House of Representatives
25 October 1938

15th Parliament · 1st Session

  1. House of Representatives
  2. 15th Parliament
  3. 1938

Mr. Speaker (Hon. G. J. Bell) took the chair at 3 p.m., and read prayers.

page 1037

AIR DISASTER

Mr.LYONS (Wilmot- Prime Minister). - by leave - The Secretary for Defence has sent the following message to the Minister for Defence: -

Advice just received that Douglas D.C.2, owned by Australian National Airways, crashed at Mount Dandenong, near Melbourne, in cloudy weather. First Pilot A. C. D. Webb, Second Pilot A. Steen. Believed twelve passengers carried and that six or seven have been killed. Air’ Accidents Investigation Committee proceeding to scene, about 25 miles from Melbourne. Further particulars will be forwarded immediately received. Names of passengers carried or killed not yet known, nor is it known whether the pilots are amongst those killed.

Mr CURTIN:
Fremantle

– by leave - I crave indulgence to say that I am quite sure that the whole of the people of Australia will regret this unfortunate occurrence’.

page 1037

MOTION OF WANT OF CONFIDENCE

Mr CURTIN:
Fremantle

– I give notice that to-morrow I shall move -

That, because of its lamentable lack of leadership in regard to urgent national problems, the Government has forfeited the confidence of this House.

page 1037

ADJOURNMENT

Mr LYONS:
Prime Minister · Wilmot · UAP

– In view of the character of the. motion of which the honorable the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Curtin) has just given notice, I move—

That the House do now adjourn.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

House adjourned at 3.3 p.m.

page 1037

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

The following answers to questions were circulated: -

Standardization of Railway Gauges

Mr Drakeford:
MARIBYRNONG, VICTORIA

d asked the Prime Minister, upon notice -

  1. What steps, if any, have been taken by the Government to have the standardization of railway gauges considered since August, 1938, when at the Premiers Conference in Adelaide the subject was adjourned for further consideration ?
  2. If no definite steps have been taken, in view of the report adopted at that conference will the Government give the House an explanation of the reasons for its consideration hot being proceeded with?
  3. Will the Government give the matter immediate consideration from the point of view of providing employment on a national work that is approved by all parties, and which will be of great value in peace as well as for defence purposes?
Mr Lyons:
UAP

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

An agenda committee consisting of transport representatives of the Commonwealth and States has met on two occasions and prepared data for consideration by a meeting of Ministers for Transport which it is anticipated will be held early next year. The unification of railway gauges is one of the matters listed for discussion at this meeting.

Umbrella Flat Aerodrome

Mr Barnard:
BASS, TASMANIA

d asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice -

  1. What progress has been made with the draining of the Umbrella Flat aerodrome at Georgetown, Tasmania?
  2. When is it expected that this work will be completed?
Mr Thorby:
Minister for Defence · CALARE, NEW SOUTH WALES · CP

– The answers to the honorable member’s questions are as follow : -

  1. A joint inspection by Commonwealth and State engineers was made recently to consider a scheme for the drainage of the emergency landing ground at Low Head (Umbrella Flat), Tasmania.
  2. This scheme is now under consideration and an early decision will be made.

Motor Vehicle Industry : Prices and Conditions of Labour - Manufacture of Engines in Australia.

Mr Forde:
CAPRICORNIA, QUEENSLAND

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

  1. What are the competitive retail prices of the following motor cars in the United States of America, Canada, England, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia: - Buick, Oldsmobile, Dodge, Chevrolet; Vauxhall, Chrysler, Ford, Morris and Austin?
  2. What is the landed price of the chassis for each of the cars in each of the countries mentioned ?
  3. How many hours a week are worked in the motor car factories in (a) America, (b) Canada, (c) England, and (d) Australia?
  4. What wages are paid to (a) unskilled labour, and (b) skilled labour, in each of those countries ?
Mr White:
Minister for Trade and Customs · BALACLAVA, VICTORIA · UAP

– The answers to the honorable members questions are as follow : -

  1. The landed price of the chassis for each of the cars in Australia, although ascertainable by the Department, is of a confidential nature and cannot be disclosed. The information in respect of other countries is not available in Australia.

