Part 8

Page 592
image 57 of 100

This transcription is complete

TUESDAY, 15th MAY, 1917. (At Nyabing.) ______

Present: J.O. Giles, Esq., Chairman, F.E. Venn, Esq., H.H. Paynter, Esq. ______

ERNEST ALFRED GABY, sworn and examined:

9243. To the CHAIRMAN: I came to this district in 1909 and took up land in 1910. I have been farming practically all my life in New Zealand and Tasmania, in dairy farming, potato and root growing. I own 1,300 acres here, of which more than half is first class, 500 acres second class, and the balance worthless. I am paying the Government from10s. to 17s. 6d. per acre. The prices have not been reduced under the re-classification, but I have received some notice in regard to an extension of time. My land is ten miles from the railway siding. I have 600 acres cleared and fenced. My water supply is obtained from dams. I have one of about 1,000 yards. I think the depth is 9ft. this gives me a permanent supply. In addition there is a large Government dam adjoining my property. I am a married man with three children. They are not yet old enough to attend school, which is ten miles away. I have a four-roomed jarrah and iron house; also stables and machinery shed of jarrah, bush timber and iron. I have a full farming plant valued at from £600 to £700, 13 working horses, five head of cattle, 30 to 40 pigs, and about 50 head of poultry. I commenced with about £300 capital. I owe the Agricultural Bank £800, and outside creditors about £430. I am not a client of the Industries Assistance Board. I had 300 acres in crop last year, which averaged 12 bushels of wheat. So far I have received 2s. 6d. from the wheat pool, and have the balance of the dividends to come. The nearest doctor is at Katanning, 42 miles from my home. The Department of Agriculture has only been of assistance by reason of the reports from that Department which have appeared from time to time in the Press. Mr Connor was supposed to have visited here once, but I did not see him. There were cases of distress in the district, a lot of people were living in hessian humpies. There is a family with five children living in a miserable hessian humpy, three miles from me. I must say, however, that these circumstances are very often due to people going on the land without any knowledge of farming; others are physically unfit.

9244. To Mr PAYNTER: I believe in fallowing my land. I vary the quantity of seed and super. Last year I sowed 35lbs. of super, and this year I should like to use more, but my credit is stopped by the merchant supplying. I sow several varieties of wheat, viz., Currawa, Turvey, Avoca, and Baroota Wonder. I favour the use of large implements, and use as big as I can. I am unable to keep sheep owing to the dingoes, and I have not sufficient fencing. In regard to the tariff, I consider it has a bad influence on the farming industry. I have paid more for my machinery than it is worth, due to the tariff and the middleman's profit. Then there are railway freights. I got a small duplicate part from Perth costing 6s., and paid freight 3s. on it. I have had no experience of bulk handling, but should think it would pay. Experts should decide this. I do not consider the land laws are good. the prices are too high. My land is not worth 17s. 6d. per acre. Those that have applied for reductions have received them in such paltry amounts that it is not worth trying. There is not land here worth more than 10s. per acre on its production value. If payment were extended we could perhaps ultimately pay the high price.

9245. To the CHAIRMAN: I consider if I am not harassed by my creditors I can make a success of things, otherwise I cannot. I do not think the Government will press me. Settlement extends east 30 miles from here. Selectors went out that far because they were promised a railway three to four years ago. At the time this railway was opened, Mr Scaddan expressed the opinion that this railway was to go further out. Practically all of the settlers referred to are failures. None of them are paying anything, and all are on the Industries Assistance Board. I have a good deal of mallee country. On the good land worth cropping it is found mixed with other timber. The pure mallee country will not pay. I have had good crops from moort country.

9246. To Mr VEEN: I clear my country at an average of £1 per acre, or up to 30s. for the heavy parts.

9247. To Mr PAYNTER: With wheat at 3s. 6d. per bushel I can make 12 bushels pay after carting 10 miles, and carry on until I can get sheep. Then the profit commences.

9248. To Mr VEEN: This is fairly good grazing country when improved, and the best land would carry a sheep to two acres. During my time, seven years, the rabbits have increased a good deal. I lay poison and have been successful in reducing them. (The witness retired.) ________________

WILLIAM GORDON COOTE, Badgeminnup, sworn and examined:

9249. To the CHAIRMAN: I started here as manager for Mr Charsley in 1908, and took up land in 1909. I had some station experience years ago, and after obtaining first and second certificates at