doubt that Sir John Forrest influenced Cabinet and our correspondence was justified by what transpired subsequently. The telegram continues-

     I was able to state that the Treasury has agreed to make the necessary financial arrangements to make a further payment of 1s. per bushel less rail, freight and handling charges to the wheat growers in the old pool. It is expected that this 1s. will be made available about the end of April. As you know I have always advocated that implements and tools of trade of the farmer should be on free list, and I shall always be glad to give sympathetic consideration to any representations in that direction.

Since then there was a farmers' conference held at Geraldton, and they sent this telegram to Mr Hughes-

     Farmers assembled in conference at Geraldton urge Mr. Hughes to place New Zealand binder twine on same privileged free list as cornsacks, and to undertake as soon as the tariff can be brought before Parliament to abolish the tariff entirely on bags from India, binder twine from New Zealand, and on all agricultural implements.

We got the conference to also send this to Mr. Hughes- Members of this Farmers' Co-operative Company urge the Prime Minister to remove the tariff barrier that exists between Australia and New Zealand, prior to the celebration of Anzac Day. Binder twine from New Zealand and cornsacks from India are farmers' raw material, produced by sister dominions, both should be admitted duty free. We also desire an assurance that you will use every endeavour to have the tariff dealt with at an early stage, and the duties on all agricultural requisites abolished. The industry must be freed from the high costs which are making production unprofitable, and will seriously militate against the success of any scheme for settling soldiers on the land. We also wrote Sir John Forrest Further on this matter on the duty on binder twine, and pointed out just what effect it was having, and we wrote the various Federal candidates, and asked for a pledge we wanted- I pledge myself to advocate the abolition of the tariff on bags from India, binder twine from New Zealand, all agricultural implements and requisites, and I will use every endeavour to have these duties abolished. Mr. Buzzacott agreed readily, Mr. Mahon had previously indicated his intention of protecting primary industries, and every form of tariff preference. Mr. Fowler agreed very readily to that pledge, but Mr. Gregory held it up for 11 days. Although he received our letter on the 20th, he replied on the 1st. and after that we followed him with a telegram. His reply was- Supporting country party Federal platform in entirety, which includes all matters you refer to. We have been trying in our endeavours to get the duty off agricultural requisites, and we claim it is die to our representation, partly if not wholly, that the duty is to be taken off cornsacks.

9019-20. By Mr. PAYNTER: Do you think the conditions under which people are getting land are satisfactory? - I think the land has been altogether too dear in the past, but the disposition on the part of the Government lately to reduce the prices is comforting.

9021. What do you think of the charges for the goldfields water? - I think they are oppressive. To tax the farmer 4d. an acre is most unfair. I do not think the farmer objects to pay for the water he uses, but to charge him for water, whether he uses it or not, is not right. There is country along the pipeline which you cannot stock, poison country, and until the poison is cleared - and it takes many years to do that according to the older hands - a man cannot make full use of his land, and he cannot pay a 4d. tax, which amounts to £21 per 1,000 acres. The farmers use very little of the water.

9022. Do you differentiate between the price per gallon and the rate per acre, do you think both are hardships - do you think 2s. 6d. a thousand is too dear? - It seems to me, if it is al all possible to reduce those charges, and encourage the stocking of the land, it ought to be done, and if there was some small loss on the item, it would be more than made up by the benefits the country would get from increased production. I have in my mind a statement that the farmer is being supplied at a loss; whether that is so I do not know, but we know he has so many charges that he is not able to bear up under them.

9023. By Mr. VENN: Do you think it good policy for the Government to encourage mixed farming, and supply farmers with the various kinds of stock? - Encourage it in every possible way.

9024. From your observation the mixed farmers are doing the best to-day? - Yes. We have had the costs of production before us on many occasions, and it seems to be recognised amongst those who produce the wheat is more than the farmers get in return. Mixed farming is their only way out. (The witness retired.) _________________

EDWARD ALEXANDER MANN, Government Analyst and Agricultural Chemist, sworn and examined:

9025. By the CHAIRMAN: How many years have you occupied your present position? - I have been for 22 years Government Analyst and 15 years Agricultural Chemist.

9026. What are your duties as Agricultural Chemist? - They have never been defined, but they are to assist generally and advise the Agricultural Department and also to make any analyses in connection with agricultural matters which, may be required, either by the Department or (on certain conditions laid down) for settlers.

9027. What definite work does the Agricultural Department undertake in this State and set before you for systematic investigation? - Practically none. The work I do comes in more or less spasmodically. I do not think anything come in systematically except work in connection with the examination of wheats for milling purposes and the analysis of