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House of Representatives
10 October 1947

18^th Parliament · 1^st Session

BANKING
- Nationalization : Petitions ; Ballot of Primary Producers ; Draft of Bill
QUESTION
- CORNSACKS
QUESTION
- COAL
QUESTION
- ECONOMIC AID FOR BRITAIN
POWER ALCOHOL DISTILLERIES
QUESTION
- CIVIL AVIATION
ESTIMATES 1947-48
- Attorney-General’s Department
ADJOURNMENT
- Food Control - Telephone Services
PAPERS
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

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

page 631

BANKING

Nationalization : Petitions ; Ballot of Primary Producers ; Draft of Bill

Petitions in relation to banking in Australia were presented as follows: -

By Mr. McBRIDE, from certain electors of South Australia.

By Mr. HAMILTON”, from certain electors of Western Australia.

Petitions received and read.

Mr. ARCHIE CAMERON (Barker) 1 10.34]. - I present a petition from about 100 electors who are residents of Port Noarlunga, in the subdivision of Morphett Vale, in my electorate, praying that no further steps shall be taken by the Government to nationalize the banking system in Australia until a referendum of the people has first been taken. In moving -

That the petition lie received may I say that, if any doubts are held in any quarter as to the qualifications of the High Court, which is the only barrier that stands ‘between the people and this proposed legislation at the present moment, it is all the more necessary that the people shall have the right to ‘pronounce judgment upon the proposal ; and that right can be exercised only if the referendum prayed for in this petition is granted by the Parliament.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Petition received and r&ad.

Mr ANTHONY:
Richmond

– I present a. petition from certain electors of Tabulam, Dunoon, Lismore, Glen Innes, Murwillumbah, Numulgi, and other centres in the electoral divisions of Richmond and New England, praying that no further steps be taken towards the nationalization of the banking system without first seeking the authority of the Australian people, and move -

That the petition be received.

The signatories to the petition state that at the last general elections no mention was made by the Government-

Mr SPEAKER:

-Order ! The honorable member may not develop that argument. He may argue only along the lines mentioned in the petition.

Mr McEwen:

– It is a good argument.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order !

Mr ANTHONY:

– For the reasons stated in the petition the petitioners ask that a referendum of the people be held on the proposals of the Government.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Petition received and read.

Mr TURNBULL:
WIMMERA, VICTORIA

– I have received a letter, from the secretary of Kowree District Council of the Victorian Wool and Wheat-growers Association stating that a secret ballot of its members has been held regarding the Government’s intention to nationalize banking. The secretary sta.tes that 244 ballot-papers were sent to members, that 165 were returned and that only one member voted in favour of the proposal. In view of this strong opposition by primary producers will the Prime Minister further consider the desirability of abandoning the proposal?

Mr CHIFLEY:
Prime Minister · MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– I replied’ to a question by the honorable member for Fawkner yesterday indicating clearly the Government’s intention with regard to the presentation of legislation to this House. Subject to printing difficulties being overcome, it is proposed to introduce the bill for the nationalization of banking nest Wednesday.

Mr LANG:
REID, NEW SOUTH WALES

– Will the Prime Minister inform the House whether the proposed banking: legislation was drafted by the Attorney-General prior to his departure for New York? Have any alterations been made since then, and, if so, h’as the Attorney-General been kept fully informed, and has he indicated ‘his approval of such alterations?

Mr CHIFLEY:

– As the honorable member is aware, the practice is for Cabinet and the party itself to decide the general principles of legislation to be presented to Parliament. The task of drafting legislation is undertaken by the Attorney-General who confers, of course, with, the Ministers whose departments are concerned. The drafting of the .banking legislation was undertaken originally by the Attorney-General, and has been continued by the Minister acting for the Attorney-General. I have no doubt that that Minister has kept in touch with the Minister whom he represents in regard to important phases of the legislation, although I do not suggest for a moment that there has been consultation on every detail. Whilst the draftsmen may have made some changes in verbiage, the general principles enunciated by the Government and approved by the party will be expressed in the bill.

page 632

QUESTION

CORNSACKS

Mr LANGTRY:
RIVERINA, NEW SOUTH WALES

– Has the Minister for Commerce and Agriculture seen a report in this morning’s Sydney Morning Herald that the coming wheat harvest, which is likely to be a record, is threatened by a shortage of cornsacks? If so, can he say whether it is correct or otherwise? I visited the offices of the Australian Wheat Board about a month ago and was assured that a sufficient supply of cornsacks for the forthcoming harvest would be available in conjnction with silo storage. If the newspaper report is incorrect, it would be misleading to farmers and the general public, and therefore I ask the Minister if he has any further information on the subject?

Mr POLLARD:
Minister for Commerce and Agriculture · BALLAARAT, VICTORIA · ALP

– From time to time questions have been asked in this House as to the adequacy or otherwise of cornsacks to handle the incoming crop, and the reply has been that the Australian Wheat Board, the Ju.te Controller and the Government had done all within their power to secure adequate supplies of cornsacks in sufficient time for the forthcoming wheat harvest. The board’s original estimate was that the yield this year would be 1SO,000,000 bushels of wheat, but the present indications’ are that that estimate will be exceeded. In this morning’s issue of the Sydney Morning Herald appear certain statements attributed to Mr. Ian McDonald and Mr. Graham, Minister for Agriculture in New South Wales, expressing concern at the situation, and some criticism of the Wheat Board and, I take it, of myself also. There is some cause for concern, and that is a very good thing, because it indicates that a Divine Providence has been so good to Australia that we shall probably have an all-time record crop. The Minister for Agriculture in New South Wales is reported to have said that he could not see how the railways or the silos could cope with the delivery to the seaboard of a crop that exceeded 180,000,000 bushels. I agree that it would place a grave strain on silo accommodation in New ‘South Wales, and also upon the railways system, but to blame the Government of New South Wales, or the railway authorities or the silo authorities for that would be most unjust. Everybody knows that the critical situation in regard to the railways system in New South Wales, so far as its ability to handle the crop is concerned, is due to many factors including the deterioration of tracks and rolling stock which took place during the war. It would be also unjust to blame the Wheat Board or the Commonwealth Government because difficulty has been experienced in obtaining a large margin of bags over and above our estimated requirements. Honorable members are aware of the almost insuperable difficulty in the way of obtaining supplies from India, but I believe that the situation will be met. On the 15th September, the acting chairman of the Wheat Board said -

Sufficient cornsacks have been purchased to accommodate a large wheat and barley crop, and although shipments are at present running some weeks late, it is expected that sufficient sacks will be on hand to meet requirements. .

Bulkheads in Victoria are being prepared for wheat receivals, and action is proceeding, in co-operation with the Government Grain Elevators, to erect bulkheads, where necessary, at various stations in Kew South Wales.

Some responsibility rests upon the Government of New South Wales. I am not a Jeremiah; neither am I a Tarzan. I believe that the difficulty can be overcome by co-operation between the authorities in New South Wales and the Commonwealth Government.

page 632

QUESTION

COAL

Production Losses

Mr HARRISON:
WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES

– The latest authentic production figures disclose that coal losses this year at New South Wales colleries, aggravated by the recent deputies’ strike in the north, now total 1,471,586 tons - 395,143 tons more than the losses for the corresponding period of last year. Can the Prime Minister say whether it is a fact that since the “ back-Saturday “ work was agreed to by the miners last month in order to win more coal by Christmas, strikes have caused such a heavy loss that the Christmas target of 550,000 additional tons is impossible of achievement? If so, will he state whether it is intended to cancel the extra five days’ annual leave granted to the coal-miners on condition that they reach the Christmas target?

Mr CHIFLEY:
ALP

– In answer to a question asked by another honorable member, a reply is now being prepared setting out the production of coal since 1943. The rate of coal production has been affected by some unfortunate occurrences such as the dispute in respect of deputies and shot-firers which the honorable member has mentioned. That dispute, of course, was not a coal-miners’ dispute; but it held up production. Otherwise, production has been going along very satisfactorily. A considerable improvement has been effected, and I take this opportunity to pay tribute to officials of the miners federation who have used their personal endeavours as officials of the union to impose discipline within the federation itself.

Mr Harrison:

– That has not been very effective.

Mr CHIFLEY:

– Glancing at the figures, I believe that production, apart from that unfortunate stoppage last week, which, I repeat, was due to action taken not by the coal-miners but by the deputies and shot-firers who become to some degree the aristocrats of the mining world, production has, generally speaking, been very good indeed. I shall supply the information sought by the honorable member.

Mr Harrison:

– Will the coal-miners still be given five days’ additional annual leave at Christmas?

Mr CHIFLEY:

– That is a matter for the Joint Coal Board. It is not a matter for the Government at all.

– Order ! The honorable member must not trespass my ruling. The background of the Crown Prosecutor to whom he has referred has nothing to do with the case, but his statement has everything to do with it.

Mr.- FALSTEIN. - I bow to your ruling, Mr. Speaker.

page 634

QUESTION

ECONOMIC AID FOR BRITAIN

Mr HOLT:
FAWKNER, VICTORIA

– In view of the latest reports of the economic crisis in Great Britain, will the Prime Minister make a full statement of the action proposed by his Government to ensure the maximum flow of goods between Australia and Great Britain? In particular will the right honorable gentleman say whether any negotiations are proceeding between this country and Great Britain with a view to removing the barriers against the exchange of goods, other than those imposed under the customs laws of the respective countries ?

Mr CHIFLEY:
ALP

– I am not sure what the honorable . member means by “ barriers “.

Mr Holt:

– Prohibitions on goods.

Mr CHIFLEY:

– Import licences arerequired in respect of very few British goods. I shall ascertain for the information of the honorable member exactly what these items are.

Mr Holt:

– There are a great many restrictions in the United Kingdom.

