in that way. In Victoria a Land Board has been appointed which has power to refuse any particular application for land and to exercise preference over applicants for particular block. Here that is not possible, and if a man is the only applicant for a block of land whether he is suitable or not he must get it. We often know of cases where the man is unsuitable, but we have no option in the circumstance except to give him the land. There might be five or six good men applying for a better block, but we cannot amend the application. We are thus often forced to take an unsuitable settler in place of a good one. In a general way the Minister has power to refuse any application, but this is never done unless there is something radically wrong with the applicant. Section 55 and 56 of the Land Act give the power to which I have referred.

10036. By Mr. CLARKSON: You think someone should have power to refuse an unsuitable man and prevent him going on the land?—I think so. I have advocated that a Land Board should be able to refuse applicants if necessary.

10037. By Mr. VENN: How would that affect the immigration policy?—Before people leave England they should be advised that a certain amount of capital is needed to settle on the land. Men often come out here with hazy ideas of what they want. A man may have no experience and a very small capital, which the moment he lands here has to be drawn upon for living expenses. We try to persuade such a man to take on some form of farm work for a certain time to get accustomed to the operations of farming, but in most cases he will not do this.

10038. What examination do immigrants undergo before they leave England?—Practically none so long as they furnish their deposits and have good health. They are of course supposed to have been connected with farming in some way or another. If we were allowed to do so we should pick out the men who would be most likely to make a success on the land. A man who is used to climate might with a small capital make a success, but in all probability a new arrival would not do so.

10039. By Mr. PAYNTER: Would it not be an advantage to have ready made farms for new arrivals?—I think every man with a capital of less than £300 should be made to learn farming before taking up land, in order to ascertain whether he was suitable for the work.

10040. Do you think that as field officer you have a better scope for your special knowledge and energies than you now have?—As field officer one is instructing the farmer on the land and travelling about lecturing. I hold diplomas and have had an agricultural education. When I finished my course I was selected to fill a position under the New South Wales Government.

10041. By Mr. CLARKSON: Do you think that the best means of distributing agricultural knowledge amongst the people is for experts to visit them and discuss farming problems with them?—That is the only way to give them any real help. One cannot do too much towards educating the man on the land. As soon as the Agricultural Commissioners were appointed here my work in connection with agricultural matter ceased. Lectures to the farmers should be followed up by practical demonstrations. To give a lecture at night and to go away by the morning train is of very little use to the farmers. The lecturer, to obtain the best results from his lecture, should at least put in a week in the locality and talk to the people on their own farms.

10042. The department just stopped short?—In New South Wales there is an inspector of agriculture for each district. These are college men and are stationed at certain distances from each other and have to travel throughout their districts. They are amongst the people all the time and have no office work to do. They organise competitions and arrange experimental plots, and are available all the time.

10043. What steps are taken to distribute the literature compiled?—Every settler who has his application for land approved obtains a copy of the hand book, which, of the department's publications, is the most suitable for the man on the land. The other publications, is the most suitable for the man on the land. The other publications have to do with taking up land and are for the purpose of advertising the State.

10044. How long has that handbook been in existence?—I was appointed to edit it in 1909. The agricultural department issues pamphlets for the guidance of the settler on stock and other matters, but it is necessary to apply for these to receive them. The agricultural journal was discontinued in 1911. It was a very useful publication and well up to the standard of the best of its kind in Australia. In New South Wales they spend £7,000 a year on their agricultural journal and employ a staff of artists and other people connected with it. Before a man goes on the land he needs advice, but should be followed up with further advice and assistance after getting on the land. The custom of allowing unsuitable persons to go on to the land is one of the contributing causes to the suffering amongst the farming community. People without money should not be encouraged to go on the land.

10045. By Mr. PAYNTER: What capital should a man have, in your opinion, say, for 1,000 acres of land for wheat and sheep?—I generally advocated not less than £300, but much depends on the individual.

10046. By Mr. CLARKSON: The most beneficial thing to do for the industry would be to devise a "grading machine" which would not permit of a man, who was unsuitable, going upon the land?—That would be one of the best steps we could take if we could ensure that every man appeared before a land board or some other board for examination before being allowed to select a block. The Victorian Act provides that power, and it is exercised pretty strictly. The Land Board in Victoria consists of a permanent chairman and members nominated as they are nominated here. I should like the members of the Commission to pay a visit to my office, where they will see exhibits of various products of the State. I consider that this office should be in a more prominent position; it should be in a public thoroughfare and should have a front window, so that people should have no difficulty in finding us, as they experience at the present time.

10047. Have you had any experience of poison land, and if so what do you consider should be the maximum price for a seriously affected poison holding?—I have had experience in the Narrogin district. I consider that it is worth as little as a man can give for it, but, on the other hand, we have to look at the question of State revenue. A man who takes up poison land deserves all he can get. I would not,