Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

THURSDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 1946

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

468 Co-operative Societies Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Questions.

THURSDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER, 1946.

Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. S. J. Brassington, }'ortitude Valley) took the chair at 11 a.m.

QUESTIONS. DUMARESQ-::YIACINTYRE 'WATER ScHEiviE. lUr. NICKLIN (Murrumba-Leader of the Opposition) asked the Secretary for Public Lands- '' In reference to the Dumaresq-Mac­ Intyre irrigation proposals-(1) what is the total area in Queensland which it is expeeteu will benefit under this scheme, (2) in what parishes in the Goondiwindi land agent's district is benefited land situated, and ( 3) will he give a broad outline of the pro­ posals, particularly as to the sizes of farms in the benefited area and the purposPs for which irrigation will be applied 1 '' Hon. A. JONES (Charters Towers)­ replied- '' The agreement between the Govern­ ments of Queensland and New South \Vales regarding the proposals for conservation of water on the border streams will shortly be the subject of legislation to be brought before the House. ~When the measure is introduced, information on the lines sought will lw given.''

IXQUIRY INTO BREAD INDUSTRY. Mr. KERR (Oxley) asked the Secretary for Health and Home Affairs- '' ~Will he consider establishing a special committee to inquire into all aspects of the bread industry in Queensland on the fo!Jmy­ ing points of reference :-(1) Hygiene, &e., in bakeries and in delivery and handling of bread; (2) improving quality of bread, standardising varieties of bread, and methods of weighing; (3) bread zoning; ( 4) licensing of manufacturers and distri­ buters; ( 5) price of bread to the con­ sum er '1 '' Hon. A. JONES (Charters Towers­ Secretary for Public Lands), for Hon. T. A. FOLEY (Normanby), replied- '' The question of further improving the quality of bread is receiving consideration. I am advised by my professional and tech· nieal advisers that the bread standards prescribed in the Queensland Food and Drug Regulations are the most comprehen­ sive. of their kind in the British Empire and .are not excelled in any country; also that Queensland bread generally is at least equal in caloric value to that of bread pro­ duced in any part of the British Empire or the United States of America. I am further advised that Queensland produces the strongest and most uniform wheat and :flour in Australia, and in the opinion of more than one authority the best quality bread. I n~ould refer the hon. member to the answer to a question asked by the hon. member for Sandgate on the 5th instant.'' State's Tourist Resources. [19 SEPTEMBER.] State's Tourist Resources. 469'

STATE'S TOURIST RESOURCES. nnd expressed themselves as being absolutely staggered at the potentialities. I say quite Mr. JESSON (Kennedy) (11.4 a.m.): I definitely that there is nothing in the world move- to compare with Queensland in the way of '' 1. That, in the opinion of this House, tomist resorts. It can be said to be an all­ the development of Queensland's tourist the-year-round resort. The Atherton Table­ resources, particularly islands of the Bar­ land is in the North. Then there is the West, rier Reef and the northern wonderland and the coast offers magnificent beaches and between Bowen and Cooktown, is in the bathing facilities. national interest, and that every effort be made by the Commonwealth and State The personnel of the Queensland Tourist Governments to develop the tourist industry Development Board is- and to facilitate the provision of all modern Chairman: Mr. E. A. Ferguson, Assistant forms of transport and accommodation, so Under Secretan- of the Premier's and Chief that Queensland may share in the overseas Secretary's Department. tourist trade at as early a date as possible. Mr. J. P. Haney, Surveyor-General of '' 2. That this resolution be brought to Queensland. the notice of the R.ight Honourable the Mr. F. P. Byme, Secretary of the Prime Minister.'' Queensland Licensing Commission. I move this motion with a complete knowledge Mr. W. A. Rogers, Secretary of the Co- of what this State, and particularly the ordinator-General's Department. nortl1ern part of it, has to offer to the world In those four gentlemen we have represen­ in the way of tomist resorts. It has wonders tatives of the various sub-departments that possessed by no other country in the world. will play leading parts in planning and plot­ I do not wish to be thought parochial but ting the future tourist trade of the State. naturally I must speak of the electorate I I know from my own personal knowledge that represent because in it is unquestionably to these men have visited most of the Queensland be found some of the greatest tourist attrac­ resorts and consequently even at the moment tions, especially on the coastline. Of course, have a great knowledge of the subject. In I am fortunate in being in that area, but as addition, they are leaving Brisbane at an I have pointed out I wish to deal with this early date to visit the various areas, carry subject on broad lines. 'rhe motion refers to out investigations, and make recommendations .. the ''northern wonderland between Bowen and Their terms of reference are- Cooktown," but in the course of the de bate 1. The minimum requirements of Queens­ mention will be made of other resorts, which land from the point of view of tomist may give a lead to those who are planning resources development. the future tourist trade of Australia. 2. The selection of particular localities At the outset I will briefly touch on what is (or areas in which to mist facilities may be being done at the moment to start this very established), having regard to the factors important trade. The resorts of Queensland of existing transport facilities, and methods have been visited by many people, mostly from by which such facilities might be improved. the southern States, but the- overseas visitors to thes€- places have been very few. Perhaps 3. The means by wl1ich the tourist facili­ I should say the tourist trade has been very ties at Lamington Park and the Barrier small, for the reason that in the past our Reef islands might best be developed. resorts have not been so publicised as they 4. The best form of tenure and other have be€n recently. During the war they were conditions that might be offered to private Yisited by many Americans, Englishmen and enterprise to develop tourist resources in nationals from other countries who have been Queensland, such as the Barrier Reef, where in Australia, and it is now up to us to boost special opportunities exist, because such them in every way possible. We must get attractions arc not available elsewhere in nway from the old style of catering for Australia. tourists and do the things that will cause Or the world. tourists who return to their own locality to Mr. Bruce: advertise our attractions. · lUr. JESSON: That is true. That boarcf On 1 March, 1946, there was a conference will meet the chairman of the various shin at Canberra, attended by Commonwealth and councils and other bodies interested in this State tourist officers, at which the future work for the development of the State. tourist trade of Australia was discussed. It A point to be considered is tl1at tourist was decided that the general publicity angle trade not only serves to cater for the pleasure of our tourist business be handled by of the people, but constitutes Dne of the the Department of Information of the Com­ greatest advertisements of our industrial and monwealth Government, and that the State agricultural industries that one could pos­ Tourist bureaus and offices should be respon­ sibly have. People who are desirous of sible for advertising and arranging tours, &c. developing industries or who may wish to As a result a Tourist Development Board has place their sons on the land visit tourist been set up in Queensland. New South Wales, resorts primarily for pleasure but also in order Victoria, and the other States have estabhshed to see what is being done here. People from similar organisations. Recently a number of other States and overseas have visited them Parliamentarians from New South Wales came indeed we might say they came, they saw, and to Queensland and went north to Rockhamp­ they were conquered by the opportunities ton, Bowen, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns. offering in that area, by the good government They were taken on fishing trips by local men of the country and other things, and settled 470 State's Tourist Resources. [ASSEMBLY.] State's Tourist Resources.

here. I repeat that not onlv does the tomist I trust that the board set up in Queensland trade bring revenue to tl~e State but its will deal with that matter as expeditiously development senes to advertise the potentiali· as possible. I can imagine nothing worse ties of Queensland and to encourage people than going to a hotel and finding such a to settle here. For that reason I think this S•tate of affairs existing-it must have a board must also keep in mind the wisdom of detening effect on tourists who come hen' getting .away from the Barrier Reef and the from other parts of the world ar1d from other Lam~ngton ~lateau. For example, I suggest States. I was really astounded to learn that n;1 mterestmg tour through the Lockyer these hotels lacked such important facilities. ;,~lley, over the Darling Downs, through And the charges for accommodation also ,·ungaroy and back to Brisbane. No better might receive the attention of the Queens· example of fertile country and industrious land Board. people could be had than may be seen in the route I have outlined. ltlr. Luckins: Is that peculiar to most of the tourist places in the North~ 'rhen I suggest that arrano-ements be made to tour Queensland's industrial centres. This ~Ir. JESSON: I am told that the water would show indust~·ialists who are visiting supply for these towns comes from windmills Queensland the vanous methods of industry and wells; water can be got a couple of feet emr;loyed here, the better type of accommo­ under the ground. The councils. have pro­ datwn that the Government have forced hibited the installation of septic systems employers to provide for the workers or that in these areas. Modern sewerage being what many employers have provided voluntarily. it is, such a thing should not be t<:lerated It would also show them how we ha.Ve and I do not think that the excuse Will hold dc>v~lor:ed industrially from a very small water much longer. Farther north, •:here hegnuung. As a matter of fact, the people of the local authorities have been prog;·essive­ Queensland and the Government-and North in places like Innisfail,. Ingham, Carr_ns and Q:wensland in particular-may reasonably be Tmvnsville-these conditwns do not exist, but Jll oud_ of what they have achieved in a com­ l'OOlll fol' improvement in the hot?l ac~om­ ~1~ratn:ely short time: A little over l 00 yenrs modation proYided for tourists sbll exists. -a,.o th1s place was vrrtually run by blacks. We have some of the most beautiful spots in Australia very close to Brisbane-1 hav-e The development of Queensland has beyond in mind Glo-rious and similar places, and DJ! doubt been a romance. In the short space :VIt. of 100 years we have developed this country the coast resorts-it is really the only part :of ?urs an~ given numerous amenities­ of the State that seriously caters for tourists. hospital service~ for example-to the people. Here again howeyer there is room for much improveme1;t, even places like. Southpo;·t Our progress IS most noticeable when we ~t compare what we have done with the little and Coolangatta. When the t?unsts are Jl\ that has been done in other countries in BTisbane, for example, there IS n~ wa~ Hl the world much older than ours. Those "·hich thev can be entertained at mght-hme. countries are far behind us in hygiene and lluring tl;c day they may go for a run tc• nl! the other serviees available to the people Redland Bav and back home at night hut then 0f this State. they haYe to go on board boat, if they are living on the boat, or go to bed, or go to _the T say that the tourist trade should be picttlres. T do not believe in ~he establish­ r'x.·unined apart from the idea of sporting ment of drinking houses and mght clubs on a round on beaches. The industries of this American lines but I think there should bP State are alone a great advertisement to it. dance halls where a man may take his wife In my opinion Queensland is the hest State or a party and enjoy wine and light beers i~t .A?stralia and offers the greatest poten­ and dance on cabaret lines, as in othe-r parts bantres for development. We shoulr1 view of the world. It is done in London and it th .. • position from the aspect of getting extra was done in Europe long before the outbreak people into the State. of \Yal'. At various places in Prance, where The motion before the House deals partiou­ they depend wholly and solely on the tourist larly with accommodation and facilities for trade in the season, you can go to a cabaret travelling. I think that the main object and have a glass of wine or of light ale, bnt in >Queensland, because of the rigorous proYi­ of the various boards set up is to find ~ays and means of improving accommodation at sions of the law, you must carry your dr~nk our towns and proYiding better transport in vom hip pocket and take the risk of be mg facilities for the people who come here. 1 fined for doing so. Tomists do not like to propose to deal with the accommodation do that sort of thing and so they get away question first. I have just returned from from Brisbane as quickly as they can. K orth Queensland and whilst in the Bow en Mr. J,uckins: We are 50 years behind electorate I was staggered at \Yhat I found. the tiims. In Proserpine, Bowen, Ayr, Home Hill and similar places-virtually the stepping-off Mr. JESSO~: I do not entirely endorse places for the tourist trade-r found that that remark, but I think we do listen too hotels were not equipped with septic systems. much to the wowseristic element in the com­ I was as.tounded to learn that if a person munity. It is not a crime for a man to take wanted to get up during the night he had to his wife and his family and sit in a dance walk half a mile down a paddock to get to room, so long as it is properly controlled; and -n lavatory. Unfortunately, too, there werP the onus for that should be on those who 110 l:ln\tory basins in the room. I really think conduct it. If they fail to conduct their thnt that is a shocking state· of affairs and premises in an ordeTly and proper manner State's Tourist Resources. [19 SEPTEMBER.] State's Tourist Resources. 471 their licence should be taken from them and to travel by train for 48 homs on a strcteh if they do not do the right thing they should to reach their destination when they can be gaoled. I know that if I go to Sydney cover the same distance by air in four or or Melbourne. I can meet a couple of friends five hours. Nor should air travel be confined and go to Prmce 's, Romano 's, Mc:VIahon 's or to members of Parliament; it should be some other place and have a drink. I can extended to public servants. Take for go to Tom Ugly's Point and sit there and insta;n~e a public servant whose duty it is dance and enjoy myself without any trouble. to VIsit Mt. Isa to appear in a case that Vve have not got those facilities for enter­ may last only 20 minutes. It takes him taining tourists and visitoTs here. four days to travel from Brisbane to Mt. Isa I have in mind a big Melbourne manufac­ and four days for him to return, whereas turer whose daughter is married and lives he could accomplish his business by travelling in Brisbane who came to visit her after an by air in a comparatively few hours. It is absence .during war years. I took the a scandalo.us waste of money and time. We opportumty of taking him to the reopening are only Just entering the plane age. The of the Doomben racecourse to see Bern­ people are getting so air-minded that facilitij's borough run. He was absolutely astounded for air travel will have to be given to them. at the state of affairs in Brisbane. While I journey by plane along the coast ~e said, '' ~ood God, how are you going to I make it my business to discover on what mduce tounsts to come to thi;; place~ It is islands used by tourists air-landing strips can as dead as Julius Caesar as soon as the- sun bo made. This is neceEsary if we desire goes down.'' When I was in Melbourne he to encourage an influx of tourists from the and his wife and two daughters entertained southern States to our resorts, particularly me. We went to a place at St. Kilda where the islands. I will give an instance where we had dinner and music. After dinner any­ this is necessary, otherwise we can kiss our one who wanted to dance could do so. They touris.t trade good-bye. Nowadays a tourist served light wines and light beers at the cnn leave Melbourne early in the morning table. The- dancing was done in the open and arrive at Proserpine at 2 o'clock in the there was no drunkenness and there was n~ nftemoon, but if he desires to visit Day­ misbehaviour. Between 9 and 10 o'clock he dream Island he is compelled to wait at drove me back home to my hotel and I was Proserpine until 4 o'clock the following quite satisfied with the night's entertainment morning before the motor-car leaves to convey I enjoyed myself thoroughly but when that the passengers to the coast to be transported gentleman came to Brisbane I had nowhere to thence to the island. That is a delay of tnke him except perhaps to see some pictures 14 or 15 hour~. If nir connection wns that he had se€n before. developed between Pro.~erpine and Daydream Tsland tourists could be landed there within Tourists are not going to put up with that a very short time on arriving at Proserpine. so~t of treatment. They will not advertise That is now done in America. Bnsban~ if something is not donEl to provide them With these means of entertainment so I '"ill give another instance how air travel that th.ey may enjoy themselves and have a has annihilated distance. I was in Bowen good time. They come herB to spend their a short time ago when a flying-boat en route money and they have no wav in which to to England arrived. I went up to the spend it. .The shipping companies and the hospital to see th~ doctor, who was waiting hotel pr.opnetors .get all the money they spend for it. While I was talking to the doctor -:-t~at IS wha~ It amounts to. Perhaps the he got a ring to say that a friend of arrlrnes, the rarl:vays, the shipping companies, his was passing through Bowen on the the hotel propnetors, and perhaps a Golden flying boat en ront€ to England. He said, Casket agent or two get all the money that ''Would you like to come down and meet they can spend, but the tragedy is that they him?'' i said I should. I went down and cannot spend any more because there is no was introduced to his friend. I was enCOllrR..D'PmPnt tn thnm +ro. n-r.n-.ro..:l rnL._ rn~.--c!-' no+n,~;!orl +r. lo~~n t.h~t. this man had left D:velop"inent Bo~r_d_ -~~ill~ h~;;'·to ~ ·b~ ~bvrc~·~d~ Sy-d;~y-~n --th~--T~resday, and that on ~he mmed about the pleasure and the entertain­ following Sunday he would he havmg ment that are to be extended to tomists his lunch in London. He told me that had e~peciall.y at night-time, apart altogc·ther from he been able to get in another plane that had s1ght-seemg. left earlier on Tuesday, he would have been I propose to de2l next with the means in London on the Thursday night. I can see of travel. It is necessary in the interests no difficulty in making landing strips on of the tourist trade that direct air transport some of these islands in order to land the 8~I~uld be established between the capital tourists from the South there. I also suggest e1hes and the tourist resorts on the is,]ands that, as many loop linPs were constructed on along our coast. I !mow the benefit of air the northem railway every few miles during travel, and when I have enough money I the war-emergency period to allow of the travel by plane. I look forward to the dny expeditious handling of troop trains, and when gold passes will be issued to public men to travel by air. trains conveying war material, at least on two days a week a streamlined tourist Mr. Luckins: They have been asking train, fitted with parlours, lounges, bars and for it. conveniences, should be built for the benefit lifr. JESSON: I travel by air whenever of the northern tourist traffic to convey I possibly can. I think it a scandalous waste tourists quickly to their destination at either of time, particularly for public men, to have Townsville or Cairns. On alternate days a 472 Sta~e·s Towrist Resources. [ASSEMBLY.] State's Tourist Resources.

