20th Parliament · 1st Session
The Senate met at 3 p.m.
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The Deputy appointed by His Excellency the Governor-General, the Honorable Sir William Flood Webb, Knight Bachelor, a Justice of the High Court of Australia, having been announced by the Usher of the Black Rod, entered the chamber, and, taking his seat on the dais, said -
Membersof the Senate:
His Excellency the Governor-General, not thinking fit to be present in person at this time, has been pleased to cause letters patent to issue under the Great Seal of the Commonwealth constituting me his Deputy to administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance to honorable senators, as will more fully appear from the letters patent which will now be read.
The letters patent having been read by the Clerk,
The Clerk produced and laid on the table the certificates of election for the following members elected on the 9th May, 1953:-
Alister Maxwell McMullin.
Kenneth McColl Anderson.
Donald MacLennan Grant.
Justin O’Byrne.
Ivy EvelynWedgwood.
MalcolmFox Scott.
The above-named senators, with the exceptionof Senators Toohey and O’Byrne, who were not present, made and subscribed the oath of allegiance.
The Deputy having retired,
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– Mr. Clerk of the Senate (Mr. Edwards), I remind the Senate that the time has come when it is necessary for it to choose one of its members to be President. I move -
That Senator Alister Maxwell McMullin do take the chair of this Senate as President.
– I second the motion.
– I submit myself to the will of the Senate.
– I move -
That Senator Theophilus Martin Nicholls do take the chair of this Senate as President.
I submit that motion for two main reasons. The first concerns the personal attributes of Senator Nicholls. As nearly every member of this chamber knows, Senator Nicholls was Chairman of Committees of the Senate for a period of more than five years. During that time, of course, he officiated on many occasions as Deputy President, and to those who witnessed his performance both as Chairman of Committees and as Deputy President, no further commendation is needed. His extraordinary memory, his wide knowledge of the Standing Orders, his impartiality, firmness, and tact, were all abundantly evident. Therefore, on that personal ground, it is with very great confidence that I commend Senator Nicholls to honorable senators as their President. There is a further broad con sideration that encourages me to propose Senator Nicholls for this office. At the recent periodic Senate election, the people of Australia intimated that had they been given an opportunity to elect the whole of the Senate, the Australian Labour party would unquestionably have had a majority in this chamber to-day. By about 330,000 votes over all, and in five States out of six, the electors showed a decided preference for Labour party candidates. While I do not put that to the Senate as the sole reason or even as a reason at all for electing Senator Nicholls, I repeat that the facts that I have just recounted encourage me at least to nominate Senator Nicholls. I have sufficient faith in the democratic outlook of honorable senators to believe that in choosing their President they will have some regard for the democratically expressed will of the people. I rest my main commendation of Senator Nicholls on his individual work as already amply demonstrated by him in this chamber.
– I second the motion.
– I submit myself to the will of the Senate.
Senator O’SULLIVAN (QueenslandMinister for Trade and Customs). - It is very comforting and consoling to those of us who are fond of the Leader of the Opposition (Senator McKenna), to learn that he derives solace from such an arid source as the last Senate election. We are all fully aware of Senator Nicholls’s personal qualities and I am quite sure that if he will observe the behaviour and deportment of Senator McMullin during the next six or seven years he will then be better qualified than he is now to occupy the distinguished office of President of the Senate.
– There being no other nominations, in accordance with Standing Order 20 a ballot shall be taken, and the Senate will proceed to ballot. Ballotpapers will be distributed to honorable senators, each of whom will write upon the paper handed to him the name of the candidate for whom he desires to vote.
A ballot having been taken,
– I have to announce the result of the ballot as follows: - Senator McMullin, 31 votes; Senator Nicholls, 27 votes. I therefore declare Senator McMullin elected President of the Senate.
