Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
THURSDAY, 5 JUNE 1879
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
Impounding Act, Etc. [5 JUNE.] Tm1>elling Slwep lJill. 319
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. TRAVELLI~G SHEEP BILL-SECOND READ!~ G. Tl~ursday, 5 June, 1879. J'vlr. STEVE:KS moved the second reading Report of Oommittee.-Petition.-;lew Bilk-Imponnd· of thi~ Hill, and in doing so stated the ing Act Amendment Bill-third reading.-rrravelling Sheep Bill-second reading.-}fanniug's Retirement principal reasons for introducing it. The Act-RepeaL-Sale of Intoxicating Liqnors.--Letters first objed was to prevent a comparatively Patent and Registration.-Diseases in Plants and Anilnah~. few owners of shet>p consuming the whole of the grass on the roads used by travelling The SPEAKER took the chair aL half-past stock. In X ew South \Vales this evil had 3 o'clock. been carried to such an excess that it REPORT OF eo· DIITTEE. had been found necessary to legislate Mr. MoREHEAD brought up the report of upon it. The same evils were going on the Election~ and Qualifications Committee, in Queensland, arising from the fact that and moved that it be rGad. the owners of small piec,•s of country Report read as follows :- had immense numbers of stock-in some " REPORT from the Committee of Elections and cases ten times as many as they could feed Qnalific~tions (in the matter of the Peti on their own runs-whieh they maintainPd tion of William Graham against the Elec by travelling them all over the country. In tion ancl Return of vVilliam Miles and addition to New South \Vales, they haJ. Francis Kates, the sitting members for the found it necessary to legislate on this sub Elect0ral District of Darling Downs). ject in South Australia, the Art passed "The Committee of Elections and Qu·llifica there being very severe, and imposing on tions, duly appointed on the 13th day of May the owner of travelling stock a fee of 1s. per last, to whom was referred a Petition from 100 head per mile, in~tead of about 2d., as in vVilliam Graham, praying that the recent Elec New South \Vales, and a~ it was proposed tion for the Electoral Dtstrict of Darling Downs to enforce here. In Victoria it was un may be declared null ancl void, and that a new necessary to legislate on the subject, and election may be had for the said Electoml Dis they had no travelling sheep Aet, all trict, have determined, and do hereby accord ingly declare, that the Elecl ion in question was the ,roads being fenced in. 'l.'urning to wholly void. Queensland, there were in the year 187,J,-75, "BoYD D. MonrREAD, 7oO,OOO sheep passing up and down the "Chairman. \VarrPgo. 'rhPy -were not going to any "Legislative Assembly, particular place, but they just travelled "Committee Room Xo. 1, down one side of the river and up the "Brisbane, 5th June, 1879." other, completely stripping the whole of the country lying on the frontage of the river, of PETITIO~. grass. To prove that these 700,000 sheep he Mr. ARcHER presented a }Jetition from had mentioned were not bound for any of the certain selectors of the districts near Hock. neighbouring colonies, there were in that hampton and Blackall, praying that the y<.>ar only 174,000 which left the colony House will take into consideration the price over the border. The rest WPre not used of land in taking up selections, and grant for taking up and stocking fresh country, them remedy by reduction of the price. for very few sheep were sent out west Petition received. during that year, cattle being chiefly used for new runs. In 1876, 57,000 left the NEW BILL~. Mr. BEATTIE having obtained lPavc to colony across the border; in 1877, 173,000; bring in a Bill to give an additional :.VI em and in 18i8, 149,000; but during these ber to the Electoral District of Fortitude years there was never less than three· to V alley, presented the Bill, which was read a four hundrt>d thousand sheep, and some first time, and the second reading fixed for times considerably more, marching up and that day fortnight (June 111). down the river bank, destroying every The Hon. S. W. GRIFFITH having ob blade of grass. The roads, as a rule, tained leave to bring in a Bill to confer on mostly ran along the banks of the rivers, the Mercantile Ban:r of Sydney-a COl·por consequently stock tJ a veiling over them ation created in the Colony of New South passed ovPr the most valuable part of the Wales by an Act of that Legislature, 37 runs which had river frontages, and made Victoria-all the privileges of a Corporation it impossible for the run-holder to make in the Colony of Queensland, presented the any provision for a drought by leaving that Bill, and it was read a first time, and part of his run untoucheJ and saving the ordered to be printed. grass on his frontage, because he never knew when a flock of travelling sheep DfPOUNDI~G ACT AMENDMENT BILL might not come and sweep it off. The -THIRD R.EADING. usual distanee for a road for travelling On the motion of the CoLONIAL SECRE stock was half-a-mile each side of the road, T.mY (Mr. Palmer), this Bill was read a but as a fact it was more often a milt> or two third time, passed, and ordered to be tran ~ wiles, and to endeavour to keep travelling mitted to the Legislative Council for their sheep to the legal distance would require concurrence, by message in the usual form. an army of men. to keep the road in that 320 Travelling S!.eep Bili. [.ASSEMBLY'.] Travelling Skeep Bitl. district. It had now come to this, that forward the Bill, he regretted that it was those who had depended on their frontages not so comprehensive as it should be, and for a supply of grass were completely dis was not a very useful one at the present appointed, the travelling sheep having time. He considered it was a measure taken it all off. The evil pressed harder which it would be very easy to evade. on the owners of sheep than of cattle, Some portions of it, no doubt, were very cattle being able to go mut!h further for good-such as the payment for travelling their grass and water than sherp. On sheep--and no doubt a measure was very runs taken up recently in the bark country murh wanted to prevent the devasta there was no provision yet for grass and tion of gmss by travelling shePp; but water : and owners therefore relied for the Bill did not go far enough. He their permanent supply of grass and water thought provision ,hould be made to pre on their frontages, especially during lamb vent the alienation of land within half-a ing time; but when the time for lambing mile of the road, and that if that was done came they found every blade of grass on no person would object to pay a sum even the frontage gone, and the result was for the first journey. If, for instance, a the nearly absolute loss of the lambing. penny a head was imposed as a charge for There were others besides squatters who tra.yeJling sheep, irrespective of distance, were considerably interested in the Bill, he believed that every owner travelling namelv, the farmers and selectors, as their fat sheep to market would be willing to pay grass was of as much value to them as the such a sum for the purpose of having a squatter's grass was to him, and travelling good route kept for them. Then with re sheep did them as much injury. In fact, gard to the provision to which the hon. everyone was injured by travelling stock- member had referred in case of sales, he even people in cities, as they had to put up thought that a charge of twopence per head with inferior meat because the roads had per lOO miles would lead people to make been stripped of grass and the sheep were bogus sales, so that sheep could travel back brought into the towns in poor condition. without any charge at all, but if the charge The Bill was somewhat similar to that in was lighter persons would not try to evade New South Wales, but was a little easier: the payment of it. There was another diffi for instance, the New South Wales Bill culty in r<'gard io clause 6. It would be a dicl not provide for men travelling >ery difficult thing for most people to define with sheep being blocked by drought what fat sheep were ;-for instance, what or floods, whereas the Bill before might be called fat sheep on the coast line the House provided that in either of might be looked upon as very indifferent those two cases a deviation from the store sheep in the western country. An owner route might be authorised. Then, again, might make an excuse that he could not if sheep were sold on the road, and a new make his sheep any fatter; and, in fact, it owner took charge of them, he should be would be more difficult to drfine what were deemed to have started afresh. There fat sheep than the hon. mover of the Bill could not be a better season than the imagined. He thought it would be better present for passing such a