TUESDAY, 9th APRIL,1918.

(At Perth.)

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

JOHN ROBINSON, Inspector, Lands Department, recalled:

11632. By the CHAIRMAN: Can you give us the cost of the Harvey estate, together with interest and other charges up to date?—I have it here in tabulated form as set out by our accountant.The statement also includes the clearing and rough ploughing done by the Agricultural Department. At that time Messrs. Moody & Connor were running that part of the show for the Agricultural Department, and their work went on up to a certain point. Mr W. D. Johnson when Minister sent me down to look at the work, and I told him it was no good at all. It was stopped shortly afterwards. (Statement handed in.) The original cost was £24,613, and there is interest to be added.

11633. How many acres are in the estate?—Altogether 8,002.

11634. Do I understand that none of this estate bought by the Government has been sold up to date?—Yes,some of the blocks have been selected, but the payments are now being adjusted with the Agricultural Department.All the selectors are returned soldiers. I have here a statement of the names and prices. (Document handed in.)

11635. What is the area of unsold land in this estate still held by the Government, and its value?—The total area selected to date out of 8,002 acres is 428½ acres valued at £4,095, on extended terms.

11636. So that the Government still have on hand 7,574 acres?—Yes; of which 707 acres have already been thrown open for selection, but are not yet selected.Mr. Scott, the irrigation expert, who is in charge of the men at work on the estate, has asked us to hold up the matter for a while, and not to hurry settlers on to the irrigated portion, because there is some trouble as regards getting the drains completed.There is some trouble with the Water Supply Department; I think it is want of money. Every day we have in our office returned soldier applicants anxious to go down to this Harvey estate. But we are told not to send any more just now.

11637. What are the instalments of purchase money in arrears?—There is really nothing in arrears. The matter is being adjusted between the accountant of the Agricultural Department and the accountant of the Lands Department. The money is being paid out of the repatriation funds. The settlers have only just gone down there.

11638. When did the Government buy the estate?—In October, 1913.

11639. Have the Government sold only 428 acres in five years?—They have not been trying to sell it, because it was got ostensibly for the purpose of trying an irrigation scheme. It could have been sold easily, but the Water Supply Department were not ready to have it thrown open. During two years the late Surveyor General repeatedly tried to have the estate, or portion of it, especially the portion near the river, thrown open for settlement.

11640. Four hundred and twenty-eight acres have been sold to returned soldiers?—Yes. All the land on the plan you have before you is gazetted for returned soldiers exclusively.

11641. To what purpose do you devote the unsold area?—To the grazing of stock, and to a small orangery of three and a-half or four acres, which I work.

11642. How many sheep do you run on the grazing portion?—None,except other people's.

11643. Then the area is not devoted to grazing? Yes, it is let at so much per week to various people.

11644. It is a sort of commonage?—I let paddock No. 6 to Logue at so much per month, and another paddock to somebody else. It would never do to put Government stock there. One paddock is let to the Police Department to run mares and foals.

11645. Was the purchase of this estate recommended by the Lands Purchase Board?—No. It was turned down twice by the Lands Purchase Board. I can say that positively, because I was on the board on both occasions.

11646. For what reason was it turned down?—We considered the area of rough country too large in comparison with the area of good or useful country.

11647. So the Government bought the estate in defiance of the opinion of their expert advisers?—They bought it in their wisdom for the purposes of experiment in an irrigation settlement. A great deal of the estate could be sold, except the rough part. Any amount of it could have been sold, but for the hold-up with the Water Supply Department. A lot of it would sell now. Men in the district are now clamouring for the very blocks held back for the soldiers.

11648. By Mr. PAYNTER: Do they consider drainage necessary?—Yes. In this clay pan country,there must be irrigation in the summer and drainage in the winter.

11649. By the CHAIRMAN: What is the area of the blocks being allotted to soldiers?—Between 40 and 50 acres.

11650. By Mr. PAYNTER: How is it thought soldiers will do with blocks of that size? —They are going in for intense culture. McKeen, I understand,