Senator McMULLIN, having been conducted to the dais, said -
I am deeply conscious of the responsibilities that go with the high office to which the Senate has elected nae. I remember the names of many honorable senators who have occupied this position in the past, and I trust that during the years I am associated with you I shall do as they did, and see that justice is done in this chamber. I am most appreciative of the co-operation and assistance that Senator Mattner has already given to me and has offered to give to me in the future, and shall be pleased to avail myself of it, following his valuable experience in this chair.
I ask that you bear with me in my early days in the chair. However, I am confident that, with your co-operation, the high standards of impartiality and justice set by my predecessors will be maintained and that we shall all have cause to be satisfied with the work that we do for our country.
Senator O’SULLIVAN (QueenslandMinister for Trade and Customs). - May I, Mr. President, on my own behalf and that of my colleagues, offer you our very cordial congratulations upon your elevation to the distinguished position of President of the Senate. As you have so rightly said, that chair has been occupied, right down to the most recent occupant, by men whose names are now enshrined in the history of this Parliament. I think that the time is appropriate for me to express, on behalf of honorable senators, our deep appreciation of the splendid service rendered to the Senate by your predecessor, Senator Mattner. I am sure, Mr. President, that, having regard to the qualities that you have already shown in such abundance, you will add still further lustre to an already distinguished post. I am also sure that justice will be unsullied at your hands and that neither the Government nor the Opposition will have occasion to regret the choice which the Senate has made to-day.
– On behalf of the Opposition in this chamber,
I tender to you, Mr. President, heartiest congratulations upon the high honour which the Senate has seen fit to confer on you. As you realize, you have assumed a very responsible office in the Parliament. It is one which demands uprightness, courage, tact, knowledge, impartiality and, above all, I am sure you will appreciate from your observations, a very broad common sense. Prom our knowledge of you as an honorable senator in this chamber we are confident that you will not be wanting in all those qualities. We are also confident that you will live up to the fine traditions that have been established by your many illustrious predecessors, amongst whom I name particularly Senator Mattner, who vacated office only yesterday, following the periodical Senate election.
I assure you that your request for co-operation from the Senate will fall upon very ready ears so far as the Opposition is concerned. I now offer you, very sincerely, the fullest co-operation of myself and my colleagues in the heavy duties that lie ahead of you. We look forward with kindly and sympathetic interest to your occupancy of the chair.
– May I offer you, Mr. President, my sincere good wishes on your election to this high office. As President, you will find that your duties will include a great deal of work besides that of presiding over this chamber. During the two years of my occupancy of the President’s chair I endeavoured to serve this chamber to the best of my ability, and in the performance of my duties I was fortified by the excellent examples which had been set by my predecessors. .Without being egotistical, I believe that I vacate the office of President of the Senate with the friendship of honorable senators, not only on this side of the chamber but also on the Opposition side. I express the hope, Mr. President, that you will be as fortunate as I have been in receiving the support of Her Majesty’s Opposition, and I wish you well.
Senator O’SULLIVAN (QueenslandMinister for Tr.ade and Customs). - I desire to acquaint honorable senators that His Excellency the Governor-General will be pleased to receive Mr. President, and such honorable senators as desire to accompany him, at 4.15 p.m. this day at Government House.
– I invite honorable senators to accompany me to Government House, where I shall present myself to His Excellency the GovernorGeneral as the choice of the Senate.
Sitting suspended from3.44 to 5.15 p.m.
– I have to report that, accompanied by honorable senators, I, this day, presented myself to the Governor-General as the person chosen by the Senate as its President. His Excellency was pleased to congratulate me upon my election.
The President read prayers.
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Motion (by Senator O’Sullivan) agreed to -
That the Senate do now proceed to elect a Chairman of Committees.
. -I move -
That Senator Albert David Reid be appointed Chairman of Committees.
– I second the motion.
– I submit myself to the will of the Senate.
– I move -
That Senator James Mackintosh Fraser be appointed Chairman of Committees.
– I second the motion.
– I submit myself to the will of the Senate.
The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. A. M. McMullin). - There being two nominations, the Senate will proceed to ballot.
