House of Representatives
26 November 1920

8th Parliament · 1st Session



Mr. Speaker (Hon. Sir Elliot Johnson) took the chair at 11 a.m., and read prayers.

page 7090

QUESTION

BASIC WAGE : PUBLIC SERVANTS

Mr HECTOR LAMOND:
ILLAWARRA, NEW SOUTH WALES

– I ask the Leader of the House whether he has seen a telegram sentby Mr. O’Connor, regarding an alleged promise of the Prime Minister, and whether any such promise was made.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Yes. I myself received a telegram from Mr. O’Connor. The moment I became aware that these telegrams were being received by members, I telegraphed to the Prime Minister, asking him whether Mr. O’Connor’s statements were correct..

Mr J H Catts:

– We had the same denials regarding the War Gratuity.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– All I have to say about Mr. O’Connor is that I would hardly take his word if it were uncorroborated. I speak from my own experience of him. He tried, the other day, to put statements into my mouth which were not correct. This is the reply that I received from the Prime Minister -

Statement by O’Connor absolutely untrue. Beyond telling O’Connor that I would not see him -

I suppose that that relates to the station incident -

I have never spoken to him in my life.

An unqualified and absolute denial.

Mr Lavelle:

– No one would take the Prime Minister’s word, nor yours either.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– More insults.

page 7091

QUESTION

HIGH COMMISSIONER

Mr RILEY:
SOUTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

– Has the Treasurer seen the paragraph in this morning’s newspapers intimating that Mr. Fisher has been given three months’ leave of absence, with a view to Senator Millen taking over his duties?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Yes, and my reply is the same as yesterday : I do not know anything about the ‘matter.

page 7091

QUESTION

LEAD ORE

Embabgo on Exportation.

Mr GREGORY:
DAMPIER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

– Some time ago a deputation from the Country party waited on the Prime Minister, and was assured that no further embargoes would be placed on the export of produce from Australia. Recently, however, I received from the Solicitor-General an intimation that an embargo would be placed on the export of lead ore from Western Australia. I ask the Leader of the House whether he will promise that this matter shall be definitely brought before Cabinet, and consideration given to my request that exportation may be free.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I know nothing about the matter, but I think that I may make the promise for which the honorable member asks.

page 7091

EX-WARRANT OFFICER LITTLE

Mr MAKIN:
HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– On the 14th September I brought before the Assistant Minister for Defence certain circumstances connected with the return from the Front of ex- Warrant Officer Little, and asked that an inquiry might be made into his case. The honorable gentleman promised that he would institute an (inquiry, and go carefully into the matter. I have now received from the Defence Department a communication saying that the Department cannot see its way to institute a Court of Inquiry, as requested. I wish to know if that is the Department’s last word on the case, and if this man is not to be given an opportunity of putting the circumstances of his return from abroad before a tribunal.

Sir GRANVILLE RYRIE:
Assistant Minister for Defence · NORTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · NAT

– I have given a great deal of care and thought to this case, and have had it before my executive officers for a long . time. It has been threshed out as thoroughly as a case could be threshed out, and I regret to have to say that the conclusion arrived at is that nothing more can be done.

page 7091

WAR SERVICE HOMES

Purchase of Saw-mills and Timber Areas.

Mr. FOWLER laid on the table an interim report of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts upon the purchase of saw-mills and timber areas in Queensland.

Ordered to be printed.

page 7091

QUESTION

WAR GRATUITY

Mr McGRATH:
BALLAARAT, VICTORIA

– In to-day’s newspaper it is stated that a number of soldiers who have received their discharge in Great Britain invaded the High Commissioner’s office, demanding cash for their war gratuity bonds, and left only on being promised that within a day or two £25 in cash would be made available to them. If that statement be true, is the Government going to make £25 in cash available to those soldiers who fulfilled their contract and returned to Australia?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

-This very troublesome question crops up about ten times every day.

Mr Mahony:

– Then why do you not solve it?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I am prepared to consider expedients. One suggestion is that the honorable member should surrender his salary. That would provide a cash gratuity for ten soldiers.

Mr Mahony:

– If the Prime Minister will surrender his £25,000, I will give up my £1,000.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– My answer to the question is that I know nothing about the facts, but I think what took place had relation, not to the cashing of the war gratuity, but to the repatriation of stranded persons.

Mr CHARLTON:
HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES

– Is the Treasurer aware that a large number of applications for cash have been under consideration as long as three months, and will he ask the Board to expedite action, because some of the persons concerned are in needy circuimstances?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I am asking every day in my life for that to be done, but I shall . ask again.

page 7092

QUESTION

TAXATION COMMISSION

Mr FLEMING:
ROBERTSON, NEW SOUTH WALES

– In view of the fact that the Commission investigating the adjustment of taxation is to sit in all the State capitals, I ask the Treasurer what steps, if any, have been taken to bring those who represent primary production into touch with it?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I am quite unaware, but I shall make inquiry and let the honorable member know.

page 7092

QUESTION

QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr SPEAKER:

– I again draw the attention of the House, as unfortunately I have had to do only too frequently during this session, to the fact that the asking and answering of questions should be listened to in silence, without interjections of any kind. I remind honorable members also that it is only questions on urgent matters of public importance that should be asked without notice. The system which has grown up of seeking to argue and debate subjects on questions without notice gives rise to more disorder than do any of the other proceedings . in this Chamber.

page 7092

QUESTION

SHIPBUILDING AT WALSH ISLAND

Mr WATKINS:
NEWCASTLE, NEW SOUTH WALES

– As the House is about to go into recess, and as I understandthat only one union has to sign up under the shipping agreement, I ask the Minister for Home and Territories if he will consider the suggestion that the Ministry should examine the contract with the New South Wales Government for the ships that are to be tendered for and built onWalsh Island? It will be a few months before we meet again, and everything may be in the melting-pot in the meantime.

Mr POYNTON:
Minister for Home and Territories · GREY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · NAT

– I have explained to the honorable member that the delay which has occurred has been in consequence of the attitude of the unions themselves; otherwise, this matter might have been finalized long ago. As to the going on with the building of the large ships at Walsh Island, I cannot give a promise, seeing that a revised tender was at a price something like £17 a ton in excess of that which was first agreed upon, and which I had announced to the House. Before I do anything, honorable members will be given an opportunity to come to a decision on the matter.

page 7092

QUESTION

ORDNANCE STORES EMPLOYEES

Mr MAKIN:

– Will the Assistant Minister for Defence have inquiries instituted regarding the wages and conditions ruling in the Ordnance Stores?

Sir GRANVILLE RYRIE:
NAT

– I shall have inquiries made.

page 7092

QUESTION

PACIFIC ISLANDS MAIL SERVICE

Mr FENTON:
MARIBYRNONG, VICTORIA

– Serious complaints are made about the service to the Pacific Islands carried on by Messrs. Burns, Philp, and Company. It is said that the Government gave to that firm the right to carry mails, and to do other business with the Pacific Islands, without calling for tenders, and that the firm does not deal out even-handed justice to shippers. It is complained that certain financial interests control its operations, and receive advantages over smaller shippers. Will the Leader of the Government promise, on behalf of the Prime Minister, that an inquiry shall be made into the allegations, and have things rectified so. that all shippers may be on an equal footing, no monied men being given preference?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I certainly shall have inquiries made. Notwithstanding the complaints that have been made concerning this company by shippers in the islands, the fact remains that it has done wonderful pioneering work there. I do not know what we should have done regarding these islands but for this same much -maligned firm.

Mr Fenton:

– The firm has big interests in the islands.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Of course, if the company is doing anything wrong nowadays they must be stopped, and I shall have inquiries made.

page 7093

QUESTION

WOOL-SCOURING INDUSTRY

Mr LISTER:
CORIO, VICTORIA

– I have on more than one occasion brought under the notice of the Prime Minister the very unsatisfactory position in which those engaged in the wool-scouring industry find themselves to-day. The position has been for a considerable time very difficult, and I wish to know from ‘ the Leader of the House whether some effort will be made for supplies of skins in order to keep men in something like decent employment, and so obviate the appalling distress with which they are threatened ?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I regret the inconvenience that has been caused in the way suggested by the honorable member. When the Prime Minister returns to Melbourne I shall make him acquainted with the honorable member’s remarks.

page 7093

QUESTION

MILITARY OFFENDERS IN GAOL

Mr McGRATH:

– Has the Assistant Minister for Defence made any further inquiries into the cases of those military offenders who are now confined in Pentridge Gaol, and does he intend to take any action with a view to their release at an early date?

Sir GRANVILLE RYRIE:
NAT

– I promised the House a short time ago that I would look into the cases of those men confined at Pentridge, but I really have not had time to do so. During this week I have been fully occupied with the work of the Department, in addition to the work in the House, but I intend to visit Pentridge, as I promised, and see if anything can be done.

Mr West:

– Does that promise apply also to military prisoners in Sydney?

Sir GRANVILLE RYRIE:

– I shall take similar steps in Sydney.

page 7093

QUESTION

REPATRIATION

Soldiers’ Co-Operative Enterprises

Mr BRUCE:
FLINDERS, VICTORIA

– Can the Assistant Min ister for Repatriation tell the House if anything has yet been done with regard to the authorized advances, on the basis of £1 for £1, to soldiers’ co-operative enterprises? Is it a fact that the regulations under which such advances may be made have not yet been issued, and that, in consequence, applications are held up?

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

– The position with regard to these advances is surrounded with difficulty to a much greater degree than the House could have foreseen. My own opinion is that some important change will have to be made in the Act to render it effective. Up to date very little has been done.

Mr Bruce:

– Has anything been done?

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

– I am not in a position to say, but I think that very little, if anything, has been done. I am bound to say that, in my opinion, the Act is hot sufficiently effective to carry out the intention of Parliament, and at the first opportunity I shall bring under the notice of the Government a proposal for an amendment of it.

Mr BRUCE:

– (In view of the very unsatisfactory statement by the Assistant Minister for Repatriation, will the Leader of the House undertake that the difficulties spoken of are immediately considered by the Cabinet? Some endeavour should be made to find a way out, in view of the fact that the Department has not taken the trouble to ask this House to amend the legislation, which apparently cannot be carried out in the way we intended.’

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I do not think the honorable member should say that. This is” the first I have heard of any trouble regarding the Act as it effects soldiers’ co-operative enterprises.

Mr McWilliams:

– But nothing has been done at all under the Act.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I know, but I was not aware that a defect in the Act was the cause of the trouble.

Mr Bruce:

– I am only asking the Government to find a way out of thedifficulty immediately.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I can only say that the matter will be taken into consideration.

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

– It has already . been considered by the Law authorities.

Mr Brennan:

– Here is another Minister “butting “ in !

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– That Minister has charge of Repatriation, and has a right to “butt” in; andhe has already told the House a fact of which I was not aware, namely, that there is some defect in the Act which requires remedying. The sooner it is remedied the better.

page 7094

QUESTION

OLD-AGE AND INVALID PENSIONS

Mr RILEY:

– In view of the facts laid before the Government during this week in regard to the high cost of living, will the Treasurer take immediate steps to increase the old-age and invalid pensions before the House rises to-day? Will the right honorable gentleman introduce a resolution giving the Government the necessary power?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I am afraid I cannot do so at present.

Mr WEST:

– The Treasurer apparently requires time to consider means of raising further revenue, and as the House is about to go into recess, and I shall, consequently, have some time at my disposal, I am willing to give him any assistance I can in the matter.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order ! Order!

page 7094

QUESTION

WIRELESS TELEPHONY

Experiments In Parliament House

Mr BRENNAN:

Mr. Speaker, I desire to address a question to yourself without notice. It is not so much a matter of urgency, but I hope you will pardon the question, seeing that the recess is soon to deprive us, if I may say so, of your genial society. I desire to ask you a question with regard to these mysterious instruments which are suspended from the roof. Are they not, in a certain manner, an invasion of the privileges of honorable members, inasmuch asthey are intended to convey their speeches directly from this Chamber to people outside ? Am I correctly informed, in particular, that the one hanging over the head of the honorable member for Barrier (Mr.Consi- dine) is specially intended to enable the Prime Minister to hear the speeches of that gentleman without running the risk of coming into the Chamber?

Mr SPEAKER (Hon Sir Elliot Johnson:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES

– I am afraid that the honorable member has not been correctly informed in regard to every particular. Of course, if there is serious objection to this experi ment being made, it will be discontinued, but a representative of the Wireless Telephony Company sought permission to make it in this Chamber, with a view to seeing if it be possible to transmit the speeches made here to other portions of the building, . and the temporary test is being made in the Prime Minister’s room. I do not know with what degree of success the experiment has met, but honorable members might find it convenient, later on, perhaps, if wireless reports of their speeches could be conveyed to their own rooms without imposing on them the necessity of coming into, the Chamber.

Mr Higgs:

– It might be extended to honorable members’ constituents.

Mr.SPEAKER. - That is so. I must confessthat, personally, I can see some advantage in such an arrangement, and it might relieve me from some of the unpleasant tasks which sometimes devolve upon me when” debates are of a heated character.

page 7094

ARBITRATION AWARDS

Presentation to Parliament

Mr LAVELLE:

– In view of the fact that the session is about to end, and of the necessity for certain arbitration awards to lie on the table of the House for some time before they take effect, will the Leader of the House make arrangements to-day to have these awards recently delivered by Mr. Justice Starke laid on the table, so that, along with others, they may become operative from July. If these awards are not laid on. the table, and the session closes to-day, payment cannot be made under them until a month after we meet next year.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Whether or not the awards are laid on the table, their operation will not be interfered with. If necessary, the Government will come to Parliament and ask for indemnification for any action they may take to give effect to them, so the honorable member may, therefore, be quite easy in his mind. Some have already been laid on the table, and nothing willbe allowed to interfere with the operation of any of them. I am not sure that I have not heard some people asking that these awards be not laid on the table of the House - that they be not approved.

page 7095

QUESTION

PORT MORESBY HOSPITAL

Dr MALONEY:
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA · ALP; FLP from 1931; ALP from 1936

– ‘Since I took my seat here this morning I have received the following telegram: -

Massed public meeting Port Moresby 10th, following resolution carried unanimously : - “That citizens protest against actions of administration in denying Dr. Mathews the right to attend his patients in Port Moresby Hospital, and demand that Dr. Mathews be given the right to visit and attend his patients in hospital. Nursing staff and wardsmen not in any way discriminate between patients in hospital, notwithstanding who their doctor may be, and that Dr. Mathews as private practitioner be given the same right Government drugs in his private practice as allowed all Government medical officers, which he had when attending private patients during his term of office as Government Medical Officer.” (Sgd.) Chairman Citizen Associations.

Will the Minister for Home and Territories ascertain whether the statements contained in that telegram can be verified ? It is stated that white people are refused admission to the hospital, although it is the only one to which they can go, and that they are not allowed to have the attendance of their own medical man.

Mr POYNTON:
NAT

– I am fully conversant with the matter referred to by the honorable member. I have already given a decision that Dr. Mathews is not to carry on his private practice in the hospital.

Dr MALONEY:
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA · ALP; FLP from 1931; ALP from 1936

– Then you will have, a revolution there before you are aware!

page 7095

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT

Basic Wage Debate

Motion (by Sir Joseph Cook) proposed - _ That the House, at its rising, adjourn until a’ date and hour to be fixed by Mr. Speaker, which time of meeting shall be notified by Mr. Speaker to each member by telegram or letter.

Mr TUDOR:
Yarra

.- If this part of the session’ is closed to-day and we are to stand adjourned until March or April next, honorable members will not be given the opportunity of discussing the report of the Basic Wage Commission - one of the most important papers ever tabled in this House. As honorable members have a right to discuss that report, I shall vote against the motion.

Mr MAHONY:
Dalley

– I think we ought to have some information from the Government as to when the House will meet again, because there are some very important matters on the businesspaper for consideration, the most important being the question of the basic wage, a matter which cannot be dealt with properly in three or four hours.

Mr McWilliams:

– Why should we not meet to-morrow?

Mr MAHONY:

– If this motion is carried and the House adjourns this afternoon or to-night, there will be no tomorrow. I object strongly to the motion, because if it is carried it will only give us one or two. hours in which to discuss this most important question of what should be the living wage for our public servants and for employees generally throughout the Commonwealth. The only alternative is to sit all to-night and right through tomorrow, and perhaps to-morrow night, until we eventually conclude the debate.

Mr McWilliams:

– Last night the honorable member voted to sit all night to discuss this matter.

Mr MAHONY:

– Yes, but last :night the proposal was quite different. We could have gone on with the debate and then adjourned it and met again, but if this motion is carried there will be no further sitting of the House until next year, and we shall be precluded from discussing the basic wage question unless we unduly extend this sitting in order to do so. I am strongly opposed to this motion. I think the House should proceed in the ordinary way to do the business before it. The Government and those supporting them are greatly mistaken if they think that the closing of this part of the session will solve the great problem of the living wage for the people of Australia. It is simply the attitude of the ostrich, which sticks its head in the sand, thinking that by doing so it has solved the problem, of how to escape from its pursuers. We may adjourn, but this great problem will still be facing us. Industrial affairs are becoming so unsettled in Australia that it becomes more necessary every day to make an attempt to solve this question, otherwise serious consequences will ensue to the people generally. It is useless to play the ostrich trick of closing Parliament, saying, “ That solves the difficulty.” By discussing the question in a fair and open way we may arrive at a decision that will insure to the people of Australia a decent degree of comfort in their general conditions of living.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– May I, by leave, remove a misapprehension?

Mr SPEAKER:

– If the right honorable gentleman speaks now he closes the debate on this motion.

Mr McWILLIAMS:
FRANKLIN, TASMANIA · REV TAR; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917; CP from 1920; IND from 1928

– I hope the Treasurer will not press this motion.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Seeing that I am not permitted to make a statement, may I say, by way of interjection, that the Government have no idea of closuring the debate on the basic wage question in any shape or form. If honorable members wish to continue sitting this afternoon and through the. night, the Government are prepared to sit with them, and tomorrow also.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– That would be a very unwise thing to do. Undoubtedly the public of Australia are very much agitated over the question of the basic wage. I moved the adjournment of the debate yesterday because I thought it inadvisable to have such an important matter discussed at an all-night sitting, and I would very much prefer to have it discussed until a reasonable hour this evening, and then again to-morrow morning) until the debate is concluded. Nothing will give a certain class of the community stronger cause for complaint than the fact that this Parliament, with such an important question before it, has rushed it through at an all-night sitting, as the motion suggests. When this sitting concludes this part of the session ends, and honorable members will not be called together until Mr. Speaker, in his wisdom, summons us to meet again.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– While the honorable member is discussing this question, will he kindly tell us justwhat he thinks ran be done by a discussion of the report of the Basic Wage Commission at the present juncture?

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– If nothing can be done by discussing the matter, why has it been introduced in this House and turmoil created all over Australia? The Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) deliberately moved that the report of the Commission be printed for the purpose, as he put it, of having the question discussed.

He has made a lengthy statement upon the question, and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Tudor) has done the same, and the remarks of both will be read all over Australia. Any attempt to close Parliament with an all-night sitting debate on this matter would be such an exceedingly dangerous course that I think the House ought not to contemplate it.

Mr FENTON:
Maribyrnong

– I agree with the sentiments expressed by the honorable member forFranklin (Mr. McWilliams), but I do not agree with the method he has suggested for discussing this very important question of the basic wage - the most important ever launched in Australia. In response to adeputation the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) announced in his policy speech at Bendigo - and his promise was repeated by all of his followers - that certain steps would be taken to fix the cost of living, and a Basic Wage Commission has been for ten months engaged on the task of deciding what is the cost of living in Australia. Having concluded its labours, it has now presented its report to Parliament, and it is the duty of Parliament, I take it, to solve the question in accordance with the terms of the Commission’s report. But instead of the House devoting sufficient time and proper hours to the consideration of this problem, the suggestion is made that we should sit on to-day and perhaps to-morrow to deal with it. The proposal does not appeal to me. This House, if it takes the report of the Basic Wage Commission seriously, and has any realization of the true position, will adjourn at a proper hour this afternoon and meet next week at a proper time; and if the matter cannot be settled next week, it will sit here during the following week and continue sitting until the subject is finally disposed of. In that way we shall be carrying out the duty which we are supposed to perform. We must have a reasonable time for discussing this matter. We are not yet on the eve of Christmas. I know that honorable members whose homes are far removed from Melbourne arc anxious to get away, but they must realize that never before has so important a problem confronted them. Yet we are asked to settle it in a few hours’ discussion or continue sitting all night and all to-morrow, and then adjourn for three or four months with the question still unsolved. What will occur in the intervening months? There is a state of ferment among both employers and employees in regard to this question. Are we to expect them to remain in a calm state of mind for three months while Parliament takes a holiday, shirking its duty upon the most important matter ever submitted to it? Let the motion be withdrawn and let those honorable members who want to go to their homes do so, while those who remain in Melbourne can meet here next week and the following week, and, if necessary, continue sitting right until Christmas if, by doing so, this important problem can be solved.

Mr HECTOR LAMOND:
Illawarra

– If sitting here next week, the week after, and through the Christmas holidays would mean the solving of this problem, and it were regarded as Tinsolvable otherwise, the desire of every honorable member would be to continue sitting; but so far from that being the fact, while these vehement speeches, addressed with one eye on Parliament and the other eye on the great Public Service vote, are being indulged in, the Government are being deprived of the opportunity of determining the amount of wages to be paid to the public servants. Honorable members seem to approach this matter under the assumption that the Government have not come to any decision upon it. As a matter of fact, the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) announced on the floor Of this House that Commonwealth public servants would be paid a basic wage as from 1st November of this year, and all the talk we in ay indulge in for days will not alter that fact.

Mr Gabb:

– He did not say that.

Mr HECTOR LAMOND:

– I am repeating what the Prime Minister said.” He stated that the Public Service would be paid a basic wage as from 1st November. The amount is to be decided by the Government on the basis of the determination of Mr. Justice Higgins and the subsequent increase in the cost of living.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order ! The honorable member will not be in order in discussing upon this motion the subject of the basic wage.

Mr HECTOR LAMOND:

– I do not wish to do so, but I point out that this debate on the basic wage is delaying the determination of the Government, and that, therefore, we ought to agree to this motion. It ought to be made clear to the public servants that we cannot help them, and are not helping them one whit, by sitting on here discussing the matter. The Government policy has been definitely announced, and it will be carried out whether the debate proceeds in this Chamber for a week or three weeks.

Mr RYAN:
West Sydney

.- I hope the Treasurer will not press his motion, or, if he does, that it will Be defeated. It is extraordinary that the right honorable gentleman should have moved it at the outset of a very important discussion. His motion means, in other words, that Parliament, on the rising of the House, shall be practically prorogued. Would it not be better for the Government to wait until the debate upon the basic wage has proceeded, at any rate, until some stage this afternoon, by which time they might be in a position to know whether finality can be reached and a specific announcement made? I do not wish to repeat the cogent and forcible arguments advanced by honorable members on this side, and I need scarcely remind honorable members that this very important public matter is one that is agitating the minds of many thousands throughout Australia. It behoves Parliament, then, to give that attention to the subject which the public expect of us. My reasons for speaking as I do are fortified by the fact that I have received a telegram, in common with other honorable members, despatched from Sydney la6t evening. It contains a message to the effect that the Prime Minister stated to a deputation in Sydney-

Mr Bayley:

– It does not say that.

Mr RYAN:

– Obviously, other honorable members have received a similar message, which is to the effect that the Prime Minister told a deputation that if . twenty- four honorable members ‘were willing to remain–

Mr Bayley:

– That statement was made in this House.

Mr Hector Lamond:

– And was inconsistent with the decision of the Government.

Mr RYAN:

– It is inconsistent, because the Prime Minister is constantly doing and saying things which are inconsistent with the policy of the Government.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– The Prime Minister says this is an absolute untruth.

Mr RYAN:

– If the Prime Minister has said that he never used those words -

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– His message read6, “statement by O’Connor absolutely untrue.”

Mr RYAN:

– That, however, does not alter the need for honorable members to apply themselves to the consideration of the basic wage, and for them to see to it before the House rises that the pledge of the Government is given effect to. It is all very well for the honorable member for Illawarra (Mr. Hector Lamond) to argue that we will not benefit public servants or the industries of this country by sitting on here, debating this subject.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– How are you going to see that the pledge of the Government is carried out?

Mr RYAN:

– Honorable members are here as constant watch-dogs over’ public affairs ; they can bring matters forward and move motions in this House. A majority of honorable members can always compel the Government to their will. If the House is not sitting, however, how can that be done? The Government do not require much time in which to decide and announce what they mean by their pledge. As for their decision to pay the increase as, from the first day of this month, I hold that they should go much further back. The party to which I have the honour to belong has taken every opportunity to point that out. Before a motion of this character is agreed to, we should have some definite assurance that the pledge of the Government will be honoured. I am not satisfied that we have the assurance as yet ; and, that being so, I shall vote against’ the motion .

Mr BELL:
Darwin

.-When the honorable member for Franklin (Mr. Mcwilliams) moved the adjournment of the debate on the basic wage last evening, protests were raised by honorable members opposite, and it was alleged that honorable members on this side did not wish to discuss the subject. I was one of those, however, who indicated that I was willing to remain and assist in its discussion. When there is important business before the House, and it appears obvious that honorable members are “ stone-walling,” I am always prepared to vote for the application of the closure. Now that we have reached the end of the session, however, if honorable members wish to carry on the debate upon the basic wage, i shall be willing to remain as long’ as other honorable members reasonably desire. It was intimated at the beginning of this week that the Government were prepared to fix a basic wage for public servants, but the Prime Minister did not reveal what, the amount would be. I consider that a definite proposal of the Government should be before the House, and that, otherwise, it is of no use to debate the question at all. As there is no proposal before honorable members, the only way to intimate to the Government what we think, is to debate the matter in this Chamber. It has been said on many occasions by honorable members opposite that supporters of the Government discuss subjects such as this in our party room upstairs, and that we arrive at our decisions beforehand. The Treasurer knows, and will confirm me. I am sure, when I say that nothing qf the kind has occurred with respect to tlie basic wage. We have not had an opportunity to discuss it at a party meeting. If the House is given an opportunity to decide what is to be the basic wage, I shall press the view that this Chamber is not the proper tribunal for determining such a matter. But if the Government are about to arrive at and announce a decision, this House should have an opportunity to discuss that decision and indicate whether it thinks fit to approve it.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:
EdenMonaro

– It is an extraordinary procedure to endeavour to weight the basic wage question with an effort to put out the Government. If we were to take the business of the Government out of their hands there would be only one course for any self-respecting Ministry to adopt. It is the duty of the Government to present and control the business of this Chamber; it is their duty also to say a.t this stage what they are going to do regarding the basic wage.

Mr Considine:

– But they do not know.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– Perhaps they do.’ Practically all honorable members have agreed that the lot of the public servant is an unhappy one, and that he is certainly underpaid. It is the duty of the Government to tell the House what they propose to do, otherwise there will probably be a great deal of trouble throughout the country. Strikes have been threatened; telegrams have been sent to honorable members.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Lying telegrams.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– It is very unwise to try to smother this business up. It cannot be smothered, and if an effort is made in that direction there will be serious results. I listened carefully to the utterance of the Prime Minister early this week, and I am quite as anxious as any one else to sea public servants paid a living wage. I hope, however, that the matter will not be made a party one, for that procedure would inflict injury on the Public Service. I understood the Prime Minister to promise in this House that the Government would pay an interim basic wage, but that they wanted time to consider it. Why cannot the Treasurer tell honorable members now that the Government are prepared to pay a wage equivalent to the State basic wage?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Because Cabinet has had no time to consider it.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– We know that public servants must be paid a decent wage, and that they ought to receive it without delay.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order ! I ask the honorable member not to discuss the basic wage, since that is the subject-matter of the next matter on the business-paper.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– I shall not do so, sir, although I have been listening to other honorable members doing nothing else.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order !

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– Very well; it is exceptional that I should not bepermitted to discuss the subject while other honorable, members may do so.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order! The honorable member does not realize, I hope, that that is a serious reflection on the Chair. I have called other members to order for a reason similar to that which compelled my intervention in his case.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– I do not desire to go on discussing the matter ; I merely point out that I am evidently unfortunate. It is the duty of the Government to say what they are prepared to do. If we were to sit here for a week we would get no further unless the Government adopted that course. There is a determined effort to make party capital out of the whole business.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– It is a party agitation.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– In the ininterests of public servants, with whom I have some sympathy, I plead with honorable members not to adopt that procedure. It would be better for the Government to hold a Cabinet meeting, even to-day, for, after all, the question must be settled, and the sooner the better. Delay will cause the dissatisfaction of the service to swell, and the agitation of its members to grow like a rolling snowball. Most honorable members on this side have made up their minds that the Government will be acting rightly in determining that some additional wage shall be paid to public servants, and I hope that Ministers will not hesitate to make a statement on the question. An honorable member asks me why I intend to vote for the motion .

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I am not going to press it, and I ask leave to withdraw it.

Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

page 7099

PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS

page 7099

POSTMASTER-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT

Port Adelaide, Eastbalmain, and Elizabeth-street, Melbourne, Post Offices : Railway Postal Bags.

Mr MAKIN:

– Has the PostmasterGeneral received a reconsidered offer from the Chief Secretary of South Australia regarding the police station site at Port Adelaide upon which the citizens desire that their new post-office shall be erected 1

Mr WISE:
Postmaster-General · GIPPSLAND, VICTORIA · NAT

– I have received no such offer.

Mr CUNNINGHAM:
GWYDIR, NEW SOUTH WALES

– With regard to a substitute for travelling post-offices on the railway lines of New South Wales, I would like to know from the PostmasterGeneral what is being done in the direction of reaching finality upon the matter.

Mr WISE:

– The hag in use is being extended over all the main lines, and, so far, has been very successful.

Mr MAHONY:

– Has the PostmasterGeneral given further consideration to the very pressing necessity for a new post-office at East Balmain ? The building at present in use is little better than a dog-box.

Mr WISE:

– The matter will be considered in connexion with the framing of next year’s Estimates.

Dr MALONEY:
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA · ALP; FLP from 1931; ALP from 1936

– Will the PostmasterGeneral take into consideration the necessity for completing the postoffice building at the corner of Elizabeth and Bourke streets, and so providing accommodation for Commonwealth officers now housed in the thirty-four different buildings in and around the city now rented by the Commonwealth? I wish to have the unsightly galvanized iron building at the north end of the postoffice removed.

Mr WISE:

– The honorable member put a similar question to me only two or three days ago. I then promised that I would give the matter consideration.

page 7100

QUESTION

TUBERCULAR SOLDIERS

Mr HECTOR LAMOND:

– In the absence of the Assistant Minister for Repatriation (Mr. Rodgers), I desire to ask the Treasurer if, during the recess, an effort will be made to ascertain the number of returned soldiers in the Commonwealth who are suffering from tuberculosis? I know that there are some difficulties in the way, but it is very necessary that we should have the exact figures.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I hope that when we adjourn for the Christmas vacation - I do not know when that will be - it will be possible to inquire into the matter.

page 7100

QUESTION

BROKEN HILL-ADELAIDE TRUNK LINE TELEPHONE

Mr CONSIDINE:

– In view of an implied promise made by his predecessor, will the Postmaster-General. during the Christmas vacation, take into consideration the desirability of connecting Broken Hill and Adelaide by means of a trunk line telephone?

Mr WISE:
NAT

– Yes.

page 7100

QUESTION

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS: PAY

Mr MAKIN:

– I desire to ask the Assistant Minister for Defence-

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– (We have had quite enough questions without notice to-day.

Mr MAKIN:

– Whether he will lay upon the table of the House this afternoon a report that has been submitted by a Committee appointed to investigate the claims made by the Royal Australian Engineers for increased pay, and which, I understand, recommends a 60 per cent, increase over the 1912 rates?

