Mallee - Part 1

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705. the reason we ask is that we have not been able to get them, and we were in hopes that you might be able to throw some light on them?—I know that some months ago the whole of the papers, including the plans, were collected by our record office and sent to the Premier's office. Beyond that I do not know anything.

706. Have you a practical knowledge of farming;—? I have a general knowledge of farming; I know the ordinary methods obtaining.

707. Did you notice any peculiarity about the mallee soil?—I cannot say that it struck me as peculiar. When I started the investigation I certainly had the impression that the land was inferior to what I found it ; in other words, I was surprised and pleased to notice that underneath the surface it was better than it look on the surface.

708.You have some knowledge of the mallee in the other States?—Yes, but only by going through it and by knowing farmers working it. I have been through Mildura and Riverina. The mallee there is a reddish sandy soil. That at Esperance is more decomposed.

709. Did Mr. Middleton supply full data of the sample of soil which he took?—Yes.

710. Were those samples taken from places which might be considered average cultivable land?—M y verbal instructions to him were to keep on the safe side, not to collect his sample from the tops of rises, but on the slopes and down the slopes. I am inclined to say the sample would give a higher percentage of salt than the true average, because the tops rises would be leached.

711. You forwarded the sample to the Government Analyst?—They went direct from the train to his office.

712. Sample from other district were mixed up with those Esperance sample? —A few, Yes.

713. Could you detect any of those samples of the table of analyses from which Mr. Mann's deductions were made? —Yes, all the sample bags were numbered, and a record was kept showing where each bag came from, with particulars of the locality.

714. With this complete data in your possession, you are able to say exactly whence each sample came ?—Yes.

715. Mr. Mann's report was addressed to you ?—That is so.

716. In your report you commented on his deductions?—Yes.

717. Although you were entrusted with the investigations and were of a different opinion from Mr. Mann, yet Mr. Mann's report seems to have received greater publicity than yours. Can you explain?—No

.718. The sample sent to Mr. Mann included samples from other parts of the State?—Yes. Samples were taken from places on the Midland line and along the Eastern line, from locations which were known to contain salt and where wheat had been grown. They were sent along simply as numbered bags. As a professional analyst Mr. Mann differs from other men.

719. Mr. Mann's report has been given great publicity in connection with the Esperance land question?—I have noticed that. A good deal of prominence has been given to this salt question, and a good deal of nonsense has been talked.

720. It has been said that your report, to a certain extent, smoothed Mr. Mann's over?— There was no smoothing over at all . As a professional man I have had to try to find the truth of things. My reason for taking those samples from .other parts of the country was simply to form a comparison.

721. Mr. Mann report to you?—Yes; I was responsible to the Minister for my report. The samples were merely sent to Mr. Mann for examination.

722 It occurs to us as most extraordinary that all the publicity should be given to the report of an officer who was reporting to you, While your report has been overlooked almost entirely?—It is very peculiar.

723 You say the analyses of the different lots of samples were kept separate?—Yes.

724. You can locate them at any time?—Yes,

725. We have obtained from a private source a copy of Mr. Middleton's report. Will you please glance down this and tell us whether you think it is correct?—I do not know who got up this pamphlet, but I think it is a fair copy of the report. The facts are there.

726. By Mr. PADBURY: are the samples accompanied by information as to how much country is represented, and whether the sample was taken from average land?—You have down there an undulating plateau. I told him not to take his sample from the tops of the summits, but go on safe lines, and get his sample from the slopes. They were taken in what might be called average country from place to place.

727. It has been [pointed out us that samples were taken at the bottom of low places where salt was actually visible?—Then he exceeded his instructions. He has over-done that. I think the results probably show more salt than a fair average. The samples were not picked up off the surface but taken from depths varying from 6 inches to 2feet 6 inches .It was the subsoil I was afraid of more than anything else

728.By Mr. McDONALD: Did Mr. Middleton give you the history of each sample, and did he explain that a particular sample represented a certain portion of the areas?.—I do not think so. Each bag had a slip on it showing the depth from which the sample was taken, and the bag number was stencilled on it showing the locality on the map from which the sample was taken.

729. We were shown places from which samples had been taken where good crops had been grown near the lake. We wondered whether Mr. Middleton would give particulars of that when he sent the sample along?—He may have, but not kept a record.

730. And that the samples would represent, say an eighth of an acre?—I spent three weeks down there in order to make my notes independently. Samples came in which were not based on the salt content but taken for our own education .I saw some wheat growing at Grass Patch in black alkali. It was possible to smell it, the smell being like that of a sea beach. A sample taken from that was simply proof of what was being done on that particular class of soil, but did not affect the whole country.

731. The object of taking a sample of that sort would be to show how much salt wheat would stand, and I take it that this would only represent an infinitesimal area compared with the whole area?—I