House of Representatives
12 December 1901

1^st Parliament · 1^st Session

PACIFIC ISLAND LABOURERS BILL
IMMIGRATION RESTRICTION BILL
TARIFF
PUNISHMENT OF OFFENCES BILL

The Speaker took the Chair at 10.30 a.m., and read prayers.

page 8632

PACIFIC ISLAND LABOURERS BILL

In Committee (consideration of Senate’s amendments.)

Mr BARTON:
Minister for External Affairs · Hunter · Protectionist

– The amendments made by the Senate in this Bill are so slight that I see no reason why I should not ask the committee to agree to them. I accordingly move -

That the committee agree to the amendments made by the Senate in this Bill.

If honorable members will look at clause 8, lines 43 and 44’, page 2, they will see that the words originally in the Bill, “ returned to the place from which he was originally brought into,” have been replaced by the words “deported from.” This, of course, refers to the removal of Pacific Islanders from the Commonwealth. In line 44, the word “deported” is substituted for the word “ returned,” and in the same clause, on the next page, lines 3 and 4, the words, “ returned to the place from which he was originally brought into,” are omitted, and thewords “deported from” substituted. The last amendment is in the same clause, in the fourth line, and consists of the substitution of “’ deported “ for “ returned.” These alterations make no practical difference in the Bill.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

– I agree with the Prime Minister that the amendments are of no great importance, and I suppose they are improvements from the draughtsman’s point of view.

Mr CONROY:
Werriwa

– I have a strong objection to agreeing to any amendments, until we have had an opportunity of discussing them. For aught we know, these amendments may be very important.

Mr BARTON:

– In order that it may not be for ‘one moment supposed that the Government are unduly forcing the Bill through, I would call attention to the fact that the amendments have been circulated since Monday last, and that I intimated yesterday that I should be obliged if honorable members would familiarize themselves with them before the Bill came under discussion to-day.

Mr GLYNN:
South Australia

– These alterations are something more than verbal amendments. The Bill as passed by this Chamber provided that Pacific Islanders whose agreements had expired, and who were found in the Commonwealth after a certain date, might be sent back to the places from which they were originally taken. Under the provision as altered, however, whilst the islanders may be expelled from the Commonwealth, there is no obligation on the part of the Government to return them to the islands from which they came. No doubt it will be of some advantage to the Government to be able to simply deport these labourers, but it would be a little more humane to return them to their homes.

Mr Deakin:

– Some of them specially desire that they should not be sent back to their homes.

Sir William McMillan:

– It is a humane provision.

Mr GLYNN:

– Humanity lies rather in the direction of returning these men to the islands where their family connexions are.

Mr Barton:

– The trouble is that sometimes their family connexions want to cook and eat them.

Mr. CONROY (Werriwa). - I think that the committee might very well devote some consideration to the substantial difference made in the Bill by these amendments. The Bill as it now stands confers power that we should not dare to exercise in the case of the subject of any civilized power, and I strongly object to giving the Government power which may be exercised with extreme harshness, and in such a way as to place these islanders in peril of their lives. These men have left their islands under agreement with us, and after remaining here some time, and conforming to our laws, they have a right to expect to be returned to the places from which they were brought. The committee ought to be extremely careful in dealing with this matter, and the islanders should certainly have the right to require to be returned to their homes. I am afraid that’ very little consideration will be shown to the islanders, who have no power to make representations on their own behalf. What should we think if it were proposed by the British Government to deport our Australian soldiers from South Africa to India, instead of returning them to their homes here ?

Mr Kingston:

– Does the honorable member compare our soldiers with kanakas ?

Mr CONROY:

– No, I do not, but the same spirit of justice ought to prevail in one case as in the other, and what we should object to where our own men are involved we should not permit to be done in regard to these islanders. The Parliament that is dead to all considerations of right and wrong is not fit to legislate for the people of Australia, and if we do injustice in a case of this kind Nemesis will surely pursue us. A nation has to pay for its wrong-doing in just the same way as has the individual. I protest against an alteration of such importance being treated in this flippant way.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - Of course the object which the Senate has in view is very clear. At the same time, it would have been better if the Chamber had used a qualifying phrase by which, if a kanaka did not desire to be returned to the island from whence he came, he should be given the option of deportation to some other place. But after all, this is chiefly a matter of administration, and we must assume that humanitarian feelings will prevail in every department of the Commonwealth. As the Bill left this House, it was clearly the intention of the Ministry to return the Polynesian labourers to the islands from whence they came ; but under all the circumstances, I think that we can reasonably leave this matter to the administration of whatever Government may happen to be in power, especially as the provision in the measure relating to the deportation of the islanders will not become operative for some years.

Mr BARTON:

– I should like to remove any fear which may exist in the minds of honorable members that the amendment involves anything in the nature of cruelty to the kanakas. The effect of the amendment is that the validity of the clause - that is to say the action within its rights by the Commonwealth - is made clear beyond all doubt or cavil. Its humanitarian effect is that provision is made for cases in which it would be a very gross cruelty to return a kanaka to the island from which he came. Take, for example, the case of a kanaka who has broken a tribal law by marrying a native of some other island. It would be his death warrant to return him to the placefrom whence he came. Therefore opportunities must be given for that kind of deportation w,bich will place him in the least risk. Again, under clause 8, the Pacific Islander need not be brought before the court if it is seen that there isno deportation possible which would not involve, perhaps, the destruction , of his life. It is for this reason that an officer authorized in that behalf “ may “ bring before the court of summary jurisdiction a Pacific Island labourer found in Australia before the 31st December, 19.06. The word “may” . has been used in order that if there should happen to be any special case in which it would be tantamount , to killing aman to deport him to a particular island, an opportunity shall be given the officer toawait instructions from his Ministerial head.

Mr. HENRY WILLIS (Robertson).I think that the clause as it was originally drafted is more humane than is the amendment oftheSenate. Under the amendment I find that it is possible to deport a kanaka to the Solomon Islands, although ‘he may have been originally brought from the New Hebrides. If a “ darkie “ belonging to the New Hebrides were deported to the Solomon Islands,he would in all probability be eaten. Under the clause in its original form the Government had some responsibility, butunder the amendment of the Senate they will have no responsibility whatever. They can deport a ship loadof kanakas -to any island in the Pacific which they may select. I agree with the acting leader of the Opposition, and I am sorry that the Government have seen fit to agree with the amendment.

Mr PIESSE:
Tasmania

– If I thought there was any possibility of the amendment affecting the treatment to be meted out to Pacific Islanders, except for the better, I should join in the protest of the honorable and learned member for Werriwa. But I am afraid that he used very ill-considered words when he said this House was wanting in feelings of humanity and justice. If the original words of the clause had been retained, and a mistake had occurred, it is true that there would have been a slight legal remedy. But if a mistake is made under the provision as it now stands, will there not be an equal remedy ? If the administration is wrongly conducted a remedy -still exists, gust as much as if the original words had been retained.

Mr R EDWARDS:
OXLEY, QUEENSLAND · PROT; FT from 1913; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910

-I think there is a great deal in the protest of the honorable and learned member for Werriwa.. Under the original [agreement made between the kanakas and the Queensland Government, it was provided that the islanders at the end of three years should be returned, if they so desired, to the places from whence they came. But the desire to get rid of the kanaka atany cost seems to be dominant in this Chamber. Apparently it would not matter if he were taken out beyond the three-mile radius, and dropped overboard. TheBill, in its original form, was very much better than it is , as amended by the Senate. I trust that the amendment will not be accepted. At any rate, let us treat the islanders with some leniency, and either return them to their native places, or to some other island which they may select.

Mr FISHER:
Wide Bay

– I am sorry to differ from the honorable member for Oxley. I think that he is entirely wrong in imagining that the amendment will do an injustice to the Polynesians. Knowing the honorable member as I do, I am satisfied that he has not examined this matter very carefully, otherwise he would not have given utterance to the sentiments which he has expressed. If the amendment were intended to provide for the deportationof the kanakas, not , to the islands : to which they desired to go, but to some other place, there would be something in the contention of the honorable member. But this amendment under proper administration wjll allow of the kanaka being returned either to his own island, or if it is feared that he will lose his. life by being deported there, to some other island.

Mr R EDWARDS:
OXLEY, QUEENSLAND · PROT; FT from 1913; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910

– The Bill does not say so.

Mr FISHER:

– We cannot put every detail into a Bill of this kind. The assumption of the honorable member is that the bench, before which a kanakais brought, will be so corrupt and unworthy as to return him to the place where he is likely to lose his life. Does the honorable member believe that any bench - and especially a Queensland bench - will do an injustice to the kanaka? I think that the Senate has discovered a slight flaw in the Bill as it originally stood. The amendment made by that Chamber is a desirable one in the interests of the kanaka and of humanity generally.

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– It appears to me that theopposition to the amendment of the Senate proceeds from an assumption that the authorities will haveneither sense nor humanity. As far as I can see, the amendment simply gives a discretion - and a proper discretion - to the executive authorities to deport the kanaka to any place which they may think fit. Are we to assume that there is ever going to be an executive ‘authority in Australia which will administer this measure in other than a spirit of humanity and justice? The honorable member for Oxley seems to imagine that this House has an inveterate hatred of the kanaka. To me, it appears that the spirit underlying this Bill is owe of protection to the white population of Australia, but it is not one of antagonism or hatred towards the Polynesians in any way. It is quite impossible to imagine that this law will beadministered other than in a spirit of justice andhumanity. The honorable and learnedmember for Werriwa entertains a fear that a Government, out of mere caprice, may send a kanaka to his doom. Ithinkthattheamendmentisintended to arm the authorities with adiscretion to deport the kanaka to the place from whence he caine, or, in the event of that course being dangerous, to send him to some other place where his life will be spared. Is my honorable friend afraid that some authority isgoing to rise up in Australia and act in a spirit of caprice or of hatred towards the kanaka? To imagine such a thing is not only to show a want of faith in the authorities, but also in that spirit of justice and humanity which has always characterized the British people. I do not say that the amendment could not have been framed in more definite terms, but, as it stands, I am certain that it is not likely to be administered in any spirit of harshness towards the kanaka.

Sir MALCOLM MCEACHARN:
Melbourne

– I am inclined to think that the amendment really constitutes an improvement upon the Bill, because it may happen that an island from which one of these kanakas came has virtually become depopulated. We know that many of these Polynesians have been in Queensland for a number of years, and it is ‘possible that a decision may be arrived at to deport these very men. In that case it would be unwise to send them to islands which contain only a few people. Therefore, it should be in thediscretion of those who administer the law to determine to what islands they shall be sent. Personally, I should have preferred thatthechoice of the island to which the kanaka shall be deported should havebeen left to himself. Ifit were possible I would like that doneeven now, but I do not see any great objection in the amendment made ‘by the Senate.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Resolution reported ; report adopted.

page 8635

IMMIGRATION RESTRICTION BILL

In Committee (consideration of Senate’s amendments).

Mr BARTON:
Minister for External Affairs · Hunter · Protectionist

– In this case I have no difficulty in moving -

Thatthe committee agree tothe amendments made by the Senate in this Bill.

Mr McCAY:
Corinella

– It is a very interesting question, from a legal point of view, as to how far our power to expressly repeal exists in regard to State Acts.

Sir Malcolm Mceacharn:

– We repealed. State Acts in the Post-office Bill.

Mr Barton:

– The question does not arise in this case.

Mr McCAY:

– First of all I think the question does not arise here. There can be no doubt about the implied repeal in this case, and even if the question did arise, we should in no way be sacrificing our power, privileges, or rights by accepting the amendment of the Senate. It is far more important to get this measure passed by the two Houses, and to obtain the Royal assent, than to raise the question as to the propriety of putting certain Acts in the schedule. Interesting as the subject is, this is hardly the time or occasion on which to raise the question. My own personal opinion is that itis very doubtful whether we can repeal State Acts expressly, and I have my doubts as to whether the schedule would carry us any further. As I say, even if the question did arise in the present case, it would be undesirable to raise a point of the kind, which is a mere matter of form as compared with the importance of the substance.

Sir JOHN QUICK:
Bendigo

– The point which is -now feeing discussed was raised in connexion with the Post and Telegraph BUI, .and the Defence Bill. I remember contending at the time .that this Parliament has no power to expressly repeal State laws, and that we have to rely upon the principle -of inconsistency and repugnancy. The matter was, te a certain extent, compromised in the Postal Bill toy inserting the words “The following Acts shall not apply.” Those were words of vague signification, and certainly did not amount to an express repeal. I am still of opinion that there is no power in this Parliament to expressly repeal, but that we are limited .by the provision of the Constitution, that where the law of a State is inconsistent with, or .repugnant to, a law of the Commonwealth, -the Commonwealth law shall prevail. Therefore, I hope that the committee will not assent to the (proposition which has been made. I consider that there is no justification for the contention of the acting leader of the Opposition that the.amendments of the Senate in this respect should not be accepted.