Sir GRANVILLE RYRIE:
NAT

– I know nothing of such a report, and therefore cannot promise to lay it on the table.

page 7100

TESTIMONIAL TO THE PRIME MINISTER

Mr LAVELLE:

– Will the Treasurer state whether there is any truth in the rumour that he is to receive one-half of the amount of £25,000 presented by way of a testimonial to the Prime Minister 1

Mr SPEAKER (Hon Sir Elliot Johnson:

– Order! Such questions are quite out of order.

page 7100

QUESTION

IRRIGATION: QUEENSLAND

Mr HIGGS:

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice -

Will the Government favorably consider the question of contributing money to Queensland and other States of the Commonwealth for irrigation purposes in the same proportion as that granted to New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia under the Hurray Waters Agreement Act, provided that in Queensland the money so granted shall be expended in equal portions in Southern, Central, and Northern Queensland?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I am unable, at the moment, to find the answer to this question, but if the honorable member has any propositions for enterprises similar to those which have been undertaken down here, and which promise the same result, I shall be disposed to look kindly on them. It is quite impossible, however, to give a definite answer to a hypothetical question. My sympathy is with irrigation. I think irrigation is a paying proposition for the Federal Government, as well as for any of the State Governments.

page 7101

QUESTION

SUGAR SUPPLIES: TASMANIA

Mr JACKSON:
BASS, TASMANIA

asked the Minister for Trade and Customs, upon notice -

  1. Is it a fact that sugar is being delivered to Hobart merchants at £49 per ton, whilst merchants at Launceston and other ports are compelled to pay £49 plus all charges?
  2. If so, will the Minister immediately make sugar available to all other ports of Tasmania at £49, plus only the difference in freight, insurance, and wharfage as compared with the cost of delivery to Hobart?
Mr GREENE:
Minister for Trade and Customs · RICHMOND, NEW SOUTH WALES · LP; NAT from 1917

– The answers to the honorable member’s questions are as follow : -

  1. It has been so, the special rate regarding capital cities having recently been extended to Hobart.
  2. Yes; this will include Launceston and all other ports in Tasmania to which sugar is shipped direct from either Sydney or Melbourne.

page 7101

QUESTION

WHEAT POOLS

Mr LAVELLE:

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice -

Whether he will inform the House when the final payments will be made in connexion with the 1915-16, 1916-17, 1917-18 Wheat “ Pools,” and also the amount to be paid?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– It is not possible to furnish the desired information at the present time.

page 7101

SOLDIER SETTLEMENT

Funds for Purchase of Estates

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

asked the

Treasurer, upon notice -

  1. Is it a fact that in a number of cases in New South Wales where estates are required and offered for closer settlement for returned soldiers and for homes, the State Government has stated that no funds are available for these proposed purchases?
  2. Is any money available for this purpose from the recent Peace Loan, which was stated to be for such repatriation purposes ?
Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– The answers to the honorable member’s questions are as follow: -

  1. The Government have no knowledge of any such statement.
  2. Yes. The Commonwealth has agreed to lend to New South Wales the sum of £12,254,191to settle 8,405 soldiers, and £1,000 For each soldier settled in excess of that number.

Up to the 30th June last the State had received £1,996,73.1. So much of the balance as falls due for payment during this financial year will be provided cut of the Second Peace Loan. The amount already paid during this financial year is £2,187,888.

page 7101

QUESTION

AIR TRAFFIC REGULATION

Mr MARKS:
WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice -

Now that the Commonwealth has passed the necessary legislation for regulating air traffic, will the Government make an urgent request to the various State Governments to pass the necessary legislation to hand over the air control to the Commonwealth in terms of the arrangement entered into at the last Premiers’ Conference ?

Sir GRANVILLE RYRIE:
NAT

– The answer is “ Yes.” I will supply the honorable member with a full reply at a later stage.

page 7101

QUESTION

JUNIOR MILITARY OFFICERS

Refunds of Insurance Premiums

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice -

  1. Is it a fact that some of the returned junior military officers who had their life insurance premiums paid by the Government during war service have been called upon to refund the amount of the premiums paid?
  2. Is it the intention of the Government, having paid these premiums, to insist on a refund of the same?
Sir GRANVILLE RYRIE:
NAT

– I shall supply the honorable member with an answer to his question either to-day or to-morrow.

page 7101

QUESTION

AUSTRALIAN ARMY PAY CORPS

Basic Wage: Increments

Mr RYAN:

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice -

Will the members of the Australian Army Pay Corps be entitled to increments arising out of the fixing of a basic wage for Government employees ?

Sir GRANVILLE RYRIE:
NAT

– Owing to the fact that the Senate sat until an early hour this morning, and that the Minister for Defence was in attendance there, I am not able at present to supply an answer to’ the honorable member’s question, but shall do so later on.

page 7101

QUESTION

PUBLIC SERVICE CLERICAL ASSOCIATION

Mr MAKIN:

asked the Prime Minister,upon notice -

  1. Is it a fact that the representative of the Government in the Arbtration Court (Mr. Skewes) has stated his intention of applying for an amendment of the proviso to clause 1 of the award of the Commonwealth Public Service Clerical Association for the purpose of depriving senior fifth class officers, certified to be efficient by the Public Service Commissioner, of the benefits granted by such’ proviso ?
  2. In view of . the Prime Minister’s statement of the 23rd November,- 1920, to the effect that the Government had a solemn obligation to see that the Commonwealth employees had sufficient wages or salaries, and his admission that such was not the case at present, will the Prime Minister state, whether or not he is in favour of the application being made?
  3. In the event of the Prime Minister not being in favour of the proposed application being made by the Government’s representative, will he issue instructions that the action be not taken ?
  4. Does the Prime Minister consider that the proposed application, if granted, would tend to promote contentment and loyalty in the Public Service ?
Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I shall have inquiry made into the matter.

page 7102

QUESTION

POSTAL AND OTHER FACILITIES : HINDMARSH

Mr WISE:
NAT

– On 24th November, 1920, the honorable member for Hindmarsh (Mr. Makin) asked me the following questions : -

  1. Whether the Postmaster-General will have prepared a report concerning the postal, telephonic, ‘ telegraphic, money order, and bank facilities for Glanville, Birkenhead, Brompton, and Queenstown, in the Hindmarsh Division of South Australia?
  2. What office convenience is afforded in these districts respectively?

What is the distance from the respective districts where the above-mentioned conveniences are afforded to the . nearest postoffice?

I promised the information would be obtained, and the following report has now been received from the Deputy PostmasterGeneral, Adelaide : -

  1. In Glanville area there are two deliveries by postmen daily, three letter receivers, three public telephones, three licensed stamp vendors. In Birkenhead area there is an allowance post-office, in connexion with which public telephone facilities are provided, and a receiving agency of the Commonwealth Savings Bank established, also two deliveries by postmen daily, two letter receivers, and one public telephone in addition, to one at the post-office. In Brompton area there are two deliveries by postmen daily, three letter receivers, one pub- lic telephone, one licensed stamp vendor. In Queenstown area there are two letter deliveries daily, three letter receivers, one public telephone, one licensed stamp vendor.
  2. Glanville, nil; Birkenhead, an allowance office conducted in conjunction with a general store; Brompton, nil; Queenstown, nil.
  3. Glanville, Port Adelaide official office, and Glanville Blocks allowance office, each approximately¾ mile; and Semaphore official office approximately 1 mile distant from centre of area. At Birkenhead there is an allowance office; the nearest office where full facilities are provided is Port Adelaide, approximately ½ mile from centre of area. Brompton - The Hindmarsh official office is approximately½ mile from centre of area. Queenstown - The Alberton official office ‘ is approximately 600 yards from centre of area.

page 7102

WAR PRECAUTIONS ACT REPEAL BILL

Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. Sir. Elliot Johnson) reported the receipt of a message from the Senate, intimating that it had agreed to the Bill without amendment, but that -

The Senate records its protest against the inclusion in the Bill of provision’s similar to those already included in a Bill passed by the Senate this session and transmitted for the concurrence of the House of Representatives, and declares that the matter is not to be regarded as a precedent.

page 7102

INDUSTRIAL PEACE BILL (No. 2)

Bill returned from the Senate without amendment.

page 7102

RIVER MURRAY WATERS BILL

Bill returned from the Senate without amendment.

page 7102

PAPERS

The following papers were presented : -

Defence Act and Naval Defence Act - Regulations, Statutory Rules 1920, Nos. 222, 223.

War Service Homes Act - Land acquired under at Goulburn, Greta, Marrickville, Tighe’s Hill, and Weston, New South Wales.

page 7102

SHIPBUILDING CONTRACT

Inquiry by Public Works Committee.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– There is on the business-paper a very urgent notice of motion standing in ‘the name of the honorable member for Dampier (Mr. Gregory), Chairman of the Public Works Committee, viz. : -

That the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works have leave to continue, during recess, its investigations into the matter of the shipbuilding contract of Messrs. Kidman and Mayoh referred to it on the 29th day of October, 1920, and to present an interim report thereon to the Governor-General.

I should like,with the indulgence of the House, to postpone the intervening Orders of the Day in order that that motion may he submitted.

Mr Mahony:

– I object. You are not going on “with that.

page 7103

QUESTION

BASIC WAGE COMMISSION’S REPORT

Debate resumed from 25th November (vide page 7067), on motion by Mr. Hughes -

That the papers be printed.

Upon which Mr. Tudor had moved, by way of ‘amendment -

That the following words be added : - “and in accordance with the definite pledge given by the Prime Minister in his policy speech at Bendigo on 30th October, 1919, the Government should give effect immediately to the finding of the Commission.”

Mr McWILLIAMS:
Franklin

– I moved the adjournment of the debate last night, believing that it would be quite improper to discuss this all-important subject during an all-night sitting. This is the most important report that has yet been before this Parliament, since the findings of the Commission must undoubtedly affect the whole of the industrial life of Australia. It would be a grave mistake to assume that the Government could grant the basic wage to public servants without providing for its extension to every branch of industrialism in the Commonwealth. Some time ago a slightly embarrassing political situation arose, and the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes), adopting his usual . policy of following the line of least resistance, appointed a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole question of the basic wage. After an investigation, more or less complete, that ‘Commission presented its report. Then followed a most extraordinary procedure, which, I agree with the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Tudor), is quite unprecedented, and I hope that it will never be repeated. The Commission, having sat for upwards of twelve months - having taken evidence in all the States - presented its report to the Governor-General, and it was received ‘by the Prime Minister on Saturday or Sunday last. The right honorable gentleman promptly referred it back to the Chairman of the Commission for a further re port by him without consultation with the other members of the Commission. The ‘procedure usually associated with the appointment of a Royal Commission is almost farcical. Whenever a difficulty arises - whenever any strain is cast upon Ministerial responsibility - a Royal Commission is appointed, and its report, on presentation to the Government, is generally referred to those whom it criticises, with arequest that a statement reply thereto shall be submitted. That is the invariable practice, with the result that we have submitted to us sheaves of reports, which make the whole inquiry ridiculous. But in the whole of my experience in State and Federal politics I have never heard of the Chairman of a Commission being -asked, -as in this case, to pronounce a verdict on the report of his own Commission, and doing so without consultation with his colleagues.

Mr Fenton:

– Especially after he had signed the report of the Commission and had so declared that he was favorable to the principle of the basic wage.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– If he had changed his mind after signing the report, he should have called his colleagues together and have told them what he was asked by the Prime Minister to do. The truth is that what has occurred is the result of one of the weak, silly, half-way measures which have marred the public life of the Prime Minister. Instead of facing with proper Ministerial responsibility the demand made by the Commonwealth Civil Service for increased pay, he referred the subject to a Commission providing for the consideration of a universal basic wage. This report together with the semi-private memorandum of the chairman of the Commission, have thrown the commercial and industrial life of Australia into confusion, and will cause the gravest difficulties. Without consulting any one, so far as I know, theright honorable gentleman has announced that he will fix the basic wage for the Public Service at a minimum of about £4 4s. per week, commencing from the 1st November last. This is his statement as recorded in Hansard (page 6820)-

Now, if I am asked what the Government are prepared to do, ‘I will state it in a few words. With the figures submitted for their consideration by the Basic Wage Commission, supported by the figures of Mr. Knibbs, showing that the purchasing power of the sovereign has depreciated from 1907 until the present time to the extent that 84s. 8d. will now only buy what 43s.1d. would buy in 1907, we have to satisfy ourselves that the public servant can buy as much with his present wage as he could buy in 1907. In many cases he cannot do so, because his money wage has not risen correspondingly to the increase in the cost of living. The Government recognises, therefore, that the wages of the public servants must be increased, and, although it is not prepared to say offhand what is a fair basic wage, it will give immediate consideration to the question.

My interpretation of those remarks is that the figures given by Mr. Knibbs are those which the Prime Minister had in his mind, and were, roughly, the foundation on which he intended to fix the basic wage. The Government of New South Wales have established a basic wage of, I think, £4 5s. per week. The Commonwealth Government have no right to do anything in this matter without consulting this Parliament. It is not within the province of a Minister, or of a Cabinet, to make a wholesale increase or a wholesale reduction in the payments to the public servants of the country without the consent of Parliament. We have surrendered more than enough of our control of the purse. This House should decide whether an increase in the salaries of the public servants should be made, and, if so, what it should be, and from what date it shall be paid. The speech delivered by the Prime Minister at Bendigo, following the ordinary procedure, was accepted by every candidate and the public generally as a statement of the policy of the Government. There is no reference in it to the limitation of the basic wage to any section of the community. As I read his remarks, he approved of a. basic wage being fixed for the whole of Australia. If a basic wage is applied to the public servants of Australia, no man, no Government, and no party will be able to withstand the flood of requests which will sweep over the country demanding its application to all branches of work and to all classes of the community. Australians would not permit one particular class to enjoy a basic wage, a minimum living wage having no relation to the work they did, while the workers at large, in town and country, earned less. These would insist on having the basic wage conditions applied generally. Since the Basic Wage Commission’s report was laid before honorable members, I have given of my best in the attempt to grapple with the question with which it deals, but I am not prepared yet to say what would be the result of adopting the recommendations that it contains. Let me give some figures, which I succeeded in getting in the brief time at our disposal. According to the statistics, the average weekly earnings of miners, labourers, and other employees on the mines are - In New South Wales, 89s. 4d. ; in Victoria, 86s.8d. ; in Queensland, 80s. 3d.; in Western Australia, 90s. 6d. ; and inTasmania, 77s. 2d.; the average for the Commonwealth being89s.10d. I have excluded the figures relating to coal miners, because most of what they produce is sold locally.

Mr Gabb:

– And they are well organized.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– They are to be differentiated, not so much because of their organization, but for the reason that the bulk of the coal raised in Australia is used within the Commonwealth, so that it is possible for us to fix its selling price, also the wages and working conditions of the industry. There are in the Commonwealth 15,115 gold miners,8,553 copper miners,8,706 silver miners, and 5,256 tin miners, the total of these figures being 41,630 miners, exclusive of coal miners. In no case does the miner obtain the sum recommended by the Commission as the basic wage for a married man, the highest wage obtained being £4 14s., in Western Australia.

Mr Considine:

-How did you arrive at the earnings of the miners? On the basis of so much per week, or so much per ton?

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– I have excluded the coal miners.

Mr Considine:

-But nearly all the silver miners in Broken Hill are paid on tonnage rates.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– The strike settlement for Broken Hill fixed a rate of 15s. per day for miners, working on wages. My conclusion is that the application of the basic wage, to mining would compel the great majority of the mines in Australia to close. Practically all the gold mines would close, or the miners would have to be put on to piece-work, like the coal miners, and some of the silver miners. Most of the mines at Ben- digo, Ballarat, Mount Lyell, and Cloncurry are just about paying expenses, with a not very’ large dividend occasionally. A number of them are not quite paying expenses, and a small call is paid by the shareholders from time to time in the hope, which makes mining possible, that they may “ strike “ something and get an adequate return from their investment.

Mr Story:

– A vain hope!

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– But for that hope there would not bo nearly so much mining as there is to-day. What will be the position in big mining centres like Bendigo or Ballarat if we insist on the application of a basic wage which the mines cannot pay? The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Tudor) yesterday, when dealing with secondary industries, was quite right in what he said. In relation to these; we may make the Tariff whatever we choose, and by means of those friendly arrangements amongst manufacturers which practically banish competition, fix any wages or any price. But the momentwe export outside Australia, Tariffs and price-fixing go to the four winds of heaven; we are then in competition with the world, and have to accept exactly what the production brings in the world’s market. There is no “ royal road ; “ if we fix a wage at which production cannot be made profitable., then production will cease. This morning I was for a few minutes at a conference, and heard from authentic sources that the best price obtainable by the producers for oats in Victoria to-day is from 1s. 6d. to 2s. per bushel. ,

Mr JAMES PAGE:
MARANOA, QUEENSLAND · FT; ALP from 1903

– Then why is the price of oatmeal still kept up ?

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– The conference was considering the creation of a Pool for oats,” and a producer deliberately said that this was the best price obtainable this season.

Mr JAMES PAGE:
MARANOA, QUEENSLAND · FT; ALP from 1903

– Then, it is a sad day for the farmer who grows oats!

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– The farmer cannot grow oats at that price.

Mr JAMES PAGE:
MARANOA, QUEENSLAND · FT; ALP from 1903

– He cannot.

Mr Fenton:

– The price is 2s. 9d. to 2s.10d. to-day.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– That is the retail or city price. The position in regard to many other products is most serious. The honorable member for Grampians (Mr. Jowett) is in the midst of an important movement, having for its object the disposal of Australian crossbred wool, which to-day is unsaleable.

Mr.Riley. - Because we are adopting the idiotic policy of not dealing with certain foreign countries !

Mr JAMES PAGE:
MARANOA, QUEENSLAND · FT; ALP from 1903

– That doss not alter the fact that wool is unsaleable.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– I should not be doing my duty in the position I occupy in this House if I did not place before honorable members the true facts and conditions as I know them. This is a most serious blow to the most important industry of Australia. If our wool, or a large portion of it, is not wanted in the markets of the world, God knows what is going to happen to the growers! The honorable member for Grampians and others are trying to fix up some kind of Pool and so save the situation. Some growers have not had too good a time, and, in an involved position, with their wool unsaleable, are faced with hard ruin. What is the use of imposing a basic wage on such men ? If the basic wage is made applicable to every wage-earner in Australia, as it must if we give it to the public servants, what about the small producers in the back-blocks, who have the largest families and are the most hardworking people in the community? They have gone into the back-blocks of every State to make homes for themselves, and in their struggle for a living have to work, not eight hours, but from daylight to dark, for less than half the suggested basic wage. Are these people to have no consideration? Is consideration to be given only to those who are non-producers, directly ?

Mr Considine:

– What ?

Mr Gabb:

– Nobody has said that.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– I deliberately say “ non-producers, directly,” because however desirable it may be to encourage secondary industries, it is the primary industries which keep the rate of exchange down - the export of the surplus wheat, wool, meat, coal, fruit, and hides - and it is that alone which keeps the wheels of the Commonwealth going. We must not make thecross now being carried by primary producers too heavy to bear. I warn the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes), the Leader of the Labour party (Mr. Tudor),, and members generally that if we do anything to injure our primary industries, the secondary industries and the whole fabric of our industrial life will tumble about’ our ears like the walls of Jericho in ruin and consequential chaos. We may go on tinkering with Wages Boards and awards, we may do whatever we choose, but unless the primary producers of Australia - the only men who, with their export trade, produce the money to pay the interest on the indebtedness of the country - receive a share of our consideration, all the “ quack “ medicines we may administer will not cure the consequent evils. Holding the views I do, I say that not one penny piece in the way of a basic wage should be expended without the approval of this House. We have no right to go into recess and leave an open cheque with a Government to fix industrial remuneration in any direction.

Mr Stewart:

-Particularly the present Government.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– I mention no particular Government. This House has resigned the power of the purse ever since the war broke out, and permitted expenditure and interference, with our industrial life by Cabinet rule and Regulation to a degree I never thought possible in a Britishcommunity. It is time we cried “Halt!” and I, for one, mean to cry “Halt!” Honorable members seem to think that, because I moved the adjournment of the debate last night, I am not in favour of discussing the question to a conclusion. But, knowing the feeling of Australia, and knowing the force behind the agitation by means of which members have been “ bombarded” for some weeks, I say that nothing could be more dangerous than for this House to attempt to shirk this question, and go into recess without dealing with it. I say deliberately and seriously that I am not prepared to leave to any Cabinet a matter such as this, which is the first responsibility, the primal duty, of the House itself.’

Mr Maxwell:

– Time is given us to discuss the matter. What do you propose ?

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– I propose that we should sit to a reasonable hour this evening, and meet to-morrow morning until 1 o’clock. Then, I propose, if necessary to complete the discussion, we should meet on Monday, and sit to a finish. I have on previous occasions referred to the enormous increase in the cost of government in this country since the inception of Federation, apart altogether from war expenditure.

Mr Charlton:

– I. think the war led us into our present position.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– The enormous burden placed on the people of Australia by the war must necessarily have its effect. When we deliberately went into that war, we realized that, while men were prepared to risk their lives, we should be prepared to take some financial risk.

Mr Charlton:

– That is why people here should take some risk to meet our present financial troubles.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– I agree with the honorable member. Before the last election, when sitting behind the Government, I urged that the drift in the finances should be stopped. Last night the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Tudor) confined himself to the manufacturing or secondary industries, and the figures for 1918, the latest available, show that these represent £58,000,000 worth of production, with which we have power to deal. But the great pastoral industries represent £98,300,000 worth of production, 94 per cent. of which has to be exported out of Australia. We have no more command over the price of wool than we have over the tides of . Bass Strait.

Mr Maxwell:

– What about the Basic Wage Commission’s report?

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– The honorable member is one of those who do not like to hear the truth.

Mr Maxwell:

– What ought we to do about the report of the Commission?

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– I am trying to show what the position of Australia is, and its ability to face a universal basic wage. It is worse than- useless to attempt to fool either the public servants or the workers by giving them an undertaking which we know we cannot carry out. Since I received the report of the Basic Wage Commission, I have dome my very best to measure its effects. Any private individual, before he increases his expenditure, ascertains whether his revenue is sufficient to meet it. In 1918 the production value of the leading industries of Australia was as follows : -

Of course, as coal is mostly consumed in Australia, we can fix whatever price we like for it, but it is hopeless to endeavour to fix the selling price of any produce which Australia has to export and sell on the world’s market at the world’s prices. It is true that during the last four years of the war values were abnormally enhanced, but they are already coming back rapidly to something like the original figures. The value of our mineral production, excluding coal, for the decade reads as follows : -

Gold fell from £11,557,650 in 1910 to £4,537,000 in 1919.

Silver and l<*ad from £2,389,412 in 1910 and £6,104,977 in 1918 to about £1,976,000 in 1918.

Copper from £2,389,412 in 1910 and £4,464,787 in 1918 to £1,835,793 in 1919.

Tin from £1,209,973 in 1911 and £1,432,294 in 1918 to £1,020,414 in 1919.

Moreover, in every other direction, excluding agriculture, .there has been an enormous reduction in the quantity of the production of every commodity which helps to make Australia prosperous, except in regard to secondary industries. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Tudor), who takes a great deal of interest in these matters, gave us some figures last night showing that in the past few years the secondary industries of Australia have made great progress, but he also pointed out that boot factories in Melbourne were shutting down because of over-production. This brings me to a consideration of the question of profiteering. We know that calfskins, which rose to the absurdly high price of 5s. per lb., are to-day not worth much more than 5d. per lb., yet, despite this enormous drop in the value of the hide, there has been no drop in the price of leather or boots. Heavier hides have also fallen in value. We all remember the plea that was put forward on behalf of the “ poor “ manufacturers, who, according to the Leader of the Opposition, are doing exceedingly well despite the hard times. The honorable gentleman has alluded to the enormous profits they have been making, but last year, when some of us spoke in the same way, the cry was raised by honorable members opposite, and some honorable members on the Ministerial side, that the price of hides had sent up the price of leather. And the argument put up a few months ago before the Victorian. Prices Commission by the tanners and boot manufacturers was that they had been compelled to increase the price of their leather and boots because of the enormous increase which had taken place in the price of hides. Hides have since come -down with a slump, but the price of leather and boots still remains where it was. In my opinion, the Prices Commission referred to is nothing but a farce. I was told the other day by a man in the clothing trade - he is one of the most intelligent workers I have had the pleasure of meeting - that, as a result of the inquiry by that Commission into clothing, his firm was able to increase the price of its suits of clothes by £2 or £2 2s.

I think I have shown that Ave are in an extremely parlous condition in regard to Australia’s production. It is only the enhanced value of our products that has brought about the increase shown in our production values, whereas, as a matter of fact, our production of wool, wheat, gold, and base metals have been on the down grade for some time past. I have mentioned the price of oats. Hay is almost unsaleable, but, although the farmers have enjoyed good prices for their wheat during the past few years, no one will say for one moment that the price of wheat for the present season will remain at the present high figure. In fact my information goes to show that there is no reason whatever to expect” that the present price will be maintained on the world’s markets. With all these facts in front of us we are expected to rush into a proposal which will revolutionize the whole of the industrial and producing life of Australia, and at the fag-end of an extremely strenuous session, without giving proper consideration to the most important report that has ever been sent into this House, arrive at what should be a basic wage to apply throughout the Commonwealth.

Mr Mathews:

– If the honorable member has made up his mind to vote against the proposal we might as well come to a decision in two minutes instead of waiting two days to do so.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– In this matter we are like -

An infant crying in the night, an infant crying for the light, and with no language buta cry.

No one in this House can say what effect the application of the basic wage will have on the progress of the industries of Australia.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Yet the honorable member insists that the House must continue sitting until a decision is arrived at.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– I do not. Honorable members are labouring under a great delusion if they imagine that a great subject like this can be dealt with and finally decided in three or four days.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I would very much like to know the honorable member’s attitude.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– In the first -place I think this matter originated in an electioneering squib. The Prime Minister rushed into the matter with his head down in promising to pay the civil servants a basic wage, and the Leader of the Opposition is plunging into it, not only with his head down, but also with his eyes shut, in proposing that the wage recommended by the Basic Wage Commission should be applied indiscriminately all over Australia. This matter will need the fullest and most complete consideration.

Mr Austin Chapman:

– Good old consideration ! Another Commission.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– No. I say that it should not be referred to a Commission, but that the Government must take the matter in hand and deal with it, accepting “full and complete responsibility for what it does.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– At the beginning of the honorable member’s speech he insisted that the matter must be fixed by Parliament.

Mr Maxwell:

– Yes, and not by the Government.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– It is astonishing what a lack of intelligence some honorable members display when they will not listen to what one is trying to put forward. I have said nothing of the kind. I said that the Ministry had no right to fix and pay a basic wage; but that they should fix what they think is a proper wage, and bring it down to Parliament in the form of Supplementary Estimates, whereupon this House should give a decision upon the matter. If honorable members cannot distinguish between these two courses it is not my fault; my language is sufficiently plain and straightforward. This House must have the final say in the matter.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– When does the honorable member suggest that the Government should do this? Before we rise?

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– No. It would be madness to attempt to do so.

Mr Mathews:

– Is the honorable member willing to vote for paying £100 to each public servant until the House meets again ?

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– I am willing to say to the Government in the kindest possible way, “ Take this matter and deal with the question in a fair, proper, generous and just way, but immediately you have come to your decision call Parliament together.” We have no right to go into a long recess with an important matter like this over our heads. No honorable member attends to his duties more closely than I do, and I have not seen my home more than once since Easter. To me the session has been specially strenuous, but I contend that we have no right to go into a long recess. We have no right either to allow the Government to fix up this matter without the consent of Parliament or to allow the question to be dragged out until May or June next. I suggest to the Government that they should consider it ‘fairly, and then call Parliament together, and put their proposal deliberately before us. In the meantime they should give no increase established on a basic wage.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I should like to hear the views of the honorable member in regard to giving an interim increase.

Mr McWILLIAMS:

– The Government must take full responsibility in that regard, and face the House with a definite proposal.

Sitting suspended, from 1 to 2.15 p.m.

Question - That the words proposed to be added be so added (Mr. Tudor’s amendment) - put. The House divided.

AYES: 18

NOES: 36

Majority……18

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I have a further amendment, which I move, as follows : -

That the following words be added to the motion : - “ and this House approves the statement made by the Prime Minister, on Tuesday, 23rd November, regarding the basic wage to be paid to employees in the Commonwealth Public Service, and requests the Government forthwith to arrange for such amount to be paid as will be equitable and just alike to employees and the general public, and within the practical capabilities of the Commonwealth to defray - Payment of such basic wage to be made as from 1st November, 1920.”

The honorable member forYarra (Mr. Tudor) submitted a proposal of a concrete kind. I now submit another, and I ask honorable members to agree to my amendment, so that there shall be no mistake concerning the action which the Government are to take immediately in connexion with this very important matter.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– Why are you breaking your election pledge?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– There is no such election pledge.

Mr Tudor:

– The Government will at the earliest possible date give effect to these principles.” Those are the Prime Minister’s words.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

-We are giving effect to “ these principles “ at the earliest possible moment.

Mr J H Catts:

– On a point of order, I submit that the amendment should be stated to the House, and that the Prime Minister should not be seated at the table altering the amendment, which has been already moved by the Treasurer.

Mr SPEAKER (Hon Sir Elliot Johnson:

– The Minister is in order in moving and speaking to his amendment. I have not yet received a copy of that amendment.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I have not yet had time to read the report of the Basic Wage Commission. No member of this House has had time, and, therefore, I am moving my amendment to give some relief to the public servants of the country, who, I believe, are not too well paid at the present moment.

Honorable members interjecting,

Mr SPEAKER:

-Order ! I do not propose to make my throat sore in my efforts to maintain order. I give honorable members fair warning that unless they preserve a reasonable degree of silence, so that the Minister may be able to address the Chair, I shall be compelled to ask the House to take the necessary steps to give effect to the Standing Orders regarding members guilty of disorderly conduct.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– So far asI know anything of the report, it seems to me a peculiarly incomplete one. I should have thought that an inquiry of the kind would have made some reference to the number of basic wages already established up and down Australia by various bodies of various kinds and have tried to reconcile them for us. There is to-day in New South Wales abasic wage which has been declared by a Board of Trade, after an elaborate inquiry. There is a basic wage which has been declared quite recently, I understand, in Western Australia, after a similar inquiry. There has been a basic wage declared in Victoria in connexion, at any rate, with some classes of employees.

Mr Tudor:

– There is no basic wage in this State, and no Victorian will say there is.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Then I shall say that a rate of wage has been declared by the Government, at least, so far as the railway service is concerned. It does not matter very much whether we call it a basic wage or any other kind of a wage ; it is the recognised standard wage. And these various declarations are the standards for the various States. One would have thought that a Commission such as we set up would take these bases of wage payments in the different States, and that it would have made some pronouncement concerning them. Honorable members know that we cannot take the basic wages applying in various States, and reconcile them without further inquiry. “We are driven back, therefore, to see how our own public servants are faring as they stand related to the various determinations of the States. That is our immediate obligation, and the Government are preparing to meet that obligation at the earliest possible moment. One thing stands out from all theseinquiries, that is, that the rate of payment for our public servants is not an adequate rate, having regard to the decreased spending power of the sovereign and to conditions as they exist today in the Public Service. It is that concrete practical difficulty that the Government are immediately responsible for. It is that concrete practical difficulty which we propose to solve; and I know of no better way in which to solve it than, after having given the most careful consideration to the whole matter, to fix, at the earliest possible moment, irrespective of all the differing State rates, a rate for our own servants such as will do them substantial justice.

Mr Fenton:

– What does the Treasurer now propose as a basic wage for public servants ?

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Is the honorable member prepared off-hand with a solution of all these problems ?

Mr Fenton:

– The Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) gave us a very strong indication the other day of what the Government proposed.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I am not prepared to say at the moment-

Mr Fenton:

– He spoke of £4 4s.8d

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– -The honorable member is quite wrong ; £4 4s. 8¾d., was it not? I do not pretend to be one of those clever gentlemen who can deal off-hand with the most intricate problems. I simply say that the Government is under an obligation to lose no time in arriving at this determination. It ought not to take us very long. It should be possible for us to deal with it, say, during the next Fortnight. The matter, however, cannot be dealt with in this House. It can be dealt with only after the most quiet and careful consideration elsewhere. I therefore invite the House to agree to this f urther amendment which I submit on behalf of the Government. It means substantial justice at the earliest possible moment to public servants; it proposes as soon as possible to do the fair thing by them .

Honorable members ‘may speak of this difficulty and that with regard to the cost of living. But every one admits that the times are out of joint, and that it is difficult in these days for the working people of the continent to live. No one knows that better than do the people who, although outside the ranks of those who labour with their hands, are yet not blessed with too much of this world’s goods. Every one admits that conditions will not right themselves, either, for some time to come. The condition of things is abnormal. It seems to me that whatever we may do can be of only a temporary and tentative character. These matters must ultimately adjust themselves as the business conditions, the exchanges, and the production and trade and commerce of the world adjust themselves. In that way only shall we have the final adjustment. It will be brought about, not by your Courts, not by your Royal Commissions, but by the ordinary processes of production and trade throughout the Commonwealth.

