1 Fes., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 108 
erroneous idea that our climate is unsuitable for the production of an article 
of sufficient excellence for the London market, but, thank goodness, this idex 
was exploded long ago; and since the first shipment of butter to London in 
1893, farmers have given marked attention to every branch of the industry-~ 
Unfortunately, owing to the ravages of ticks in the Northern parts of the 
colony, progress has been confined to the Southern parts alone. However, 
after four years’ experience in the North, I see no reason why the industry 
should not be developed there. The facilities for shipping from the North are 
equally as advantageous as those of this part of Queensland; and all that is 
needed to bring the business to a successful issue in North Queensland is a 
proper system of aération of milk, and the aid of refrigerating appliances to 
carry out the manufacturing. If such methods were adhered to, I see no 
reason why Northern and Central Queensland should not become large 
exporters of dairy produce. 
Granting that a great deal of progress has been made of late, it must not 
be forgotten that there still remains a great deal more to be done, not only in 
the improvement and feeding of dairy stock, but also in the treatment and 
handling of milk and cream and transit by rail and by water. If every 
recaution be exercised by those producing the raw material, and the article 
ecomes impaired for the want of proper accommodation during transit, the 
special attention given in one direction is all lost. ” 
If the farmers of this colony were to assist each other by the aid of 
co-operation, they would be far more successful. The producers are the people 
who deserve consideration, and, if solidly united, their reasonable demands 
would surely be complied with. In Denmark, at the present time, there are 
over 1,000 co-operative dairies and farmers’ associations, and the Danes rightly 
maintain that large co-operative bodies reduce the cost of manufacturing very 
considerably. Co-operation also offers greater inducement to the farmers to 
exercise more care in handling the raw material. I am quite confident that it 
is only a matter of time until actual necessity will compel the farmers to 
co-operate, and ship their own goods without the aid of outside capitalists. 
A great deal of State assistance has been rendered the industry of late, 
but it must be remembered that we are not exporting bounty-fed butter as 
some people imagine. The assistance given to dairy factories, and the bonus 
paid on butter exported, does not come out of the pockets of the general tax- 
payer. Quite the contrary. Under the provisions of “ The Meat and Dairy 
Encouragement Acts, 1893 to 1894,” the dairymen are taxed to subscribe a fund 
for the encouragement of the exportation of dairy produce. This tax amounts to 
15s. for every 100 head of dairy cattle, with 10 per cent. added from the meat 
fund. Consequently it is actually the milk-producers who are called upon to 
pay the bonus and subsidies on all factories built under the Act. Under the 
above Act, up to the present time £3,232 17s. 4d. has been paid away in bonuses 
on butter exported, and £6,389 15s. 1d. towards subsidising factories. One 
co-operative factory only participated in the bonus. Of course the subsidy on 
buildings and appliances is only lent, and will in due time be collected with 
interest added. , 
Although the dairymen were called upon and subscribed the money under 
this Act, I am sure good results have accrued therefrom, especially in opening 
up an export trade, and in assisting men of small means. 
In my opinion, there is a matter that is of greater importance to the 
farmers of this colony than a dairy produce bonus, and one which demands the 
immediate consideration of our legislators, and that is an establishment of a 
dep6t in London, whereby a thorough system of distribution of Queensland 
roducts could be carried out. At the present time, we are actually in the 
hands of traders, who, as every person knows, invest their capital with the 
view of obtaining big dividends. Place anyone of us in the same position, 
and I am quite sure we should do likewise. 
