Senate
4 July 1934

13th Parliament · 1st Session



The President (Senator the Hon. P. J. Lynch) took the chair at 3 p.m., and read prayers.

page 136

DEATH OF THE HON. D. M. CHARLESTON

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:
Minister for Defence · WESTERN AUSTRALIA · ALP; NAT from 1917; UAP from 1931

[8.1]. - by leave - I move -

That the Senate expresses its deep regret at the death of theHon. David Morley Charleston, a former senator for the State of South Australia, and tenders its sincere sympathy to his relatives ‘in their bereavement.

Since the last meeting of the Senate, the Hon. David Morley Charleston, who was a member of the Senate for South Australia from 1901 to 1904, has passed away. Prior to entering the Federal Parliament, he was a member of the Legislative Council of South Australia from 1891 to 1901, except for a very short period. Probably he was unknown to the majority of the present members of this chamber, but I recollect him well as one of that remarkable band who represented South Australia in the first Senate. He died at the ripe age of 86 years. I am sure that all present will desire to express their sympathy with his relatives in their bereavement.

Senator BARNES:
Victoria

.- I second the motion, and associate members on this side with the remarks made by the Leader of the Senate. We extend our deep sympathy to the relatives of the deceased gentleman.

Question resolved in the affirmative, honorable senators standing in their places.

page 137

PAPERS

The following papers were presented : -

International Labour Organization of the League of Nations - Seventeenth Conference held at Geneva, June, 1933 -

Draft Conventions and Recommendations adopted at Conference.

Reports of the Australian Delegates.

Air Force Act - Regulations amended- Statutory Rules 1934, No. 74.

Defence Act - Royal Military College of Australia - Report for period 1st January. 1933, to 31st December, 1933.

Seat of Government Acceptance Act and Seat of Government (Administration) Act - Nurses Registration Ordinance - Regulations amended.

Excise Act - Regulations amended- Statutory Rules 1934, No.65.

Invalid and Old-age Pensions Act Regulations amended - Statutory Rules 1934, No. 59.

page 137

QUESTION

APPLE-GROWING INDUSTRY

Senator J B HAYES:
TASMANIA

– I ask the Minister representing the Minister for Commerce, if, in view of the precarious state of the apple industry, the Government will make available a sufficient sum to induce the shipping companies to reduce the overseas freights to pre-war levels ?

Senator Sir HARRY LAWSON:

– The matter will receive consideration when the budget is being dealt with.

page 137

QUESTION

DATE OF ELECTION

Senator HARDY:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– I ask the Leader of the Senate if it is a fact that the general elections will be held on the’ 15th September. If so, will the right honorable gentleman inform the Senate why the Government has decided to go before the electors five months befor the effluxion of the term of this Parliament ?

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:

– The right honorable the Prime Minister is, I understand, making a statement about this matter in the House of Representatives. It is proposed to recommend His Excellency the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament to enable the elections to be held on or about the 15th September. The reasons for this course will be stated by the Prime Minister at a later date.

Senator DUNN:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– Will the Government undertake to tell His Excellency the Governor-General the true reasons for an early election?

The PRESIDENT:

– Order !

Senator DUNN:

-Some reasons must be advanced toHis Excellency for holding an election five months before the term of this Parliament expires. The electors want to know the reason, and their elected representatives should not be kept in the dark in this matter.

The PRESIDENT:

– The honorable senator must’ put this question in an acceptable form.

Senator DUNN:

– I submit. Mr. President, that my question conforms to the rules governing the asking of questions in that it is respectfully worded and seeks information. As a representative of ‘the people of New South Wales, I desire to know why the cost of an election is to be incurred earlier than is necessary.

The PRESIDENT:

– The honorable senator, who is fairly resourceful in the use of language, should frame his question without imputing motives. He is not in order asking “the Minister if he will tell the truth.”

Senator DUNN:

– I asked the Minister if the Government would tell His Excellency the Governor-General the truth. Of what is the Government afraid? Honorable senators are entitled to know why a general election is to be held on the date proposed.

The PRESIDENT:

– Order ! The honorable senator is entitled to ask the Leader of the Government to give reasons why an election is to be held on a specified date, but he must do so in a proper manner.

Senator DUNN:

– I withdraw the words to which exception has been taken. On your advice, sir, I ask the Minister if the Government will give reasons why a general election is to be held on the date mentioned?

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:

– I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to a similar question asked by Senator Hardy.

Senator MacDONALD:
QUEENSLAND

– Having regard to the obviously short period available for carrying on parliamentary work, and conducting an election campaign to enable our views to be placed before the people, can the Minister, indicate when the session is likely to terminate?

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:

– The date of the dissolution of Parliament and other dates of interest to honorable senators will be announced later.

Senator DUNN:

– In view of the prospect of an early dissolution, will you, Mr. President, inform the Senate whether you intend to remain neutral or to take sides?

Question not answered. .

page 138

WYNDHAMAIRPORT

On the 29th June, Senator E. B. Johnston asked the following questions, upon notice : - 1.Is ita fact that many of the world’s leading aviators, including Air-Commodore Sir Charles Kingsford Smith, have preferred Wyndham to Darwin as the first and last air port of call in Australia?

I am now in a position to inform the honorable senator as follows: -

Wyndham has been preferred to Darwin by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and other pilots on several occasions when makingflights to and from Australia. On the other hand, Darwin has been used in the great majority of overseas flights to and from Australia.

Wyndham is not included in the air mail contracts recently approved by the Government as no acceptable tender for the short service OrdRiver-Wyndham was received.

Tenders are to be invited again shortly for this service OrdRiver-Wyndham, and it is honed to avoid any dislocation of the air service to Wyndham which the residents of those parts have enjoyed for years past.

page 138

QUESTION

NORTH-WEST AIR SERVICE

What is the position in regard to the ail service to the north-west of Western Australia i

Has a new contract been accepted?

If so, for what term, and when does it commence ?

I am now in a position to inform the honorable senator as follows: -

The air service from Perth to Wyndham via Derby and other intermediate ports is at present being operated by Westralian Airways Limited, but notice of termination of the agreement with that company, as from 2nd October, 1934, has been given.

The tender of the MacRobertson-Miller Aviation Company Limited for the service between Perth and Katherinehas been accepted, and the contract signed.

The contract is for a term of five years, and the contractor is under contract to start in July, if required. It is probable, however, that the commencing date will be postponed by me under powers conferred in the contract to coincide with the date of termination of Westralian Airways’ service.

page 138

HENDERSON NAVAL BASE

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE.On the 29th June, Senator E. B. Johnston asked the following questions, upon notice : -

What amount was spent on the Henderson Naval Base, near Fremantle, from its inception until the work was discontinued?

Can the Minister indicate when the work is likely to be resumed?

I am now in a position to inform the honorable senator as follows: -

Approximately £1,130,000 was expended over a period of eight years, including cost of land.

The Government’s naval advisers state that the existing naval situation docs not callfor the resumption of work there.

page 138

QUESTION

PREFERENCE TO MILITIA MEMBERS

Has the attention of the Minister been drawn to a statement which appeared in the Melbourne Sun, of the 9th April, 1934, stating that employers will be urged to give preference to militia members?

Did this statement emanate from the Defence Department?

Can the Minister state who authorized this statement to be made?

Does the Government intend making such an appeal to employers?

I am now in a position to inform the honorable senator as follows: -

Not prior to this question. 2, 3, 4. No.

page 139

QUESTION

PURCHASE OF CRUISER

What is the total cost of the cruiser recently purchased from Great Britain?

What is the amount of exchange that will have to be paid on this purchase?

What will be the approximate cost of bringing this vessel from England to Australia ?

Why was the vessel purchased in Great Britain instead of being built in Australia?

I am now in a position to inform the honorable senator as follows: -

The estimated cost is £1,800,000 sterling.

£450,000, approximately.

About £30,000.

The work is of greater magnitude than any warship construction yet undertaken in Australia. The Government arrived at its decision after considering the present stage of development of warship construction in Australia, taking into account the factors of time required for building locally and the cost thereof and being faced with the necessity of procuring from abroad in any case the armament, auxiliary machinery, and much special equipment. The urgency of the replacement of H.M.A.S. Brisbane in view of treaty provisions has also to be taken into consideration.

page 139

QUESTION

WILUNA TELEPHONE SERVICE

Senator McLACHLAN:
Minister in charge of Development and Scientific and Industrial Research · SOUTH AUSTRALIA · UAP

– On the 29th June, Senator E. B. Johnston addressed to the Minister representing the PostmasterGeneral the following questions, upon notice : -

  1. When does the Government intend to provide a trunk telephone service between Wiluna and Geraldton, Western Australia?
  2. Is there any other town in Australia with a population comparable to that of Wiluna, which is denied telephone communication with its nearest seaport and the rest of the State?

I am now in a position to inform the honorable senator as follows: -

  1. Unfortunately, a heavy cost would be entailed in establishing telephone communication between Gerald ton and Wiluna, and in present circumstances the department would not be justified in undertaking the work.
  2. I am not aware of any other town where the conditions are similar to those existing at Wiluna.

page 139

QUESTION

WIRELESS BROADCASTING IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Senator McLACHLAN:
UAP

– On the 29 th J une, Senator E. B. Johnston addressed to the Minister representing the PostmasterGeneral the following questions, upon notice : -

  1. What is delaying the erection of a national broadcasting station in the great southern districts of Western Australia?
  2. Has a site beenselected for this proposed station ?
  3. If so, where?
  4. When will the station be completed and ready for broadcasting?

I am now in a position to inform the honorable senator as follows: -

  1. There has been no avoidable delay. The equipment is on order, and will be ready for installation as soon as the building is erected.
  2. Yes.
  3. The site chosen is suitable for servicing the area, but until purchase negotiations are completed it is undesirable to give particulars as to its exact location.
  4. It is expected that the station will be in service about May next.

page 139

QUESTION

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION

Senator McLACHLAN:
UAP

– On the 29th June, Senator; Collings addressed to the Minister representing the PostmasterGeneral the following question, upon notice : -

In view of the resignation of the chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, Mr. Charles Lloyd Jones, will the Minister consider the need for a thorough inquiry into the present management and control of the commission before making any arrangement for the appointment of a new chairman?

I am now in a position to inform the honorable senator as follows: -

It is not the intention of the Government to institute an inquiry into the present management and control of the Australian Broadcasting Commission.

page 139

QUESTION

DEFENCE EXPENDITURE

In view of the fact that the total Defence vote for the year 1933-34 exceeds that for the previous year by over £1,500,000, will he state what proportion of that additional expenditure will be devoted to imported materials ?

Is it a fact that the new war planes costing £438,000 will be built in Great Britain and that artillery, material for bombs and other munitions and equipment will also be procured from overseas ?

What will the total overseas expenditure amount to, including exchange ?

I am now in a position to inform the honorable senator as follows: -

£746,750, which includes provision of £129,250 towards exchange.

The new land planes . and seaplanes will be built in Great Britain.

New gun equipments required for coast defence which are beyond the manufacturing capabilities of our munitions factories are also being obtained from abroad, as it would be uneconomical to extend their activities to include these items owing to the comparatively small number of equipments required.

No material is being purchased abroad for bombs, but orders have been placed for certain other material, munitions or equipment which is not obtainable in Australia.

The total overseas expenditure from the Defence vote will be £892,640, including provision of £178,528 for exchange.

page 140

QUESTION

INCOME TAX ASSESSMENTS

Is it a fact that a large number of federal income taxpayers have not yet received their assessments of income tax on their incomes for the year ended the 30th June, 1933?

Can the Minister indicate the amount of revenue from this source which is being carried forward to the next financial year, as a result of delayed assessments ?

Have any instructions been issued causing delay in the collection of this revenue ?

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

There is always a number of income tax returns for the current year that, for various reasons, cannot be assessed before the 30th June in the financial year. These are ordinarily assessed as soon as possible after the 30th June.

No definite estimate could be furnished of the carry-over at the 30th June, 1934, except that it would be definitely less than the corresponding carry-over at the 30th June, 1933.

