House of Representatives
5 December 1901

1^st Parliament · 1^st Session

ERSKINEVILLE POST-OFFICE
QUESTION
- PREFERENTIAL RAILWAY RATES
CUSTOMS REVENUE
QUESTION
- CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
QUESTION
- AD VALOREM DUTIES
QUESTION
- DUTY ON PACKET TEA
PERSONAL EXPLANATION
QUESTION
- INCREMENTS OF TRANSFERRED OFFICERS
QUESTION
- CUSTOMS AND EXCISE RETURNS
QUESTION
- POST-OFFICE OFFICIALS
QUESTION
- THE TARIFF
ADJOURNMENT
- Friday Sittings

Mr. Speaker took the choir at 2.30 p.m., and read prayers.

page 8323

ERSKINEVILLE POST-OFFICE

Mr. G. B. EDWARDS presented a petition from certain residents of Erskineville against the closing of theErskineville Post-office.

Petition received, and read.

page 8323

QUESTION

PREFERENTIAL RAILWAY RATES

Mr THOMAS:
BARRIER, NEW SOUTH WALES

– I should like to know from the Minister for Home Affairs what communication he has had with the State Governments in regard to the abolition of preferential railway rates?

Sir WILLIAM LYNE:
Minister for Home Affairs · HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · Protectionist

– I have addressed letters to the Ministers who are charged with the control of the railways in the various States, directing their attention to the question which was asked upon this subject in the House, and asking if it is intended to hold a conference, or to take other action, with a view to doing away with the state of things to which exception has been taken.

Mr Thomas:

– Has the honorable gentleman received an answer?

Sir WILLIAM LYNE:

– Not yet. There has not been time.

Mr KIRWAN:
KALGOORLIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA · FT

– As the Minister is aware, in Western Australia commodities such as coal and timber obtained in the State are carried at much lower rates on the State railways than imported coal and timber. Will his inquiries on the subject of the abolition of preferential rates extend’ to Western Australia?

Sir WILLIAM LYNE:

– The honorable member has already been kind enough to give me someinformation on this subject, and

I have instructed one ofmy officers to ascertain from the Western Australian Railways Commissioners what their rates are. Inquiry will afterwards be made as to the intention of the Western Australian authorities on this matter, but as the Western Australian railway system does not join with that of any of the other States, I have not addressed to the Minister for Railways there a letter similar to those addressed to the Ministers for Railways in the other States.

page 8324

CUSTOMS REVENUE

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– I wish to know from the Treasurer when he will be prepared to supply honorable members with a detailed return of the Customs revenue obtained during the months of October and November. I think that the information should be supplied as early as possible.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:
Treasurer · BALACLAVA, VICTORIA · Protectionist

– The Government are anxious to give the House the fullest information upon this subject, but the honorable member must realize the great difficulty in obtaining detailed information f rom the various States in regard to the operation of a new Tariff. A week or ten days ago I asked the Minister for Trade and Customs to let me know upon a Treasury form, which divides the sources of revenue into fifteen or sixteen heads, what amount of Customs revenue has been obtained from the various States, and I hope to get that information in a few days. When I receive it I shall place it at the disposal of honorable members. I have received a promise from the Minister that in future this information will be supplied to me on the second or third of the month, and I shall then be glad to make it public for the information of the House.

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– Cannot the Treasurer give us some idea of the amount received from the various items on the Tariff?

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

– I think that is impossible, but we shall give the fullest information we can.

page 8324

QUESTION

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

PERSONAL EXPLANATION

Mr PIESSE:
Tasmania

– As a matter of personal explanation, I desire to direct attention to a press report, in which it is made to appear that I paired in favour of a duty of 25 per cent. being imposed on apparel not containing wool or silk. That is an error. The understanding under which I left the House was that I was prepared to vote in favour of the 20 per cent. duty as originally proposed. There was a proposal to increase the duty to 25 per cent., but I was not in favour of more than 20 per cent. on any article included in either group of item 57, as was well known to several honorable members.

Mr KNOX:
Kooyong

– I understand that my honorable friend is referring to the last division which took place last night, in which case it will be understood that my vote would have been recorded, as indicated in the pair-book, namely, with the Opposition.

Sir MALCOLM McEACHARN:
Melbourne

– As a matter of personal explanation, it is reported in the press that yesterday I was paired with the right honorable member for Tasmania, Sir Edward Braddon. My name also appearsin the list of those who voted, but the name of Sir Edward Braddon does not. I had made arrangements with the honorable and learned member for Bendigo, Sir John Quick, to pair with the right honorable member, Sir Edward Braddon, and an entry was made in the pair -book accordingly ; but in the press it appears as if I had voted after having paired with therighthonorablemember, Sir Edward Braddon. I should be glad if some arrangement could be made to insure the correct publication of these pairs in the press.

Mr. A. MACKENZIE.

Mr MAHON:
COOLGARDIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

asked the Minister representing the Postmaster-General, upon notice -

Whether there is any objection to laying on the table of this House the papers in the case of A. Mackenzie, lately supervisor of telegraph construction in Western Australia?

Sir PHILIP FYSH:
Minister (without portfolio) · TASMANIA, TASMANIA · Free Trade

– The answer to the honorable member’s question is as follows : -

There is no objection, and the papers will be laid upon the table as soon as they can be prepared.

page 8325

QUESTION

INCREMENTS OF TRANSFERRED OFFICERS

Mr JOSEPH COOK:
PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice -

Whether he has yet arrived at a decision regarding the question of the incrementsof transferred officers?

Mr BARTON:
Minister for External Affairs · HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES · Protectionist

– Communications are in progress on this subject, and a decision will be arrived at as soon as possible.

page 8325

QUESTION

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE RETURNS

Mr MAHON:

– In asking the Treasurer, upon notice -

Whether there is any objection to make available to members of this House the details of the customs and excise collections in Western Australia during the months of October and November, 1901 ?

I should like to point out that, although the Treasurer says he intends to give details of the revenue under sixteen headings, that is hardly sufficient ; and, judging by the details of the revenue published by the Western Australian Government, it should be quite possible for the right honorable gentleman to give us the information under about 75 headings.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:
Protectionist

– I donotknow what the practice is in Western Australia ; but if they publish the information there in the way the honorable member indicates, it will be easily available.

Mr Mahon:

– I have only seen the returns for October.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

– As far as I know it would be impossible to furnish details of each item mentioned in the Tariff. I have stated already that we are prepared to give the fullest information we can. We have a particular form in which we get the information for our own requirements on the second of the month, but it would be impossible to break it up into details relating to every item in the Tariff. We have forms dealing with fixed rates, and other forms relating to ad valorem duties ; but I will ask my colleague, the Minister for Trade and Customs, to communicate with his officers, and procure the fullest information he can for the benefit of honorable members.

page 8325

QUESTION

POST-OFFICE OFFICIALS

Mr FULLER:
ILLAWARRA, NEW SOUTH WALES

asked the Minister reprepresenting the Postmaster-General, upon notice -

Referring to the answer given by him on 12th June last, that consideration of the appeals which had been lodged against the regrading of the department by the Public Service Board had been concluded, and that the determination would be made known when necessary funds had been voted, is it the intention of the Federal Government to adopt the recommendation made in connexion with the appeals ; if so, under what heading is it proposed to ask Parliament for necessary funds?
If it has been decided not to uphold the recommendation, what is the reason ; and how will such a decision affect the officers concerned with regard to preserving their existing and accruing rights (vide Constitution Act), one of which was the right of appealing against any grading or regrading of a department(videNo. 54 of Regulations under the New South Wales Public Service Act of 1895) ?

Sir PHILIP FYSH:
Free Trade

– The answer to the honorable member’s questions is as follows : -

As the appeals which have been lodged apply to a period dating back to the 1st of July, 1900, that is, eight months before the department was transferred from the State to the Commonwealth, funds necessary to meet those appeals cannot be provided without the concurrence of the Government of the State of New South Wales, and that Government is now being communicated with on the subject.

page 8326

QUESTION

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

– They may be felt, but they are not often seen.

Mr MAHON:
Coolgardie

– I move -

Mr Piesse:

– For revenue.

Mr MAHON:

– They already contribute to the revenue through every article which they use, and the honorable member does not propose to give them any compensation under this Tariff. I would further point out that in 1899 South Australia imported £13,428 worth of blankets and rugs, Queensland £22,657 worth, New South Wales £63,556 worth, and Victoria £24,597 worth.

Mr.Kingston. - The honorable member has taken the gross imports.

Mr MAHON:

– I have taken the figures supplied by me from the Library. At any rate a duty of 10 per cent., after making all the allowances which the right honorable gentleman would wish to be made, would yield about £13,000 annually. But I submit that blankets are an article of common use, and that in a very severe climate like that of Victoria, it would be a gross wrong to the poorer class to tax them so heavily. Once more I enter my protest against the practice of this Government in burdening at every point the pioneers who are opening up this country, without giving them any compensating advantage.

Mr McCAY:
Corinella

– I must confess to some surprise at finding an amendment in favour of reducing this duty to 1 0 per cent. moved by any honorable member of this committee. It is well within the recollection of all,that only a few hours ago we had a long debate, and a series of divisions, with respect to woollen piece goods, which resulted in the fixing of a duty upon those articles of 15 per cent. It seems to me that blankets and woollen piece goods stand upon precisely the same footing. If an honorable member upon the other side of the Chamber had urged that as a consequence of the action of the committee in respect of woollen piece goods the duty upon blankets should be reduced to 15 per cent., I should not have been so desirous of kicking against a stone-wall as to say that that was not a proper thing to do. But when honorable members deliberately go beyond that, and propose a reduction to 10 per cent. - which furnishes an example of the spirit of compromise that we have seen exhibited in this Chamber upon various occasions - I say that they are unreasonable. If honorable members are going to fights–

Mr Mahon:

– Will the honorable member vote for a 15 per cent. duty?

