THURSDAY, 14th JUNE, 1917. (At Narrogin)

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

ARTHURLYNN WADDELL, Farmer, Narrogin, sworn and examined:

9722. to Mr. CLARKSON: I have been farming here for eight years. I had four years' previous experience in Wimmera, at Donald, Victoria. I think this district compares favourably with the district I came from. The principal difference is in the capital value of the land. Where I came from that capital value was £8 10s., while here it is £2. From my point of view this is a better investment. I hold 2,800 acres. I am working 4,000 additional. We have 4,000 cleared and we crop about one third of that.All that we crop is fallow. We are troubled with weeds but the sheep get the benefit of them. My idea of cropping is to grow feed for the sheep. I feed the crop heavily. Out of my crop I get over 10s. per acre feeding value for the sheep, oats being better than wheat. I favour a four-farrow plough as against a six-furrow. One man will not work eight horses. apart from labour we would get work in proportion out of bigger machinery, but I think five or six horses sufficient for a man to look after. A man working four furrows is better contented than if he were working six. We cultivate fallow when it is necessary on account of weeds. I prefer to cultivate just before seeding. I usually cultivate only once. Our highest average in eight years has been 18 bushels of wheat. The normal average is about 12. Of oats the normal average would be 20 bushels. I should say the normal average for the district would be about 10 bushels. In regard to bulk handling, I think the bags should not be emptied until they reach the port. I do not think the tariff affects the farmer detrimentally. Even if the duty were taken off I do not think the farmer would be allowed to get the advantage. The price of duplicate parts of machinery is exorbitant.

9723. to Mr. PAYNTER: I favour the continuance of the wheat pool, but I think the management should be improved. Our present land laws are satisfactory. There is no land available in this district. I bought a partially improved place.

9724. To Mr. VENN: The district is fairly good sheep country both east and west. The sheep carrying capacity of improved land is about 2½ acres to a sheep. The western part of the district is better for sheep while the eastern country is better for wheat. The poorer country west is better than the poorer country east. I do no dairying here. This is a dairying district for about six months in the year.

9725. To Mr. CLARKSON: I think the railway freights and facilities fairly satisfactory.

9726. by Mr. CLARKSON: have you any suggestions to make for the betterment of the farming industry or the furtherance of land settlement? —No, I think the question of success lies in the class of man on the land.

( The witness retired.)

THOMAS MEAD HALLETT, Farmer, Narrogin, sworn and examined:

9727. To Mr CLARKSON: I have been farming here 14 years. I am on the east side. I hold 1,200 acres. I run 600 sheep, 10 horses, and three cows. I have 1,000 acres cleared and I crop 400 acres of which 250 are in cereals, the balance being sheep feed. Practically all of the 250 acres is in fallow. Fallow is necessary to give us the quantity. Land ploughed in May and put straight in is just as good as fallow. My average yield of wheat is not more than eight bushels, and of oats 16 bushels. I consider I have to get 10 bushels at 10s. per bag to pay expenses. I do not grow wheat commercially but for stock. The feeding value of my crop is about 30s. per acre when I give it entirely to the sheep. I do not feed off anything I wish to strip unless the season is very favourable. I have a bulk grain shed. I have not given consideration to the bulk handling scheme for the state. I think the tariff is a great burden on the farmer. Farming implements should come in free of duty. The price of duplicate parts is extortionate. I think the railway freights are reasonable on truck loads but somewhat excessive on small lots. Facilities at the sidings are reasonably good.

9728. To Mr. PAYNTER: I do not think the present land laws calculated to encourage people to take up land. Any man who is prepared to carry out improvements should be given his land free for the first 20 years. It is criminal to charge a settler rent from the out set while the land is wholly unproductive. It takes a lifetime to build up a farm.

9729. To Mr. VENN I can carry 600 sheep all the year round on my property with the assistance of hand-feeding. I have 100 pigs. We have a newly established bacon factory in the district. I sent the first batch of 20 pigs there today. There is no profit in wheat growing alone. I got 7d. for my pigs last year. I would not go in for pigs if the price came below 6d. I think dairying would pay this district.

9730. To Mr. PAYNTER: I hand-feed sheep in March and April; three months at most. We just throw down the oats on clay land. I do not use mangers. We put the hay in little stacks and the sheep feed themselves. There is a little waste, but not much. This is a good stock country, especially for sheep. I find the drier the summer