WEDNESDAY, 13th FEBRUARY, 1918.

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                                                                                                    (At Pinjarra.)

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

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AXEL ANDERSON, Sunnyside, Pinjarra, sworn and examined.

11263. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been 25 years in this district. I have 220 acres of freehold land, four miles from Pinjarra. I consider that 100 acres of this is first class and the balance second class. It is all fenced, 40 acres cleared, 30 acres have been under plough and seven acres are under citrus orchard and four other varieties of fruit. I have a house of four rooms, the necessary sheds and buildings and implements to work the land. I have to two horses. I started with 7s. 6d. I have borrowed £50 from the Agricultural Bank which I have paid off and have a mortgage of £400 with one of the associated banks. My living is derived from the orchard and poultry. I find I can make a satisfactory living on my holding.

11264. To Mr. VENN: I find that citrus fruits do best. I consider the soil is patchy, but the deep sandy soil is suitable for citrus fruit culture. My trees are 15 years old. There is no sign of dieback. So far as my country is concerned, it is drained by pipes; surface drains are required also. The Public Works Department put a drain down from the old Bunbury Road to the Peel Inlet. The best Coolup area is all honey-combed by Government drains. Some of the drains are 9 or 10 feet wide at the bottom and there are all draining into the sea at Peel's Inlet. I attribute the success of the fruit-growing there to the drainage system. There were no settlers there 25 years ago and those who are there now are holding their own, but they were unable to do this when the water was on the land. Now some of them are doing remarkably well.

11265. Do you practice irrigation?—I do not believe in irrigation for oranges. My land is so situated that I can keep the moisture right through the summer by proper cultivation. If you can do this, I consider that irrigation is detrimental to the trees. The quality of the fruit is better also. Gingin is supposed to be the best orange country, but I have held my own against those growers. People have told me that they have never tasted better oranges than mine.

11266. What is the average yield from 15 year old trees?—Approximately 1½ cases. There are certain oranges that do particularly well here. For instance, the Valencia Late.

11267. Is this good apple country?—No, it is no good for apples, neither is it any good for stone fruit. It is purely citrus country.

11268. Do you find citrus growing profitable?—It would be if we could get anything like a reasonable price. There is no local market, and now there is no export trade. If it had not been for the war we should have had a larger export trade in oranges. I had to sell cases containing 12 to 14 dozen for 2s. in Perth last year.

11269. By Mr. PAYNTER: Would you recommend anyone to establish orchards then?—Yes, I certainly would. In the future the industry will be good. My reason for thinking so is that after the war there will be an influx of population here. Now we have not the people to eat the fruit nor the ships to take it away. When the war is finished, the world's markets will be opened, and I consider that Western Australia will be the king of fruit-growing countries. I have been in Italy and California and I consider our fruit will beat these countries.

11270. What breeds of poultry do you keep?—I breed the white leghorn.

11271. Can you give any idea of the average returns?—Four years ago from 175 birds I made £40 profit. This was after all expenses had been paid. When we had a bad season, and could not obtain feed, I had 500 birds. Then I got on the wrong side of the ledger. If we have to pay 3s. 6d. and 4s. 9d. for wheat, we cannot pay our way. I suppose out of 400 fowls I shall have £30 or £40 profit this year.

11272. Do you consider there is a limit to the number of birds you can keep profitably?—It depends on the distance from market. There is freight to pay on the feed and freight on the produce. There is no chance of our growing our wheat here. This country is only suitable for grazing and fruit growing.

11273. By the CHAIRMAN: Have you attempted to carry sheep?—Yes, and they were a decided success. Unfortunately, I cannot afford to buy them now. I started with 30 ewes, and bought a good ram. I sold my lambs at 8s. 6d. and the wool came to £7 15s. A fire burned me out, and since that time I have been unable to purchase any more. There are certain things I should like to suggest to you for your consideration. With regard to fruit, the Government of the day has appointed a Commission to set the price of flour and other necessities of life, why not fix a price on fruit. If we had a distributing depot where the consumers could get their fruit it could be placed in their hands cheaper than it is at present. Cool storage is required. Now the oranges fetch 30s. a case,