We are treating, therefore, a temporary, . and, let us hope, passing . phase of economics in this country - a phase which none the less presses with particular severity on the working people. It is in pursuance of our obligation under these temporary, shifting, and, let us hope, evanescent conditions, that we now make this proposal. It aims, first of all, at having regard to the wants and needs of the public servants of Australia. It aims, at the same time, at paying some due regard to the financial capabilities of the country to meet this kind of obligation. It is all very well to say that a man can live comfortably and decently and under reasonable conditions only by the payment of a wage which has been demonstrated to be an uneconomic one.

Mr Makin:

– The Government can find the money with which to pay interest’ to the money-lenders.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Does the honorable member suggest that we should repudiate our obligations to the moneylenders ?

Mr MAXWELL:
FAWKNER, VICTORIA · NAT; IND NAT from 1929; UAP from 1931

– No.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– It is a strange doctrine to have laid down in this the National Parliament, that we should ignore our obligations to those who lend us money.

Mr Makin:

– I have made no such suggestion.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Then there is no relevancy in the honorable member’s interjection.

It has been well established by the inquiries of this Royal Commission, as well as by independent inquiries conducted by Mr. Knibbs, that the basic wage suggested as necessary to provide a man with the comforts and decencies that he should have in a civilized community would, under present conditions, bankrupt the country. That is the first fundamental fact that we have to keep in mind. Mr. Knibbs says it cannot be done. He is an independent authority. Surely he has no axe to grind.

Mr J H Catts:

– He has. not made such a statement.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

- Mr. Knibbs says that if the incomes of all persons in Australia receiving more than £156 per year were divided to-day amongst those whose income is less than that amount, it would give them an average of only 10s. per week. In effect, Mr. Knibbs says that these basic wage proposals are in their very essence uneconomic. They cannot, be paid out of the ordinary incomes of the country. That is the first fundamental fact we should keep in mind.

Mr Gabb:

– I think thatis mere figure juggling.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I am quoting statements made by Mr. “Knibbs. The honorable member may speak of them as “ figure juggling,” or describe them in any way he pleases; but these are the figures by which we have to be guided, and. they make it quite clear that the country to-day could not provide-

Mr Tudor:

– While the employers are piling up their profits.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order! I ask honorable members to exercise some restraint over their feelings.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I repeat that Mr. Knibbs says that the basic wage as suggested by the Commission as reasonable and proper cannot be paid, because we have not the money here with which to pay it. That is not my statement. It is a statement by the Commonwealth Statistician, and, moreover, it is buttressed by the statement made by Mr. Piddington after due and full inquiry into the economic factors of the situation.

Mr Tudor:

– After three hours’ consideration.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– After twelve months’ inquiry on the part of the Commission. .

Mr Tudor:

Mr. Piddington had only three hours in which to prepare his memorandum. In the report of the Commission, which was signed by him after inquiry extending over twelve months, the basic wage in the case of this State is given as £5 16s. per week.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Has the honorable member ever heard of the artist who, when asked how long he had taken to paint a certainpicture, replied “ Twenty years “ ? It has taken Mr. Piddington twelve months to acquire the knowledge that he has compressed into his memorandum, the compilation of which occupied him for only a few hours.

I shall not debate this matter further, although, it is a most interesting one. In dealing with it the Government must be guided by what the resources of the country are in relation to the question, and by the necessities of its public servants. This further amendment meets both those factors, and I submit it to the House in the belief that it will bring a muchneeded and welcome addition to the incomes of the public servants of this country while at the same time leaving the country free to discharge its proper obligations.

Mr Hughes:

– I desire to make a personal explanation. In this morning’s issue of the Argus, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Tudor) is reported to have said in the course of his speech in the House last night -

He had just received a telegram from Sydney as follows : - “ Prime Minister has definitely promised, if twenty-four members agree, Parliament will not adjourn before decision re basic wage for Federal employees. Major Marr will make one. Will you make another?”

The honorable member used those words last night.

Mr Tudor:

– I quoted the telegram.

Mr Hughes:

– I desire to say that the thing is a falsehood.

Mr Tudor:

– The Prime Minister does not deny that I received the telegram ?

Mr Hughes:

– No; but I say the thing is a falsehood, a forgery, a lie ! I ask the honorable member the name of the person who signed that telegram.

Mr Tudor:

– “ O’Connor.” I thought I mentioned it.

Mr Hughes:

– I thought it came from him.

Mr Mahony:

– Every honorable member received a similar telegram.

Mr Hughes:

– Well, I say that it is a lie; it is a forgery. Such tactics are typical of those who profess to represent the public servants, but who do not represent them. They represent only that particular section which is at the bottom of all this trouble.

Mr TUDOR:
Yarra

.- I received the telegram to which the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) has just referred, and in quoting it last night thought I gave the name of the individual who signed it.

Mr Bell:

– We all got a similar telegram.

Mr TUDOR:

– I am not so fortunate as some honorable members are in gaining publicity through the newspapers. I desire now to deal with the further amendment which has just been submitted by the Treasurer (Sir Joseph Cook). From the very inception of the Commonwealth Parliament we have had no such experience as this. I cannot recall any case where the Deputy Leader of the Government in this House has moved an amendment on a motion submitted by the Prime Minister. Such a thing has never happened before. The veriest tyro in politics must know what has led to the submission of this further amendment. We all know what has happened upstairs. The1 Ministerial party has met, and has said, “ The amendment moved by the Leader of the Labour party is loaded. We shall need to make a further proposal in order to counteract its effects.”

Mr Hughes:

– Call that loaded? It is only a squib. It has not gone off.

Mr TUDOR:

– Of course it is only a squib. That is why the Prime Minister’s party has prepared a further amendment to counteract it.

Mr Hughes:

– I shall go out for a walk.

Mr TUDOR:

– I have not the slightest objection. I repeat that the Government and their supporters discovered that they dare not vote without explanation or qualification against the amendment that I had submitted on behalf of the Labour party, in which I . called upon the Government to stand up to the definite pledge made on their behalf by the Prime Minister to the people of Australia. This further amendment is, therefore, submitted as a way out for them. I would remind the House, however, that in the letters patent appointing the Commission there is no reference to public servants, nor is there any reference what- ever in this report to a basic wage for public servants as such. The whole report refers to the community as a whole, but I congratulate the public servants of the Commonwealth on the success of their agitation. Three weeks ago nothing was heard of them in this connexion, and nothing would have been heard of them-

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– That is not correct.

Mr TUDOR:

– It is absolutely correct. Nothing would have been heard of their claim but for the shoal of telegrams on the subject which have recently been received by honorable members from reprepresentatives of the Service.

Mr Atkinson:

– That is not correct.

Mr TUDOR:

– It is absolutely correct. No honorable member opposite can point fo any utterance from that side of the House in favour of doing anything for the public servants. When the Arbitration (Public Service) Bill was under discussion - it is said that the Minister for Works and Railways (Mr. Groom) is to be made Arbitrator under the Bill - was in Committee, the honorable member for Ballarat (Mr. McGrath) moved to insert a provision requiring the payment to the public servants of not less than the basic wage recommended by the Commission, but members opposite voted against that “amendment, and nothing was then said about doing justice to the public servants.

I congratulate the Service on the agitation which has been carried out. It is nothing to me that it has been conducted by a Mr. O’Connor. It would have been sill the same had it been conducted by a Mr. Smith, a Mr. Macintosh, or a Mr. Jones, to give representative English, Scottish, and Welsh names as well as an Irish name. Good work has been performed in compelling the Government to say that they will do justice to the public servants.

The Treasurer told us in one breath that he had not read the Commission’3 report, and, in the next, that it did not set. forth the basic wage provisions of the States. He said that in New South Wales the Board of Trade, after an exhaustive inquiry, had fixed the basic wage at £’± 5s. per week; but was that inquiry as exhaustive as the Commission’s inquiry? Will any one say that the amount recommended is outrageously high, or more than any one should receive? The right honorable gentleman wished to make out that the report of the Commission is absolutely valueless.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I did not do any such thing.

Mr TUDOR:

-The report is the result of twelve months’ work. Both parties were represented. I was careful last night to say that I did not reflect on Mr. Piddington in any way; but I said then, as I say now, that it was not fair for the Prime Minister to ask him at 5 o’clock in the afternoon to reply as soon as possible to certain questions. Mr. Piddington told the Prime Minister that he would let him have a reply to his questions at 9 o’clock. He was careful to point out that under the Commission those questions could not be dealt with, and the Government, had they wished to have them dealt with, should have altered the Commission to enlarge the scope of the inquiry. The Treasurer has told us that he relies on the figures of the Government Statistician. Last night I referred to Mr. Piddington having omitted to take count of about 580,000 children.

Sir Granville Ryrie:

– The honorable member was in error in what he said last night, because the Government Statistician’s figures which he quoted referred to all the children in Australia, whereas Mr. Piddingtons figures referred only to the children of the wage-earners of Australia.

Mr TUDOR:

– I had the Statistician’s authority for saying that the number of children in Australia under the age of fourteen years is 1,580,000. Now, SO per cent, of the children in the community are children of the working class, that is, four out of every five are wage-earners’ children.

I congratulate the public servants ou the success of their agitation. I am desirous, too, that the unions which have been appealing to the Arbitration Court, and were promised by the Prime Minister redress of their grievances, should be given a living wage. The Treasurer told us that the Commission docs not refer to the basic-wage rates of the States, but on pages 15 and 16 of this report there are eleven distinct references to the decisions of Judges and others. They do not give the figures.

The Government is anxious to get out of a hole. Ministers thought that the debate on the amendment would continue, but we were right in taking a vote on it. The record of that division is what will stand. The Government ought to have kept the pledge which it made when it went before the people last year.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:
EdenMonaro

– We should give more time and considerationto this question than has been given to it. It is a mistake to make a party matter of it. The result of doing so was shown by the recent division. Can any one say that the record of that division is an indication of the personal opinions of members on this subject?

Opposition Members. - Yes.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– I deny that. The assumption is against common sense. When a deputation of public servants waited on a number of members in Sydney the other day-

Honorable Members. - Hear, hear !

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– This mob way of trying to shout me down will not assist the public servants, but it may have the effect of prejudicing opinion against them. I intend to express my views. We have been told by the Treasurer that figures have been supplied by the Government Statistician which show that it would mean bankruptcy to the country to apply the recommended basic wage to the public servants. Many of our public servants, no doubt, are underpaid and overworked, but the public servants, as a whole, must realize that the Service is too big for the country.

Mr Gabb:

– You are supporting a Government which is overworking and underpaying the Public Service.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– I do not know, Mr. Speaker, whether you will deal with the honorable member, or whether I shall. If you do not, I shall try my hand on him with my blackthorn.

Mr SPEAKER:

– The honorable member must not interrupt.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– A great deal has to be taken into consideration before deciding this matter. Our Public Service is too big and too expensive. As most persons are aware, there are hundreds in the Service who could be dispensed with ; and if the public servants were wise, they would attempt to drive out the drones, because the community has too big a burden to carry. Of what use would it be to apply a basic wage which would make the country bankrupt? Would it not be fairer and more honest to support the Prime Minister in his promise - and see that he kept to it - to deal properly with the Public Service? The Treasurer has said that Ministers will make up their minds within a fortnight. Ministers must take responsibility for whatever is done, and will be answerable to Parliament, which can send them about their business if it disapproves of their actions. I presume that a wage similar to the basic wage of the States will be adopted. I and others would support the payment to the public servants of a basic wage like that in force in New South Wales, which, I think, they would be ready to accept. The Prime Minister has promised that the Government will look into the matter, and that an increased wage will be paid to the public servants as from the 1st November. I think that the public servants, if they could express their opinion, would be satisfied with that. Of what use would it be for them to demand a wage which the country cannot pay? Are we to ignore our pension obligations, and the other claims upon the Treasury, in order to pay the rate which the Commission recommends ? We must take a common-sense view of this matter. I know that many of the public servants are getting less than a living wage, and I say that the Government must give them a living wage, and must subsequently get its action ratified by Parliament. At the same time, I advise the public servants to get rid of a lot of the loafers in the Service, because there is a limit to what the country can pay.

I do not blame those who have conducted this agitation. After all, we had an agitation among ourselves when we found that we were underpaid. Those who were not receiving a living wage are right in agitating for more ; but the . demand can be overdone. The attempt is beine; made to create political capital out of thismatter, and I refuse to allow gentlemen opposite to put, unanswered, into Mansard statements branding me and others with having less sympathy for the public servants than they have. Certainly, I am not prepared, as an electioneering dodge, to talk clap-trap and to advocate the payment of rates which it has been shown by official figures would bankrupt the country. The Government have undertaken to fix before Christmas a fair basic wage for thepublic servants. The Prime Minister has pointed out that the cost of living has, within a certain, period, almost doubled, and that, therefore, the living wage must be doubled in that time. He proposes to take the proper course. If an attempt is made to create political capital out of this question, nothing will be gained, because it would require a strong cause to put out the ‘Government.

I wish to make my position quite clear. I realize that quite a number of our public servants are not getting a fair living wage, and I hold the Government totheir promise that within fourteen days from now they will make up their minds what is a fair basic wage. When Parliament again meets, the determination of the Government will be submitted to us, and if we think that the wage is not sufficient we can, of course, by a majority, decide to increase it. But if I think the wage fixed by the Government is sufficient, I shall not be led away to vote for one of £5 16s when we are informed by the Statist and by the Treasurer that we cannot afford to pay it. What is the good of promising what we cannot perform?

Mr Lavelle:

– It is a libel on Australia to say that we cannot afford to pay it.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– I do not say that Australia cannot afford to pay it; but I am prepared to follow the Statist and theTreasurer, the latter of whom, in strong and clear language, told us that to act on the amendment of the Leader of the Opposition would mean bankruptcy to the country. I advise the public servants to keep on their agitation, and see that they get a fair deal, but they will be ill-advised to allow politicians to make political capital out of them. After all, it is a pretty daring position to take up - that all the men who are prepared to give fair play are on the Opposition side of the House. The fact that a man holds what have been termed conservative views does not prove that he is not a fairminded man ; indeed, some of the most conservative of men are always prepared to pay a reasonable wage. Personally, I consider that the basic wage paid in New South Wales, which I believe is about £4 5s. per week, would be a fair one to adopt for the Commonwealth Public Service. But whatever sum may be suggested, I am not prepared to put my judgment against that of the Statist and tie Treasurer. Of course, in places where living is expensive an extra allowance might fee given on that account, a policy already adopted in the Public Service. I am not in favour of differentiation, but it is only fair that an allowance of that kind should be made. There should also be some special consideration for those who live in localities where it is difficult to obtain the necessaries of life, and also for those with large families. Unless we use common sense we shall find ourselves on the edge of the precipice; and we ought to go slow. I can quite understand that those who cannot get bread and butter feel very much aggrieved, but it must not be forgotten that the Public Service is overloaded with thousands who are not required.

Mr McGrath:

– Where are they - in the Defence Department?

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:
EDEN-MONARO, NEW SOUTH WALES · PROT; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Most of them are in the big cities. In the country, on the other hand, we find the public servants overworked . and underpaid, sometimes one man doing two men’s work. In the cities, as I say, we find hives of men . and women who could be dispensed with.

Mr Makin:

– That is the fault of the Government.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– But the Government cannot meet the expenditure that would be necessary under such an amendment as that proposed by the Leader of the Opposition. I voted against that amendment, because I think it would put us in the position of not being able to meet the demand made on the finances. We have also to remember that provision has to be made for pensions for the invalided and aged, and for the soldiers; and I do not see how we could meet any further expenditure, considering that we are up to the limit of taxation.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

Mr. Piddington says that if we did pay the basic wage of £5 16s. the public servants would, in four quarters, be no better off than they are now.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– We know that with increased wages the cost of living is increased.

Mr Gabb:

– Then we had better decrease the present wages by £ 1, and make the people better off!

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– That may be the honorable member’s reasoning, but it is not mine. My position is that the country is rich enough to pay a decent living wage.

Mr Gabb:

– That is what we voted for on the Commission’s recommendation.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– It is what the Government have promised within fourteen days, and when the ques- tion comes before us next year it should not ‘be decided by any party vote to get political advantage. I am not pleading for the support of the public servants, for whom I have a great respect, and many of whom are my personal friends. I am surprised that honorable members opposite should think that the public servants are such asses as to believe what they say.

Mr Makin:

– You should have beenat the Exhibition meeting last night.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– I dare say I ought, but I take it that my place is within this chamber when I am able to attend. It is extraordinary what was said at that meeting last night in reference to the honorable member for Parkes (Mr. Marr), who is, as we know, one of the strongest “ battlers “ here in the interests of the public servants.

Mr Gabb:

– What about his vote today?

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– The honorable member’s judgment is no good. The honorable member for Parkes was denounced last night at the meeting because he was away on public duty in his own electorate.

Mr Makin:

– It is a gross pieceof hypocrisy !

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– Who is the best judge of hypocrisy? For myself I am always willing to yield to an expert. I am glad I was not at the Exhibition meeting; had I been there I should not have advised them as they were advised the other day by two members who are listening to me now, to make this a party question on which to oust the Government.

Mr J H Catts:

– They were not.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– It is so reported in the Sydney press. My advice to the public servants is not to make this a . party question, for to do so would be to only injure themselves.

Mr Gabb:

– It is their only chance.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– Then God help them!

Mr Gabb:

– They cannot depend on you.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– The majority of the people of this country, who make the Parliament, are in favour of a decent living wage.

Mr Gabb:

– It does not look like it.

Mr SPEAKER:

– I have warned the honorable member for Angas (Mr. Gabb) two or three times.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– So far as I know, all the public servants have asked for is a decent living wage, and I do not know one member of the House who is not in favour of their request.

Mr Fenton:

– What about workers outside the Public Service? Have they not to be considered?

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– What is the good of talking about people outside the Public Service now? In my own State of New South Wales labourers and tradesmen are paid more than the proposed basic wage, some as highly as £1 and £1 5s. per day.

Mr Gabb:

– That is because there is a Labour Government in that State.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– There are numbers of workers who are not wage-earners, and who have to pay taxes, such as selectors, farmers, and primary producers generally. Are they to have no consideration? We know very well that if we fix a “ wild-cat “ wage for the Public Service it will be taken as the standard of wages outside the Public Service. I refuse to be silent under the castigation of honorable members opposite, who seem to think that we are unfair because we are prepared to accept the common-sense proposal of the Government. After all, it is the Government, and the Treasurer in particular, who is responsible for the finances of the country. It is difficult to get accurate figures, but I have been told that the basic wage in New South Wales is £4 5s. I do not know what the basic wage is in Victoria.

Mr Mathews:

– It is £2 10s.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– The honorable member must have been employing somebody recently. In “Western Australia the basic wage is £4 ls., and in South Australia just under £4. Living is getting dearer, and my suggestion to meet the situation is that we accept the New South Wales wage as a fair standard. It will be the duty of the Government to ascertain and decide during the next fortnight what, in their opinion, is a reasonable average. We ought to go steadily, and not overdo things, or we may find the scheme tumbling down of its own weight. It would be easy, of course, for the Trea-surer to lavishly distribute the public money, but he has not an inexhaustible bank, and he must consider the taxpayers. When proposals are put forward for the betterment of country districts, we are often asked by honorable members, “What about the consumers, as well as the producers?” Let us on this occasion have some regard for the producers, and realize that to our resources there is a limit, which we have nearly reached. My suggestion, however, is the basic wage of New South Wales.

Mr Considine:

– Are you tipping after the event?

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:

– I am judging from what the Prime Minister said, and I believe he will propose between £4 and £4 5s., and I suggest that we should err on the side of generosity. I shall vote for £4 5s. With such a wage, it is my opinion that the Public .Service would be satisfied, and I am not prepared, under all the circumstances, to seek popularity and a few extra votes by supporting a higher figure.

Mr PROWSE:
.Swan

.- The scope of the inquiry referred to the Basic Wage Commission was, in my opinion, altogether inadequate. It was a Commission conceived in election times, and that the scope of the inquiry was inadequate is evidenced by the nature of the report and the necessity for additional information. This additional information is the most salient and important of all - even an ore important than the report itself. The Commission set out to ascertain what is a reasonable living wage for a man, his wife, and three children. The Commissioners estimated variously that amount at the present time to be something in the region of £5 16s. per week; but after the Commission had submitted its report, .and had been asked for additional information, it is found that, in awarding that amount as a basic wage, it is awarding something which is to be provided for 2,100,000 non-existing children. We find that, instead of 3,000,000 children, the number estimated to be possessed, as it were, by 1,000,000 workers, is .90 per cent, for each worker. The report of the Commission, therefore, does not reveal the real position. Again, the Commission was not asked anything in regard to the possibility of the Commonwealth being able to pay the wage it considered adequate. It is highly important that this should be determined. We entered into a war along with the whole of. the Empire and certain Allies, and was it expected by any honorable member in this House that we could fight a bloody war of the kind against the greatest military power in the world, continuing it for nearly five years, and still enjoy all the privileges we had before it started ? I am sure that many of us felt that if we could succeed in holding our liberty, and living through the terra of our natural lives after a struggle of that kind, we would not be doing badly. But the proposition that here in Australia we have a right to expect to maintain a higher standard of living than obtained before the war is utterly unreasonable. I value the supplementary report of Mr. Piddington, the Chairman of the Basic Wage Commission, because it is highly significant. Mr. Piddington says, in fact, and in effect, that the wage of £5 16s. cannot be paid without rendering the Commonwealth bankrupt. In other words, he means that we would be called upon to pay for our production more than would be the value of that which is produced, lt is a fanatical and utterly unreasonable request to ask for the payment of this basic wage as recommended by the Commission, and I feel quite sure that those who put it forward are paying too much consideration to their political position, and too little regard to the welfare. of Australia. We are also told in the supplementary report of the Commission that if a wage of £5 16s. be granted, trouble will commence in the first three months, because with such an addition to the cost of living, the purchasing value of the sovereign will so decrease that the Commission will need to be called upon again to institute a new inquiry, and fix upon a new standard. And so the vicious circle would continue to the end of things, which would arrive very speedily. It is impossible for a man to continue for long spending more than he earns. The only place for him is the Bankruptcy Court. If 1 am called upon to pay this increased wage, particularly at a time when I am selling my wheat to Australia at less than the world’s parity, that is to say, if I am asked to continue producing wheat .at a very much higher cost, my position will be that I shall expect my children to work night’ and day for me without the basic wage, simply in order to provide other people with a high wage and cheap bread. If the basic wage is applied, it must increase the cost of production and also reduce production. And it has only to continue long enough in force to extinguish production altogether. Therefore, we must call a halt at some reasonable point.

In this House I have said before that the principle adopted in our Public Service is quite wrong. We have nearly 250,000 public servants in the service of 5,,000,000 people - one to ‘every ten adults in the Coon mon wealth. The number is too high altogether, and the services rendered are not sufficiently co-ordinated on business lines. I am thoroughly in favour of the adoption of business methods in connexion with our Public Service, and I was hopeful that the Government would bring forward their Bill, which proposed to institute an inquiry into the management of the Service, and the possibility of adopting business methods. In fact, 1 would rather we had first proceeded with that Bill instead of dealing with the question of adopting the principle of a basic wage. I would like to see all public servants for whom a reasonable amount of work cannot be obtained in the Departments provided with other work in Australia outside the Service. Their removal would allow the payment of reasonable wages fo those who would be left in the Service. The Commonwealth and the States pay £40,000,000 each year to the persons who render public service - I think a different state of affairs would be found if the work were let on contract subject to specification - and now it is proposed that this cost should be practically doubled, and we are asked to pay close on £90,000,000 for the public services rendered to 5,000,000 people. It would be better to follow the advice of the Economies Commission, and rid the Commonwealth Service of men for whom a reasonable amount of work cannot be provided. In this way we could pay those remaining in the Service a decent salary. Those persons who are so inconsistent as to advocate the payment of a basic wage of £5 16s. per week regardless of where the money is to be obtained with which to pay it, and at the same time urge a reduction of hours of labour, are, in my opinion, rushing headlong to destruction, and trying to drag down everything else with them.

Mr RYAN:
West Sydney

.- I rise to oppose the amendment moved by the Treasurer (Sir Joseph Cook). A few moments ago we had the opportunity of deciding, on the amendment moved by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Tudor), whether we were in favour of having the necessary machinery established to enforce the principles contained in the report of the Basic Wage Commission; but the House by a majority voted against the amendment. Now we have an amendment before us of a diametrically different character, because it seeks to excuse the Government, and authorize them not to carry out the findings of the Commission. In the very beginning the amendment states -

That this House approves of the statement made by the Prime Minister on Tuesday, 23rd November.

If we approve of the statement made by the Prime Minister we adopt it as our own. Every honorable member who votes for the amendment says that he adopts as part of his speech, and as part of his views upon the matter, the views expressed by the Prime Minister. What did the Prime Minister say on Tuesday ? He said, speaking of the report of the Basic Wage Commission, “ I reject it.” If honorable members approve of the Prime Minister’s action in rejecting this report, let them vote for the amendment. The Prime Minister said also. “ I have not made up’ my mind whether I will stand for the individual memorandum of Mr. Piddington or not.” Mr. Piddington was asked by the Prime Minister to prepare a memorandum on the following matters : -

  1. The true incidence of the cost of living.
  2. How the findings of the Commission as to cost of living may be distributed between (1) man and wife, (2) each of three dependant children.
  3. How the said finding of the Commission can he made effective so as to secure for every employee the actual cost of living according to its true incidence, accepting the finding of £5 16s. as the actual cost of living for a man, wife, and three children.
  4. The effect upon industry, domestic, and for foreign countries, of making a basic wage for ail employees of £5 16s.
  5. The effect of that course upon prices and the actual realization of the desired standard of comfort.
  6. The effect upon the Commonwealth’s obligations to its employees, permanent and temporary, of whatever course is adopted.

Upon these matters Mr. Piddington wrote a memorandum which the Prime Minister will not say whether he accepts or rejects. Therefore, those who vote for the amendment moved by the Treasurer, first of all reject the report of the Basic Wage Commission, and, secondly, do not know whether or not they accept the memorandum made by Mr. Piddington. In his policy speech at Bendigo, the Prime Minister made a specific pledge to the people of Australia that he would appoint a Royal Commission to investigate these matters, and would enforce the findings of that Commission; but this House is asked to excuse him from carrying out that pledge, and to say, “ We do not want any findings of the Royal Commission upon the Basic Wage, but we want you to do something which is fair and reasonable.” Honorable members opposite want to have another standard set up. Of course, they are not appealing to the electors now, and, although they have been returned upon the pledge given by the Prime Minister, they are now seeking to excuse him from honouring it. They are to share the disgrace that would otherwise rest upon the shoulders of the Government. An honorable member tells me that the Prime Minister did not agree to accept the finding of .the Commission. One has only to look to the right honorable gentleman’s own words, as delivered at Bendigo, and which are as follow: -

The Government will at the earliest date possible create effective machinery to give effect to these principles.

That is, to the principles that would be laid clown in the findings of the Royal Commission. That is a definite pledge, and we are asked now to excuse the Prime Minister from its fulfilment, although the people have sent the Government back to office because that pledge was given, or, at all events, because it was part of the programme which the Government submitted to the people. The honorable member for Yarra (Mr.

Tudor) has submitted an amendment which, boiled down, means this: “Carry out your pledge; give effect, in some way or other, to the principles which are contained in the report of the Royal Commission.” The amendment moved by the Treasurer, on the other hand, says, “ Will members of the House please excuse us from carrying out our pledge? Honorable members will please take a share of the responsibility with the Government.” The Prime Minister says, “ I reject this pledge “ ; and he does not know what he is going to do about Mr. Piddington’s recommendation. Now, the Government, beyond saying that their actions will be fair and reasonable, ask us to give them carte blanche, to give them authority to fix on what, in their opinion, is fair and reasonable, and to release them from their solemn pledge. I shall not vote for such an amendment, and every honorable member who does vote for it must take the responsibility of excusing the Government from honouring their pledge. Here is the definite pledge, as I have just quoted it ; and here are the definite and unanimous findings of the Commissioners, in answer to clause 1 of the Letters Patent, which sets forth that the main task of the Commission was to ascertain definitely the cost of living according to reasonable standards of comfort for the typical family . -

The actual cost of living at the present time, according to reasonable standards of comfort, including all matters comprised in the ordinary expenditure of a household, for a man with a wife, and three children under fourteen years of age, is in -

Those are very definite findings, not by a portion of the Commission, but by ail its members. So we have this fact before us: It is agreed by an independent chairman, by the representatives of the employers on the one hand, and by the representatives of the employees on the other, that it requires the amounts set out as I have just quoted them to keep a man and his wife and three children in reasonable comfort.

Mr Laird Smith:

– Is there not a minority report?

Mr RYAN:

– The minority report substantially concurs. In fact, those members who signed the minority report assented to the findings above. I am justified in saying that it is a unanimous report, and that, in the opinion of all the members of the Commission, those respective sums are required to keep a man and his wife and three children in reasonable comfort. Will any honorable member say that the totality of production in Australia will not permit of the payment to a man who has a wife and three children of a wage sufficient to keep them in ordinary, reasonable comfort?

Mr McWilliams:

– I think that the great majority of the gold mines in Australia could not pay £5 16s.

Mr RYAN:

– The question is, Is Australia able to pay, out of the totality of its production, sufficient wages to keep a man and his wife and three children in reasonable comfort? I say that there should be enough even to pay a man who has a wife and seven or eight children a wage sufficient to maintain them in reasonable comfort; and there should be some means to provide for such payment.

Sir Granville Ryrie:

– How much does the honorable member suggest should be paid to a man without wife or children?

Mr RYAN:

– I have dealt with this same subject-matter previously in the House, and I have set forth my views at a time when there were not the same high feelings as now. On the 8th September I addressed myself to the Arbitration (Public Service) Bill, and remarked -

In fixing what is to be a living wage for a Commonwealth public servant the Public Service Arbitrator should be guided by what is sufficient to keep a married man, his wife, and three children in reasonable comfort. But no honorable member opposite has suggested that that principle should be laid down. I do not know whether any of them would support such an amendment, but it is absolutely within the power of this Parliament to establish that principle in this Bill. It is of no use merely to listen to speeches from them proclaiming that the Arbitration Court cannot do certain things because this Parliament has not the power to lay down principles. We have the power to do so in this Bill. We have the power to lay down a further principle which it is very necessary should be recognised, and

I hope that some one will move an amendment to thateffect. We have the power to lay down the principle that the Public Service Arbitrator in arriving at a decision on the question shall not prescribe any wage less than the basic wage fixed by the Basic Wage Commission now sitting, or by any duly constituted authority that may take its place. We can do that, and I ask whether we are going to do it.

A little further on I said-

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– This is quite out of order. The honorable member is not permitted to quote from Hansard records of the same session.

Mr RYAN:

– I am quoting from my memory, as refreshed by a reference to Hansard. I merely wish to add that I also pointed out that if I had my way I would go further, and vest in the Arbitrator the power to give a bonus in respect of every child above a certain number. I recall my remarks on that occasion, in order to show that I am not now seizing upon some new-fangled idea, but that I have always stood for what I am at this moment advocating. Why has the Treasurer introduced, his amendment?

Sir Granville Ryrie:

– How much does the honorable member suggest should be paid to a man without wife or children ?

