(Extract from Government Gazette of 15th September, 1916. )

ROYAL COMMISSION

WESTERN AUSTRALIA, TO WIT, HARRY BARRON, Governor, [L.S.] } By His Excellency Major-General Sir Harry Barron, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Governor in and over the State of Western Australia and its Dependencies, in the Commonwealth of Australia.

To John Owen Giles, Esq., Frank Evans Venn, Esq., Henry Harold Paynter, Esq., and Barnard Lionel Clarkson, Esq.

Greeting: WHEREAS it is desirable that a Royal Commission should be appointed to inquire into and report upon the position generally of the Farming Industry in Western Australia, the improvement of the conditions under which such industry is carried on, and the methods necessary to insure such improvement; the extension of the industry with the view to increase in production to the fullest possible extent, with recommendations as to further settlement of the lands in the South-Western Division of the said State, such inquiry to include marketing facilities, manufacturers, including bacon-curing, butter-making, jams and preserves, for home consumption and export; and special attention being directed to the area necessary for successful operations by wheat farmers and the possibility of carrying stock-cattle, sheep and pigs, and to intense culture in the wetter parts of the State, including dairying, stock-raising, and other branches of the industry; inquiry being also made on general lines into schemes for the assistance of farmers under the provisions of the Agricultural Bank Act and the Industries Assistance Act: Now therefore I, the said Major-General Sir Harry Barron, Governor as aforesaid, do hereby appoint you the said John Owen Giles, Frank Evans Venn, Henry Harold Paynter, and Barnard Lionel Clarkson a Royal Commission to inquire into and advise on the matters aforesaid; And I do hereby desire and request that you do, as soon as the same can be conveniently done (using all due diligence), report to me in writing your proceedings in virtue of this Commission; And I do appoint you the said John Owen Giles to be Chairman of the said Commission.

Given at Perth, this 13th day of September, 1916.

By Command, (Sgd.) JAMES MITCHELL, Minister for Industries.

GOD SAVE THE KING ! ! !