L Jury, 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 45 
if only supported by our societies, farmers, and others. I need not dilate on the 
benefits to trade and the commercial world that have been achieved by the energy and 
work successfully carried out through the operations of the Chambers of ( ommerce. 
Measures have been brought forward and advocated, reforms have been actively taken 
up and legislated for, of great value to the commercial world and trade generally ; 
also, the institution of a Chamber of Mines has been most successful in its operations, 
and of great value to those interested in mining. | uch institutions look after the 
vital interests of their constituents, and such chambers are looked upon and recognised 
by the various Governments as a reliable source for obtaining information on matters 
pertaining to their objects. 
Surely, then, it should require no great amount of argument on my part to prove 
or show the urgent necessity for or the benefits that must naturally follow the 
establishment of a chamber of agriculture. When we consider the number of societies, 
the amount: of product continually increasing, the vast and unlimited resources at our 
command in Queensland, we need not hesitate. We have a heritage here which is 
climatically far and away superior to any other State in our new-tormed Common- 
wealth nation. It is here, within the confines of our boundaries, that the munificent 
hand of Nature has laid the basis of such agricultural wealth and prosperity as 
proclaims this State second to none in the world for the variety and capability of 
oroducts. 
: The last available statistics I have been able to obtain from the Agricultural 
Department—viz., 1899-1900—speak for themselves. The figures there given are 
simply marvellous, and must be a revelation to even our ow: producers as to the 
quantities of products that have been obtained in spite of dry seasons and droughts 
experienced lately. I say such figures speak for themselves. I find the rich 
tropical lands of the North have produced from 110,657 acres of land no less 
than 123,289 tons of sugar. The splendid wheat lands of the South have, from 
52,527 acres, produced 614,414 bushels of wheat; the vast extent of land in the 
West, which has brought so much wealth to this State, yielded a return for wool, beef, 
and mutton the export value of which amounted to £7,025.166. Our rich mineral fields 
have realised an export value of £3,78,099. Then there are the rich river flats, the 
long extent of eastern seaboard and coast lands, rich in fertility and luxuriant in 
growth, which have yielded most phenomenal crops such as maize, potatoes, &c., 
fruits of all kinds and pertaining to all climates under the sun,* the total export 
value of our mereniteen products being £1,367,502. All this is backed up by our 
splendid dairying resources, from which no less than 8,462,595 lb. of butter were made, 
and no less than 1,910,300 lb. of cheese manufactured, whilst the exports of pork, ham, 
and bacon total 1,040,141 lb., of a value of £31,313. 
It has been stated by some that there is no necessity for a Chamber of Agriculture 
—that we have a Department of Agriculture that could be enlarged, and take up more 
questions of the day affecting farmers. I think you will all agree with me that there 
are many questions of vital importance, politically and otherwise, and matters affecting 
the various phases of the agricultural industry, that cannot be dealt with by the 
Agricultural Deparimeny but by other departments of the public service, such as 
roads, reserves, light agricultural lines, railways, freights, &c. These can all be 
matters for the worthy consideration, and left to a Chamber of Agriculture to advocate 
if desired. The Department of Agriculture, to my mind, is the most useful branch 
of the public service yet initiated, and heads the list for the amount of good, solid 
work, and work that reproduces a hundredfold through its operations, and brings back 
ever-increasing wealth to this State in return for its practical teaching, sympathy, and 
education imparted to our farmers and producers. 
But this cannot go on for ever. The Agricultural Department holds one of the 
highest responsibilities in this State, and it is the duty of our local societies and 
associations to help and assist, and to a certain extent minimise all they can possibly 
do, by organising and amalgamating together, create ourselves into a representative 
centre, with the Department of Agriculture in touch and sympathy, focussing the 
needs and requirements of each district, and by placing them in a concrete form, and 
in sucha manner that will make the task of administering to the wants of our industry 
and its requirements more satisfactory and less problematical in results. ‘Trusting 
this will receive your full and earnest consideration, I append rules for your 
consideration. 
* T might give more detail on the foregoing, but sufficient is given to show our vast agricul- 
tural and producing interests and resources, and to call for the full consideration of all concerned 
in our future welfare to grasp the situation and endeavour, by establishing in our’ midst such 
institutions as will safeguard, watch over and protect them, as far as possible, and assist in their 
further development, 