No instructions have been issued to cause delayin the collection of this revenue. On the contrary, special instructions were issued early in the current year to ensure the maximum of assessments before the 30th June.

page 140

POLITICS IN GERMANY

Senator DUNN:

– Has the attention of the Leader of the Senate been drawn to the following report appearing in the Sydney Morning Herald on the 4th July, 1934 : -

page 140

AMERICAN LAWYER’S COMMENT

New York, July 3

A commission, which has been organised under the auspices of Lord Marley, who is prominent in anti-war movements, opened an inquiry on Monday into conditions in Germany. The noted lawyer, Mr. Clarence Darrow, who is a member of the commission, said: “If there are any more murders to-morrow I hope it will end in the killing of Hitler. I think Hitler is a very dangerous man, and should be destroyed.” ?

Will the Government, on behalf of the people of Australia, protest to the British Government that the Hitler policy of wholesale murders will disturb the peace of Europe, and lead to another European war, in which Australia will not take part ?

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE.The Government does not propose to interfere in the internal affairs of Germany.

page 140

QUESTION

DR. GILRUTH

Senator DALY:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

-I ask the Minister for Development what qualifications, if any, Dr. Gilruth possesses to enable him to make a report upon the mineral potentialities of the Northern Territory? Is it not a fact that Dr. Gilruth is attached to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research as a veterinary scientist ? If Dr. Gilruth has no qualifications that entitle him to express an opinion on the mineral potentialities of the Northern Territory, will the Government take steps to see that his mouth is closed upon such matters?

Senator McLACHLAN:
UAP

– I am not aware that Dr. Gilruth has expressed any opinion on the mineral potentialities of the Northern Territory. I understand that he has given an historical review on the subject from his view-point, and that his remarks are based upon an examination of mineral production in the Northern Territory. Perhaps at a later stage I shall have an opportunity to make a statement with respect to the publicity given to the matter.

Senator DALY:

– Is it not a fact that Dr. Gilruth was attached to a semigovernmental stall for a specific purpose, and, if so, has he not sufficient work to do in that department? If not, why is he paid the salary he at present receives ? Is it not a fact that his opinions, which have been broadcast, are calculated to injure the future progress of the Northern Territory ?

Senator McLACHLAN:

– With respect to the last point raised by the honorable senator, I admit that it is most unfortunate that publicity has been given to some of the information conveyed to one of the bodies attached to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Dr. Gilruth’s duties are almost entirely devoted to veterinary science, and I understand that the information published was sought by a committee dealing with the chilled beef industry.

Senator Daly:

-Why not tell him that he knows nothing about the subject?

Senator McLACHLAN:

– The matter is being carefully examined by me.

page 141

STOCK RAISING IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

SenatorMacDONALD. - Having regard to the criticism of the stock-raising capacity of the Northern Territory, and the reply of Mr. F. C.Urquhart, a former Administrator of the Northern Territory, who described such statements as rubbish, will the Government take steps to improve the stock transport facilities from the Northern Territory by constructing a railway from North Queensland to Darwin, and by continuing the line north from Alice Springs.

Senator McLACHLAN:
UAP

– The point raised by the honorable senator has not been overlooked. At present the Government has officers conducting a closeand searching inquiry into the position of lessees and others producing beef in portions of the Northern Territory, with a view to improving the means of egress of stock for shipment overseas, and for Australian consumption.

page 141

QUESTION

INTERNAL NATIONAL DEBT

Senator J B HAYES:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice -

What is the total internal debt of Australia, and how much of it is held by savings banks, insurance and assurance companies, and friendly societies,respectively ?

Senator Sir HARRY LAWSONInquiries are being made and a reply will be furnished as soon as possible.

page 141

QUESTION

PRIVATE TRADING BANKS

Senator BARNES:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice-

  1. What was the total paid-up capital of all private trading banks in Australia in 1915?
  2. What is the total paid-up capital of all private trading banks in Australia at the latest date for which figures are available?
  3. What premium capital has been subscribed since 1915 to date?
  4. What is the amount of reserves held by these banks?
  5. What is the total profits of these banks since 1915?
  6. What is the total amount of dividend distributedon paid-up capital of thesebanks since 1915?
  7. What is the average rate of dividend granted on paid-up capital by these banks since 1915?
Senator Sir HARRY LAWSON:

– It is regretted that the information on the basis desired bythe honorable senator is not officially compiled. The only particulars of banking officially compiled are those appearing in the Finance Bulletin issued yearly by the Commonwealth Statistician. The latest information available appears in Bulletin No. 23, pages 40-51.

page 141

QUESTION

STAPLE COMMODITIES

British Production and Imports

Senator ELLIOTT:
VICTORIA

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

  1. Is it a fact that of great gross staples, Britain produces only a little over one-third of her requirements?
  2. Is it a fact that during 1932 the home production and imported Quantities were -
Senator Sir HARRY LAWSON:

– According to information available in the Department of Commerce, the pro duction in the United Kingdom, and imports into that country, in the year 1932, were as follow: -

The above figures indicate that the domestic production of some commodities greatly exceeded one-third of United Kingdom requirements, while, of other commodities, the local production was only a smallproportion of the total requirements. Of the total requirements of the above commodities, domestic productionwas less than one-quarter.

page 142

QUESTION

RELIEF TO WHEAT-FARMERS

Senator E B JOHNSTON:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Customs, upon notice -

  1. What amount per acre was paid by the State Governments to necessitous wheatfarmers in each State of theCommonwealth under the provisions of the Wheat Relief Act 1933?
  2. What other assistance was given to necessitous farmers under this act in each State?

Senator Sir HARRY LAWSON.The answers to the honorable senator’s questions are as follows: -

  1. The Commonwealth Government is advised that only preliminary payments are at present being made to wheat-growers by the State Governments. The rate per acre, on which final payments will be made, cannotbe determined by the States until all claims have been approved ?
  2. It is understood that the bounty is being distributed on an acreage basis, with the exception that in Western Australia an amount of approximately £70,000 is being reserved by the State authority for distribution to settlers considered to be in exceptionally poor circumstances.

page 142

QUESTION

TRADE WITH RUSSIA

Senator DUNN:

asked the Leader of the Government in the Senate, upon notice -

  1. Has his attention been invited to a press report stating that at the annual convention of the Federal Council of the Graziers Association, at Sydney, it was decided to request the Federal Nationalist Government to negotiate with Soviet Russia, with a view to completing a trade agreement for the exchange of meat and wool for oil?
  2. Is it a fact that not many months ago members of the Graziers Association of Australia referred to Soviet Russia as “ The Red Menace “, and protested against any move to open trade relations between Australia and Soviet Russia?
  3. Is it a fact that a deputation of the above-mentioned association recently in conference waited on the Minister for Commerce, and requested him to enter into a trade pact between Australia and Soviet Russia, based on a goods exchange of Australian wheat and wool for Russian oil, &c. ?
  4. Is it a fact that the Government is now in communication with the High Commissioner for Australia in England, and is instructing him to approach the Trade Commissioners for Soviet Russia to enter into a conference for the purpose of discussing a trade treaty pact between Australia and Soviet Russia?

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE.The answers to the honorable senator’s questions are as follows: -

  1. Yes.
  2. I have no knowledge of this.
  3. No. The Minister for Commerce has not received any such deputation.
  4. No.

page 142

QUESTION

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY

Discontent of Naval Ratings: Torpedo Flotilla : Tasmanian Regatta

Senator DUNN:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice -

Is it a fact that the naval ratings of the Australian torpedo flotilla, which recently arrived from England, went on strike in Gibraltar naval harbour owing to the lack of proper foods, accommodation - sleeping, sanitary and otherwise - and also owing to excessive sea duties?

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA · ALP; NAT from 1917; UAP from 1931

– No. I would direct the attention of the Senate to the fact that it is a well-known practice in communistic propaganda, for the purpose of causing discontent in the Defence Forces, to allege that certain things have happened in the services in order to suggest that they should happen.

Senator DUNN:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice -

  1. Is it a fact that the naval ratings of H.M.A.S. Canberra recently went on strike in Hobart and held wharf and forecastle-head meetings as a protest against excessive sea duties, lack of proper foods, reduction in wages, reduction of shore leave and excessive punishment?
  2. What were the reasons advanced for H.M.A.S.Canberra, and Australia and their crews not participating in the annual Tasmanian regatta held at Hobart in 1934?
  3. Is it not a fact that for many years past (excepting of course, during the war period) the AustralianNavy has always participated in the above-mentioned regatta?
Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:

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

  1. No. I would direct attention to my reply to question number6 of the same character as this question.
  2. Owing to considerable changes in the crews of the ships having taken place, gunnery drills and practices were essential to work up efficiency, and these took place in Jervis Bay from30th January to 17th February.
  3. Yes.

page 143

QUESTION

COCKATOO ISLAND DOCKYARD

Senator DUNN:

asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice -

What amount of renthas been paid by the lessees of Cockatoo Island Dockyard since it has been leased; and what amount of Australian ship-building has been done in the dockyard, other than the keel of the sloop for the Royal Australian Navy now being built, since the above dockyard has been leased?

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:

– The amount of rent paid is £1,333. In addition to the sloop which is being built for the Commonwealth Government, one 43-foot motor vessel has been built at the dockyard for a private firm, and a steam tug and a launch which were in course of construction when the lessees took over, have been completed.

page 143

QUESTION

PUBLIC SERVICE

Returnedsoldiers’ Leave

Senator DUNN:

asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice -

Is it a fact that any sick leave taken by returned soldier employees of the Commonwealth Public Service, due to the effect of war injuries, is deducted from the statutory period of sick leave allowed public servants under the Commonwealth Public Service Act?

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:

– Sick leave for officers of the Commonwealth Service is granted in pursuance of a determination of the Public Service Arbitrator which provides that no deduction shall be made in the case of a returned soldier in respect to leave granted within three years after the date of his discharge from the Expeditionary Forces. Otherwise the determination makes no distinction between returned soldiers and other officers.

page 143

QUESTION

PACIFIC ISLANDS SHIPPING SERVICES

Senator DUNN:

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

Is it a fact that the suspension of certain provisions of the Navigation Act has caused the withdrawal of some Australian steamers from the Australian -American Pacific trade, and is also causing distress and anxiety to Australian steamship companies and their employees engaged in the South Sea Islands trade?

Senator Sir HARRY LAWSON:

– There has been no suspension of any section of the Navigation Act in relation to ships engaged in the AustralianAmerican Pacific trade. Trade between the Commonwealth and the Territories of Papua and New Guinea was exempted from the coasting trade provisions of the act in 1925, following a recommendation by a royal commission which investigated the mutter that such was necessary to the welfare of the territory. The Australian line of steamers trading to those parts is in receipt of a substantialsubsidy for the service; consequently, it is considered that there is no real ground for any distress or anxiety on its part.

page 144

QUESTION

RAILWAY TRANSPORT FOR UNEMPLOYED

Senator DUNN:

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

Will the Minister give consideration to the setting-up of an interchange railway transport system as between the Commonwealth and the various State Governments, that will enable the unemployedto be conveyed to possible contacts of employment throughout Australia?

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE.From inquiries made, it is considered that it would be impracticable to make an arrangement of this nature.

page 144

QUESTION

MILITARY CLOTHING FOR UNEMPLOYED

Senator DUNN:

asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice -

  1. Is it a fact that there are over 3,000 unemployed men and youths in Broken Hill, New South Wales?
  2. Will the Minister give consideration to the issue of military clothing and boots to the Broken Hill Unemployed Committee for distribution among the many distressful cases in that locality?
Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:

– The only militaryclothing which becomes available for distribution is a small quantity of partworn uniform consisting of greatcoats, hats, breeches, jackets, trousers and boots which is returned by the troops. This clothing is handed over from rime to time to the State Government in the State in which it accumulates, for distribution to persons in necessitous circumstances. All surplus stocks of military clothing were distributed to the unemployed some years ago.

page 144

QUESTION

IMPORTATIONS

Senator COLLINGS:
QUEENSLAND

asked the Minister for Trade and Customs, upon notice -

Whether he will furnish the Senate with information as to the quantity and value of the importations into Australia of the following commodities : -

Cotton lint;

Coffee;

Castor beans;

Peanuts;

Jute;

Kapok?

