House of Representatives
15 September 1937

14th Parliament · 2nd Session

  1. House of Representatives
  2. 14th Parliament
  3. 1937

Mr. Speaker (Hon. G. J. Bell) took the chair at 2.30 p.m., and road prayers.

page 1125

PAPERS

The following papers were pre sented -

Iron and Steel Products Bounty Act - Return for year 1936-37.

Science and Industry Research Act. -

Eleventh Annual Report of Council for year 1936-37.

page 1125

QUESTION

MOTOR CAR INDUSTRY

Manufacturiing Operations in Australia : Report of Tariff Board.

Mr HUTCHINSON:
INDI, VICTORIA

– Will the Minister for Trade and Customs state whether Cabinet has yet considered the report of the Tariff Board on the proposal to manufacture car engines and chassis in Australia, and if so, with what result? Further, when may honorable members expect to receive a copy of the report ?

Mr WHITE:
Minister for Trade and Customs · BALACLAVA, VICTORIA · UAP

– Cabinet has not yet considered this report, but I personally have read it. It is most voluminous. Further information is required from the Tariff Board for the elucidation of various points in the report, and a memorandum has been sent to the board asking that it be supplied. When received, Cabinet will consider the report at its earliest convenience.

page 1126

QUESTION

OIL IK DUTCH NEW GUINEA

Mr BEASLEY:
WEST SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

– Can the Prime Minister mention to the House the name of the Minister who was in charge of the administration of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea on the 30th January, 1934, and the 30th June, 1934, when reports were submitted in regard to the discovery of flow oil in Dutch New Guinea ?

Mr LYONS:
Prime Minister · WILMOT, TASMANIA · UAP

– The Minister in charge of Territories when the report of the 30th January, 1934, was received,’ was the honorable member for Parkes (Sir Charles Marr), and the Minister in charge of Territories when the report of the 30th June, 1934, was received, was Senator Sir Harry Lawson.

Mr BEASLEY:

– Can the Prime Minister make available the reports submitted in January and June, 1934, by the Administrator of the Territory of New Guinea in regard to the discovery of flow oil in Dutch New Guinea ?

Mr LYONS:

– The honorable gentleman would he nearer the mark if he framed his question by using the words “ suggested discovery of oil “. I shall be glad to make the report available to the honorable gentleman. I go’ further than that and say that the honorable member may, if he desires, have access to the files dealing with the matter.

page 1126

QUESTION

CANBERRA

Revaluations - Unemployment - WorkingHours of Shop Assistants.

Mr PERKINS:
EDEN-MONARO, NEW SOUTH WALES

– Can the Minister for the Interior say on what basis the revaluations of properties in Canberra are made for rating purposes? Is the honorable gentleman aware that in some recent cases rates were advanced by 75 per cent., and caused bitter dissatisfaction? Is there any authority to which onappeal may be made?

Mr PATERSON:
Minister for the Interior · GIPPSLAND, VICTORIA · CP

– I cannot give the exact details as to the basis that is observed but it is in accordance with the law. Revaluations for rating purposes are made each year, but they do not involve rentals. I assure the honorable gentleman that, on the whole, the reductions have exceeded the increases, particularly in districts in which the people are less able to pay - for example in an area such as Ainslie.

Mr FORDE:
CAPRICORNIA, QUEENSLAND

– Is it true that the Minister for the Interior refused to meet . a deputation of representatives of the unemployed in Canberra during the last couple of days? Will’ the honorable gentleman give the assurance that he will meet such a deputation before he leaves Canberra ?

Mr PATERSON:

– It is not true that I refused to meet this deputation. I have never refused to meet a deputation since I have been the Minister for the Interior. I was unable to arrange to meet representatives of the unemployed either last night or to-night, but I have written to them stating that I shall be glad to endeavour to meet them in the near future.

Mr PERKINS:

– Is the AttorneyGeneral aware that while shop assistants in Queanbeyan and New South Wales generally work a 44-hour week, in the Federal Capital Territory they are obliged to work a 46-hour week? It is possible for the right honorable gentleman to take steps to bring about uniformity?

Mr MENZIES:
Attorney-General · KOOYONG, VICTORIA · UAP

– I have this matter under consideration at the present time.

page 1126

MAJOR OIL COMPANIES

Supplies of Petrol to Traders

Mr ROSEVEAR:
DALLEY, NEW SOUTH WALES

-I have received from a garage proprietor in my electorate a letter in which he says -

I should like to draw your attention, as federal member,to the penalization of my garage business by the major oil companies. The Shell, Commonwealth Oil Refineries and Vacuum Oil companies refuse to supply me at wholesale rates, which I as a reseller am entitled to, unlessI raise the independent oil company’s prices to their level.

In view of this evidence, and of similar evidence that was submitted to the Royal Commission on Petrol, has the Government done anything, or does it propose to do anything, in regard to the penalizing of traders by the major oil companies?

Mr LYONS:
UAP

– If the honorable memberwill supply me with full details, I shall be glad to look into the matter.

page 1127

QUESTION

AUSTRALIAN AIR LEAGUE

Mr E J HARRISON:
WENTWORTH, NEW SOUTH WALES · UAP; LP from 1944

– I introduced recently to the then Acting Minister for Defence (Mr. Thorby) a deputation from the Australian Air League, which stated a strong case for consideration by the Government of a grant to help it to continue the preliminary training of youths in all matters pertaining to aviation. Has the Minister for Defence (Sir Archdale Parkhill) considered the request of that deputation? If so, will he give the assurance that a grant will be made to assist the league to continue the good work in which it is engaged ?

Sir ARCHDALE PARKHILL:
Minister for Defence · WARRINGAH, NEW SOUTH WALES · UAP

-I have not had an opportunity to study the papers in connexion with the deputation that waited on the Acting Minister for Defence during my absence abroad, but I am aware of the enthusiasm which this organization has displayed and of the. considerable amount of patriotic service that a number of people are rendering in regard to it. I have ascertained that there is no provision on the Estimates for the granting of assistance, and I am exploring other avenues to see whether there is some fund operated by the department from which assistance may be given.

page 1127

QUESTION

TIMBER IMPORTS

Mr SCULLY:
GWYDIR, NEW SOUTH WALES

– Has the attention of the Minister for Trade and Customs been drawn to a recent press report which read -

With timber from the Pacific Coast, at least 30 vessels are expected at Sydney by December, according to advices received by shipping men. They will discharge more than 100,000,000 feet of lumber, and relieve the shortage which has developed in the local market.

Is the Minister aware that a large number of the timber mills of New South “Wales are at present idle, that others are working only part time, and that very few are working full time? Will he take steps to prevent the dumping of timber from overseas, as it will cause wholesale unemployment in the timber industry throughout Australia?

Mr WHITE:
UAP

– I am not aware that the position is as the honorable member has stated it to be. In fact, in Adelaide at the moment there is a considerable scarcity of both Australian and imported timber. From several firms in Adelaide, I have received to-day telegrams on the subject passed on to me by honorable members representing constituencies in South Australia. Prior to the entry of the honorable member intothis House, the Government raised the duties on Oregon logs. This proved most effective in the direction of increasing the volume of work in Australian mills. The files in the Department of Trade and Customs contain correspondence from the Hardwood Millers’ Association of Victoria, expressing approval of that action of the Government, and stating that it had accelerated work in all the Australian mills. If the honorable member can prove to me that there is one mill that is slack, I shall be very greatly surprised.

page 1127

QUESTION

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Visit by Prime Minister - Election - Railway Employees - Topographical Survey - Land Resumption for Naval Purposes.

Mr BLAIN:
NORTHERN TERRITORY

– No Prime Minister of the Commonwealth has yet set foot in the Northern Territory. Will the right honorable member for Wilmot (Mr. Lyons) accept, through me, an invitation from the people of the Northern Territory to be the first Prime Minister to do so - after the next elections?

Mr LYONS:
UAP

– As the “ then “ Prime Minister, I accept the invitation of the “ then “ honorable member for the Northern Territory.

I take this opportunity to reply to a question that the honorable member asked yesterday concerning the date of the election for the Northern Territory, in which he is directly interested. The issue of the writ will be on the 24th September; nominations will close on the 2nd October; polling day will be on the 30th October - one week later than the date of the general elections throughout Australia; and the writs will be returnable on or before the 31st December.

Mr BLAIN:

– In view of the harmony that now exists in the Commonwealth

Railways service between Alice Springs and Kalgoorlie as the result of the officers being granted the right to approach the Public Service Arbitrator, will the Minister for the Interior confer with the Commonwealth Railways Commissioner with the idea of giving a similar right to the men stationed further north around Darwin?

Mr PATERSON:
CP

– I shall discuss the honorable member’s suggestion with the Commonwealth Railways Commissioner.

Mr BLAIN:

– In view of the difficulty of officers and men of the garrison at Darwin in going inland to gain a knowledge of the country in which they might be required to deploy, I ask the Minister for Defence if a branch of the survey corps could not be established in Darwin so that thorough topographical maps might be prepared?

Mr PATERSON:
GIPPSLAND, VICTORIA · CP from 1922; ST CP from 1937; LCP from 1940

– I shall have consideration given to the representations and. suggestions of the honorable member.

Mr BLAIN:

– I have just received a telegram from a Chinese merchant at Darwin who has been compelled by the Department of the Interior more or less to rebuild. He has £4,000 worth of material on the ground, and fears that the Department of Defence may decide to resume the land for naval requirements. Will the Minister for the Interior announce as early as possible the land that will be required for naval purposes?

Mr PATERSON:

– The information will be made available as soon as possible.

page 1128

QUESTION

GALVANIZED IRON

Mr McCLELLAND:
WIMMERA, VICTORIA

– Is the Minister for Trade and Customs aware of the extreme shortage of galvanized iron throughout Australia? What steps, if any, does he propose to take to ensure that ample supplies shall be made available?

Mr WHITE:
UAP

– There has been a shortage of galvanized iron in Australia from time to time. To relieve it, I have approved during the last two years of the by-law admission of English iron to a value of nearly £300,000.

Mr Prowse:

– On behalf of the manufacturers or the public?

Mr WHITE:

– The public, of course, including the wheat-growers; that is, through merchants, British iron imported into Australia to-day is dearer than Australian galvanized iron; consequently, although it may be imported free of duty, merchants are not purchasing it, and therefore the shortage of supplies persists. The local manufacturing establishments have, however, been considerably extended, . and it is hoped that the requirements of the public will quickly be overhauled. The demand, of course, has been very considerably accelerated by reason of the extensive building operations that have been conducted during the last five years.

page 1128

QUESTION

NICKEL COINAGE

Mr JAMES:
HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES

– Will the Treasurer state whether it is true, as is reported in the press, that the Government is considering the introduction of a nickel coin to replace the present copper coinage in Australia? If so, does not the honorable gentleman consider that, as nickel is not produced in Australia, the adoption of such a course would be to the detriment of the coppermining industry, and would cause additional unemployment?

Mr Lyons:

– Nickel is produced in Tasmania.

Mr CASEY:
Treasurer · CORIO, VICTORIA · UAP

– The Government has not actually had the matter under consideration; but I have considered it personally. I do not think that the quantity of copper absorbed in our coinage is of very great moment to the copper -mining industry of Australia.

page 1128

QUESTION

AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING COMMISSION

Studio Building Programme - Additional Station for Adelaide

Mr MAHONEY:
DENISON, TASMANIA

– Has the Minister representing the Postmaster-General yet received a report from the Australian Broadcasting Commission in reference to the Hobart studio?

Sir ARCHDALE PARKHILL.The provision of broadcasting studios is an obligation of the Australian Broadcasting Commission, from which body the following advice has been received : -

The Commonwealth architect, who has been in consultation with Mr. Bearup of the commission’s staff, and officers of the PostmasterGeneral’s technical staff, is preparing sketch plans of the proposed new Sydney building.