  2. and 4. -

    1. United States of America. - The latest available statistics are for 1936 and are for the average hours and earnings in the industries specified : -
  1. Canada. - The following are based on actual earnings and hours worked in a number of factories : -
  1. England. - According to “ The Motor Industry of Great Britain “, 1938, the average earnings on a simple basis of all adult male workers in the motor industry in October, 1937, were 81/ a week. The following were the rates of wages payable and hours a week at the 30th June, 1938, as supplied by the Ministry of Labour. London : -
  1. Australia. - The following table sets out the rates payable as from the 1st September, 1938, under hourlyhiring at the respective classifications in the cities named for a week of 44 hours : -
Mr Forde:

e asked the Prime Minister, upon notice -

  1. Is it a fact that the question of the manufacture of motor car engines in Australia was carefully considered by Cabinet before the then Minister for Trade Treaties, Sir Henry Gullett, made a definite pronouncement to Parliament last year, on behalf of the Government, to the effect that the Government had decided, after careful investigation, that the proposal was a sound and practicable one, and that a bounty would be paid by the Government to encourage the establishment of the industry in Australia?
  2. When did the Government change its mind in regard to the practicability of the proposal ?
  3. From what source did the opposition come to the proposed manufacture of motor car engines in Australia?
  4. What is the total amount collected from the special duty imposed on motor car chassis entering Australia, and what does the Government propose to do with this money?
Mr Lyons:
UAP

– The answers to the honorable member’s questions are as follow : -

  1. The honorable member presumably refers to the statement made by Sir Henry Gullett on the 22nd May, 1936. The question of the manufacture of motor car engines in Australia had received the consideration of Cabinet prior to the issue of that statement.
  2. The Government still adheres to its policy to establish in Australia the manufacture of engines and chassis of motor vehicles. Attention is invited to the statement made in the House of Representatives by the Minister for Trade and Customs on the 27th September, 1938.
  3. Mainly from representatives in Australia of overseas manufacturers and Australian distributors of motor vehicles.
  4. Collections to the end of August 1938, amounted to £877,083. This was credited to the Consolidated Revenue Fund as received. When any bounty becomes payable it will be paid from the Commonwealth Revenue Fund.

Broadcasts on International Affairs.

Sir Earle Page:
Minister for Commerce · COWPER, NEW SOUTH WALES · CP

– On the 12th October the honorable member for West Sydney (Mr. Bettsley) asked the following question, without notice: -

Will the Acting Leader of the House inquire from the Australian Broadcasting Commission whether it proposes to arrange for additional talks over the national network in connexion with the international crisis? If so, will he also ascertain the times during which such talks shall be broadcast, whether the talks will’ be similar to that broadcast last night by the Premier of New South Wales, and also whether persons equally as prominent as that honorable gentleman will be invited to express their views?

Inquiry has been made of the Australian Broadcasting Commission within the discretion of which the matter falls.

I am advised by the commission that the talk by the Premier of New South Wales (Mr. Stevens), referred to by the honorable member, was not given at the invitation of the commission. Mr’. Stevens approached the commission and expressed a desire to give a talk on the “ Economic Implications of the Czechoslovakia Situation “. A script was submitted to the commission. The commission decided to accede to the request in this instance, as the talk had no relation to party politics and it was considered that it would be of exceptional national interest. The commission has indicated that it is not intended to seek the services of other prominent people to give talks on the international situation, additional to those which are broadcast in the regular international affairs and news commentary sessions by the commission’s regular commentators. The commission is, however, prepared to give consideration to requests from persons occupying responsible public positions to give talks of a similar nature.

