56 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. {1 Juny, 1901. 
‘assisting a Chamber of Agriculture. Of course, the two-guinea payments appear 
to be small, but the amount of work that at times can be done by honorary 
men is very great. In the Logan Farming and Industrial Association we have 
‘several branches emanating from us, and we now find that on certain matters 
we can speak with more force, and that we have more power with the Depart- 
ment. So I say that, if we focus our wants together, we can approach the 
Department with the knowledge that we have the consensus of the whole of 
the State at our backs. I hope we shall have a meeting, and form the nucleus 
of what eventually will be the Chamber of Agriculture of Queensland. 
Mr. Jonny Frenprne (Blenheim): As Mr. Burgess said last night. I 
cannot understand why we come here to preach division. All the agriculturists 
of the State should. see that they stand together. That is why we are here 
to-day, and we must acknowledge the wisdom of the Agricultural Department 
in initiating these Conferences. I hold it was in the minds of those who 
started them to get the agriculturists to work together, so that the sugar-grower 
might be able to understand, as we know he does, some of the difficulties that 
beset other producers. Weare surely charitable enough to wish to bear each 
other’s burdens to the same extent. 1 think we ought to encourage small 
societies, if small societies solicit our help. We can all help the National 
Association, as we are doing now, and make its annual show a highly educative 
medium for those who have not the opportunity of going through the country. 
The idea referred to yesterday of having exhibits tabled at the monthly meeting 
of the small societies is a very good one, for the majority of farmers are always 
willing to learn. I thought when I visited the Agricultural College, on one of 
those occasions when a big party journeyed to the College, that it would be 
interesting and instructive if the visitors brought with them samples of agricul- 
tural and dairy produce, which could be displayed on long tables at the insti- 
tution. People would look forward to it, and it would increase the usefulness 
of these now popular visits. I cannot agree that the idea of a Chamber of 
Agriculture is premature, and, having in view the necessity for agriculturists to 
combine, it is high time something were done in that direction, and I hope before 
the Conference closes something definite will have been effected. 1 am sure 
Mr. Peek has the best interests of the agriculturists at heart, and I hope we 
shall all see our way to give him some measure of support. 
The Hon. D. H. Datrymere: The debate that has taken place has been on 
the relations of agricultural societies. First of all, there is the relation which 
it is desirable to establish within the societies; and, secondly, the relations 
referred to in Mr, Fielding’s paper, that should exist between the societies 
themselves and the outside public. Mr. Fielding draws attention to the fact 
that associations have ajtendency to fall into the hands of townspeople. That, 
howeyer, is from the nature of things. As one who has lived in a country 
district, I know it is inconvenient for country people to visit towns at night. 
The roads are not, perhaps, excellent. We are compelled to leave much of 
the management of our societies to the townspeople. With regard to his 
views relative to the committees which deal with shows, he said a great 
many of the public attend those shows very frequently in order to see 
spectacular displays, in order to view jumping, in order to look at log- 
denidmaesnn aie which were, perhaps, not strictly agricultural. I am 
afraid the experience of all of us will force us to admit that the com- 
mittees, whether composed of townspeople or agriculturists, must do those 
things which are necessary to obtain large attendances. A large attendance is 
desirable for two reasons: First of all, that the public may come and 
view the agricultural exhibits; and, secondly, in order that the show may pay. 
It seems to me that, unless human nature alters very much, we shall be still 
compelled to study the taste of the public. We cannot alter it. We may 
hope they will prefer to look at fruit rather than at a horse jumping, but I am 
afraid it will be a long time before such a change takes place. In the mean- 
time we have to do the best we can to make these shows financial successes. 
ry aMik uk 4 