These plans, with estimates, will be submitted to the commission at its meeting in the first week of October. Naturally, some months will elapse between the commission’s inspection of the sketch plans and the actual commencement of building operations, and it may well be two years or more from now before the building is completed. It is proposed to start on the plans for the Melbourne building as soon as the construction of the Sydney building has begun, so that building operations will proceed simultaneously in both cities, though the Melbourne building may not be completed until some months after Sydney.

Regarding the other States, the commission has not yet decided whether it will proceed with the building in Hobart before Adelaide, Brisbane or Perth. In any case, it is not likely that the building in one or other of these capital cities will be started until the Melbourne and Sydney buildings are at least nearing completion. In view of this, there is no urgent need for the commission to decide immediately what the order of construction will he.

Mr STACEY:
ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– Can the Minister representing the Postmaster-General inform the House when the Australian Broadcasting Commission will proceed with the provision of an additional A class broadcasting station at Adelaide?

Sir ARCHDALE PARKHILL:
UAP

– I shall endeavour to obtain the required information from the Australian Broadcasting Commission.

page 1129

QUESTION

MINERAL RESOURCES SURVEY

Mr DRAKEFORD:
MARIBYRNONG, VICTORIA

– Can the Prime Minister statewhen the survey now being made of the iron ore and other mineral resources of Australia will be completed? If it is completed prior to the reassembly of Parliament, will it be possible for the results to be made available to honorable members who desire it?

Mr LYONS:
UAP

– The survey referred to by the honorable gentleman must not be superficial, as was the first survey. Therefore, I cannot give any indication how long it will take for it to be completed. If the survey is to be complete and comprehensive, however, it will take some considerable time, and I doubt whether the results will be available within the next few weeks.

page 1129

QUESTION

RADIO TELEPHONE CHARGES

Mr PRICE:
BOOTHBY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– On the 19th November 1936, I asked the Minister representing the Postmaster-General -

  1. What stage has been reached by the Government in negotiations in regard to the disparity which exists in connexion with the rates charged for radio messages for ships at sea to Australia and those to the United Kingdom?
  2. Is the Government able to advise that uniformity in charges has been reached!! and received the following reply: -
  3. Negotiations regarding rate reductions for radiotelegrams between ships and coast stations have reached an advanced stage, although certain points are still outstanding.
  4. No; the matter is still being actively pursued.

What is the position to-day?

Sir ARCHDALE PARKHILL:
UAP

– I am very sorry that I cannot clear up the matter straight away. I have no recollection of having been asked a similar question before, but I shall obtain the information required by the honorable gentleman and ascertain if it is intended to do anything.

page 1129

QUESTION

PACIFIC SHIPPING

Mr LYONS:
Prime Minis ter · WILMOT, TASMANIA · ALP; UAP from 1931

– by leave - The question of maintaining British liner shipping on the route between Canada, New Zealand and Australia was discussed during the Imperial Conference by representatives of the governments concerned - the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - and these discussions have since been continued. As a result, the Commonwealth Government has decided that, subject to a satisfactory agreement being reached with the shipping company concerned as to terms and extent of assistance, the Government is prepared to recommend to Parliament that it join with the other governments in a scheme for co-operation in financial measures to enable two new liners to be built for the service.

As at present contemplated, these measures would take the form of a government guarantee of a loan to be raised by the shipping company for the purpose of constructing the vessels. The terms of the proposed financial assistance have been incorporated in a draft agreement with which the Commonwealth Government is in accord. This has been fully discussed with the company, but there are still points outstanding and, consequently, it is not possible to introduce legislation this session.

Later:

Mr BEASLEY:

– What steps can the interested parties, particularly the men employed in Pacific shipping, take to preserve their interests under any agreement which may be arrived at in pursuance of the proposed subsidizing of British shipping in the Pacific? My* question refers to manning, docking and the supply of provisions which are now done through Australian sources, but which may not be so done under a new agreement. I desire to see that the interests of these persons are safeguarded.

Mr LYONS:
UAP

– No action by the men is required because the Government- is doing everything necessary to safeguard their interests.

page 1130

REPORT OP ROYAL COMMISSION ON PETROL

Mr JENNINGS:
WATSON, NEW SOUTH WALES

– On Friday last, the honorable member for West Sydney (Mr. Beasley) made reference to the report of the Royal Commission on Petrol. I desire to inform the honorable gentleman that the debate in the House on that report lapsed when Parliament was last prorogued, and no action by the Printing Committee could restore it to the notice-paper.

page 1130

QUESTION

DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

Employees’ Long Service Leave

Mr DRAKEFORD:

– Can the Minister for> Defence state whether the matter of the granting of furlough and long service leave to employees in the Defence Department has been dealt with? If so, what decision has been reached?

Sir ARCHDALE PARKHILL:
UAP

– Owing to’ the pressure of parliamentary business it has not yet been possible to deal with that matter, but a memorandum is available for the consideration of the Government.

page 1130

QUESTION

PETROL PUMPS AND REFRIGERATORS

Tariff Board Reports

Mr PRICE:

– Is the Minister for Trade and Customs now able to tell me whether he has received the reports of the Tariff Board on petrol pumps and refrigerators ?

Mr WHITE:
UAP

– The reports of the Tariff Board on those subjects had to be referred hack to the board for further information, but they have now been received again, and will be considered in due course.

page 1130

QUESTION

EXPORTS OF BEEF TO GREAT BRITAIN

Mr CLARK:
DARLING, NEW SOUTH WALES

– I ask the Minister for Commerce if there have been any recent negotiations with Great Britain with reference to exports of beef from this country and, if so, what was the nature of such negotiations?

Dr EARLE PAGE:
Minister for Commerce · COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · CP

– There has been no fresh discussion with regard to the exportation of beef beyond that concerning the figures that I gave in the House a few weeks ago, which set the quantity for this year at 2,250,000 cwt.

page 1130

QUESTION

BROOM MILLET

Mr McEWEN:
ECHUCA, VICTORIA

– Can the Minister for Commerce give me any information as to the result of the conference between millet-growers that the manufacturers who purchase broom millet which took place in Sydney yesterday? Can the Minister give an assurance that there will -he no further lifting of the embargo on broom millet coming into Australia until Parliament has met again ?

Dr EARLE PAGE:
CP

– I can give the honorable member an assurance that there is no likelihood of a lifting of the embargo as there is no suggestion that Australian millet is not able to meet the present demand. In regard to the first part of the honorable member’s question, I shall ascertain before the House adjourns exactly what has taken place, and let him know the result of my inquiries.

page 1130

QUESTION

MILK FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN

Mr HOLT:
FAWKNER, VICTORIA

– In reply to a question I asked on notice recently, the Minister for Commerce informed me that as the result of efforts by the National Milk Publicity Council in Great Britain, some 3,000,000 school children in that country received a daily supply of milk at half the ordinary price. He said that the question as to whether a similar arrangement could he made in Australia would be considered by the Australian Agricultural Council. When is that matter to be considered by the council?

Dr EARLE PAGE:
CP

– The next meeting of the council will take place some time next year, but in the meantime the matter will also be considered by the Government.

page 1131

QUESTION

SMALL ARMS FACTORY IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Mr PRICE:

– What stage has been reached with regard to the establishment of a small arms factory in South Australia ?

Sir ARCHDALE PARKHILL:
UAP

– Thu position in regard to this matter has been explained already in this House both by the Prime Minister and by myself. The Government is in favour of the decentralization of munition works, and is prepared in connexion with any new works to endeavour to give effect to that policy; but it is not prepared to construct new works where an annex or an addition to existing works can be economically carried out to effect what is required. Consequently, there is no provision at the moment for any works in the other States regarding munitions generally, although the position is being explored to see if some work connected with the department can be done in States other than those in which munitions work is already being carried on.

page 1131

QUESTION

MATERNITY ENDOWMENT

Mr JENNINGS:

– I ask the Minister for Health whether final arrangements have yet been made in connexion with the negotiations that have been proceeding for some time between the Commonwealth Government and the Government of New South Wales concerning the operation of the maternity endowment scheme in New South Wales?

Mr HUGHES:
Minister for Repatriation · NORTH SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · UAP

– I understand that a bill submitted to the State Legislature a day or so ago embodying the arrangement agreed to, on the advice of the Advisory Council, is about to be submitted to the Governor for the Royal Assent.

page 1131

BULK HANDLING OF WHEAT

Effect on WORKERS

Mr ROSEVEAR:

– Has the Minister for Health yet received a report from the officers of the Health Department concerning the effect on waterside workers of dust arising from the bulk handling of wheat.

Mr HUGHES:
UAP

– No; but I discussed the subject with the Director-General of Health last week, and he gave me some interesting information. He has himself made an investigation into the effect on the lungs of the workers of dust arising as the result of the bulk-handling of wheat, and has formed the opinion that it is not dissimilar to that of silicosis. The matter has been referred to the Research Council. It will not be overlooked’, for I am personally interested in it.

page 1131

QUESTION

PARLIAMENTARY REFRESHMENT-ROOM

Refrigerator

Mr FORDE:

– I direct attention to a reply given by you, Mr. Speaker, <to the honorable member for Herbert (Mr. Martens) a few days ago, furnished, no doubt, by the Secretary of the Joint House Committee, in justification of the purchase of an imported refrigerator for use in the parliamentary refreshmentroom, in which it was stated that the refrigerator was superior to those made in Australia, and that refrigerators were not completely manufactured in this country. Have you, sir, called for a report from the Trade and Customs Department as to whether the statements contained in that reply are true? Will you make a statement to the effect that refrigerators are completely made here, and are just as efficient as the imported article ?

Mr SPEAKER:

– I have been informed by officers under the control of the Joint House Department that the refrigerator purchased for the parliamentary refreshment-room is considered lo be superior to any other, and is giving complete satisfaction. I have asked for further information as to the manufacture and efficiency of refrigerators made in Australia, as the honorable member disputed the correctness of my reply on that point.

page 1132

INTER-STATE COMMISSION BILL

Mr PRICE:

– Will the Prime Minister inform me whether it is the intention of the Government to proceed forthwith with the debate on the Inter-State Commission Bill; and, if not, is it intended to deal with it immediately the Government is returned to office?

Mr LYONS:
UAP

– The honorable member must know that the time now at our disposal willnot permit us to complete the consideration of this bill; but it will be again submitted to the House when Parliament re-assembles again after the elections.

page 1132

QUESTION

ROYAL HOBART CENTENARY REGATTA

Special Stamp Issue

Mr MAHONEY:

– In view of the grave disappointment caused by the reply made yesterday to a question I asked concerning the issue of a special stamp in connexion with the Royal Hobart Centenary Regatta, will the Prime Minister make further representations to the PostmasterGeneral on the subject?

Mr LYONS:
UAP

– A full statement on the subject is being furnished to the Premier of Tasmania, in which it is being pointed out that special stamps are issued only in connexion with big national events. The departure from this rule at the time the telephone cable was laid between the mainland and Tasmania, when a special stamp was issued, was for the purpose of informing the world that Tasmania was now connected with the mainland by telephone cable. That was a very special case. The Postmaster-General’s Department feels that it would not be advisable to issue a special stamp in connexion with the Royal Hobart Centenary Regatta. The proposal that an advertisement of the event should be authorized on envelopes is being considered.

page 1132

QUESTION

LAND MORTGAGE BRANCH OF COMMONWEALTH BANK

Mr McEWEN:

– As the Government has not found it possible before the dissolution of this Parliament to introduce a bill to establish a land mortgage branch of the Commonwealth Bank, will the Prime Minister give me a positive assurance that, after it is returned to office following upon the coming elections, such a measure will be introduced?