Mr CHIFLEY:

– I am sure that thehonorable member will find that although, numerous restrictions operated during the war, most of them have been abolished. In fact, many were lifted when the lateSenator Keane was Minister for Trade and Customs. Discussions have been proceeding between representatives of the Australian Government and the British. Government in regard to trade relations generally, Great Britain’s economic position, and dollar availability, but I regret that in view of the inconclusive stageof these negotiations, I am unable to make a statement to the House. The position is changing from day to day. Talks are also proceeding on matters arising from the International Conference on Trade and Employment at Geneva. The honorable member for Fawkner may rest assured that we are in the closest consultation with the British Board of Trade and with British Ministers.

Mr Holt:

– Is the Government prepared to make long-term credits available to Great Britain?

Mr CHIFLEY:

– That opens up another field of discussion including. currency and accumulated sterling balances, and I do not propose to go into that matter at this stage except to say that subject to the wishes of the British Government itself the encouragement of tra.de between Australia and Great Britain is being given every consideration.

page 634

POWER ALCOHOL DISTILLERIES

Mr RUSSELL:
GREY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– Can the Minister for Post-war Reconstruction furnish me with any informa.tion as to further progress in relation to the setting up of an industry in the power alcohol distillery at Wallaroo.

Mr DEDMAN:
Minister for Defence · CORIO, VICTORIA · ALP

– The Wallaroo power alcohol plant is one of four such plants set up during .the war as an insurance against petrol supplies from overseas being entirely cut off. At the time it was realized that the Colonial .Sugar Refining Company Limited’ was the only organization in Australia with experience of that type of work. A contract was arranged with the company for the management of the four power alcohol plants. A condition of the contract, was that if twelve months after the war ended the Government decided that it no longer required the plants the company would have an option on the buildings and plant. The Government decided in February, 1947, that the plants were no longer required. Therefore the company bad an option for twelve months over the plant and equipment in those factories. The Government was anxious to ensure the utilization of the buildings and plant for expanding industry or the introduction of new industries, and for that reason it negotiated with the company in order to obtain from it a waiving of its option for that period of twelve months. The company, however, was very anxious to obtain certain plant and equipment. As the result of negotiations, we were able to get the company to agree to waive its option over two of the factories, namely, the one at Wallaroo, South Australia, in the electorate of the honorable member for Grey, and one at Collie, Western Australia, in the electorate of the Minister for Works and Housing. Those two factories we hope will be utilized for the expansion of local industries in those areas. I pay tribute to the work of the. honorable member for Grey in assisting me with the negotiations to expand local industries in the locality mentioned by him. I also pay tribute to the Minister for Works and Housing for the assistance he has rendered to me in the negotiations for the disposal of the factory at Collie. As a part of the price that the Commonwealth had to pay for the waiving of the company’s option, it was necessary to allow the company to obtain plant, and equipment from the other two factories, one in Warracknabeal, in the electorate of the honorable member for Wimmera, and the other at’ Cowra, in the electorate of the honorable member for Calare. Tie plant in the Cowra factory has been bought by ‘the Public Works Department of New South Wales and the factory is to be used as a centre for power production. The plant, other than the boilers, in the factory at Warracknabeal, has been sold to the Colonial Sugar Refining ‘ Company Limited, and the boilers have been sold to Nestle and Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company (Australasia) Limited, which has a factory at Warrnambool in the electorate of the honorable member for Wannon. The plant and factory at Warracknabeal are now to be disposed by the Disposals Commission in conjunction with the Secondary Industries Commission. I hope that the negotiations that are taking place with regard to the use of the factory at Wallaroo will have a satisfactory result, and that an existing local industry will be expanded to provide employment, for an increasing number of people in that locality.

page 635

QUESTION

CIVIL AVIATION

Proposed Service to Newcastle - Western Airways

Mr JAMES:
HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES

– I direct a question to the Minister for Civil Aviation consequent upon his rejection, notified to me in a letter dated the 6th October, of an application for the introduction of an air line service to cater for the Hunter, Newcastle and New England electorates from the airport at Williamtown, which is situated adjacent to the borders of the three electorates. Such a service would provide for an area with a population of 2-50,000 people. I requested t&at the inter-departmental committee which investigates claims for the establishment of new air services should take evidence in support of the application, but the Minister refused the request. Does he consider that that district, which has a population larger than that . of some of the States, has been treated fairly and will he reconsider the matter?

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

– The interdepartmental committee has not taken evidence in any part of Australia. All applications made to the Department of Civil Aviation for the establishment of new air services or the development of existing services were given full consideration by the committee in the light of all circumstances, including requirements for air transport and the availability of airport facilities. The committee has made certain recommendations which the Australian Government has presented to the various State governments with a request for an expression of their views. The State governments have presented their views to this Government, and they are now the subject of discussion with the States. With respect to the provision of air services for cities which are as close to a main metropolitan centre as is Newcastle, it is very doubtful whether there would be any overall saving of time in flying a distance of approximately 100 miles. The time occupied in travelling from the city of departure to the airport and from the terminal airport to the city of destination must be taken into consideration. In the light of the present state of development of aircraft, it seems to me to be idle to .contemplate the establishment of air services to cover such relatively short distances. I see no reason for reconsidering this matter because I think that the Department of Civil Aviation has dealt with it justly, but, if f further application is made, I shall be glad to consider the honorable member’s representations.

Mi-. FALKINDER- Did the Minister for Civil Aviation cancel the Western Airways service between Melbourne and Warrnambool in Victoria because the State Government did not wish to have competition with its railways sendee? Are all intrastate air services to be subject to Commonwealth prohibition if the State concerned fears competition with its own transport services? Have the State governments any power to tax air services, and, if so, have any State governments intimated their intention of doing so?

Mr DRAKEFORD:

– I shall be glad to consider each of the honorable member’s questions separately. Western Airways were not at any time given other than charter flights, and the organization made a number of them. When the establishment of permanent services, on the recommendation of the interdepartmental committee, was put ‘before the Government of Victoria, it submitted to us certain views for consideration. The charter flights which had been operating were reduced, but at present, I, sis Minister for Civil Aviation, am permitting the operation of a service on twodays a week. It is hoped that this may be increased to three days a week. I desire tomake it clear that Western Airways will, not necessarily be allowed to operate theservice if it is established on a permanent basis. I ask the honorable member to> put his other questions on the noticepaper, but I am able to state that it hasbeen intimated, though not to me and, so far as- I know, not to the Prime Minister, that some States intend to tax the respective air services wherever they are operating. I hold the opinion, without having any legal decision to support it, that the States are not entitled to tax inter-state services but it is possible that they will be able to tax intra-state services. At this juncture, I point out that when we have attempted to secure for the Commonwealth powers in relation to civil- aviation throughout- Australia we did not receive much support from the Opposition.

page 636

ESTIMATES 1947-48

In Committee of Supply: Consideration resumed from the 9th October (vide page 629).

Attorney-General’s Department

Proposed vote, £528,000.

Mr McEWEN:
Indi

.- The discussion which took place yesterday was concerned principally with the activities of the Commonwealth Investigation Service, or, rather, with the activities of that service so far as the control, or even the suppression, of the Communist party is concerned. Of the many issues which arise for debate in this chamber none can compare in importance with those which affect the survival of Australia as a nation, and it is because we on this side of the chamber know that the Communist party includes amongst its aims the destruction of Australia as a national entity that we urge the adoption of more vigorous methods of dealing with it. The objectives of the Communist party have been canvassed often enough, and indeed, they have been published, in part, by the party itself, from time to time. Occasionally members of that party choose to come out into the open to propagate their views, but more often they endeavour to achieve their ends surreptitiously, and because of the covert nature of their activities we can never be quite sure of their real policy. However, I have in my possession a pamphlet setting out the ostensible aims of the movement in Australia, and the order in which the party seeks to realize those aims. They are set out in this way -

The Communist programme for the seizure of power in Australia might be summarized in seven propositions -

The control of the great’ individual trade unions.

The use of the organization and propaganda of those unions to spread the doctrine of Communism.

The use of the coercive power of unionism to dictate the religious, social and political beliefs of members.

The seizure of control of the entire union movement by amalgamations, strike actions and similar methods.

Paralysis of the nation’s economy and of the normal machinery of government.

General strike.

Revolutionary action.

If that is a justifiable summary of the objectives of the Communist party in the direction of seizing power in Australia, as is indicated, then it certainly becomes one of the prime functions of government to concern itself with the activities of that party. Lest it be alleged that this is an exaggerated and irresponsible estimate of “the plans and intentions of the Communist party, I inform the committee that authorship of the pamphlet which I hold in my hand will dispose of the allegation immediately. > It is entitled Peace in Industry, and has been issued under the authority of the Roman Catholic Cardinal of Sydney, and of all the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in Australia. That, of itself, is sufficient evidence, coming as it does from so important, so considered and so responsible a source. Although one does not need to rely on it alone, it certainly gives this Parliament cause to concern itself with the activities of communism in this country. We know that communism is not being practised only in Australia. As has been shown in the last few days, it has emerged in Europe by reason of the reconstitution of the Comintern, and is now openly planning to extend its tentacles to every country in the world. Communism, of course, is never content merely to exist in a country. It is not content until it controls the affairs of the country. .So it can be taken that we are confronted with a fight against an organization that is propounding an ideology which is the very antithesis of all that we stand for - the Christian religion and the democratic form of government. We have to fight those who are waging this war against our society. For many years, the Australian Country party has been in no two minds about the position. When its members formed a part of a government they lent the weight of their influence in the direction of banning the Communist party, because they believed that there should not be permitted to exist under the authority of the law any organization which had as its objective the overthrow of the government of the country. It is the official attitude of my party that, insofar as it may again be able to exercise its authority, it will for a second time ban communism in this country, for what it conceives to be the good and the safety of our native land.