Mr CONROY:
Werriwa

– I take it that the words which have been struck out by the Senate were agreed to by this House after full consideration . A discussion took place here in regard to the original provision in the Bill, and I see no reason why we should now depart from our first decision merely to prevent a little trouble. One of our reasons for legislating upon this matter was that it was a subject with which tine States could not adequately deal, legislating independently ; and if the Bill has been properly drawn - and I think it has - it substitutes for the varying laws of the States one uniform Commonwealth law. The aim of a Parliament should be to make laws as few .and as simple as possible. One would think, however, that we were trying to create work for lawyers, because it is proposed to leave in existence the laws of six States, and to add to them a Commonwealth law. But let us try to forget that there is a legal Ministry at the head of affairs, and to remember that the great bulk of the people outside are not interested in the creation of lawyer’s discussions. If I were to speak as a lawyer, I should say the more laws the merrier, because the more laws, the more work for the lawyers ; but laymen- are interested in having as few laws as possible.

One of the reasons why I supported the original clause was that it reduced the number of State laws. If this .legal Ministry are .going to .multiply laws, the sooner ‘we make >a change the ‘better. If the various State laws -are already sufficient, there is .no necessity for -adding .a Commonwealth law; but if we pass a ‘Commonwealth law-, we should put an end to the -operation of ‘the State laws.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - I think that the committee willdowell to dissent from “the amendments of the Senate, and, therefore, I move -

That the motion be amended by inserting after the word “ committee”-the words “dissent from amendments Ho. 1, 2, 4, and o.”

Mr BARTON:

– Difficulties and complications would have arisen, I admit, without that section in the Constitution, but its object is that where there is a conflict between a Commonwealth law and State legislation, or where it appears that the Commonwealth law within the powers granted is intended to supersede the State law the question is avoided as to which law is to prevail. But, on the other hand, where there is some little doubt and dispute is in this direction - that there is in the Constitution no express power given to repeal a State law. There is power given to pass laws inconsistent with State laws, but it is a point much mooted amongst lawyers as to whether in the absence of an express power to repeal we can exercise a repealing power. Therefore, our safest course is, as far as we can, to cover all the ground of existing State legislation, and to give an application to our law far beyond that of the State legislation, which we must, if we want to make it uniform throughout the Commonwealth. When we have done that, as in this case, then all the State Acts disappear and we are not helped by passing a repealing clause while there remains some doubt as to the power to repeal. I admit that the question of the power to repeal will have to be hereafter settled by a court of justice.

Sir William McMillan:

– Is there not less chance of anything occurring to bring about litigation by our specifically putting in this provision whether we have the repealing power or not ?

Mr BARTON:

– I do not think so ; if I thought it would add one straw’s weight to the effectiveness of the Bill, I, should agree to the course which my honorable friend proposes, but it would only lead to more delay, without any increase of efficiency. I must ask the committee to accept the proposition of the Government.

Mr. McCAY (Corinella). - I would suggest to the leader of the Opposition that he might withdraw his motion. As I understand the Constitution, we have the power of legislation on certain subjects, and the States have the power of legislating on those subjects, retained to the extent to which their legislation is not inconsistent with Commonwealth law. If we pass an Act dealing with the whole subject which the States have dealt with, then any provision in the State Acts which does not agree with our legislation is inconsistent, and is, therefore, repealed by implication, and nothing is added by our specifically repealing the Acts, assuming that we have the power to do it. But the provision that practically State legislation shall be good so ‘far as it is not inconsistent with Federal legislation leads to a strong inference - - I do not say the matter is concluded - that we have not power to repeal a State Act, because any provision in- that Act not inconsistent with our legislation would not be repealed although we professed to do so. A question was raised as to whether the repeal would be of any use unless we could show some substantive enactment of our own inconsistent with legislation we professed to repeal. The proper place to raise that point is in some case where our law does not cover the whole ground, and where we purport to repeal the State laws. I am afraid that the Constitution is defective in this respect - that it does not enable us to repeal Slate laws unless we can also point to a substantive enactment on our part inconsistent with them, and if we are able to point to such a substantive enactment, direct repeal is valueless ; it does not carry us a bit further. Although I do not think the matter is concluded, I am afraid that we may have to say to the State legislatures - “ We have legislated on this subject : will you pass a formal measure repealing your State laws dealing with that subject 1 “ That is the way in which we shall be able to clear the ground of unnecessary Acts of Parliament, but I am very doubtful whether ire can do it ourselves. In this particular case I do not think there is any doubt that the ground is fully covered, and so far from preventing litigation the insertion of such a schedule would, I think, in this case be more likely to create litigation. One honorable member has suggested that lawyers desire a multiplicity of laws, lt is a very great mistake to hold that opinion, because it is a great nuisance to have to read new laws. One of the curses of a lawyer’s occupation is the continual stream of fresh legislation which he has to peruse. There is quite enough material for rows between laymen without having fresh legislation passed to enable further troubles to arise. In this case the schedule cannot be of any use. If it produced any result it could only be an injurious one. It could only conduce to harm ; it could not conduce to good. Therefore I hope that the Senate’s amendment will be agreed to without a division, and indeed without lengthy debate.

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

– The honorable and learned member for Corinella suggested that the way out of the difficulty would be to ask the States to repeal the State laws which are covered by the Commonwealth law, but he seems to have overlooked section 10S of the Constitution, which says -

Every law in force in a colony which has become or becomes a State, and relating to any matter within the powers of the Parliament of the Commonwealth, shall, subject to this Constitution, continue in force in the State; and until provision is made in that behalf by the Parliament of the Commonwealth, the Parliament of the State shall have such powers of alteration and of repeal in respect of any such law as the Parliament of the colony had until the colonY became a State.

Mr PIESSE:
Tasmania

– One consideration that should appeal to the committee is that we should endeavour to be consistent with ourselves. This question has not now been raised for the first time. It has been raised several times in this House in connexion with Bills, in which State Acts were involved. Especially was it raised in regard to the Post and Telegraph Bill. In that Bill there was a direct repeal clause. In the Bill as introduced, there was this provision : “ State” Acts specified in the first schedule to this Act are repealed to the extent’ in the said schedule indicated:” That was the provision as passed in the Senate and brought to this House ; but when it left this House it’ was altered to the following form : “ Every State Act specified in the first schedule shall cease to apply to the postal and telegraphic service of the Commonwealth.” That is to say, we did not repeal the Postal

– Unless there is a court before which an offender can be brought, the whole Bill will be inoperative, it seems to me.

Mr Deakin:

– I would not quite say that, but at all events the Government are introducing a measure to make that matter plain.

Mr. GLYNN (South Australia).- I hold that the safer course for the Government to adopt would be to expressly repeal the State Acts affected by this Bill.

Mr Barton:

– I am not going to do it.

Mr GLYNN:

– I am not trying to force the hand of the Government in the matter. It is a very delicate question, and one which ought to be adequately mooted. The very fact that Government Bills appear on the file with the provision that I recommend contained in them, shows, at all events, that they thought at one stage that it would be advisable to express in the schedule the State Acts it was intended to repeal. But what I rose more particularly to point out is that there ought to be no misapprehension as to the effect of expressly mentioning the State Acts in the schedule. To do so would not involve the whole Act if the power to repeal does not exist under the Constitution. The effect would simply be that the provision would be nugatory.

Mr Deakin:

– And misleading.

Mr GLYNN:

– No, because it would not contradict section 109 of the Constitution, which savs that Commonwealth legislation shall prevail when it is inconsistent with State legislation. But what it would do is that, if we have power to repeal, any one who wishes to find out what is the Commonwealth intention or law on a particular matter would only have to turn up the Federal Act to see what local Acts were repealed. But if we do not express the Acts repealed, in order to understand what the law on the point was one would have to look not only to the Federal Act, but to the State Acts, and would also have to become a judge as to the consistency or inconsistency of concurrent provisions. That is a difficult and invidious task to impose even on a lawyer, who had to advise as to what was the Australian law on the point in question. Therefore because no harm can be done by direct appeal, and because some good may be done thereby, it will I think be better to specify the local Acts which are repealed. Besides that, this is the only way in which to secure a judicial decision upon the point. The question of our competency to repeal State Acts can never be decided in a court of justice, unless we take the course I recommend. We shall always have to rely on the question of consistency or inconsistency, because until we have exercised this supposed power no court can decide on the existence of such a power. Therefore I think it is a mistake that the Minister does not insert these words to facilitate a decision on the point as to what the Commonwealth law on the subject is.

Sir WILLIAM MCMILLAN (Wentworth). - The time has not been wasted in this discussion, and it is just as well that it should have taken place, because it has enlarged the view of many lay members of the committee. I feel that in a matter of this kind, where the Prime Minister, who is an undoubted authority, and the AttorneyGeneral both agree, the committee should give very great weight to their opinion. It is not, I consider, a matter upon which we should divide, and I therefore beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Resolution reported ; report adopted.

page 8644

TARIFF

In Committee qf Ways and Means :

Consideration resumed from 11th December (vide page 8590).

Item 74. - Manufactures of Metal, viz. : - Agricultural, horticultural, and viticultural machinery and implements, n.e.i., including mould boards, shares, and plough plates cut to shape, sheep shearing machines, horse gears ; engines, portable, fixed on a locomotive boiler horizontally, with wheels and shafts suitable for transport, traction and oil engines, and roadmaking ploughs and machines, ad valorem 15 per cent.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

– We have passed the item “agricultural, horticultural, and viticultural machinery and implements, n.e.i.,” and I should like to know from the Minister in charge how he proposesto deal with the other articles referred to in this section.

Mr Kingston:

– We are prepared to do what is most convenient, and we propose to take each of the other articles separately, dealing first with “mould boards.”

Sir WILLIAM MCMILLAN:

– We have on this side been endeavouring to carry out as far as possible our intention to provide for revenue without destruction. I wish to reiterate that the exception in seeking to have these items placed upon the free list is due to the fact that we feel that the people interested are in an exceptional position. There may be certain revenue duties which extend to the whole population upon articles which are fairly open for revenue purposes, but I wish to tell my right honorable friends that if we are going to have these duties fixed at the enormously high rate of duty which we passed last night, which will, in fact, amount to 30 per cent., and will, in many cases, be absolutely prohibitive, we must, in the interests of the people, try for some compensation. We have been trying, all through the debate on the Tariff, to create something like a principle. As some very clever writer in one of the papers has said, the object of the Opposition has been “ to get back to Maitland.” We have got back to Maitland on one or two occasions, but in some instances we have only been able to get half way, and last night we did not get even there As far as our party is concerned, we are willing to carry out that compact and vote for moderate duties, which will be revenue bearing, and may have at the same time an incidental protective effect.

The CHAIRMAN:

– I call the honorable member’s attention to the fact that the item before the committee is “Mould boards.”

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

– I want to have a clear understanding, because if we cannot get the people interested some substantial assistance in connexion with the rates to be levied on these articles, we must try in other revenue producing items to give them some compensation. I do not desire to pose as an authority upon these matters, and as there are many of the articles here referred to which have peculiar characteristics, history, and circumstances connected with them, I should be glad if honorable members, and especially those coming from country districts, would give the committee the benefit of their information. Apart from all prejudices of party, honorable members representing Victorian agricultural districts are intelligent men, and understand the working of such a Tariff, and I ask them to give the committee the fullest possible information as to how the peopleusing these articles will be affected. We shall be dealing with articles now which should be free or under no protection whatever, but having passed a duty of 15 per cent, upon agricultural implements, if we can give a reasonable amount of relief to the farmers, even on the other items in this section, we may to some extent retrace our steps. I am not an authority upon mouldboards, and therefore I shall not propose any amendment at the present stage. I hope that honorable members in view of the condition of those who are really developing Australia, will consider each of these items carefully and indicate how they should be dealt with.

Sir MALCOLM MCEACHARN:
Melbourne

– Ihave an amendmentin connexion with mould boards - that straight mould board plates cut to shape, but unbent, should be admitted free. There is no desire to place in the list of exemptions mould boards which are already bent. We cannot manufacture a certain class of plates here as we have no machinery to deal with them, but if they are bent after arriving here the operation will give employment to workmen in the Commonwealth. The mould board is the part of a plough which comes behind the share and throws the mould over as the plough goes through the ground. The desire is only to admit free the mould board plates which are not exactly finished, and the bending of which would give a certain amount of employment.

Mr Kingston:

– What the honorable member proposes to do can be dealt with when we come to consider the list of exemptions.

Sir MALCOLM MCEACHARN:

– I do not understand how we can place amongst the exemptions that which we havealready decided shall be liable to a duty.

Sir George Turner:

– That is the very object of considering a list of exemptions.

Sir MALCOLM MCEACHARN:

– I accept the right honorable gentlemen’s decision, but I point out that many honorable members attend here in order to bring a particular matter under the attention of the committee. I have come here this morning at veryconsiderable inconvenience, and I think it is unfair that I should not now be able to move this amendment, and that the matter should be postponed.

Mr KINGSTON:
South AustraliaMinister for Trade and Customs · Protectionist

– I am sure the honorable member will not object to our following the usual course, which has been adopted hitherto and found convenient. We first define the articles which are to be dutiable, and we then consider the question of exemptions, and honorable members are then able to move for the inclusion of various articles in the list.

Sir Malcolm McEacharn:

– Will the right honorable gentleman accept the amendment now, and put it in at the proper time?