Senator McLACHLAN:
UAP

– The information required by the honorable senator is as follows : -

page 144

QUESTION

INCOME TAX ASSESSMENTS

Senator COLLINGS:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice -

Whether, when the report of the Royal Commission on Taxation is being considered with a view to appropriate action, he will consider the advisability of exempting all persons over 70 years of age with no income exceeding £100 per annum from the necessity of making returns ?

Senator Sir HARRY LAWSON:

– The honorable the Treasurer has supplied the following answer : -

The Common wealth does not require any person (other than an absentee), whether over or under 70 years of age, to lodge returns if his income does not exceed £100 per annum.

page 144

QUESTION

EXPORT OF STUD RAMS

Senator RAE:
NEW SOUTH WALES

asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice -

  1. Is it a fact that merino stud rams have been recently exported to Japan from Australia with the concurrence of the Government?
  2. Is it true that Corriedale rams have also been exported to Japan ?
  3. Is it a fact that Japanese statesmen and newspapers have for some time been publicly stating that they hoped to breed up flocks of sheep in their newly-acquired territory, so as to dispense with Australian wool?
  4. In view of these facts, will the Minister, inform the Senate why permission has been given for the export of high-close stud sheep to build up the flocks of foreign competitors?
  5. Will he state how many sheep,and the sex and breed of each variety, have beenso exported during the last twelve months, and the countries of their destination?
Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA · ALP; NAT from 1917; UAP from 1931

– The right honorable the Prime Minister has supplied the following answers: -

  1. No.
  2. Yes.
  3. I am not aware that any authoritative statements to that effect have been made.
  4. The embargo on the exportation of stud sheep, except with the consent in Writing of the Minister for Trade and Customs, was imposed in the interests of Australia’s fine wool industry. It has not been considered that any good purpose would be served by prohibiting the exportation of breeds other than merino, for the reason that such sheep can be obtained from New Zealand and other countries. New Zealand is the home of the Corriedale breed. The question of whether the prohibition should be applied to breeds, other than merino, is under consideration.
  5. The information is being obtained.

page 145

QUESTION

SECESSION MOVEMENT

Senator E B JOHNSTON:

asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice -

With reference to question asked by Senator E. B. Johnston on the 31st May, 1933, as follows : - “1. In view of the result of the referendum held in Western Australia on the 8th April last, at which the question of the State of Western Australia seceding from the Commonwealth of Australia was submitted to the electors, who decided by 138,053 votes to 70,700 votes in favour of secession - a majority of 67,947 votes. - is it the intention of the Commonwealth Government to assist the Western Australian Government and Parliament in carrying the will of the people of that State, as expressed by the referendum, into effect?

If so, is it the intention of the Federal Government to endeavour to defeat the decision of the electors of Western Australia in favour of secession and home rule?”, and Senator Sir George Pearce’s reply, as follows : - “ The Commonwealth Government is aware of the result of the referendum to which reference is made, and does not propose to take action in either of the directions suggested “ -

Has the Government appointed a paid committee to oppose the wishes of the majority of the people of Western Australia in favour of secession?

If so, how does the Government reconcile such action with its promise that it would not take any action to defeat the decision of the electors of Western Australia in favour of secession and home rule?

Senator SirGEORGE PEARCE.The right honorable the Prime Minister supplied the following answers : -

The Government has appointed a committee to prepare a reply to the “ Case for Secession.”

The Government will take such action as it thinks fit to maintain the Commonwealth of Australia as established under the Constitution.

Senator E B JOHNSTON:

asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice -

  1. Has Mr. W. Somerville, a member of the State Arbitration Court of Western Australia, been appointed to a federal committee which has been set up to oppose the wishes of the majority of the people of Western Australia in regard to secession?
  2. Did the Federal Government adopt the usual courteous course of communicating with the Government of Western Australia in regard to its desire to secure Mr. Somerville’s services before approaching him on the subject?
  3. If not, why not?
  4. Is it a fact, as stated in the press in Western Australia, that Mr. Somerville has been promised a permanent position in the Federal Service?
Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:

– The right honorable the Prime Minister supplied the following answers : -

  1. Mr. W. Somerville is a member of a committee which has been constituted by the Commonwealth Government to prepare an answer to the “ Case for Secession.”
  2. The Prime Minister communicated with the Premier of Western Australia with regard to the release of Mr. Somerville to enable him to act as a member of the committee.
  3. See answer to No. 2.
  4. No such promise has been made.
Senator E B JOHNSTON:

asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice -

  1. Has a committee been appointed by the Federal Government to oppose “ the case of the people of Western Australia in support of their desire to withdraw from the Federal Commonwealth and to restore Western Australia to its former status as a separate selfgoverning colony in the British Empire with Dominion Status “? ‘
  2. If so, under what legislative authority was the said committee appointed by the Government?
  3. Who are the members of the said committee ?
  4. What remuneration, expenses, and allowances, are being paid to the members ofthe said committee?
  5. Has the expenditure been approved by

Parliament?

  1. If not, from what source are the expenses of the committee being paid?
  2. Will the Government lay on the table of the Senate a copy of the instructions which have been given to this committee in regard to its duties?
  3. If not, why not?

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE.The right honorable the Prime Minister supplied the following answers : -

  1. The Commonwealth Government has constituted a committee to prepare a reply to the case for secession.
  2. The committee has not been constituted under any special legislative authority, but the Government has the right to take such action.
  3. The Honorable John Henry Keating,” Sir Robert Garran, K.C.M.G., K.C., Mr. David John Gilbert, Mr. William Somerville.
  4. Payments as follows have been approved : -

The Honorable J. H. Keating a fee of 100 guineas, together with fares from Melbourne to Canberra and return, and an allowance at the rate of 25s. per day from the time of his departure from Melbourne until the time of his return to Melbourne.

Sir Robert Garran a fee of 150 guineas.

Mr. D. J. Gilbert a fee of 100 guineas, together with fares between Perth and Melbourne, and an allowance of 25s. per day from the time of his departure from Perth until the time of his return to Perth.

Mr. W. Somerville a fee equal to the salary he would have received as a member of the State Arbitration Court of Western Australia during the period of his absence from duties on the court, together with fares between Perth and Melbourne, and an allowance of 25s. per day from the time of his departure from Perth until the time of his return to Perth.

  1. No, but the necessary provision will be included in the Supplementary Estimates for 1933-34, and in the Estimates for 1934-35.
  2. Treasurer’s Advance pending Supplementary Estimates for1933-34, and pending Appropriation for 1934-35. 7 and 8. The verbal general instruction is to examine the case for secession, and prepare an answer thereto.

page 146

QUESTION

DOCK AT FREMANTLE

Senator E B JOHNSTON:

asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice -

  1. Has the Federal Government received representations from the Government of Western Australia in regard to assistance in the establishment of a modern dock atFremantle, Western Australia?
  2. If so, what is the nature of the representations made on this subject?
  3. Has any decision been arrived at in the matter ?

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE.The right honorable the Prime Minister has supplied the following answers: -

  1. Yes.
  2. Reference was made to an agitation for the provision of a dock at Fremantle, and to a recent deputation to the Premier which sought support ofthe project from the State, Commonwealth and Imperial Governments. It was stated that the State Government recognized that a definite necessity existed for the provision of this facility, and was completely in support of the proposal for the construction of the dock, but under present financial conditions was quite unable to undertake a work of this magnitude as its sole responsibility. The hope was expressed that the Commonwealthand British Governments might as a defence measure be prepared to co-operate with the State Government in arriving at some satisfactory arrangement for the provision of the necessary finance.
  3. The State Government was informed that after careful consideration of its representations, and of the reports which had been obtained in connexion therewith, the Commonwealth Government was unable to see its way at the present time to make available for the project any of the funds which it was in a position to provide for defence purposes.

page 146

QUESTION

PERFORMING RIGHT ASSOCIATION

Senator E B JOHNSTON:

asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister, upon notice -

  1. What action has been taken by the Government as a result of the Royal Commission’s report on the heavy amounts levied by the Australian Performing Right Association on the owners of theatres and halls and the producers of public entertainments, throughout the Commonwealth?
  2. Have the recommendations of the commission for the relief of the Australian public from these charges been carried into effect?
  3. If not, why not?

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE.The right honorable the Prime Minister has supplied the following answers : -

  1. . Thehonorable senator’s attention is invited to the Copyright Act1933, dealing with this matter. 2 and 3. Owing to international andlegal difficulties, it was not possible to give effect to all the recommendations of the commission.

page 146

QUESTION

TAXATION COMMISSION

Senator E B JOHNSTON:

asked the Minister representing the Treasurer, upon notice -

  1. What feesand allowances were paid to each of the various members of the Royal Commission on Taxation ? 2.What was the total cost of such Royal Commission ?
Senator Sir HARRY LAWSON:

– The honorable the Treasurer has supplied the following answers: -

  1. The Honorable Sir David Ferguson (chairman), travelling allowance only (no fee is being paid), £705 12s.; Mr. E. V. Nixon, fees and travelling allowance, £1,812 3s.1d.
  2. To 30th June, 1934, £6,439 15s.1d.

page 147

QUESTION

EXPORT OF BARLEY

Senator DUNCAN-HUGHES:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Customs, upon notice -

What developments have taken place since the last sitting of the Senate in December, and what is the present position, with reference to the entry of barley into Belgium ?

Senator McLACHLAN:
UAP

– The honorable the Minister for Trade and Customs has supplied the following answer: -

There is at present no restriction upon the importation of Australian barley into Belgium. The Minister in the House of Representatives stated that strong efforts were made to come to a favorable trade agreement with Belgium within the period of six months under the temporary agreement signed in December last. A further period which will not expire until 1.5th August remains within which it is hoped that an agreement will be arrived at.

page 147

ASSENT TO BILLS

Assent to the following bills reported : -

Supply Bill (No. 1) 1934-1935.

Customs Tariff (New Zealand Preference) 1934.

page 147

CUSTOMS TARIFF (EXCHANGE ADJUSTMENT) BILL 1934

Bill received from the House of Representatives.

Standing and Sessional Orders suspended, and bill read a first time.

Second Reading

Senator MCLACHLAN:
Vice-President of the Executive Council · South Aus tralia · UAP

– I move-

That the bill be now read a second time.

Honorable senators will recollect that, as a result of the requests of this chamber on the Customs Tariff Bill which was dis- cussed over a lengthy period and passed bv Parliament at the end of last year, several items in the customs tariff schedule were renumbered. In the mean- time. however, the Customs Tariff (Ex- change Adjustment) Act has been passed by both Houses, and in order to bring the schedule to the Customs Tariff (Exchange Adjustment) Act into line with the Customs Tariff 1933, a resolution was tabled on the 3rd November, 1933. The purpose of the present bill is to confirm that resolution, and so to adjust the schedule to the Customs Tariff (Exchange Adjustment) Act as to make it agree with the schedule to the customs tariff. I assure honorable senators that this is merely a machinery measure, which does not affect the levying of customs duties.

Senator BARNES:
Victoria

.- I accept the Minister’s assurance that this is a machinery measure to give effect to a decision arrived at by the Senate last year.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time.

In committee:

Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to.

Clause 3 (Further variation of duties).

Senator DUNN:
New South Wales

.- Will this bill deal with goods which are imported from Japan, and will it affect the European exchange rate?

Senator McLACHLAN:
Vice-President of the ExecutiveCouncil · South Australia · UAP

.- The bill will not affect such things at all. Last year, two measures were dealt with - a customs tariff, and also a measure to adjust matters in relation to exchange. Subsequently, in order to maintain the status quo, it was found necessary to. introduce a resolution into the House of Representatives. This bill merely gives effect to a decision already arrived at; it sets up the machinery.

Clause agreed to.

Schedule and title agreed to.

Bill reported without amendment; report adopted.

page 147

CUSTOMS TARIFF (PAPUA AND NEW GUINEA PREFERENCE) 1934

Bill received from the House of Representatives.

