818 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICUL rURlSt. 
[June 2, 1902. 
Coming; to a ceneral review of (iueensland, I 
should lii-st of ail like to iiir'ntiui. t lie fact that 
throughout liv.iiry of the ilill' rent Stat' s it 
was always* coacetlecl. by the southern Slates, t.hai, 
Qaeenslr^Dci was destined to become the iiche.sf. 
and mo-t laosperous in Australia. It has such 
an enoiniovis variety of sources of wealth ; its 
agriculiuiJil products a'oue would talce long to 
enunieraie, drawn as tliey are from the subtropi- 
cal and tropical zmes. In f^'id privately 
to me, has this oiteu been allowed ; and I believe 
that the future will prove the estimate to be a true 
one. For my part (and here again I have had the 
support of outside opinion), I Ijelieve its Govern- 
ments have always been amongst the most patriotic 
and far-sighted- in other words, the most state:-- 
manlike. I think it proved not only by internal 
policy, but e?;terna] as well. As regards the former, 
the civil administration is on a better basis than 
can be said of some of the other States. And in 
my opinion the officials are better instructed. I 
could give an instance of this fiom events which 
occurred after the dechiration of the Common- 
wealth. Sir Samuel Griffi'.h, the present Lieut. 
Governor and Chief Justice of Queenslaiul, is, to 
a large extent, responsible for this satisfRCiory 
position, as also for tlie codification of the crimi- 
nal law. The Government accounts are well 
kept, and, thanks to a prudent ivieasure passed by 
Sir Hugh l^clson, the surplus of any one year is 
automatically handed over for the discharge of 
public debt. Thus, it is the wish of every Trea- 
surer to pay every account possible before sti iking 
his annual balance on June 30, andnotto allow 
an accumulation of arrears by parading a large 
surplus as regards extemal affairs. Successive 
Prime Ministers have invariably shown themselves 
large-minded in dealing with British New Guinea, 
and Governors have never lacked support in carry- 
ing out their i.olicy despite its complex system of 
adTninistration, even though, now and again, 
there has been some little pressure applied to 
exploit the possession more in the interest of the 
Avhitenian than that of its o^vn inhabitants. The 
recruiting of the Kanaka labourers has been car- 
ried out with the greatest humanity. As I have 
already stated, Acts have been passed to improve 
the condition of the aborigines. Adhesion was given 
to the treaty with Japan, by which the influx 
of Japanese is placed under control. In this 
matter Queensland stood alone amongst the States, 
as I believe she alone, de>pite the financial 
depression, has not reduced the salary of the 
Governor under the Federation. Her regard for her 
position as a State entity would not risk the 
decline that might result from reducing the posi- 
tion of its head. She was the first of all the 
Colonies to offer troops for service in South Africa 
before the war broke out, She has a system of 
local government; this decentralisation of business 
and handing over responsibility to local autho- 
rities must tend to a truer appreciation and 
recognition for the proper supervision of the duties 
of the government of a country. The admirable 
lighting of its coast for 1,200 miles is most 
creditable for a population now, todaj', only 
numbering half a million. She was always fore- 
most in n)airitainipg the Federal (Council, in 
erecting Fideral torts, and in maintaining and 
Hujjplying Federal garrisons. She was urgent, 
too, in the matter of the Paciiic cable, and, 
rierliaps, though a small point, I cannot 
better prove what I mean by the broad and 
ttateenaanlike attitude of (inoeusland than by men- 
tioning that she alone of Ihe Austia'ian States 
gHve £!,000 to the cost of the Aii:,".iciic Expedition, 
though, presumably, tlie State le.ist diiectly in- 
tereFtf/i'. 
lin-se consiiieratioMs make one's sympaihies the 
ktener for (taeenslaud under its present disagree- 
able circum-tances. i ha uncertainty of tlie opera- 
tion of the Federal taritf hampers its trade. With- 
out discussing the merit s or deniei its of ihe Kanaka 
question, it is hard that, at a time when nature has 
Sorely troubled the country by lack of rain, a pros- 
I'crous industry should be threatened wiih extinc- 
tion. At least such is the opinion of those who 
have given their labour and money to it. Even if 
their fears are tx.aggerated, one can teel for the 
men who have develope(', and so have the real 
stake in, the country, whilst we can feel for the 
Govcrnuient who have aided them in their enter- 
pris'-, and on whom these anxious fears must re act 
in the sense of a threatened loss of security for 
capital, and in a diuiinulion of revenue. Queens- 
land went grudgingly into Federation, knowing her 
conditions and characteristics were unlike the rest 
of Australia, and might not be recognised. It must 
lie unpleasant for the lesponsible authorities to find 
their fears were to a certain extent justified. 
Before I conclude, I must refer to what, to me, as 
the C')nscitutional chief of the State, was the most 
agreeable feature— viz., the deep-iooted attachment 
that is pnteriaiiied to the Sovereign of this 
Empire— H.M. the King. [ used often to marvel, 
when visiting some distant lonely settlement, to 
find how fervent was the loyalty, even amongst 
people tliat one would suppose so remotely situated 
as to lose a sense of sucli ties. \V hat a wonderful 
work has been accomplished by one remarkable 
peisonality ! I speak of our late Queen. How 
her bright shining goodne.'s and sense of respon- 
sibility have gained an influence, widespread 
and deep, in these hearts and minds —an influence 
strengthened by the recent journey of Their Koyal 
Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of AVales, 
which is well known to have been sanctioned by 
Her late Majesty! Being privileged to remain in 
Queensland in order to receive Their Koyal High- 
nesses, I know something of the impression 
created by their visit, when they showed such 
pleasure in becoming acquainted with as many 
people as time would allow, and in informing 
themselves of everything that concerned the 
commerce, politics, and life of the greatdependency. 
The fruits of these inquiries we have seen in the 
remarkable speech of H.U H. the Prince of Wales 
at the Guildhall, a speech that is often referred 
to and quoted. 
Before I sit down let me repeat my openiag 
observation with regard to a general account of 
Queensland. Nothing of the kind has been 
attempted here. I have merely touched upon some 
matters that often engaged my attention during 
the happy years that Lady Lamington and myself 
spent in a country to which our thoughts often 
revert, and toward which the best wishes of our 
hearts will ever go forth. 
The Paper was illustrated by a series 0/ 
Lantern Vicivs. 
The Chairman (The Earl of Onslow, g.cm.G.):— 
I am sorry I must leave now, in order to catch a 
train, but Lord Brassey, formerly Governor 
of Victoria, has kindly conseiited to take iriy 
place. 
The Chairman (Lord Brassey, k.c.b.) will 
now conclude the proceedings in the usual way 
by tendering on your behalf a most hearty vate of 
