Senate
2 July 1941

16^th Parliament · 1^st Session

QUESTION
- AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION
QUESTION
- LAKES ENTRANCE OIL DEPOSIT
QUESTION
- WAR INDUSTRIES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
QUESTION
- GOLD-MINING INDUSTRY
QUESTION
- SEMI-GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS
QUESTION
- MARKETING OF BLUE PEAS
QUESTION
- ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE
QUESTION
- MUNITION PRODUCTION
RUSSIA
- Radio Broadcasts
DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION
- Ministerial Statement
DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
SUPERPHOSPHATE INDUSTRY
NATIONAL FITNESS BILL 1941
- Second Reading
HOUR OF MEETING
ADJOURNMENT
THE SENATE
- President Elected
SENATOR FOLL SETTLES DOWN TO WORK AGAIN
- Canberra, September 20
DISTINGUISHED VISITOR
ADJOURNMENT
PAPERS

Senator McBRIDE:
UAP

– The Minister . for Commerce has supplied the following answer : -

The Tasmanian Minister of Agriculture was advised some months ago to arrange with the industry to set up the necessary organization and he indicated his intention to doso.

page 649

QUESTION

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

Sick Pay

Senator BROWN:
QUEENSLAND

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

When a man has served for a period in the Royal Australian Air Force and falls sick, through no fault of his own, and is discharged - does he receive any pay or pension to tide him over a period of unemployment that may follow his discharge?

Senator FOLL:
UAP

– The Minister for Air has supplied the following answer : -

A pension may be paid under the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act, if an airman’s disability is directly attributable to his employment as a member of the Royal Australian Air Force, provided that his incapacity is not due to his own fault or any breach of discipline. In othercases no payments are allowable unless the airman had been on active service outside Australia. If an airman after service outside Australia is discharged for medical reasons and is unemployed, he may apply to the Repatriation Commission for sustenance payments.

page 650

QUESTION

MUNITION PRODUCTION

Senator CAMERON:
VICTORIA

asked the Minis ter for Munitions, upon notice -

How many 3.20 anti-aircraft cradle mountings (manganese bronze castings), if any, have, been supplied to the Defence Department by W.O. Adams, Queensberry-street, Melbourne, Victoria, since the firm in question has been provided with the pattern for same?
What is the totalsum of money, if any, that has been paid to the firm for making preparations to provide such castings and/or . for the castings themselves?
How many steel castings for heavy 24-ton tanks have been supplied to the Defence Department by Charles Ruwolt Proprietary Limited, Victoria-street, Richmond, Victoria, since the firm in question has been provided with the patterns forsame?
How many machine tools have been obtained from the various technical colleges in Victoria direct for the use of the Defence Department?
How many have been obtained which were consigned to technical colleges, but which have not been delivered?
Where are such machines located?
Are all such machines being used for defence work?

Senator McBRIDE:
UAP

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

W.O. Adams, Queensberry-street, Melbourne, are sub-contractors for Crossle Duff, major contractors. Two cradle manganese bronze castings have been supplied.
£159 10s.
No castings in connexion with a 24-ton tank have been requisitioned. Experimental work is being carriedout by Chas. Ruwolt on the hull and turret castings for an 18-ton tank. Two castings have been made. 4.Eleven.
Ten.
1 boring machine. Giddings and Lewis - Chas. Ruwolt Proprietary Limited: 1 boring machine, Giddings and Lewis - Mauri Bros, and Thompson Limited; 2 grinding machines,

Cincinnati - Cheltenham tool-room; 1 milling machine, Cincinnati - C. Telford Smith; 1 milling machine, Cincinnati - Sonnerdale Proprietary Limited; 2 grinding machines, Brown and Sharpe - Johns and Waygood Limited; 1 ggrinding machine, Brown and Sharpe - O rdnance Factory, Maribyrnong; 1 grinding machine, Brown and Sharpe - Sydney Williams and Company Proprietary Limited; 1 grinding machine, Brown and Sharpe - Cook and Williains Proprietary Limited; 1 grinding machine, Brown and Sharpe - Nilsen Cromie Proprietary Limited; 1 grinding machine, Brown and Sharpe - Sutton Tool and Gauge Proprietary Limited; 1 grinding, machine, Brown and Sharpe - -South Australian Railways tool-room; 2 shaping machines, Smith and Mills- Colonial Sugar Refining Company; 1 shaping machine, Smith and Mills - Perry Engineering Proprietary Limited; 1 shaping machine. Smith and Mills - J. N. Kirby; 1 planing machine, Cincinnati - Quality Engineering and Manufacturing Company Proprietary Limited ; 1 planing machine, Cincinnati - Chas. Ruwolt Proprietary Limited; 1 planing machine, Cincinnati - A.G. Healings Limited.

Yes.

page 650

RUSSIA

Radio Broadcasts

Senator FOLL:
UAP

– On Thursday last,

Senator Lamp:

asked whether the Postmaster-General (Mr. Collins) would request the technical experts of the department to take into consideration the rebroadcasting in English of news from radio stations in Russia, so that the people of Australia might be informed as to the position in that theatre of war. In reply, I have to inform the honorable senator that authoritative news from Russia of the progress of the conflict with Germany is contained in official communiques issued daily from Russia. These arc immediately given to the world press, and are relayed through the ordinary news channels for publication. Unofficial news in communiques broadcast from Moscow radio is received by the Department of Information’s listening post, and a summary is provided for the Australian press and broadcasting stations for background information.

page 650

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION

Ministerial Statement

Senator FOLL:
Minister for Information · Queensland · UAP

. -by leave - Some time ago, Senator Brown asked if I could give to the Senate a brief outline of the functions and activities of the

Department of Information. In accordance with that request, and in view of recent criticisms of the department, I welcome this opportunity to do so. I shall not take advantage of the occasion to enter into a political discussion.

Honorable senators are probably aware that the publicity censorship is under

Khe control of the Department of Information. In order that press cables and statements may be bandied with the least possible delay it is necessary to maintain in each State a 24-hour censorship service. Despite what is sometimes said to the contrary, it is the desire of the censorship authorities to give the fullest possible assistance to the press, and to make available the maximum quantity of information compatible with national security. All matters intended for publication are supposed to be handed in to the censors, but in practice that is not always done because of the existence of an honour system. Representatives of the press are told from time to time which matters are to be kept out of the columns of their newspapers and, with rare exceptions, the honour system has worked entirely satisfactorily. In addition to maintaining a continuous censorship service in each State, it is necessary to have in Melbourne a chief publicity censor and his staff to deal with matters in dispute between newspaper proprietors and the censorship, or between department and department. Only when there is a deadlock is a matter referred to the Minister for his final determination.

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Senator COLLINGS:
QueenslandLeader of the Opposition

– by leave - I intimate to the Senate that Senator H. V. Keane has been elected Deputy Leader of the Opposition in this chamber.

page 653

SUPERPHOSPHATE INDUSTRY

Debate resumed from the 25th June (vide page 348), on motion by Senator FRASER -

That u. joint committee of the Parliament bc appointed to inquire into and report upon all matters related to the manufacture and sale of superphosphate in Australia.

That three members of the Senate and four members of the House of Representatives be appointed to serve on such committee.

That the committee be empowered to send for persona, papers and records, to move from place to place, and to sit during the adjournment of Parliament. 4.That a message be sent to the House of Representatives requesting its concurrence, and asking that four members be appointed to serve on such committee.

– No; only the manufacture and sale. The motion does not affect phosphate rock at all.

Senator CAMERON:

– It is all a matter of interpretation. I am placing my own interpretation on the motion, and am not accepting the honorable senator’s interpretation. The Minister for Aircraft Production (Senator Leckie) said that we know all of the facts. I join issue with him there, because, after listening to the Minister and Senator Gibson, it is obvious that they do not know all of the facts. Further facts are ascertainable.

In any references which I may make to the Commonwealth Prices Commissioner I wish it to be clearly understood that I do not reflect on him personally. I regard that officer as one who fixes prices in accordance with instructions received, and not as a free agent. Consequently, I do not hold him responsible for the policy which he carries out. I say this now because my remarks on a previous occasion were construed to be adverse criticism of the Prices Commissioner. I assume that that officer operates on the basis of passing on increased charges to the consumer.

