20 



system of bonuses has added 8,333. In vines, in 1882, there were 

 5,732 acres, and in 1892, 28,052 acres, and through the bonus 

 system 12,500 acres of this area has been added, so that by the 

 bonuses the Government has increased the area of vines and fruit 

 trees by nearly 21,000 acres. That nearly totals 60,000 acres for 

 1892. How much an acre would that amount to ? Not 3d. an acre 

 on every orchard grower. That could be collected with a municipal 

 rate. The name of the ratepayer would be put down as an 

 orchardist, and consequently he would have the right to vote, and 

 only he, for a local board or a State board. I should say the fruit- 

 growers should select their own representatives, not by any 

 society, because a man may be elected by the society who is not 

 qualified. I think if we do that much for ourselves the Govern- 

 ment will do their share by providing the markets and outlets, by 

 giving bonuses for canneries, and assisting us in finding markets. 

 I feel certain no orchardist would be against any properly- 

 qualified inspector examining his orchard. He can tell what to- 

 do, and explain how to get rid of the pests. I visited an orchard 

 on the Murray. The owner told me his place was perfectly 

 clean. The first tree I came to was an orange, and I saw it was 

 sickly. It was smothered with scale and the man did not know 

 it. That is an illustration of the result of bringing in a stranger 

 to have a look round the orchard. I told him what to do with 

 it. The diseases, instead of decreasing, are increasing more than 

 ever, and we have some of the deadliest pests going. The 

 State board could, from time to time, issue instructions as to the 

 right thing to do in each particular season. 



Mr. Harris, M.L. A., said that the Bill of last session had been 

 gone through very carefully by himself and other members of the 

 Board of Horticulture, and they made several amendments, but, 

 unfortunately, the Bill did not become law. Mr. Allen referred 

 to the fact that the Bill had been previously introduced. Three 

 Bills had been introduced, and they all proved abortive, but he cer- 

 tainly thought that the Bill introduced Ifist September would have 

 passed both Houses of the Legislature. Unfortunately, there were 

 not in the Legislative Assembly many men who understood horticul- 

 ture, and theimmease destruction that had been done to our fruits by 

 the insect pests. A good many members spoke on the Bill, but they 

 wanted delay in order that they might consult their constituents, 

 and owing to the pressure of business at the close of the session, 

 the Bill was not brought forward again, and if it had been he 

 behoved that it would have been lost. He complimented the 

 Minister of Agriculture on having convened the present large 

 meeting of representatives, and he hoped that there would be some 

 good result. They had met to consider some of the most important 

 things that could engage the interest of any one, and they looked to 



