50 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Jury, 1901. 
in all cases be provided for, and the purely agricultural interest be the leadin 
feature. Great help to the central society in each case, and to the Nationa 
Association as the head of all, could be rendered by the country societies, and it should 
be made easy that, at the expression of a wish of the National representative, 
exhibits from all parts of the State could be sent them simultaneously, to make any 
display for the State that occasion demanded. 
The exercise of such control, and the spectacle of the result of such harmonious 
working, would have its effect. That effect would be to enlist the sympathy of many 
who at present are disinterested and stand aloof. The establishment of the district 
societies’ competition has done much to sustain the interest in the exhibitions of the 
National Association in Brisbane, for the country people go there to see how their 
collection compares with others. This interest can be greatly increased by a system 
of affiliation and recognition. Again, I repeat, that for the little I have done I claim 
no merit, but shall be pleased if I shall induce some serious thought on such an 
important subject. 
DISCUSSION. 
Mr. L. G. Corrie (Brisbane): In speaking yesterday I think I affirmed 
that, in my opinion, such a chamber as has been described was desirable. In 
connection with what Mr. Peek has laid down, I am afraid, however, that his 
roposition is not workable. First of all, I see a great difficulty as regards 
unds. Of course, I do not suppose Mr. Peek means to be tied down to the 
subscription suggested. But I see a greater difficulty in this way—that I do 
not see how business is to be done. I think a chamber of agriculture that 
would only have a chance of having one meeting a year would be of very 
little use. Once in three months would be little enough, and that would be 
very difficult. It would be difficult to get a quorum of seven together. A 
solution could be arrived at in two ways. One would be, if the associations 
that now exist were to be sufficiently organised so as to have a constitution or 
rules that would enable a secretary to be paid. You would require to have one 
paid officer, and I take it it would be necessary that the executive should prac~ 
tically sit in Brisbane. You might have an annual meeting to which members 
might come from all parts of the State, but still you would want a continuous 
executive in Brisbane. From there the measures would require to be treated. 
They could also be best dealt with from that centre. If started on those lines, 
even if in a small way, something might grow from it. As the Chairman said 
yesterday, I believe there are some men in the room capable of undertaking 
some such scheme of this kind; but I am almost inclined to think that this, 
like many other things, will, if effected, be the result of one man’s work. He 
will get a certain amount of sympathy. He must start in a small way, but the 
thing will grow itself. There is such a need for it that I have not the slightest 
doubt of its ultimate success. There would be the central executive, in which 
you had confidence, but I am afraid that, with the difficulties in travelling, it 
would afterwards boil down into the position of an executive that would be 
more or less composed of men in the South of the State. 
Mr. Perk: We could have members of Parliament. 
Mr. Corrie: If members of Parliament would take it up, so much the 
better, but I do not think you would arrive at a satisfactory chamber of 
agriculture with members of Parliament. I hope this Conference will not 
separate without giving expression in such a way that there will be encourage~ 
ment to somebody to take the thing in hand, no matter in how small a way, 
because 1 am satisfied it would grow and get into the position of being able to 
do the work thatis badly needed. ; 
Mr. W. Deacon (Allora): I agree with what has been said about the 
difficulties of getting farmers to organise. As Mr. Corrie said, it may be one 
man’s work. After all, however, I do not know whether this chamber of 
agriculture is exactly what we want. Is it going to be a sort of Trades Hall 
affair? The subject should be referred to the Committee of Resolutions. They 
can draft a scheme or submit to us the names of a committee to draft one. 
They can look through the various papers that have been read upon the subject 
and see what conclusions can be come to with regard to them. 
imiik 
