WEDNESDAY, 16TH JANUARY, 1918. (At Boyanup.)

WILLIAM JAMES ECCLESTON, Farmer, Boyanup, sworn and examined:

10618. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been in this district 42 years. I hold 56 acres all of which is freehold. It is all cleared, and all of it has been under the plough. I have 32 acres under orchard and the balance is utilised for growing fodder. I have grown very few potatoes; only sufficient as a rule for my own use. I have a good home, and the necessary buildings. I started with no capital at all. I use to go out and work for my neighbours. I have had to borrow money from time to time, but now I am not working on an overdraft. There is a small mortgage on the property only. I have five cows, four horses, and average about three pigs all year round. I planted 20 acres of apples, five of pears, and give acres of stone fruits. I was fortunate in being able to dispose of all of my fruit last season, and the prospects for this year are very good, due mostly to the shortage in stone fruits. This year I only sent away 100 cases, and I obtained as much for these as I did for 1,000 cases last year.

10619. To Mr. VENN: I consider this district admirably adapted to close settlement. A man should have a small acreage and work the whole of it. If he went all in for a small orchard, kept pigs, a few cows and a few sheep, he would do very well. I had 156 acres and was running over 100 sheep all year round. I grew feed for them of course. I consider that a man could make a living on 200 acres in this district, in fact he would do better on 200 than on 500 acres. With a larger area he is bound to neglect a portion of it. Land that was thought to be no good a few years ago has turned out better than that which was considered the best. People are digging as much as five tons of potatoes to the acre on some of this so-called poor land. It is a sandy loam on a clay subsoil. This land was recently selected at 10s. per acre. It was taken up some years ago, but was not improved. I consider that drainage is the main thing for the improvement of this class of country. I am of opinion that a good drainage scheme would do more good than anything else here. The country holds the moisture all the summer. I believe that dairying is on the increase. Nearly everyone now is keeping a few cows; seven or eight is the average number kept in small holdings. In my opinion the district is a very sound one. Nearly all the settlers are doing well, particularly the ones on the small areas. In regard to fruit evaporation, I consider that if two or three people went in for this on a co-operative basis it would be a success. If the Government undertake it I do not think it will be much good. There is too much running to the Government for all these small undertakings. Farmers would do better if they were more self-reliant. They are progressive people in this district, and the Westralian Farmers are starting a co-operative society here which, I believe, will do a lot of good. I consider that it would be better to get assistance from our own co-operative company than from the Government. Farmers generally appear to be recognising that co-operation is good. One thing I should like to point out is that the district is badly in need of lime. If this could be obtained at a cheap rate there would be a lot more land placed under cultivation. I have used it with great advantage, but to purchase the best lime is very expensive.

10620. To Mr. PAYNTER: Clearing is a heavy item. Some of mine has cost me as much as £20. To clear and plant an orchard costs a man about £70 per acre. That is, to bring the orchard up to the bearing stage.

10621. By Mr. PAYNTER: In planting an orchard at this stage, what varieties would you favour?—I consider that export apples are the line that an orchardist should go in for.

10622. In regard to second-hand fruit cases, do your favour the use of these?—I do not consider them profitable in the first place. At the present time the cost of new cases, however is certainly excessive. We have to pay 6s. 9d. for flats and 10s. 1d. for dumps.

10623. Are you assisted by the Department of Agricultural and its experts?—Yes. I consider the orchard inspection and the help afforded is satisfactory. The orchard tax imposed is necessary, in order to keep the orchards clean and for the necessary inspection. The department has been a means of keeping the codlin moth out of the South-West. It did come here, but they stamped it out in one year.

10624. Have you any complaint to make in regard to transport facilities?—These could certainly be better. Fruit despatched form here is sometimes unduly delayed in Bunbury.

10625. By Mr. VENN: What class of truck do you favour?—I favour the louvred van for the carriage of cruit.

10626. To Mr. PAYNTER: So far as the freight rates are concerned I think these are satisfactory. We have all necessary school facilities, and generally speaking the district is well catered for.

10627. By Mr. PAYNTER: Have you ever tried growing berry fruits?—No. I do not consider that they could be grown satisfactorily. They