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Mallee - Part 2
Image 132
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APPENDIX No. 7. Reports of the Agricultural Bank Trustees respecting the suggested extension of the Bank's operations to the Esperance District. FROM THE MANAGING TRUSTEE (MR. w. PATERSON) TO THE HON. THE MINISTER FOR LANDS AND AGRICULTURE, DATED 13th APRIL, 1916. On receipt of your minute of 8th February, 1916, intimating that Cabinet had decided that the Agricultural Bank was to take over the control of settlers in the Esperance District, and assist them on the same basis as farmers in the other agricultural areas, the Trustees at once took steps to ascertain the liabilities of these settlers and other data necessary to enable them to deal with the matter on sound financial lines. On your instructions Chief Inspector Hewby was recently sent to the district to go into the whole matter with Inspector White, and as he travelled per motor, advantage was taken of this opportunity to arrange for the trustees (Messrs. Richardson and Cooke) to visit the settlements, and thus obtain first-hand information in respect to the conditions prevailing, and the value of the holdings from a security point of view. A most careful analysis of the position and prospects was made by these gentlemen, and their report is attached hereto for your information. I also attach Chief Inspector Hewby's report, together with returns showing the area under crop, results obtained during the time the settlement has been in existence, liabilities, etc. I regret that the reports are most disappointing, and the results to date are such that I feel compelled to urge upon you the necessity of seriously considering whether further expenditure in the development of these lands is justified. For some reason —probably an excess of salt in the soil —the crops have generally been poor, and there is nothing to indicate that matters are likely to improve in the future. As far as I can ascertain, the total liabilities due to the Crown amount £15,009 14s. 4d., being made up as follows: — £ s. d. Advances made by Department of Agriculture .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7,828 15 0 Advances made by Industries Assistance Board .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 429 5 10 Advances made by Industries Assistance Board (Rent) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,747 9 1 Rent due to Lands Department .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,023 9 5 Due to Department of Agriculture for Super. and Interest .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,981 15 0 Mr. Hewby reports that out of 12,258 acres rolled only 5,744 acres are being maintained, the balance being practically valueless from a security point of view. A careful survey of the position forces the Trustees to the conclusion that these holdings have no mortgageable value at the present time, and even assuming that given railway facilities the country can be profitably farmed, the depreciation of improvements is so great that they feel it their duty to advise that in their opinion it is not safe business for the Bank to undertake. The trustees fully appreciate their obligation to cooperate with the Government to carry out their policy to the fullest extent, and respectfully suggest that the Treasury indemnify the Bank against loss, in respect to advances made in the Esperance district, on lines similar to the indemnity given in the case of advances made to Ravensthorpe and Hamel settlers. W. PATERSON, Managing Trustee. FROM MESSRS. A. R. RICHARDSON AND F. V. COOKE (TRUSTEES) TO THE MANAGING TRUSTEE, AGRICULTURAL BANK, DATED 14th MARCH, 1916. We have the honour to inform you that, just recently, we were able to make an opportunity to carry out a long contemplated visit of inspection to the Esperance Bay-Norseman District—to satisfy ourselves, as Trustees of the Agricultural Bank, upon the much debated and very conflicting questions—as to the fertility and suitableness for profitable cultivation of the considerable area of mallee land, extending to within about 28 miles of Esperance, thence northwards towards Norseman, as far as the limits of the average rainfall will allow, for though the mallee country gradually wanes off some 80 miles from Esperance traveling northward, the gradual transition is towards really a richer class of land—salmon gum, with salt bush and grass, and which attractive looking belt of country extends right on to Norseman, and thence westerly towards Coolgardie, and with this class of country it is merely the question of the sufficiency of the rainfall, which at Norseman is given as a little over 10 inches average over a good period of years, and which average fall gradually increases as you travel south, till an average of about 24 inches at Esperance is reached. The rainfall in the mallee belt, which is more especially the area under consideration, is given for about 14 years as 11.46 at Gilmore's, at the northern end, to some 18 inches about Scaddan near the southern end, while at Grass Patch in between it is given as 14.60, and so may be taken as sufficient for wheat growing and grazing occupations. The number of days of rain at Gilmore's is given as 66 days, and at Grass Patch as 90 days. The records of fall per each month have been obtained by the Agricultural Department, but we have not yet seen them, but believe it may be taken that from two or three inches fall during summer months. Mr. Hewby, Chief Inspector of the Agricultural Bank, having met us at Norseman with his motor car, he piloted us right through to Esperance, and round about and I and out amongst many of the holdings and back to Norseman, giving us, as also did Mr. White (Bank Inspector), valuable and interesting information, and in many ways was instrumental in adding to the interest and usefulness of the trip. As to the scope of our examination, and of his report, we recognise that we are not expected to express any opinion as to the justification or necessity for the construction of railway from Esperance northwards until presumably it junctions at Norseman with the State's general railway system, beyond laying it down as a self-evident
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