Mr RYAN:

– What do the Government propose to do? They have the power, and we wantto know. We are asked to give the Government carte blanche, with this provision super-added, namely, that we release them from carrying out their pledge. Why this sudden desire to do justice to the Public Service? When, during the debate upon the Arbitration (Public Service) Bill, the honorable member for Ballarat (Mr. McGrath) moved an amendment which sought to make it imperative upon the Arbitrator to fix a wage for the Public Service which would be not less than the basic wage as decided by the Basic Wage Royal Commission, we were told that the Government were waiting until the report of that Commission was available,when they would carry out its recommendations. The Government did not then tell us that they should give to the Commonwealth Public Service the same basic wage as has been prescribed by the different States. The honorable member for Eden-Monaro (Mr. Austin Chapman) did not then suggest that £4 5s. per week should be given to the publi’c servants. When we asked the Government to give a wage about equal to the basic wages of the States, they said, ‘‘Wait until we get our own Basic (Wage Commission’s report. Why should we give what the States prescribe?” Now we have our own report, and the Government” say, “ Let us give something like the State basic wage.” Why do they say that? Because it is less. They .will not face the real position. The fact is that the Government and the Party behind them have allowed profiteering to become rampant in this country during the past few years that the cost of living has soared. The profiteer has been, allowed his full fling. The honorable member for Yarra (Mr. Tudor) showed clearly, in the course of his speech last evening, that while, during the war, there were some rise3 in wages, the manufacturers made proportionately far greater increases in profits. The cost of living during the war years became so great that some increases in wages were found to be absolutely necessary; but the rise in prices has been far in advance of tlie increases in wages. Now the Government wish to continue the same policy. They will not acknowledge their mistake, and they say, “ The recommendations of this Commission cannot be adopted.” The Prime Minister has two replies. First, he says, “As far as the outside workers are concerned, we have not the constitutional .power.” And then, secondly, he says, “ If we had the power to grant this basic wage, the country would be ruined by granting it.” As for the first argument, there is ample power in the Constitution to give effect to the findings of the Basic Wage Commission, not only with regard to Commonwealth public servants, but in respect of industrial workers outside. The Prime Minister does not deny that he has the power with regard to Commonwealth public servants; and I remind him that there can be no dispute concerning whether there is power to grant the basic wage in connexion with all matters such as InterState trade and the handling of commodities which are intended for transmission from one State to another. ‘The Government have the power to fix a payment, as the basic wage, according to the recommendations of the Commission. It is of no use, then, for the Government to allege some constitutional difficulty. I say there is no constitutional difficulty, and I assert that with some authority and with some knowledge of the subject. The time has come when this House must make some sort of declaration that will condemn the breaking of solemn pledges. The Prime Minister has broken every solemn pledge that he has made, and their violation has been condoned by the people. Was it not a solemn and definite pledge that the Prime Minister made in this case? Will any honorable member say that that pledge did not mean that effect was to be given to the findings of the Commission? Will any one say that the Prime Minister did not intend to convey to the public of Australia that he regarded the wage of a man with a wife and three children as the unit from which we should build up ? If the right honorable gentleman found that he had made a mistake, why did he not at once admit it? Why did he not come to the House, and say, “ I find I. have made a mistake. I want to be excused from the carrying out of my pledge.” The fact is that this is but another illustration of the barefaced making of a pledge in order to get political support, and a subsequent barefaced breaking of that pledge. Honorable members are now asked to be parties to the breaking of that pledge.

Mr Marr:

– This question is only being used by honorable members opposite for party purposes.

Mr RYAN:

– I deny that. The Labour party all through has contended for what my colleagues ‘and I are contending this afternoon. We are not now raising this contention for the first time. Does the honorable member suggest that it is for mere party purposes that we ask the Government to honour their solemn pledge, and that we demand that the large body of public servants with wives and families in starving conditions shall have justice done them?

Mr Marr:

– Honorable members opposite have only just discovered that anything of the kind exists.

Mr RYAN:

– Not at all. The honorable member says that he has spoken in this House before in regard’ to the matter.

Let me remind him that he and those who sit with him have power to compel the Government to take action. We on this side can only protest and appeal, but honorable members opposite have the power to say to the Government, “ You shall do this thing.” They do not, however, avail themselves of that power. They talk, but do nothing. Why have they allowed public servants during all these months to be paid a wage of only £3 5s. or £3 12s. a week, although they have wives and families to support. How often must some of these public servants and their families have gone hungry? We know that it is a characteristic of the Australian people to grin and bear their troubles. But during all that time honorable members opposite have had power to compel the Government to take action, and have seen fit only to talk about the matter. Why do they not act ? They are prepared now to vote for this further amendment, which excuses the Government’s failure to honour its pledge, and says, in effect, to them,, “ Fix upon whatever you think is a fair and reasonable thing.”

I do not wish to make a personal attack upon the honorable member for Parkes (Mr. Marr) - I should be sorry to do so - but apparently he was in Sydney yesterday, since we were advised from there by telegraph that he would, make one to remain here until a decision in regard to the basic wage for Federal public . servants had been arrived at.

Mr Marr:

– I shall sit here until the debate is finished.

Mr Fenton:

– What is the good of sitting here unless you vote in the right way ?

Mr RYAN:

– Exactly. It is useless for us to sit here unless we do something. The House has power to compel the Government to take action, and it is up to us to use that power. All the leading newspapers of this country, which usually support the Government, are ashamed of their tactics with regard to the basic wage. The Government are barefaced enough to make any pledge to a trusting public, and to break their pledges over and over again, merely that they may retain place and power. And to remain in power to do good for whom? For the class that made the Prime Minister a present of ‘ £25,000.

This is only another of a long series of broken pledges on the part of the Government. But in regard both to this and the pledge made with respect to the wheat guarantee, honorable members are asked to condone the breaking of them. They are asked to excuse the Government - to actually vote to excuse their failure to give effectto a solemn pledge, and to give them carte blanche to do what they like.

I am going to oppose this further amendment. If honorable members opposite wished, they could even now see to it that before the House adjourns we shall know exactly what the Government intend to do. If the amendment submitted on behalf of the Government is carried, all that we shall know is that they are going to scrap the Commission’s report - that they will go back upon it and upon their pledge. If honorable members opposite would take action even now, we could have some definite pronouncement as to the specific amount which will be paid to the public servants of the Commonwealth, and I, personally, shall not be satisfied with anything else.

Mr MARR:
Parkes

.- I have just awakened to the fact that the public servants of the Comnnonwealth during the past fortnight have secured from some honorable members of this House assistance which has never before been forthcoming at their hands. I regret that an honorable member opposite was prepared last night to descend to dirty tactics in regard to my position in this matter. According to press reports, he stated that, although there were more public servants in my electorate than in any other part of New South Wales, I had not been in the House during the week.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Who made that statement?

Mr Lavelle:

– I did.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– No one takes any notice of you.

Mr Lavelle:

– Nor of the right honorable member. .

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER (Hon J M Chanter:
RIVERINA, NEW SOUTH WALES

– I must appeal to honorable members to cease interjecting. Interjections are very disorderly, and often lead to misunderstanding.

Mr MARR:

-I was here on Monday and Tuesday last, and the statement made by the honorable member for Calare (Mr. Lavelle), as reported in the press, is a deliberate and dirty falsehood. It could only have been made by a man who was prepared to abuse our soldiers during the war, and who did all he could to prevent reinforcements being sent to the aid of the men who were fighting for him and his like. It was, after all, only another illustration of the lack of principle displayed by men of the type of the honorable member. It is typical of the attitude which he adopted and maintained throughout the war.

Mr Lavelle:

-And you did your utmost to-

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

– Order ! I ask the honorable member for Calare not to interject.

Mr Lavelle:

– And I ask you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, to see that the honorable member speaks to the question before the Chair.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

– Order ! The Chair is conscious of its own duty.

Mr MARR:

– So much for statements made by honorable members opposite. During the whole of my life I have never attacked a man behind his back, and never will. I shall never say anything in this House concerning an honorable member that I am not prepared to say to him outside. I am quite prepared to give an account of my stewardship to the public servants in my electorate, and to accept responsibility for whatever action I have taken, or whatever statement I have made in regard to them and the basic wage. I had an opportunity yesterday of. ascertaining the attitude of public servants in New South Wales in regard to this matter. As a matter of fact, I went to Sydney early this week largely with the object of ascertaining what their attitude was.

I spent twenty years of my life in the Public Service, and I deny that any one has the interests of the Service more at heart than I have. At the present time, this question is being used by honorable members opposite for party purposes.

Mr Considine:

– I rise to a point of order. The honorable member for Parkes (Mr. Marr) has said that honorable members on this side are using this question for party purposes. I desire to say that my party, so far, has not spoken.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

– That is a frivolous point of order.

Mr Considine:

– I wish to point out that it is not at all frivolous.

Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER:

– Order ! I ask the honorable member to resume his seat. The honorable member for Parkes will proceed.

Mr MARR:

– I repeat that this question is being used by honorable members opposite for party purposes. Some time ago every honorable member in this House received from Mr. O’Connor, the president of the Agitation Committee in Sydney, a telegram inquiring as to their attitude in regard to the basic wage. As a matter of fact, before that telegram had been sent, I wired ‘to most of the secretaries of the Public Service Unions in New South Wales, and also to Mr. O’Connor, expressing my views on the subject. But never once has a telegram from an honorable member on this side of the House to the Public Service organizations been published in Sydney. I challenged the person concerned in Sydney yesterday. I pointed out that my telegram had not been published, whereas no less than five telegrams from Labour members had been published in the one day. Effect has not been given to any suggestion made by me. There is a deliberate attempt, not only by honorable members opposite, but by certain people outside, to use this question for party purposes. I object to the Public Service being so utilized.

Mr Mahony:

Mr. O’Connor is a prominent supporter of the National party.

Mr MARR:

– I believe that he is entirely in favour of securing the basic wage for public servants only by legitimate means. I do not think that he is trying to stir up strife; but there are others who are, and who gave a deplorable exhibition of larrikinism on the Sydney Railway Station last night.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– Who were they?

Mr MARR:

– Some of the men taking part in this agitation. They represent only a very small percentage of the Service ; but by acting in such a manner they are doing the Service and the agitation in favour of the basic wage no good. The

Prime Minister of Australia, no matter who he might be, should be treated betterthan Mr. Hughes was treated on the Sydney Railway Station last night.

I consulted Public Service officials in Sydney yesterday as to their attitude in this matter, and the general expression of opinion was that they would be satisfied for the present with the promise made by the Government that probably within the next fortnight they would make an interim payment which would date from the 1st November last. Ever since I have been in this House I have urged that the Commonwealth Service is’ the worst paid Public Service in the whole of Australia. I repeat that statement today. After the reclassification scheme carried out by Mr. McLachlan, our public servants for a time were on a higher plane, but to-day they are the worst paid public servants in Australia. Their salaries have not advanced with the increase in the cost of living.

In order to keep pace with the increase in the cost of living, the Government should have done what was done at the inception of the Commonwealth with regard to Federal public servants in Western Australia. It was found, on investigation, that the cost of living in Western Australia at that time was 5 per cent, higher than in other States, and under a Public Service Regulation Commonwealth public servants there were granted an allowance of 5 per cent, on top of their salaries to compensate them. To-day the cost of living in Western Australia is lower than in several of the States, and I do not see why, for the time being, a regulation could not have been passed fixing allowances to bring up the wages of public servants to the level of the basic wage of £4 5s. per week fixed in New South Wales. Mr. O’Connor, who spoke to me on the railway station yesterday, told me that he was satisfied with the statement of the Prime Minister. There was no justification for sending the telegrams which honorable members received. Members of the deputation came to the train, and endeavoured to drag the Prime Minister out of his carriage. I was asked whether I would remain here to keep a House, and I said that I was a supporter of the Government, and would do anything I could to assist the public servants in getting a fair wage. I am prepared to stay on now. What occurred at the Sydney station last night was a deplorable exhibition of larrikinism; I can call it nothing else. The main body of public servants remained outside, but fifty or sixty went on to the platform and gave one of the worst exhibitions of larrikinism I have seen. I told some of these men that they were not doing the Service any good, and advised them to go away and hold their meeting without harassing the Prime Minister; that there was nothing to be gained by that. This matter has been used for political party purposes, and the agitation is being engineered largely by the disloyal element in the Service. The best men in the Service are fighting their ‘ case fairly, without descending to the tactics that I have complained of. Those who were on the platform last night care only about stirring up disorder and discontent. They have no time for the Prime Minister or any honorable member on this side. There were probably sixty men and six girls on the platform, and only three of the men were wearing the returned soldier’s badge, the remaining fifty-seven not having obeyed the call to serve. If I had my way, the Public Service would be cleaned up, and those who did not volunteer for active service, if they were eligible, would lose their jobs. I do not intend to sink the principles on which I was elected. I stood as a returned soldier, to see that the returned soldiers got justice, and I would not stay here to do the underground work of persons who did not obey the call. I intend to hold by the principles for which I fought. Last week, When speaking to the motion of the honorable member for West Sydney (Mr. Ryan), I said that no doubt honorable members opposite had the interests of the Public Service as much at heart as honorable members on this side. But I believe that the country cannot afford to pay a basic wage of £5 17s. I am prepared, however, to hear the matter discussed, and to go to the fullest amount that we can afford. Had the Commission reported six months earlier, its recommendations could have been fully discussed. I hold that the public servant should be paid a fair wage. But I know, from my connexion with the Service, that there are men in it, though only a very small percentage, who Have no right to be there. It is, however, very hard to get rid of an incom- petent man. In some of the Departments I would give the head absolute control of his staff in respect to dealing with inefficient men. As it is, so long as a man keeps within the four corners of the Act, he can carry on, although he may be inefficient. When the Public Service Bill is again under discussion, I shall be able to show how several thousands of pounds could be saved annually by the adoption of a little business method in two branches of the Postal Department. No doubt, honorable members generally wish the public servants to be fairly recompensed, and I think that the Service is satisfied that the Government intend to do a fair thing by them. I regret that the report was not presented earlier; but I am prepared to stand behind the Government in the promise that within fourteen days a determination will be arrived at respecting an interim payment, which will date from the 1st November. I hope that the House will support that.

Mr.CONSIDINE (Barrier) [4.9].-

The honorable member for Parkes (Mr. Marr) dealt with the public servants from the stand-point of an officer of the Australian Imperial Force. He seems to have unbounded faith in the heads of Departments, and to regard the rank and file as full of disloyalty.

Mr Marr:

– I did not say that.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– You said that there were a great number of disloyalists.

Mr Marr:

– I said that, thank goodness, there was only a small percentage of disloyalists.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– On the Sydney railway station last night the honorable member, like a practical politician, counted heads, and finding that there were only fifty-seven persons present, he decided that they were not worth considering.

Mr Marr:

– I said that there were about sixty men on the platform, only three of whom wore the returned soldier’s badge.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– Like the Prime Minister, the honorable member sees treason and sedition in every agitation. He regards discontent as seditious. Apparently, any one who is not satisfied with the status quo, and tries to improve his condition, is regarded by him as disloyal or disaffected.

Passing from his remarks, his contribution to the debate being chiefly a vindication of his own prowess in the past, I come to the speech of the honorable member for Franklin (Mr. McWilliams), who sought to draw a line of demarcation between the primary producers and the rest of the workers. I contend that in this as in every other civilized country there is no distinction between the two classes. The country is as much dependent on the city as is the city on the country.

Mr Stewart:

– That is not so.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– The honorable member did not hold that view when he was engaged in a sea-faring occupation. He was then as useful a member of the community as he is now. One member praises the primary producers, another boosts the manufacturing interests, and a third the Flinders-lane interests.

Mr Stewart:

– Did you not say once that you got your majority from the farmers?

Mr CONSIDINE:

– The intelligent section of the farmers agreed with my views. The Government appointed a Commission of experts to make an exhaustive inquiry into living conditions, and to say what they regarded as a fair living or basic wage for an average family. The Commission has now presented its report. A minority report, signed by representatives of the employers, contains this significant paragraph -

Beyond expressing an opinion that we do not consider that some of the higher-priced articles mentioned in the indicator lists are indispensable to a reasonable standard of comfort, and recording our view that we are not in . agreement with minor matters, after taking into consideration the nature of the evidence, we do hot substantially dissent from the general report.

That is signed by Ernest E. Keep and W. D. Gilfillan, commissioners, representing the employing interest. Thus the representatives of the employers, those of the employees, and the Chairman, were in practical agreement that the lowest wage on which a family could be decently maintained was that recommended.

page 7125

DISTINGUISHED VISITOR

Mr SPEAKER (Hon Sir Elliot Johnson:

I have been informed by the representative of the Government that His

Excellency the Governor-Designate of Queensland is on a visit to Melbourne, and is at the present moment within the House. I take it that it will bein accordance with the desire of honorable members if I invite His Excellency to occupy a chair on the floor of the House.

Honorable Members. - Hear, hear !

His Excellency was then presented to Mr. Speaker, and given a seat in the chamber.

page 7126

BASIC WAGE COMMISSION’S REPORT

Debate resumed.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– What deductions are the working classes going to draw from the action of the Government who appointed this Commission, and who, when the Commission reports after exhaustive investigation-

Mr Prowse:

– In similar circumstances, what would you do if you could not pay the wage mentioned ?

Mr CONSIDINE:

– I give the honorable member the same reply that the Government usually gives to us - wait and see. This discussion will have a great effect on the working classes of the country. The rejection by the Government of the Basic Wage Commission’s report is good. It will open the eyes of the working men and women to the farces that are perpetrated in the name of constitutional government, and under the plea of Democracy. It will show them how much the ballot is worth.

Mr Hector Lamond:

– There truly are some curious farces perpetrated under the plea of Democracy !

Mr.CONSIDINE.- And the honorable member is not doing a “ star turn “ at present. The Government tell us, and their supporters by inference give us to understand, that it is proposed to reject the recommendations of the Commission, and to adopt the New South Wales rate of £4 5s. a week as fixed by the Board of Trade. The Government reject, not a majority report, but, according to the employers’ representatives, a unanimous report, so far as the main essentials are concerned, and treat it as so much waste paper.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– A report as to what? They do not recommend that the public servants shall be paid £5 16s. 6d. a week.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– Then what did the Prime Minister mean by telling us so the other day?

Sir Robert Best:

– He never said that that is the finding of the Commission.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– According to his own statement, the Prime Minister was so astounded on receiving the report that he referred it to the Chairman of the Commission in order to see how it could be carried into effect. The Prime Minister read the memorandum of the Chairman, intimating the course of procedure which could be adopted by the Prime Minister, if he saw fit, and, of course, by Parliament. “The Government now propose to adjourn the House, having taken care to obtain Supply which will carry them approximately to the first fortnight in July. Honorable members will be dispersed all over the country, and the Government will be given a free hand to do as they please with regard to this report. For six months, or thereabouts, we shall have absolutely no chance of even criticising the Government, and if we criticise them outside we shall probably run foul of the War Precautions Act as “ repealed.”

Mr McWilliams:

– Better say what you have to say in this House!’

Mr CONSIDINE:

– I shall also say outside what I have to say..

Mr Prowse:

– Is the honorable member going home this afternoon?

Mr CONSIDINE:

– The honorable member is so anxious to get his Bill th rough-

Mr Prowse:

– I am.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– The honorable member, who is so much concerned about the ruin which will follow this country if the report be adopted, and so anxious that we should return to the parliamentary allowance of £600 a year, now desires to know what about getting home. I thought he was anxious to get his Bill through.

Mr Prowse:

– If you went home I could get it through.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– If the honorable member was as much concerned about the betterment of the homes of the working men and women by means of a proper basic wage, he would get a great deal more support for his own measure.

Mr Prowse:

– That measure would help them.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– If the working men and women have to depend upon that kind of help I do not think they will be very much advanced. However, my view is that the Government cannot put this report into operation because the employing interests of the country will not permit them to do so, and, therefore, the Prime Minister who has landed his party in this predicament has to find some other way out. As usual, no matter what the opinion of experts or the evidence may be, the Prime Minister intends to brush them aside and do what he thinks proper.

Mr Corser:

– The Commission did not recommend anything, but only said what ought to be paid.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– I am sure we all appreciate the unconscious humour of the honorable member. The Prime Minister cannot allow the matter to rest where it is now. If he wishes to remain Prime Minister, he and his supporters must do as their masters, the employing interests of the country, tell them. The only advantage of this discussion is that it will show the people outside what they have to expect from the deliberations of the House, and from Commissions appointed by the Government which is nominally in control of Australia at the present time. The workers, and also the primary producers, have to learn by experience that their interests are in common.

Mr Prowse:

– That is quite right.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– Honorable members opposite tell us that the price of their wheat and their wool is not determined in this country. That is what I have been pointing out ever since I came here ; only last evening I. said that the conditions of the world generally - the commercial and international conditions - determine conditions in this country. The honorable member for Swan (Mr. Prowse), and his associates of the Country party seem to take the view that when prices drop in Europe the person who has to bear the brunt is the unfortunate employee.

Mr Stewart:

– That is not a fair statement.

Mr CONSIDINE:

– It is quite a fair statement. Instead of the so-called representatives of the primary producers joining hands with the representatives of Labour, and endeavouring to take such action as would organize production, distribution, and exchange in the Interests of the whole community, they endeavour to shift the burden from their own shoulders to those of the fellow underneath.

Mr Prowse:

– You belong to the country section of Labour?

Mr CONSIDINE:

– No, I belong to the international section, which I fancy is rather too broad a conception for the honorable member. I remind him, if he does not already know, that the combination for which I am agitating has been adopted by his fellow primary producers in Canada. In Manitoba and several of the wheat-producing districts of Canada, industrialists have joined hands with the primary producers to form a joint Farmers’ Labour party, and with very good results. In Europe there is a similar combination against their common exploiters. The Government appointed, the Basic Wage Commission at great public expense, and when this unexpected bombshell of a report was dropped into the camp, they simply ignored it, the workers being left to console themselves with reading it, together with the prophecies of ruin, which, according to honorable members opposite, would follow itsadoption. It is a curious fact that in every instance where it is proposed to increase wages or reduce hours to any noticeable extent, or to do anything to materially benefit the working classes, the employers’ representatives immediately declare that the country is about to be ruined. That was the prophecy when a. ten-hour day was sought instead of a fourteen -hour day in Great Britain, and the same argument is U6ed in America at the present time in reference to the exploitation of child labour. Every step attempted to be taken to improve the lot of the bottom dog always produces a crop of Jeremiahs among the capitalistic class, who tell the people that the country will be ruined, and that the improved conditions desired cannot possibly be granted. The. only value to be derived from- this discussion, and from the report of the Commission itself, is the educational effect it will have on the workingclasses outside Parliament. It lies with the great working classes of this country,, including the great mass of public servants, if they wish to get these improved conditions, to use their intelligence, their power of organization, and their solidarity, with the. object of bringing pressure to bear on the Government to force them to carry out not only the recommendations of the Royal Commission, but also such alterations in the existing social order as will make it impossible again for any Government to suggest the repudiation of its own Commission’s recommendations.

Mr BELL:
Darwin

. -It has to be admitted that honorable members of the Opposition, who are only seeking good material with which to criticise their opponents, have’ scored in this debate. There is certainly fine material for criticism in the fact that the Government, after appointing a Commission to inquire into a certain position - -

Mr Tudor:

– And after deliberately promising to bring its recommendations into operation.

Mr BELL:

– I repeat that it is fine material for criticism when we find that a Government which has appointed a Com- mission to make a certain inquiry chooses to ignore the report of that Commission when it learns the nature of its findings. But, although the Government does consider it absolutely impossible to put this report into effect, there are honorable members who would make an attempt to achieve the impossible, namely, to pay a basic wage of £5 16s. per week to the least efficient workman in the community - that is what the payment of a basic wage means - Avhile paying a proportionately higher wage for skill and more arduous work. I am prepared to question the contention of the honorable member for WestSydney (Mr. Ryan) that this Parliament has the power to put into effect this basic wage in all the industries of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Government can certainly fix upon a basic wage for its own employees, even at the amount which the Commission has recommended as necessary to enable a workman to pay for what are considered reasonable comforts; but it certainly would not be right for the Government to fix for its own employees a wage that could not be earned by those doing similar work outside the Service. We must pay our public servants a wage that will enable them to live in reasonable comfort, and a wage equivalent to what they could earn outside the Service. Otherwise we shall lose the best of them, and the Service will become very much less efficient than it is to-day. Many honorable members contend that it is necessary to give it a complete overhaul. But if we are to pay our public servants a wage of £516s. per week for the lightest and easiest class of work, what are we to pay the men working in the mines, forests, and fields, who do hard and rough work? Surely they are entitled to a higher wage than is paid to those who have light employment in our Public Service, and who enjoy all the nice comforts demanded by city dwellers? Of course, if persons prefer to live in the city they can have all these comforts; ‘but if we choose to ill-pay our servants, some of them will have the courage to face the hardships of life, and, being anxious to enjoy what every man desires, a comfortable home, will leave the Service, leaving behind them the worst to do our work, when we ought to have the best. However, if we pay £5 16s. per week to those employed in the Public Service and those engaged in city industries, whose cause the honorable member for Yarra (Mr. Tudor) particularly supports, the men who work in our forests, mines, and fields will be compelled to work for less remuneration, because this wage has to be earned before it can be paid. If a man in the city is paid a wage over and above what he actually earns, it has to be made up from somewhere, and certainly the loser will be the man who works in the fields to provide food at the cheap rate demanded by the city dweller. The honorable member for Yarra and others have said that an industry that will not pay what they consider to be a fair wage should not continue to exist. There never was a greater absurdity uttered in this House. Are we going to close down one-third of our mines in Australia because they will not return £5 16s. per week to all the men employed in connexion with them ? Would it not be equivalent to a man cutting his throat because he could not have all the comforts he desired? Would it not be an absurdity for any one to contend that, because rural industries cannot provide all employed in them with a wage of £5 16s. per week, we should therefore cease altogether the production of potatoes, cabbages, fruit, wheat, and other commodities absolutely necessary for the life of the people? There are men employed in the occupations I have referred to who do not earn £5 16s. per week, and who cannot expect to do so in view of the prices ruling for their productions. If all the men employed to-day in producing butter were to receive a wage of £5 16s. for a week of forty-four or fortyeight hours, instead of butter being 2s. lOd. per lb., as it is to-day, it would have to be 6s. per lb.» “Will the honorable member for Yarra and other honorable members opposite say that because the dairying industry does not return to all employed in it £5 16s. for a week offortyfour hours they should cease to milk cows and produce butter ?

Honorable members must realize that a wage has to *be earned before it can be paid. It is perfectly certain that many industries carried on in Australia to-day cannot pay the basic wage which the Commission has said is necessary to secure for the people engaged in them reasonable comfort in life. Royal Commissions have their own way of arriving at conclusions. This Basic Wage Commission took evidence from partisan witnesses on both sides. The witnesses for one side said that they required much higher wages than they were getting, and they gave evidence as to the prices they paid for food, clothing, .and rent. I do not suppose that any one will deny that some of the evidence given before the Commission with regard to the cost of commodities and the cost of living was very greatly exaggerated. Witnesses for the other side put the cost of commodities at a much lower rate, and differed from the other witnesses as to the food and clothing required to give a reasonable standard of comfort.

Mr Considine:

– Did not the purveyors of the commodities give evidence?

Mr BELL:

– They did. The Royal’ Commission struck a balance between the two testimonies in trying to arrive at a wage necessary to provide for reasonable comfort. I believe that three members of this House, by a little reckoning, could, in the course of a day, decide the real cost of living to-day and the wage necessary to enable men to live in reasonable comfort, and be very much nearer the mark than the amount fixed by a Royal Commission that has cost thousands of pounds, and occupied -many months in its inquiry. I say, without any hesitation, that the proposal put forward by Mr. Piddington in his memorandum for differentiating between married and single could not be given effect, and will not bear examination. It is quite unworkable. I do not think there is a political party in this Parliament that would attempt to put it into effect.

Mr Mathews:

– If the honorable member does not hurry, I shall move that the question be now put.

Mr BELL:

– That would not be a bad idea, but I remind the honorable member that honorable members opposite were loud in their protests that they were not being given an opportunity to discuss this matter. I am not taking up much of the time of the House, but I have no intention -to permit the question to go to a vote without giving some reasons why I could not vote for the amendment moved by the honorable member for Yarra. I am of opinion that this House should not be turned into a wage-fixing tribunal. We have already too many such tribunals in Australia. Every State has its own. We have a Commonwealth Arbitration Court, and only the other day we passed a Bill to establish a new system1 by which to arrive at the Tight wage ‘to pay members of the Public Service. In spite of all these tribunals and Acts of Parliament, it is now proposed that we should fix the basic wage ourselves. If that is not a good example of extravagance, I should like to hear- of a better.

Mr Mathews:

– It is only the base that it is proposed to fix. The right wage must be built upon that.

Mr BELL:

– If we decide the base it must have a material effect upon the structure to be built upon it by the various tribunals. The members of the Commonwealth Public Service are the only persons with whom we can deal in fixing a basic wage.

Mr Ryan:

– Why does the honorable member say that they are the only persons we can deal with?

Mr BELL:

– I have already presumed to differ from the honorable member for

West Sydney (Mr. Ryan) on that point. In my view, we have no power to fix wages to be paid in industries outside the Public Service.

Mr Ryan:

– The honorable member admits we have powers over all engaged in Inter-State trade.

Mr BELL:

– They represent only a section of the community. I contend that this Parliament has not the power to fix the basic wage to be paid in all industries, and if it has, then, “ in my opinion, it should not’ have such power. In the interests of the efficiency of the Public Service, as well as in the interests of justice to those employed in it, they should be paid a fair wage, and one equivalent to what they could earn outside the Service. Further than that I am not prepared to go. As the Government have decided to fix the basic wage for the Public Service I hope that it will be a fair wage after considering what might be earned by the same people in industries outside the’ Service. Taking the public servants as a whole, they are not, in my opinion, so badly treated as some would indicate in the wires they have sent to me and to other honorable members. If they had to leave the Service and go to work in the back blocks, where there are none of those comforts and attractions such as were described in the course of evidence before the Commission, they would soon learn that they have not been quite so: badly treated as some allege. Nevertheless, if the Government decide that the Public Service is underpaid, the wrong must be put rightwithout delay. There is just this, further, that if the Government come to the conclusion that for some time the Public Service ha6 been underpaid, they should certainly have remedied that wrong without waiting for the report of the Basic Wage Commission, the recommendations of which the Prime Minister now tells us cannot possibly be adopted.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– It is gratifying, although the result was disappointing, to remember that a definite vote was taken to-day upon the actual subject-matter of this discussion before the Treasurer’s side-stepping and camouflaging amendment was moved. The supporters of the Government, having been caught napping, advantage has been taken of the opportunity to show to the public servants, and to the people generally, exactly where honorable members stand. To vote in support of the amendment moved by the Treasurer will now be tantamount to indorsing the action of the Government in deliberately breaking the pledge made on the occasion of the last election campaign to public servants.

Mr Tudor:

– And every working man throughout the country.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– Also to every working woman ; for I, as a member of this party, stand for the principle of equal pay for equal work. Here are the terms of the definite pronouncement, of the Prime Minister at Bendigo -

The Government is, therefore, appointing ft Royal Commission to inquire into the cost of living in relation to the minimum or basicwage. The Commission will be fully clothed with power to ascertain what is a fair basicwage and how much the purchasing power of the sovereign has been depreciated during the war, and also how the basic wage may bead justed to the present purchasing power of the sovereign, and the best means, when once so adjusted, of automatically adjusting itself to the rise and fall of the sovereign. TheGovernment will, at the earliest date possible, create effective machinery to give effect tothese principles.

Mr Maxwell:

– That is what they are doing.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– How. carr the honorable member say that ? In what way does the Commission make known its principles ? The Commissioners say that such-and-such a rate shall be the basic wage for one State, and that suchandsuch shall be the basic wage for another State. Those are the . principles of their findings; and the Prime Minister said in his election pledge that at the earliest possible moment the Government would set about giving effect to those principles. The principles were contained in the report of the Commission. The amendment of the Treasurer, if carried, will mean a violation of a definite promise.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– The honorable member will be glad of that. He is always, glad when we violate our principles, because it affords him an opportunity to use the circumstance against us.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– It is regrettable, all the same. I am sorry that the Government should violate their principles, because of the effect upon the Public Service, and the working people of Australia generally. I am glad that they should violate their principles if the violation will have the effect of helping to get rid of the Government. Who is responsible for the findings of the Commission? Why was the basic wage established at such high rates ? Can the Government relieve themselves of responsibility ? The recommendations of the Commission were placed at such a high standard because profiteering has been allowed so to flourish that the purchasing power of the sovereign has been tremendously decreased. If the Prime Minister had not made known to the country that it was not the intention of the Government to carry out the recommendations of the Commission, he would not have journeyed to Sydney in quite such good heart to receive that gift of £25,000. Indeed, he might not have got the money at all unless he had first given the assurance that he did not intend to give effect to the finding of the Commission; or, if he did receive it, it would not have been handed over with such good will as seems to have been at the back of the presentation.

