of sheep. Look what they did in South Australia. There, legislators looked ahead and saw what was required, and put in national schemes which are bearing results today. Here, we have not started such schemes. Build up the farming industry and the country will prosper, but the legislation here does not tend that way. They are building up the towns at the expense of the country, and the help given to the country is wrongly applied. I think that such a commission as this should have been started 10 years ago, and the State would have been in a better position. Some time ago we made representations in order to obtain trucking yards. There is a lot of stock sent away from here. We have to take a sheep either to Donnybrook or Mumbulup. The reply received was that we could not have trucking yards, but they would give us a portable yard. This has been put in, but it is no good at all. The whole thing could have been put in for £20 to £25. This is a closely settled district, and there are no trucking yards within 22 miles. There are a lot of sheep in the district.

(The witness retired.)

JOHN JAMES LYONS, Farmer, Queen's Wood, sworn and examined:

10737. To Mr. PAYNTER: I have 487 acres of land, 300 acres freehold and the balance conditional purchase. I use it for fruit growing, dairying, and sheep. I have cleared 50 to 60 acres, all of which is cultivable. I run about 60 head of sheep and four to five cows. I am sending the cream away this year for the first time. This goes to Bunbury factory. I consider we should be able to procure bran and pollard at a cheaper rate. In regard to fruit cases, we had to pay 10s. 2s. a dozen for these, which I consider far too high. Labour here is practically unprocurable. I lost thousands of cases of fruit last year for the want of labour and fruit cases. Boy labour would be suitable, but it could not be obtained. They can pick and pack fruit well as also can women and girls. In regard to railway freights, these only suit the man that can send away full truck loads, but on small consignments it is very high. Lime is another expensive item to maintain. It costs 12s. 6d. a ton from Perth in large lots, but one bag will cost 5s. Another matter I should like to refer to is that owing to the arrangement between the Commonwealth and the State Government the telephone lines which run though our properties cannot be used. I have tried for several years to get direct telephone communication, as we cannot get any advice for 10 years from Perth, and have no idea how the markets are going. The department tells us that we will have to build a line ourselves to within one mile of Donnybrook. There are a dozen settlers who would subscribe if they could get connection. The poles are there, but the department will not let us put a wire on to them. The main thing I wish to draw your attention to is the price of offal. Brand and pollard should be cheaper, otherwise we cannot raise pigs or go in for dairying, although we have the best dairying country in the South-West.

(The witness retired.)

The Commission adjourned.

FRIDAY, 18th JANUARY, 1918. (At Dinninup.)

Present: Messers. Paynter and Venn.

WILLIAM WALTER TRIGWELL, Farmer, Dinninup, sworn and examined:

10738. To Mr. PAYNTER: I have been in this district 14 years. I was on my father's farm at Donnybrook before this. I hold 1,560 acres. Of this 160 acres is homestead farm. It is 15 miles from the railway, all fenced, and 130 acres cleared and a lot more partly cleared. there are about 70 acres under plough. I have the necessary buildings and a homestead. I go in for sheep chiefly. I am too far from the railway siding to grow other produce. I have two acres of orchard. In the first place I found this a very good proposition, but now sheep pay better. I have 210 sheep, 2 cows, 5 horses. I started with no capital, and consider I am in a satisfactory position today. I owe the Agricultural Bank £50. This is all I owe in the property. I am quite satisfied with my future prospects. My father assisted me with fencing, otherwise I have had no help. If a man had 2,000 acres of mixed country in my locality he could make a good living.

10739. To Mr. Venn: I have no poison country. There was a little Heartleaf, but I have got this out. There is poison land out where the Government inspectors were looking for land with the idea of settling soldiers. It is covered with poison, and I think it a shame if they put men there. If a man took this up without payment on improvement clauses, it could be settled and made use of. It would be a chance for people in the district to increase the size of their holdings. It is poor grazing country as a rule. The carrying capacity of my country is about six acres to the sheep. Opinion varies on the matter, but I always like my sheep in