Minutes of Evidence p.1401-1509 - Parliament of Victoria

H. L. GalbmiLb 1
continued~
12th lllayl883.
1502
coulLl give you now would be unreliable, and I woi1ld not make an answer that I would not substantiate.
It would not be fair either to you or myself.
50720. By Mr. Longmore.-The question of rent, of com,se, interests every farmer who goes upon
land, who has not laud of his own. ·would it pay you to give a rent for land to grow 25 bushels of oats to
the acre ?-No, I would not cultivate such land.
50721. From Haytcr's statistics we find that the average last year was 24 bushels to the acre, and
9~ bushels of wheat. Would it pay yon to pay rent fo1· any land that would grow that ?-It might pay
this way, that you pay the Government Is. an acre for twenty years.
50722. Would it pay you to pay your present rent?-No, decidedly not
50723. By Mr. JJ[unro.-You were going to say something about bags jnst now. What was it?­
The grMt grievance of the farmer is, that the middleman in town gets the bags weighed in ; we pay lOd.
for the bags, and I do not believe we get lid. for them .
.'50724. That is not a matter connected with the Customs?-We care nothing ltbout the duty, the
duty is nothing. .
50725. Is not that a matter that the farrHers could regulate for themselves ?-If they stuck together
and had a combination they could. But the farmers will not combine.
50726. About malting in bond, do you know of your own knowledge whether there is any colonial
barley or malt exported ?-0£ my own knowledge I cannot answer you, it is only hearsay.
50727. By the ChaiTman.-Have you any statement to make to the Commission ?-I heard you ask
:M:r. Gralmm about farming implemencs and the dnty upon farming implements. As a farmer, I am quite in
favour of a duty being retained upon all agricultural implements that ea.n be manufactured in the colony ;
but what we cannot manufactme or produce, I tbink ought to come in as free as possible, except for revenue
purposes. I do not speak upon that subject authoritatively, but I think the agriculturalists prefer the colonial
implements to the imported, aml they would not have the imported at a gift. I gave £26 for a plough no later
than Tuesday last. I would add that upon my 320 acres, of which I cultivate 230 acres; I employ an average
of nine men per week per annum. Each and every one of those men pays through the Cnstom-house and
contributes to the revenue of the colony. You can go here and see twenty square miles, not very far from
here, with one man per week per annum.
50728. By 1Jf1·. JJ1cintyre.-What wages do you pay the nine men upon the farm ?-They vary ; £1
a week and their food, and 17s. a week and their food.
50729. None less than I7s.?-No.
50730. Then the average is about 18s. Gd. a week ?-About that.
50731. By Nr. llfunro.-Have you any scarcity of labour?-No, but labour has not been so
plentiful as it was some years ago. I really think we could very well afford to introduce some more labour,
but I have no scarcity ; it greatly depends upon how the farmer treats his men.
50732. Then you would be in favour of immigration ?-Individually I would be, although I have
had no scarcity.
50733. But you would have no objection to immigration?-Personally none. I think we want population.
T!te ~vitness withdrew.
Willlmn Wllson,
E•q.,
12tll :Mny lS89,
William Wilson, Esq., President of the Shire of Romsey, sworn and examiuetl.
50734. By tho ClbaiTman.-What are you ?-A farmer and grazier.
50735. How many acres does your holding contain ?-Over 1,200 altogether.
50736. How many do you cultivate ?-I average from 80 to 120.
50737. Say lOO-what do you grow principally ?-The general erops that the other gentlemen grow,
oats, pease, barley, and potatoes.
50738. What use do you put the rest of the land to ?-Grazing and dairying.
50739. You heard the evidence of the previous witnesses ?-I did not hear all Mr. Graham's; I
heard Mr. Galbraith's.
50740. And a portion of Mr. Graham's?-Yes.
50741. Have you anything to add to the information t.hose gentlemen gave us ?-As regards the
average upon oats from ten years I calculate the average at 28 bushels to the acre.
50742. That is from ten years of your own experience?-Yes.
50743. Is vour land rented or freehold ?-I have one block rented from Government. Of course I
pay them 2s. an a~re until it is cleared, and I have a block rented that belongs to my wife's father, but it is
tt private arrangement ; it is a very small rental and I may call it freehold.
50744. Do you get 320 acres from the Government ?-No, it is only 144.
50745. That is included in the 1,200 acres it is over 1,200.
5074G. Is it part of the 144 acres that yon cultivate ?-No.
507-±7. Did the previous witnesses leave unstated anything that you think it is material to say in the
interests of the farmers iu this Llistrict l-~No, I did not remark anything at the time that I would add to
their evidence.
50748. Nothing that you would disagree with ?-No.
50749. Then I may say that you agree with the evidence of the previous witnesses ?-In
general.
50750. In relation to the operation of the tariff, and the necessity for retaining the duties ?­
Yes, by all means. I would add, that in calcnlating what it actually costs us to produce an acre of crops
there are hundreds of items that we cannot take into consideration.
50751. By M1·. llfclntyre.-How long have you been f[~rmiug in this country ?-Twenty-one years.
I would place the estimate of growi11g an acre higher than any of the other witnesses did ; I think they
are below the estimate.
50752. Y on have been twenty-one years growing crops here-how many acres dill you st>wt with
as farmer and grazier ?-One hundred and sixty.
50753. And you have gradually in·creased your holding to 1,200 acres, less 144 that you lease from
the Crown ?-There is 220 acres of that thfl.t do not belong to me by right.
50754, That is 364 acres off the 1,200-is that eo ?-Yes,