56 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Jury, 1902. 
valuable assistance, the purpose of the writer will be served. In this connection it 
may be noted that the chamber’s constitution is still open to amendment, such as may 
be shown to be desirable to enable it to do better work in the interests of its 
members. 
It is believed that less and less objection will be raised against the centralisa- 
tion necessary for the continuous working of the chamber as agriculturists see 
the advantages to be gained through this arrangement, and, moreover, recognise 
that the personnel of the executive is lirgely due to the fact that the outside 
districts cannot provide representatives able to regularly attend to the day-by-day 
work of the chamber. 
No one understands better than those holding office in such an organisation how 
much lighter their duties would be could representatives from all over the State sit at 
the meetings. : 
As things improve in Queensland and better means of communication are 
provided, a wider range of representatives will become eligible for the executive, 
and even now something could be done in this direction if the membership of the 
chamber increased so as to give a revenue enabling it, at any rate, to refund the 
travelling expenses of delegates from a distance. 
Owing to existing conditions, four out of the twelve office-bearers appointed to 
the executive for the first year—being the members residing furthest from Brisbane— 
have had to resign. 
Finally, it 1s to be earnestly hoped that the new chamber will be given the 
opportunity to bring all the agricultural interests in this State into line. 
A German proverb says, “Even weak men when united are powerful.” 
Now the producers of Queensland are a more numerous and, if organised, would 
be a more powerful body than they themselves have perhaps any idea of. They are 
also qualified to take a full‘hand in many directions in this State which, through the 
absence of proper cohesion amongst themselves to their daily disadvantage, they are 
left almost entirely out of. 
The way important questions have been decided of late years in Queensland has 
brought many to see how futile is ‘arrogant self-reliance,’ and that the time has 
come when all who recognise the importance of this question of comprehensive 
co-operation should become unto their less instructed brothers as apostles preaching 
the gospel of the religion of mutual helpfulness. 
The next contribution was from Mr. Fred. W. Peek, of Loganholme, on— 
OUR AGRICULTURAL AND PASTORAL SOCIETIES AND THEIR SHOWS 
AS AN EDUCATIONAL FACTOR IN QUEENSLAND. 
[By F. W Prxx, Loganholme. ] 
The heading of this paper willno doubt have given rise to the thought in some 
minds as to what element of success such institutions have been the means of 
achieving in this State. Itis a well-known fact that the primary objects of our societies 
are to educate the farmers and settlers of this State in the best methods ol agriculture, 
and, by the organisation and holding of exhibitions or shows, to demonstrate by 
Pe object lessons the education and information (to those attending) that it is 
esirable to impart. 
A Sounp Basis Destrep ror sucH Work. 
Tt should, therefore, be our aim to see that such institutions, which have such 
an important object to fulfil, are established on a sound and systematic basis, that the 
rules and regulations for the carrying out of such a work are perfect in all their 
pa and therefore I may be pardoned for bringing this matter forward before this 
onference. 
The great benefits that have attended the efforts of our agricultural societies 
have long been recognised. But I would desire to point out that all the methods 
adopted, and the energy put forth by those enthusiastic workers who have to control 
and advise, and who, in the past, have expended a vast amount of labour, time, and 
energy in organising and conducting our agricultural and pastoral shows, and often- 
times gratuitously, would not have been carried out in the true spirit intended if 
they did not tend to educate, improve the productions, physical conditions, and 
intellectual status of the people. 
The work of agricultural societies is yet in its infancy in Queensland. ‘This State 
is a long way behind the States of Europe and the mother land in the methods adopted, 
and in the assistance rendered to agricultural societies and institutions—in that there 
