Department and thrown open. It was a practice once to advance certain sums on blocks that were classified by surveyors, but that was stopped.

8652. The bank is tied up by a inexorable system of advancing. Whether the trustees approve or not?--If a man takes up a block of land which has been thrown open as an agricultural area, and there is nothing against that man, I cannot refuse to advance.

8653. By Mr VENN: You inspect these areas?--On the first application for £400 we gave the man £200, and then perhaps we find out that the classification is not quite right. But we must presume that the classification made by the Government officers is correct.

8654. By Mr PAYNTER: Then, when a man takes up a block, he has £400 to work on, and the bank gives his £200 immediately?---Yes. An area of land is thrown open and the classification appears on the map, showing so much good land, so much second class land, and so much third class land, and on the classification we allocate a certain sum.

8655. By the CHAIRMAN: Your bank officials do not inspect the blocks?--That is done by the surveyor who surveyed the blocks. We make the advance on the classification.

8656. With regard to the Lake Brown Country, We understand that every settler has now left the land?--Practically every one.

8657. Has the bank written off the advances?--No, a lot of them have told us they will go back if the railway is built. We are therefore hanging on.

8658. By Mr VENN: How do you like that country; is it safe wheat growing country?--They get some magnificent wheat crops there, but the land is a bit hot. I do not like going so far north myself. I think we should have a line fixed to a point up to which we could advance, and beyond that point selectors would take it up at their own risk. Let them discover, not the Government.

8659. By the CHAIRMAN: From your experience where would you be inclined to draw that line?--About 14 or 15 miles north of the Merredin-Dowerin line.

8660. How far east of the Wongan line?--There are some magnificent spots 40, lies eats of the Wongan line.

8661. Would you care to recommend them for wheat?--We Recommended that a line should be built below the wongan station and just skirting the top of the lake. That would have taken in the whole of the magnificent country there. There are some of the finest areas I have ever seen in that country.

8662. But east of the Wongan Hills railway, how far would you consider it safe to farm?--To the rabbit-proof fence.

8663. What is your opinion of the Morawa district?--It is good country, but not quite safe. I have seen some of the finest crops there, but nothing has come of them.

8664. We have the rainfall figures from there you are in the mulga country. Mr. Michell's Records are 11.62 in the summer months and 9.58 in the winter months. Those are the figures for the last six years and the rainfall in that period was admittedly below the average, not only in this State, but through out Australia?. If you look up the lithos you will see that the rainfall is given as from 12½ to 13 inches, and another Government will come in and put the figures at eight inches. How is it possible for me to work under those conditions?

8666. How many foreclosed properties has the bank been successful in disposing?--211. some of those went away without intending to return and those we look upon an abandoned. We could not abandoned properties and realise on them. If we waited for some of the men to come back to the properties. In three years time it would not be possible to get near them.

8667. By Mr VENN: Do you think if the Government supplies settlers--that is in deserving eases--with stock, it would help them though?-- I have always claimed that a man wants stock, but nine-tenths of them do not know how to manage the stock, and therefore there would be trouble. Many would eat the stock because they had been living on tinned dog for so long. It has to be remembered also that the management of sheep in the south is very different to the management in the north. A man can not farm successfully without stock.

8668. What is the bank's borrowing rate?-- It is going up somewhat; We have just got notice and we are not to charge more than 1 per cent. We are to charge 6 per cent.

8669. And your borrowing rate is 4 per cent.?---Yes.

8670. And the lending rate?--5 or 6 per cent.

8671. What have the banks profits been?-- I have not got it by I can let you know.

8672. By Mr PAYNTER: Do you think the present land laws and regulations?--I would give them the land if I had my way.

8673. How would you get the revenue?--When the people have settled the lands. They do this in a country like Canada and I do not see why we should not do it here but we are a indigent crowd and we want money.

8674. Do you think it is the Terms on which the State sells the land?--If we must sell the land, I Would extend the time, say, to 40 years, make it as lenient as possible, but do not make people pay unless they are able to pay. Supposing we say for argument that it takes the 20s. to do the clearing and that a man has nothing. If he cannot pay he is fined.

8675. If they got the land free, under what conditions do you think the advances would be?-- you could not make it easier, could you? I would like to be able to choose the men--But you cannot do that.

8676. What do you think of the perpetual leasing system?--I do not like it. Everybody likes to crow on his own dunghill. I like the freehold but I do not think the advances are made in the right way. We cannot choose the man.

8677. By the CHAIRMAN: Why?--If a Man takes up a block of land you do not make inquiries. A man comes along and says, "you want a block land." You do not say to him "what money have you?" and get what money he wants.

8678. Is there no land Board that examines applicants and makes inquiries?--Yes, But they do not bring their bank book and show you their