Standing and Sessional Orders suspended, and bill read a first time.

Second Reading

Senator MCLACHLAN:
Vice-President of the Executive Council · South Australia · UAP

– I move -

That the bill be now read a second time.

This bill is to supersede the present Customs Tariff (Papua and New Guinea Preference) of 1926, and to ratify the non-collection of duty on certain good3 not included in that act. In accordance with the Ottawa Agreement, the Customs Tariff 1933 provided fo’r the free admission of certain products of the British Colonial Empire on which a duty bas been imposed under the general tariff. Some of these products are produced in Papua and New Guinea, and are dutiable under the general tariff, because the products of Papua and Now Guinea are not admissible under the British preferential tariff. The present Papua and New Guinea Customs Tariff exempts from duty certain tropical products which were dutiable under the 1921- 30 tariff, and in order to extend the list to additional products which, in. the 1933 tariff, were made free when produced in British nonselfgoverning colonies and protectorates, proposals were tabled in this House on the 9th March and the 30th November, 1933. These proposals are now operating, and the list of commodities affected is set out in the schedule to this bill which is designed to ratify the resolutions of the dates mentioned.

Debate (on motion by Senator BARNES adjourned.

page 148

CUSTOMS TARIFF (CANADIAN PREFERENCE) 1934

Bill received from the House of Representatives.

Standing and Sessional Orders suspended, and bill read a first time.

Second Reading

Senator McLACHLAN:
Vice-President of the Executive Council · South Australia · UAP

– I move -

That the bill be now read a second time.

The purpose of this bill is to ratify certain duties which have been provided by customs tariff (Canadian preference) proposals since the 14th October, 1932,- on certain Canadian goods which were entitled to the intermediate tariff by reason of the Customs Tariff (Canadian Preference) 1931. Since the 14th October, 1932, there has been no intermediate tariff in operation, and consequently it has been necessary to specify certain rates of duty for these goods. The rates included in the schedule are the same as those which operated in the intermediate tariff immediately prior to the 14th October, 1932.

Debate (on motion by Senator Barnes) adjourned.

page 148

NAVIGATION (MARITIME CONVENTIONS) BILL 1933

Bill received from the House of Representatives.

Standing and Sessional Orders suspended, and bill read a first time.

Second Reading

Senator Sir HARRY LAWSON:
Assistant Minister · Victoria · UAP

[4.6]. - I move -

That the bill be now read a second time.

The purpose of this measure is to ratify the maritime conventions signed in recent years by the maritime powers of the world and to incorporate such conventions in the Navigation Act 1912-1926. The most important of these relate to the safety of life at sea and the load-line. I fee) sure that honorable senators will desire that a measure having such worthy objects shall have a speedy passage. The bill does not in any way deal with those sections of the Navigation Act which provide for the protection of Australian coastal shipping against unequal competition of overseas services. It is merely the machinery measure to implement conventions agreed upon by the nations of the world. The representatives of 30 countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia, agreed to the load-line convention in 1930, and 23 of these countries, including the principle maritime powers of the world, have since ratified it. The convention for the safety of life at sea was signed by eighteen countries, eleven of which have ratified it. It will be appreciated by honorable senators that the conventions have no legal status in any country until ratified. The text of the load-line and safety conventions is given in schedules 6 and 7 of the bill. A printed memorandum has been prepared and circulated showing by means of italics and black type the effect of the amendments proposed by the bill upon the relative sections of the principal act.

The loss of the Titanic in 1912 created an insistent demand for more stringent laws relating to the safety of life at sea, demonstrating as it did the need for the carrying of life-boats for all, including passengers and crew., The outbreak of the World War delayed progress in the matter, but in 1929 a number of countries, including Australia, accepted the invitation of the Governments of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to take part in a conference which assembled in London. The object of this conference was to agree on a basis which would be acceptable to all countries for ensuring the utmost safety of life in passenger ships engaged in international trading. The present convention is the first effective international agreement on this important subject. An international voyage means, of course, a voyage from one country to another. The matter of regulating the coasting trade within its own territorial waters was left to each country to deal with. It will he gratifying to those who were associated with the earlier amendments to the Navigation Act to know that in a number of important matters provisions which are already in the act have anticipated the findings of the recent conference and the requirements of the convention. The general features of the safety provisions of the convention fall under the following heads: - (a) Construction; (fe) lifesaving appliances; (c) radio telegraphy; and (d) safety of navigation. There are also machinery provisions of which the principal relate to (a) certificates; and (6) equivalent appliances. The convention provides that the life-boats and buoyant apparatus must comply with the following conditions: - (a) they must be capable of being got into the water safely and rapidly; (Z>) it must be possible to embark the passengers in the boats rapidly and in good order; and (c) the arrangement of each boat and article of buoyant apparatus must be such that it will not interfere with the operation of other boats and buoyant apparatus. The safety convention also provides that all ocean-going passenger ships shall, in addition to life-boats and life-jackets for all, carry light, buoyant apparatus sufficient for the support, in the water, of 25 per cent, of the persons on board. Such apparatus, in the form of light, buoyant rafts, which can be easily man-handled and thrown from the ship’s deck, has, in practice, proved of great value when the. rapidity of the disaster has made it impossible to get the passengers away in the boats. Regulations annexed to the safety convention deal with the means of ingress to, and egress from, the various compartments and decks, and their lighting.

Stringent restrictions are also imposed on the carriage of dangerous goods in passenger ships, and provision is made for the carrying of fire extinguishing appliances. Both these matters are already dealt with, to some extent, in the Navigation Act. The amendments now proposed will ‘bring the existing provisions into line with the convention. All ships engaged in international voyages, except cargo ships of less than 1,600 tons gross, are required, under the convention, to carry an efficient wireless installation, and at least one qualified operator.

At the International Load-Line Conference held in London in 1930, an agreement was reached adopting universal rules for the assignment to ships of loadlines, fixing the limits within which they may load in different parts of the world during different seasons of the year. Representatives of 30 countries, including Australia, attended the conference. The convention, which was adopted by the conference, has, up to date, been ratified, or acceded to, by nineteen maritime countries. Its provisions will, consequently, apply to practically the whole of the merchant ships of the world. It is the first international agreement which has been made fixing loading limits for merchant ships, although there has been for some years a considerable measure of uniformity, based on the British rules, in those adopted by certain other principal maritime nations.

As will readily be understood, one of the most important factors in securing the safety of cargo ships is the enforcement of laws and regulations relating to loadlines and overloading. That so many countries have come into line on this matter is a great step forward. Incidentally, the adoption of a uniform load-line system will be of great benefit to British shipping. Previously, certain countries placed no load-line restrictions on the loading of their vessels. Their ships, therefore, could, and did, load more deeply than was permissible under British law for British ships. This was of great advantage to them, as the extra earnings amounted, on certain voyages, to thousands of pounds. The convention will make the rules in the various countries completely uniform, with a far wider application than the old system ever had.

Other conventions are dealt with in a statement which has been circulated for the information of honorable senators. Five other international conventions of relatively minor importance are also given effect by the bill. These relate to -

  1. The minimum age for admission of children to employment at sea.
  2. The minimum age for admission of young persons to employment as trimmers and stokers.
  3. The compulsory medical examination of children and young persons employed at sea.
  4. Unemployment indemnity in case of loss or foundering of ship.
  5. The unification of certain rules of law respecting collisions between vessels.

Mention was made in the House of Representatives of the provisions of the bill in regard to the survey of ships. It was suggested that, in the matter of survey, this bill was not “ on all fours “ with the British Merchant Shipping Act. The Government some time ago communicated with the Board of Trade in Great Britain on this particular subject and ascertained that, allowing for the essential differences between the maritime conditions prevailing in Great Britain and those prevailing in Australia, the standard of surrey provided for here was in no way inferior to the standard prevailing there. In the Merchant Shipping Act of Great Britain, four classes of surveyors are appointed under section 724, viz., ship surveyors, engineer and ship surveyors, ship (nautical) surveyors, and wireless telegraphy surveyors. The three last-mentioned have their counterparts in the surveyors anointed under the Navigation Act.

The ship surveyor is a specialist, usually a graduate in the theory of naval architecture, with added practical experience in the design and construction of ships. There are no ship surveyors on the staff of the Commonwealth marine branch, and there is no necessity for them. The special province of the ship surveyor is in the field of ship building, examining and checking plans and specifications ti secure stability and general seaworthiness, and the subsequent supervision of the actual construction of the vessel in the ship-building yard. The work usually attended to by ship surveyors in Groat Britain is divided up between the engineer and ship surveyors, and the nautical and ship surveyors on the staff. That our surveys are, in- the view of the Board of Trade, equally as efficient as its own, is shown by the fact that two of our officers - one engineer and ship surveyor and one nautical and ship surveyor - have just been formally appointed by the beard to be an engineer and ship surveyor and a ship (nautical) surveyor, respective to survey here, for a Board of Trade safety certificate, certain passenger ships registered in the United Kingdom and engaged in international voyages from Australia. This was done with a knowledge by the board of the status of these officers and of the parts they take, under our system, in the survey of ships.

The Minister for Commerce (Mr. Stewart) has given an assurance that there is no intention whatever to limit the area of operations of engineer surveyors. He has ako undertaken to see that the demarcation of duties of the various types of marine surveyors is safeguarded in the regulations under the act. This, I feel sure, will be acceptable to honorable senators as it is to the marine industrial organizations. To a large extent, the measure is technical. It has been passed by the House of Representatives, and can, I submit, be accepted with confidence by the Senate as a definite step in the direction of bringing us into line with other countries which have already accepted those conventions.

Senator GRANT:
Tasmania

.- Honorable senators have not had an opportunity .to study the bill or the. explanation of it by the Assistant Minister. He referred to the circulation of copies of the proceedings of other conventions, which I have not yet seen, and also to a reprint of the act, showing in special type, the amendments now proposed. As honorable senators should have time to study such an important measure, I ask leave to continue my remarks at a later date.

Leave granted ; debate adjourned.

page 151

EVIDENCE BILL 1934

Second Reading

Senator MCLACHLAN:
Vice-President of the Executive Council · South Australia · UAP

– I move -

That the bill be now read a second time.

The measure relates to the proof in a court of law of statistics or abstracts thereof compiled and tabulated by the Commonwealth Statistician pursuant to section 20 of the Census and Statistics Act. In connexion with proceedings recently for an offence under the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1904-1930, it became necessary to prove the index numbers compiled and tabulated by the Commonwealth Statistician. The Quarterly Summaries of Australian Statistics containing the index numbers and purporting to be printed by the Government Printer were tendered as proof of the index numbers, counsel contending that mere production was sufficient proof, under section 9 of the (Commonwealth) Evidence Act 1905. Counsel also relied upon sections 5 and 6 of that act. The Special Magistrate held, however, that the documents were not admissible under these sections, and, in the absence of direct proof of the index numbers, they were held not to have been proved, The matter is one of some importance in relation to the enforcement of awards of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration, and to facilitate proof of the index numbers it is proposed that the Evidence Act 1905 should bo amended so as to provide that evidence of any statistics or abstracts thereof compiled by the Statistician may be given by the production of a document published by the Statistician and containing those statistics. The bill is a procedure measure and relates entirely to the proof of the contents of documents containing statistics and abstracts. No question, therefore, arises as to the method of compiling those statistics. The statistics are compiled pursuant to the Census and Statistics Act, and it is highly desirable that some expeditious mode of bringing the results of the Statistician’s compilations before the courts should be provided. That is the object of the bill. Before the point was successfully taken in the Arbitration Court, it was thought that the law was as is now provided in the bill. In these days, when statistics play an important part in our economic life, it is important to have a speedy method of proving certain official documents.

Debate (on motion by Senator Barnes) adjourned.

page 151

FIRST READINGS

The following bills were brought up, and (on motion by Senator McLachlan) read a first time: -

Excise Bill 1934

Statute Law Revision Bill 1934

Designs Bill 1934

page 151

ADJOURNMENT

Order of Business - Royal Australian Navy: Alleged Discontent - Parliamentary Recess - General Election - Private Banking Statistics: Unsatisfactory Answers to Questions - Motor Body Industry - Australian Broadcasting Commission : Dismissals from Station 4QG - Invalid and Old-age Pensions.