Mr McCAY:

– The honorable member asks me if I will agree to a 15 per cent. duty. In other words, he wishes me to allow him to continue fighting, and to stop fighting myself. If both sides of the committee agreed to a reduction of the rate upon this item to 15 per cent. as an amendment consequent upon our action in respect of woollen piece goods, I do not think I could rise in my place and offer any objection. Last night I voted against a reduction of the duty upon woollen piece goods to 15 per cent. If we fight over this item of blankets, I shall vote against the reduction of the rate upon it from 20 per cent. But if a reduction to 15 per cent. is accepted as a necessary result of last night’s division in regard to woollen piece goods, I shall not quarrel with that decision. I regret exceedingly last night’s decision, and I am satisfied that a reduction of the rate upon blankets to 10 percent. would make it apurely revenueduty, and have the effect of destroying the industry of blanket-making, which is assuming large proportions within the Commonwealth. It is not fair to move a reduction of 10 per cent., and then ask me to consent to 15 per cent., when the honorable member who makes the request is not prepared to abide by the decision. The blanket industry is assuming large dimensions, and so far as first qualities are concerned, we can beat the world price to price, it being in the cheaper qualities that our local product is beaten. It is fail to abide by the decision of the committee, arid we who believe in the higher duty are justified in fighting for our position.

Sir GEORGE TURNER (Balaclava).No doubt blanket-making is a good industry, and honorable members for New South Wales will recollect that, not so many years ago, Victorian blankets were tested as compared with those imported, and the merchants of New South Wales came to the conclusion that the local product is so good that they would deal in it. I cannot understand the position taken up by the honorable member for Coolgardie. Surely he must have thought that, when we entered into federation, there was a strong feeling that we would deal with each other instead of importing from abroad ?

Mr Mahon:

– Nothing of the kind.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:
Protectionist

– One of the main reasons which induced the States to enter into the Federation was that we were to be customers of each other, and by that means have competition in a large market and secure reduced prices. Under such circumstances the industry could do with less protection, as the larger output would relatively increase profits. We must not assume that, because this article was admitted free in one or other of the States, the Commonwealth should admit it free, or at a mere revenue duty. A peculiar position taken up by the honorable member for Coolgardie is that, by putting on a 20 per cent. duty, we shall sacrifice revenue. That can only mean that the home-made article is going to be used instead of the imported article ; and yet the honorable member tells us that in consequence of the heavy duty the miner will have to pay more for his blankets than otherwise.

Mr G B EDWARDS:
SOUTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– I am afraid the right honorable gentleman will provoke a discussion.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

– To save time I will say that we are prepared to make a compromise. We fought the matter out last night, and a decision wasarrived at by the committee ; and if the honorable member for Coolgardie is prepared to accept 15 per cent., the Government are prepared to abide by the decision of the committee. We have already decided that woollen goods shall be 15 per cent., and it necessarily follows that blankets must be at the same rate. If that is the feeling of the committee I shall not attempt to discuss the question any further.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - I desire to make an explanation in fairness to this side of the House. When a compromise has been proposed, it has been usual for honorable members, quite within their rights, to say - “ Oh, well, if you do not accept the compromise, we shall go for the proposal of the Government.” That is scarcely fair, because we are not dealing with our own personal feelings, but with the interests of the country. WhileIam thankful for the proposal of the Government, I do not think, at this stage of the debate, when we are anxious for some information on every line of importance, that it would be well to come to a definite decision.

Honorable Members. - Yes

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

– It is all very well for honorable members on the Government side who have made up their minds to cry out “ Yes,” but neither they nor I am supposed to know the minds of honorable members on this side of the House, or the information they may possess. A compromise is a good thing as a rule,, and I thank the Government for making this suggestion at an early stage of the debate. It will no doubt facilitate discussion, and bring it within short limits, but it is not fair at this particular moment for the debate to end.

Mr CONROY:
Werriwa

Sir WILLIAM LYNE:
Minister for Home Affairs · Hume · Protectionist

– The honorable member for Wentworth, when speaking just now, referred to me in language that was very offensive, and which I think he will, in his calmer moments, regret. I have been for over 21 years in politics, and so whatever my shortcomings as a politician, I have been fairly successful ; I cannot say the same of the honorable member, because in the New South Wales Parliament he for a long time represented a party of one. With regard to his remarks upon the question before the Chair, I would direct his attention to what happened in regard to an importation of blankets made on behalf of the New South Wales Government. These blankets were imported under a free-trade policy. Hearing that they were inferior toVictorian, I obtained two sample ones supplied to the Victorian Government, and compared them with the New South Wales imported ones, also submitting them to experts. The unanimous opinion was that the Victorian made were the much better value, and these were manufactured here under protection. The imported English blankets were indeed so bad that, as I interjected just now, they were scarcely fit for blackfellows, and, as a matter of fact, were largely given to the blacks. I recognise that no long debate should come from this side of the Chamber, and therefore I shall not say anything further on the matter ; but, considering the attitude which the Government have taken,

I hope there will not be a prolonged discussion.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - When a Minister of the, Crown makes a statement which may affect the views of honorable members, we on this side should not remain silent.

Mr Harper:

– But to make four speeches in an hour is too much.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

– The Minister for Home Affairs has referred to some blankets imported into New South Wales, which he said would not bear comparison with similar blankets sent to him by his protectionist friends in Victoria. But in regard to the imported blankets, they were either not up to the samples supplied, or the authorities originally chose a low quality or shoddy sample. Here is an argument to use against the blankets of England. The honorable member for Bland said something regarding me which has been repeated from time to time. When I entered the New South Wales Parliament in 1887, I voted against the bacon and ham duties, and was associated in my opposition to them with two other members, one of whom was Sir George Dibbs. I afterwards entered the Ministry of Sir Henry Partes, which had a majority of only four in the House. The bacon and ham duties were then being levied, but it was absolutely impossible for us as a Ministry with such a small majority to do anything more than hold the fort. Some honorable members have twitted me with having been a member of the Ministry for three years without having made any attempt to abolish these duties, but it would have been impossible for me to do so, and I do not think it is fair to charge me with inconsistency under such circumstances. The Tariff then was full of incongruities, and was absolutely devoid of principle until the honorable member for East Sydney, when he was Premier, recast it on freetrade lines.

Mr GLYNN:
South Australia

– Recognising that the Ministry are in a somewhat repentant and conciliatory mood, and that it is desirable to perform our work with expedition, I shall contentmyself with a very short protest against the proposed 15 per cent. duty on blankets. My policy throughout the federal electoral campaign was in favour of a reduction of duties. The 15 per cent, duties which have hitherto been levied in South Australia have proved a burden to the people, and have not encouraged the manufacture of blankets in that State. Out of the total importation of £13,428 worth of blankets into South Australia, £12,962 worth came from the United Kingdom. Not only has protection been a failure in South Australia, so far as the manufacture of blankets is concerned, but also in Victoria, otherwise Victorian blankets would have been found figuring very largely in the imports into the other States. It has been argued that because we have imposed upon woollen piece goods a duty of 15 per cent., we must levy a similar impost on blankets, but I fail to see any relation between the two articles. The protectionists asked for a duty on woollen piece goods on the ground that the duty would result in the reduction of the local price. If such be the case the necessary margin between the price of the raw material, woollen piece goods, and the manufactured article, blankets, would be created by the lowering of price which, according to the protectionist theory, would take place. But it is very evident that it is not anticipated that there will be any reduction in the prices, because they now say no margin is allowed by the relative amounts of the duties. The two protectionist theories, therefore, are destructive of one another ; and for that reason, and because a duty of 15 per cent. has been found burdensome in South Australia, and has failed to encourage the local industry, I shall support the amendment of the honorable member for Coolgardie.

Sir MALCOLM McEACHARN:
Melbourne

– I think the Government has met the matter very fairly. There is one piece of information which may be of some use to the committee and which may influence them in coming to a decision. Only lately a proposal came to me from my representative in London that he should supply ship’s blankets for the use of our steamers, because he would be able to send out fairly good blankets at such a low rate that we might allow the passengers to take them on shore with them. To my mind, that is an indication that the industry here deserves some protection, and I hope the Government proposal will be agreed to.

Mr FOWLER:
Perth

– An honorable member has remarked to me that he does not understand why Western Australia should take any particular interest in this item, but I may tell honorable members that there are very few nights throughout the whole year in Western Australia on which blankets are not absolutely necessary for comfort. Whilst I am prepared to accept the Government’s proposal for a 15 percent, duty with regard to the better quality of blankets, I think they should consider that a very large number of people, and particularly those scattered throughout the remoter parts of the country, use the commoner brown and blue blankets and bushman’s rugs, and that the duty on these articles might very well be reduced or remitted. If this were done it would be welcomed by a large proportion of the people of Australia, and would tend to adjust fairly the incidence of taxation. I shall endeavour to have this particular description of blankets placed on the list of exemptions.

Mr. HENRY WILLIS (Robertson).I desire to say a word or two on behalf of the State from which I come. We do not wish to make such a compromise as would involve the total surrender of our free-trade principles, and I cannot see my way to vote for the Government proposal. With a duty of 25 per cent. on blankets, I find that Victoria imported £33,000 worth.

Sir George Turner:

– We had 25 percent. duties, 15 per cent. duties, and some classes of goods were free.

Mr HENRY WILLIS:

– ButI think it was chiefly the blankets subject to the high duty that were imported. With a reduction of 5 per cent. in the duty, the Treasurer calculates that the importations into Victoria will be just one-third more than they were under a 25 per cent. duty. The Government anticipate that there will be an importation of blankets and rugs into New South Wales to the extent of £45,000 per annum, into Queensland of £11,250, into South Australia of £7,900, and into Tasmania of £5,675, notwithstanding the fact that good blankets are made from one end of Australia to the other.’ It is apparently admitted that the imported article is superior to that manufactured locally, because, if itwerenot, such large importations would not be anticipated. Further than this the Treasurer’s estimates imply an admission of the truth of what we have urged, namely, that the lower the rate of duty the greater the importation.

Sir George Turner:

– But we must have largely increased importations to enable us to derive the same amount of duty.