slow train could run and stop at centres of in the front rank, and if we do not do tlH interest ·where day tours of the district right thing we shall miss the bus. Magneti, concerned could be arranged, Island, near Townsville, is a shining gem il How often in the past has the 1'ourist the Pacific Ocean. That part of the ocean i' Bureau made any facilities available for the bluest of any part of the world. Whpr persons to go and look through the sugar coming into Townsville in a plane you car see a big bright blue patch with Magnetic mills and the meatwor,ks ~ On very rare occasions. We have some of the biggest Island in the centre. meatworks in the world and tourists could Round that island are to be found hundredE see how they work, from the bullock on the of small bays which could not be more beauti· . hoof to the meat in the tin. People coming ful had man planned them. There are little from the thickly populated areas of the State bays with beaches, and bananas and other wild go past those two huge industries and they tropical fruits are growing there, but even do not know a damn thing about them when at the present time people cannot get from they all get back. All they can see is sand, palm one bay to the other by road. Certainly there trees, waterfalls and a few blackfellows. It is what might be described as a road from is all very nice, but we are not showing the Arcadia to Horseshoe Bay, but if you travel people what we should be proud of-our by lorry and have any loose change in your industrial record. The information they pockets when you get on you have none when would get could be jotted down and taken you get off. 'ro go from Picnic Bay to N elly notice of. Bay you have to walk, along a track, and you need the. agility of our Darwinian Another important matter is the need to ancestors to jump from stone to stone. If cater for day tours. When the train comes these beautv spots were located in any other in to a town tourists could be taken by buses part of the world a connecting road would to the various scenic points. I do not mean have been constructed years ago. This would buses that consist of seats screwed onto the have had the effect of even encouraging resi­ top of a table-top lorry, on which tomists dents of the \V est and Townsville to buy or nre taken down to the boats at places on lE a se pieces of land, put homes on them, and om coast nowadays. That is a shocking way take their children there for vacations. It to encourage tourists. Private people run would even have attracted people from Mel­ these things and I was told that in some bourne and the South, who would have erected cases they have previously been carrying winter Tesidences there. People come from blood and bone, and consequently they smell. Tasmania to W ov W ov in New South vV ale~ These are things that should be attended to. because of the "excessively cold climate of It is just as important for the Government Tasmania during the winter. Such people to see that people catering for tourists give should be encouraged to go to North Queens­ them absolutely the best as it is to legislate land. If local authorities had had vision, an<'l for workers' accommodation. The tourist Governments along with them, they would husiness, properly run, is the biggest industry have built roads round wonderful Magnetie the Government can control. Island. As I have said, one of the most beau­ tiful spots to be seen in the world is to br Tours should be arranged so that people found there. You can have your Honolulu, r·ould get off the train or plane or boat at Hawaii and similar places. 'There is nothing Townsville, go through the Palm Island in the world like thi~ island-on one side still group, remain there a day or two, then go water for swimming and on the other the to Dunk Island or Hinchinbrook Island and ocean for surfing, and only an hour or so finish up at Cairns, which would be about a away the Barrier Reef where the fisherman week's tour. Serious thought should be given can throw in a line and pull out three dif­ to that suggestion. I have heard of a com­ ferent types of fish at the one time. I have pany, which has not started yet, that iR done so myself. These beautiful spots onl,v thinking about doing something of that kind. await people with a little go and money, to I understand it has an option on a. couple of develop them as they should be developed. boats or they have bought them and they intend to take people for a week or a fort­ Out from Townsville there is Mount Spel'. night on fishing tours on the Barrier Reef. From no place in Australia can you obtain Recently some enterprising person in Mackay snrh a view as from this mountain. The paid £7,000 or £8,000 for a big launch, which ocean extends for miles on both sides; dming has just gone up there. He intends to take the war a station to spot Japanese aeroplanes 12 or 14 persons at a rate· of £12 12s. a week was located there. But what accommodation on a fishing trip. I think it would be well is there on :Mount Spec~ Merely a small patronised. A charge of £12 12s. a >Yeek chalet run by private people. There are no for accommodation, with everything provi­ hotels or other conveniences that tourists look ded-including bait and lines-is reasonable. for. There are men who like a. nip of whisk,v One cannot go for a week's holiday in the before the~· go to bed, a glass of win0 with eity for £12 12s.; and one does not feel as their dinner or a bottle of beer with their well when one gets home. lunch, but you cannot get them there. Accom­ modation places at these resorts should b<' There is another way in which we have been licensed to enable them to supply light wines dilatory. In Australia today and in, the past and beer for the tourist trade. we have been getting things too easily. It Mr. Bruce: And decent accommodation, has been ''handed to us'' on a plate, and -people have been willing to take anything Mr. JESSON: There is no accommoda­ nml put up with anything. Those days are tion there at all to attract tourists to these -past. We as a nation have to take our place wonderful sights. State's Tourist Reso!M'Ces. [19 SEPTEMBER.] State's Tourist Resources. 473

A little farther North one arrives at to settle. The \Vallnman Falls, with a clrop Ingham, one of the most prosperous towns in of 900 feet, are a magnificent sight, especially North Queensland. Fifte0n miles away is if you go up the valley and get below them Dungeness. M any years ago this was a very so that the water sprays over you. No-one important port in North Queensland, but like knows anything about these things, and in P01·t Douglas and other places, because of the near future something will have to be mockrn transport, otheT harbour facilities .and done if we are to llliake the best use of them in some instances political pull, it has reverted by encouraging tourists to visit them. to just being Dungeness. There is nothing Then we come to Innisfail. I feel sure there now but mud fiats and mangrove that the hon. member for Herbert, when swamps. The Government have made a TOad seconding this motion, will deal adequately for the use of fishermen who bring in fish >Yith that district. There are marvellous raught in the Hinchinbrook Channel and beauty spots there, some .natural and other a bout the Reef, to be transported to 'l'owns­ ncnted by man. For mstance, everyone ville .and Brisbane. At present all they require should visit Paronella Park, but although all is a small jetty, which I think the Govemment these attractions exist there are no facili­ will grant them, and a small pontoon to rise ties, and no comfort for tourists. At present and fall with the tide. Dungeness is at the tourists go to Cairns by boat, there they mouth of the Herbert River, and no greater len;-c the boat and thcv are whipped round tomist facilities, from the tourist point of the 'fableland in 24 hours. They go to Yunga­ view, can be found anywhere else. Hinchin- bun·a, Lake Barrine, a:r>cl a few other places, 1-·rook Channel is just at the rear, and farther and what do they see~ They are taken by on is Dunk Island. Cr.abs, fish, prawns, White car to the various spots at 50 or 60 oysters and game, including Torres Strait miles an hour and do not see anything worth pigeons, are to be got there. while. They do not have a chance of noticing And if you want to be :a Superman or that there in the tropics, we have some of Mandrake you can go into the mangrove the richest dairying country in Australia. swamps and hunt alligators. Nothing has 'fhe people in Victoria will n?t believe t~1at been done to develop the wonderful gifts of we proiluce milk and cream m the trop1cs. nature up there. I must be frank and say If we tell them we are growing potatoes in that people would build up there if our the tropics they merely reply, ''Rot.'' Here antiquated liquor laws were overhauled. I we have an excellent "opportunity to educate do not believe that we should heed the ~he people, yet we have not the facilities wowseristic element in the community. People to do it. woulil like to go there, stay there. hire a I repent tlwt the object o~ my speerh motor launch or a boat, go into the Hinchin­ today is as set out in the motlon, to bTJng brook Channel, come back to the hotel at the matter forcibly before the State and night and have a drink or two and a game Commonwealth Governments to urge them to of cards with their friends, but those facili­ do the right thing. If we do not do it the ties are not there now. Unless we ignore right "'Nay '~'Ye shall lose Bn enormonR .amount the noisy wowseristic minority who would of trade. There are other countries in the deny people a little pleasure neither this nor world than Australia to which people who any other State will get anywhere :at all. want to travel will go, because this is not I have with me a photograph of the falls the only country with beauty spots in it. on Hinchinbrook Island. It is a pity that Others containing beauty spots not . ~o;n­ this photograph <3annot be reproduced in parable to ours might offer gr~ater fac1ht:es· '' Hansard'' because it certainly is worthy of for the tourists and so obtam the tounst a place there. There are all these spots with trade. I would not take my family to the fresh water iand everything else to be desired places I have mentioned; I could not honestly on the islands, but they have not been recommend them to my friends. The point T touched by the hand of man. The only am making is that if we do not go about people who have been there are a fe>Y pros­ developing this countTy in the right way pectors who went through the ravines look­ people who travel will go to other places ing for gold and tin, without success. that offer better facilities. Inland we have Mount Fox and the ·walla­ It is to be remembered that our island man Falls. I have a photograph of these tourist resorts should cater, not only for falls, which have ,a drop of 900 feet. The the man but for the man, his wife and his \Vallaman Falls are reputed to have the family. There should be ponies and swim­ largest drop of any falls in Australia, but ming pools for the children and t0nnis courts, there are no road facilities to these places. croquet lawns-- :Ur. Kerr: How do you get there? Mr. Luckins: And bowls.

Mr. JESSON: On horseback or by car ~Ir. JESSON: Yes, bowling greens for for a certain distance and then walk or go the older people. up the Herbert Gorge p:ast Abergowrie. It may be interesting to hon. members to know (Time, on motion of Mr. Fan·ell, extended.) that there is a man at Abergowrie who b)­ I thank members of the House generallv means of irrigation is harvesting 26 tons of for the pri>'ilege afforded me. We should potatoes to the acre, and I know of no other get on with this job and do it properly. I place in Australia that can give that return am not condemning anyone, because in Aus­ in potatoes. If facilities were provided and tralia we are too haphazard; we take every­ tours arnngrd through these areas farmers thing for granted. I do not know whether would be encouraged to send their sons there the fact that we have so much sunshine makes 474 State's Tourist Resources. [ASSEMBLY.] State's Towrist Resources. us tired and lazy or whBther it is the great be g:iven to this matter, as we are- asking the c;pen spaces, but we take everything for Commonwealth Government to help us. That granted and do not both<>r Yery much unless is the purport of the motion. According to forced to do things. the itinerary of the board, it is to arrive at Ingham on Friday morning at about 11 I think the idea behind the Government o'clock and leave a·gain at 3.20 in the after­ is to make the Queensland Tourist Develop­ noon. It could not possibly have enough ment Board a sort of preliminary board to time to see the beauty spots that I have men­ make an investigation into the matter--a tioned, which include Orpheus Island, Palm preliminary review as it were. I have been Island, Hinchinbrook Channel and the Her­ speaking for 20 minutes or half an hour just bert Valley. Good gracious mB, they would on the beauty spots in mv own electorate barely have time to inspect the sawmill and let alone those in the rest of Queensland. Fo;. the sugar mill in the district in three hours, instance, I think the tourists should be tale<:'n let alone take any evid-ence. However, I to places such as Mount Isa. have discussed the matte-r with the chairman At 11.47 a.m., of the board and he has told me that per­ haps it may be possible for the board to Mr. ~EVRIES (Gregory) relieved :Mr. arrange to come down by launch from Card­ Speaker m the chair. well to Dungeness and so devote a little more time to that part of the State. Local ~Ir. 1lfaher: I was informed that tourists boards are being appointed to help the nre not able to travel along the beautiful Tourist Development Board in its investiga­ mountain road from Cairns to Kuranda. tions and it is to be hoped that with this help the Tourist Development Board wil1 be lUr. JESSON: I do not know that able to stay a little longer in the district. myself, authough I am infonner1 that it is However, the main thing is to go througll not so. There is apparmtlv a conflict of the district and do whatever is possible in opinion on that point. I think the hon. the limited time available and at a later date member for West Moreton was ruled out. return to the district for more detailed (Laughter.) ! appreciate his remarks, how­ information. When this House gets the report cver, because It was not an attempt to throw of the board we shall be able to make some cold water on my ideas. If the road has been suggestions that I hope will help its mem­ ~1lo_cked by the Government or anybody else, bers in their deliberations. I should have It IS wrong. strongly protested if I thought that the . I :was sayi_ng that we have got to do the board was going to devot·e only three hours JOb m the nght way and the tourist trade to the consideration of the scenic attractions is not only a matter of beaches, sunshine, of this part of the State, but I have become palm tree.s,_ surfing _and fishing, but what reconciled to the fact tl1 at it is only a pre­ ~ollows VISits to. this Strrte in regard to liminary survey and that this itinerary is mcreased population. Take Palm Island for to extend over only three \Yeeks. I do not instance. There is not even a shack there care who he is, no-one could make a report for the tourists to stay at. There used to be on the various scenic spots of the North in a guest house but it is gone-it went years three weeks, or even three months, and then before the war. Orpheus Island one of the he would have to be working every day. Palm Island group, is one of the greatest However, I am happy about the personnel spo~s in the world-a place where you can get of the board; its members are gentlemen ~slung and oys~ers and everything you wish. who have travelled extensively in the ~orth. rhere are magmficent shells to be found there Mr. Byrne, the secretary of the Licensing lJut conditions are primitive. ' Commission, for instance, recently returned . There are little huts for the people to stay from North Queensland after making an m, conducted by the Musgraves, who provide inspection of the hotels. No doubt he will an exce!lent table and do everything possible place a report of his investigations before f?r their comfort. Still, everything is primi­ the- Government and will make proper refer· tive and there is nothing to keep one there ence to the lack of facilities that I ha've unless ~ne visits the place purely for a rest. described. There 1s no sport and no entertainment, llfr. J. F. Barnes: You admit that you unless one goes across the water to Halifax are only stonewalling, so sit down. to see the pictures. lU:r. JESSON: I am not concerned with T~e Tourist Development Board will be the hon. member for Bundaberg, who only makmg only a sort of a preliminary race wants to talk about his big-game fishing. through the district, primarily to reassure As I was saying when I was rudely inter­ the people that the Government are interested rupted, the members of the board haYe been ir.. tourist development and intend to do through these places in the North and con­ something. Both the State and Common· sequently I am a bit happier now than I wealth. Governments ha\·e tremendous jobs was when I first got the intimation that the on theu hands at the moment in connection board would be only a few hours in the wit_h housing and they cannot very well pro­ Ingham district. cl~Ill_l tl' t:1e people that they are giving per­ llllSSI?n to pnvate enterprise to build palatial hotels for the benefit of tourists while Mr. J. F. Barnes interjected. ma.ny_ people are squatting in government lnnldu~gs_. The board will be making just Mr. JESSON: The hon. member for n prellmmary survey to reassure the people, Bundaberg had an opportunity of framing but very serious consideration will have to a motion for Private Members' Day de.aling State'B Tourist Resources. [ 19 SEPTEMBER.] State's Tourist Resources. 475 with the development of the tourist traffic tourists could then travel by boat through the in Queensland, but he was mor·e concerned Gulf of Oarpentaria to Thursday Island, anu about requiring people to produce balance­ thence to Oooktown and Towns.ville, whPrc sheets. they could connect with an air liner to Rock­ Mr. J. }'. Barnes: I am the only one hampton. They would thus see some of the who has spoken on the tourist trade in this most magnificent beauty spots in the world. place and I have done so every session for There are many beauty spots in the Gulf six years. of Oarpentaria and on the Peninsula, inelnd­ ing Coen, Portland Roads, Thursday Island Mr. JESSON: Good on you! You took and Oooktown. They are certainly more beauti­ up so much time on the Max Michel ease ful than those in the South. There are many that you missed out on your own motions. beauty spots in the Northern Territory and close to the Gulf. As a side line they could Mr. J. }'. Barnes: That is a sore point with you. I will talk longer, too. go buffalo-hunting. We do not know what is in the Peninsula-God only knows-because Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! it has not yet. been developed. It has given me great pleasure to move Mr. JESSON: I understand that when this motion. I have endeavoured to approach the Private Members' motions of the hon. my subject in a broad-minded, non-political member for Bundaberg were called recently spirit, and not in a parochial spirit. I trust he was not present to move them. He los·t therefore that it will be carried. his opportunity then and yet he wants to have a go today. I do not wish to take up Hon. Members: Hear, hear! much more time of the House. Mr. THEODORE (Herbert) (11.59 a.m.): ltlr. J. F. Barnes: Good on you! I will T rise to second the motion so ably moved shut you up. by the hon. member for Kennedy. I feel sure that its importance will assure it of the Mr. JESSON: To do so may deprive my good will and whole hearted support of hon. friend the hon. member for Herbert, who members not only on the Government side will second the motion, of the opportunity but on the Opposition benches also. of saying a few words. The subject of the motion is one to which I was endeavouring to make the point that very great attention must be paid, and that the Queensland Tourist Development Board, as soon as possible. We in North Queens­ which is going to inquire into tourist trade lallf1 H'"" ;, a nnique position compared with facilities is composed of men who know the any othn people in the world. Nowhere in northern tourist resorts. They are acquainted ttte world has a white race colonised a land with the conditions prevailing at present, with a tropical climate in such numbers as and therefore should know what improve­ exist in North Queensland. That has been ments should be effected to make them more done in a comparatively short space of time attractive to tourists. From that angle the in defiance of every previously-accepted board is a good one, so much so that my mind theory as to the ability of the white man is eased already on the point of accelerating to live, thrive, prosper and multiply in a tl·avelling time to tourist resorts. I do 11ot tropical climate. think that the members of the board are making an inspection of the t.ourist resorts At 12.1 p.m., at the moment. They are engaged in collect­ Hr. J. F. BARNES: As there is no ing evidence from local people who have quorum, I object to the House proceeding. given consideration and sacrificed valuable time in collecting data to develop their There are only seven members in the House. districts. We all realise that millions of Quorum formed. people passed through North Queensland in Mr. THEODORE: I was referring to the the last five years. Many of those people unique position in North Queensland and while convalescing or on recreation leave, the wonderful achievement that we have together with their wives, daughters and witnessed in that tropical part of the mothers who visited them while in hospital, State. This was due to the establishment of spent a good deal of time at our northern the great sugar industry, which was dovelopeil resorts, and so gleaned much information under white-labour conditions and was as to possibilities of settling on the land in responsible for the great expansion of roads, that area. All those factors have to be railways, harbours and townships in various investigated. parts of the North. But for the development It would be wise if Queensland were divided of that industry and the expansion thHt into four districts for the purpose of develop­ followed as a natural corollary, we should ing our tomist traffic. These could be called not be here today discussing our participa­ the southern, central, central-west, and tion in the tourist trade in North Queensland. northern. This would lead to the decentralisa­ It represents a remarkable ac.hievement i? a tion of this trade. Each district could send comparatively young country. I ap~rec1at~ its propaganda to the other States tlnongh the announcement made by the Prem1er the its various bureaus. If that was done I have other day of the appointment of a board to little doubt that it would lead to the speedier make a preliminary survey of the possibilities development of the resorts in those districts. of the tourist trade in North Queensland. Tt What would be wrong, for instanee. \Yith showed that he is fully alive to the need to establishing a plane service from RorkhnmP­ cater for this very important phase of our ton to Mt. Isa and thence to the Gulf? The development. 476 State's Tourist Resources. [ASSEMBLY.] State's Tourist Resou1·ces.

