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48 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jury, 1901, 
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exhibits so as to produce a merely spectacular effect. The acknowledgment of patient 
skill in tilling the soil, in the selection of and production of high-class seeds and 
fodders, the preparation of the different products for the market, and the improvement 
of useful stock, are in many cases a secondary matter. And why is this? ‘To my 
mind, the chief reason lies in the fact that the executive are not agriculturists, and I 
hold that blood must tell, and so I think that a mere theorist, be he ever so honest and 
enthusiastic, cannot fill the place of a practical man. Agriculture is to the mind of 
the general public so common that all can understand it, and agricultural products sa 
common that at the shows they are not worth looking at; and so I think, taking the 
above as the cause, we need not wonder at the effect, as seen in the small number of 
agricultural exhibits at our shows, and the reluctance of our farmers to take part in 
the management, when they are classed among the so-called common products of the 
soii, and considered by the well-meaning but perhaps precocious townsman and the 
bulk of the people at his back as deficient in tte ability as he is certainly in many 
cases lacking in the presumption and self-assurance to push himself forward to claim 
public recognition. I would be very sorry to speak feats of the townsman who 
helps, and who perhaps unconsciously usurps the place and the credit of the work of 
the agriculturist; but I assert the claims of practical men on the land in everything 
ertaining to agriculture, and J submit that nothing but absolute supremacy in every 
ranch of administration in the State, as touching the agricultural interest. 
is just or right. The needs of the agriculturist are best understood by him- 
self, and the dignity of agriculture best upheld by him; and any honour 
that that great interest has to confer should, 1 think, naturally be his. Just for 
illustration: What would the Charters Towers gold-miners, or the Howard coal- 
miners say if a Lockyer farmer was installed as their representative? And yet 
practically this is the position of the farmers of Queensland. They are being 
manipulated to their great disadvantage. They are patronised, it is true, and spoken to 
very nicely at times, and are told they are very useful members of society, but to be 
trusted with the administration of their own department, or even to control their own 
societies, they are not allowed. But, in regard to the latter, they are themselves to 
blame. They have the power in their own hands if they would use it, and in using” 
that power it is easy to see how they could acquire strength to rectify matters in other 
places. I bring no startling charges of abuse of power or privilege, but state the fact 
that, consciously or unconsciously, there has been a drifting with the current, until 
there is a great necessity for men on the land to act unitedly and take the oars of 
their own boat, and pull and steer on the legitimate course to continued success. : 
It now remains to point out how agricultural societies may be managed so as to 
bring about a closer relationship with the general public and a consequent increase in 
their power and usefulness in the State. In the first place, every member of the 
community is more or less dependent on agriculture, and the principle of recognition — 
of this fact is embodied in Government grants. endowments, &c. That fact being” 
acknowledged, the next step to be taken is to uphold the dignity of agriculture by a_ 
determination to consider our labour in the field as honourable as any 1f not more so 
than any other. If we do not respect ourselves we cannot expect the respect of others. | 
The farmer cannot meet with success without sharing it with others. In that respect 
he differs from other sections of the community. What he produces goes straight to” 
increase the wealth of the State and to supply the consumer to his benefit. Then, | 
what is more reasonable than to ask that he be treated with respect, and 
that in his efforts, in co-operation through the medium of agricultural societies, 
to improve his productions for the mutual benefit of the public and_ himself, 
the public co-operate with him. There are many businesses in which men 
engage and amass considerable fortunes, but they add nothing to the wealth 
of the State; they merely manipulate the products of others, and do some 
good. This is true of some; and the good done must be acknowledged; but 
others manipulate both products and producers, and do yery little good and a great 
amount of harm by spoiling both. | think there are abundant reasons why the 
agricultural society should receive the active support of every member of the 
community. and if this were given direct there would be no need of Government help. 
As to management, [ think there is room for great improvements in the management 
of our societies. ‘here are differing conditions under which societies exist apart from 
those already mentioned, and each situation and set of conditions must be taken into 
consideration. A society existing in a sparsely settled country district cannot be 
worked on exactly the same principle as one having its headquarters in large centres 
of population; but, qaealie speaking, the responsible secretary should be an 
agriculturist. An assistant secretary might well be a resident of the township, but 
the rest, if business men are include, as they should be, they should at: least have a 
practical knowledge of conditions on the land; then, when matters of exhibits, values, 
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