Mr HENRY WILLIS:

– We are not here to provide £9,000,000 of money, because it has been proved that £8,000,000 will be sufficient to meet all the financial exigencies of the States. A revenue Tariff would provide all the revenue necessary. I think that we should stiffen our backs, and support the acting leader of the Opposition in the stand which he has taken.

Mr MAUGER:
Melbourne Ports

– I wish to point out that as a result of the decision of the committee last evening in regard to woollens, the directors of the Ballarat Woollen Mills have wired countermanding a very big order for machinery, and have decided not to extend their works. I am also assured by the operatives that our decision means disaster to that particular industry. I wish further to urge that there is nothing in the contention that blankets will be made dearer by the imposition of this duty. At the present time blankets can be bought in Victoria just as cheaply as they can be in New South Wales.

Question - That the words proposed to be so inserted be so inserted - put. The committee divided.

AYES: 19

NOES: 36

Majority……… 17

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:
Protectionist

– To carry out the offer which I made to the committee, I move -

That the words “20 percent, and on and after the 6th December, 1901, 15 per cent.” be inserted after rugging, line 2.

Amendment agreed to.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

– I would point out to the committee that the duty upon carpeting, floor cloths, and mats is practically a revenue duty. Coir and jute mats, which would be included unless specially provided for, are made in some of the States, and therefore I have expressly excluded them. But practically this is a revenue duty, and I have fixed the amount at 20 per cent. for revenue purposes.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - I am obliged for the information that this is absolutely a revenue duty, but I should like to point out that what the Treasurer of a country has to do is to find out the point at which the best result, from a revenue stand-point, can be attained. I consider that if we can derive a larger revenue from a lower rate, as a matter of common sense and finance, that lower rate should be imposed. Of course I would not for a moment talk in dogmatic terms to my right honorable friend, who has had more experience in finance than I have, but my own opinion is that a 15 per cent. duty will yield far more revenue than will a 20 per cent. duty. From a revenue stand-point, 15 per cent. is a high duty, There is scarcely anything, except the views held by protectionists, that would justify any duty exceeding 15 per cent., even for revenue purposes. In a matter of this kind, where a purely revenue duty is involved, nothing should affect our consideration except the question of what rate will produce the most revenue. I do not intend to move an amendment in any party spirit, but personally I cannot agree to a duty of 20 per cent. being imposed upon articles of general use, when I know that a 15 per cent. rate will yield more revenue. What at one time were absolute luxuries to the few, are now common all over the country. The homes of the people, even in the far interior, are on a very different, basis of comfort from what they were 20 years ugo, and that which might then have affected only the wealthy, now affects all. Although the poor man may not buy the higher priced article, he buys the article at some price or other ; and to make a man pay 25 per cent, more - which a duty of 20 per cent, would mean, with all profits added - is going beyond not merely the point to which a statesman would go, but beyond the point to which a financier would go. This is no party question of free-trade or protection, but purely as to the point at which we can get revenue without pressing unduly on the masses of the people. I intended to move -

That the words “ and on and after 6th December, 15 per cent.,” be inserted after the word “mats,” line 3.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

– Perhaps I may be allowed to try to end the discussion. As I said before, it is very difficult to tell in regard to a purely revenue duty whether 15 per cent. or 20 per cent. will bring in the larger revenue, seeing that a considerable increase in imports is required atthe lower rate to make up the amount. I quite admit, however, that there is a fair probability of the same amount being derived at one rate as at the other. With regard to coir and jute mats, I must ask that there be a duty of 20 per cent., because these articles are made here, and, as regards them, I regard this as a protective duty. Regarding the other articles under discussion, however, I am prepared to accept the proposal to make the duty 15 per cent.

Mr G B EDWARDS:
SOUTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– I think it would have been better if linoleums had been specially mentioned. I suggest that instead of selecting felt carpets for the lower duty, it would have been advisable to have selected linoleums, a course which would produce a good revenue, and confer a boon on the whole people of the Commonwealth. One of the most objectionable articles in the houses of the lower, middle, and poorer classes, is felt carpet, which is allowed very often to remain on the floor until it becomes a medium for all sorts of diseases. Many people are giving up the use of carpets altogether for the sake of cleanliness ; and inmy opinion it would have been a good idea to put linoleum on the free list. Many medical men have referred to felt carpets as hot-beds of disease, and if we cheapen linoleums we shall enable people to have more comfortable and healthy floor coverings.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - Probably, on the whole, 10 per cent. would be a better revenue duty, but, as I do not want to divide the committee except where I consider a big principle is at stake, as in. the case of the proposed duty on blankets, I proposed an amendment which I thought would be accepted.

Sir George Turner:

– I am willing to agree to a 15 per cent. duty, except upon coir and jute matting, which is very largely made here.

SirWILLIAM McMILLAN. - I do not think it worth while to make that distillation. This matting is very heavy, so that the cost of freight upon the imported article will furnish a large measure of protection to the local manufacturer.

Mr McCAY:
Corinella

– The original proposal of the Government was a duty of 20 per cent. all round, and the acting leader of the Opposition proposed 15 per cent. TheGovernment say thattheyareready to go nine-tenths of the way towards meeting the honorable gentleman, by accepting a duty of 15 per cent. upon everything except coir and jute matting; and if he is sincere in his desire for a compromise, I am sure he will go the rest of the way, and accept the terms offered to him.

Mr Conroy:

– Coir and jute matting is used exclusively by the poorer classes.

Mr McCAY:

– If the raw material is allowed to come in free, and a duty of 20 per cent, is imposed on the manufactured article, the probability is that the locally manufactured article will be quite as cheap as if there were a duty of 15 per cent. upon the imported article.

Mr. MAUGER (Melbourne Ports).This is one of the largest and most prosperous industries in Victoria, and employs hundreds of hands under the best conditions. To speak of coir and jute matting as an article used by the poor is absurd. It is used chiefly by churches and cricketclubs. I hope the Government will insist upon a duty of 20 per cent. upon this article.

Amendment (by Mr. Kingston) agreed to-

That the words “except coir and jute “ be inserted after the word “mats,” line 3.

Mr JOSEPH COOK:
PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– I wish to move an amendment excepting floor coverings other than carpets from the proposed 15 per cent., and applying a 10 per cent. duty to them. I wish to do this for the sake of the public health, because these things are in common use in the homes of the poor.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

– I would suggest that after I have moved my amendment, which is intended to reduce the duty on carpets and floor coverings to 15 per cent., the honorable member could move to have inserted words excepting linoleums and oil cloths from the 15 per cent. duty, and applying to them a duty of 10 per cent. I move -

That the words “20 per cent., and on and after6th December, 1901, 15 percent,” be inserted after the word “ pads,” line 4.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment by Mr. Joseph Cook proposed -

That the words “except linoleums and oil cloths, 20 per cent., and on and after 6th December 1901, 10 per cent.” be inserted after the word “ pads,” line 4.

Question - That the words proposed to be inserted be so inserted - put. The committee divided.

AYES: 25

NOES: 29

Majority … . …4

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Amendment (by Sir George Turner) agreed to -

That the words “20 per cent. and on and after 6th December, . 1901, 15 per cent.” be inserted sifter the words “ carriage mats.”

That before the word “ curtains,” line 4, the words “ coir and jute mats and matting, 20 per cent. “ be inserted.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - I think that the Treasureris going a little too far. I do not see why a small item like this should be allowed to complicate matters. We have already agreed to a 1 5 per cent. duty upon all these classes of goods, and my desire is to make the Tariff as symmetrical as possible. I am anxious to prevent fraud and friction, which are bound to arise if certain articles are exempted amongst other articles of a more or less similar character. I hope that the Treasurer will not press the amendment, especially as he has shown a fairly reasonable spirit of compromise to-day.

Mr. WATSON (Bland).- I do not think there is any necessity for the Government to press for a distinction between these two classes of goods. In New South Wales we have a highly-protected set of workmen who are engaged in manufacturing coir and jute matting, under regulations and conditions that a paternal State has taken every care to make perfect. If our people, working under the conditions which at present prevail, can successfully put these articles upon the market without a duty, 15 per cent. is certainly a sufficient impost to place upon them. In any case I think that that rate is a fair one. It will be difficult enough for the people in Victoria, who are engaged in this industry, to compete with prison-made goods coming from New South Wales, and to increase the duty upon imported goods would not assist them.

Mr. JOSEPH COOK (Parramatta). - I have a doubt in my mind as to whether I ought not to oppose this amendment. I have the distinguished honor to have in my electorate one of the oldest and largest gaols in New South Wales. We have taken every care - as has been pointed out by the honorable member for Bland - to see that the wages paid there, and the conditions under which the inmates work, are strictly regulated. There is no sweating carried on, and in the interests of such a large and flourishing industry, I am open to conviction as to whether I ought not to vote for the higher duty.

Mr. CONROY (Werriwa).- The difference between coir and jute has not been explained to the committee by the Treasurer ; and yet we are asked to treat them as the same thing, which they are not. In any case, I fail to see any reason why a duty of 20 per cent. should be placed upon these articles, which are not used by the wealthier classes of the community. The duty proposed is a distinct tax upon the poorer classes. I shall vote against the proposed increase, and if it is carried I shall move that these articles be placed upon the free list.

Question - That the words proposed to be inserted be so inserted - put.

The committee divided -

Ayes … … … 25

Noes … … … 26

Majority … … 1

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Amendment (by Sir George Turner) proposed -

That after the words “carriage mats,” line 4, the words “coir and jute mats and matting, 20 per cent., and on and after 6th December, 1901, 15 per cent.” be inserted.

Mr CONROY:
Werriwa

– I advocate these articles being placed on the free list, but after the division which has just been taken, I shall not submit any further proposals.

Amendment agreed to.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:
Protectionist

– As curtains apparently are not made here, and this is a revenue duty I move -

That the words “20 per cent. and on and after 6th December, 1901, 15 per cent.” be inserted after the word “ curtains,” line 4.

