MONDAY,21ST JANUARY, 1918 (At Manjimup.)

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Present: H. H. Paunter. Esq. | F. E. Venn. Esq

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FREDERICK JAMES COEL, Secretary of the Agricultural Society and Secretary of the Warren Roads Board, sworn and examined:

10927. To Mr. PAYNTER: I have been five years in this district. I only own four acres, which is the suburban block, under a 99 years' township lease. I live on one of the blocks, which I am cultivating. I pay 10s per acre for the 99 years' lease. This is for the four years. I only have half an acre under cultivation for vegetables.

10928. By Mr. PAYNTER: Can you speak as to the progress of the district and land settlement generally?—Well, there is a little dairying done here, and I consider that it is going to be a very good district for this industry.

10929. To Mr. VENN: The average size farm is from 100 to 160 aces. There are some up to 400 acres, although this latter amount is too much for a man. Any man with 200 acres is quite enough. In regard to the ringbarking of this class of country, I do not think it wise for a man to ringbark unless he has capital to follow it up.

10930. Are very many potatoes grown here?—Yes; they are grown here to a good extent. The quality of the potato produced is good. The only way to succeed is to put them in every year. Some years there is total loss. The swamp crop was lost last year; there was to much moisture. We had 70in. of rain.

10931. What do you consider the value of the land in this district?—I consider the unimproved value of the land here is on a average 13s. per acre. I am basing this on the roads board rate. The roads board put the value at £2 on unimproved swamp lands; 30s. would be a fair average. A swamp close to town is rated higher, of course. Generally speaking, the swamp lands require draining, otherwise it is almost impossible to crop them.

10932. To Mr PAYTNER: Most of the rate-payers are able to pay their rates. The road board does not press settlers for payment of rates. If they cannot pay, and they make application, the board grants the man extension of time.

10933. Have you any suggestions to make to the commission?—It strikes that the old policy of the Agricultural Bank, in insisting on ring fencing, was bad. I consider that the Agricultural Bank should assist men to fence whatever portion of their holding they require to utilise, instead of having to fence the whole of the property. When he has that portion improved which has to be fenced, he should be able to get another advance, to fence in another paddock. It would pay the government better if they had expert gangs of clearers. The government tractor did some clearing here, but this is not the right system of clearing. The engine pulls up too much ground. If the government undertakes to clear and charge the man at cost, I consider it could be reduced from £20 to £10 acre. There are plenty of places abandoned in this district, and besides there is a lot of land available for selection. The Agricultural Bank system of advancing on this country has been faulty. In regard to the sugar beet industry, I consider that something should be done by the Government to encourage this here. I will read you letters I have written to the department in regard to this matter.(Letters read.) You will observe that samples of sugar beet were sent to the department for analysis in order to ascertain the sugar content, also I went to some length in order to get the fullest particulars possible respecting the industry, with a view of interesting our settlers here and ultimately establishing a factory, which would be of immense value, combined with fruit preserving. I asked the percentage of sugar per ton in beet of this quality; the quality of the sugar produced; how it compared with other beet sugars of the world, and how it compared with cane sugar; the tonnage required each season to warrant the establishment of a small factory; the approximate cost of such a factory, including machinery, and any other information available. What I received in answer, you will observe, was the result of analysis carried out by the Government Analyst with the following comment by that officer :— You will see that this beet does not contain a high percentage of sugar. It is possible that the percentage of sugar in the beet was originally somewhat lower than that shown, as the sugar content is naturally altered by variation in the moisture content and some of the natural moisture of the beet may have been lost before it reached my hands. This was sent under cover of a letter wherein it was hoped the information would be of some use to us. I think you will agree that the information received unfortunately does not go far enough. Apparently the department is not in a position, or at any rate not inclined to give us further information in regard to the matter. It should be able to tell us in what manner sugar contents of the beet could be improved, also the other information asked for should be available. I intend, of course, to prosecute the matter further, and am convinced that there are great possibilities for the district who are carrying out cultural tests. Another thing, I should like information from the Maffra mill in Victoria. This mill is returning a profit. I consider that it would be