Senator Spicer:

– In what other way can increased charges be passed on?

Senator CAMERON:

– It is possible that the capital charges and overhead charges are capable of reduction. Into these aspects of increased costs there should be a full inquiry. It is not a sufficient reason for raising the price of any commodity to say that the price of this and that has increased, and therefore the increased cost must be passed on to the consumer. As honorable senators opposite have said that no profit is made in this industry I draw attention to the report of the Tariff Board which went exhaustively into this subject in 1929. On page 17 of its report, the Tariff Board stated -

A summary of the results obtained ls shown in the following compilation: -

Although the average profit is shown as 12.9 per cent, on the capital employed, this figure is understated for the following reasons : -

The profits on which this percentage is based are derived solely from fertilizers, although in some cases portion of the capital is used in the production of industrial chemicals.
The profits include large amounts representing interest on outstanding accounts. It was shown in evidence that the interest charges range from 5 per cent, to 10 per cent, per annum, hence the profit represented by manufacture and sale must be well over the 12.!) per cent, shown in Table “ L- “.

Senator E B Johnston:

– Several of the companies in Western Australia are co-operative companies.

Senator CAMERON:

– They are cooperative in name. Real co-operation cannot be achieved when farmers are hamstrung. Farmers, or any other section of the community, can co-operate only within the limits of the present economic system. Men 011 the basic wage may co-operate for the purpose of purchasing bread and meat, but their cooperation is restricted by their purchasing power. That is not co-operation in the broad sense of the word, which itself is used merely to camouflage the real position, and to mislead people who do not know better. Nobody knows better than Senator .Johnston the restrictions and obstacles that are placed in the way of the primary producers of Western Australia. They can co-operate as much as they like, but until they co-operate to change the Government and its policy they will not get very far under existing conditions. All that their present cooperation will do will be to prolong the agony.- So long as I have an opportunity to protest against this iniquitous and infamous method of driving men off the land, and depriving them of their livelihood under the cover of war and patriotism, I shall protest as strenuously as I am doing now, and even more vigorously in future.

Senator E B JOHNSTON:
Western Australia

Senator E B Johnston:

Senator FRASER:

– No, but these deposits do exist and the people should know just what development has taken place since the report on them was made nearly ten years ago. The rationing of superphosphate would be disastrous to this country, and the sooner that this Parliament sees that something is done in regard to the development of our own resources the better it will be. I was struck by a comment made by Senator A. J. McLachlan several days ago, when he was speaking of the possible restriction of the acreage under wheat. The honorable senator said that we were facing a dangerous position. I agree with him that we should make every effort to keep all available land in production, because, perhaps sooner than we expect, millions of people in Europe will be starving. In view of that possibility, why should we talk of acreage restriction in Australia? As Senator Cameron pointed out, an accentuation of the position will mean that farmers on small holdings will go off the land, just as the small man is being forced out of business, and the wealthy landholders will ‘benefit. If ever there was justification for the appointment of a select committee, it exists in connexion with the superphosphate industry. Despite all that has been said by Senator Johnston in favour of referring this matter to the Rural Industries Committee, I am not at all satisfied. I do not believe that that committee could reach a decision in time to save the small farmers from bankruptcy. At least I have carried out the wishes of the Labour party, and of the Western Australian Parliament, many members of which represent a large farming community in that State.

Question put -

That the motion be agreed to..

The Senate divided. (The President - Senator the Hon. J. Cunningham.)

AYES: 14

NOES: 14

Majority . . . . Nil.

AYES

NOES

The PRESIDENT:

– There being fourteen “ Ayes “ and fourteen “ Noes “, the question is resolved in the negative.

Sitting suspended from 5.12 to 8 p.m.

page 665

NATIONAL FITNESS BILL 1941

Bill received from the House of Representatives.

Standing and Sessional Orders suspended.

Bill (on motion by Senator Leckie) read a first time.

Second Reading

Senator LECKIE:
Minister for Aircraft Production · Victoria · UAP

– I move -

That the bill be now read a second time.

I have great pleasure in moving the second reading of this bill. It has my entire concurrence and I feel sure that it will receive a speedy passage through this chamber. The object of the bill is to make permanent a provision introduced two years ago under which the Commonwealth provided £20,000 a year for the purpose of financing a national fitness campaign. Every body realizes that there is much to be done in this direction, and that physical training plays an equally important part as mental training in the life of the individual. Teachers cannot train their pupils effectively unless they have a proper conception of the principles of physical training. One of the objects of the bill is to train leaders to encourage others to improve their physical fitness. I think that I may claim to have a special interest in this scheme and probably know as much as anybody else of the improvement of health that follows planned physical exercise. The value of physical training is seen in the improvement of the health standards of those of our young men who have spent a month or two in our military camps. The exercise in the open air and the good food served in the camps improve their physique to a remarkable degree.

Senator ARTHUR:
NEW SOUTH WALES

– Many of them did not get good food before they went to camp. They should have had it before.

Senator LECKIE:

– Many of those I know had plenty of good food before they went into camp, though it may not have been as nourishing as the food supplied in the camps. As I feel sure that every honorable senator will support this measure I need not continue on those lines.

The national fitness movement, as a truly national and Commonwealth movement, was begun in 1939 by the present Minister for the Interior (Senator Foll), who appointed a council of persons selected because of their association with sports movements in the States. A conference of State Ministers of Education which met in Sydney endorsed the movement, and the representative Commonwealth council met in January, 1939. The movement developed and spread, and ultimately the Government decided in July, 1939, to provide a total sum of £100,000 to be expended over five years for the promotion of a national fitness campaign. The annua] allocation of that money was as follows: - £1,000 to each of the State Governments for organizing purposes, and the following amounts to the universities: - Sydney, £2,000; Melbourne, £2,000; Brisbane, £1,500; Adelaide, £1,500; Perth, £1,500; Hobart, £1,000. The balance was left in the hands of the Commonwealth Minister for Health. It is now proposed to increase the grant to each of the States by £500 for the specific purpose of training leaders. State Governments were invited to form State Councils. The New South Wales Government had already a State Council in existence. The other Governments followed its example and State Councils were appointed on the following dates: Victoria, the 10th February, 1939; Queensland, the 12th August, 1939; Western Australia, the 14th March, 1939 (approximately) ; South Australia, the 20th October, 1939; and Tasmania (approximately), August, 1939.

Senator Armstrong:

– These are all honorary bodies?

Senator LECKIE:

– Yes.

The Commonwealth money was allocated for two main purposes - (a) organizing expenses; (6) subsidies to universities for the establishment of diploma courses.

Honorable senators will notice that paragraph (o) of sub-clause 5 of the bill has been amended by the insertion of the word “ schools “ before the word “ universities “. That has been done in order to widen the scope of the scheme. All States have appointed organizers and all of the universities have accepted the conditions. In Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia, diploma or certificate courses have been established. In Western Australia and Tasmania it was decided to provide scholarships for selected persons to attend courses at other universities. The movement has been very enthusiastically taken up in every State. It has found expression in police boys’ clubs, the formation of municipal centres, country permanent camps and summer schools for the training of group leaders, combined activities with such bodies as Young Men’s Christian Association, &c, and the formation of a youth hostel association.

The enthusiasm with which this movement was adopted encouraged the Commonwealth Council for National Fitness, at its last meeting in November, 1940, to express itself in these terms -

While the success achieved in each State ha* been noteworthy, it has recently become very apparent that the national importance and value of this movement has not been adequately recognized or expressed.

The Council expresses its strongly held opinion that there is an imperative and immediate need to use the vitality of this national fitness movement as one means for securing a high ideal of national service. Central stimulus is necessary. Commonwealth direction and encouragement is desired and expected, and Commonwealth assistance must be given if the enthusiasm now available is not to reach its maximum and then fade away to nothing.

Some satisfactory organization by which the Commonwealth gives evidence of its intention to foster this active enthusiasm is necessary if this movement is to be recognized as an integral part of whatever form of organized national service is adopted. That it is a rigorous movement, arid that it can be capitalized as a vehicle for carrying national efficiency and national unity to a high plane, should ‘be recognized.

