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Credit to the Nominee Board. — In submitting to this Conference 

 my motion for the establishment of an Honorary Elective Board 

 I do not wish in any way to reflect on the present Board. The 

 ■system, not the individuals, was at fault. I am aware that the 

 Board has consistently advocated many matters touched upon by 

 me, and have had the best interests of the industry at heart, but 

 their hands have been tied and their advice overlooked. The very 

 fact that no legislation has been introduced to give effect to the 

 desires of the wine-growers is a proof that though well intentioned 

 the Board has been powerless. 



Promises of Viticulture. — It is now time we, as the representa- 

 tives of an industry full of promise, should arouse ourselves and 

 prove to the Government of the day that in all reason we are 

 entitled to consideration. It has been proved to demonstration 

 that the climate and soil of Victoria is suitable over an immense 

 area for the growth of the vine, and the prospects are so un- 

 bounded that no Government with the welfare of the people at 

 heart can afford to ignore them. When I say, in order to impress 

 those who may not be aware of the fact, that the wine produced 

 in France alone last year was valued at £40,000,000 sterling, and 

 the industry finds employment directly and indirectly for more 

 than half of the population of that prosperous country, viz., 

 23,000,000, you can form some conception, of what I am impressed 

 viticulture will do at no distant date in creating prosperity through- 

 out Australia. The whole market of the world is open to us, and 

 the cpnsumption in Europe is so great that in the city of Paris itself 

 300,000 gallons are consumed daily. That is that this single city 

 would consume in twelve days all the wine which the whole of 

 Australia takes twelve months to make. Viticulture must pro- 

 gress, though without help it will take years to undo the mischief 

 ■of the past, and much hardship must result both to old and young 

 vignerons. It will bring untold wealth to our shores, and afford 

 permanent and congenial employment in the years to come for 

 millions of earnest workers. We cannot in the interests of our 

 country and the common good stand idly by and see our efforts in 

 the past checked, but we must manfully and full of hope in the 

 future press forward feeling at this critical stage of our existence 

 as wine-growers, attention must be given to.our requirements, and 

 that active and not passive legislation must govern and guide us 

 in the future. As the Government, by encouraging under bonus 

 the planting of vineyards, and then rejecting the proposal to aid 

 in opening up a market, have committed themselves to the future 

 development of viticulture, to redeem the past its efforts must be 

 exerted in a proper channel. Unaided viticulture proved its 

 worth, and now that an unnatural stimulus has induced production 

 to an extent the local market cannot absorb, an outside channel 

 must be provided. It must not now be allowed to languish. The 



