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House of Representatives
23 February 1945

17^th Parliament · 3^rd Session

QUESTION
- RUBBER
MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY
- Price Control
QUESTION
- RAIL TRANSPORT
QUESTION
- FOOTWEAR FOR CHILDREN
QUESTION
- CAPITAL ISSUES
QUESTION
- AUSTRALIAN ARMY
QUESTION
- VACATED DEFENCE PROPERTIES
QUESTION
- FLY- WIRE GAUZE
QUESTION
- BANKING LEGISLATION
QUESTION
- REPATRIATION
SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT
QUESTION
- LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA
QUESTION
- SERVICE CAMPS NEAR PARRAMATTA
QUESTION
- POPULATION DRIFT FROM RURAL AREAS
QUESTION
- ALUMINIUM
QUESTION
- DROUGHT LOSSES OF STOCK
QUESTION
- CIVIL AVIATION
QUESTION
- BRITISH POLICY IN GREECE
GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S SPEECH
PAPERS
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
- Dean Case
- Atlantic Charter

Mr. Speaker (Hon. J. S.Rosevear) took the chair at 10.30 a.m., and read prayers.

page 76

QUESTION

RUBBER

Sporting Goods - Sandshoes for Children

Mr FULLER:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES

– Willthe Minister representing the Minister for Supply and Shippingmake inquiries and inform the House regarding the extent to which synthetic rubber may be used in the manufacture of sporting equipment, particularly sandshoes for school children?

Mr BEASLEY:
Vice-President of the Executive Council · WEST SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– At the moment, the use of synthetic rubber is confined to the production of motor tyros, the allocation of supplies for that purpose having been made by the War Production Board in the United States of America. Conditions are attached to the uses to which it may be put. According to my knowledge of the matter up to three weeks ago, I cannot hold out any hope of its being made available for the purpose suggested. Nevertheless, I think it desirable that inquiries should be made with a view to the production of the goods mentioned at the appropriate time.

page 76

MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY

Price Control

Mr FRANCIS:
MORETON, QUEENSLAND

– I have received a telegram in these terms -

Queensland Motion Picture Exhibitors Association special meeting to-day appalled at Prices Commissioner’s ruling re “ Song Bernadette “also permitting distributors to charge highly increased rentals involving percentage settlements exceeding forty per cent. which is maximum adopted by exhibitor associations throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Halbert, President.

Will the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Customs have the matter examined by the Prices Commissioner, with a view to an adjustment being made in order that fair play may be done?

Mr FORDE:
Minister for the Army · CAPRICORNIA, QUEENSLAND · ALP

– I shall confer with my colleague the Minister for Trade and Customs, with a view to action being taken along the lines suggested.

Mr.CONELAN. - I have received a telegram from Mr. Halbert, secretary of the Griffith Electoral Committee, who is also president of the Queensland Motion Picture Exhibitors Association, protesting against a certain ruling of the Prices Commissioner in relation to the motion picture industry, and also against the granting of permission to distributors to charge highly increased rents. As wages are pegged in this country, will the Go vernment take steps to have pegged also the rents charged by film distributors to exhibitors?

Mr FORDE:

– I shall confer with the Minister for Trade and Customs on the subject, and I assure the honorable member that the strong case he has made out will be considered.

page 76

QUESTION

RAIL TRANSPORT

Coal Supplies

Mr CHAMBERS:
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– Will the Minister representing the Minister for Supply and Shipping state whether or not coal production is at present exceeding all consumption needs ? If it is, will he ascertain whether or not additional coal can be made available to the various railway authorities so as to permit the relaxation of some of the existing rail transport restrictions ?

Mr BEASLEY:
ALP

– I should not careto say that existing production is meeting all our needs, because needs for extra supplies are constantly arising. The necessity for higher production is made more apparent by the presence in the Pacific of units of the British Fleet. The stock piles of coal for transport purposes have been considerably increased in Victoriaand South Australia during the last two or three months, and I am hopeful that this . will have the effect of achieving the result desired by the honorable member.

Mr RYAN:
FLINDERS, VICTORIA

– Does the Minister for the Army recall that, at the conference of the Australasian Council of Trade Unions on coal held on the 19th December last, the General President of the Miners Federation, Mr. Wells, said that proof of the federation having disciplineditsmembers wasgiven by the fact that it had recommended that a number of coal-miners should be taken into the Army, and this actually had been done? Will the right honorable gentleman inform the House of the number of recommendations made by the federation, and the number of men taken into and retained by the Army in response to them? Can he further state whether such men, if there be any, have proved amenable to Army discipline?

Mr FORDE:
ALP

– I well remember the Conference referred to; it was most successful. I cannot give now the details sought by the question, but I shall obtain them for the honorable gentleman.

page 77

QUESTION

FOOTWEAR FOR CHILDREN

Dame ENID LYONS:
DARWIN, TASMANIA

– Is the Minister representing the Minister for Supply and Shipping aware that many districts report grave shortages of the smaller sizes of children’s footwear, and that complaints as to quality are still common? In view of the injury that is caused .to the health of children, and the difficulty and anxiety imposed upon the already overburdened mothers of the community, will the honorable gentleman undertake to examine the possibility of increasing the production of footwear of this class - if necessary, even at the expense of other lines used by adults?

Mr BEASLEY:
ALP

– I regard the matter as important and, if the circumstances be as stated, rather serious. The obligation to provide proper and adequate footwear for the children of this country is a special one. I shall discuss the matter with the honorable member for Dalley (Mr. Rosevear) who is Controller of Leather and Footwear, in order to determine whether or not the wish expressed in the question may be met without delay.

page 77

QUESTION

CAPITAL ISSUES

Sydney Turf Club - Royal Exchange Hotel

Sir FREDERICK STEWART:
PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES

– I ask the Treasurer to state the terms of the authority issued by the Treasury to the Sydney Turf Club for the acquisition of certain properties in Sydney. I also ask the honorable gentleman to state whether or not authority recently was given to Tooth’s Brewery to purchase for the sum of £60,000 the Royal Exchange. Hotel in Sydney.

Mr CHIFLEY:
Treasurer · MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– The Sydney Turf Club was permitted to acquire the Canterbury race-course by the issue of deben tures. No money was loaned by any institution for the purpose. That is the only transaction of which I have any knowledge. I understand that other consideration given by the Sydney Turf Club to the Canterbury Park Racing Club was in the form of cash reserves. There was no borrowing.

Sir FREDERICK STEWART:

– The issue of debentures is borrowing.

Mr CHIFLEY:

– No money was advanced by any bank or loaned by any other body. I have read in the press, statements in connexion with the Moorefield and Victoria Park race-courses, but I have no knowledge- of any transaction having been effected. I shall have inquiries made in relation to the purchase of a hotel by Tooth’s Brewery, and shall advise the honorable member of the result.

Sir FREDERICK STEWART:

– May we understand that applications for permission to purchase properties which have been rejected because the intending purchasers have not been able to complete their purchases without borrowing money, will be favorably reconsidered, provided that the prospective purchasers can arrange for borrowing in the form of debentures? In such circumstances will the objection to the purchases be waived?

Mr CHIFLEY:

– I shall consider the matter if there is any possibility of such persons being able to finance their transactions by means of debentures.

page 77

QUESTION

AUSTRALIAN ARMY

Public Relations Directorate) - Parcels Post Services

Mr HARRISON:
WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES

– I ask the Minister for the Army whether or not members of the Public Relations Directorate of the Army holding non-commissioned rank are reporting operations in forward areas. If so, will the right honorable gentleman give urgent consideration to the matter of granting commissions to such members, and to the acknowledgment of their individual reports when statements are made to the press?

Mr FORDE:
ALP

– I shall have inquiries made, with a view to furnishing the information desired.

Dame ENID LYONS:

– The delivery of parcels and second-class mail matter addressed to personnel in certain Pacific operational areas has been seriously delayed owing to shipping difficulties, and in a certain area only one delivery has been made since early in December, and that, unfortunately, not before Christmas ; also letters for delivery by air are sometimes left behind because room is required on the aeroplane to carry visiting army personnel, probably on inspectional work. In view of these facts, I ask the Minister for the Army whether he will investigate a complaint that in recent weeks a colonel visiting a. Pacific operational area by aeroplane was accompanied by a native batman and a dog, thus necessitating the exclusion of first-class mail matter of corresponding weight ?

Mr FORDE:

– I shall have inquiries made into the matter. We all are in sympathy with parents and relatives who desire their men in operational areas to receive their mail regularly. The receipt of letters by troops in forward areas is probably the best of all morale builders, and everything possible should be done to ensure the delivery of mail matter a3 quickly as possible. An acute shortage of shipping exists, however, and this has caused delay in the delivery of secondclass mail matter. I shall refer the subject to the Commander-in-Chief immediately, with the object of having any cause for complaint removed as quickly as possible.

page 78

QUESTION

VACATED DEFENCE PROPERTIES

Mr CONELAN:
GRIFFITH, QUEENSLAND

– Is the Minister representing the Minister for the Interior aware that the Government has taken over for various military projects large areas of land vacated by Allied Services, on which huge sums have been expended in the provision of water, sewerage, and lighting facilities? Does the Government intend to acquire these properties? If not, will the expenditure have been wasted ?

