the main thing is the railway facilities for the markets. We want them so that a man in the country can consign a truck and have it shunted into the market.

10020. As to facilities?—Yes. If I, as a green-grocer, attend the sale at 7.30 and buy my vegetables I take delivery. At 8.30 I buy my fruit by private treaty, but if I wanted to, I could wait for auction which commences at 10 o'clock. There are certain growers living in Osborne Park who want open markets where they can rent a stand for 1s. and sell their own vegetables, but I am doubtful as to whether it would be successful.

10021. BY Mr VENN: They sell that way in Adelaide?—Yes, but are they satisfied?

10022. BY Mr CLARKSON: What proportion of the vegetables for the metropolitan area come within a radius of 15 miles?—Outside peas and beans, practically all the vegetables for the metropolitan areas come in by road.

10023. Is there any matter which we have not touched on which you wish to bring under our notice or any further suggestion for the good of the industry you wish to make?—No, except to as the Commission to emphasise the position that central markets are urgently needed and should be started as soon as possible.

10024. By Mr VENN: You have a number of deputations waiting on the Government asking for central markets. What is the reason of their not establishing them?—Lack of funds.

(The witness retired.)

PERCY GEORGE WICKEN, Information Officer, Lands Department, sworn and examined:

10025. By Mr CLARKSON: Would you please tell us what your duties are?—My classification is Editor and Information Officer at the present time. I was officer in charge of the Information Branch, but my last classification changed the title. Still I am practically doing the same work. I am supposed to edit all publications and so forth, but primarily the position I was appointed to was to deal with new settlers and advise them as to going on the land. If a new settler came in he was brought to be. If a man applied for land he was dealt with at the counter, but if he did not know what he wanted, he was sent on to me to deal with.

10026. It was only the man who applied for the information who got it? Were any steps taken generally to give information to settlers on taking up land?— All those who came in to see me.

10027. There has been no real attempt made then on the part of the Lands Department to instruct a settler in this direction. A man comes in looking for land and knows what he wants to do, but naturally does not know what is the best part of the State for his business. Has any attempt been made on the part of the Lands Department to direct people as to the part of the State to which his experience could be applied?— A man may come to me and I ascertain his position and advise him where he can get land, and I send him to inspect land. I find out what a man's inclination is and advise him what part of the country to go to. I mark a plan where land is available. We used to give a man a railway return pass to the nearest station. The man inspected the land and if it was suitable he applied for it at the local office.

10028. Would there be an officer in the department to ask every man who applied for land what he wanted it for and to advise him as to the best locality for his particular line of farming?—Every one who came in would be asked such questions. We had four or five officers who would take charge of the would-be settlers, and after ascertaining from them what their ideas were, would, if necessary, refer them to me.

10029. If a man walked into the public counter of the Lands Department and said he wanted 1,000 acres of land at Kumminin, would any officer ask him what he wanted it for and render him any assistance to enable him to decide?—Not in the public room. If a man wanted land in a particular locality, he would be shown the plan of that locality which would give him the price and classification.

10030. By Mr PAYNTER: The applicant only got your assistance when he did not know what he wanted?—Yes. At the same time the new arrivals would probably be brought into me. If a man wanted land in a particular locality and insisted on having it he would not be brought into me.

10031. BY Mr CLARKSON: People have taken up land in localities for which they are not suited and perhaps not made a success there when they might have done so elsewhere?— That kind of thing is often met with. One might spend a lot of time advising a man where to go and what to do, and he would seem to be convinced, but when he got outside he would be got hold of by an agent and be persuaded to do something else. A man appears to be suspicious when we try to put him on the land in a certain locality and to think that we are trying to force him. There are nearly always agents hanging around outside the lands office waiting to get rid of some block of land in which they are interested.

10032. Where did you get your agricultural experience?—I have had 32 years' experience. I went to Hawkesbury College, and was instructor there for a number of years. I organised and started experimental work there. I came to the agricultural department here some 10 years ago and became field officer, being then transferred to the Lands Department.

10033. Why were you transferred?—It was a Ministerial act. This branch was under Mr Ranford, and they decided to transfer it to the Agricultural Department. I was placed in charge on account of my agricultural knowledge, but in 1911 after being run under the Agricultural Department the branch was transferred to the Lands Department.

10034. Do you consider that your agricultural knowledge is of as much use to the State in your present position as when you were a field officer?—Is that for me to say? The Minister of the day transferred me and thought my knowledge was of more use there. With the office in the Agricultural Department it is still necessary to have attached to it a Lands Department official who knows the conditions of land settlement and the various Acts of Parliament appertaining to it. I am now master of all these Acts myself. Whilst under the Agricultural Department I was supplied with all the survey plans.

10035. BY Mr VENN: If, say, a dairy farmer wanted to select land, say, at Wadderin Well would you go to the length of advising him that it was not a suitable locality for him?—We often advise people