1 Juty, 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 27 
operation, but a good many results are bound to | follow which 
we do not now foresee. We shall, doubtless, have meetings of the 
various Railway Commissioners in order to endeavour to adapt the 
railway systems to the exigencies of the States in their new condition of affairs. 
I am sanguine that everything will be done by those who are interested, to meet 
a very entangled problem, and, so far as possible, do justice to all. A great 
many figures have been quoted with regard to the rates charged by Queensland. 
Tt would not be altogether unreasonable to imagine that the rates in Queensland, 
seeing we have a very large extent of railway—more so than any other 
Australian State—would be rather in excess of those of the other States. hat 
would really not be a matter for surprise. Where you have a lot of traffic it is 
quite evident you will have a large income. If you have a great length of line and 
a small population, then, in order to pay working expenses, it will be necessary to 
charge higher rates than in the former case. I quite admit that in endeayouring 
to obtain more, you may obtain less. But I wish to place on record the rates 
as at present charged in the State of Queensland, and how, as a matter of fact, 
they compare with the rates of the other States. TI shall just read them in 
order that that may be reported, and then we shall all be able to compare these 
matters at our leisure. They are as follow :— 
Corns) 7 Potatoes. Onions. | Milk. Cream. 
25 50 150 25 50 150 25 50 | 150 | 25 | 50 | 150| 25 | 50 | 150 
: Miles.| Miles.| Miles. | Miles, Miles.| Miles. | Miles. Miles. Miles. | M.} M. M. | M.| M M. 
_—_— — | — — = | ——_- —__|___|.__ | 
| per | per | per | per | per | per | per | per | per jper)|per per) per | per|per 
ton. | ton. | ton. | ton. | ton. | ton. | ton. | ton. | ton. | gal.| gal. gal.| gal.| gal. gal. 
| 
s. da. |s8. d. | s.d.|s.d.\8.d.|s.d. |s.d.!8.d.' 8.d.|d.|d. d@.|a.}d.| a. 
{ | 
(| 4 tons and over 4 tons and over 4tonusandover 9) | 
26147 |1111|'26 | 47] 1111] 26 | 47] 1111)] | 
Queensland... | $04 02 | 13. | 1] 12) 2 
under 4 tons under 4 tons under4tons | 
U) #45 [*7 6|*17 11] *45 | *7 6) *17 11] *45 | *7 6] *17 1) 
(| ‘6 tons and over 6 tons and over 6 tons and over | i 
ip ate 49| 9 8| 26 | 49 9 8| 26 | 49] 9 8 | | 
N. 8. Wales ro3} 14/2 | 1) 2) 3 
[ under 6 tons under 6 tons under 6 tons Rae! 
35] 60] 15 Oj 35 | 60] 15 Of 35 60] 15 0) | 
( 6 tons and over 6 tons and over 6tonsandover | 
36| 56; 12 4| 26 | 43] 11 8] 36 | 56| 12 4)| | 
Victoria 4 $1} 13 | 22 | 03) 02) 1b 
( under 6 tons under 6 tons under 6 tons | | 
45| 83| 19 6| 45 | 83] 19 6] 45 8 3| 19 6) 
* Less 20 per cent. 
Tt is quite clear to me that, on milk and cream, our rates are considerably less 
than those charged in the older States. But you will find, on the whole, that the 
rates for the general articles of produce will compare tolerably favourably with 
those of the sister States. I hope, at any rate, that the discussion will be of 
benefit, and I think you may look with some hope to the probability of these 
matters being taken fully into consideration by the various States after 
economical federation has become an accomplished fact. At the present time 
the full federation freedom of trade and unfettered competition has not come 
about. Of course within about two years it will have, and subjects such as 
these will deserve, the earnest attention of every politician in the State. 
Mr. A. Morrat, of Radford, then read the following essay on— 
CHEAP MONEY. 
The important matter treated of in this paper is of a complete nature, and is 
surrounded with so many difficulties, even when dealt with by financial experts, that 
the writer will endeavour in the handling of this subject to confine himself to those 
phases of it which more immediately concern the settler on the soil. 
Money has been defined as being “ that which passes freely from hand to hand 
throughout the community in final discharge of debts and full payment for com- 
modities.” 
