run out. In my opinion it is the greatest drawback the potato growers have, that is not being able to get new varieties of seed. I have been growing potatoes since I was 16 years old and I have found that seed runs out badly. I grow one main crop which is planted in September and then I put in a winter crop. I got very good seed from Mr Frank Venn, who gave me the privilege of going on to his potato land and picking out what I wanted. I obtained 2½ tons of seed from him.

11112. What class of cows are you milking?—I have not got very good cows. There are no good cows available for purchase. I have bought a good bull, but to breed up takes a long time. I think the Jersey cow is the best. I have all cross breeds now and it will take years to bring my herd to a good standard.

11113. Do you find that the Department of Agriculture has been of much help to you?—No, very little.

11114. To the CHAIRMAN: Reverting again to the potato question, I should like to say that I think the Government should try and grow some new varieties of potatoes suitable to the varying soils, these to be produced on their State farms. This would be a great benefit to the industry. The Government butter factory will be a great assistance in developing the dairy industry. The present factory treats us very fairly. We must, however, have better stock and the prices at which they are offering now are prohibitive. Ten years ago I thought I could not grow maize on certain ground, but now experience has taught me differently and I have maize on that same land 7ft. high. I think the Government should endeavour to provide good cows and good bulls to farmers in order to push the industry ahead. I tried to buy cows in Perth some time ago.

11115. You believe in testing your cows?—Yes, I believe in herd testing and I think that the department might help us in this connection also. The farmer would be prepared to pay a small fee to have this done.

(The witness retired.)

PERCY LLEWELYN REYNOLDS, Grazier and Dealer, sworn and examined:

11116. I have been living on the farm for 33 years. I hold 290 acres. This is freehold, which is one mile from the railway station, fenced and 200 acres cleared, about 130 of which have been under the plough. I have the necessary plant and buildings and land, but have no implements. I run about 100 head of cattle and 15 horses, and fatten 225 sheep annually. I devote my land to fattening stock and go in for dairying. Until a few years ago we milked 45 cows and we were selling milk to Macfarlane at 4d. per gallon. We guaranteed Macfarlane to milk 40 cows all the year round if he would guarantee us 6d. per gallon and he would not do it, so we went out of dairying.

11117. To Mr PAYNTER: I could carry the quantity of stock mentioned all the year round, by turning out my horses in the bush country. Mine is particularly good land. A lot of it is a kind of swamp and is not under water in the winter, while in the summer it is moist. It grows clovers and grass well.

11118. To the CHAIRMAN: I cannot say what the value of the land is. It has never been priced. The drainage scheme is necessary. That would do an enormous amount of good. The Government has done nothing for us either in the way of snagging the rivers or drainage to any extent, while in other parts they have done a lot. It only wants small drains and it would not be a costly job.

11119. Do you intent to go in for dairying?—Labour is the only thing which prevents me from going in for dairying. The men you get are not reliable. I have never paid a man less than 9s. a day, and yet I cannot get them to stay with me. My property is part of the Stirling Estate. There are thousands of acres of Government land which could be made available if they were drained. The land grows wonderful crops. Clearing is very light and costs very little. Some Spaniards on this land put in eight acres of potatoes last year and got nine tone to the acre. The country is between Nannup and here but a little south of the road. These men are doing a lot of good in proving the results that can be obtained from this class of country. The price of land is from 7s. 6d. to 12s. 6d. an acre. In regard to drainage I would also remark that a drainage scheme would very much improve the roads. Referring again also to the snagging of the river and drainage, I would instance what has been done in this direction in the Waterloo country.

(The witness retired.)

HARRY GERARD BRAY, Manager, Government Butter Factory, Busselton, sworn and examined:

11120. By the CHAIRMAN: Can you tell us what are your average monthly receipts in lbs. at the factory?—I am sorry I cannot give you it offhand.

11121. Can you furnish us with any figures respecting your operations?—I did not bring any figures with me but shall be glad to supply whatever you require. I have some suggestions here which I should like to lay before you and which I think would be to the benefit of the industry. In the first place, the railway service is inadequate in this district. The cream when it comes in is in an overripe condition and owing to this it is impossible to make first grade butter, and thus pay the farmers the maximum price for their butter fat. We only have three trains per week, and cream comes from the Preston line—Burekup, and even as far as Waroona ; and there is no train to Bunbury say on the Friday and there is no train to Busselton until Saturday afternoon. I reaches the factory at 5p.m. this cream cannot be touched until Monday morning and we cannot, therefore, make first quality butter from it. You cannot get factory hands to work on Sunday. I work myself on Sunday but the men will not do so. I have represented this to the department. Messers. Boan Brothers were paying me 1s. 5d. per lb. until last week, when I sent a bad consignment, and they reduced the price to 1s. 4d. We are still in the old factory and are working under very adverse conditions. We have no cool storage so you will realise that the conditions are very bad. The next matter is the price of milk cans. I consider that it would be advisable to keep the money expended in this direction in the State. The Perth