Like my colleague, the hon. member for purpose of boosting the tourist trade, which Kenucdy, I do not wish to be parochial, could become such a wonderful asset to because I believe that when a man becomes (.~ueensland. a member of this House he should support ilir. Lnckins: The facilities and amenities those things that he thinks are in the best are not there. interests of tl1e whole of the State; in doing that he can vive full and adequate 3ervice to lUr. THEOI>ORE: The facilities today the people h~ directly represents. We have arc much better than they were prior to the been slow to 1·ecognise the value of th~ great war but they are still far from what they nsset we possess. should be. A vigorous attempt should be made lUr. J. F. BARNES: There is not a to provide better hotel accommodation in the quorum in the HoLtse, and I ask that there first instance. It is a difficult. job to find be one. really first-class hotel accommodation. 'fhere may be- one or two hotels in the towns that llr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! The would meet with the approval of tourists but !ton. member for Herbert. most of them are not fit to accommodate ilir. J. F. BARNES: !VIr. Deputy Speaker, tourists, \vho look for some measure of tlLPr8 are 14 meml:Jers in the House. comfort. lUr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! lUr. Malter: Is there any hope that anybody will build big hotels in view of the illr. J. }'. BARNES: There are 14 mem­ high taxable scale? ' Lcrs in the House. You have the right to C0Dnt them. lUr. THEODORE: That is one of the 1Ur. I>EPUTY SPEAKER: I am of opinion difficulties we cannot overcome at the present i hat there is a quorum. Mr. Theodore! moment. \;ve realise that this state of affairs has lUr. ,J. F. BARNES: You are not entitled continued too long. Even before the war t'l nn opinion; you have to count them. hotelke~p~n:s did not realise that they had a ilir. THEODORE: So far we have done respons1b1hty to the State and that licences rery little to encourage the tourist trade, were not given to them merely so that they to encourage people to come from other parts ;ould sell liquor and disregard other to this country and see its beauties and share Important aspects of accommodation. in the wonderful attractions it has to offer. JUr. Lnckins: The Government have a The war did a great lleal to advertise this responsibility too. State, probably more than anything else could have done, because a large number of people lUr. THEOI>ORE: The Government are thus became acquainted with the wonders to taking action now to see that these defects be found in the North. Only yesterday I are remedied, to see that adequate, and proper received from a female relative in Western accommodation is provided by those people Australia a letter in which she says that she whose duty it is to cater for the tourists. now realises what a. wonderful part of Aus­ JUr. ltlalter: Taxation destroys all tralia we live in. Of course, she was referring incentive. to our home in the Innisfail district. She said that she had had a wonderful description of ~Ir. THEODOR.E: Did taxation destroy North Queensland by the young men and the incentive of the lads who went to fight ·women who were fortunate to see it during and di·e for this country~ What about those the w::n, that it was an education to them, boys who have come back crippled? and now it seems very hard for them to settle But you want hotels. Where down at home in thei~· own State because thev lUr. ::lfaller: is the money coming from~ feel they want to come to this wonderful land that they had the op1)ortunity of seeing Mr. THEODORE: A sound and logical during the war approach must be made to these problems. I have a similar comment in another letter We know tha't all these things cannot be from a lady in West ern Australia, which was done in a day. We know, too, that we must received by the local committee formed in r-ehabilitate O'Ur returning service men and Innisfail to help collate information to sub­ women, that the State is passing through a mit to the board that is making a suney. period of transition from war to peace, and She had recently toured North Queensland and these difficulties are not insurmountable. I suggested a few improvements to be made at am confident that even hon. members oppo­ I nnisfail for the benefit of tourists. She site realise that the Government a·re making .,aid that she \Yas amazed at the beauty of an excellent attempt to cope with these f nnisfail district and that something should problems. be done to deYelop it. That is a sample of lllr. Lnckins: How are you making an the opinions held of the North by people who excellent attempH That is \Vhat \VC \Vant to took the opportunity to spend a vacation find out. there, but, as has been pointed out, one of the difficulties is the lack of proper accommo­ llfr. THEODORE: It is very easy to tell dation. We and the people of these towns the other fellow what he ought to do if nnd districts realise this and we have formed you have not got the rpsponsibility of doing ourselves into a committee to do everything it, and the membe.rs of the Opposition seem possib1f', in fact regarding it as one of our to delight in telling us what to do. Hon. duties, to help any im-estigation made for the members opposite are on the outside looking State's Tourist Resou?'Ces. [19 SEPTEMBER.] State's Tourist Resources. 477 in. If they were on the inside trying to do to sav that very few people have ever had such the job I venture the opinion that they would a booklet as that I quoted from in their hands; not be nearly as successful as this Govern­ only those who travel interstate or go to the ment have been. Tourist Bureau ever see these publications. Recently a visitor to Innisfail who has vVe have to adopt a moTe effective way of travelled the· world and who has a vast know­ advertising our resorts and beauty spots. We ledge of what tourist traffic meHns to other should do something along the lines adopted countries, told one of the members of the in other countries of the world, where adver­ committee to which I have refe1-red that if tisements are widespread and taken to the Queensland was to share in the tourist trade people with a view to taking the people to suitably and adequately she must revolution­ the resorts. I feel that these little booklets ise her ra'ilways, her hotel system and other do not meet the situation because they do not convanienee5. He· pointed out that the tourist fall into the hands of the people and so the traffic in Canada is worth approximately people are not able to take advantage of the £450,000,000 a year. opportunities offering. lUr. Malter: Is that dollars or sterling? During the- war hundreds of thousands of service men and women visited North Queens­ Mr. THEODORE: It is given as land, and I think they should be perhaps one £450,000,000 here, but I think it must be of the best means of advertising the glorious dollars because from information I gathered North, not only in this country but in other the other day it was worth £60,000,000 in eountTies of the world-in U.S.A., for example. 1937, but even that must be- admitted to be \Ye have had large numbers of AmeTican ser­ a good d:aal of money. vice men in our cities and they made it their The tourist trade could easilv become one business to see our scenic places. They were of the greatest industries in North Queens­ congregated in large camps in and around land. All the things necessary to such an Cairns and they crowded Innisfail until there industry are in the North_ was no room for more. They would go back and tell their mates who would simply TUsh )fr. Luckins: Nature has richly endowed to 'this plnc<> because it offered a wonderful this State. means of enjoying their leave. One English 3Ir. THEODORE: She has, and we must officer who \Yas in charge of certain work at not los·B a moment in making the best possible Innisfail made trips overseas and back to use of those wonderful gifts. Innisfail and on every occasion when he re-turned he went on a "fishing trip or duck­ The visitor to Innisfail to whom I have shooting or alligator-shooting, pastimes that referred said that as a stranger he has long are t>asily available in this district. He told been ama'zed at the lack of appreciation by me that· newr in his life had he enjoyed the people of North Qu·eensland of the value himself so much. Here are wonderful of the outstanding attractions thev have to opportunities for the entertainment of offer tourists. • tourists in the future. At 12.15 p.m., I have no desire to be parochial in this Mr. SPEAKER resumed the chair. matter but I think I am fortunate in repre­ senting one of the richest and most glorious Mr. THEODORE: He said that one could write a large volunw on the attractions and beauty spots in this State. No district has fail to cover them all. That is quite true. more to offer in this respect than the Innisfail area. Here is a wry attl·active tour that I should like to refer to the methods adopted could very well be deYeloped and no doubt for advertising our beauty spots and showing will be considered by the board in the course to the world what we have in our tourist of its investigation;~a trip from Magnetic resorts. Various little booklets have been I slaucl to Dunk Island across to Mission compiled from time to time, and I haye one Beach and from there to Silkwood, Japoon to \vith me entitled ''The Sunshine Route through Paronella Park and on to Innisfail. I do Queensland to Cairns.'' It is a well-written not think any part of Australia offers a brochure and is a very descriptiYe brochure greater variety of attraction than this o;-te. dealing with places of interest. It says- :\'Tission Beach is a wonderful beach mne '' l<'rom. Tully to Cairns the railway Tuns miles long and \rith plenty of shade. No through interminable seas of cane. What doubt in time it will become a favourite sea· had been incideutnl to onr journey nmY side resort. There are good roads in the becomes all-important. Sugar is king here district now. A trip through Silkwood to over scores of miles of plantations. Beyond ,Tapoon unfolds seems of delightfully Tully the cane farms are interspersed with chano·ing scrubs, according to the nature of magnificent jungle country. Palisades of the "country, with great cane-fields inter­ tall feathery palms surround the clearings spersed between the scrub lands on the road and enclose dense aTeas of virgin wilderness, to Mena Creek. The journey from Mena where Nature reigns in the Tiotous profu­ Creek to Tnnisfail presents a sight that sion and fecundity of tropical growth.'' would amaze you-great cane-fielcls int6:.­ These< booklets, which are compiled from time spercec1 1vith beautiful natural scenery. At to time, certainly give an adequate description Innisfail itself we have the Johnstone River of the places in Queensland, particularly those and I do not think there is any more beautiful of the North. The point I wish to stress is sight on a clear sunny day thim the Johnstone thnt we should endeavour to bring these- book­ Rivm· seen from the balcony of the Exchange lets before the notice of the peopfe. I venture Hotel. People who see these sights for 478 State's Tourist Resources. [ASSEMBLY.] State's Tourist Resources. the first time aTe greatly impressed by them We have Dunk Island; and I think nwst and cannot believe that we have not made people in Queensland know that Mr. Hugo. much greater use of these wonde'rful assets. Brassey spent thousands of pounds there Then there is another splenaid trip from before the wa•r for the purpose of making it Kennedy near Cardwell over the Kirrima a tourist resort. He went to the war and he Range, made possible by the road over the is now back there again, and from what I can range built by the late Percy Pease. gather he is eager to re-establish himself there and make Dunk Island a link in a chain of No other route compares in scenic beauty pleasure resorts. with the Kirrama Range road, from which beautiful panoramic views of HinchiJ:>brook It should not be beyond the bounds of possi­ Channel and its islands are to be obtained. bility to get our tourist resorts established on When that road is connected with the Tully reasonable line'S quickly. I know it is not Falls road one will be able to travel via that possible to go to the extent that we should Toute to Tully falls, which is an attraction like and build great modern up-to-date hotels. in itself. That is out of the question now-for a number of vears it will be impossible to do Then there are the. various beaches all it-but we "can ensure that better facilities within very easy reach of Innisfail, Tully, will be provided. As the hon. member for and Babinda. I do not think that any more Kennedy stated, some of the hotels have not attractive beaches can be found than Bingle even installed septic systems; and he gave Bay, Etty Bay, and Flying Fish Point. When us the reason for that in Home Hill and their attractions become known people will be eager to visit them. They will have easy Ayr. In many other places this facility is not access to the beaches, fishing trips, Paron­ provided. ella Park, or the range roads, where from Mr. Kerr: It is quite easily overcome. vantage points they can see nature in all its ruggedness. Mr. THEODORE: In Innisfail they are The fishing possibilities of North Queens­ planning for the establishment of a seweTage land are well known by those who have system costing £250,000 or £300,000. That visited thB fishing grounds there. The best will make it easier for the business people fishing trip I ever had in my life was in that to provide accommodation for tourists, and part of the State. I have always beBn very will be of great benefit to the people living fond of fishing, but unfortunately I have in that area. had very little time to engage in that form The Barrier Reef is of the greatest import­ of recreation. Once I spent a week-end out ance to the tourist trade. Although there arre from Cardwell among the Family Group of splendid descriptive articles in booklets such islands, including Gould Island, and thence as I have referred to, they cannot adequately on to the Barrier Reef. The greatest thrill I describe its scenic splendours; they have to have had in my life was in pulling in 30- be seen to be believed. I have been out on pound trevally in addition to king fish and the Reef and I know that it is necessary to mackerel. I caught not one but 20 or 30 of be accompanied by men who understand the them. On all the islands in the Hinchinbrook tides so that the Reef can be seen to the best Channel are little atolls or beaches where advantage. When floating ove-r the Barrier you can camp. You can camp at one island Reef at low tide, if one _looks over the side one night and move to another for the of the boat one can see changes of scenery following night. Fishing can be had in like a panorama of some wonder world. plenty at all of them. Unfortunately these Coloured fish that one never dreamed of are places are very little known to the general there in shoals. Special provision should be public, even to the travelling public. It is made to enable people to visit these places. the duty of the Government to do something Once you get a steady :flow of people to these to encourage the men who can give service places of interest those who should provide in developing these various tourist centres. the amenities will be able to improve their In Cardwell there is a fisherman who owns a services. very tine boat, and it is a wonderful experi­ Another important attraction of the N01·th ence to go out with him, particularly for is its wonderful climate. No country in the people who do not really know what fishing world has a better or more bracing climate is. Our ex-Governor, Sir Leslie \V"ilson, than North Queensland during the four or five spent a few days with this man on a fishing winter months. As the hon. member for expedition. He subsequently told me that he Kennedy reminds· me, people living in the had never enjoyed himself so much in his life South who can afford to trll:l'el would be as on that trip. That is just an example. attracted North if they knew of the wonderful We all know what a ~reat enthusiast Sir climatic conditions to be had there. Leslie was for seeing this great State devel­ oped and I feel sure that any help he can I think we have given a fair outline of the give to advertise our attractions will be wonderful attractions and resources we have readily given. We must, however, do some­ in general but there is one matter I should thing ourselves. like to mention before concluding. Mackay I believe that in the survey that is to be and Bowen and some of the towns farther made of our tourist resorts some thought south a

