threaten to foreclose. At the present time I am out earning money on contract work.

11440. Can you make any suggestions to the Commission whereby it is likely they can assist you?—If they would only wipe out the rents that are owing it would be a great help.My brother applied and they reduced his rent which will be of assistance to him.I have applied but have received no answer yet. There is another thing, I should like to know whether there is any chance of getting the Wannamal lake drained. If it was drained and cut up into about 20-acre blocks it would be very suitable for dairying. It is a splendid proposition if it was only drained.The Government tried to drain the Bullingarra lake, but they made a mess of it.There is more water in it now than there ever was . 11441. By Mr. PAYNTER: I presume if it was drained the people here would take it up?—Yes, I am certain they would. Mr. Delamere has a number of cattle and he would go in for it and so would I.

11442. What area of land do you crop?—I put in 70 acres last year. I got 80 bags off 70 acres,but I only got eight bags from the same area this year. The land was waterlogged;it is too wet for wheat growing, and has not sufficient body in it,but produced good grass when improved.

                                                              (The witness retired.)
                                                                  ————

JOHN LOUDON, Farmer, Cowara Hills,Wannamal,sworn and examined:

11443. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been seven years in this district.I was a station manager in the North-West before I took the land up.I have 1,000 acres, of which about 200 acres is first class.It is all fenced and subdivided into nine paddocks;about 130 acres cleared.I have a house of four rooms, the necessary stables and part of the plant necessary to work the land.I have eight horses,four head of cattle,190 sheep and two pigs. I paid £1,300 cash for the property.

11444. Have you been able to make a success of it?—Yes,so far I have been able to keep clear of debt.

11445. How do you make a living?—By mixed farming.

11446. By Mr. PAYNTER: What area of land do you crop?—About 70 acres. I got 80 bags of wheat and 11 tons of hay from this.The season was against success for cropping,however.I got 250 bags of wheat and 12 tons of hay from the same quantity of ground the year before last.I obtained as much as 18 bushels from one paddock last year.

11447. By Mr. VENN: What do you consider this country is best suited for?—Grazing and mixed farming.Wild dogs are certainly a trouble.

11448. By Mr. PAYNTER: Are the rabbits in evidence yet?—Yes, I have seen tracks frequently.I have not seen many rabbits,but they are here alright.

11449. Is there anything you consider the Government could do to improve matters in the district?—No,I do not think there is.The railway freights are fairly high on some things,such as super and small parcels.

11450. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been successful in making a living so far.

11451. If you had your time over again would you have taken up as much land or more?—I should not have taken up more or less.

                                                             (The witness retired.)

                                                                    ————

SAMUEL LEESON,Farmer,Wannamal,sworn and examined:

11452. To the CHAIRMAN: I have been ten years in the district. I came from England.I have 1,100 acres of second class land. The Government was charging me 10s. per acre for it, but in the last few weeks it has been reduced to 5s. and 3s. 6d. for respective blocks.It is all fenced and subdivided into ten paddocks; 225 acres are cleared. I have a four-roomed house.I had sheds and stables but they were burnt down. I have part of the plant necessary to work the land, six horses, three head of cattle,175 sheep, and one pig. I started with £1,000 capital. My brother and I were farming together, but we dissolved partnership. So far as my liabilities are concerned, I owe merchants £66, £422 to the Agricultural Bank, and the Industries Assistance Board £24. At the present time I am away from my farm working in order that I may keep it.

11453. How much of your land is fit to carry sheep and free from poison?—I have 640 acres cleared of poison. I intend to crop only sufficient land to keep my stock and get some more sheep as soon as I can.

11454. Do you consider you can make a living?—Yes;I consider I can keep going.I have tried cropping for the past ten years, but it is no good.

11455. Do you find dairy cows do well?—Yes;they milk well on the natural grasses. I have made 10 lbs. of butter per week from one cow, without any additional feed, for four or five months of the year. She milked 20 quarts a day. We have any quantity of water and such grasses as paspalum do well.

11456. By the CHAIRMAN:Are there any suggestions you would like to place before the Commission likely to assist settlement in the district?—I consider everything possible should be done to assist settlers with limited capital to get rid of the poison.It is not a bad poison and there is a large area of country in the district that will carry sheep very well. I consider the land should be free of rent for at least five years. This would be a great help to the district and is one of the main things that would help towards its improvement. There is a lot of Crown land available for settlement here.

                                                   (The witness retired.)
                                                           ———

JAMES DELAMERE,Farmer and Suburban Dairy-man,Wannamal,sworn and examined:

11457. To the CHAIRMAN:I have been living three years in this district but have owned the farm for five years.I have 600 acres,250 acres of which is first class.It is all fenced and subdivided into three paddocks;110 acres is cleared.So far I only have a camp on the place, a shed 30 x 20, and a small plant to work the land. I have seven horses, 35 head of cattle, and 13 pigs.I bought the property.