vii.

and marketing of their produce. The Commission, after carefully studying existing difficulties, has no doubt as to the bona fides of the settlers, and considers they are entitled to fair and reasonable consideration. It may not be out of place to mention that practically every eligible young man in the district has enlisted for military service, at least 40 being known to the Chairman of this Commission. Amongst other difficulties under which settlers are labouring, lack of capital has in no small measure been responsible for low results. it is noticeable that many of the settlers are poorly equipped with horses and machinery, inadequate quantities of seed and super have been used, and proper farming methods have not been followed, in most instances because of the expense. The difficulty of obtaining labour is naturally felt in this district as in others, and many of the settlers have had their difficulties accentuated by the loss of help of sons and brothers who have left for active service with the forces. Heavy freights on machinery and super, and high cartage rates, have also proved hindrances to progress. New applications for land.—It may be added that, according to a departmental report, hundreds of applications for land in the district have been refused since the mallee was temporarily closed against selection. Area under cultivation.—Reference has been made to the small areas under cultivation. In explanation, it may be stated that bagged wheat, the product of two seasons ago, is to be seen on many holdings to-day, the high cost of transport making it impossible to market the grain except at a loss. it is, therefore, only wasting time and money to place larger areas under crop in present circumstances.

RAINFALL. According to official records furnished by the Commonwealth Meteorological Bureau, the average annual rainfall at the various centres has been as follows for the period ended 31st December, 1916, except where otherwise stated:— ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Place Period Average Average for District.

                                                                      covered.            Annual             growing period   
                                                                                                Rainfall            (April-October).   

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

                                                                        Years.             Inches.                 Inches.           

Norseman .. .. .. .. .. 20 10•66 7•13 Outside the Mallee. Gilmore's (Lake View) .. .. .. 13 11•16 7•53 Outside the Mallee. Grass Patch .. .. .. .. .. *19 14•12 10•43 Mallee Belt Swan Lagoon .. .. .. .. .. †14 15•70 12•26 Mallee Belt 30-Mile .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 18•36 14•02 Mallee Belt Israelite Bay .. .. .. .. .. 32 14•58 11•00 Esperance Lands. Gibson's Soak .. .. .. .. .. ‡16 21•43 17•30 Esperance Lands. Fanny's Cove .. .. .. .. .. 17 23•21 19•28 Esperance Lands. Dalyup .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 23•22 18•75 Esperance Lands. Esperance .. .. .. .. .. 33 25•22 21•01 Esperance Lands. Boyatup .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 28•05 22•77 Esperance Lands. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Omitting 1905 (records incomplete). † To end of 1911. ‡ to end of 1914—omitting 1912 (records incomplete).

Tables giving full details of monthly falls for many years past will be found in the Appendix. It will be noticed that the rainfall at the various centres during the growing period (April-October) is highly satisfactory. For the purpose of comparison, tables in respect of districts outside Esperance (viz., Merredin, Kellerberrin, and Mullewa) are also appended. A condensed statement is subjoined. _______________________________________________________________________________ District. Period covered. Average Annual Average for

                                                                                                   Rainfall.             growing period
                                                                                                                             (April-October).

________________________________________________________________________________

                                                                Years.                         Inches.                       Inches.

Merredin .. .. .. .. .. 13 11•45 9•33 Kellerberrin .. .. .. .. .. 24 12•35 9•93 Mullewa .. .. .. .. .. 21 12•44 10•31 ________________________________________________________________________________ Further, comparison with mallee districts in South Australia is interesting, vide tables in the Appendix. Following are the annual averages in South Australia mallee counties for the 10 years ended 1915-16:—Albert

                                                         Inches.

Albert .. .. .. .. .. 11•05 Alfred .. .. .. .. .. 11•01 Buccleuch .. .. .. .. 15•59} Traversed by Pinnaroo Railway. Chandos .. .. .. .. .. 14•85} Traversed by Pinnaroo Railway. Daly .. .. .. .. .. 15•23 Dufferin .. .. .. .. .. 11•52 Eyre .. .. .. .. .. 12•97 Ferguson .. .. .. .. 16•90 Hopetoun .. .. .. .. 10•78 Kintore .. .. .. .. .. 11•35 Musgrave .. .. .. .. 16•49 Robinson .. .. .. .. 14•15 Sturt .. .. .. .. .. 15•86 Way .. .. .. .. .. 11•77

Of the 14 centres above mentioned, three have a rainfall average below that of Gilmor's (Lake View); seven below Grass Patch; 11 below Swan Lagoon; and all are below that of 30-Mile (near