Mr. KERR (Oxley) (12.37 p.m.): At the plane sBrvice that would attract numbers of outset I should like to say that the motion people from the South in particular, because moved by the hon. member for Kennedy and they could then get to the place in a couple seconded by the hon. member for Herbert is of hours. That is an excellent suggestion. very timely and that it is of very great Of course, proper facilities and amenities'must national import. It does not need a great be provided. Those who have already visited deal of imagination to enable one to realise thB place and know conditions obtaining now the large amount of revenue that would flow would not return unless they were extremely to the State from the efficient and capable keen about fishing. · development of the tomist resources of Queensland. A board has been established ~Ir. Jones: Are you suggesting that the State should build the hotels~ and I understand is making investigations at the present time, but up to date. has not made ~Ir. KERR: I suggest that the Govern­ any report, interim or final, for submission to ment might erect them and charge a rent this House but I am sure every hon. member sufficient to cover redemption and interest. is waiting very patiently for it. I submit that suggestion for serious con­ sideration. It would be very interesting to know whether the board has power to go farther Mr. Jones: I think private enterprise is afield than our own State. Other countries sufficiently interested in the worth-while pro­ in the world have developed tourist resorts­ positions. for instance, America and Franc<", particu· larly the Riviera, Cannes and other places lUr. KERR: But it might be many years on the Mediterranean littoral, not forgetting before private enterprise can put up proper the principality of Monaco-and these have buildings to attract more tourists to the ~aken centur.ies to develop and for us to jump centre. I suggest that the reason why mto somethmg and produce results immedi­ adequate facilities are not there now is that ately is quite out of the question. It will be the present proprietor is feeling his way. He a gradual process. The tourist trade can be is not going to spend a lot of money on some· made one of the greatest industries of thing that is problematical. Perhaps it is Australia and I think Queensland off·ers the not developing to the extent that would war­ best opportunities for this but I think we rant his investing more capital, unless the need to make an entirely new app~·oach to facilities for getting to the place are the problem. Governments mnst forget all improved. At present, in order to get to about their hostility to anybody of sufficient Heron Island, it is first necessary to travel enterprise and imagination to do something to Gladstone, and then travel 50 miles across - themselves and help them in every conceivable the water to the island, and that trip does way, not hindering as they have sometimes get rough at times. If an ;airstrip was there done in the past. They must give this enter­ it would mean that people could reach the prise its head and give to those who are island much more quickly and much more eage.r to develop tourist facilities every conveniently, and they would go there in possible encouragement and even actual assist­ greater numbers. ance where it is deemed advisable. In Canada and the U.S.A., in order to encourage the tourist trade, the two I am not going to suggest that these indus­ countries have entered into a reciprocal tries should be subsidised by the Government arrangement. Once every four months· a Cana­ but I have one suggestion to make in con: dian who has been in the States for more nection with Heron Island, which is being than 48 hours may return to Canada without deyeloped by private enterprise. The pro­ paying duty on any goods up to a value of pnetor there must be severely handicapped 100 dollars, and the same applies to an b;v want of capital, and it would be a great American who may wish to return from thing if the Government could erect a residen­ Canada. The goods may include wearing tial there to cater for the tourists of Southern ;apparel, personal effects, household goods, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. alcohol, cigars and cigarettes in certain quan­ 'I'hey could build a hostel there. It need tities. Those concessions probably do not not be licensed; it could be what is known as apply in this country as they apply between a residential hotel. The present set-up is Ame.rica and Canada, but the time will come very primitive indeed, the hutments being when tourists from America will be visiting very poor, but I do not blame the proprietor AustTalia, some to refresh their memories for that. Naturally, he must feel his way, of what they have seen in this country. I but he is building up. The cuisine is very think that the great army of Americans who poor and the service is bad. The fishing how­ were here during the war should be the basis ever, is splendid, but it could be made' much of the greatest advertisement that this country more attractive with proper amenities and has ever known. Unfortunately they have not facilities. At the moment the place is closed had much to take back to their people from because of lack of w.ater, a defect that should the tourist point of view. They would have have been remedied long ago. This does to confine themselves to visits to our city appeal to me as being one case in which the and town areas, probably to endure second­ Government might make somB gesture to help rate rail travel, with little or no air facilities a man who is trying to develop an attractive iand certainly not those facilities that they tourist resort. Heron Island has attracted are able to enjoy in their own country. Those a good deal of attention. angles of the matter should be coverBd and The hon. member for Kennedy suggested I think that for this reason an addition to the making of air st:rips on the islands and a the persoanel of the board might be made- 480 State's 'l'mtrist Resources. [ASSEMBLY.] St<:Lte's Tourist Resources. a man with experience outside this countrv. £4,000 and £:),000 a month in revenue. This And I should riot like to see the investiga­ is merely a flea-bite, and I think that with tions of this board restricted to the State of a proper plan the activities of the bureau Queensland entirely. To get proper ideaH could be developed to an extraordinary the board should go abroad to see what degree. Still, we have a long way to go yet. America is doing, to see the vast tourist fields Om railway facilities are poor, hotel accom· of Europe so that it would be able to bring modation is poor, the cuisines at the resorts hack ideas that could be developed in due are poor and antiquated, and there does not course. appear to be any attempt to cater to any degree for the people coming here. Howe-ver, I think the hon. member for Kennedv in the Government are proceeding along right his description o:f OU'r northern re~orts lines in establishing the Tourist Development stopped at Townsville and the hon. member Board and l trust some good will accrue for Herbert stopped at Innisfail, but I want from it. However, I should like to see the to go to Thursday Island. The Barrier Reef various reports on the subject acted upon runs from about Gladstone up beyond Thurs­ and not simply left to lie on the table. day Island to the coast of New Guiner:. In Between £12,000,000 and £13,000,000 has the islands round Thursday Island we haYe been spent, in conjunction with. the ?omm?n­ some of the most remarkable places to L

ber for Bundaberg, has foresight, and so first and foremost thing to be done before Tecognised it, and therefore the hon. member we get a Barrier Reef tourist trade is to for Kennedy had sufficient nerve or guts to provide accommodation on the islands them­ stand up in this House and tell the Govem­ selves, and the second is that we must im­ ment what they should do. Again, I repeat prove present transport facilities. that I hope the Government will not repri­ Transport to the Barrier Reef islands is mand the mover and seconder of the motion as primitive as it was in the ·days when we when they are in eaucus for upbraiding the went from Brisbane to Gympie by bullock GowTUment for neglecting to move in this YYagon. We must construct landing strips on mattJer. all those islands that will take them. If you Mr. SPEAKER: Order! The hon. know anything about the Barrier Reef coral member is not dealing with the question islands, however, you will know that they before the Chair. are small islands, some 30, some 20 and some J 0 acres in extent. The largest of those coral Mr. J. F. BARNES: The question before islands is North-West Island, J'orth-east of the Chair is the development of the tourist Gladstone; and that is about the nnly island traffic that previous hon. members introdl.ced. on which a landing strip could L·' made to l\Ir. SPEAKER: Order! I ask the hon. land patrons who wish to go thl'' . Sea­ member to confine his remarks to the motion planes could be used on some islands. before the House and discuss the tourist The other form of transport is one of the possibilities of the State. present troubles. The speed of the present boats plying to the islands eould be trebled . .Mr. J. 1<'. BARNES: I can, like other Without these improvements it YYould be hon. members, compliment or not compliment almost impossible to encourage tourist the hon. member for Kennedy for introduc­ traffic to the Barrier Reef from the Austm­ ing this subject. lian States, let aiDne international traffic. Seeing that I haYe only five minutes in At 2.15 p.m., which to speak on this matter, I will not In accordance with Sessional Order, ttw waste any time. I will start at the beginning. House proceeded with Government bnsiness. The beginning of the tourist trade in this State is-one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, HOSPITALS ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. eight and nine-the Barrier Reef. All other attractions are ten, eleven, twelve and so on INITIATION. in turn. \Ve in this State have something Hon. E. M. HANLON (Ithaca): I move- that no other country has, that is the Bar­ ,' That the House will, at its next sitting, rier _Reef. All other matters refe/red to by resolve itself into a Committee of the prev1ous speakers, though they have a bear­ Whole to consider of the desirableness of ing on the motion, are dwarfed by the Bar­ introducing a Bill to amend the Hospitals rier Reef. That is because other countries Acts, 1936 to 1944, in certain particulars." have. similar beauties. and perhaps better­ for mstance, Yellowstone National Park is Motion agreed to. outside the Barrier Reef, superior in beauty CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES BILL. to the tourist attractions named by them_:_ hut the Barrier Reef is the one tourist-trade SECOND READING-RESUMPTION OF DEBATE. attraction that we possess and they do not, Debate resumed from 17 August (see and yet we have ·done nothing about it. How p. 468) on Mr. Gledson 's motiDn- can we go about developing it? Can we '' That the Bill be now read a second adopt the attitude of the Government in ap­ time.'' pointing a board to report and make recom­ mendations on the tourist trade when only Hon. E. l\I. HANLON (Ithaca-Premier) one member of that board has ever been to (2.17 p.m.): Mr. Speaker, I want first of all the Barrier Reef~ How on God's earth ean to congratulate the Attorney-General on the we carry any resolution to approach the introduction of this measure, and also on the Federal Government when the Federal mem­ preparation of it. The measure is one that ?er for Capricornia, the Hon. F. M. F01·de, he promised last session, when dealing with m whose electorate the Capricorn and an amendment of a similar Act. At that Bunker Islands groups are-by the way, the time he informed the House that he was closest groups to Sydney and :Melboume­ giving consideration to a wider Bill to has never been on the reef~ In any case, facilitate the establishment of co-operative he knows nothing about the matter. He is societies to cater for general trade and the one who sent an ichthyologist to America industry. The Bill is an excellent one, it has with a picture of the Barrier Reef produced been prepared with obvious care, all that is by Dr. Tate and Thoral Gunnerson, of Mel­ required for the purpose has been included in bourne, to boost the Barrier Reef tourist it, and it is not cluttered up with unnecessary trade, when they well knew that we had no provisions that would make for the handi­ suitable accommodation there for American capping of its administration. So far I have tourists. Yet we sent that picture to America not heard one piece of adverse criticism at a colossal expenditure to boost the Barrier against the Bill other than the natural Reef trade. \Vhen the tourists come here opposition that certain more conservative where could we put them up~ There is no minds have to any form of co-operative suitable accommodation for them. In other trading. words, we put the cart before the horse. The Government Members: Hear, hear! 1946-R 482 Co-operative Societies Bill_ [ASSEMBLy_] Co-operative Societies Bill-

Mr. HANLON: In the first stage of the of people as a body corporate. These people, Bill opposition speakers suspected all sorts in the event of financial disaste-r to their of evils. It is amazing how the minds of enterprise, are liable to lose only the amount some hon. members opposite run into possible of money they have specifically invested in evils and sinister plans that a Labour Govern­ the ent·erprise. ment have- if they introduce any legislation All the shareholders of a limited-liability calculated to benefit the less well-to-do section company may be still wealthy after the of the community. company has failed a'nd unable to meet its It is also noticeable that the leading de-bts to other sections of the community. speaker against the Bill found no actual fault Every hon. member knows that a person can \\·ith the Bill other than to put up one or be a member of a body corporate that fails t"·o Aunt Sallies, which he- proceeded to and may leave many creditors in other knock over. Actually we propose to enable sections of the- community depriv·ed of their the enb-y of the little people in the com­ money but the shareholders are beyond the munity into trade and commerce. Generally reach of the law because being members of speaking, the conduct of trade- and commerce a· body corporate their other assets are has been in the hands of the wealthier section protected. of the community-the more powerful section Hon. members may suggest that the body ?f the _community. By co-opemtion we make corporate offers a sufficient field for the 1t possible for the poore-r section of the com­ enterprise of the people. A small man, or munity-that section of the community who, a person with limited means may, of course, generally speaking, have been exploited for buy shares-where they are for sale. It is profit by the :vealthier traders in the past­ not always possible- to buy shares of a body to have a say m the manageme-nt and control corporate that you may desire to buy, because of business themselves and supply their own if it is ''a good show'' it is fairly difficult to wants by producing and distributing the persuade people to part witl1 them. However, goods they want; and at the same time if they generally can buy shares in a limited they can conduct their own affairs >~ith liability company. Hon. members may, I efficiency-that has to be borne in mind­ say, suggest that that in itself offe-rs a field to divide the- profits of their enterprise of enterprise for the man of small me-ans, but amongst themselves. we must understand that in a body corporate, a· limited-liability company, the small share­ Of com:se, there is no gainsaying the fact holder has virtually no say in the destiny of that all forms of trade and commerce have the company. A handful of well-to-do :m element of risk in them. shareholders control most of the great 'rhe hon. member for Logan suggested in corporate bodies that tra'de in this country, a round-about way that because it would be and we could imagine that in a corporation poss~ble for the manageme-nt of a co-operati\·e with 1,000 members five wealthy shareholde-rs, tradmg or manufa'cturing concern to fail we if they held between them one more- than should have no co-operatives at alL If that 50 per cent. of the shares, could actually \YCre the f1;ndamental principle of business, dominat-e the control against the wishes of no ent_erpnse would take place. Private the other 995. There- is no denying that, enterpnse has made profits and in manv hon. mt>mbers must admit that that is so, in~tances ver;r large profits, but many therefore in the body corporate money is pnvate-·enterpnse unde-rtakings have failed, the controlling factor and consequently the and to suggest that the possible failure of urge in .the manageme-nt of a body corporate the ma_nagement of a co-operative company is dh·idends at any price. m;ctkes It hazardous for people to enter it is, That is why all Parliaments and all of cou~se, merely creating a reason for Governments throughout the world have- for preventmg them. many years spent a great part of their time Collective trading, apart from co-operative trying to legislate to protect the people from ("Oncerns, can be ca'rried on under two forms. the operations of companies. We have a very People can trade collectively as a corporate fine- Companies Act in this State. It is very body, the ordinary limited-liability company, comprehensive, it is one that was put through or two or more persons can trade as a this House rather quickly at the time, before partnership. But we ~us~ r~cognis~ this the present Labour Government was formed, fact: _that a partnerShip m Itself IS not at a time when debate was not allowe-d on recogmsed by law and members of a these matters by the party then in power. partnership are not protected as are members It was a good Act and it has operated very of a body corporate. For instance, two, well but it still does not protect the small three or ;nore, poorer people- who may band sha;eholders from the domination of the­ togeth~r m. a partnership, with little capital wealthy shareholders in any company. at ~heir disposal, ha've no such protection A co-operative is entirely different. agamst the hazards of finance as is enjoyed Whereas the few wealthy shareholders in a by a corporate body, every partner in a bod.v corporate in fact own and possess the partnership being individually liable to the business, in a co-operative society the people extent of the whole of his assets for any in the society control it because the voting debts that may be incurred by the partn·ership power-under the Bill-is on an equal basis or any losses it may incur. The body irrespective of the- amount of money invested. eorporate has bee-n the sheet-anchor of all In any ease, the amount invested by any lm·ge enterprises in trade and commerce that individual shareholder is strictly limited. The is, a body that may raise a large amol{nt of great difference to the small "people of tile capital through the registration of a number community is that if they enter a co-operative Co-operative Societies Bill_ [19 SEPTEMBER.] Co-operative Societies Bill.

society, even though they have only a £5-share a little better return for his investment when in it, they have exactly the same say in the there was an element of risk attached to it, eontrol of that eo-operative society as the the rate on ordinary gilt-edged securities "·ealthiest shareholder in it, whereas in the \\'ould be sufficient. As it is obvious that there ordinary trading concerns, the limited­ is some risk, we allow a little for it. liability companies, the wealth invested in Mr. P'ie: The more risks you run the the company, not the character and ability greater the return. of the people who go to make up the share­ holders, is the controlling factor. lUr. HANLON: It is what we have laid down in this Bill, but it does not apply to The Government desire to encourage private enterprise. <'a-operation. We believe that the spirit of <'a-operation amongst the people in industry )Ir. Pie: Yes. is very desirable indeed. It is part of the Mr. HANLON: No fear. In bodies platform of the party to which I belong. I corporate in' this country, Great Britain or was thinking of taking proceedings against America generally the greater dividends come the Leader of the Opposition for breach of from th~se who run the least possible risks copyright at an earlier stage of this Bill of loss. "·hen, "·ithout a blush, he announced the lUr. Pie: You mean monopolies. policy of the Labour Party as the policy of the Country Party. I wonder what he is Jir. HANLON: The great private trading companies which by bonus sh:: ·ps and doing sitting over there~ Without a blush, "·ithout any apology, he picks up the Aus­ other methods of capital-watering, probably tralian Labour Party's platform on return 100 per cent. or more on the ori,. inal co-operation, reads it out and announces investment. Not necessarily does the company that this is now the policy of the Country that faces the greatest risk collect the Party. It shows that. after nearly 20 years greatest profit; paradoxically, it is the we have evidently been able to make pro­ opposite. The most securely entrenched gress in the conversion of the hon. gentleman financial institutions in the country are the to the true political faith. ones that return the greatest dividends to investors. So we say that the principle of Some people have said that the co-operative paying in accordance with the risk run is soeiety is the half-way stop on the road to quite a. sound one. It does not operate in Socialiom. If it is a good thing, what harm private enterprise at all. is there in it? Socialism is a. very fine objective. The Labour Party, which is Mr. Nicklin: Co-operatives are not pledged to the socialistic objective, that is, usually concerned with dividend8. the establishment of Socialism, desires to do Mr. HANLON: Their best form of divi­ it in the real democratic British way, by dend is giving more efficient and cheaper education and by propaganda. When a se:rvice to the people, and that is why we majority of the people of this or any other prevent them from becoming mere invest­ democratic country have become convinced ments by limiting the amount of dividend of the soundness of that policy, then nothing they can pay. on this earth can stop them from having it, I should like hon. members to listen to this so that if this party sees any way of adding definition of co-operation, taken from the something to the freedom and prosperity of Encyclopedia Britannica, and see whether the exploited section of the community it there is anything wrong with co-opera.tiY_e never neglects the opportunity of doing it. organisations in the community. The defim­ This Bill on co-operative societies is a step tion is as follows:- in that direction. It is a step in the direction• of enabling the little people, the people who '' Tn its narrowest usage it means a com­ have for so long been the providers of bination of individuals to economise by dividends, to be the sharers of dividends, buying in common, or increase their profits 'IYhich is an entirely different thing. by selling in common. In its widest usage it means the creed that life may best be The hon. member for Logan, when he was ordered not by the competition of indi­ speaking, made a point concerning the Yiduals, where each seeks the interest of element of risk. He said that there was an himself and his family, but by mutual element of risk in trading companies, and help; by each individual consciously strh­ private enterprise was entitled to a return ing for the good of the social body of on its in•·estment in keeping with the risk which he forms part, and the social body incurred. in return caring for each individual: 'each Mr. Hiley: I never said that. for all and all for each' is its accepted motto. Thus it proposes to replace among Mr. HANLON: If it was not the hon. rational and moral beings the struggle for member for Logan who said that, I am sorry, existence by YOluntary combination for life. but I do know that one hon. member opposite More or less imperfectly embodying this did say it. It is one of the points one hon. theory, we have co-operation in the con­ member made and he implied also that share­ C'rete, or 'the co-operative movement,' holders in co-operatives were entitled to some meaning those forms of voluntary associa­ return on their money commensurate with tion where individuals unite for mutual the risks taken. That is quite true, and ai_d in the production of wealth, which the;· ~-e provide in the Bill that a. maximum profit Will devote to common purposes, or share of 2 per cent. above the rate on gilt-edged among them upon principles of equity, securities can be made. If there was no rea son and the common good, agreed upon recognition of the right of an investor to get beforehand.'' 484 Go-operative Societies Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Go-operative Societies Bill.