measure, as to have an uniform charge for all sheep, and nearly the whole country was well sup that if a charge of one penny was made for plied with grass and water, and conse the whole journey it would not be so liable quently there were few sheep travelling ; to evasion as the mode of eharging proposed but if it was left till the dry season came in the Bill. He thought the hon. member on, it might be a hardship, as people might was deserving of thanks for introducing then be taken unawares. He believed that such a measure, which, however, would re by some persons the charge of twopence quire some amendment in Committee. per head for lOO miles was considered very Mr. MoREHEAD said he agreed with the heavy, but it was only half of what a man hon. mover to a certain extent, and at the could rent a run for, whilst if it was made same time did not agree with him. He did heavier it would not have the desired not think that a charge should be made for effect, as men would take the grass and travelling sheep. It was perfectly well run the risk of being found out. He known to every squatter that where there could say a great deal more on the was a road there was half-a-mile reserved subject, but he did not think it was on each side of it for travelling stock, and necessary for him to do HO on the he did not see why persons should be present occasion. He believed the Bill charged for using that. At the same time, was worthy of the consideration of hon. all persons who chose to take their stock members, and if it should pass the second outside that half-mile reserve should be reading he should be happy to give any macle to pay for it. As a rule, the men information when it was in Comrpittee, and who travelled sheep were those who over he could speak more on the subject. He stocked their country, and they ought to pay. begged to move- He quite agreed with the hon. member for That this Bill be now read a second time. Normauby in reference to the sixth clause, Mr. STEVENSON said that, whilst congra as a man might say that he had fat sheep, tulating the hon. member on having brought and that, not being able to get a market, he l'ravelling Sheep Bill. [5 JUNE.] Travelling Sheep Bill. 321 was returning with them. There were There was no doubt that considerable in other objections he could point out to the justice was done by travelling the stock of Bill, but he did not intend to oppose its persons, who, not having holdings, con passing the second reading. He thought sumed the grass of others. He believed the thanks of hon. members "\\ere due to that the country was full , of cattle re the hon. mover of the Bill, and that the serves, and yet no wention was made of House ~hould allow it to pass the second those reserves in the Bill, as should have reading. been done. Then, again, supposing a Mr. L-c-J,ILEY-HILL thought that any man stockholder was compelled by a drought, who wanted to travel his sheep should be or other visitation of Providence, to travel willing to pay a penny per head for the his sheep, it "1\ould be rather hard upon whol~ journey, with the reasonllble expec him that he should be made to pay the tation of finding grass, rather than travel sum proposed by the Bill. There were them on a road where there "\\as nothing to many objections to be raised to the Bill, eat. He agreed with the hon. member for and he would ask the hon. member in the Mitchell that it would be unwise to charge of it to allow it to be referred to a make exemptions in the case of fat sheep. Select Committee. If the effect of the Bill was to be Mr. Low said he might mention that to diminish the amount of travelling from llalby to Brisbane the grass was so sheep that had been going on, he bad that sheep ought not to be charged thought it would be counteracted by anything for travelling on it ;-the same allowing the exemption proposed by clause remark applied to the road from Warwick 6, as any man, when his own country was to BriRbane. bare, might say that he was taking fat Mr. SrrBLEY considered the Bill was a sheep, aii"d, finding on his arrival at the very necessary one, as it was high time market that prices did not suit him, steps should be taken to stop persons might turn back and travel his sheep from travelling their sheep and con free, through, perhaps, the best coun suming the grass of the public a~ try. Another matter which had caused they had been in the habit of doing. great devastation of the grass arose from The Bill was a judicious one as it was, and, men who had two runs--one a small when a little amended, he would vote for one and the other, a hundred miles or so it. The hon. member for Normanby made off, a much larger one ; he would travel, some suggestion a bout a reserve of half say, from 60,0il0 to 70,000 sheep from his a-mile on each side of the Roma road. small homestead to his brge western run That amount of reserve was secured on for the purpose of shearing them, and roads through Crown lands, but it could thereby would devastate the road over not be expected where lands had been which he passed. He should like to see such taken up. The want of grass was a a man made to pay, as his run should sup difficulty which had to be contended port his sheep; and he should be abJe with near a market, but it was not to to shear them on it without imvelling them bl' expected that half-a-mile of paddocks a hundred miles away. He should like to on each side of the road could be re see a measure dealing with the subject serred, even if the owners of stock paid a of travelling sheep introduced, but he was shilling per head. If tht>y required feed not prepared to support the Bill before for their sheep they must do as others did them as it at present stood, as he consi hire a paddoek and pay for it. dered it would not carry out the object its .Mr. XoRTO"" agreed to a very great mover had in view. ext
experiments in their grounds in rC'gard to in Louisiana and other parts of the world. grasses for sheep, it being represented that Amongst the good services done by the this was one of the minPral constituents Board, and one which he should like to through the absence of whwh sheep were bring very prominently before the House, suffering so much. It had bem dis was their action in regard to the disease tributed through various 11arts of the in grape vin~s know·n as "phylloxE't'a." colony. He might also state that the Hoard A bout two years ago a letter came to the had b:>en making collections of scecls of Board stating that that disease had macle poisonous plants. A good dt>al of doubt its appearance in a certain localitywhichhe existed on that subject. He himself doubted would not name; inquiries wore put on whether the large number ,;et dr,wn as foot quietly, because, if it were suspected poisonous wPre really so. It was the in that phylloxera had broken out in the tention to sow them at New Farm, and at eolony, every ownPr of a vineyard would the prespnt time these experiments were be terrified. He could state absolutely going on. Hon. members would recollect that the disease was }Jhylloxera, but how badly the sugar indu-;try had suifered through the action of the Board, and from the disease in cane some time ago, with scarcely a word being said, it and, although he did not for a momt'nt wtLS stamped out of the colony. Hacl claim that the Board had been the means the Board clone nothing PlsP, the £2,000 of eradicating it, yet it was an immenRe voted to them would have been well satisfaction to sngar-plantf'rs to know what sprnt. Rust in wheat was a matter of the disease was and how to check it. primary im}Jortance to the colony, and the News came to the colony about three Board had been desirous of carrying on months ago that at Porto fiiro, one of the experiments for some time. They had olclost sugar-growing countrios in the mwlil, taken this action-various kinds of wh~at an immense loss had ariscm from a disease had been brought from climtltes approxi which, according to the deseription, was pre mating to that of Queenslancl-from South cisely similar to the one existing in Qut'Pns America, Southt'rn Europe, Egypt, and land. The immeme t•rop of sugar }Jro other placr~; and large lots had been duced in that eountry had in three years tPsted at Toowoomb:1 an cl at New I<' arm. fallen off two-thirds, and skilful gentlemen The seasons had been against the experi had been sent to various parts of the world ment, but the manager tlmt the Board had to nmke investigations, allll he should Eot at Toowoomba ''"as- a Yl'l'J e:1pable man, wonder if some were to come to Queensland and had stuck to the' task wdl. Ho triecl to make inquiries and to colleet su.gar-c::uw to bring on till' whPat last ypar, but for experiments at homp-to just grope ovYingto the bad soason ditlnot succeed; the about in the way in which the Board clicl Board, hmn'n~r, obtained from