A ballot having been taken,
– The result of the ballot is : Senator Reid, 30 votes; Senator Eraser, 28 votes. I declare Senator Reid elected.
Senator O’SULLIVAN (QueenslandMinister for Trade and Customs). - On behalf of my colleagues and myself, I offer cordial congratulations to Senator Reid. The position to which he has just been elected by the Senate is one of immense responsibility.; but it was evident, while he was acting as Chairman of Committees and, on occasions, as President, that he possessed the character and qualities required for this very responsible position, and I am sure that he will uphold its best traditions. At this time, it is appropriate to offer our thanks and to express our appreciation to Senator George Rankin for the services which he rendered to the Senate during the period he occupied with such capacity and distinction the position of Chairman of Committees. I trust that Senator Reid will long be here to give to the Senate the benefit of his experience in his capacity as Chairman of Committees.
Senator McKENNA (TasmaniaLeader of the Opposition) - I join with the Minister for Trade and Customs in very readily conveying to Senator Reid the congratulations of all honorable senators on this side of the chamber upon his appointment as Chairman of Committees. As the Minister indicated, Senator Reid is already no stranger to honorable senators in that capacity, and all I need to say to Senator Reid, through you, Mr. President, is that if he carries on in the future as he has done in the past he will continue to enjoy the confidence and co-operation of members of the Opposition in the Senate. I formally proffer to him that co-operation in the carrying out of the onerous duties of his very important office. I also endorse the remarks of the Minister for Trade and Customs regarding the former occupant of the office, Senator George Rankin. We, of the Opposition, regret the passage of his friendly presence from the chair. Every honorable senator on this side of the chamber has great respect and affection for him. I have no doubt that he will facilitate the smooth passage of his successor into the chair and co-operate with him in ensuring the efficient conduct of the duties of the office. I heartily congratulate Senator Reid on his appointment.
– I express ray thanks to the Senate for the confidence it has reposed in me in having elected me to the office of Chairman of Committees. i thank the Minister for Trade and Customs (Senator O’sullivan) and Senator McKenna for their expressions of goodwill to me and, in particular, the offer of co-operation, that the Leader of the Opposition has extended to me. Realizing my frailties, i accept that offer to the full. i shall need the fullest co-operation of all honorable senators in my endeavours to give to honorable senators the fair deal to which, irrespective of the side of the chamber on which they sit, they are entitled. When I eventually vacate the office I trust that I shall not leave it with a feeling that i have in any way exhibited bias against any honorable senator. I shall endeavour at all times to give decisions having only one thought in mind, namely, that this is a free chamber in which every honorable senator is entitled to reasonable and decent consideration.
– I thank the Minister for Trade and Customs (Senator O’sullivan) and the Leader of the Opposition (Senator McKenna) for their kindly and friendly remarks in relation to me and .to my candidacy for the position of Chairman of Committees. death of the honorable allan mckenzie mcdonald, m.p.
Senator O’SULLIVAN (QueenslandMinister for Trade and Customs). - by leave - Honorable senators will have heard with deep regret of the death of a member of this Parliament, the Honorable Allan McKenzie McDonald, a member of the House of Representatives. The late Mr. McDonald died in his home State, Victoria, on the 10th June last. He had had a lengthy parliamentary career. He first entered the State Parliament of Victoria in 1933 after having been elected to represent the division of Polwarth; which he represented until 1940, when he was elected to the House of Representatives for the division of Corangamite, which he represented with distinction up to the time of his death.
The late honorable gentleman was Minister for External Territories from-.June, 1941, to October,. 1941, and he was Minister assisting the Minister for thiInterior during the same period. He wasa member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Repatriation from September, 1942, to January, 1943, and also a member of the Joint Committee: on War Gratuity in 1944-45 and 1948-49, He was Opposition Whip in the House of Representatives from November, 1948, to October, 1949, and Temporary Chairman of Committees from March, 1930. He was a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works from June, 1951, to the time of his death and also a member of the Privileges Committee from March, 1950.