That is exactly the basis upon which this demand was there. The prices charged by Bill is founded, and I am sure no hon. member many country storekeepers were very high. can iind fault with it. The Committee of Direction found that it could not get any opening in any centrally I wish to have a word or two to say about situated part of any country city or town what hon. members opposite tried to make where it could sell its fruit and so cater for the major reason for the attack upon the the requirements of the people. In some Bill. I refer now to the powers of resump­ cases where the land-holder had actually tion, a very important principle indeed one agreed to sell the premises agreed upon of the major principles of the 'Bill. When between the two parties the sale was can­ did hon. members opposite become so con­ celled when it was found that the land was cerned for the holders of land and business to be sold to the Committee of Direction. that they should seek to stage this attack That was clone after the agreement had been upon this measure~ This is a new phase for entered into. It happened in Rockhampton. them to discover. Exactly the same clause, As soon as it was discovered that the sale word for word, in another measure went was to the Committee of Direction to enable through this Chamber without vhich time objections can be lodged. This enacted the same principle last session. is what is provided:- It is feared that we are going to enable a When compulsorily taking land the Crown co-operative society to rush in and take over must ( l) prepare a plan of the land, (2) a prosperous business somewhere. Did you deposit the plan in the locality of the land, ever hear of a better instance of sham-fight­ ( i:l) publish in the " Gazette " and in a news­ ing than thaH There is not an hon- mem­ paper circulating in the district a notice ber on the opposite side-at least not one gi,·ing- with business knowledge; there may be some (i.) particulars of the proposed resump­ without-who does not know perfectly well tion; that the surest way to destroy a co-operative ( ii.) why it is required; society is to resume a prosperous business. ( iii.) the place where the plan can be If we can obtain land on which a prosperous inspected; business can be established, that is the quickest way to ensure success. (iv.) require any objector to send his objection in writing to a person We will go a little further than thP specified in the notice within :JO ''Courier-Mail,'' which illustrates the acquisi­ days; tion of a prosperous business in Paddington, ( Y.) appoint a time and place for any which in itself is no different from any otli!er objector to appear before the part of the world_ 'l'hBrefore I do not know specified person in support of his why it should take Paddington; what dif­ objection. ference does that make to an Act of Parlia­ In addition a copy of such notice must be ment~ I just want to say that I find the sprved upon every owner and occupier who people of Paddington as honest and as can be ascertained. sincere as any other people. But let us pursue the ''Courier-Mail's'' argument and In addition the proclamation can fi-x the suppose that a co-operative society wanted date from which the land is taken. to resume a prosperous private business in So hon. members will see how shallow is Paddington. It would first of all have to the story about rushing in and prompt!;· eonvincp the Secretary for Public Lands that dispossessing without any notice to the owner it could not get suitable land. There is a lot of a prosperous business. of land in the- shopping centre of Padding­ ton; there are quite- a number of shops in the What happens when these forms have been shopping centre of Paddington used as resi­ gone through and when the owner of tbe dences. business and his customers have had an oppor­ tunity of being heard at the court? Mr. Wanstall interjected. lUr. Pie: What court? Mr_ HANLON: The hon. member must be the legal adviser who adv,ised the Mr. HANLON: They have to lodge their ''Courier-Mail''; I was waiting for him to objections and they have to be heard. come in. (Laughter.) I would advise the Mr. Pie interjected. hon. member to get the advice of counsel. Mr. SPEAKER: Order! A society desirous of acquiring land must convince the Secretary for Public Lands that llir. HANLON: They have to be heard. it cannot get a suitable site by negotiation Mr. Speaker, why is it that a Labour or by agreement. Is it not pretty obvious that Minister must be somebody who cannot be the Secretary for Public Lands is not going trusted, but a twister and a squealer belong­ to be convinced that it cannot get suitable ing to another party is a great fellow~ And land unless he inquirBs into it mul finds that why is it that if a man happens to be an it cannot~ Supposing the Secretar;- for honest >Yorker he cannot be trusted~ What Public Lands is foolish enough to agree to is wrong with the Secretary for Public a co-operative sGciety 's taking over a pros­ Lands? 'l'he Minister is just as honest and perous or any other business, he then has to capable as any member sitting here, or an:· get the Governor in Council to sign the member associated with any party. resumption order_ IUr. Pie interjected. Then we have to look at the rules of the llir. SPEAKER: Order! association. If it wished to take over a prosperous trading concern, is the registrar Mr. HANLON: This idea that because likely to permit it when he knows it will he is a Labour Secretary for Public Lands inevitably lead to disaster W he is not going to be fair-- lUr. Wanstall interjected. 1Ur. Pie: Didn't you say " the court "? Mr. HANLON: The hon. member is )Jr. HANLON: Whichever ]}erson is trying to cover up the wrong advice he gave hearing it; he then bBcomes the court to the ''Courier-Mail.'' Upon the resumption which representation is made. of land at Paddington npon which a pros- Mr. Pie: You said "the court". 486 Co-ope·rative Societies Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Co-operative Societies Bill.

.Mr. HANLON: He becomes the court to by private enterprise in many cases. We are >~-hieh representation is made. glad to see that movement develop. I would remind hon. members that the growth of the Mr. SPEAKER: Order! The hon. co-operatives in England and America was member for Windsor must not disregard my brought about by the dissatisfaction with call to order any further. the services that p·aople were receiving from private enterprise in those countries. In Mr. PIE: I rise to a point of order. The PrE'mier said, ' 'the court.'' I wanted those countries the· growth of the co-operative to clear up that matter. movement has not only givan a' better service to tha people through the co-operatives but Mr. SPEAKER: Order! compelled private enterprise to give better and more efficient service. If it did not it Mr. HANLON: Then comes the matter would be eaten up by more aDd more of compensation. What is involved in com­ co-operatives. pensation for land resumed by the Crown­ the improYement on the land, the buildings The strengt~ of the co-operative moYament and other assets erected on the land~ Then in Britain 1S shown by the following eomes compensation for displacement, for particulars: Last year its trade amounted to disturbance. Then there is injury done to £350,000,000 and it had 9,000,000 members; the displaced person by the dispossession­ in other words, 25 per cent. of the population and the injury done to the displaced person of Great Britain are members of eo-opera­ in l'Onnection with a prosperous business will tions. The Co-operative Wholesale Society be Yery heavy, and the court would be bound in Englancl-and I went through its establish­ to award compensation accordingly. The ment in London when I was there during the displaced person having been compensated last war and I was amazed at its development for the loss he had incurred by the taking then and it has developed at an even faster from him of the prosperous business the rate since-is now manufacturing clothing, displaced person could open up on his' own furniture, pianos, radio sets, wringing good will in the vicinity and carry on a machines, cigarettes, tobacco, pottery, food­ business against the eo-operative store >vith stuffs, cosmetics, soap, medicinal preparations, the aid of the free capital the eo-operative leather goods, jute goods, brushware, floor­ society had been compelled to give him. cloth, tinware, electric lamps, and many other things. These are manufactmed hy Mr. Wanstall: Where would you get the that eo-operative society for distribution site in the vicinity~ among the retail co-operatives.

Mr. HANLON: Where the co-operative In the United States there are more than society would get it if it was not so foolish 30,000 co-operative organisations, mostly as to resnme the prosperous business. run by producers, with 5,000,000 members This is the position: if a co-operative and doing an annual business of 4 billion society takes over an efficiently-run prosperous dollars. A recent d·avelopment is a co-opera­ business-a'nd a prosperous business would tive oil-producing concern and a co-operative hava to be fairly efficiently managed-it has oil-refining concern. Ima'gine the little people to put in all the capital that that business getting into the oil industry, which was once is worth and then its members are backing the soJa preserve of the millionaires! These themselves to be more efficient and to be oil co-operative societies own among them able to conduct the affairs of the business 364 producing wells, 867 miles of pipe line, more efficiently than the private owner was and 10 refinerie·s. I was informed recently ea'pable of doing, otherwise they must lose. that co-operatives in Australia are now To suggest that any co-operative society procuring lubricating oil from American would ~e so stupid as. to take over a prosper­ eo-operative producers. At the outbreaK of ous gomg concern 1s merely one of the war the co-operative oil producers were Aunt Sallies hon. members opposite put up. supplying petroleum to Belgium, Holland, The hon. members for Windsor and Logan Scotland, Esthonia, and France. know perfectly well that no co-op·er9tive concern would endeavour to take over the The fact that co-operatives have been able resumption of the land on which a prosparous to invade the field of the production, refining business was established because if they did and distribution of oil is indicativ·e of how the amount of compt'nsation they would have powerful this movement can become. That to pay \YOuld immediately preclude any was a field that had been confined to the prospects of their making a success of their great capitalists. So ruthless were the com­ enterprise. bines that held that industry to themselv<>s in their profit-seeking that they made the So fa'r co-operation in Queensland has been opportunity for eo-operatives to enter that almost entirely primary producers' eo-opera­ field. The huge profits they demanded were tion. There are round a bout 200 associa'tione the incentive that forced the little people in the State and these associations are turning into getting control of some form of oil­ more and more towards the extension of the production through the co-operative mo.-e­ co-operative side of their business to the ment. provision of their own requirements. In the past their efforts have been in the direction In Brisbane we have one splendid example of marketing their products but now they of a co-operative society, which commenced are looking for means to supply their own with 85 members and a capital of £514. It requirements because they are not satisfied now has 8,000 members and a resene of with the way in which they a're being supplied £140,000. The sales in 1921 were £9,90C•, and Co-operative Societies Bill. [19 SEPTEMBER.] Co-operative Societies Bill. 487 in 1941 £100,000. This society has paid sale merchants-with the result that a num­ £335,000 in Tebates to shareholders on pur­ ber of the wholesale merchants have gone chases in that period. out of business in Brisbane. If hon. members opposite read the daily In the same way quite a number of manu­ Press carefully, they will see that co-opera­ facturers use a kind of co-operative enter­ tive organisation is the coming thing of these prise to supply their requirements. An enter­ post-vvar days. Before and during the war prise that requires quite a number of dis-tinct we l1eard much about a new social orcler that articles to produce the commodity it manu­ must come if we W'"'e going to justify the factures will often set about obtaining an sacrifices made by our people, and one of interest in the companies that manufacture the directions in which the new social order those articles so that it will not be without is rapidly taking shape is co-operative pro­ some control of the source of supplies. A duction, co-operative distribution and co­ manufacturer knows perfectly well that unless operative selling. "\Ve see that occurring he protects himself private enterprise, which everyvvhere. If you read the daily Press you is the source of his supply, will rob and will see that there hav·e been meetings of crush him if it gets the opportunity. T~e people interested in the eo-operative mow­ tendE'ncy in secondary ind1astries today lS ment in the great citiE's of the world. either through investments or arrangements with other people to get a sufficient control (Time, on the motion of 1\Ir. l<'arrell, over the means of production to protect the n:t.·nded.) industry from co-priv~te enterpris_es. T~at is the tendency of pnvate enterpnse, wlneh ~Jr. HANLON: I thank the mover and hon. members for the courtesy extended to >rants to keep its business secure and pros­ me. I have not a grE'at dE'al more to say, perous. but I wish to point out to hon. members that vVe have, I say, an excellent ex~mpl_e from in this post-war period the co-operatiw the people who object to co-operatwn m that movement is growing and swelling every day. they themselves have used the method of In the little town of Emerald, in Central eo-operation where they could. Queensland, the people became dissatisfied I do not think there is much more for me with the service they were getting, so last to !'ay and I congratulate the Attorney­ y1::ar tlwy formed a co-operative society to General on the splendid measure he has pre­ take over a general store. They then acquired parE'd. If there is any r_onstructh:e thought a bakery, and they are now expanding their that hon. members oppos1te can gtve . to the capital with a view to going in for a com­ measure we shall be glad to ha•·e then _sug­ munity hotel, restaurant, butchery, and the gestions when the Bill is in th~ Com:m!tee local engineering works and gaTage--which stage. But, Mr. Spe~ker, there _1s a di~tmc­ shows how, once they have a taste of the re­ tion between constrnchve suggest10ns des1gned sults of carefully managed co-operative to help the object of this measure-that of enterprise, the people wish to extend it. If co-operation-and amendments calculated to hon. members read the daily Press, too, they make the co-operative movement unworkable. will see the great growth of the movemE'nt, There are some amendments that might be of the union of co-operative socipties, of the calculated to hinder the establishment of great co-operative wholesale society that has co-operatives and for them we shall keep_ a been started hilre, of the co-operative sharp look-out. Hon. members oppos~te societies that are springing up in ever~· great include a number of men with commerctal 1 city in Australia and in the small centres­ experience and when th e vano:1s· c ause~ of this is most encouraging-throughout Aus­ the Bill are being considered m Comm1ttee tralia. We can foresee just as great a de­ T am wre the Attorney-General will be glarl velopment in the co-opeTative movement in to have suggestions of help. Austmlia in the next decade or so as took place during the boom in the eo-operative lUr. PIE (Windsor) (3.3 p.m.): I have movement in England and Scotland. listened with a good deal of mterest to what the Premier has had to say and I feel that The only obj-eetion to co-operative we do know a little more about the Govern­ societies is that made by people who always ment's thoughts on this subject. I gathered use co-operation themselves at every avail­ verv el0arlv from his speech that the State able opportunity. We had a splendid Go~ernment have now thrown Soc_i~lism over­ example of that from the retailers of Bris­ board and are making the s~u1t ?f co­ bane some years ago, who, when they found operation one of the main planks m then plat­ that the wholesaie merchants in Brisbane form. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, the little red weTe exploiting them to a greater extent than book entitled "Socialism at Work" has been their services justified, formed their own eo­ dumped overboard and in its place they have operative wholesale society. adopted the colours of the Opp?s~tion and Mr. Pie: That was during the war. written in a blue book the sp1nt of co­ opeTation, whieh we on this side of the House Mr. HANLON: No, it was before the have always expounded very f_ully. I do fe~l war; it was subsequent to the last war. -and I must refer to it agam, becaus(' th1s Several co-operative wholesale companies little red book is so beautifully bound and were formed, not exactly in the sense of the issued with the compliments of T. J. Ryan­ co-operatives envisaged by th;is Bill-they that Labour has now realised that the old were strictly trading corporations, but the flays have gone and they have to get rid of shares were all held by storekeepers who de­ the little book. They do not use a red hook sired to protect themselves from the whole- now but have adopted a blue book. I can 488 Co-operative Sociexies Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Co-operative Societies Bill.

