WEDNESDAY, 8th NOVEMBER, 1916.

(At Norseman.)

Present:

Chas. Edward Dempster, Esq. (Chairman). Matthew Thomas Padbury, Esq. | Ranald McDonald, Esq.

RICHARD BENJAMIN JOHNS, aged 47, Storekeeper and General Contractor, Norseman, widower, 1 boy aged 18, sworn and examined:

442. By the CHAIRMAN: Do you own any land in the Esperance district?—Only a garden area at present. I have 40,000 acres of pastoral lease at Cowlynia. I did hold 3,600 acres in Esperance until the last six months for grazing at Binji Binji. I forfeited that. I think I paid three years' rent on it, the price being 6s. 6d. an acre. My reason for forfeiting it was that I saw no chance of making it pay unless there was a railway or something to get rid of the produce. I was reared on a farm as a boy, and first came to Norseman in 1894.

443. Do you remember when the settlement of this mallee land took place?—Yes, I did not take up land in the mallee, but have done a lot of business with the mallee settlers. In fact, I think I have kept half of them. I have supplied them with stores and bought their wheat, pigs, butter, eggs, and anything I could get from them. I have taken over 500 pigs and a lot of wheat from them within the last 12 months. Several of them owe me money at the present time, but I am satisfied that they will be able to pay back the money that they owe. Until recently about £300 was owing to me, but that amount has been reduced. I consider them as fine a lot of settlers as can be found anywhere in the State have always found them to be straight and honest. I think there are only battling along. They have no sale for their products, such as wheat and chaff, but with a railway and market they could get rid of their produce. I am certain they could work their farms successfully if they had railway facilities. I have had a good deal of experience on the land taking up pastoral, grazing land, etc., and I consider the mallee land suitable for growing cereals. I have been going up and down the road for 22 years and have seen some really good crops where the ground has been cultivated and properly worked. I am quite prepared to continue to deal with the mallee farmers and give them credit in the future as I have not known any of them to fail or go insolvent.

444. Would you be prepared to take up land and work it if railway facilities were provided?—Yes, I do not think I should be long without a block if I were sure a railway was going through. I am satisfied with the crops that I have seen growing throughout the district this season and I estimate that they will average about 10 bushels; some of them, no doubt, will go 15 or 16 bushels. Light crops, in my opinion, are due to late sowing not to poor land. I have supplied superphosphate but cannot say what quantity.

445. By Mr. PADBURY: With your experience on the road, is fresh water readily obtained?—Yes, in almost any part of the road between Norseman and Esperance. When you reach the sandy country you get water in soaks almost in any part. I have seen grass come very quickly where the land has been properly farmed.

446. By the CHAIRMAN: Can you mention any place that has responded in that way?—Almost any. For instance, there are Thompson's, Salmon Gums and ground around the sand plain. Directly the land is cultivated the grass seems to come; I have noticed this particularly after a bush fire. The wheat and chaff I have bought have been of good quality.

447. By Mr. PADBURY: What is the furthest distance the settlers have carted in to you?—We have had wheat from Seaddan, 100 miles from here. We have paid them from 3s. 9d. to 4s. a bushel for wheat, that is on the scale from Northam up. We have to do that on account of competition. I have bought wheat and now I am buying pigs to eat the wheat. I am starting a piggery because the settlers owe me money and I have taken their wheat and pigs and given them stores in return.

448. Do you consider a railway running from Esperance 60 miles northwards would serve people at the latter centre?—No, it would be no use to them. The railway should come right through to Norseman. I think the first 60 miles from Norseman to Grasspatch would suit better than from Salmon Gums to Esperance, as they could then tap the goldfields markets.

449. Have any of the settlers produce that they cannot get away or sell?—Yes, a lot of them have wheat stored on the ground from last year, and I think it is depreciating in value. They have weevils to contend with as well as the weather and must be losing money through keeping their wheat.

450. Do you think rabbits are affecting them?—Not at present, but I think before very long something will have to be done in that direction as the rabbits are increasing very quickly. Dogs are very troublesome both to the farmer and stock.

451. By Mr. McDONALD: I suppose you have taken notice of the seasons since you have been in this district?—Yes.