Mr.LYONS.- I give the honorable member a very definite assurance of that point, as it is a matter of government policy.

page 1132

COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE BILL 1937

Motion (by Dr.Earle Page) agreed to-

That he have leave to bring in a bill for an act to amend the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1922-l936, in relation to the recognition of certain prior service as Commonwealth service.

Bill brought up, and read a first time.

Second Reading

Dr EARLE PAGE:
Minister for Commerce · Co wper · CP

– by leave -I move -

That the bill be now read a second time.

The object of this bill is to overcome the hardship suffered by certain officers of the Commonwealth Public Service by reason of their service with the Development and Migration Commission. The Development and Migration Act 1926, made provision for the preservation of the existing and. accruing rights of Commonwealth and State public servants appointed to the staff of the commission, but did not specify what those rights were. In 1928, the Officers’ Rights Declaration Act was passed specifying the rights preserved to Commonwealth officers appointed to the staff of the commission, but no action was taken to specify the rights of State officers appointed to it. This bill indicates the rights which it. was intended to preserve to State officers under the Development and Migration Act.

Under the Commonwealth Public Service Act, an officer of the State Public Service who transfers to the Commonwealth Public Service is entitled to have the period of his employment by the State counted for the purposes of computing sick leave and furlough, provided, of course, that his service with the State and the Commonwealth is continuous.

In the case of certain officers whose service with a State, with the Development and Migration Commission, and subsequently with the Commonwealth Public Service has been continuous, the period during which they were on the staff of the commission represents, under the law as it now stands, a break in such continuity. This means that for purposes of sick leave and furlough, the service of these officers is regarded as having commenced only from the date of their appointment to the Commonwealth Public Service after the abolition of the Development and Migration Commission.

Mr Forde:

– How many officers are affected ?

Dr EARLE PAGE:

– Three. This bill is designed to remedy the unsatisfactory position in which they find themselves.

Mr FORDE:
Capricornia

.- As this bill makes provision for recognizing the rights of certain public servants and is reasonable, the Opposition will not oppose it.

Mr.Beasley. -What are the names of the officers concerned ?

Dr Earle Page:

– Messrs. J. A. W. Stevenson, C. H. Cox, andN. W. Lamidy, who were appointed to the commission to make special investigation into certain aspects of our primary producing industries are now continuing their work as officers of the Commerce Department.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time and reported from committee without amendment or debate; report adopted.

Bill - by leave - read a third time.

page 1133

DAIRY PRODUCE EXPORT CHARGES BILL 1937

Second Reading

Mr THORBY:
Assistant Minister for Commerce · Calare · CP

– I move -

That the bill be now read a second time.

This is a very short bill of only one clause of any consequence. By an amendment of the Dairy Produce Control Act 1935, the name of the board appointed under the principal act was altered from the Dairy Produce Control Board to the

Australian Dairy Produce Board. In the Dairy Produce Export Charges Act 1924-1929, the old name still appears and this amendment is necessary to alter it. In 1936, the levy under this act was amended on the recommendation of the Australian Dairy Produce Board, although the Dairy Produce Export Charges Act at that time provided that the recommendation should be by the Dairy Produce Control Board. The present amending bill, besides providing for the alteration of the name of the board, validates the action taken in 1936.

Mr.Forde. - Was the industry consulted on this subject?

Mr THORBY:

– Yes. The present board is quite in accordance with this proposal which is, in fact, necessary. It is merely a technical amendment, and I give honorable members a definite assurance that no principle is involved.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time and reported from committee without amendment or debate; report adopted.

Bill - by leave - read a third time.

page 1133

WINE GRAPES CHARGES BILL 1937

Second Reading

Mr THORBY:
Assistant Minister for Commerce · Calare · CP

– I move -

That the bill be now read a second time.

At the end of last session the Wine Overseas Marketing Act 1929-36 was amended to provide, among other things, for a change of designation of the Wine Overseas Marketing Board to the Australian Wine Board. Consequently, it has been found necessary to amend the Wine Grapes Charges Act 1929, by substituting the words “ Australian Wine Board “ for the words “ Wine Overseas Marketing Board “ wherever they occur. No new principle is embodied “in the amendment, and I ask honorable members to accept the bill.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time, and reported from committee without amendment or debate; report adopted.

Bill - by leave - read a third time.

page 1134

THERAPEUTIC SUBSTANCES BILL 1937

Second Reading

Mr HUGHES:
Minister for Health · North Sydney · UAP

.- I move-

That the bill be now read a second time.

The purpose of this bill is to give control over the importation and exportation of that group of medical remedies which are designated in the bill as therapeutic substances. They are to be distinguished from drugs in that they are biological products. Perhaps the two most familiar examples of these substances are diphtheria anti-toxin, which is an example of a substance prepared by bacterial action, and insulin, which is an example of a substance prepared from animal glands. The object of the bill is to ensure that these substances shall be of the right strength and purity, because it is recognized that they are very potent, and would be capable of working great havoc in the community if they were defective in quality. The bill, therefore, proposes to ensure that they shall comply with the following basic requirements : -

  1. They shall be true to a determined standard, that standard having an official and legal status ;
  2. They shall be free from contamination, more especially from bacterial contamination ;
  3. They must be properly and safely packed; and
  4. They must be accurately labelled as to dosage.

The standard adopted is that fixed by the League of Nations. It is international in its acceptation, and is recognized everywhere the League of Nations is recognized. The bill applies only to importations and exportations ; it does not apply to serum anti-toxin and vaccines manufactured at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, which are covered by laws and regulations designed to ensure their absolute purity, and compliance with standard’ requirements.

The bill provides simple machinery giving the Minister power to licence importers so as to give official supervision over the channels of importation, and to supervise the preparation of these substances for export. Every container of these substances must state clearly what it contains, the biological formula for its manufacture, and the standard dose, together with a statement that the contents are free from contamination, and comply with thestandard laid down and recognized. The subject could be amplified at great length, but it is sufficient to say that, in effect, this is a bill which extends that kind of protection which is afforded by the Pure Foods Act to foods, and the Pure Drugs Act to drugs, to those biological preparations which are so extensively used to-day, and upon the purity of which the health and lives of our citizens depend.

Mr FORDE:
Capricornia

.This bill deals with a subject with which lay members cannot hope to make themselves familiar in the short time at our disposal. The Minister for Health (Mr. Hughes) was good enough to explain to me before the House met what the bill was intended to do. He is supported by the advice of the medical officers of his department, men in whom we have the greatest confidence. Therefore, the Opposition can safely support it.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time, and reported from committee without amendment or debate; report adopted.

Bill - by leave - read a third time.

page 1134

AMENDMENT OF STANDING ORDERS

Election of Speaker

Mr MENZIES:
AttorneyGeneral · Kooyong · UAP

– by leave - I move -

That Standing Orders Nos. 7 to 13 be repealed and the following new Standing Order, recommended by the Standing Orders Committee in its Report, be adopted in place thereof: -

The election of Speaker shall be conducted in the following manner: -

At the opening of Parliament, after the’ Members present have been sworn, or whenever the office of Speaker becomes vacant, a Member, addressing himself to the Clerk, shall propose some Member, then present, to the House for their Speaker, and move that such Member “Do take the Chair of this House as Speaker “, which motion shall be seconded. A Member when proposed and seconded shall inform the House whether he accepts nomination.

The Clerk shall then ask, “ Is there any further proposal?”, and if, within two minutes thereafter, there is no further proposal, the Clerk shall say “ The time for proposals has expired “. No Member may then address the House or propose any other Member, and the Clerk shall, without question put, declare the Member so proposed and seconded to have been elected as Speaker, and such Member shall be conducted to the Chair by his proposer and seconder, and shall take the Chair of the House as Speaker.

If more than one Member is proposed as Speaker the Clerk shall, after the second proposal and after each subsequent proposal ‘(if any) is made and seconded, ask “ Is there any further proposal?’’, and if, within two minutes thereafter, there is no further proposal, the Clerk shall say “ The time for proposals has expired “.

When the time for proposals has expired, debate may ensue, but it shall be relevant to the election.

No Member shall speak for more than five minutes.

At any time during the debate a Motion may be made by a Minister rising in his place, and without notice, and whether any other Member is addressing the Chair or not “ That the Question be now put “.

The Clerk shall then put the question, without debate, “That the Question be now put “. In the event of the numbers being equal the Question shall be decided in the negative.

Upon the carrying of tie Question “ That the Question be now put “, or upon the cessation of the debate otherwise, the election shall be proceeded with as provided in this Standing Order.

Before the House proceeds to a ballot the bells shall be rung as in a Division.

When only two Members are proposed and seconded as Speaker, each Member shall deliver to the Clerk a ballotpaper in writing, containing the name of the candidate for whom he votes; and the candidate who has the greater number of votes shall be the Speaker, and be conducted to the Chair.

When more than two Members are so proposed and seconded, the votes shall be taken in like manner, and the Member who has the greatest number of votes shall be the Speaker, provided he has also a majority of the votes of the Members present; but if no candidate has such majority, the name of the candidate having the smallest number of votes shall be excluded from subsequent ballots, and a fresh ballot shall take place; and this shall be done as often as necessary, until one candidate is declared to be elected as

Speaker by such majority, when such Member shall be conducted to -the Chair.

If at any ballot it is impossible by reason of the equality of votes to determine which name shall be excluded from subsequent ballots, a special ballot shall take place at which there shall be submitted only the names of those candidates who have received equal votes. At such special ballot each Member shall write on his ballot-paper only the name of the candidate he wishes to retain. The candidate whose name appears upon the smallest number of ballot-papers shall then he excluded from subsequent ballots,

At any time afterthe result of the first ballot is declared, but before the commencement of the second or other subsequent ballot, a candidate may withdraw his name from the election which shall then proceed as if he had not been nominated.

) If by reason of equality of votes a ballot or special ballot is rendered inconclusive, the Clerk shall so declare, and unless by a withdrawal another ballot or (as the case may be) another special ballot is rendered unnecessary, he shall cause such other ballot or special ballot to be taken. If after the counting of votes the equality continues he shall so declare. Thereupon the sitting shall be suspended for 30 minutes and when the House reassembles the votes shall be taken again, unless this is rendered unnecessary by a withdrawal.

Whenever at any stage a withdrawal leaves only one candidate remaining he shall without further voting, be declared elected as Speaker, and shall then be conducted to the Chair.

Having been conducted to the Chair, the Member elected returns his acknowledgments to the House for the honour conferred upon him, and thereupon sits down in the Chair, and then the Mace (which before lay under the Table) shall be laid upon the Table.

The Speaker having been congratulated, a Minister shall inform the House at what time the Governor-General will be pleased to receive the House for the purpose of presenting the Speaker to His Excellency, and the sitting of the House shall then be suspended until that time.

Before proceeding to any business, the Speaker, with the House, shall present himself to the Governor -General; and, on returning, shall pass through the Chamber, and, having resumed the Chair, shall report his presentation to the Governor-General.

Standing Orders proposedto be repealed -

A Member, addressing himself to the Clerk (who standing up, points to him, and then sits down) shall propose some other

Member, then present, to the House for its Speaker, and move, “ That Mr…………… do take the Chair of the House as Speaker.” 8.. If only one Member be proposed and seconded as Speaker, he shall be called to the Chair of the House without a Question being put.

  1. Such Member, on being called to the Chair, shall stand up in his place, and express his sense of the honour proposed to be conferred upon him and submit himself to the House.
  2. If more than one Member be proposed as Speaker, the Clerk shall, in the order in which the Members shall have been proposed, put the question “ That Mr…………… do take the Chair of the House as Speaker”; which shall be resolved in the affirmative or negative.
  3. Having been conducted to the Chair, the Member elected returns his acknowledgments to the House for the honour conferred upon him, and thereupon sits down in the Chair, and then the mace (which before lay under the Table) shall be laid upon the Table.
  4. A Member having congratulated the

Speaker,a Member of the Government shall inform the House at what time the GovernorGeneral will be pleased to receive the House for the purpose of presenting the Speaker to His Excellency, and the sitting of the House shall then be suspended until that time.

