Australian Agricultural Conference. 355 



leading to the conclusion that the annual wool clip, instead 

 of being actually somewhat larger than the estimates, is 

 more likely to be slightly smaller. The estimate for 1897 

 accounts for the fleeces of 34,784,287 sheep, which is the 

 smallest number reported since 1874. The total product of 

 washed and unwashed wool from these sheep is reckoned at 

 259,000,000 lbs. (including 40,000,000 lbs. of pulled wool), 

 the average weight of fleece being 6*30 lbs. After allowing 

 6o'i per cent, for shrinkage, the total product of scoured 

 wool works out to 111,000,000 lbs., including 24,000,000 lbs. 

 of pulled wool. 



The returns indicate that a favourable winter, and an 

 increasing tendency to change from merino to mutton sheep, 

 have resulted in a somewhat lighter fleece than usual, the 

 average shrinkage being from 2 to 3 per cent, more than 

 in 1896. The total product is a loss of 13,000,000 lbs., as 

 compared with last year, and of 89,000,000 lbs. as compared 

 with the year 1893, when the clip was a record one. 



An Inter- Colonial Agricultural Conference in 

 Australia. 



The Board have received an official Report of an Inter- 

 Colonial Agricultural Conference, which was held at Sydney 

 during the month of May last, the colonies represented 

 being New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and 

 Queensland. 



Among the subjects considered at the Conference was the 

 development of the export trade in Australasian produce. 

 In this connection it was resolved that steps should be taken 

 to effect a reduction in over-sea freight charges. It was 

 pointed out thai; owing to the keen competition for the 

 world's markets it was necessary to embrace every oppor- 

 tunity of exporting Australian goods at the cheapest possible 

 rate, countries such as the Argentine Republic, the United 

 States, and other exporting countries having an advantage 

 over Australia in this respect. Attention was drawn to the 

 fact that the freight charges represented a very important item, 

 and that if the colonies combined, and ascertained what 



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