whole of the Commonwealth. By far the larger portion of the land included in this scheme is first class what soil, being a rich red to chocolate, friable loam, with a clay sun-soil. The land is easily and cheaply worked, and, after the timber has been killed, grows the most nutritious native grasses, on which as fine merino wool an lamb can be raised as are grown in any other part of Australia, in fact, all classes of stock. With regard to the productivity of this land, it may be mentioned that the record yields of wheat and hay for the state have been obtained by farmers on the Company's land identical with the block now being offered. This season the enormous yield (for Australia) of 44 bushels of wheat per acre was stripped by one of the Company's settlers; and a umber of crops yielded as high as 35 bushels per acre, while over 3½ tons to the acre of wheaten and oaten hay was cut. When it is realises that the cost of putting in and taking of a 20-bushel crop in Australia is only approximately 30s. per acre it is an easy calculation to arrive at the handsome net profit which a farmer enjoy on, say, a 25 to 30-bushel crop. Finally, hardly a block is farther then five miles from the railway, while some actually adjoin the line; the price is pounds per acre cheaper than any similar properties could be bought for in Eastern Australia; and with the wonderful rate of land settlement and development and development now going on in Eastern Australia, the buyer has the certainly of benefiting by the unearned increment, as well as from the profits on his farm. On page 13 you will find a photograph showing a portion of Captions Farley's farm. Captain Farley took up a block from the Company 12 months ago, and last December, off 210 acres, he averaged 26 bushels per acre. This is very convincing evidence of the fertility of the Company's land and also what is possible with the right kind of man, even though he lacks experience. If there is any further information you require, I shall be very pleased to forward same. Captain Farley is an ardent member of our association. He is on the Industries Assistance Board today. Nearly all our members are on the Industries Assistance Board. The Industries Assistance Board has the security on the crop by permission of the Midland Company. We would be satisfied with our land if we had it on Government conditions, and if you could represent our case to the Government, I am sure they would do something on our behalf. In our experience the farms are too small. A man should have no less than 1,000 acres.

(The witness retired.)

John Bowman, Farmer, Carnamah, sworn and examined:

9614. To Mr. PAYNTER: I hold 2,200 acres. I had no previous experience in Western Australia but I was brought up on a farm in Scotland. My land is four miles north of Carnamah and about four miles from the railway. It is Midland land. I bought it in Scotland, where I took one of the farms and 500 acres additional. After being here six months, I bought three more ready-made farms. My numbers are 950 (with 500 acres additional), 926, 927, and 928. About 1,850 acres is fully cleared. Each farm is equipped. I paid on an average £5 per acre for the land; the payments extend over 20 years with a 5 ½ per cent. interest on the unpaid principal. I have no fallow as yet. I have 50 horses and £3,000 worth of plant and machinery. I have a 45-horsepower tractor. In my first year I averaged 21 bushels, last year it was only 12 bushels. It was put in very late. I averaged eight bags for 450 acres put in earlier. The year before last I used 70lbs of super. Last year I used 60lbs., and this year I am using 80lbs. Last year I used 45 lbs. of seed. I am doing the same this year. The proposition is not all that the Company held it up to be, but I think the ground is good value for £5 and granted a normal year and proper methods of cultivation, the ground will turn out at least 20 bushels. I do not think the Company is right in asking the settlers to repay so much capital and charge interest for the first few years. For the first six or seven years the settler ought to be called upon to pay only a nominal sum until the land is really reproductive. My tractor is perfectly satisfactory. I do some contract work for the Midland Company. My tractor pulled 30 furrows to a depth of four inches. It is no good for fallowing, it uses too much power. It would go far to make a contented settlement here if the Midland Company could be prevailed on to give the farmers some consideration during the first few years. The question of the size of the block depends on the man. A man can always get additional land adjoining his block. I think the price of the additional land is a little to high at 15s. and acre 12s.would be more like a fair value. I have no sheep yet. I have no place to put them. One must have something in addition to wheat. I estimate that cost of cropping, including seed, bags, etc., at approximately 30s. For contract ploughing, cultivating, and seeding last year I got 15s. 6d., including carting the seed and pickling the wheat. For harvesting I got from 7s. 6d. to 8s. 6d., with a special price for carting at 8d. a bag all round.

9615. To Mr. VENN: My contracting this year has not paid very well owing to the high cost of labour and living for the men. I am not getting behind. I am just about holding my own at wheat growing. I have not made much by contracting.

(The witness retired.)

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RICHARD ROBERTSON, Farmer, Carnamah, sworn and examined:

9616. To Mr. PAYNTER: I have improved Midland farm. The land was valued unduly high as compared with the Government land. I hold 434 acres. The real value is about £3 10s., whereas I am charged £4 15s. It would be a help if the Company extended the payments over a longer term. My cropping operations have been successful. My yields have been 18 bushels the first year, and 20 bushels this year. I had in 130 acres the first year and 285 acres this year. I like the country and the prospects.

(The witness retired.)