The late Mr. McDonald served with the 14th Battalion in France during th<i 1914-18 war. He was wounded at the battle of Bullecourt, in April, 1917. Such, Mr. President, is a brief, factual statement on the public, life and career of one of our departed comrades. But that does not sufficiently describe the deep affection which his very attractive personality engendered among those with whom he came in contact. He will be sadly missed, not only by his party colleagues, but also by every one with whom he came in con- tact, regardless of political affiliations. I move -
That the Senate expresses its deep regret at the death of the Honorable Allan McKenzie McDonald, former Commonwealth Minister and member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Corangamite, places on record its appreciation of his long and meritorious public service, and tenders its sincere sympathy to his widow and the members of his family in their bereavement.
Senator McKENNA (TasmaniaLeader of the Opposition). - I second the motion on behalf of the Opposition. We feel that the premature passing of Allan McDonald is a tragic loss both to the Parliament and to the nation. He was well known to everybody on this side of the chamber, and was highly regarded by us all. His outstanding characteristics were, above .ali, his manliness and his frankness. We respected him and liked him for those qualities, and for the natural courage that was quite obviously his. We extend to his bereaved family and to his former colleagues of the
Liberal party, our very deep and sincere regard on the passing of an illustrious and fine man.
– I wish to associate myself with the motion. Allan McDonald was a great personal friend of mine for many years. . I served with him in the House of Representatives for about twelve years, and worked with him also on committees, including the Public Works Committee. In both public and private life he was a grand man - a man whom Australia could ill afford to lose. As a soldier his record was unblemished. We loved him, and we shall miss him very greatly.
Question resolved in the affirmative, honorable senators standing in their places.
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– by leave - It is with deep regret that I have to announce to the Senate the death on the 13th July last of a member of the House, ofRepresentatives of this Parliament, Mr. Daniel Mulcahy. Mr. Mulcahy was elected to the House of Representatives for the Division of Lang, New South Wales, in 1934 and represented that division until the time of his death, a period of nearly twenty years. He was. a member of the War Expenditure Committee from J uly, 1941, to July, 1943, and a member of the Public Works Committee from February, 1943, to August, 1946. He was a Temporary Chairman of Committees from October, 1943, to October, 1949. Those of us to whom Daniel Mulcahy was a familiar figure will sadly miss that pleasant brogue, and the graceful, charming personality, which was a feature of this Parliament during his association with it. His friends, I am sure, will miss him greatly. I move -
That the Senate expresses its deep regret at the death of Mr. Daniel Mulcahy, member of the House of Representatives for the division of Lang, places on record its appreciation of his meritorious public service and tenders its sincere sympathy to the members of his family in their bereavement.
– On behalf of the Opposition, I second the motion. Mr. Daniel Mulcahy served both his party and his country honorably and well. Those who knew him regarded him as the quintessence of courtesy, kindliness and generosity. We are greatly grieved at what is to each of us who knew Daniel Mulcahy a severe personal loss. He, himself, grieved very deeply over the recent passing of his distinguished colleague and friend, Mr. J. S. Rosevear, and as it happened, was not long in joining him. This Parliament, I feel, could ill afford to lose a man of the calibre of Daniel Mulcahy. The enormous and very representative crowds which were present at the funeral service in Sydney, and at the graveside by the Pacific Ocean, were wonderful testimonies to the regard and esteem in which the late Daniel Mulcahy was held throughout the community. We of the Labour party extend to his bereaved family our very deep regret; and we extend that regret also to the electors of Lang who revered and respected him.
Question resolved in the affirmative, honorable senators standing in their places.
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Motion (by Senator O’Sullivan) agreed to -
That, as a mark of respect to the memory of the late honorable members, the Senate do now adjourn.
Senate adjourned at 5.43 p.m.
Cite as: Australia, Senate, Debates, 8 September 1953, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/senate/1953/19530908_senate_20_s1/>.