How doles communism operate in this country? As we know, it operates not merely by pamphleteering and propaganda along general lines, but- also, in its most active form, in seeking to attain what has been set out as its first objective in the pamphlet that I have read, namely, the control of the great individual trade unions. This is a debate on an important issue. It has been alleged from this side of the chamber, either rightly or wrongly - I am convinced quite rightly - that communism has gained a stranglehold upon the Australian trade union movement, and that, through its strength in that movement, it is gaining control of the government of this country. If communism were merely a political doctrine, we could be content merely to have an opinion as to whether or not it should be permitted to gain control of the trade union movement, and I should not claim that the matter was of special concern to us. But with the trade union movement organized along lines that” are designed and intended - in fact, have been brought to fruition - to enable the trade union movement ‘to control the government of this country, then I contend that the control of that movement by a subversive agency is the concern not only of the official Opposition in this Parliament but also of every citizen in this country; and if we cannot prevent that from happening, at least we have the duty of tearing the screen aside and showing what is behind it.

This important debate has proceeded for a day and a night; yet, in a Cabinet of nineteen Ministers, all but five of whom sit in this chamber, only one Minister has risen in his place to deny the charges that have been made by the Opposition. He, significantly enough, has been closely associated with the Australian “Worker,1? Union.

The only other matter with which I wish to deal concerns the statement made by the honorable member .for Indi when he said that he had drawn me and certain other honorable members on this1 side into the open so far as our stand -with respect to the Communists is concerned. I thought that [ made it quite clear quite recently where I stood regarding the Communists. I detest them. I say again that I detest not only Communists but also Fascists, but if I were obliged, unfortunately, to make a selection of the lesser of these two evils I should prefer a Communist to a Fascist.

Mr MCBRIDE:
Wakefield

Mr Harrison:

– But not enough.

Mr HOLLOWAY:

– Other Opposition members followed their deputy leader, and by the time the suspension of the sitting for dinner had been reached I felt certain that the estimates for the AttorneyGeneral’s Department would be passed with nothing but appreciation of the Government’s work. Several Opposition speakers spoke in this vein. I agree with the honorable member for Wakefield (Mr. McBride) that it is the duty of a Minister who is in charge of a department, permanently or temporarily, to answer any questions that aase put to him in relation to the estimates for that department. I did that yesterday,, and I am prepared to do it now. I think I cam say with confidence that there is no- feature of these

– The debate in this chamber in the last two days has occurred because we regard the activities of the Communists in Australia as one of the most serious problems that could confront any government. Communism in Australia has been debated many times in this chamber, but few honorable members opposite have ever spoken on the subject, and rarely have we heard a word from responsible

Ministers. We have charged the Communist .party of Australia with being a part of the fifth column of another power. The work that members of the organization are doing in Australia is tantamount to espionage. To those charges there has been no reply, except from the Minister for Labour and National Service (Mr. Holloway), who represents the Minister acting for the Attorney-General. He did not want to be inveigled into the argument. I do not doubt that he did not. It is a difficult argument for him to indulge in. He talked about the tenets of Marxist teaching, but there is a big difference between communism as now practised and the teachings of Marx, although the fundamental theories of Marx have been carefully followed. It is a truism to state that communism,, as practised in Russia and as attempted to be foisted upon the rest of the world by Russia, is completely devoid of any Christian principle. That is why every Christian church in this country is alarmed at the spread of communism and the failure of the Australian Government to combat it. The Minister said that the methods of the Labour party and the Communist party differed, and claimed that he objected to the Communists’ methods, but, even though he objects to those methods, he and his colleagues have done nothing to combat them. On the contrary, every action of this Government has been in the direction of helping the Communist movement. Ratliff and Thomas were released from internment by a Labour Government and this government has allowed the Communist party to occupy huge buildings and given them telephones that cannot be obtained by deserving sections of the community. We have been told by no less a person than the Attorney-General (Dr. Evatt) that certain moves made in this country in respect of the Guided Weapons Testing Range were inspired by a foreign power. They were inspired by the Communists. The real reason why the Labour party cannot prevent the Communists from continuing their activities is that it needs their support. The Minister admitted that the Communists’ methods of achieving their goal were different from the Labour party’s, but the goal of the two parties is very similar.

Both are socialist movements. The Labour party stands, as does the Communist party, for the complete and utter socialization of everything in this land. That policy, of course, requires the subjugation of the individual to the State. Honorable members opposite may talk as much as they like about fascism and communism, but the fact remains that all the dictatorships which, with one exception, have crumbled into the dust in Europe had one common principle - that, in ail circumstances, the individual must be subordinate to the State. The Labour party is a socialist organization. It has been tied to a complete socialist policy since 1921. 1 shall be greatly surprised if any Government supporter should rise and tell me that the revolution of 1917 in Russia did not have a great deal to do with the formulation, four years later, of the Australian Labour party’s complete socialization policy. That revolution influenced industrial affairs in every part of the world. I repeat that the Labour party is a socialist organization which believes that every home, farm, factory and individual should be owned by or subjected to the will of the State. The Australian Government and the Cain Government in Victoria have committed themselves to the first big step in the direction of implementing their party’s socialist policy, namely, the nationalization of the banking system. Lenin first introduced that plan into the socialist programme. He pointed out the road that must be followed towards socialism. This Government has set foot on that road, and for that reason it must have the support of the Communists in Australia.

People who have delved into the recondite policies of the various political parties in Australia have proved that the only allies of the Labour party are the Communists. The Communists are pleased to see the Government following the path that leads to socialism. When the end of the road is reached, perhaps, the two parties may split over the methods of government that should be applied in a socialist State. The Communists will then seek to destroy the present Labour movement and bring their totalitarian ideals into reality, as they have done in

Russia. Is the Communist party purely and simply an Australian political party with an individual philosophy of its own, as responsible Labour party members have claimed, or is it a movement that is dominated and controlled by a foreign power ? The honorable member for Warringah (Mr. Spender) has told us what the Minister for External Affairs said regarding attempted sabotage of the guided weapons project in Central Australia. The move to prevent the range from being completed and used was “ inspired by a foreign power “. Those are the words used by the Minister himself.

An extremely interesting commentary on the Communist party was published in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday in an article written by Dr. Lloyd Ross, who was appointed by this Government to a very high position in the Public Service and who exerts a great deal of influence behind the scenes in the councils of the Government. The article is headed : “A Labour Man’s View - How Communists Play Russia’s Game “. I shall read some excerpts from it, but I suggest to honorable members opposite that they read it in full and study it in detail. It states -

Communist parties have never been free to make their own decisions. . . . Local Communists went to Moscow and received direct instructions; Soviet visitors saw these instructions were carried out.

I am even led to believe that wherever Russian diplomats are sent, a close watch is placed upon them by agents of Russia’s secret police. The article continues -

It does not, therefore, follow that Communists in Australia will return to the militant industrial policy of a few months ago, but we can expect some rapid changes in local policy in response to the demands of the new Comintern, as the relationship between America and Britain changes.

The article concludes with the following paragraph -

Whatever may be the apparent support given by Communists to such issues as nationalization of banking-

– Order .’ . I ask the honorable member for Deakin to address the Chair.

Mr HUTCHINSON:

– I shall be glad if the honorable member for Dalley will explain, without equivocation, the policy of the Labour party towards the Communist party, and the intentions of the Government regarding that organization. I have no doubt that he will deal with the first matter and carefully ignore the second.

What is the position? The honorable member for Warringah suggested that Communist party should be outlawed. Other honorable members on this side of the chamber have urged the Government to make a thorough investigation of the affairs of this organization. I believe that the information which the Commonwealth Investigation Service has obtained and can obtain about the Communist party would make a remarkable document, which would alarm the Australian people. Such a publication might even disclose why the Minister for Transport (Mr. Ward) is able to echo, in this House, the voice of Russia on foreign affairs, with a clarity and decisiveness which would do justice to Molotov himself. It might disclose a number of extraordinary things, such as which public servants, particularly in the Council for Scientific and. Industrial Research, are members of the Communist party, what are the specious aims of this organization, and what instructions are being issued by Russia to members of the Communist party in Australia. However, I am resigned to the fact that the Government will not grant an inquiry, or outlaw the organization. The solution of the problem of how to deal with the Communist, like the solution of the problems of banking and socialism, rests with the electors. The people of Australia are only now awakening to the menace in their midst.

Mr Burke:

– Does the honorable member mean that the Government should ask the people, by way of a referendum, for an expression of their views regarding the Communist party?

Mr HUTCHINSON:

– No ; I am referring to a general expression of opinion at a general election. Only now are they realizing the great power which this organization wields in Australia. They know that the control of the key unions is in the hands of Communists. What happened in Vic- toria last week? A known Communist leader waved his arms, and, for two hours, the suburban railway services’ of Melbourne ceased. The government of the day did nothing to prevent it. Who will deny that railway strikers in Victoria some months ago were rallied by the wellknown Communist, Mr. J. J. Brown, who exercised a strong influence on the Premier of Victoria, Mr. Cain? This Communist also made further threats against the long-suffering public of that State.

The Australian people are now emerging from their lethargy regarding this problem. They realize that the Government will not take action to suppress the Communists, because it needs their aid in its march towards socialism. The people should be given an opportunity to express their views upon the Government’s inaction. If they were, a change of government would result. Sitting suspended from 12Ji-5 to 2.15 p.m.