his efforts to ascertain the cause of the disease. Ho much Yalnable information as i o how the ~E'a submittPd that it was cretlita ble to this sons affected the varieties tried. The last young colony-situated at ilw ends of earth had only recently bt'en got in for this year, as it was sometimes saicl-·that an unas and the Board had taken this action-they suming Board should have been the means had made arrangements with twelve far of ascertaining the cause of this diseaso. mers to keep records in books that had Another matter hacl bren taken up by the been supplied to them of what they had Board : they imported various sorts of sown, of the steeps used, of the soil, and sugar-cane plants from different countries other information, so that correllt data -from_ South America and the \V pst might be obtained should rust break out. Inclies, and they had been grown at the In South Australia and Victoria larger exp.Timental grounds and distribut:~d. sums of money than hacl been voted here This work had not gone far yet, it taking had been set aside for making investiga several years to develop; but the result tions in rust, and one of the reasons of their efforts would, he believed, give the which made him so anxious that the Board colony varieties of suitable cane. The should be able to prosecute their inquiries Board had also experimentccl with chemi was in orcler that they might be carried on cal agents to destroy the rust, the ea use of in conjunction with the investigations in which was now well known. They had South Australia and Victoria. \Vere the also tested, in a practical manner, the £300 available here allowed to the Board, capabilities of the colony for rirt'. In the they would be cnablt'd to secure for the library o£ the House there 'vas as fine a rolony the b<·nefit of the £0,000, £G,OJO, or specimen of rice as could perhaps be seen; £, ,000 bl'ing spent in the other colonies for ithatl beengro\Yll at X ew Farm, and nearly a a similar object. The rust in maize had been ton would be sent to the W'XL :"'ydney Exhi a wry serious mattPr during the last two or bition. Through the kindness o-E the three smwns, but the Houie would under Colonial Secretary and the energy of the stand that the Board had been very cautious Superintendent at ::it. Helena, two acr0s in speaking about the matter, as it was so of land were 1JCing prepared at St. easy to frighten people. Investigations HelPna for rice culture-in low wet ground had been going on, however, and would similar to that on which rice was grown continue, he hopi'd, for the purpose of dis- 326 Diseases in Plants [ASSEMBLY.] and Animals. covering what the rust in maize as well as labours of this Board had been brought in wheat was. At the end oE the report it to an end simply because there had been was stated, in reference to what was eon· a refusal to place funds at their disposal. templated by the Board, that they were As he said before, this should not be a desirous of carrying on the experiments party question in any sense. He took for another year at Toowoomba and great interest in the matter because he had New Farm. The experiments at Too· read up what the Board had done very care woomba had been alluded to several fully; he had also been in the habit of at times ; but he would like the House tending their meetings, a privilege that to understand that they had been had been of great service to him in many carried on at the expense of the Board. respects, and if he had been rather warm This was about as fine ground as any in in his advocacy of the subject he would the colony. They had got a very able man ask the pardon of hon. members. He did there, and it had been a privilege that they not intend to take up the time of the had been able to keep a man going at that House, but merely wished to state the case place:- as plainly as possible, to show that the "The Board is further desirous of following Board had done good service to the country up the diseases of sheep and any others in live -service strictly ·in accordance with the stock of any kind that may come within their proclamation calling them into existence. province. The expenditure, in so far as wages' He hoped it would not be made a party payments go, amounts to about £4 10s. per question, and, with all sincerity, that the week. For all the purposes in contemplation, Government would not oppose the motion. £400 per annum, or at most £500 per annum, The MINISTER FOR LANDs (Mr. Perkins) will suffice for the Board. Beyond bare travel· said the hon. gentleman who had just ling expenses, where asked to go out and in sat down seemed to insinuate by his speech vestigate, and payment for professional ser· that he (Mr. Perkins) and his hon. col vices, the members of the Board have made leagues were enemies of agriculture ; but it no charges upon the funds. Full statements of was because they were the friends of all the outlay have been published annually." agriculture, and had a gennine and sincere The report dealt very fully with all the desire to mitigate the many difficulties agri matters he had thus briefly brought before culturists laboured under in this colony, the House. He did not wish to take up that they had interfered with this Board the time of the House on a matter of this and endeavoured to direct their attention to kind. He trusted hon. members had the functions they were called to perform thought the subject over for themselves to some four or five years ago. He did not a great extent, and he would only submit intend to follow th0 hon. gentleman through this-that as far as the members of the his speech, nor had he much to complain Board were concerned, although it would of as to the hon. member's statements; but check their very laudable desire to carry he had made a few errors, and some of his on operations of this kind, in no other remarks were not very complimentary to way would it affect them whether their himself (Mr. Perkins). The offensive man labours were brought to a standstill or not. ner in which the hon. member spoke of him He submitted, however, that a very ne:.tr would, he was sure, do him no good in the approach to something like patriotism had House. The hon. member had wandered animated the members of the Board, and into a long story as to the doings of the if their operations were brought to a stand Board; but hon. members had the report still through the action of Parliament it before them, and he would invite their would be discreditable to the colony. Of attention to it to see if they could discover course, their duty in that case was plain; anything in it. He had read the report in ll.nd, in fact, it had been thought over by manuscript, written by the hon. member members of the Board, whether they should himself, and he failed to discover anything resign, and it was possible that some of in it as to what the Board was up to .. If them would resign anyhow, if the funds they had been embarrassed or blocked in were not placed at their disposal. Even any way it was the hon. gentleman's own ifthe whole sum of £2,500were in question, fault, for he could assure him that neither he submitted that the members of the his hon. colleagues nor himself had any Board were quite responsible enough for desire to block them in their operations or such a sum; but the amount still available to injure agriculture in any pcssible way. was only £300, and they asked to have An intention was expressed, at a Cabinet that sum placed at their disposal, as was meeting, that if the Board directed their done by the previous Governments. He attention to the pursuits that were indicated wished to state again distinctly, that, ac when they were called into existence. the cording to his idea, if this money were present Ministry would not be unwilling withheld, it would be as clear a case of to support a vote for a liberal sum in repudiation as ever came before a colo the House, or perhaps put it on the nial Parliament; and that it would not Estimates. He would just state a few redO'Ilnd to the credit or honour of facts connected with the case, and hon. th.e colony if it went abroaq that tl].e PWrnbl?rR would be able to judge for them- Diseases in Plants (5 JUNE.] and Animals. 327
