Senate
20 August 1941

16th Parliament · 1st Session



The President (Senator the Hon. J. Cunningham) took the chair at 3p.m., and read prayers.

page 3

COMMISSION TO ADMINISTER OATH

The PRESIDENT:

– I have received from His Excellency the GovernorGeneral a commission to administer to honorable senators the oath or affirmation of allegiance.

Commission laid on the table and read by the Clerk.

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NATIONAL FITNESS BILL 1941

Assent reported.

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DEATH OF THE RIGHT HONORABLE NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN

The PRESIDENT:

– I have received through the Prime Minister (Mr. Menzies) a copy of a letter from Mrs. Anne Chamberlain thanking the Senate for the motion of sympathy and con dolence passed by it on the occasion of the death of her husband, the Right Honorable Neville Chamberlain.

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DEATH OF THE HONORABLE THE REVEREND JAMES BLACK RONALD

Senator McLEAY:
Minister for Supply and Development · South Australia · UAP

– I regret to inform the Senate of the death in Melbourne on the 27th July of the Honorable the Reverend James Black Ronald. The late Mr. Ronald was a member of the first Commonwealth Parliament. He was elected to the House of Representatives for the Division of Southern Melbourne at the general elections in 1901 and 1903, and represented that division until 1906. It is proper, I think, that we place on record a tribute to the memory of one who was a member of the first Commonwealth Parliament. On behalf of the Senate I extend to his family our deepest sympathy. I move -

That the Senate expresses its deep regret at the death of the Honorable the Reverend James Black Ronald, a former member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Southern Melbourne, places on record its appreciation of his meritorious public service, and tenders its sincere sympathy to the members of his family in their bereavement.

Senator COLLINGS:
QueenslandLeader of the Opposition

– I had not the privilege of acquaintance with the deceased gentleman, but I am familiar with the record of his work. Very few of those who were members of the first Commonwealth Parliament now remain with us. On, behalf of the Opposition, I join with the Leader of the Senate (Senator McLeay) in the expression of sympathy with the relatives of the deceased.

Senator GIBSON:
Victoria

– The Country party desires to be associated with this expression of regret at the passing of a member of the first Commonwealth Parliament, and extends its sympathy to the relatives of the deceased. The winning of a seat in the first Commonwealth Parliament was a greater achievement than that of being elected to this Parliament in later years, because, in the earliest days of federation, there were no party labels, and before a candidate could be electedhe required the support of a vast number ofthe electors in his constituency. That accomplishment stood to the credit of the late Mr. Ronald. I was not associated with him in political life, and had met him only on several occasions. He is probably the only clergyman who has ever won a seat in either branch of the Commonwealth legislature.Our sympathy goes out to the relatives of the deceased.

Question resolved in the affirmative, honorable senators standing in their places.

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DEATHOF THE HONORABLE JAMES GEORGE DRAKE

Senator McLEAY:
Minister for Supply and Development · South Australia · UAP

– It is with regret that I announce the death of another former member of the first Commonwealth Parliament, the late Honorable JamesGeorge Drake, who died in Queensland on the 1st August. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland for Enoggera in 1888, which seat he held until 1899, when he was appointed Postmaster-General and Secretary for Public Instruction. In 1901, he was elected to the Senate as a representative for Queensland, and in that year be was a member of the Select Committee on Steamship Communication between Australia and Tasmania. He was Postmaster-General in the first Commonwealth Ministry, and held that office until August, 1903. He was Minister for Defence in August and September, 1903, and was Attorney-General from September, 1903, to April, 1904. He was also Vice-President of the Executive Council from August, 1904, to July, 1905. He retired from Commonwealth politics on the expiration of the second Parliament in 1906. The late Mr. Drake was a member, not only of the First Commonwealth Parliament, but also of the first Commonwealth Government. On behalf of the Senate I extend to the members of his family our deepest sympathy. I move -

That the Senate expresses its sincere regret at the death of the Honorable James George Drake, former Senator and Commonwealth Minister, places on record its appreciation of his meritorious public service, and tenders its sincere sympathy to the members of his family in their bereavement.

Senator COLLINGS:
QueenslandLeader of the Opposition

– I had the great privilege of knowing the late Honorable J. G. Drake during the whole of his public life and right up till the time of his death. Although he was not associated with the party to which I belong he was always truly democratic in his political outlook and activities, which was something rare in the days of which I speak - I refer to the ‘eighties. As the Leader of the Senate (Senator McLeay) has said, the deceased gentleman was not only a member of the first Commonwealth Parliament, he was also PostmasterGeneral of the first Commonwealth Ministry. At the time of his death on the 1st of this month he was the only surviving member of that Ministry. Although 91 years of age he was practising his profession at the bar when his last illness overtook him. He was the oldest practitioner in Queensland, and I believe in the Commonwealth also. Some of us can remember his activities; they were always associated with movements for the benefit of the people. I remember well that he published a newspaper - TheBoomerang - which in those days was considered to be fairly extreme, although to-day itwouldbe regarded as quite respectable. It was Australian in its outlook, and in those days provided one of the very few outlets for the then comparatively new champions of Australia and of things Australian. It is, therefore, with feeling of great regret that I refer to his passing, although, because of his advanced age, it was not unexpected. I regard as a privilege this opportunity to refer to hig life, andI join with the Leader of the Senate in expressing sincere sympathy with those of his family who are left behind. As I have said on many previous occasions, we have an ever-increasing obligation to pay respect to the memory of the pioneers of Australia, who in this Parliament, and elsewhere, have done so much to develop this great country.

