10829. By Mr. VENN: Do merinos do well in this district?—Yes, I favour the strong wool merino for this locality. They run fine quickly enough. I have been using Bungaree and Judge Way's rams.

                                                                                     (The witness retired.)

                                                                                             —————

CHARLES THOMPSON, Farmer, Scots Brook, sworn and examined:

10830. I have been 13½ years in this district, and have been farming all my life. I came from Mt. Gambier, in South Australia. I have 740 acres, 200 of which is freehold and the balance conditional purchase. It is classed as first class land at 10s. an acre It is 10 miles from Boyup Brook. It is all fenced, 240 acres cleared, and all of the cleared land has been under the plough. I have necessary buildings, home, and three-quarters of an acre under orchard. I have sufficient plant, and carry about 300 sheep, five cattle, nine horses. I use my cleared land for grazing mostly, and grow only 50 acres of crop. I started with £250 capital, and consider my position satisfactory to-day. I am making a good living, and am quite satisfied with future prospects.

10831. What class of sheep do you go in for?—I favour the cross-bred sheep, though I go in for fattening principally. I believe in using good rams, although my flock is a mixed lot. The sheep that I have are sufficient for the carrying capacity of my land. I hand feed them for about two months in either March, April, or May with oaten chaff. I give the sheep about 80lbs. of chaff per day for each hundred sheep. Sometimes I plant rape.

10832. By MR. VENN: Are the settlers in your locality making good?—Yes. Members of the community in my immediate neighbourhood are making a living.

                                                                                             (The witness retired.)

                                                                                                    —————

FRED TYRELL KNAPP, Farmer, North Land, Boyup Brook, sworn and examined:

10833. I have been on my place for six years. I had no previous experience in farming. I was a soldier, and before that was employed at clerical work in England. I have 1,150 acres. It is conditional purchase, three miles from the railway station. It is all fenced, and 90 acres fit for the plough. I have the necessary buildings, and 10 acres of orchard planted with export varieties of apples and pears.

10834. By Mr. PAYNTER: Do you consider the district a good one?—Yes, I have great faith in the district.

10835. You have the necessary plant I presume?—Yes, I have a full working plant, 300 sheep, five horses, four head of cattle. I and my three brothers started with approximately £1,000 capital, and at the commencement of our labours we went out and obtained work. My orchard is young yet, and my income is from the sheep. I run the merino cross-bred, and am satisfied with them.

10836. By Mr. VENN: Do you consider development is proceeding satisfactorily here?—The old settlers do not seem to take up more land but the new settlers from England are doing a lot of development.

10837. To Mr. PAYNTER: Settlers here require cheap lime very badly. Superphosphate is too acid. I think also cool storage should be provided for sheep, fruit, and other side lines. I consider it would help the farmers very much too if our legislators showed more sympathy to the pioneer settlers. We are not getting anything like the treatment that America gives to her settlers. We came out here after being told in the Agent General's office that we could each get a homestead farm. We were induced however to select out of Mr. Steers's grazing lease and the homestead farm was not given. As soon as this grazing lease term expired I consider that we should have been given the homestead farms.

                                                                                   (The witness retired.)

                                                                                            —————

FRANK MASLIN, Farmer, Boyup Brook, sworn and examined:

10838. I have been 18 years in this district. I have had no previous farming experience. I have 1,800 acres, of which 460 acres are freehold and the balance C.P. The classification is all first class with the exception of one block. I am paying 10s. an acre for the land. It is 16 miles from the railway, all fenced and 150 acres fit for the plough. I have the necessary buildings and have planted two acres of orchard for my own use. I shear 900 sheep, have 10 head of horses, three head of cattle and two pigs. I rely on mixed farming. The crops I grow I use mostly for feed.

10839. What class of sheep have you?—I favour the cross-bred English Leicester and merino. These do satisfactorily in my district. The percentage of lambs is good and the weight of the fleece from these sheep equals 7½ lbs. I landed in Western Australia with £400. I was new to the country and in two years I only had £100 left. I went on to the Agricultural Bank and since then I have done well. I am very satisfied with my position and future prospects. The sheep have accounted for my success. I did a lot of dam sinking and fencing before I could get a start. One thing I should like to draw your attention to and that is the large areas of poor land in the district which could be utilised if the Government would let us take it up on a reasonable basis. It is useless country except to a man who adjoins it and he would take it up and improve it if the terms were reasonable, say a nominal rental. This country would only carry a sheep to 20 acres but it is a good standby and a change for the sheep. It also rests one's paddocks. It would only be good for about two months of the year but the result in benefit to my good land would be very marked. The carrying capacity of my land (1,800 acres) is 650 sheep.

10840. To Mr. VENN: I do not consider this is a dairying district. It is more suitable for sheep and fruit. Too much capital is required for the conservation of water for irrigation and stock supplies. There are a few favoured spots where no doubt dairying could be carried on successfully.

10841. What are the roads like in your locality?—The roads are good in this district as a whole. As a matter of fact we have very little to complain of.