assure eYery member of this House that so "It is felt that your· Government wi. far as co-operation is concerned he YYil! get r1esiTe to hear the Yiews of representative a full measure of help from members on this bodies. side of the House-that measure of help it ''Under the circumstances we woulil so Ticl1ly desenes·. It is good to know that Tespectfully ask that further consideration Labour has at last dumped overboard its of the Bill by Parliament be deferred until main plank of Socialism. the Chamber and/or other organisations The more this Bi]] is discussed the moTe may haYe an opportunity of preparing a \Ye realise-it is Yery dear in my mind­ statement on the various matters coYered that in its present foTm it is not likely to by the proposed legislation. help the co-opeTatiYe moYement. The Leader ''Your sympathetic consideration of o::r of the Opposition and the hon. member foT Logan in their speeches both stripped the requests will be appreciated.'' Bill of all its pretensions to help and furtheT ~Ir. J<'arreU: Who is that from? aiel co-operation. They showed that it had very little in it that was not incorpomted ~Ir. PH;: From the Chamber of Manu­ in otheT measures that have aln•ady been f:actures. No letter was sent by the G'hamber he fore the House. If the Bill is not really of Commerce as stated by the Premier, yet for the purpose that the GoveTnment intend, the Premier got up in this House and made that is, for the development of eo-operation, the statemen1~ that hon. members on this side why elaborate it in such detail~ I say there were the mouthpiece of the Chamber of Com­ is something else behind the BilL I charge merce. So far as I am concerned, I >vill he the Government, just as the Premier yester­ the mouthpiece of any person to expose any­ da~- charged the hon. member for Logan, with thing that is wrong. trying backdoor methods to achieYe some­ The Bill yyould lead one to believe that thing that he would not dare to do out in eo-operative firms desperately need help in the open. However, owing to the alertness their movement. 1 say they do not need of the Opposition, a]] the undesirable aspects help. The co-operative movement, on the of the Bill have already been well publicised Premier's own argument, needs help from no­ and will continue to be publicised. I feel one in its development. He pointed out that that the Government are dismayed and pro­ the Poultry Farmers' Co-operative Society bably a little angered-as displayed by the Ltd. had il;·creased in membership from a few Premier yesteTday-that the people should be hundreds to 7,036 and that its turnover had taking such an interest in the Bill, which gone up to £651,885 and that its rebates purports to develop co-operation. to date were £310,000. Yet he asked us to Tlo the Government want to aYoid all beliew that co-opemtive societies in this explanation that they try to msh the Bill State still need protection! quickly through the House in the way they are doing~ Yesterday the Premier accused That is entirely wrong. The movement, the hon. member for Logan of being the under proper management-I stress that mouthpiece of the Chamber of Commerce. So heeause no business can function without that far as this side of the House is concerned, impoTtant faetor-does not need t~e_ pro­ we are the mouthpiece of the people of tection of any Government. Its cond1tton at Queensland and so far as I am concerned the wesent time is such that it does not personally you would be surprised to know \Yanant their assistance. that again and again union people are coming The Bill by and large, as I say, is to me to bring matters up :against the GoYem­ unimaginath·e and the Government do not ment who are supposed to represent them seem fo haYe leamed anything from British in this House. The Premier said that we were and Swedish co-opemtiYe movements. If they the mouthpiece for the Chamber of Com­ ha Ye there is nothing in this Bill to suggest merce but I should say, judging by it. 'The Bill defines a co-operative society. the legislation that went through this It defines its activities. It specifies what a House, p:nticularly the Liqnor Acts society can do in carrying out those activities. Amendment Act, that we are justified in It limits a society's liability but gives only sa3·ing that hon. members on the other side qualified power, as pointed out by my learned of the House an· the mouthpiece for the friend, the hon_ membE'r for Logan, for the liquor interests. I say that quite emphati­ "ithdrawal of capital. That is most cally and it was proved in the Bill that \YCnt important. In general co-operative societies through the Honse. can and do cany on business--fundamentally, The letter mentioned hv the Premier did pradieally-the same as an ordinary private not come from the Chamber of Commerce. l t citizen or private company. Under this Bill is a Yery decent letter sent to the Attorney­ a company can change into a co-operative General and it reads- eompany and then later on, when it '' My council, which met this afternoon, aeqniTe" premises, change back into :ilD had before it a copy of the Co-operath-e ordinary company. That might prove very Rocieties BilL My members were impressed conYenient in its transition period to enabho with the comprehensive ambit of the mea­ it to get rid of a very active competitor in sure and the variety of points covered. certain premises. Tt could acquire a growing ''This Bill is of extreme importance to competitor; I shall prove how it could do so the business community generally and it is as I go along. the opinion of my council that Yery careful I was interested to learn from the Attorney­ consideration should be given to every General about profit-sharing under this Bill. aspect. We had a great deal of talk about it in the Go-operative Societies Bill. (19 SEPTEMBER.) Go-opemtive Societies Bill. 489

Lieutenant-Governor's Speech. I have been JUr. PIE: I apologise. I did not intend through the Bill very carefully, and I see no it to be a reflection on '' Hansa1·d. '' I never provision in it fcrr profit-sharing. It is con­ want that. I will say that I have found spicuous by its absence. Profit-sharing, as l after experience that it certainly suits me know it, is different from th.J.i very narro>v to have copious notes because I do not want tvrm contemplated in this Bill. This Bill onlv any of my words twisted in any way-not provides for a limited bonus payment t'o h:· '' Hansard'' and not by you, :Mr. Speaker, employees proportionate to the payments that but by certain people in this Parliament. are made to members of the society. As l was saying this Bill has nothing new iUr. Turner: That is important, too. in it. It does n~t give the people in the eo-operative movement what they are looking lUr. PIE: They are not members of the for. There is contained in the Bill an enor­ soeiety. As pointed out by the hon. membe1· mous power-an unlimited power that, in m~­ for Logan yesterday, no-one under the age opinion, can spell the ruination of many, of 1. 6 years ~an share in the profits of a many businesses tha.t have been built up particular busmess. If that is the Govern­ over a period of many, many :·ear:>. I am ment's idea of real profit-sharing, then the iT not sugges·ting that this power would lw cla1m to represent the workers in regard to arbitrarily used against the people, bnt the profit-sharing is just a hypocritical sham. power is enormous and once it is on the The Bill in its present fo•rm is onlv a statute-hook J can see that it could lJe usPtl rehash of existing legislation. It does little -not particularly by this Government bnt to extmd the activities of co-operative by any Government in power-to ruin any societ.ies a~d does nothing to give them any progressive business that got in the way of practical ~1d.. The only important provision, a rapidly developing co-operative society .. I as I see It, lS they are permitted to extend say that this Bill does wry definitely glVe their sharcholding capital to £300 and the power to acquire property. In the course dividend is limited to round abdut 2 rer of the rlebate it was made very clear by the cent. above loan rates. Attorney-General that it also gave power :o acquire businesses; but he was wrong: 1n lir. JESSON: Mr. Speaker, I rise to a that although he said it and I cross-examnwd point of order. Is the hon. member for him' about it. The Pnmier supported him Windsor entitled to read his speech? He is in it and said it did give the power to just turning his pages over one after the acquire businesses; and that is the record in other. '' Hansard.'' But the Bill as outlined givPs no power whatsoever to acquire business,s, Mr. SPEAKER: Order! No hon. but it gives a far greater power-~he po>yer member is entitled to read his speech. Some to acquire property. I say. there 1s noth;ng years ago it was laid down however that to pren'nt a stooge soclC'ty from . bemg the Premier or a Minister of' the Orow~ who fonned of seven shareholdprs anrl lJnngmg had an important statemPnt to deliver could in capital and then acquiring the propertv of read it. At the same time all hon. members a firm doing quite a goofl business. who want to refresh their memories are entitled to refer to copious notes. I ask the I will c'laboratc on that. Suppose that a hon. member not to read his speech-- co-operative society running . a chain-store m·ganisation wanted to acqmre a grocer:· JUr. PIE: I am not reading it. business in Paddington-I take the same suhurb mentioned b:· the Premier-and that lUr. SPEAKER: Order! Because the grocer:· bttsiness was the bmimss of P: .t · practice in this and other Parliaments is Hanlon, which is one of the most dfie1ent that speeches must. not be read, for the simple arocery businesses in Queensland. Say, for reason that readmg speeches destroys the instance it went along and said, ''"'We will natUTal art of speaking in an Assembly. nefjt~ire 'this fm and hr the public good.'' Members have the right to refer to copious notes. What is to stop it from acquiring the business~ It is a hypothetical case, but iUr. PIE: Tha~k you. For my own pro­ there is nothing in the Act to say it cannot t ectwn I should hke to say that the basis of do it. The Premier said, ''Oh, well, we my speech is here; you can ha.ve it after­ would not do that,'' but this Government wards, Mr. Speaker, and if you can s·ee any may not be always in power, and t~at pow?r resemblance of it in my actual '' Hansard'' to acquire the property of any busmess w1rl SIJeech you are a better detective than I am. be on the statute-book. It is dangerous to make a spee~h without copious notes because your words are twisted Let us go a little bit further. I am not to suit the feelings of the Government. particularlY interested in any person or firm here but ·I very heartily congratulate the 1Ur. llioore: That is a dirty reflection Poultry Farmers' Co-operative Society on its of '' Hansard.'' dewlopment. It is ~bvious to a.nyone that Mr. SPEAKER: Order! That is a grav9 it has growing-pains m that particular area. re·fiection on '' Hansard'' and the Speaker, It has expanded far beyond the original ~de~. who is in charge of '' Han.sard.'' This There is no question about that, and It IS matter was fully ventilated a few weeks ago. Gbvious that it wants to acquire land in that I thought we had cleared up any point at particular area, hut the properties in that issue finally and I think the hon. member for area arc very >Yell held, in other words, the Windsor should apologise to the Chair for firms there l{aw been there for years--Addis those remarks. Bros., Fole;- Bros., Denham Bros., and the 490 Co-operative Societies Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Co-operative SocietieB Bill. hotel un the corner have been there for 50 Let us analyse that romance up in West ?\rare­ years. The businesses have been theirs for ton that the Attorney-Gener~al woke li[J and generations. 'rhey are their life-blood. Roma developed one morning, like the man who :Street is the locality for produce merchants, developed an idea 100 years ago. Let us n nd these firms are right there. These analyse his romance of a co-operative in lll'GJlli ses a re very well held, and the owne1·s \Vest Moreton. It is interesting to note that would not sell them, in most instances at the co-opcratiYe in \Vest Moreton started 30 any price. At the beginning of that block years ago. The Attorney-General told t~1is stnnds Mutual Traders, another very success­ House, wrongly I say, how private enterpnse ful firm, of which I think the Premier's had downed these people, how priv:ate enter­ ln·other wns ehni1·m:m of directors last YCrtr. pri~e would not supply them with goods, how There i' nothing to prevent the Poirltry they had to pay retail prices, how priya te Farmers· organisation from putting up a enterprise had killed this great show up in ease to acquire all these premises in that \Vest Moreton. It struck a chord in my area for any purpose, provided it is of publi\.: memory-it is a long while ago-so I loolred interest. The hon. member for Logan made back through the papers and found that the it very dear that that was a term very Attorney-General's sho'Y at West ;\foreton difficult to define-the acquiring of property had caught me for £30 or £40. That is how of public interest. I cannot make head or good it was. When I went through the tnil of it. But if that society wanted to reports I found that this great West ;\foreton :Jcquire these premises in that particular area show was helped very materially by it could build up a case as to why it should private enterprise, because its accumulated <·ompulsorily take these premises, which might losses at 29 September, 1934, were £6,340, yet have been in the hands of one particular firm privatt> enterprise, this despised private enter­ for 50 or 60 years, and so get rid of its prise that grinds the workers down, carried competitors in its own class of trade. I am it on, gave it extensions of time. The mem­ not hitting at this society particularly; I am bers eventually found it h:ard to meet their merely using it as a hypothetical case to commitments and then worked under· show what could happen. private extensions with their creditors. For The Go;-ernment should go into this current-purchase cases trading is done on question ;-ery fully. There is no appeal from seven days' terms. any decision in that respect. The firm whose .lllr. ~foore: What were the conditions property is resumed has not even an appeal on which private enterprise carried them on~ a12·ainst the compensation allotted to it for its business, which might have been the life­ .Mr. PIE: I will give all details. T11ey blood of the o\yners for generations, but that eYentuallv found it hard to meet their com­ is the power contained in the Bill. Compen­ mitment~ and worked under private exten­ sation is fixril by the court, but it might not sions with their creditors. For current­ l•e sufficient compensation in the opinion of purchase cases trade was done on seven days' the man who has built up the business over terms, the payments being regarded as satis­ n 1if etimc. factory, but where credit had been granted There is another point, particularly at this on monthly terms the account was often very time. If these buildings are resumed, where slow, and it was found that the extension :ne these produce merchants to re-establish account was being only slowly reduced. their businesses! Are there any more Roma Mr. Moo re: What was the interest streets where they could put up their build­ charged? ings? And then what about the difficulties of building today? Are they not very ~Ir. PIE: The bank rate of interest. apparent~ 'rhe situation of a firm's premises The old liabilities are still undischarged. The is a very g·reat part of its goodwill, particu­ great show about which the Attorney-General larly if it has been established for a number dreamt, the great show that meant the ful­ of ;·ears. filment of his dreams, failed because of bad I will not go right through the Bill management, not because of its being a tedmically, beca nse I am not fully qualified eo-operative soriety. I happen to know ":ho to do that job. My friend the hon. member those managers were. I had lost money 'nth for Logan has dealt with it from the company them when it was real money to me, when it point of view, and my friend the hon. member meant a lot. I went up to scr the West for Toowong can do it from the legal point Moreton show and I know clearly that the of Yiew. The Leader of the Opposition has non-success of th::rt husineFs was due to bad clone it 1·ery cffectiwly from the practical management. I say emphatically that the crPditors carried that business on for years point of Yiew. The~e hon. members haYe pointed out the weaknesses in the Bill, and to give it every chance. .. I can assure the Premier that when it comes I have the half-ycarl:v report and balance­ to the Committee stage, if our amendments, sheets of this show. The 1924 balance-sheet hased on the solid foundation of fact and disclosed that the compan)' >;;as perfectly sol­ knowledge, arc accepted, by the time the vent and with proper management shonld haYe Bill is reported back it will not be recognised. been one of the best co-operative societies The Attornev~General said that the in this State, but less than J 0 years later it eo-operative movEml'ent h:as been very success­ \Yent broke, owing its creditors £6.300, anrl ful in the past. To use his own words, he the Attorney~General has the :mdneity to get said that the advance that has been made up in this House and say that private enter­ in the co-operatiYe movement in the State prise did not

illr. PIE: He admitted yesterday that amount to over £9,400. Continuing, a show he was in the show but I cannot see his name with £35,000 turnover has credit sales of among the directors. He is not shown as a £13,500. dircctOT. At 3.34 p.m., The Attorney-General made a very important Mr. DEVRIES (Gregory) relieved Mr. statement to my way of thinking yesterday Spenker in thE\ chair. when he said that the co-operative movement could go in for the manufacture of farm lUr. PIE: Do not criticise country atores machinery. Now, Sir, I want to advise him in relation to the co-operative movement against doing that. The manufacture of hecause they perform an effective function farm machinery is confined in the main in iu towns where seasonal conditions .exist. this country and virtually throughout the I do not know whether the co-operative world to such firms as The Inter­ movement is intended to give extended credit llational Harvest·er Co., Massey Harris and a·s country stor,ekeepers do. It is not a H. V. McKay, which have tremendous co-operative policy, but it is an essential organisations. They have research depart­ policy within our community. In some of our ments in Chicago, ca·nada and out here in dry areas the local storekeeper has to carry Australia at Geelong and Sunshine, and it the farmer and other people on from season "·ould ha impossible for any small co-operative to season. The co-operati,·c movement does movement to compete against those people. not intend to do that. Let me illustrate one case-the cotton-picker. How do you know? The International Harvester Co. experimented Tlie Premier: for 15 to 20 years before it got a· suitable lllr. PIE: I do not know. cotton-picker. Now it has one. I say emphatically that the co-operative movement lllr. Nicklin: They do give credit. cannot hope to do that sort of thing. lUr. PIE: They do give credit? Do they Generally speaking, the co-operative mo,·e­ give extended credit and carry over debtors ment will be confined, more or less, to the from season to season as the storekeepers distribution side of the business. 'rhere is do~ N o-oue can say that the country store­ one thing that I should like hon. members of keeper is not giving a Yery important service. this House to know and that is that the co-operative movement might not be so I haYe looked through the Bill and I have inevitable. I have with me a statement bv sought in vain for the provisions that would the "New South \Vales Storeke2per," which give help ancl encouragement to the co­ reads:- operative mo-.·cment generally. I cannot but believe that there must he some other thought '' The New South vYales 'Government that does not appear on the surface of the Ga:&ette' of June 21 contained a list of Bill. On the speech by the Leader of the nearly a hundred co-operative societies due Opposition and from the analysis of the Bill to be struck off the register in Septem­ by the hon. member for Logan exposing the her.... " shortcomings and faults of the measure, It will be seen that 100 co-operative obviously its purpose is not for the general societies are about to be struck off the good and development of co-operation register in New South vVales, which proves throughout the State. Can this Bill be the that in those industries there must ha,·.e been result of pressure from certain groups to bad management. Ovar 100 in Australia' are give power to acquire certain buildings in due to be struck off the list unless they ran Brisbane and in other parts in order that show just cause to the contrary! they may develop their businesses co-opera­ tively! Does it mean also that eertain pres­ ~Ir. Turner: That justifies the Act. sure is being brought to bear to take acti•m Mr. PIE: The New South Wales Act. to convert privately-owned sugar mills· to 'l'he hon. member can look at this publication co-operative enterprise? That \YOnld be pos­ afterwards. It is clear that in New South sible under the Bill. If that is the intention Wales at least 100 are not fit to carry on of the Government, then surely now is the a'nd the main reason is bad management time to come out into the open and tell the within the organisations. House "'hy it is being done. There is no other reason as far as we can see in the Bill. I do not intend to delay the House any I hope that before it becomes la"· the Govern­ longer. I should have liked to give some ment will accept many amendments that we information in regard to the more or less propose to whmit in the Committee stage. general principles of tax, which although outside the scope of the Bill is interesting. .Mr. 'l'URNER (Kelvin Grove) (:~.37 The Premier made quite a story about a p.m.) : Prior to the last elections the ex­ '' show'' established at I~merald and I quite Premier, the Hon. }'. A. Cooper, in address­ ngree tha:'t it might be a ''good show'' but inG' a puhlic meeting·, said that. he believed every man who represents a country con­ th;t every home in Queensland, especially in stituency knows that one of the things to the Central \Vest, the North \Vest and the be done by a successful storekeeper is to North, should be supplied with a refrigerator: give credit. I have some information on VVhen that idea became popular because .of that point. In one little business at Gympie its humane appeal, hon. mfmbers oppos1tr doing an annual turnover of £190,000 the saw that there was a great deal of political annual credit sales amount to £114,000. kudos to be gained from it and ~o they t?o Particulars from another show that of an became the advocates for a refngerator m a1mual turnovH of £135,000 a. year credit sales every home. Then when the elections came 492 Go-opemtive Societies Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Go-operative Societies Bill.

