SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
member of the Special Committee, visited various parts of Queensland, and 
obtained the seed of suitable varieties; he considers that a suitable type of 
cotton of equal value to the intractable types can be cultivated successfully. 
As regards the machine picker, previous inventions have usually been operated 
on the air suction principle, similar to the working of a vacuum cleaner. The 
Committee has, however, come to the conclusion that steam is likely to be not 
only economical, but also more effective than air. A design for a machine has 
been got out as a result of the experimental work, and small areas of tractable 
cotton have been planted in the vicinity of Brisbane, for the purpose of carrying 
out field tests. With that object, the Committee in Brisbane is arranging to 
have an experimental machine constructed. It should be mentioned that, owing 
to adverse weather conditions, the experimental plots wear Brisbane have not 
been entirely successful. 
6. The possibility of establishing the cotton growing industry in Australia on 
an economic basis will, of course, depend on the securing of markets at a profit- 
able price. It is stated that the Queensland cotton is of very high quality. 
Large quantities of canvas, dungarees, and other cotton materials required for 
the equipment of the Australian Naval and Military Forces are imported into 
Australia. The imports of cotton goods give some idea of the magnitude of the 
total requirements of the Commonwealth, the total value of the cotton piece goods 
imported in 1913 being over £3,000,000. In addition, raw cotton to the value of 
over £20,000, as well as large quantities of cotton wearing apparel and other 
cotton goods, were imported. The general rate of duty on cotton piece goods 1s 
5 per cent., with a preferential tariff (free) to the United Kingdom. No cotton 
spinning or weaving is carried on in Australia, and the establishment of cotton 
manufacturing industries must depend very largely on fiscal consideration, a 
matter which is outside the purview of the Institute of Science and Industry. 
The Queensland Cotton Manufacturing Company closed down its works at 
Kast Ipswich, Queensland, after a period of five years, partly owing to insufli- 
cient capital, but mainly to the fact that the company, having devoted its efforts 
largely to the manufacture of towels (on which there was an import duty of 
15 per cent.), the importers of cotton goods found that by importing towels in 
bolts, the selvedge being uncut, the material was classed as “ piece goods,” and 
admitted duty free. 
7. The Executive Committee experienced difficulty in obtaining in Australia 
the opinion and advice of properly qualified experts on the whole subject, the 
knowledge available in Australia being almost entirely local and empirical. In 
September, 1916, the Committee communicated with the British Department of 
Scientific and Industrial Research, setting out the facts of the case, and asking 
whether any person possessing the requisite qualifications would be readily 
obtainable to visit Australia and report, not only on the growing and picking of 
the cotton, but also on its marketing. The British authorities stated, in reply, that. 
it did not then appear practicable to secure the services of an expert from Great 
Britain to visit Australia for the purpose proposed. The Department stated 
that the Chairman of the British Cotton Growing Association, who was confi- 
dentially consulted, said that his association would probably be able to take the 
necessary steps with regard to the marketing of Australian cotton, and that. 
owing to long experience his association was exceptionally qualified to deal with. 
small lots of new crops. 
8. In May, 1917, the Executive Committee wrote a similar letter to Mr. F. 
Taylor, Cotton Technologist, Department of Agriculture, U.S.A., asking if the 
services of an expert could be obtained to advise on the matter indicated. Tn. 
his reply, Mr. Taylor made the following comments:— 
“We have no information to justify a belief in this manner (i.e., mechanical. 
cotton pickers) of solving the labour problems in regard to cotton production. 
either in Queensland or elsewhere. It does not appear that the cost of pick- 
ing should be prohibitive if the natural conditions are in reality eminently 
suitable for the production of a cotton crop. . .. .” 
“It is a mistake to suppose that cheap tropical labour is necessary for 
cotton production if good yields are obtained. Our experience in the Salt. 
River Valley of Arizona indicated that few crops are more responsive to 
intelligent handling than cotton. J 
Mr. Taylor also said that the yield of cotton in Australia, as shown by the: 
statistics, indicated either very unfavorable conditions or inferior methods. He: 
said that the sending of qualified men by his Department to study the production 
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