11 Nov., 1918.] Farmers' Field Day at Werrihee. 



645 



fanners of the State first, 

 because I think they are 

 themostimportant. Iliave 

 also listened with very 

 great gratification to the 

 remarks of the members 

 of Parliament who have 

 spoken, and particularly 

 to those of the Honor- 

 able the Treasurer. You 

 can readily understand 

 why I was so gratified to 

 hear the latter. The 

 officers of the Depart- 

 ment have very great 

 confidence indeed in the 

 beneficial influence that 

 this farm, will exercise 

 on the agricultural in- 

 terests of the State, and, 

 incidentally, therefore, 

 upon the wealth of the 

 State. Their one effort 

 is in that direction. I 

 am also appreciative, and 

 I am quite sure that this 

 will be indorsed bv all 

 the officers of the Depart- 

 ment, of the remarks 

 made by Mr. McPherson 

 as to the exercise of true 

 economy. I do not be- 

 lieve in starving any 

 work that is likely to 

 prove beneficial, and I 

 am glad to learn that 

 the views of the members 

 of Parliament present 

 to-day concur with mine. 

 When wei h-d the first 

 f.armers' field day — five 

 years ago^ — I issued a 

 challenge to the farmers 

 of the State then present. 

 T asked them to point out 

 anything of a non-prac- 

 tical kind that was being 

 done^ — ^any useless expen- 

 diture. I am gratified 

 to be able to say that, 

 from that time to this, 

 my challenge has not 