Mr LAZZARINI:
Minister for Home Security · WERRIWA, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– In the acquisition r>f land, the Department of the Interior :,Cts on requests and requisitions from other departments which require it. When such land is vacated, it is handed back to the owner in the terms of the regulations that govern the matter, and he is compen sated for any damage that may have been done. Certainty, considerable loss is likely to result from war expenditure of this sort. But all expenditure for war purposes is wasteful. The expenditure in question had to be incurred, and if it be lost the war will have to be debited with the cost. I shall obtain a full reply from the Minister for the Interior.

page 78

QUESTION

FLY- WIRE GAUZE

Mr COLES:
HENTY, VICTORIA

– Will the Minister for Munitions give sympathetic consideration to the possibility of making a small quantity of fly-wire gauze available with a view to removing the inconvenience and discomfort of people who have been granted permission to .rebuild homes destroyed in bush fires last year?

Mr MAKIN:
Minister for Munitions · HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

– The fly-wire gauze produced has been required largely for the services in the northern areas of Australia, and what has remained after .their requirements have been met has been used to supply the needs of hospitals. I am thoroughly sympathetic with the applications of those who have suffered from bush fires, and will have the matter examined with a view to affording the relief that they seek.

page 78

QUESTION

BANKING LEGISLATION

Mr HOLT:
FAWKNER, VICTORIA

– Earlier in this week, the press published details of what were alleged to be the contents of a confidential document which the Treasurer discussed with caucus in relation to the Government’s banking proposals. Will the honorable gentleman state whether or not they gave an accurate forecast of the Government’s intentions? In particular, is it true, as has been reported, that the Government proposes to empower the Commonwealth Bank to lay down the advance policy to be followed by the trading ‘banks?

Mr CHIFLEY:
ALP

– I have not read the report purporting to give details of documents discussed by the Government party, and proposals submitted to it by me on behalf of the Cabinet. The honorable member mentioned a confidential document. It would appear that not many such are about in these days. I hope to submit to the House, by the 9th

March if possible, the Government’s legislation on this subject, and when that is done the points raised by honorable members will be answered.

page 79

QUESTION

REPATRIATION

Mr FRANCIS:

– Has the attention of the Minister for Repatriation been directed to a report in this week’s Smith’s Weekly in which the grave allegation is inside that a soldier discharged as suffering from neurosis is not entitled to any repatriation benefit and is therefore required to seek medical aid at his own expense to preserve his sanity. Will the Minister examine the allegation and make a statement to the House on it next Wednesday? Will he also inform the House of what is being done to ensure the proper treatment of nervous and mental cases among service personnel?

Mr FROST:
Minister for Repatriation · FRANKLIN, TASMANIA · ALP

– I have not seen the report. I have not read Smith’s Weekly for a considerable time. I do not consider that bald statements in a newspaper without reference to specific instances of the kind referred to are sufficient grounds for action. I invite the honorable member to submit specific cases to me and I assure him that I shall have them investigated at once.

page 79

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT

Motion (by Mr. Forde) agreed to -

That the House, at its rising, adjourn to Wednesday next, at 3 p.m.

page 80

QUESTION

CIVIL AVIATION

Control of Interstate Airlines: i nter-depa rtmental committee’s Report - Northern T asmania - Australian National Airways - Aircraft Crash at Spring Plains: Report or Departmental Panel.

Mr WHITE:

– In view of the announcement in the Governor-General’s Speech that statutory authority is to be given to the intention of the Government to control interstate airlines, will the Minister for Air place before the House, for the information of honorable members, the report of the Inter-departmental Committee on Civil Aviation which the Government has held for twelve months?

Mr DRAKEFORD:
Minister for Air · MARIBYRNONG, VICTORIA · ALP

– I understand that, during my absence overseas, the honorable member for Balaclava sought to have this report tabled, and was informed by the Acting Prime Minister that, being a secret document, it would not be tabled. I agree with that decision, and do not propose to table the report.

Mr CONELAN:

– Has the Minister for Civil Aviation any information to the effect that the British Government intends to take over all private aviation companies in Great Britain and nationalize them, as is stated in a report in this morning’s Canberra Times?

Mr DRAKEFORD:

– I have not seen the newspaper report. While I was overseas, I was in contact with the persons in Great Britain who are administering civil aviation, and I was not informed that it was the intention of the British Government to nationalize the airways of that country. But the British Overseas Airways Corporation is a government concern in which, so far, only government money has been invested. I am quite sure that that organization will administer its undertaking successfully, as this Government will administer civil aviation affairs here.

Dame ENID LYONS:

-Is the Minister for Civil Aviation yet able to make a statement concerning the restoration to its normal condition of the reduced air service to north-western Tasmania?

Mr DRAKEFORD:

– I shall endeavour to obtain the latest information on the subject and furnish it to the honorable member. I was under the impression that the service had been restored, but if this is not so, I shall make an investigation with the object of having it restored as soon as possible.

Mr HOLT:

– Will the Minister for Civil Aviation inform me whether it is a fact that Australian National Airways has made application for permission to operate fifteen internal airlines in Australia, and eight overseas services, all without subsidy? Has the Government yet reached a decision on this application ?

Mr DRAKEFORD:

– A number of such applications has been received from aviation companies, including one from Australian National Airways. No doubt the honorable member has seen the details of these various applications which have been published in the press. It would appear that aviation companies are prepared to run air services anywhere in the populated areas in Australia. The Government has not yet reached any decision on these applications, but it may be relied upon to do the best that can be done in the interests of the whole of our people.

Later:

Mr DRAKEFORD:
MaribyrnongMinister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation · ALP

– by leave - I have received a report from the departmental panel of officers appointed to ‘ inquire into and report upon the fatal crash of Stinson A2.W. (VH-UYY) aircraft at Spring Plains, about 54 miles north-west of Essendon, Victoria, on the morning of the 31st January 1945. Eight passengers and the crew of two were killed in the crash.

The Stinson left Essendon at 7.55 a.m. for Broken Hill, and was flying its normal course at the time of the accident. At 8.6 a.m. the aeradio station at Essendon received a message from the aircraft advising, “I have nothing to report”. About seven minutes later the aircraft crashed. The aircraft was in the charge of Captain A. L. Murn and First Officer A. D. Openshaw, both experienced airmen. Captain Murn had a total experience of 1,100 flying hours and First Officer Openshaw 3,000 hours. The certificate of airworthiness of the Stinson was valid until the 1st November, 1945.

Aircraft VH-UYY was one of four Stinson aircraft imported during 1936 by Airlines of Australia. One of these aircraft crashed on the 28th November, 1937, when it took off from Archerfield aerodrome near Brisbane, in darkness and fog and struck some trees near the aerodrome. There were only one pilot, and one passenger on board, and both were killed. The second Stinson crashed at Lamington National Park, in the Macpherson Ranges, South Queensland, on the 19th February, 1937. There were two pilots and five passengers on board. The two pilots and two passengers were killed, and of the remaining three passengers, one died on his way for assistance. The accident was attributed to cyclonic weather conditions, resulting in the aircraft being caught in a sudden down current on the lee side of the mountain range, and hitting the trees. The fourth and remaining Stinson was grounded immediately after the accident to aircraft VH- -UYY, and will not be permitted to fly again.

The cause of the fatal accident to Stinson aircraft VH-UYY on the 31st January is ascribed to an undetected fatigue crack in a welded joint at the lower main front boom attachment fitting of the port outer wing which led to stress concentrations which, in turn, caused the crack to develop through to the parent metal, and eventually led to very rapid and complete failure of the fitting in tension. Expert examination since the accident indicates that the initial fatigue crack did not break the surface of the welded metal, and in all probability would not, therefore, be visible at the certificate of airworthiness and annual overhaul inspections in October last year. From the disposition of the wreckage, and having regard to the statements of witnesses, it has been established that the sequence of failure was - (i) Port outer wing; (ii) tail unit; (iii) starboard wing; (iv) starboard power plant attachments.

The failure of the port outer wing caused the aircraft to commence a descending roll. The descent of the aircraft then steepened, the roll continued, and the tail was then observed to be broken from the rest of the aircraft and whipping around under the restraint of the control cables. Several other pieces of the airframe were then observed to leave the descending aircraft and it finally crashed in a stony paddock, immediately catching fire. The height of the aircraft was 1,000 feet above terrain as it approached the scene of the accident.

The departmental panel has reported that, so far as is known, this accident is the first example to date of a failure in flight of an aircraft primary structure attributable directly to fatigue. The kind of construction employed in Stinson aircraft is a heat-treated welded steel tubular framework as distinct from the ‘ more common all-metal monocoque type of construction. The panel has accordingly recommended, inter alia, that at every annual overhaul of aircraft employing welded steel tube structures., the structurally important joints where stresses are likely to be high should be magnaflux examined, since it is evident from this accident that fatigue cracks can exist which may not be visible. The adoption of this recommendation will involve the procurement of suitable portablemagnaflux equipment for issue to the department’s senior inspector of aircraft at each capital city, and this will be done forthwith.

Since publicity had been given to a statement that a crack had been observed in the tail of Stinson aircraft VH-UYY on the 26th January, 1945, by two Royal Australian Air Force personnel who had directed the attention of the honorable member for Darling (Mr. Clark) to the effect, the departmental panel obtained statements under oath from -the two Air Force men concerned. Both stated that they had definitely observed a crack in the outboard elevator bracket on the port side of the machine. Although the part in question was severely damaged on impact with the ground, a careful examination was made and the panel was not able to establish the existence of such a crack. The panel advises, however, that it may be stated with certainty that prior to the actual impact of the tail unit with the ground, this bracket was in whole and firm condition and the nature of the impact failure reveals that considerable impact force was transmitted through the bracket in question in several places. It is thepanel’s considered opinion that the alleged crack had no hearing whatsoever on the accident.

