TUESDAY, 5th JUNE, 1917.

(At Moora.)

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Present: H.H. Paynter, Esq. (in the Chair), F.E. Venn, Esq.

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PERCY DOUGLAS FERGUSON, Farmer, of Moora, sworn and examined:

9595. To Mr. PAYNTER: I have been 18 years in the district. I had no previous experience of farming. I came here practically from school. I hold 1,700 acres of land, of which 1,400 is first class; the rest practically sandplain. It adjoins the railway. It is all fenced, and 1,400 acres cleared. There is a brick house, wood and iron stable, a barn and a shed. I have replies to the questions you forwarded me:—No. 2.—In addition to my own land I have been working 1,500 acres for a brother at the Front. No. 3.—Salmon Gum, York, and Jam country. No. 4.— 1,400 acres at 10s, 300 at 10s. 6d., all freehold. No. 6.—Brick house, timber and iron stables; (b) 18 paddocks, some wire-netted, some 6 wires; (c) five excavated tanks, three pools, and two wells (d) 1,400 acres. No. 7.—Average 18 years, 380acres. No. 8.—Approximately 40s. per acre, including interest. No. 9.—(a) 11 bushels; (b) very little grown. No. 10.—(a) £900; (b) £200; (c) £150. No. 11.—About two-thirds fallow, as large a portion as possible cultivated before harvest. If we get a summer rain it is done again. It is all cultivated again before seeding. If rough it is rolled before seeding. Most of the fallow has to be rolled; the balance of the land cropped is ploughed during the summer or after the first rain. No. 12.—Machinery £400, stock £1,000. No. 13.—600 sheep, 30 horses, 6 cattle, 10 pigs. No.14.—600 sheep. No. 15.—Quarter of an acre. No. 16, 17, 18, 19.—No. No. 20.—3.

I have here a statement showing the rainfall and crop averages for the last 18 years :—

Year. .. .. Rainfall. inches. .. Area. acres. .. Wheat Av'age. bushels. .. Hay Av'age. cwt.

1899 .. .. 14 .. 110 .. 7 .. 15

1900 .. .. 18½ .. 110 .. 12 .. 20

1901 .. .. 14½ .. 120 .. 12 .. 20

1902 .. .. 10 .. 150 .. 14 .. 30

1903 .. .. 22½ .. 220 .. 19 .. 40

1904 .. .. 22¾ .. 230 .. 21 .. 30

1905 .. .. 19 .. 200 .. 19 .. 30

1906 .. .. 20½ .. 240 .. 21 .. 35

1907 .. .. 21¾ .. 300 .. 17 .. 30

1908 .. .. 16¾ .. 300 .. 23 .. 50

1909 .. .. 21 .. 450 .. 16 .. 30

1910 .. .. 22 .. 550 .. 16 .. 30

1911 .. .. 12½ .. 540 .. 13 .. 25

1912 .. .. 16 .. 350 .. 17 .. 40

1913 .. .. 18½ .. 470 .. 16 .. 25

1914 .. .. 8½ .. 400 .. 7 .. 8

1915 .. .. 22½ .. 1,200 .. 7 .. 30

1916 .. .. 18½ .. 900 .. 7 .. 20

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Average for 18 years .. 17 .. 380 .. 15 .. 28

In 1899 no fertiliser of any sort was used. In 1900 and 1901 one cwt. of bonedust to the acre was broadcasted with the seed. From 1902 to 1916 a drill and super. were used and in my opinion account for the increased yields. Super. has been tried from 40lbs. to 140lbs. per acre. In 1914 drought year crops were only about a foot high, except on light, sandy moist country. In 1915 rust and blight very bad, and crops that looked like yielding up to 30 bushels per acre were hardly worth harvesting. In this season there was tremendous growth of straw, which accounts for those returns for hay being so much greater then those for grain.

In 1916 there was an exceptionally dry September, and on 1st October it looked as though the crops would be a failure, but subsequent rains saved them. I have been satisfied with my proposition until the last three years, since when it is impossible to make a living. The railways freights are very high. The railways never lose an opportunity of imposing demurrage and the difference in freight between the actual load and the capacity of the truck. Again, land has depreciated in value 30 per cent. since the unimproved value was fixed by the State Land Tax Department. I have asked for a reduction of 20 per cent., but have been refused. In respect to the stock sales at Midland Junction, we are docked two per cent. for the condemnation of carcases, yet I find that .64 percent. is the actual condemnation. They have reduced the charges to 1½ per cent., but refuse to go any farther. Even though no pigs are condemned, the producer must lose that 1½ per cent.

9596. To Mr. VENN: The Government settlers in this district were all making a living until they took up a lot of Midland land at unduly high prices. The Government terms are far more liberal than those of the Midland Company. When we selected the highest Government price was 10s., whereas Midland land was sold as high as £3 6s. per acre in our district, unimproved except for a small portion of fencing. Interest and instalments falling together make it very hard for the Midland settler.

9597. To Mr. PAYNTER: I do no think there is much to complain of in the Government charges, but we might have more sympathetic treatment from the Government, as, for instance, in taxation matters. I estimate the improved value of my farm in normal times at £4 per acre. I had practically no capital when I selected eight years ago. I bought the place from my father at £4,000, and my liabilities to-day are £4,000. I have made very few improvements. I am within half a mile of a siding. The reason why farming cannot be made to pay here is the highest cost of labour, bags etc.