53 
thet anything that is feasible will receive most careful consideration from 
everyone connected with the Department. Many think that the field of the 
operations of the Department should be very much wider than we propose 
extending them. My idea of the functions of the Department is that in the 
first place we should be able to give every agriculturist in this colony useful 
information upon any subject bearing upon his business upon which inquiry is 
made. It is for this purpose that we have already secured the services of 
specialists, who need no recommendation from me. I do, however, hope to see 
additional specialists added to our staff. In this great question of agricultural 
education, which you now see exemplified in the establishment of this 
jnstitution, in the carrying on of experiments which cannot be effectively madé 
by private individuals, or even if they can be made, cannot be communicated 
to others with the same facility with which similar experiments carried on by, 
or under the supervision of, the Department can be, and in the promotion of 
combined action to promote common interests in these and other matters you, 
will find the officers of the Department always ready to join and assist in every 
way in their power. If they were not to do so they would not be performing 
the duty they owed to the country. I do not think, however, there will be 
much cause for complaint in this respect. In fact, I sometimes fear that the 
Department may go too fast for the conservative character which has always 
been attributed to the agricultural class the world over. 
In conclusion, gentlemen, I may say that personally I feel very flattered 
and proud that you-have responded to our invitation. 1 trust that our mutual 
intercourse will be productive not merely of substantial good for the agricul- 
tural industry of Queensland, but that it may promote feelings of fellowship — 
and kinship, and a unity of interest among the farmers of Queensland in the 
Fast and the West, the North and the South, so that in the future they may 
be able to have some means of understanding clearly and distinctly the aims 
and wishes of the different classes of farmers all over the colony, and that 
they may be able to make their voices heard and their wishes and wants known, 
so that those who desire to assist them may be able to do so in a helpful and 
practical manner. 
GENERAL BUSINESS. 
Mr. Tuynne then informed the meeting that it was proposed, at the 
conclusion of the Conference on the forenoon of the 12th instant, in order to 
give those delegates who desired it an opportunity of visiting the Darling 
Downs, that they should be taken by train to Toowoomba in the afternoon of 
that day, and after tea go on to Warwick by special train. They would sleep 
there, and proceed on the morning of the 183th to Killarney, and on the way 
inspect the recently established State farm at the Hermitage, returning to 
Brisbane the same evening at half-past 10. 
Mr. Lenry (Ingham) congratulated and thanked the Minister and his 
Department for the splendid arrangements that had been made for the benefit 
of the delegates. The trip to Killarney and the Downs would give many of 
the delegates their first opportunity of secing this celebrated cotintry, and, 
consequently, besides being enjoyable, it could not be otherwise than instructive 
to them. ‘There was certainly philosophy in doing and secing as muéh as they 
could. 
~ On the suggestion of Mr. P. McLean, Under Secretary for Agriculture, 
Messrs. Lely, Denman, Whiteley, Wells, Wilson, and Hoggan were appointed 
a committee to bring up recommendations for discussion at future sessions. 
~ Mr. Hoggan was appointed convener of the committee. The session then 
adjourned. : 
_ SECOND SESSION. 
On resuming business at 2°15 p.m., Mr. Titynne announced that he had 
been requested, on behalf of some of the delegates who were interested in 
sugar cultivation, to say that all such gentlemen were invited to meet in the 
secretary's room at 7 a.m. on the following morning. The, recommendation, 
