wire netting and stock from the Government?—I may say that my house is quite unfit for my wife and family to occupy. We have suffered from bad seasons and the heavy cost of living, although I have done to the best of my ability.

8448. The Government will do all it can to assist you. Your remedy is between you and the local inspector?—Is it worth our while sticking to the land? I can always earn a living in town.

8449. The CHAIRMAN : It lies between you and the inspector or Mr. Patterson, and you should discuss the matter with him. No man who has done his best would be interfered with.

                                                                                                (The witness retired.)

                                                                                                        —————

WALTON WESTWOOD BARNES (Barnes & Cosson), Farmer, Springhurst Mail, East Wagin, sworn and examined :

8450. By the CHAIRMAN: How long have you been in this district?—Since 1912. I was brought up on a farm in Victoria. I have been contracting in this State. I have 1,000 acres in my name and 1,556 with Mr Cosson. The price is 12s. 6d. I have eight miles cartage to the railway station. I have no fencing, or rather I have what is called lightning fence. I have two dams 1,000 yards each. One is dry, the other has three feet of water in it. I am married and have six children. They cannot attend school on account of the distance. I have an iron and hessian house, bush stables and sheds, a set of implements, five working horses, a cow, a heifer, three pigs. I had £500 capital when I started. I borrowed £550 from the Agricultural Bank and I owe the Board and other creditors £1,000. I have 325 acres of crop. I have cut 75 for hay, the balance is going eight bushels.

8451. Do you think you can make a success of farming?—I think I can, If I did not think so I would not be here. I have 600 acres cleared but can only manage half that area with one team. I asked the Department fro a plough and horses, when I could put in 450 acres but they seem very dilatory. I shall have 150 acres of fallow on top of that.

8452. By Mr. PAYNTER : What plough do you use?— A five-furrow, but I can only work four horses in it. I had one good season and on a small area I got 18 bushels, but my average since has been eight bushels. I tried fallow this year but I have only 65 acres instead of 250. The Department say I must fallow but they will not give me the facilities to fallow with. This year it will be the same thing again and where I should have had 300 acres of fallow I have only 80 of a sort. A lot of us have tried it. We were short of chaff and I could not get the area in. I want a disc cultivating plough. My intention if I get a disc plough is to put it over the lot. They are limiting us to the end of May for the seeding. I shall have 250 acres in this year if I do not get assistance. I applied on the 7th January for a plough and horses. I have since seen the inspector but he gives me an evasive reply when I ask him about it. His name is Harding, and he is stationed, I think at Wagin. He says he has reported favourably on my application, but I have not heard anything from the board yet. I have 300 bags of wheat yet to cart but I only got my wagons today. The department says that everything must go through the inspector. I have attended to that, but so far I have had no reply from them. I also want to erect a fence but the cost of wire is quite prohibitive.

                                                                                          (The witness retired.)

                                                                                                   ————

HORATIO ERNEST WILLOCK, Gullerside, Wagin East, Farmer, sworn and examined :

8453. By the CHAIRMAN : How long have you been in this district?- I came here in 1910. I had 18 months experience at Tammin before that and three on a farm in the old country. I hold 1,840 acres, 1,100 acres are first class and 300 second; 840 acres cost 12s. 6d., 500 acres 13s. 6d., and 500 acres 18s. It is 5½ miles from the railway. I have 123 acres fenced and 100 acres partly fenced. I have 490 acres cleared and a dam 868 cubic yards with four feet of water in it. I am a married man with eight children, four of school age, but the school is 5 miles distant. I have a stone and pug house unfinished, bush stables, and sheds, a set of implements, six working horses, two other young ones, 3 goats, 15 pigs. I had £270 capital when I came here. I owe the Agricultural Bank £650 and £500 to the Industries Assistance Board and creditors. I have 360 acres of crop going four bushels. The kangaroos, the rabbits and the frost spoiled a lot of my crop. I had an account with Malcolm & Co., and the board were allowing me £10 a month. I had £2 transferred to a butcher and when he closed up I asked for a transfer of that amount to the storekeeper but I got no reply. Malcolm & Co. supplied me with £2 pound worth of stores last year. I heard nothing more about it until I got a summons and the policeman was put on my place this week. The Industries Assistance Board hold my securities and yet these people have a judgment against me. I wrote and told them what was going to happen and I also informed the inspector.

8454. By the CHAIRMAN :- Do you think you could make a success of farming.?—Yes, with normal seasons.

8455. By Mr. VENN : What was your previous calling?— I was a chemist for 18 years and I am also a dentist.

                                                                                          (The witness retired.)

                                                                                                  —————

ERNEST DUNBAIN, Farmer, Duggan, via Kukerin, sworn and examined :

8456. By the CHAIRMAN : How long have you been in the district?—I came here in 1912. Previously I was farming to the west of Wagin. I have 1,000 acres, which I have just bought. I was managing for Malcolm & Co.

8457. I understand you wish to make a statement to the commission?—Yes. I consider that the Agricultural Bank should give a further allowance for clearing, so as to enable the settler to have at least 600 acres of land cleared. With six horses and a four-furrowed plough, a man should be able to fallow 300 acres. I also thin the Government should supply fencing material and sheep to settlers. I am making a start, owing £900 on the pro-