Six hundred and sixty ewes lambing fed for five weeks cost, say, 1s. per head, the details being— 162 bags chaff, 5½ tons at 30s. = £8 5s. 0d. 56 bags bran, 224 bushels at £3 10s. = £7 14s. 0d. 46 bags of oats at 6s. = £13 16s. 0d. Total = £29 15s. 0d.

Three hundred and thirty ewes lambing fed for five weeks cost 7d. per head, the details being— 71 bags chaff, 2½ tons = £3 15s. 0d. 16 bags bran, 64 bushels = £2 5s. 0d. 12 bags oats at 6s. = £3 12s. 0d. 3 bags wheat at 9s. = £1 7s. 0d. Total = £10 19s. 0d.

They were in a 500 acre paddock. The ewes sometimes left the lambs at the feeders, but I got a 92 per cent. return. If export markets can be found, we can turn oats and chaff to much better advantage by feeding than by selling it at £3 10s. per ton. The best lamb for the export market is the Shropshire and Romney Marsh and Border Leicester cross. The stock marketing facilities at the other end are fairly satisfactory, notwithstanding the quality of the yards. In regard to the wheat pool, I think it is in the interests of the farmers generally that it should be continued. The trouble is to find a way to stack the wheat. At present it is a terrible expense. The men employed are paid 16s. a day for a couple of hours work. The way the stacks are neglected is disgraceful. I think the deferred payment for the wheat is really good for the farmers so long as he knows what he is to get in the end. I have about 1,200 acres under crop. I generally fallow 200 or 300 acres.

9659. You spoke of political interference with the farming industry. Do you mean that the land policy of the State has never been continuous? —That is what I mean. Each new Government produces a new policy. It would be better if the land policy of the State were controlled by a permanent board free from political influence. We never see anything of the Commissioner for the Wheat Belt. It would be better if he came among the farmers more often than he does.

(The Witness Retired.)

Newton Phillips Burges, Farmer, Burges Siding, sworn and examined:

9660. To Mr Clarkson: I have been farming all my life. I hold 6,340 acres of which 5,000 is first class. I generally crop 1,100 acres, 800 of it being fallow. The fallow is more reliable than other methods. My average yield under normal conditions is 17 bushels. The cost of cropping is 36s. for wheat including everything but interest and depreciation. I do not think wheat growing by itself can be made profitable. One must have sheep also. Cultivation is not sufficient to keep down the weeds in a year like this.

9661. To Mr Paynter: My highest yield was 20 bushels, which I got both in 1912 and in 1913.

9662. To Mr Venn: The sheep carrying capacity of improved land in this district is about one sheep to the acre. Over the whole 12 months I could carry 3,000 sheep on my 6,340 acres. I do very little dairying. I think dairying could be carried out here for a few months but not all the year round. I have tried artificial grasses but they failed. I think we shall have to look for a new market for our lambs.

9663. To Mr Clarkson: The wheat pool should be continued, but under the management of the farmers themselves. The principle is all right but I do not think it is well carried out. The railway rates are very high on small lots. One can send four tons for the same price as two tons. I think the agricultural experts should let the farmers know what kinds of manures to use for the different classes of land.

(The Witness Retired.)

James Henry Ovens, Farmer, York, sworn and examined:

9664 To Mr Clarkson: I have been farming here since 1902. I hold 1,707 acres. I have cleared 600 acres and have cropped up to 375 acres. I have not found much difference between the fallowed and the unfallowed land. I do my own work, using a 4-furrow plough with six horses. I think, perhaps, the average farmer could reduce his costs by using the biggest machines the land lends itself to, especially in view of present labour conditions. To pay expenses i must have a yield of 12 bushels at 10s. per bag. I do not think wheat growing alone can be made to pay. I carry 300 sheep. I have some very light country on my block and some of it is infested with poison. I am gradually getting rid of the poison.

9665. To Mr Venn: I think dairying can be carried on successfully in this district. I have had experience of creameries in the Kyabram district, Victoria. I have not followed dairying here as yet, because there is no local market for the product. Cows could be tided over the dry period of the year here by feeding them on oats and bran. At the present price a butter factory nor a creamery would pay in this district. To warrant the erection of a factory there should be 500 or 600 cows milking in the district. The first thing to do would be to provide facilities for conveying the cream to the nearest butter factory.

(The Witness Retired.)

Matthew Ryan, Farmer, York, sworn and examined:

9666. To Mr Clarkson: I had been farming here 28 years before I retired. I started on 40 acres with a capital of about £100. I gradually increased my area until I had 4,000 acres. I cleared 800 acres. The biggest acreage I cropped was 400. I found fallowing indispensable. In the old days a man would require 15 bushels to pay expenses. I used to get 40 by cross ploughing. The great trouble in this State is that men put in their crops anyhow. I used to plough as deep as seven inches on good soil.

9667. To Mr Paynter: The smaller yields of today I ascribe to the want of good farming. In a year like this a man should cultivate twice to keep down the dandelions. Sheep are required to keep