i i i i PED NT | | | || 
SL OL 
386 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 May, 1900. 
Tropical Industries. 
MACKAY SUGAR CONFERENCE. 
Amonast the subjects of interest to sugar growers and manufacturers, dealt 
with at the February conference, prominence was given to Dr. Maxwell’s repo — 
on the sugar industry; and it would appear that the scientist’s recommendation 
met with general approval, the only Tirarenes in opinion being on the “exat 
phraseology in which the Government should be urged to take steps to @ f 
out our late visitor’s reeommendations” (Mackay Sugar Journal). The Tourn | 
further says :— } | 
The opinion was at once expressed that the sugar industry should largely { 
contribute to the expense naturally incurred by adopting Dr. Maxwell’s recom | 
mendations, and we are very much mistaken if the conference also did a | 
make it clear that, sooner than not secure the services of a first-class schoo af 
master for our industry, the canegrowers and manufacturers would willing 
pay the whole of the expenses. While we cannot shut our eyes to the fact tha 
in many parts-of the colony it will be argued that the Government has alre 
considerably assisted the sugar industry, it yet remains certain that the presen? 
of a first-class scientific agriculturist in Queensland will benefit the country ve 
many ways, apart from the indirect benefit to be secured by the expansion 4? 
prosperity of the sugar industry. For instance, it is well known that such? — 
man as Dr. Maxwell, who, we believe, is already being consulted as to the poss 
bility of his transferring his services to this country, is not by any mi 
inclined to confine his talents to advancing the sugar industry alone. 
out here he was consulted on the subject of the pineapple disease, and it a 
certain that were he domiciled amongst us he would greatly assist many othe 
industries dependent upon scientific agriculture for their successful CO” 
tinuance. Such being the case, it is hardly reasonable that we should be asked 
to pay the whole of the expenses of his being employed in the colony, n0 mor? 
than that the tobaceo-growers should pay for a tobacco expert, the cottee 
growers for an instructor in coffee culture, and so on. We believe the county 
will take a reasonable view of the matter, but we also unhesitatingly affirm 
if Dr. Maxwell is prepared to come to Queensland the sugar industry will poy 
all the cost, sooner than not get him at all. As a natural corollary to so a 
belief in Dr. Maxwell and his recommendations, comes the decision of the oe 
ference to endeavour to organise the sugar industry into a definite body. or 
scheme outlined at the conference and adopted as a primary measure 18 fait q 
simple, maintaining as it does all local self-government amongst the sm ler | 
bodies, yet providing for a central head which will be able to guide the smae a 
bodies by means of recommendations into paths of progress and, we he 
rosperity. ‘The association should be of the greatest service to whomsoe! a 
is at the head of our experiment stations, and we hope to learn that the farme's 
and manufacturers in the various sugar districts are taking up the busines ie 
organisation con amore. Altogether the conference gives hopes of considera 
results, and our only regret is that, before it separated, it did not consider ? 
question of holding a similar gathering, say, in another six months’ time. 
CENTRAL SUGAR MILLS, ANNUAL REPORTS.. 
Norrm Eron Ceyrran Sugar Company.—The annual report of this compan Y q 
for the year ending 31st December, 1899, although satisfactory from one ig +f 
of view, has its gloomy side. The output of sugar, estimated at 1,430 ton”, 
below expectations, but it must be borne in mind that circumstances, over W +8 
no directors have any control, combined to create the deficit, which must ‘i 
attributed to the disastrous frost of July and subsequently to the intermitte 