To sum up, according to the departmental panel’s report, the accident was caused through the failure of the lower main front spar boom attachment fittings due to a fatigue crack. Examination since the crash has indicated that the fatigue crack developed in three stages. The initial stage was in the weld metal, approximately inch long, and was generated over a considerable period of time by stress concentrations at this section. The later states developed rapidly, and caused the ultimate and complete failure of the wing. The initial crack com menced on the inner surface of the attachment socket weld and extended slowly to the outer surface. Stress concentrations due to the presence of this initial crack were sufficient to cause rapid propagation of the fatigue when heavy air loads, such aswould be expected in the turbulent air conditions at the time, were encountered. The time interval between the two later stages of the crack could not be accurately determined by the panel, but it is sufficient to say that it was extremely short. Both by the nature and location, the initial fatigue crack referred to could not be detected by routine inspection during maintenance, and it is also extremely improbable that any visible evidence of the crack was present at the time of the annual overhaul in October. 1944.

The sympathyof the House will, I am sure, be extended to all relatives of the pilots and passengers who lost their lives in this distressing accident.

Mr Spender:

– Who were the members of the panel?

Mr DRAKEFORD:

– The panel consisted of four departmental officers, all experts in their own lines. Mr. Stewart was chairman, but I cannot give the names of the others off-hand. A thorough inquiry was made, but in order to allay any possible uneasiness in the public mind, seeing that this accident was of a kind different from others, I propose to arrange for the holding of an open inquiry, in addition to the departmental inquiry just concluded.

Mr CLARK:
Darling

- by leaveReference is made in the report of the departmental panel to a statement which I made to the press. I travelled in the aeroplane on the Friday before the accident. On that occasion, a crack in the tail structure was pointed out to me by two groundstaff members of the Royal Australian Air Force, men whom I took to be experienced. At the inquiry into the accident they repeated the statement which they had made to me. It would appear from the report which the Minister has just read that those who conducted the inquiry deny that there was such a crack in the tail structure of the plane. The fact is that I, myself, saw the crack there. As to its extent, or the danger which it might have represented, I am not qualified to speak. ,1 did say to the two aircraftmen that if they believe that the crack represented a danger they should inform the pilot, so that the machine would, not be taken into the air.

Mr Abbott:

– Was that the only action the honorable member took?

Mr CLARK:

– I have travelled in various aircraft and have heard various statements about them. If on every occasion I had taken heed of those statements and endeavoured to prevent the pilots from flying the machines, a difficult position would have been created. I realize that by making the statement I did, I left myself open to the. criticism that I ought to have taken other action, but in point of fact I took the only action which I thought at the time to be necessary. I asked the aircraftmen to tell the pilot about the existence of the crack, but I do not know whether they did so. I have in my pocket now a ticket for a trip on this aeroplane on the Wednesday, the day upon which it crashed. I was waiting to board it when I was informed that it had gone down in flames. It is. evident, from my preparedness to travel on it again, after having seen the crack in the tail, that I had not been very much alarmed when the defect was pointed out to mc. It was after the crash occurred that the incident came back to my mind, mid’ I made n statement to the press so that that aspect of the matter might be looked into. The report of the panel has disclosed that there were several cracks in ‘the aircraft structure. That being so, it seems to me that all antiquated aircraft of this kind which ure flying on passenger routes should be carefully examined for defects. I have been informed by engineers that fatigue cracks in the metal framework of aircraft can be located by X-ray equipment. All antiquated aircraft should be so examined for fatigue cracks, particularly at points of stress, and certificates of airworthiness issued only after such examination has been made. I suggest that an examination of this kind be made every three months or six months at the most. It is more important that the frame of an aircraft should be sound than that the engines should be in perfect order, yet the engines are examined daily. If the engines fail, there is still a chance that the aircraft can be brought down safely, but if the structure of the aircraft itself fails there is no hope at all. Therefore I urge the Minister to ensure that the metal structure of aircraft is properly examined with X-ray apparatus, and certificates of airworthiness issued only when they are found to be free from defects.

Mr WHITE:
Balaclava

- by leaveIn the report of the departmental panel which was read by the Minister for Air (Mr. Drakeford), no mention is made of the fact that aircraft of this type were originally fitted with three engines. The particular aeroplane which crashed had only two engines, which indicates that at some time in its history it had undergone a major structural alteration. This aeroplane was, perhaps, eight or nine years old. An aeroplane may have a longer life, but the rate of depreciation is usually fixed at 25 per cent, per annum in order to be on the safe side. It seems to me that the panel made a serious error in not mentioning the removal of one of the engines originally installed, and therefore the Minister should refer the report back to them.

Mr Chambers:

– This incident is another argument in favour of the nationalization of airways.

Mr WHITE:

– Let lis not drag politics into the matter. I am now referring to the report of the departmental panel, and I suggest that it be referred back to them even before the holding of the public inquiry.

page 83

QUESTION

BRITISH POLICY IN GREECE

Mr HOLT:

– I have in my hand an advertisement which appeared in the Melbourne Herald on Friday, the 12th January, and was inserted by the Victorian State Executive of the Australian Communist party. This advertisement calls attention to a public meeting to be held on the Yarra Bank on the following Sunday to protest against British policy in Greece. In the body of the advertisement appears the following: -

Send your protests direct, to the British Government, and through Dr. Evatt, Minister for External Affairs at Canberra!

Clearly, the inference to he drawn from that advertisement is that the Minister had in some way linked his name with the protest, or had authorized the Communist party to advertise that protests might he sent through him. Did the Minister, in fact, authorize the use of his name in this connexion? Were any protests actually receivedby him? Were they, in fact, despatched by him to the British Government? If he did not authorize the publication of such a statement by the Communist party, what action does he propose to take in respect of that party’s impertinence in linking his name with a public statement of this kind?

Dr EVATT:
ALP

– The honorable member showed me the advertisement five minutes ago. I did not authorize the use of my name, or any reference to the department. I did not receive any protests whatever. Consequently, nothing went through this Government to the British Government on the matter; and I am certain that the British Government did not authorize the publication of such a statement.

page 84

GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S SPEECH

Address-in-Reply.

Debate resumed from the 22nd February (vide page 74), on motion by Mr. Fraser -

That the following Address-in-Reply to His Royal Highness the Governor-General’s Speech be agreed to: -

May it please Yourroyal Highness:

Mr Archie Cameron:

– Why then are Opposition members being invited to attend the San Francisco conference?

Mr DRAKEFORD:

– I do not know. At that conference there will be no specific agenda, but at the Chicago conference, a specific matter was under consideration on which this Government, which represents the people of Australia, has definite views, and if there had been other persons from. Australia standing up and saying that the view expressed by the Government representative on any particular proposal was not the view of the people of Australia, Australia would have beenbrought into ridicule. What will be done with regard to the San Francisco conference is something of which I so far have no information, but, if there are some honorable members from the Opposition benches, like the honorable member, who desire a trip to San Francisco, I am sure that they could make very useful contributions to the discussions, as the honorahle member does in this House from time to time. However, this opinion that on all occasions an injustice is. done by not sending representatives of the Opposition overseas carries no weight with the Government or the people.

With regard to our own people overseas, I am glad to be able to say, while not attempting at this stage to give a report on my visit, that I was able to make contact with members of the Royal Australian Air Force in various countries. As Minister for Air, I consider that I should say that members of the Royal Australian Air Force overseas, have greatly impressed the people with whom they had come into contact. In the United States of America, Canada and Great Britain they are very highly thought of. I am not suggesting that that is exclusive to the Royal Australian Air Force, because I think members of other services also have impressed the people of other countries whom they have met. But there are large numbers of Royal Australian Air Force personnel abroad. The Prime Minister (Mr. Curtin) has pointed out that the numbers should not be stated, so I shall not give them ; but they are large, and wherever our airmen have gone, they have created the impression that they are as fine a body of men. as could be sent from any country. I had, of course, visited them in forward zones of the South- West Pacific Area and all I had seen of them there and in Australia was confirmed by my visit overseas. Both on and off the field of combat their conduct does credit to the people of Australia and themselves. The best proof of the high regard in which members of the Royal Australian Air Force are held in Great Britain is the fact that commanding officers do not want to lose them. I have not the slightest hesitation in saying that the men themselves are keen on. the service that they are given the opportunity to render. They want to do their best, and are “on their toes “ practically all the time. I visited them not only at the stations from which they are operating, but also at the places where they are finding entertainment and recreation, and I pay tribute to the splendid services given by the various organizations which attend to the men’s recreational needs. There are numbers of them and, lest I should omit any, I shall not attempt to name them all, but they include such bodies as the Australian Comforts Fund, the Boomerang Club and the Anzac Club. There are clubs for the entertainment of Australian airmen in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. The people conducting them go to the limit in looking after the interests of our men overseas, and I pay tribute to them for the generous way in which they are catering for our lads. The way in which the Royal Australian Air Force members have responded has helped to raise our prestige overseas.