Mr HUTCHINSON:

– I was saying that we cannot expect any action to be taken hy this Government against the Communists. This Government has emharked on a socialistic career, and therefore communism does not seem so repugnant to its members. In any case, the policies and objectives of the two parties are essentially the same, so that if any action is to be taken against the Communists it must be taken by the people themselves at the next elections. The new government, which will be formed from the parties on this side of the chamber, will then have to decide whether it should treat the Communist organization as a body having a right to free expression of opinion. although as Dr. Lloyd Ross points out, its mem’bers have always been under the control of Moscow and have never been free to make their own decisions. I believe, with Dr. Lloyd Ross, that the Communist party is a subversive organization, and I also agree with the remark made .by the Attorney-General (Dr. Evatt), in discussion of the testing range for guided weapons, that the Communist party ha.s its roots in Moscow. Because that is so, it has obviously no right to attempt to influence the foreign policy of this country. From the very nature of its tenets, its members believe in the complete overthrow of the rights of the individual. Too many people in this country have regarded the present Government as being, more or less, a mild, liberal one, similar to the early Labour governments ; but one thing which the Government’s proposal for the nationalization of banks has forced upon the notice of the people is that its real objectives are socialistic ones. Once the majority of people appreciate that important fact their support of, or indifference to, the Government will undergo a complete volte-face. There is already a firm belief in all sections of the community that it is impossible to reconcile .socialism with democracy, and that we cannot borrow socialist doctrines and retain our fundamental democratic rights. In conclusion, I advise any supporters of the Government, who may be silly enough to believe that the adoption of “moderate’’ socialism will be of advantage to this country, to realize that they are acting as the mere tools of the Communists. If the socialist supporters of the Government are able to implement their desperate policy, we shall witness a repetition of the happenings associated with the rise and fall of the Kerensky Government in Russia, and the more ruthless Communists will overthrow members of the Australian Labour party just as they overthrew the Kerensky supporters.

Mr ROSEVEAR:
Dalley

.- I was delighted to observe that my speech last evening brought the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Menzies) to his feet very quickly. However, the speech which he made wa9, in my opinion, more offensive than informative. Yesterday, and again to-day, we have been regaled with a monotonous repetition of stories which attempt to link the Communist party with the Australian Labour party. Of course honorable members opposite disown any political motive in doing so, and assert that everything they say is intended to benefit the Australian La.bour party. They put me ‘in mind of the old adage, “ I fear the Greeks, even when bringing gifts “ ; and mem,bers on this side of the chamber are not disposed to accept gifts of that kind. We prefer to retaliate by emphasizing that the Communist party has always contested electoral seats against mem,bers of the Australian Labour party, and it is seldom that one witnesses a Communist contesting an election against a member of the parties to which honorable members opposite belong.

Mr Holt:

– We have all had Communist opponents ; I have had many, and so also has the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr ROSEVEAR:

– The remarkable fact, as I pointed out last night, is that when the official list of “ how-to-vote “ recommendations was published in the press over the names of the organizers of the Australian Country party and the Liberal party, the electors of ‘the Bathurst subdivision were exhorted to give the Communist candidate their No. 1 vole and the Australian Labour party candidate their No. 2 vote, there being no other candidate.

Honorable members opposite have a great deal to say at all times of the association of Communists with the trade union movement, but it would be more enlightening if they were to tell us something about the well-known fascists who regularly associate with them. During the war, when this country and other allied countries were in most desperate straits, the real fifth-columnists were found, not in the ranks of the Communist party, and certainly not in those of the Australian Labour party, but in those of the anti-Labour parties. The individuals standing their trials to-day in various allied countries for fifth-column activity were all notorious anti-Labour politicians, or ‘associated with anti-Labour parties. The honorable member for Wakefield (Mr. McBride) said that he was under no illusions regarding the Communist party, but apparently he does suffer from quite a number of delusions. He alleged that members on this side of the chamber were afraid to deal with the Communist party because of the voting power which he said was exercised by Communistcontrolled unions in pre-selection ballots of the Australian Labour party. The plain fact is that neither the Communistcontrolled unions, nor any other kind of unions, have a vote in pre-selection ballots in New South Wales. The only union whose members are entitled to vote, by reason of membership of a trade union, is the Federated Enginedrivers and Firemen’s Association. They are allowed to record their vote at railway depots because the nature of their occupation prevents them, in most cases, from attending pre-selection meetings of the Australian Labour party. But even in the case of that union Communists are debarred from’ voting by post or otherwise. That at least is one delusion from which the honorable member is suffering.

The honorable member for Deakin (Mr. Hutchinson) is perturbed at the number of telephone installations at Marx

House, the head-quarters of the Communist party. However, if he takes the trouble to refer to Hansard he will find that the honorable member for Moreton (Mr. Francis) asked a question on this very matter recently, which elicited a reply from the appropriate Minister that the Communist party has received no more consideration from the postal authorities during the term of this Government than it did during the regime of previous governments’ supported by members of the Opposition. The honorable member for Moreton and the honorable member for Deakin were, in fact, inarticulate supporters of those governments. Telephone exchange facilities were installed in Marx House on the 7th November, 1939, the 16th January, 1940, and the 16th September, 1941. Three extension lines were installed on the 3rd October, 1939, and three more on the 23rd February, 1940. Those installations were all made during the term of office of the Menzies and Fadden Governments.

Mr Francis:

– The honorable member should tell us the number of installations made during the term of office of this and the preceding Labour Government.

Mr ROSEVEAR:

– If the honorable member is really concerned with the detail of telephone installations at Marx House, he should look at the record of the administration of the Postmaster-General’s Department during the terms of office of the Governments which he supported. Marx House was acquired during the regime of the Menzies Government, and it was during that time that the original telephone installations were made.

During the course of this debate the Leader of the Australian Country party (Mr. Fadden) and the honorable members . for Barker (Mr. Archie Cameron), Richmond (Mr. Anthony), Wentworth (Mr. Harrison), Wakefield (Mr. McBride) and Deakin (Mr. Hutchinson) left no doubt in the minds of any one that if they had their way they would suppress the Communist party. The honorable member for Deakin forecast early success for his party and its accession to the treasury bench, and said that when that occurred the new administration would suppress the Communist party. I again direct attention to the public statement by his leader that he was not prepared to suppress the Communist party.

Mr Harrison:

– Quote what he said last night.

Mr.ROSEVEAR.- If the honorable gentleman will restrain his impatience, I shall do so.

Mr Harrison:

– Do not misrepresent him.

Mr.ROSEVEAR.- I would not think of misrepresenting him. If I were as offensive personally as he was last night, he would have something to complain about. This is what the right honorable gentleman said, in an interview that was reported in the press on the 26th June, 1946-

The federal standing committee on policy of the Liberal party, had a full discussion on the matter in January, and our views were accepted by the Federal Council of the party. Our views were these : In times of war, a ban was placed on the Communist party, on the grounds of national security. In times of peace, it is” a very very serious step to prohibit the promulgation of any particular political views. Therefore, in time of peace, we do not propose to place a ban on the Communist party as such.

That declaration was made by the Leader of the Opposition a little over twelve months ago. His deputy has asked me to deal with what he said last night, and I propose to do so. All the other honorable members of both parties opposite whom I have mentioned have left no doubt in the mind of anybody that they are in favour of the immediate suppression of the Communist party. What does their leader say? He has qualifications. He does not say that he wants the Communist party to be suppressed.What he wants is “ a thoroughgoing investigation of the Communist party, and a report from a judicial source “. Apparently, he has not yet made up his mind as to where he stands; so, he wants a royal commissioner to make a thoroughgoing judicial inquiry to tell him what he ought to do about the Communist party. Yet members of his party in this chamber tell us that they would destroy the Communist party root and branch, without trial or investigation. That party has been the most faithful ally they have had in the politics of this country, from the standpoint of both disrupting industry when elections are impending and making stupid statements in an attempt to embarrass the Government; as well as, particularly, in the electorates when the elections are being held. So we have this queer combination on the Opposition side, the leader of one wing saying, and repeating last night, that he would suppress the Communist party, with his supporters echoing that sentiment, the members of the Liberal party being in the same boat, with the exception that if, by any stretch of the imagination, it could be conceived that they had become the government, they would have to override their leader, who, on this important issue upon which they have occupied the time of the committee for two days, would need to have a thoroughgoing investigation, as he described it, of the ramifications of the Communist party, and a judicial report, to help him to make up his mind.

Let me deal with another matter, with which I dealt last night, for which I was taken to task by the Leader of the Opposition. On this proposed vote, I am entitled to hold that action ought to be taken, either by this Government or by any other government with a sense of its responsibility to the people, with a view to fixing a retiring age for justices of the High Court, in view of the importance of that tribunal and its decisions. I hold the view that no man can retain the full capacity and competence that have to be exercised in such an important position, at the age which some of the justices of the High Court have reached. Last night, the Leader of the Opposition clearly misled the committee, when he said that the Constitution provides that the period of office of a High Court justice shall be for the term of his natural life. Section 72 of the Constitution makes this provision -

The justices of the High Court and the other courts created by the Parliament -

Shall be appointed by the GovernorGeneral in Council;

Shall not be removed except by the Governor-General in Council on an address from both Houses of the Parliament in the same session, praying for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity :

The last word is important -

Shall receive such remuneration as the Parliament may fix; and so on. The right honorable gentleman would have us believe that the Constitution fixes the period of office of a High Court justice at the term of his natural life ; but the fact is that the High Court itself has determined that the justices who compose it have permanent appointments. In a judgment given by Griffith, C.J., Justices Barton, Isaacs, Powers and Rich, with Justices Higgins and Gavan Duffy dissenting, the High Court held -

This section requires that every justice of the High Court, and other justices, whether called by that or any other name, of any court created by the Parliament shall, subject to the powers of removal contained in this section, be an appointment for life. iSo we see that the only interpretation *hat has ever been placed on that section of the Constitution, was placed on it by the High Court itself, when it determined that the period of appointment of its justices was the term of their natural life. I believe that there comes a time in the affairs of all men when they cannot be considered fully competent, when they suffer from some incapacity. One justice of the High Court has reached an age which exceeds 80 years, and the ages of two others exceed 70 years. The court cannot function, as was originally intended, in every State of the Commonwealth, because of the inability of certain justices to travel. If they are not fully competent, and have not the capacity to travel and do their job, they should not be retained in the job. It is notorious, and no barrister will deny, that on numerous occasions justices of the High Court have been asleep while evidence has been taken. Yet they give judgments, the effect of which is to deny the authority or the right of the Government of the Commonwealth to legislate along ‘ certain lines. That is what happened in the recent banking case. In my opinion, it is the duty of” a public man who believes that these justices should be retired at a fixed age, to say so. I believe that all the States have a fixed retiring age for the judiciary. I cite the scandalous case - I believe that I should so describe it - of ex- Justice Lukin.

