483 
thought the proposition really quite uncontentious and re- 
commended it to he passed unanimously by the Meeting. 
Mr. Skinner seconds the motion. 
Mr. Baxendale supports the proposition and mentions 
that, if a precedent was required, there are a good one in 
the Australian Colonies where obnoxious weeds such as 
Bathurst burr, etc., were legislated against. 
Mr. J. Gibson thinks that in bringing up this question 
he believes Mr. Harrison had had in his mind the native 
holdings. There was of course a certain amount of disease 
on European Estates, but that had always been kept well in 
hand so far. The danger were the small holdings without 
supervision, that might act as regular breeding places of 
disease. These were the places that only Government 
could effectively deal with, and Government should be 
asked to do this; as for their, own Estates, they were fully 
alive to the necessity of looking after their danger spots. 
The resolution is then put to the vote and carried un- 
animously. 
VII. Mr. Pears rises to propose an addition to the 
motion, just passed, as follows: 
“That this Association advise its Constituent x\ssoci- 
ations to procure the services of a mycologist of their own.” 
Mr. Pears considers that most planters were suffering 
from ignorance. Every one must be taught: managers, 
assistants, and even head coolies. A mycologist could show 
them what was wrong and teach them tlie symptoms of a 
disease. The only thing was to get immediate knowledge 
of a thing and stop it at once. By a small initial yearly 
expense the trouble could be nipped in the bud. After all, 
the expense of a mycologist was only about £1,000 per 
annum, which, was a mere trifle, compared with the interest 
at stake. He spoke from experience, as they had had a 
mycologist of their own on Lanadron, and he would urge 
them all to follow their example. 
Mr. Skinner seconds the motion. 
Mr. Cummin g agrees that the question was a very im- 
portant one and involved a great number of interests. No 
one had had time to think it out except Mr. Pears. They 
had to consider the shareholders!’ interests. It was easy 
enough for the big companies, but it might fall hardly on 
the small planters. The Department of the Director of 
Agriculture was doing excellent service, but it was clearly 
understaffed. With regard to tlie District Associations, 
the amount of worry in getting even subscriptions paid was 
immense, and he did not know what it would be if the sub- 