In the last few weeks there has been considerable comment from time to time about the employment of members of air crews in other than their ordinary occupations. I propose to deal with that because it is of considerable importance,

Much of what has been said has no justification. Honorable members will recall the comprehensive statement made In this chamber, towards the end of last session, by the Minister for Home Security (Mr. Lazzarini), as Acting Minister for Air, during my absence abroad, regarding the then aircrew position. He then explained that a fairly substantial number of aircrew surplus to immediate requirements had been built up, owing primarily to the following factors : -

the favorable war situation had reduced the extent of the war fronts, with consequent increase of the concentration of airpower ;
casualties amongstthe various categories of aircrew had been substantially less than had been anticipated and upon which the originally required outputs had been based ;
in consequence of a and b, the United Kingdom authorities had advised that no more drafts of fully trained aircrew would be required to be sent from Australia for service with the Royal Air Force, whilst further drafts of partially trained aircrew for completion of training in Canada would not be required.

That sudden and unexpected cancellation of despatch overseas of drafts who were already fully trained or partially trained for service with the Royal Air Force resulted in substantial surpluses to immediate requirements, which were then confined to Royal Australian Air Force needs in the South-West Pacific Area. Consideration was immediately given to the solution of the problem of absorption of those surpluses in manners by which they could be regarded as rendering the most economical and useful service to the country. The course finally decided upon was to reduce recruiting intakes and close down certain training schools temporarily, until such time as the surplus pools were absorbed. At the same time, the training organization was adjusted to produce subsequent requirements in the South-West Pacific Area, after making due allowance for the numbers of operationally trained aircrew,both those here and those anticipated to return from overseas and become available for service in this theatre. All the fully trained aircrew of the required standards will be utilized on full flying duties within the next few months.

According to statistics made available, 1,683 partially trained aircrew personnel who were withdrawn from aircrew training as the result of that diminution in the training programme are temporarily employed on ground duties, pending resumption of their aircrew training in the near future. Of those numbers, 850, large numbers of whom volunteered for the work, have been made available at the request of the man-power authorities for fruit-picking to approximately the end of March in the Shepparton and Renmark districts, the other 833 personnel being at present employed at Air Force formations and units on the following duties: -

A few officers who were undergoing pilot training at the time the training was suspended have been re-employed on flying instructional duties in their original aircrew category. Others are temporarily employed on administration or other duties, pending their re-absorption in their aircrew training course.

Every action will be taken to ensure that, except in the case of those who were remustered to ground-staff because they did not measure up to the required aircrew standard, the partially trained aircrew employed temporarily on other duties will resume their aircrew training in the near future. Actually, all of those personnel have already been allotted to courses in the aircrew training plan and will resume their training by the following dates: -

Initial Training School trained - the 21st May, 1945.

Elementary Flying Training School trained - the 30th April, 1945.

Service Flying Training School trained- the 19th March, 1945.

Air gunners - the 16th April, 1945.

Navigators (W)- the 22nd July, 1945.

Mr Anthony:

– There will be aircraft for them to fly? They will not be kept as trained men without aircraft?

Mr DRAKEFORD:

– It is the first suggestion I have heard that one reason for not continuing training is shortage of aircraft. I do not think that is in any way the fact. It will be noted that, except in the case of navigators, wireless, all the partially-trained aircrew whose training was temporarily suspended will resume their training by the 21st May next.

It is regarded as appropriate here to mention that, in view of the reduced numbers of aircrew required to meet our future commitments, and having regard to the much higher standards now demanded of personnel for the operation of the latest types of aircraft and equipment with which the Royal Australian Air Force is being equipped, steps were taken to remove from the lists of aircrew graduates those who were regarded by their squadron commanders, as verified and confirmed by Area Head-quarters, or for medical reasons as not “ measuring up “ to or maintaining the standards required. The numbers of aircrew personnel recommended for re-muster or discharge on the grounds that they were below service aircrew standards approximated 200. Certain re-musters and discharges have already been effected, though the big majority of cases involved are still under’ consideration by the determining authorities who are making a very close examination of each case to ensure the most sound and just decision in relation to final disposal.

Another aspect to which I should like to refer is the recently renewed calling of applications for enlistment as aircrew. Some may find it difficult to reconcile that action with the present surplus aircrew position to which I have already referred. Honorable members cannot hut agree that it is impossible to forecast when the war against the Japanese will end. It may be this year, next year, or even the following year. Further, Australia must keep up the fighting strength of such forces as may be assignedby the Government for operations against the enemy in this area, which means that the training of aircrews sufficient for the manning of Royal Australian Air Force squadrons so actively and effectively engaging in operations must continue until the enemy is defeated. As I have already explained, all the partially-trained aircrew at present employed temporarily on other duties will resume their courses in the comparatively near future. All those personnel have already completed their initial training course and will now. undergo the more advanced stages of their training. They will thus graduate, in the vast majority of cases, well before the close of 1945. To ensure the availability of sufficient numbers of aircrew subsequently, it is necessary to continue recruitment and training of adequate numbers to meet requirements after the graduation of those to whom I have referred.

Apart from the partially trained personnel who are at present engaged on other duties but who will shortly resume aircrew training, the present number of aircrew recruits on the reserve and awaiting the commencement of aircrew training is approximately 300, and they will be admitted to the Initial Training Schools in March and April, 1945. Thus, further recruitment is necessary to meet the requisite intakes in subsequent months. In this connexion, it is vitally important to remember that aircrew trainees, who may be recruited now, will not complete their courses and be available for operational purposes until April or May, 1946.

Another important consideration which is constantly regarded in adjusting the training organization and periodical aircrew intakes is the fact that certain numbers of fully-trained personnel are returning at intervals from Canada after the completion of their training there, and from the United Kingdom after certain operational service. The numbers so far involved are comparatively small and have made relatively small contribution towards our requirements in the SouthWest Pacific Area. On the conclusion of hostilities in the European theatre, however, large numbers of war operationally trained and widely experienced personnel will become available for service here, and the whole of our training organization, recruitment and other associated activities will be subject to considerable adjustment. Developments in that connexion will continue to be fully regarded in determining the air crew training programme of the Royal Australian Air Force.

I hope that the information whichI have given will clarify the position in relation to those matters about which some honorable members may feel a certain concern. As will be appreciated by all, the sudden termination of drafts for overseas, which resulted in a substantial though temporary surplus of fully and partially trained air crew personnel here, was quite unpredictable, but a pleasing consideration is that cancellation of those drafts was due to the substantially improved strategical position of allied operations in the European theatre and to casualties being considerably below anticipated rates. Those surpluses will be absorbed on flying duties and training courses, as I have indicated. Pending their re-allotment to flying duties and air crew training courses, the services being rendered by those personnel on ground stuff duties and other work are of national im portance.

– I shall cite an actual occurrence in order to give the honorable member some idea of the difficulties that arise. Recently, a cargo of potatoes was awaiting shipment from Western Australia to the eastern States, where they were urgently required. An application was made to Royal Australian Air Force head-quarters to provide a number of men to remove from the cargo potatoes which had been attacked by grubs, so that the balance would arrive at their destination in good condition. The Air Force was not bound to supply this labour, and we recognized that if we complied with the request, there would be heard throughout the country a wail that men who had been given expensive training were employed only on removing grub-infested potatoes from a ship’s cargo. However, the Royal Australian Air Force allowed some of the 200 servicemen, who were engaged only temporarily on wharf labouring work, to undertake the task, so that the potatoes w ould not be wasted. Surely that was a reasonable way of dealing with the matter ! Then again, wharf -labouring work often calls for the use of particular equipment belonging to the Royal Australian Air Force for certain types of loading, which, for very good reasons, cannot be mentioned here, and Air Force personnel are better equipped than anyone else to deal with that class of job. That statement is not true of all the labour supplied, but most of the men so detailed are transient personnel awaiting postings or appointment to various places and they are merely utilized to meet that requirement temporarily. If we could get expert labour for wharf work, particularly winchmen and other key men, probably less manual labour would be required to meet these needs. I do not like, and I do not propose to encourage, the use of large numbers of Air Force personnel for work other than that for which they were trained;, but if in an emergency we did not permit men who were temporarily not required, because of various developments in the organization, to do the work for which they were trained, to be used for other work, we should be acting wrongly. [Extension of time granted.] I assure honorable members that all steps are being taken to ensure that no air crew personnel are employed on duties other than those for which they enlisted any longer than is necessary to bridge the interval to the earliest date on which they are required in air crew service.

The control of civil aviation in this country will later he the subject of legislation. When that legislation is introduced, honorable members will have an opportunity to make their contributions towards achieving the most satisfactory arrangement in Australia.

Mr White:

-Will that legislation be introduced during this session?

Mr DRAKEFORD:

– I believe that it will ; and in the meantime, I hope that honorable members will prepare contributions to the debate that will help to make the control of civil aviation serve the interests of the whole of Australia.

Mr White:

– Will the Minister make available to honorable members copies of the report of the Interdepartmental Committee on Civil Aviation?

Mr DRAKEFORD:

– The Government’s intentions were definitely stated to the Parliament during my absence.

