625. I presume you are conversant with the rainfall records of the district?— As far as they are known.

626. You must know that the meteorological reports show a better average rainfall there than at Kellerberrin or Merredin?— Yes. But that depends on how far you take the rainfall. You do not know much north of Grass Patch.

627. The rainfall is very good and the fall is in the right periods?— That is another thing which does not seem to be very favourable after all. If the rainfall appears to be a rather good one, and after four years' cropping the best season's average is 5⅔ bushels, it is not a very promising outlook.

628. But that points to another question for consideration, that is different methods of cultivation? — As far as the methods of cultivation are concerned, everyone recognises that in the early stages they are on the rough side. I am safe in saying, from what I saw last year, that the average method of cultivation is as good as the average in the Eastern wheat belt outside the older settlements.

629. It appears that there is something more to learn?— I think there must be.

630. We see much better crops this season?— From what you tell me there must be. Last year the average was low, although there were a few fair crops. one of 14 bushels, a small area of 35 acres, and one of 12 bushels in a comparatively small area. I am speaking of Ottrey, Machen, and Henchman. You can go to any other agricultural settlement, and no matter what the season and their methods of cultivation, you will find a good many crops between 15 and 20 bushels with rough methods of cultivation.

631. You do not find that to be the case in the mallee country in the Eastern States?— I recognise that quit possibly the mallee country is a different proposition. Our experience with mallee country in Western Australia has been unfortunate.

632. Do you consider that there is any other mallee in the State that compares with this as to area and formation generally?— Judging from outside appearances only there is not the least doubt that there is a large belt of fairly even country there.

633. By Mr. PADBURY: Do you know of any that is similar to it in any other part of the State?▬Some of the Ongerup country bears more resemblance to it that any I know of. Our results there have been unfortunate also. A lot of the country which has been thrown open at Ongerup does not look as good as the Esperance mallee, and the results have been very poor indeed. There is no doubt that we have a lot of trouble in all parts of the State with the cultivation of scrub lad, apart altogether from mallee. When good crops have been obtained without cultivation, they have mostly been obtained on the better class of country. A man is generally more inclined to make a loss on this class of country than anything else, but even ordinary scrub land does not give the same trouble that the mallee suckers do. The suckers down there have been giving an enormous amount of trouble, and the settlers have not succeeded in getting a thick enough burn-off to get rid of the scrub. The same sort of thing is found in the wodjil land, which does not grow a sufficiently thick undergrowth of scrub to run a fire over it properly. The result is that the scrub comes up again. In the wodjil country the rainfall is somewhere between 10 and 12 inches.

634. That is probably too low? —Settlers are growing good crops in land adjacent to wodjil country, in the same locality.

634A. Is that on fallowed land? —Very little of it is fallowed. It is surprising to find the small amount of fallowed land in the Eastern wheat belt. We hope to do better next year. it is a very hard thing to start men fallowing, because the suckers get ahead of them, and even on grass country men cannot always afford to run a cultivator over it.

635.By the CHAIRMAN: What is the usual cost of clearing in the eastern district? —It varies from about £1 to 30s. I should say it would average about 25s. an acre, taking it all round, ringing and dealing with green timber. We have had more green timber cleared than rung timber by many thousands of acres in the drier districts.

636. If a rainway was run through the Esperance country, it would be a different proposition. I suppose? —If a rainway a run through we must try and develop the country. There have been cases in which the Agricultural bank has declined to take risks.With the Ravensthorpe settlers it required a guarantee from the Government.

637. Have the advances to the Ravensthorpe settlers panned out all right? —Without the books I cannot say. I think it is a better class of country round Ravensthorpe . The good mallee country there has better soil in appearance than exists in the Espearance mallee. There is only a limited area of about 10,000 to 20.000 areas, and it tails off with the sandier stuff outside.

( The witness retired)

The Commission adjourned.