The council also expressed strongly its view that a central focal point was essential for all purposes of co-operative action. The constitution of the council was changed subsequent to the third session : instead of. being directly nominated by the Minister the council is now composed of the Commonwealth Minister for Health, the Minister for Labour and National Service, the Director-General of Health, and one nominee from each of the- State councils. The newly constituted council met on the 9th and the 10th May, 1940, and in November, 1940, held a very valuable joint session with the National Health and Medical Research Council.

This bill contemplates the maintenance and development of this national movement adapted to the needs and local enthusiasms in each State, in association with related activities, and in close cooperation with the National Health and Medical Research Council. I have before mc notes relating to similar acts adopted in the United Kingdom and in New Zealand in 1939, and to a bill which recently camo before the Congress of the United States of America. In those countries the movement has been enthusiastically advanced along parallel lines. The fund in the bill now before the Senate will consist at first of the £20,000 per annum allocated under the original grant, and any moneys later appropriated by Parliament or gifts specially made for this purpose. In the United Kingdom, the grant approved under the relevant act amounted to £1,468,000 in 1939. On a population basis, the Australian equivalent would be about £200,000 per annum - ten times the present amount. I may be asked why it is necessary to introduce this bill while in fact the Commonwealth has for two years subscribed £20,000 per annum for the purposes mentioned. The universities and others interested in the scheme desire that it be given permanence so that they may plan ahead. It is desired that lecturers and teachers should have security of tenure of office. In order to achieve that object the Government has decided to ask Parliament to place this measure on the statute-book.

Senator Keane:

– What check is imposed on the expenditure of this money!

Senator LECKIE:

– The Commonwealth Council will check all expenditure, as also will the State Councils. I point out to the honorable senator that this money is being granted on certain specified terms, to each university, for the training of leaders and also for the expenses of the main council. The expenditure from the fund will also be audited by the Auditor-General. I commend the bill to the favorable consideration of honorable senators.

Debate (on motion by Senator Collings) adjourned.

page 667

HOUR OF MEETING

Motion (by Senator McLeay) agreed to-

That the Senate, at its rising, adjourn till to-morrow at 11 a.m.

page 667

ADJOURNMENT

Power Alcohol Production - Statement by Senator Crawford: Commercial Activities of Senator Foll - Business of the Senate* - TransAustralian Telegraph Line - Repatriation: Case of H. F. Brockley - Gold-mining Industry - Flinders Island Post Office - Enlistments : Married Men with Dependants; Miners - War Industries in Tasmania - National Oil Proprietary Limited.

Motion (by Senator McLeay) proposed -

That the Senate do now adjourn.

Senator COURTICE:
Queensland

– A few days ago, the Minister for Munitions (Senator McBride) tabled the report of the Power Alcohol Committee of Inquiry. The Minister did not then indicate the Government’s view of the findings of that committee, but the following report appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald : -

The Federal Government has decided, ns a first objective, to produce 22,000,000 gallons of power alcohol a year.

This was announced to-day by the Minister for Supply, Senator McBride, when be tabled the Power Alcohol Committee’s report in the Senate.

The output of 7,000,000 gallons from existing distilleries, said Senator McBride, would be produced from molasses, supplemented by 4.000 tons of raw sugar, each year.

The new distilleries, with an estimated output of 10,000,000 gallons, would use wheat only. They will be located in Western Australia (estimated output 2,000,000 gallons), South Australia (3,000,000 gallons), Victoria (2.000.000 gallons), and New South Wales (2,000.000 gallons).

The capital required for these distilleries would be £1,100,000, and their establishment would be discussed by the Federal and State Governments and representatives of private enterprise to evolve mutually satisfactory arrangements.

I now ask whether the Government intends to implement the recommendations of the committee, which the committee summarized in its report as follows : -

That immediate steps be taken to expand Australia’s production of power alcohol to 524 million gallons per annum, mainly from wheat and sugar cane.
The fixing of a price of 2s. per gallon wholesale at blending depots.
The introduction of suitable legislation, either Commonwealth or State, to ensure proper control in the production, financing and regulation of marketing in the power alcohol industry.

During peace-time, the normal consumption of petrol in Australia is 350,000,000 gallons, of which 52,500,000 gallons of power alcohol would represent 15 per cent. The committee has recommended that all motor fuel consumed in Australia should be a blend containing somewhere between 12 per cent, and 20 per cent, of alcohol. In these proportions both the petrol and the alcohol give the highest standard of efficiency in the average petrol engine. It can safely be said that the motor transport community would in present circumstances be happy to pay the slight extra cost of the new fuel. In a country like Australia we must experience drastic economic repercussions as petrol rationing becomes essentially more severe. I do not intend to discuss the technical aspect of the power alcohol industry. The committee recommends the manufacture of alcohol from molasses, supplemented by a quantity of raw sugar, estimated at 40,000 tons annually. Personally, I think that that is the most efficient manner in which power alcohol can be manufactured, because distilleries already exist, and their capacity can be readily stepped up as required. However, the cost of transporting raw sugar and molasses to the distilleries is an important item of cost. For that reason, I believe that the committee had in mind the establishment of distilleries adjacent to the sugar mills in Northern Queensland, with perhaps a distillery in New South Wales. Alcohol can be manufactured more economically from syrups than from raw sugar. I realize that the establishment of distilleries will involve heavy expenditure, but the Government should, in the national interests, adopt the recommendations of the committee and go ahead immediately with preparations for the manufacture of 52,500,000 gallons of power alcohol annually, as recommended. lt may take up to two years before the required number of distilleries are in full production. At this stage, however, I should like to know whether the Government has evolved any definite plan for implementing the recommendations of the committee. The Government, of course, recognizes that if it intends to do so it must take steps immediately to purchase machinery or, perhaps, arrange for its manufacture in Australia. Up to date, however, the policy of the Government has been to hand over this matter to the Standing Committee on Liquid Fuels. That committee has never been very sympathetic towards this industry. But I know that the Government has handed over the report of the Power Alcohol Committee of Inquiry to that body. I am anxious, therefore, to discover whether the Government intend® to be guided by the opinion of the Standing Committee. If the recommmendations of the Power Alcohol Committee of Inquiry be implemented, the manufacture of power alcohol will absorb a quantity of sugar which cannot now be exported. That committee recommends that for that sugar the growers be paid £9 a ton - the export price. On that basis, power alcohol can be manufactured and sold at a price which compares favorably with that ruling for petrol to-day. But if the

Government intends to be guided, as has hitherto been the case, by the advice of economists in this matter, it will not do the right thing by the sugar industry. We know that, had it accepted the advice of so-called economists in the past, neither the sugar industry nor our steel industry would be in existence to-day. The Government can safely implement the recommendations of the Power Alcohol Committee of Inquiry, because, by doing so, it will help to tide Australia over the difficulties now being experienced due to the shortage of petrol. The committee has made it clear that no technical difficulties arise; we can manufacture alcohol. Therefore, I urge the Government to give immediate and urgent consideration to the committee’s recommendations. That committee consisted of practical men. It should not be thought for one moment that the power alcohol industry is going to prove a very great boon to the sugar industry. That will not be the case. However, as the sugar industry is now unable to dispose of the surplus which hitherto it exported, we must find some market for that surplus. Otherwise, ‘we shall have to abandon a great proportion of our sugar lands. That, of course, is unthinkable. I again ask the Minister to indicate whether the Government intends to implement the recommendations of the Power Alcohol Committee, and to outline briefly what plans it has in mind in that respect?

Senator CRAWFORD:
Queensland

– On the 30th June last, I completed 24 years of service in the Senate. I have reason to believe that for eighteen of those years every (member of this Parliament was my personal friend, and that there existed between me and each member a friendship which I appreciated and heartily reciprocated without exception. However, for the last six years, a certain member of the Senate has maintained an attitude of hostility towards me; and it is upon that matter that I now, reluctantly, find myself obliged to speak. The first evidence of this development occurred in connexion with the preselection of a candidate from among Government supporters for the presidency of the Senate. On the following clay, the 24th September, 1935, the follow ing report appeared in the Melbourne Age : -

page 669

THE SENATE

President Elected

Ministry’s Choice Defeated - Senator Lynch Re-appointed.