  1. The Speaker, with the House, shall present himself to the Governor-General ; and, on returning, shall pass through the Chamber, and, having resumed the Chair, shall report his presentation to the Governor-General.

This motion does not cover all the re- commendations of the Standing Orders Committee because, as appears in the committee’s report, there was a reservation by one member. What that reservation related to I do not know, but I do not think that there can be any difference of opinion regarding the advisability of adopting the new Standing Orders relating to the election of a Speaker and Chairman.

Mr Forde:

– Was the recommendation of the Standing Orders Committee unanimous on that point?

Mr MENZIES:

– The report does not indicate from which part of the proposed new Standing Orders the honorable member for West Sydney (Mr. Beasley), dissented.

Mr Blackburn:

– His objection was to certain disciplinary clauses.

Mr MENZIES:

– So I would imagine. The honorable member for Bourke (Mr. Blackburn), being a member of the committee, is familiar with what transpired. Those clauses, however, are not covered by the motionI have just moved.

As honorable members will have seen from the report of the committee, the proposed new Standing Orders relating to the election of a Speaker and Chairman are designed to prevent the occurrence of a stalemate by the introduction of a method of voting by ballot in the event of a contest. I remember, as also, no doubt, does the honorable member for Bourke, the rather farcical situation that arose in the Parliament of Victoria when it became practically impossible to elect a Speaker under the old rule. The difficulty had to be overcome on that occasion by members agreeing to withdraw from the chamber, and to hold a meeting of all parties in order to determine by secret ballot what candidate they would support. The new rules suggested by the committee seem to be admirably fashioned to prevent the occurrence of difficulties of that kind. While they provide for nominations on the floor of the House, and for the election of a Speaker and Chairman in that way if there is only one candidate for each office, they also provide for the election by ballot in the event of a contest. This allows an immediate result to be achieved, and is more in keeping with the dignity of Parliament.

Mr Beasley:

– The Attorney-General did not inform us that it was proposed to bring this matter on now. It is most unfair to us.

Mr MENZIES:

– Before the honorable member came into the chamberI was assured that he had not raised any objection to those parts of the proposed new Standing Orders which are covered by the motion now before the House.

Mr Beasley:

– I am going to take such steps as I can to prevent this matter from being decided now. There is not sufficient time to consider it properly.

Mr MENZIES:

– That being the case, I do not propose to say any more at this stage.

Mr Prowse:

– I think that we all agreed in the Standing Orders Committee on the first part of the recommendation.

Mr BEASLEY:
West Sydney

– I wish to repeat what I have already said to the effect that, in regard to the business of this Parliament, it is customary, if it is not at least a matter of ordinary courtesy, for the Opposition to be advised of the business the Government proposes to call on. Last week we complained about the long list of bills that was being continually tabled, and were anxious to know just what business the Government proposed to finalize. Subsequently, the Leader of our party informed my colleagues and myself in the party room of what the Government’s intentions were, and we proceeded then to adjust our arrangements to meet the business that he indicated. This particular business was not included among the list he gave.

Mr Brennan:

– Nor does it appear on the notice-paper.

Mr BEASLEY:

– No reference whatever was made to it in any discussion in the Opposition party room and honorable members on this side heard nothing about it until three or four minutes ago.

Mr Menzies:

– I do not think that is correct; the Deputy Leader was informed about this matter?

Mr BEASLEY:

– When?

Mr.Forde. - The Minister for Commerce (Dr. Earle Page) this afternoon told me that if there was sufficient time available this business would be brought on, but, I confess, I have not seen this report of the Standing Orders Committee, and, as I am not a member of the committee, I am not aware of its contents.

Mr Holt:

– The report was circulated.

Mr BEASLEY:

– Hundreds of reports, if not more, are circulated.

Mr ARCHIE CAMERON:
BARKER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · CP; LP from 1944; LCL from 1951; LP from 1954

– The honorable member is a member of the Standing Orders Committee?

Mr BEASLEY:

– Yes, and I was interested in the doings of the committee up to the point that I refused to agree to its report being presented to Parliament’ without my dissent in respect of certain recommendations being recorded. I took that step with the object of safeguarding my position, because I realized that when the committee’s report was submitted to Parliament I would find in it many suggested alterations of which I did not approve. As the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) is now present in the chamber I wish to know if he approves of this business being brought on at this hour. The Deputy Leader of the Op position (Mr. Forde) was notified of this measure only this afternoon, and he has not had time to inform any honorable members on this side of the intentions of the Government. I suggest that it is unfair to ask the House to decide this matter now. In order that I shall have an opportunity to inform myself and my colleagues of the recommendations contained in this report, I shall be obliged to read it over now. I take it that the motion before the House deals with Chapter III., which is headed “ Election of Speaker and Chairman “. That chapter reads -

  1. The election of Speaker shall he conducted in the following manner: -

    1. At the opening of Parliament, after the members present have been sworn, or whenever the office of Speaker becomes vacant, a Member, addressing himself to the Clerk, shall propose some Member, then present, to the House for their Speaker, and move that such Member “ Do take the Chair of this House as Speaker “. which motion shall be seconded. A. Member when proposed and seconded shall inform the House whether he accepts nomination.

I take it that that is part of the procedure followed at present. Standing Order No. 11 continues -

  1. The Clerk shall then ask “Is there any further proposal?”, and if, within two minutes thereafter, there is no further proposal, the Clerk shall say “ The time for proposals has expired “…
Mr Menzies:

– Is the honorable member reading this for the information of honorable members ?

Mr BEASLEY:

– Yes, and for my own information.

Mr Menzies:

– But the honorable member was a member of the committee and went so far as to dissent from its recommendations.

Mr BEASLEY:

– Proposed Standing Order No. 11 continues -

  1. . No Member may then address theHouse or propose any other Member, and the Clerk shall, without question put, declarethe Member so proposed and seconded to have been elected as Speaker, and such Member shall be conducted to the Chair by his proposer and seconder, and shall take the Chair of the House as Speaker.
  2. If more than one Member is proposed as Speaker the Clerk ahull,after the second proposal and after each subsequent proposal (if any) is made and seconded, ask “ Is there any further proposal?”, and if, within two minutes thereafter, there is no further proposal the Clerk shall say, “The time for proposals has expired.”

Up to that point no alteration of existing procedure is proposed but an alteration is proposed in the following paragraph which reads : -

  1. When the time for proposals has ex pired, debate may ensue, but it shall be relevant to the election.

Is that alteration being proposed by the Government?

Mr Blackburn:

– No, by the committee.

Mr BEASLEY:

– Is this being proposed by the Attorney-General?

Mr Menzies:

– The whole of proposed Standing Order No. 11 has been proposed by me as it has been recommended by the committee.

Mr BEASLEY:

– I want honorable members on this side to note that while I was in the House the Attorney-General made no reference to paragraph d which I have just read. The right honorable gentleman went on to refer to the position which could arise in the event of more than one member being nominated for the position of Speaker and mentioned some difficulty which had occurred in these circumstances in the Victorian Parliament.

Mr Menzies:

– If the honorable member accuses me of not having read that to the House he is right. I assumed that honorable members would have read the report for themselves seeing that it was distributed to them on the 28th June last.

Mr BEASLEY:

– I suggest that the Government has adopted the procedure followed by it in this instance not only for the purpose of securing alterations of the Standing Orders in the absence of certain honorable members, and at a time when certain honorable members have not had an opportunity to peruse the report, but also with the idea of getting away with something really worse.

Mr Lyons:

– Honorable members have had the report since June.

Mr BEASLEY:

– I say to the Prime Minister that he has had many reports much longer than since June last. If the Prime Minister is to be given credit for what he has said there are many reports which he did not read when they came into his possession.

Mr Lyons:

– It is no excuse for a member of the committee to say that he has not read the committee’s report.

Mr BEASLEY:

– And it is no excuse for the right honorable gentleman as head of a department to place himself in a position of not having read reports submitted to his department.

Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. G. J. Bell).Order !

Mr Lyons:

– The honorable member is not telling the truth because I am not in charge of the department which he has in mind.

Mr BEASLEY:

– I am referring to the time when the right honorable gentleman was in a cabinet with me.

Mr Lane:

– Why did you put him out ?

Mr Lyons:

– He did not put me out. He put out his own leader.

Mr BEASLEY:

– If you want to be offensive I can be offensive also.

Mr Lyons:

– Have a go !

Mr BEASLEY:

– I can have a go; don’t think you can bluff me; you are the last man who can do that.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order ! I shall not allow these irrelevancies.

Mr BEASLEY:

– I am reminded by the honorable member for Darling. (Mr. Clark) that the alterations proposed to Standing Order No. 11 raise a very important aspect regarding the exercise of the privilege, right and freedom of honorable members in discussing, on the occasion of the election of Mr. Speaker, questions which they are ordinarily denied the opportunity to discuss. It has been the custom since this Parliament was established

Mr ARCHIE CAMERON:
BARKER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · CP; LP from 1944; LCL from 1951; LP from 1954

– But a bad custom !

Mr BEASLEY:

– That may be the honorable member’s opinion, but it is not mine.

Mr Lane:

– You do not rule Parliament.

Mr BEASLEY:

– I will rule you at the elections with much more effect.

Mr Lane:

– Like you ruled a municipal council in Glebe the other day !

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order ! I shall not allow the debate to be carried on in this way. The honorable member for West Sydney is the only honorable member entitled to be heard.

Mr BEASLEY:

– Ever since this Parliament was established certain provisions have governed discussions on the occasion of the election of Mr. Speaker. Those provisions gave honorable members an opportunity to offer criticism to men who hold high positions in this country and who, we believe, had, in the period since the election of the previous Speaker, taken advantage of their positions to apply decisions and cause injustice to many sections of the community, whereas in the ordinary course of. Parliamentary affairs we were unable to bring such matter) under notice. Therefore, I shall never cast a vote to allow that privilege to be taken away from honorable members. Irrespective of whether the Standing Orders Committee recommendsit or not I do not agree with proposed paragraph *d of Standing Order No. 11 because I remember the occasion on which this matter was first brought up before the committee.I was not present at subsequent meetings of the committee when it reached its final decision on this matter. When it was first raised before the committee, however, I noted it carefully and intended, when the opportunity arose for its discussion in this Parliament, to do all in my power to see that the committee’s recommendation was not adopted. 1” ask my colleagues to take notice of the real change which is being effected by this recommendation. The full import of that change was not suggested, or referred to, by the Attorney-General when he moved that the alteration be made. He just went on to referto something that had happened in the Victorian Parliament - something of which honorable members know nothing, and which has no particular reference to this matter at all. Proposed Standing Order No. 11 d reads -

When the time for proposalshas expired, debate may ensue, hut it shall be relevant to the election.

This has to be in the hands of the Clerk of the House, and he has to determine whether the matter is relevant or not. On the motion for the election of Speaker, I have listened to some of the finest speeches that I have heard in this House.

I well remember a speech of the predecessor of the honorable gentleman who now represents the constituency of Bourke. Consequently, I do not intend to allow that opportunity to be withdrawn from any honorable member. Nor shall I permit this alteration to be sneaked in, in the manner proposed by the AttorneyGeneral to-day.

Mr Menzies:

– On a point of order, I ask whether the honorable member for West Sydney (Mr. Beasley) is in order in saying that. I am sneaking something in, when, in fact, it has been recommended by a committee which included the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Curtin), the honorable member forBourke (Mr. Blackburn), and the honorable member for Hindmarsh (Mr. Makin), all of whom concurred in the report ?

Mr SPEAKER:

– That the honorable member is in error does not signify that he is out of order. The honorable member for West Sydney, however, is not in order in saying that the AttorneyGeneral had sneaked anything in.