– I have, ‘ but the more I think of the honorable member the less do I think that he is worth it.

The Opposition has not established its case of associating the Communist party with the Labour party. Indeed, the debate has emphasized that this discussion has taken place solely for party political purposes. As to the High Court and my observations concerning it, both within the Parliament and outside, I repeat that I offer no apology. I believe that the Parliament has the power under the Constitution to retire judges. Possibly, that power could not be exercised by way of legislation, but the Parliament certainly ha.= the power, by means of an address from both Houses, to remove them from office. I believe that when judges have reached an age at which they are no longer capable of carrying out to the full the high responsibilities of their office - responsibilities so great that they can overrule a decision of the Parliament - they should be retired. It has been proved beyond doubt that, both physically and mentally, some judges have not the capacity to perform their duties satisfactorily, and, therefore, action ought to be- taken by this or a succeeding government to ensure that they shall be retired, and that younger and more competent men shall be put in their places.

Mr WHITE:
Balaclava

.- I should be remiss in my duty if I did not say something in response to the remarks of the Speaker of the House when, speaking from the floor, he attacks members of the judiciary, and of the High Court in particular. Last night, the honorable member’s conduct in the Sydney Domain, where he criticized judges, was brought to notice. The previous political affiliations of members of the judiciary are not of much moment, .because only men of high standing are chosen, for such high office. In every instance, I believe, the judges have carried out their duties well, and have’ worthily upheld the best traditions of the judiciary. As the honorable member for Dalley (Mr. Rosevear) was speaking, I noted some of his remarks. He spoke of judges being asleep in court; he said that, “ in their dotage “ they did certain things; he frequently referred to their great age. The honorable member reminded me of a man in the dock who becomes abusive when sentenced by a judge or a magistrate. Reference was made to his part in the timber workers’ strike. It would appear that the honorable member has harboured resentment against a judge who unswervingly performed his duty in a time of emergency, and came to a certain decision. Years afterwards, the honorable member abuses the privilege given to members of Parliament by speaking in scathing terms of the judge who made that decision. Such action is despicable. The honorable member occupies an honoured place in this Parliament as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. In that capacity he expects, and he receives, the respect that is due to his high office. He is sensitive to any criticism of himself, yet he takes advantage of the privilege afforded to him as a member of the Parliament by abusing the highest authority in the land - the court to which legislation passed by the Parliament can be referred for a decision as to its constitutionality. The honorable member made great play of the f act that some judges’ are over 70 years of age. I see at the table a Minister who is in that age group. Other men have held ministerial office when over 80 years of age, and in the several political parties in the Parliament there are men of advanced age. It is well to recall that, although William Pitt was Prime Minister of England at 24 years of age, Winston Churchill, at 69 years, was Prime Minister in the nation’s greatest crisis. A man’s capacity is decided, not by his age, but by what he is.

Mr Rosevear:

– I think that the honorable member will agree that judges should not be asleep on the Bench.

Mr WHITE:

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

– I should not participate in this debate but for the foolish statements made principally by the honorable member for Indi (Mr. McEwen) and also by the honorable member for Balaclava (Mr, White). The latter’s knowledge about trade union affairs is so mixed that he declared that Mr. Brown of the Australian Railways Union, whom he alleges I have never criticized, is my boss and has something to do with the union to which I belong and of which I am president. The union of which I am president is the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen. It has nothing to do with the Australian Railways Union. Its membership approaches nearer to 100 per cent, of “ the possible “ than that of any other industrial organization in Australia. It is a reputable body, whose members take their place in the community as responsible citizens. They have never been dominated by Communists. Allegations of the kind which I shall refute have been made by the two honorable members opposite who were - I do not think that they ever will be again - responsible Ministers of the Crown. They should know better, and should inform themselves of the facts. Right from the beginning of this debate, honorable members opposite have set out in an attempt to fasten the Communists upon the Labour party, whereas the Labour party is the only party in Australia which has definitely excluded Communists from membership. That was done under a resolution carried in 1926 which has since been re-affirmed. However, allegations of the kind we have heard in this debate are seized upon by honorable members opposite who should have a greater sense of responsibility merely in order to try to fasten the Communists upon the Labour party. Honorable members opposite have merely taken advantage of this debate to try to create the impression in the public mind that the Labour party stands behind the Com munists, and that the Communists dominate the policy of the Government.

Some of the statements made by the honorable member for Indi this morning were ridiculous, although not quite so ridiculous as those made by the honorable member for Balaclava, because the former has a little more knowledge than the latter of these matters. However, the honorable member for Indi named three unions which he claimed were dominated by the Communists. They were the Builders Labourers Union, the Ironworkers Federation and the Australian Railways Union. He claimed that those three unions dominated the Labour party in Victoria. The fact is that none of those unions is affiliated with the Labour party, and none of them has been affiliated with the Labour party for some considerable time. There is therefore no /justification for his statement that I owe my entitlement to represent Labour to the Ironworkers or any other union. I doubt whether honorable members opposite can produce any evidence to show that Communists are specifically excluded by definite resolution from membership of either the Liberal party or . the Australian Country party. I doubt whether either of the Opposition parties has ever definitely excluded the Communists from membership. That statement, which they cannot refute, brings honorable members opposite to voice like a pack of hounds. I say, frankly, that the honorable member for Indi knows the facts quite well. He is unscrupulous in the allegations he makes from time to time in this chamber. Invariably, he has the one objective, namely, to try to provoke interjections of which he can take advantage in order to strengthen a weak case. Nine out of every ten Communists who are nominated as candidates at general elections oppose the Labour party candidate. Communist candidates only very rarely, if at all, are nominated against those of the Liberal party or the Australian Country party. However, during the long period since Communists have stood for parliamentary election only one has succeeded in being elected to any parliament in this country.

The honorable member for Balaclava said that we make much of the fact that

Communists invariably lose their deposits, but, nevertheless, they influence the policy of the Labour party through a virile minority. If ever there was a party in Australia influenced by a virile minority it is the Liberal party, insofar as it is influenced by the big financial interests outside. There can be no question about that. Honorable members opposite take their orders from those financial interests. Members of the Labour party do not take any orders from any outside interests. The only policy we follow is that laid down by representatives of the Labour party who in conference are guided by the decisions of their respective branches of the party. Any individual, including the honorable member for Balaclava, as a private individual, could belong to the Labour party if he had no membership in any other political party. The honorable member could then treat us to the great enlightenment he sometimes offers in this chamber. I repeat that statements of the kind he has made have only one objective, and tl at is to try to create the impression in the minds of the people of Australia that the policy of the Labour party is based on communism, that we hold Communist doctrines and incorporate such doctrines in the legislation we enact as a Government. There is not a scintilla of truth in that allegation. I am proud to be a member of a trade union organization which has played a great part in the national life of Australia, and has showed a great sense of responsibility all through our difficult periods of industrial trouble. That organization has 12,500 members who are employed throughout the length and breadth of the country. They have shown great restraint at times when they could quite easily have tied up the transport of- Australia had they been so inclined. I am proud to be president of that organization. The charge made by honorable members opposite that we absent ourselves to attend to matters in the Arbitration Court during sittings of the Parliament is entirely untrue. I rose principally for the purpose of refuting the idle statements, indeed, the malicious statements, of honorable members opposite. They know such statements to be untrue, but they simply put them forward because they have an opportunity of being heard over the air. In case anybody may be led to believe those allegations, I, as a responsible trade union official, consider it my duty to refute them. I place on record the very definite resolution of the Labour party excluding Communists from membership. It is as follows : -

Notwithstanding anything contained in these rules, no member of the Communist party, or any other political party, or a member of an auxiliary of the Communist party or any other party, shall be a member of the Labour party.

That is clear and definite. Can honorable members opposite produce any rule of either the Liberal party or the Australian Country party of that kind? Statements of honorable members opposite are untrue. They have been made simply in an endeavour to mislead the public of Australia ; but I believe that the achievements of the Labour party in every field of endeavour since this Government has been in office will maintain the party in office in this Parliament and keep out honorable members opposite, because they stand for retrogression and wish to bring about conditions similar to those which our people experienced in the depression and in the immediate pre-war years. I sincerely hope that the Opposition parties will never again be given an opportunity to bring about such conditions in this country.

Mr HARRISON:
WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES · UAP; LP from 1944

– It is rather significant that as this debate progresses Ministers and honorable members opposite are being stung into rising in their places to make some contribution to it. Their contributions are based upon excuses and apologies. They ‘’ protest too much, methinks “. Instead of joining in the attack against the Communists whom they state, are excluded from the Labour party, they protest against being called upon to rise to their feet to support that attack. The ministerial party consists of 43 members. Out of that number only eight have risen to speak in this debate; and of those eight, only three have denounced the Contmunist party, whilst the other five have sought to apologize for the Communists by introducing issues which have nothing at. nil to do with the main point of the debate. The honorable member for Dalley (Mr. Rosevear) spoke twice in this debate. He is the Speaker of the House. Whenever the Government gets into a jamb we are always sure to find the honorable member coming down from his high position to fight the case for the Government, because honorable members opposite are not capable of carrying on that fight. What did the honorable member for Dalley say? In his second speech he said, in effect, “ I am pleased to think that I brought the Leader of the Opposition rushing into the House to answer me “. The honorable member takes great credit for having roused the Leader of the Opposition and having impelled him to come into the chamber. Every time the Government finds itself in a quandary the honorable member for Dalley rushes into the chamber to defend it. What did he do on this occasion? Did he add lustre to the debate or to his high position ? No ; he indulged in a bitter attack on the judiciary. That is Communist technique, which is aimed at destroying the institutions of democracy. Mr. Speaker, in his capacity as honorable member for Dalley, is encouraging, by his actions and words in this chamber, the Communist attacks upon the democratic institutions of this country. The example he sets is slavishly followed by honorable members opposite. Why should he degrade the high position he occupies by establish ing such an unworthy precedent and lowering the dignity of his office by indulging in bitter vituperations against the judiciary?