Senator P. J. Lynch, United Australia party, Senator for Western Australia, was re-elected President of the Senate ata meeting of United Australia party senators this morning. Hit election is a tribute tohis popularity with individual members, as he retained the Presidency in face of opposition from Senator Foll, of Queensland, who was the Ministry s choice.

The vote was close, the preferences of the other five candidates. Senators Millen (Tasmania), Foll (Queensland). Crawford (Queensland), Plain (Victoria) and Payne (Tasmania) being distributed before the count turnedin favour of Senator Lynch.

Features of the election were the large number of candidates and the hasty return from England by air-mail ‘plane of Senator Foll, who was a member of the parliamentary delegation which attended the King’s Jubilee celebrations.

On that occasion, the pre-selection was by exhaustive ballot, and not by ordinary preferential voting, as indicated by that report, which would be perfectly correct if the contest had been conducted under donkeyrace conditions, when the first is last and the last is first. It is rather surprising that the candidate who was the second to be eliminated in the exhaustive ballot is reported to have been the runner-up. The report which appeared in the Queensland newspapers was quite different. It stated that the election was carried out by exhaustive ballot, but, in my opinion, there was one very serious mistake in what was alleged to have taken place at the party meeting, because the Minister for the Interior (Senator Foll) took my place, which was higher, and I was given his. I shall not go into the many details of that matter, nor shall I give an account of every instance of hostility shown to me during the six year* under review, but I should like to draw attention to the fact that in June, 1938, the Queensland press was deluged with telegrams from Canberra to the effect that on the 1st July, when Sir George Pearce and ex-Senator Lynch retired, the Minister for the Interior would become the father of the House.

I never thought of publishing anything like that, although I had an equal claim to do so, having been returned at the same time as Senator Foll. I did not think it necessary to telegraph to every newspaper in Queensland. I believe that a correct report appeared in a Queensland Sunday newspaper in which the original statement had not been published. Apparently a. way of retreat was left. The statement appeared in three issues of the Brisbane Courier and in four issues of the Brisbane Telegraph. 1 do not say that the Minister was responsible for that propaganda, but he was the only one who could have profited by it, if there was any profit in it. I know that in similar circumstances, had I been the one apparently profiting, 3 should have taken it upon myself, as a man, ‘ to contradict such incorrect publicity. I shall pass on now to the last federal elections, about which I shall say very little except to mention, incidentally, that a colleague of mine for three years was working most assiduously to secure the substitution of a Country party candidate in my place, but he failed, and both organizations unanimously endorsed my selection. As honorable senators are aware, there was a drastic change in the form of ballot-paper used at the last general elections - ia horizontal ballotpaper was used - and it was the luck of the government candidates to be placed in the first column. At the previous election, the government candidates were at the bottom of a vertical ballot-paper, and she instruction given to voters by government supporters on “ how to vote “ cards, was to begin at the bottom and vote up. A great many people in Queensland did that at the last elections, and as a consequence, the Minister for the Interior received quite a number of primary votes, and so did I, although my nairne was in the middle of the list. When the count was about half completed, the honorable senator’s publicity agents managed to get the following report published in one of the Brisbane newspapers- : -

A striking feature of the Senate poll is the high personal vote for Senator- Foll. Although he was placed third on the list of the government team, Senator Foll has polled more than 1 0,000 votes, more than two and a half times as many as the No. 2 candidate, Senator Crawford.

Senator CRAWFORD:

– There was nothing wrong with it until the final count was reached, and then its purpose was revealed, as well as the purpose of something else. This was how the Brisbane Telegraph reported the final figures -

The retiring United Australia party-United Country party team - Senators W. J. Cooper, T. W. Crawford and H. Foll - have been reelected in the Queensland Senate ballot with much larger majorities than Uley had when they were elected in 1934.

Senator Foll, after the distribution of his colleague’s preferences, had an absolute majority of 32,103 over the Labour and independent candidates, and his total was 59,087 greater than the highest Labour total. At the 1934 election Senator Foll had a majority of only 4,585.

Senator Cooper had an absolute majority of 2,227 over the combined total of Mr. W. Bertram, Labour, and Senator Foll, after the other candidates’ preferences were distributed, had a majority of 25,513 over Mr. Bertram. This compared with a majority of 6,335 at the 1934 election.

Senator Crawford had a majority over Mr. Bertram of 32.31], compared with 6,793 at the 1934 election.

The final figures in the election were - ‘

First vacancy - Senator Cooper, 269,129; Mr. W. Bertram, 243,010.

Second vacancy - Senator Crawford, 289,171 ; Mr. Bertram, 246,800.

Third vacancy - Senator Foll, 284,007; Mr. Bertram, 224,980.

I v/ish to make two or three very brief comments on that statement. It is stated that the Minister’s total was 59,087 more than that of the highest Labour candidate’s total. That figure was arrived at by including Senator Foil’s preference votes and excluding Mr. Bertram’s. Apparently it means something to a candidate to have a departmental publicity agent working for him at election time. With regard to myself, in the statement which I have read, 10,000 votes were lopped off my majority so that the final statement - no doubt that was the object - would correspond with the statement made at the middle of the count, when it was alleged that the Minister’s popularity was shown by the receipt of two and a half times as many primary votes as were given to me. No contradiction or correction of those figures was published. If these things can happen in these allegedly democratic days, then

God help democracy, unless something be done to put a stop to such practices. But that is not the finish of the matter. The following is an extract from a report which appeared in the Brisbane Telegraph on the 26th September, 1940:-

page 671

SENATOR FOLL SETTLES DOWN TO WORK AGAIN

Canberra, September 20

With the ink on the ballot-papers for the Senate hardly dry, the Minister for the Interior (Senator Foll) has already settled down to hard work.

Although the poll only concluded on Saturday night, Senator Foll visited Melbourne on Tuesday for a meeting of the War Cabinet and from there he came to Canberra on Wednesday to attend to routine departmental matters. Last night he left for Sydney and will go from there to Brisbane to watch the final count in the House of Representatives and Senate elections.

Senator Foll revealed while in Canberra that throughout the election campaign not one matter referred to him by his departmental heads had failed to receive his attention within 24 hours of leaving the department.

All urgent subjects were forwarded to him by air mail, or any other expeditious transport service available, while he was campaigning in Queensland, he said.

Senator Foll will be included in the new Ministry to be formed by the Prime Minister (Mr. Menzies).

What are the facts? How much campaigning did the Minister do when chased by departmental documents requiring his attention? The truth is that while Senator Cooper and I were scouring the country by rail and road addressing meetings wherever they could be arranged by the respective party political organizations, the Minister for most of the time was sitting, or lying, in Brisbane nursing a minor ailment. At last, the Minister travelled by mail ‘plane and addressed meetings at Rockhampton and Townsville. It is worthy of note that Townsville is the port for Mount Isa and no doubt the Minister had some Mount Isa business to transact at Townsville. Although honorable senators have apparently enjoyed what I have said, some of. them may think that it should have been left unsaid. I have made these remarks only because I felt that it was my duty to do so. I have done it very reluctantly, but as a justification for at least part of what I have said, let me read the following lines : -

The toad beneath the harrow knows,

Exactly where each pin point goes,

The butterfly beside the road

Preaches contentment to the toad.

I trust that the butterflies beside the road will not get busy until I have finished what I have to say. At this stage I shall interpolate an extract from one of those very fine articles which Professor Murdoch contributes to a number of weekly publications. I draw the attention of honorable senators to the following which appeared in the Brisbane Courier Mail of the 21st September, 1940 : -

We are fighting for the right to live in a country ruled by decent blokes, not by crooks; for the right to choose decent blokes to carry on the government for us. We are fighting for all decent blokes everywhere who are assailed by crooks. We know that if the standards of the crook prevail the world will not be, by a decent bloke’s standards, a place fit to live in: we believe that to save our children from having to grow up in such a world would be something worth dying for. This is all that the forbidding term “ Christian ethic “ really means.

I now pass on to another subject, and quote the following extract from a statement published in the Brisbane Courier Mail in February, 1939 : -

On his way to inspect the Mount Isa Mines. Earl Castle Stewart. Chairman of Mining Trust Limited, arrived in Brisbane yesterday.

