9106. I suggest some other form of tenure which would allow you to deal with your inferior country and give the lessee security of tenure on a cheap basis?-- It might be advisable, but I have never given the matter consideration. We have always looked more for settlement of the land than the encouragement of the pastoral lessee.

9107. Can you supply us with your department's estimate of the approximate proportions of first, second, and third class land available in the South-West division suitable for wheat growing?-- I will endeavour to do so. We have a lot of wheat growing land which is surveyed, but not thrown open for selection. Of this class of land we have 3,029,000 acres, surveyed into about 4,200 farms. There are some 700 selections of about 250 acres in the South-West not yet thrown open, a good many of these being held up, I think on account of timber. I think these 700 selections are included in the 4,200.

9108. In what districts is the majority of this land to be found?-- A large proportion of it is on the eastern fringe of the wheat belt. There is some west of the Wongan line, and out in the Lake Grace district, and there is some beyond Bruce Rock. There is also a lot of land along the Kondinin-Merredin line. I think some surveys are going on now at Lake Grace.

9109. Were only the best blocks surveyed?-- Practically the whole of the land in this wheat belt was included. Further south the land has been picked out a bit. Every now and again it becomes necessary to leave out of the survey some land that is no good. So far as the land is available it is surveyed on a face. Here is a subdivision of the Kurrenkutten district, which may serve to illustrate what is being done.

9110. In raising the price of land from 10s. an acre upwards, was any definite plan followed?-- Yes. The wheat land was priced according to the estimated yield per acre, taken in conjunction with its distance from a railway. When the land was surveyed, the surveyor classified it and showed his classification on the sheet in different colours. He gave the distance from a railway and what the land was capable of yielding and then made his recommendations. The cost of survey was included.

9111. Was the land loaded with the cost of works such as roads, railways, water supplies, etc.?-- At one time that was so.

9112. Was any definite amount added to any particular district for these services?-- Not that I know of. At one time we did a lot of road clearing and a well of two may have been sunk. Then, in pricing the land, the Surveyor General would take into consideration the value of those works and spread it over the price of the blocks.

9113. The most unhappy feature of our investigation of the wheat belt has been the continual references to the great losses settlers have sustained owing to the non-construction of railways which was promised by the Government when the land was taken up. In some cases the railway lines were definitely marked on the plans. Can you make any statement covering the department's defence?-- I do not think you can blame the Lands Department for that. The practice was that when it was decided to construct a railway, we showed the route of that proposed railway on the plan. Sometimes an alteration was made on the route. I do not know of any case where we showed the route of a proposed railway, and which railway was never built. The construction of railways has often been delayed.

9114. Take the case of the Ballidu settlers. They told us that a railway was indicated on the plans and that it was never built. That default has done settlement in the State more harm than anything else we have seen?-- It was moved to the westward.

9115. Then there is the question of the Kondinin-Merredin railway. The settlers along the route of that line told us that the railway was definitely promised by the Government?-- That line is being built now.

9116. You say that the Lands Department were simply acting under instructions?-- We showed the railway route on the plan.

9117. Where did you get the instructions?-- I do not remember any definite instructions on the subject. It was the practice of the Department. We got our information from the Works Department. You can understand of course, that that is a matter with which the Surveyor General, or the Chief Draughtsman, would be more familiar.

9118. The Surveyor General seems to be in the joke, too?-- The Surveyor General is responsible for what appears on the plans, though, in saying that, I do not desire to remove responsibility from my shoulders and place it on his. Unfortunately, the Surveyor General who had all to do with these plans has passed on. In issuing plans we were also anxious to put on them as much information as possible. Now, of course, we are very much more careful.

9119. What relief does your latest legislation extend to those who have taken up country under conditions which they consider unsuitable; can they apply to the department to bring their land under the terms of the Act lately passed?-- They can apply for a reduction in the price. In the Act of 1915 that was made to apply only to a certain date, but in the Act passed last session that has been removed. There is nothing now to prevent any holder applying for a reduction of the price of his land.

9120. Does the Act provide any relief for the settlers who have taken up morrel land in the eastern wheat belt?-- If it is proved that the land has been excessively priced we have the power to reduce it.

9121. By Mr. PAYNTER: Is there any provision for settlers, who are unable to pay rent, to have protection from the imposition of fines?-- The Minister now has power to relieve anyone from the payment of rent up to five years.

9122. By the CHAIRMAN: Would you say that the big demand for land in 1909 was the cause of the advance in prices?-- I do not think that was altogether the cause. It had been talked of for some time. At about that time we adopted the practice of classifying and pricing it according to the quality.

9123. What is the department's annual revenue from the South-Western Division?-- I have not the figures for that division. The total revenue of the department last financial year was £336,475. I can let you have the other figures.

9124. What are the arrears for the South-Western Division?-- To the 31st March, we had outstanding, on account of C.P. lands, £212,888. This total is for the State. The accountant anticipates that by the end of June the amount will be reduced by £60,000. It is the policy of the department to protect any man who puts up any sort of a case. I expect that we have on our books a lot of hold-