1 Aprin, 1902.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 2538 
THE CHAMBER OF AGRICULTURE. 
By WILL. McILWRAITH, Rockhampton, 
There are few farmers who will not agree as to all Mr. F. W. Peek 
has to say about the advantages of co-operation and union among farmers. 
Many illustrations of these may be found by referring to the social and indus- 
trial organisations which exist in Europe, America, and Australia. The most 
powerful of these was the Grangers, which produced a revolution in the 
relationships of the producers and dealers in the United States. Mr. Peek 
makes an appeal on behalf of the Queensland Chamber of Agriculture, and tacitly 
invites suggestions by which its popularity may be increased, and it is in the 
interests of the chamber and the agricultural industry the following are offered. 
It was a mistake to introduce polities into the constitution of the 
chamber in the manner stated in the General Objects of the Rules. Experi- 
ence may show that in the working of the chamber it may be impossible to 
avoid touching political points, but the positive form in which the political 
objects are stated makes the chamber a political association; it places it on a 
level with the Workers’ Political Association. It should suffice to state the 
objects of the chamber in some such form as the following :— 
“To assist, stimulate, and promote the agricultural industry in all its 
branches ; and to advance the interests of all connected with it.” 
The objects should be stated as simply yet as comprehensively as possible. 
Reference to the manner in which they are stated in connection with the British 
or other Chambers of Agriculture may suggest a better form than that 
submitted. 
With respect to the organisation of the Queensland Chamber of Agricul- 
ture, it is to be feared the financial conditions are prohibitive. ‘“ The 
subscription of each affiliated body shall be the sum of £2 2s. per annum” 
(Rule 11). It is further provided a person subscribing not less than 5s. 
annually may become connected with the chamber. Mr. Peek calls attention to 
the fact that at the Bundaberg Conference 120 societies were represented. 
How many of these societies have paid £2 2s. for affiliation with the 
chamber? In South Australia the cost of connection with the Agricultural 
Bureau is halt-a-crown, and Queensland societies should not be called upon to 
pay an extravagant subscription. If the 140 societies registered in the 
Queensland Agricultural Journal paid £1 each, there should be adequate funds. 
All members of such societies should thereby be connected with the chamber, 
and only in that way should members be recognised. There should not be any 
“ direct subscribers,” as provided in the rules. 
There is no use for a General Council and Central Executive. It would 
be much better to have only a Council of Agriculture. Such a board could do 
all the work necessary with the assistance of an active and enthusiastic secretary. 
Instead of being composed as at present of gentlemen generally resident 
in Brisbane, the council should include besides them residents in Ipswich, 
Toowoomba, Maryborough, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville, &e. 
Gentlemen in the towns named could act as representatives and correspondents 
of the districts; and could attend the council meetings when attention to the 
interests of the districts demanded their presence. It would be of immense 
advantage to the council were the principal permanent officials of the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture members of it. It is impossible to overlook the benefit it 
would be to have the assistance of Messrs. McLean, Benson, Mahon, Rainford, 
Nevill, Briinnich, and Dr. Maxwell, though they were present merely in an 
advisory capacity. Such a council would possess a power and an influence 
pinche executive as at present constituted is not likely to acquire. This 
council could be elected annually by a plebiscite of the societies forming the 
chamber. Under its direction and advice and with its co-operation and aid, 
such combinations as the recently formed citrus-growers’ union would be 
encouraged and invigorated. ‘The council should be the direct representative 
of the farmers’ societies. The more immediate and intimate the connection and 
the intercourse between them, the greater will be the harmony and unity of action. 