Senator Six GEORGE PEARCE:
Minister for Defence · Western Australia · UAP

[4.24]. - I move-

That the Senate do now adjourn.

Probably the Senate will adjourn to-morrow in time to enable honorable senators to catch the night train. This prospect, however, is subject, to one qualification. It is the desire of the Government that as soon as the electoral redistribution proposals have been dealt with in the House of Representatives, they should be placed before the Senate. The Government is unable to forecast when that measure will be received from the House of Representatives, but, at any rate, honorable senators will be required to reassemble next week.

Senator Collings:

– We have been away for seven months and now there is all this rush.

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE.There is no rush at all. If any honorable senator is not ready to speak to-morrow and asks for the adjournment of a debate, the Government will not oppose his request. We desire to allow proper time for the consideration of the measures needing our attention.

SenatorCollings. - The right honorable gentleman spoke about catching the train.

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:

– 1 have merely intimated to honorable senators who may desire to leave tomorrow night the probable course of business. If very little, or no business at all, is before us, no advantage will be gained by keeping honorable senators here unnecessarily, and the present indications are that the state of the notice-paper will permit of their leaving to-morrow night.

SenatorDUNN (New South Wales) [4.26]. - Earlier this afternoon I asked the Leader of the Senate (Senator Pearce) whether it was a fact that naval ratings of the Australian torpedo flotilla, which recently arrived from England, had gone on strike in the Gibraltar naval harbour owing to lack of proper food and poor sleeping, sanitary and other accommodation, and also owing to excessive sea duties. The right honorable gentleman replied -

No. I would direct the attention of the Senate to the fact that it is a well-known practice in communistic propaganda, for the purpose of causing discontent in the Defence forces to allege that certain things have happened in the service, in order to suggest that they should happen.

I take the right honorable gentleman to task for that reply. I am not a member of any communistic party ; I belong to the Australian Labour party of New South Wales. For over 20 years I have been a member of that party, and I would remind Senator Pearce that earlier in his political career hewas one of the leaders of the Labour party, and was the principal mover of the May-day resolutions of that party on the Terra bank in Melbourne and elsewhere. At that time he was a respectable member of the Labour party. It ill becomes the right honorable gentleman to try to be politically funny now that he has become highly respectable as a member of the United Australia party, by describing members of the Labour Opposition as advocates of communism. It is well known that the government of the day brought a legal action against the Sydney Truth, because of its remarks about discontent and mutiny in the Royal Australian Navy in Western Australia, and that that action was dismissed with costs against the Government. The right honorable gentleman, as Minister for Defence, takes umbrage at criticism from Labour senators of the administration of his department, but surely the Defence Department is not sacrosanct. As the Minister knows, discontent in the navy is rampant.

Representations were made to the Prime Minister, as the honorable member for Wilmot, after a section of the Australian Navy had been prevented from participating in the Tasmanian regatta at Hobart, although naval vessels had regularly attended the regatta for many years previously. The reason given for their absence , on the last occasion was that the men were required for naval practice at Jervis Bay and elsewhere. It is stated by many men of the lower ratings that they have suffered from severe punishment, lack of food, and general reductions of pay. Did the Leader of the Senate (Sir George Pearce), in his reply refer to the brand of communism advocated by Bernard Shaw in a speech that was broadcast over the air. That gentleman was invited to visit New Zealand as a guest of the citizens of that dominion, yet he made an indictment of the political system operating in New Zealand and Australia. Mr. Shaw, who has been honoured by being invited to garden parties given by the King, definitely stated that he was a Communist. On the other hand, a recent conference of Australian graziers, pastoralists and squatters, made representations to the Commonwealth Government, which is now led by a Labour renegade - I refer to the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons)-

The PRESIDENT:

– Order ! The honorable senator must withdraw that remark.

Senator DUNN:

– I withdraw it. I shall say that the Government is led by an ex-member of the Australian Labour Party, who made it clearly known by his criticism of the late Senator Ogden that he had “ ratted “ on Labour principles.

Senator Sampson:

– He has never “ ratted “ on anything.

Senator Sir George Pearce:

Senator Dunn might well leave that matter alone.

Senator DUNN:

– The right honorable gentleman will no doubt have an opportunity to reply to my remarks. “We find that the Graziers Association suggested to this politically pure Government that trade compacts should be made between Soviet Russia and Australia. It seems to those on the Labour side that the gold of Soviet Russia is good enough to go into the pockets of the graziers, and, later, it may go into the political funds of the United Australia party and the Country party. If the Minister for Defence replies to my comments, I hope he will say something about the history of the recent proceedings against a Sydney newspaper which condemned his administration of the navy, lock, stock and barrel.

The Senate is to adjourn until tomorrow. The Government ought to be ashamed to ask honorable senators to rise before 5 o’clock this afternoon, so soon after a recess of over seven months.

Within the last 4S hours we have been told that the Minister in Charge of Development (Senator McLachlan) has been urged to have inquiries made as to the possibility of extracting petrol from wheat. This country produces enormous quantities of wheat which is badly needed in some countries, but, apparently, the only solution for the present difficulties of our growers is the adoption of some process to convert the grain into petrol! This Government has been backing and filling ever since it entered office. By means of pres3 propaganda, a good deal of it of a lying nature, it has endeavoured to persuade the people that it has a definite programme for the future. ;

The administrative cost of ‘ this branch of the legislature runs into tens of thousands of pounds per annum. Yet the Government can provide no work for it. I notice in the visitors’ gallery a number of spectators, doubtless citizens and taxpayers of New South Wales. Soon they will see members of this chamber retire to the nice apartments that have been provided for their convenience. Later, we shall enjoy a sub stantial dinner; but hundreds of thousands of men and women throughout Australia, whose only crime is that they have no work to do, will be hard put to it to get something to eat.

The Leader of the Senate is, as usual, sneering at what I am saying. If he had to face the electors at the coming election, the reception given to him would very quickly take that smirking smile off his face. But the right honorable gentleman is secure - he has another three and a half years to go. He has been for 30 years a member of this chamber, and for a great proportion of that period has enjoyed the fruits of office. Endowed with a convenient political conscience, he has always been willing, from the inception of federation, to trim his sails to every political wind that blows, and so has been a member of various governments. He began life a3 a working carpenter and a trade unionist; but soon sacrificed all his political principles in order to make secure his place in this chamber.

The right honorable gentleman this afternoon made light of the dissatisfaction among the lower ratings in the Australian Navy. No one can doubt that this discontent exists, and it is not confined to the lower deck. Quite recently, as a result of press propaganda and other pressure, the Government appointed a royal commission to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the death of LieutenantCommander A. D. Casey, a former resident of Tasmania. Perhaps it will be suggested that M. Stalin, President of the Soviet Republic, was in some way responsible for the death of that naval officer. It is, however, well known that he resented the many pin pricks to which he was subjected by the administration. Let the Minister for Defence smile that off when he appears before the royal commission. Let him go to Tasmania, and see how he will be received by the friends and relatives of the deceased officer, who got such a raw deal from the higher ranks and the Naval Board, under the administration of the Leader of the Senate.

In the course of a few weeks we shall, I suppose, be all on an equal footing, because then we shall be appearing before the electors, at street corners and elsewhere, and stating our views of recent political developments. When we are out among the people, candidates representing my party will have no president to check them, and no standing orders to observe. I have no doubt about the reception that will be given to the Leader of the Senate when he appears before the people of Western Australia.

Senator Sir George Pearce:

– I think the electors of New South Wales are worrying the honorable senator more than the the people of Western Australia will worry me.

Senator DUNN:

– The people of New South Wales are all right. I have a very fair idea of their view of this Government’s administration. If the right honorable gentleman feels disposed to test their feeling, I invite him to come along with me and meet them. He need not fear physical harm. They are not likely to greet him. with empty bottles, nor will he need the protection of the policeman’s baton. The right honorable gentleman will get a fair “ go,” but he will have to stand up to some very solid criticism from the taxpayers of the State which I represent in this chamber.

Senator Hardy:

– Tell us about the Martin by-election.

Senator DUNN:

– I am not very much concerned’ about the issue there, because Labour is right in Martin, but I imagine that the Government is concerned, in view of the vote given by the people of Tasmania at the recent general election.

Perhaps Senator Hardy, the Cromwell of the Riverina, will have something to say on this motion for the adjournment. There is ample time before the usual dinner hour. We are here to express our views on issues that come before us. At all events, I am clear about that being the reason for my presence in this chamber. If I get “ bumped “ at the coming election, there will always be the dole, or perhaps I shall again accustom myself to pick-and-shovel work. But, while I am in the Senate, tuy job is to talk about all phases of political happenings. I should like to hear Senator Hardy on the conferences that are being held behind closed doors in this Parliament House between Ministers and representatives of the Country party. Can he tell us if decisions which may be reached there will have the endorsement of the rank and file of Riverina farmers? I am hoping, also, that Senator Elliott will have something to say. That honorable gentleman, we are told, is being “ dumped by the powers that be in Victoria, and will not be included in the Senate team, simply because he has been sniping and sharp-shooting Ministers and supporters through the columns of the Shepparton, Castlemaine, and Mildura papers which are under his control. Perhaps he will enlighten us about the opinion of the rank and file of the Country party in Victoria concerning recent political developments.

When the Leader of the Senate visits Western Australia, after the impending dissolution, to take part in the election, he will, I am sure, be again decorated with the “order of the raspberry “ which was conferred upon him when he was in that State in connexion with the secession campaign. I would very much like to hear Senators Hardy and Elliott airing their views as to the difference of opinion in the minds of the rank and file of the Country party with regard to the alleged pact approved by the secret meeting of party leaders. I have heard it said that Dr. Earle Page, the leader of the Country party, has no authority to commit his followers to any agreement such as has been outlined; they do not approve of this proposed rush to the country, five months before the people would, in the ordinary course of events, have an opportunity to censure this Administration for its many faults.

What does the Government intend to do, before Parliament dissolves, for the farmers, and especially those who are on the dole in New South Wales? Also, what are its proposals for the relief of unemployment? It has remitted about £9,000,000 of taxes to the wealthy sections of the community, and intends to set aside £4,000,000 of the estimated surplus of £6,000,000 for defence expenditure. Against whom is it proposed to defend this country? Is it feared that Hitler will shortly turn his attention to Australia, and cut off a few heads? What is the fear underlying this proposal for increased defence expenditure? I protest against the adjournment of the Senate at this early hour. After the long recess the Government should have business to put before honorable senators.

Senator PAYNE:
Tasmania

.- I should not have risen to speak but for the extraordinary statements made by Senator Dunn. That honorable gentleman has alleged that there is disaffection in the Australian Navy, caused by ill treatment of the lower ratings. The honorable senator addressed a question on this subject to the Minister for Defence to-day, and the reply, I thought, hit the nail on the head. The Minister suggested that the question was really inspired by a desire to create disaffection among the naval ratings. I happen to know a little about the efforts that have been made, in recent years, to cause trouble in the Australian Navy. It ill becomes Senator Dunn to make these allegations, in view of the fact that the propaganda to which I have referred is of Soviet origin, and has -been used very much ‘by gentlemen whom he honours as his associates. I well remember when H.M.A.S. Australia, called at Burnie, an individual associated with the .cause supported by Senator Dunn was detected dis tributing Soviet literature to t;he man on guard at tho gangway. The literature in his possession was issued by the Friends of the Soviet Union, an organization of which I think Senator Dunn knows something. My only regret is that the authorities did not take prompt action on that “Occasion to deal with the offender. Fortunately. the literature did not reach its intended destination. It was seized by the police, but whether or not any action was taken against that individual, I do 11Ot know.

Senator Sir George Pearce:

– They were not able to prove that that particular literature was distributed by him.

Senator PAYNE:

– The individual concerned still boasts of his position as an agent of the Soviet. I am acquainted with a good many of the ratings in the Navy, most of whom are happy in their jobs. They are treated well. and it is very unfair of Senator Dunn to allege that disaffection is rife among them.