Mr KINGSTON:

– I cannot accept it at present.

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– The honor able member for Melbourne should have given some information as to the number of people employed in bending these mould board plates. I do not think it is a very large and important industry which the committee need be asked to specially consider. It would be more consistent with the policy of giving relief to the agriculturist if mould boards were placed on the free list. I move - .

That after the words “mould boards,” the words “15 per cent., and on and after 13th December, 1901, free “ be inserted.

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

The committee divided.

AYES: 29

NOES: 27

Majority … … 2

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Amendment agreed to.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - I consider that all the articles mentioned in this item are in the same category, and in view of the decision just arrived at, the Government should allow the remainder of the item to be amended ; consequentially I move -

That after the word “shares,” the following words be inserted : - “ 15 per cent., and on and after 13th December, 1901, free.”

Mr McCOLL:
Echuca

– I have made inquiry in regard to the manufacture of shares, and I find that those which are made in South Australia are equal to any in the world. Therefore I am not in favour of allowing all shares to come in free. There is one special class, however, known as Hornsby’s chilled-steel shares, which is largely used. A number of farmers will not use any other. In view of that fact, I move -

That the amendment be amended by the addition of the following words: - “ chilled-steel shares known as Hornsby’s.”

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– We shall overtake Victoria if we are left alone, but we shall be sadly hampered if heavy taxes are imposed upon everything that we require. I hope that the committee will retrace its steps with regard to the division that took place last night, and I shall certainly give them an opportunity of doing so. In the meantime, I strongly urge that we should place as many articles on the free list as possible.

Mr KINGSTON:

– There is one thing which I should like to impress upon the minds of honorable members, and I ventureto hope that before I have concluded my remarks those who are desirous of giving a vote which they can justify will see their way to reversing what they did on a previous occasion. To that end I would point out that this question is not whether agricultural implements generally should be taxed at 10 or 15 per cent. That has already been decided, so far as the general principle is concerned, by the votes which were given last night. We are now called upon, after having decided that implements should be taxed at a certain rate, to say whether the same principle should be applied to the parts of implements, and I am very hopeful that honorable members will consider that we should deal with the parts imported separately in the same way as with the completed implements ; otherwise the result will undoubtedly be to encourage the importation of separate parts, and the putting of them together here, the manufacturer being able to pocket - if he can be said to pocket anything - the total amount of the protection allowed on the perfected implement. By importing these parts free of duty, and putting the machines together here, the manufacturer would not be doing half as much good as if the whole implement were made within the Commonwealth. What shadow of reason can be suggested for laying down the rule that as regards a plough there shall be a 15 per cent, duty, whilst on the separate parts there shall be no duty at all 1 This would simply give the people who carry on what may be called assembling industries a distinct advantage over those who are engaged in honest manufacture. I do not hesitate to say that the result will be to increase the protection to those who assemble the parts, but not to increase it in the best way. It will not benefit the honest, sturdy manufacturer, who makes the machine or implement outright from beginning to end, but it will offer a premium to the introduction, free of duty, of the various parts which go to make up the manufactured article. Do we desire that? Surely not. By doing as has been suggested, we should encourage manufactures of a character that we do not desire, we should lose revenue, and we should increase the protection against which some honorable members protested so loudly yesterday. We are not dealing with the same point as was decided upon last night, and we should not, after having decided to place a duty on ploughs, admit the parts of those ploughs free of duty. The same condition should apply to the parts as to the complete article, and no other course can be justified for a moment.

Mr THOMSON:
North Sydney

– The Minister for Trade and Customs has shown very plainly the objectionable nature of what he has called “assembling industries,” for which he has provided so much support in the Tariff. I would ask honorable members to note these remarks of the Minister’s when we come to deal with the large number of items which provide for the admission duty free of parts of articles which are made up here. We have already passed some of these items, such as that relating to umbrellas. With reference to the remarks upon the subject of completed ploughs and parts of ploughs, I would point out that there is nothing to prevent us from reversing the decision of last night, which was arrived at under circumstances which render it at least doubtful whether the majority of the committee were with the Government. In view of that decision, however, we have no recourse except to deal with these articles separately. If we succeed in placing them on the list of exemptions, we shall not create any anomalous situation, because it would naturally follow that ploughs would in due course also be included among the special exemptions. We can make our position perfectly logical by following up our present action, and exempting the complete machines from duty when we come to deal with the free list.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - The Minister for Trade and Customs has been arguing all through upon the basis of the manufacturing interests, whereas we have been arguing upon the basis of the interests of the great producers of Australia. It is of no use the right honorable gentleman introducing his logic and fine-drawn distinctions when we are arguing upon an absolutely different basis. We are struggling for a number of people who under this Tariff will be robbed right and left, who will derive no benefit from it in any way, and we intend to take advantage of everything we can to relieve this class of the community from taxation. I hope that the decision which we arrived at last night will be reversed upon the present occasion.

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

Ayes … … … 27

Noes … … … 30

Majority … … 3

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Amendment (by Sir William McMillan) proposed -

That after the word “ shares” the following words be inserted, “15 per cent., and on and’ after 13th December, 1901, 10 per cent.”

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

Ayes……… 28

Noes……… 29

Majority … … 1

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

– Do the Government intend to give way in the matter of “ plough-plates cut to shape.”

Sir George Turner:

– No.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

– If there is any item in this division which ought to be free it is that to which I have drawn attention. Most honorable members who are connected with agriculture will know how necessary these articles ace to the farmer. I move -

That after the word “shape,” the following words be inserted : - “ 15 per cent., and on and after 13th December, 1901, free.”

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

AYES: 28

NOES: 30

Majority … … … 2

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Amendment (by Sir William McMillan) proposed -

That after the word “shape” the following words be inserted : -“15 per cent., and. on and after 13th December, 1901, 10 per cent.”

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

AYES: 28

NOES: 0

AYES

NOES

Foes … … … 30

Majority … … 2

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Mr KINGSTON:
Protectionist

– The promise made by the Government was to place on the exempt list such machines as are not made in Australia. We cannot find that shearing machines are made here, and therefore I move -

That after the words “shearing machines “ the following words be inserted: - “15 per cent, and on and after 13th December, 1901, free.”

Mr McDONALD:
Kennedy

– I wish to point out to the Minister that the men who use shearing machines are charged for the combs and cutters which are broken, and which have to be replaced. In some cases this charge amounts to as much as 7s. a week, and I ask him, therefore, to consider the advisability of placing combs and cutters upon the f ree list.

Mr Kingston:

Mr KENNEDY:
Moira

– The honorable member for Werriwa speaks as if the shearing machine covers the whole of the plant erected in a machine-shearing shed, and that everything comprised in that plant is to be exempted from duty. It is not proposed, however, to exempt anything except the small machine which the shearer takes in his hands, and which is operated by motive power supplied generally from a steam engine, and communicated to the machine by means of shafts and pulleys. These machines are not made within the Commonwealth, and the combs and cutters which are practically the essential parts of the machines, and which have to be replaced sometimes as often as two or threetimes a day, or even more frequently, are generally supplied by the shearers. When the honorable member attempts to tell the committee that these machines are manufactured on the stations, he is talking nonsense. The shearing machines are not manufactured here, and it is only a fair thing to exempt them from duty. The Government and their supporters are not making any distinction between different classes of the community. I have already pointed out that where we find there is a sufficient field of operations to induce people to lay down plant for the manufacture of a certain article, we are prepared to impose duties with a view to affording reasonable protection, but where the demand is not sufficiently large to justify manufacturing operations within the Commonwealth, we are studying the best interests of the community by admitting the goods free.

Mr. McDONALD (Kennedy).- In order to avoid misunderstanding, I may explain that my object in proposing to place shearing machines on the free list, was to decrease the cost of the machines and their parts to those who are engaged in shearing. The cost of supplying combs and cutters, when men are shearing dirty sheep, ranges as high as 7s. per week throughout the shearing, and this constitutes a very heavy tax upon the shearers. No matter what sheep are being shorn the shearer has to pay a considerable sum for cutters and combs. Under such circumstances, they are just as much tools of trade as are the hand shears, which have already been placed upon the free list. I should also like to point out to the committee that the men who have to pay for these machines comprise a class which does not enjoy regular employment. Moreover, these appliances are not made in Australia. It is perfectly true that in the earlier experiments conducted in connexion with the machines, there were one or two models made here at very great expense. But as soon as the appliance was perfected, it was taken to other parts of the world, where it could be manufactured as cheaply as possible. It is only fair that these machines, together with the cutters and combs which form a part of them, should be included in the schedule of special exemptions. I know that a number of shearers are inclined to carry their own machines. When they get hold of one which runs smoothly which works with very little vibration, and which will not run hot, they naturally prefer to retain it if possible. Taking all these facts into consideration I think it would be wise to place sheep-shearing machines upon the free list.

Mr. THOMSON (North Sydney).Whilst I think that the same argument could be used in connexion with the manufacture of this machine that is applied by protectionists in other cases, namely, that it could be made in the Commonwealth if a sufficient duty were imposed, I am still in favour of placing it upon the free list. I merely desire to draw attention to the legislative aspect of this matter. I wish to ask the Minister for Trade and Customs how he has ascertained that the “ parts “ of the machine will be admitted free of duty if the machines themselves are struck out 1 So far as I can see, even if we here strike out sheep-shearing machines, the complicated structure of the schedule will cause the machine itself and the “ parts “ of the machine to be dutiable. If they are to escape duty, it seems to me that they should be included in the list of special exemptions.

Mr SAWERS:
New England

– One might almost marvel that any debate should take place upon this article, seeing that no honorable member will dissent from the proposal of the Government to include it in the free list. In taking that course, the Government are perfectly consistent, because they have indicated all along that in their opinion tools of trade which cannot be manufactured in the Commonwealth, shall be exempt from duty. The only object which this debate can serve is that of allowing certain honorable members to make a little political capital, by raising a class cry of farmer versus pastoralist, and endeavouring to make the country believe that the Government are playing into the hands of the pastoralists. The pastoralists, I make bold to say, care very little whether this machine is placed upon the free list or not. I am very glad that the amendment has emanated from a member of the labour party who is an ardent friend of the working classes The inclusion of this machine in the schedule of special exemptions will not benefit the pastoralists so much as it will the thousands of shearers scattered throughout the Commonwealth. I hope that the Government will pay particular attention to the remarks of the honorable member for North Sydney, and be careful to see that the combs and cutters connected with the actual machine are also placed upon the free list. I am sorry indeed that any honorable member should play to the gallery by crying out that the exemption of this article from duty is intended to specially benefit the pastoralist.

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– I am in favour of the amendment.

Mr SAWERS:

– Why, then, does the honorable member make speeches to the gallery for electioneering purposes,, and endeavour to show that those who vote for the amendment are antagonistic to the farmer 1 I agree with the remarks of the honorable member for Kennedy, and from my own personal knowledge I can vouch for hisstatement that it often costs the poor shearer, when working with “ hard” sheep, many shillings per week for combs and cutters. I sincerely hope that those articleswill be placed upon the free list.

Mr BROWN:
Canobolas

– The honorable member who has just resumed his seat is very anxious that no such cry as that of farmer versus pastoralist shall be raised in this House. In this connexion I should like to say that those who embraced the opportunity of pointing out that recent divisionsshow that the Government have unjustly favoured the pastoralist’ as against the farmer are not responsible for the raising of this question. It has been urged that this is a question which does not affect local industry, inasmuch as these machines cannot be made in Australia. To me this is a most remarkable statement, seeing that the sheep-shearing machine is a purely Australian invention. It was invented by a Mr. Wolseley, and was developed and perfected within Australia. The inventor and the company associated with him found that in order to cope with the demand, and to put an article upon the market which will best meet local requirements, it would be necessary to get the machines made in the more complete manufacturing centres of the old world. I contend that there is nothing to prevent this machine from being manufactured within the Commonwealth, provided that the appliances necessary for its construction and the raw material are in existence here. It has been pointed out by the honorable member for New England that this is a poor man’s machine. Does not that honorable member know that one of the principles laid down by the Shearers’ Union, which has formed a matter of contention between the pastoralists and the shearers for years past, is that the latter class shall not be asked to purchase these machines ? But the principle laid down by the Shearers’ Union is gradually being departed from, for the reason that the pastoralists insist in many instances that the shearers shall be charged for their machines, whilst on the other hand’ the shearers engaged in the work grow accustomed to a particular machine and prefer it to any other. There is no doubt a considerable amount of force in the contention that any duty which is levied upon this machine will in the last degree fall on the men who use it. It has been urged that the Government proposal partakesas much of the nature of a concession to the farmers as it does of a concession to the pastoralists. I do not know what may be the position in regard to Victoria, but I do know that in New South Wales, where farming and wool-grazing are very largely combined, the farmer, in order to compete in the open markets of the world, has to invest in the most up-to-date agricultural implements available. He is, however, under no such obligation as regards wool-growing, and in the great majority of instances in New South Wales the farmer is still satisfied to prosecute his shearing operations under the old methods. The use of sheep - shearing machines there is chiefly confined to the big’ pastoralists. I am satisfied to take this concession as a small mercy to the great primary industry of the Commonwealth, even if it more immediately benefits the pastoralist than the small farmer. I hope, however, to see the time when the small farming interest will be considered, and will receive the fair treatment which is now being accorded to the pastoral industry.

