548 KEPOKT— 1891. 



ideas as to the general policy to be pursued. He was of opinion 

 that, on as early a date as possible after the Committee had 

 formulated a scheme of investigation, the various members or 

 branches should communicate with their respective Govern- 

 ments, explaining the nature of the work to be done, and re- 

 questing Government aid in defraying the expenses of experi- 

 menting and of collecting evidence and information. He was 

 of opinion also that the Committee should be enlarged by the 

 addition to it of Principals of Agricultural Colleges, Secretaries 

 of Agricultural Departments and Bureaux, microscopists, ex- 

 perts in the diseases of plants, practical farmers of intelligence 

 and experience. 



The Secretary endeavoured to call a general meeting of the 

 Committee before the South Australian and New South Wales 

 members returned to their respective colonies ; but this was 

 found impossible. Subsequently, Mr. C. A. Topp, M.A. (one 

 of the Victorian members), intimated his inability to remain on 

 the Committee, owing to the absorbing nature of his duties as 

 President of the Board of Public Health, to which office he had 

 been appointed since the formation of the Committee. In con- 

 sequence of the return of the members to their respective 

 colonies, it remained with the Victorian members to take the 

 initiative ; and these consisted now of only Mr. McAlpine and 

 Mr. Pearson. It was agreed to ask Mr. J. L. Thompson, the 

 Principal of the Agricultural College, Dookie, and Professor 

 W. Browm, the Principal of the Longerenong Agricultural 

 College, to join the Committee. Professor Brown readily 

 accepted the invitation. 



Mr. J. H. Maiden, of Sydney (the New South Wales mem- 

 ber of your Committee), communicated with our Secretary,, 

 giving in a general way his ideas of the work to be done, and 

 stating that he was engaged in gathering information and 

 samples of rust-affected wheat from different districts in New 

 South Wales. Mr. Frederick Wright frequently wrote indi- 

 cating that he was similarly engaged in South Australia, and 

 that he was already in communication with his Govern- 

 ment. 



In the meantime it was announced that the Victorian 

 Minister of Agriculture was about to invite the Governments 

 of the different colonies to send representatives to an Inter- 

 colonial Conference in Melbourne to discuss the subject of 

 rust in wheat ; and it was felt by the members of your Com- 

 mittee that it would be useless for them .to wait upon the 

 different Governments for financial aid in experimenting, &c., 

 if the Governments themselves were about to undertake an 

 investigation mto the matter. It was not possible, therefore, 

 to take any definite action until after the Intercolonial Con- 

 ference had met. 



