30 Journal of Agriculture, Vicloriu. [10 Jan., 1916. 



Adcock, Harnier, and Whelan. The experiments seen that day illus- 

 trated clearly Iioav comparatively poor land could be made productive. 

 He would ask that the vote of thanks be carried by acclamation. 

 (Applause.) 



Reply. 



Mr. Richardson, in replying to the vote of thanks on behalf of the 

 Department, stated that the success of the gathering was largely due 

 to the excellent manner in which the staff, under Messrs. Adcock (Prin- 

 cipal), Harmer (Farm Manager), and Whelan (Wheat Expert), had 

 carried out their work. In reference to the shipment of wheat, he 

 thought the Government was doing the best thing possible, in view of 

 the abnormal conditions ruling in the freight market, and was certainly 

 doing better than any private firms could possibly do. This was shown 

 recently when the Imperial Government desired to commandeer fourteen 

 transports; the Commonwealth Government stepped in, and pointed 

 out that if Australia was to do its part in financing her share of this 

 great war and maintain her own men, facilities would have to be avail- 

 able for the handling of the harvest, and the Imperial Government 

 immediately released the transports for the conveyance of Australian 

 wheat; this would certainly not have been done for any private firm. 

 At present the wheat value was 57s. 6d. per quarter on the London 

 market, equivalent to 7s. 3d. per bushel. The Governments were con- 

 templating handling the whole wheat harvest with an advance of 3s. to 

 the producer, less 3f d. charges. If the present price was maintained on 

 the London market, after allowing for freight and other handling, the 

 farmers' wheat would bring a price equal to 4s. 8d. per bushel, and in 

 J^ovember the farmer would be getting an addition of Is. 8d. per bushel 

 on his 3s., which would be a very satisfactory result; but they had to 

 remember that the figures he was giving was on present London prices 

 being maintained. J^or was there any reason, in spite of the record 

 American crop, why these prices should not be maintained. On the 

 other hand, if the Goveniment had not stepped in, farmers would be 

 rushing to sell their wheat, agents would be ^^nable to get shipping- 

 space, and with a big demand for space freights would go up and prices 

 would fall. Those who got in early would probably get 3s. 9d. or 4s., 

 but what price would the great masses of farmers get ? In normal years 

 freight was 30s., and now it was 85s. What would it go to if there 

 was a rush for space with only 60 per cent, of the shipping available. 

 He held no brief for the Government, but thought the scheme proposed 

 would work out in the general interest of the producer. In reference 

 to the 3f d. local charges, they had to remember that wheat shipped from 

 Australia across the line increased considerably in weight, and the 

 value of this increase Avould be credited to the pool, and would be a good 

 set off against local charges. (Applause.) 



The gathering then broke U]) with three cheers for the College officers 

 and employees, and three for the boys in Gallipoli. 



Commentary. 



The farmers of the Rutherglen district who attended this field day 

 were unforgettably impressed by the ocular demonstrations they wit- 

 nessed, and obtained a practical conception of the new and rapid 



