‘218 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Ave., 1899. 
a difference of 6d. a bushel in the Brisbane and Melbourne prices. Sydney is 
generally receiving a lot of maize from America, which floods New South 
Wales and brings down also the Queensland prices, and, altogether, I cannot 
see that the protective duties on maize are much good to us. Ihave sent maize 
to Brisbane and got 4s. 1d. for it, whereas if 1 had sold it at Ipswich it would 
have fetched 4s. 4d. We have to import our seed potatoes, and I got 12 tons 
the other day upon which I had to pay £8 duty, which is certainly a big tax on 
potato-growing. Federation will open up markets for us in the south, and I 
cannot see how it will do otherwise than benefit us. 
Mr. T. §. Bearry (Collaroy): A position that we may take up is, that if 
we do not join the union now we shall be shut out, and we are such large 
exporters that we cannot afford to be so treated. If Queensland does 
not join the other colonies there is no doubt that she will suffer enormously, 
for we must have markets within our reach for our perishable produce, that 
is, produce that will not carry a long distance. Many gentlemen who have 
spoken have confined themselves to the particular product they produce, and 
that is very natural, because we are making a living out of the soil, and we 
each want to know what federation will do for us. There is another aspect to 
federation. It means that the accumulated wealth of the south will come, and 
must come, to develop the soil in Queensland. It must come, for the 
accumulated wealth must find investment, and we are the best colony in 
Australia for the purpose. We have our mines and our lands that will 
produce the finest of wool. We have cattle that are asked for everywhere, and 
we do not know what to do with them. If we send them to Victoria they 
-charge us 30s. a head, and we have produced to such an extent that we cannot 
get rid of them ourselves. Therefore, we must federate to extend our markets, 
and union with the other colonies will also mean that they will come and 
invest their savings with us. 
Mr. 8. E. Toorn (Pialba): I do not claim to represent the ideas of the 
district I come from, for we have never particularly discussed federation there, 
but for myself I intend to vote for it. Not being interested in the sugar 
industry, I cannot say how it will affect it, but for dairying and fruitgrowing 
T do not think these two industries, will be injured by federation. We hear 
_ on ever side that the southern farmers will dump their produce into Queens- 
land, but we can do the same to them. We already send our fruit south, and 
the demand for it is so great that men are sent up from Sydney and Melbourne 
to buy it off the trees. We also send a good deal of butter south, and about 
12 months ago, when there was a drought in Victoria, they consumed there a 
lot of Queensland butter, so that I think, if anything, dairying will greatly 
benefit from federation. 
Mr. E. N. Rogers‘(Rockhampton): I have heard a good many arguments 
to-day, but I cannot say I have heard a single one in favour of federation 
proper. All the arguments have been in favour of intercolonial freetrade, but 
it does not necessarily follow that this is federation at all, for federation means 
a great many things besides, some of which I personally object to. As far as 
intercolonial freetrade goes, everyone seems to be anxious for it, but that can 
be secured without any cumbersome machinery. We are already federated, 
-and we have a body called the Federal Council which has power to legislate. 
Tf any colony wants to euter into freetrade with another, it can do so provided 
the majorities of the people so desire. I believe that is a fact. Intercolonial 
freetrade evidently means protection against the world, and as far as Queens- 
land is concerned, I believe a market for a good many of our products can be 
found in Japan and other Eastern countries. There is animmense market there,. 
and I must leave it to the consideration of cattle men how protection against 
the world will affect them. I think before our farmers and agriculturists vote 
for the Bill, they should try and get a little more information about its other 
aspects, and I hope their representatives in Parliament will give them that 
information, for the more important aspects of the Commonwealth Bill appear 
to be at the present time almost entirely ignored. I am not going to sit on the 