Senator Dunn also suggested that, as a means of punishing the men, the Australian Navy did not visit Hobart for the annual regatta this year. The explanation of the fleet’s absence from the regatta was given by the Leader of the Senate (Senator Pearce) to-day. Every intelligent resident of Hobart accepted the decision of the Naval authorities that, in the interests of the training of the men, the fleet should not visit Hobart this year. The honorable senator’s suggestion that the action taken was -in the nature of punishment is ridiculous. I deplore the efforts which are continually being made to create disaffection among the personnel of the Navy, and I hope that the authorities will take strong action to deal with any individual who is’ found guilty of such an attempt.

Senator BARNES:
Victoria

.- 1 rise to express my dissatisfaction with the reply given to-day to a number of questions I asked with regard to the capital reserves, profits and dividends of the Australian private banks. The Minister, in reply said -

It is regretted that the information, on the basis desired by the honorable senator, is not officially compiled. The only particulars of banking; officially compiled are those appearing in the Finance Bulletin, issued yearly, by the Commonwealth Statistician. Tho latest information available appears in Bulletin No. 23, pages 40 to 51.

For some time I have been studying the Finance Bulletin referred to in an effort to extract information from it. In my opinion, one of the duties of a member of Parliament is to obtain, from official sources, information which will be of assistance to the public, and so far as I am aware, no honorable senator asks questions for any other reason. Had members more time at their disposal, they could possibly obtain for themselves much of the information which they now seek at question time; but since every government department contains experts, who are well versed in the matters under their control, the asking of questions -in Parliament seems to be the most satisfactory and expeditious means of obtaining reliable information. I understand that the legislation controlling banking in Australia provides that the trading banks shall supply to the Government particulars of their transactions during each year. If that is not the case, it ought to be. I thought that the information sought by me would have been readily available to the Minister. I strongly protest against the flippant answer given tome.

Senator E B JOHNSTON:
Western Australia

– Last week, the Government promised to supply to honorable senators copies of the interim report of the Royal Commission on the Wheat Industry, and to give them an opportunity to discuss it this session.

Senator Sir George Pearce:

– That promise still stands.

Senator E B JOHNSTON:

-I am glad to hear that interjection. Since the promise was made, the Government has announced that an election will take place in September. The wheat-growers of Australia are not willing that Parliament should adjourn before legislation to assist the wheat-growing industry has been placed on the statute-book. After a recess of about seven months, Parliament has re-assembled, and it should continue in session long enough to pass legislation for the stabilization of this important industry, and for fixing an Australian price, under the control of the growers themselves, for that portion of the Australian wheat crop which is consumed within the Commonwealth. The growers of wheat have to pay artificial Australian prices for a great many of their requirements, and, as some compensation, we should ensure to them an Australian price for that portion of their crop which is consumed in the Commonwealth. Whatever legislation is to be introduced to assist them should be placed on the statute-book before this Parliament closes. The wheat-growers of this country, who have had four years of unprofitable prices for their product, now want more than a promise that their case will be considered after the election. The legislation which, during recent years, has been introduced to assist them, has always been brought forward a short time before Parliament has gone into recess. Successive governments have, in effect, said, “ Here is a bill for the assistance of the wheatgrowing industry; take it or leave it, there is no time to amend it”. The wheat-growers do not want merely temporary relief; they ask that the industry be stabilized on a permanent basis. Government candidates at the forthcoming election will be at a great disadvantage if legislation has not been passed to assist the wheat-growing industry. Promises will not suffice; all honorable senators remember a previous unfulfilled promise of 4s. a bushel for wheat. I emphasize the need for prompt and permanent assistance to the wheat-growing industry.

Senator DALY:
South Australia

– If the Government’s present intention is carried out, a serious state of affairs is likely to arise in South Australia. As we have been informed by the Leader of the Government in the Senate that a general election is to be held within a few weeks, 1 urge him to advise the Government to instruct the Tariff Board to keep its hands off the motor body building industry. Two years ago the industry in South Australia employed 400 men; but to-day approximately 5,000 men are engaged.

Senator Sir George Pearce:

– That is a result of good government.

Senator DALY:

– The representatives of Great Britain have now said that they want a share of this trade ; but I remind them and the Government that it will be useless to knock down the tariff barrier and allow goods to be landed in Australia if, through the resultant unemployment, the Australian people are unable to purchase them. The employment of these 5,000 persons in South Australia has been the means of removing 20,000 persons in South Australia from the list of dole recipients. It was the intention of Mr. Holden, and also of Mr. Richards, to extend their motor body building activities, even to the point of manufacturing the steel they require; but, after spending £160,000on one plant, Mr. Holden has now to submit to an examination by the Tariff Board as to whether some of the trade which he now controls should not be given to Great Britain”. If the protection of the industry is reduced, Great Britain will send goods to Australia, men will be thrown out of work, dragging others with them, and the market for the commodity they are producing will thereby be depleted. This matter should interest the representatives of Tasmania in this chamber, as the Holden factory is one of the largest purchasers of Tasmanian timber, and if it is interfered with, Tasmania will be seriously affected.

Senator Sampson:

– What is the object of the honorable senator’s alleged threat? The South Australian industry is flourishing.

Senator Collings:

– Even if it is, that is not a reason why it should be destroyed.

Senator DALY:

– Certainly not. The Government, which has referred the matter to the Tariff Board, has already received from the board 60 reports on. other items with which it has yet, to deal. It is afraid of making a definite pronouncement with respect to this industry before the election, but honorable senators on this side of the chamber will tell the employees of the industry that their future depends upon the defeat of this Government. If the present Ministry is returned to power, it is uncertain that the industry will be carried on as at present. This protest is being made, not only iby those associated with the party to which I belong, but also by members of every other political party in South Australia. Is it suggested that all these gentlemen are wrong, and that Senator Sampson is right, ?

Senator Duncan-Hughes:

– Would the honorable senator use the same argument with respect tooregon?

Senator DALY:

– I am particularly concerned with the maintenance of the motor body building industry in South Australia. The honorable senator might very well voice a complaint with respect to Oregon against the present Government; he could not do so against the Scullin Government. I urge the Government to remove the uncertainty which at present exists in the minds of Mr. Holden and Mr. Richards as to whether it, would be safe to extend the important industry which they are controlling. It is useless for the Government to attempt to justify its action on the ground that it is complying with the terms of the Ottawa agreement. That agreement was intended to encourage reciprocal trade within the British Empire, and not merely reciprocal trade between Australia and Great Britain. The object of the inquiry, as stated by the representatives of British manufacturers, is to place Australia in the position which it was intended to occupy under the Ottawa agreement.

Apparently, Australia is not to manufacture steel panels, but is to purchase them from Great Britain. The panels are to be sent to Australia, and Australian workmen are to assemble them. The request I have submitted is supported by the Premier of South Australia, who is not a Labour man, and is backed up by the Chamber of Manufactures, the business men, and every industry directly or indirectly associated with motor body building. I submit this request, not in any party spirit, but in the earnest hope that the Government will remove the uncertainty which exists in the minds of those associated with the industry in South Australia. The Government should withdraw the reference to the Tariff Board, and leave the matter to be determined by the incoming government.

Senator COLLINGS:
Queensland

– I expect that allhonorable senators opposite will doubt, in some measure, the sincerity of the remarks that I am about to make. I rise with a great deal of diffidence to take up the time of the Senate at this juncture, because, when it oan be avoided, honorable senators should not unduly avail themselves of the motion for adjournment to bring forward matters of public concern. I am obliged, however, to seize this opportunity to voice a very definite protest against Parliament being in recess for about seven months, during which important things have been done behind the backs of the representatives of the people. To-day, within a week of our reassembling, we were told that we must he ready to scurry into recess again, on this occasion with the object of facing the people. I suppose that I would not be believed if I said that I have not the slightest objection to this Government being sent before its masters at the earliest possible date. I believe that the Government, is already tainted with the defeatist complex and that that complex will be proved to have been well founded.

Senator Duncan-Hughes:

– The date of the election does not affect the term of the honorable senator.

Senator COLLINGS:

– I can understandthat the honorable senator cannot lisi.en to any comments on this subject without suspecting the critic of selfinterest. It is true that I will not be affected by the results of the forthcoming election, but I may inform the honorable senator that three of his colleagues will not be here when Parliament reassembles, because Queensland will definitely return three Labour men to the Senate at the next election as it did on the last occasion. I have four years yet to serve, but I am protesting, as I have done on previous occasions, against the disgraceful waste of time which has occurred. Parliament has been in recess for many months and the Government now proposes to hustle the business through in the shortest possible time. To-day, the AssistantMinister moved the second reading of a bill of considerable proportions and importance, which we are asked to pass without having had sufficient time to consider it. Other important measures to be brought before the Senate to-morrow will be disposed of without receiving adequate attention. I cannot be accused of insincerity when I say that I do not belong to the Communist party. I am not a believer in its methods or principles but nothing will drive tlie people of Australia, particularly the class represented by the Australian Labour party in this chamber, into the arms of the Communist party, more speedily than the discredit which this Government is bringing upon constitutional government. As a believer in constitutional government and as* one who wishes to see Australia continue along the path of parliamentary reform, I have no hesitation in saying that we cannot keep Parliament in recess for seven months in one year and yet make the people -believe that this institution is necessary to their progress and welfare. The majority of the members of this Parliament have been busy during the recess, but the point I wish to make is that Australia either needs this Parliament or it does not. If it does need it, we should be here to do our job; we cannot do it when we are in recess. The Senate met last week for the first time this year, and, this afternoon the Leader of the chamber said that if we transact the business before us without wasting time we may catch the train from Canberra to-morrow night.

I support the protest made by the Leader of the Opposition (Senator Barnes) with respect to the manner in which questions are answered by responsible Ministers. A few months ago the honorable member for Brisbane (Mr. George Lawson) and I sent a joint telegram to the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) advising him that certain officials at the national broadcasting station, 4QG Brisbane, had been dismissed, and that other employees had received notice of dismissal. “We said that we viewed with alarm the condition of affairs prevailing with respect to the administration of that station. A day or two later we sent another joint telegram in which we expressed our surprise that no reply had been received, and asked that for the time being matters be allowed to remain as they were. To that message we received the following telegram on the 11th May from the Prime Minister : -

Reference your telegram 10 May Acting Postmaster-General had advised me that no changes are being made in departmental staff station 4QG. Possibly your telegram refers to men employed by Australian Broadcasting Commission.

That was most unsatisfactory, as our telegram made it perfectly clear that we were referring to dismissals and further threatened disratings and dismissals of employees of the 4QG broadcasting station, and not to the mechanical employees under the control of the PostmasterGeneral. Everyone knows of the terrorist condition’s brought about by the present general manager, Major Conder. No such trouble was experienced under the management of Mr. H. P. Williams, whose regrettable death occurred about eighteen months ago. Since the present general manager assumed control the conditions have been most unsatisfactory. Station 4QG was established ten or more years ago, under the control and ownership of tho State of Queensland. During that time it has built up a considerable staff. The first manager was Mr. W. J. Robinson, a highly capable officer, who had previously been in charge of 2FO Sydney, which was formerly conducted by Farmers Limited. Mr. Robinson was brought to Queensland and given supreme control. The Premier of the day, Mr. Theodore, said that he knew nothing about, wireless, and Mr. Robinson was asked to take complete charge. “If you fall down on the job “, Mr. Theodore said, “ it will bc your funeral.” Mr. Robinson so conducted that station that it became a revenue-producing concern, although we are sometimes told’ that a State enterprise cannot prosper with a Labour government in power. All the spade-work was accomplished, and a capable staff was organized. Major Conder himself, when he became General Manager of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, wrote personal letters to a large number of the staff, thanking them for their loyal and successful services, and asking them te carry on their good work. Se remarked that although they were only temporary employees, they would be confirmed in their positions as soon as possible. Yet their appointments have never been confirmed. On the contrary, wholesale dismissals have occurred. 1 have nothing to say against the commission system of control, but it is doubtful whether it can be satisfactory under the present conditions. The members of the commission are only part-time employees; they have private commercial interests, and are merely paid a small salary for a part-time job. Probably a better system would be to have a smaller body composed of full-time men, each an expert in his particular department. They should be paid adequate salaries. 1 also suggest that divided control of the technical and broadcasting branches is unwise. At present the PostmasterGeneral controls the technical side, while the programmes and thic artists are under the direction of the commission. T shall relate a few of the things that have happened in Queensland under the new control; similar things have occurred, in Sydney and other parts of Australia. Ono of the innovations made by Major Condor has been to send touring artists of various kinds to the national broad casts stations. I suggest that if their services are worth retaining, they could give their performances at one bf the important southern stations in Melbourne or Sydney, and the landlines of the PostmasterGeneral’s Department could be utilized for the purpose of relaying the programmes to 4QG and other stations. Yet Major Conder sends these artists from one capital city to another,, and they are broadcast from 4QG often after they have been heard by Queensland listeners who are able to tune in to Melbourne or Sydney. These artists are ordered to Queensland, regardless of expense, and consequently we cannot obtain engagements for our local artists of greater ability.