selves. One matter the hon. member re followed, and ultimately the hon. member ferred to was that he (Mr. Perkins) spoke raised a question in the House owing to a in offensive terms of Dr. Bancroft, in giving paragraph in a Toowoomba paper, and an answer to a question in the House ; but what followed would be fresh in the re he would simply direct attention to the collection of hon. members. However, the fact that he took the words from the re hon. member again agreed with him in the port of the .Auditor-General. The words House to explain the matter, and he gave - were:- an assurance that the Board would confine "Horsing Dr. Bancroft to Taroorn, £53 themselves to their woper functions. But ls. Ud." again he forgot to~ do so, and the con sequence was that they were landed at Was there anything offensive or improper this stage, and the House was asked in that? If the .Auditor-General, or the to dictate to the Government as to members of the Board themselves, or who how they should deal with the mat ever drew up the repod, thought proper to ter. For the information of hou. mem use the expression, surely he was justified bers he would now read some items in taking it from the best authority they in the report, which was said to cover up had in the colonv. He did not intend to the 30th .June, 1878; but he was justified in any way to be offensive to Dr. Bancroft, in saying that they were reported on up to or any member of the deputation. He would the 30th of September, 1878, and the bal say more-he did not accuse Dr. Bancroft ance of their transactions was in their cash of going outside and inventing a report book. The items were :-F. M. Bailey, of that meeting; but some member of the botanist, £!51 10s. ; J. H. Schmidt, £44 deputation did go outside and mis-report, 10s.; Dr. Baneroft, £122 10s. ; George and convey to the public a different com Grimes, £18 2s.; C. R. Haly, £55 7s. 6d.; plexion altogether of the proceedings to .Angus Mackay, £37 5s.; Bobert Muir, what they really were ;-it was an un £110 19s. 6d ; Karl Staiger, £65 9s. 6d. ; truthful report. He did not know who did travelling expenses-F. 1\f. Bailey, £79 it, and they could divide it amongst them 10s. ; ditto ditto, J. .A. Schmidt, £2.; selves. The attention of the Government horsing Dr. BancroH to Taroom, £53 ls. was first called to the existence of this lld. ; trenching, ploughing, stumping, and Board in a very extraordinary way. .A la hour generally in connection with grasses, book of illustrated grasses-a copy of which sugar-cane, &c., £145 17s. ld.; purchase he held in his hand-was shown to him, of sugar-cane, £27 16s. 6d.; lithographing and it was stated that the cost of it was not grasses, rust in sugar-cane, &c., £91 6s. under£500. 8d. ; electrotyping plants, &c., £241 2s. Mr. MACK.A.Y: £300. lld. ; drawing of rust in cane, £3. The MINISTER FOR LANDS would repeat He would also[oint out that the whole of that the cost was not under £500. On look the proceeds o agriculture amounted to ing at the report of the .Auditor-General, £2 13s. 6d.-produce of cane sold. He to which he should refer presently, his thought that quite justiEied him in calling attention was drawn to the fact that the the attention of the hon. member to the money was not being properly expended. proceedings of the Board, and endeavour The consequence was that, he believed, a ing to pursuacle him that the money, in letter was sent to the secretary stating that stead of being squandered in this fashion, no more money would be available until should be devotecl to the objects it was some explanation was given. The sequel voted for. He maintained that, being a was that a deputation, consisting of the friend of agriculture-having been engaged hon. member and some other members of for some tim€l in agricultural pursuits the Board, with the secretary, interviewed and feeling that it would succeed in this him one day in the Lands Office. The sum colony, he was quite justified in main and substance of the proceedings of the taining that the money that had been voted deputation was that the hon. member, who should be devoted to the purposes for which had the principal share of the talk, agreed it was intended, and limiting the Board to with him verbally to send in a brief report their proper functions. He might further as to the results the Board had achieved more say that if the hon. member had kept during the time they had been in existence; his word, and the promise he made at the and he further said that the Board had deputation, no doubt they would have been made an arrangement by which the ex able to adjust matters and arrange some penses would not be more than £4 plan by which the Board would be lOs. per week, and certainly not out limited to a reasonable expenditure. side £5. Soon after that, application But from the information from nearly all was made for a sum of money, and the parts of the colony it was evident to the secretary was informed that :Mr. J\fackay Government that they must retrench-no had forgotten to send in the brief report he matter what Government was in it was had promised. The report now before hon. clear that they must cut down expenses, members was not the report that hon. whether the duty was a pleasing one or not. ~ember promised, Other correspondence J t was certainly n0t a pleasing duty to )liw, ' ' 328 Diseases in Plants [ASSEMBLY.] ancl Animals.
but it had fallen upon this Government to the House that he was a friend of agri carry it out, and they Rhould endeavour to culture, and wished to see it prosper in do so fearlessly and impartially. There every way ; and also to state the reasons was no endeavour or wish to interfere with why he interfered and stopped the pro agriculture or with the Board, so far as the ceedings of the Board in the direction performance of their proper functions was they were going. concerned. Altogetht>r, th'l sum expended .:\'T r. A•IHDRST said there was no doubt by the Board was £2,2,10, of which sum the :MinistPr for Lands was re8ponsible for about £1,500 was squandered by the mem the expc•ncliture of all moneys going bers in paying themselves what they through his department, and it was his called travelling expenses, and the balance duty to sPe that they were properly ex in hand at the present time was shown by pended. He was, therefore, simply per the paper he held in his hand to be forming his duty in the course he had taken £258 12s. 8d. He supposed that was the in this case. item the hon. member now wished to The PimMIER said he was quite sure get handed over to the Board. Re might that the House had not understood the inform hon. members that, on inquiry, he true facts of the ease as put before them found there had been no agreement what by the hon. member for South Brisbane; ever with the Board to hand over to them and if that hon. member himself really large sums of money. It appeared that understood what he was asking the House when they wanted monpy they got it, but to acquiesce in, he (the Premier) thought there was no fixed sum that was to be he would pause before he took any such handed over to them at any time. The action. "\Vhen the sum of £2,500 was hon. member, however, at once put his voted, in 1874 anrl1876, for the purpose of foot down and tried to dictate to him and the making inquiry in to the diseases of Ministry as to what sums they should stock and plants, the late Government hand over to the Board. There had been appointed a Board for the purpose of no objection to do so on the part of the carrying out the objects of that vote; but Government ; they did not wish to cripple it could not for one moment be rontended the functions and operations of the Board th:ttonce the Government appointed a Board in any way, but they wanted the Board to all the responsibility of the Government confine themselves to what Parliament ceased. The Government were deeidedly intended they should do when they were responsible to sPe that the Board expended first constituted. He was not going to the money in accordance with the wislws deny the statements of the hon. gentlPman of the House when the vote was granted, in any way. He would admit that, if the and that was all this Government had Board had done one-tenth of what the hon. triPd to do. From information obtained gentleman had allrged, they had done well ; from members of the Board, it appeared but from rumours outside - statements that previously they had been accustomed to from owners of sheep and cattle, and sugar have money handed over to them for ex planters, and growers of cereals-it was penditure without any supervision what evident that none of them admitted the ever on the part of the Department for success had been anything like what had Lands, in which dPpartment the vote was been stated by the hon. gentleman. given. The only superYision they had been He would furthermore inform the hon. ~ubjected to was simply the annual audit member that he need not try to prr ing of the Auditor-General. "When the suade the community of Queensland that pre~ent Government got into office, ap the Board had discovered any antidote for plications were made to the Jl.1:inister for pleuro-pneumonia. He (Mr. Perkins) could Lands to get the balance o£ this vote remember that in Victoria, nearly twenty placed at the credit o£ the Board, years ago, innoculation was performed as and, the Government being anxious in this an antidote for that diRease. Whether case, along w1th other votes, to see that