The investigation deals with a bewildering variety of subjects, the complete investigation of which would have taken years to accomplish. Actuated by motives of economy and by the impossibility of sparing so much time from out personal affairs, the examination has been as brief as possible consistently with the relative importance of the subjects. The first consideration was to establish the safe boundary of the grain-growing areas, which, with the co-operation of the late Surveyor General, has been placed upon record.

In order of merit, a thorough examination of the Wheat Belt was conducted, and a special trip was made to South Australia, to compare their conditions with ours. We have placed upon record that the Wheat Belt, as now occupied, is well adapted to the growth of wheat, and the introduction of mixed farming, but that the maladministration of Government departments throughout its history has been deplorable, and a pronounced hindrance to its development.

We have investigated the supply of water to farmers from the Goldfields Water Scheme, and after inquiry in the other States, have pronounced it impossible for farmers to pay more than 2s. 6d. per 1,000 gallons for water for stock purposes. We have also declared that under no circumstances can poor country, such as sand plain, pay a rate of 4d. per acre. Our recommendations for specific reductions having been passed over by the Government, we take this opportunity of warning the administration, that its policy in this respect is unsound, and that no community can pay for an article more than that article is worth.

After a close study of the land legislation in this and other States, we have recommended in our previous report the adaptation of much more liberal forms of land tenure than those at present in existence.

After a unique opportunity of studying the results and operations of the Department of Agriculture, and comparing notes with Victoria and South Australia, we hold the opinion that it is under political management, an ineffective factor; and that to promote the interests of agriculture it is imperative that it should be removed from political control and placed under business management.

We have been able to review a large field of the operations of the Agricultural Bank, which we have also declared must be removed from political control and placed under business management. The country cannot stand the amount of money which must be written off finally, as a result of its previous policy. At the same time, we feel that it should be the function of a State Bank to advance in new districts.

We found that the Industries Assistance Board had been unable to exhibit either efficiency or economy in dealing with the crisis of 1914, and are of opinion that its operations should be terminated as early as possible by a gradual but enforced transfer of the accounts to the Agricultural Bank or other financial institutions. We place upon record our opinion that the policy of making the Industries Board a clearing house for other Government Departments and of continuously increasing its responsibilities is unsound, and will defer the evil day when its accounts must finally be put in order.

We find that the policy of liberal State advances to settle without sufficient security has been a failure, and that such a system tending, as it does, to pauperise instead of to encourage the settler, leads him to rely more and more upon State assistance, and tends to destroy his initiative. For the encouragement of those cultural and practical methods necessary to improve the farmers' position—especially in this State, with its large proportion of settlers who are not trained farmers—we advocate the United States' system of direct visits and instruction on the farms. The patchy nature of our country and the difficulty of promoting close settlement, call for determined effort to fully settle and to bring into production all the land along existing railways. We urge that no more agricultural railways shall be built until this policy has been fully carried into effect.

As the first step of improving the condition of our farmers in the Grain Belt, we urge that the country should be protected by vermin-fencing the railway lines to assist clearing the dogs out of the country, and by fencing the dams in the rabbit infested country to keep down the rabbits with as little reliance as possible on poison. Both these steps are necessary before it will be possible for stock to be successfully introduced into the country. And we consider the opportunity of obtaining stock at the right time, wherever the men are prepared with fencing and water, to be vital to the success of our settlers.

The prime difficulty ahead of our settlers in all parts of the State alike, is the shortage of trained agricultural labour, and the outlook in this respect is alarming. Production in every field of effort is declining. Not only is further clearing an impossibility, but, as the cultivated area shrinks, the retreating ploughs are followed by the scrubs peculiar to the country, which are again taking possession.

An infant community like ours cannot hold so large a territory without hands to work it. We have prescribed immigration as the obvious remedy, but behind that question again lies the further query as to whether the White Australia policy itself can hold this country. Unless immigration on a large scale can be definitely expected, the introduction of indentured coolie labour to undertake the menial work associated with agriculture, which Australians will not undertake, will be forced upon us if we, in this State, at all events, are to meet our responsibilities.

The only other means by which we can hold the land with little or no labour will be the introduction of stock amongst the farmers. The State has some 20,000,000 acres already alienated with the agricultural boundaries, which should be capable of carrying 5,000,000 sheep within the next ten years. The