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Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 9 OCTOBER 1913 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 1820 Elections Acts, etc., Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Que.stions. ':!'HuRSDAY, 9 OcTOBER, 1913. The SPEAKER (Hon. W. D. Armstrong, Lockyer) took the chair at half-past 3 o'clock. QUESTIONS. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT ON RAILWAY DEPARTMENT. Mr. FIHELLY (Puddington) asked the Premier- " Does he purpose taking- any action in regard to the grave disclosures con tained in the Auditor-General's report upon the Railway Department 1 " The PREMIER (Hon. D. F. Denham, Oxl<y) replied- " The Secretary for Railways is al ready taking action in this matter," ALLEGED FALSII!ICATION OF SURVEYORS' FIELD NOTES. Mr. THEODORE (Chillagoe) asked the Secretary for Public Lands- " 1. Does he know (a) that cert<tlll officers of his department are guilty of th" dishonest practice of falsifying sur veyors' field notes; (b) that as a rP3ult of such falsifications certain surveyors have been paid larger fees t~1an they were entitled to under the regulations; and (c) that these additional fees, fraudulently obtained from the depart ment, come out of the pockets of new selectors? " 2. Has he taken anv action with regard to the surveyors ·whose records were altered or t,P t1H, persons '..Vho are responsible for the falsifications? " 3. Has the work of the surveyors m whose notes the fabifications were noticed been examined on the ground 1 " 4. Are the persons n•sponeible for the fraudulent practices still holding positions in the department 1 "5. Does he know what amount of money has been paid to surveyors in excess of the amount payable under tbe regulations 1 " 6. Is he taking any action to recover the amounts overpaid 'I " 7. As suspicion of the foregoing prac tices may attach to officers who are in no way to blame, will he recommend a public inquiry into the whole matter 1 " The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS (Hon. J. Tolmie, Toou·oomba) replied- " 1 tc, 7. Investigation is proceeding with regard to some irregularities con nected with the preparation of surveyors' vouchers, and a Public Service Board inquiiy will be held later. The matter has no connection \chatP.ver w·ith the survey fees paid by selectors. A charge against a particular contract :;urveyor has been inquired into by the ':'lurvey:>rs' Board, with the result that the board, while absolutely acquitting the surveyor of any £r,audulent intentDn, suspended his license for a fortnight on the ground of want of care. The surveyor has given notice of appeal to the Supreme Court." Questions. [9 OcTOBER.] Election<J Act, etc., Bill. 1821 PRIVATE WORK BY OFFICERS OF LANDS ELECTIONS ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. DEPARTMENT. REsu"IPTION OF CoM"IITTEE. Mr. THEODORE asked the Secretary for Publio Lands- (.1[r. J. Stodart, Logan, in the chair.) " Does he know that a number of offi Question again stated-That the following cers in his department have been doin:; new clause be inserted after clause 24:- private work, and that some have been pnnishcd while others have not? " " After section 55 the following section is inserted under the following cross The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS hDading- replied- " No." ELECTORAL EXPENSES. TESTING BRIGALOW TIMBER FOR MINE No electoral expense shall be in PcRPOSES. curred or authorised by a candidate Mr. McCORMACK (Cairns) asked the in respect to his candidatur-e in excess Secretary for Mines- of seventy-five pounds." " 1. Is it true that the trial of briga Mr. SWAYNE Piirani) said he did not !<Jw timber at Mount ::Worgan is to take wish to prolong the discussion on the pm· the form of merely standing square sets posed new clause, but in viDw of the fact 1r1 an oper, stope? that out of sixteen members who spoke on "2. If so, is it to be considered a fair the new clause yesterday, there were only trial, seeing that no weight of grotmd five from the Government side, and that will come on the sr~ts, as the stope to with tho exc-eption of Ministers no member be used has already remained safe with on the Government side spoke until half-past out t.imber? 