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in Gippsland. That was wliere nearly all those things could be 

 grown. The matter had been mentioned in the House several 

 times, and the Minister should give it his serious consideration. 

 As to rust in wheat, he thought that the Department of 

 Agriculture was doing all it could in that direction. He was pre- 

 sent at a conference sitting in Brisbane, and Professor McAlpine 

 was there, now representing Victoria. He thought the Minister 

 was doing good work as to the cultivation of sugar beet. He 

 (Mr. Harris) must take a little credit for starting that in the 

 House and outside the House. The newspapers had now taken it 

 up. He was sanguine about it, and believed that we could grow 

 it as profitably as it was grown in Europe, because our soil and 

 climate were eminently suited for it. Mr. Williams had evidently 

 two years ago bought some cheap fruit trees which were now full of 

 disease ; but he would point out that, except with the apple stock, 

 no disease could be propagated by the stock, and the apples were 

 now all propagated on blight-proof stock. 



Mr. Chaike, in reply to Mr. Harris, said the climate was not 

 dry at Dookie. They had the same rainfall as in Melbourne. 



Mr. Williams said he believed the Goulburn valley would be 

 suitable for growing all kinds of flax. 



The Chairman congratulated the members on the practical 

 character of the business done by the Conference. He thanked 

 them for their commendatory references to himself as Minister. 

 As to Mr. Williams' remarks about the agricultural colleges, he 

 would say that he (the Chairman) had over and over again during 

 the last few years condemned the Agricultural Council in almost 

 the severest language. He felt that a large sum of money was 

 being expended every year with very little result, and an irre- 

 sponsible body paying little attention to their duties were endowed 

 with 150,000 acres for the purpose of carrying on colleges to be an 

 education to the horticulturists of this colony. In his opinion 

 they had totally failed in that respect. There were many private 

 individuals carrying on horticulture who afforded educational 

 advantages for the young people wishing to learn, and were doing 

 the work better than any of the colleges. He thought the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture was capable within itself of affording all the 

 educational advantages in those directions that were possible. If 

 they were not they failed in their duty. He approved of the 

 existence of the colleges, but he condemned the management, and 

 believed that if they were in the hands of the Department of 

 Agriculture they would do all that could be expected of theoa. 

 If the Minister of Education failed in that direction the country 

 would condemn his administration. For the purposes of economy 

 also it would be better for it to be managed under one head. In- 

 stead of increasing the colleges he thought the proper thing would 