Queensland stock-breeders or cattle-owners the money was being spent judiciously, were asleep to what was going on in made inquiries to that effect. They round Victoria he did not know; but he thought that, up to the pre~ent time, the Board had some o£ them were quite as active here as spent something like £2,200, leaving a they were in th:ott colony. Hon. members balance of about £800, and they wished would therefore see the fallacy of making to know how that money had been expen ·such statements. As to the other state ded-but they ha E. Way was for taking care of the various time gratuitously to the objects of patches of grass now under cultivation in the the Board, and it was most disgrace garden at Toowoomba. For some time the ful that any hon. member holding Minis Board had been cultivating grasses there in terial office should pass sucli a slur order to test their value as fodder, and obtain on some of the best names in the therefrom seed to cultivate in other places. colony. It would be considered a reflec The A. Macpherson referred to was the tion in the most degraded times of New person in charge of the little farm the South \Vales to have cast such slurs upon Board now held, and which was the honourable names w hieh had been men mentioned further on in the state tioned, and it came with a very bacl grace ment of expenditure. The sum paid to indeed from hon. members on the other Mr. Bailey was for collecting the various side of the House. The misconception lay grasses, and his salary as botanist to the entirely at the hands of the hon. Premier, Board. It was necessary, in pursuing whose duty it was, when those payments investigations of this kind, that the Board came under his notice, to have sent to the should have the £ervices of a thorough :Board ancl asked under what heading botanist, and he did not think the money this money was paid. There were paid to him had been thrown away. Various four or five headings under which the plants which were supposed to be poisonous items in the lists might have been passed, had been submitted to Mr. Bailey for his and, if the Premier had only sent one of his report, and these reports had been extremely subordinates to the Board requiring a useful; indeed, if the colony could obtain classification of the amounts spent, he the services of a botanist like Mr. Bailey could have seen how much was required for £150 a year. it was extremely fortunate; for vine disPase, how much for sugar-cane and if all the money voted by the House was disease, diseases in grass, diseases in sheep, put to as good and practical a use as the pleura in ea ttle, and so forth ; and in money expended by this Board the country , twenty-four hours they would have been would have no reason to complain. The enumerated, and when put together it inquiry into the diseases in sugar-cane had would have been seen they quite equalled had important results, not only to this but the total of the money spent. It was to other countries, and the subject had not the Board who were to blame for been considered of such vast importance any misconception of what was done that a despatch had been received from the with the money, but it was the fault of the Imperial Government in regard to that Treasurer for not ascertaining 11 classifica subject. He should have great pleasure in tion of the payments. He ought to have supporting the resolution, for he believed been doubly careful in this case not to that if the money was handed Elver to them throw the blame on the gentlemen who had it would be spent in a very profitable way. undertaken to perform the work of the The Premier complained that the Board Board. But there was no doubt' the did not give information as to what they Minister for Lands had just been obliged intended to spend the money upon, but to do as he was told. These dealings with that information was contained in this-re the Board opened their eyes to the work solution. The Board desired to spend the ings of the interior of the Cabinet, and money in pursuing investigations on rust what had happened gave a very strong in wheat-a very desirable thing, and one colouring to the supjJosition that the Cabi which would recommend itself, he felt sure, net consisted only of two members-the to the consideration of every member of Premier ancl the Colonial Secretary. He the House. (Mr. Rea) well understood their desire to Mr. REA, when listening to the remarks crush this Board, for, in 187 4, the Colonial of hon. mem hers on the other side of the Secretary denounced Boards of all kinds, House, and especially those hon. members because they formed a class of public ser who sat on the Ministerial benches, was vants who were not under the control of struck forcibly by what the Premier hacl Ministers. That seemed to be the ob said, and by the Minister for Lands read jection of the Colonial Secretary, and ing out the names of the gentlemen who unless he could produce terror in the had received any money payments out of mind of any person in the public the vote to the Board. His impression was service that man had no business to be that it was intended to be inferred from there. The Colonial Secretary's notion of that that these money payments from conducting the public service was to bully, the public purse had been made, not for and the man he could not bully must be the good of the public service, but that the put out of the way. That was his (Mr. recipients had put the money in their own Hea's) opinion of how the Board got into pockets. It amounted to that, at any rate, its present position·; but if they Lad clone when the Minister for Lands enumerated nothing else than prosecute their inquiries the names of those who had received into cane disease and vine disease, all the money under the Board but not the items money expended would have been well for which it was paid. This was not fair laid out in these items alone. Look at to those gentlemep., who had given their Victoria and So~th A11.stralia, w4ere they 332 IJisease$ in Plants [ASSEMBLY.] and Animals. were at their wits' -end as to what they as every selector would find in that book were to do about the phylloxera, a disease an authorised description of the grasses the care of the Board had kept out of this whieh were most profitable for his use. It colony. If they had done nothing else, the was a very s1wrt-sighted policy to deride Board deserved the thanks of the House for books like those, which would be the basis what they had clone in that instance alone. of so much good to the selectors of the Then, again, he would refer to the amount colony. of money which had been expended in the ?.fr. KrNGSFORD said the hon. member colony of Victoria as compared -vi·ith that who had just spoken reminded him of a spent here, and he believed that greater. eelebrated charar,ter in Dickens' "Nicholas practical results had been produced here Nickleby," 21-fr. JYewman JYoggs, who was at a small cost than with all the large in the ha bit of tucking up his shirt sleeves sums which had been spent in that colony. and sparring away at an imaginary enemy. There was another thing which came with If his (Mr Kingsford's) ears had not very very bad grace from the Government, and much deceived him-and he had listened that was their jeering at Dr. Ban croft for · very attentively to the speech of the Pre going on a long and weary journey for the mier in reply to that of the hon. member purpose of tracing out the cause of a for South Brisbane-he had not discovered disease amongst sheep which had puzzled anything in that speech approaching to a the men who owned the sheep. Such a reflection on the members of the Board. slur came with very bad grace from those He was rather glad to say that, as he hon. members. "\Vith regard to pleuro, it thought the debate might be very mu eh had been stated that it was a disease shortened if hon. members merely con which had long existed-and so it had, for fined themselves to the facts of the case. it was many years since he had first heard It was true that the hon. member for of it in Victoria; but was that, he would South Brisbane, in his opening speech, ask, any reason why the cause of it should made some allusions to the hon. the not be examined into by a Board here P Minister for Lands, but he did not think All kinds of experiments had been tried in there had been any remark made by Minis Victoria, and scientific men had held ad ters which could be called a ~lur or a verse opinions on the subject; and it reflection on those gentlemen who had de was only a few years ago that some voted their time and talents to the good of gentlemen in Sydney sent in a report the country. It was true that the hon. which nobody could make head or tail Premier passed some strictures on the way of. He considered such a subject was in which the money had been expended, a