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voting power, and the Board should have the power to elect its- 

 own officers, and should be affiliated with the Department of 

 Agriculture. This, sir, is the proposal I submit for the considera- 

 tion of this Convention, with the hope that something practical 

 will result. I do not claim that there is anything new in mj 

 suggestions, but as yet I am not aware that any definite scheme 

 has been submitted. No doubt many gentlemen here have given 

 careful consideration to the subject, and it is my hope improved 

 lines will be suggested. I would recommend that we form our- 

 selves into a committee to discuss the scheme, and submit our 

 united decision to the Minister, with the request that immediate 

 steps be taken to give effect to the decision. It should not be a 

 difficult thing to arrange for the election of such a Board. Lists 

 of wine-growers, with their correct acreage, would have to be pre- 

 pared, and the colony divided into districts. Eeturning officers 

 could be appointed to conduct the election, so soon as it became 

 law, and the Government Viticultural and Phylloxera Diseases 

 Board would at once become a potent power for good, and with 

 the aid indicated, the future of viticulture would be definitely 

 assured. 



Functions of the Board. — The functions of the Board would 

 be to meet monthly and deal with all matters affecting viticultore, 

 and with all grievances and disputes submitted to them through 

 the local wine-growers' associations or district boards, and to 

 decide what steps should be taken, if any, to recommend the 

 Government to redress same. To arrange for the regular periodic 

 inspection of all vineyards in the different districts by the local 

 boards with a view of preventing or checking the spread of 

 disease. To control and direct the viticultural experts, and 

 arrange for practical instruction. To disseminate useful informa- 

 tion by lectures by the experts, and by the issue of leaflets 

 through the Department of Agriculture on such subjects as the 

 best varieties of vines to plant, how to prune and cultivate same, 

 cellar management, and wine treatment, &c. The Board would 

 also have the important duty of advising and recommending (after 

 inspection by the Board's experts) in all cases where compen- 

 sation is claimed -for the eradication of diseased vineyards. To 

 secure the establishment of Schools of Viticulture on a self-sup- 

 porting basis, at which large nursery stocks of the best-known 

 kinds of vines, grafted on American phylloxera-resistant stocks, 

 could be raised for disposal to vignerons. 



Phylloxera-resistant Vines.— I may bo excused for saying 

 here that it is a certainty we will all have to adopt the American 

 resistant stock some day, and that I fear before very long, unless 

 the most stringent measures be taken to eradicate the disease 

 where it has appeared. This was so impressed upon me that, on 

 my return from Europe, two yeaia and a half ago, in a report 



