APPENDIX III.

(Referred to in evidence of Mr H. L. Bairstow, Nippering.)

At a public meeting held at Nippering on the 17th February, 1917, the following resolutions were carried, it being considered that these items were the most important, directly affecting the farming industry:—

Firstly.—We consider that the farming industry is paying the country well, but does not pay the individual farmer on account of not getting the fruits of his own labour. Take the wheat pool for instance: We find that the wheat stacks have been so badly looked after that in spite of all the highly paid Government Inspectors, the Receiving Agents have been allowed to waste the wheat and be perfectly safe on account of the increase in weight.

Secondly.—We are not even allowed a representative on the Central Wheat Board, and we consider we are entitled to know exactly what is being done with the produce we grow. The refusal of a representative leads us to believe that it possible we are being cheated.

Thirdly.—We consider that protection is very detrimental to our country for the following reasons:— We have to sell our produce in the open markets of the world and compete against cheap labour, whilst having to import our machinery and farming requisites under a high protective tariff. Also we have to pay too much for superphosphate, and we consider that the Government ought to regulate the profits of the Fertiliser Combines. We would then get same at a payable figure. Machinery.—If we buy a machine or any article that we are bound to have to carry on with, we have to pay 16 per cent. interest. On the other hand when our produce is commandeered and the boot is on the other foot we have to pay interest on our own money. We would also like to draw the Commission's attention to the price of cornsacks this season, with apparently no Government interference.

Fourthly.—We consider that the number of members of Parliament are too many and that thirty would be ample. Also that the salaries of Ministers is three times too high. Also that the salaries of the administrative departmental officers are unreasonably high, and in fact the whole machinery of the Government is altogether out of reason in its cost to the taxpayer.

Fifthly.—Education.—We consider in the line of secondary education matters would be greatly improved. Scholars when leaving school have little chance off getting further education in the country districts, and we consider that the Government should give people in the country the same educational facilities as they do in the cities.

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APPENDIX IV.

ANNUAL CROPPING RETURNS FOR FIVE YEARS ENDING 1916-17. (Referred to in evidence of Mr W. Ackling, Corrigin.) ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Year. Amount Sown. Amount cut for Hay. Amount harvested. Returns. Income. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

                               acres.                         acres.                            acres.                       bags.

1916-17 •• 425 40 385 1,405 3,470 bags sold at expected 1915-16 •• 312 22 290 1,600 average, 3s. 4d. a bushel •• £1,735 1914-15 •• 300 50 250 377 __________ 1913-14 •• 30 •• 30 88 1912-13 •• 30 •• •• ••

                         ________________________________________________________________
                              1,097                            112                                 955                       3,470

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                                                  At per acre—                                                                                                     Liabilities.

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                                                                                                      £     s.     d.

1 bushel seed wheat ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 3 4 60lbs. super ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 2 10 Wages for ploughing 4 acres, 10s. ; 1 acre, 2s. 6d. ... ... 0 2 6 Cultivating, at 10 acres a day (cultivating twice) ... ... 0 2 0 Sowing crop in, 12 acres a day .. ... ... ... ... 0 1 10 Pickle and pickling, 4d. ; carting to field, 1s. 6d. ... ... 0 1 10 Average cropped for 5 years, Oil and breakages ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 0 2 1,097 acres, at a cost of 29/6 Bags for wheat, at 10d. a bag ... ... ... ... ... 0 3 4 per acre ... ... £1,618 1s. 6d. Carting to Railway ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 3 10 ______________ Depreciation on plant, stock, and harness on £750 ... ... 0 3 11 Insurance ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 0 6 Loss on 112 acres for chaff over 3 years, £214 13s. 4d., being at the rate of 11½ bushels to the acre harvested at 3s. 4d. a bushel, charged against same for sowing and working land and harvesting same. ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 3 5

                                                                                               ________________
                                                                                                  £1     9     6

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