along there was a squabble about who was apple season they threw out these obsolete the first with the idea. 'fhe same can Le machines and replaced them with the Ganaca said of this Bill. The very people "·ho in machine. In addition they installed several the past had given no serious consideration other similar types of peeling and coring "·llatever to the subject of co-operation are machines to handle that season's crop. That now the great advocates of it, especially is the truth of the position. Had the Govern­ since the Lieutenant-Governor delivered his of the day, whose representatives are the Opening Speech in Parliament. Ol•l·Osition of today, been as co-operatively The JJCOple of the State had waited with mindecl as they now claim to Le, there would <·onsiderable interest and curiosity for this be no need for the fruit-growers to expend mf'asure, and it came as a great surprise 1o £300,000 on the construction and equipment me to hear the Leader of the Opposition say of a modern factory to treat their products, that co-operation was a plank of the Country )Jrineipally pineapples, for they could have Party's platform. It is a strange thing that sold the btate Cannery to the fruit-growers in the period 1929-32 when their Governmrnt for £32,000. As a result of their lack of sym­ "·ere in power they should have allowecl the pathy the fruit-growers are now compelled State cannery to be given away without one to expend £300,000 on a similar type of fac­ word of protest. That organisation was made tory and in addition must wait another season possible by a Labour Government to enable lJefore that factory can treat their products. the farmers to process their products for Na;,•t:v insinuations have been made by which there was not otherwise an adequate the Queensland People's Party about market. In short, it was set up to process sinister motives behind this Bill. If surplus fruit. If hon. members opposite tlwse people were quite hono.urable and ''ere snch strong advocates of co-operation, honest themselves and judged the people why did they not then organise the pineapple­ by those standards, instead of their own growers into a co-operative society with the standards, they would Le doing more good object of processing surplus pineapples for the community generally and the people instead of allowing this great concern, the would take more notice of them. I have come State cannery, to go to private _enterprise, in contact outside this House with people which is the real enemy of the prrmary pro­ associated with co-operative societies and the ducers? \Vhy clicl they not form a co-operative movement generally. They welcome this Bill. society and conduct the State cannery They have looked forward to its introduc­ on co-operative lines~ Had they done that, tion for many years. Now that it has been they would have done some good, and then brought down they are eager to see what it perhaps they could have laid some claim. to contains. The hon. member for Windsor said being in sympathy ·with the co,operative it was possible for seven persons to form movement generally. That cannery was estab­ themselves into a co-operative society and lished by the previous Labour C:overnm~?t. then go along and acquire a prosperous busi­ It was a cannery that was eqmpped w1th ness under this Bill. How utterly ridiculous modern machinery. that is! This Bill limits the shareholding of any one person to 300 shares. If seven ~Ir. Nicklin: You cannot say that. individuals bought the maximum number of Mr. TURNER: The Leader of the shares each they would be investing only Opposition says I cann~t say that. I said in £2,100. What business could £2,100 buy~ It this House on a previous occaswn, and I is trnlv ridiculous. Could one offer a more repeat it, that whPn the :M:oore Government stupid ·argument than that~ sold or, rather, gave the State Cannery away The arguments of the members of the for £32,000-this fact cannot be repeated Liberal Party on this BilJ. are identical with too often-there were £36,000 worth of the arguments put forward by their mf'mbers manufactured jam and pulp in the factory, in the Federal House on the Federal Bank­ in addition to the value of the building and ing Bill. They then offered the opinion that machinerv. What did the purchasers do~ The the Government was conferring power on State C~nnerv ·had the most modern pine­ someone to take over private banking a.pple-peeling ·and -coring machine in the institutions. 'vorld. The Leader of the Opposition can laugh. There is no such thing in the Bill at all. There are three reasons why it would not be Jir. JESSON: lVIr. Speaker, I should like proper for the Government to do such a thing. to ·draw your attention to the fact that no First of all, it would not be honest and member o.f th~ Queensland People's Party is honourable to take over the banks because in his place in the House and there is no the shares are owned by private people, and quorum. no Government can justify taking something from a private person without some compensa­ Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: The hon. tion; and the Government would not-as the member for Kelvin Grove! Premier said-have enough money to com­ J\Ir. TURNER: That machine was called pensate them without reducing the number the Ganaca machine. It was then, and still employed and enslaving the people already is, the most modEl'nly equipped pineapple­ employed. peeling and coring machine available. The The Premier used much of the information State cannery had five of these machines. I had prepared for use on this Bill. I am glad When privatB enterprise took the factory to see the great growth of the CO·-operative over it stored these machines and replaced moveme·nt in this State. Recently I had them with-I cannot say the most obsolete­ a visit from a friend at Ayr, who is acting a very obsolete kind of machine. Next pine- as secretary of a very active co-operative Co-operative Socie;ties Bill- [19 SEPTEMBER.) Co-operative Societies Bill. 493

society in that area. Already the Proserpine of representatives of the political party now and Bowcn traders have set themselvc'S up as claiming to be sympathetic to the fostering a traders' association. They were forced into of the co-operative movement! <1oing something for themselves in this way Among these establishments is the one of just as many small traders in Brisbane were which the Premier spoke so highly. I have over the last 20 or 30 years. There are in no desire to go oYer the ground covered by Brisbane now the Country Traders, Whole­ the hon. gentleman, but I would point out sale Traders and Merchants Limited, the share­ their turnover ·was-- holders of which were small men who were £ being penalised by the wholesale merchants. 1922 9,920 If a man had a turnover of £10,000 a week 1928 83,472 and required 25 cases of jam each week he 1929 109,075 would get a greater discount than the small 1930 104,240 trader who took only five cases of jam; con­ 1931 91,002 sequently the former made a larger profit OT was table to undercut the small trader. At That was the year when the Government in last the small traders wokP up and formed office consisted of representatives of the themselves into little groups, and six peopl~, present Opposition, who now claim to be instead of buying five cases of jam each, sympathetic with co-operative societies. In bought 30 cases as a group and distributed 1932, at the end of that year, this Govern­ them, and got the discount, which gave them m~nt came back to office and the amount was a better opportunity to compete with the big £I S'0,628. It is estimated that for 1946 it trader. will be £800,000. For the six months to ilO June the actual figure is £398,000. These The CountTy Traders too staTted in th:1t figures prove conclusively that for 50 years way. In OTder to be a member of that asso­ before Labour came into office the then ciation you had to be a trader in the country. Government had no interest in co-operative That organisation extended its business to societies and gave them no help whatever. the wholesale section and to the manufacture The increase in the number of co-operatives as well as the maTketing of goods, and it has fTom five to 58 with 53 branches from 1915 to been equally successful in manufacturing as 1928 when Labour was in power proves con­ in tmding. elusively that Labour Governments encouraged I looked tlll'ough the Year Book and and helped co-operative societies and the obtained some information that is rather figures I have quoted for the period betwelm interesting. For oveT 50 years up to 1914 or 1931-32 and 1942-43 prove conclusiVely that 1915, w·hen the Labour PaTty assumed office, this Government have fostered the co­ this State was governed by parties under vari­ operative movement. ous aliases of the same political colour as Mr. Nicklin: There are only 27 co­ members of the Opposition. Then Labour won operative societies in Queensland today. You the election and the result is to be seen in are confusing associations with co-operati,·e these figures:- soeieties. 1914. Number of co-operative socie6es 5 Mr. TURNER: The hon. gentleman had Number of eo-operative members 17,159 better tell the Bureau of Industry that its Total receipts £18,298 figures are incorrect. I place more reliance on its information than that of any member 1928-1929. of the Opposition. Number of co-operative societies 58 Another mare's nest they built is that a Number of eo-operative branches 53 junior will not b0 entitled to a bonus. There Total income £7,886,948 is nothing in the wide world to prevent any urg:mis:>tion from paying a bonus on wages 1931-1932. to nn;· employee if it is in the terms of the Number of producers' co-opera­ engq;0mcnt; any employer can engage an tive societies 46 emplo~·ee with the condition that he will give Number of co-operative branches 34 him so much a week and if the profits at the Total income £4,932,669 end of the year permit he will get a bonus on his wages. There is nothing in the wide 1942-1943. world to prevent any organisation from doing l'\umbcr of co-operative societies 134 that. Hon. m<'mbers opposite are drawing Number of co-operative branches 85 a red herring across the trail to make it Total income £17,662,099 appear that these people cannot be paid a Total capital .. £2,236,725 bonus because they are not shareholders and 'I' ota I assets £8,526,630 the law will not 1iermit them, as juniors, to hold :;hares. It is noticeable that during the period when There is nothing- further I can say because the Moore Government were in power-from of the Premier's ;-crv able contribution to 1929 to 1932-the number of societies the debate on matters on which I had pre­ decreased from 38 to 46, and the branches pared, infOTmation. from 53 to 34. 'l'he ground has been so thoroughly covered In that same period the total income that there is nothing more to be said. I decreased from £7,876,948 to £4,932,669. \Yclcome the Bill and congratulate the What a tremendous drop for a trading Attorney-General upon bringing it down. organisation under a Government composed Despite the bitter attempts of the hon. mem- 494 Co-operative Societies Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Co-ope·rative Societies Bill.

b,r for Windsor to discredit the Attorney­ Now suppose that consumers' co-operative" General because of his association with the got established all oYer Queensland, and that West Moreton Co-operative Society, this B111 ;)0 p0r cent. of the business in Queensland was will go through, and it will be welcomed by done by co-operatives. It could happen in le' the majority of the people. I sincerely hope years because, as I quoted the other clay, in that within a few years as in Great Britain Nova Scotia Prince Ed ward Island and New so in Australia more than 25 per cent. of Brunswick, ,;,here there were 1,000,000 people, the population will be members of co­ 500,000 m:e living under co-operatives. The operative societies. life of co-operatives in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick is approxi­ The hon. member for Windsor sa vs there ma teh- 12 years. Now those people are ven· is no need for the Bill. If that i; so one tLtring· into the manufacturing side of the might as well say there is no need for the business. 'l'o get back to the remarks made Friendly Societies Act which was framed to by the hon. member for Windsor, what would protect not the moneyed people but thos€ be the most honomable thing to do if half of who contribute to the friendly soeieties. In the people controlling the retail stores upon the same way, this Bill is brought down to which the hon. member's firm depends a good protect the man who invests £1 or up to deal for its business became co-operative retail £300 in a co-operative society. When I was stores~ 'l'hev would say to the hon. membE'r a young man I put the only £20 T had in the for Windsor; ''We are going to build a fac­ world into a co-operative society, and tory OYer the road from you; you know you although I lost that money it did not destroy have at least half of the business in Queens­ my confidence in co-o peratiou. I blame that land and we intend to manufacture ourselves. failure definitely to sabotage. These people Should we continue you will lose 50 per cent. who claim to be successful in private indus· of the business of Queensland. Should you try today would adopt any means at all to decide to sell yom plant or factory we shall destroy and remove anything that might be be only too happy to do business with you.'' in their way or that tended to deprive them It would be more honourable if the co-ope·ra­ of their business. The fact that 25 per cent. tives came along to the textile manufacturer­ of the total population of England are now Bruce Pie & rompany-and bought him out in the co-operative movement and that last than rrush him out. T will admit that the1·e year it showed a turnover of £350,000,000 ic something in what the hon. member said, for 9,000,000 shareholders is conclusive proof that if you spend a lifetime in working a that if the people become b·uly co-operative business up there is a certain amount of good they provide a market for their co-operative will attached to it. Rocieties. Every person who takes his busi­ ness from private enterprise and gives it to Let us come to the retail end. At 'fam­ a co-operative society is he! ping in the first borine the farmers recently started a eo-opera· step towards the destruction of prh·at, enter­ tive and went along to the storekeeper, the prise, and this is the last struggle on the part own'er of the dead store, and said, "vVe are of private enterprise to s;l\"e its undertakings. going to start a co-operative; \Ye are your The next stage of the co-operative movement customel's.'' The sensible storekeeper woul for a case of beer and if they power of acquisition was included in legisla­ want a million cases it is still the same tion empo\\ering the C.O.D. to market price.'' 'rhe Australian Glass Manufacturing fruit, not one word was said about it at Company is selling to Woolworths, Coles and all. ~ ow, because the Chamber of Commerce, B.P's. at ridiculously low prices and that is Brisbane, \Yhich is interested in getting H how they have the noose round the neck of million people into Brisbane-that is the the country storekeeper. The country store­ object of the Leader of the Queensland keeper finds it impossible to compete because People's Part~·-rais·es objection, this pro­ he cannot buy on the same market. ,·ision is criticised. Every decent Queens­ lander wants to see this State decentralised This Bill is being put through to allow a: and the population spread throughout the co-operative store to be ·established in places country. I pay homage to the hon. member like Cairns, Beaudesert, Tewantin and for Windsor, as he is a good employer, but elsewhere. There is no doubt-I know it is I have to think more of this State than o:t' sad-that the country storekeepeT cannot good employers. It is easy for the hon. compete with the chain stores. He is going member for ~Windsor to manufacture in down in any case and it is well for him to Brisbane and send his goods all over Queens­ go down with his own people and become land. That is quite simple. the manager of his own store. It has been praYed beyond doubt in the last 20 years When it comes to considering the real in countries where chain stores have advanc-ed spirit of co-operative enterprise, members of further than they have in this country that the Opposition put up Aunt Sallies and say chain stores have crippled rural areas. There that co-operati.-e enterprise has failed in the are towns in Ireland wher·a chain stores had electorate of the hon. member for West the effect or were part of the cause, and a Moreton a11d other places. We know that large part of the cause, of the populations co-operative enterprise failed in Gympie. The dwindling by half in 15 yem·s. If chain hon. member for Oooroora knows that there stores are going to cripp1e country store­ "·as a co-operative store in Gympie when I keepers, it is much wiser for the ~ountry was a child. I remember we used to shop people to become the owners of their own there. Co-operatives must fail at times, stores. That is only logic. Is it not more because private enterprise fails at times. honourable for them to go along to the Some men do go broke in business. In fact, country store owner and say, '' vVe are a body ()4 per cent. of men who engage in business go broke. Therefore, it is odds on that you of 100 farmer's in the district,1 we haYe supported you, but we have now decided to will go broke if you go into business. If that start a' co-operative store''~ Is it not is true of pTiYate enterprise, why should honourabl-e for them to go to the countrv co-operative enterprise he criticised when it storekeeper and buy him out and is it no't goes broke? What is the reason for this·? sensible of the country storekeeper to S'cll to illr. Morris: Bad management. them and become their manager at a good salary? The chain stores are going to put Mr. L ••J. BARNES: You must get bad him out of business and break him 'eventuallv. management in co-operative enterpnse the The chain stores are on the march in Queen·~­ same as you do in private enterpTise. What land unless co-opemtive stDres can compete is the cause of it~ Where co-operative trad­ against them. 'l'he chain stores, having ing has followed a system of education in smashed the country storekeeper-and this co-operation it has been a huge success. That has occurred in other countries-and having form of education was first started in Nova got a monopoly, would have closed down the Scotia. A school of co-operation was started 496 Go-operative Societies Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Go-operative Societies Bill.

