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■of fruit-growers, and dealing specially -with the fruit-growing- 

 industry, was called into existence, and the results that have since 

 accrued from the operations of both bodies have been great and 

 far reaching in their effects. It is generally agreed that the 

 Board should be elective. In thinking out the basis of its consti- 

 tution and functions I have to offer the following suggestions : — ^ 

 That the colony be divided into seven districts, to be known 

 severally as the North-Eastern (which would include Rutherglett 

 and Wahgunyah), the Groulburn Valley, Bendigo, Great Western 

 (including the Wimmera), Mildura, Dunolly, and the Southern 

 District (which would embrace Geelong and the Western district, 

 the Yarra, Metropolitan, and Gippsland districts). 



From each of these several districts one representative to be 

 elected by vine-growers and wine merchants who buy direct from 

 the grower. These representatives to hold office for two years 

 only, but to be eligible for re-election, and the qualification of 

 these representatives shall be the same as that of voters. Every 

 year one-half that number shall retire, to be decided in the first 

 case by lot. 



That in addition to these six representatives the Governor in 

 Council shall have power to appoint one nominee to the Board, 

 who may be the permanent head of the Department of Agriculture 

 for the time being. 



Vine-growers who shall cultivate not less than 2 acres nor 

 more than 20 acres shall have one vote ; vine-growers who 

 shall cultivate over 20 acres, but under 50 acres, two votes ; 

 vine-growers who cultivate over 50 acres, three votes. Vine- 

 grower shall mean the owner or occupier, as the case may be* 

 Wine merchants who buy from the growers- and have cellarage 

 accommodation for not less than 10,000 gallons, one vote ; who 

 have cellarage accommodation for not less than 30,000 gallons, 

 two votes ; and not less than 60,000 gallons, three votes. Pro-' 

 vided always that such vine-grower or wine merchant shall have 

 his full name, address, acreage of vines, or cellarage capacity 

 entered upon the voters' list for the particular district in which 

 his vineyard or cellar may be situated ; or .if he be not a member 

 of a vine-growers' association, that he shall have forwarded 

 these particulars, together with a fee of 10s., to the Secretary for 

 Agriculture. 



That for the purpose of conducting the election for representa- 

 tives, the secretary and president of each vine-growers' association, 

 wine merchants' association, or combined horticultural and vine- 

 growers' association shall at least once a year prepare a full list 

 of members who are growers of more than 2 acres of vines, or of 

 wine merchants who buy from growers and have a cellarage 

 capacity of over 10,000 gallons and have paid their subscription 

 to such association for the then current financial year. 