Mr BEASLEY:

– Ishall state the matter in another form. The impression conveyed by the Attorney-General was that there was nothing contentious in the proposed alteration. He particularly failed to make any reference to this alteration.

Paragraph e reads -

No member shall speak for more than five minutes.

That also is a new proposal. Even in determining the merits or demerits of the candidates who are offering for the position of Speaker, an honorable member will be permitted to speak for not longer than five minutes. Some honorable members may consider that that is sufficient; I do not. Consequently, I shall not agree to such a limitation being imposed.

Paragraphf reads -

At any time during the debate a motion may bo made by a Minister rising in his place, and without notice, and whether any other member is addressing the Chair or not “ That the question be now put “.

The Clerk shall then put the question, without debate, “ That the question be now put “. In the event of the numbers being equal the question shall be decided in the negative.

Upon the carrying of the question” That the question be now put”, or upon the cessation of the debate otherwise, the election shall be proceeded with as provided in this Standing Order.

That again is a new provision. Paragraph rj reads -

Before the House proceeds’ to a ballot the bells shall be rung as in a division.

Paragraph h reads -

When only two members are proposed and seconded as Speaker, each member shall deliver to the Clerk a ballot-paper in writing, containing the name of the candidate for whom he votes; and the candidate who has the greater number of votes shall bc the Speaker, and hu conducted to the Chair.

In this case, the ballot-papers are to be handed to the Clerk. It is customary in all ballots for scrutineers to be appointed to check the counting of the votes. No such provision has been made in this Standing Order. These ballot-papers are not to be available to the representatives of the candidates for their perusal, consequently, I do not approve of that change being made. The opportunity should be provided for those who are interested to satisfy themselves that the ballot-papers have not been counted in an irregular manner. Paragraph i reads -

When more than two members are so proposed and seconded, the votes shall be taken in like manner, and the member v,ho has the greatest number of votes shall be the Speaker, provided he has also a majority of the votes of the members present; but if no candidate has such majority, the name of the candidate having the smallest number of votes shall he excluded from subsequent ballots, and a fresh ballot shall take place; and this shall bc done as often as necessary, until one candidate is declared to be elected as Speaker by such majority, when such member shall be conducted to the Chair.

Paragraph j deals with an equality of votes. It reads -

If at any ballot it is impossible by reason of the equality of votes to determine which name shall bc excluded from subsequent ballots, a special ballot shall take place. at which there shall be submitted only the names of those candidates who have received equal votes. At such special ballot each member shall write on his ballot-paper only the name of the candidate ho wishes to retain. The candidate whose name appears upon the smallest number of ballot-papers shall then bc excluded from subsequent ballots.

I can find no further provision to meet the contingency of an equality of votes again resulting. That is quite likely to happen. The candidates could continue to “ go to the post “ so long as the votes were properly regimented; and they would be in this House.

Mr Blackburn:

– Paragraph I deals with that.

Mr BEASLEY:

– Paragraph le reads-

At any time after the result of the first ballot is declared, but before the commencement of the second or other subsequent ballot, a candidate may withdraw his name from the election, which shall then proceed as if ho had not been nominated.

That is followed by paragraph I which reads -

If by reason of equality of votes a ballot or special ballot is rendered inconclusive, the Clerk shall so declare, and unless by a withdrawal another ballot or (as the case may be) another special ballot is rendered unnecessary, hu shall cause such other ballot or special ballot to be taken. If after the counting of votes thu equality continues he shall so declare. Thereupon the sitting shall be suspended for 30 minutes and when the House re-assembles the votes shall be taken again, unless this is rendered unnecessary by a withdrawal.

That does not solve the problem.

Mr Rosevear:

– Inquiries will be prosecuted to see if any one will sell his vote.

Mr BEASLEY:

– The suspension of the sitting for 30 minutes is not what I regard as the proper procedure to adopt on the occasion of the election of a Speaker. What real reason can be advanced for action of that nature? It has be?n suggested that an attempt might be made to buy a couple of votes.

Mr Paterson:

– That might occur to honorable members opposite.

Mr Rosevear:

– The honorable member for Barker (Mr. Archie Cameron) said that ‘the honorable gentleman’3 leader was bought.

Mr BEASLEY:

– Tlie party opposite has said that whenever it cared to pay the price it was always able to effect its purpose.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order !

Mr BEASLEY:

– I throw back in the teeth of every honorable member opposite who interjected, the aspersion cast on honorable members on this side of the House. All of them should pay heed to what occurs nearer home. I want to know what reason is advanced for the suspension of the sitting. What is the purpose of the suspension ? If we are assembled here to elect a Speaker, and we proceed by a series of ballots to accomplish that purpose, what need is there for the suspension of the sitting?

Mr Prowse:

– What does the honorable member suggest as an alternative?

Mr BEASLEY:

– I cannot see the need for the suspension of the sitting, and I want to know why it should he suspended. After all, the same men will return to this chamber and the same question will have to be decided by them.

Mr Prowse:

– The electors change their minds in a period of three years; we might change ours in a period of 30 minutes.

Mr BEASLEY:

– I am aware that many honorable members speak in one way and vote in another; that is not uncommon. The honorable member for Forrest (Mr. Prowse) may regard that as a reason, but I consider that it is not one which should carry much weight.

Mr Prowse:

– I did not intend to offer offence.

Mr BEASLEY:

– I am not regarding the honorable member’s statement in that light. At the same time, the public would regard the proceedings as strange if the sitting were suspended to enable a determination to be reached in connexion with the most important position that this House has to fill. I want to know what reasons are advanced for the suspension of the sitting for 30 minutes. The proposed Standing Order provides that when the House re-assembles the votes shall be taken again, unless this is rendered unnecessary by a withdrawal. That does not place the position in a very favorable light. I am certain that if a candidate for election as Speaker returned to the chamber after the sitting had been suspended for 30 minutes, and withdrew his nomination, a certain degree of suspicion would attach to his withdrawal. Paragraph m reads -

Whenever at any stage a withdrawal leaves only one candidate remaining, he shall without further voting, be declared elected as Speaker, and shall then be conducted to the Chair.

I should have thought that the next paragraph would have provided, in the case of continued equality of votes, for a further suspension of the sitting for 30 minutes, but there is no such provision. Therefore, it could happen, as the result of the adoption of this suggested new procedure, that equality of votes would continue. After all the procedure contained in this recommendation, with ‘the suspension of the sitting thrown in, it is quite possible and competent for honorable members to be just as equally divided in their votes after the resumption of the sitting as they were before it. What would happen then? Apparently there is no answer to that question.

Mr Nairn:

– Either we must have the Clerk give a casting vote or decide the matter by lot. Has the honorable member any better alternative?

Mr BEASLEY:

– There is no provision for either of those courses in the proposed new standing order. I was prepared to allow matters to remain as they are. If we are to have the Clerk giving a casting vote or drawing lots, why is it not stated?

Mr ARCHIE CAMERON:
BARKER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · CP; LP from 1944; LCL from 1951; LP from 1954

– The Clerk cannot give a casting vote. He is not a member of the House.

Mr BEASLEY:

– This proposed new standing order provides for the Clerk to count the votes and do a series of things connected with the election of the Speaker. It could equally provide for a casting vote to be given by the Clerk.

Mr Nairn:

– Is it not preferable for the House to’ decide?

Mr BEASLEY:

– What will happen if the House cannot decide? What will happen if equality of votes continues to prevail after all the procedure listed has been completed ?

Mr ARCHIE CAMERON:
BARKER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · CP; LP from 1944; LCL from 1951; LP from 1954

– Any one would imagine from the honorable member’s remarks that after the elections each side will be returned with 37 members.

Mr Brennan:

– Why is this controversial matter thrust upon us now?

Mr BEASLEY:

– That is the point !

Mr Menzies:

– It only became controversial half an hour ago.

Mr Brennan:

– Nonsense !

Mr SPEAKER - Honorable members must cease:

Mr. SPEAKER.- Honorable members must cease interjecting.

Mr BEASLEY:

– It is clear that, under this proposed procedure, a situation could arise in which equality of votes would continue, and that there could be a deadlock in the election of the Speaker. It is not clear how the election of the Speaker could be brought to the point of conclusion under any of the suggestions that have been made.

The suggested new standing order provides, further -

  1. Having been conducted to the chair, the member elected returns his acknowledgments to the House for the honour conferred upon him–
Mr Brennan:

– If he cares to do so.

Mr BEASLEY:

– Yes, if he cares to do so.

Mr ARCHIE CAMERON:
BARKER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · CP; LP from 1944; LCL from 1951; LP from 1954

– Does the honorable member object to that?

Mr BEASLEY:

– I do not know whether it is very necessary. It makes no difference. Why waste time? The recommendation continues - and thereupon sits down in the chair, and then the mace (which before lay under the table) shall be laid upon the table.

I remind the House that, whereas there is to be a time limit on speeches made prior to the election of the Speaker, no provision is made in this proposal for a time limit on speeches congratulating the new Speaker on his election to the Chair.

Mr ARCHIE CAMERON:
BARKER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · CP; LP from 1944; LCL from 1951; LP from 1954

– The new Speaker would put a time limit to the congratulatory speeches.

Mr BEASLEY:

– What would happen if he did not?

Mr ARCHIE CAMERON:
BARKER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · CP; LP from 1944; LCL from 1951; LP from 1954

– We would get a new Speaker.

Mr BEASLEY:

– Oh ! The honorable member might, but other honorable members might not be in the same frame of mind. Only five minutes is permitted to discuss the merits of the candidates offering.

Mr ARCHIE CAMERON:
BARKER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · CP; LP from 1944; LCL from 1951; LP from 1954

– That is enough.

Mr BEASLEY:

– I am sure it would take the honorable member much longer–

Mr ARCHIE CAMERON:
BARKER, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · CP; LP from 1944; LCL from 1951; LP from 1954

– I could reckon the honorable member up in half a minute.

Mr BEASLEY:

– I would not require even that time to reckon up the honorable member for Barker because long ago I reckoned him up. The recommendation continues -

The Speaker having been congratulated, a Minister shall inform the House at what time the Governor-General will be pleased to receive the House for the purpose of presenting the Speaker to His Excellency, and the sitting of the House shall then be suspended until that time.

Before proceeding to any business, the Speaker, with the House, shall present himself to the Governor-General; and, on returning, shall pass through the chamber, and, having resumed the chair, shall report his presentation to the Governor-General.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order ! The honorable member’s time has expired.

Motion (by Mr. Gander) put -

That the honorable member have leave to continue his speech.

The House divided. (Mr. Speaker - Hon. G. J. Bell.)

AYES: 18

NOES: 28

Majority . . . . 10

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the negative.

Mr BLACKBURN:
Bourke

.- The whole of the draft Standing Orders was the work of a committee which represented all parties in this House and included three party leaders, two former Speakers, the honorable member for Hindmarsh (Mr. Makin), and our late lamented friend, Sir Littleton Groom, the honorable member for West Sydney (Mr. Beasley), who was a leader, and myself. I think I was appointed because of some experience I have had in the matter of Standing Orders. The Standing Orders were considered very elaborately at a great number of meetings and the one now before the House gave the committee considerable trouble. In my opinion, as proposed, it is a very good standing order, and one that the House should adopt. So strongly did I feel on this point that I went, as I believe others did, to the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) and asked that he should bring the matter before the House before it rose. This will be the last meeting of this Parliament and, if the Standing Order is to be of any value in the election of the new Speaker in the next Parliament, it is necessary that it should be passed now. I am not able to speak for the honorable member for Hindmarsh or for the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Curtin), who are absent, but I believe that I was not the only member of the Standing Orders Committee from this side of the House who approached the Prime Minister upon this matter. The House realizes of course, that we have had no complete revision of the Standing Orders since first we provisionally adopted Standing Orders in 1903. All attempts at a complete revision have been fruitless. It is realized - I realize at any rate - that the whole of the proposed new Standing Orders are not likely to be speedily passed by this Parliament, but I do think, from my own experience in this House and elsewhere, that it would be excellent to adopt this Standing Order, which provides for the election of the Speaker. I regret that it has come to us late, but I understand the matter was mentioned last week. I was told this morning by a member of my own party that this business would come on to-day.

