1 Ave, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AUKICULTURAL JOURNAL. 107 
Mr. P. McKewney (President, P.R.F.A.): As our worthy chairman has 
intimated, I have also got a few words to say on this occasion, but, as the time 
is so short, I shall only add with all my heart that I can but endorse the words 
that have been so sincerely put forth by Mr. Lambert. TI cannot attempt to add 
‘to those words, but I would just like to duplicate them on behalf of the Pioneer 
River Farmers’ Association. To attempt to do more would be to “oild the gold 
or paint the lily.” TI shall therefore conclude by stating that you have all been 
elected honorary members of the Pioneer River Farmers’ Association. 
The Hon. J. V. Caraway then opened the Conference with the following 
address :— 
CHAIRMAN’S ADDRESS. 
Tn opening this, the Third Annual Agricultural Conference, a few words may 
not be out of place as to the objects and scope of these conferences. They 
were initiated with the intention of bringing the farmers together, and enabling 
them to discuss questions of common interest, and formulate, by full considera- 
tion and debate, such measures of public policy as might appear on mature 
thought to be required. ‘To accomplish these ends, it was necessary that the 
locale of the conferences should be changed each year, and consequently our 
first gathering was at Gatton, in the Southern district, our second at Rock- 
hampton, in the Central district, and our third has now commenced in Mackay, 
the most accessible town in the Northern portion of the colony. It was 
naturally a matter of some anxiety to the Department to decide whether, in our 
opinion, the farmers of Queensland took sufficient interest in the agricultural 
and pastoral questions to induce them to travel so long a distance as to Mackay. 
We concluded that there was a live interest in the conferences, and that dele- 
gates would come to the North. The splendid attendance to-day—a record 
attendance of delegates, I believe—is ample proof that we were not mistaken, 
and full justification for our haying called the Conference for this town in the 
North. If I may take up some of your time, I would like to briefly review the 
latest position of the agricultural industries of this colony. 
LAND SETTLEMENT, 
The progress of land settlement has perhaps been the most satisfactory 
feature of all. In the year 1896, 3,018,769 acres; 1897, 4,893,624 acres; and 
1898, 16,079,253 acres were proclaimed open for selection. From the above 
figures it will be seen that more than double the amount was available for selec- 
tion in 1898 than the two previous years. At one time there were many 
complaints that applicants were unable to obtain land ; but now, although there 
is no diminution in the amount taken up, any applicant can be satisfied. The 
following will show the amounts of land takén up :—In 1896, 2,358,380 acres ; 
1897, 3,629,651 acres; 1898, 3,339,613 acres. The following figures are a 
«striking comparison of the increased settlement taken place in the colony :— 
During the years 1898, 1894, and 1895, 3,664,818 acres were taken up, and 
-during the next three years (1896, 1897, 1898) 9,327,644 acres, or an increase 
-of 5,662,826 acres. 
Considerable favour is shown to settlement in this colony by the people of 
Victoria and South Australia, from which two colonies very many trained and 
seasoned settlers annually come. 
In pe aeuleural settlement the progress is especially satisfactory. Last 
year I alluded to the increase of exports of agricultural products and the 
decrease of imports. And it is very gratifying to note that this still continues. 
‘There is still, however, much to be done in this direction. The agricultural — 
roduce coming into this colony’is of the value of about £750,000, and the 
duty paid on it over £100,000. All this and much more might be produced in 
Queensland, and ought to be. Dried fruits alone contributed £33,000 to the 
revenue. Our exports of agricultural produce show much more satisfactory 
returns, and now we are exporting four times as much as we did five years ago. 
