11th Parliament · 1st Session
The President (Senator the Hon. W. Kingsmill) took the chair at 3 p.m., and read prayers.
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Telephonic Communication between Perth and the Eastern States.
Senator REID presented the report of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works, together with minutes of evidence relating to the proposed establishment of telephone communication between Perth and the Eastern States.
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Purchase of Material by Stacey & Co.
asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice -
– This question should have been addressed to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. The information is being obtained.
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asked the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Customs, upon notice -
– The answers to the honorable senator’s questions are as follow: -
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asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice -
When will the North-west Air Service in Western Australia be extended to Wyndham and Hall’s Creek?
– The answer to the honorable senator’s question is as follows: -
The Government is anxious to extend the Perth-Derby air service to Hall’s Creek and Wyndham at the earliest possible date, but pending the rates of subsidy payable for certain air services now operating, I am unable to say whether funds can be provided to enable the extension to operate during the current financial year.
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asked the Leader of the Government in the Senate, upon notice -
In view of the unfavorable position shown by the immigration statistics, does not the Government think it inadvisable to bring any more people to Australia until more favorable conditions obtain?
– The answer to the honorable senator’s question is as follows : -
The only migrants brought to Australia under the assisted passage scheme are those who have been requisitioned, or whose nomination has been approved, by a State government. The number of migrants at present coming to Australia is relatively small, and comprises young women for domestic employment, boys and adults for. farm work, and such nominated persons as the States are assured can be satisfactorily absorbed.
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Businessof the Senate.
[3.4]. - I move -
That the Senate do now adjourn.
My reason for doing so is that the Life Insurance Bill at present before the Senate is of a technical character, and of such importance that the societies and. organizations affected by it have made representations that they desire further time to consider its provisions. The Government has consulted those institutions very freely, and has no desire to overlook any further representations that they may wish to make by pressing the measure through at this juncture. It is, therefore, proposedto adjourn the Senate now. I have given notice of motion today for leave to introduce a bill relating to arbitration in the Commonwealth Public Service, and I propose to ask the Senate to-morrow to agree to the suspension of the Standing and Sessional Orders to enable me to make my secondreading speech on that bill forthwith. The debate ‘can then be adjourned. The suggestion* is that the. Senate should deal with that measure next week, the Life Insurance Bill being allowed to stand over for a time. I make an appeal to those interested in the Life Insurance Bill to bring their considerations to a conclusion and. to make their representations so that the Senate may be able to proceed with that measure towards the end of next week, or during the following week.
– I hope that the Leader of the Senate will reconsider the order of business for next week. The right honorable gentleman is rightly giving those interested in the Life Insurance Bill every opportunity to consider that important measure, but I am confident that honorable senators also realize that the proposed legislation inconnexion with Public Service Arbitration is of vital importance to Commonwealth public servants. The bill will be introduced tomorrow, and Commonwealth public servants throughout Australia are expected to make themselves familiar with its contents by the time that the debate opens next Wednesday. I respectfully suggest to the right honorable the Leader of the Senate that we might conveniently discuss the budget next week, thus allowing members of the Commonwealth Public Service another week inwhich to study this proposed legislation which so vitally affects them.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Senate adjourned at 3.8 p.m.
Cite as: Australia, Senate, Debates, 29 August 1929, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/senate/1929/19290829_senate_11_121/>.