scheme. It would, of course, have to be a pipe scheme. In regard to the Harvey River, this also lends it self to irrigation, but I do not consider the present scheme is a success. It should have been laid down in wooden pipes. Further, the matter of doing this should be taken in hand as soon as possible. The department has ridiculed the idea of wooden fluming. I have half a mile of wooden pipes on my place which have been in use for five seasons and they are as good now as the day they were laid down. It cost 2s. per foot to put into the ground. They were manufactured in Sydney. Reverting again to the matter of dairying, the trouble in this industry is to get green fodder for the summer, and in order to get close settlement it will be necessary to employ irrigation. They have a good site at Harvey but the open drain system there will be an everlasting trouble. The water goes where they do not want it and they cannot get it where they do want it. The silt in the channels at Harvey is going to give them endless trouble. The couch will also get into them and I think it is quite possible the couch will even break through cement lining. I pump water into the pipes in my scheme with a 10-h.p. engine and I have wells at the highest point from which I then take the water by gravitation.

10993. To the CHAIRMAN: I can get the water over 10 acres of ground with a quarter of a mile of pipes.

10994. By Mr. VENN: When do you apply water to your potato plots?—If I get a dry season the potatoes will not come up without irrigation. I only water the land before I plant; I do not irrigate after the crop has been sown.

10995. To the CHAIRMAN: I consider that this scheme cost me under £500. I did the labour myself with the assistance of my son.

10996. What is the cost of flooding?—It takes three men one week to flood it properly. We make channels with a mouldboard plough and run the water down these. It costs say £7 10s. for wages and I use 10 cases of kerosene for the engine at say 19s. a case, or a total of 34s. per acre.

10997. To Mr. VENN: I do not find the orchard, taking it all round, profitable. Oranges paid well to commence with but now they are unprofitable. This year, of course, the prices have been good. Last year I got 2s. and 1s. 6d. for peaches, while this year I have god as high has 22s. per case.

10998. What trees did you grub out?—First I grubbed out apples and this year I have taken out apricots and 70 or 80 orange trees. I have turned sheep on to another six acres.

10999. To the CHAIRMAN: In the past oranges have paid me well. I did not plant sufficient of them. The first crop I got I sold at 1s. per dozen, cases found.

11000. By Mr. VENN: What do you consider are the prospects of the fruit growing industry?—I consider the prospects are all right for orchardists, provided they can find a means of using their orchard waste. That is, fruit that is not fit for export. As soon as we can profitably utilise the second grade fruit orcharding will pay. With regard to my orchard, I do not consider that mine is ideal apple country. They should be grown on higher ground. I cannot get the size. Bridgetown grows both better quality and larger quantities.

11001. Have you any knowledge of the Brunswick orchard?—Yes; I have seen some of the orchard at Brunswick. I should not have planted an orchard there. I have grubbed up similar land that was planted in orchard. There is some land along the river that may be considered suitable but, taking it all round, I should not say it was a good proposition.

11002. By the CHAIRMAN: Do you consider the Government is doing all that is possible for the development of the South-West?—My opinion is that there has been too much attention paid to the wheat belt and too little has been paid here. The South-West has been neglected to a great extent. I consider that the South-West is a good field for settlement. Of course there is no denying that there is a large quantity of inferior land, but there is also a lot of excellent country. The country south of Manjimup is excellent. Reverting to the Harvey irrigation scheme; I consider that throughout the South-West pipe schemes are necessary. The diameter of the pipes that I have put down is six inches internal measurement, and I can recommend them to the department or anyone else, after giving them a good trial. I sink them into the ground of course.

11003. By Mr. PAYNTER: Of what wood are they made?—They are made of oregon pine; they are treated against the attacks if white ants. You can get them both for ordinary irrigation and for high pressure service. There is no corrosion as there is with metal pipes.

11004. Do you consider that the railway and shipping facilities are sufficient for the needs of the district?—Under normal conditions the shipping is sufficiently catered for. You can get your stuff direct here from the Eastern States.

11005. By Mr. VENN: Before any big scheme is contemplated for irrigation, do you not think that drainage is necessary?—Yes. No doubt in some parts it is necessary, although I should not like to speak authoritively on this matter.

11006. By the CHAIRMAN: What is the character of the soil that you have irrigated?—There are some sandy patches throughout my land, and when you begin to grade the land the removal of the top soil spoils it for some years. With a pipe scheme this of course is unnecessary. There are peculiarities also; for instance, there are patches where the water will not soak into the ground, but generally speaking it is uniformly porous.

(The witness retired.)

BUNBURY CO-OPERATIVE BUTTER FACTORY.

The Commission visited this factory in company with the Chairman of Directors, Hon, E. M. Clarke, M.L.C. Unfortunately, the manager was absent. Particulars were left with the officer in charge of details required by the Commission in order to ascertain the progress made and the extent to which dairying was carried on in the districts served by the factory.

The building is a substantial one constructed of brick, with iron roof, the floors being of an impervious nature, and in the butter-making room the walls near the floor are tiled. The power plant is a 40-horse power Tangye engine. A Werner ice plant has been installed for the refrigeration of chambers for the storage of the butter, and also for the