Mr PAGE:
Maranoa

Sir William McMillan:

– Would it not be possible to also add sheep-shearing machine parts in this part of the division.

Mr KINGSTON:

– We are going to strike the item out.

Mr. POYNTON (South Australia).The Government have done the right thing in putting sheep-shearing machines on the free list. . Throughout the Commonwealth there is a large body of men interested in a similar machine; I allude to the barbers, whose shears are constructed on exactly the same principle, and are all imported. I I should say there are just as many men using the barbers shears as there are men vising sheep-shearing machines. Could both not be put on the free list ?

Amendment agreed to.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

– Surely the Minister is not in earnest in proposing to tax horse gears?

Mr Kingston:

– Yes, I am.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

– This cannot be called a manufacturing industry, which requires to be protected. I suppose horse gear means gear for the working with horses in connexion with different agricultural operations. It would just be as reasonable to call cutting a beam in two, a manufacture that ought to be protected, as to suggest that horse gear should bear a duty. This gear is used by the poorer classes of farmers who are without capital or elaborate- machinery. I beg to move -

That after the word “ horse gears,” the following words be inserted, “ 15 per cent., and on and after 13th December, 1901, free.”

Mr FULLER:
Illawarra

– This duty will apply particularly to poor struggling’ farmers, a great many of whom in my district use horse gear for chaffcutting, churndriving, and other operations.

Sir George Turner:

– Do they use imported gear ?

Mr FULLER:

– I believe all, or nearly all, is imported. The farmers in a larger way use oil-engines, and other motive power, but the poor man is limited to horse gear.

Mr Kingston:

– These machines are made in every agricultural machinery factory in Australia, and the industry is worthy of a little encouragement.

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

AYES: 22

NOES: 31

Majority … … 9

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - I move -

That after the word “ horse gears “ the following words be inserted “ 15 per cent., and on and after 13th December, 1901, 10 per cent.”

It seems to me that we are going very far when we tax the machinery used by the poorest class of farmers in Australia - those who cannot afford to buy engines to furnish motive power,

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

AYES: 23

NOES: 29

Majority … … … 6

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Amendment (by Mr. Kingston) agreed, to-

That after the word “ horse gears “the words “ 15 per cent.” be inserted..

Sir GEORGE TURNER:
Protectionist

– With regard to portable engines, traction engines, and oil engines, as they are not made here to any extent, and are largely used in the dairying and agricultural industries, I intend to propose that they be admitted free. I see no reason why they should not be made here, but it is hardly fair to make them dutiable until they are made here. What we propose is that they shall come under the provisions of DivisionVIa, a bonus being given to encourage their manufacture, and when the industry is established it will be a fair thing to impose a duty.

Mr GLYNN:
South Australia

– I wish to make gas engines free, and I therefore move -

That after the word “oil” the words “and gas” be inserted.

There should be no distinction made, so far as the rate of duty is concerned, between oil and gas engines. I have a telegram and letter from a large firm in Adelaide who state that a contract was about to be completed by them for the sale to a mining company of a gas engine and plant of 1,000 horse-power at a cost of £5,000, and that the effect of the 25 per cent, duty would be to add £1,350 to the contract price for a £5,000 plant.

Mr McCay:

– I rise to a point of order. I desire to know whether in connexion with a proposal to exempt certain kinds of engines from duty, the honorable and learned member can insert words with a view to extending the exemption. I would suggest that the honorable and learned member could achieve his object when we are considering the exemptions.

Sir William McMillan:

– I would point out that our procedure in this matter must, to a very large extent, be dictated by convenience, and that the honorable and learned member is perfectly in order in seeking to have included among the engines which are to be placed on the free list certain other engines of a similar type.

Sir George Turner:

– I most strongly object to the course which is being followed by the honorable and learned member for South Australia, Mr. Glynn. Gas-engines are at present subject to a duty of 25 per cent., and when we are considering the engines which are subject to that rate of duty, the honorable and learned member will be quite at liberty to propose that they should be admitted free, or that the duty should be fixed at 1’5 per cent. I have not proposed to exempt gas-engines, because they are being made locally, and ought to be dutiable.

Mr GLYNN:

– Gas-engines are not specified in this item, but will come under the operation of the drag-net clause atthe end, and I think that it will be just as convenient to deal with them here as under any other paragraph of this item. However, I do not wish to cause any inconvenience, and I will endeavour to accomplish my object later on.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Amendment (by Sir George Turner) proposed -

That the words “15 per cent, and on and after 13th December, 1901, free,” be inserted after the words “oil-engines.”

Mr. CONROY (Werriwa) - I should like to know why any special distinction should be made between horizontal and vertical engines ? Vertical engines are used for purposes similar to those for which horizontal engines of this class are employed, and I know of no reason why theyshould not also be placed on the free list.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– I should like some explanation, in the interests of simplicity, and a clear understanding on the part of the ‘committee as to the object and effect of the Government proposal.

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

– The descriptive words inserted here have been adopted deliberately, because ifthey are omitted importers will be able to introduce a number of engines which should not be permitted to enter without the payment of duty. These words are well-known in the department, and cover all descriptions of engines that we wish to introduce free.

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

– I suppose that what is termed a “locomotive boiler “ is a tubular boiler such as is commonly used in locomotives, but I would point out that there are many vertical engines up to ten and twelve horse power which are used for purposes similar to those to which the engines here described are applied. They are engines with vertical boilers, and are fixed on small frames with wheels so as to permit of their easy transport. If portable engines with boilers of a locomotive type are to be exempted from duty, there is no reasonwhy we should not also place on thefree list engines of the class I refer to, which are extensively used for chaff-cutting, dairying works, drivingsmall mining batteries, and a variety of other purposes. I think that a mistake has been made in including the words ““fixed on a locomotive boiler horizontally.” To my mind, the words “ portable engines “ would cover the whole thing. The object of the Government, I take it, is to exempt from duty machinery which can readily be transported from place to place. I think therefore that the words “fixed on a locomotive boiler horizontally” should be omitted.

Mr. KENNEDY (Moira).- The classification which has been given to these articles is the only classification possible. It applies to one particular class of machinery, which cannot be defined under any other heading. Those who wish to exempt from duty a vertical boiler upon wheels which have probably been attached to it in order to make it portable, must deal with it under the classification to be found at the bottom of page7 of the Tariff, which refers to engines and boilers of different types.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - I think that we have no alternative but to accept what the Government are offering . us. The honorable member for South Australia, Mr. Solomon, can subsequently move to place the particular class of ‘engine to which he has referred upon the free list.

Mr. CONROY (Werriwa).- I think the fact that the Minister for Trade and Customs has been unable to give the committee a single word of information upon this subject affords one of the best illustrations of the folly of agreeing to the Government proposal. Even with the aid of his officers he is not able to inform this committee of what the Ministry propose. We are practically asked to votein the dark. We have not been informed why one class of article is to be admitted free of duty, whilst another class is to be taxed.

Amendment agreed to.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - I am given to understand that road-making ploughs and machines are used to some extent by district councils. In one case I am informed that a council, by purchasing one of these machines’, has saved the ratepayers £940 in two years. I understand that these implements cannot be made in Australia.

Mr Kennedy:

– They are made by a dozen different firms.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

– I understand that they are articles which cannot be manufactured locally. I have a note here of a patent machine from America called the “ American Champion Steel Reversible Road-roller.” That, I presume, will come under this heading. At any rate, I should like to have some information as to the category under which road-making ploughs and machines will come. These road-rollers clear, roll, and form roads, and they are also used in connexion with embankments. I desire to know whether this article includes everything connected with road-making, or whether other machines will come under the heading of “ n.e.i.” It seems to me that an angel from heaven will not be able to understand this Tariff if we continue in the way we are now proceeding. When we have come to the end of this division, and have finally settled the exemptions, it seems to me it will be an awful division. I pity the people who have to interpret it. In this Tariff we ‘are building a monument to our own incapacity and ignorance. I ask the Minister for Trade and Customs if he will agree to add after the word “ machines “ the words “ including stone-crushers, road-rollers, distributing carts, and road-making implements.” What I principally object to is that we have not received alittle more informationf rom Ministers. I do not know whether the matter is worth bothering about, and I should like to hear the opinions of other members of the committee.

Mr. KENNEDY (Moira).- I take it that the word “ machines “ does not include anything driven by steam power, and so far as road-making ploughs, scoops, and grading ploughs are concerned, these, with one exception, are made in Australia, and scarcely any but the locally manufactured article is used. I should like to know whether the “ Era “ grader, which has recently been imported from America into Victoria by the State Government, and which, in this class of work, is one of the best labour-saving machines known in Australia, is included in this item.

Sir George Turner:

– That machine has not been very successful.

Mr KENNEDY:

– It has not succeeded to the extent anticipated, but the conditions scarcely allowed of a fair test. It was heavily timbered country where the machine was tried ; but I know that, under normal conditions, earth can be moved by this machine at less than one-half the cost of the appliances previously in use. This machine will certainly revolutionize this class of work in the putting up of embankments, constructing water channels, and similar operations.

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– A duty of 15 per cent, should be enough to cover all classes of machines connected with roadmaking. Do I understand that the Treasurer does not regard’ a road-roller as a road-making maehine?

Sir George Turner:

-On reconsideration I think a road-roller will come within the category.

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

-With the honorable member for Wentworth, I think that distributing carts, which are specially constructed, ought to come under the head of road-making machines, and the same may be said of the stone crusher.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– Stone crushers are used largely for building purposes.

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr Kennedy:

– Yer, it is.

Mr McCOLL:

– There are other roadmaking machines, which crush and distribute the metal as they travel along. I saw two of these - an imported machine and a machine made by a firm in South Melbourne - at the last Melbourne show, and it seemed to me that the South Melbourne machine was simpler and stronger than the other. ‘

Sir GEORGE TURNER:

– I think that we should put in the word “scoop,” and apply a 15 per cent, duty to all these things. I move -

That after the words “road-making ploughs,” the word “scoops” be inserted.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment (by Sir William McMillan) agreed to.

That after the word “ scoops,” the words “ horse road-rollers “ be inserted.

Mr SKENE:
Grampians

– Before leaving this item, I should like to bring before the committee the case of a locally-invented harvester, because I think there should be further consideration of it. I have in my hand one or two printed documents giving a good many reasons why special consideration should be allowed to these machines, but the strongest reason has been communicated to me privately, and it seems to me that it should be sufficient to cause further consideration to be given. I understand that the combined harvester is a purely Australian production, invented by Australians to meet the requirements of . Australian farmers. In December, 1879, the South Australian Government offered a prize of £4,000 for a harvester, and 29 machines competed at Gawler, but none of them was considered sufficiently effective to merit the prize. Many other experiments were made, with the result that, owing to disclosures which could not be prevented, it has been impossible to obtain a patent for the whole machine as now improved, though patents have been secured for many of the parts.

The CHAIRMAN:

– The Government cannot recommit the item at this stage.

Sir George Turner:

– If the honorable member will furnish us with a statement of the facts, we shall be glad to give them consideration.

Mr SKENE:

– These implements are, I understand, being imitated, and at least two imitations have arrived here. That seems to me to be rather unfair to the local inventors.

Item 76 -

Cutlery, n.e.i. (including manicure sets and knife sharpeners) ; also instruments, drawing, mathematical, and surveying ad valorem, 15 per cent.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

– As I regard the duty upon cutlery as a revenue duty, and 15 per cent, is a fair rate, I shall not object to it.

Mr. HENRY WILLIS (Robertson).Is it the intention to exempt pruning knives as tools of trade ?

Sir George Turner:

– If the honorable member will give notice of his intention to exempt pruning knives, we shall have the matter looked into.

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

– Does cutlery include surgical instruments?

Mr Kingston:

– No. Surgical instruments are included among the special exemptions in division XVI.

Item 76 -

Nails, n.e.i, viz., Horseshoe and other wrought or pressed nails, per cwt., 7s. Wire and other, and spikes, staples, brads, and tacks, per cwt., 3s.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Went worth

– I consider this duty altogether too high. In 1899, we imported into New South Wales 62,111 cwt. of nails, valued at £36,609, upon which a duty of 7s. per cwt. would have realized £21,738. The Government, however, expect to obtain only £5,390, which shows that they hope to reduce the importation of nails into New South Wales, to say nothing of the other States, by at least 75 per cent. There is really no manufacture of nailshere. Nails are imported under very favourable circumstances, and they are used in almost every industry in Australia. The work done in making a nail cannot be described as a manufacture. I think that a duty of 15 per cent, ad valorem would be quite sufficient, though, perhaps, it would be as well if nails were on the free list. I find that 7s. per cwt. on horse nails is equal to3/4d. per lb., or 30 per cent, on the home cost of 2½d. per lb. ; and this rate of duty on a line of this description will amount to prohibition. It cannot increase the revenue, and it will not give employment to any large number of hands, because machinery is so largely used in the manufacture of the nails. A 15 per cent, ad valorem duty would amply protect the local manufacturers, and would tend to increase the revenue. I am told that, for many years, a ring has been in existence here which has fixed the price of nails at the cost of the imported article, plus the amount of duty.