Before I conclude, I desire to make brief reference to my recent mission abroad. I felt privileged to have the opportunity to visit the United Kingdom while I was overseas, and I made contact with various people holding positions which would enable them to express authoritative opinions. They were, I found, most keenly interested in Australia and in the policy of the Government, not only regarding civil aviationbut also in general matters. That may be said to be true also of people in the United States of America and Canada. Australia’s war effort is greatly appreciated abroad. It is recognizedas being a remarkable contribution to the winning of the war. The people of the United Kingdom are imbued with a magnificent spirit. Their fortitude and devotion under conditions of war which, I hope, we shall never experience in Australia, are something for which we have every reason to feel grateful. Those who come from British stock must feel a deep pride in the achievement of the British people. They do not complain about their hardships and sufferings. Whatever shortages there may be in Australia -and there are some - they are small in comparison with the shortages existing in England and with the sacrifices that the British people are making. During my all-too-brief sojourn in the British Isles, I did not hear one whimper or word of complaint. Of the fourteen days which I spent there, ten of them were foggy, and it was most difficult for me to move about. To that extent, I was disappointed. The people of London are suffering greatly. I cannot give any details, because they might be of value to the enemy, but some of the information has been published since I was there. I can say, however, that the spirit of the people is magnificent and their courage is unsurpassed. They are willing to fight this war to the bitter end, even though that resolution entails for them further great suffering and’ sacrifice. If the people of Australia knew the extent of the ordeal to which the people of England are being subjected, they would not regard themselves as having to make major sacrifices in this very fortunate country. We are fortunate indeed in not having experienced the shock of war in the same way as England has, and I am deeply thankful for that. When we know that our kith and kin in other countries are suffering in this way and are continuing to suffer without complaint, we should be prepared to put up with any inconveniences that arise from conditions resulting from our contribution to the war effort.

Mr WHITE:
Balaclava

.- This being the Address-in-Reply to the Governor-General’s Speech, I desire to take this opportunity, before dealing with the subject-matter of the Speech, to say what a source of pride and pleasure it is for us to have a Royal Governor-General. There is a link of kinship which, though invisible, binds us to Great Britain more strongly and closely than more tangible tilings. It is fundamental, and so much more important than the domestic issues which divide us politically. I was gratified to hear the honorable member for Eden-Monaro (Mr. Fraser) voice that sentiment, which, I hope, is general throughout Australia. The Minister for Air and Civil Aviation (Mr. Drakeford), who recently visited the head-quarters of the British Empire, told us of the magnificent effort that the British people have made throughout six long years of war, during which they were directly threatened with invasion by an enemy who had approached for years to within 22 miles of their shores. I make those remarks as a preface to some of the lesser matters usually contained in the Governor-General’s Speech and representing the policy of the Government for this session.

I was pleased to hear the Minister for Air mention his pleasureat having represented Australia abroad. This personal contact with the representatives of other parts of the British Empire is most desirable, and should be more frequent among members of dominion parliaments. The Empire Parliamentary Association encourages those visits, because much is to be gained from them.

The Minister mentioned that Australia and New Zealand had put forward a plan for the socialization of international air services. Although the conference did not accept this plan, the Minister claimed that he convinced some of the delegates of the wisdom of the proposal. He may have done; hut the majority of them were convinced that the introduction of such a plan was not opportune at this time. Air transport is now commonplace, and oceans can be crossed in a matter of hours. If we were to avail ourselves more extensively of air travel, Australia would lose a lot of the isolationism which now exists but which should not exist here, because we are a part of the British race and we have much in common with the great English-speaking United States of America.

I was pleased to hear the Minister pay a tribute to the members of the Royal Australian Air Force abroad. With his sentiments, we are wholly in accord. Any one who has been associated with the Royal Australian Air Force overseas knows the high regard in which these young men are held. They have made many sacrifices in lives given and in services gladly rendered. Consequently, it is deplorable that they should suffer in any way either in morale or in future outlook. I mentioned at the end of last session that a drastic curtailment in the set-up of the force was to be made, not among the higher officers, but among the young men who had carried the burden of the day, and among those who were training to do so. I protested that there was muddling in high places, and an incredible display of lack of imagination, seeing that men who had almost completed their training - and it costs about £2,000 to train a pilot - were to be offered the alternative of discharge or remuster on the ground. We hear that 1,500 of those men accepted ground positions, and some of them were put on guard and other menial duty. I contended strongly at the time that a complete reorganization of the Royal Australian Air Force was overdue.

I also say that a retirement scheme is overdue. Many senior members of the force should be retired, so that the young men who have earned their laurels might hold the higher positions. There are staff schools where they could qualify for staff appointments or for commands. Instead of taking the negative attitude of reducing strengths, we should avail ourselves to the full of the excellent material we have trained. Yet we see young members of the Air Force who have earned high honour overseas detailed for what they consider to be humiliating work, because highly paid men who have slept in their beds at night throughout the war without running risks, and receive two or or three times as much pay as that of the fighter pilot, will not do the work. They have been detailed to unload some of the ships on which they returned to their native land, after three or four years of service abroad. I attacked that position strongly in December, and put forward six proposals.

In a measure, the Government has gone back on what it then decided. This does not happen in Great Britain. There is not an idle moment at the personnel depots in the Motherland. Australians get leave to travel throughout the country, meet their blood brothers in Britain, and attend instructional courses, in subjects such as advanced navigation, and are also given acclimatization and flying courses. They are taken on tours to aircraft factories, given educational courses, and attached to universities. A sensible and thoughtful programme for these highly trained young men is arranged. In Australia, however, they sit around kicking their heels, and some of them are told that they can take ground jobs or get out. That more or less is the choice which is offered to them.

It appears that 1,500 air crew personnel are languishing somewhere, and doing camp jobs, when they might have been flying aircraft. Why was the higher command so devoid of imagination that it could not see that those air crew personnel wouldbe required ? Was not the position the same in December as it is in February? The Minister is only partly adjusting the position. We read that 200 men were told that they were not up to the high standard required f!or modern aircraft, but I know that young men with over 1,000 hours of flying and who were due to go to Great Britain but who were put on staff and ferrying jobs because Japan came into the war, have received a curt letter informing them that they have to get out because they are redundant. What the Air Force needs is the cutting down of some of its heavy administrative staffs and the building up of more squadrons in Australia. It has been stated in the press that the strength of the Royal Australian Air Force is approximately 170,000.

Mr Drakeford:

– I have not mentioned the u umber.

Mr WHITE:

– The number of members of our Air Force overseas is well known, and has been published in the press. Some sixteen Australian Article XV. squadrons have made history overseas, and in addition, in over 500 units of the Royal Air Force our men have earned a name second to none.

Great Britain knows that the war in Europe will end soon. We should bc very glad to observe thai; the tide of battle there has now destroyed the !Nazi hopes of victory. The armies of the Allies are making such good progress that Germany may collapse in weeks or months. But the war with Japan will continue. We can rejoice over the splendid strikes in the Pacific by the forces of the United States of America, but why i.< Australia not playing a bigger part than that allotted to it? I agree with the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Menzies) that Australia should not be relegated to a secondary role. The Attorney-General (Dr. Evatt) declared that our forces were not playing a secondary part in the war in the Pacific, and that Stiff fighting lay ahead for them. We know that there is no bloodless road to victory; but, as the Government has a voice as to the use to be made of our fighting forces, the traditions of the Australian Imperial Force are such that it should not be given merely mopping-up work. When Tokyo has been pulverized, and a revolution occurs in Japan, which will no doubt seek peace terms and be called upon to surrender unconditionally, all the Japanese units scattered among the Pacific Islands will have to be withdrawn, if disease has not already decimated them.

Yet our policy to-day is to mop up the isolated areas which have been bypassed by the American forces. The men who have been detailed for that work would prefer to fight side by side with the Americans with whom they served in New Guinea or in action in the Dutch Isles, so as to let the Dutch people know that we are anxious to help them to get back their empire, and make up for some of the horror and disaster which has fallen on their mother country, Holland. Cannot we do better with our Air Force than is being done at present? Australia is an immense training ground. The Royal Australian Air Force has a splendid record of service both here and overseas that will be written some day, but its squadrons are so few, like the British in the early days of the war who gave the Huns their first defeat. The Minister acts on advice tendered to him, but some of his advisers have completely reversed an opinion expressed some months ago about what, should be done with the Air Force personnel. The Government should build on the splendid material available to it.

Mr Drakeford:

– I said yesterday that the changes were due to contradictory information from overseas.

Mr WHITE:

– That is the poor excuse which has been given to the Minister. He may believe the explanation, but 1 do not. I said in December that anybody should know that the Japanese would not pack up in two or three months. Our men have been returning from, overseas for a long time, and we need them all.

Australia’s safety, in future, will be largely dependent on its air force, despite the excellent work which the Navy renders on the seven seas. Aircraft, with their increasing range and endurance, are now recognized as destroyers of anything afloat. Australia’s defence reaches out beyond the ridiculous limit of ite territorial waters, which the Labour .party advocated in 1937. We shall need an efficient air force that can strike at great distances, and this is the time when we should pick the best of the splendid material available to us. The only test should be efficiency. There should be no vested rights of old or young men in the force to-day, or of permanent or duration men, to hold on to their positions, but all should be equitably treated. The Minister, assisted by a board, should go through the names and pick out the very best men. Australia on its record could select an air force second to none. The Royal Air Force, which is most efficiently conducted, is determined not to let the efficient men elude it. It has circularized not only its own personnel, but also the dominion men who serve with it, asking them, if they will stay on for the post-war effort.

If we do not find out whether our men wish to remain in the war, they will no doubt seek to return to industry, and in that way the very best will be lost to us. No doubt some of the best men will remain, but there will also be some of indifferent calibre if we do not act. If the Minister is keen to see Australia doing its full part, not only in the war,but also in the post-war period, he will not be content with less than a post-war air force which will make the name of this country respected. In order to offer a practical suggestion, I ask the Cabinet to lay down a tentative post-war establishment for the Royal Australian Air Force. Everybody in it should be told that he has an opportunity to offer his services. Those not chosen will probably seek to take advantage of whatever rehabilitation facilities are available. I am glad the Minister has taken the opportunity to go overseas and has compared conditions there with those in Australia.