Amendment agreed to.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

– As cosies, cushions, and the other articles mentioned in the item down to furnishings, are manufactured in the Commonwealth, from material which is dutiable at varying rates, none of which are under 10 per cent., it is only fair that the manufacturer should have a reasonable amount of protection, and I propose to leave the duty at 20 per cent.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

– I could understand, from a protectionist point of view, a high duty being necessary in cases where elaborate machinery, high skill, and large capital are required, but a large number of the articles comprised in the item under discussion would be made in this country under any circumstances, whether there was free-trade or protection. If we were alongside the European markets, instead of 14,000 miles away, these articles would still be made in Australia, as they are in every country. Many are made by domestic people, and in no way can the preparation of these articles be described as “ manufactures “ ; to apply that term is merely playing with words. I move -

That the words “20 per cent. and on and after 6th December, 1901, 15 per cent.,” be inserted after the words “made up,” line 7.

Mr SALMON:
Laanecoorie

– The honorable member for Wentworth considers that protection is necessary only for those who are able to invest large capital and provide costly machinery, but the party with whom I am associated desire rather to protect the working people. The manufacture of these articles is carried on by a large number of people, who, without the intervention of middlemen, are able to find a market ; and these are the very class of persons who ought to have the benefit ofprotection. There are homes in the Commonwealth maintained almost entirely by the manufacture of such articles, and we have here an opportunity presented of helping those who are trying to help themselves. Cosies and similar articles afford employment for a considerable number of women and invalid and infirm persons, who ought to be protected from the cheap articles imported from Germany and other countries, where they are manufactured under conditions which we do not desire to see introduced here.

Mr PHILLIPS:
Wimmera

– Do towels come under the heading of “furnishing “1 I understand that duty is being collected on towels under this item, although towelling i* free.

Sir George Turner:

– If towelling is cut up into towels, the latter are dutiable.

Amendment negatived.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

– Rufflings, tucked lawns, pleatings and ruchings will always be imported to a certain extent, but they are made here very largely by female workers, and as the raw material is composed of the better class of linen goods, silks, and other materials subject to duties of 10 per cent, and 15 per cent., it would be unfair to those workers to impose only a 15 per cent, duty ‘ in this connexion. - 1 do not propose any amendment, but ask the committee to leave a margin of 10 per cent, on some articles, and 5 per cent, on others.

An Honorable Member. - What are “ruchings?”

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

– A kind of “ frill “ which honorable members sometimes put on here.

Mr O’MALLEY:
Tasmania

– As I believe ‘ in absolute equality, and want no “ frill “ in this House, I support a duty of 20 per cent.

-Linen and cotton piece goods are admitted free, or subject to an import duty of 10 per cent. But no elaborate machinery is required for the manufacture of trimmings and things of that kind, and they are made largely in the homes of the people, or in shops, and would continue to be made without any protection. I move -

That the words “and on and after 6th December, 1901, 15 per cent.” be added to the duty on “Ruffling, tucked lawns, pleatings, and ruchings, ad valorem, 20 per cent.”

Mr THOMSON:
North Sydney

– At an earlier stage in the debate it was stated that the action of the Opposition in reducing the duty upon the articles included in this item was likely to seriously interfere with their manufacture in this State, and, possibly, in other parts of Australia. But I am quite sure that we have no desire to do anything of the kind. We have frequently supported a duty, not because we should vote for it if we were creating an entirely new Tariff, without consideration of existing circumstances, but in order to give what seemed to us sufficient consideration to an existing industry to enable it to continue its operations successfully. To show that our action has had the reverse effect, the honorable member for Melbourne Ports read an extract from the Ballarat Courier. in which it isstated that the directors of the Ballarat Woollen Mills had intended to extend their plant, and that an order had been sent Home for £3,000 worth of machinery, whilst local tenders had been invited for 200,000 bricks for the erection of a large two-story addition to the already spacious premises ; but that when the determination of the committee to reduce the duty on woollens to 15 per cent. became known last night, the directors of the company met and decided to abandon the intended addition to their premises, to return the tenders for bricks to the tenderers, and to countermand their order for machinery. We have heard some such statements as thesebefore; but it is well for us to inquire what justification there is for supposing that the industry will be injuriously affected. I have the balance-sheets of this company for the last two half-years. The capital of the company is £30,000, in 120,000 5s. shares. The dividend paid on these shares was 41/2d. per share each halfyear, or 9d. per annum; equal to 15 per cent. The company have paid nineteen dividends altogether, they have £500 in the shape of a reserve fund, and their accumulated profits amount to £19,901 9s., or about two-thirds of their capital.

Sir George Turner:

– Do they show what profits they have made during the last year?

Mr THOMSON:

– Yes. They have made over 15 per cent. I congratulate the managers of the company on their success, and I should think that now a larger market has been provided for their output, there should be abundant reasons for their extending their operations, and attaining a state of even greater prosperity.

Mr B EDWARDS:
SOUTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– The proposed duty is very much too high, and it cannot be regarded as protective in its incidence, because such articles as frillings and rufflings are not made to any great extent within the Commonwealth. The compromise offered by the acting leader of the Opposition is a very reasonable one, although I should have been inclined to support a duty of 10 per cent. The articles enumerated here are used principally for making up children’s pinafores and aprons, and they should not be subjected to a very heavy tax.

Question - That the words proposed to be added be so added - put. The committee divided.

AYES: 24

NOES: 25

Majority … 1

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the negative.

Item, as amended, agreed to.

Item 59 -

Fur and other skins, dressed or prepared, and hatters’ fur, ad valorem, 15 per cent.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– I think the Government have made a serious mistake in adopting an ad valorem duty, instead of a fixed duty similar to that which was levied under the Victorian Tariff. This ad valorem duty will, if continued, practically bring about the ruin of a very substantial industry in Victoria, and I move -

That the words “and on and after 6th December, 1901, 3d. per lb.” be added.

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– What will that amountto?

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– It will amount to only about 1 per cent, as a matter of fact ; but I propose to give reasons for adopting a fixed instead of an ad valorem duty. The duty collectedupon these articles in Victoria prior to the introduction of the Commonwealth Tariff was 2d. per lb. That duty, when contrasted with the 15 per cent. ad valorem which the Government propose to levy, shows a very startlingresult. I have had a circular sent to me signed by all the furriers of Melbourne, and, I believe, by all the furriers of New South Wales. No doubt the Minister for Trade and Customs is in receipt of a similar document. Amongst the Sydney furriers who have signed it are Philip Lawrence, Forb and Rohn, New South Wales Fur Depot, Gilbert Smith, and Robert Brewsten Unwins. These people have worked out the way in which this duty will operate. If we take, for example, a sable skin, which averages about 3 lbs. weight per dozen, we find that the duty charged upon it under the Victorian Tariff was 6d., but under the 15 per cent. rate which is now proposed, the importer would be required to pay £3 15s. 9d. per dozen upon such skins. If we take sealskins, which average a weight of about 48 lbs. per dozen, we find that the amount of duty previously paid upon them was 8s. per dozen. Under this Tariff, however, the duty would be £12 3s. 6d. It may be urged that these articles are luxuries, and therefore ought to pay a high duty. But I would point out that they are already subject to an impost of 25 per cent. under the item of “ Apparel.” Skins dressed and ready to be made up into articles of apparel have hitherto been imported subject to a small duty, and a large number of persons are already engaged in Victoria in the furriers’ industry. One man who is in a large business told me that he expects to land within the next ten or twelve days some £1,200 worth of furs, and unless the present duty is reduced he will send the whole consignment back to London, because he cannot afford to make them up. Thus thirteen or fourteen hands will be thrown out of employment. I wish also to point out that as a result of people being permitted to work up these imported skins, we have been enabled to make up Australian skins to a much larger extent than would otherwise have been possible. In this connexion I am assured by the furriers that if they are deprived of the opportunity of working up the imported skins, it will be impossible to continue the making up of Australian skins. In America and Russia this industry is so important that an export duty is actually imposed upon skins. I would also direct the attention of the committee to the fact that some other articles which are used by the furriers of New South Wales and Victoria, and which were formerly admitted free, are now subject to duty. For example, the felt employed for the lining of furs is, under this Tariff, subject to duty. The metal clips used by the furriers are taxed at the rate of 25 per cent., and the bag frames which go to make up fanoy reticules also’ carry a duty of 20 per cent. All these are charges in addition to the impost upon the furs themselves. Moreover, scarcely any of the imported furs are fit to be made up till certain drying drugs have been applied to them, all of which are subject to duty. These circumstances induce me to conclude that the Government have made a mistake in imposing this tax. I notice that the revenue which they expect to derive from it amounts only to £1,500 a year, but I venture to say that if the present duty is retained they will derive no revenue at all. These furs include sables, mink, seal, marmot, Russian hare, kolinsk, carcoola, musquash, marten, and astrakan. These skins are so very valuable, and can be packed into such a small space, that the Government ought to recognise that an enormous duty of 25 per cent. upon them might offer grave temptations to smuggling.

Mr G B EDWARDS:
SOUTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– For once I find myself thoroughly in accord with the Government. I wish that they had gone a little further than they have. I think that the honorable member who has just spoken holds a brief for one or two persons who are interested in this industry. It seems to me that if we are to raise revenue at all this is a very proper item upon which to levy a duty. When we impose duties upon the commonest necessaries of life, it is scandalous that we should have a proposal submitted to the committee to allow these valuable furs to come into the country by paying a tax of 3d. per lb. We have already placed enough burdens upon the poor, and I am sure that anybody who can afford to import valuable furs is in a position to pay the duty which the Government propose to collect, and even a much higher duty. Seal skins are not imported very largely. They usually come in in the form of made-up articles upon ladies backs. We ought to get all the revenue that we possibly can from this article. I am aware that the Government anticipate realizing only £1,500 from this duty, but I am convinced that we shall derive a much larger sum from it. Instead of lowering this tax in the way we have endeavoured to lower other duties which bear heavily and harshly on the consumer, we should raise it another 10 per cent., and if the Government make a proposal in that direction I shall support them.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

– I promised the Prime Minister that I would not speak on this item ; but he will allow me to say that the only question is, what rate will give the most revenue? If the Government think 15 percent, will result in most revenue, this is a class of articles which ought to bear a high duty. I doubt whether 15 per cent, is not too high, but I should not object to the duty if the Government adhere to the proposal.