Mr KINGSTON:
Protectionist

– I understand that horseshoe nails stand by themselves, and I move -

That the words ‘ ‘ and other wrought or pressed ‘ be omitted.

Amendment agreed to.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - I think this is a matter in which the Minister mightgive way, and reduce the duty to 3s. 6d. It would be absurd to impose a high duty upon nails, which enter into almost universal consumption, and the manufacture of which within the Commonwealth cannot represent a very large industry:

Mr Kingston:

– We estimate that a 7s. duty willbe equivalent to only 25 per cent.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

– I will compromise matters, by moving -

That the words “ and on and after 13th December, 1901, 4s” be added to the duty “Nails, horseshoe, per cwt. 7s.”

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– The honorable member for Wentworth has stated that there is practically no manufacture of nails within the Commonwealth, but I will show him that the industry is a very important one, and one which has conferred greatad vantages upon the community I shall also demonstrate that, according to official figures, the duty of’ 7s. per cwt. works out at about 15 per cent. There was no manufacturer of horse-shoe nails within the Commonwealth up to 1882; but in that year, when there was a duty of 12s. per cwt. imposed in Victoria, a firm of Canadians- came here, and started a horseshoe nail-making industry. As a result, competition was engendered’ between the importers and the local manufacturers, with the consequence that whereas horse-shoe nails were selling for1s.1d. per lb. in 1882, they are now quoted at 6½d. per lb., or 50 per cent. less. The retail price of horseshoe nails in Victoria is from 5½d. fro 6½d. per lb.. I say 5½d., because 12½ per cent, discount is given where fairly large quantities are purchased. But if we take 6½d. as the average price, I shall be able to prove that that is equal to the best selling price in Australia. And I shall further prove that the locallymanufactured nails are better in quality than those sold at the same price inany other State. The American price for the same class of nails, according to the Iron Age, of August last, page 60, is 6d. per lb. wholesale. I have also an English price list, Hordern’s Sydney price list, and the list of the prices paid in Brisbane and Adelaide. The product of our local manufactures is being sold at 6½d. per lb. retail ; and Hordern’s price for the No. 8 nail - which is the average nail I have adopted for the purpose of comparison right through - is 7d. I have had handed to me, from an authoritative source, a paper which shows that Hordern and Sons are now selling the same nail at 6½d. per lb., or½d. per lb. less than the amount quoted in the printed price list. According to the English price lists, No. 8 nails are sold in Great’ Britain wholesale at 4½d. per lb., or exactly the same price as is paid in Victoria for wholesale quantities.

Sir William McMillan:

-Is there more than one horse-shoe nail factory in Victoria?

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– No. There is only one horse-shoe nail factory in Great Britain, and only one in Germany, and there are only five in the United States. Machinery enters so largely into the manufacture of horse-shoe nails that a comparatively small factory can turn out a verylargesupply. As a matter of fact the plant and machinery intheVictorianfactory - Pender’s- -although it is not working at full power, is capable of turning out 175,000 horse-shoe nails in an eight hours’ day, or a sufficient number for the shoeing of 2,500 horses. Messrs. Pender and Co. make their own machines, and will be prepared to supply the Commonwealth with all the nails they require, three months after the passing of this Tariff if the rate remains. Taking Nettlefold’s English list, of 2nd December, 1899 - the latest I was able to obtain - I find that their nails are being sold at 4½d. per lb. in England.

Mr Thomson:

– What discount is allowed ?

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– That is the price with the discount off ; and the same price is quoted for locally-manufactured nails in Victoria. If honorable members are sufficiently interested to glance at the samples which I have here, they will see at once the difference in the quality. Nettlefold’s nail is very easily distinguished from the others. It is a forged nail of very fair quality, but not equal to the American or the Australian nail, for this reason, that it has a flat head- it is not countersunk. There is no nail equal to the American nail except the Australian, and Nettlefold’s nail is the next best in the world. The nail that is being principally sold in Australia comes from Germany, and is a cold cut nail, not nearly equal in quality to Nettlefold’s or the American or Australian nail. That and a Swedish nail, called the “ Globe,” are principally sold throughout Australia. In New South Wales, Messrs. Hordern and Sons are selling the “Globe” nail at 6½d. per lb., and we are supplying a forged nail in Victoria, equal to the American, at the same rate. The “ Globe “ nail is being sold in Queensland at from 7d. to 7½d. per lb., but in Western Australia the German nail is almost exclusively used. Therefore, briefly put, the position is this : that we are selling horse-shoe nails in Victoria at exactly the same prices, wholesale, as in Great Britain, and at1½d. per lb. less than in America. We are selling a better quality nail than is to be obtained in any other part of Australia, and at a cheaper rate. In 1894, when trade was fairly brisk, and the manufacturers were making a little money - they have nob made any money sincethe importers endeavoured to. drive the local manufacturers out of the market by bringing down the price of nails by 10s. per cwt.

Sir William McMillan:

– How is it that the people of New South Wales do not buy these nails, if they are so much better?

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– The people of New South Wales are buying them, but in very small quantities, for the reason that the importer makes only 50 per cent, profit out of the locally-manufactured nails, as compared with 1 00 per cent, profit upon the imported nails. Theattempt of the Victorian importers to shut up the local manufactory was met by the enterprise of Messrs. Pender and Co., who sent travellers throughout the State of Victoria, and reduced their price by the whole amount of the duty. By this means they were enabled to keep their works open, although they made no money out of their business, hoping, under federation, that they would have a much extended market. When the duty was reduced from 14s. to 7s., the first impression of Messrs. Pender and Co. was that they would have to close their works; but after having looked into the matter more carefully, they have come to the conclusion that the larger market available to them under Inter-State free-trade will compensate them for this immense reduction. If, however, they are obliged to close their works, conditions will soon prevail throughout the Commonwealth similar to those which existed in Victoria prior to the establishment of the local manufactory. The Sydney importers. - taking the declared value at the Custom-house - have been able to import nails at a cost of 3¼d. per lb., and to sell them at 6d. per lb., so that they made 70 per cent, profit. The facts can be elicited by reference to the Customs returns. This profit was obtained by selling an inferior German or Swedish nail at the price of a first-class American nail. So far as Victoria is concerned, the result of- the keen competition between the manufacturer and importer has been that since 1894 no American nails have come into theAustralian market. The American manufacturers can obtain more money for their nails in their own country, and upon the Continent, than in Australia, and competition has thus been limited to the German cut nail, and the Swedish nail, which is a forged nail. These nails are of inferior quality, but they nevertheless find a market. We are now told that the trade is likely to go to Japan, and that, as a matter of fact even the Swedes, who work very cheaply and have the iron ore at their doors, will probably be ousted from it byJapan. In the Ironmonger of 7th September last, I find that the British Consul at Hakodate, Japan, makes the following report-

A Japanese merchant is about toopenanail factory at Otaru. He proposes to turn out £50,000 worth annually, and hopes to monopolize the market in the north.

It is bad enough to be asked to compete against the Swedes, who, owing to the fact of the iron being at their very doors, and on account of the cheap labour which they employ, can come into unfair competition with us. But now it is proposed to employ even the cheaper labour in Japan. But I do not wish to dwell upon the wages which are paid by the Japanese. Here the operatives get so much per cwt. for making the nails, just as they do in America and England. In Victoria they are paid for eight hours a day 33 per cent, more than is paid in America for ten hours a day. Another point to be remembered is that a certain amount of waste necessarily takes place in the manufacture of nails. This waste represents about 6 cwt. per ton. The very best iron costs. £15 per ton. Of that 6cwt., 3 cwt. out of every ton is absolute waste. It is absorbed in scale, burnings in the fire, &c. The remaining 3 cwt. is sold to be again converted into nails, and this realizes.37s. 6d. per ton. There is thus a very heavy loss in connexion with waste. But though this waste takes place in importing the iron used in the manufacture of nails, it certainly does not take place in importing the nails themselves, and the freight paid upon the nails is no more than is the freight paid upon the iron. With respect to wire nails, the freight is actually less than is the freight upon the iron. The freight upon the horse-shoe nail iron is exactly the same as is the freight upon the nails themselves, and “thus the natural protection which is talked about goes by the board. Now, as to the percentage. I hold in my hand a return supplied by the Victorian Customs Department showing the quantity of nails imported into this State from the year 1882 up to 1900 inclusive, their declared value at the Customs, the average per cwt., the quantity entered for home consumption, the amount of duty paid, etc. Taking these figures throughout, the average cost of the nails “was 44s. lid. per cwt. A protection of 44s. per cwt. is thus equivalent to about 31 ;per cent. As the Government have reduced ~£hat amount by one half, obviously the amount of protection which this industry is to be. afforded is only 15^ per cent. In the most favoured year of all, namely, 1900, we find that the protection accorded to the industry upon the declared value of the imports at the Custom-house, represents 23 per cent. But it is not fair to take that year only, because for many reasons it was an unfavourable one from the manufacturers’ point of view, although an exceedingly good one from the point of view of the importer. I might here remind the -committee that the manufacturers of metals and screws are to receive a protection of ~25 per cent., although there is not nearly “the same amount of work involved in the making of screws, as there is in the making -of nails. A screw has to pass through three processes, whereas a forged horsenail has to undergo eight processes. As a fact screws are not made here. I am there”fore prepared to vote in favour of placing screws upon the free list.

Mr Poynton:

– How many men are employed in the nail industry 1

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– There is, I believe, ^between 20 and 30 men employed in the making of horse-shoe nails. The number, however, does not affect my argument. My desire is to give the consumer an advantage’. If it can be proved that he has derived no advantage from the manufacture of horse nails in Australia, I am willing to support a proposal to place them upon the free list. I wish also to remind the committee that if we wipe out the manufacturer there will be no proper competition. On the other hand, if we keep him in existence, he will be the means of conferring an advantage upon the consumer, and it is the consumer whom I am considering. I find that in 1900 there were 655 cwts. of horse nails imported into Victoria, whilst the local manufacture totalled 2,548 cwts. Taken together, the quantity of nails used in home consumption in this State was 3,203 cwts. At the Queensland rate of duty, namely, 3s. per cwt., £480 in revenue would have been collected, whilst under the Tasmanian rate of 2s. 6d. per cwt. the receipts from this source would have represented £400. As a fact, however, £459 was collected at the Customs. This shows that the higher rate of 14s. brought in a greater revenue ; and that the prohibition spoken of really did not exist. If revenue be the committee’s aim and end, then 7s. will give more than 4s. will give. Adverting to the nail factory which has been established in Victoria, .1 may mention that £12,000 has been invested in the industry. This factory is capable of turning out 175,000 horse nails per day of eight hours. With three months’ notice to prepare the plant and machinery it could manufacture enough nails to supply the yearly wants of the whole of the Commonwealth. The amount of protection which is afforded to this industry in other parts of the world is very much in excess of that which it is proposed to confer upon it here. In America the protection which is given to the industry represents ltd. per lb., in Canada it is equivalent to l-d. per lb., whilst the Australian rate only represents f d. per lb. In Germany and France it averages 2d. per lb. I have been asked what sort of Wages are paid by “this factory. In reply I may state that one man - who. I presume is the foreman - receives £5 per week, another £4 5s., a third £3 6s., whilst four operatives get £3 each, and eight others £2 10s. each. The balance of the employes who are made up of apprentices and lads receive from 10s. to 25s. weekly. All the men working in this factory are constituents of mine, and I know that they are well satisfied with the wages they are receiving. If there were no competition between the manufacturer and the importer the profits of the latter would be very large indeed. They used to be about 100 per cent. In Sydney we find that the importer at the present time is making 70 per cent, profit upon the nails that he sells, taking the declared value of the imports at the Customs as the basis of the calculation. It may be interesting to observe how the protection afforded to this industry under the Government proposal will affect the consumer, if we admit the argument of the free-trader that the imposition of any duty correspondingly enhances the price of the article. If we take the quantity of nails required to shoe a horse, weigh them, and make a charge of 6½ per lb. upon them, we find that they will cost 1½ d. If we add the whole of the duty to the cost of the nails it will represent an extra farthing for every horse that is shod. Of course, T do not admit that that farthing is added, but if it were it would not hurt the farrier very much. He is as entitled to pay his share of the taxes as any one else. It is also interesting to notice that the iron necessary to shoe a horse costs about 9d. But the average charge in Victoria for shoeing horses is about 5s. per set, so that the blacksmith gets a fair profit, and even if he had to pay the whole of the duty he would not fare very badly. I hold another article in my hand which to a certain extent is related to nails. It is a horse rasp. Horse rasps and horse nails are inseparable in the stock-in-trade of the blacksmith. Horse rasps are not made in Australia, but nails are. I also hold in my hand an invoice which shows that a 16-inch horse rasp landed in Victoria costs1s.1d. I went to the trouble of purchasing one from a leading ironmonger in Melbourne the other day, and I paid 2s. 3d. for it ; so that the importer is making a profit of 130 per cent, upon an article which is not manufactured here, whilst he has to be content with a profit of 50 per cent, upon an article that is locally manufactured. The same price is charged throughout the shops. If we take the most favourable view we find that the Hardware Association’s price for rasps is 21s. 6d. per dozen, so that the least profit under any circumstances is 60 per cent., while the consumer has to pay 130 per cent. That is how the importer treats the consumer.

