holdings, and there are others who must go. Most of these failures are in North Ongerup, where it is mostly mallee country. This country was thrown open as first class land. I consider it should not have been thrown open for selection at all.

9291. To Mr. PAYNTER : In regard to the wheat pool, I think it is a very good scheme. It gives farmers an absolute guarantee.

       ( The witness retired )
                
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BENJAMIN GARNETT, farmer, Needilup, sworn and examined :

9292. To Mr. PAYNTER : I have been farming for 40 years in South Australia and here. In South Australia I was at Hawker, Willowie, and Cradock. I have been in this district for four years. Conjointly with my son I have 2,000 acres. Of this there is 1,000 acres first class and the balance of poor mallee country and useless. The first class land is Yate country. I am paying 10s. 6d ., which is far too much. I consider 5s. 3d. would be a fair price. I have 410 acres cleared, and 100 acres down. Four hundred acres is fenced, divided into two paddocks. My water supply is one dam of 850 yards, 8ft. 6in. deep. It is a permanent supply. We have soaks also which take us right through the summer. I am a widower. I have a bat and iron house, no stables, but a machinery shed. I have full farming plant, 11 working horses, and I have just purchased 300 sheep. I also have seven pigs. I hope to put in 300 acres this year. My sons, however, have gone to the war, and I cannot get any men to help me. Seventy acres of this year's sowing is fallow. I plough according to the nature of the soil, and as deep as five to six inches, and fallow afterwards. I also use harrows on my fallow land. I sow from 40lbs. to 60lbs. of seed and 60lbs. of super. My average since I have been here is ten bushels. I find that fallow land is somewhat subject to rust. This year I have an average of 13 bushels, and I cut a little over one ton of hay. The nearest doctor is at Katanning. I had, including plant, £600 when I started. I am on the Agricultural Bank and the Industries Assistance Board have paid my last two year's rent. The liability on my land is £500. Farming at so great a distance from the railway with a ten bushel average is not a payable proportion. The greatest difficulties are the bad roads and the want of a railway. I am 17 miles from Ongerup. Most of the settlers are further away than that. I consider a man should have 2,000 acres, and go in more for grazing than wheat growing. I have put in 50 acres of oats to cut and feed my stock. I consider a man should have 500 acres cleared before purchasing machinery and plant. I consider the land laws are not sufficiently liberal in the outback places. It hampers a man to have to pay rent in the initial stages at a place like Needilup. I consider the Government should almost give us the land to commence with when we are so far away. My boys and I have both earned a good deal at dam sinking. I brought £800 to Western Australia, but I do not think I am worth that now. It would take a 12 bushel crop near the railway at Needilup to pay; without the railway it would take 15 bushels.

9293. To Mr. VENN : After clearing, it is good grazing land. When cleared it will carry from three quarters to one sheep to the acre. The first country I cleared had feed on it two feet high. If we can only get the railway I consider our prospects are good. Without the railway I think I shall try and better my position elsewhere. The rainfall is 16½ inches and we get it in the growing period. This record has been taken for 20 years. The land is difficult to work.

                                                       ( The witness retired.)

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ANTHONY OSWALD ANSTRUTHER WILKINSON, on behalf of Wilkinson Bros. and Allcorne, Farmers, Needilup, sworn and examined :

9294. To Mr. PAYNTER : I was farming for five years in Canada before I came here. I settled here five years ago. Conjointly with my partners I have 2,000 acres, 1,200 acres first class and the balance third class. The first class is heavily timbered with Yate. One thousand acres is 16 ½ miles and the balance 21 miles from the railway. For 1,000 acres we pay 9s. 6d. and the balance 9s. We have 280 acres cleared ; none of it is fenced. We have two dams, one 550 yards and seven feet deep, and the other 1,000 yards and eight feet deep. They are permanent. I am a married man with no children. I have a bush house only, with iron roof. I have no stables or machinery shed. I have a plough, harrow, drill, and binder, six working horses. I have been to the war for the past 18 months and have just returned. Before going to the war I used to get a seven bushel average. Last year the average was 12 bushels. I consider this district is eminently suited for mixed farming. I had experience of bulk handling in Canada and think it would be a great saving to farmers. After the installation there is very little cost in upkeep. Farmers would bring their wheat off the farm in bags and shoot it into the elevator. I submit herewith resolutions come to at a recent conference held, which I was asked to present to you, as follows : -

The very urgent need of extension of railway, as settlers have to cart a distance of 20 to 25 miles. The necessity for giving settlers outlet from their holdings and clearing of the surveyed road running from South to North reserves. That pending the railway being constructed the Needilup - Ongerup road be made up. That the price of land in this district be reduced. That the port of Albany be developed to benefit the Great Southern district. That railway freight on vegetables and fruit be reduced. Deputation invite Commissioners to come out and view the Needilup district.

                                           ( The witness retired. )

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WILLIAM BRADLEY MOORE, farmer, Ongerup,

                     sworn and examined :

9295. To Mr. PAYNTER : I have been farming here for six and a half years. Altogether I have been farming for eight years. I had some experience in South Australia at York's Peninsula. I have 1,198 acres, of which 800 acres is first class ;