10 



not only for his very evident desire to advance the industry, but 

 for the broad view he took respecting its future importance. It 

 ■was brought into existence solely with the desire to benefit and 

 aid an industry which was replete with the promise of a glorious 

 and golden future, and he recognised the fact that a stage had 

 been reached when a little practical sympathy and support from 

 the State would be of much advantage. The members of the 

 Viticultural Board consisted of the then president of each of the 

 local wine-growers' associations, who assumed office for a term 

 •of three years, and which term has been extended for a short 

 period from time to time, without the wine-growers being afforded 

 the privilege of a voice in the selection of their representatives, 

 Such a course, in vieW of the paramount importance of the 

 interests at stake, and their direct bearing on the future welfare of 

 Australia generally, cannot be regarded as the best means to win 

 success ; and in order to command this in the future, broader and 

 more statesmanlike legislation must be adopted, and no effort 

 left untried to place viticulture on a sound and permanently 

 prosperous basis. 



The Crux of the Situation. — It is unnecessary for me to point 

 ■out that the elective principle, the right of the people to a direct 

 voice in the making of the laws which govern them, is the very 

 base of our system of civil and social government. It is this 

 principle which is the centre point of all those privileges which 

 have been won at such cost by our gloMous ancestors, and of 

 whom we, as Britons, are so justly proud, while the nominee 

 principle is the last dying remnant of the old feudal system. 



Producing Industries. — We have heard a great deal through 

 the press of late about encouraging industries, and undoubtedly 

 .something has been done in this direction ; but, sir, the real seat 

 of production has been woefully neglected, for no eflScient steps 

 have yet been taken to assist viticulture on proper and practical 

 lines to fulfil the promise of its birth, and to become, as it 

 eventually must as the years roll by, the most important division 

 in the portfolio of agriculture. A good example was set by a past 

 ■Grovernment in initiating a Board of Viticulture, but we are now 

 past the ineeptory stage, and we are here to-day to iirge our 

 requirements and to press our claims, and to assert boldly that the 

 time is ripe for reform ; that delay must not be tolerated ; that 

 apathy must give way to activity and progress, if we are to keep 

 in the van of progression. It must not, however, be supposed 

 that viticulture is a pauper industry, coming cap in hand crying 

 for support. We only ask that bare but tardy justice be meted 

 ■out, and that the merits of the industry may receive recognition, 

 the bars to progress be removed, and that those who have 

 embarked their all in this great industry be given kindly sym- 

 pathy and encouragement. 