It was pitiful to listen to the honorable member for Parkes (Mr. Marr), whose name has been connected with telegrams received on every side. The honorable member said yesterday that he. would make one to sit here and secure a definite vote upon the subject of the basic wage. To-day, he says, “ I do not think we can pay what is recommended by the Commission, but I am quite prepared to sit here and find out what is a fair thing.” Very well ! That is in keeping with the terms of his message to the public servants in Sydney. But what happened here to-day? What was the attitude of the honorable member? He did not rise, and say, “ We should be prepared to sit here this week, and even next week until we decide what is a fair basic wage.” He did not think it worth while. He waited until a vote was taken, and without uttering a word of protest supported the Government who have violated the pledge they made before the elections. He did not even speak, but when the mischief was done, and the . vote recorded, he rose with an intention of expressing certain views that could have no effect.

Mr Maxwell:

– Honorable members on that side of the chamber appear to take a burning interest in this important question.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– We always have done so.

Mr Maxwell:

– Where are they now?

Mr Tudor:

– Down in the Courts, where the honorable member spends most of his time.

Mr Maxwell:

– Am I there when the House is sitting? Does the Leader of the Opposition think that is a fair statement to make?

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– Honorable members on both sides of the chamber realize that the mischief has been done now a vote has been taken. The Government, with the assistance of the Corner party and their docile majority, have said that they are not going to adopt the rates decided upon by the Commission.

Mr Ryan:

– The crucial vote has been taken.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– Yes, and honorable members from this side did not leave until a vote was taken.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– Then, why are you bothering?

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– I am uttering my protest against this sidetracking amendment of the Treasurer.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– How can it be a side-tracking amendment if the crucial vote has been taken?

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– I am not going to allow the matter to be smothered up, because the question is of great importance, and affects thousands of men and women in the Commonwealth, and if the Treasurer’s amendment is defeated, it will be an instruction to the Government to keep its pledge. It is a matter that should be, and must be, exposed. Of course, it is not unusual for this Government to break their pledges. They had no hesitation in doing so in connexion with their guarantee of 5s. per bushel for wheat at railway sidings. But because they have broken their pledges on previous occasions, that is no reason why they should continue violating the pledges given to the electors. It is the duty of honorable members to publicly expose the Government, and to show clearly that they are not keeping faith with the electors. I have in my possession quite a number of letters which clearly illustrate the unfortunate position in which many of our public servants are placed, but it will be sufficient to briefly quoteone or two. I shall take a case, which is typical of many, of a postal employee who was sent to an irrigation area just beyond my electorate at a wage of £90 per annum, or 35s. per week. This unfortunate employee, although receiving such a small remuneration, was compelled to pay £2 10s. per week for board. Of course, he was not able to do it, and after endeavouring to do so for a while, and finding that he was running into debt, he obtained work with the Irrigation Trust, which paid him £4 lis. 6d. per. week. Is this not a striking contrast? In 1914 Mr. Justice Heydon fixed the basic wage for NewSouth Wales at £2 Ss. per week. I have before me particulars of a married clerical officer in grade 2, class 4 of the Commonwealth Public Service who was at that time receiving £245 per annum, Or £120 per annum above the basic wage which represented an additional payment for skill and responsibility. To-day that officer in the same class is being paid £245 per annum, plus a war bonus of £32, which makes his salary £277 per annum, which means that the amount that he can claim for skill and responsibility apart from his bonus is £21 as against £120 previously. On the basis Of the Royal Commission’s finding, which provides £5 17s. per week, he would not receive even £30 as an additional remuneration for skill and responsibilitybut there would be a deficit of £26, as that margin has been entirely dispensed with. There are a number of other cases which I could mention. In New South Wales, for instance, the railway servants are paid in accordance with a basic wage of £4 5s. per week, and to institute a striking comparison I may mention the wages of the railway telegraphic staff in New South Wales and the postal telegraphic staff. One officer with twenty-five years’ experience in a country post-office receives £280 per annum,. whilst an officer on the railway telegraphic staff in a town a few miles away with ten years’ service receives £31 S per year. .There is also the case of an officer with thirty-six years’ experience, who is at present in the Commonwealth telegraphic service and who receives £212 per annum, and one in the railway tele- graphic service with six years’ service who is in receipt of £255 per annum. There are also two officers, one on the railway telegraphic ‘staff and another on the Commonwealth telegraphic staff. The Commonwealth employee with six years’ service receives £126 per annum, and the State employee on the railway telegraphic staff, also with six years’ experience, receives £255 per annum. I do not suggest that the amount paid to the employee on the Railway telegraphic staff is too much. According to the findings of this Commission, he is not getting enough; but it will be seen that whereas a Commonwealth officer in the Post and Telegraph Service receives only £126 a year, an officer doing similar work in the State railway service is receiving £255 per annum, or £4 18s. as against £2 Ss. per week. While officers in the telegraph branch of the railway service have been receiving a basic wage for a number of years, not a supporter of the Government, before the presentation of this report, was prepared to utter a word in favour of the levelling up of Commonwealth servants. Not a word was uttered by them in favour of bringing such officers into line with those working on the basic wage operating in the State.

The gentleman who wrote to me in regard to’ this matter, at the close of his fetter, makes the pertinent inquiry -

I would like to know how Mr. Hughes, if he wore back in his old trade of umbrella-making, would like to find himself on one side of the street making umbrellas at £2 lis. per week, and another nian engaged in the same operation on the other side of the road working for £4 5s. per week.

That is a very pertinent inquiry, which might well be addressed to the Prime Minister if we could find him. Ever si nee this discussion started this “ afternoon, he has not seen fit to come into the House to explain why he stands for the breaking of a solemn pledge, for which he, above all other members of the Government, is most responsible. He certainly did come in for a few moments to refer to a telegram, the truth of the statements in which he denied. That telegram was sent to honorable members by the chairman of the movement (Mr. O’Connor) to secure the basic wage for Commonwealth employees.

Mr Lavelle:

– The Prime Minister attacked him, and later on one of his supporters (Mr. Marr) eulogized him.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– Yes, one of the Prime Minister’s most docile supporters subsequently eulogized the chairman of the movement. We know what object the Prime Minister had in view in referring to the name of the render of that telegram. He knows that if lie can only succeed in dividing our public servants amongst themselves, -the whole issue will be side-tracked. And so he resorts to his old tactics. I do not believe, however, that his attitude is indorsed, or that it will be countenanced, by the great bulk of those who sit behind him. It is inconceivable that they could indorse it. When the right honorable gentleman wants to extricate himself from an awkward position, he invariably raises as a side issue something that will appeal to the passions and prejudices of the people. That is what he did this afternoon. It was a most discreditable action. He referred by name to a gentleman who, I presume, was voted to the position of president of the Agitation Committee by the great body of public servants in New South Wales.

Mr Lavelle:

– And who is also a wellknown Nationalist.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– I do not know that. In order to camouflage the attitude of the Government, he refers specially to this man’s name, and says that the demand for the basic wage is being made, not by the Public Service generally, but only by a section of it, and that this agitation is -being engineered by some hidden force. In this way the Prime Minister endeavours to cover up the shame of his having violated a solemn pledge. He is not likely, however, to bamboozle the Public Service or the great mass of the people. The Public Service of the Commonwealth are alive to their own interests, and will not allow themselves to be influenced by any such con- sideration as that suggested by the right honorable gentleman in such attempts. I think he largely stands alone.

There is only one other aspect of this question to which I desire to refer. From time to time discussions have taken place in this House, as well as on public platforms, as to the efficacy of Labour Governments in certain States. I have beard the Treasurer (Sir Joseph Cook) say, on many occasions, as was said during the recent Queensland and other State elections, that the cost of living in Queensland, where ;a Labour Government has been in power for some years, is not less than that in any other State. We. now have the definite finding of an independent Commission that a basic wage of £5 6s. per week is sufficient in. Queensland, as compared with a basic wage running up to £5 17s. per week in States whore anti-Labour Governments have been in office for years. No one can deny these figures. They show that, as the result of a Labour Government having been in power for years in Queensland, the cost of living there is from 16 per cent, to 20 per cent, less than in any other State of the Commonwealth.

Mr Prowse:

– That is because of the distribution of population. There is no reference in the report to any Labour Government.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– The honorable member will, of course, put his own construction upon the figures.

Mr Prowse:

– The position is nearly the same in Western Australia., where there is a similar distribution of population.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– The honorable member cannot get away from the fact that the report of this independent Commission shows that the cost of living in Queensland is less than in other parts of the Commonwealth. ‘If every State had been controlled by a Labour Government, as Queensland has been for some years past, the Commonwealth today would not be in the hopeless position . of being financially unable, according tothe Government, to give effect to the findings of the Commission. These figuresof an independent authority prove that as a result of Labour legislation in Queensland, the people there have a cheaper loaf, and a cheaper breakfast table, and are able to enjoy a greater modicum of comfort than the people of any other State. That is a very pleasing feature of this report. It is sad to learn from it that the public servants of the Commonwealth have been ground down for a number of years, and have been living under conditions infinitely worse than those of their fellow servants in the employ of the States. The Commission has made the fullest inquiries, and has occu-pied over twelve months in collecting the data upon which it bases its findings a3 to what is a fair basic wage. There is, therefore, no reason for further delay.

Honorable members opposite, whose only desire is to fall into line behind the Government, now say that the finding of the Commission must go by the board, because they have not had the opportunity of considering it. ‘Surely the findings of the Commission can be depended upon. The members of the Commission have had over twelve months in which to ascertain the facts, and every person in the community who believes in a fair thing will regard as most discreditable the action of the Government in violating the solemn pledge which they made to the people at the last general election.

Mr BOWDEN:
Nepean

.- I am convinced that every honorable member of this House desires to do the right thing by the employees of the Commonwealth. The only question that concerns us is how are the Government going to give effect to the recommendation of the Commission ? I am afraid we have got into a tangle because of the different basic wage rates declared by different tribunals. I doubt very much whether these inquiries0 have produced any very satisfactory results, but it is one thing to criticise a report and another to suggest a remedy. I regretthat the scope of the Commission did not include an instruction to inquire how the basic rate of wage to be declared could be given effect to, and I agree with the honorable member for Yarra (Mr. Tudor) that the first requisite of any democratic country is that its employees shall be paid a sufficient living wage to insure all the reasonable comforts that people may expect to enjoy. We are now confronted with the deliberate statement that it is impossible to pay every employee £5 16s. or £5 17s. per week, according to the State- in which such employee lives, which the Commission has declared to be the basic rate of wage ‘for a man, his wife- and three children. The Chairman of the Commission (Mr. Piddington), whose opinion must be respected, has made a suggestion as to how the recommendation may be carried out, namely, by paying one rate of wage to the unmarried man and another rate to the married man with children.

Mr Considine:

– What will that lead to?

Mr Jowett:

– It might encourage marriage.

Mr Considine:

– And it might encourage the bosses to get rid of the married men.

Mr BOWDEN:

– That statement has been made several times, but so far as I understand Mr. Piddington’s suggestion, the employers would be called upon to pay the ‘same wage to all employees, whether married or single, but that in addition to such payment the employers shall pay into a special fund .a per capita amount for all their employees, married or single, from which a payment of 12s. per week shall be made for each child. This is rather a revolutionary scheme, but it is not altogether new. It is similar, I think, to the proposal made by the Holman Government not very long ago in New South Wales, but which, I believe, was found to be impracticable.

Mr Considine:

– It was turned down by the Nationalist party in the Upper House.

Mr BOWDEN:

– It may have been, but I know the suggestion was made, and I regret that it was not given effect to. It might not have been successful, but I think we shall have to experiment along those lines. According to Mr. Piddington, the payment of the basic wage to every employee in ‘the Commonwealth would represent an additional expense of £93,000,000 per year, and according to Mr. Knibbs, an additional expense of £101,000,000. It needs very little thought to realize that this would be an impossible burden for the industries of the Commonwealth. The honorable member for Franklin (Mr. Mcwilliams) has shown that it would be impossible for some of the most important industries to pay this rate of wage, and that, if it were adopted, they would have to close down altogether. In the interests of the workers themselves, it is only fair that the Go- ,vernment should have opportunity for further consideration of this report. It is generally acknowledged that the wages at present being paid in the Public Service are not sufficient, and the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) has promised to increase the amount up to the old basic rate of wage, plus the present purchasing power of the sovereign, that is, the wages shall have the same purchasing power as in 1907. This, it is admitted, is only a temporary expedient for the purpose of giving the Government time to look more carefully into the recommendations of the Commission, and the drastic suggestions made by the Chairman in his memorandum. The suggestion that the report will be pigeon-holed and forgotten is altogether unfair. The whole position is to be reviewed, and the Government will make a suggestion as to how best to give effect to the report of the Commission, so that every man and woman in the Commonwealth Public Service, at any rate, and, incidentally, all those employed in Australian industries, may get a fair living wage. I do not see anything unreasonable in this proposal. It appears to me to be the only way by which the difficulty may be overcome. For that reason I welcome the amendment proposed, and intend to give it my support.

Mr WEST:
East Sydney

.- As the representative of the city of Sydney, where a large proportion of the population of Australia is concentrated, I feel compelled to say a few words about the report of the Commission that was appointed by the Government to inquire into the basic wage question. It is to be regretted that certain honorable members are in a flippant mood, because, in my judgment, no more important document has ever been presented to the Commonwealth Parliament.

The Basic Wage Commission was appointed to give effect to an election promise of the Prime Minister, and no one knows better than he that it was intended that its recommendations should apply to the whole of the industrial life of Australia, and not to the Federal Public Service alone. My Leader (Mr. Tudor) pointed out that the fixing of a basic wage was first discussed in 1906, and in 1908, in what is known as the Harvester case, a basic wage was embodied in an award of the Arbitration Court. From that time unto the present that award has not been reviewed. No exception was taken to the composition of the Commission, because the men appointed as representatives of the employers and employees were closely identified with those sections of the’ community respectively; nor has it been said that the Commission’s recommendations are not based on the evidence which was put before it. Before any matter affecting conciliation, arbitration, industrial peace, and the like, can be dealt with, there must be an agreement as to .the basic wage of the industry concerned.

This National Parliament is the only body that can settle the matter for the whole of Australia. Yet honorable members opposite have employed all their ingenuity to prevent a direct vote being taken, and to avoid facing the issue. It will not be disputed that the party in power is under the influence of the employing section of the community, and, when the Commission ‘6 report reached the Prime Minister, his first thought was for the interests of that section, not for those of the public servants or of the general community. Therefore, he took steps to obtain a document - which was produced at a speed hitherto unknown - to cloud the recommendations of the Commissioners. I do not think that he should have done that. His course was to take the House into his confidence, so that one of Australia’s chief problems might be solved, and the cause of industrial peace advanced thereby. Undoubtedly the Crown, as an employer,- should, in its treatment of the public servants, set an example to other employers. But this Government has paid no proper regard to the Federal Public Service. Honorable members generally have complained that the public servants are not paid what they should receive for the work that they do for the community. Will any one say that the people of Australia wish their, servants to be underpaid? The State Governments have applied basic rates in the payment of their public services, and the Federal Commonwealth Service should have been similarly treated. As for the cry that the country cannot afford to pay the recommended basic wage, I say that there never was a reform which meant the shortening of hours, the. increasing of pay. or the improvement Qf any condition without the objection being raised that it could not be done, be? cause it would ruin the country. We never hear it said, however, when railway and tramway fares are raised, ‘ when farmers are getting 9s., 10s., and 15s. a bushel for their wheat, when the prices of meat, butter, and other foodstuffs are increasing by 100, and in some cases 200, per cent., and when there is a general rise in prices, that the country will be ruined, ‘and that the people cannot afford to pay what is asked of them. The members opposite display a spirit of callous indifference. They show an utter disregard of the interests of the workers. I well remember the occasion upon which the late Mr. E. W. Osullivan, Minister for Works in the Government of New South Wales, decided to increase the pay of railway navvies to 7s. per day. The proposal was denounced by the press as an impossible one, and the cry was immediately raised that the country could not afford to pay it. But, as a matter of fact, the country did pay it, and no serious results followed. This afternoon, the honorable member for Darwin (Mr. Bell) stressed the point that the fruit-growers of the Commonwealth would not be able to’ grow fruit if the industry were compelled to pay this basic “wage. But of what use is it for anybody to produce commodities if the people do not possess sufficient money to purchase them 1 It seems to me that honorable members have not realized the true significance of the report of the Basic Wage Commission, and how intimately the adoption «of the recommendations of that body will affect the daily lives of our people. I intend to send a few copies of that report to the Old Country, and ‘ also to America, accompanied by some comments, and I am confident that before very long the Labourparty in those countries will be following in our footsteps. What a splendid advertisement it would be for Australia, especially when it is seeking; to attract a large stream of immigrants to its shores, if we could point with pride to the fact that we were paying the basic wage which has been recommended by the Commission ! As honorable members are aware, a supplementary report upon this matter “has been issued by Mr. Piddington - a report- containing a mass of figures. The impression conveyed by this supplementary report is that the industries of Aus«tralia cannot afford to pay the basic wage recommended by the Commission. I have no hesitation in saying- that this country is well able .to pay a basic wage sufficient to enable all workers to maintain themselves and their families in a reasonable degree of comfort.

Sir JOSEPH COOK:
Treasurer · PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– The honorable member has not said a word about the report. He has been talking all round the world.

Mr WEST:

– I can recall the occasion some years- ago when an increased wage

I was being sought by the miners of New South Wales. We were then assured that the industry could not possibly pay it - a suggestion which was vigorously combated by the present Treasurer (Sir

Joseph Cook). He also affirmed that industries which could not afford to pay a living wage ought nob to continue to exist. That is not so Very long ago.

As a representative of Sydney, I know that I am expected to voice the opinions of my constituents. As I said before, I am sorry that the House has not displayed that spirit and frame of mind which are necessary to the proper consideration of this question. Whether the report of the Commission be a proper one or not, we should have set ourselves determinedly to solve the problem involved. However indifferent honorable members may be, or however much they may try to side-track the issue, it is an issue which must be settled sooner or later. What is the good of our Conciliation and Arbitration Act, or our Industrial Peace Act, unless there is some standard on which decisions may be based ? There is no doubt that once a standard is available, much of the work of the Court will be rendered unnecessary, and the congestion of business to that extent relieved. The question of wages crops u,p in almost every case which comes before our arbitration tribunals, and it is a great pity that one of the most important reports ever tabled should lack proper consideration because of mere political prejudice.

Mr FOWLER:
Perth

.- I have to admit at the outset that I have not given a great deal of study to the report which is the subject of discussion today; but to the extent to which I have dipped into it I’ feel that it provides no reliable store of information to enable me to solve the difficult problem that is before Parliament at the present time. This Commission has taken twelve months for its investigations, and has covered a great deal of ground. It-has produced a report abounding in much pseudo-scientific terminology ; but it seems to me to have missed altogether some of the simplest and most fundamental propositions that ought to be embodied in a report of the kind. The idea of determining a basic wage is altogether a pernicious one. There is no such ‘thing as a basic wage, in spite of the amount of talk devoted to the subject. When the suggestion was added that the Commission should consider and inquire into some methods by which wages may be identified with the rise and fall of the- value of the sovereign, I say without hesitation that it was given an absolutely impossible task. I am surprised, indeed, at any practical man attempting to carry into effect the suggestions embodied in the instructions by the Prime Minister. The Commission deals very learnedly, to all appearances, in scientific terms of quite formidable character. It speaks of “tentative regimen,” “calories,” and “ coefficients,” until one would imagine that the members of the Commission are highly technical and skilled experts in these matters. That, in my opinion, to a large extent is misleading the country. I do not think that any of those gentlemen are anything more than amateurs in regard to investigations along these lines, andI feel sure that in some regards they are fundamentally at fault. It is suggested that a basis can be found for the cost of living in the amount of calories - to use the so-called scientific term - required to enable a man to carry on an average day’s work. Here is where the mistake is made by the Commission, and it is a mistake habitually made by all theorists in dealing with matters that refer to human beings. The elusive human element is left out of sight or forgotten altogether. When any one talks to me about so many “calories” being required to produce a certain amount of health and vigour, I say, as one who has had considerable association- with working conditions of various kinds, that it is a notable fact that men who sometimes live on the most meagre dietshow more energy, and carry out more work, than others alongside them who eat three times the quantity.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– That is a good argument for starving men.

Mr FOWLER:

– It is a very sensible observation, which I commend to the honorable member for a little more study than he has given to the subject up to the present. I remind honorable members that a certain quantity of goods can be bought from the grocer, baker, or butcher, which, handed over to one housewife,’ will produce sufficient satisfying and healthy food for a big family for a whole week, while the same materials, handed to another woman, will starve a family in a couple of days. These are facts which have to be taken ‘ into consideration. When I am told that it requires £5 16s. to keep a family of five - two adults and three children, I say that, while a man is entitled to that amount, if he earns it. there are numerous larger families maintained , and well maintained, in Australia to-day on considerably less. I do not for a moment say that there should be anything less than a living wage for everybody in this country I am merely indicating one of the reasons for discounting, to a large extent, the findings of the gentlemen who constituted this Commission. Then,again, if they had taken into consideration the simplest facts of political economy, they must have realized that, in establishing this basic one to-day, they were creating conditions that would require a recasting of the wage a. few days later; in other words, the addition to the extent suggested to the cost of production would undoubtedly increase the prices of production, so that the communiy would, to use a homely allegory, be exactly in the same position as a puppy dog chasing its own tail. Therefore, I say that the money and time devoted to this inquiry are verymuch misapplied, and I cannot acquit the Prime Minister himself of a considerable proportion of the responsibility. The suggestion he made was one which is somewhat ‘characteristic of him as a way of getting out of a difficulty, but it was an ill-judged suggestion. He had sufficient evidence before him, if he wished to treat the public servants fairly, to. have taken action without waiting for twelve months for this ponderous and unpractical report.

The Opposition have made considerable play on this issue. I suppose it is one of the misfortunes in regard to politics and parliamentary action, that when a subject does offer an opportunity for any party to make good upon, the opportunity will be seized. I am certain that if members of the Opposition had been sitting on the Government benches when this report was presented, they would have had to take up exactly the position that has been taken up by the present Government. It would have been forced upon them by circumstances. There is indeed no alternative offering to any Government in regard to the propositions included in the report.

I admit that the time is more than ripe for some attention to be given to the conditions affecting particularly the lower classes of the Public Service. These men and women have been grossly underpaid for many years past, and the manner in which the vast majority of them have continued to carry out their work under the unsatisfactory and discouraging circumstances concerning the payment they receive for their duties is highly creditable to them. When one remembers that in the last Estimates large sums were provided for additional payments to already well-paid public servants, one undoubtedly wants to know why the Government did not at the same time take an opportunity to redress the grievances of the lower-paid officers.

Mr Ryan:

– They said they were waiting for the report of the Basic Wage Commission.

Mr FOWLER:

– They may have been waiting for the report. That may be a fairly good excuse; but, in view of the fact that we all recognise that public servants have been underpaid for many years past, if the Basic Wage Commission could not send in its report in less time than twelve months from the date of the opening of the inquiry, then the Government should have taken action and let the Commission proceed as it liked.

The reform of the Public Service as a whole is urgent. There is very much dissatisfaction in the lower ranks on account of the low pay and poor prospects of promotion. What do we find in the higher ranks? It is no secret that there, are men in responsible positions in the Service drawing very substantial salaries who, if they werein private employment, would be receiving only £3 or £4 a week, and, perhaps, addressing envelopes. I know also that men have been introduced into the Public Service of the Commonwealth - this was some time ago, and I do not think many of them are in it at the present moment - who bought and paid for their jobs. In view of these circumstances, it is high time some action was taken to clear out the useless men, who will very often be found in the higher positions. In that way a saving would be created which could be applied more usefully to the better payment of the men in the lower ranks. I do not say that all the men in the higher positions are of that class. There are many able officers who should undoubtedly be paid much higher salaries than they are getting. I have only to refer, to the services rendered to the Commonwealth by such men as the permanent head of the Attorney-General’s Department, and the head of the architectural branch, of the Department of Works and Railways, to prove that men who are doing the work they are doing ought to be receiving double the salaries that we have paid them up to the present time. But one cannot conceal from himself, in going round the Departments, that there are large numbers of men in responsible positions who ought not to be there at all. It is high time the system of promotion by seniority was put aside, and some method under which the smarter men in the Service would get promotion substituted, thus doing them justice, and also getting the best results for our money.

There is undoubtedly some difficultyin assessing the wages of public servants, but I do not think it exists to any extent in the case of the lower ranks. If we only took the trouble to inquire as to the wages that are paid for similar classes of work outside the Service, we should have a fairly good guide. When the outside rates are compared with the wages paid to the lower classes of the Public Service of the Commonwealth today, we find at once that there is considerable leeway to make up. I trust, therefore, that the Government will immediately go into this, matter and decide, by’ means of some such basis as I have indicated, what are fair wages for the servants of the Commonwealth. If they have any doubt in that regard, I hope they will err rather on the side of generosity than in meanness, just by way of a change. The rank and file of the civil servants have been very loyal and very reliable in the work they have done, and ought at least to receive a remuneration equivalent to the wages that are being paid outside the Service under conditions of employment similar to their own.

Mr CUNNINGHAM:
Gwydir

– The vote recorded this afternoon has fairly indicated the attitude of the members of this House towards the findings of the Basic Wage Commission, which was appointed by the Government. The Commission was appointed to inquire into the cost of living, and to ascertain the basic wage required to support a man, his wife, and three children in a reasonable amount of comfort and decency in a civilized country such as Australia, which is acknowledged to be one of the wealthiest in the world. That Commission was not appointed hurriedly. We must assume that the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) and the members of his Cabinet gave due consideration to its personnel before appointing it; and one would imagine that, having done so, they sized up the probable consequences of appointing a Commission of that character and the possible results’ of its findings. Condemnation of the Government is, I suppose, looked for by Ministers from members on this side of the House. They are not slow to tell us that we eternally condemn them, and, we think, rightly so, while those who place us here are not slow to show us that they appreciate what we do in that regard, and that we voice their opinions. When, however, we find the press organs of the Government also attacking them over this question, and pointing out their hypocrisy, it is well for members who sit behind the Government to ask themselves in what position the Government, as represented by the Prime Minister, are placing them. I do not think the most biased person in Parliament would call the Sydney Daily Telegraph a Labour journal. Yet that newspaper, in its issue of Wednesday, 24th November, discussing the report of the Commonwealth Basic Wage Commission, prints an article with the significant heading, “ Typical Bit of Hughesism.” This journal refers to the appointment of the Commission, and in an examination of the reasons which actuated the Government gives the history of the Commission as follows : -

The question naturally is asked : If the Commonwealth authorities have no power to fi.* a basic wage applicable to the Commonwealth, why was this Royal Commission issued ? What was to be gained by this lengthy and expensive inquiry if its findings are to’ be made applicable only to the Federal Public Service, and perhaps a few industries? The answer .is found in the history of the Commission. It represents a typical bit of Hughesism. The first announcement about the Commission was made by Mr. Hughes, when, prior to the last election, he delivered his policy speech at Bendigo, on 30th October, 1919. On that occasion he said : - Means must be found which will insure that the minimum wage shall be adjusted automatically, or almost automatically, with the cost of living, so that, within the limits- of the minimum wage, at least the sovereign shall always purchase the same amount of the necessaries of life.

That briefly discloses the purpose for which the Commission was appointed, apart altogether from the vote-catching aspect of the matter. It was intended that the Commission should lay down a decent standard of comfort for those people in Australia who are obliged to work for wages.

Mr Ryan:

– All that the Prime Minister was thinking about was votes.

Mr CUNNINGHAM:

– Yes ; and when the chickens come home to roost in the shape of the report delivered by the Commissioners, he raises the cry that it is impossible to give -effect to it. In a lengthyrambling, theatrical speech in this chamber he claimed that it was impossible for Australia to pay the living wage as laid down by the Commissioners. He said, “ The wealth is not in the country.” If the wealth is not in the country, it is because the Prime Minister and his party sold the primary products of this country during the war at far less than they were worth, causing the loss of hundreds of millions of pounds to Australia. We have to pay war prices for what we use in our homes to-day, but we have not received for our products the war prices ruling on the other side of the world, to which we were entitled, and which, we should have received but for the way in which the Prime Minister bungled things.

Mr Prowse:

– We are not getting those prices now.

Mr CUNNINGHAM:

– The National party, which the honorable member supports, or, at any rate, which he votes to keep in power, is responsible for that. It is the honorable member’s own fault. At any rate, the fault does not lie at the door of honorable members on this side. We are not keeping the Government in power. We have it on the word of General Lassetter, of Sydney, a nian of high standing in the business world, that Australia has lost £140,000,000 on its wool sales alone. That is the reason why w.e have not the money in Australia witu which to pay a reasonable wage to the people. Now that the Government has repudiated the report of the Basic Wage Commission, the workers will begin to realize how much they have suffered as a result of the bungling of the National Administration. No one can say that the Government did not bungle these sales. The honorable member for Balaclava (Mr. Watt), the only member of the Ministry who has been to Great Britain and inquired into these matters, was not slow to say that some of the things done by the Prime Minister were like the peace of God, which “passeth all understanding.” Is it not true that the Prime Minister dominates his Cabinet and his party ? Of course, because he is the only one who can keep his meek and humble followers together. But when rogues fall out, honest people come into their own. Through the row in the Cabinet between the honorable member for Balaclava and the Prime Minister, and when these two gentlemen were at one another’s throats, we got an inkling of what has been done during the last four years, during which period there has been so much smothering up, secrecy, and undue laxity in respect’ of those transactions which have been carried out by the Prime Minister.

When the workers of this country and the nien in the Public Service endeavour to secure redress, they are met with talk such as we have had from the Prime Minister when he declares that the spokesman cf the public servants is allied to a world-wide conspiracy to overthrow the Empire. No greater insult could be tendered to the Public Service than to refer to this gentleman in this way, particularly as I understand that he is a prominent Nationalist. He went to no end of trouble to inform honorable members when they were interviewed by representatives of the Public Service in Sydney a few days ago that it was the hardest job possible for him to prevent the Public Service getting into a state of chaos owing to the seething discontent which had manifested itself. He particularly stressed the fact that the position was not being dominated by members of unions, but that it was an aggregation of the rank and file of the Service who were moving in the matter, and had appointed him as their spokesman. The Prime Minister, in order to suit his dirty sectarian ends - I can ascribe his words to nothing else - says tha* this gentleman whose name is O’Connor is in a world-wide conspiracy to overthrow the British Empire.’ This vilification of the honest endeavours of men to right the wrongs which are existing in this country only serves to bring about seething discontent. We had an example of the discontent prevailing at the meeting held in the Melbourne Exhibition Building last night, attended by 5,,000 members of the Commonwealth Public Service. We have no desire to see chaos in the Service. We want things to move along harmoniously and smoothly. Therefore, we view with regret the fact that one who should set an example to the people of the Commonwealth has seen fit to descend to such petty, childish tactics in order to serve his own political ends, and discredit the great body of men and women who, as the honorable member for Perth (Mr. Fowler) has declared, have been labouring under an undue hardship for a considerable time past. The nonpayment of a decent wage to members of the Public Service has been responsible for many of the best men in Australia leaving the Service and going into the open market in order to secure employment under better conditions. There could be no greater condemnation of the Government’s administration. We cannot expect to attract to the Public Service the best youths in the community when they learn that there is no future ahead of them if they join it. A friend of my own who occupied an important position in “ the Postal Department was, after ten years’ service, in receipt of £4 2s. 4d. per week. He reached the breaking point, and, as he was unable to support his family on the sweated wage paid him by the Government he had to resign, and the Service is the poorer for his loss. His case is only typical of hundreds of others that might be. and have been, referred to.

When it is suggested that honorable members or. this side have taken up a certain attitude with respect to the report of the Basic Wage Commission for party purposes, we might very well retort that the Commission was appointed for party purposes. If, when I voice the protests and opinions of the electors who sent me here, I am to be accused of doing so merely for party purposes, all I can say is that honorable members opposite must have a strange idea of the functions of Parliament. While the Government could find money to increase bv 60 or 70 per cent, the wages of the more highly-paid officers of the Service, they cannot find sufficient funds to pay the lower grades of the Service properly until they are forced to do so by such an agitation as has been carried on during the past month.

It has been stated that, by raising wages, we are only going in a vicious circle, since every rise in wages is followed by an increase in the cost of living. While the profiteer is allowed to unduly increase the price of commodities, it is no solution of theproblem to increase wages. The honorable member for Yarra (Mr. Tudor) has pointed out that the undue profits made by big businesses were made from prices that were proportionately greater in excess of the increase in wages. No effective machinery has been provided during the last four years by this Government to prevent profiteering, and the legislation passed by the present Government has been intended rather to protect the interests of the profiteer than those of the worker. Some members of this House carry on private businesses from which they derive considerable incomes apart from their parliamentary salary, and the struggle for existence does not greatly concern them. Some of them are so patriotic as to say that if the Federal Capital is transferred to Canberra they will resign from the National Parliament. We cannot expect such men to have much sympathy with the hardships of the under-dog and the sweated worker. Manyof the men to whom I refer belong to the class of profiteers who made huge profits out of the participation of Australia in the war.