Mr KINGSTON:
Protectionist

– It is difficult to please everybody, and the Government are not going to try. I am very much amused to hear a suggestion from the acting leader of the Opposition, that it is doubtful whether this duty is not too high, when, if I recollect rightly, on a famous occasion, in an indictment which was made against the Government, an eloquent comparison was drawn, and our iniquity condemned in fixing the duty on furs not so high as the duty on blankets. That was the strongest point in a weak indictment against the Government. The point the Government take, is that the duty which they propose ought to be adopted, or that there should be no duty at all. It is absurd to talk of a duty of 2d. per lb., or1d. per lb., in view of the fact that there was a duty of 2d. in Victoria, with the result that on furs, valued at £4,000 or £5,000 only £39 or £40 was collected. A duty of 2d. would mean only 11/2 per cent. ; and, under all the circumstances, the Government have come to the conclusion to adhere to their proposal.. The Government sympathise a good deal with what has been said by the honorable member for North Sydney. No doubt furs are a luxury, and, while we do not desire to destroy any industry, we think we ought to exact a fair toll on importations. To admit free these undoubted luxuries, which are chiefly or almost entirely used by the rich, is absolutely impossible. As to the idea that if we do not import furs free, there will not be enough business, even in regard to local skins, to keep local tradesmen going, that shows the difficulty some people have in justifying their proposals for special remissions. In regard to the manufactured article, we are allowing a protective duty of 25 per cent., the special definition given to woollens at the conclusion of the division relating to apparel, including all furs. If under these circumstances, the local preparer declares that it is impossible for him to carry on his business unless furs are absolutely free, it seems to me that he is endeavouring to maintain an impossible position, and the Government will adhere to their own proposal. We believe that there will be importations, and that we shall collect a fair amount of revenue ; at any rate, a much larger amount than we would under the rate which has been suggested.

Mr HENRY WILLIS:
Robertson

– I would specially urge the Government to put a duty of 25 per cent. on sealskins. In South Australia, sealskins are bought from Kangaroo Island, and many years ago I shipped a number which were no larger than one’s hand. These were worth 30s. each, but they could not be prepared in Australia. Very recently I priced a lady’s sealskin jacket in Melbourne at 70 guineas, and 25 per cent. is the duty on such jackets, so that there is an inconsistency in allowing the sealskin to come in as suggested, or even at 15 per cent. It is only wealthy people who can afford to buy such articles, and there should certainly be a duty of 25 per cent.

Mr. G. B. EDWARDS (South Sydney). - When opportunity offers, I shall move that the duty be 20 per cent., including the made-up article, but excluding hatters’ fur.

Mr. HENRY WILLIS (Robertson).- I understand that some honorable members are astonished at the size of the sealskins of which I spoke. The fur seal is a very small animal, the large seal being the hair seal, the skin of which is used only for leather.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– I quite agree that sealskin jackets are articles of luxury, and ought to bear a very heavy duty ; but I ask that a difference should be made between the made-up article and raw material. In the making up of the latter about 200 people are employed in the Commonwealth.

Mr G B EDWARDS:
SOUTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– Making up foreign furs?

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– Furs of all kinds, but mostly foreign furs. We must have some regard to those engaged in industries, however small their numbers may be. I do not want to shield the rich, and would be willing to impose 50 per cent. on the madeup article; but if there be a duty of 20 per cent. or 25 per cent. on the raw material there will be no revenue. All the goods will come in manufactured and, revenue or no revenue, the industry in the Commonwealth will be ruined.

Mr CONROY:
Werriwa

– I am a little bit confused by the arguments from the Ministerial side, and I am not quite sure which to accept - those of the Minister for Trade and Customs, or those of the honorable member for Bourke. If the latter honorable member is correct, he does not seem to have made out a bad case from the protectionist point of view. He has. shown that furs are, divisible into a great many classes, some of which are low in. value and form the raw material of certain industries. Furs of high value are used by only the rich, and I do not think the rate proposed by the Government is at all excessive. I did expect to hear from the protectionist side that the duty on furs ought to be still heavier, seeing that importations would thereby be largely diminished, and a demand be created for the skin of the Australian rabbit.

Mr. HUME COOK (Bourke).- During the dinner adjournmentI consul ted with those who are most interested in these articles, and I shall not now move the imposition of a duty of 3d. per lb. A duty of 5 percent. has been suggested, but I consider that it could not be carried, and I therefore intend to withdraw my amendment, and, when the amendment suggested by the honorable member for South Sydney has been disposed of, to move for a reduction to 10 per cent.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment (by Mr. G. B. Edwards) put -

That the words “15 per cent., and on and after 6th December, 1901, 20 per cent.” be inserted after the word “prepared.”

The committed divided.

Ayes … … … 14

Noes……… 32

Majority … … … 18

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Amendment (by Mr. Hume Cook) negatived.

That the words,and on and after 6th December, 1901, 10 per cent.” be added.

Item agreed to.

Item 60 - Gloves, including mittens and flesh gloves, ad valorem, 20 per cent.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

– I look upon this purely as a revenue item, in regard to which the only question we have to Consider is whether the rate proposed is that which is most likely to bring about the best results. At present I do not propose any alteration.

Mr CONROY:
Werriwa

– If honorable members were to look forward to the possibilities of the next election, when probably the women will have votes, they would not be so ready to impose a tax upon articles so largely used by the feminine portion of the community. Thousands of working girls have to wear gloves, and, with the low wages which are paid to them, they are likely to feel this tax very severely, amounting as it will to at least 42 per cent., when all the charges are paid. If I thought there was any chance of carrying my proposal I should move to have gloves placed upon the. free list ; but as I consider that hopeless, I move -

That the words - “and on and after 6th De cember, 1901, 15 per cent.” be added.

Mr G B EDWARDS:
SOUTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– I hope that the honorable member will not press his amendment, because there is not the slightest chance of carrying it, and the item is one upon which we may legitimately raise revenue. We look forward to having a keen fight upon the proposed duties upon foot-ware and other articles ; but it is not worth while to have a discussion upon a duty like this.

Mr CROUCH:
Corio

– It is a pity that no distinction is made between women’s and men’s gloves. The cheap cotton gloves, worn by the poorer class of women, should be admitted free, or be subject only to a very low duty, but men’s gloves should bear a duty of at least 25 per cent., because they are distinct luxuries and are used by the classes best able to bear taxation.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - I do not think honorable members altogether grasp the principles upon which revenue duties should be fixed. Once we establish the ad valorem system, the consumer has to pay according to the quality of the article. It is not so much a question of getting more out of the rich than out of the poor, as a matter of obtaining as much revenue as possible from a particular article. If a 15 per cent. duty will yield more revenue than a 20 per cent. duty, then the 15 per cent. rate is the best one to adopt from a. financial point of view. Although we are raising revenue, we do not wish to force the great mass of the people to use too common an article. Gloves are luxuries to men, but necessaries to women, and it is not desirable to impose a duty that will make the great mass of the population pay more or put up with a cheaper and less serviceable article. I believe 15 per cent. represents the high water mark for a revenue duty on gloves, and I shall support it.

Mr KINGSTON:
Protectionist

– I think gloves may fairly be considered luxuries, and it is not necessary, according to my view, to vary the rates so as to lighten the duty on the cheaper class of article. In the past, Victoria has levied a duty of 20 per cent. on gloves ; Queensland, 25 per cent. ; South Australia, 15 per cent. ; Tasmania, 20 per cent. ; and Western Australia, 15 per cent., and I think our proposal is a fair one.

Mr. CONROY (Werriwa).- If the Minister for Trade and Customs takes the populations of the various States into consideration, and averages the duties previously levied, he will find that 10 per cent. would be nearer the mark. There are thousands of girls who have to earn their own living and buy their own gloves, and they should not have to pay too high a rate of duty.

Question - That the words proposed to be added, be so added - put. The committee divided.

AYES: 23

NOES: 33

Majority … … … 10

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Item agreed to.

Item 61. - Hats and Caps, viz. : -

Men’s, women’s, boys’, and children’s felt hats, per doz. 10s. and 15 per cent. ad valorem. Dress hats, per doz. 48s. Hats and caps, sewn, from, per doz. 3s.

Mr POYNTON:
South Australia

– I wish to test the feeling of the committee with regard to composite duties, and propose to strike out the 10s. fixed duty which is associated with an ad valorem duty of 15 per cent. I find that in New Zealand, a highly protected country, the duty on hats is 25 per cent. ad valorem, and in Canada 30 per cent. In Western Australia the duty was 15 per cent., in Tasmania 20 per cent., in South Australia 8s. or 15s. per dozen, Queensland 25 per cent., or 15 per cent., and in Victoria, £1 4s. or £1 10s. per dozen, whereas in New South Wales hats were on the free list. If we substitute for the composite duty a purely ad valorem rate we shall know where we are. As the duty now stands, it is one of the most prohibitory taxes in the Tariff. Very few people have any idea of the high percentages these duties represent, and in this connexion I desire to refer to the statement of Sir F. T. Sargood, which has been published in the press, and which so far as I know has neither been contradicted nor challenged. Sir Frederick Sargood is an expert, and he states that his figures are authentic and beyond contradiction. When one comes to examine these duties one is surprised at the enormous percentages which they represent. But the worst feature in this connexion is that, instead of the highest rates being imposed upon the most valuable articles, the very opposite principle has been adopted. Thus it comes about that the article which is most in demand, which is used by the great bulk of the people, has to pay the heaviest duty. The writer to whom I have already referred takes the English invoice prices of goods, and shows how this proposed duty of 10s. per dozen, and 15 per cent. ad valorem, upon hats will work out. He demonstrates that upon a class of hats which are invoiced from England at 8s. 6d. per dozen, the duty proposed by the Government represents 134 per cent., whilst upon hats at11s. per dozen, it is equivalent to 107 per cent., and upon those at 12s. per dozen it represents 100 per cent. Thus the duties are graduated downwards instead of upwards till, upon hats valued at 34s. per dozen, the duty to be collected upon them is 46 per cent. Under the proposal of the Ministry, the purchasers of children’s hats, invoiced at 6s. perdozen, will have to pay a duty equal to 183 per cent. Upon girl’s woollen felts, invoiced from England at 8s. 6d. per dozen, the duty which the Government propose to levy will amount to 134 per cent. I understand that in New Zealand, where an ad valorem duty operates, the hat industry is doing fairly well’.

