1 Mar., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 179 
CHEAP MACHINERY FOR FARMERS. 
On his way to the Stanthorpe Show, the Hon. A. J. Thynne, late Minister for 
Agriculture, took the opportunity of meeting the Headington Hill selectors at 
Clifton, in order to ascertain from personal discourse with them, in what 
manner the department could be of assistance to them in their new life. One 
of the first requisites was timber for building and fencing. He suggested that 
the selectors should agree amongst themselves, name the quantity and kind of 
timber required, and the department would get tenders called for it. The 
Railway Commissioner had already, at his instigation, agreed to make reduc- 
tions if the timber were carried in bulk. Having brought the matter to that 
pitch, he left it in their hands, but if the assistance of an officer of the depart- 
ment was required one would be sent. In the matter of obtaining implements 
he also invited action to be taken. He had been urged repeatedly to get the 
Agricultural Department to go in for importing machines. But he said 
emphatically, no; and while he was in the department he would oppose it. 
The work of the department was finished when it showed the people the best 
way of doing things. It would be the greatest mistake for a department to 
go intv a private business like that. At the same time, the cost of many 
implements was too great for most farmers. It had been pointed out by 
him that American farmers could get reapers and binders, for instance, at 
about £18 or £20, while here the cost was over £50. He promised that 
those here would soon get them at a price very little beyond that to 
the Americans, and this without the department going into the business. 
He had made inquiries of Smellie and Co., of ‘Brisbane, of the reason 
they gave up. importing these machines, and ascertained that it cost as 
much to sell the machines in Queensland as it did to import them. This 
arose from the numbers of trials and experiments carried out, which had 
to be added to the cost price. This firm—and others would no doubt do the 
same—had assured him that, making the usual charge of 5 per cent., they could 
land reapers and binders in Queensland for £27 10s., the saving being due to 
the absence of cost ordinarily entailed in taking the machines over the country 
+o sell them. Even if the department went into the business it could not do it 
less than this. Those who were now ploughing could get the machines in time 
for harvesting. The details would have to be arranged by the farmers 
themselves. ‘The orders would have to be accompanied by 25 per cent. of the 
money; the remainder would have to be paid on arrival of the machines. The 
same arrangements could be made about other machinery. There should be no 
more statements about the excessive prices of machinery ; the remarks in the 
past had arisen from the want of commercial knowledge on the part of the 
farmers. In this matter also the assistance of an officer of the department 
would be at the disposal of the farmers. He hoped to show that the 
department to which he was attached had foremost the interests of the farmers, 
‘as it should. He pointed out that when the machines were ordered they would 
have to be taken in their original packages, and if the selectors could not put 
them together they would have to get assistance. When ordering, too, car- 
loads of nine or twelve would have to be ordered, because that would. affect 
the saving in freight on the American railways, otherwise the cost would exceed 
£27 10s. by £1 or £1 5s. The fact was set forward as a concrete benefit of 
co-operation. In connection with the disposal of the grain, he pointed out how 
inconvenient was the present method, and advocated the erection of an elevator, 
which would not only load the produce cheaper and quicker, but would grade it, 
and lead to a better method of selling it. He did not favour the proposal to 
erect mills, but thought elevators, on the method adopted in America, would 
meet all requirements of the case. He had no doubt, if sufficient inducement 
offered, the Railway Department would erect one of these elevators at Clifton. 