It would be well if the scales were drawn from the eyes of the people in order that they might understand what Nationalism or “ Hughesism “ has done for the workers of this country. It has been responsible for increasing enormously the cost of living, and as I have already said, the bungling of the Prime Minister has been responsible for the fact that men who are not wage-earners, but producers of primary products, have not received a fair return for their labour because of the low prices obtained for their products overseas. We have been robbed, and the workers have been robbed, whilst the profiteers are the only persons who have gained any advantage through the present Government being in power. They have looked after the interests of the profiteers, and, either wilfully; or because they lacked ability, have failed to prevent the plundering of the wage-earners of the community.

As one who has worked in Queensland, I am in a position to say that wages have been higher and the cost of living cheaper in that State than in any other State of the Commonwealth. We know that there has been the grossest misrepresentation of the conditions in Queensland under a Labour Government. It is left to the report of the Basic Wage Commission to vindicate all that we have said about the better economic conditions in Queensland under Labour administration. During the war the worker in Queensland was 10s. a week better off than the worker in any other part of Australia so far as the purchasing power of the sovereign was concerned, and at the same time the wages he received were higher than those paidto workers in the other States. This proves that Labour administration in Queensland was better for the worker than the administration of the Commonwealth Governmenthas been.

Mr Ryan:

– That is why the profiteers hated me so much.

Mr CUNNINGHAM:

– That is why they vilified the honorable gentleman at every turn, and endeavoured to misrepresent the true position of Queensland under his rule. The report of the Commission will do more than anything else to lift the scales from the eyes of the workers of Australia and show them that Ryan does not mean ruin, as was represented by honorable members opposite during the last election. The report of their own Commission has been repudiated by the Government and their followers, but it justifies the Queensland Labour party and the honorable member for West Sydney (Mr. Ryan), who led that party during the war.

Sitting suspended from 6.30 to8 p.m.

Mr CUNNINGHAM:

– I desire to point out how the campaign of misrepresentation of Queensland was carried on throughout Australia to the disadvantage of the workers, as proved by the report of the Commission which the Government have now refused to accept and adopt. I desire only to warn the people against the renewal of this campaign. The Government are aided in their misrepresentations by a press which has indulged in profiteering just as vile as, if not viler than, any other branch of the vile business. The daily press of the cities has even gone so far as to con- siderably increase the price of war loan advertisements, as well as to exploit the relatives of deceased soldiers by doubling the cost of death notices and the like. The party to which I belong does not rely upon tlie support of corporations which adopt such profiteering tactics as these. The Labour party has no need to state its case through such sources. From the utterances and indications given by the Prime Minister to-day, there can be no doubt that he is about to launch a new campaign of misrepresentation to serve, apparently, for some future contingency. I warn the people against accepting any so-called political news that appears in the daily press. Let them look for misrepresentations rather than the truth, and they will not be disappointed. There is only one journal in the land from which accurate records of the proceedings of Parliament can be obtained. I refer to the official publication of Hansard, which may be obtained from the Government Printer for 2s. 6d. per session. All Labour supporters in the community should arm themselves by means of Hansard with the facts concerning what goes on in the Australian Parliament, in order to be able to disseminate the real truth among the workers of Australia. One can hardly wonder that some of the latter are apt to be carried away by the persistent untruths published in the organs of our political opponents.- I have no doubt that some new lie will be sprung upon the people for the next Federal elections - something fresh, but after the manner of such lies as “Ryan means ruin,” and those other canards concerning Queensland. From the exhibition of tactics afforded by the Prime Minister to-day it would appear that the new lie will have something to do with an alleged worldwide conspiracy for the defeat and overthrow of the Empire. I am reminded by the Prime Minister’s methods of the trick sometimes played by little boys. A young mischief-maker turns on a tap, and, after a good deal of water has run to waste, he turns it off again. Then he runs inside to his mother and tells her he has saved water by turning off the tap. The idea of the Prime Minister is to manufacture a scare - to stagemanager some bogy, just as we have been informed by the honorable member for Balaclava (Mr. Watt) that the Prime Minister stage-managed .his welcome home by returned soldiers. Then, having launched his scare, and played on th& feelings of the people, he steps forth as the hero who has arisen to protect and save the community from the dire disaster which he himself had manufactured. I have no doubt that tactics such as these will again be resorted to. The Prime Minister is endeavouring to mislead the people now regarding the millions of money lost to the community by his bungling. I do not believe that any amount of spoken truth will have the slightest effect upon the supporters of the Prime Minister in influencing their attitude towards the amendment. The secret junta has met in its party room upstairs. The whole matter of the basic wage has been discussed and decided upon, and the most cogent arguments which honorable members on this side could advance would now be unavailing. The Prime Minister and his supporters appointed the Commission tocatch votes. Now they have repudiated its report; and they give, as a reason for so doing, the excuse that the Commonwealth cannot pay its servants a decent living wage. However, the people will be the judges of that. If the Commonwealth cannot pay a fair thing it will be because the primary products of Australia during the past four years have been practically given away to people on the other side of the world, with the result that the workers of this country, have to sweat and pay more than ever for domestic necessities. All this is because of the bungling and mismanagement of the Government, ruinously led, as it is, by the Prime Minister.

Mr ATKINSON:
Wilmot

.- Many members of the Public Service are not getting anything” like the remuneration which they should receive ; but when the Government are asked to pay a basic wage of £5 16s. 6d. the question inevitably arises whether the resources of the country can stand the strain. I have been engaged upon urgent public business away from this House, and, unfortunately, I have not yet had time to peruse the report of the Commission as carefully as I intend. The payment of a basic wage is so huge iri its importance and effect that the Government cannot be expected to deal with it offhand. I believe that our public servants should be paid more than they are getting, in the main. They should receive the best wage we can give them commensurate with reason. But if we pay them more than the country can afford our action will be, not only unreasonable, but ruinous. It would not be fair to the Service. I believe that when a majority of its members know that an honest attempt is being made to mete out justice to them, and after they have had an opportunity of carefully considering the report and realizing what is involved, they will be quite prepared to abide bv the decision of the Government. I am anxious to see the public servants adequately paid; but I do not wish to express a definite opinion at this juncture, particularly when we do not know exactly what additional expenditure the country can carry. There is reason in all things, and I know the members of the Public Service will be among the first to admit that there must be some limitation on our capacity. The Commonwealth public servants, in common with other public servants, are in a very strong position in one sense, because when they are permanently appointed on the staff of any particular Department they are there until they reach the retiring age - that is, of course, if their behaviour has been satisfactory. The same cannot be said of >men who are in private employment, because if their services ar«* not needed they can be dispensed with. For that reason, if for no other, Commonwealth public servants are in a comparatively safe position, and if work cannot be found for them in one Department there is no difficulty in transferring them to another. The public servants, of course, feel keenly, as do other members of the community, the appalling increase in the cost of living, and if we are going to pay £5 16s. a week, it will naturally mean that employers outside will be forced to follow, with the result that prices will be increased to such an extent that their position will not be improved in the slightest degree. It will simply be pursuing a vicious circle. If the basic rates mentioned in the report were to be adopted, the primary producers would, of course, be penalized, and the cost of everyday commodities would rise to an alarming extent. Do honorable members oppo site think that if these rates were enforced that our primary and secondary products would remain at present prices? In such circumstances increased wages would be of little value, and the Government are taking a very wise step in adopting the course suggested. The Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes) has made a fair offer in saying that the’ , Government will go into the matter, and within a fortnight will announce what they consider a fair wage, which will operate from the 1st November. That is a reasonable proposal, and if we debated the matter for days I do not think a more satisfactory one could be suggested.

Mr GREGORY:
Dampier

– I do not wish to give a silent vote on this question, more particularly as I am in somewhat of a quandary. I certainly would not have voted for the amendment submitted by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Tudor), and I find myself confronted with a considerable difficulty in voting for the amendment moved by the Treasurer (Sir Joseph Cook). I do not suppose any report has come before this Parliament that is of greater importance than that which has been submitted by the Basic Wage Commission. It has farreaching tendencies, and I question whether there is one member in this Chamber who has had an opportunity of thoroughly grasping its Import. Although I have perused extracts from the document in the newspapers, it was not until this afternoon that I received a copy of the report. I doubt very much whether any honorable member has read the whole of it,, and I do not think any member would give a vote which may be the means of doing serious injury to the future prosperity of the Commonwealth. If the Government agree to pay a basic wage of £5 16s. per week, it would not rest with the Public Service alone, but it would have to become the basic wage for the whole Commonwealth. It would be absurd. I always consider that the members of the. Public Service are holding permanent positions, and obtain benefits that are not enjoyed by those in private employment. I am not attacking members of the Opposition, but they are demanding that the rates mentioned in the report should be adopted.

Mr Tudor:

– We are asking the Go,vernment to keep their pledge.

Mr GREGORY:

– That may be a good party weapon, and I would use it if” I were in Opposition. I would not have the slightest compunction, because I think it is only fair to draw attention to the Prime Minister’s policy speech. If I were on the other side of the chamber, I would make it my pivot of attack.

Mr Ryan:

– The Prime Minister has broken his pledge.

Mr GREGORY:

– But he has a duty to the- community.

Mr Ryan:

– I realize that.

Mr GREGORY:

– And the honorable member voted for the amendment moved by the Leader of the Opposition, in which he asked that the rates mentioned by the Commission should be adopted forthwith. [ ask the honorable member for West Sydney (Mr. Ryan), in all earnestness^ if the payment of such a basic wage throughout the Commonwealth would not result in disaster and ruin to Australia?

Mr Mathews:

– No.

Mr GREGORY:

– The honorable member for Gwydir (Mr. Cunningham) admitted that it is useless to increase wages unless the cost of living could be controlled.

Mr Cunningham:

– I suggested that the Government should control profiteering.

Mr GREGORY:

– Does it not follow?

Mr Mathews:

– If you want to control the cost of living, you must pay good wages.

Mr GREGORY:

– The honorable member for Melbourne Ports (Mr. Mathews) has, I know, been busy during the week, and has had very little time to peruse, the report. He may have read it, and, if he has, I ask him what the result would be if a basic wage of £5 16s. a week were paid throughout the Commonwealth ?

Mr Mathews:

– It would be beneficial to the workers.

Mr GREGORY:

– Would it? Does the honorable member think for a, moment that many of our important industries would be carried on for a day if that was the ruling rate throughout Australia? Take the Kalgoorlie mines, where there are 6,000 or 7,000 men employed; I do not believe that two mines in the whole of the western State- I will go that farwould be kept in operation for a day in such circumstances.

Mr Prowse:

– What of the farmer, who works twenty-four hours a day?

Mr GREGORY:

– Yes; what of the wheat-grower ? In considering the requirements of the man who works for wages, we must not forget the farmer, who is always on duty, and carrying enormous responsibilities.

Mr Ryan:

– T suppose the honorable member admits that the Prime Minister has broken his pledge?

Mr GREGORY:

– 1 will not admit that yet.

Mr Brennan:

– That will come later.

Mr GREGORY:

– Oh, no ! Honorable members opposite who believe that he has must remember that due regard must be paid to the future welfare of the country. Such an important document as the Commission’s report should be most carefully considered before a decision is arrived at, and should not be accepted by this Parliament without question.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– Has the honorable member read the Prime Minister’s speech ?

Mr GREGORY:

– I am not going to be guided, or allow my vote to be influenced in the slightest, by any statement of the Prime Minister, because I believe he has blundered by interfering with huge concerns over which he’ should’ not have attempted to exercise control. We have not the experience necessary to enable us properly to deal with these matters. I do not include in that statement the honorable member for Barrier (Mr..’ Considine).

Mr Considine:

– I am rather surprised at the honorable member’s open confession that we are not competent to deal, with the. things with which we pretend tobe able to deal.

Mr GREGORY:

-! am convinced thatour present wretched industrial conditions are due largely to the interference cf men like the honorable member in the industrial affairs of Australia. Australia should be, and probably would be, one of the most prosperous parts of the Empire but for the influence’ of such men.

Mr. Ryan. What does the honorable member think of the Chairman’s memorandum to the Prime Minister?

Mr GREGORY:

– I have not had time to carefully consider it, but after signing a report in which the Commission tells us that a basic wage of approximately £5 16s. per week should be fixed, Mr. Piddington, in a memorandum to the Prime Minister, states that -

At present the industries of the Commonwealth pay as if the children in the Commonwealth were 3,000,000 (i.e., three children for each of 1,000,000 employees). In point of fact, the children of employees in the Commonwealth number 900,000.

In other words, we are asked to fix a basic wage on the assumption that there are 3,000,000 children” of employees in the Commonwealth when, as a matter of fact, there are only 900,000. The Chairman goes on to pointout that -

Thus industries now pay for - 450.000 non-existent wives. 2,100,000 non-existent children.

There is little doubt that the present quasisubmergence of employees with families is due to ignoring the true incidence of the actual cost of living. From the produced wealth of the country, its children have less than enough in order that the unmarried childless may have more than enough.

Are we then to adopt a finding under which a certain section would have less than enough,, and another section more than enough to live on ?

I have nothing to say as to the merits or demerits of the report, but it would be absurd for the House to pass any resolution which would forcethe hands of the Government, until an opportunity had been afforded for the most mature consideration. Honorable members who claim specially to represent the wageearners should carefully consider what effect the adoption of the findings of the Commission would have on the future of this country. If, as a result, large numbers were thrown out of employment, we should have a state of chaos. I am sure that honorable members opposite do not want that sort of thing; that they are just as anxious as we are to build up prosperous conditions in Australia.

I throw upon the Government the whole responsibility in regard to this matter. They appointed this Commission; they believe in commissions of inquiry to investigate various subjects, and they approve of government interference with our industries. I, on the other hand, am opposed to anything of the kind. The Government have submitted an amendment under which we are invited to approve of the Prime Minister’s past promises. 1 do not approve of them. I agree with him, however, that labour is entitled to a fair share of the wealth it produces.

Mr Mathews:

– I do not. I hold that labour should get all that it produces.

Mr GREGORY:

– Then my honorable friend should have been a member of the party headed by Mr. Lane, which sought, a good many years ago, to establish a Utopia in Paraguay.

Mr Mathews:

– But what I say is true economics.

Mr GREGORY:

– It is not. We must have capital and labour, and brains to control, and we should pay well for the brains.

Mr Considine:

– I do not quarrel with that.

Mr GREGORY:

– I am satisfied that the drift which has set in in this country is owing to interference by the honorable member and his party, as well as by the Government, in matters relating to capital and labour.

Mr Ryan:

– Is the honorable member prepared to move to amend the further amendment submitted by the Government by substituting the word “ disapproves “ for the word “ approves “ ?

Mr GREGORY:

– I am not going to. move any amendment. The hour is too late. Another point is that I have not had an opportunity to peruse the report of the Commission, let alone digest it. I obtained a copy of it only this afternoon.

Mr Considine:

– Why did not the honorable member say at the outset of his speech that he had not perused the report ?

Mr GREGORY:

– Even if the honorable member were to read it a dozen times he would still be unable to take any but a biased view of it. The Prime Minister says that labour is entitled to a fair share of the profits it produces. I agree with him, but the question is as to how we can help labour to obtain that fair share. The adoption of the Commissions recommendations would not help, in the slightest degree, to that end. If we do anything that leads to the destruction of industry we must have a corresponding reduction in employment. Incalculable injury would be done to the country if we fixed upon a basic wage which must create unemployment.

Mr Ryan:

– Does the honorable member suggest that a man who has a wife and three children and that of a man this State, a wage of £5 16s. per week?

Mr GREGORY:

– I am not suggesting anything of the sort. But what would the honorable member do in regard to the wage of a man with a wife and three children and that of a man who is childless?

Mr Ryan:

– Read my speech. It is in Hansard.

Mr GREGORY:

– The honorable member thinks that the State should step in. We know that efforts were made in New South Wales by Mr. Holman to frame a scheme under which, as Mr. Piddington suggested in his memorandum, married men with children would receive special assistance and succour. But when you interfere in these matters you must inevitably create trouble for yourselves. Is not the common sense of this Parliament sufficient to enable us to originate a system under which the worker would get a fair share of the profits from his labour ? Whenever we talk about co-operation, we are met with opposition from the Labour party, but I believe it is possible, under some such system, to insure for the worker a fair share of the profits. There are difficulties, I know, in regard to many industries: but we should try to evolve some scheme to increase production. This adoption of the recommendation of the Basic Wage Commission will limit production.

Mr Brennan:

– How?

Mr GREGORY:

– Because so many of our industries cannot afford to carry such a burden. They will be forced to close down. In any case, under our present economic conditions, any increase in the cost of production will be passed on to the consumer.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– And they say that if an industry cannot pay the basic wage it ought to close down.

Mr GREGORY:

– That is what is said about some of our industries. So far as I am concerned, I want to throw the whole of the responsibility upon the shoulders of the Government. They have not vet had time to digest the findings of the Commission. This could not be done in- a week or a fortnight, and so they should have time. They have made a promise which, T think, should satisfy honorable members opposite. They have said that they will pay certain increases to the public servants, pending a closer investigation of the problem, and that the whole matter will be dealt with when Parliament re-assembles.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– The trouble is the Government will promise to do anything to-day, and will break their promise to-morrow.

Mr GREGORY:

– In any case, the responsibility must rest entirely upon the Government. They appointed a Commission, and we should now be prepared to give them time to mature their plans in regard to the recommendations of that body. If the Government should propose to do something that would be injurious to the industries of this country, it would be the duty of this Parliament to call them to account.

Mr Brennan:

– That’s right. Those who throw boomerangs must dodge them.

Mr GREGORY:

– There will be no dodging this issue. I feel very dubious about the result of any action that is going to be taken by the Government in connexion with this matter. Time after time I have said that I believed that if, when the war started, we had been able to look ahead, we could have appointed some special Board to deal with the cost of living problem and, as costs rose, wages could have been increased correspondingly. I also said that the Government should have brought in legislation to limit war profits. No big organization; should have been allowed during the war to make one sixpence extra profit than they made prior to the war - I would have supported legislation to compel these big organizations to hand over the whole of the surplus profits to the Treasury, after allowing, of course, a reasonable amount for interest. Many of our big trading organizations made enormous profits. They took every advantage of any shortage in supplies to force prices up. I can quite understand the worker getting restless about the increased cost of living. The House should accept the proposal of the Government, and throw the whole of the responsibility upon them. Give them time to mature their plans, so that they may come before Parliament when next we meet, and tell honorable members what will be the effect of this basic wage upon our industries . We have no right to. force the Government to give effect to this recommendation until we are satisfied what its effect will be upon the community generally. If we do as I suggest, then when Parliament meets again, we will have all the information which the Government have been able to compile in the meantime, and be in a position to indorse their proposals, or place some others in power who will devise some other means of giving fair play to the worker without doing injury to the community.

Mr LAVELLE:
Calare

.- If I did not know honorable members opposite as well as I do, I would preface my remarks by sympathizing with them in the unenviable position they occupy, but knowing them as I do, instead of offering sympathy to them, I extend them my whole-hearted contempt. ‘

Mr Fleming:

– That does not matter.

Mr LAVELLE:

– My cabbage soldier friend interjects that it does not matter. I feel sure, Mr. Speaker, that when he says that he is speaking the truth. It does not matter to him how many promises his party breaks. It does not matter to him how many election pledges the Prime Minister makes and breaks. So long as his party can remain upon the Treasury bench, it matters not to him or any one else on the other side of the House, how they retain their position. If I did not know honorable members opposite so well as I do, I would have been surprised if I had been told that we could have such a succession of broken pledges as has been our experience during the last ten or twelve months. When the Prime Minister was before the electors last year, he realized that, as he was in a dangerous .position, he would have to make a bold bid for support. Consequently, he made several promises, including one to the wheat-growers of Australia, to whom he guaranteed the payment of 5s. per bushel at railway stations. That promise was interpreted by the farmers as it was meant to be interpreted. They thought that they were going to’ receive 5s. cash on delivery. Yet what do we find? Many months elapsed after Parliament re-assembled without anything being done, so honorable members on this side of the House decided to force the hands of the Government, if possible, in order to have the promise honoured. We know, of course, that it has been dishonoured, and that every honorable member on the other side of the House voted to assist the Government in dishonouring this promise. We also know what has happened in connexion with the war gratuity bonds. Almost ‘every returned soldier is in financial difficulties owing to the high cost of living. Honorable members opposite may laugh at the idea that, the soldiers, the ‘majority of whom belong to the working classes, should be in financial difficulties. if they had their way, the working classes would always be in financial difficulties. If they adopt the amendment now before the House, the working classes will continue to be in financial trouble. It appears to be a matter of mirth with them that any honorable member on this side of the House should mention that returned soldiers, in spite of all they ‘have done for this country, and in spite of the promises made by the Government, are in financial difficulties to-day, and that they should have expected the Government’s pledge to be honoured by getting their gratuity in cash.

Mr SPEAKER (Hon Sir Elliot Johnson:

– Order!1 I must ask the honorable member not to make a series of gross reflections upon honorable members. He has not touched the question before the Chair yet.

Mr LAVELLE:

– I am endeavouring,. Mr. Speaker, to show a connexion between broken promises given at the last election, and the subject now under discussion.

Mr SPEAKER:

– The honorable member is doing something ‘more than that. The effect of the honorable member’s remarks, although he may not realize it,, is to cast the gravest reflections oni other honorable members.

Mr LAVELLE:

– I am sorry that honorable members opposite are responsible for conduct the criticism of which is a reflection upon them.

Mr SPEAKER:

– The honorable member imputed unworthy motives, and it iscontrary to the Standing Orders to db» that.

Mr LAVELLE:

– If you will not allow me, sir, to deal with the other brokenpromises of the Government, I shall deal with that now before the ‘House.

Mr SPEAKER:

– I think that the honorable member misunderstands me. I do not rule that he may not refer to broken promises if he thinks that promises have been broken; but I remind; him that it, is a breach of the Standing Orders to impute to other honorable members unworthy motives. They may have been actuated by the best motives in taking what he may regard as a wrong course of action. He is quite within his rights in adversely criticising.

Mr LAVELLE:

– I can only express my regret that you were not in the chair this afternoon, or that, if you were here, you did not draw the attention of a previous speaker to the fact that he was imputing motives.

Mr SPEAKER:

– I would have done so had I noticed it.

Mr LAVELLE:

– I unreservedly accept your assurance, knowing how fairminded you are, and how you always endeavour to treat honorable members impartially, no matter where they sit. I was referring to the honorable member for Parkes (Mr. Marr). He complained that last night at a public meeting I attacked him behind his back, and he asked me to repeat here or outside what I have said at that meeting. I shall do so.I first read this telegram -

The Prime Minister has definitely promised if twenty-four members agree Parliament will not adjourn before decision re basic wage for Federal employees. Major Marr will make one; will you make another?

Mr Marr:

– You also said that I had not been in the House this week.

Mr LAVELLE:

– I went on to say that had the Government supporters had their way yesterday, the Standing Orders would have been suspended to enable the Government to keep the House sitting continuously until the business was disposed of, in which case this question would have been talked out, or would have been brought forward when honorable members were too weary, after an all-night sitting, to intelligently follow the debate. I complained that the honorable member hadsaid a couple of weeks ago that the Labour party was making a party question of this matter, and that he had said that he had spoken more than any other honorable member on behalf of the public servant’s. My comment was that he may have spoken on their behalf, but that he was one of the most servile supporters of the Government, a statement that was cheered to the echo. I added that in this House it was votes which counted; that what mattered was not how a man spoke, but how he voted. I was in error in stating that the honorable member had not been. in the House this week. I have since ascertained that he was here; but he took such an insignificant part in the proceedings that I did not notice him. I went on to say that the party to which I belong is not seeking to make political capital out of this question. I do not think there are 200 public servants in my electorate.

Mr Marr:

– Thank God for that !

Mr LAVELLE:

– If I did not treat them better than you treat those in your electorate there might be justification for that ejaculation. I said that the Labour party did not ask for the votes of the public servants; that its endeavour was to see justice done to every section of the workers, whether they were Labour supporters or not.

Mr Maxwell:

– Loud applause!

Mr LAVELLE:

– Yes, because the 8,000 men and women who were present knew that I was sincere, and was speaking the truth. It is justice for which we are asking to-night, and for which we asked when wemoved the amendment.

Just before the last election the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes), in his endeavour to secure a further lease of office, made certain promises to the electors. Speaking at Bendigo, he said -

The Government is, therefore, appointing a Royal Commission to inquire into the cost of living in relation to the minimum or basic wage.The Commission will be fully clothed with power to ascertain what is a fair basic wage, and how much the purchasing power of the sovereign has been depreciated during the war; also how the basic wage may be adjusted to the present purchasing power of the sovereign, and the best means, when once so adjusted, of automatically adjusting itself to the rise and fall of the sovereign. The Government will at the earliest date possible create effective machinery to give effect to these principles.

The Commission was appointed, and clothed with the necessary powers. After a thorough investigation it was reported that it cost in Melbourne £5 16s. 6d., in Sydney £5 17s., in Brisbane £5 6s. 2d., in Newcastle £5 18s. 6d., in Adelaide £5 16s.1d., in Perth £5 13s.11d., and in Hobart £5 16s.11d. for a man to keep himself, his wife, and three children, living in that standard of comfort which a human being in a civilized community should enjoy. The Prime Minister and his Cabinet were absolutely staggered at the findings of the Commission, which were unanimously arrived at by the members of that body. Therefore, the right honorable gentleman asked the chairman of the Commission alone to supply him with another report. As has been pointed out by every’ honorable member who lias spoken from this side of the Chamber.” it is a remarkable thing that the Prime Minister did not ask any other member of the Commission for a further report, However, the fact remains that he asked Mr. Piddington, and that, between 5 o’clock one afternoon, when the request was made, and 9 o’clock the same evening, that gentleman presented a supplementary report to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister then came clown here, laid the report of the Commission upon the table of the House, and, following his customary tactics, quoted extensively from the supplementary report which had been furnished him by Mr. Piddington. Had not attention been called to this matter, the impression would have gone forth that the right honorable gentleman was reading from the report of the Commission itself. He concluded his remarks by moving “ That the paper be printed.” Had that motion been carried, the papers -would have been printed, and nothing further would have been done. But, as honorable members upon this side of the Chamber were anxious to insure justice being meted out to our Commonwealth public servants, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Tudor) submitted an amendment to add to the motion the following words: -

And, in accordance with the definite pledge given by the Prime Minister in his policy speech at Bendigo on 30th October, 1919, the Government should give immediate effect to the findings of the Commission.

One would have thought that that amendment would have been acceptable to honorable members upon both sides of the Chamber, and particularly to Ministerial supporters. It simply asked for the honouring of a pledge. The Commission had reported upon the wage which it considered necessary to enable a man to support his wife and three children in a reasonable degree of comfort. There is not an honorable member in this Chamber who dares to go before the electors and say that a man ought not to receive a wage sufficient to enable him to maintain his wife and family in comfort. Had honorable members opposite been sincere, they would have voted for that amendment, the adoption of which would have given effect to the finding of the Commission.

Mr Atkinson:

– Regardless of whether the basic wage which the Commission recommended could be paid or not.

Mr LAVELLE:

– It is a good job for the honorable member for Wilmot (Mr. Atkinson) that the Royal assent has not yet been given to the Bill which we passed through this Chamber a night or two ago. The honorable member is following in the footsteps of the Prime Minister when he says that the whole productive wealth of Australia is not sufficient to enable our men and women to live up to a reasonable standard of comfort. What a libel upon Australia for a member of this Parliament to utter !

Mr Atkinson:

– I have never said anything of the kind.

Mr Jowett:

– Did he say that?

Mr Atkinson:

– Perhaps the honorable member will show us how we can pay a basic wage of £5 16s. 6d. per week.

Mr LAVELLE:

– If the honorable member and other honorable members opposite wished to ascertain how it ‘ could be paid, why did they not vote for the amendment submitted bv the honorable member for Yarra (Mr. Tudor) ? Instead of doing that, the Government supporters - including the honorable member for Parkes (Mr. Marr), who was going to be one of the gallant band which, was determined that Parliament should not close until a decision upon this matter was arrived at - voted against it.

Mr Brennan:

– The honorable member must admit that they were in a very awkward position.

Mr LAVELLE:

– I do admit it. Everybody knows it. The Government then submitted a further amendment to add to the motion the following words: -

This House approves of the statement made b the Prime Minister on Tuecsday, 23rd November, regarding the basic wage to be paid to employees in the Public Service, and requests the Government forthwith to arrange for such amount to be paid as will be equitable and just alike to employees and the general public and within the practicable capabilities of the Commonwealth to bear : the payment of such basic wage to commence as from the 1st November, 1920.

That is the proposal which the honorable member for Parkes rushed across from Sydney to assist the Government to carry. If it is carried - as, apparently, it will be - it will mean that this question will be left in the hands of the Government, who will do nothing of any practical benefit to our public servants. Certainly, they will not give effect to the findings of the Commission. Only the other day, the Prime Minister definitely stated that he would not agree to pay the basic wage recommended by the Commission. If the amendment which we are now considering be adopted, the question will be left entirely in the hands of the Government. Seeing the way in which they have failed to honour their promises in the past, we know how they will honour them in the future. A little while ago, when we were constantly pointing out to them that our public servants in New South Wales were being paid less than the basic wage of that State, they said that they would not recognise that basic wage. But now, because the New South Wales basic wage is less than the wage decided on by the Commonwealth Commission, the Prime Minister endeavours to convey the impression that the former is the amount which the Commonwealth will pay. If that was not recognised as a fair amount to pay two or three weeks ago, why does he now recognise it as a fair amount? He . recognises it as a fair amount now, simply because it is less than the finding of his own Commission. What justification was there for appointing a Commission? What justification was there for putting this country to such an expense, if, simply because its findings are not acceptable to the Government, they are to be contemptuously tossed aside, and the Government left to fix a wage on their own account? What good purpose has been served by the Commission if its findings are not to be given effect to ? If the Government and their supporters do not intend to give effect to the findings, it means that the expenditure on the Commission has been wasted, so far as the basic wage is concerned. In my opinion, however, the Commission serves one useful purpose. It shows to the workers, who to-day are not receiving the amount decided on by the Commission, that they are not paid sufficient to enable them to live at a reasonable standard of comfort.

Mr Considine:

– It did not need a Royal Commission to show them that!

Mr LAVELLE:

– From my painful experience of those workers who remain outside the industrial organizations, they needed something like this report, and this discussion, to impress on them that they are not receiving a living wage. They had no real conception what living means, in the true sense of the word. But now those who, so far, have remained outside the organizations may be expected to join . and agitate for an equivalent amount. If it were not for the agitation created by the public servants of Australia - if they had not inundated members of this House with telegrams - I have not the slightest doubt that the Government would have done nothing at all in the matter.

Mr Considine:

– If the public servants have not the spirit to ask for what they want, they do not deserve to get it.

Mr LAVELLE:

– That is what I say. To those honorable members who charge us, on this side, with making this a party question, I can only say that the same invitation that was sent to myself and the other members of the Labour party was sent to every other member of the House, to attend the meeting at the Exhibition Building last night. At that meeting, I scanned the faces of those assembled in the body of the hall, and those on the platform, but I failed to see a representative of any other party except the Labour party.

Mr Bell:

– Honorable members were in their places here.

Mr LAVELLE:

– Honorable members on that side, were in the Queen’s. Hall at a picture show, deliberately keeping the House from meeting, in order to block discussion on this question, until the Prime Minister could come from Sydney, and with his usual cunning get them out of the difficulty in which they found themselves. Honorable members opposite know that if it were not for the Prime Minister they would always be floundering as they were yesterday. He has cunning, and, with his power to appeal to sectarian feelings, and the basest instincts of mankind, he is able to stir up class passions and hatreds, as he did to-day, when he seized upon the name of O’Connor in order to make out that the agitation over the basic wage is fomented by those who are desirous of disrupting the Empire, although O’Connor is a thick and thin supporter of the Nationalist party. His supporters, however, know that they can depend on his cunning, audacity and unscrupulousness to get them out of any awkward corner.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– The trouble is that he did not get them out of the difficulty after all.