M r. Thomson. - You mean the shopkeeper, not the importer.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– I bought this rasp from the man who imported it, and he charged 2s. 3d. for an article which cost him1s.1d.

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

– Did he give you the invoice ?

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– It is not likely that the man from whom I bought the rasp would show me the invoice. It is the same size of rasp made by the same maker, and I do not suppose that one. importer is charged more than another. If we are to give any benefit to the consumers of horse nails, we must preserve the manufacture of horse nails here ; and if the duty be cut down, that becomes utterly impossible. It is doubtful whether these nail makers can live with a duty of 7s., but if they can, then consumers all over the States will get the advantage. We have had the advantage in Victoria already, because, instead of paying10d. to1s.1d. per lb., we have been paying from 5½d. to 6d. for an article than whichno better is produced anywhere in the world. In order to show the difference in the way industries are treated elsewhere, I shall make another reference to the American paper called the Iron Age, of 10th October of this year. This is an advertisement, signed by L. A. Smith, the secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Muskegon, Michigan, and it states that that chamber has a cash fund to be used to secure the location of reliable manufacturing industries. The advertisement goes on to say that amongst the factories now operating in the locality are the Alaska Refrigerator Company, employing 260 hands ; the Standard Malleable Iron Company, employing 250 hands ; the Central Paper Company, employing 180 hands, and a number of other industries. The advertisement concludes by saying that there are 60 other industries, employing 1,500 hands, and soliciting correspondence. All that is done for the benefit of the district in that particular State.

Sir William McMillan:

– What have these advertisements to do with the. question under discussion ?

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– While free-traders here say that our manufacturers ought to be allowed to compete in the markets of the world, Americans are not only protected at the ports and custom-house, but people are patriotic enough to get together cash funds in order to encourage manufacturing industries. Here is another advertisement from the Iron Age, asking for the establishment of more manufactories in the district of Wheeling. The advertisement states -

Wheeling is only 27 miles from the greatest natural gas-field in the world. Low-priced coal, low-priced gas, low-priced sites, low-priced coal property, extraordinary shipping facilities by rail and river, are the advantages Wheeling offers to manufacturers seeking location. Freights east and west, same as Pittsburg. Taxation, lowest rate of any city in the United States.

And so on. Whilst we, apparently, are callous about starting new industries, there are people in America who use all the means I have indicated to establish manufactures among them. In conclusion, I say that as a result of the manufacture of nails in Victoria the consumer has the benefit to the extent of 50 per cent., the importer having been forced to bring his nails down to the manufacturer’s price. And if we retain the manufacture. of nails by retaining the duty, the benefit which has hitherto been confined to Victoria may be extended to the whole of the Commonwealth, the machinery, plant; and capital being available to supply all that the Commonwealth requires.

– The whole case is that there is a profit of 70 per cent, to be made on horse-nails at thefigure at which they are sold in Victoria. Horsenails are no dearer in Melbourne than in Sydney, and in Victoria in the past the manufacturers have been able to take off £7 per ton, and still compete with the imported article. If there is a profit of 70 per cent., they will be able to compete successfully against New South Wales, or any other part of the world.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - It seems to me that the honorable member for Bourke is entirely “out” in the way in which he has put this matter before us. He said that the policy ofVictoria has been to create healthy competition between the manufacturer and the importer, and in the same breath he told us that the value of the imports of this article to Victoria has been reduced to £500. He desires to make out that because there was some importation, the duty was not prohibitive. But nails of all kinds were imported into New South Wales in 1899 to the value of £36,609, of which, I take it, a large proportion was horse-nails ; and surely when the value of importations is reduced to £500, that may be looked upon as practically prohibition. The facts show that the duties in Victoria were not imposed on the basis of healthy competition, but were intended to absolutely prohibit imports. I agree that this horse-nail-making is a peculiar industry. There is only one manufactory in England, that of Nettlefold, and a manufactory in Germany. The very fact that these articles are produced at only one manufactory in Victoria is a most powerful reason why we should safeguard the interests of the public, and have healthy competition ; and we may depend on it that if there is a manufactory in Germany, there will be pretty warm competition everywhere. It seems to me that a great deal of the honorable member’s argument falls to the ground. The duty of 7s. works out at a rate of’ about 24 per cent. - I admit I was a little out in my figures previously - and , to that must be added the cost of freight and charges.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– The loss by waste must not be forgotten.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

– No doubt there is a. certain amount” of waste, but against that we can place the natural protection.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– There is none. It costs more to send a ton of nails from Melbourne to Brisbane than from New York to Brisbane.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– I cannot imagine that the f reighton thebar iron is the same as thefreight on the nails. We are now dealing with an article which is ascommon as pins, and surely the people ought to be protected against a monopoly in any business of the kind. A remarkable feature of’ the honorable member’s . argument is that while he sees no difference between the price in Sydney and in Melbourne, he asserts that a very superior article is made in Victoria. According to the honorable member the Victorian horse-naii is much better than that turned out at Nettlefold’s, who for generations have been improving their machinery, and who send their nails to every part of the world. When we consider the enormous advantages enjoyed by the manufacturers on the other side of the world, and when we find that the people of New South Wales, with their free port, do not buy the Victorian article, it is stretching it rather far to say that the local nail is superior. The honorable member has admitted that there is 70 per cent, of profit, and that all the Victorian manufacturer could do was to equal the price in Sydney. I cannot imagine that any such state of things exists. This industry is carried out in one factory in Victoria, and it is proposed to create an absolute monopoly for all Australia. That monopoly has been created in Victoria, and though the duty is reduced, I contend that the Victorian Tariff is absolutely unreliable as a basis. In that State there seems to have been absolute recklessness in regard to rates of duties. There have been piled on imposts to a prohibitive degree ; but it is monstrous to propose to create a monopoly in one little corner of Australia, and thus handicap the whole of the Commonwealth. I now make what I consider a liberal offer, to reduce this duty to 4s. The reductio ad absurdum of tbe principle of protection is reached when it is proposed to make cleaver an article in all parts of Australia, for the sake of one factory, which, at the best, employs only a handful of men. ‘ That is protection gone mad, and I wonder that an honorable member of the intellectual power of the honorable member for Bourke could allow himself to make a special pleading speech of the kind we have heard. Had he only applied his common sense, he could have knocked his own argument into pieces. The honorable member has proved too much, and he stands condemned by his own arguments, which simply mean the creation of a monopoly with enormous profits.

Mr. HUME COOK (Bourke).- I desire to explain one matter in order to avoid misapprehension. I did not wish it to be understood that machinery entered so largely into the manufacture of these nails as some honorable members seem to suppose. As a matter of fact, 70 per cent, of the cost of producing the nails is represented by labour. I said that the Sydney merchants made a profit of 70 per cent, out of imported nails, and it was assumed that the manufacturer here derived a similar advantage ; but that is not correct. The imported nails are landed in Australia for less than it costs to manufacture nails here. The imported nails are cheaper, because they are cold cut instead of being forged. I desire to see the consumer benefited just as much as does the acting-leader of the Opposition, but wediffer as to the meansby which that object is to be attained. Anything short of 7s. per cwt. will not permit the local manufacturer to compete with theimporters. It costs the local manufacturer 4d. for every pound of nails he produces, or at the rate pf 37s. 4d. per cwt. The invoice price of the imported nails is 30s. per cwt., and if the duty is added to that price, it still leaves the local manufacturer at a disadvantage of 4d. per cwt., and he will have to carry on a terrific fight with the importers-, even with a. duty of 7s. to assist him. If we are to have revenue without destruction, I think we should permit this duty to remain, because the consumer will be benefited by the competition between the local manufacturer and the importers.

Mr KINGSTON:

– I hope the committee will be able to see their way to support the Government proposal. In the first place, it is a very substantial reduction upon the rate of duty under which the industry has grown up in Victoria. The Victorian Tariff provided for a duty of 14s. per cwt., and the present reduction of 50 per cent, is one which few industries would be able to stand without serious injury. Furthermore, it is shown that the industry has grown up under conditions which are a credit to all concerned, that a capital article has been produced at a reasonable price, and that no undue advantage has been taken of the fiscal conditions. The duty we propose does not amount to 25 per cent, ad valorem. - it is something between 23 and 24 per cent. We are very much indebted to the honorable member for Bourke for the valuable information which he has given us, and for the trouble he has taken to possess himself of the facts. What he has stated has been in no way discounted by honorable members of the Opposition. The protection accorded to this industry amounted to 50 per cent. ad valorem for many years, and now the Government are cutting the duty down to 23 per cent. ; and, because of the struggle that has been gone through in establishing this industry, and in giving the Commonwealth a valuable asset, I think the manufacturer is entitled to the fullest consideration.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - I do not wish to crush out any industry, but only to arrive at a fair rate of duty which will present facilities for reasonable competition. Looking at the importations into New South Wales in 1899, I find that Victoria furnished us with nails to the value of £2,534. From the United Kingdom we received nails to the value of £6,550 ; from Belgium, to the value of £1,97S ; and from Germany, to the value of £22,590. These figures tend to show that there is fair competition.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– Those figures include all classes of nails.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

– I know that the Germans, acting on protectionist principles, sweat their own people for the sake of the foreigner, and export their goods at cheaper rates than those at which they are obtainable by the home consumer. Our consumers get the benefit of that system, and we must look to their interests first. We do not wish to encourage monopoly. We do not believe in having the whole of Australia sweated for the benefit of one industry ; but if the horse-shoe nail manufacturer of Victoria has built up his industry under cover of the Victorian Tariff, he deserves every consideration that can be given to him so long as it does not involve injustice to the rest of the community. It must not be forgotten that a very much extended field of operations will now be thrown open to this manufacturer, and that with the wider market afforded in South Australia and in New South Wales, he ought to be able to do with less assistance than he has previously enjoyed. My first opinion was that a duty of 2s. 6d. per cwt. would be sufficiently high, but on finding that my ad valorem calculations had been somewhat excessive, I increased the amount to 4s., which I think is a reasonable compromise, and I must test the feeling of the committee with reference to that rate. The fact that there is only one manufacturer engaged in this industry makes our position one of greater responsibility, and we should be careful that we do not impose duties that afford anything more than a reasonable protective incidence.

Mr CONROY:
Werriwa

– I confess that after having heard that there is only one manufacturer engaged in this industry, I regard the compromise that has been offered by the acting leader of the Opposition as representing the extremest point to which we should be asked to go in regard to this duty. We do not hold with the establishment of industries of this kind, if they are to be maintained at the expense of the rest of the people of Australia, and it is perfectly clear that in this case the people of Australia would have to pay a large amount of taxation for the sake of one individual. We are told that practically the whole of the work is done by machinery, and we are expected to levy upon the people to the extent of something like £20,000 a year to maintain an industry which affords no appreciable employment. This is for one individual. When has1 the Ministry ever shown any consideration for the farmer who puts in a crop which is destroyed 1 But a manufacturer comes along. and says to them - “I have put a certain amount of capital into an industry, and you must allow me to have a law passed which will enable me to extract from the people of Australia sufficient to recompense me.” If the honorable member for Bourke says that the price of nails has been lower than it would have been except for the duty, the best thing would be to take off the duty, because that would enable the manufacturer to get a higher price. If the price of nails was higher in the free-trade State of New South Wales than in Victoria., we had better take off the duty, and allow the manufacturer to get that higher price. One is amazed that any Government should venture to come to Parliament and say - “ A manufacturer has come to us and made representations, and we think a duty of Id. per lb. ought to be imposed.” Because this duty amounts to that.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– No ; to fd.

Mr CONROY:

– By the time the interest is paid the rate comes to something like Id. per lb. Why should we, because a man puts a certain amount of capital into this industry, guarantee him against loss ? The farmer who has planted his crop this year may lose all from storm or drought. But he will not be guaranteed against loss. No persons in the community are guaranteed under this protectionist system except a few manufacturers to whom, at the expense of the people, the Government guarantee that they shall get their money back with something added. If honorable members opposite like to subscribe together to guarantee this manufacturer, there is no more to be said ; it is open for them to do so. What I object to is bringing in other people and saying that because we are sitting here as legislators we will compel them to pay something which they do not want to pay. If the argument put forward by honorable members opposite be a sound one, I can show them how I should be prepared to start a factory giving employment not to twenty but to 50 men. All I ask is that Parliament will grant to me the amount of money that goes into the pockets of this manufacturer. It comes to about £20,000 indirectly. I ‘will take half of that, and” with the £10,000 a year, I will guarantee to employ 50 men, giving them the wages that this nail manufacturer pays. I will pay them 30s. a week, and will give them 36.5 days’ holiday per annum. I will spend £7,000 upon wages, and will pocket the remaining £3,000.