very proper thing for this Board to in and rightly so; but that was a thing alto quire into, and by means of experts to try gether foreign to the charge which had been and find a remedy ; and, granting they had made against the Government of selfishly not found a rPmedy, they had thrown a studying their own interests and ignoring great deal of light upon the disease. Hon. those of the Board. He agreed to some members had been over and over again extent with the hon. Premier that the money impressed by hon. members of the Govern had not been judiciously expended in all ment with the necessity of watching over instances ; but, notwithstanding that, the the public expenditure and exercising eco members of the Board were worthy of all nomy in every department; but how could honour and credit and praise from that he attach any faith to that statement, now House for any action they might have taken made by the Minister for Lands and aftPr for so many years and any good they might wards backed up by the Premier, when he have clone. He had watched narrowly the remembered how those hon. gentlemen had speeches made by hon. members of the on the 17th April taken thousands of Government, and he had not discovered pounds out of the Treasury to put it into that they had in any one instance refused the pockets of the coast squatters who had to pay the balance due to the Board; and their runs given them at their own price? if he was right in his conclusion in that He thought that it was discreditable to hear respect the whole debate fell to the a Board which had done so much for the ground. He thought, judging by the interests of the colony spoken of in the able and elaborate speech of the hon. way it had been by those hon. me mhers. member for South Brisbane, that the The point the Government seemed to make Government were decidedly opposed to the greatest handle of was, that the Board granting any furt,her sums to enable the had gone beyond its original functions ; .j:!oard to carry on their investigations ; but but if it could be found that any one of the he could not gather from the speech of the items of expenditure was not included Premier anything to that effect, and until under the heads he had mentioned, he that doubt was removed he should advise would vote against any further.expenditure. the hon. mover of the rPsolution to accept In regard to the money which had been the position that the Government would spent on printing the books on grasses, he pay the £200 or £300 clue to the Board. felt satisfied that it would be found here He would ask the Premier whether he was after that the money had been well spent, correct, as, if he was not, and the Govern- hisedses in Plants [5 JuNE.) ttnd Animals. :i:.lient refused to grant any more money to classes of diseases-those which occurred a Board which had done so much good to during the process of acclimatisation; and the country, they would have no sympathy those w hi eh resulted from the soil, after from him. But he did not believe that much cultivatwn, having lost some of the there was a member of the Government so properties essential to the perfect develop lost to the interests of the colony as to ment of the plants. The hon. gentleman refuse the money ~aid to be due to the mentioned the introduction of rice as Board, or even another £2,500 if neces one of the effects of the labours of the sary, to such a good purpose. Board; but rice was grown in Port Mac The PREMIER: I£ I may be allowed to quarie forty-five years ago, and the proper repeat what I said some time ago, it is way to extend its cultivation was, not to grow this:-The Government have never refused it in one particular locality, but to dis to grant to the Board the balance available, tribute the seed among the farming popu so long as they were satisfied that the lation, to be sown and cultivated under Board would spend it on the objects for various conditions. The real Wt:Jrk of the which it was voted by this House. They Board was the introduction of plants and ha1•e been assured that they will get the seeds, and there was no necessity for money if they will expend it on the objects experimental farming. The farmers of the for which it was voted;-the money is there the colon~ could do the work more for them, as it has been all along, under satisfactol'lly and effectively than the people those conditions. of New Farm. Another question which Mr. MESTON said that the hon. member he would like to touch upon was the intro for South Brisbane had made out a very duction of game b1rds, and he was glad good case indeed, and he gave the hon. that the subject had been broached at the gentleman full credit as one who had last meeting of the Acclimatisation Society, always been anxious to further as much as by 1fr. Senior, who, as a genuine sports possible the agricultural and horticultural man, took a thorough interest in such mat interests of this colony. He should not ters. A little money might very well be follow that hon. member in all his argu spE'nt in the introduction of game birds ments, although he might refer to some of or even of hares-and he intended before them later on. No dorrbt the Board had the session closed to ask for a vote of £200 done some good, but money had been for that purpose. vVith regard to the squandered; notably, a sum of £175 paid phylloxera in vines, nothing more was to Dr. Bancroft for examining the liver of a known of it at the presPnt time than in the sheep. He said "squandered" for this rea beginning. Pliny in one of his histories son-that that liver could have been brought said that phylloxera was known to the down to Brisbane at a very small cost, and Gauls in Marseilles 500 years before the whole examination might have been Christ. It was also known in Sicily and made under a microscope with just as satis~ Sardinia when Carthage traded with India. factory results. He noticed in the report The following with regard to a disease another sum of £170, paid to Messrs . .Muir xomewhat similar appeared in Haydn's and Staiger for making inquiries into the "Dictionary of Dates " :- came of disease in sugar-cane. He had a "In the spring of 1875 Mr. E. Tucker, of very vivid impression of how that money Margate, observed a fungus (since named can~e to be spent- Mr. M uir was his 'oidium Tuckeri') on grapes in the hot-houses of brother-in-law, and no doubt was the man Mr. Slater, of :Margate. It is a whitish mildew, best fitted to make such an inquiry; but he and totally destroys the fruit. The spores of was free to admit that no result~ whatever this oidium were found in the vineries of Ver followed from the expenditure of that sailles in 11'47. The di,ease soon reached the money. Mr. Muir certainly wrote a long trellised vines, and in 1850 many lost all their and valuable essay, but it was of no prac produce. In 1852 it spread over France, Italy, tical use for no one was any the wiser. Spain, Syria ; and in Zante and Cephalonia at After that some of the planters at M ackay tucked the currunts, reducing the crop to one and the northern sugar-fields subscribed, twelfth of the usual amount. Through its and sent to Sydney for Professor Live~· ravages the wine manufacture in Madeira ceased seclge to investigate into rust in cane. The for several years. Many attempts have been learned gentleman made an analysis of the made to arrest the progress of the disease, but without much effect. It has much abated in the differ~nt soils ; but that, also, was equally valueless, though the expense did :France, but not in Portugal." not come out of the funds of the Board. It was not very satisfactory to ascertain For a treatise on the nature of soils a sum whether the disease was a fungus or an of £250 had been expended, but that did insect without a remedy could be found. not come from the Board. As to the A man who had a pain in his back did not diseases mentioned, they were of the nature want to know whether it was caused by of the potato disease, which had been sc-iatica or rheumatism-he wanted a cure under investigation ever since the potato for it. 