Defence: Naval and Aerial Equipment

Mr Thorby:
CP

y.- On the 20th October, the honorable mem’ber for Melbourne (Dr. Maloney) asked the following questions, upon notice -

  1. In view of the statement of the late Lord Fisher in his work Memories, that submarines would make Australia impregnable, and in view of a similar contention by Mr. Samuel Rosa. in his book The Invading of Australia, published twenty years ago, will the Minister give consideration to the expenditure that is being incurred in the building of cruisers, which are helpless against battleships, being diverted to the building of more submarines and aeroplanes, which are purely defensive and are effective against battleships?
  2. What is the cost of (a) up-to-date submarines, (b) bombing aeroplanes, (c) capital battleships, and (<J) cruisers?
  3. Is it a fact that the overseas ships trading to and from Australia are owned outside Australia ?

I am now in a position to inform the honorable member as follows : -

  1. The present naval programme of the Navy has been adopted on the advice of the best naval experts, and the Government is satisfied that it is on sound lines. 2. (a) £230,000 to £500,000 (sterling) according to class; (6) the cost of bombing aircraft (if landed in Australia and in Australian currency) would be from £9,000 to £40,000 an aircraft, according to type; (c) approximately £8,000,000 (sterling); (d) approximately £1,500,000 to £2,000,000 (sterling).
  2. The majority are; but a few of such vessels are owned by Australian companies.

Telephone at Umbrella Flat.

Mr Perkins:
Minister without portfolio assisting the Minister for Trade and Customs · EDEN-MONARO, NEW SOUTH WALES · UAP

– On the 20th October, the honorable member for Bass (Mr. Barnard) made certain inquiries pertaining to the question of installing a telephone service to Umbrella Flat.

The Postmaster-General has supplied the following information : -

An examination of the circumstances indicates that very substantial expenditure would be entailed in providing public telephone facilities at the emergency landing ground at Umbrella Plat and, in view of the relatively small amount of revenue that would be forthcoming, the department would not be justified in providing the service.

Post Office at Lower Mitcham.

Mr Perkins:
UAP

s. - On the 20th October, the honorable member for Boothby (Mr. Price) asked the following questions upon notice -

  1. What was the date on which the department purchased a piece of land at Lower Mitcham for the purpose of building a post office to serve the surrounding districts?
  2. What is the size of the block and its actual location?
  3. Is it a fact that since the land was purchased there has been a considerable increase in the number of residents in the locality?
  4. Have plans for the new post office been completed? If not, when can residents expect this Service?

I am now in a position to furnish the honorable member with the following answers to his inquiries : -

  1. A site was acquired on the 1 7th April, 1924.
  2. 70 feet frontage to Unley Road by 170 feet along Angas Road.
  3. Considerable development has taken place since the land was acquired, but all reasonable public requirements are at present catered for by existing post offices in the locality.
  4. Plans have not been prepared. It is not considered that the expenditure involved in erecting a new post office is justified under existing conditions.

Wireless Interference.

Mr Perkins:
UAP

s. - On the 20th October, the honorable member for Wide Bay (Mr. Corser), referred to interference with wireless broadcast reception at Kilcoy.

The Postmaster-General has supplied the following information: -

The department has consulted the Brisbane City Council with a view to having the interference eliminated. Arrangements have been made for an officer of the department to visit Kilcoy in connexion with the matter.

Public Telephones.

Mr Perkins:
UAP

s. - On the 20th October, the honorable member for Parramatta (Sir Frederick Stewart) inquired as to the basis of the guarantee of £28 per annum in respect of the provision of public telephones in certain circumstances.

The Postmaster-General has supplied the following information: -

The guarantee referred to is designed to cover the annual charges incidental to the establishment of a public telephone of the half-length type, and represents interest on the cost of providing and’ installing the cabinet, exchange apparatus, line plant, telephone and coin box, plus the relevant depreciation and maintenance charges, and the expenses relating to the clearing of the coin receptacle.

Cite as: Australia, House of Representatives, Debates, 25 October 1938, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/hofreps/1938/19381025_reps_15_157/>.

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