Mr LAVELLE:

– That is so; and, after all, he has only shown the workers the class of Government that Australia has to-day. I have said that I earnestly looked for some Nationalist supporter of the Government, or for some member of the Country party, at the meeting last night, thinking that, perhaps, as in Sodom and Gomorrah, there might be one good man ready to assist the public servants in their fight for justice. And I did see one, and only one, and he was slinking away in the distance, on the edge of the crowd, as if he were ashamed to be seen at such a gathering. The fact that not a single member opposite except that one accepted the invitation proves conclusively that “the Government supporters, and they only, are making- this a party question.

Mr Jowett:

– How many does the honorablem ember say were at the meeting?

Mr LAVELLE:

– About 8,000.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– It was 5,000 before dinner !

Mr LAVELLE:

– For the enlightenment of honorable members, I may say that there were 5,000 seated in the chairs, and at least from 3,000 to 5,000 standing up.

Mr Jowett:

– That is 10,000.

Mr LAVELLE:

-Not desiring to exaggerate, I have placed the number at 8,000 in order to be within the mark. Although this exhibition on ‘the part of the Government and their supporters would have been a surprise to me before I knew them so well as I do now. it is no surprise to find them voting to assist the Prime Minister to-day, as in the past, to break another of his election pro- mises

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

.- I do not. care to give a silent vote on the amendment, the form of which I do not like. It expresses approval of the statement made by the Prime Minister in regard to the basic wage, and, personally, I do not at all approve of it. I regard his statement only as second in importance to the report of the Commission itself, and with almost as much consternation. The whole history of this Basic Wage Commission proves it to have been a most mischievous idea. It started as an election pledge, regardless of the fact that it could not be carried out without certain alterations in the Constitution. Now that the report has been produced, it is being used entirely by the Opposition for purely party and political purposes. The Labour party desire to have this proposal carried willy nilly, without regard to consequences, ‘ simply because an election pledge was given, and despite the fact that the Chairman of the Royal Commission himself admits that to carry it out in its entirety would absolutely dislocate and. destroy Australian industries. The position that has arisen is most serious. The question of providing a living wage for everybody in the community is one that should be absolutely beyond party, going down, as it does, to the very root of our national progress, and being one of the girders of the fabric of Australian society. It should be determined in a most impartial and detached manner. I regret that, in an off-hand and haphazard fashion, the Prime Minister and the Government are going to dispose of the question of the application of the principle to the public servants, simply as the result of this report, which bear? internal evidence throughout of being ill-digested and out of harmony with the possibilities of Australian developments.

I have no hesitation in speaking in this way because no one can deny that, on every occasion on . which I have spoken in this chamber on the question of the payment of the public servants, I have insisted that they should be decently paid. In fact, I think I am one of the few members who have received a definite vote of thanks from Public Service organizations for the manner in which I have advocated payment for the members of the Service in accordance with what other people in the community are receiving. Whether I were in Parliament or out of it. I should always insist, and have always insisted, as far as was in my power, that men and women receive a fair return for their labour. But I believe in a proper adjustment of the whole problem. If the Government said, “ This is the basic wage, and we must carry it out,” and if at the same time they submitted a proposition whereby the whole of the Public Service was to be properly overlooked and supervised, and the incompetents, of whom there are many, weeded out, one could approve of their policy on this question. We must pay good wages to- the Commonwealth Public Service, as is necessary in the case of every Public Service, or most of the good men will leave, because they can make more money outside. The result of paying low wages in any Service is that only the incompetent hands or those who are tied lip by financial and domestic burdens remain. What we need to do in the Public Service of the Commonwealth is to weed out incompetents, and pay decent wages to the good men who are left, giving them a sense of responsibility, and getting a proper idea of the true value of their work. I take it that the Government, in the business undertakings they are handling, are not to be regarded as a benevolent institution. They may pay old-age pensions and maternity bonuses, and in that respect act in a benevolent capacity; but when it is a question of getting value in the shape of work for money paid out to public servants, they should be as strict as any other business concern. Quite apart from this, I do not think a simple increase of wages to public servants, according to a report founded on evidence, such as we have had submitted to us and which inevitably raises all other wages, is a proper way to improve the general condition of the public servants, or, indeed, of the public at large. It is admitted in the report that it must make the condition of salaried men worse. I object to the whole process by which- the various basic wages have been built up during the last twelve or fifteen years. It is said that Mr. Justice Powers in 1917 laid it down that these awards should be built upon scientific and humane principles, and arrived at only after securing all the authentic materials available. The construction of the report before us is not scientific, nor has it been built up on all the authentic materials which could have been, and ought to have been, obtained in the proper consideration of a subject of this kind, which reaches right down to the basis of Australian society.

Mr Gabb:

– It is humane.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– It is no more humane than it is humane to give a youngster lollies indiscriminately to suck. He is pleased for the time being, but the next day he has to see the doctor because something has gone wrong with the inside works.

Mr Gabb:

– A very bad simile.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– If the honorable member saw as many “kiddies” as I do after they have partaken of lollies ad lib., he would understand the truth of the simile. Mr. Piddington himself admits that to bring this wage into operation would inevitably increase the cost of living to everybody, and that in three months’ time it would have to be increased by 303., and in six months’ time by another 30s. As the honorable member for Perth (Mr. Fowler) truly said this afternoon, “ It would be like a dog chasing its own tail.” Increases in wages are not the only means by which the general well-being of the community is to be built up All that increases of wages are doing in Australia at the present time is to increase the prices of certain commodities - and those the manufactured commodities. The figures in regard to raw materials are instructive, as the following table will show: -

Light calf hides are lower than10d. per lb. I knew men who have been trying, during the last few days, to sell hides of that description down to 2d. a lb. Fine crossbred wool is quoted at 16d. per lb. now, but it is practically unsaleable at present. The same state of affairs is true of many of the products of Australia, of which our wealth consists. While these products have been lessening in value as compared with pre-war times, the wages that are being, paid in the cities, and which must ultimately be paid in the country, if any workers are to be kept there at all, have advanced by leaps and bounds. They have gone up practically by 100 per cent. during the last six years. I am confident that at least 50 per cent.’ of the increased prices of goods is due, not- to any increase in the price of raw materials, but to the increase in wages. Thus, a vicious circle is being established. Wages axe increased, the price of the manufactured article is increased, and the amount of commission paid for handling and selling it is increased, and so we go on, until we shall reach a condition in which, no matter how much money we pay, we shall be getting a much lower return in actual goods and comforts than in the old days when wages more nearly approximated to the price of the raw material. And under this condition of affairs we have a Commission appointed, because of an election promise by the Prime Minister, to go into the whole matter and ascertain what is a living wage. But we find no fundamental principle underlying the appointment of this Commission. The Prime Minister in this House gave us his definition of a basic wage. He said -

The basic wage is not a wage paid for work done in the sense that it is regarded as an adequate equivalent for the work done. The basic wage rests upon a principlelong ago established -

I cannot find any record of where it has been established - and very property so, in this Commonwealth, that a wage must be paid which would enable a citizen to live in that standard of comfort fitting and proper for a progressive community.

Irrespective of whether that wage can be paid, as the further quotation shows -

This Commission did not concern itself, therefore, with the question whether, as a fact, the wage sufficient for aman, his wife, and three children to live at that standard of comfort could be paid.

We find scattered throughout the whole of the report of the Commission references to the fact that the question referred to it was not whether a certain wage could be paid, but what amount could at the present time be regarded as a living wage.

Mr Maxwell:

– That is all they were asked to do.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– Yes, but it only demonstrates the foolish basis upon which the whole thing was started. The question of what is a basic wage is open to a certain amount of debate, and we can only arrive at it by deciding what people may consider to be a reasonable amount of comfort.

Mr Maxwell:

– Would the honorable member like to keep a wife and three children on a wage of £5 16s. per week?

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– I have no objection to the payment of a wage of £5 16s. per week if it is found to be a proper wage on a more democratic, scientific basis than apparently has been adopted by the Basic Wage Commission. My objection is not to the amount but to the unscientific method of determining that amount, which as soon as it is made makes it inadequate. Any inquiry into this matter without also going into the question of the number of hours during which an industry ought to be worked and the production in that industry is ridiculously futile. The essential requirement in fixing upon a basic wage is to ascertain what wage is necessary to keep the person who works and his dependants in perfect health, according to the standard of the community in which he lives. I do not say that £5 16s. is not a proper basic wage, or that £10 per week should not be paid. All I say is that the inquiry instituted by the Commission was not on a scientific basis, and did not go to the root of things. After months of inquiry the Commissioners havefixed upon what they regard as a fair basic wage, and their recommendation is brought before this Parliament, where we are informed that if the wage is paid to all employees with or without children, the increased burden on the community will be, according to Mr. Piddington, £93,000,000 per annum, and according to Mr. Knibbs, £101,000,000. The Prime Minister, in dealing with this aspect of the question, said -

In 1918, the wealth produced in Australia was £298,000,000. The increased burden upon industries would amount to 31 per cent. Mr. Piddington assumes that the labour cost, as, expressed in the terms of the value of the goods or commodities, amounts to 50 per cent. Thus the increased burden involved in the payment of this wage to all males would be 62 per cent.

It has been suggested that Mr. Piddington wrote his memorandum in five hours. If so, he must have had all his figures very handy.

Mr Tudor:

– In a footnote attached to his memorandum Mr. Piddington says that he received a letter from the Prime

Minister at 5 o’clock, and the Prime Minister informs us that he received Mr. Piddington’s reply at 9 o’clock.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

- Mr. Piddington says in his memorandum -

If it could be supposed that the whole of the additional £93,000,000 labour cost could be passed on to the community, the increase in prices would altogether outstrip the purchasing power of employees having a basic wage of £5 16s.

After months of inquiry a basic wage is fixed upon, and then the chairman of the Commission informs us that as soon as it is paid in industry generally the consequential higher prices of commodities will outstrip the extra money paid to the worker. How can any reasonable man view such a proposal? I noted the fact that when the Prime Minister was pointing this out the honorable member for Barrier (Mr. Considine) asked whether a lunatic had produced this report.

Mr Gabb:

– By the same argument a reduction of wages would mean a reduction in the cost of living, and, therefore, it ‘would be advantageous to reduce wages.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– I do not contend that. I argue that if you set out the work on a wrong basis, you are almost certain to arrive at a wrong result. Mr. Piddington goes on to say -

Of the £298.000,000 worth of commodities produced in 1918, £113,000,000 worth, or about 38 per cent., was exported. Whether the increased cost of 62 per cent. could be added to the prices asked for the 38 per cent. of our products would depend upon world’s prices, that is, upon outside competitior. with all countries in the markets of the world.

It is quite evident that we cannot pay increased wages in Australia in the production of goodswe export unless the world’s prices for the goods we export go higher. But we find that the world’s prices have fallen enormously. In fact, many of our products are to-day quite unsaleable.

According to the Prime Minister -

Mr. Piddington says that he has not had time to go into detail’s of individual export industries; but it seemed to him that as far as manufacturing industries for export were concerned, they would be ruined, and that in the case of other industries the application of a basic wage of £5 16s. 6d. would retard their development, and possibly prevent their continuance. Another result of addition to the cost of production of goods for domestic consumption, which represented 62 per cent. of the total production, would be to so raise prices for such goods that all secondary industries would be liable to be ruined by importations unless the Tariff were substantially increased. . . . Mr. Piddington says that if effect is given to the basic wage the Tariff would be wholly inoperative to prevent the market from being flooded with cheaper goods from overseas. Consequently, we should have to have a higher Tariff.

I agree with the honorable member for Dampier (Mr. Gregory) that a most serious position would be created, and the responsibility for it rests entirely with the Government. It is certainly one upon which an honorable member should not be asked to give a decision just when the House is going into recess, and after ah extended sitting.

Mr Considine:

– How does the honorable member propose to cast hie vote.?

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– I shall indicate before I sit down what I intend to do.

Mr Considine:

– We know what the honorable member intends to do-.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– I have not the gift of prophecy that some honorable members seem to possess. Mr. Piddington says that if effect were given to the basic wage he suggests the Tariff would be wholly inoperative to prevent the market being flooded with cheaper goods from overseas, and consequently we should be compelled to have a higher Tariff.

Mr Maxwell:

– That is if family wages were paid to men without dependants.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– The same applies in proportionate degree to the haphazard arrangement proposed by the Prime Minister. He has said that that would impose a burden of £28,000,000 on all industries. I should not object to industry being asked to carry that burden if it were found to be necessary, after proper examination. If it could be shown that our industries would stand it, that it would increase development and production and improve the physical condition of the people, I should be prepared to support it. There can be no doubt whatever that an improvement of the physical condition of the people will inevitably increase production. A healthy man who feels fit cannot remain idle long, and will not “ go slow “ on his job.

It must be clear from the statement of Mr. Piddington that if there were a general application of the basic wage recommended by the Commission, industries which have been built up in Australia with .very great difficulty would be ruined, and our export trade would be wiped out. Yet- honorable members opposite wonder why we will not vote for their amendment to apply the Commission’s basic wage immediately to the Public Service. If we did so,, the effect would be at once reflected in the demands made for increased remuneration by persons in outside employment. I have found, in my own district, that when the wages of Government employees have been raised, outside labour will ‘not work for less. That sets the standard for the locality. The report of the Basic Wage Commission shows beyond question to every thinking man in Australia, whether worker or employer, whether a public servant or a civilian, the absolute futility of the methods we have adopted during the last twenty years for the settlement of industrial disputes. Has any honorable member ever heard of an Arbitration Court, by its awards, doing anything else but increase wages ? “

Mr Considine:

– Yes.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– I have never read in any New South Wales report of an award reducing wages.

Mr Considine:

– Has the honorable member not heard that the first Arbitration Court established in New South Wales reduced the wages of wharf labourers, and that subsequently the employers met them and increased their wages ?

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– I direct the attention of honorable members to the fluctuations in the prices of the products of primary ‘ industries. Butter may be ls. a lb. to-day, and at another time ls. d. per lb. Wheat may be 2s. 6d. per bushel to-day, and at another time 5s., and at still another time fall again to 2s. 6d. Hides may be 2s. per lb. to-day, and at another time 2d. per lb. And yet for the last twelve years every Arbitration Court award has raised wages, quite irrespective of these fluctuations in the market for primary productions. We keep on going up in a spiral, but our actual conditions are not improved. We shall reach a point at which our whole industrial fabric will topple over, and then we shall have, not high wages, but unemployment on every hand.

The question is whether we cannot deal with this problem in such a way as to prevent such a catastrophe. There is only one way in which to face it with any hope of success, and that is by increased production. We must have the maximum production of the workers of this country -whether of hand or brain.

Mr Tudor:

– How are the bootmakers to increase production when the boot manufacturers close all their factories?

Mr McWilliams:

– The price of boot3 does not come down.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– I admit that the Government have singularly failed to deal with profiteering. Increased production is the only way in which we can expect to secure a fall in the price of boots or of anything else. As the honorable member for Melbourne (Dr. Maloney) has pointed out. Lord Leverhulme has said that there is only one way in which to bring about an improvement in the conditions of life all round, and it is by working dead machinery to the maximum and the human machine to the best physical advantage. What is necessary is that we should discover the best number of hours of work for a worker in any particular industry. That was Lord Leverhulme’s plan for increased production, which must mean more comfort for every one. In my opinion, the whole basis of our industrial system in determining, wages is wrong in this respect, that no constant point has been adopted as the basis for examination. The basis adopted for the report we now have under consideration seems to be the employers’ view of the matter in t’he Harvester Case. That is al 1:asis with which the employer was satisfied thirteen or fourteen years ago, and because he was- satisfied it has been assumed that it must, therefore, be a fair basis to work from. As a matter of fact, it is a wrong basis entirely, and we must have some constant and stable basis upon which to work to get a result of any value to the worker. That can only he arrived at bv a medical commission such as that which inquired into the health of munition workers in England. This problem -which we have to solve is essentially a physiological problem.

Mr Considine:

– It is an economic problem.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · FSU; CP from 1920

– But economics are essentially bound up with physiology. The fundamental basis of society must be the physical health of its members, and, therefore, the first thing to find in arriving at a solution of this problem is the best number of hours of work in any given industry. Some industries can only work short hours, some longer hours. Rockchopping, for instance, must be always very limited in the number of hours worked. The work of feeding machines involving the continual repetition of the same work dulls the sensibilities of the operator, and men can work effectively at it only for a limited number of hours before their output diminishes, and it is not economical to continue. There are a variety of operations performed in the open air at which men would really be -better for working a longer number of hours than it is customary for. them to do at the present time. Some effort should be made to discover the best number of hours of work in any industry that will produce the maximum output, and at the same time maintain the worker in the best physical condition. I mean the number of hours that will keep him in perfect health. By perfect health I mean the retention of that elasticity of mind andi body that enables him to enjoy his recreation and permits his mental development after his work. It was found in England”, Germany, and the United States during the war that if a worker worked a longer number of hours each day,, and day after day, than his physical strength permitted - that is to say, if he exceeded his physiological standard - then, although he’ might follow that period of strain with a prolonged holiday, weeks and months might elapse before he could again equal the output of men who had riot been subject to over-strain. The only way to find these things out is to go to work on a scientific basis. I will read the names of the personnel of the Commission on Health of Munition Workers, which dealt with this subject in England. Their reference of inquiry was not confined to the output of munitions, and to ascertaining whether that output could be increased, but it included an. investigation as to the effect the national task would be likely to have on the health of those engaged. The Commission comprised Sir George Newman, M.D., Sir Thomas Barlow, F.R.S., Mr. Bellhouse, Professor Boycott, M.D., F.R.S., Mr. j. R. Clynes, M.P., Mr. E, j. Collis, M.B., Dr. W. M. Fletcher, M.D., F.R.S,. Mr

Leonard E. Hill, M.B., Mr. Sam Osborn, Miss R. E. Squire, and Mrs. H. j. Tennant. Those ladies were upon the Commission because that body was investigating women’s work, among other phases. Every Arbitration Court should have a Commission appointed to act with the arbitrator to ascertain facts such as these, and to place their practical knowledge and experience at the disposal of the Court in a way that could admit of no refutation. The actual living wage may change with a rise and fall in prices, but the number of hours of work to insure -perfect physical health is independent of these vagaries. It differs with occupation, climate, sex, &c, but for each occupation, sex, &c, a physiological standard can be determined which is the fundamental basis of the whole problem. One should be able to discover what is the average output to be expected from a worker in a given number of hours every day, and if one could learn the best number of hours that ought to be worked in an industry, and could secure some definite knowledge concerning the total of production to be expected from that industry. If we determine these two constant factors for the few basic industries, we have a constant basis from which to argue and work and automatically regulate the rise and .fall of wages in secondary industries. We go to all sorts of trouble to perfect dead machinery, but- we go to no trouble to insure that the human machine shall do its best work. Because in Australia we place no premium on skilled labour or science we hand over inquiries into all such matters to amateurs, and we ask them to give an opinion concerning what should be expected of the human machine. The man is greater than the machine; the only guarantee of effective labour is his individual health and his mental development. The fina) report of the Health of Munition Workers’ Commission stated -

It is certain that, unless our industrial life is to be guided in the future by the application of physiological science to the details of its management, it cannot hope to maintain its position hereafter among some of its foreign rivals, who already in that respect have gained a present advantage. However, this is an ideal of the future.

At present, because in each State the people are living under haphazard systems, and a basic wage has been fixed by a local Tribunal on unscientific lines it is im- perative that the Common-wealth Government should do something to bring ite own servants at least up to the standard of the basic wage in each particular State, and I will support that. If, in the Public Service, we are going to start a system of wage payment according to the 6ize of a man’s family - which may possibly be a correct and a . just system - it must be remembered that the method cannot be applied to employers generally without bringing about a serious result. It is introducing a new principle into industrial arrangements that deserves very full consideration. Men having no children, or only one or two, will receive preference of employment. “ Then, to prevent that, and to encourage the rearing of families, the Government will have to step in and subsidize employers, to insure the payment of commensurate wages to familied employees. I would like to see. this principle, which in itself is almost as far reaching as the subject of the basic wage, discussed at a stage of the session when it is likely to be debated on its merits. I condemn the Government, first for having, in a mischievous way, handed tlie problem of the basic wage over to a Commission which, in my opinion, was .not competent to investigate it, and for having presented to Parliament and the people the findings of the Commission, knowing they cannot be put into operation except in a very small particular, and can only unsettle industry. And I further condemn the Government for having brought forward the subjectmatter at a time when it cannot be considered as a question of such magnitude should be.

Mr MATHEWS:
Melbourne Ports

– The only trouble with the report of the Basic Wage Commission - is that, when it was presented at the head of the Government, it was found to be loaded. When the Prime Minister promised to create such a Commission, and to adopt its findings, he thought, no doubt, that it would be a body similar to other Commissions which, after much investigation, have presented some very ordinary suggestions and harmless ideas. But, to the dismay of the Government and its supporters, this Commission was in earnest, and it actually produced a correct record of the conditions and requirements of wage-earners in Australia to-day. What are the Government afraid of? The Commission has fixed varying rates averaging approximately £5 16s. per week, and the Government and their supporters now say that such rates cannot be paid. It is. an absurd stand to take, and the suggestion is- in keeping with the general policy of the Conservative section of this chamber. As has already been pointed out by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Tudor), a similar statement was made when the basic wage was fixed, at 42s. per week. It was said that Australia would be ruined, and now when a Royal Commission clothed with full powers to make a ‘thorough investigation has come to the decision that £5 16s. 6d. per week is a living wage for a man, his wife, and three children, we are told that if it were paid, industries would be ruined, and that financial chaos would prevail. It is merely a matter of rearrangement, and I believe that if the rates mentioned were adopted, it would be found within a month that they would be inadequate. The suggestion to reconsider the rates every three ‘ months is ridiculous, as it would only give the profiteering class a further opportunity of exploiting the workers, and making more money. The rates should be re-arranged every fortnight, and, although such a suggestion may seem ridiculous, I believe it is one that .should be adopted. Honorable members opposite have said that, under ‘ our present system, it would be impossible to pay. these rates, and if such is the case, it is an admission of Parliament’s incapacity. Do honorable members infer that the Commission was bribed to come to such a decision ? Are the members of that Commission brainless numskulls, who, after obtaining all the neces-sary evidence, and making the fullest possible investigation, have made a recommendation which cannot be given effect to ? If the Government admit their inability to govern the Commonwealth, it is time they made room for those who can. If honorable members opposite believe that it is beyond the power of any party to pay the rates set out in the Commission’s report, our present social and economic system is at fault, and radical changes will have to be made. Honorable members know that it is useless to increase wages unless a check is placed on prices. The Royal Commission has set down an irreducible minimum of £5 16s. 6d.” per week for Victoria. The Government have been in office for twelve months, and although their supporters told the people, prior to the last election, that they would govern this country in the interests of the people, they have failed lamentably. . The wage-earners were told to vote for the great National Party, because its policy was one that would be the means of improving the conditions of every member of the community, and some silly idiots believed them. I could mention six constituencies in Victoria in which the electors were hopelessly deluded. Although the basic wage rate for Victoria has been fixed at £5 16s. 6d., I believe the Government do not intend paying more than £4 4s.. which means that they are going to ask a man who has a wife and three children to support to accept £1 12s. 6d. less than the Commission, which was “specially appointed to make an investigation considers necessary. The workers of Australia have been waiting patiently for many months for a decision to be reached, and men have charged the workers’ representatives on the Commission with delaying the publication of the report. The working men and women in Victoria are in a more serious position than those in New South Wales, where the Government have to a degree settled the question. When the New South Wales basic wage was fixed at £3 17s., the Victorian rate was about £2 8s., and when the New South Wales rate was increased to £4 5s., the Victorian basic wage was’ £3 2s. The workers in Victoria have been waiting for the decision of this Commission, and now it has been received, the Government say they cannot give effect to it. We are told by honorable members opposite that we are only in favor of the public servants receiving an increased basic rate, but that is incorrect. This Parliament can effectively control the wages of the public servants.

Mr Maxwell:

– If we fix a basic wage for public servants, other workers will naturally demand a similar amount.

Mr MATHEWS:

– Of course they will, because they have been the worst paid section in the community. It is impracticable for a private employer to pay less than is paid in the Public Service. We deny the statement that this Parliament cannot assist the workers outside as well as those in the Public Service. If we increase the price of commodities, wages must also be increased, and, as I have said on a previous occasion, a daily wage of £1 is not too high, because it really requires that amount to enable a man with an average family to live in comfort. One hears on every hand of increasing rents, which are rising to the extent of 4s., 5s., and even 10s. a week. The Government guaranteed 5s. per bushel for the farmers’ wheat at the railway sidings ; but wheat is now 9s. per bushel. All other commodities have risen in price, and wages must be increased to meet the altered conditions. I doubt very much whether a discussion on the subject will have any effect; but it is the duty of honorable members to place their views before the people. I believe it would be in the interests of the public servants if they held stop-work meetings every day until their demands were conceded. I know there are many honorable members opposite who would welcome such an event, because they believe they would then have an opportunity of dealing with them.

Mr Wise:

– Why suggest it?

Mr MATHEWS:

– Because it. is a weapon which has been used by industrial unions with great success during the last few years, and it would benefit the public servants if they adopted a similar course. I happened to be in Western Australia when the public servants of that State went on strike a few months ago. That strike, brief though it was, disorganized the whole State, and had it continued much longer would have brought about a condition of chaos. The position would be the same in the event of a strike of Commonwealth public servants. If the seamen or those engaged in the building or carrying trades go on strike, the effect is injurious to many of thei r fellow workers, but such occurrences open the eyes of thecommunity to the real sore in our social system.

The Government must do something in this matter. I do not want to say that they areclosing down for the Christmas vacation earlier than usual merely to evade the responsibility of dealing with the report of the Royal Commission on the Basic Wage, but it looks like it.

Mr Poynton:

– Why not say so?

Mr MATHEWS:

– Then I will. We are closing down for the Christmas vacation earlier than we have done on any other occasion.

Mr Wise:

– We have been here for ten months.

Mr MATHEWS:

– I admit that we have had a long session, aud that attendance in Parliament entails heavy work on Ministers, but we might very well have continued the sitting for another week in order to deal with a report for which the workers have been waiting* for so many months. This report relates to the very life’s blood of the wage-earning section of the community, and they expect us to deal with it at once. The Prime Minister this afternoon did not display the good temper that I should have shown had there been thrown at me the little present that he received a night or two ago. He dealt with this question in a way which, no doubt, was amusing to some of his supporters, but he might well have asked the House to sit next week m order that this quest ‘on might be fully considered,and a definite decision arrived at. The public have not been taken by surprise. The have been expecting the fixing of a basic wage. Will any one say that it was thought that the Commission would recommend a basic wage involving an increase of only four or five shillings per week on the existing rate? I am sure that the Prime Minister had no such anticipations. He is teo keen a student of economics to have expected anything of the kind.

Mr Poynton:

– If the Prime Minister is as bad as you would have us believe, why is it that whenever there is any industrial trouble you -people run to him to get you out of it?

Mr MATHEWS:

– Because he is the Prime Minister of Australia. If there is any industrial matter that comes within his jurisdiction, and concerning which my constituents complain, I shall not hesitate to bring it before him. Another point is that he has taken. good care to clothe himself with more power than has any other man in Australia. He is, indeed, the only mean in the Commonwealth with any power. The people have not yet recognised that fact. They gave him a new lease of power last December, and I shall continue to put before him every industrial grievance with which he has power to deal. It is my duty to do so, and it is his duty to listen to my representations.

I do not want to see any trouble over this matter - I am afraid that I am too often speaking of threatened trouble - but I am satisfied that the public servants of Australia are determined on this occasion to secure their rights. It is nonsense to say that the country cannot afford to pay the basic wage. The Commonwealth can pay it, but it is useless to pay it unless at the same time the Government take steps to keep down the cost of ‘ living. Unless that is done, a re-adjustment will be necessary from time to time.

A word now as to the position of the womenfolk of the community. In dealing with the basic wage, I hope that the Government will not discriminate between married and single men, nor as between the sexes. A woman nowadays needs as much to live on as a man. We are told that the women want to dress too well. That may be a weakness on their part; but every man prefers to see a woman well dressed, rather than dressed in a dowdy fashion. In respect of clothing alone, apart from the cost of board and lodging, a single woman wants the same wage as a man.

Mr Poynton:

– Does not the honorable member think that a man with a wife :and family should have more than a single man ?

Mr MATHEWS:

– I do not believe in differentiating in this regard between married and single men, for the reason that if the wage fixed for a single man is less than that for a married man, private employers will employ only single men. There are many ways by which a man with a family may be assisted without differentiating between his pay and that of a single man. The State in many ways can assist his children from their birth. The State should provide them with medical attention and medicine, and, where necessary, with nurses. It should also provide for the education of the children, from the primary .school to the University. Not only should it provide them with free instruction, but with all school requisites, and if the child of a poor man has brains, and goes to the University, the State, where necessary, should provide that child with food and clothing. In the olden days, when a man paid £1 a week for his board and lodging, a woman had to pay only 10s. or 12s. per week. To-day it is not possible for a woman to get decent board and lodging for less than 30s. a week, and, in addition, she must keep herself in clothing and all the other necessaries. I do not want to labour the matter, but I trust sincerely that this question of .sex in relation to the basic wage will not be dealt with now as it has been in the past, and that further disabilities will not be laid upon women.

Mr Tudor:

– It was laid down in 1901 that there should be equal pay for equal work.

Mr MATHEWS:

– This principle has been laid down, as the honorable member for Yarra points out; but in the Education Department we find women teachers in one town doing work for a certain wage, and male teachers in another town doing the same class of work for a higher rate of wage. Of course, if a woman cannot perforin the work done by a man, she should not expect the same rate of pay; but it is the duty of the Government to see that every person in the community gets a fair living wage. It has been stated that the industries of the Commonwealth will not be able to pay this basic wage. What nonsense! If an industry is in that position, it is clear that the public are underpaying for its products. We have been told that many mines throughout the Commonwealth will have to close down if miners’ wages are to be brought up to the standard fixed by this Basic Wage Commission. I should like to see many mines closed down, for I know it would be much better, from the point of view of health, if the men engaged in them were employed on the land, even if, after a few years’ work there they turned round and voted not for the party that made it possible for them to go on the land, but for the Conservative section of the commuunity. The statement that an industry cannot afford to pay the basic wage is nonsense. There was a time when the fellmongering industry was the lowest paid in Victoria; but when it was demonstrated that if the industry could not pay better wages it would have to go out of existence, those connected with it very soon found it possible to pay better wages. Take the case of the farm worker. If the effect of paying the basic wage to him will mean increased prices for farm products, well, it will be nothing new. Wheat, butter, and other products have already gone up in price, so that this will only mean another re-arrangement. But if we agree to pay the basic wage throughout the Commonwealth, and do not take prompt steps to put down profiteering, the basic wage will not be sufficient for very long; there will have to be a rearrangement about every month. Glad as I would be to see the Government placed in an awkward position by their refusal to give effect to this recommendation, because ‘I am one of those to whom political victory is very sweet, I do not want to see them in any such difficulty at all. I would rather they adopted the basic wage, in order that the people might be in an improved position financially. I hope, therefore, that before this session closes something practical will be done.

