cient. Another thing: when I came here the bank insisted on ring fencing and ringbarking, but fortunately they have now done away with this practice. Meantime, however, people have been ruined. If settlers had had previous experience they would never have done this. I consider that not more than 160 acres should be fenced to commence with. And I would not ringbark more than 100 acres. Land for growing potatoes and hay for our own use needs to be only partly cleared. Then after improvement in this manner the country could be put under grass. I consider the Government should assist by the establishment of experimental plots in the district. In London they advised me that expert advice would be available. No one has ever assisted me in this direction, and I consider the Agricultural Department have been very lax. I should like to see experimental plots established under Government supervision, adjacent to the town and on settlers' own blocks. We are losing hundreds of pounds every year in doing the wrong thing. In concluding, I should like to impress upon you the necessity for farmers being able to obtain more cheap lime.

(The witness retired). ————————

JOHN WILLIAM WARD, Langroyd Farm, Manjimup, sworn and examined:

10967. To Mr. PAYNTER: I do not wish to occupy much of the Commission's time with details, but there are one or two things I should like to mention. I left England six years ago, and on the 1st August, 1912, I came down here. I was an experienced dairy farmer in the old country, and I intend to go into that industry here. When I had a certain amount of land cleared and a certain number of cattle, I found that I could pay my own way. I found, however, that owing to protection in this country, we had to buy all our farming implements, etc., in the dearest market, and had to sell in one of the cheapest markets in the world. I have two sons and three daughters. Immediately a man goes on to his land he has to commence paying his rents. This is serious handicap, and I think it should be relieved. It is not the land or the man who is at fault. The land is certainly good. I have grown swedes here as big as my head, and lovely crops of oats. I have grown beautiful mangolds. I started with £500 and am progressing satisfactorily, but I consider that unless the fiscal policy can be altered production will be hampered very considerably. I should also like to say that I believe any repatriation scheme contemplated in this district would be a failure. I agree that something should be done for the soldiers, I myself have one son at the Front; he is sending money home for the development of the farm. As I said, I want to go in for dairying, but the price of artificial fodder in this country is impossible. Implements also should be reduced in price by some means or other. I consider also that all dairymen should be registered as we are. I advocate that every man who keeps cows for the sale of butter or milk, should be registered. Those who are registered have to comply with certain conditions which the others do not have to. Thus we are at a disadvantage. (The witness retired).

THOMAS WHEELER, Farmer, Manjimup, sworn and examined:

10968. To Mr. PAYNTER: You have had a great deal of evidence given you and there are only a few matters which I should like to place before you. I consider that it is absolutely necessary that settlers here should be supplied with lime. This country is full of insects and vegetables cannot even be produced on account of the slugs and aphids. I have been 11 years out here. I have 160 acres homestead and 100 C.P. and a further 120 acres at Balbarrup. I intend to go in for dairying and an orchard. I started with £100 capital and I am quite satisfied with my prospects. Besides the lime I should also like to say that I consider manures are too dear and gelignite is almost unobtainable on account of the price.

(The witness retired.) —————————

JOHN WATERFIELD, Farmer, Balbarrup, sworn and examined:

10969. To Mr. PAYNTER: As you has had a very good attendance of witnesses I will not detain the Commission but I should like to say that I consider that the appointment of this Commission is a very good move. It was badly needed. There are certain grievances and difficulties under which farmers have been labouring which I feel sure you will be able to bring to the notice of the Government. In connection with the railway I was in Perth some time ago and purchased a bag of seed and the only way that I could get this seed here was to take it to the parcels room and have it booked to Bunbury where it would arrive the next morning. The evening before I left I "cloaked" the parcel and advised the clerk that I was taking it by passenger train the next morning. He advised me this was not possible and when on the point of catching the train he advised me that I could not carry this 84lb. of seed as luggage. I consider that the railway regulations are all right provided a persons knows them, but information on points like this is very hard to obtain. I had to pay 6s. 6d. to bring that bag of seed down here. I came from Victoria in the first place and I have been 11 years in the district. I am satisfied with my prospects, I intend to go in for dairying and consider this district well adapted for the industry. I think if settlers were assisted to obtain their first cow it would give them an incentive to go in for dairying. Good bulls should be supplied to farmers who would then be induced to persevere in the industry. I find that cows milk well here on the natural grasses.

10970. To Mr. VENN: One cow I had milked 18 months and another 20 months. These two cows gave 940lbs. of butter in that time. They cost me nothing in the matter of feed.

10971. To Mr. PAYNTER: I consider that sufficient feed can be produced on the land all the year round to keep the cows in profit and artificial grasses and crops can be grown all the year round.

(The witness retired.) —————————