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18 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Juny, 1901. 
present by farmers, it is doubtful whether it would be advisable to at once take 
the steps advised in Mr. MecIlwraith’s paper. In my association we have about 
seventy or eighty members, but if we call a meeting to deal with some matter of vital 
importance we are lucky if we get an attendance of more than five or six, 
While such a state of things exist—and our experience is not uncommon—it is 
hard to see how we are to get farmers to look after their own interests. A 
chamber of agriculture could not possibly exist while such a spirit of indifference 
is prevalent. What we want to do is to break down that jealousy that is, 
unfortunately, socommon amongst the farming community. One gentleman 
has suggested that we exhibit our products one to another, that those of us who 
grow good articles of some particular kind should bring specimens to periodical 
meetings to show what could be done in the district, and at the same time open 
up an avenue for making the meetings educational by telling how the specimens 
were grown. As a matter of fact, however, such a spirit does not exist amongst 
the horticulturists of the present day, at any rate, so far as my experience goes. 
If they grow anything good they want to keep it to themselves. They will not 
tell their own finger ends how they grew it. A gardener produces a good rose, 
but, upon being asked its name, the only information he will vouchsafe is, that it is 
a “speciality.” Itis the same with a man who produces a new orange. It is 
also a ‘“‘ speciality,” and that is all the information that can be elicited con-. 
cerning it. Until this niggardly feeling that exists—and we all know that it does. 
-exist—is done away with, there is not much hope for a‘general organisation of 
farmers attaining any practical dimensions. 
Mr. Tos. Brnnre (Cairns): We have heard the different opinions 
expressed as to the value of organisation, but one gentleman rather pleased me 
by saying we could leave a good deal of the matter proposed to be dealt with 
by the chamber of agriculture, to the Department of Agriculture. The 
‘Government already subsidises agricultural societies, and all these movements _ 
sshould be made through the societies. We in the North are not in a position 
ito be able to hold meetings every month. We do hold one every year, and I 
consider that the friendly rivalry then inculcated is one of the best methods of. 
encouraging and improving agriculture. The last speaker referred to the case 
of a man who grew a very good rose, but would divulge no information as to its 
name or how it was grown. If he exhibits it at a show, however, the difficulty 
is easily got over by making him, if the rose takes a prize, state what it is. 
These friendly rivalries are a means of organisation. I think it would be 
unwise to introduce politics into any organisations that we may have, because 
even as farmers, we all have our differences in politics. The main thing, I 
think, is to have our eyes directed towards pounds, shillings, and pence, and to 
consign polities to perdition. What is now wanted is to give our agricultural — 
societies a better standing. Myself and my colleague here to-night, Mr. 
Mayers, are at present the only two farmers in the Cairns Agricultural, Pastoral, — 
and Mining Association, and that is the state of many of the societies up— 
North. Indeed it may be wondered how farmers are to expect organisation if 
they will not support the societies now in existence. | 
Mr. W. R. Roxzinson (Toowoomba): I have listened attentively to the 
papers read, and may say that I have had some little experience of show 
matters on the Darling Downs, Many of the matters brought forward in the 
papers are very good in theory, but dithicult in practice. It appears that in the 
Northern parts of the State the sugar-growers can combine in their own 
interests much sooner than the farmers who grow mixed crops on the Darling © 
Downs. The society I represent has, on many occasions, engaged a hall, got 
good men to read first-class papers, and, in addition, well advertised the meeting, — 
--and yet you would not get three farmers to turn up to it. Undoubtedly, if — 
we could organise and carry out a lot of the things suggested, it would be pro~ 
ductive of much good, but the difficulty is to get the farmers to joinin. The 
only way to get them to come to some meetings is to send a horse and cart for 
them. In looking after their own interests farmers seem to be the slowest class | 
