20 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAN. [1 Jury, 1898. 
suggestion of the Logan Farming and Industrial Association (who are in sympathy 
with us), it was decided to submit the subject to the Rockhampton Conference to be 
there discussed, if agreeable. The anomaly referred to is this: Wheat is bought 
from the farmer by the miller per the imperial bushel; but the flour is sold at per ton 
of 2,000 lb. instead of the imperial ton of 2,240 1b. We know that it is a trade custom 
to call 2,000 lb. of flour a ton; but we see no reason why it should be so, any more 
than a ton of poiatoes or coal. We argue that if flour is sold per cental, wheat should 
be bought on the same basis, and vice versd. Furthermore, it is considered the price 
of flour is notin fair proportion to the price paid for wheat—that is, that the farmer 
gets too little for his wheat, and the consumer is charged too much for the flour. In 
support of this contention I would refer you to the May number of the Queensland 
Agricultural Journal, where, under the heading ‘‘ The Wagga Co-operative Mill,” it is 
shown the consumer is charged £2 per ton extra and the farmer gets 9d. per bushel too 
little for his wheat. However, the article will explain itself. It has also been brought 
to the notice of the association that Australian flour has been quoted in Lordon at 
25s. per 280-lb. bag, or £10 per imperial ton, and in Australia similar flour has been 
uoted at the same price per ton of 2,000 lb. This association considers that such 
dineeencauanoula not exist, and it is on that account that kindred associations have 
been communicated with, with the view of endeavouring to get an equalisation and 
abolishing the present anomaly. Thanking you in anticipation, and trusting that you 
will have a successful conference. P.S.—I regret very much that our association 
could not send a delegate tospeak on the matter; but our association is only newly 
formed, so funds would not permit it. ; 
Mr. W. BR. Twryt (Wallumbilla) stated that ever since the time old Adam 
had been sent to earn his living by the sweat of his brow, farmers had had 
disabilities to contend with. Mention had been made of the delinquencies of 
the middteman, but personally he had never found him as black as he was 
painted. Still, however, he knew of several anomalies in the present auction 
system. He once watched the sale of aconsignment of grapesin the Brisbane 
market. The auctioneer put them up at so much the case. A. final bid was 
accepted, and the purchaser was allowed to take away a certain number of 
cases. The auctioneer then stated that the balance of the cases of the con- 
signment could be had at the same rate as the cases just sold. This he thought 
was not fair to the grower. However, he felt certain there were plenty of 
honest auctioneers. Farmers asked for cash for their produce, but auctioneers 
often had to book and take a certain amount of risk. The greatest assistance 
the Agricuitural Department could give to farmers would be to induce them to 
co-operate. Co-operation was the whole soul of the cause they had in view, 
and so long as it was not attended to, so long would farmers suffer from the 
disabilities referred to. Again, the various farmers’ associations throughout 
the colony should form definite lines of action, and the associations could 
mutually assist each other. The present railway freights of the colony 
required altering, and in this connection he would mention grapes from Roma 
to Toowoomba. By the mail train a charge of 3s. 8d. per cwt. was made, but 
if ‘the fruit went by the goods train the freight was only 1s. 1d. per ewt. 
It was said grapes would hamper the mail train, but the difficulty could be met 
by limiting the quantity of grapes tobe sent. It would certainly be of material 
assistance if growers were allowed to send some of their grape crop to market 
by the mail train. As for the difference between the standard weights of 
wheat and flour, he had also been asked to bring the matter forward. Flour 
was sold at 2,000 Ib. to the ton, which made a 10 per cent. difference, and for 
which he could see no reason. As for the difference between the price of 
wheat and that of flour, that was a matter between the millers and the public, 
If the latter allowed the millers to charge too much for their flour, it was their 
own fault. The freight on flour from Toowoomba to Yuelba, 180 miles, was 
£1 per ton, this comparatively low charge being made in order to catch the 
border traffic. From the Roma mill to Yuelba, only 87 miles, the freight on . 
flour was 10s. per ton, and, notwithstanding the border traffic, he considered 
this was an injustice. It was unjust to the producer, as it naturally affected 
the price of wheat inthe Roma district. He, too, thought farmers’ associations 
should assist in the collection of agricultural statistics. With regard to some 
