57 
reduce these imposing figures to something comprebensible and understood by 
most of us—let us reduce the ounces to tons—12,000,000 oz. is not quite 800 
tons, so that the first thing that strikes us is that the whole of the gold 
produced in Queensland would not provide half-a-cargo for the smallest 
steamer on our coast for one trip, nor would it give more than a day’s employ- — 
ment to the wharf labourers. 1 am not in a position to give the total output 
of sugar in Queensland, but, thanks to the Sugar Journal, I can do so for ten 
years, the figures being from official sources. ‘The total output of sugar for 
those ten years (some of them exceedingly bad ones) was 630,000 tons, with 
1,300,000 gallons of ram and 10,000,000 gallons of molasses—the whole worth 
at least £10,000,000. Surely these figures will prove that as a provider of 
work the sugar industry has no peer, and I wish to point out particularly 
that, whereas the gold figures extend over thirty years, the sugar figures are 
confined to ten only. Queensland has produced £40,000,000 worth of gold, 
but her goldfields are the poorer by that amount. ‘The sugar-fields, which in 
ten years have produced £10,000,000 worth of sugar, could and would with 
fair treatment produce £20,000,000 in the next ten years ; and Imake this 
statement with some knowledge of the capabilities of land, having served my 
apprenticeship upon an estate where cane had been grown continuously for 
200 years. 
It was at one time thought that fruit-growing would replace cane culti-. 
vation, but, as a large fruit-grower at one time, my experience is that when 
sugar-growing flourished fruit-growing prospered, but I am certain that fruit- 
growing and all other subsidiary industries together will never approach sugar 
in importance. Now, gentlemen, although I am here as tho representative of 
a sugar district, my thoughts are not so wrapped up in that industry, important 
as it is, that I cannot extend my sympathies to anyone outside it. The 
Pioneer River Farmers’ Association can and does extend its sympathies to 
brother farmers in the South in the terrible losses they in common with us 
experienced from drought and flood. Our sympathies extend to agriculture 
generally, and it is our great aim to sce agriculture raised to the high and 
important position it should hold, and I do hope that we shall now make such 
- suggestions that the Minister for Agriculture will, from our rough-hewn ideas, 
be able to perfect such measures as will help to free the farmers from some of 
the difficulties inseparable from their calling. 
The possibilities of agriculture are great. Look at Chicago! What 
built that city? Her grain clevators—her splendid buildings—her immense 
Pere industries? It was agriculture; and it is agriculture which should 
uild our cities, our railways, and our harbours. 
' Jn conclusion, I think the cause of agriculture would be greatly assisted 
if a somewhat higher education could be had at the College without the 
necessity of sending country lads to the cities to obtain it. ‘There they acquire 
city habits and city ideas. When they return home a farming life is distasteful 
to them. They cannot take to it, and yet every avenue to city life for which 
they may be fitted is hopelessly overcrowded. Agriculture as a profession is 
in Queensland capable of vast improvement, and we have in this College to-day 
a token that the head of this Department thinks so. We have, in this 
assembly of delegates from all parts of Queensland, unmistakable evidence that 
the farmers think so themselves. 2 
We expect much, and I am sure we shall not be disappointed, from the 
Minister for Agriculture. He, too, has a right to expect something from us. 
He has asked us to give him our sympathy and support, and I trust all here 
will do so, not only in their own interests but in the ee interests of the most 
ancient, the most honourable, but, L regret to say, at present the most depressed, 
of all professions—A griculture. eee 
_ In reply to a question of Mr. Moulday’s (Allora), Mr. Denman said 
they could not successfully grow sugar without black labour. That was 
his opinion after thirty-three years’ experience. A friend of his (Mr, 