I shall also refer to glaring incidents in regard to the staff that was built up in Queensland before the advent of Major Conder. Mr. Harry Borrodale, one of Queensland’s leading elocutionists, has had lengthy theatrical and broadcasting experience, but he wa3 summarily dismissed from the position of announcer. I am personally acquainted with this gentleman, and I consider that, as an elocutionist, he has no superior in Australia. That is generally admitted by those who are in a position to express an opinion regarding him. No reason was given for his dismissal, and he was replaced by a son of Sir Alexander Gordon, from Sydney. Mr. Gordon’s work cannot be compared with that of Mr. Borrodale, but he is paid more for his work than had been received by his predecessor. Miss Olive Donoghue commenced work with 4QG as a girl. She advanced gradually, and became first a senior typist and then treasurer. Her work was of a high standard. Major Conder wrote to her last Christmas, complimenting her on her splendid work, and asking her to continue it. He also sent her a gold medallion brooch as a gift from the commission. Yet a few months later she was coolly dismissed, and another girl was sent from Sydney to replace her. Major Conder had the temerity to demand the return of the medallion, but this request was refused. At Christmas she was congratulated on her work and on her loyalty and efficiency, but in April, she was called into the office of the divisional manager and was informed that as Major Conder was sending a girl from the south she would have to leave. Later she asked for notice in writing, but this was refused. Her work was more than satisfactory, and drew praise from the secretary of the Commission. Despite her years of service, she was mercilessly “ sacked “ to make room for somebody without experience to whom Major Conder desired to give a position. This roughshod treatment should not be tolerated. Miss

Donoghue should be immediately reinstated. I despatched a telegram to the Postmaster-General before her dismissal, for it had come to my ears that another woman was to be given her position.

Mr. Stanley Phillips, Queensland’s best sporting commentator, was humbugged by the commission for several weeks, and the threat of dismissal was held, over him. A B class station made an offer to him and he went to it, taking with him thousands of A class listeners. Mr. David Felsman manager of the programme department, and a first class officer with years of service - I have known him since he was a lad - was disrated to the post of relieving announcer, and his position was handed to a junior official with no experience and less ability in the matter of compiling programmes. In recent months a number of artists have been unloaded upon Queensland. Maggie Teyte, Tudor Davies and Yelland Richards arrived from England under contract to J. and N. Tait. They appeared in Melbourne in public, but their season was a hopeless failure. They were then booked by Major Conder and sent on tour of Australia at £165 a week. If their performances had been worth listening to, which they were not, they could have been relayed from Melbourne. Their salaries were not paid directly to the artists, but were handed over to J. C. Williamson Limited, which firm, I should say, obviously brought them out to Australia, unloading them upon the commission when they had proved a box office failure. These artists were sent to Queensland after local programmes had been arranged, and the divisional manager knew nothing of their pending arrival, which upset the whole of the advertised programmes for a considerable time ahead.

Some time ago Senator Dunn asked a question about the military band which performed under Major Adkins. I intend to ask for a statement as to the financial result of the tour of this band. After it had visited the capital cities, it was unloaded upon the national broadcasting stations throughout Australia in order, no doubt, to cover up the fact that its tour had resulted in a heavy financial loss. The broadcasting stations had to take the band after the public had had its fill of it, and the fees paid to it for broadcasting helped to reduce the loss on the tour. I shall also tell honorable senators what happened to two Queensland artists of Australian-wide repute, about whose qualifications there is no doubt whatever. Arthur Sharman, a brilliant Brisbane pianist, left for London, where he studied for some time. Before returning to Australia he wrote to the commission stating some of the works which he could perform. His letter, with full details, was personally handed to Major Conder, who stated that he would arrange recitals by Mr. Sharman. On his return to Australia Mr. Sharman was informed chat the commission had never heard of him. A B class station quickly took him up, and he is now in the employ of one of the principal B class stations. Ruth Portrate, one of Queensland’s brilliant sopranos, returned to Australia after a successful season abroad, during the course of which she appeared at the British Broadcasting Commission’s studios and as principal soprano with the Carla Rosa Opera Company. On reaching Sydney she approached the commission, interviewed Major Conder and was told that she would be given engagements. She waited in Sydney at her own expense for three weeks and refused other lucrative engagements, on the strength of the general manager’s assurance to her. No letter was forwarded to her, and in disgust she left for her home.

I understand that the Auditor-General has been asked to investigate some of the matters to which I am now about to refer. When it was decided to refit and refurnish 4QG, Brisbane, the general manager visited that city, called in a firm of decorators and furnishers, and ordered work and material running into a cost of about £1,400 without calling for quotations from other firms. The decorations, carpets, &c, were chosen by Major Conder. When the refurnishing was complete, he again visited Brisbane, and, apparently, not caring for the carpets he himself had chosen a few weeks previously, bad them replaced by more expensive carpets sent up from the south.

Because he did not like the painting which had been done, he had it done again at much additional cost, in spite of the fact that he had himself ordered it only a few weeks previously. On one occasion, the general manager was requested hy the staff to provide a small and inexpensive ice chest for the benefit of the employees. However, their request was refused as positively unnecessary, and nothing more was said about the subject. But what happened? Subsequently, a very lavish and expensive electric refrigerator was purchased at a high cost and sent to the station. So elaborate was this piece of machinery that it had to he installed in special quarters. There was no excuse whatever for the purchase of an expensive electric refrigerator, especially as the original request was for an exceedingly modest household ice chest. Other things relating to Major Conder could be mentioned, but probably I have said enough to inform honorable senators of the real position. “With Mr. George Lawson, M.H.R., I made definite representations to the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) asking that Major Conder’s hand should be stayed in some way, and an inquiry held. Taking advantage of the first opportunity that presented itself on Friday last, I asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister the following question : - *

In view of the resignation of the chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission (Mr. Charles Lloyd Jones) will the Minister consider the need for a thorough inquiry into the present management and control of the commission before making any arrangement for tlie appointment of a new chairman >

The only information I received was that it was not the intention of the Government to order such an inquiry into the management and control of the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Mr. Charles Lloyd Jones, who has just resigned the chairmanship of the commission, had full knowledge of the facts which I have related, and possibly a great deal more. Sad the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) or the Postmaster-General (Mr. Parkhill) referred to him, they would have been told that things were not ; as they should have been with the commission, and that there was every justification for a thorough inquiry into the management of that body. Every one who takes an interest in the Australian network of

A class stations knows that they confer a very great benefit on the people of Australia, particularly those citizens living in the more remote parts of the Commonwealth. It should therefore be the duty of every member of this Parliament to guard jealously the interests of all concerned. I assure the Senate that the last word ‘has’ not yet been spoken on this subject. We in Queensland are determined that the present reign of terror shall end. The people who have done so much during the last nine years to make that station a credit to the Commonwealth, will use all the means available to them to bring about the desired end.

Senator HOARE:
South Australia

– I support the remarks of Senator Daly concerning the position of the motor body building industry in South Australia. Holdens and Richards’, with subsidiary industries, in Adelaide give employment to about 7,000 persons. So it will be realized that this enterprise is of great importance to South Australia, where the number of unemployed is greater than in any other State. South Australia is really in a very bad way, and it would be a calamity if any action by the. Government, acting on the advice of the Tariff Board, jeopardized the motor-body industry. Mr. Holden has, I believe, stated that tariff reduction would mean the closing of the works. Is Parliament to accept willy nilly the recommendations of the Tariff Board ? Will members of this Parliament allow 5,000 men to be thrown out of work merely to give preference to Britain in respect of certain tariff items? If the tariff is altered there will be a heavy increase of imported motor bodies, to the destruction of the South Australian industry. Even if the number of workers displaced were only 2.000, it would be a serious addition to the total number of unemployed in that State, and the extra workless persons would be a further burden on the taxpayers. The Government should declare emphatically that Parliament, and not, the Tariff Board, has the final say in these matters. The Tariff Board should simply be an advisory body. Surely Ministers do not expect members if this Parliament to accept, without question, the .decisions of the Tariff Board. The secondary industries of this country should have adequate protection. In this matter the people of Australia will support their representatives in this chamber. If we accept all recommendations of the Tariff Board, the investment of capital in secondary industries will decline. This Parliament should give every encouragement to the management of establishments like those of Holden and Richards to increase their plant and provide more employment for our people. Any one who has visited Holdens’ . works must have been impressed with the highly efficient system of mass production in operation there. We have not yet been informed of the Government’s intention, but according to a statement by the Minister for Trade and Customs (Mr. White) not long ago, it is proposed to accept the recommendations of the Tariff Board. If the report in this instance should recommend a reduction of customs duties, an important Australian industry will be at the mercy of competitors in Great Britain. Our experience in connexion with the Ottawa Agreement,’ as it has affected other Australian industries, should convince us of the folly of accepting the Tariff Board’s recommendations in this matter. If, as the result, of government action, following .advice from the board, the motor-body building industry in South Australia is destroyed, it, will be a serious reflection upon this Parliament. Even if the House of Representatives should agree to a reduction of duties, I hope that the donate will be strong enough to reject the proposals. It has done this on other occasions, and the issue in this case is so important that it should not hesitate to do so again. Every member of this Parliament should do all that lies in his power to protect Australian industries, especially during this period of depression. We should not heed the dictates of an outside body. If the Government interferes with this South Australian industry, its candidates will be punished when they appear before the electors. If Ministers wish to help our primary industries, they should ensure that secondary industries have adequate protection so that they may widen the field of employment and thus increase the home market for the sale of primary products. We shall not be doing that if we agree to any proposal to give a further concession to the United Kingdom in connexion with the manufacture of motor bodies. When the Scullin Government was in power, a request was made for an increase of 12 per cent, in the duty on motor-car bodies. This additional protection, it was urged, would enable Australian firms to meet overseas competition. The necessary encouragement having been given, the industry made wonderful strides. Before long it was exporting bodies, and, in an overseas exhibition, actually won first prize. Surely an industry which has become so efficient and gives employment to so many thousands of Australian artisans should be given every consideration. A few weeks ago, I visited the West Coast district of South Australia where I was distressed to find the farmers in a deplorable state. Many of them are still living in the bag houses which they built when they took up land there many years ago. These men are broken financially and in spirit; they are without hope. Numbers of farmers have already walked off their farms, and others will soon follow their example if assistance is not forthcoming promptly. I speak with personal knowledge of the conditions in South Australia, although I understand that in the other States also many farmers are in a bad way. For many months, South Australia has been practically without rain ; I do not know whether any rain has fallen within the last few days in that State.

Senator McLachlan:

– At Streaky Bay, 110 points of rain fell yesterday.

Senator HOARE:

– I am glad to hear that; it may mean much to the stricken farmers there.

I support the protest by Senator Collings regarding the cavalier action of Major Conder in dismissing men from certain broadcasting stations. I know Major Conder, and it may be that his version of the story will throw a different light on this subject. All I ask for is justice. If action such as that of which Senator Collings has complained is allowed to go unchecked, the excellent men now associated with station 5CL, Adelaide, may be dismissed, to make room for others not so capable. I shall await, with interest, the Minister’s reply to Senator Collings.