In submitting my amendment I do not presume to indicate at the present time what the amount of the ad valorem duty should bq, but I desire the committee to decide whether it is wise to retain a fixed duty in addition to an ad valorem. I have before me some further figures showing the percentage which has actually been paid under this Tariff upon men’s and boys’ felt hats. I find that boys’ felt hats, which were invoiced from England at 5s. 3d. per dozen, have paid at the rate of 204 -per cent. Another line, valued at 8s. 6d. per dozen, has contributed to the revenue at the rate of 132 per cent. Upon working men’s felt hats, invoiced at 9s., 14s., and 20s. per dozen, the duty paid represents respectively 126 per cent., 86 per cent., and 65 per cent. Upon the better class .of hats, invoiced at 30s., 40s., 50s., 60s., and 69s. per dozen, the rates of duty collected by the Government are respectively 48 per cent., 40 per cent., 25 per cent., 32 per cent., and 29 per cent. It is not my purpose to occupy the time of the committee further, and I shall therefore content myself with moving -

That the words “10s. and “ be omitted.

Mr. G. B. EDWARDS (South Sydney).I think that this is one of the least defensible items in the Tariff. As has been pointed out by the honorable member who has just resumed his seat, the sliding scale adopted by the Government is one that tapers down to its lowest point upon the hats which are used by the wealthier classes. The proposed duty of 48s. per dozen upon dress hats would represent in the case of the highest-priced goods only 20 per cent., whilst - as the committee have been informed from a reliable source - the rate levied upon the commoner hats ranges as high as 104 per cent. It does not require information from an expert to convince any common-sense individual that the proposal of the Government represents an enormous duty upon the cheaper lines of hats. I am prepared to vote for excising the fixed duty.

Mr McCOLL:
Echuca

I submit that no industry in this country, which has a 35 per cent, duty now, ought to come to this House and ask for any higher percentage.

Yet, here is an industry which does ask for a higher duty than 35 per cent. The honorable member further said -

The hopeless attempt to reconcile the raising of revenue with the imposition of duties which are intended to exclude imports throws the whole thing into a hopeless muddle.

Referring to the cry of imported shoddy, he objects to dictating to people what they should wear, were we to have sumptuary laws again 1 He then goes on to say -

An exportable surplus is a necessity, and the value of our surplus products is governed by the prices obtainable in the markets of the world.

It will be interesting, indeed, to note the course which the honorable member takes to-night. He continues -

When the Government come down and disturb all our financial relations and all our exchange operations by seeking to build up a wall around certain local industries, they are practically inviting the people of this magnificent 3’oung country to waste their energies and resources in utterly barren and futile occupations.

He further added -

One word as to the extraordinary fallacy that has been trotted out so often, that import duties cheapen the price of goods.

Yet the Treasurer said to-night that the imposition of duties does cheapen the price of goods to the consumer. No doubt the -honorable member for Mernda will be able to explain his position regarding this matter, and I for one shall await his statement with interest. He admitted that an exceptional case might occur, but he had not heard of one. That statement was made some time in 1892. Probably he has heard of one since. The honorable member also asked, in reference to the miners, the farmers, and the graziers -

To whom, are’ we to look for our exportable surplus except to those classes ?

He then goes on to point, out that these people are compelled to pay the taxes upon these articles. But the Treasurer says that they do not pay the taxes. If they do not pay them, and we do not pay, who does pay ? Is there some magic in merely writing upon a piece of paper that there shall be a duty of 10s. per dozen and 15 per cent. ad valorem imposed upon a certain article ? Is there any virtue in saying - “There it is ; you are protected ; no one pays this duty, but in some mysterious way every one gets things just as cheap as they were previously ; wages are raised ; people are employed, and everything goes as merry as a marriage bell?”

Sir William McMillan:

– It is like manna from Heaven.

Mr HUGHES:

– It is more like a mining prospectus than anything else. It is the kind of thing that appeals to a person who had been in a wild-cat scheme. Here is the 4 or 5 ozs. to the ton ; the “ inexhaustible veins,” everything in fact to make a glorious wild-cat scheme. There is only this difference, that there is no wildcat about it.

Sir George Turner:

– There ^ is a cheap [hat instead.

Mr HUGHES:

– I do not deny that. “But there are the unfortunate persons who ]lave been taken in by this prospectus. Who are they who take their part in this little drama t The fooled public of Australia ! Does any one give them £3 a week ? Why should we not all have £3 a week t Why should not the man who- works on board ;ship, the individual who toils down in a coal mine, the workman at the anvil, every man, in fact, have £3 a week 1 And if we are to fix £3, why stop there 1 Why not say £33 1 It appears to me that the doctrine of some honorable members opposite is that if they say a thing, put it upon paper, get the two Houses of Parliament to agree to it, they can raise the wages of the community to any point they please. Here is a Parliament which is yet in its infancy. While it is young and innocent, let us agree to lift the hatters’ wages and the Tariff to what the Association of Felt Hatters ask. Why does the Treasurer hesitate, since, if hats are cheap with a duty operating of 10s. per dozen and 15 per cent, ad valorem, will they not be cheaper still with an impost of 20s. per dozen and 30 per cent. ad valorem? I can conceive that if we raise this Tariff high enough people will be going about and offering a bonus with everything that is sold. It is like the coupon system, that some people imagine” is doing them good, making tea cheaper, and in some mysterious way clothing the barren tables of the poor with electro-plated cruet-stands. They say that if one buys 1 lb. of tea one gets a cruet-stand. If he buys a few pounds of sugar he receives an electro-plated tea service, while if he purchases some fancy soap and a tin of curry powder, he gets a bedroom suite of furniture. The whole thing is perfectly absurd. If the right honorable gentleman who is in charge of this Tariff can show me that the imposition of a duty upon this particular item is absolutely essential for the existence of the trade ; if he will explain how it is that in New Zealand the industry has existed, and does exist, without the aid of any duty; and if he can say how it is that in spite of his assertion that the imposition of this duty will keep the industry going - the felt hatters themselves declare that the industry will perish - we shall all be very happy indeed. For my part I think it would be wise for the Treasurer to say that he will agree to a 25 per cent, ad valorem duty or some decent duty, so that we shall know where we are, or that he will grant this trade a bonus of so much. I have no desire to crush the industry. I am prepared to vote for a decent duty in order to keep this industry going. I do not know how it started, but the calm assumption and assurance with which it comes to this House and asks for a protective duty of 20s. per dozen and 15 per cent, ad valorem upon hats is in itself worth something. If every other trade had as much assurance things would bo very different from what they are. I am prepared to do something for this industry. I shall expect the Treasurer to abolish the composite duty and substitute a plain, straightforward duty. If he does so, and if it is anything decent, I shall vote for it.

Mr TUDOR:
Yarra

– I know that if an industry happens to be confined to Victoria it offers a splendid opportunity for honorable members upon the other side of the House to attack it. If it pays good dividends they are disposed to give it a harder knock, and if it happens to pay good wages they would wipe it out altogether. They gather their information from goodness knows where, though I am informed that it is made in Germany. I know that statements have been advanced by honorable members opposite during the course of this debate which are absolutely fallacious. We have been told that manufactories have been started in New Zealand, and have succeeded with a 25 per cent. rate. I have the honour to be a member of the Felt Hatters’ Union, which is, perhaps, one of the best organized in the world, and I know that never up to the last three months was a felt hat manufactured in New Zealand ; but there have been imported hats, or what we call “bodies,” on which two-thirds of the work has been done. There is one factory in New Zealand at the present time which employs three journeymen, who went there in response to an advertisement which was published in the newspapers of Victoria j and I have no doubt that within the next twelve months there will be halfadozen skilled artisans employed in that colony. The imports of New Zealand, under a 25 per cent. Tariff, have increased from £46,785 in 1894, to £68,000 last year. There is no wool hat manufactured which does not contain 2£ ozs. of wool, or 2 lbs. of wool in a dozen hats. If it be a fur hat, so much the worse for the arguments we have heard, because fur is worth 9s. per lb. Three or four years ago, the company which has come under the lash to-night, paid the top price of 2s. 6d. per lb. for the best wool at the Geelong sales ; and if 2 lbs. of wool were used in a dozen hats, it is evident that at the prices which have been mentioned, from 5s. 3d. per dozen, labour, trimming, dye, and other material were to be given for nothing. If there are hats sold at the prices which have been quoted - and I doubt the accuracy of the statement - I should like to see the invoices in order to learn whether they did not consist of surplus, stock at the end of the season. I hope I shall not be accused of egotism when I say I have held the highest position in the Felt Hatters’ Union in this State prior to entering this House, and, in addition to holding an important position in the English association, I have also been a member of the American union ; so that I have worked under existing conditions in the two countries which produce the greatest number of hats. The English union is so well organized that if we had a protective policy there, and could prevent the importation of hats whenever there was industrial trouble, we could make the wages equal to those which prevail in Victoria ; and that, would mean to the English workman an increase of 100 per cent. That being so, I claim the support of those honorable members who have said they are willing to make the duty equal to the difference in the wages ; and I support the Government proposal, or a higher one, if possible. In the United Kingdom, the minimum wage runs. from 30s. per week in Warwickshire and Leicestershire, to 32s. and 33s. in Lancashire, for 56 hours per week, or an average of 6 d. or 7d. per hour.