'fhere were CE'rtain diseases in famine in Ireland without any result being plants of which we knt>w no~hing more arrived at. Plants were subject to two than was known in the earliest times, as the 334 Diseases in Plants [ASSEMBLY.] and Animals. human system was now subject to diseases port. There had been a very general im known to Esculapius 2,500 years ago. The pression that the Government intended to Board had no doubt done a great amount do so, and it was very satisfactory of good-it would have been an extraordi to find such was not the ca~e. nary thing if they had not, seeing the large From what the hon. the Minister for amount of money which had been spent. Lands had said on a previous occasion, no Money might be well spent in discovering one could come to any other conclusion, the cause of rust in wheat, and the remedy and he had left the impression, from what -he believed it was attributable to defect he said this afternoon, that the Board and or deficiency in the soil-and tl1e £300 the Government were at arms' length. He might safely be given to the Board to con was glad to learn from the Premier-espe tinue their inquiries ; but the House should cially from his last observations-tl1at have some guarantee of the manner in that had been a misunderstanding. He which it was to be spent, and that the was one of those persons who did not Board would strictly confine themselves to believe in Boards generally, because he the works'they professed to undertake. considered the appointment of Boards was Mr. ARCHER agreed with other hon. mem frequently a parting with the proper func bers that no reflection whatever had been tions of Government. Some exceptions cast upon the gentlemen who composed the must, however, be made to the rule, and a Board; but he thought the hon. member Board of scientific gentlemen must be ap who introduced the motion had done so in pointed to carry out scientific experiments. an improper manner, because anyone who It was quite impossible that an officer now voted with him would be voting for of the Government should carry out such throwing money into the hands of men to be experiments, and the best results might be spent as they pleased. Hon. members attained by an association of gentlemen of were bound to see that money was spent in scientific and practical attainments devot the way the House directed; but they ing their spare time and their abilities to would probabJzy- be exceedingly sorry if the scientific researches. The discoveries Government said they would not supply already made were a credit, not only the necessary funds to carry out those to those vrho had made them, but also interesting experiments. The first thing to the colony. Among the gentlemen to bedonetoward8 discoveringaremedywas constituting the Board was a gentle to know what the disease was ; and if they man who had made some discoveries found out exactly what the disease was which had attracted attention all over the they would probably find out the cure for world. Amongst these was the discovery it. If the disease in wheat could be les of the causes of rust in cane, about which sened by one-half, or even one-third, an there had been great doubt and anxiety ; immense money gain would result to the and no doubt if the researches were prose colony. The hon. member-now he heard cuted more discoveries woulcl follow. No that the Government were prepared to one listening to the speech of the Minister meet the cheques of the Board as presented, for Lands could come to any other con so long as they could show they were carry clusion than that the Government would ing out the work for which they were not let the Board go any further, because appointed-would, no doubt, be satisfied. they had expended the greater part of the lie (Mr. Archer) should be very sorry if money for their private benefit. That hon. the Government came to the resolution to gentleman read a list of the moneys paid stop experiments whioh were calculated to to members of the Board, mentioning the be of great advantage to the colony. amounts but not saying what they were Mr. GRIFFITH thought the discussion had for. All the amounts he had men not wasted the time of the House. The tioned were for travelling expenses ; he evident impression on the part of the also mentioned other amounts which were Board bad been that they would not receive for wages and salaries. For instance, the support of the Government in their four sums, amounting to £459, had operations, and that impression had pre been paid to various persons for wages vailed until this afternoon. The Govern and salaries. How could experiments ment themselves had at least shown a want be conducted without employing some of that generous appreciation of the persons P-it was not to be expected labours of those gentlemen, who had de that the members of the Board were going voted themselves to valuable researches to keep private gardens and watch the and made most important discoveries, diseases themselves. Another item criti which might have been expected from the cised was the one for the book of Government. The best thanks of the grasses. There were two amounts-£91 colony and of the House were due to those for lithographing, including the lithographs gentlemen who had given their attention to of rust in sugar-cane, and £240 for electro this subject. They had made experiments typing. That book, he could state from and discoveries of very great value, and he personal experience, had attracted a good was very glad to hear that the Government deal of attention. Only last week he had had no intention of discontinuing the sup- received a letter from a distinguished gentle- Diseases in Plants [5 JuNE.] and Animais. 335 man residing in a neighbouring colony, in really accomplished? The hon. member quiring where a copy could be procured, as who had introduced. the motion claimed he was very anxious to get one. That work, for them that they had discovered a cure whether it came wHhin the original func for pleuro-pneumonia. " tions of the Board or not, was a very valu An HoN. MEMBER: No. able one. An hon. member had suggested The CoLONIAL SECRETARY said hon. that the Board was setting up as a rival members had also heard him claim that to the Acclimati~ation Society; but that they stopped the disease 9f worms in sheep, society did not de;·ote its attention to the and that they had stamped out phylloxera. disea~es of plants, and how could the Board He should like to know what they possibly experiment on diseases without really had to do with phylloxera ? How having the plants under thpir obsc>rvation? did they stamp it out P Had it ever Surely, they must grow things which were appeared in the colony P The House had subject to diseases. He observed that heard a great deal of talk about the Board, the Colonial Secretary. with his usual and the science it had displayed in that book courtesy, interrupted him with a sound of grasses in which a bushman ·could not something like a hiss. The Board, if they pick out more than three varieties that he performed their functions at all, must knew. One of these was the spear grass, cultivate the plants liable to diseases and which could not be mistaken ;-it was watch their growth. Who ever heard of a called a valuable grass, and it was stated scientific body being condemned because in the book to be rather mluable food, but their first experiments were unsuccessful? scarce except in the Rockhampton district. And, considering the short time this Board It was a grass that frightened the life out had been at work, he thought they had of the pastoral tenant. This was the in been remarkably successful. The result formation which was said to be so valu of the debate, so far, appeared to be that able. and upon which such a lot of money everybody agreed that the Board had done had been spent. He had never heard good, although some members were not greater non~ense than the claims which generous enough to admit it. The had been set up for the labours of the Government ought not to divest them Board. They had started a small model selves of their responsibility with regard farm at New Farm, and were doing, to the proper expenditure of public there, precisely what was being done monPy, but on the other hand there should in the Botanical Gardens, and, to a be confidence between the Government greater extent, in the Acclimatisation and the Board. If they appointed a Board grounds and at St. Helena. They laid of independent gentlemm of high scientific claim to the experiments at St. :ij:elena, attainments, it was indispensable that some but they had absolutely nothing to do with amount of confidence should be reposed in them, for they were all being carried out them. He was glad that the Gov;ernment by the Government. The same work that the did not intend to withdraw their assistance; Board were doing at New Farm was also but he hoped the Minister for Lands did being done much more efficiently at Too not expect that the Board should first sub woomba, and could have· been effected mit every penny of their expenditure, and without a Board. Then they sent up the say, "Please, shall we spend five pounds in country a doctor of great science. Not a investigating this or that disease ?" That word had been hinted against him except was not the spirit in which the Board by his friends. They sent him to look at should be treated. After the explanation some worms in sheep at the Dawson; but given by the Premier, that they were will if they had brought the mountain to ing to assist the Board to carry on their Mahomet instead of taking Mahomet to most valuable