Mining Trust Limited has its head-quarters in London. It was formed in 1929, and in 1930 issued 1.245.988 shares to American Smelting and Refining Company for 408,395 shares in Mount Isa Mines, Queensland,

It has a large holding in New Guinea Goldfields, Limited, in Anglo-Queensland Mining Proprietary Limited, and other mining ventures in various parts of the world.

The most important feature of that statement is that it discloses that Mount Isa Mines Limited is part of a vast international mining organization, and that the company principally interested in it is the American Smelting and Refining Company. This international organization is generally alluded to, I understand, as the Guggenheim group. It is not many years since Mr. Guggenheim came to Australia under the name of Gregory, and acquired an interest in Mount Isa Mines Limited. If Mount Isa Mines Limited were controlled by a local company and bv local people, it would be quite a different matter from its being part of a vast international organization producing, to a very great degree, the minerals used in the manufacture of munitions. It is only natural to conclude that the longer the war lasts and the more it spreads, the greater will be the profits of the shareholders of this group of mining companies. I venture to assert that the fact that a director of Mount Isa Mines Limited is a member of the Australian War Cabinet creates :» situation which has no parallel in the countries constituting the British Commonwealth of Nations. I shall go farther than that, and say that it produces a situation which, in the minds of most people, is regarded as having a definitely treacherous aspect.

The Government should, at the first opportunity, introduce legislation to control the operations of public companies in this country. I believe that, under the Constitution, this Parliament has power to pass such legislation. Shortly after he became a member of the Commonwealth Cabinet, the Minister for the Army (Mr. Spender) spoke on several occasions in favour of abolishing the State Parliaments and placing the whole of Australia and its governmental activities under Commonwealth law. That is a big issue, and I shall not discuss it now, but I am strongly in favour of the Commonwealth Parliament controlling public companies, so far as it has the constitutional power to do so. Should it puss such a law, I hope that it will make a better job of it than when it passed the act by which the bankruptcy laws of the States were superseded. I do not know much about bankruptcy, although it- was my duty, as a member of the government of the day, to take charge of the Bankruptcy Bill during its passage through this Senate.

The next company with which I wish to deal is known as Queensland Forests Limited. I shall not describe it in detail, but it was a company which derived the whole of its income from the sale of worthless bonds to unwary persons, and its canvassers concentrated their blandishments on widows. They fold bonds to them of considerable face value in the aggregate, and such transactions may be described as robbery of widows and the fatherless. This practice continued for years until the Government of New South Wales, yielding to public indignation, and as the result of a judicial investigation, passed amendments of the Public Companies Act, putting a stop to the predatory practices to which I have referred. On the 1st April, 1936, the following appeared in the Cairns Post: - “ Corruption is going on behind the backs of shareholders “, declared Mr. J. J. Nesa (member for Dulwich Hill), in the Assembly to-day, when he made serious charges against Amalgamated Forests Limited, which controlled a dozen subsidiary companies.

Mr. Ness quoted an affidavit that hod been made concerning an objection to the liquidator. There were, he said, as subsidiary companies, Queensland Forests Limited, Commercial Credit Co-operation of Australia, National Tobacco Corporation, Australian Trustees and Executors, Associated Tobacco Manufacturers Proprietary Limited, Queensland Timber Millers Limited, Victorian Securities Proprietary and Mount Etna Fertilizers Limited. Control was in the hands of Moulton Brothers while there were 500 shareholders and the money involved was about £70,000.

The company had gone into voluntary liquidation and the shareholders were taking exception to the executor appointed. Mr. Ness, continued, that these three Moulton brothers, together with others, control the whole of the companies. They purchased 2,700 acres of land at 27«. fid. and 30s. Od. an acre and Bold 2,500 acres at £14 and £1G an acre to one of their directors, who resold at £16. These men realize .that the new act is coming into force and are getting out before it comes.

The Minister for Justice (Mr. I. C. Martin) said that unfortunately the statements by Mr. Ness were largely true. As soon as the matter was mentioned to him he placed it in the hands of the Criminal Investigation Department for investigation, but as yet the Government had no.t been able to take action regarding the winding-up.

I can see no difference whatever between the hawking of bonds and the hawking of shares. I shall quote a couple of sentences from the remarks of the judge who tried the Woolcott-Forbes case in Sydney some time ago. His Honour, addressing the accused, Walker and Levitus, said -

Assuming that you were led astray by a man cleverer than yourselves, I think that the verdict the jury arrived at was the only one which was open to them on the evidence. In recent years share hawking has become an infamous trade.

Senator CRAWFORD:

Senator FOLL:

– “When I was Government Whip in the Senate, at a time when the sugar industry was dependent for its existence upon regulations rather than upon an act of Parliament as it is now, a motion for disallowance of the protection given by the Government to the sugar industry was moved by Senator Colebatch. I do not say it egotistically, but it was only by careful whipping that that motion was not carried.

Senator E B Johnston:

– Were not some Tasmanian senators away?

Senator FOLL:

Senator FOLL:

– The reports received from one of the handwriting experts reads as follows: -

Documents A, B, C, D, E have all been written by the same person. The case is sufficiently clear for demonstration and proof, if need be, in courts of justice.

Senator Crawford:

– I repeat that I have never written anonymous letters.

Senator FOLL:

– I have produced incontrovertible proof that the honorable senator has done so. He should be thoroughly ashamed of himself.

I propose now to refer to what I consider to be a very paltry matter. The honorable senator attacked me because of the publication of a press report when he was nominated for the position’ of President of the Senate. The honorable senator knows that I am not responsible for what is published in the press. He said that I had been instrumental in having published in the press a statement that I had flown back from London by air in order to contest the Senate election. Every body .knows that I returned by boat. As a matter of fact, I met some honorable senators at Fremantle on my way home. The honorable senator was apparently affronted because some newspaper referred to me as the father of the Senate. If I thought it would please him, I would be quite willing to refer to the honorable senator as the mother of the Senate.

Senator Crawford:

– The honorable senator has admitted that his private secretary deluged the press with statements that he was the father of the Senate.

Senator FOLL:

– The honorable senator also said that, for a number of years, I endeavoured to run a Country party candidate in opposition to him. The time of the National Parliament should not be wasted by replying to .paltry statements of that kind. However, I shall not allow the statements made by the honor.able senator in connexion with my association with the Mount Isa Mines Limited to go unchallenged. I have never made any secret of the fact that I have been a director of that company for many years. Mount Isa Mines Limited is a public company, and every body knows that I have been associated with it. When I was first asked by the late Mr. Lyons to join his Ministry, I told him that I was a director of two companies, and two only - Mount Isa Mines Limited and New Guinea Gold-fields Limited. I said that, whilst my association with those companies would not clash in any way with my ministerial duties, if at any time he felt that such association embarrassed him or his Government, I would immediately resign from the directorates. I am prepared to do so to-day if my continued association with the two companies causes embarrassment either to my leader or to the Government. I was elected to the boards of those companies by the shareholders. No organization in Queensland has done more to develop the northwest portion of the State than Mount Isa Mines Limited. It employs between 1,200 and 1,300 men under conditions which compare favorably with those existing in any other organization of its kind in the world. The company has expended hundreds of thousands of pounds in the amelioration of the conditions of its employees. To-day, between 6,000 and 7,000 people depend upon the Mount Isa mine for their living. If Senator Crawford could forget his bias against me, he would be the first to admit that the company has been a veritable godsend to northern Queensland. The honorable senator referred to the output of the Mount Isa mine. Every ounce of lead taken out of that mine since the outbreak of war has been shipped to England as soon as shipping space was obtained to carry it away. The whole of the lead output of the mine was sold to the British Government at £15 a ton, a price which leaves little or no margin of profit for the company. The company has expended hundreds of thousands of pounds in wages and freight in order that every available ounce of lead could be placed ai the disposal of the British Government. Shares in the company, nominally valued at £1, are quoted on the London market to-day at 2s. Id. It has not yet paid a farthing in dividends, and it has no hope of ever recovering the money it has expended in building up its organization. The honorable senator also referred, to my association with New Guinea Gold-fields Limited. I have never made a secret of the fact that I am a director of that company, which, as honorable senators know, has had a very bad time. Shares in New Guinea Gold-fields Limited of a nominal value of £1 are quoted on the Stock Exchange to-day at ls. 4d. I give honorable senators these particulars to show the difficulties with which these companies have been faced. The honorable senator also said that I am a director of Queensland Forests Limited. He must he aware of the fact that I have never been a director of or owned a share in that company. His attempt to link me up in some way with it is dictated by personal animosity in an endeavour to discredit me. in the eyes of honorable senators. The subject of my alleged association with various companies was raised in this chamber eleven or twelve years ago, when the affairs of the National Tobacco Company were under discussion. During the debate, it was said that I was a director of that company. As a matter of fact, I had relinquished my directorate of that company immediately after my return from England some years before. I have never made a secret of my associations with business undertakings. I have no desire to engage in a vendetta with Senator Crawford. I regret the unseemly and unwarranted attack launched upon me by the honorable senator to-night. I appeal to him to get out of his mind the belief that I bear him ill-will.