It is deplorable that, when civil aviation services in Australia have been built up with great difficulty by the pioneers of the industry, the Government has decided to acquire control of the services. It is nonsense to say that the pioneers are not still in the industry, when we know that such men as Hudson, Fysh, Ansett, and Holyman are still closely associated with it. The Government has acted wrongly in taking this action during the war, because it will utilize funds which could be expended to better advantage. I draw the attention of honorable members to the following remarks by a former Director of Civil Aviation : -

Political interference and control of the detail work of airline operations and management must inevitably lead to disaster arising from delays in decisions, lack of funds provided promptly at the right time, lack of knowledge, and permitting political expediency to override efficient management.

I emphasize the statement that, under national management, political expediency will override efficient management. He concluded with these words -

Nothing can prevent political interference and disorganization in any industry owned by the Government, in which untrained and inexperienced Ministers assume the role of managing directors and override the advice of trained executives.

The present session of the Commonwealth Parliament will be a very important one. I exhort the Government not to be rash or foolish in pushing its socialistic ideas. Yesterday, we listened to a. very thoughtful speech from the honorable member for Eden-Monaro (Mr. Fraser), who adheres to the socialistic doctrine. We can all be socialists at heart, but it is a different matter when we seek to put socialism into practice. We saw socialism in practice in Germany. I wish that honorable members had been there to see it, as I was in 1938.

Mr Fuller:

– There are monopoly enterprises in Germany.

Mr WHITE:

– That is a minor issue, and such monopolies as were permitted to continue in Germany had to pay tribute to the Government. All profits over a certain percentage were confiscated. When M. Molotov was in England he listened on one occasion to the tubthumping speakers at Marble Arch. He asked what they were saying, and was told tha t they were attacking the Government. He laughed and said, “In Russia we would shoot them “. There is no opposition to the Government in totalitarian countries. What the honorable member for Eden-Monaro advocated was totalitarianism, with a humanitarian bias, but it would be no less totalitarianism than what Hitler introduced in Germany. Under socialism you do not evolve a new breed of men. Consider for a moment the wasteful government enterprises that were conducted in

Queensland, and the misery and war that have been bred of totalitarian socialism, whether of the Nazi or the Communist brand. [Extension of time granted.] The Communist party in Australia is growing in strength. Now we have the spectacle of a Communist representing Australia at the Trade Union Conference in Great Britain. He was a party to requesting that enemy trade unionists should be allowed on the platform with him. The Minister for Post-war Reconstruction (Mr. Dedman) said that the Communist organization in Australia was a political party, and should be allowed to function, as is any other political party, but the fact is that the Communist party is a revolutionary organization. Any political dictionary will confirm that statement. Among the Opposition are men who fear the Communists, and who tolerate them only because they are afraid.I appeal to them to quit being afraid, and to purge the unions of Communists. The unions would be better for such a cleansing. The great difference between the Australian Communist and the Russian Communist is this: The Russian Communist is loyal to his country and fights for it; the Australian Communist merely disrupts his country’s war effort. The Communists have ruined many trade unions. The president of the coal miners’ federation is a Communist, as also are the presidents of the building trades and munitions workers unions.

During this session we should get on with war problems. Let us deal with the proper rehabilitation of the men who fight, and shield us. We must ensure proper organization in the services. Let us discard inefficiency, of which evidence is not lacking. We should give first consideration to the fighting man in the services. Honorable members opposite should forget all about a seven-year limitation to preference. The righting man will not thank any Government for that concession, because he wants the full preference which he was previously promised. Perhaps, a man may spend three or four years in hospital, after the cessation of hostilities. Does the Government propose to give to him for only three years thereafter preference of employment over a unionist? Some unions to-day are closed to the fighting man.I urge the Government to purge the unions of Communists, to forget its ideas of socialization, and to apply itself to a policy that will enable Australia to become a better and more democratic country.

Mr BARNARD:
Bass

– I associate myself with those honorable members who have made complimentary remarks about the Speech delivered by His Royal Highness. I associate myself particularly with the hopes expressed by the Governor-General regarding the termination of hostilities. All of us undoubtedly trust that hostilities will cease long before his term of office as GovernorGeneral expires. Whilst I do not pretend to have done as much flying as the honorable member for Balaclava (Mr. White), I agree with him that air and other transport services to the National Capital should be improved. However, it amazes me that most of the criticism of the Government on this matter comes from honorable members who occupied ministerial office for a number of years, but failed to do anything to effect this improvement, although many opportunities to do so were presented to them. Such criticism is so much hot air. During the depression years, governments of which honorable members opposite were members had full opportunity to establish firstclass transport services to the National Capital, because at that time the necessary labour and materials were available in abundance. Men were then crying out for work. But past governments did nothing in this matter; and the honorable member for Balaclava was a senior M inister in those governments.

Mr White:

– In 1934, the Government of which I was a member established all the air services that exist at present.

Mr BARNARD:

– Our air services succeeded in spite of past governments. What answer has the honorable member to give to the failure of past governments to improve rail services to the National Capital?

Mr Bowden:

– No coal.

Mr BARNARD:

– Coal did not enter into the picture. Labour and materials were available in abundance. I recall those days when men marcheden masse to this Parliament House to plead with the government, of the day to give them employment. That Government failed to do so, although here was one important work that could have been undertaken. In view of these facts, all of the criticism voiced by honorable members opposite is so much “taradiddle”. Governments which they supported did nothing in the matter, but to-day, when we are engaged in the greatest struggle in history, they urge the Government to undertake this work. The same inconsistency is apparent in other criticism which they have voiced. They contend that the Government should concentrate all its energy on the prosecution of the war, and should not socialize industry. At the same time, they agree with socialization of rail transport services; because any improvements of those services is the responsibility of the State and Commonwealth Governments who own and control them. This remarkable inconsistency in the arguments of honorable members opposite amuses me. I have been a member of this Parliament long enough to be able to make a comparison of the record of governments supported by honorable members opposite with that of the present. Government. When the honorable member for Balaclava was a Minister in previous governments, I did not hear him advocate the improvement of rail transport services to the National Capital, although, when we were in opposition in those years, we pressed for such work to be undertaken. The railway service to Canberra is the same to-day as it was when I was first elected to this Parliament eleven years ago. I agree with the honorable member that we must improve air services in this country. I believe that that improvement will be effected expeditiously when those services arc nationalized. The Government intends to do that. To some degree I also concur in his remarks concerning the retirement of trained personnel from the services. That practice is not confined to the Air Force. It applies also to some degree to the Army. I do not profess to be a military strategist, but I believe that the present CommanderinChief of our Land Forces should either be retired, or should be in the field where our troops are fighting. No commander can successfully direct fighting troops front a point 2,000 miles from the actual theatre of operations. All sorts of stories are in circulation concerning armchair administration of our armed forces. The Minister for the Army might look into this matter. The honorable member for Balaclava, who was so critical of what has been done, and is being done, by the Government, seems to miss the point with respect to the Air Force. When I was in Canada recently, I learned quite a lot about the Empire Air-training Scheme. I heard many complimentary remarks about its success. I was also informed about its shortcomings. In the main, however, general approbation was expressed regarding the scheme. On one occasion, I visited a camp when 250 men wore marching out upon the completion of their training. At the last moment, the pilots were withdrawn from the batch that was to proceed overseas. The reason given for this action was that there was a surplus of pilots because the loss was not so great as was originally anticipated. If, to-day, we have a surplus of highly trained pilots in the Air Force, it is due in the main to the fact that losshas notbeen so great as was anticipated. That is all to the good. In those circumstances, would the honorable member for Balaclava suggest that it is a matter for regret that these men have not been used. Is it not preferable to greater losses among pilots?

Mr White:

– That was not the point. I complained that highly trained pilots were being badgered about. Two months ago, they were “sacked”, and now, with a change of policy, they are to be taken back. We should hold all of them and keep them busy.

Mr BARNARD:

– They have not been kept busy because the losses have not been so great as was anticipated. This fact involves a re-orientation of the whole of the Air Force.

Sitting suspended from12.45 to 2.15 p.m.

Mr BARNARD:

– The honorable member for Balaclava was very verbose in his criticism of the Government, particularly in relation to the Air Force and its administration. One of the difficulties associated with the organization of the Air Force has been that the losses have not been so great as was anticipated. That is all to the good, because it means that younglives have been saved. If because of that many young men in this country are disappointed that they have not had a “ crack “ at the enemy and havehad to transfer voluntarily to a lower position than flying, it is unfortunate for them ; but, from the nation’s point of view, it is good. Nevertheless, it has created difficulties in the control of the Air Force. I do not suggest for a moment that the control of any branch of the fighting forces may not be justifiably criticized; but, as this is a global war, we have had to anticipate problems some of which have not arisen. The fact that those anticipations were astray has made it much better for this country, because it has meant that far fewer bombs have been dropped on Australia than might otherwise have been the case arid our cities have escaped destruction. That means that after the war our task of rehabilitation will be much less than it could have been. Our escape has been largely due to the assistance that came to us from the American Forces under the command of General Douglas MacArthur.

Criticism was levelled against the Government last night by the honorable member for Warringah (Mr. Spender) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Menzies). I know that both of those honorable gentlemen are great strategists. The honorable member for Warringah is a colonel in the Army and the Leader of the Opposition made history years ago when he made his first “ run out “.

– The Minister was trying to prevail upon the conference to provide Australia with additional food.

