1 Ave., 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 101 
worth of sugar more than we can ourselves consume. If we can do this and have a profit 
‘onthe transaction, the colony at large benefits. If we cannot, the whole of our population 
sharesin thelossresulting fromland going outof cultivation andthe consequent decrease 
in money circulated. Toaid us in producing cheaply, various factors, most of which are 
best obtained by combined action, are necessary. ‘he necessary capital for reproductive 
work obtainableat a low rate of interest, with its repayment spread over a term of years, is 
one. As instances where Government assistance in this respect has largely increased 
areas under cultivation and in other ways improved agricultural operations, I might 
mention the 1846 Drainage Act of Britain, and our own Sugar Works Guarantee 
Act, to the last of which we chiefly owe the sudden anticipated increase in our sugar 
output. Labour is another, and, in tropical agriculture especially, one of the most 
important requisites to the end we have in view. Our competitors, both in Europe 
and elsewhere, have itin sufficient quantity, reliable, and at a reasonable rate of wages. 
Tf we are to hold our own with them in the open market, we must have the same. In 
many branches of agriculture there is a very large difference between the price 
received by the growers and that paid by the consumers, and co-operative efforts to 
secure to the former part of this margin would enable us to better our position without 
increasing prices. For this we must organise. Asan example of what can be done in 
this respect, we have Denmark, which, by co-operation, has made herself, as a purely 
agricultural country, one of the wealthiest in Europe. The improvement in the quality 
of our articles and the richness of ourraw material, such as sugar-cane, are other means 
towards success, and here State experiment farms are necessary. We have also 
legislative requirements, to procure which, mutual assistance is desirable, amongst 
which I might mention Acts dealing with drainage water; affording protection from 
fraud in the purchase of manures; securing an efficient inspection of all weigh- 
bridges on which agricultural produce is sold; and securing to the producers check 
weighmen or agents acting on their behalf a legal standing at stills and factories 
where their produce is sold; and many other laws connected solely with our calling. 
Besides, in these days of class legislation, we should be prepared to act unitedly on 
general questions, for I believe that amongst the greatest misfortunes that can befall 
us are sudden changes of policy on the part of our rulers. ‘Those branches of our 
industry supplying local requirements may be crippled by changes in the tariff, &c., 
while those that may be termed tropical, can be ruined by sudden interference with 
labour, and soon. I think you will all agree with me that it is desirable that we 
should ally ourselves for the attainment of these objects ; but while it is very easy to 
say what should be done, it is very often much more diflicult to point out how it 
is to be accomplished. One way might be by means of a central council, meeting 
regularly, with a paid secretary, whose duty it would be to assist—by collecting infor- 
mation, &c.—farmers in the disposal and distribution of produce to the best 
advantage. “Lhis body, composed, as it would be, of representatives from the 
yarious districts, could also deal with the other matters mentioned. But the most 
effective manner in which our purchasing and marketing requirements could be pro- 
vided for would probably be by a system of co-operative stores owned by the farmers 
in their respective districts, purchasing their supplies through one large co-operative 
establishment such as the Manchester store, in which most of the co-opera'ive stores 
in the north of England hold shares, and through which their supplies are bought. 
For distributing our produce the above establishment could be supplemented 
by opening produce stores in our best local markets, such as the Towers, &c. 
Of course {funds are required to carry out such a scheme, but a few shares held 
by each farmer would soon furnish a large share capital. An instance of success in 
such an enterprise may be found in the South Australian Farmers’ Co-operative 
Union. In the commencement of this paper I mentioned what may be termed reliable 
money for farmers, and spoke of State assistance in the matter. I know this isa 
question requiring careful consideration, in order to guard against abuse. Nor is it 
at all desirable that money should be too easily obtained. It should, in any case, 
be only procurable for strictly reproductive works. When such is the case it is a 
great incentive to development, and with our Premier’s recent utterances on the 
subject at Warwick fresh in our minds, and your own well-known favourable attitude 
‘on the question, Mr. Chairman, I think we have grounds for hoping that something 
may be done. Asa suggestion, I would ask if it were not possible to initiate some- 
thing similar to the continental land banks, the State giving some assistance at the 
start. In Germany, although these banks are now able to obtain all the money they 
require from those of the public having money to invest, the first ones did receive 
assistance, I understand, from the Crown. In conclusion, I must apologise for this 
yery short and incomplete paper, but might mention as an excuse that I was only 
appointed by my Association as one of their delegates a day or two before leaving 
Mackay. (Applause.) : 
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