1 Juty, 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 9 
regards the Roma-street markets, Brisbane. These markets were supposed to be 
established principally for the convenience of farmers ; but they are so manipulated by 
the auctioneers and dealers that, instead of proving a boon, they are generally 
regarded as a curse to the agricultural industry. Farmers are to be found every- 
where in the humiliating position of having no say in the making of prices for their 
own farm produce. The antics played with the markets by the produce auctioneer and 
dealer everwhelm one’s sense of justice and destroy confidence between buyer and 
seller. ‘Take, for example, what may be called the unnatural and unwarrantable 
fluctuations in the prices of produce which frequently occur. Iam not now referring 
to fluctuations caused by the natural law of supply and demand, which everyone 
knows must always remain the chief factor in regulating prices, but to fluctuations 
caused by the trickery of the middleman to his own advantage and to the great disad- 
vantage of both producer and consumer. Anyone having business atthe Roma-street 
markets will know what I mean when they call to mind the great rises in prices of farm 
roduce, often to an unwarrantable extent, but which fall again, in a day or two, even 
ower than before. ‘This invariably has the effect apparently desired by the produce 
auctioneer and dealer. ‘hat is, it causes farmers to start forward large quantities of 
produce in the hope of catching the big price; but their calculations are doomed, and 
the usual result follows. Farmers are discouraged and again hold back, expecting 
prices to recover and harden. Once more prices take a sudden jump, giving the dealer 
time to get stocks off at.a good figure, but not sufficient time for the farmer to get there 
at all. In this fitful manner have the produce markets in Queensland been con- 
ducted until, as I have said, confidence between buyer and seller no longer 
exists. It should not be necessary to occupy too much space in quoting 
reasons proving the unsatisfactory system of Queensland produce markets as at 
present existing. Every farmer has his own bitter experience. But supposing that 
no charge of unfairness could be brought against the present system, there still 
remains the necessity of bringing the producer and consumer into closer relationship. 
How to achieve this object has long troubled the minds of all who have the true 
interests of agriculture at heart or desire the welfare of the general community. In 
these times of low prices and general depression it must be apparent that agricultural 
produce can no longer support the huge army of middlemen tbat hangs round the neck 
of the agricultural industry like the proverbial millstone. The producer and the 
consumer suffer alike by the connection. The time has arrived when farmers should 
combine to establish markets on such a basis as to bring the producer and consumer 
face to face, and as far as possible do away with the middleman. The present 
Conference should be the proper time to initiate matters in this connection, and, with 
that object in view, I would offer the following suggestion as, in my opinion, calculated 
to meet the case. In making the suggestion, however, I confine myself to the Roma- 
street markets, and desire to leave to representatives of other towns and districts, who 
may know more about their respective requirements than I do, to make what 
suggestions they may deem desirable. I would suggest that the Roma-street markets 
be placed under the control of the Department of Agriculture, with a departmental 
auctioneer, and an efficient staff of assistants; the whole of the salaries to be paid by 
the Department; the Department, however, in order to repay itself, to have the 
power of charging a commission on all sales so that not one shilling expense shall fall 
upon the country.’ The duty of such officer should be to act as general agent 
between buyer and seller, to endeavour to find markets for all surplus produce ; to 
purchase supplies, &c., on account of all farmers ordering same. In short, to 
transact all legitimate business as farmers’ agent. By this means the consumers 
of Brisbane will be able to attend the markets and make their purchases 
“direct from the producer—a matter of impossibility now, as I could easily prove here 
did space permit. Some statements made in the foregoing may be considered too 
sweeping by people unacquainted with the circumstances, who may argue that 
auctioncering should be a fair way of arriving at the true value of produce. With 
that I agree to some extent, provided those engaged in the profession confine them- 
selves strictly to the legitimate functions of an auctioneer. Before concluding this 
paper I desire, on behalf of the Lockyer Agricultural Society, and, I may make bold 
to say, on behalf of farmers generally, to thank the Department of Agriculture and 
_ the Government for the very earnest care bestowed on the agricultural industry during 
the last few years. More has been done for farming in that time than has ever before 
been accomplished during the history of Queensland agriculture. Mauch, however, ° 
remains to be done before this important industry is placed in the position to which 
it is justly entitled. Amongst needed reforms in the agricultural industry there 
are none more pressing than the one to which this, my humble paper, has given, I 
fear, but feeble expression. (Applause.) ‘ 
