XVIII. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



lamp has enabled such an arrangement using storage 

 batteries to commercially compete with acetylene and 

 other forms of lighting and when this is realised by the 

 public small electric lighting schemes will become very 

 popular. While on this subject I may be permitted to 

 remark that in the matter of electric lighting in this 

 State we are decidedly behind the times in many re- 

 spects. 



A prominent visitor recently remarked to me on 

 the public lighting of the Brisbane streets, or rather on 

 the comparative absence of such in the main streets, and 

 on taking a house in New Farm expressed surprise that 

 electric supply was not available in the suburbs. In 

 the question of electric supply our provincial towns are 

 very much behind those of the other Australian States,. 

 where small electric supply schemes are being installed 

 in large numbers, the source of power being in most 

 cases suction gas plants. Why Queensland should be 

 so less progressive in these respects than the Southern 

 States I fail to understand, more especially as the climatic 

 conditions render electric lighting and fans highly de- 

 sirable. 



However, it is gratifying to note signs of a spirit of 

 inquiry and progress in our citizens as evinced, for in- 

 stance, in matters of education and sanitation, and I 

 hope that now the spirit of unrest, which spells the dawn 

 of progress has been engendered further advancement 

 will not be long delayed. We may even hope for the 

 adoption of a decimal system of weights, measures, and 

 even money, for the establishment of a rational system 

 of training our artisans now that the old apprenticeship 

 system is dead, for direct railway connection across the 

 river and the proposed standard gauge line along the 

 coast to New South Wales, for a new town hall, for re- 

 vision of the Electric Light Act and the Local Authori- 

 ties Act in so far as it debars local authorities from 

 establishing electric supply schemes, and we may even 

 hope to secure proper public recognition of the value 

 and the status of the engineer. 