Mr JOSEPH COOK:
PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

– The wages are as. high as 35s.

Mr TUDOR:

– I happened to be assistant to the general secretary of the English organization in 1894, and lam in correspondence with him now, so that what I say may be taken as absolutely correct. In Victoria, the minimum wage is £3 per week of 48 hours. The Treasurer was wrong when he said that the average wage of felt hatters was about £2 5s. per week. I have the factory inspector’s report for last year, and from that we see that the average wage for adult males over 21 years is £2 12s. lOd. per week.

Sir George Turner:

– What I said was that a man earning £3 per week would average £2 5s. per week all the year round.

Mr TUDOR:

– The average wage for an adult female is 19s. lOd. per week. Some honorable members, because the hatters work only four days and a half a week, assume that that condition of things is. peculiar to this State. Rut I can inform the committee that in the Denton district, in England, where the most hats are made, the average this season has been from three or three and a half days in the very best shops, while in others it was as low as two days for month after month. There is a rush before any holiday season, when work is done at high pressure. In Victoria there is the eight hours’ system, but this being a season trade, overtime has to be worked at times, just _as in England. When the season is over in England no manufacturer will keep his hands employed, because he does not know what shape or colour of hats may be in demand next year. The honorable member for West Sydney asks whether manufacturers are always going to have surplus stocks to send to Australia ; but he must be a very shrewd manufacturer who can run his business to within one week of his turnout in a season. In a shop in which I worked in England, where they turned out 1,000 dozen hats a week, the proprietor counted himself fortunate if he had only 1,000 dozen over at the end of the season. The merchant, . with the usual consideration for himself, returns stock to the manufacturer, who is glad in many cases to get rid of it at less than the cost of making. From one shop there used to be sent every November and May about 1,000 dozen hats to Sydney at a price less than cost.

An Honorable Member - That was a good thing for Sydney.

Mr TUDOR:

– The minimum adult wage in the felt hat trade of Victoria has been the same since 1882 - £3 a week. In New South Wales a few woollen felt hats have been manufactured for the Government, and they obtained a skilled workman for that purpose from Victoria.

I do not know of a single hat having been sold in New South Wales in competitionin the open market that has been manufactured! in that State, and I doubt whether any honorable member even knows of the existence of a factory there.

Mr Conroy:

– There has been an increase of 430 per cent. in the hat-making industry of New South Wales as compared with only 30 per cent. in Victoria.

Mr TUDOR:

– If you start from nothing, and employ one man] for the first year and five men for the second year, you record an increase of 500 per cent. in the two years, and yet the total result is not worth mentioning. I believe that as the result of duties similar to those now proposed by the Government, hat factories will be established: in the other States, and as hat makers use as their raw material two of our principal products - namely, wool and rabbit fur, we should do everything we can to encourage them. We have been told that a 25 percent. duty added to the natural protection is sufficient to encourage the hat-making industry ; but, I would ask, why is it that not a single hat has been manufactured in Queensland, where they have a 25 per cent duty? A duty of 25 per cent. is not sufficient, and I trust that honorable members will not be misled by figures taken from invoices, probably cooked for the occasion.

Mr E SOLOMON:
FREMANTLE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA · FT

– The honorable member who has just sat down has travelled rather beyond the question before the committee - namely, whether it is desirable that we should impose composite duties. This form of duty seems to me to be a most ingenious, but at the same time a most obnoxious method of taxing the - people. As I understand, the fixed duty of 10s. is added to the invoice value of the goods, and the ad valorem duty is levied upon the total.

Sir George Turner:

– No ; that is not so. Ten per cent. is added to everything that is subject to import duty ; but the fixed duty of 10s. is not added to the invoice value for the purpose of calculating the ad valorem duty.

Mr E SOLOMON:
FREMANTLE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA · FT

– It would be far preferable to levy an ad valorem duty, so that the public generally may understand what they have to pay. I have made a calculation that the fixed duty and ad valorem duty combined, applied to a consignment of hats invoiced at 9s. per dozen, would be equivalent to an ad valorem impost of 125 per cent. .

On hats at 18s. per dozen, the duty would amount to 70 per cent., and on articles worth 60s. per dozen, 32 per cent. My objection to the composite duty is that it is misleading, and I shall vote in favour of excising the fixed duty, even though an ad valorem duty may be imposed at a higher rate than is now provided for.

Mr GLYNN:
South Australia

– I desire to state shortly why I shall support any reduction of duty which may be proposed. In Victoriaa duty was first imposed on hats in 1865, amounting to 4s. per cubic foot. In 1867 an ad valorem duty of 10 per cent. was imposed, and this was increased to 121/2 per cent. in 1871, and -subsequently to 20 per cent. In 1897 a duty of 15s. per dozen was levied on felt hats, and in 1889 a duty of 20s. The rates in 1895, as set out in the Treasurer’s schedule, are 24s. per dozen for felt hats, and up to 30s. for other hats. Here we have an instance of import duties having been extended into almost prohibitive imposts. If we take four parcels of felt hats made of wool, varying in price from 29s. to 38s. per dozen, we find that the import charges vary from 20 to 40 per cent., so that these expenses in themselves afford very considerable natural protection. In addition to this, the Customs officials levy the duties in such a way as to convert a 15 per cent. duty into a 20 per cent. tax. They levy the ad valorem rate after the fixed duty has been paid ; that is to say, that a 15 per cent. rate, accompanying a fixed duty of 10s. per dozen, would be equal to an ad valorem duty of 20 per cent. in addition to the fixed duty.

Mr Kingston:

– The honorable and learned member is altogether wrong. We levy the duty on the value in the country of export.

Mr GLYNN:

-I accept the assurance of the Minister on that point. Still, there is the natural protection ranging from 20 to 40 per cent. on hats. On parcels of hats ranging in value from 29s. to 38s. per dozen, a specific duty of 10s. per dozen is equal to from 26 per cent. to 40 per cent. ad valorem ; and when the 15 per cent. ad valorem duty is added, the total protection afforded ranges from 46 per cent. to 60 per cent., or, on an average; over 50 per cent. Honorable members will, I think, admit that that is an. exceedingly high rate of duty. In South Australia we have hada duty of 15s. per dozen, and I do not believe that there are more than about 21 persons engaged in the manufacture, or rather the “ finishing,” of hats there. The duty of 1 5s. per dozen on the total imports into South Australia for 1900, which were valued at £9,062, amounted to 44 per cent.ad valorem. But the 10s. per dozen and 15 per cent.. ad valorem rate are an increase upon that, because it represents 50 per cent., bearing.out the figures which I have already given in respect to other importations into Victoria.. Then again, the industry, besides the natural and the State protection winch it enjoys, receives a further protection, owing; to the fact that the raw material is produced here. I find, for example, that during the years1899 and 1900 the average im-. ports ofhatters’ furs represented only £1,000 in value. These figures indicate that the industry enjoys, in addition to the natural and State protection, a further considerable protection by reason of the fact that practically the whole of the raw material can he supplied in Australia. The employment in this industry is exceedingly fitful. For example, in Victoria, in 1885, 581 hands were employed. Since then the number has fluctuated very considerably, reaching 640 in 1896, and in 1899 giving an average employment for the whole year to 809 persons. It has been stated that there is no hat industry in New South Wales. The honorable and learned member for Werriwa very properly corrected that statement, because I find that in 1895 there were65 hands engaged in it, and in 1900, 280 hands.

Mr Watson:

– Not in felt-hat making.

Mr GLYNN:

– The figures which I have given are taken from the Statistical Register. The honorable member for Yarra has spoken of the price. Of course, in connexion with the question of price one has to consider the quality. I have here some invoices and statements regarding the quality of hats, but I admit that it is exceedingly difficult to obtain reliable evidence. Instead of relying on the statements of experts as to quality, I prefer to take as a guide the export of hats from Victoria.. In 1899 the Victorian exports of manufactured felt hats was valued at only £764, and in 1900 they represented only £527. The total number of the same class; of hats exported from this State during the years mentioned was respectively 4,386 and 3,769. These figures indicate that Victoria is not a very great exporter to a. market in which the competition of a freetrade country has been open. She has not been able to take possession of the New South Wales market, and, therefore, the quality of Victorian hats stands condemned. Coming to the question of price, I have been supplied by an agent with the relative price in Melbourne and Sydney of felt hats of as nearly as can be estimated equal quality. In Melbourne men’s imported soft felt hats are sold at from 42s. to 60s. per dozen. In Sydney the prices range from 6s. 6d. to 60s. per dozen. In Melbourne the prices of men’s hard felt hats ‘range from 34s. 6d. to 60s. per dozen whilst in Sydney they cost from 10s. to 70s. per dozen. The’ price of American felt hats in the two cities is practically the same, because the duty of 2s. 6d. per dozen, which has hitherto been imposed in Victoria, has been practically inoperative. The price of straw hats in Melbourne range from 12s. to 42s. a dozen, and from 3s. 6d. upwards in Sydney. Therefore, we have a test as regards quality, which condemns the protected hats, and a further test as regards price, which shows that they can be purchased of as good quality, and at as low a price in a free-trade country as they can in a protectionist country. Therefore, I shall not support the retention of the duty proposed.