9 o'clock, and not one clause was passed, " 3. Is there no scientific method of it might facilitate business if some Go· testing brigalow for mine purpos0s? " vernment members spoke. The new clause The SECRETARY FOR MINES (Hon. proposed to limit the expenses of any one J. G. Appel, A.lbert) replied- candidate to the sum of £75, and if that " 1. Yes; the object of the test being could be carried out it would, no doubt, be to gain information with rc,pect to the a good thing, but he would like a little alleged inherent tendency of brigalow further information on the 'Ubject, as there timber to split under actual conditions were so many ways by which a provision of of mine atmosphere and working. that kind could be evaded. For instance, if " 2. Yes, for the specific purpose in an organisation contributed to the upkeep view as indicated in answer to question 1. of a political newspaper, would that expendi "3. Scientific tests show brigalow, ture be counted as election expenses? He apart from its liability to split, to be wished information on that matter, because well adapted for mine purposes. The the Australian Workers' Union had com· tendency to split can only be ascertained pelled its members to contribute towards th-e by observation under actual conditions upkeep of a certain newspaper, and it of use. I may add that the test is being seemed to him that that money would be carried out, not by the instructions of distinctly spent in favour of a certain class the Mine' Department, but in pursuanc-e of candidates. Then, again, there were of an order of the warden's court." unions that impoced heavy penalties upon their members who did not vote for the TESTING TIMBER FOR BRIDGE Pl:RPOSES. union candidates. It was proved in the New South Wales Arbitration Court that Mr. McCORMACK asked the Secretary one union imposed a fine of £3 on any for Railways- member who did not vote for the candidate " Do the Railway Department test nominated by that union. Therefore, the timber used for bridges by scientific expenses incurred in the upkeep of those methods, or do they build bridges and unions were distinctly electioneering ex test them by heavy traffiC? " penses. Would they come out of the £75? The SECRETARY FOR RAILWAYS Again, organisations had imposed direct (Han. W. T. Paget, Jfackay) replied- levies on their members for political pur poses. On one occasion an organisation im· " 'rhe department emp:oys an officer posed a direct levy of 1s. per member, to for testing all materials, and elaborat-e be used in securing the return Df a certain tests have been made of all Queensland candidate. Would that expense be debited timbers, both in the green state and after against the candidate? That particular having been in use for some time." union had a mcmber,hip of 21,000, and, therefore, it would be seen that under that ScHOOL EXCcRSION TRAIN FOR CLONCURRY heading alone a sum of £1,050 would be DISTRICT. directly spent in securing the return of its Mr. WINSTANLEY lQueenton~, ir. the candidates. \Yould that be included in the absence of Mr. May, the han. member for £75? According to the returns for 1910-11, Flinders, asked the Secretary for Railways- the induetrial organisations in New South " For the purpose of giving school Wales, which were of a political character, children of Clonourry, Friezland, and collected a sum of £270,000, and out of that Selwyn and their mothers a day's out sum only £22,000 was used for benefits, while ing, will he approach thb Commissioner the cost of management of those organisa· for Railways with a view to running a tions was £198.000. What became of all train oncD a month on a certain day as that money? Knowing so much as thev did may be arranged to suit the conveni of the actions of su11h bodies, it would be ence of both the Railway Commissioner fair to assume that the greater part of that <tnd the children in the abovenamed £198,000 was spent in electioneering ex towns? '' penses on behalf of certain candidates. The SECRETARY FOR RAILWAYS Several honourable members indulging in replied- conversation which rendered the speaker " Yes." almost inaudible, Mr. Swayne.] 1822 Elections Acta [ASSEMBLY.] Amendment Bill. The CHAIRMAN : Order ! I must ask Mr. BEBBINGTON: I withdraw; but, never hon. members to observe order and refrain theless--(Laughtor.) from conversing in loud tones. Mr. COYNE : The han. gentleman might Mr. SWAYNE: In view of those facts, know whether that was true or not, but he what good faith was there in the amend was relying for his information on the " Dar ment from the other side to limit candidates ling Downs Gazette." to a personal expenditure of £75? It meant Mr. BEBBINGTON : It is untrue. that the greater part of the funds of these Mr. COYNE: Well, he drew the attention organisaions, which they compelled every of the han. member to it, so that he might worker to join, whether he agreed with their get it corrected. political policy or not, on penalty of starva The PREMIER: You are probably not tion, were spent in electioneering expenses. quoting correctly. If they could show that those sums would not be spent under the amendment if it became Mr. COYNE : He was quoting absolutely law, there might be something in it.