Mr BARNARD:

– The point which the honorable member for New England (Mr. Abbott) should bear in mind is that the Minister gave a lead to the other delegates, and his recommendations have received favorable comment in other parts of the world. The external affairs policy of this Government is beyond reproach. To date, the Government has not made a mistake. Although the honorable member for Warringah may smile, he must recognize the truth of that positive statement.

The Leader of the Opposition commended adversely upon the lack of opportunity afforded to honorable members to debate important statements that have been submitted to the House by the Minister for External Affairs. Responsibility for that lack of opportunity must rest with the Opposition. If honorable members opposite choose to take up the time of the House in moving frivolous formal adjournment motions, they have only themselves to blame for the lack of opportunity to debate important statements on international affairs. They cannot have it both ways. During the last parliamentary period, honorable members opposite moved seven formal adjournment motions.

Mr Archie Cameron:

– Not enough!

Mr BARNARD:

– Perhaps it was not enough. I recognize that the Opposition is perfectly justified in using the forms of the House to raise subjects which they consider should be debated. But if they occupy the time of the House in discussing matters near and dear to their hearts, they must forgo debates on important ministerial statements.

Mr Archie Cameron:

– The House sat only 42 days last year.

Mr BARNARD:

– I welcome that interjection, because I have compiled some most illuminating figures dealing with that subject. The Menzies Government, which took office in April, 1939, sat on 27 days from January to August, and on 24 days between September and December. In 1940 the House sat on 43 days. In the following year, the Menzies Government met the House on 27 days from January to August. From September to October, the Fadden Government sat on seven days - a great record - and the Curtin Government sat on sixteen days until the end of the year. The total number of sitting days in 1941 was 50. In 1942 the Curtin Government sat on 45 days, in 1943 on 48 days, and in 1944, from January to October, on 50 days. Thus, last year, the Curtin Government sat as often as did the Menzies, Fadden and Curtin régimes in 1941. Those are the facts. Yet the Leader of the Opposition had the effrontery to refer to “Legislation in a hurry “, and to criticize this Government for its record of sitting days last year. The Leader of the Opposition must have known that he was not telling the truth. Obviously, such statements are made for the purpose of discrediting the Government. Fair criticism is always justified, and I believe that the Opposition ought to have full opportunity to criticize the actions of the Government, but the Opposition should not make statements in this House which they know to be untrue.

Formal motions for the adjournment ofthe House have been submitted by the Opposition for the purpose of discussing the control of interstate airlines, the sale of broadcasting stations, Commonwealth grants, the Jensen report and the Portland butcher. The last-mentioned item could hardly be said to have raised a great national issue. The House could have been discussing external affairs, but its time was taken up for two hours in considering whether the Portland butcher should have a licence to sell meat! Other subjects debated as the result of formal adjournment motions tabled by the Opposition were the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and the wheat industry. [Extension of time granted.]

At the present stage of the war, the subject of the rehabilitation of ex-service personnel has become of the utmost importance. Australia must produce food for people who need it, both in this country and overseas, and that work must proceed side by side with the prosecution of the war and the provision of the supplies required by the fighting services. Consideration must therefore be given to the best means of rehabilitating exservice men and women at the close of the war. I am glad to know that a substantial portion of the GovernorGeneral’s Speech consisted of constructive proposals regarding the matter.

The need for improved social services was also mentioned in the Speech delivered by His Royal Highness. I am particularly interested in this matter because of my association with the Social Security Committee. Having had experience as a representative of Australia atthe International Labour Conference, and, having studied the subject closely in. recent years, I am pleased to note the increasing interest shown in the provision of adequate social services for the people. Most eminent people agree that social service plans must be so arranged that everybody in the community, irrespective of his or her financial position, will be assured of some of the good things of life. Even during the trials and tribulations of war, Great Britain has not hesitated to adopt measures for improving the living standards of the people. Australia, too, has given serious thought to this problem, but, I’ am not satisfied that it has gone as far as it should in the matter.

The attention of the Government should be directed to the present scale of child endowment payments. The Labour party cannot claim credit for the introduction of the child endowment, scheme, because it was sponsored by an anti-Labour government. I notice that the plans being prepared in Great Britain for child endowment provide for a weekly payment of 5s. for each child after the first. A proposal for a cash allowance of 5s. a week, derived from taxation, will be submitted to the British Parliament, and this payment is proposed to be supplemented by services in kind, including meals and milk at, school. That is a progressive step. It is most important that the children of parents in less fortunate financial circumstances than those of many others should be catered for in this way. In Australia the child endowment payments should be increased. The present scheme has had a sufficiently lengthy trial to enable us to judge of its merits, and I am satisfied that the money which it. has cost has been wisely expended.

Some people say that the money paid as child endowment, is wasted by the mothers in having their hair waved or in going to race meetings, but I do not believe that the money is misused to a serious degree. I hope that the Government will increase thebenefits provided under the child endowment scheme. I agree to the proposals announced in the

Governor-General’s Speech with regard to social services generally, and I do not pay serious attention to the allegation that the Government is running amok and intends to do things that will prove of disservice to the community. I believe that the plans now announced will ultimately confer benefits upon the people. I feel sure that effect will be given to the proposals of the Government with regard to the control of banking and of interstate air services, and that the people will have cause to bless the Labour Government, thus disposing of the canard about the socialistic tiger as effectively as that bogy was laid low some years ago.

Mr McEWEN:
Indi

.- The honorable member for Bass (Mr. Barnard), who has just resumedhis seat, appears to be completely content with the administration of the Government, and with its policy so far as that has been revealed in the Governor-General’s Speech. Listening closely to him, it appeared to me that he treated the House to an exposition of his own policy, which is not identifiable with that of the Government. He then proceeded to credit the Government with it, and to endorse itfrom A to Z.

Coming to the opening of a new Parliament, we expected that the Speech of HisRoyal Highness the GovernorGeneral would have given a comprehensive and lucid outline of the intentions of the Government in respect of the immediate future, and. of the more distant planning for the post-war period. One found, however, that the Speech was designed largely as a review of world events, and of many matters which have been within our knowledge for some considerable time, with a rather hasty passing over of certain items of policy in very general terms, and the expression of hopes. A perusal of it will show that by no means is it confined to pronouncements of policy, as is traditional in documents of the kind, but actually refers to the fact that the Government is contemplating the doing of this and that. Surely the Parliament, is entitled to something more definite!

The Speech points out - as we well know - that the war is still at its height, and from this fact draws the conclusion that Australia has overwhelming war commitments which occupy the time and attention of Ministers and administrators, call upon our financial and material resources to the utmost degree, and impose the greatest demands upon our man-power resources. We could have accepted most of that had the Speech proceeded to say that, such being the actual state of affairs, the Government intended to devote itself, and the organization and resources of the country, to the conduct of war. But it contains an extraordinary paradox in that, having established the hypothesis that all the resources of this country are required for the conduct of the war. in which our safety still is at stake, it proceeded to outline the intended actions of the Government, many of which have no relation whatever to the conduct of the war, but on the contrary are calculated to disperse our material and national resources, preoccupy the time of Ministers and administrators, and certainly divide the Australian people. Wars are fought not only with men in uniform, and material. At the back of those must be a united nation. All governments charged with the responsibility of managing the affairs of a nation at war have accepted the view that during the war matters of domestic controversy ought to be pushed into the background to the greatest degree possible, so that there might be established the first foundation requisite for war, namely, internal national unity. Yet in what we believe to be still an important stage in the war, we are informed that there is to bo introduced during this session legislation that is calculated to divide the Australian people. I can conceive of nothing that would be better calculated to divide them. The controversial banking legislation, and the proposed nationalization of interstate airlines, are quite legitimate matters for political discussion and decision, and the will of the people, as interpreted by the Government in office, should prevail. But these are matters of a kind which cannot be introduced and put into operation without dividing the people; and the most important thing to avoid at this time is the division of the people. So I feel obliged to criticize the Government, as my colleagues have done, on that account.

The following papers were presented : -

Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act - Repatriation Commission - Report for year 1943-44.

War Service Homes Act - Report of War Service Homes Commission for year 1943-44, together with statementsand balance-sheet.

House adjourned at 3.26 p.m.

page 108

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

The following answers to questions were circulated: -

Dean Case

Mr Ryan:

n asked the Attorney-General, upon notice -

In connexion with the inquiry into the Dean case -

Does the Attorney-General associate himself with the views expressed by the SolicitorGeneral in his letter of the 18th February, 1944, to the honorable member for Fawkner? If not,is the Attorney-General aware of the evidence on which these views were based?

Was the board of inquiry established by the Attorney-General or by decision of the Government?

Who drew up the terms of reference of the inquiry?

Who appointed Mr. Alderman, K.C.; what instructions was he given and by whom was he instructed?

How were the witnesses selected, and did the board of inquiry nominate any of the witnesses?

Has the Attorney-General received any evidence from the Security Branch or other official source that Mr. Eric Butler was ever engaged in activities which might endanger the security of Australia or in any activities that could be termed disloyal?