researches, he thought the the mountain-if they had brought the hon. member for South Brisbane might diseased sheep's liver to the doctor, very well be satisfied with the debate, and the cost of the inquiry would not he would suggest to him that the best have been a fiftieth or hundredth part of thing he could do was to withdraw the what it was. What good had resulted from motion. it? Did it stamp out the worm disease P The CoLONIAL SECRETARY said he had Hon. members knew better, and that hun listened with great attention to the speech dreds and thousands o£ sheep had been lost of the leader of the Opposition, and the through worms, and all the information, only deduction he had been able to draw therefore, collected by the Board did not from it was that, in his opinion, the duty do one particle of good. He said without of the Board was to acclimatise diseases in hesitation, if it had not been for the per plants. He said they were not rivals of sonal character of :the then hon. member the Acclimatisation Society, because it for Leichhardt (Mr. Haly) the vote would was not the duty of that society to acclima never have been got, and that it was tise diseases ;-the infPrence, then, must be strongly opposed by the Government of the that it was the duty of the Board to do so. d!J,y. He was sorry that the then Govern They had heard a great deal of high ment had not stood out firmer against it, falutin about what the Board had done, for he could not admit that any great but he should like to know what had they benefit had followed from it. The Board Diseases in Plants [ASS:El:M:BLY.J had produced a very pretty book with the also stated that it would not enable the names of Messrs. Bailey and Staiger on Board to enter into other experiments, and each page-it was a splendid advertisement that £300 woulcl be sufficient to carry .for them-and out of the whole of the on for nearly twelve months longer. Seeing grasses illustrated hardly nny bushman that the records of the Board for everv could recognise more than three or four, year, together with its expentiiture, were on and they were of the worst description and the shelves of the Assembly Library, he hated by the pastoral tenant. If the could not understand members of the hon. mover took the advice of the senior Government getting up and saying that he member for North Brisbane and withdrew did not know what had been done with the the motion, he hoped he would not do so money. He had already explained about the under any false idea that the Government expenditure for the book on native grasses, were going to pursue a di:EI'erent policy with and the reasons for the publication. As to regard to the Board. All the Government the contention that the grasses illustrated had ever asked for was to be informed for were of nu use and dangerous, he consi what purpose the money voted was to be dered that one of the most valuable fea devoted, and that the Government would tures in the book, and that it was desirable know before the Board got any more of the the public shou!d know which were dan money. The Minister for Lands had gerous grasses. The Minister for Lands, nearly pledged himself to meet the current with his usual fine diction, had pointed out expenses up to £4 per week, but they would that the Board had produced £2 for agri not get the money if-as he believed it was cultural produce. That just gave him a key their intention-it was to be spPnt in the to his nature, if it were required. The hon. publication of another book, something in member's whole iclea was just this-" How the same style as that one on the grasses, much money can be got out of the Board?" which, according to the leader of the Op which was, however, never appointed to position, could i:J.ot be procured. 'l'his im grow produce for the purpose ot sale. It maculate Board published a certain num had been stated twice over by Minis ber of copies of a book, and di~tributcd ters that he had claimed for the Board them among their friends, but the work the duwovery of an antidote for pleuro. apparently could not be pro!'urcd by vVhat he said, however, was, that the the public. Of what good, then, was action of the Board and the informa it to the public? If the Board thought tion given had convinced many gentle they were going to get the balance men who were unbelievers previously, or to spend on a similar work to illustrate the nearly so, that innoculation was a neces disease in grape vines-the Government sary thing. Something had been said had heard that such a work was to be about money havi11g been granted to partiPs published at a great expense by them-·if in Maryborough and Rockhampton;-that the Board thought that the money would be was to carry on experiments with. Ex given for such a purpose, the hon. mover periments could not be conducted without would go away with a false impression. the expenditure of some money; but in Let the Board confine themselves to the these cases the amount had been small-in inquiry of diseases in plants, sueh as the fact, a great deal had been done with small rust in wheat ;-and here he would say that sums in all parts of the colony by the Board. he could not for the life of him under It had also been said that· the Board must stand why there should be such a mighty state how they WE're going to expend these hurry now to inquire into the rust in moneys. vVell, he had represented that to wheat, for there was no likelihood of the the Minister for Lands several times, and disease appearing until November. How had also stated that the desire o£ the ever, the Government would do as they Board at the present time was to carry on had always been prepared to do ;-if the experiments in connection with rust in Board would give them the information wheat-that was plain English, surely; they were bound to give as t~ what the and he would point out to the Colonial money was required for-and tlus they had Secretary that the necessity for these expe.. never yet furnished, the money voted riments was Himply that the wheat season would be paid, but it must be ex was now commencing, and the Board was pended for the purpose for which it was anxious to carry them out :from the time of granted. planting the seed to the end. He had also Mr. MACKAY said he would not detain pointed out that with thi~ £300 the Board the House long in his reply to what had hoped to be able, with the facilities they now been said by the Minister for Lands and had, to keep pace with the experiments being the Colonial Treasurer. The Minister for conducted in South Australia and Victoria Lands ha(l placed great stress upon the by the best men there were in the colonies, promise that the Board's expenses woulcl and at an expenditure of thousands-more be kept down to £4 per week. When it thousands than the ;Board had expended was given it was stated that thll;t sum wo.ulcl llunclreds. It had lSeen stated that there merely keep the grounds gomg at .N cw was no desire to withdraw these funds from Farm and at Toowoomba and pay a small the Board : did he understand from Minis amount to the Board's employes; it was ters that they were prepared to place F01•mal Motions. [10 JUNE.] Collection of Electoral Rolls. 337 moneys to the credit of the Board ? If they were, then he would withdraw his motion. The PREMIER said they were prepared to do nothing of the sort. He had explained over and over again what the Government were prepared to do. Mr. MACKAY said that was just what he expected. The matter had been met with sneL'rs and jeers by a number of gentlemen whose position should place them above that sort of thing, and seeing that scientific men were not so numerous in the colony, and that the members of the Board had devoted a considerable amount of time and attention to the matter, he thought a little latitude might have been allowed, if it were only to counterbalance the grog-and swill influences which had such a hold in this country. As he said before, it mattered not to the Board-further than it would interfere with their de~ire to carry on ex periments that would be beneficial to the country-whether the Goverment refused this money or not. If they refused it, they would simply snuff the Board out of existence, and the onus would rest with them. He should divide the House on the motion. Question put, and the House divided :- AYE~, 14. Messrs. Dickson, Griffith, Garrick, Kings ford, Grimes, Meston, Paterson, Rea, Mac farlane (Ipswich), Stubley, Bailey, Horwitz, Mackay, and Hendren. NOES, 25. Messrs. Palmer, Mcilwraith, Perkins, l\Iac rossan, Scott, .A.mhurs~, Persse, N orton, Stevens, W alsh, Stevens m, Lalor, :lYiorehead, H. Palmer, Low, Beor, Simpson, Sheaffe, Hamilton, Hill, Davenpor~, O'Sulli-van, Mac farlane (Leichhardt), and Archer. l{esolved in the negative. The house adjourned at fifteen minutes past 8, until Tuesday next.