—kept on the plain country, for certain seasons of the year with advantage, and without any injury occuring, but if kept there for only lengthy period the system becomes weakened, and they become diseased.

12046. The impression obtains that rickets cannot be cured at all? -Animals can be made stronger, that is, those affected with the zamia palm, but they will not effect complete recovery.

12047. Is any further investigation proceeding in regard to rickets which occur at such places as Gingin and Dandarragan? -This, of course, is the same trouble due to the same cause. Take, for instance, some of the apparently fertile land at Gingin and Dandarragan. The country is more suitable for cattle than for sheep industry. At both places we get a very prolific growth of natural feed during the season. There is some land in those districts-red gum country for instance-which analysis proves to be quite below the standard. Where there are limestone out crops plants may obtain necessary nutrition, but red gum country in particular is deficient in lime salts. Evidently nature has supplied a wash or ocvering in ancient times over this limestone country, and this deposit of soil has evidently been deficient in lime.

12048. Can nothing be done to remedy these deficiencies in salts? -Certainly. You only have to supply sufficient salts, and as time goes on and cultivation increase, the land will improve and the trouble will disappear. There are certain areas of land which are difficult to cultivate, and on these lands it would be a considerable time before the necessary fertility is imparted.

12049. By the Chairman: Is any suggestion made of the diary herds of the State? -Yes, a regular inspection is made in all the metropolitan and suburban districts and on the goldfields, and quite recently an inspection was made in the Bridgetown district, where matters were found to b very satisfactory. Tuberculosis was more or less rife in the metropolitan area a good few years ago, for the simple reason that we were importing large quantities of dairy cattle from the Eastern States, and if there were germs in the imported animals, the shipping and altered conditions to those obtaining in the Eastern States made the animal more liable to develop the trouble. This has been to some extent obviated for the reason that we have been breeding our own dairy cattle. Consequently the trouble is lessening.

12050. What action is taken with condemned animals? -Where animals are visibly affected, they are immediately isolated and sent to the abattoirs for slaughter. A test is made of suspected animals, and if any react they are dried off and also sent for slaughter, and an inspection is also made by the health officers.

12051. How does the health of stock in this State compare with the Eastern States? -As a matter of fact we are practically immune from infectious diseases here. We receive weekly reports from the Stock Departments in the Eastern States as to any outbreaks of infectious diseases there, and in each one, with the exception of Tasmania, pleuro-pneumonia is prevalent. We have been free from this disease for a considerable number of years in this particular part of the State, and there is none in the State now, unless in a latent form amongst cattle on the coastline in East kimberly. Again, so far as swine fever is concerned, this disease is present in the Eastern States, while we have been free of it for some considerable time. Taking Western Australia as a whole, we have less trouble from infectious diseases than any part of the Commonwealth.

12052. By Mr Paynter: What assistance do you give to settlers in regard to trouble amongst their stock?—We have veterinary officers who are available to visit districts when their services are applied for by, say, any organisation, or body of farms, and these officers inspect the herds, give demonstrations in the handling of stock, and in the event of any outbreak of disease occurring in a district, an officer is immediately dispatched to investigate and effect remedial measures. Unfortunately, our veterinary staff is depleted at the present time on account of some men going to the war, and we are working shorthanded until they return, but we are doing our utmost to carry out the work and comply with the applications received from settlers.

12053. In addition to this, do you provide medicines for stock?—No.

(The Witness Retired.)

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Patrick Hennessy, Assistant Supervisor of Clearing, Department of Agriculture, sworn and examined:

12054. By the Chairman: How many tree pulling plants are owned by the State?—Nine.

12055. What is the present state of repair?—Four of the engines are in first class order, and these have been constructed specially for tree pulling operations by Messrs Fowler and Co., of Leeds. There is another engine, an old one, which can be placed in order with slight repairs, and again another is used for scrub rolling or ploughing. This, however, is not in order. There are five engines suitable for clearing and one suitable for scrub rolling, and the remainder are not fit for the work. These latter are 30 years old. They cost a good deal to keep in repair. The department obtained them for £40 each, and i doubt now if the boiler inspector would give a certificate for them.

12056. Are these five plants available for us by the public? -Yes.

12057. On what terms?—at 18s per hour. That is the cost during actual working time. The settler is required to cart water, which is equivalent to two trips per day. That is, 160 gallons of water, which will see the engine through for the day.

12058. By the Chairman: Are any of the plants at work today?—There is one at the present time employed in the Margaret River railway, and, due to the shortage of funds, after pulling 19 miles out of 31 miles, and getting it ready for burning, the engines were knocked off. Now i only have one plant working in the Margaret River district pulling dead timber.

12059. Is the department in receipt of applications for the remaining plant?—The trouble is this; In the past we were doing work for settlers on terms, up to 10 years according to the amount of work re-