Senator COOPER:
Queensland

– I had not the privilege of personal acquaintance with the late Honorable J.G. Drake, but I have had the opportunity to study his career and to become acquainted with the service that he rendered to his country during his lifetime. I associate the Country party with the expressions of deepest sympathy with the family and relatives of the deceased gentleman.

Question resolved in the affirmative, honorable senators standing in their places.

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DEATH OF EX-SENATOR JOHN DUNLOP MILLEN

Senator McLEAY:
Minister for Supply and Development · South Australia · UAP

– I regret to announce to the Senate the death of ex-Senator John Dunlop Millen, at Launceston, Tasmania, on the 1st August, The late Mr. Millen was elected to the Senate for the State of Tasmania at the general elections in 1919, and again in 1925 and 1931, retaining his place as a senator till the 30th June, 1938. He was a member of the Joint Committee on Public Accounts from July, 1920, to September, 1925, and was a member of the Wireless Agreement Committee of 1921-22. He was chairman of the Royal Commission on National Insurance from 1923 to 1927.

His death will, I am sure, be greatly regretted by many honorable senators who knew him well. On behalf of the Senate I extend to his widow and family our deepest sympathy, and move -

That the Senate expresses its sincere regret at the death of former Senator John Dunlop

Millen, places on record its appreciation of Ms long and meritorious public service, and extends its profound sympathy to his widow and family in their bereavement.

Senator COLLINGS:
Leader of the Opposition · Queensland

– ExSenator J. D. Millen was well known to most of us who are now sitting in this chamber. All honorable senators, irrespective of party, will agree that the motion which has been submitted by the Leader of the Senate (Senator McLeay) is fitting, and also that during the whole of the term as a senator the late Mr. Millen was a gentleman. Although he was keen in debate, I never knew him to give expression to any feelings of bitterness ; what he had to say was said with a quiet reserve and a gentility of manner which disarmed even his keenest opponents. We are all sorry that the inevitable has come to him, and we all agree with that portion of the motion which expresses sympathy with those whom he has left behind.

SenatorE. B. JOHNSTON (Western Australia). - The members of the Country party in this chamber desire to be associated with the motion. The late exSenator Millen was well known to most of us - I sat with him in this chamber for nine years - and I am confident that all honorable senators, irrespective of party, found him a good friend and a loyal colleague. He was a man of great ability, knowledge and culture. I should have liked him to speak more frequently because of hiswide knowledge of a number of subjects. Whenever he spoke he found an interested audience both in this Parliament and throughout Australia. He was a valiant fighter for Tasmania, a man with large ideas, and one who had the welfare of the Australian people at heart. The members of the Country party in this chamber join in the expression of sympathy to his widow and family in their irreparable loss.

Senator HERBERT HAYS:
Tasmania

– It is with regret that I rise to support this motion. It was my great pleasure and privilege to be associated with the deceased gentleman for many years and to share with him the representation of Tasmania in this chamber. In his own State, as elsewhere in Australia, our former colleague waa held in the highest esteem. Every honorable senator who knew the deceased gentleman will look back with pleasure on his association with him. Ex-Senator Millen was a man of outstanding ability, who made many valuable contributions to the debates in this chamber. He was in failing health for

Borne time, and although in the later years in which he represented Tasmania in this chamber, he found his parliamentary duties onerous, he continued to occupy his accustomed place. He was always actively interested in the work of the Senate and was a most worthy representative of the people, not only of Tasmania, but also of the Commonwealth. I join with other honorable senators in expressing, on behalf of the Tasmanian people, appreciation of the sterling worth of the late ex-senator, and in extending sincere sympathy to his widow and family.

Senator J B HAYES:
Tasmania

– I associate myself with the remarks made by other honorable senators. I had the pleasure of being associated with the late ex-Senator J. D. Millen in representing the electors of Tasmania in this Senate, and I, too, can testify to his sterling worth. The late ex-senator had a long and honorable public and private career to his credit, and his memory will he revered by a large circle of political and private friends. I join with other honorable senators in offering my sympathy to his widow and family in their great sorrow.

Senator SAMPSON:
Tasmania

– Since 1908 I have been intimately acquainted with the late ex-Senator J. D. Millen, his widow and his three sons. He was a very deep student, a thinker, and a man of calm courage because, although he was in failing health for many years, he bore his illness with great courage and patience. Those of us who were intimately associated with him deeply regret his passing and join with other honorable senators in tendering to his widow and sons our deepest sympathy in their bereavement.

Question resolved in the affirmative, honorable senators standing in their places.

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HOUR OF MEETING

Motion (by Senator McLeay) agreed to -

That the Senate, at its rising, adjourn till to-morrow, at 2.30 p.m.

Senate adjourned at 3.25 p.m.

Cite as: Australia, Senate, Debates, 20 August 1941, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/senate/1941/19410820_senate_16_168/>.