9745. Why is it that the people in the district cannot, as you say, pay axle grease on the railways constructed? -Bad seasons and the want of population. A line to Lake Grace has been constructed. But there are only a handful of people there, although there is a large area of land available and suitable for settlement. Many of the men originally in the district have gone to war. The invigoration of the immigration policy is of enormous importance to the State. We have the land, if only we had the men to cultivate it. My harvesting last year showed a good profit, even though I had to pay a high price for labour. All we require is energetic men on the land and reasonable assistance from the Government in the shape of judicious advances for improvements. The poison land Repricing Board recommended a 50 percent reduction. I got many of the settlers at Cockburn Soak to apply for another reduction. It has now been brought down to 2s. 6d. or 3s. an acre. In some cases, that has already been paid, and consequently the settlers will be able now to get their freehold. I am convinced that the poison land is not worth more than 1s. an acre. It had no unimproved value to the State. Some surveyors have told me that their instructions were to recommended increased prices for land. Land at Lake Grace has been valued at 25s.

(The Witness Retired.)

Ernest Henry Absolon, Surveyor and Orchardist, Wagin, sworn and examined:

9746. To Mr Clarkson: My evidence will be mainly in connection with my experience as a Lands Department surveyor. I consider the position the State is in is due to the fact that the State has not realised the amount of money required to develop agriculture, consequently the money borrowed has not been used for the purpose intended. I advocate concentration on the area already opened up. We have nearly two million acres of land surveyed, but not thrown open. The area at Lake Grace (indicated) was surveyed in 1912. All subdivision was stopped in 1912. The land was actually reserved in 1909. We built that railway to Lake Grace and only today are the areas being subdivided. This area (indicated) was thrown open last July without a single bank advance being shown on the plan. In 1912 the same area would have shown on the plan advances of from £200 to £300. There were many applicants for the blocks in 1912. Today, so far as I am aware, there is not a single applicant. To a large extent the State itself has been responsible for holding back settlement, by neglecting to throw open certain areas and provide funds for their development. At Lake Grace alone there would have been at least 70 settlers who, ere this, would have had the place well developed. I think all the settlers out there will make good. I am satisfied about the rainfall. There is a good deal of unused land along the railway between here and Lake Grace. I have not valued anything out there higher than 18s. In my opinion those blocks were held up because their selection meant more money from the Agricultural Bank. I do not think there is any danger of salt rising in that country when the timber is cleared. I would not advise any man to clear any samphire or salt bush flat. Lukins ran some stock out there, but the water in their dam was a bit salty and they did not make a success of it. My horse would not look at salt bush for some time, but afterwards they took it up. Under the old 66 clause one could take up a pastoral lease with the right of selection. Today there is no such right of selection. In my opinion that change was brought about for a similar reason; it was a question of revenue. If we want the land settled within 12½ miles of all railways the State could give preemptive rights. It applies especially to areas more than 12½ miles away from a railway. We have Lake Magenta. The development of that land is not likely within the next 15 years. Is it reasonable to let that land be all reserved and lie idle without a provision enabling a man to go out there and select it? By granting this preemptive right at the rate of, say, 10s. per thousand, the land could be selected, and the selector could effect any improvements he wishes. In the event of a railway coming along, the Government at any time could give six months notice of resumption, and the selector would then have his right to select his improvements. It would enable a man to concentrate his improvements on 1,000 acres and graze the balance. I would not apply that to all lands. Today I am paying more in taxation than I paid in land rents 21 years ago. In other words, I am taxed more today to hold my land than I was 21 years ago. There is no such thing as freehold. The preemptive rights system is halfway between so called freehold and perpetual leasehold. I would not advocate perpetual lease, because it would bring us up against all the banking institutions. However, I am in favour of optional perpetual lease. In the subdivision of lands on the chess board system, a great mistake has been made. It is simply spoiling blocks. For revenue we should look to the railways and not to the land. When first we came down we could not get from the Surveyor General anything definite in regard to prices. At least Hartung and myself were instructed to confer. We adopted 25s. as the maximum. In appearance that land (indicated) is equal to anything at £2 in the Midland concessions. There has been no unity in the valuing of the Crown lands in various districts. Roughly, there are 200,000 acres of salt bush country at Lake Grace within 50 miles of the railway. There are about two million acres of surveyed land available for settlement today along existing lines. I would suggest the immediate re-opening of the State Land Agency in Melbourne. As much as five hundred weight of butter per week has been brought into this town. I would advocate the establishment of one central factory, and of a number of creameries. At present we are sending butter to Bunbury. This is a better district for grass than is the South-West. I figure it out this way: in the South-West one has to spend £20 an acre for 40 acres; thus one gets 40 acres of cleared land for £800. In this district, for the same money, one would get 800 acres of cleared land, and I contend that one will get more grass off that 800 acres here than he will of his 40 acres in the South-West. The carrying all through the summer is merely a question of ensilage. The State would be justified in subsidising the erection of butter factories pound for pound. If we had a butter factory on the Great Southern the cream would come from both directions. The Government might carry the cream free in order to induce settlers to stock up. The State would be justified in giving