1 Juny, 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 49 
and conditions, &¢., come on for discussion, intelligent, sympathetic decisions will be 
iven. If the society is industrial, as it should be, to unite al classes, representatives 
of all should be secured ; their province is to co-operate to obtain due recognition, but 
not to dominate; and being the tail to waggle the dog, yet to allow the dog to waggle 
his own tail. The industrial section of the community may, if they decline to 
co-operate, or they can, if they choose, form their own associations, like, for instance, 
the Licensed Victuallers’ Association of Queensland; but we hope the example will 
not be followed of striving to waggle Queensland as a beautifully productive tail 
sweeping everything before it. It is a fact, too, that societies are worked up sometimes 
on a fictitious and unstable foundation, and they cannot and will not stand—got up by 
interested persons, more for the harvest that can be reaped out of the gatherings of 
the people than for any good intended in the interests of agriculture. Perhaps it may 
be thought unwise to say such things; but, whether wise or unwise, I deem it right to 
point out the rocks that mean shipwreck, and discover the canker-worm that would 
feed on the vitals of institutions that, conducted on honest principles, would be of 
incalculable benefit to the State. It is possible, in the programme of an agricultural 
society, to recognise and find a place for every industry in the State; there is no 
division or section of the community that cannot help, and that would not, under 
proper conditions, render assistance. 
But in many cases, because of some disagreement, an opposition society is 
started under the name of a dog and poultry society or an horticultural society, 
and the effect is quite natural—the life of neither is worth saving. Certainly there 
are cases where the establishment of these is justifiable, but in some it is not so. 
T find that exch man will, as a rule, advocate his own particular interest, whether it 
be cattle or horses, dogs or roosters. There are exceptions, it is true; but if you get 
these representatives around a table, and they are honest men, they will listen to 
the claims of each, and a fair decision will be the result, and division and scanty 
support and a miserable life of estrangement and poverty would be avoided. 
That the agriculturists as a class are estranged from their societies is a fact, is: 
illustrated in the Annual Exhibition of the National Association at Bowen Park,. 
Brisbane, where nearly all the agricultural produce exhibits for the last several years. 
have been drawn from the Lockyer district. The farmers of the fertile Oxley, and 
Indooroopilly, and Brookfield, and Moggill districts are not represented, so also the- 
residents of the Pines and the North Coast. There must be reasons for this; but the: 
position of the National and other societies existing in centres of population renders 
them to some extent indifferent to the support of exhibitions. They have the popula- 
tion, and the gate receipts, despite the character of the show, are such as to relieve 
the mind of the treasurer; whereas if the Lockyer Society failed to secure the sympathy 
of residents as members and exhibitors, the gate receipts would not pay nearly one- 
half of their prize sheet, to say nothing of any other expenses. Circumstances must 
in all cases be considered. But there is one feature in the conduct of both town and. 
country agricultural societies that should be made uniform—that is, in the procedure 
with regard.to donors, members, and privileged persons, &c. It is rather a delicate 
matter to deal with, but the abuse of privilege, the number of ‘‘dead heads” 
on demonstration days, and the want of uniformity of action is a great 
source of offence and ultimate estrangement to many honest workers. It 
is a fact that there are many so-called public or prominent men who never 
think of sending in their donations, yet look for honour in the shape of luncheon 
tickets for themselves—and friends in some cases. This may be one of the old 
customs, and may have been expedient, but it must now be classed as obsolete, and no. 
longer expedient. Even a donor should not expect any such acknowledgment of his 
donation, which is invariably, in our case, handed over to the winner of it. It should 
be the prerogative of the committee to honour all who in their opinion it is expedient 
to honour, and, before the show comes off, to so apprise the individual. There are 
some individuals who have such an exalted opinion of their value to the community 
that they seem to think they have only to present themselves at the door of any 
banqueting-room to gain admittance. Did I not know this, I should not say it, but 
I have heard it grumbled at so often in an undertone, and watched so long for a 
public expression in vain, that I take this opportunity of saying it myself. The- 
Pepe’ of these undesirable patronages fills ie honest, unassuming member with. 
isgust, and accounts for much of the indifference existing. 
In conclusion, I think the associations having their headquarters in great centres,. 
such as Brisbane, Rockhampton, and other towns, should help the country societies, 
and that the country societies, within a certain radius, to be decided on by mutual 
consent through some central authority, should be affiliated with the central society of 
their district, and all combine and regulate the different shows. Representation must 
D 
