11 



Effects of the State Bonus. — Thanks and all honour to the 

 sturdy old pioneers who first planted the vine in these southern 

 lands, proving the suitability of the soil and climate, and laying 

 the foundations of the industry on sound lines ; but the time has 

 now arrived when the State, having undertaken a duty, must 

 ■complete its own act, and establish the industry on a basis which 

 will stand the shock of time ; and if this be now done there is no 

 doubt that when we take our proper place amongst the nations of 

 the earth it will be found that viticulture has played no mean 

 part in building up a greater Britain in these southern seas — a 

 nation that we as Australians will regard with pride, and the world 

 «,t large will honour and respect. There can be no questioning 

 the fact that Australia has a brilliant future before it. It has 

 enormous mineral wealth and illimitable powers of production, but 

 it is incumbent upon us, the pioneers, and the sons of the pioneers, 

 to do our part in forming our destinies, and it is my firm conviction 

 that nothing is more abundant with promise of future prosperity 

 than viticulture, providing that efficient steps be taken to effijct 

 such reforms as will induce development. If timely aid be given, 

 in a very few years our exports will be millions of gallons, whereas 

 they are now but a little over a third of a million. When, how- 

 ever, it is remembered that in 1881 we exported under 6,000 

 gallons, it cannot be denied that we have progressed, and that, 

 too, in the face of very considerable difficulties. We have, how- 

 ever, not done as much as we might. And why, may I ask ? 

 Simply because no Ministry has grasped the subject with that 

 power and intelligence which the immensity of the interests at 

 stake warrant. We find now that viticulture is hampered on the 

 ■one hand with over-legislation, whilst, on the other, it languishes 

 for lack of efficient legislation — over-legislation because a bonus 

 has been granted to encourage people to plant vines, and lack of 

 legislation through the same Parliament rejecting the proposal 

 to erect Schools and Colleges of Viticulture, where technical 

 education might be imparted. 



Schools of Viticulture. — Is it not inviting disaster to encourage 

 people by bonuses to enter into an enterprise of which they know 

 nothing, without at the same time arranging to give them some 

 instruction ? Schools of Viticulture are required where technical 

 ■education may be imparted to those who have been encouraged to 

 plant vines, but have no knowledge either as regards cnltivatiott 

 or pruning, &e., or of the important work in connexion with the 

 management and treatment of the wine. 



The Export Bonus. — So, also, was there failure in striking out 

 •the bonus for the export of the bonus-produced surplus, thus 

 leaving the unfortunate grower with an over-supplied local 

 market, and no means of reaching the greater one of the world at 

 large. Is this creating stability ? I ask would any commercial 