Let us deal with some of the arguments advanced by the honorable member. First, he sought to refute the allegations that the Communists- had been given priority in respect of telephone installations. I raised that matter myself in this chamber, drawing attention to the fact that because of the influence of the Communist cells within the PostmasterGeneral’s Department, preference had been given to Communist organizations over legitimate organizations and business firms in the installation of telephone - equipment. I mentioned that no less than twelve telephones and twenty extensions had been installed at the head-quarters of the Communist party in Sydney at a time when business men were crying out for telephone services. The honorable member for Dalley read what purported to be a list of telephone installations, but it related to the period when the Communist party was banned as an illegal organization by the Government of which I was a member. At that time the Communist party had no telephone connexions at all. Later, when the party was reinstated as a legal organization, it was rushed with telephone equipment, with building materials for the alteration of Marx House, with newsprint in excess of that granted to any other political body, so that it could quickly reestablish itself. Honorable members opposite then fawned upon the Communists, hut now they are not game to rise in their places to attack them, because they are afraid of repercussions upon their own organizations.

The next matter raised by the honorable member related to those who stood their trial during the war years for subversive activities. The honorable gentleman said that they belonged to antiLabour organizations - a most dastardly statement, because it contains the implication that these people, being anti-Labour, are of the same political complexion as the parties now in opposition in this chamber. The honorable member knows only too well that at that time fascist organizations of a totalitarian character had been established in both Germany and Japan. He knows, too, that communism is red fascism of a totalitarian cha.rac.ter. He is not game to link up the red fascists with the traitors who in this country sought to destroy our democratic institutions. Honorable members opposite may say, “ We do not want to be tied up with the Communists “. It is rather significant. :hat at every election the Labour party issues placards stating that it has no connexion with the firm next door, the Communist party. That may be true at election time, but the connexion is rapidly established on a business basis when elections are not looming. Let me make this association clear so that the people outside may be well aware of the tie-up between Labour and the Communists. My friend, the Minister for Labour and National Service (Mr. Holloway), carried a brief for the Communists in an indirect way when he said that the teachings of Karl Marx, upon which communism is based, were the teachings of Christ.

Mr Holloway:

– I did not say that.

Mr HARRISON:

– I saw the honorable gentleman adjust the halo on his head when he made that statement. Let us see how f ar it fits in with his expressed views on communism. Page 39 of the official report of the All Australian Trades Union Congress, held in 1921, contains the following statement relative to the honorable gentleman : -

He said he felt the workers of Australia had at last adopted the slogan of Karl Marx, “ Workers of the world unite “, and at last one of the dreams of his life had been accomplished.

The Minister nods his head in the affirmative. Obviously he is still of that opinion. But although he still regards the utterances of Karl Marx as Christ-like, every Christian church in the world is opposed to communism because of its antiChristian teachings. Let us consider the views of another member of the Government. The Minister for Transport (Mr. Ward) was reported in the Sydney Morning Herald of the 6th November, 1 944, to have said -

Australia should begin to think along Soviet lines in post-war planning.

These are the views of responsible Ministers of the Crown. The statement I have just read was made by a Minister who, although he is in charge of the transport services of this country, did not regard them as sufficiently good enough to carry his luggage from Brisbane to Sydney on his return from his world tour, and put the country to .the expense of providing a motor ear to do so. At a trades’ union conference at Toronto, Mr. Kennelly, Victorian organizer of the Australian Labour party, and a Minister in the Victorian Labour Government, said -

The Labour party is there to do what the trades union movement tells it to do.

The All Australian Trades Union Congress adopted the principles and planks of the Communist party. At that congress, sitting cheek by jowl with the leaders of the Labour party, was the then general secretary of .the Communist party, Mr. Jock Garden. The representatives cf Labour and communism drafted the plans to which Ministers in this Parliament now subscribe. Let us go a step further to ascertain how these fascists are tied up with the Communists. The Australian Communist Training Manual, at pages 38 and 39, states -

These members enter Parliament-

That is, the Labour members - not that they may take the machine intotheir hands but that they may destroy it.

We have had an example of that in the Speaker of the House leaving the Chair to make bitter personal attacks upon individual members of the judiciary. That is in consonance with the Communist technique of destroying the faith of the people in their democratic institutions. The All Australian Trades Union Congress in 1921, which was presided over by the right honorable member for Yarra (Mr. Scullin), and at which were present the Minister for Labour and National Service (Mr. Holloway), Mr. Beasley, the High Commissioner for Australia in the United Kingdom, and the Minister for Air (Mr. Drakeford), recommended the establishment of a supreme economic council of nationalized industries which was to take the place of Parliament itself. The Premiers of Victoria and Western Australia subscribed to the communistic plan that the parliaments of this country should be destroyed and replaced by a supreme economic council. Recently, the supreme economic council of the Waterside Workers Federation took Australia’s foreign policy out of the hands of this Government when it decided that Dutch ships bound for Indonesia should not be loaded. But owing to the supreme economic council, the Government has been powerless to regain control of our foreign policy. Let us see how that ties up with events in the totalitarian countries.

Here we find communism cum Labour espoused. Not-withstanding the red herrings that have been drawn across the trail by the honorable member for Dalley, records prove that Labour is pledged to bring the Communist plan into effect. Honorable members opposite are pledged by their platform to socialize the means of production, distribution and exchange, and, according to the plan agreed to in 1921 at the all-Australian Trades Union

Congress, they are pledged to destroy the democratic institutions of this country. In Mein Kampf Hitler said -

. there must be no majority making decisions but merely a group of responsible persons. . . . The State is a separate entity.

There we have communism interpreted by fascist lips. There we have from the mouth of Hitler himself, the same policy that was laid down by the Communist party cum Labour party in 1921. Yet the honorable member for Dalley, who is the Speaker of the House, has the temerity to say on the floor of this chamber that the enemies of democracy are in the anti-Labour parties. The enemies of democracy are in the totalitarian States, and honorable members opposite are rapidly assuming the guise of totalitarian leaders. They have embraced the whole of the Communist technique, and their aim is to introduce some form of totalitarian administration through the projected legislation for the nationalization of the trading banks. I draw the attention of honorable members to some of the conditions of membership of the Comintern with which, I have no doubt, honorable members opposite are fully acquainted.

Mr Conelan:

– Never heard of it.

Mr HARRISON:

– I have no doubt that if the royal commission that we seek to inquire into Communist activities, particularly within the Public Service, were appointed, we should find some very interesting revelations concerning the conduct of certain honorable members opposite and Communist leaders. The third condition of membership of the Comintern provides that every “ member-party “ should - create illegal (in addition to the legal) organizations for subversive work:

We have heard no less a person than the Attorney-General and Minister for External Affairs (Dr. Evatt) quoting a resolution of the trade union congress declaring the Communists to be enemy agents. But words do not mean anything unless they lead to action. Honorable members opposite make no contribution to a solution of the communist problem merely by talking with their tongues in their cheeks. The time for action is long overdue. Condition number 8 of Comintern membership provides that every member shall - work for the liberation of all colonial peoples and for the independence of colonies belonging to their own countries.

We all know of the action taken by the Australian Communists, supported of course by Labour, with regard to the Indonesian colonies of the Dutch Republic. We, the people of Australia, represented by the Labour Government, aided and abetted Communists in the carrying out of one of the principles laid down by the conditions of Comintern membership. Condition number eleven states that every member should - carry on Parliamentary activity before revolution was attained in the respective countries, but the Communist members of Parliament to be completely subordinated to the Central Committee of the party.

There is an illustration of the aim of the Communists to destroy our democratic institutions. Labour is tied to that aim because in 1921 it agreed that a supreme economic council should be established to take the place of Parliament. At that time Mr. Wells said, holding a pencil in his fingers, “ If that can be achieved, then parliaments would not amount to this “. And where is Mr. Wells to-day? He is one of those whom the Labour party will shortly take to its bosom. The Labour party to-day is admitting its adherence to the 1921 Communist plan by failing to take action against the supreme economic council of the Waterside Workers Federation. The appointment of conciliation commissioners under this Government’s new arbitration legislation, all pledged to give effect to Labour’s policy, indicates that they may become the leaders of the supreme economic council, to the formation of which honorable members opposite, including the Minister for Labour and National Service are pledged. Is it any wonder that members of the Labour party “will not rise in this chamber to attack their Communist brethren? Is it any wonder that they urge the honorable member for Dalley who, as Speaker, has no place on the floor of this chamber, to enter the debate and carry the banner for them? If the Government is truly opposed to communism, its supporters should have no hesitation in attacking this menace in the Parliament. If they have not the honesty to do that, let them forever remain seated and in shame.

Progress reported.

page 662

ADJOURNMENT

Food Control - Telephone Services

Motion (by Mr. Holloway) proposed -

That the House do now adjourn.