Mr O’Malley:

– I rise to a point of order. I must object, on the ground that the honorable and learned member is trying to make a bargain with the committee, which will involve £3,000 being put into his pocket. That indicates corruption. We know that he is not going to start a factory at all, but that he would give the men a pension to go round and do nothing.

The CHAIRMAN:

– The honorable and learned member for Werriwa was not in order from that point of view. I have been trying to connect his remarks with the item before the Chair, and have not been able to do so.

Mr CONROY:

– There is nothing to be gained by free-trade. It would break up an industry which is employing a good many men, and enabling them to keep together nice little homes. This manufacturer, who found a suburb of Melbourne a wilderness, has turned it into an oasis ; in fact, that suburb has become one of the most important in the Commonwealth, all owing to the fact that this Canadian had thepluck to go there and build an industry which no man in the country had the intelligence to think of. Beason is the seed that the Lord sows in the heads of some, but unfortunately there is often barren soil. I appeal to the thinking men of the committee to vote for a duty of 7s.

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– I am rather surprised at the information given to the committee by the honorable member for Tasmania, Mr. O’Malley. At a liberal estimate, I understand there are some 55 persons employed in this industry, a fair percentage of whom are probably not adults; and yet we are asked to believe that the planting of this factory has transformed one of the suburbs of Melbourne into what has been described as an “ oasis.” Such an idea seems beyond all comprehension. I should like to disabuse honorable members’ minds of the idea that there is any deep-laid scheme on the part of-free-traders to put people out of employment, or that we do not wish to see factories established. There is as great desire on our part to see industries legitimately flourishing, as there is on the part of protectionist honorable members. But it is a fair question whether we should be asked to consent to a high duty in order that this small industry may be protected, and enabled to enjoy a monopoly within the Commonwealth. The honorable member for Bourke put before the committee some facts which seem to require a little further explanation. He told us that horse-shoe nails were sold in Victoria, with a closely-protected market, at the same price at whichsimilar nails were sold in freetrade NewSouth Wales ; in point of fact he -alleged that the closing of the market in Victoria had not increased the price to the consumer. We have heard that kind ‘of argument over and over again. But what is the intention in imposing high duties if it is not to give themanufacturer a higher price for his article? If protection does not in some way enable him to get an enhanced price, how is he to pay the higher wages said to be demanded by the conditions of Australian life ? Ifwages and the cost of production are higher here, how can it be contended that the articles do not reach higher prices than when no duties are imposed?

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– Because the manufacturer forces the importers’ prices down.

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– I could understand the argument if protection had led to local competition ; but it is admitted that there is no such competition in this industry.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

-There is competition between the importer and the manufacturer.

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– There is only one factory in the Commonwealth, so that it cannot be contended that competition amongst local producers has reduced the price. If the. honorable member’s contention is correct, that these nails can be produced here, and sold as cheaply as the imported article, it is fair to ask why these nails are not extensively sold in the adjoining free-trade State? I gave the utmost attention to the honorable member’s statement, being much interested in his sketch of the history of the industry, and I may say, without any reservation, that I am pleased to know that a factory of the kind has grown up under any conditions, and that it is possible to manufacture nails of a quality equal to those imported. But I cannot be persuaded that it is necessary to have the enormous duty proposed. I do not intend to enter into any discussion on the point raised as to the enormous profits made by importers. Those who understand the conditions of commercial life in Australia, or any other country, will agree that it is utterly impossible for such a state of tilings as that described to exist for any length of time. Where the world’s imports are allowed freely into a market, it is impossible for trusts, combinations, or conventions to keep prices at an extravagant level for more than a comparatively brief season. I do not say that this article should be placed on the free-list, but I believe that the compromise suggested by the acting leader of the Opposition is fair and reasonable. The committee have admitted that a certain measure of protection or consideration should be conceded to industries that have existed for a considerable time. The doctrine of the Maitland speech, “ Revenue without destruction,” has been accepted to a certain extent, as was shown in previous divisions ; but I ask the committee not to unreasonably press the demand for consideration. When a proposal of a reasonable and temperate character is submitted, it ought to be accepted by honorable members in that spirit of compromise which should pervade all sections in the Chamber.

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– I do not wish to delay the committee in coming to a decision on this matter, but it does seem really remarkable that in connexion with every industry in which’ a few men are employed in Victoria, strong efforts should be made to tax the whole of the people of the Commonwealth. I am told that the duty proposed by the Government amounts to fully 40 per cent., and that the extra price that will have to be paid by the consumer will represent a still larger percentage upon the cost of the goods landed here. We ought to be extremely careful how we impose these duties, and I hope the committee will vote for a substantial reduction of the duty.

Mr. HUME COOK (Bourke).- I desire to explain that the honorable member for South Sydney was wrong in supposing that I stated that the cost of labour presented 75 per cent, of the selling price of the nails manufactured in Victoria. What I said was that 70 per cent, of the cost of production was represented by labour, and that, of course, is a very different thing. Upon the question of natural protection, I wish to point out that it costs more to send nails from Victoria to Queensland than to transport them from Belgium to Queensland, and that for this reason, amongst others, it is necessary to give the local manufacturer a chance. What I contend is, that if we keep the manufacturer in competition with the importer the consumer will benefit. On that proposition I stand, and upon it I ask honorable members for their votes.

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

AYES: 27

NOES: 33

Majority…… 6

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Amendment (by Mr. McCay) agreed to -

That the words “ and on and after 13th December, 1901,5s. “ be added to the duty, “Nails, n.e.i., namely, horse-shoe, percwt., 7s.”

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - With regard to wire and other nails, upon which it is proposed to impose a duty of 3s., I think that 2s. is the highest amount we can reasonably be asked to agree to. The arguments applied to the horse-shoe nails can be used with equal force in regard to the other nails mentioned. There has been practically a monopoly in this line of goods, owing to the operations of a ring, and if we agree to the duty now proposed all Australia will have to pay for the maintenance of this monopoly. I do not think honorable members desire anything of that kind. If I were to study my own feelings in this matter, I should place nails on the free list, and as the Government have not responded to my suggestion to reduce the duty to 2s., I move -

– That would also apply to a greater extent to the kind of nail made under the conditions I have described.

Mr HUGHES:

– No. The honorable member does not seem to understand that he was talking about clout nails, or wrought metal nails. One cannot compare the two industries. At the same time I see no reason why these nails should not be made here just as well as anywhere else. I do not wish to hurt anybody who has an industry established here, and who is endeavouring to do his level best. The circular which was read by the honorable member for Maranoa states that unless the gentleman who is engaged in this industry receives a protection of 7s. per cwt., he will scarcely be able to carry on his business. He declares that under a tax of 3s. per cwt. he lost money, and that the same thing occurred under a duty of 5s. per cwt. It was only after the imposition of a tax of 7s. 6d. per cwt. that he began financially to feel his feet. The Government propose now to impose a duty of 3s. per cwt. If I am afforded an opportunity of voting either to admit these nails free or to place a duty of 2s. per cwt. on them, I shall certainly vote in favour of the latter course. I do not agree with the gentleman who declares that he cannot carry on without a protective duty of 5s. per cwt.; neither do I agree with the honorable member for Maranoa when he says that the manufacturer in question gave the show away. He gave the show away in that he stated that he made a good deal of money under a duty of 7s. 6d. per cwt. Now, he is asked to continue his business with the aid of a duty of 3s. per cwt., but with this difference, that he will have the whole market of the Commonwealth at his command, which he never had before. He has further the assurance that he will have a permanence under this Tariff, and therefore he has good business prospects. His industry is established ; he has the start of all other competitors, and under a duty of 2s. per cwt. he ought to do very well. I venture to suggest that he would prefer a duty of 2s. per cwt. to nothing. If an opportunity is not given me to vote for a duty of 2s. per cwt., I shall support the proposal to admit the goods free.

Mr. HUME COOK (Bourke).- It may be very amusing to the honorable member for Maranoa to take up the circular of a nail manufacturer, and endeavour to extract fun from the statements which it contains ; but the point is that the profits which are therein referred to cover a period of nine years - in other words, they represent something less than £2,000 annually. I do not know that even importers are exempt from the desire to make some money out of their businesses. 1 suppose it is proper that all men should make a legitimate profit. I do not know that the amount of profit which this particular individual himself admits having made is an unfair one. What he ought to get credit for is that he devoted the whole of those profits to paying the amounts clue to his creditors. He was utterly unable to carry on under the conditions which previously existed, and, like an honest man, he utilized his profits to liquidate past liabilities, although, owing to six years having elapsed, there was no legal obligation on his part to do so. The facts in connexion with this kind of nail industry are almost as interesting as are the facts relating to the manufacture of horseshoe nails. It appears that the Government of Victoria wanted to get the wirenail industry established. In order to do so they imposed a duty of 3s. per cwt. upon wire nails. That did not offer a sufficient inducement for anyone to begin operations, and accordingly a duty of 5s. per cwt. was levied, under which rate two factories started. When the measure of protection was raised to 7s. 6d. per cwt., nine or ten factories sprang into existence. As a result, so far from any ring being established, these factories came into competition not only with the importers, but with one another ; and consequent upon this doublebarrelled competition, nails were sold all round at 2d. per lb., despite the fact that people in the other States were paying from 3d. to 7d. per lb. for their nails.

Sir William McMillan:

– That is a mere incident in the business.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– It is the kind nf incident that the consumer appreciates. It has been asserted that this industry is scarcely worth considering, but it will probably surprise the committee to learn that upwards of £100,000 is invested in plant, machinery and buildings in connexion with the manufacture of these nails. So far from the industry employing only a few men, over 120 hands are engaged in these factories, and the average rate of wages paid to adult males is 45s. per week. The cost of labour in Victoria is equal to £2 a ton more upon the best basis than is the cost of labour upon the Continent. Moreover, in quoting the prices in the Australian market of nails from foreign sources, the cost of the cases in which the nails are enclosed is always thrown in, whilst here, in order to help another industry, the cost of the case has to be added to the cost of the manufacture. Every case costs ls., so that practically there is 20s. per ton to be added to the cost of the nails. Regarding the so-called natural protection, I may mention that I have here a copy of an invoice which shows the exact cost of importing a ton of nails, and the exact cost of importing a ton of wire for making those nails. The most interesting fact in this connexion is that 100 lbs. weight of wire can be purchased in America for 1 dollar 65 “ cents, whereas the wire nails themselves can be bought for 1 dollar 60 cents per 100 lbs. It is quite clear, therefore, that the cost of the wire nails is actually less than the cost of the wire for the Australian market. I will prove that by a quotation from, the American Export Monthly, of 9th November of the present year. Arkell and Douglas, in their South African Market and Australian Market Report, under the heading of “ Nails,” says -

Wire nails are now 1 -50 dollars per 100 lbs.

Under the heading of “Wire,” the report of this firm states -

The market is somewhat weaker. ‘ The price is now 1 ‘45 dollars per 100 lbs.

– It does. The discount was 10 per cent.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– It is 35 per cent.

Mr GLYNN:

– However, I have said what I have to say, and there is a justification for placing nails upon the free list, but if the honorable member for Wentworth proposes to make the’ duty 2s., I will follow him.

Sir WILLIAM MCMILLAN (Wentworth). - The real point at the bottom of this matter is that the Victorian Government should never have put a duty upon this article. I hold in my hand one of these wire nails. It is simply a bit of wire, nipped by somemeans or other at thepoint, and with a little cap on the other end of it. Will any one torture an industry of this kind into a manufactory 1 The thing is absolutely absurd. It is a great object-lesson to the free-traders from other States, who never knew before to what heights of absurdity protectionists would go. Yet Victoria had at one time a duty of 14s. upon the other class of nails, and 7s. 6d. upon this class - a prohibitive duty, which it is admitted by honorable members opposite increased the price of the article in Victoria to the extent of the duty. Wire nails go into general consumption, and the making of them is no more a manufactory than is the hemming of handkerchiefs. Victoria might as well have protected blacksmiths’ shops by a duty. We now know how Victoria was able to pile up statistics about her manufactories, many of which are doing simply child’s work.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– There is £100,000 invested in this industry.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– At the same time we are all flesh and blood, and we have some consideration for people who have been led into this sort of thing by those wicked statutes of Victoria. Consequently we do not want to deal unnecessarily harshly with them. From the Commonwealth point of view, the interests of one or two individuals, who have invested money in an industry, should not weigh with us more than a grain of sand in the scale when we are dealing with the great population of Australia. But the Opposition are willing to carry out their compact, and get “back to Maitland,” as the saying is. Therefore I shall not press my amendment to place wire nails upon the free list, but shall content ‘myself with moving that the duty be reduced to 2s. For the present I ask leave to withdraw the amendment now before the Chair.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (Wentworth). - I have gone carefully into this subject, and in agreeing to a duty of 2s. the Opposition are going to the very utmost they can go in extending protection to the industry. It is really a bogus manufactory in asense. When I say that I do not wish to criticise the manufacturers ; but what I mean is, that it is not a manufactory which ought to be bolstered up by the State. I beg to move -

That the words ‘ ‘ and on and after 13th December 1001, 2s.” be added to the duty, “Nails, wire and other, per cwt., 3s.”

Mr Fisher:

– They are sold at 2d. per lb. in Queensland.