Mr Beasley:

– How did the honorable member know it would come on to-day?

Mr BLACKBURN:

– I was not here last night, but I was told by a member of my own party that it would come on to-day.

Mr Brennan:

– I was not told.

Mr BLACKBURN:

– The position at present is that the Speaker is elected by a House of 74 members. He is elected with the Clerk in the chair who is not a member of the House and has no casting vote. It is perfectly possible for a tie to result. In the opinion of the committee, the best possible means of settling that issue’ is that now proposed. Only the

Speaker has a casting vote under our Constitution. The situation foreseen by the honorable member for West Sydney (Mr. Beasley) might arise in an open election in. the House.

When this subject was under the consideration of the committee two defects in the present system were . apparent - a major and a minor defect. The major defect is that the Speaker is a government nominee. The choice of the Government becomes the choice of the House, and the Speaker is chosen on a party division. If a secret ballot were necessary, the Speaker would become, in a very real sense, the choice of the House. The minor difficulty is that the officer in charge of the proceedings at the election of the Speaker, being an officer of the House, is not a member of the Parliament, and is not, in the nature of things, entitled to demand from honorable members the same respect as would be required by a presiding officer who is the choice of the House. In this Parliament, and also in another Parliament, I have seen the Clerk of the House put in a most unfortunate position in connexion with the election of Speaker. The former Clerk of this House was put in the unhappy position of having to accept a motion that an honorable member be no longer heard.

The proposal now submitted by the Standing Orders Committee would obviate both ‘ difficulties. A secret ballot would ensure that the choice of the presiding officer would really be the choice of the House. The Clerk of the House could not, of course, be given a casting vote. No provision is made in the Constitution for _ such a situation ; nor is there any pro.vision for lot3 to be drawn. The Standing Orders Committee was of the opinion that, in the event of a position of equality persisting after the second ballot honorable members should be given an opportunity to think about the subject before a further ballot was taken, and in a different atmosphere. It was for that reason that the suspension of the sitting was recommended.

The honorable member for West Sydney should realize that both the honorable member for Hindmarsh, a member of his own party, and an ex-Speaker of the House, and the late honorable, member for Darling Downs, Sir Littleton Groom, also an exSpeaker, approved of this proposal. I believe that all honorable gentlemen would approve of it if they would approach it dispassionately and on its merits. Unless ‘this proposal i3 adopted now wc shall probably find ourselves at the inception of the sitting of the next. Parliament in a similar position to that which faced us at the inception of the sitting of this Parliament. I suggest, with respect, as a comparative tyro in the House, that such a situation does not become the dignity of the House; nor does * it tend to increase the esteem in which Parliament is held by the people. It is not calculated, either, to cause the public, or even honorable members, to believe that the Speaker is actually selected for his personal capacity, and not merely because he is a government nominee. I arn sure that any Speaker would be happy to feel that he had been really selected by the members of the House, and was not beholden in any way for his position to the party in power, in which case, a weak man might show a tendency to lean, towards the Government party. We have had ample evidence, of course, that you, sir, have discharged the duties of your high office with absolute impartiality and very high ability indeed. I have felt pleased and proud to sit under your chairmanship in this House. A weaker man might have felt obligations to the Government, and might have been disposed to defer to the wishes of the Government, with the result that government supporters might have enjoyed privileges not accorded to honorable members of the Opposition. We should avoid any situation of that description.

The object of the Standing Orders Committee was to provide, within the limits of the Constitution, for such a’persistent e.ase of equality as might easily arise with this Parliament constituted as it, is at present, for 37 honorable members might vote on either side. ‘In such a case, the only possible means of reaching a decision would be by the common sense of honorable members. I, myself, favour a. secret ballot for the election of Speaker for the same reason that I favour a secret ballot for the election of candidates for Parlia- ment, so that a man may, without fear, favour, or affection, feel free to cast his vote for the best man available. The merit of the. proposal now before the House is that it achieves that end.

This is an urgent matter. If .this proposal is adopted now it will- enable the new procedure to be applied at the opening of the new parliament. I am sorry that suggestions of bad faith have been made in this matter.

Mr Rosevear:

– I am sorry that the honorable member approached the Government before he approached his own party

Mr BLACKBURN:

– I informed the Leader of my party and he approved of my having approached the Prime Minister.

Mr Lyons:

– I also informed the Leader of the Opposition that I had spoken to the honorable member for Bourke.

Mr BLACKBURN:

– I had not the slightest idea that any member of the Standing Orders Committee was opposed to this proposal. The honorable member for West Sydney (Mr. Beasley) made a reservation at the last meeting of the committee when he objected to certain proposed disciplinary measures. I did not know that there was any objection to this proposal for the election of Speaker. Had I known of it I should not have made my suggestion to the Prime Minister.

Motion (by Mr. Holt) negatived -

That the question be now put.

Mr FORDE:
Capricornia

.- I urge the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) to agree to the postponement of the consideration of this subject. Just before the House met the Minister for Commerce (Dr. Earle Page) spoke to me about the business proposed to be submitted to honorable members. He said that two or three small measures would be ‘brought up. I asked him if any other business was to be submitted and he said “If we have time we shall probably consider the unanimous report from the Standing Orders Committee covering the recommendations for the election of Speaker and so on; but there is nothing contentious in it because there unanimity in the committee

Mr Beasley:

– The right honorable gentleman misled the Deputy Leader of the Opposition.

Mr FORDE:

– The bills referred to by the Minister were introduced and, with the assistance of the Opposition, were speedily passed. 1 am not a member of the Standing Orders Committee and I confess that I have not read the rather voluminous report which I understand was distributed to honorable members some time ago. 1 should like to know how many honorable members find time to read all the reports put into their boxes. Sometimes halfadozen reports are submitted in one day. As the Standing Orders Committee was not unanimous on this point I urge that honorable members be given an opportunity to debate the question. It would not be wise for the Prime Minister to rush this business through in the dying hours of the Parliament. Had this business been put on the notice-paper for a particular time, honorable members would have had an opportunity to consider it and might have been prepared to diffusa it. At any rate they would have had a. chance to peruse the report. Further, the report could have been considered at special meetings of the parties. Honorable members might suggest that this is not a subject for party consideration, but surely the provisions of the Standing Orders are of vital consequence not only to members of the Labour party but also to the members of other parties in the House. I urge the Prime Minister to agree to the postponement of the consideration of this report which, I find, contains 41 printed pages. I doubt whether it has been read by more than three or four members of the House, and it should not he expected that the House would accept it without comment’ in the dying hours of the Parliament. I am as industrious as any other member of the House, and I have not had time to read the report. There is just cause for asking the Prime Minister to agree to a postponement, of the consideration of the report until such time as honorable members have had adequate opportunity to consider it.

Mr LYONS:
Prime Minister · Wilmot · UAP

1 4.2S]. - The Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Forde) has appealed to me 10 agree to the postponement of the consideration of this report on only one ground, which is that the Minister for Commerce (Dr. Earle Page), who had discussed the subject with him, suggested that the- recommendations contained in it had the unanimous support of the members of the Standing Orders Committee. lt now appears that absolute unanimity was not reached in the committee. Of its eight members seven approved of these proposals, and one disapproved of 1 hem

Mr Brennan:

– That is an important consideration.

Mr LYONS:

– The honorable member who disapproved of the proposals attended, so I am informed, only two meetings of the committee.

Mr Brennan:

– This, is petty.

Mr LYONS:

– lt would be impossible to achieve any greater’ degree of unanimity, apart from perfect unanimity, than that which has been achieved. Now that tlie honorable member for Bourke (Mr. Blackburn) has spoken, I am free to refer to this matter. He approached me because lie realized how stupid Parliament might be made to appear iu the eyes of the people of Australia.

Mr Beasley:

– Did he say that?

Mr LYONS:

– No. but he must have realized it as the result of what occurred on the last occasion when a Speaker was elected. In order, therefore, that such an occurrence might be avoided in the future, and being desirous of maintaining the dignity of Parliament he, as a former Speaker of the Parliament of Victoria, recommended that some better system be introduced. This had nothing whatever to do with the party. He suggested that if the House could not pass all the recommendations of the committee, it might at least make provision for the election of a Speaker for the next Parliament on proper and ‘dignified lines. I accepted that suggestion, I discussed it with my colleagues, and mentioned it to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Curtin), who is now absent. I want to be fair. to him: he did not commit himself to any particular line of action.

Mr Beasley:

– He wanted to discuss it with his party, of course.

Mr LYONS:

– Which party? We now bring this motion forward, having done everything we could be expected to do, and realizing the necessity for doing something before the next Parliament is elected. I see no reason for postponing a decision by this Parliament to ensure proper, orderly and dignified proceedings for the election of a Speaker.

Mr ROSEVEAR:
Dalley

.- Mr. Speaker–

Motion (by Mr. Holt) put -

That the question be now put.

The House divided. (Ms. Speaker - Hon. G. J. Bell.)

AYES: 27

NOES: 17

Majority . . . . 10

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

Original question put -

That the motion be agreed to -

The House divided. (Mr. Speaker - Hon. G. J. Bell.)

AYES: 30

NOES: 16

Majority . . . . 14

AYES

NOES

Question so resolved in the affirmative.

page 1146

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT

Motion (by Mr. Lyons) agreed to -

That the House, at its rising, adjourn until Wednesday next at 3 p.m.

page 1146

BILLS RETURNED FROM THE SENATE

The following bills were returned from the Senate without amendment or requests : -

National Oil Proprietary Limited Agreement Bill 1937.

Superannuation Bill 1937.

Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Bill (No. 2) 1937.

War Service Homes Bill 1937.

High Commissioner Bill 1937.

Science and Industry Research Bill 1937.

States Grants (Fertilizer) Bill 1937.

Defence Equipment Bill 1937.

Customs Tariff Validation Bill 1937.

Customs Tariff (Exchange Adjustment) Validation Bill 1937.

Customs Tariff (Canadian Preference) Validation Bill 1937.

Excise Tariff Validation Bill 1937.

Papua and New Guinea Bounties Bill 1937.

Apple and Pear Bounty Bill 1937.

States Grants (Youth Employment) Bill 1937.

Citrus Fruits Bounty Bill 1937.

Commonwealth Public Service Bill 1937.

Dairy Produce Export Charges Bill 1937.

Wine Grapes Charges Bill 1937.

page 1147

ADJOURNMENT

British Air Mail Service and Qantas Agreements - Valedictory - Broom Millet - Assistance to Local Governing Bodies - Motor-body Building - Radio Messages to Shipping - Oil Search File.

Mr LYONS:
Prime Minister · Wilmot · UAP

.- I move-

That the House do now adjourn.

The negotiations regarding the British air mail service and Qantas agreements have been proceeded with but, as is usual where negotiations have to be conducted by telegram, there have been delays. For these delays the Commonwealth has not been responsible. Both agreements are nearing the final stage, outstanding matters having been reduced to comparatively minor details. They will be submitted to Parliament at the first opportunity after their completion.

