1 Noy., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 447 
that beyond holding shows and bestowing prizes for exhibits not exclusively 
agricultural, these societies have done little or nothing to reproduce here, in 
any fulness, the continental model. 
Perhaps in no field of action do the continental societies exercise such a 
potent influence as in the legislative sphere. A tendency to centralisation is 
undoubtedly a marked feature of some continental governments, but that 
feature has little chance to assert itself very prominently where agricultural 
interests are concerned. Speaking generally, none of these government 
ventures on legislation affecting such interests without ascertaining the views 
of the farmers regarding that legislation. Usually those views are obtained 
through consultative councils composed mainly of representatives of the 
agricultural societies. To those societies, moreover, is in many cases entrusted 
much of the administrative work of the Department of Agriculture. In 
Denmark, indeed, the principle of devolution is carried so far that the Danish 
Minister of Agriculture appears to have no duty beyond taking care that 
no farm product of an inferior quality is exported. There can be no difficulty 
in understanding why continental tariffs in general favour, in intention at 
least, the farmer, when it is remembered how mighty is the pressure he can 
bring to bear on the ruling agency. “It is worth noting,” says a recent 
writer, ‘‘that foreign States refrain from burdening their agriculturists with. 
taxes for revenue. They make the foreign importer contribute to their 
revenue, and by so doing at once relieve their people from taxation and protect 
their industrial enterprises.’ This result may-be held to indicate ignorance 
of the true principles of political economy; but it at least shows the power of. 
perfect and far-reaching organisation on the part of the farmers.* 
In Queensland, on the other hand, it is well nigh impossible to learn 
quickly and decisively the opinions of the farmers on a matter peculiarly 
concerning them. There being no central organisation to speak on their 
behalf, the only way the Department has of ascertaining those opinions is by 
addressing all the societies individually ; and even thea it is not easy to know 
how far any society really voices the sentiments of the district it is supposed 
to represent. Assuming, however, that all these societies really possess the 
necessary delegated authority, the effects of a departmental appeal to them for 
advice are by no means encouraging. Last year, for example, the late 
Minister wished to know the opinions of the farmers generally as to the 
administration of one of the most important statutes committed to him. 
The question was put to 126 societies. Of these 126 societies only 48 sent 
replies, and these replies were so vague or conflicting that the matter has 
remained to this moment unsettled. it is true that once in every: year the 
Department has an opportunity of learning the views of the farming community 
on some of the more pressing agricultural problems. Once in every year, at 
the invitation of the Department, is held a conference of representatives of 
most of the agricultural societies of the State, at which conference papers 
are read and discussed, and views expressed which are not without effect 
on subsequent administration. One lesson taught by all these conferences. is 
that extensive as Queensland is, and occupying as she does an area as larve 
as that of all the European States together in which agriculture has attained 
a very high degree of development, her farmers, however widely separated 
they may be physically, have common aims, common interests, and common 
difficulties. The latest of these conferences was held at Bundaberg, and was 
beyond all doubt the most interesting and instructive of the series. It was 
also the most valuable of them; for among the resolutions it adopted was 
One appointing a committee to frame a constitution for a Queensland chamber 
of agriculture. The committee has completed its work; and probably, before 
this report can be tabled, the chamber will have commenced its labours. 
Those labours, however, will not be conspicuously successful unless the new 
institution is enthusiastically supported by the agricultural societies. It might 
be advisable, therefore, to appoint some competent person to report on the 
* The latest triumph of the Agrarians is the new German tariff. See the Times of 30th J uly, 1901. 