Mr WHITE:
Balaclava

.-I wish to raise a matter that concerns the whole Parliament, andwhich in no sense can be regarded as a party political question. There is in existence to-day an organization known as the Emergency International Food Control. This body apparently decides the destination of all foodstuffs sent from Australia. I understand that it has no statutory authority here or in Great Britain, and as we should like to see the people of Great Britain get the greatest possible share of the food that we export, I ask the Prime Minister (Mr. Chifley) to make a statement as early as possible about its activities. If necessary we should disassociate ourselves from.it.

SirEARLE PAGE (Cowper) [3.25].- In my electorate there is a big organization that handles the whole of the vegetable and fruit industries of northern New South Wales. The secretary has been trying for some time to obtain a telephone. He has received a letter from the district telephone officer saying that there is not much chance of his receiving one in the immediate future, although one is most important in the despatch of perishable products, without sponsorship from “ the Secondary Industries Commission, the Ministry of Post-war Reconstruction, or the Secondary Industries Division of the Department of Labour and Industry of New South Wales “. It seems an extraordinary anomaly that an application for a telephone from the secretary of an organization handling the people’s food should have to be sponsored by bodies associated with secondary industries. The letter states -

I). however, you can obtain a certification in support of your application from either one of the two departments referred to, a much higher priority will be allotted to the service and the prospects of early connexion will be much enhanced.

I hope the Minister for Works and Housing (Mr. Lemmon) will place these facts before the Postmaster-General. I suggest that, instead of sponsorship being required from a body associated with secondary industries, it should be from the Minister for Commerce and Agriculture, or the Minister for Agriculture in New South Wales. I hope that this matter will be dealt with speedily.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

page 662

PAPERS

The following papers were presented : -

Commonwealth Public Service Act - Appointment - Department of Labour and National Service - C. H. Green.

Customs Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1947, No. 138.

Defence (Transitional Provisions) Act - National Security (Industrial Property) Regulations - Orders - Inventions and designs (13).

National Security (Prices) Regulations -Orders- Nos. 3079, 3080, 3082-309).

Lands Acquisition Act - Land acquiredfor Postal purposes - Wynyard, Tasmania.

Naval Defence Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1947, No. 139.

Science and Industry Research Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1947, No. 137.

House adjourned at 3.27 p.m.

page 662

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

The following answers to questions were circulated: -

Royal Australian Air Force : Present Combat Strength

Mr Harrison:

n asked the Minister for Air, upon notice -

How many serviceable Royal Australian Air . Force combat squadrons in Australia could be put into the air at short notice in the event of a sudden emergency?
Is it a fact that thousands of aircraft are officially listed in the “ storage” category, and that most of them could not be prepared for operations at short notice?
What is the actual number of aircraft in this category?
How many of them have been in the open for years and how many are due for the scrap-heap ?
Where are these aeroplanes located?

Mr Drakeford:
ALP

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

The Royal Australian Air Force has twelve squadrons fully equipped to establishment with serviceable operational aircraft which could be put into the air at short notice. 2 and 3. One thousand three hundred and thirty aircraft held in storage categories “B” (immediate reserves for replacement of unit aircraft - maintenance pool plus wastage for one year) and “C” (aircraft to meet anticipated requirements during the period July, 1948-June, 1952) are being retained for use in the post-war Air Force. The majority of these aircraft could be made available for operations at short notice. One thousand nine hundred and thirty aircraft which are surplus to Air Force requirements are held in categories “ D “ (unrequired aircraft - saleable as such) and “ E “ (unrequired aircraft - unsaleable as such) storage. Aircraft in category “ 13 “ storage have a disposal value while those in category “ E “ have no disposal value as aircraft. None of those aircraft could be prepared for operations at short notice nor will they be required for such purposes. Seven hundred and one other aircraft two in the process of being disposed of as scrap metal.
One thousand eight hundred and sixty- nine category “ E “ aircraft, having no postwar Royal Australian Air Force use, have been stored in the open since the cessation of hostilities. Aircraft in categories “ B”, “ C “, and “D” are stored under cover to the fullest extent of storage capacity available. Most of category “ B “, “C” and “D” aircraft are in under-cover storage.
Category “ E “ aircraft are held at the following locations: - Evans Head, Laverton, Oakey, Pearce, Point Cook, Richmond, Amberley, Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Benalla, Lake Boga. Deniliquin, East Sale, WestSale, Tam worth, Tocumwal, Wagga Wagga, Werribee.

Mr. J.R. Kerr and Mr. J. Atyeo

Mr Rankin:
BENDIGO, VICTORIA

n asked the Minister acting for the Minister for External Affairs, upon notice -

When did Mr. John Robert Kerr first become associated with the Commonwealth Public Service or with the Army?
To what position was he appointed and at whatsalary?
What is his present designation and what salary and/or allowances is he receiving?
How many times has Mr. Kerr been over seas at Commonwealth expense, and what was (a.) the reason for and (b) the cost of each trip?
What position does Mr. Sam Atyeo occupy in the department and what salary and/or allowances does he receive?
When did he first join the Commonwealth Public Service, and what was his position and salary?
On how many occasions has Mr. Atyeo been overseas, and what was (a) the reason for and (b) the cost of each visit?

Mr Chifley:
ALP

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

Mr. Kerr’s first association with the Commonwealth Public Service or with the Army was on 1st April, 1942, when he was called up for military service.
Mr. Kerr was posted as a private in the Australian Army Service Corps and allotted to Base Supply Depot, Parkes. His pay was 6s. per day plus allowances amounting to 9s.
Mr. Kerr is at present principal of the Australian School of Pacific Administration, for which he receives a salary of £1,250 per annum with no allowances. He has also been assigned to act temporarily as organizing secretary of the South Pacific Commission (Interim Organization ) with an allowance of £400 per annum.
Since 1st April, 1942, Mr. Kerr has been overseas on three occasions -
1. From 11th April, 1944 to6th July, 1944, to investigate methods regarding the administration of territories recovered from the enemy. The cost of this trip was approximately £221, excluding normal pay and allowances as an officer of the Australian Military Forces.
2. The second occasion was from 13th April, 1945 to 23rd August, 1945 for discussion in connexion with and to participate in planning at the War Office regarding the Borneo Administrative Unit. The cost of this trip was approximately £293, excluding normal pay and allowances as an officer of the Australian Military Forces.
3. The third occasion was subsequent to his appointment as principal of the Australian School of Pacific Administration. The purpose of the visit was a conference with the Administrator of Papua New Guinea. The cost of this trip was £54.
Temporary Second Secretary, Australian delegation to United Nations. Salary £622 per annum. Allowances as for married Second Secretaries in the United States of America.
Mr. Atyeo was a member of the A.W.S.P. organization in the United States of America as a locally engaged employee. He transferred to External Affairs in September, 1945, and took up duty at the Australian Legation, Paris, as temporary Second Secretary with salary £598 per annum.
He has been abroad continuously since taking up duty in Paris.

Commonwealth Investigation Service

Mr Hamilton:
SWAN, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

n asked the Minister representing the Minister acting for the Attorney-General, upon notice -

When can the honorable member for Swan expect the information regarding the Commonwealth Investigation Branch which the Attorney-General promised live months ago? The previous question read as follows: -

With reference to the question to be asked in the House of Representatives on Wednesday, 7th May, viz. Mr. Hamilton to ask the Attorney-General -

Is there in existence an organization known as the Commonwealth Investigation Service?

If so, what are its functions?

What are (a) the names, (B) designations, and (c) salaries of officers attached to the service who receive a salary of £250 a year or more?

Mr Holloway:
ALP

– It is regretted that a reply was not forwarded to the honorable member while the House was in recess. The Minister acting for the AttorneyGeneral has supplied the following information : - 1 and 2. The Commonwealth Investigation Service (formerly known as the Investigation Branch, Attorney-General’s Department) has been in existence for over 30 years. The Commonwealth Investigation Service makes inquiries in relation to offences against laws of the Commonwealth. In addition, the service conducts investigations for Commonwealth departments with the exception of the Customs Department (including the Prices Branch and the Rationing Branch of that department), the Postmaster-General’s Department and the Taxation Department. The service acts as a liaison with State government departments in investigations being conducted by the States on behalf of the Commonwealth Government. Included in the Commonwealth Investigation Service is the Security Organization.

The names, designations and salaries of officers attached to the service who are in receipt of a salary of £250 or more are as follows : -

Government Departments: Transfers from Melbourne to Canberra

Mr Hamilton:

n asked the Prime Minister, upon notice -

When may the honorable member for Swan expect a reply to the question regarding the transfer of Commonwealth departments from Melbourne .to Canberra which ho asked four mouths ago, to which the Prime Minister replied, on the 4th June, that the information would be furnished as soon as practicable and the Minister for the Interior replied more than two months ago that an answer was being obtained?

Mr Chifley:
ALP

– The following questions were previously asked on .this matter by the honorable member: -

Does the Government contemplate the transfer from Melbourne to Canberra of Commonwealth departments or .the central administration of any departments now in Melbourne?
If so, what are the departments involved?
When is it anticipated the transfer will commence?
What staff of each department will be involved in the transfer?
What are the Government’s plans for housing and accommodating the staff .to be transferred?

The answers to these questions are as follows : -

Yes.
Postmaster-General’s Department, Department of Defence, Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, Department of Air. Department of Munitions, Department of Social Services, Department of Works and Housing, Department of Labour and National Service, Department of Supply and Shipping, Department of Civil Aviation, Department of Repatriation and Department of Transport.
The honorable member will appreciate the fact that, owing to the difficulties in regard to man-power and materials the Government must concentrate on the provision of houses and office accommodation to meet the requirements of Commonwealth Departments already established in Canberra. In view of existing conditions the transfer of Commonwealth departments to Canberra must be a gradual process. At this stage it is not possible to indicate when the transfer will commence.
More than 4,500 officers and employees will be involved in the transfer.
Before the transfer can be effected, housing and office accommodation must bc provided and extensions made to all services, schools and public amenities. It was recently decided to establish a committee consisting of representatives of the Public Service Board, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Works and Housing and the Treasury to investigate this matter and to submit an intermediate and a long-range programme in connexion with the transfer of departments to Canberra.

