 16s. 6d. to 12s. 6d. My nearest water was 35 miles distant when I came out here first, yet right inside settlers are charged only 10s. an acre to clear. We would not get half our money back if we were to settle it. I have 1,000 acres of land and had 220 acres of crop which averaged 13 bushels. We spent our capital waiting for a railway line. We have 375 acres cleared. I owe the Agricultural Bank £550 and the industries Assistance Board about £500. The highest average I have had was 15 bushels, last year. There should also be a reduction made in the railway freights. I sent a pair of wheels down to Narrogin, which weighed 1¼ cwt.,and was charged 6s. 6d., and paid 3s. to bring them back. It is impossible to prepay the freight because the guard on the train does not know the exact weights, we have been deprived of this prepaid concession. On unattended sidings we should get the benefit of the prepaid rates. It costs more to send wheat to Narrogin than to send flour back from there at the same weight. a case of fruit cost me 2s. 6d. from Perth the other day, or about 1d. per lb. They will not give us a chance to live economically. Previously I followed the occupation of a miner. My 13 bushel crop will not pay our living expenses. (The witness retired.)