TUESDAY, 22ND JANUARY, 1918. (at Bunbury.)

Present: J. O. Giles, Esq., Chairman. H. H. Paynter, Esq. | F. E. Venn, Esq.

EPHRAIM MAYO CLARKE, M.L.C., Mixed Farmer and Potato Grower, Bunbury, sworn and examined:

10981. To the CHAIRMAN: I have spent all my life in Western Australia and have been in the Bunbury district 44 years. I have about 700 acres of land which is all freehold. The property adjoins the railway, and is divided by the Collie River. It is all cleared with the exception of about 200 acres of jarrah country. It is well equipped with fairly good buildings. All of my cleared land has been under the plough. There were 70 acres of orchard but I grubbed out a lot of it. At the present time I have about 60 acres. It is planted with mixed varieties. About half is of oranges and the balance apples, peaches, and pears. I also grow potatoes both summer and winter crops. I am not planting 24 acres which I irrigate and on the other side of my property I have 10 to 12 acres which I also devote to potatoes. I have had as much as 60 acres under potatoes at one time. I have all the necessary plant for working the land. I carry all the year round 400 sheep. Last year I sheared 700 sheep and in addition I had three head of cattle and 16 to 18 horses. I do not keep pigs. My land is devoted to grazing, orchard, and potato growing. This year I shall have about 34 acres of potatoes in.

10982-3-4-5. What area of land do you consider it is necessary for a settler to have in this district?—I consider that on good country in the South-West a settler, in order to establish himself well, and be able to run a few stock, should have from 400 to 500 acres of mixed land.

10986. To Mr. VENN: I was the first person to commence growing potatoes in the summer on the river flats, and this has been a big thing for the district.

10987. What do you consider the most favoured districts for the production of potatoes?—I consider that Burekup and Roelands are the biggest potato growing centres of the State. So far as my land is concerned, this year, on account of the exceptional rainfall, it was practically all under water, but as soon as it was firm enough it was ploughed up 10in. with a disc plough, then harrowed and rolled, then ploughed again, and subsequently the crop was ploughed in. Formerly we use to call this the swamp crop and it was not considered that potatoes could be grown in the summer. The potatoes produced on this land are of a better quality than the real swamp crop.

10988. What varieties of potatoes do you favour?—I consider the Delaware most profitable. I think, however, that the seed has been running out for the simple reason that we breed backwards; this is due to bad selection of seeds. This year I am using all my own seed. I prefer, as a rule, to grow my own.

10989. Do you consider it would be a good idea for the Government to establish a seed potato farm, where they could import varieties, establish them and distribute to farmers?—I do not. I might mention that a fault seed is not due to the seed being contaminated by others. Innoculation can only occur when the seed is raised form the potato berry. Where you have potatoes like the Delaware that producers big tubers fit for sale, the trouble has been that people only keep their small potatoes for seed, which are often from poor roots and the returns are consequently bad. In regard to this future, unless we can get £7 per ton, potato growing will not pay. I use anything from 11 to 14cwt. of seed to the acre; it depends on the size of the seed. I irrigate the land every year before planting. I consider that we have been planting too closely altogether. The proper distance, in my opinion is 27ins. in the rows and 15 ins. apart.

10990. Have you gone in for dairying at all?—Yes. I have done some dairying in this district. I consider that the South-West is very well adapted to this industry. I am chairman of directors of the Bunbury butter factory. I would suggest that you get in touch with the manager and obtain full information from him with respect to the operations of that concern. With regard to dairying in the karri country, I consider that that is going to be the Gippsland of Western Australia. I have not been to Gippsland, but from all the information I have received this is so. I feel sure that the dairying industry is going to be one that will pull this State out of difficulty.

10991. By Mr. PAYNTER: What is your experience in the matter of labour?—I consider that labour is going to prove a considerable difficulty. A man with a large family will do better than those who employ labour. The largest cheque from the factory I have seen for any one man, for one month, was £70, and he, I know, is paying for some of his labour.

10992. Has any consideration been given to comprehensive irrigation schemes from the rivers in the South?—The only scheme established so far is that at Harvey. Nothing has been done on the Collie River. Some years ago we induced the Government to take an interest in the Collie River irrigation scheme. The site for the proposed dam is 250ft. above Bunbury, and I consider that the surrounding country lends itself admirably to the