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! 
thought they in Queensland could take it as a compliment that their late 
Governor and present Agent-General had been chosen to take such a prominent — 
part in such an investigation. In view of this commission, it would probably 
be most judicious for them to wait and see what its final recommendations and 
suggestions really were. They would then have facts and’ figures on whieh 
they could thoroughly rely. Next year he hoped that another Farmers 
Conference would be held, and then their friends from the sugar districts 
would be perfectly right in bringing forward such a resolution as the one 
proposed, but at present he thought they hardly had enough information at 
their command to justify them in passing it now. 
Mr. J. B. Srerurns (Pialba) endorsed the Chairman’s remarks. The 
present Conference could hardly be said to thoroughly represent the sugat 
industry, and in other respects it would not be altogether wise for them to 
push themselves forward in this matter. 
cy Mr. Wirrt1am Deacon (Allora) said he would like to see something done 
in the matter. He sympathised a good deal with the object of the resolution, 
because the sugar-growers in the British colonies were fighting a most insidious 
‘attempt at monopoly. ‘The effect of the bounties in Continental Europe was 
not to assist beet sugar, but simply to crush the cane sugar. Jamaica was 
already almost practically ruined, but there was a feeling in England that 
something should be done for the colonies, and that Great Britain should not 
assist foreign countries to help to crush colonial industries. The only objection 
a the proposal was that it interfered with the internal affairs of the United 
Kingdom. : 
__-Mr. J. Lery said there was nothing of a dictatorial character in the res0- 
lution. It simply said, the Conference supported a suggestion that had been 
made in England. The hands of such men as Lord Salisbury and Mr. 
_ Chamberlain were not likely to be forced, and he, of course, knew they would 
use their own judgment in their dealings with foreign countries; but while the 
statesmen of England openly and boldly talked of an Imperial Zollverei, 
and while the British Government were trying to encourage colonial enter- 
prises, it seemed somewhat like throwing cold water on this tendency when 
_ they refused to assist a project which was being instituted for their benefit. In 
the meantime the West Indian sugar-planters were being ruined, and although 
they in Queensland—thanks to the Colonial Sugar Refining Company—had & 
protected market, the question was one that was ultimately bound to force 
itself upon them. If the present Conference passed the resolution, it would 
show those in England interested in colonial expansion, that Queensland was 
' interested in the movement.in question. Sir Hugh Nelson was at present m 
England, and he had been informed the matter would be brought before this 
Conference. The present was, therefore, an opportune time to pass the 
resolution, and, moreover, time would be gained by taking action now. 
Mr. J. E. Noaxes (Wide Bay) said he sympathised with what Mr. 
_ Thynne had said. They were asking Great Britain to take off a duty on some 
articles and place it on another. his, he thought, interfered with the internal 
affairs of Great Britain. They might ask that country, however, to impose & 
duty on bounty-fed beet sugar. 
Mr. J. V. Cuaraway, M.L.A., contributed several valuable and interesting 
_ details relative to what had already been done in England and the West Indies 
in connection with this sugar bounty question. 
~ Mr. Wirr1am Deacon then proposed, and Mr. Movunpay seconded, 
that the discussion be postponed until the following day; but Mr. SruckeY 
suggested that it would be as well to thrash the matter out that evening. _ 
on Mr. E. Swayne (Mackay) said he was rather inclined to agree with 
Mr. Thynne in the matter. A commission had been appointed to investigate 
it, and he thought it would be as well to wait for more information before 
endorsing any particular line of action. It was quite possible the commission 
would be able to discover some better way out of the difficulty than the one 
a proposed. j 
