.present restrictive border duties must be better adjusted to prevent 

 •our expansion being stunted aud stifled ; the barriers which ob- 

 struct the onward march to success must be removed; depart- 

 mental neglect, expensive government and consequent excessive 

 -taxation must be checked; supineness must give way to energy 

 and enterprise, and then will set in an era of sound and perma- 

 nent prosperity. I maintain that it is the duty of the present, 

 aye, of any and every Government, to take up the responsibilities 

 of thei]f. predecessors, and if this be done then such a Board as we 

 ask for will be the best means to encourage and stimulate the 

 industry and secure its certain and rapid development. Success 

 will then take the place of failure, and hope of despair. We ask 

 nothing unreasonable, but simply protection and encouragement 

 in building up future prosperity by the legitimate application of 

 capital and labour. 



A Forecast — Before many years pass over our heads I predict 

 that with wise legislation the viticultural industry will become 

 the most important within the purview of the Agricultural 

 Department ; that it will grow as a sturdy giant and become a 

 tower of strength for this country, effecting such a vital and 

 benign influence upon us as a people, and proving such a rich 

 storehouse of material wealth, that the whole State will be proud 

 to rejoice in its progress, aud glad to admit the important part 

 that it is playing in the permanent settlement of the people on 

 the land in an industry which employs more people to the acre 

 -than any other ; that gives a larger return per acre than any I am 

 familiar with; that provides healthful and remnnerative employ- 

 ment to hosts, and that is productive of more general good to a 



; great number of people than any other rural occupation. 1 feel 

 that it is necessary to apologise for having taken up so much of 

 your time, but, as the industry is great in its importance, so the 

 subject is large in its claims for consideration; and though some 

 vital things have been touched upon much yet remains. The 

 gentlemen who follow will, no doubt, deal with many of the 

 ■questions in a practical manner. If I have brought forward any- 

 thing to impress you with the necessity of an elective Board of 

 Viticulture with power to give effect to our wishes, the time has 



■■ not in my opinion been wasted. In conclusion, one matter that 

 we should all recognise and all I believe do so, and which I repeat, 



.is the urgent necessity for the establishrnent of , a viticultural 

 school, where American resistant stocks may be raised in quan- 

 tities, so that the doubt and fear which now oppress all may be 

 dispelled. Such schools, too, would keep us conversant with the 



■developments of viticulture all over the world, and would place 



us in the best possible position to skilfully and scientifically treat 

 our wines. I trust that I have made myself clear, and that this 



. Conference will agree generally with my remarks, and that all will 



6313. B 