Dr MALONEY:
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA · ALP; FLP from 1931; ALP from 1936

– This movement for the basic wage is another declaration of the war that is going on all over the world ; but it is not, based on scientific principles. I should like to see a wage fixed for the man and woman as husband and wife, and provision not for three children, but four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, or twelve children. If the basic wage is paid to the husband and wife, there could then be no question of differentiation between single and married, men, because the single man, if he had any sense, would hope soon to find a good Australian girl to be his mate. It is. the duty of the State to look after the child.For thirty years I have been endeavouring to persuade the powers that be to endow every woman with the right to go to the Government and claim a pension for her child. The elder Napoleon was the greatest friend of woman and child the world has ever seen. Under the Code Napoleon it is impossible for the husband to disinherit his wife or children. No child asks to come into the world, no child can come into the world, unless the parents meet; every child is the future unit of the State, and every unit of the State has rights that neither parents nor the State can deprive it of. It has the right to claim proper food, shelter, clothing, in order to become a healthy adult. I want to see woman idealized, and to be able to claim. ‘as her right, all these things for her child, as the future unit of the State. I am glad that Mr. Piddington has named 12s. as the sum which should be set aside for the upbringing of each child. What lesson is this for the Military Department in regard to their treatment of the children of deceased soldiers ! What a lesson it is to that mean-spirited Treasurer of Victoria (Mr. McPherson), who says that children can be brought up on 8s. per week. I wonder how he would like his own children brought up on that sum. According to Mr. Piddington’s figures, parents with twelve children, and for some years they could all be under sixteen years of age, would get the basic wage of £4 per week, and the allowance of 12s. per week for each child would bring the total income to £11 4s. per week. It hae been said that the country cannot afford to pay the amount involved by the adoption of the Basic Wage Commission’s. recommendation. Is it not a fact that in Germany, Italy, and Russia wages are nominally very much higher than in Australia ? After all, although money in those countries may have depreciated, the real test is to be found in the amount of commodities that it can buy. A quarter of a century ago the public servants of this State regarded Labour and Democracy as something not to be touched with a 40-ft. pole, and I remember on one occasion, when speaking at an open-air meeting, telling them I expected to live to see the day when they would ask Labour unions to help them. That day has come. But will we be satisfied if public servants get this basic wage, and outside employees do not? By no means. In the old days the public servants of Victoria drew £2 in pensions for every £1 drawn by public servants in New South Wales, with £50,000 to the bad. Victoria at that time paid her public servants in pensions more than was paid in all the other States of Australia put together. I have always stood for one pension, and that pension only - a pension that should be available to every man and woman on reaching a certain age. What I ask for the public servants I shall not cease from asking for every man and every woman employed outside the Public Service. I was glad to hear the honorable member for Melbourne Ports (Mr. Mathews) say that no difference should be made on account of sex. As far back as 1901, this Parliament, in dealing with the Public Service Bill, affirmed the principle of equal pay for equal work. ‘ There is not a member of this House who would permit us to go back to the barbarous times of a comparatively few years ago. Mr. Harrison’ Ord, who was Secretary to the Labour Department of Victoria, once said, that certain manufacturers and others used to pay their girls 2s. 6d. a week, giving the money on the Saturday morning, and collecting it from them again on the Monday morning. They were actually allowed to use it in that interval. When they asked for more they were “ sacked,” and others taken on in their places. In 1898, 4,554 women were employed in Victoria at an average wage of’ 10s. 9d. a week, and of them 3,813 averaged only 8s. 7d. a week. The average of 10s. 9d. a week was due to the inclusion of the comparatively high salaries paid to heads of Departments. That brand of infamy known as sweating was supported by the laws of Victoria; but to-day the people are rising in their power. I recognise that the position has its difficulties for Ministers. I do not care who else may be making this a party question, I am not doing so. lt may be difficult on the figures given by Mr. Knibbs to pay this basic wage. Employers will dismiss their hands, and close their works. But how easy would the position of Ministers be if they could say, “ This Commission recommends a certain basic wage. We are bound to accept its recommendation, and unless within sixty days a certain number of citizens lodge a petition objecting to its payment, it will become the law of the land.” There would then be behind it the 900,000 or so householders who pay the whole of the taxation of Australia. With the referendum and initiative in pur Constitution the people would have, the last voice in saying what should be done. Under such an arrangement Ministers would be in a much happier position. As it is, the alliance of the public servants of Australia with the Labour party may cause them to lose a number of seats. The conditions of our society are a reflex of those of Central Europe; but, thank goodness, we are 12,000 miles away from the centre of the disturbance. A German friend of mine, in sending five sovereigns to Germany, can get 900 marks for them, whereas formerly he got only 100 marks, so greatly has the purchasing power of money declined there. This Parliament must prevent the unjust increasing of prices. We should send to- gaol those who charge unfairly. In 1812, Napoleon, in his Criminal Code, enacted - I quote from memory a free translation - that if any man, or body of men, came together for the unjust raising of prices, the penalty should be 20,000 francs and- not ‘‘or” - six months’ imprisonment; but if the increase of prices affected food, such as bread or wine, the penalty should be doubled.

Evidently, he saw the malign influence of Trusts and Combines. The sooner we face this difficult question the better it will be for all of us. It was in 1898 one of the most aristocratic surgeons that England has ever had - I refer to Mr. Jonathan Hutchison - suggested that England should nationalize its bread. Why should not the Commonwealth Government take the “ staff of life,” pay a fair price to the farmers who grow the corn, give a fair price for the gristing at the mill, and let the national bakeries hand it over the counter free, with a charge made for delivery? It would not cost them onetenth of the amount which they have expended in connexion with the war. I am now speaking on behalf of the most helpless section of the community - the children. They have a right to proper food, clothing, and shelter. What is the greatest asset which a country can possess? Is it its gold, its houses, or its land ? Certainly not. It is a healthy population, consisting of well-educated men and women, who are well able to discharge their citizen duties. Does it not appeal to every honorable member thatwe must control prices ? I can recall the case of only two or three companies in Australia which have not increased their reserve funds and their dividends since the outbreak of war. Anybody can verify what I am saying by consulting the columns of the Bulletin. Honorable members might do worse than study the question of finance as it is set out in that publication. I am glad that the public servants recognise that the workers of Australia are their peers. If they are in need of assistance, I am satisfied that the unions of this country will help them so long as they will act reciprocally. I do not doubt that, at the recent elections, some of the swell public servants of this country were swayed by the placard which was used by the National party, and which was headed “ Ryan and Ruin.” How can a man help the name that he bears? It is a mere accident of birth. Yet, I am convinced that at the present moment it is a handicap for one to bear a name’ which comes from the land where the shamrock grows. Loving my country as as Australian, I do not deny the right of persons born in other lands to become permanent residents of the Commonwealth. To me, there is only one country, and that is Australia. It comes before everything else. I want every person who is an Australian, either by birth or adoption, to stand up for it. Let us set an example to the whole world by showing that we can handle our country and that we can do at least as much as is accomplished by intelligent creatures of a lower . order than ourselves. When I look upon the ant and the bee, I ask myself how it is that, never in the nest of the ant or the hive of the bee, do the young suffer if the necessities of life exist there. Can we say the same of our fellow human beings? Has it not been stated that 20,000,000 persons have perished of starvation in India? That is equivalent to four persons for every man, woman and child in Australia. Have we not been told that there is no child , under four years of age in Servia, and in parts of Bulgaria, and that although the Russians are endeavouring to help the children of their own country, the latter are still in want. Let us set an example to the world, by showing that every human being here - fashioned as he is in God’s likeness - shall have a chance to live a decent life as the Deity intended.

Mr BRENNAN:
Batman

.- My enemies will be pleased, and my friends will be resigned to learn that I have limited my address upon this proposal to ten minutes. After that, I shall bid the House and you, sir, an affectionate farewell, with an expression of hope that you will enjoy a happy Christmas and a merry New Year, and that we at least - whatever may happen to unfortunate public servants to whom the Government have refused their just rights - may go home to enjoy that basic wage which we have secured for ourselves for the period of the Christmas vacation, and for so long thereafter as a tolerant public will suffer us to enjoy it. J rise to join very shortly in protesting against the Government breach of faith in respect to the non-payment of the basic wage, in the first place to the members of our Public Service, arid afterwards, as we had hoped, to the general community. As an Opposition all we can do is to register our protest against the repeated breaches of faith on behalf of the Government iu matters of the kind. The promise was made under solemn circumstances; it was not a casual observation, but a direct statement by the Prime Minister himself, the head of the Government, as part of the Ministerial policy. The promise was that effective machinery would be created for the purpose of ascertaining a basic wage payable fo members of the Public Service, and that the findings of the Commission would be given effect to.

We are” not now beginning in this matter; we should by now have reaped the fruits of our labours in this regard. The Commission has deliberated for twelve months, and the Public Service and the public generally have waited expectantly “for the result of the Commission’s deliberations. It is not surprising to-day, when this determination has been arrived at, that the greatest impatience and indignation should be manifested on finding that Parliament is, about to go into recess without any hope of the promise being given effect to. The amendment moved by the Treasurer (Sir Joseph Cook) does not advance the matter. It is a series of platitudes which binds the Government to nothing, and promises nothing, though, indeed, if it did, we should not be much further advanced. It is curious, by the way, that the Treasurer should move an amendment as a subordinate Minister, on the motion submitted by his own Prime Minister. It is said that we cannot pay this minimum wage. I remind honorable members that the basic Wage does not necessarily mean fair compensation for work done; all it means is the minimum on which a person or family can decently live. I suggest to the Government that it is their duty, in the case of married men with three children, to definitely promise the immediate payment of what has been declared to be the least that is necessary to enable them to live under decent conditions. That is not too much to ask as a first instalment; and on that sure foundation, they might then, if they chose to regard the obvious intention of the Commission, extend ‘some measure of justice to the others/”’ We have deprived the Public Service of the Arbitration Court, and are proposing to 6et up a new Tribunal, though when that new Tribunal will come into operation I do not know. We have- granted large increases in salaries to members of the Professional Division x and to ‘ men enjoying high salaries in the Public Service, and we have not, it is perfectly true, forgotten ourselves. In these circumstances, for a responsible Minister to declare that the Commonwealth is not equal’ to paying to its public servants what a Royal ‘ Commission, after sitting for twelve months, declares to be the bedrock salary, is an in; suit to the Commonwealth as a whole, as well as to our common sense.

In this connexion I venture to put in a special word for the claims of the women workers in the Public Service. I am in receipt of two communications, the first of which is -

Equal Pay for Equal Work

  1. Of every ten women in the Service it is safe to say that at least eight will have others to support besides themselves - if not all their official life, during some portion of it - and those usually, adults, who cost more to maintain than children, in many cases old people or invalids who require medical attention. This is specially true since the war, there being many cases of shell-shocked or gassed or otherwise injured members of the family, whose pensions only partly support them.
  2. lt is fundamentally dishonest to allow two persons to sit side by side, doing the same work, involving the same mental and physical wear and tear, and pay one more than the other. To pay for sex or for marriage is as illogical as to pay according to the colour of one’s hair, or the size of one’s shoe, or any other personal idiosyncrasy. Work only should earn money.
  3. A man’s children are liabilities for a certain number of years, after that they become assets, and lighten his burdens, whereas a woman has nothing to look forward to but the result of her own exertions; if either should be paid more, she should be, because she is more heavily handicapped.
  4. Most women in the Service have renounced marriage because they have responsibilities towards their families, incurred, in most cases, because their brothers have married and left the maintenance of the old home in the hands of their sisters, who should surely be paid as much to maintain the old home as their brothers are to maintain the new one.
  5. If men are to be paid because they are married, then it is not right to pay the same rate to » man with one child as to a man with tcn children, to a widower with neither wife nor child as to a man with a wife and three children. If it is fair to differentiate between individuals at all, it should be carried out fairly in all its details.
  6. The first Federal Public Service Act gave a living wage to “ all officers “ of the Service. We should never again have been referred to as male and female officers, but all alike designated for all time “ officers of the Public Service.” Surely it is a retrograde movement to luring hack distinctions that existed last century. 7.We ask nothing excessive - simply the 1920 equivalent of our 1901 salaries.

I do not entirely indorse the statement in that circular that most women in the Service have renounced marriage. That is doubtless true in many cases, but I say quite candidly and seriously, speaking more especially of the Telephone Branch, of which I have a good deal of knowledge, that we have in the Commonwealth Public Service a splended body of women workers. I am very glad to believe, as I do, that a large proportion of them will in due time, by their ability and attractiveness, enter on the higher plane of matrimonial life. The second communication is -

We would be very grateful if, when the basic wage for Federal servants is being discussed in Parliament next week, you would speak in the interests of the women officers. At present we have women on a salary of approximately £2 9s. per week. This is totally inadequate for these times of high prices.

In Mr. Starke’s recent awards, he made the basic wage for women £135, and for single men £162. This is a violation of the Government’s . principle - equal pay for equal work. £135 - approximately £2 12s. per week - is a grinding wage. Board in a respectable locality comes to 30s. a week; washing, 3s.; lunch and train fares, 6s. 3d; total, £1 19s. 3d. This leaves about 14s. to cover insurance, income tax, lodge fees, and clothes. Old age and holidays cannot be provided for.

I indorse those claims on behalf of the women, and I hope that when the Government begin to look with a juster eye on the claims of the Public Service generally, they will not forget their special claims. There is no just excuse for the Government failing to give effect to the findings of their own Commission, and they should pay, at least, the minimum wage, and thus set an example to employers outside.

Question - That the words proposed to be added be so added (Sir Joseph Cook’s amendment) - put. The House divided.

AYES: 26

NOES: 14

Majority . . . . 12

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Amendment agreed to.

Question - That the motion, as amended, be agreed to - put. The House divided.

AYES: 26

NOES: 14

Majority…… 12

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Resolved -

That the papers be printed, and this House approves the statement made by the Prime Minister on Tuesday, 23rd November, regarding the basic wage to be paid to employees in the Commonwealth Public Service, and requests the Government forthwith to arrange for such amount to be paid as will be equitable and just, alike to employees and the general public, and within the practical capabilities of the Commonwealth to defray - Payment of such basic wage to be made as from 1st November, 1920.

page 7165

SHIPBUILDING CONTRACT

Inquiry by Public Works Committee.

Mr GREGORY:
Dampier

.- I move -

That the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works have leave to continue during recess, its investigations into the matter of the shipbuilding contract of Messrs. Kidman and Mayoh referred to it on the 29th day of October, 1920, and to present aninterim report thereon to the Governor-General.

As the Public Works Committee Act provides that all reports of the Committee must be presented to Parliament, I, as Chairman of that Committee, have always declined to present reports direct to the Government; but this is a matter of grave urgency which the Public Works Committee was asked to consider and report upon as speedily as possible. Therefore, seeing that it cannot conclude this inquiry for at least another fortnight, I have much pleasure in moving this motion in order to obtain the consent of the House to my proposal to facilitate the wishes of the Government by presenting the report of theCommittee direct to the GovernorGeneral without waiting until Parliament next assembles.

Mr TUDOR:
Yarra

.- I understand that the honorable member for Dalley (Mr. Mahony), who is absent, and whose interests I wish to protect in his absence, has raised the objection that the presentation of this report of the Public Works Committee to the GovernorGeneral may deprive the House of the opportunity of discussing it. Am I to understand that, although the report of the Committee is presented to the GovernorGeneral, it will be laid on the table of the House in the ordinary way when it meets again, and honorable members will have the opportunity of discussing it?

Mr Gregory:

– Most decidedly.

Mr TUDOR:

– I am anxious to know, also, whether the Government will proceed to take action upon the report of the Committee’, and pay over the amount which the Committee may decide is a fair payment to be made to Messrs. Kidman and Mayoh for the two vessels they contracted to build for the Commonwealth Government, or will the Government wait until the House has an opportunity of discussing the question?

Mr Gregory:

– The second portion of the report will not be presented until Parliament meets.

Mr TUDOR:

– I understand that these two vessels were to be sold to Messrs. Burns, Philp, and Company for £90,000, and that this firm went back on its offer, in consequence of which Messrs. Kidman and Mayoh want the Commonwealth to take over the ships at a price.

Mr Hughes:

– We are obliged to take over the boats. It is a contract.

Mr TUDOR:

– I understand that we have to take them over at a price, but the Public Works Committee is to decide whether Messrs. Kidman and Mayoh have fulfilled their contract. What I wish to know is whether, upon the receipt of the report from the Committee, the Government will finalize the matter before the House has the opportunity of dealing with it.

Mr HUGHES:
Prime Minister · Bendigo · NAT

– I presume that the Government will finalize the matter immediately upon the receipt of the report from the Public Works Committee, otherwiseit would be useless for the Committee to proceed any further in the matter. The ships must go to sea. If the claim of

Messrs. Kidman and Mayoh is not borne out by the contract, we must exercise our discretion, and leave the firm to that remedy which the law provides. It always has had its remedy at law, but when we put forward the suggestion that the matter might be settled by arbitration, both parties agreed that the Public Works Committee should act as arbitrators. When they come to a decision, the money must be paid over.

Mr Tudor:

– Will the first report of the Public Works Committee decide the amount ?

Mr Gregory:

– No.

Mr Tudor:

– I shall vote for the motion if the report does not decide upon the amount to be paid.

Mr HUGHES:

– I presume that the first report would say what is a fair amount to be paid, and whether the ships have been faithfully built, according to the specifications laid down in the contract. That is the very matter which has been submitted to the Public Works Committee by both parties; otherwise the point would have been argued out at law. If the matter Had gone to law, whatever amount the Court fixed upon would have to be paid.

Mr McWILLIAMS:
Franklin

– I was one of those who opposed the submission of this matter to the Public Works Committee. Seeing that a law suit was threatening, and that the contestants have agreed that the Public Works Committee should act as arbitrators, the procedure proposed by the honorable member for Dampier (Mr. Gregory) is, I think, the correct one to adopt in the circumstances, but” this House ought to have an opportunity of dealing with the report as soon, as we meet again.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

page 7166

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT

Mr HUGHES:
Prime Minis ter · Bendigo · NAT

– I move-

That the House, at its rising, adjourn until a date and hour to be fixed by Mr. Speaker, which time of meeting shall be notified by Mr. Speaker to each member by telegram or letter.

The House will probably be asked to meet in the first or second week in March.

Mr Tudor:

– That would . be before Easter, which falls on the 27th March.

Mr HUGHES:

– Then the House will meet on the first sitting day after Easter.

It would be of no use to meet shortly before Easter, merely to adjourn again.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

page 7166

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Motion (by Mr. Hughes) agreed to -

That leave of absence be given to every member of the House of Representatives from the determination of this sitting of the House to the date of its next sitting.

page 7166

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

Application of Basic Wage to Army Pay Corps - Regulation of Air Traffic - Insurance of Junior Officers - Compulsory Training

Mr GROOM, by leave:
Minister for Works and Railways · for Sir Granville Ryrie · NAT

– The honorable member for West Sydney desired to ask to-day -

Will the members of the Australian Army Pay Corps be entitled to increments arising out of the fixing of a basic wage for Government employees?

The answer supplied is -

The’ suggestion contained in the honorable member’s question will be considered.

Mr. GROOM, by leave (for Sir Granville Ryrie). - The honorable member f or Wentworth (Mr. Marks) has this question on the paper -

To ask the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. - Now that the Commonwealth has passed the necessary legislation for regulating air traffic, will the Government make an urgent request to the various State Governments to pass the necessary legislation to hand over the air control to the Commonwealth in terms of the arrangement entered into at the last Premiers’ Conference.

The answer supplied is -

A draft State Bill has been submitted by the Premier of New South Wales, on behalf of the Conference of Premiers, and this has been accepted by the Commonwealth Government. It is understood that the measure will be placed before the State Legislatures with the least avoidable delay.

Mr. GROOM, by leave (for Sir Granville Ryrie). - The honorable member for Eden-Monaro (Mr. Austin Chapman) asks -

  1. Is it a fact that some of the returned junior military officers who had their life insurance premiums paid by the Government during war service have been called upon to refund the amount of the premiums paid?
  2. Is it the intention of the Government, having paid these premiums, to insist on a refund of the same?

The answer supplied is - 1 and 2. Shortly after the outbreak of war, the Government decided, in . the case of permanent military officers, that premiums on life insurance policies taken out prior to the war” would be paid by the Commonwealth, but premiums would not be paid on policies effected after the commencement of the war. Ina few cases, however, the premiums in respect of policies taken out after the outbreak of the war were inadvertently paid by the Department, and in these cases a refund is being obtained from the officers concerned.

Mr. GROOM, by leave (for Sir Granville Ryrie). - On the 23rd November the honorable member for Hunter (Mr. Charlton) referred to two matters relating to compulsory military training. The first complaint is in regard to the unsuitable time for prosecution of lads employed in the coal mining industry. This Department has no control over the State Law authorities, the days for prosecutions are arranged to suit the local magistrate, but instructions will immediately be issued to the Commandant, 2nd Military District, that Area Officers in future must consult mine managers and the magistrate, and endeavour to arrange that cases for failure to render personal services are taken on days which are not working days for the collieries. At the same time, full inquiries will be made in regard to this matter by an officer specially detailed to’ visit Sydney next week. The second complaint is in regard to the non-supply of uniforms and boots. Mr. Charlton will remember that the reason for this was given some time ago. Special instructions were issued some time ago that discretion was to be exercised by Area Officers in dealing with lads who were drilling in their plain clothes. If Mr. Charlton will supply the name of the boy who was prosecuted the case will be fully inquired into. Every care is exercised to prevent friction. Mr. Charlton will be advised of the result of inquiries immediately a report of the officer mentioned in the previous paragraph is received.

page 7167

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Motion (by Mr. Considine) negatived -

That all the intervening business on the business-paper be postponed to enable notice of motion number 18 to be considered.

Mr SPEAKER:

– The honorable member is too late. The motion has been negatived.

Mr Considine:

– I thought that honorable members had withdrawn their opposition to the motion, and that is why I remained silent.

Mr SPEAKER:

– I understood that the call for a division was withdrawn, and I put the motion a second time, and it was negatived on the voices.

page 7167

ADJOURNMENT

Production of Papers - Retirement of Clerk Assistant - Cost of Living Allowances - Production of Marriage Certificates - Valedictory

Motion (by Mr. Hughes) proposed -

That the House do now adjourn.

Mr SPEAKER:

– The honorable member is too late. He should have called for a division.

Mr Considine:

– We did call for a division.

Mr SPEAKER:

– I was informed that the call for a division was withdrawn, and I again put the question, and declared it negatived on the voices.

Mr Prowse:

– May I ask that the House will now consider general business Order of the Day No. 9?

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order ! The question is that the House do now adjourn.

Mr GREGORY:
Dampier

.- I want to refer to the decision of the Government with regard to the last motion submitted from the Chair. I am satisfied with the work of the Post and Telegraphic Department, but, if there is anything likely to create suspicion in the public mind, it is the refusal to consider a motion couched in the terms of the motion submitted by the honorable member for Barrier (Mr. Considine), in which he asks for the production of papers dealing with what he describes as “ the forged telegram incident.” The Government, in my opinion, would have been well advised to have allowed the motion to pass.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order ! The honorable member cannot debate a decision of the House.

Mr GREGORY:

– I was speaking on the motion for the adjournment of the House.I shall say only that there is nothing more likely to create suspicion in the public mind than a refusal on the part of the Administration to allow departmental papers to be produced.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order !

Mr WISE:
PostmasterGeneral · Gippsland · NAT

– Referring to the remarks made by the honorable member for Dampier-

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order! The honorable member will not be in order in continuing that discussion.

Mr Wise:

– The whole matter was discussed on the 17th November.

Mr SPEAKER:

– I wish to take advantage of this opportunity, if honorable members will permit me, before putting the motion, to say a word or two.

I desire to inform honorable members that this is the last occasion, inall probability, on which Mr. Woollard, the Clerk Assistant, will officiate in this Chamber, it being that gentleman’s intention to retire from his position in February next, when he will have reached the retiring age.

In making this announcement, I may state that Mr. Woollard joined the Victorian Public Service on the 1st May, 1878, over 42 years ago, and became an officer of the Victorian Legislative Council in 1893, in which year he was appointed Clerk of the Records and Usher of that House.

At the inauguration of the Commonwealth Parliament in 1901, he was appointed Serjeant-at-Arms and Clerk of Committees of this House. In 1917 he was promoted to be Clerk Assistant.

I wish, to take this opportunity of expressing regret that Parliament will, by the retirement of Mr. Woollard, lose the services of one of its most valuable and capable officers, whose urbanity and courtesy, allied to his’ efficient performance of the responsible duties entailed by his office are, I think, recognised and appreciated by honorable members generally.

Honorable Members. - Hear, hear!

Mr SPEAKER:

– I am sure I am only expressing the unanimous wish of honorable members when I say I hope he will have many more years of life yet before him to enjoy his well-earned rest from active duty - duty which, in the case of officers of this Chamber, involves, not only work of a very exacting nature, but often extremely long hours of attendance.

Honorable Members. - Hear, hear!

Mr TUDOR:
Yarra

.- May I say, on behalf of honorable members on this side, many of whom have been in this House for a good many years with Mr. Woollard, that the sentiments you have expressed ably represent our feelings towards him, as well as to the other officers of this House. I desire to add that not only to you “but to the Chairman of Committees, and to all the officers of the House, members of this party are grateful for the way in which they have been treated. In conclusion, I wish you, Mr. Speaker, and them, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Mr McWILLIAMS:
Franklin

– It must have come as a shock to practically every member of the House to learn that we are about to lose our friend, Mr. Woollard, and especially that his retirement is due to the reasons mentioned by you, Mr. Speaker. The Clerk-Assistant appears to be good for at least another ten years of solid andfaithful work. Every honorable member who has come into contact with that officer - I care not on what side of the House he may sit - has found Mr. Woollard ready and willing to give him every possible assistance. He has been indeed a personal friend to honorable members. . I deeply regret that he is retiring from his position. I, for one, shall miss his advice, and the assistance which he has always so cheerfully placed at the service of honorable members. I join with you, sir, and with the honorable member for Yarra (Mr. Tudor) in hoping that Mr. Woollard may long enjoy his well-earned rest.

May I take the opportunity, on behalf of the party which I have the honour to lead, to thank you, Mr. Speaker, a.and the officers of the House generally, for the very kind and able assistance given to us at all times. May I say, as one who this session has made his advent as leader of a party, that I thank members of the’ Ministry, and honorable members on all sides of the House for the courtesy they have extended to our new party. We have done our best to live up to the principles which we have advocated.

Mr BRENNAN:
Batman

– I regret to obtrude a matter of business at this stage, but, since it is urgent, I trust that I may be excused for so doing. Certain members of the Public Service desire that I should call attention in this place to a circular which they have received, which is regarded as objectionable. Personally, I think that it is objectionable. It has been issued by the Acting Deputy Postmaster-General, apparently in the ordinary departmental routine way, and its contents are as follow: - tn connexion with the awards recently made by the Deputy ‘President of the Arbitration Court for the granting of new allowances to operate as from the 1st July, 1920, to meet increased cost of living, I have to state it is necessary that all widowers and married officers submit evidence of marriage, and it is accordingly requested that immediate steps be taken by you to obtain from all widowers and married, officers in your branch their marriage certificates for notation by’ the Department. The certificates should be forwarded under confidential cover to the Staff Section, accompanied by a list of names and designations of the officers concerned, and special care must . he taken to see that the documents are duly delivered. The certificates will be returned immediately after notation.

Officers between twenty-one and twenty-five years of age who have already produced marriage certificates are not required to again submit them.

This matter must he treated as urgent. (Signed) James Mason.

I think that the word of officers as to whether or not they are married should be accepted, and that they should not be . required to produce to any officer of the Department documents which are of a peculiarly confidential and personal’ nature.

Mr Bowden:

– A declaration of the date of marriage would do equally well.

Mr BRENNAN:

– As the honorable, member says, a declaration, if solemn proof is required in this matter, should be sufficient. Everybody knows that a marriage certificate contains a number of personal details which it may not be desired to disclose to departmental officers, or, for that matter, to any one else. The production of these certificates is surely not necessary, and the practice should be discontinued. Lastly, the circular should be withdrawn.

As I am upon my’ feet, and although I do not represent any party in particular, seeing that the party speaks through my honoured Leader the honorable member for Yarra (Mr. Tudor) , I desire to express the regret which we feel at the prospect of losing our friend, Mr., Woollard.

We have had a most strenuous session, and. notwithstanding what has been stated of us. I am sure we have all tried to do our duty. We have had to submit to your judgment, Mr. Speaker, in all things; and if I have broken the Standing Orders,o and have had to be called to order by you, I ask you to accept my solemn assurance that, though you may have a faithful record of the number of times I have broken the Standing Orders, you can have no idea at all of the number of times I have resisted my desire to do so. > I hope I shall get full credit for that. Although we have all sought for perfection, none of us, I fear, has attained it, unless, perhaps, you yourself, sir, may provide the sole exception. Honorable members have to submit to your judgment, while you, of course, have also to submit to your own judgment; and that, perhaps, will account for your success.

The Prime Minister has been guilty of introducing an inharmonious note to this House, but I must say that he has done so very rarely; indeed, only whenever he has come into the Chamber’. The’ Treasurer has been less fortunate, but more industrious, and so I congratulate him, too. In spite of the unkind things my opponents have said about me - I hope not sincerely - I have nothing but the best of goodwill towards them. I trust that they will mend their ways in the future, and I will undertake to do my best to amend my own. I hope we shall all experience a very happy Christmas and that we and all the citizens of this country shall enjoy a prosperous New Year. As for ourselves, much as we may differ in politics, I trust that we shall all meet again, at any rate, until the next elections.

Mr HUGHES:
Prime Minister and Attorney-General · Bendigo · NAT

– I have not seen or heard of the circular to which the honorable member for Batman (Mr. Brennan) has just referred, but I shall make inquiries and consider what the honorable member has said.

I wish to say, on behalf of the Government and of honorable members on this side of the House, how very much we regret that the Clerk Assistant (Mr. Woollard) is about to leave us. ‘The news comes as a very great surprise to me. If I were compelled to choose whom I would rather have removed from amongst us. I should certainly not select Mr. Woollard.

I have known that gentleman for twenty years, and I think that I ban say, with the honorable member for Yarra (Mr. Tudor), that it would be inconceivable if any man should say thathe had ever had any cause of complaint concerning Mr. Woollard. A more courteous and more obliging gentleman and a more competent officer never lived. I speak feelingly. It will be a source of sincere regret to all who have known him for so long to see his place vacant. I hope that all manner of good things will come to him, and that in his leisure he will be able to recall some of those inspiring scenes in regard to which he has been an onlooker, and in which, no doubt, he has thanked Almighty God that he was not a participator.

I wish to tender, on behalf of this Parliament - and here, surely, I may speak for all - my very hearty thanks to all the officers of the House. I need hardly say, sir, that we include you when thanking others for the manner in which they have carried out their duties. It has been a trying session, and when I look on those patient and enduring men who record what we say, or what we endeavour to say, I think that if there is to be a special reservation high above the Seventh Heaven, they will surely inherit it. Their duties are most trying. The Principal Parliamentary Reporter (Mr. Friend), who has been with us from the beginning, has done his work in such a way that, looking back over a period of twenty years,not one of us in that time has ever had occasion to complain.

Honorable Members. - Hear, hear!

Mr HUGHES:

Mr. Friend has organized and leads a most competent staff, and, with the experience I have had in other parliaments, I say deliberately that his is the most efficient Hansard staff in Australia. Indeed . I think it will compare more than favorably with any in the world. To the messengers and other officers I tender my thanks. They, too, play their part, and strive to do their duty. We wish them well. I wish the officers and staff of the House every good thing for the coming Christmas season, and in the New Year I hope I may, without completely blighting, or withering my friends on the other side, wish them well also. We have our little differences. Where would we be without them? The interjections of the honorable member for Batman (Mr. Brennan), which I do not always catch, are a source of unending delight to me, and when I offered him an hour or so ago £10 to assassinate two members of this Chamber who persisted in prolonging this sitting he absolutely refused to undertake the business. And yet there are carping spirits who say lawyers are ah avaricious and unscrupulous tribe ! We have all had a trying time. We have endeavoured, each one in our own way,- to do ourduty, and it will be in the fullness of time for the people to judge each one of us. I wish every member of the House the compliments of the season. I wish every officer the same. May I express the earnest hope that we all meet again, our health and spirits benefited through the temporary respite from our labours. I trust that we shall return to duty prepared to make the Tariff, amongst other things, a Tariffat which every nation will pluck out their eyes with envy, and that we shall be able to say that We have solved one of the most difficult problems on earth.

Mr SPEAKER (Hon Sir Elliot Johnson:

– On my own behalf, and on behalf of the officers, the messengers, and other employees of the House, I desire to express my appreciation of the remarks which have been made by the rightHonorable the Prime Minister (Mr. Hughes), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Tudor), the honorable member for Franklin (Mr. McWilliams), and the honorable member for Batman (Mr. Brennan). I desire to tender to the officers, and those associated with this establishment, my thanks lor their untiring attention during the recent session. I would also like to offer to honorable members my congratulations on the conclusion of their labours for the time being, and on their retirement to a well-earned rest. I also express the hope that when they return to their duties next year they will come fortified with renewed strength and vigour, prepared to carry out the important work which still lies ahead of them . I take this opportunity of wishing . to one and all a merry . Christmas and a happy New Year.

Honorable Members. - Hear, hear !

Question resolved in the affirmative.

House adjourned at 11.35 p.m.

Cite as: Australia, House of Representatives, Debates, 26 November 1920, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/hofreps/1920/19201126_reps_8_94/>.