Senator MacDONALD (Queensland) f5. 55]. - The country is entitled to an explanation of the decision of the: Government to hold an election in September, on a date which, apparently, has not yet been finally decided. It is ridiculous that, after a recess of nearly seven months, mid before any business of importance has 1,een ‘brought before Parliament, the Government should decide to appeal to the electors. Why could not tuc Government’s budget proposals have been ready for Parliament when it met? The explanation probably is that the United Australia party and the Country party lui ve not yet composed their differences. Only about ten weeks remain before the election, and if, as is rumoured, the budget is not to be introduced until the first week of August, a short and strenuous election campaign is inevitable. One would expect the present Government, which is controlled largely from Melbourne and Tasmania, to desire to remain in office during the centenary celebrations in Victoria, and the visit of the Duke of Gloucester. Its decision to hold an election in September is inexplicable, and shows an utter contempt for the parliamentary institution. The two political parties which are now negotiating for a working arrangement have been wrangling for years, yet they expect the electors to accept them as a united party. One recollects the charge of “ gross treachery “ hurled by the Country party against that party with which it now seeks to unite. I would be lacking in my duty if I failed to protest against the treatment of Parliament by the Government. The royal visitor should not be expected . to come to Australia immediately after what may be a bitter election campaign.

In order to indicate the desire of the electors for definite action by the Government to relieve pensioners, I shall quote from a letter I have received from the

Queensland branch of the Invalid and Old-age Pensioners Association -

I am instructed by a general meeting to request you to put before the Government our just claims to the full restoration of pensions as soon as possible. It behoves any party in power to study the interests of the old pioneers of Australia.

The letter, after quoting instances of pensioners, who had reared large families in Australia, being compelled to live on a paltry 17s. 6d. a week out of which they had to pay rent and buy food, clothes and medicines, continued -

We would like von to bring under the notice of the Government that, owing to the great depression which affects us all, our families are unable to render us any assistance., as the great majority are on relief themselves.

This is only one of a number of subjects with which the people of Australia expect this Parliament to deal before it adjourns. At present, the Senate is practically marking time-, a few unimportant measures have been brought before us in an attempt to impress the people that Parliament is dealing with the business of the country.

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:
Minister for Defence · Western Australia · UAP

6.4 1 . - The discussion on the adjournment has shown how unnecessary was any announcement by the Government about the election. Senator Collings, who mentioned certain matters relating to broadcasting, does not, I feel sure, expect me to be personally acquainted with them, but I shall bring his remarks under the notice of the Postmaster-General.

Both Senator Collings and Senator MacDonald appear to think that there is some virtue in Parliament sitting continuously throughout the year. They appear to object to a recess of six or seven months.

Senator Collings:

– We object to taking money under false pretences.

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE.They have said that when Parliament is in recess they are taking money under false pretences. Those honorable senators have the highest regard for Labour governments. Apparently a Labour government can do no wrong; but a government consisting of members of the United Australia party is always wrong.

Senator Collings:

– Sometimes such governments do right, but that is only by accident.

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE.I suppose that a Labour government does right by design and not by accident. Let us study the example set by the Queensland Labour Government, which is not hampered by a legislative council. Listening to some honorable senators opposite one would imagine that a Labour government does not go into recess at all. The Queensland Labour Government went into recess before this Parliament; it has not yet re-assembled, and, according to the latest report, will not meet until Mr. Forgan Smith, who is now enjoying himself abroad, returns to Queensland. In the opinion of some honorable senators opposite a parliamentary recess is a crime when proposed by a government consisting of members of the United Australia party, hut a virtue when proposed by a Labour government.

In reply to the remarks of Senator Daly and Senator Hoare I assure the Senate that the Government has no sinister intention towards the motor body industry, and I know of no government proposal calculated to injure it. I was interested, as I am sure were all honorable senators on this side of the chamber, to hear that when the Scullin Government was in office, the industry in South Australia got into such a condition that only 400 men were employed, and that 5,000 men are now engaged. That is a wonderful proof of the return of prosperity due to the confidence which this Government has restored in Australia. Surely when the men engaged in the industry have these facts brought under their notice, they will have no fear of the future, but will do all they can to ensure that there is no change of government.

The Government. is as much concerned as is Senator Johnston in keeping the farmers on their farms, and will take such action as is necessary in that direction. On two previous occasions it acted in time to give the wheat-growers relief when it was needed, and in connexion with the coming harvest the Government, in this or the next Parliament, will see that whatever assistance is rendered is given at the proper time.

The Leader of the Opposition complained of the answer given to a question by the Minister representing the Treasurer in this chamber. I do not think it fair that the country should be put to the expense of obtaining information that is not contained in official documents. The Government should not be expected to employ some one to glean information that is readily available to any one who takes the trouble to apply to the right source. Official answers are given on official figures. The reply to the question asked by the Leader of the Opposition was that information on the basis desired by the honorable senator was not officially compiled, and that the only particulars of banking officially compiled were those prepared by tho Statistician, which were contained in the bulletin, the number of which was given. If the Government were to do as Senator Barnes has suggested some one would have to be employed to search at libraries or other sources for information that could be gathered by the private secretary to the honorable senator.

I sympathize with Senator Dunn in his suggestion that I should appear before the electors of Western Australia before whom the honorable senator himself has recently appeared. I understand from reports that he had quite an arctic reception, so cool indeed that when he returned he referred to the people of Western Australia in anything but flattering terms. The honorable senator’s mission to Western Australia was most unsuccessful.

Senator Dunn:

– I rise to a point of order. If the Minister will read a report in The Star newspaper concerning a ballot taken by the Australian Labour party in Western Australia, he will find that his statement is a deliberate lie.

The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. P. J. Lynch). - The honorable senator must withdraw those words.

Senator Dunn:

– I withdraw them. I shall say that the Minister is straying from the truth.

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE.Senator Dunn had a cool reception in Western Australia when he endeavoured to convince the members of the Labour party in that State that they should follow Mr. Lang. Naturally he thinks that others will be similarly received. The honorable senator invites me to appear before the electors of Western Australia; I shall do so in due course, but not when the honorable senator desires me to do so.

Senator Dunn complained of the answer I gave to a question asked by him this afternoon. I suggest that the more he conceals that answer the better it will be for him when he faces the electors. He asked two questions concerning alleged strikes in theRoyal Australian Navy, and the reply which I gave to one was -

I would direct the attention of the Senate tothe fact that it in a well-known practice incommunistic propaganda, for the purpose of causing discontent in the Defence Forces,to allegethat certain things have happened in the services in order to suggest thatthey should happen.

I ask the electors of New South Wales to note that answer, and also toremember that two questions which the honorable senator asked to-day were based on allegations appearing in the Communist press of Australia.

Senator Dunn:

– I rise to a point of order.The Minister has inferred that I read communistic literature. I do not. My questions were based on information supplied by naval ratings and I ask that the Minister’s statement bo withdrawn.

Senator Sir George Pearce:

– I have read in Communist papers the allegations contained in the two questions.

The PRESIDENT:

– Do I understand the honorable senator to say that he did not read or hear of these allegations published in Communist newspapers ?

Senator Dunn:

– I did not. My questions were based on information received from naval ratings.

The PRESIDENT:

– Will the honorable senator disclose the names of his informants?

Senator Dunn:

– I do not intend to do so.

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA · ALP; NAT from 1917; UAP from 1931

– I withdraw the word “based “.

The PRESIDENT:

– I must accept the honorable senator’s assurance that he neither read nor heard of these allegations published in the communistic press, and that his questions were based entirely on information supplied by naval ratings. But as the honorable senator has refused to disclose the names of his informants, honorable senators can place their own construction upon the statement.

Senator Dunn:

– Under what Standing Order can you, sir, compelme to disclose the name of my informants?

The PRESIDENT:

– The honorable senator has refused to disclose the names, and the incident is closed.

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:

– One of the honorable senator’s questions read -

Is it a factthat the naval rating’s of the Australian torpedo flotilla, which recently arrived from England, went on strike in Gibraltar naval harbour owingto the luck of proper foods,accommodation (sleeping, sanitary and otherwise), and also owing to excessive sea duties?

That allegation appeared in the Communist press of Australia, as also did that contained in questionNo. 11 on to-day’s notice-paper. As mentioned by Senator Payne, communistic publicationsare circulated among the rank and file of the Australian Navy. As the question had relation to groundless reports published in the Communist press, I was justified in making the statement I did.

Senator Dunn:

-I demand that that statement be withdrawn.

The PRESIDENT:

– The Leader of the Senate withdrew the word “ based ‘, and thereby distinguished between the sources from which Senator Dunn obtained his information, and the state ment he made. Therefore, there is no point of order.

Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE:

– The honorable senator referred to the prosecution of a newspaper which goes under the name of the Sydney Truth, and he attempted to justify his attitude because a certain prosecution failed. Prom his point of view, he could not have mentioned a more unfortunate case. If honorable senators read the report of that case, they will find that in the summing up, the point was made that the prosecution had proved that the article complained of had been published, and that it was calculated to cause disaffection. A conviction would have been recorded but for the defence advanced that the article had been published without the knowledge of the publisher. That’ was the only reason why the prosecution failed. It was an instance of the gutter press, if not the communistic press, publishing a report about an alleged strike at Port Melbourne. No such strike occurred. Honorable senators must know that on no fewer than three occasions, reports have been published of alleged strikes in the navy, although no strikes took place. Surely, we must look for the motive for action of this kind. The motive in the case of the communists is clear. They publish these reports because they wish a strike to occur ; they desire to cause disaffection in tho Royal Australian Navy. I suggest that Senator Bunn is doing a disservice to this country by repeating in this chamber, under the guise of asking questions, press reports which have been proved to be false. In doing this, he is taking a dangerous course. Nobody imagines that there are not some discontented men in every service, and it. is unwise to suggest to them that the way to redress their grievances is to go on strike. Generally speaking, the Australian .Navy is a contented service, and nobody should know that better than Senator Dunn, because he has sent to me probably more letters than any other member of Parliament from men who were in the navy and are now trying to get back into it. I refer, not to men who have been expelled from the navy, but to those who were retrenched when tho expenditure on the navy was reduced, and to others whose service had expired. They were members of the service when the conditions were not so good as they are to-day, for they have been improved out of all recognition within the last two years. Men who knew the navy under worse conditions are now trying to return to it, and Senator Dunn has been asking me to take them back ; but he now tries to make it appear that this is a discontented Service. If be is sincere in the statements made by him this afternoon, and wishes to deal honestly with these men, he should advise them not to attempt to rejoin the navy. Nevertheless, he has asked that their claims should be given every consideration, and, ,1 may SAY, full consideration will be given to each case.

This year we shall recruit 600 men because the new cruiser is to be. placed in commission, and from every side we

Senator Sir George Pearce. are receiving applications from ablebodied young men who are anxious to serve their country in the navy. The conditions on these ships are not unknown. The vessels travel from State to State, and the members of their crews mix with the civil population, with the result that their comrades on shore receive information as’ to conditions in the Service. If these conditions were such as has been suggested to-day by Senator Dunn, is it likely that hundreds of young men would be anxious to join the navy? The very fact that large numbers of recruits are offering shows that tb* men are well treated. We should not make any arm of the defence forces the sport of party politics. During the time I have been Minister for Defence, and particularly in the last two years, I have deliberately refrained from attempting to make political capital out of defence policy. In Sydney, a few months ago, when I outlined the Government’s defence policy, I appealed to the electors not to allow this to be made a - party question. If it docs become a party issue, speeches such as that made by Senator Dunn to-day will be made again, merely to discredit the government that happens to be in power. I suggest to the honorable senator that when he reads bis speech in Hansard, he will realize that he has cast a slur on the Australian Navy by suggesting that the men are discontented. The Government believes that they are proudly serving their country, and it has tried to give them the best conditions that Australia can afford.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Senate adjourned at 6.23 p.m.

Cite as: Australia, Senate, Debates, 4 July 1934, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/senate/1934/19340704_senate_13_144/>.