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– And they have been retailed at 2d. per lb. in New South Wales for the last eleven or twelve years at a good profit. The proposal of the honorable member for Wentworth gives a fair and reasonable measure of consideration to the local manufacturer. It may be said that this is an industry worth preserving even with a duty of 25 per cent, or 30 per cent., but the common sense of the committee will agree that 15 per cent, is reasonable for an industry which is well established, especially when it is remembered that we are practically placing the whole market of the Commonwealth at the feet of the Victorian manufacturer. One of the strongest arguments against New South Wales entering into federation was that that State would simply give an open market for Victorian manufacturers, and the reply given by those who favoured the union was that we would be met in a fair and reasonable spirit of compromise by the representatives not only of Victoria, but of all the States. But we have come to learn that there is not a very generous spirit of compromise abroad. There have hitherto been no duties on this article in New South Wales, and yet the proposed reduction, which leaves the duty adequate for revenueproducing purposes and for affording fair consideration to the industry, is simply scouted by the Minister for Trade and Customs. I do not blame the honorable member for Bourke for doing his best for the preservation of an industry in which he takes a great interest, but it must be remembered that we represent other interests and other people, who have not been subject to any kind of taxation on’ this article. Victorians must know that it is a great concession on the part of free-traders to accept a duty of 15 or 20 per cent., and it is only fair that we should be met in the same spirit of compromise.

– Some nails cost free on board at Liverpool 28s. and 29s. per cwt., and there are some nails sold at 60s. a cwt. The price all depends on the gauge of the nails, and for sizes below 1 inch the price rises. The average price retail is about 2d. per lb. in Victoria, and to remove the duty will not benefit the consumer but the merchant, who is anxious to wipe out the manufacturer in order to make up for what he may have lost in the past. The proposed duty is not sufficient to give a monopoly, and the manufacturer will have to fight hard to hold his own.

Mr. THOMSON (North Sydney).- The Minister for Trade and Customs gave creditto the honorable member for Bourke for having stated facts which he knew, and which could not be controverted ; and the -Minister should have shown more belief in his own words than to attempt tocontrovert the facts put forward by thathonorable member. I heard the quotation given b)r the honorable member for Bourke in regard to the price of wire nails in the United States, and he has been good enough to hand me the price list which he used. The quotation is an all-round one of 1 dollar 45 cents per cental in car-load lots, which means less than 7s. per cwt. That is the price on which, under the Customs Regulation Act, an ad valorem, duty would be paid. I only allude to this because the Minister asked me a question, and when I gave an answer he made merry over it. The cost would have to be about 8s. per cwt.. to make a 2s. duty 25 per cent., and consequently the honorable member for Bourke was correct, and the Minister altogether wrong. The honorable and learned member for Bendigo spoke about a “ cold-blooded proposal,” but I am not aware that honorable members on this side are any more coldblooded than our friends opposite. We do not desire to deprive men of employment, but rather to direct their energies to better and more profitable industries which can be carried on without the necessity for a barrier of duties. Has the honorable and learned member, or any of his party, ever proposed to support a duty of 25 per cent, on cotton 1 Why have they not done so ? If it is cold-blooded in us not to support a high duty on nails, or to say that nailmaking is an industy that should not have been started, it is equally cold-blooded on their part to acknowledge that the cotton industry is one which they ought not to attempt to establish. They look on the nail industry as one which ought to be encouraged, and the cotton industry as one which ought not; but if I were a protectionist, I should favour cotton and leave the nails alone.

Mr CAMERON:
Tasmania

– The Minister for Trade and Customs affords us a- lot of information which is not instructive, and, I am afraid, is sometimes not quite correct. The right honorable gentleman waa inclined a few momenta ago to make merry at my expense, and asked whether all nails stood at the same price per lb. I replied that a large proportion sell at the same price per lb., and the Minister, if he makes inquiries, will find that such is the .case in regard to nails from 1 inch up to’ 4 inches, though occasionally, when they are longer, they become more expensive. Practically the price for nails is about 2Jd. per lb., the only difference being .that one gets fewer nails to the lb. in the larger sizes: I hope the Minister is satisfied.

Mr. HUME COOK (Bourke).- I wish to correct one or two statements by the honorable member for North Sydney, who -said that the local manufacturers have not sold their stocks, and that therefore my argument as to retailers having raised prices is incorrect. The facts are that the Hardware Association practically purchased the whole of the stocks of the local manufacturers, and then had a meeting, and decided to raise prices. We have been told that this is an exceedingly high rate of duty, but I would point out that it is exactly the same rate as has prevailed in Queensland for years past. It is looked upon there as a revenue duty, but the revenue Tariffists say now that it is a high protective impost. The duty of 2s. 6d. per cwt. levied in Tasmania is also re,garded as a revenue duty..

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

– Will a 3s. duty keep this industry going?-

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– I doubt it, but I hope it may. I wish to correct an impres– 61011 that was sought to be left on the minds of the committee by the honorable and learned member for South Australia, Mr. Glynn. He evidently misapprehended what I stated. What I said was that the export price of wire had been raised by the American makers with a view to prevent it being used as raw material for the manufacture of nails in Victoria. The honorable member for North Sydney said that we ought not to encourage the nail-making industry, because we do not make the wire here ; but the Tariff embraces proposals which are intended to encourage the’ establishment of the iron industry in Australia. If we succeed in bringing this about I hope weshall not only make pig-iron, but all sorts of iron, including the wire required for nailmaking. It is well known that in the district represented by the honorable member for Parramatta, there are very valuable iron deposits, which I hope will be developed and go a long way towards supplying the iron required for use throughout the Commonwealth.

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

– The honorable member declined to give us a duty on iron the other night.

Mr HUME COOK:
BOURKE, VICTORIA · PROT

– On the contrary, I voted in favour of the duty oh iron, and I will also vote in favour of giving bonuses to the iron industry, which I shall assist by every means in my power. As a result of the establishment of the nail industry in Victoria two things have happened which would not have come to pass here otherwise : We have had an invention brought out, known as the lead-headed roofing nail. The inventor of this nail is drawing a royalty to-day, and has refused £10,000 for his patent. The lead-headed nail is a splendid nail - the best ever invented for the purpose - and specially adapted for use in Australia, where so much galvanized iron is employed for roofing purposes. Another invention which i» to be directly attributed to theestablishment of the nail industry here is the butter-box nail, which has replaced screws to a very great extent in the putting together of butter-boxes. That nail Ls patented, and the people who use butterboxes find it to their distinct advantage to use it, because it altogether dispenses with the use of screws. Therefore, the industry, in addition to supplying ordinary demands, has given an incentive to the inventive genius of our people, and has conferred lasting benefits upon the community. I fear that a duty of 3s. will not be sufficient to enable the industry to be carried on in competition with the imported article, but I am absolutely certain that a 2s. duty will be insufficient, and that the industry will go by the board if the protection is reduced to that amount.

Mr. SYDNEY SMITH (Macquarie). - I see by the returns of the imports into New South Wales for 1899, that the nails imported were valued on the average at not more than 12s. 6d. per. cwt. As a large proportion of these would be horse-shoe nails, honorable members will see that that is a very low average. I admit that according to the returns for 1900, the average price is much higher ; but the only reliable method of arriving at a conclusion with regard to the price of nails is that Of obtain-

I ing quotations for .particular kinds of nails-

The honorable member for Lang has told us that when the Federal Bill was under discussion in New South Wales it was stated that there would be some difficulty in overcoming the great influence which the Victorian representatives would wield when the Tariff came under discussion, and he now admits that the fears then expressed have proved to be well founded.

Mr Mauger:

– Look at the Victorian Tariff, and see what we have had to accept.

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

– I Would ask the honorable member to look at the New South Wales Tariff, and see what we are asked to put up with. We have prospered in New South Wales without any of the iniquitous protective duties that have been imposed in Victoria. We have held our own satisfactorily, and all the unfaircriticisms which have been passed upon our conditions by honorable members on the Government side of the Chamber cannot shake the undeniable facts of the case. I shall not further delay the committee, but shall take another opportunity of defending New South Wales against the attacks which have been made upon her.

Mr. CONROY (Werriwa).-In view of the fact that the raw material for nailmaking is not. produced within the Commonwealth, I am surprised that the protectionists consider it desirable to build up the. industry - an exotic industry. I find that the number of men employed in the nail industry is only 1 20, and that a duty of £3 per ton on the quantity of noils hitherto imported would represent £33,000. Allowing for the payment of 120 men at the rate of 31s. per week, which would represent a total of over £9,000, there still ought to be £20,000 a year coming to the Treasury. The estimate we have only shows £13,000 a. year, so that a large bonus is being given to a number of manufacturers in an industry which is not natural. I certainly should like to see this item placed on the free list, but that not being possible, I should like to get as near to it as I can, and shall support the proposal of the honorable member for Wentworth.

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

The committee divided.

AYES: 24

NOES: 31

Majority … … 7

AYES

NOES

Question resolved in the negative.

Amendment negatived.

Progress reported.

page 8690

PUNISHMENT OF OFFENCES BILL

Bill received from Senate, and (on motion by Mr. Barton) read the first time.

House adjourned at 10.54 p.m.

Cite as: Australia, House of Representatives, Debates, 12 December 1901, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/hofreps/1901/19011212_reps_1_7/>.

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House of Representatives12 December 1901

PACIFIC ISLAND LABOURERS BILL

Mr BARTON:Minister for External Affairs · Hunter · Protectionist

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:Wentworth

Mr CONROY:Werriwa

Mr BARTON:

Mr GLYNN:South Australia

Mr Deakin:

Sir William McMillan:

Mr GLYNN:

Mr Barton:

Mr Kingston:

Mr CONROY:

Mr BARTON:

Mr PIESSE:Tasmania

Mr R EDWARDS:OXLEY, QUEENSLAND · PROT; FT from 1913; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910

Mr FISHER:Wide Bay

Mr R EDWARDS:OXLEY, QUEENSLAND · PROT; FT from 1913; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910

Mr FISHER:

Mr F E McLEAN:LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Sir MALCOLM MCEACHARN:Melbourne

IMMIGRATION RESTRICTION BILL

Mr BARTON:Minister for External Affairs · Hunter · Protectionist

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:Wentworth

Mr Page:

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

Mr PAGE:MARANOA, QUEENSLAND · FT; ALP from 1903

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

Mr Barton:

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

Mr Barton:

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

Mr GLYNN:South Australia

Mr Barton:

Mr GLYNN:

Sir William McMillan:

Mr GLYNN:

Mr McCAY:Corinella

Sir Malcolm Mceacharn:

Mr Barton:

Mr McCAY:

Sir JOHN QUICK:Bendigo

Mr CONROY:Werriwa

Mr Barton:

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:

Mr BARTON:

Sir William McMillan:

Mr BARTON:

Sir William McMillan:

Mr BARTON:

Sir Malcolm McEacharn:

Sir William McMillan:

Mr BARTON:

Mr BARTON:

Sir William McMillan:

Mr BARTON:

Mr V L SOLOMON:SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr McCay:

Mr V L SOLOMON:SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr Barton:

Mr V L SOLOMON:SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr Barton:

Mr V L SOLOMON:SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr Barton:

Mr V L SOLOMON:SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr Batchelor:

Mr V L SOLOMON:SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Sir William McMillan:

Mr V L SOLOMON:SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr Batchelor:

Mr V L SOLOMON:SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr DEAKIN:AttorneyGeneral · Ballarat · Protectionist

Mr PIESSE:Tasmania

Mr F E McLEAN:LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr Barton:

Mr F E McLEAN:LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr Barton:

Mr F E McLEAN:LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr Deakin:

Mr F E McLEAN:LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

House of Representatives
12 December 1901

Mr BARTON:
Minister for External Affairs · Hunter · Protectionist

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

Mr CONROY:
Werriwa

Mr GLYNN:
South Australia

Mr PIESSE:
Tasmania

Mr R EDWARDS:
OXLEY, QUEENSLAND · PROT; FT from 1913; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910

Mr FISHER:
Wide Bay

Mr R EDWARDS:
OXLEY, QUEENSLAND · PROT; FT from 1913; ANTI-SOC from 1906; LP from 1910

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Sir MALCOLM MCEACHARN:
Melbourne

Mr BARTON:
Minister for External Affairs · Hunter · Protectionist

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

Mr PAGE:
MARANOA, QUEENSLAND · FT; ALP from 1903

Mr GLYNN:
South Australia

Mr McCAY:
Corinella

Sir JOHN QUICK:
Bendigo

Mr CONROY:
Werriwa

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr DEAKIN:
AttorneyGeneral · Ballarat · Protectionist

Mr PIESSE:
Tasmania

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr FULLER:
Illawarra

Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN:
Wentworth

Sir MALCOLM MCEACHARN:
Melbourne

Mr KINGSTON:
South AustraliaMinister for Trade and Customs · Protectionist

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr McCOLL:
Echuca

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr CROUCH:
Corio

Mr KNOX:
Kooyong

Mr EWING:
Richmond

Mr KENNEDY:
Moira

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr F E McLEAN:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr V L SOLOMON:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · FT

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT

Mr SYDNEY SMITH:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES · FT