22 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL souRNAL. [1 Juty, 1901. 
more in concert than at present. I recognise the peculiar circumstances of 
farmers pointed out in the very impressive speech of Mr. Burgess. It is not 
very difficult to get a number of shop assistants to organise. They have, 
perhaps, only a quarter of a mile to travel to their meeting place. It is 
the same with artisans. They work together, and it is therefore easy for them 
to organise. Even admitting, however, that farmers have to encounter greater’ 
difficulties in this connection, still those difficulties are surmounted in other 
parts of the world, and it would be a slur upon your determination and upon 
your intelligence, if the formation of a closer union were thought beneficial, 
to imagine that you could not bring it about. I for my part believe you can 
do it. 
Mr. W. Deacon (Allora): I have no wish to make any further remarks 
on the general subject of organisation, but, with reference to what Mr. 
Robinson said about small shows, I may say that I still adhere to it that small 
shows are valuable, and that they very often have far better exhibits than the 
larger ones. Mr. Robinson speaks of his experience as a judge, but at our 
shows he only judged the horses, and I do not think he knew much about the 
other exhibits. Last year was a bad year, but I put in several things which 
did not secure prizes. 
Mr. Joun Davies (Gympie) : I thank you for the manner and sympathy 
with which you received my paper. 
SECOND SESSION. 
Wepnxespay, 12rn June, 1901, 9°30 a.m. 
Proceedings were commenced by the reading of a letter from Mr. K. 
Nahrung, of Miva, relative to the desirability of the introduction of legislation 
to check the sale of valueless seeds. 
On the motion of Mr. P. McLean, seconded by Mr. L. G. Corrtz, the 
letter was referred to the Committee of Resolutions. 
Mr. J. Wixson, of Freestone Creek, Warwick, then read the following 
paper on— 
HOW FEDERATION UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS IS LIKELY TO 
. AFFECT QUEENSLAND FARMERS. 
As one of the delegates from the Eastern Downs Horticultural and Agricultural 
Society, Warwick, I may say that I am pleased to have this opportunity of again 
meeting some of those gentlemen who attended the first Agricultural Conference at 
the opening of the Gatton College. I should also like to take this opportunity of 
congratulating the officers of the Agricultural Department on the very valuable 
information that their monthly Journal from time to time gives to our State producers, 
and the able manner in which anything likely to advance the interests of our State is 
put before its readers. It is a credit to the editor and all concerned. I am sure that 
_ all the readers of the Agricultural Journal, whether they like it or not, will be forced 
to acknowledge that in order to be able to successfully compete in the world’s markets 
scientific farming must be adopted here the same as elsewhere ; and the training given 
to our young men in the College must in the near future bring in good returns for the 
money spent by the State thereon. 
In the course of this paper I shall endeavour to answer the following questions :— 
(1), “ What effect will Federation have on the producing industry of our State?” and 
(2), “Shall we be able to compete with the older States when our protective tariffs are 
taken off?” Queensland at present grows nearly enough sugar to supply the whole 
of United Australia, raises three-fourths of the cattle in Australia, and has sufficient 
land cleared for the plough to grow breadstuffs for all the States. She also has an 
enormous wealth of minerals, as well as the deposits of coal close to our seaports 
necessary to enable manufacturers to commence operations in our State, which they 
undoubtedly will ina short time. All things being equal, I am not afraid of the 
competition which we will have to face, provided our Government will put us on the 
same footing with regard to railway transport for our ;produce as our competitors in 
New South Wales. 