Senator CRAWFORD:

– I am prepared to get out of the Senate.

Senator FOLL:

– On numerous occasions I have endeavoured to make peace bet-ween us.

Senator CRAWFORD:

– Will the Minister furnish the figures of the last Senate election?

Senator FOLL:

– The first I saw of those figures was when I read the anonymous letter dated the 19th October, 1940, which the honorable senator sent to the Treasurer. On five different occasions, the people of Queensland entrusted the representation of that State to the honorable senator, myself and another honorable senator ; but I am sure they will not welcome displays of the kind that the Senate has been forced to witness to-night between two of their representatives. I trust that I have dealt fully with the various points raised by the honorable senator. My only regret is that the prestige of this august assembly should be jeopardized by such a regrettable incident as has taken place to-night.

Senator E B JOHNSTON:
Western Australia

– I congratulate the Government upon its action this evening in agreeing to the adjournment of the second-reading debate on the National Fitness Bill. I trust that it will adhere to that procedure in this chamber in the future even if, at times, it means keeping the House of Representatives waiting for the return of bills. The Senate must not continue to act merely as a rubber stamp, or a sausage machine, by putting through important measures immediately they are transmitted to this chamber. Honorable senators should be given sufficient time to study such measures in order that they can debate them intelligently. That procedure was followed in this chamber for a few months after the Minister for Supply and Development (Senator McLeay) was appointed Leader of the Senate, and it did much to improve the prestige of this chamber. I am glad to notice that the Government is again reverting to that procedure.

I draw the attention of the Minister representing the Postmaster-General to the urgent necessity for erecting a second telegraph line between Western Australia and South Australia. When the Minister for Supply and Development was PostmasterGeneral, he visited Western Australia and inquired into this proposal. I know that the postal authorities in Western Australia are most anxious that the additional line be provided. The Minister gave the matter sympathetic consideration. The work is estimated to cost £175,000, but such expenditure is amply justified, particularly in view of conditions caused by the war. In ordinary circumstances civilians find it most difficult to obtain telephonic communication with the eastern States, but under war conditions that difficulty is magnified many times, because the military authorities, (mite properly, have first call upon the existing line. Often these authorities utilize the line for hours at a time, and during that period civilian communications are held up. In view of the very sympathetic consideration which the Minister for Supply and Development gave to this proposal when he was Postmaster-General, I am extremely sorry that the work was not undertaken before he relinquished control of the Postal Department. I now ask him to bring the matter to the notice of his successor in order that his promise that the proposal would be urged upon the Government may be honoured. I understand that a second line will provide not merely a double telephonic and telegraphic service, but will also enable the present broadcasting service to be multiplied tenfold. I hope that this additional communication between Western Australia and the eastern States will be provided as soon as possible.

Debate interrupted.

page 678

DISTINGUISHED VISITOR

The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon J Cunningham:

– I wish to inform the Senate that the Hon. Joseph Bertram Sleeman, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, is within the precincts of the Senate. With the concurrence of honorable senators, I shall provide him with a seat on the floor of the Senate beside the President’s chair.

Honorable Senators. - Hear, hear!

Mr. Sleeman thereupon entered the chamber and was seated accordingly.

page 678

ADJOURNMENT

Debate resumed.

Senator KEANE:
Victoria

.- I bring to the notice of the Minister for Repatriation (Senator Collett) the case of a Victorian soldier, Harold F. Brockley, who met his death while a member of the Australian Imperial Force abroad. This man left behind him a wife and three children. I knew him personally to be reliable and decent. To my knowledge he was not addicted to any vice. While serving with the Australian Imperial Force in Egypt he was absent one night without leave. During the evening he became embroiled in an affray with some Arabs. He was wounded, and subsequently died from those wounds. When I made representations to the Repatriation Department for a war pension for his widow and children the chairman of the commission replied by letter on the 24th June last as follows : -

The death of this soldier resulted from a shooting affray in which he was involved whilst absent without leave from his unit. In the circumstances the commission, to comply with the law was obliged to reject the pension claim in accordance with that provision of the Australian Soldiers Repatriation Act which excludes a grant of pension where death or incapacity from any occurrence happening during the commission of any breach of discipline.

I realize that under the law as it exists at present a war pension cannot be granted to his family, but I suggest that certain features of the case call for special consideration. Were it not for the sacrifice which that man made in leaving his wife and children in order to serve his country as a soldier abroad, and the fact that he was on war service, he would not, in my opinion at any rate, have met with his death in such circumstances. The bald fact remains that this unfortunate woman is now left with three children. As an ex-soldier himself the Minister, and other honorable senators who have served in the field, know that not infrequently members of the forces absent themselves without leave. As men of the world they can readily realize that this man, when absent on the evening of his death, probably had a few shillings in his pocket and had a bit of a night out. His widow is known personally to me. At present, she is doing domestic work. She must now face the world with her three little ones. I repeat that I knew her husband to be a decent and courageous Australian. I hope that the Minister will be able, at least, to give to this unfortunate family a compassionate allowance. Such action will help to reassure our young men who enlist in the fighting services that the Government is prepared to face its responsibilities towards them, and in their day of trouble to stand by their dependants.

This afternoon I asked whether the Government would make a pronouncement along certain lines regarding the gold-mining industry. I point out that a number of mines are being worked successfully at Bendigo, although none of them is controlled by a limited liability company. The works programme of each mine depends entirely upon call money. Because the impression has got abroad that the Government is not very anxious about the maintenance of the gold-mining industry, many investors in these mines are responding very slowly with their call payments, with the result that the mines are finding it difficult to continue operations. Some of them have reached s highly productive stage. I ask the Government, therefore, to make a pronouncement that in the sifting of essential and non-essential industries the ^old-mining industry will not be unnecessarily restricted. The Government should also give the assurance that it considers this industry, which it has assisted over a period of many years, to be vital to the financial stability of this country.

Senator COLLETT:
Minister for Repatriation · Western Australia · UAP

– The case mentioned by Senator Keane seems to involve questions of both law and fact. The honorable senator has advanced a somewhat specious argument in support of his request that further consideration be given to the matter. I cannot admit the validity of his argument, but I shall be pleased to go thoroughly into the case. At this juncture I point out that all responsibility for a breach of discipline must rest upon the delinquent.

Senator AYLETT:
Tasmania

– I draw the attention of the Minister representing the Postmaster-General to a question which I asked recently. In reply I was asked for further information. I thought that the facts of the case were made known to the Leader of the Senate (Senator McLeay) when he was Postmaster-General, and that he would have passed on the information to his successor. Evidently he has not done so. The matter involves a violation by the Postmaster-General of his power under the National Security legislation insofar as he has failed to compensate a tenant whom his department pushed out on to the street. The answer which I received to my question was -

This is a hypothetical question, which is difficult to answer. If the honorable senator will give details of any specific case which he has in mind an endeavour will be made to secure information in regard to the matter.