Whaling.

Mr Chifley:
ALP

y. - The honorable member for Wilmot (Mr. Duthie) and the honorable member for Franklin (Mr. Falkinder), on the 15th and the 22nd May, respectively, each asked a questionregarding the establishment of the whaling industry in Australia. I ami now able to inform the honorable members as follows : -

On the 20th November, 104.5, Cabinet approved of proposals for Australian participation in whaling in the southern hemisphere. Since then an officer of the Fisheries Division of the Department of Commerce and Agriculture has attended an international whaling conference. Full consideration to the general prospects of the establishment of the industry in Australia has been given by an inter-departmental committee consisting of representatives of the Department of the Treasury, Commerce and Agriculture, Supply and Shipping, Post-war Reconstruction, Repatriation and Labour and National Service. This committee recommended to Cabinet that Australia’s initial entry into the industry should be through land stations based on the Western Australian and New South Wales coasts and that, when they are established and personnel trained, further consideration should be given to pelagic operations based on Hobart. This recommendation was made in the light of the following facts: (a) Advice has been received from Britain that the building of a factory ship could not be completed until 1950. (&) The proposal to secure a factory ship as part of Japanese reparations is being investigated by the Department of External Affairs but, even if approved, there will be delay in delivery. Cabinet has accepted the committee’s recommendation and has requested the Minister for Commerce and Agriculture to investigate the possibility of the establishment of a shore factory - in the first instance at Albany, Western Australia. In compliance with this request, the Minister for Commerce and Agriculture is at present negotiating with a Norwegian whaling expert with a view to securing his services for training personnel and advising on the construction, management and operation of the proposed shore factory.

China.

Mr Chifley:
ALP

y. - In reply to a question addressed to me on the 30th September by the honorable member for Watson (Mr. Falstein) concerning General Wedemeyer’s report to President Truman, I am now able to confirm that this report has not yet been made public. I understand, however, that General Wedemeyer, on leaving China on the 24th August, issued a statement indicating that he had had success in obtaining information from all classes, deploring the spirit of defeatism in government circles and the time spent in “ blaming outside influences or in seeking outside assistance “. He also called upon the Communists to show their patriotism by ceasing to use force in imposing their ideology, and upon the Government to remove “ incompetent and corrupt officials “. He also declared that “ to regain and maintain the confidence of the people the Chinese government will have to put into force immediately drastic and far-reaching political and economic reforms. Promises will no longer suffice “. If the honorable member desires, I shall arrange for the full text of the press statement made by General Wedemeyer to be made available for his perusal.

Banking: Cost of Commonwealth” Litigation.

Mr Holloway:
ALP

y. - On the 26th September, the honorable member for Barker (Mr. Archie Cameron) asked the following question : -

What costs wore incurred by the Commonwealth in the High Court case over section 48 of the Banking Act 1945 on (a) its own account in (i) advice, retainers, etc., (ii) court, and (iii) other expenses; and (6) account ot the litigants whose costs wore paid by the Commonwealth on the order of the High Court.

The Minister acting for the AttorneyGeneral has now supplied the following information : - 1. (a) The following legal expenses (excluding intra-departmental expenditure) were incurred by the Commonwealth as defendant in Commonwealth ais Lord Mayor of Melbourne and others and Commonwealth ais Shire of Coreen: - (i) consultations, conferences and the like prior to the hearing. £735 17s., (ii) court fees, £7 7s. Cel., (iii) other expenses e.g. briefs and retainers. £918 18s. Cd.; totaI, £I,662 3s.; (6) No bill of costs has yet been received from the solicitors for the plaintiff.

Armed Forces: Rabaul Garrison.

Mr Chambers:
Minister for the Army · ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

s. - On the 1st October, the honorable member for Franklin (Mr. Falkinder) asked the following question : -

During the last sessional period, I asked the Minister for the Army a question concerning the payment of certain allowances to members of the Rabaul Garrison. The Minister decided that certain of these allowances should be paid. It is understood that Permanent Military force members of the Heavy Artillery marie superannuation payments throughout their period of service, whereas other members of the Permanent Military Forces had their payments made by the Government. Further, the friendly society duos of servicemen were not collected except in respect of the Rabaul Garrison. Will the Minister undertake to investigate and rectify these injustices?

I have investigated this matter and desire to advise the honorable member as follows : -

The Commonwealth accepted liability for the payment of superannuation contributions in respect of all members of the Permanent Military Forces as from 26th June, 1943. However, in the case of Permanent Military Force members who transferred to the Australian Imperial Force prior to that date, the Commonwealth accepted liability for the payment of superannuation contributions as from the date of transfer. Following on the decision to ‘ grant Australian Imperial Force status to all members of the 1941-42 Rabaul Garrison, a retrospective adjustment is being made in the accounts of Permanent Military Force members concerned as from the date of transfer to the Australian Imperial Force, in order to bring them into line with other members of the Permanent Military Forces seconded or transferred to the Australian Imperial Force who served in other theatres of war. The question of a remission of friendly society dues is a matter for arrangement between the servicemen concerned and the relative friendly society.

Petrol Rationing.

Mr Dedman:
ALP

n. - On the 2nd October, the honorable member for Griffith (Mr. Conelan) asked a question concerning the extension of the life of current petrol tickets. The Minister for Supply and Shipping has supplied the following information: -

I have examined the suggestion that the life of current petrol ration tickets should be extended for a further period of two months to permit of motorists using those tickets to obtain petrol for Christmas travel. This proposal has been considered on several previous occasions when the petrol situation was not so critical as that which exists to-day. The Commonwealth Government at the request of the British Government recently accepted an obligation to keep its overall petrol consumption within a strictly limited quantity. This necessitates the Commonwealth maintaining a careful budgetary control over the petrol consumed from month to month and such control would be considerably weakened if coupons had a currency beyond the two months which at present obtains.- In all the present circumstances I regret that I am unable to agree to the proposal.

Cite as: Australia, House of Representatives, Debates, 10 October 1947, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/hofreps/1947/19471010_reps_18_193/>.

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House of Representatives10 October 1947

BANKING

Nationalization : Petitions ; Ballot of Primary Producers ; Draft of Bill

Mr ANTHONY:Richmond

Mr SPEAKER:

Mr McEwen:

Mr SPEAKER:

Mr ANTHONY:

Mr TURNBULL:WIMMERA, VICTORIA

Mr CHIFLEY:Prime Minister · MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

Mr LANG:REID, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr CHIFLEY:

QUESTION

CORNSACKS

Mr LANGTRY:RIVERINA, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr POLLARD:Minister for Commerce and Agriculture · BALLAARAT, VICTORIA · ALP

QUESTION

COAL

Mr HARRISON:WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr CHIFLEY:ALP

Mr Harrison:

Mr CHIFLEY:

Mr Harrison:

Mr CHIFLEY:

Mr FALSTEIN:WATSON, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr White:

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

Mr FALSTEIN:

Mr Menzies:

Mr SPEAKER:

Mr Menzies:

Mr SPEAKER:

Mr FALSTEIN:

Mr SPEAKER:

Mr FALSTEIN:

Mr SPEAKER:

Mr FALSTEIN:

Mr SPEAKER:

QUESTION

ECONOMIC AID FOR BRITAIN

Mr HOLT:FAWKNER, VICTORIA

Mr CHIFLEY:ALP

Mr Holt:

Mr CHIFLEY:

Mr Holt:

Mr CHIFLEY:

Mr Holt:

Mr CHIFLEY:

POWER ALCOHOL DISTILLERIES

Mr RUSSELL:GREY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Mr DEDMAN:Minister for Defence · CORIO, VICTORIA · ALP

QUESTION

CIVIL AVIATION

Mr JAMES:HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES

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

Mr DRAKEFORD:

ESTIMATES 1947-48

Attorney-General’s Department

Mr McEWEN:Indi

Mr Barnard:

Mr McEWEN:

Mr Barnard:

Mr McEWEN:

Mr Bernard Corser:

Mr Sheehan:

Mr McEWEN:

Mr Barnard:

Mr McEWEN:

Mr Edmonds:

Mr McEWEN:

Mr Drakeford:

Mr McEWEN:

Mr Falstein:

The CHAIRMAN:

Mr Sheehan:

Mr McEWEN:

Mr Drakeford:

Mr McEWEN:

Mr Drakeford:

Mr McEWEN:

House of Representatives
10 October 1947

Mr ANTHONY:
Richmond

Mr TURNBULL:
WIMMERA, VICTORIA

Mr CHIFLEY:
Prime Minister · MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

Mr LANG:
REID, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr LANGTRY:
RIVERINA, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr POLLARD:
Minister for Commerce and Agriculture · BALLAARAT, VICTORIA · ALP

Mr HARRISON:
WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr CHIFLEY:
ALP

Mr FALSTEIN:
WATSON, NEW SOUTH WALES

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

Mr HOLT:
FAWKNER, VICTORIA

Mr CHIFLEY:
ALP

Mr RUSSELL:
GREY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Mr DEDMAN:
Minister for Defence · CORIO, VICTORIA · ALP

Mr JAMES:
HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES

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

Mr McEWEN:
Indi

The CHAIRMAN (Mr Clark:
DARLING, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr FALSTEIN:
Watson

Mr MCBRIDE:
Wakefield

Senator McBRIDE:
WAKEFIELD, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · LP; LCL from 1951; LP from 1954

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mr Sheehy:
BOOTHBY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Mr HOLLOWAY:
Melbourne PortsMinister for Labour and1 National Service · ALP

Mr HARRISON:
WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES · UAP; LP from 1944

Mr HUTCHINSON:
Deakin