Dr Evatt:
ALP

t. - The answers to the honorable member’s questions are as follows: -

The letter was sent by the SolicitorGeneral in the ordinary course of departmental business. The evidence on which the letter was based was furnished by the DirectorGeneral of Security.
In view of many inquiries and representations received, the board was appointed by the Attorney-General, on the advice of the Security Service, in order to ascertain the relevant facts. The boardwas under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Seed, of the South Australian Supreme Court.
Officers of the Attorney-General’s Department after consultation with the Security Service.
Mr. Alderman was appointed as counsel by the Crown Solicitor to assist the board in accordance with the usual practiceor appointing counsel to assist statutory boards. His only instructions were to bring out all the relevant facts, including the facte reported to the Security Service,and to act generally ascounsel assisting the board.
Witnesses were selected by counsel from names mentioned in Security files and reports.
Mr. Butler had written articles which, in the opinion of the Director-General of Security, constituted an attempt to create adverse public reaction to war loan campaigns, and to the war effort generally. The material was not received or considered by the Attorney-General, but was brought to the attention of the board as a properly constituted body to ascertain the true facts.

Atlantic Charter

Mr Francis:

s asked the Minister for External Affairs, upon notice -

Is the Atlantic Charter a charter or only a statement of aims of the Allies?
Bo the following principles stated in the Atlantic Charter apply to Poland: (1) their countriesseek no aggrandizement, territorial or other; (2) they desire to see no territorial changes that do not accord with the desire and freely expressed wishes of the peoples concerned?
Is the Commonwealth Government an adherent of the Atlantic Charter?
Has Australia been consulted about the partition of Poland, and has the Government made any decision? If so, what decision has been made?

Dr Evatt:
ALP

– The answer to the honorable member’s questions is as follows:- 1 to 4. The Atlantic Charter is both a charter and a statement of aims. The Atlantic Charter was the first major declaration of general post-war proposals. It was issued originally in the names of Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt, and was later subscribed to by all the United Nations including Australia in the Washington Declaration of 1st January, 1942. It therefore carries the force of an agreed inter-governmental declaration of policy. Further, at the recent conference between Mr. Churchill. President Roosevelt and Marshal Stalin, these leaders declared, “We reaffirm our faith in the Atlantic Charter “.

The general application of the principles of the Atlantic Charter to Poland is indisputable. It is also indisputable that the charter, while disclaiming any intention of territorial aggrandizement on the part of any of the Governments subscribing to it, does not exclude the possibility of territorial changes. On the contrary, it expressly lays down the conditions on which such changes should come about, namely, in accord with the “ desire and freely expressed wishes” of the peoples concerned.

It was precisely to create better machinery for the unfettered expression of the will both of the Polish and of the Ukrainian peoples that the decisions reached at the Crimea conference covered the establishment of a Polish Government more broadly based than was possible before the liberation of Poland by the Soviet armies, and inclusive of democratic leaders from Poland itself and from Poles abroad. The provisional government thus formed will be pledged to the holding of free and unfettered elections as soon as possible.

Closely connected with the aspect of the Polish question referred to by Mr. Francis is the proposed accession to Poland of territories to the north and west which will be essential for proper Polish development in the future. The Australian Government will do its utmost to ensure that all the proposed arrangements affecting Polish territories will be finally dealt with as a whole and not piecemeal.

The Australian Governmenthas been active in seeking the welfare of the people of Poland. At the request of Mr. Churchill and President Roosevelt it undertook and carried out the extensive task of representing Polish interests in the Soviet Union after diplomatic relations between the Soviet Government and the Polish Government in London had been severed. The Polish Government in London expressed its warm appreciation of our efforts in watching the interests of the Polish people during one of the most critical periods of Poland’s history. In addition we have made our view clear all along that any final Polish settlement must be based on free expression of the will of the Polish people leading to the establishment not only of a strong, free and independent Poland, but also of a democratic Poland.

Very recently Polish representatives in London, in a memorandum presented to the United Kingdom, and the United States, have expressed their readiness to co-operate in the creation of a Government for Poland, “ truly representative of the will of the Polish nation “. This general attitude is a welcome one to the

Australian Government, which, over a considerable period while it had charge of Polish interests in the U.S.S.B., worked so cordially with tha Polish Government ill London.

Migration

Mr Harrison:

n asked the Minister representing the Minister for the Interior, upon notice -

Are the officials at Australia House, London, yet in u position to reply to questions asked them by prospective migrants, or are they still acting under the instructions o[ the Minister to reply “that government policy with regard to immigration ]>-is not yet been decided “ ?

Mr Lazzarini:
ALP

– The following answer has been supplied by tho Minister for the Interior : -

Tha Commonwealth Government is still conferring with the United Kingdom Government in regard to the scheme tor migration from Great Britain. The Australian High Commissioner and his officers are representing the Commonwealth at this conference, and are fully aware of all details of the scheme. Until tha scheme is approved by both governments, no details of it can be made public. The whole question of publicity in regard to migration is at present receiving the careful consideration of the Government.

Cite as: Australia, House of Representatives, Debates, 23 February 1945, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/hofreps/1945/19450223_reps_17_181/>.

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House of Representatives23 February 1945

QUESTION

RUBBER

Mr FULLER:HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr BEASLEY:Vice-President of the Executive Council · WEST SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY

Price Control

Mr FRANCIS:MORETON, QUEENSLAND

Mr FORDE:Minister for the Army · CAPRICORNIA, QUEENSLAND · ALP

Mr FORDE:

QUESTION

RAIL TRANSPORT

Mr CHAMBERS:ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Mr BEASLEY:ALP

Mr RYAN:FLINDERS, VICTORIA

Mr FORDE:ALP

QUESTION

FOOTWEAR FOR CHILDREN

Dame ENID LYONS:DARWIN, TASMANIA

Mr BEASLEY:ALP

QUESTION

CAPITAL ISSUES

Sir FREDERICK STEWART:PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr CHIFLEY:Treasurer · MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

Sir FREDERICK STEWART:

Mr CHIFLEY:

Sir FREDERICK STEWART:

Mr CHIFLEY:

QUESTION

AUSTRALIAN ARMY

Mr HARRISON:WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr FORDE:ALP

Dame ENID LYONS:

Mr FORDE:

QUESTION

VACATED DEFENCE PROPERTIES

Mr CONELAN:GRIFFITH, QUEENSLAND

Mr LAZZARINI:Minister for Home Security · WERRIWA, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

QUESTION

FLY- WIRE GAUZE

Mr COLES:HENTY, VICTORIA

Mr MAKIN:Minister for Munitions · HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

QUESTION

BANKING LEGISLATION

Mr HOLT:FAWKNER, VICTORIA

Mr CHIFLEY:ALP

QUESTION

REPATRIATION

Mr FRANCIS:

Mr FROST:Minister for Repatriation · FRANKLIN, TASMANIA · ALP

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT

QUESTION

LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA

Mr MARTENS:HERBERT, QUEENSLAND

Mr CALWELL:Minister for Information · MELBOURNE, VICTORIA · ALP

QUESTION

SERVICE CAMPS NEAR PARRAMATTA

Sir FREDERICK STEWART:

Mr FORDE:ALP

QUESTION

POPULATION DRIFT FROM RURAL AREAS

Mr BREEN:CALARE, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr FORDE:ALP

QUESTION

ALUMINIUM

Mr WHITE:BALACLAVA, VICTORIA

Dr EVATT:Attorney-General · BARTON, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

QUESTION

DROUGHT LOSSES OF STOCK

Mr SHEEHAN:COOK, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr FORDE:ALP

QUESTION

CIVIL AVIATION

Mr WHITE:

Mr DRAKEFORD:Minister for Air · MARIBYRNONG, VICTORIA · ALP

Mr CONELAN:

Mr DRAKEFORD:

Dame ENID LYONS:

Mr DRAKEFORD:

Mr HOLT:

House of Representatives
23 February 1945

Mr FULLER:
HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr BEASLEY:
Vice-President of the Executive Council · WEST SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

Mr FRANCIS:
MORETON, QUEENSLAND

Mr FORDE:
Minister for the Army · CAPRICORNIA, QUEENSLAND · ALP

Mr CHAMBERS:
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Mr BEASLEY:
ALP

Mr RYAN:
FLINDERS, VICTORIA

Mr FORDE:
ALP

Dame ENID LYONS:
DARWIN, TASMANIA

Mr BEASLEY:
ALP

Sir FREDERICK STEWART:
PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr CHIFLEY:
Treasurer · MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

Mr HARRISON:
WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr FORDE:
ALP

Mr CONELAN:
GRIFFITH, QUEENSLAND

Mr LAZZARINI:
Minister for Home Security · WERRIWA, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

Mr COLES:
HENTY, VICTORIA

Mr MAKIN:
Minister for Munitions · HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

Mr HOLT:
FAWKNER, VICTORIA

Mr CHIFLEY:
ALP

Mr FROST:
Minister for Repatriation · FRANKLIN, TASMANIA · ALP

Mr MARTENS:
HERBERT, QUEENSLAND

Mr CALWELL:
Minister for Information · MELBOURNE, VICTORIA · ALP

Mr FORDE:
ALP

Mr BREEN:
CALARE, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr FORDE:
ALP

Mr WHITE:
BALACLAVA, VICTORIA

Dr EVATT:
Attorney-General · BARTON, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

Mr SHEEHAN:
COOK, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr FORDE:
ALP

Mr DRAKEFORD:
Minister for Air · MARIBYRNONG, VICTORIA · ALP

Mr DRAKEFORD:
MaribyrnongMinister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation · ALP

Mr CLARK:
Darling

Mr WHITE:
Balaclava

Dr EVATT:
ALP

Mr SPEAKER (Hon J S Rosevear:
DALLEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr DRAKEFORD:
MaribyrnongMinister for Air and Minister for Civil Aviation · ALP

Mr WHITE:
Balaclava

Mr BARNARD:
Bass