I now propose to give such details. The case concerns the leasing by the Postal Department of a guest house on Flinders Island for the purpose of converting it into a post office. The officers who effected this transaction knew that the tenant was paying £1 a week for the building, but the department agreed to pay a rental of £2 5s. a week. I admit that under the new tenancy certain improvements are to be made, but they are not so extensive as to warrant an increase of the rent by 25s. a week. This guest house was not the only proposition put before the Government for the purpose of providing a post office on Flinders Island. Private enterprise on the island offered a block of land free to the Govern ment provided it erected a post office thereon. Alternatively those interests offered to erect a building to the plans and specifications of the department, and lease it to the department for use as a post office. The department turned down that offer. I cannot understand why. The only explanation given to me is that it was turned down “ for obvious reasons “. The department decided instead to rent this guest house. The man to whom I refer is a cripple and is unable to work. However, because he has not been judged to be totally incapacitated, he cannot obtain an invalid pension. In their patriotism, he and his wife invested their savings, amounting to £150, in war savings certificates. The balance of their money was invested in the purchase of a “drive yourself” car which is now of no use whatever. They were turned out of their home in order that the premises could be used as a post office. The last communication which I have received from the man indicates that the only place he and his wife have available to them to live in is a hut belonging to a friend. He has stored his furniture in a garage. Under the National Security Regulations the Government prohibits the increase of rentals without the authority of the Fair Rents Court, and the Postmaster-General’s Department should not have been allowed to violate those regulations by taking this place at 25s. a week more than the previous occupant was paying. In addition, it has turned out on to the street a crippled man who is not getting a pension, and has no other means of livelihood. It is up to the Government to make some recompense for the injustice it has done to these people. The man has a block of land and £150 in war savings certificates, which he will have to dispose of in order to live. If he can get sufficient capital ho will be prepared to have new premises built. He hopes to obtain some money by selling the car which has been left on his hands owing to petrol rationing, and if the Government will not do anything else, it should take over that car as it is taking over many other private motor vehicles, and thus provide this unfortunate man with a little money to carry on. The man’s name is Mr. Charles Gray. As I have said, he was conducting a guest house on Flinders Island, and either by back-door or by front-door methods, the premises were taken over by the Government for use as a post office despite the fact that other buildings which would have satisfied the requirements of the department and the people were available.

Another matter with which I wish to deal concerns members of the first Australian Imperial Force who are engaged on military service to-day. I have here a letter from a soldier of the last war who has been serving a military camp as an instructor. He is only a young man, and, so far as I can see, is very capable. He has been forced to leave the camp because of the distance which he has to travel in order to reach his home occasionally on week-ends. In the camp to which I am referring, there are 30 of. these instructor officers. At week-ends, a large majority of the men leave the camp and only a few officers are required to supervise those who are left. Some of these instructors have other callings to attend to. Naturally, they cannot live on the remuneration paid to them by the military authorities, particularly if they have families, and it is necessary for them to get home occasionally at week-ends. If they cannot do that, they find themselves unable to continue their work in camp and, in many cases, they have to return to civil life. In the case with which I am now dealing petrol rationing made it impossible for this officer to reach his home as he had done in the past, and he applied for transfer to a camp which is only a few miles from his home. The reply read -

Reference your letter dated Jun« 14th, kindly note that married men with more than three children under sixteen years of age cannot be enlisted for military service. Your certificate of discharge (12th Training Battalion) is returned herewith.

Nation-wide appeals are being made for young men to enlist either for overseas service or for service in the home defence forces, yet this man, who went through the last war, and who has been for several months an instructor in a camp, is discharged from the military forces, because he has three children under the age of sixteen years. He is a comparatively young man of the right type and his experience should make him valuable in a camp as an instructor. I should like to know whether the regulations relating to the enlistment of married men with families are as had been stated in the letter received by this man. If not, when I receive the Minister’s reply I shall take the matter farther in this chamber, and perhaps give my opinion as to why this man has not been allowed to remain in the service. If men are being turned down in that way I fail to see any justification for the hue and cry now being made for recruits for overseas service and for home defence. I also fail to see any reason for an appeal to young men to join up and be trained as officers, when this man who has undergone that training has been discharged.

Senator FRASER:
Western Australia

– There is a matter concerning the three services which I should like brought under the notice of the Minister representing the Minister for Defence Co-ordination (Mr. Menzies). Some time ago it was represented to me that a number of. men with mining experience were joining the services, and mining concerns were fearful of the consequences which would result from the engagement of unqualified men on the gold-fields. I interviewed General Durrant on this matter and inquired whether the military authorities had power to refuse to accept such men in the forces. General Durrant indicated to me that the list of reserved occupations was not sufficiently comprehensive to cover these men in the gold-mining industry, and consequently, they could not be prevented from joining up. An officer was sent to Kalgoorlie to interview the members of the Chamber of Mines, and to obtain from that organization some idea of how enlistments were affecting the mining industry. I understand that the Chamber of Mines asked the Government to review the position, and I should like to know what action, if any, the Government has taken. This is a serious matter in view of the danger which may be caused by the employment in mines of inexperienced workmen. If no action has been taken, I ask that the matter be regarded as urgent and given immediate attention. As I said, I approached General Durrant on this matter. He seemed to me to be a very capable and approachable officer. I regret that he has now been transferred to Queensland; he knows the facts of the case which I am putting up.

Senator DARCEY:
Tasmania

– From time to time statements are made to us by Ministers regarding the development of war industries in the various States. For some time there was a great deal of jealousy between New South Wales and Victoria in regard to the letting of contracts. In fact, I heard it stated in Sydney that it was time that New South Wales got into this Victorian war. However, I should like to bring to the notice of the Government the neglect of Tasmania in regard to war industries. We have no major war undertakings whatever, and in addition we have lost a great number of men, and some women, to the mainland. Some months ago, a promise was given that a munition factory would he established in Tasmania, and I should like to know how far that project has proceeded. Tasmania’s position is serious indeed. It is not an industrial State and; therefore, we cannot suggest to the Government that premises already in existence be taken over and converted into war work. However, something should be done for the people in that State. Apart from that aspect of the matter, Tasmania has no defence system whatever, and the war position is rapidly becoming worse. For a long time it was impossible even to get an aeroplane for training purposes, and I do not think that there is even one antiaircraft gun on the island. Yet military authorities state that should an enemy come to our shores, the first objective would be Tasmania, which would he used as a hopping off place for an attack on the mainland. Tasmania has a claim to military protection and is also entitled to a share in the war industries. Can the Minister for Munitions (Senator McBride) furnish any information regarding the establishment of a munitions factory in Tasmania? I understand that annexes have been built at the railway stations at Launceston and Hobart, but, so far as I am aware, no contracts are being undertaken . there. Tasmania is the smallest State of the Commonwealth, and, perhaps, for that reason, is looked upon as the least important of the States, but I remind the Senate that it has produced some distinguished politicians. A few years ago, when I was visiting north Queensland, one of my friends there said that they heard very little of Tasmania in that part of Australia. I replied, “ Well, the present Prime Minister of Australia is a Tasmanian, the President of the Senate is a Tasmanian and the Commonwealth Statistician is a Tasmanian.” At one time, a royal commission was appointed in Tasmania to investigate the reason why 16 per cent, of the population of that State migrated to the mainland States. Prior to the inception of Federation, Tasmania managed to keep out of debt, but since then it has experienced very difficult times financially. I hope that the Government will take into consideration the establishment of factories in Tasmania to enable it to share in the work done in war industries.

