1 Ava., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 207 
1,000,000 ewt. in the course of 2 years. There are 3 countries in the 
world that impose countervailing duties: the United States, which has a duty 
ona duty; India, and (Mr. Denham informs me) Canada. Is it, then, too 
much to expect that we should express an opinion on the subject? If we 
support the empire loyally, are we not entitled to consideration from other 
arts of it? Sir Horace Tozer made some remarks upon this question, and 
although I do not exactly know what they were, and even if he did go a little 
too far, yet I think he isentitled to our thanks for bringing the matter forward. 
If we pass some resolution at this Conference and forward it to Sir Horace 
Tozer, it would strengthen his hands and the hands of those in Great Britain 
who wish to impose countervailing duties. I have therefore prepared the 
following resolution which I would have liked to have seen either Mr. Denman 
or Mr. Swayne propose; but as it would perhaps come better from a Southern 
delegate, I beg to move—‘‘ That this Conference of delegates of the agricultural 
societies of Queensland emphatically protests against the unfair competition 
entailed upon the sugar industry of the colony by the bounty system of certain 
countries of Europe, and they sincerely hope that the United Kingdom and the 
various British colonies will follow the example of the United States and India 
by imposing countervailing duties ; and, further, that the Premier be requested 
to telegraph the foregoing resolution to the Agent-General in London, and also 
to forward copies of it to the Premiers of the various British colonies.” 
Mr. W. Brane, of Childers, seconded the resolution. 
Mr. C. Arrnow (Brisbane) : In all industries the great question is mar- 
kets, and anything that will open and improve those markets is an object to be 
aimed at by all friends of an industry. For sugar our markets are now, and 
will be for a good while, found in the South, and a thing that will improve 
them there is federation—that is, with a tariff against outside sugars. We are 
not likely, however, to get that tariff unless we amalgamate with the southern 
colonies, but amalgamation and a high duty on bounty-fed sugar would result 
in the opening of those markets to us. As for the ill effects of federation in 
connection with the sugar industry, we come to the labour question. Some 
say it is impossible to do without black labour, and although’ shall express no 
opinion on the matter, it is evident if no white labour is procurable, that black 
must be employed if the industry is to be carried on. Tf we federate, it is said 
that the scuthern colonies will at once upset black labour, but I do not think 
they will if it is carried on in a fair manner, and is not applied to any other 
industry than tropical agriculture. As for the danger of not being properly 
represented in the confederation, it should be remembered that although we 
have not the representation the central States will have, yet the outside States 
combined will have a greater representation than the central ones, and will be 
in a position to be able to outvote them. The Upper Chamber, moreover, will 
safeguard the interests of the weaker States. As for the future prospects of 
Queensland, they are certainly dark if the federation is not entered into, for 
the reason that the other colonies will probably impose high tariffs in order to 
drag usintoit. The question then is, Are we going to trust the other colonies in 
the matter of not disturbing the question of black labour so far as it affects 
the sugar industry, or are we to chance them raising heavy tariffs against us ? 
I for my part think we ought to trust them. 
Mr. J. E. Noakes (Maryborough): I have great pleasure in supporting 
Mr. Deacon’s motion. At Gatton, 2 years ago, a similar one was brought 
forward, but at that time the people of England were not educated to the point 
they now are. Ido not think there is much necessity for discussing the black 
labour problem, for it is one that will settle itself, although if it is abolished, 
it would be difficult to say where we are going to get our sugar from. How- 
ever, there is no country in the world where so much white labour is employed 
in connection with the cane sugar industry as in Queensland. In Jaya, 
Mauritius, &c., they are all black men who grow it. One of the great objects 
of putting bounties on beet is to keep the people in the country in order to 
provide material for the continental armies and navies. 
