are an expensive crop to pick, especially in the face of the rates of wages we are now called upon to pay. So far as I am concerned. I have been fortunate up till now in having labour supplied by my own family. Lately some of the boys have gone to the war.

10628. To Mr. VENN: I am unable to give you particulars of the value of the produce sent away from this station, but I can assure you it is increasing very considerably of late. I think 30,000 cases of fruit were sent away from here last year.

10629. By Mr. VENN: You consider that the small holdings here are more profitable?—Yes. There is one man here, Mr. Stevens, working 30 acres. He has done remarkably well.

10630. To Mr. PAYNTER: Irrigation is not practised much here. There is sufficient natural moisture in the soil. The orchards are clean and very free from disease. The pear slug has been in evidence the last few years, but it is not very bad.

10631. By Mr. VENN: Are there any large properties which could be purchased for repatriation purposes?—Yes. Mr. Trigwell has 2,600 acres, all of which could be brought under cultivation. It adjoins the township of Boyanup and has several stations and sidings en route. This is a piece of land that could be very well improved. The non-cultivation of such areas keeps the district back. I consider it good for close settlement. There is no Government land available in the district except very poor stuff.

(The witness retired.)

THOMAS JOSEPH WILKINSON, Farmer, Boyanup, sworn and examined:

10632. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been established in this district nearly 16 years. I was brought up on the land in Victoria. I hold 460 acres, 160 of this is freehold and the balance conditional purchase, from 5 to 16 years paid. The price runs from 10s., 15s., and 21s. per acre. It is from 4 to 6 miles from a railway station. The land is situated at Joshua Brook. I have 369 acres fenced, 98 acres acres have been cleared and ploughed. The balance is not ringbarked. I am a married man with two children. I consider my home and buildings are good. I carry 60 sheep, five cows, three horses and 10 pigs. I started with £500 capital. I had to borrow from the Agricultural Bank and owe them about £500. I have nine acres of orchard and about two acres under potatoes. The orchard is planted with apples, oranges, peaches, pears, plums, apricots, and quinces. I am satisfied that I can make good here.

10633. To Mr. VENN: I consider my property is best adapted to the cultivation of fruit and for running sheep. It is not a dairying proposition at the present time. I do not intend to go in for dairying, as I consider the sheep and orchard more satisfactory. So far the orchard has not paid me. It has reached the bearing stage but for the last two seasons the prices realised have not been satisfactory. Being four miles from the railway, it takes half a day to go in and out, on account of the state of the roads. My country verges on the jarrah and red gum belt. There is no land available for selection in my vicinity unless the Government are prepared to repurchase some land further out. For instance, Bushers, Ramsays, Garvey, Cleary, and others have 7,000 acres which would be satisfactory for closer settlement. I consider they could put 23 to 25 settlers on this land. These people are running cattle on this land which, in my opinion, is admirably adapted for intense culture. It is the best land that I know of in the South-West. It is seven miles from here but from 2 1/2 miles from Donnybrook. Boyanup is not likely to go ahead unless this land is repurchased. One thing I should like to place before you is that assistance is required to develop this portion of the South-West in the direction of obtaining explosives for clearing the land. A case of explosives now costs 70s. at Boyanup. I was on the Norseman goldfields eight or nine years ago and there we were supplied with explosives at 36s. 6d. a case. No doubt this increased priced is due to the war, but something might be done perhaps to enable us to get it cheaper. The slow progress in the South-West is undoubtedly due to the high cost of clearing, and anything that the Government can do to lower this will tend towards increased development. Tractors are not altogether satisfactory as in pulling the trees they bring the subsoil to the surface. Explosives, on the other hand, benefit the land by opening it up. In regard to the blocks surveyed for selection, I would suggest that the Government fix the price of the poor land in the holdings at a nominal rental only. The first class land, in the first place, is dear at 10s. and the other is dear at a gift. I consider that a nominal price should be placed on the worthless land included in the surverys. I have one block of 55 acres for which I am paying 21s. per acre. You could not grow a turnip on 22 acres of it; it is ironstone boulders.

(The witness retired.)

MARK JOSEPH HAYES, Farmer and Timber Hewer, Boyanup, sworn and examined:

10634. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been in this district six years. I was at Holyoake prior to this as a timber worker. I originally came from Victoria. I have 13 acres of freehold land one mile from the railway line, six acres are cleared and cultivated and the other is all down and ready for burning. It is fenced and I have a camp and a shed on it. I have no plant or stock but I get my work done by neighbouring farmers. I started with £70 capital. I spend most of my time timber hewing and cultivate my land between times. I took it up really with the idea of experimenting and going in for a larger proposition later on. I have grown potatoes, onions, and pumpkins. When the war is finished I think I shall take up a larger area of land.

10635. To Mr. VENN: There are settlers in this locality making a good living on small areas. These are people with swamp land who go in for potatoes in the summer time. I consider the occupation of the small surburban blocks has been of great benefit to the township, although, since the war started, prices of the stuff produced have been too low to permit of any profit being made. I was asked by my neighbours to give you some