the same town also, out of the draper's shop, and they have made a big success of farming. You often it said that it is no use in bringing out inexperienced men from the old country, but with two or three year's experience on the right farm they will all make a success. With decent training they will be as good as the man who was brought up to it as they often take far more interest in it.

                                                                                  ( The witness retired.)

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JOSEPH JOLLY, Manager National Bank, Dumbleyung, examined :

8483. By the CHAIRMAN : How long have you been managing this branch, For 3½ years.

8484. What opinion have you formed of the district ?—I think there is scope for improvement in methods. The land is patchy and the future of the good land depends on the conditions. It will produce wheat as long as the seasons are favourable. The rainfall is ample with good methods. It is 17 inches. The bank asked me by circular letter to give evidence before the commission, but only in a personal capacity, not as representing the bank.

8485. What is the bank valuation of the best farms, well improved, within a distance of the railway ? —Just now it is a difficult matter to say. Under normal conditions three years ago the bank's value would have been about £2 10s. an acre at least for the best farms well improved. \ 8486-9. That is the lowest value that has been put to us, and you have a good rainfall and good land. You are very safe ?—We had the market value as well. Ours is probably 50 per cent. less than the market value.

8490. How have your No. 2 accounts got on here ?—I do not know that I can answer that question.

8491. Every other manager has ? —Well, I do not think it fair to disclose it.

8492. That is the first instance of any manager hedging the question ? —Those receiving assistance under No. 2 or No. 3 account are men who could not help themselves. That is the way I look at it. It is through their own fault they are in that position.

8493. One manager told us that nearly all his No. 2 accounts were cleared up. What is your opinion of the class of settler here ?—The majority of them are a good type, but many were not adapted to the land, others who have succeeded were through farmers.

8484. Did you find them more careful in running into debt ?—That is because they have to do it. They are economising more than they did a few years ago in many directions.

                                                                                                   ( The witness retired.)

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SAMUAL FARMER, Farmer, Dumbleyung, sworn and examined :

8495. By the CHAIRMAN : When did you come to this district ?—In 1913. I was farming all my life at Colton in South Australia. I hold 300 acres at 10s., and am leasing 890 acres, 450 are cleared. I pay £60 per annum rent. I have only just taken that over. It is first class land, and I have had it for three years. I am single man. improvements are on my 300 acres. I have a bag house, bush stables, machinery shed with an iron roof, a full set of implements, 14 working horses and six other horses, three pigs. I have 280 acres cleared. I had £100 cash, five horses, a drill and a set of harrows when I started. That would be the equivalent of about £300 capital. I have not borrowed any money, and I have no liabilities. I have 250 acres of crop going about 15 bushels. I fallow very little. I had 60 acres of fallow that did not pay me in my first year. I ploughed it in November, summer - ploughed it, and I had all the summer rain on it two years ago. I worked it on every opportunity I could get. It seems to carry too much straw to my idea. Last year I had 14 bushels. I cut 90 acres for 50 tons of hay, and 600 bags of wheat in 1914. Want of cultivation is the fault of the lot of it. Rough ploughing is no good here. You want to fine is up well.

8496. By Mr. PAYNTER : Do you believe in late ploughing ?—No, not for cropping. I would like to start fallow about the 1st August if the weather was suitable, provided a man has not got sheep. If you fallow early you get too much rubbish in your land. Without sheep I would start as soon as possible. Sheep are as good as cultivation. Unworked fallow is no good at all. I would like to say that the increased cost of production in the direction of bags and handling wheat is getting too much altogether of a burden. I would like to see bulk handling enforced to - morrow. I have paid away £40 for bags in the last few weeks, and duty is far too heavy. If we can manufacture in Australia we should do it. I believe in State enterprise.

8497. By the CHAIRMAN : How does this land compare with Colton ?—This country will always do me as compared with Colton, although drills and fertilisers have made things better for them. However, they were not in use when I was there.

                               ( The witness retired )

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ERNEST HENRY ABSOLON, Farmer, Wagin, sworn and examined :

8498. By the CHAIRMAN : We understand that you would like to make a statement to this Royal Commission ?—I was the original surveyor of this district, and was asked by the Dumbleyung branch to give evidence on their behalf on some of the broader problems, such as the price of land. I also surveyed Lake Grace. The price of land was raised at the time that the Moore Government came in in order to provide revenue to continue the agricultural railways. I can show you that that was so from these plans. That is recognised in the Repricing Bill. Within 10 miles the rent was diminished, and it became smaller as the distance became greater, and so on. The Bill brought down the values in certain districts but not in our own. I want to point out the injustice to our own district, especially so far as Lake Grace and the country outside the rabbit are concerned. When I surveyed it there was doubt as to whether the railway would come through on account of the doubtful rainfall. Those prices were, I understand,