14 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jury, 1898. 
was presented by an official with an account for which payment was demanded. In 
reply to his inquiries, he was informed it was the amount of the tax for living in the 
interior of the country. By the help of a little reasoning and some strong rhetoric, 
he just managed to evade the tax. I sometimes think our generaily high railway 
freights really amount to a tax upon us for living in the interior. If one lives, say, 
200 miles from a port, he is, in the matter of treights, on an average two or three 
times further away from that port than the port is from London or New York. My 
friend Mr. Lamb, who represents the Eastern Downs Association at this Conference, 
imported a traction engine and threshing plant a few months ago; but failing to get 
sullicient concessions from the railway he engineered it over the Range to Warwick 
himself by road. The Railway Commissioner found it expedient to make considerable 
concessions to the settlers who have just taken up Jand on Headington Hill. Could not 
the same concessions be made to those farmers who have borne the burden and the heat 
of the day? Of course I shall be told that the railways must be made to pay. I am 
doubtful, however, whether high freights ever made any railway pay, and | am sure 
of this—that the most prosperous countries are those whose internal communication 
is good and cheap. Itis from those countries that producers meet formidable and 
successful competition. Now I come to the particular products—namely, Queensland 
wheat and flour—in the freight of which my society think alterations could be made 
so as to materially promote wheat-growing. A few years ago flour made from 
Queensland wheat was carried on the railways at a much cheaper rate than other flour. 
Then our flour entered new markets and almost banished other flour from them, wheat 
was eagerly bought up, and the industry of growing it was making rapid strides; but, 
for some reason or other, the concession was withdrawn, and the industry received a 
decided check. Queensland this year has not grown more than one-third of the wheat 
it requires for its own consumption, yet one would think from the difficulty of selling 
it, and from the stocks the farmers have been compelled to hold over—and would still 
have to hold over were it not for the war—that there was a large surplus in the 
country. Iam informed by one of the most experienced millers in the colony that, 
were tle same rates in force for flour made from home-grown wheat as formerly, the 
farmers this season would have obtained 6d. per bushel more for their wheat, and 
every bushel of it would have been snapped up Jong ago. At present the millers 
cannot get into what I may term the prejudiced markets, and they say, “ Only let us 
get into those markets on preferential terms, and we will soon dispose of the prejudice.” 
Hopes have been held out that when the system of railways is completed, by the 
construction of the Gladstone-Rockhampton line, concessions will probably be made 
for trainloads of any agricultural produce to the Central line. The sooner there is a 
chance of these hopes being realised the better. ‘The following is a comparison of the 
rates for flour without discrimination on the Queensland and New South Wales 
railways :— : 
Freight for Queensland. ' New South Wales. 
50 miles 015 7 (he 7 
100 miles ital 013 0 
150 miles ive (0) 018.0 
200 miles 28 0 LZ 3 
300 miles 33 0° mt 
400 miles 318 0 115 8 
Queensland charges 12s. 6d. per ton to Brisbane (port) for 154 miles for 
4-ton loads. New South Wales (towards port), 50 miles, 5s. 2d.; 100 miles, 
8s. 2d.; 150 miles, 9s. 10d.; 200 miles, 10s. 7d.; 300 miles, 12s, 7d.; and 400 
miles, 13s. 6d. for 6-ton loads. I am informed that the rates for wheat and 
flour are practically the same in New South Wales. I may mention that, as a 
Special concession, we in our district are only charged 9s. 9d. per ton for flour to 
oowoomba, something over fifty miles. Now f£ have seen it contended in reports and 
newspapers that Queensland freight rates bear favourable comparison with those of 
New South Wales. In fact, it has been said that in many cases ours are lower; but 
flour is generally given a wide berth in these reports. Is there any reason why 
freight on flour should be more than 100 per cent. higher in Queensland than in New 
South Wales? I am not concerned with any but Queensland flour, and I contend 
that it might be carried at New South Wales rates, if not lower. With regard to 
foreign flour, I do not, of course, ask for any reduction on that. That is no concern 
of mine, but rather of the foreigners. I am informed that the scheme is impractic- 
able; _but I do not see why it should be so now more than it was formerly. The 