Senator McBRIDE:
South AustraliaMinister for Munitions · UAP

– Senator Courtice has inquired regarding the policy of the Government with respect to power alcohol. I suggest that the Government’s attitude in that regard was illustrated by the fact that’ it deemed the production of motor spirit in Australia to be of such importance that it has encouraged the manufacture of spirit of several kinds in order to relieve the petrol shortage due to the war. Knowing the possibilities with regard to power alcohol, the Government appointed a committee some months ago to investigate the matter and report upon it. As the honorable senator said, the committee made a careful investigation of the whole field in Queensland and in the other States, and presented to the Government a comprehensive report. Briefly stated, the recommendations of the committee were that the total production of power alcohol in Australia should he stepped up from its present low level of from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 gallons a year to 52,000,000 gallons a year. It was pointed out that, in order to do this, certain commodities would have to be distilled, and those recommended were sugar and wheat. It was also recognized that power alcohol could not be distilled commercially in competition with petrol and several other forms of spirit that are now being produced in Australia, but it was pointed out that its production would not only help the motor industry, but would also assist in utilizing a certain proportion of our primary produce which is at present difficult to ship overseas. The Government carefully considered the report presented to it, and has decided to step up immediately the production of power alcohol at the distilleries at Sarina, Pyrmont and Yarraville from 2,000,000 gallons to 7,000,000 gallons a year. It has also decided to erect further distilleries capable of producing 10,000,000 gallons of power alcohol a year, and it has suggested that the raw material to be used shall be wheat. A further examination is being made of the possibility of producing rectified spirit, or 95 per cent, spirit, in the various distilleries in the Murray Valley. It is expected that with a slight expenditure it will be possible to step up their production to a total of 5,000,000 gallons C rectified spirit a year. This means that the Government has decided immediately to put in hand the expansion of power alcohol production in this country until the total output reaches 22,000,000 gallons a year. Whilst I agree that that does not completely implement the recommendations of the committee, I think that honorable senators will recognize that the Government has taken a step in the right direction. I call the attention of honorable senators to the fact that, whilst this production will be extremely useful to Australia, particularly in a time of petrol shortage such as that now being experienced, the committee itself- suggested that a period of two years would elapse before the output which it recommended could be obtained.

In order to supplement the petrol supply further, the Government is also supporting financially and in other ways National Oil Proprietary Limited, which is engaged in the production of petrol from shale. Although difficulty has been encountered in connexion with that project, the Government is hopeful that before the end of this year, a substantial output of petrol will be obtained at Glen Davis. In addition, the Government has decided that the gas companies in the various cities of Australia shall produce benzol, and it is expected that within a reasonably short period about 8,000,000 gallons of benzol will be manufactured annually. It will thus be seen that the Government is not unmindful of the difficult position at present confronting Australia, and is taking action in the ways that I have indicated that will help the country in this time of need.

Senator Keane, in a question:

asked to-day, sought a statement setting out the wishes of the Government with regard to gold-mining. I indicated at the time that I would obtain from the Treasurer (Mr. Fadden) a considered statement of Government policy in this matter, but without referring to the Treasurer I can assure the honorable senator that the Government has not at any time lost sight of the value of gold production in Australia, and particularly at the present time when overseas exchange is a matter of great importance. Therefore, the Government places gold-mining in a very high order of priority, and would - do nothing to suggest that it does not wish gold production to continue. I can assure the honorable senator, that the Government will assist in every practicable way to maintain the present output of gold, and also to expand its production as far as possible.

Senator Darcey referred to the manufacture of. munitions in Tasmania. I announced some time ago that the Government had decided to establish a small arms ammunition factory in that State, and that the project was to have been started almost immediately, but, in view of the fact that Tasmania produces some essential war materials for gun ammunition, namely copper and zinc, the Government has now decided to establish a gun ammunition factory, together with a foundry and rolling mills, which will use the raw material produced in Tasmania, and convert it into brass and roll it into sheets for the production of gun ammunition cases. I can assure the honorable senator that that project is being put in hand almost at once, and the Government hopes that within a reasonable period, employment will be given to a considerable number of persons in Tasmania who are prepared to engage in the production of munitions.

I cannot tell the honorable senator precisely when the factory will be in operation, but every effort is being made to construct it, and to build the necessary machines. At the earliest possible opportunity it will afford employment to some of those Tasmanians, who, as the honorable senator has said, find difficulty in getting work in that State, and are being encouraged to seek employment as munition workers in other parts of the Commonwealth.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

page 683

PAPERS

The following papers were pre sented : -

Canned Fruits Export Control Act - Regulations Statutory Rules 1941, No. 108.

National Security Act–

Butter and Cheese Acquisition Regulations - Order - Acquisition of Cheese.

National Security (Rabbit Skins) Regulations - Order - Returns.

Rabbit Skins Export Charges Act - RegulationsStatutory Rules 1941, No. 107.

Seat of Government Acceptance Act and Seat of Government (Administration) Act-

Regulations - 1941 -No. 3 (Building and Services Ordinance).

War Service Homes Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1941, No. 142.

Senate adjourned at 10.11 p.m.

Cite as: Australia, Senate, Debates, 2 July 1941, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/senate/1941/19410702_senate_16_167/>.

View PDF View XML View in Voyant

Senate 2 July 1941

QUESTION

AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION

Senator ARMSTRONG:NEW SOUTH WALES

Senator LECKIE:Minister Assisting the Minister for Munitions · VICTORIA · UAP

QUESTION

LAKES ENTRANCE OIL DEPOSIT

Senator KEANE:VICTORIA

Senator FOLL:Minister for the Interior · QUEENSLAND · UAP

QUESTION

WAR INDUSTRIES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Senator DARCEY:TASMANIA

Senator McLEAY:Vice-President of the Executive Council · SOUTH AUSTRALIA · UAP

QUESTION

GOLD-MINING INDUSTRY

Senator KEANE:

Senator McBRIDE:Minister for Munitions · SOUTH AUSTRALIA · UAP

QUESTION

SEMI-GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS

Senator ARMSTRONG:

Senator McLEAY:UAP

QUESTION

MARKETING OF BLUE PEAS

Senator LAMP:TASMANIA

Senator McBRIDE:UAP

QUESTION

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE

Senator BROWN:QUEENSLAND

Senator FOLL:UAP

QUESTION

MUNITION PRODUCTION

Senator CAMERON:VICTORIA

Senator McBRIDE:UAP

RUSSIA

Radio Broadcasts

Senator FOLL:UAP

Senator Lamp:

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION

Ministerial Statement

Senator FOLL:Minister for Information · Queensland · UAP

Senator Gibson:

Senator FOLL:

Senator A J McLACHLAN:SOUTH AUSTRALIA · NAT

Senator FOLL:

Senator Gibson:

Senator FOLL:

Senator BROWN:

Senator FOLL:

Senator Gibson:

Senator FOLL:

DEPUTY LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Senator COLLINGS:QueenslandLeader of the Opposition

SUPERPHOSPHATE INDUSTRY

Senator LECKIE:Minister for Aircraft Production · Victoria · UAP

Senator Gibson:

Senator LECKIE:

Senator Fraser:

Senator LECKIE:

Senator Fraser:

Senator LECKIE:

Senator A J McLACHLAN:SOUTH AUSTRALIA · NAT

Senator LECKIE:

Senator Cameron:

Senator LECKIE:

Senator GIBSON:Victoria

Senator Leckie:

Senator GIBSON:

Senator DARCEY:Tasmania

Senator CLOTHIER:Western Australia

Senator AYLETT:Tasmania

Senator Gibson:

Senator AYLETT:

Senator Gibson:

Senator AYLETT:

Senator Leckie:

Senator AYLETT:

Senator Leckie:

Senator AYLETT:

Senator Leckie:

Senator AYLETT:

Senate
2 July 1941

Senator ARMSTRONG:
NEW SOUTH WALES

Senator LECKIE:
Minister Assisting the Minister for Munitions · VICTORIA · UAP

Senator KEANE:
VICTORIA

Senator FOLL:
Minister for the Interior · QUEENSLAND · UAP

Senator DARCEY:
TASMANIA

Senator McLEAY:
Vice-President of the Executive Council · SOUTH AUSTRALIA · UAP

Senator McBRIDE:
Minister for Munitions · SOUTH AUSTRALIA · UAP

Senator McLEAY:
UAP

Senator LAMP:
TASMANIA

Senator McBRIDE:
UAP

Senator BROWN:
QUEENSLAND

Senator FOLL:
UAP

Senator CAMERON:
VICTORIA

Senator McBRIDE:
UAP

Senator FOLL:
UAP

Senator FOLL:
Minister for Information · Queensland · UAP

Senator A J McLACHLAN:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA · NAT

Senator COLLINGS:
QueenslandLeader of the Opposition

Senator LECKIE:
Minister for Aircraft Production · Victoria · UAP

Senator A J McLACHLAN:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA · NAT

Senator GIBSON:
Victoria

Senator DARCEY:
Tasmania

Senator CLOTHIER:
Western Australia

Senator AYLETT:
Tasmania

Senator CAMERON:
Victoria

Senator E B JOHNSTON:
Western Australia

Senator FRASER:
Western Australia