Mr MAUGER:
Melbourne Ports

Mr THOMSON:

– I have heard a good deal said about Italian and other hats’, but I find that only four hats were imported into Victoria from Italy last year, and that most of the others came from the United Kingdom. The honorable member for Melbourne Ports asked why no hat factories had been” established in Sydney, and the answer is that we believe that the best reward for both the employer and the employe’ is to be obtained in the development of the natural industries of the country - primary in- dustries in the first place. Around these primary industries manufactories will be established by natural growth. If industries cannot be maintained without the support of protective duties, the cost to the workers, who get no ‘protection, becomes too great, and that is why there has been no attempt to establish hat factories under protection in Sydney. The honorable member for Melbourne Ports, speaking of trusts, has expressed the opinion that unbridled competition is not desirable, and that the wage earners employed under trusts get higher wages than those otherwise employed. Therefore, he rather favours trusts. Does he not see, however, that it is only the wage earners employed by the trusts who benefit by these high wages. The trusts force up prices and very properly pay a high wage to those employed by them, but the article they place on the market is sold at a higher price in consequence, and the rest of the community are injured rather than benefited. I think that the admixture of these duties is very undesirable, and that we ought to get rid of it once and for all. In the selection of fixed and ad valorem duties, we should be guided by the circumstances in each particular case. Where goods do not vary much in value, fixed duties can be properly applied, but where values fluctuate and qualities have a wide range, as in the case of hats, the ad valorem duty is the best to impose. In imposing composite duties, the Ministry have departed from the very principle they have advocated, because the fixed duty imposes the heaviest tax upon the lowest priced article. The exact extent of the duty should, be set out straightforwardly in the schedule, and that is all that is desired by the Opposition.

Mr PIESSE:
Tasmania

– We are very much indebted to honorable members for the information which they have given to the committee, and the honorable member for Melbourne Ports is to be congratulated on the way in which he has presented his case. We have to consider what is the proper thing to do under all the circumstances. We find that the duties proposed by the Government range from 37£ to 150 per cent., without taking into account the import charges, which average about 30 per cent, more. Over the greater part of the Commonwealth the duties on hats have hitherto ranged from 15 to 25 per cent., whilst in New South Wales’ there has been no duty at all. Under Inter-State free-trade thehatmaking industries which are established in Victoria will have an extended market for their products, and, whilst I am prepared to avoid doing anything which would unduly hamper them in the carrying out their work, which they have brought to an admirable state of perfection, I cannot consent to the imposition of rates which will give them such a large measure of assistance as the Government propose. It is stated that the hat-making industry has not prospered to such a great extent as it should have done. I have been looking at the balancesheet of the company, which has been previously referred to, and I find that it discloses a thoroughly sound and healthy state of affairs. The balance-sheet appears to have been honestly prepared, but I was somewhat surprised to find that the factory building, which is of large dimensions, is valued at only £1 1,000, and that the whole of the machinery is set down as being worth £4,000. Either the company have been very fortunate in securing their buildings and plant at such a low cost, or they have applied some portion of their profits to the writing down of values. They certainly have made a very good beginning, and if they receive a protection .of a 25 per cent, duty they should be able to profitably exploit the extended market which will now be open to them. That is all the help that I am prepared to give them, and I shall oppose the composite duty proposed by the Government ?

Mr. BARTON (Hunter- Minister for

External Affairs). - I have asked the honorable member for Wentworth to continue his remarks to-morrow. We have to meet early to-morrow morning, andI think the kindest course is to allow honorable members to catch their trains.

Progress reported.

page 8363

ADJOURNMENT

Friday Sittings

Mr BARTON:
Minister for External Affairs · Hunter · Protectionist

– I move -

That the House do now adjourn.

It is only fair to intimate that I think we shall have to continue the sitting to-morrow a good deal later than the ordinary hour.

Mr CONROY:
Werriwa

– I should like to know definitely whether it is intended to sit sifter four o’clock?

Mr Barton:

– Yes.

Mr CONROY:

– That course will deprive New South Wales and South Australian members of the opportunity of returning to their States to look after their own business, and if we sit after four o’clock, I think we might as well carry on the business until twelve o’clock on Saturday night. After our 33 hours’ sitting the other day, I rather regretted that we did not continue straight ahead instead of adjourning at 11.30 in the evening. I think the Ministry should give at least a week’s notice of their intention to sit after four o’clock on Friday afternoons. (House counted.) It should be remembered that we are now sitting every day in the week, and that this week we have had one sitting of 33 hours’ duration.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

– I do not think the Prime Minister is quite fair. What 1 understood him to say on a previous occasion in regard to Friday sittings was that, if sufficient progress had not been made by four o’clock, the Ministry would find it necessary to continue, the sitting, and I indorsed that statement. I think we might let the understanding remain at that for the present, instead of coming to an absolute decision to continue our sittings after four p.m.

Mr. BARTON (Hunter- Minister for External Affairs). - What I said on a former occasion was that if sufficient progress was not made we should have to sit later on Fridays, as well as on other sitting days. It must be remembered that we are now within two or three weeks of Christmas. Some time ago I stated that, owing to the pass to which public business had come, we should have to sit later on Fridays. I am not deterred by the threats uttered from a certain quarter, and I am sure that they are not made with the concurrence of the leader of the Opposition.

Sir William McMillan:

– The right honorable member said definitely that he would sit after four o’clock to-morrow.

Mr BARTON:

– Yes, but if a satisfactory amount of progress is made before that hour I shall not object to an adjournment. When I said that we. should probably have to sit late, I was speaking from a calm retrospection of our proceedings hitherto. If we can adjourn at four o’clock I shall be very happy.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

House adjourned at 11.33 p.m.

Cite as: Australia, House of Representatives, Debates, 5 December 1901, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/hofreps/1901/19011205_reps_1_6/>.

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House of Representatives 5 December 1901

ERSKINEVILLE POST-OFFICE

QUESTION

PREFERENTIAL RAILWAY RATES

Mr THOMAS:BARRIER, NEW SOUTH WALES

Sir WILLIAM LYNE:Minister for Home Affairs · HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · Protectionist

Mr Thomas:

Sir WILLIAM LYNE:

Mr KIRWAN:KALGOORLIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA · FT

Sir WILLIAM LYNE:

CUSTOMS REVENUE

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Sir GEORGE TURNER:Treasurer · BALACLAVA, VICTORIA · Protectionist

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

QUESTION

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS

Mr THOMSON:NORTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr HUME COOK:BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

Mr KINGSTON:Minister for Trade and Customs · SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · Protectionist

QUESTION

AD VALOREM DUTIES

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr KINGSTON:Protectionist

QUESTION

DUTY ON PACKET TEA

Mr E SOLOMON:FREMANTLE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr KINGSTON:Protectionist

PERSONAL EXPLANATION

Mr PIESSE:Tasmania

Mr KNOX:Kooyong

Sir MALCOLM McEACHARN:Melbourne

Mr MAHON:COOLGARDIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Sir PHILIP FYSH:Minister (without portfolio) · TASMANIA, TASMANIA · Free Trade

QUESTION

INCREMENTS OF TRANSFERRED OFFICERS

Mr JOSEPH COOK:PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

Mr BARTON:Minister for External Affairs · HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES · Protectionist

QUESTION

CUSTOMS AND EXCISE RETURNS

Mr MAHON:

Sir GEORGE TURNER:Protectionist

Mr Mahon:

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

QUESTION

POST-OFFICE OFFICIALS

Mr FULLER:ILLAWARRA, NEW SOUTH WALES

Sir PHILIP FYSH:Free Trade

QUESTION

THE TARIFF

Mr THOMAS:Barrier

Mr KINGSTON:South AustraliaMinister for Trade and Customs · Protectionist

Mr Thomas:

Mr KINGSTON:

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:Wentworth

Mr Thomas:

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

Mr Kingston:

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

Mr Kingston:

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

Sir George Turner:

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

Sir George Turner:

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

Mr MAHON:Coolgardie

Sir George Turner:

Mr MAHON:COOLGARDIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA · ALP

Mr HUME COOK:BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

Mr MAHON:

Mr Kingston:

Mr MAHON:

Mr Piesse:

Mr MAHON:

Mr Piesse:

Mr MAHON:

Mr MAHON:

Mr McCAY:Corinella

Mr Mahon:

Mr McCAY:

House of Representatives
5 December 1901

Mr THOMAS:
BARRIER, NEW SOUTH WALES

Sir WILLIAM LYNE:
Minister for Home Affairs · HUME, NEW SOUTH WALES · Protectionist

Mr KIRWAN:
KALGOORLIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Sir GEORGE TURNER:
Treasurer · BALACLAVA, VICTORIA · Protectionist

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr THOMSON:
NORTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

Mr KINGSTON:
Minister for Trade and Customs · SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · Protectionist

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr KINGSTON:
Protectionist

Mr E SOLOMON:
FREMANTLE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr KINGSTON:
Protectionist

Mr PIESSE:
Tasmania

Mr KNOX:
Kooyong

Sir MALCOLM McEACHARN:
Melbourne

Mr MAHON:
COOLGARDIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Sir PHILIP FYSH:
Minister (without portfolio) · TASMANIA, TASMANIA · Free Trade

Mr JOSEPH COOK:
PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

Mr BARTON:
Minister for External Affairs · HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES · Protectionist

Sir GEORGE TURNER:
Protectionist

Mr FULLER:
ILLAWARRA, NEW SOUTH WALES

Sir PHILIP FYSH:
Free Trade

Mr THOMAS:
Barrier

Mr KINGSTON:
South AustraliaMinister for Trade and Customs · Protectionist

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

Mr MAHON:
Coolgardie

Mr MAHON:
COOLGARDIE, WESTERN AUSTRALIA · ALP

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

Mr McCAY:
Corinella

Sir GEORGE TURNER:
Protectionist

Mr G B EDWARDS:
SOUTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr CONROY:
Werriwa

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

Mr WATSON:
Bland

Sir WILLIAM LYNE:
Minister for Home Affairs · Hume · Protectionist

Mr GLYNN:
South Australia

Sir MALCOLM McEACHARN:
Melbourne

Mr FOWLER:
Perth

Mr MAUGER:
Melbourne Ports

Sir GEORGE TURNER:
Protectionist

Mr BATCHELOR:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Mr JOSEPH COOK:
PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

Mr G B EDWARDS:
SOUTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr McCAY:
Corinella

Mr JOSEPH COOK:
PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910; NAT from 1917

Mr CONROY:
Werriwa

Sir GEORGE TURNER:
Protectionist

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

Mr SALMON:
Laanecoorie

Mr PHILLIPS:
Wimmera

Mr O’MALLEY:
Tasmania

Mr A McLEAN:
GIPPSLAND, VICTORIA · PROT

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT