Mallee - Part 1

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measurement, and when they sent it from Perth without packing it, of course it cost a lot. If packed, it would come for a quarter of the price. However, the freight has been reduced now, as you will see by the schedule. Agricultural implements and machinery are carried either by measurement or weight, whichever is the higher. Through cargo from Fremantle by the State steamer is 35s. 6d. per ton. Not much chaff has come to Esperance from Albany by the State steamer this year, merely a few tons. Last year there was a considerable quantity. When Mr Middleton was here I knew him pretty well. The other day I saw two of his plans. You can procure one at the Mines Water Supply Department. I have a copy of his report at my house. I have not seen published the table of analyses or plans showing whence he took his samples. He told me that, although he had everything carefully numbered, they lost the samples and suppressed his plans in Perth. Mr Smith, a surveyor, told me the other day that he had two of Mr Middleton's plans. Mr Smith is in Hopetoun to-day.

421. What did Mr Middleton mean by telling you they had suppressed his plans?—I have no idea.

422. Was he not paid by the Government to make the classifications and secure the samples?—Yes, and I understood from him that they would not recognise him. He told me he had 150 samples of soil up there.

423. Are the plans which Mr Smith has the same as the one you have?—I do not know. Mr Middleton did not tell me how many different plans he had. He told me he had made an exhaustive report and marked on the plan where the soil samples were taken from.

424. You have no particular experience in regard to the cultivation of land and the growing of crops?—I am growing vegetables in fairly large quantities.

425. Do you think the farming industry can be carried on at a profit in the mallee?—Yes, if worked properly. I lived in the mallee in Victoria for a good many years and I know what the mallee will produce if properly worked. I was one of the first at Beulah, Victoria, when it was all virgin soil, in a rainfall of 12 inches. The mallee here is similar to that of Victoria with the difference that here we have a better rainfall. At Beulah they grow all wheat. They get fine crops but I cannot state the yields.

426. By Mr McDONALD: What was their water supply in the early days?—Wells of fresh water.

427. By Mr PADBURY: Is it your intention to take up land in the mallee country if the railway comes through?—No, I had too much experience before. I have given farming best. I have never heard any complaint about the Esperance jetty not being strong enough. In my opinion it is strong enough for the ships that come here but it would not stand large ships. Owing to the swell, no ship over 1,000 tons could lie there and load. The largest weight I have known go along the jetty on trucks is six tons. The engineers do not seem to think the end of the jetty is capable of holding more than 200 tons stacked.

428. BY Mr McDONALD: The engineer thinks the jetty required strengthening?—Yes. I know of piles broken off now. It will require a lot of money now to make the jetty fit for big ships. If the railway were built the jetty would be suitable for all immediate requirements for a while, but not for large ships. Given facilities, this would be one of the largest producing centres in Western Australia. With £1,000 spent on the jetty the structure would do for the next two or three years until the wheat begins to come down in large volumes.

429. By the CHAIRMAN: Is there anything you wish to tell is relating to farming in the district?—Why do not the Government work the superphosphate islands out there? If they were in Fremantle they would be exploited. An expert has told me that there are thousands of tons in sight. If the farmers could get their super at the door it would pay them better than fetching it from Fremantle. It is at Christmas Island, 80 miles from here, towards Israelite Bay. Again, on Figure of Eight Island there are more deposits. The assayer from the Phillips River G.M. Co. made a trip down there and he gave me some of the stone which he brought back. I have none of it left now, having given it all away. Christmas Island belongs to a syndicate in Perth. I do not think there is any salt in the Esperance lands.

(The witness retired.)

The Commission adjourned.