166 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL, {1 Jury, 1901. 
considerable experience with conferences of various sorts, I can sympathise with 
the chairman’s position. As I pointed out in my paper, at the end of a con- 
ference it will generally be found that the chairman has done quite the hardest 
work. When I was coming up by train to this Conference, upon glancing — 
through the syllabus, it seemed to me impossible that such a huge programme 
of business could be put through; yet, the Chairman has done this, and itis 
the more remarkable when we know that this is his first experience of the 
kind. I desire to congratulate the Minister upon the capacity that he has 
shown. He has been firm when it was necessary to make a stand, and at the 
same time has made allowance where a little license was desirable. In con- 
clusion, I would point out to my brother delegates, especially the younger 
members, how it is quite possible, as in Mr. Dalrymple’s case, for a man nota 
lawyer by his own exertions to advance himself and become so qualified by 
his parliamentary and other experiences as to be able to occupy any position 
in the State with credit. 
The Hon. D. H. Darrympte: I feel heartily glad that 1 have succeeded in 
obtaining your approbation. The task has been a most easy one, and I can 
take no credit for it. It is very easy to be good when you have got good people 
to deal with. I think that a feeling of kindliness and a feeling of consideration 
which are shown by a number of persons must beget consideration to others i 
any other person unless he is unfit to be a member of human society. I was 
rather afraid of coming to take charge of a conference. I knew there were a 
number of gentlemen whom I did not know. I knew that my predecessor was 
an exceptionally capable man, and I felt, that in taking up the position, I probably 
had been preceded by a better Minister, and one whose equal it will be difficult 
to get in a considerable number of years. It is a fact that, generally speaking, 
the speeches have been very instructive. They have been delivered with no 
view, I believe, of self-aggrandisement, as we frequently find outside conferences. 
There was no desire at ali to take up any part in the public eye, but there was 
merely the single intention of delivering some information which it would be to 
the interest of the general agricultural public to listen to and discuss, The 
subjects have been well chosen. The divisions of opinion which occasionally 
arose have all been of the most kindly nature. It has been absolutely 4 
perfectly ideal debate. There have been no personalities, and the best possible 
feeling has been displayed by all members of the Conference. 1 did apprehend 
probably that I should not be able to perform the task that fell before me. 
But I found, in this case, that the path of duty was positively coincident with 
that of pleasure. Asa rule, we do not get much in this world without much 
hard work, and, if we want any pleasure in the next world, we generally have to 
give up a good deal in this. We generally have to buy pleasure. I have had 
the greatest possible pleasure in attending this Conference, and if I have done 
any good whatever I am extremely thankful. If we have got along in the 
Conference, whatever my good friend Mr. Gibson may say, I am too old 
to believe that the result has been arrived at in any wise whatever but 
from the general good feeling and desire to act for the common good. So far 
as you were good enough to attribute to me any credit whatever, [ can assure 
you I am heartily grateful, for, after all, the best possible reward any public 
man can hope for is to have the approbation of those of his fellow-creatures 
with whom he comes in contact. There is cne duty I must perform. It 
is usual on these occasions to propose a vote of thanks to the officers of the 
Department of Agriculture. I do not wish to extol their virtues, because I 
believe that good wine needs no bush, nor do I believe that good men deserve 
any praise to make their virtues apparent. They will stand on their own merits, 
and I have no hesitation in saying that a great deal of good has been done by the 
experts of the Department, who really are the fountains of the information 
which we have to depend upon. I say that Mr. Benson and all the other 
gentlemen have been of great service. I believe they will be of greater service 
in the future, and I am glad for you to know that we have also Dr. Maxwell, 
who is a new servant of the Department, and whose knowledge and experience 
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