We have now reached the end of the proceedings of the present Parliament. I take this opportunity to offer to you first, Mr. Speaker, my deep thanks for and my appreciation of the manner in which you have presided over our deliberations during the last three years. To-day a very high compliment was paid to you bythe honorable member for Bourke (Mr. Blackburn), who in another sphere occupied the position that you occupy in this sphere, when he said that it was an honour and a privilege to him to sit and serve under you. You have brought to the discharge of your duties not only ability but also impartiality. The recent disagreement between you and me emphasized the impartiality of your decisions. You have not recognized party, but have done your utmost to uphold the dignity of this Parliament. Therefore, I am confident that I speak on behalf of all honorable members when I thank you very sincerely for all that you have done. Whatever limitations may be imposed upon my later remarks, both personal and political, I am in a position to wish you, at any rate, well.

The. sentiments that I have expressed in regard to you, I extend also to the Chairman of Committees (Mr. Prowse).

We all owe a deep debt of gratitude to the officers of Parliament for the assistance that they have rendered to us. The

Clerk of the House was recently promoted to that position. On behalf of members generally, I express appreciation of his ability and impartiality, and thank him for his assistance. I have been associated with the present Clerk of the House throughout my political’ career whether in the State or in the Commonwealth Parliament. I was associated with him back in the days when he was Clerk Assistant in the smaller Tasmanian Parliament, and during all these years his work has been marked by efficiency and impartiality. I take this opportunity to congratulate him on his recent appointment and to wish him long years of success. To those associated with him and to all other members of the staff of this House, whether their spheres of duty are inside or outside the chamber, I offer my thanks and appreciation. Politicians are very much indebted to them for the assistance that they give. Furthermore, I may be permitted to say at this juncture, because as we approach the general elections the close of these proceedings is different from the normal conclusion of sittings, that I extend my thanks to the whole of the Public Service of the Commonwealth of Australia.

When the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Curtin) was leaving this Parliament a week ago to embark upon the election campaign, I expressed my sentiments towards him. We all have the greatest respect for the Leader of the Opposition. Although he is a political opponent, we regard him as being a personal friend, and wish him well personally, although not politically.

This has been a strenuous Parliament. We have had to face difficult problems and, at times, party political feeling has run fairly high, but at the close of it we are in a position to say that whatever views we have of the politics of, our opponents, we have a high personal regard for them. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, at the close of this Parliament, I want to thank all, you Mr. Speaker, the Chairman of Committees, officials, members of the Opposition and, particularly, the officers of Hansard, who, with great efficiency, embellish and polish our speeches so that they look worth while for us to present in our constituencies. I pay that particular tribute to the Ilansard staff because they have been of very great help to honorable members.

Mr Gander:

– What about the Whips?

Mr LYONS:

– The Whips have been wonderful, each to his own particular party. As far as I know there has been nothing more efficient than the mathematical performances of the Whips, because, in divisions, they have been able to count and add up correctly. Therefore, to the Whips 1 offer thanks on behalf of the Government and honorable members on this side. I have no more to say except to express the hope that just as the electors are represented in this Parliament at this moment, they will again be represented after the elections.

Mr FORDE:
Capricornia

.- In the unavoidable absence of the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Curtin) I wish to express the appreciation of the Opposition at the very fair and impartial manner in which you, Mr. Speaker, have carried out your duties to this House. The success of parliamentary institutions depends on the conduct of the business in Parliament, and that in turn depends to a great extent on the personal attributes of the presiding officers. We realize, as an Opposition, that your position is onerous and that your duties at times are irksome. When feeling runs high in debate it is often extremely difficult to maintain order, but we believe, as an Opposition, that you have always endeavoured, to the very best of your ability, to act impartially. You have done credit to yourself and to the exalted position which you occupy.

Although the Chairman of Committees and I disagree violently on tariff questions, I am glad to say he has done his work as chairman ably and well, and has endeavoured to sec members of the Opposition- as frequently as members on the Government side of the House.

It would be extremely difficult for you, Mr. Speaker, and for the Chairman of Committees, to discharge your duties in Parliament without the able services of the Clerk of the Parliament, the Assistant Clerks, the Serjeant-at-Arms, and other members of the staff. In paying tribute to the ability of the present Clerk I extend to him our very hearty congratulations upon the attainment of his high position. I also wish to offer a meed of praise to his predecessor in office, Mr. Parkes, who, having reached the retiring age during the life of this Parliament, has laid down his duties. We were all deeply indebted to him for his assistance in our work. The smooth-running of the machinery of Parliament depends to a. great extent on the courtesy, ability and efficiency of the Clerks.

Mr Brennan:

– It would be interesting to know what they think of us at times.

Mr FORDE:

– It would be intensely interesting. I also extend our hearty congratulations to the members of the Hansard staff. It is really remarkable that in all the confusion that sometimes occurs in Parliament, with cross-firing and interjections, they are able to compile such intelligent reports of our speeches for us to read the next day. We are particularly fortunate in this Parliament, also, in having such a courteous and capable staff of attendants. Frequently four or five signals must appear at a time in the attendants’ alcove, and I have been amazed at the speed, accuracy and unfailing courtesy of the attendants in replying to the calls made upon them. They seem to be able to produce, with the utmost promptness, anything that honorable members may desire, except suitable missiles to cast at an opponent.

We are indebted to the staff of the Parliamentary Library. Mr. Binns and his capable assistants render invaluable service to honorable members by their researches, and their ability to provide us with information for the preparation of our speeches.

Although in the heat of debate feeling runs high at times between honorable members on one side of the House and those on the other, and although we, as an Opposition, strongly oppose Government supporters on certain matters of policy, we leave this Parliament without carrying away with us any personal animosities. The Labour party faces the elections with a feeling of confidence. We hope that when. Parliament re-assembles we shall be sitting on the other side of the House and honorable gentlemen opposite will be on this side of it, in which event we trust they will be able to extend the co-operation that is expected of a reasonable opposition in order to assist an enlightened government to put its proposed legislation on the statute book.

Dr EARLE PAGE:
Minister for Commerce · Cowper · CP

– I promised the honorable member for Echuca (Mr. McEwen) some time ago that I would obtain for him information regarding the recent conference of millet-growers. A meeting representative of broom millet growers in New South Wales, Victoria and ‘Queensland, the broom manufacturers in New South Wales, the New South Wales Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Commerce, was held at the office of the Department of Commerce “in Sydney, to-day. Questions affecting the disposal of existing stocks, and proposals for dealing with future el’ops, were discussed. Arising out of the discussion it was resolved that an Australian Broom Millet Advisory Committee, consisting of not more chan two growers, and not more than two manufacturers from each State, should be formed, with an independent chairman nominated by the Department of Commerce. The purpose of the committee will be immediately to gather all available information regarding present stocks and crop prospects for the coming season. It will then meet again with the object of determining reasonable prices for millet, having regard to the estimated quantity available, manufacturers’ requirements and market prospects. Some concern was expressed by delegates regarding the possibility of a surplus of broom millet being carried over into 193S. It was therefore decided that ali available information about the present position and future prospects .should be circulated by the Department of Commerce to growers’ organizations as soon as possible for the guidance of growers in planning their sowing programme for the coming season.

I desire to associate myself with the remarks of the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Forde) who congratulated you, Mr. Speaker, and the Chairman of Committees, upon the manner in which you have carried out your duties. I also desire to express my appreciation and thanks to the officers of the House, to the Hansard staff, to the attendants and all those associated .with the conduct of Parliament, for the assistance they have rendered during the session. I also desire to thank honorable members in all parts of the House for their assistance.

Mr CASEY:
Treasurer · Corio · UAP

– Yesterday the honorable member for Echuca (Mr. McEwen) asked for particulars regarding the operation of the act in which £100,000 was voted for interest and sinking f-nd in connexion with funds made available to local bodies for public works. Honorable members will recall that the Commonwealth Government was anxious to assist in making provision for the unemployed in the States. There were two methods, and only two, by which this could be done. One was a grant to tlie States from revenue, and the other was to allocate loan moneys to the States. It soon became apparent that both methods were becoming increasingly difficult, because the Commonwealth Government did not have any appreciable amount of surplus revenue from which to make grants, and the making of loan moneys available was a dubious advantage, because all loan moneys come out of the same pool, and the more loan moneys made available by the Commonwealth, the less is available for the States. A scheme was therefore devised under which the Commonwealth Government set aside from revenue £100.000 a year for ten years, for use by local bodies in the States on condition that the States set aside a similar amount. This scheme, under which £200,000 a year was made available, came into operation a year ago, and has proved, in practice, very satisfactory. The value of the works thus assisted amounts to £9,250,000. The money was distributed strictly on a population basis, and the States, almost without exception, have acted up to the spirit and letter of the Commonwealth Government’s intention. As a complete list of the works approved, most of which have already been set in motion by the various States, would be too long to insert in Hansard. I have arranged to place fifty or sixty copies of the list on the table of the library, where they may be perused by honorable members.

Mr BLACKBURN:
Bourke

.- I desire to bring under the notice of the Minister for Trade and Customs (Mr. White) a complaint by members of the Coachmakers Federation that motor bodies which were formerly made in Australia are now being imported in the form of panels which have only to be assembled. It is claimed by the union that this practice has deprived some of its members of employment and threatens the employment of a great many others. I have been asked to bring this state of affairs to the notice of the Minister, and I now ask him to investigate it.

Sir ARCHDALE PARKHILL:
Minister for Defence · Warringah · UAP

– The honorable member for Boothby (Mr. Price) asked to-day what progress was being made in the direction of remedying the disparity between the Australian charges with respect to radiogrammes exchanged with British ships, and those which apply in the case of British coastal stations. I am advised’ that the Postmaster-General’s Department has been dealing with this matter, but difficulty is being experienced in getting into line other interests concerned. Every endeavour is being made to bring the matter to finality.

Mr BEASLEY:
West Sydney

– About three quarters of an hour ago I received a file which the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) promised would be made available to me. It deals with the search for oil in New Guinea, and the reports obtained from the Administrator of the Mandated Territory. The file is a bulky one, and as it will be impossible for me to complete my examination of it before the train departs to-night, I should be glad if the Prime Minister would agree to my taking a portion of it away with me, so that I might finish my investigation. The facts which I have already gleaned are most informative and important, and will be of great interest to the public.

Mr WHITE:
Minister for Trade and Customs · Balaclava · UAP

– I noticed in the press a statement by one of the trade unions that motor bodies had been admitted in a knocked down condition, ready for assembly, but I have had no official complaint. The records show that strong pressure is being exercised to allow panels from which steel bodies are built to be admitted under by-law, but this request has been resisted up to the present time, although the agents for some of the smaller motor cars claim that the poundage basis on which panels are admitted makes them too expensive if assembled in Australia. If the honorable member for Bourke (Mr. Blackburn) has information which shows that Australian workmen are being deprived of employment, I shall have the matter investigated, and I shall inform him of the position later by letter, but I doubt whether there has been any loss of employment because the number of employees now engaged in the industry is over 12,000 and is increasing.

Mr LYONS:
Prime Minister · Wilmot · UAP

– in reply - A few moments ago, I referred to the various branches of the Parliamentary staff to whom the thanks of honorable members are due for their assistance, but I overlooked one very important section of workers in this building, to which, we owe a great deal. I desire to add an expression of my appreciation of the services rendered by the members of the press gallery. These gentlemen have become, through the years, the personal friends of all of us. They render a great service to the community by the faithful reports which they supply of the proceedings of this Parliament. I am sure that members of the Opposition join in this expression of appreciation.

To-day I offered to allow the honorable member for West Sydney (Mr. Beasley) access to the file relating to the search for oil in Dutch New Guinea and in the Mandated Territory of New Guinea. I am afraid, however, that I cannot accede to his request that I should allow the whole or any portion of the file to leave Canberra, because, so far as I know, no precedent exists for such a course. The -honorable member may take advantage of any opportunity available to him to peruse the file in Canberra; but I think that he, having had ministerial experience, will agree that it would be improper for me to do as he suggests. The general practice is to table such documents either in. the House or in the Parliamentary Library, where they are available to honorable members and also the press. But this file was made available only to the honorable member.

Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. G. J. Bell).Before putting the motion I wish to thank the Prime Minister (Mr. Lyons) and the Acting Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Forde) for their expressions of appreciation of my services in the chair ; I hope that I deserve all that they have said of me. The Chairman of Committees and the Temporary Chairmen of Committees will, I know, allow me to acknowledge, on their behalf, the praise that has been bestowed on their work. I am grateful for the courtesy that has been extended to me by Ministers and by honorable members generally, and the assistance they have rendered me in carrying out my duties. Without their co-operation I could not have discharged those duties satisfactorily. I have done my best, but I would not be human had I always been right, and honorable members would not be human had they thought that I was always right. If I have given satisfaction to Ministers and to honorable members, I, too, am satisfied. The officers of the House and the members of the various staffs have carried out their duties with exceptional ability, and I thank them for their uniform courtesy and helpfulness. While in the chair I have known no politics; but within the next” few weeks my interest in party politics will be revived. All of us may not be here when the House reassembles, but whether we are or not, I wish well to all honorable members. I shall always feel proud of having had the privilege of presiding over the deliberations of this chamber.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

House adjourned at 6.35 p.m.

page 1151

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

The following answers to questions were circulated: -

Trade Agreement with Japan

Mr Forde:

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

  1. Ishe in a position to make a. statement to the press in regard to the revision of the trade agreement between Australia and Japan, with a possible reduction of the amount of Japanese imports into Australia?
  2. Will he give an assurance that there will be no reduction of exports of Australian wool to Japan?
Mr White:
UAP

– The answer to the honorable member’s questions is as follows : - 1 and 2. Negotiations are still proceeding with the Government of Japan for the completion of a trade treaty. Inthese negotiations the Commonwealth Government is giving consideration to all aspects of both the import: and export trade with Japan.

Industrial Conditions at Darwin.

Mr Rosevear:

r asked the Minister for the Interior, upon notice -

Is it a fact, as reported in the press, that there is a grave danger of another industrial upheaval at Darwin as a result of the rejection by the Commonwealth Railways Commissioner of certain recommendations made by the unions and the Chamber of Commerce regarding the working of cargoes at Darwin?

Mr Paterson:
CP

– Representations have been made by the union which involve departure from Award No. 20 of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration. The Commonwealth Railways Commissioner is working strictly in accordance with the provisions of the award. The Commissioner has not received any intimation from the union regarding a stoppage of work.

Oil in Dutch New Guinea.

Mr Rosevear:

r asked the Prime Minister, upon notice -

Are honorable members to understand that the general administration of New Guinea is so lax as to permit of the Administrator making to the Commonwealth Government in January and June, 1934, two very definite reports as to important oil finds in New Guinea without proper verification of the reports, which have since been alleged to be without foundation ?

Mr Lyons:
UAP

– The administration of New Guinea is not lax. The reports in question related to oil in Dutch New Guinea and contained the observations of officers of the Administration of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea after visits to Hollandia in Dutch New Guinea.

Wireless Broadcasting : Finance

Mr Price:

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

  1. How much money did the telephone branch receive from the wireless broadcasting branch in 1934-35, 1935-36 and 1936-37? 2.What was the capital expenditure on new stations and equipment in each of those year s ?
  2. What was the total expenditure for maintenance of broadcasting services in each of those years?
Mr ARCHDALE PARKHILL:
WARRINGAH, NEW SOUTH WALES · NAT; UAP from 1931

– The details desired, which are not readily available, will be furnished to the honorable member as early as possible.

Wireless Valves

Sir Henry Gullett:
HENTY, VICTORIA

asked the Minister for Trade and Customs, upon notice -

  1. Is the wireless receiver manufacturing industry one that is accorded very effective tariff protection?
  2. Was the importation of wireless receiving valves restricted from a certain country under the recent trade diversion policy with the object of ensuring greater production of these valves in Australia?
  3. Has that policy been successful in its objective, and, if so, what additional capital has been invested in the extension of the wireless valve manufacturing industry?
  4. Is it a fact that a 50 per cent. quota of wireless valves is still permitted to be imported from the United States of America, and does this quota permit the wireless manufacturing industry to carry on successfully in the manufacture of receiving sets provided the individual manufacturers have a disposition to support the Australian valve industry?,
  5. Are there any restrictions on the importation of British and Dutch valves?
  6. Is it a fact that Australian-made valves are now sold at. a lower price than prior to the adoption of the Government’s policy, and do these lower prices place the smaller wireless receiving set manufacturer in a more favorable position?
Mr White:
UAP

– The answers to the honorable member’s questions are as follows : - 1 and 2. Yes.

  1. Yes. £200,000 has liven or is being in- vested in extensions to the wireless valve manufacturing industry in Australia.
  2. Yes.
  3. No.
  4. Yes.

Iron Ore Deposits : Inspection by Japanese.

Mr Lyons:
UAP

s. - On the 9th September, the honorable member for Maribyrnong (Mr. Drakeford) asked me a question, upon notice, as to whether authority had been granted to a Mr.Umeda, representing Japanese interests, to inspect iron ore deposits in certain parts of Australia.

In the course of my reply, I stated that: the Government of Queensland was being; communicated with in connexion with the honorable member’s question. I am now in receipt of the following telegram from the Premier of Queensland : -

No authority given by this Government to Umeda. Understand however Japanese capital behind certain Australian companies.

Statuteof Westminster.

Mr Lyons:
UAP

s. - On the 9th September, the honorable members for Wakefield (Mr. Hawker) and Forrest (Mr. Prowse) asked me questions, without notice,. regarding representations received from the governments of the States on the subject of the Statute of Westminster. I am now in a position to supply the honorable members with the following summary of the views expressed by the State governments in the matter: -

New South Wales. - The Premier of New South Wales (under date the 10th September, 1937) reiterated a suggestion previously made by him that in the proposed adopting bill there should be inserted a recital and declaratory clause asserting that the constitutional position was that it would not be proper for the Commonwealth, without the concurrence of a State, to request or consent to any amendment of the Statute of Westminster affecting the legislative powers of the State.

Victoria. - The Government of Victoria has expressedadesire for the insertion of a declaratory clause similar to that sought by New South Wales.

Queensland. - The State of Queensland has associated itself with the desire expressed by the State of Victoria.

South Australia. - The State of Smith Australia has not yet indicated an attitude, either in favourof, or opposed to, the measure.

Western Australia. - In a communication dated the 31st August, 1937, the Premier of Western Australia states that, in the light of the legal advicereceived and the consideration whichhas been given to the matter, his Government holds the opinion that it would , be preferable to allow the relationship between the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Australia tobe left to flexible constitutional understandings as at present rather than to attempt to define their relationship in legal form by the adoption of sections 2 to 0 of the Statute of Westminster, which that State considers will inevitably give rise to doubts, fears and uncertainties concerning the effect of such adoption upon the States of the Commonwealth. The Premier states that his Government is opposed to the measure.

Tasmania. - The Government of Tasmania has indicated that it is in favour of the adoption by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of sections 2 to ti, inclusive, of the Statute of Westminster.

Mineral Survey.

Mr Lyons:
UAP

s. - On the 10th September, the honorable member for the Northern Territory (Mr. Blain) asked the Minister for the Interior a question, without notice, in regard to the work which is being carried out by the aerial, geological and geophysical survey of Northern Australia at Tennant Creek. I am now in a position to inform the honorable member that full information regarding the work of the survey is contained in its reports, which are. furnished at halfyearly intervals and are tabled in Parliament. Reports for the periods ended the 30th June and 31st December, 1935, and the 30th June and 31st December, 1936, have already been tabled. The attention of the honorable member is particularly invited to the last-named report, which was tabled on the 29th June, 1937. Altogether 30 geophysical anomalies have been located by the survey at Tennant Creek and six test bores have been put down on these anomalies. The result.3 of assays received to date show values ranging from traces to 17 dwt. 21 grains of gold. The depths of the bores range from 170 feet to 452 feet. The question of sinking shafts further to test these anomalies will receive consideration when the final results of the survey are available. Copies of the reports of the survey may be had on application to the Director of Mines, Darwin, or the secretary of the survey, c/o Prime Minister’s Department, Canberra.

Assistance to Wine Industry.

Mr White:
UAP

e. - On. the 10th September, the honorable member for Cook (Mr. Garden) asked the following questions, upon no tice : -

  1. What financial assistance was granted to the wine industry of Australia by the Scullin Government?
  2. Who were the firms that received tlie assistance by way of bounties, and what amount was paid to each firm?

I am now able to furnish the honorable member with the following information : -

  1. The amount paid to the wine industry of Australia on the export of fortified wines from Australia during the term of the Scullin Government totalled £287,292.
  2. The firms that received bounty and the amount paid to each firm were: -

Manufacture of Motor Cars in Australia.

Mr White:
UAP

– On the 14th September the honorable member for Wentworth (Mr. E. J. Harrison) asked the following questions, upon notice : -

  1. What is the total amount of revenue collected to the latest date available, by the special levy of . 7d. per lb. duty on all imported motor chassis since it was originally imposed for the purpose of creating a bounty fund for the encouragement of Australian industry?
  2. Has the Government been approached by. or entered into negotiations with, any firms desirous of manufacturing complete motor cars in Australia? If so, who are these firms, and what progress has been made?

I am now able to furnish the honorable member with the following information : -

  1. £382,205 to the 30th June, 1037.
  2. Several approaches have been made to the Government. It is not at present proposed to disclose the nanies of those who have approached the Government. The proposals made to the Government are still under consideration.

Postal Department : Telephone Communication with Flinders Island.

Sir Archdale Parkhill:
UAP

– On the 14th September, the honorable member for Bass. (Mr. Barnard) inquired as to the present position with regard to the question of establishing telephonic communication with Flinders Island. I am now in a position to inform the honorable member that the problem of establishing telephonic communication with Flinders Island and other isolated centres is being considered in the light of ultra high-frequency radio developments, upon which experimental work is now proceeding. Some time must necessarily elapse, however, before the studies can be brought to finality.

Wireless Broadcasting: Land Line for Louis-Farr Fight.

On the 2nd September, the honorable member for Newcastle (Mr. Watkins) asked a question, without notice, concerning the amount paid by the Australian Broadcasting Commission for the use of a land-line from New York to the east coast of America for the purpose of broadcasting the Louis-Farr fight. I am now in a position to inform the honorable member that, for the use of the land-line referred to, the Australian Broadcasting Commission agreed to pay 120 dollars for the first ten minutes and 5 dollars per minute thereafter up to a maximum of £100, which was the amount paid.

Commonwealth of Australia to wit, Gowrie

Governor-General.

By His Excellency Brigadier-General the Eight Honourable Alexander Gore Arkwright, Baron Gowrie, a Member of His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, upon whom has been conferred the decoration of the Victoria Cross, Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Commonwealth of Australia.

Whereas by the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia it is provided that the Governor-General may appoint such times for holding the sessions of the Parliament as he thinks fit and may also from time to time, by Proclamation or otherwise, dissolve the House of Representatives: *Now* theefore I, Alexander Gore Arkwright, Baron Gowrie, the GovernorGeneral aforesaid, do by this my Proclamation, dissolve the House of Representatives as on the Twenty-first clay of September, One thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven, and I discharge Honourable Senators from attendance on that date and until the day appointed for the commencement of the next Session of the Parliament. Given under my Hand and the Seal of the Commonwealth at Canberra this sixteenth day of September in the year of Our Lord One (l.s.) thousand nine hundred and. thirty-seven, and in the first year of His Majesty's reign. By His Excellency's Command, {: .page-start } page 1155 {:#debate-36} ### J. A. LYONS, Prime Minister.

Cite as: Australia, House of Representatives, Debates, 15 September 1937, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/hofreps/1937/19370915_reps_14_154/>.

View PDF View XML View in Voyant