before eo-operative effort was embarked on. I was rather amused when I heard the The head of that system of co-operative hon. member for ·windsor making some education was the head of St. :E'rancis 's observations about ''Socialism at work.'' I University. If you ask some of those pro­ think the hon. member and every !ton. member fessors who have made a deep study of the realises that the Australian Labour Party is question, you will find that eo-operation can not a revolutionary party; it is one that <:aptme the whole of the trading of a place in believes in evolution. We have gone a long 8 or 10 years. ln England it has taken 100 way nlona the road to making the conditions ~·ears to do so. 'l'he professors I mentioned of· the "?m·kers in this State much happier decicled that that rate of progress was too than they would otherwise be; but we still slow, and initiated a system of co-opcratiye­ have a lot to do. On the eve of the era of Pducation. Therefore-, the hon. member for co·operativism we are trying to do something Windsor at least eau rest assured that he so that the workers will do what Jack London eau go on producing for another 10 years. spoke of in that book-share in the profits He need not worry about any co-operatives of the industry they are working in. taking over his business for that period. The Whea Henry Ford decided to give his point I desire to make is that the educational employees a share in his business the world end of the co-operative movement is the most was astounded. People wanted to know what important, and unless we dynamite the minds >vas going to happen to industry. But other of people with co-operation the movement will industrial magnates were only too glad to fail. In other wo-rds, we must see that the follow the lead given by Henry Ford. British people are co-operation-minded and under­ corporations followed the lead, and some of stand what it means. In Nova Scotia theY the finest community centres, notwithstanding inaugurated a slogan ":Mind your ow!1 Nova 8cotia or Sweden, could be found in business.'' That is all co-operative enter­ England prior to the blitz. One of the prise means-minding your own business. biggest private enterprises there was the Any eo-operation that minds its own business British Tobacco Trust. The directors of the will, in a very short time, be able to help Tobacco Trust realised that if they built somebody else. community homes and gave an interest in the business to the employees they would be At 4.15 p.m., doing something beneficial. Who will deny that the British Tobacco Trust is not an Mr. SPEAKER resumed the chair. example of co-operativism that will be followed the world o.-er -~ "~Ir. L. J. BARNES: As the Premier has Some years ago I was informed of what pointed out, the co-operatives are now in the was done by the Russo·Asiatic Company at oil industry; and now the Red Comb Mt. Isa. Inflationary prices were paid in co-operative poultry organisation, as soon as the early days of the community not only shipping is made available, will be able to for land but for foodstuffs and the powers tntY petrol in this country and the share­ that be decided to open a little co-operative holders of that society will be able to get store. So successful were they that they the benefit of oil in America because todav 11·ere nble to sell articles at Brisbane costs co-operatives are federated; thev have a to every person who desil·ed to buy. Their federal body. ' business was not really a true co-operative. There is one other thing I should I ike to An;· person working in the mine or eve11 refer to, and that .is the suggestion l>y the living in the to·wnship who invested more ltou. member for Logan. I think he had than £5 in a vear was entitled to share in meat in a couple of suggestions, and when the profits ma'de by this little store. The >re come to the clau~es I believe the Govern­ whole principle of co-operativism is excellent, ment will accept any suggestions that are and I hope that this Bill will do everything constructive. we hope it will and make the conditions of the workers in the different industries and The Bill has my l>lessing. in the co-operative concerns worth while.

llir. COPLEY (Kurilpa) ( 4.16 p.m.l : I lUr. WALKER (Cooroora) ( 4.21 p.m.): !lcsire to congra tu late the A ttoruey-Genera I I shall not keep the House very long. There on introducing this Bill. Much has been are one or t1vo facts I wish to place before said about it, and I do not propose to deal !ton. members with regard to the eo-opera­ in detail with some of the matters that have ti,·e mm·ement. l1een raised. My main purpose this evening I _,-ell -remember the very early days of the is to make a few obseryations on the historv movement. When I first went on the land I of co-operative societies. :Members would d~) took a very active part in the movement. "·ell if they got away from .Tack London's especially in the forming of the different com· ],ooks of adventure and read a book that he panics. There was great difficulty in attract­ wrote to·wards the end of the last century ing· capital. That was the drawback. The called ''The War of the Classes.'' Wher1 bankers would not give much accommodation, .T aek London produced this book the world for reasons best known to themselves but stood r,ghast. He stated at that time that since then conditions ha.-e altered greatly. I capitalism was in its dying stages and he reme-mber that as regards the M urarrie Bacon IHOphesied that the da!· >YnS not far distant l''actory it was necessary to get an additional \Yhen the world would be living under a £12,000 or £14,000 because the bacon took system of co·operativism, which he said would so long to cure before it could be marketed. be followed by an era of nationalisation and That was the greatest difficulty but we over­ then be followed by an era of Socialism. came that and today we find that by the Co-operative Societies Bill. [19 SEPTEiiiBER.] Co-operative Societies Bill. 497 loyalty of the fanners who subscribed that I realise that the workers in the cities han c:lpital that factory is now a flourishing con­ got to establish stores for the distribution Ci'l'll and doing particularly good \YOrk. of goods if they want to derive an~- bPnefit. Many butter factories in Queensland work Not only that, but the stores must be financed on similar lines. 'l'hey have set an example• by them. It is no use whatever having a not only for Queensland but for other parts co-operative and expecting the management of the world and thus shown de·arly that the to cany on unless it is giyen the capital movement is a sound one. Many of the butter n-quirecl to buy on the best market, as sug·­ factories in Queensland today finance their gested lJy the hon. member for Cairns. Of own stores. They are managed well and con­ course, I cannot. believe that anv body. of trolled by practical men. The district is 1nen in priYate enterprise would fonu a nng di,·ided into wards and a man is chosen to to lJlock smaller companies-. I find that represent each ward. Of course, anyone who extnmely hard to helievL', although the hon. is proved to be undesirable goes off the board. member for Cairns says it does take place to Consequently today \Ye have a very creditable a certain extent. scheme of eo-operation. It is one that city Another point to be considered is that the folk could follow. goods may not be always bought for cash The Premier mentioned today the history of by members of the co-operative. A man may co-operation in the 01<1 Country. Like be out of work and Tequire a little credit. the hon. gentleman, I haYe had the l'leasure He would be allowf'd to draw goods to the of going through the premises he spoke of. It value of the shares he has in the society. has many trading branches and has a turn­ I understand that the Bill will provide OVE'r of approximately £250,000,000 a year. for Government help to thCE·e co-operative• No doubt it has increased since I was there societies, but exactly what that help is to and according to the Premier it has grown lw l cannot say. If the Government could to such an extent that today we find that one make cheap money available to these co-opera­ man in every four deals with a co-operati\·e tive concerns when they are starting off, they for his home supplies, \vhich shows eoncln· certainly will be doing good for the State, sivel~· what can be done. and I offer that suggestion for serious con­ vi· e know, ho\YCYer, that in the history of sideration. It has to be nmemberec1, too, co-operation there have been failures. In its that these eo-operatiYes must \rork more or >ery early stag0s the butter factory at G)·mpie less on a cash basis. was a eo-operative concern. They borrowPd f should like to point. out what the fanner £1,000 T think to finance them hut they has done in promoting co-operative distri­ ultimately had to stop. However, that should lmtion. We have organised to such an extent not be held against them because conditions that we now hare a federal body, aided by have altered. At that time the scrub lands the Federal Government, which has done round Gympie were not all taken up, the popu­ remarkably well in our export trade. \Ye btion was not there at the time, and the now \YHnt" to do all we can to gain the sym­ suppl)· was too small. I think the price of pathetic co-operation of all people to help cream was about 2~d. a pound. Reall~·, they the movement along, and if we get that we did not have a proper chance. The factory shall go a long way, but hon. membl rs must ,,. :; thl'n t:1kcn

property is >nong. I heard that the C.O.D. that the Government did not decide to bring eould not get a piece of land in :Vlary Street. iE a comprehensiYe measure to cover the entire It could have got more than one property. field of co-operative enterprise. It has got a property in Mary Street, and quite a good one, and >Yhat more does it I listened yery interestedly to the various want? Unfortunately, it is now going to speakers this afternoon but not one of them, acquire the most up-to-date fmit distribu­ "·ith the exception of 'the hon. member for tion centre I know of in Gympie. Gooroora, mentioned the primary producer. W 0 must take off our hats to the primary pro­ 3Ir. Duns tan: It was on the market for ducers for establishing the co-operative move­ sale. ment in this country. When it started 40-odd Mr. WALKER: It was on the market years ago, the primary producers ·were in the at a price-the owner's valuation->Yhieh is hands of pl'ivate enterprise. As soon as their quite a different thing. A lot has happened pl'oduct was won from the soil it was handed since that time. The property was owned at over to private enterprise. The success of that time by a certain lady, who unfortu­ co-orcrative enterprise in Queensland is a nately died, and tne property was left to the "onderful achievement, and represents splen­ husband and two children-one half-share to did loyalty to an idea. However, because of the lmsband and a quarter each to the two the opposition of priYate enterprise, it was a children. 'l'here is something more than the long time before the primary producers of actual value of the property in thiR matter Queensland obtained control of their industry; because there is the sentimental value. The it was achieved only at the cost of much per­ owner of this big, thriving business might sonal sacrifice. It is our duty as legislatoTs to not be able to acquire a place for himself place on the statute-book a measure that will for some time. The only alternatiYe he will give adequate opportunity for the fostering have ,,-ilJ be to put his money into >Yar loans and developing of co-operative enterprise, but at 3i per cent. Why could not the co-oper:l­ during this debate we have spoken largely tiYe movement have bought land on the open of the pTos and cons a11d of the success and market legitimately~ The lessee is con­ failures of various businesses. Our job is to sidered to be one of the best distributors of place on the statute-book the necessary legisla­ fruit-the yery product the C.O.D. will be tion to enable all OT any of us who de siTe to selling. I say it is unfair. What is more, enter into a co-operative enterpTise an oppor­ there is nothing to stop the C.O.D. from be­ tnnitv to do so. \Ve shall then decide what coming dissatisfied at some stage if altera­ husil{ess to undertake and along what lines tions take place to tl1e town, as if a road is it will be developed. Because of my e:Hong, especially when I am reminded o'f together in an organisation by which they the fact thnt the block it wants is only about might defeat the methods of those middle­ :200 yards from the one that it already has men who extract huge profits from the dis­ on lease. I cannot understand why the C.O.D. tribution and manufacture of the goods of ;;hould try to take a first-class busimss from primar~· producers. That srntiment is entirely one who is distributing the same products as '"·:ro~lg in association with a measure of this the C.O.D. proposes to sell. '!'hat is \HOng in kmo. principle, it is not fair, and it is not British. Tt completely ignores the basic faets behinl1 the hopes of the co-operative movement that ~Ir. :,}lclNTYRE (Cunningham) (4.36 has deYeloped in this State. That movement p.m.) : 1 spoke on the introductoq stage of is a step to find a middle way along which the Bill, and after having had an opportunitv production and distrilmtion can be carried of studying the measure I am to some extel{t out, a compromise between the extrcm2s of disappointed "·ith it. There is not very much industrial capitalism and Socialism. If we in it in the way of new features, except tlnt are going to make a success of this co­ it proposes that eonsumers may combine in opemtive enterprise, it will only be done by co-operative organisations. I am disappointed co-operative team work among all sections of Co-operative Societies Bill. (19 SEPTEMBER.] Co-operative Societies Bill. 499 the community. We in Queensland should matter in which we should have centralised have a co-ordinating Act, similar to that in control under one comprehensive Act. I New South Wales. It is very desirable that believe that we can ;accomplish much by we should. The motive of co-operative enter­ eliminating the two Acts and replacing them prise is not to n:uake profits; it never• has been. with this very important Act. Rather it has been to foster and develop the industry with which those who co-operate are I think that in our co-operative enterpl'ise ussociated. there are other features that are not included in this Bill. The co-operative spirit is broader than selfish interests and it is broader than the Mr. SPEAKER: Order! The hon. mem­ boundaries of any one State. 'l'he reason why ber had an opportunity to deal with that Queensland has lagged in n:uany respects and question on the introductory stage. The why we have perhaps suffered by comparison second-reading stage is confined to an ex ami· with other States we should not find our­ nation of the principles of the Bill. Might selves lagging behind is to be found in the I add that in the Committee stage the hon. co-operative legislation on our statute book. member will have an opportunity to discuss Ther·efore, I think this co-operative movement that phase of the subject~ has a Commonwealth-wide significance. vVe find that when we dealt with co-operative mar­ Mr. MciNTYRE: Thank you. I accept keting ,and the control of primary products yom· adYice, Mr. Speaker. In the Committee from a. State point of view only, it was a stage we shall have the opportunity of partial failure and that it was only when making some helpful recommendations and those objects were broadened, made Common­ putting forward amendments that I hope the wealth wide, that theJ met with the maximum Government in their generosity will see fit of success. That is why I believe that to accept. eo-operative legislation should be uniform Hon. D. A. GLEDSON (Ipswich) (4.46 right thr·oughout the Commonwealth. p.m.) in reply: After listening to the second­ I believe that shortly we are going to have reading speeches on the Bill I think it is legislation introduced to ratify th€ Com­ necessary that a reply should be made in monwealth Wheat Sta bilisation Bill. I shall which I shall set out the aetual provisions welcome that Bill although I cannot agree contained in the Bill. I shall endeavour to with everything that the scheme contains. show that, taking the whole of the speeches, The same applies to our great co-operative e'·erything contained in this Bill is absolutely movement. It should be of uniform applica­ nee.essary to cany on the co-operative move­ tion throughout the Commonwealth. ment. We should take a lead from the Ne'v Routh 'l'l'e Leader of the Opposition first of all ·wales Act. That State has what is known saicl lJE• was disappointed with the Bill as a Co-operative Community Settlement aml because it was not on similar lines to the f:rPdit A et based on nn Act passed in South New South Wales Act. Let me point out that years ago in Queensland many of these Africa in 1922. It is regrettable that a pro­ Acts were bundled together and it was found gressiYe State like Queensland nnd a pro­ necessary to separate them. The friendly gressive Government should not haYe given societies, industrial and provident societies, lead in the matter of more progressiYe am1 and building societies were bundled together modern legislation, which has been enacted under the one control under the one Act. in other States of the Commonwealth. Sec­ tion 6 of the New South Wales Act Bnables Mr. Nicklin: They were not co-opera­ co-operative societies to form various types tive. of societies to promote economic and social interests for the purposes of its members. Mr. GLEDSON: Yes, they were co-opera­ Societies so formed can promote co-operative tive. Provision was made for eo-operative enterprises in every possible way. We should industrial and provident societies and build­ have considered that legislation, for we coulr1 ing societies. with advantage copy ;and enact it. 'rhe hon. member for Cunningham raised Unfortunately in Queensland we have two the point that we have the Primary Acts in connection with the co-operatiYe Producers' Co-operatiYe Associations Act and movement and now we have another. We have the Industrial and Provident Societies Act the Industrial and Provident Societies Act and then we all have this Act. If the and we have the Primary Producers' Co-opera­ hon. member read the Bill he would know tive Associations Act. I know that we are that this is an amendment of the Industrial not getting the best results from them. We and Provident Societies Act and that the have divided control and administration. We Industrial and Provident Societies Act is have two Ministers handling this wry impor­ rep ea le cl by this Bill and will no longer tant matter and we have two separate dep:ut­ operate after the Bill is passed and assented to. This Bill will take the place of Lhat Act, me,nts administering the legislation that so how could we have it operating~ governs it. We also have two independent registrars. It would appear that this legisla­ The Leader of the Opposition went further tion will continue to foster that veTy marked rmd he seemed to me to be adopting the same and undesirable weakness. We should haYe attitude for which a former Premier of New co-ordination. We should havB all our South Wales was famous. That gentleman co-operative activities embraced in one com­ advocated one thing one time and another prehensive enactment. We all subscribe to the thing another time and became known as pTinciple of decentralisation. This is one "Yes-No." I refer to the late Sir George 500 Co-operative Societies Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Co-opm·ative Societies Bill.

Reid. I believe the Leader of the Opposition l'tir. GLEDSON: Even control. Later in did much the same thing. He said this was the same clause we find- all right and that was all right and the other was all wrong. There was nothing in the '' In the case of any winding-up of a whole of his speech that was in any way society the provisions of the Companies helpful to show where the principles of the Act with res.pect to the winding-up of Bill could be amended in any way to help company formed or registered under Part the co-operative movement. The hon. member Ill. of that Act shall apply to the winding­ took up the . a tti tu de-" I am in opposition up of the society.'' and I am gomg to oppose this.'' He said it And then again we find- was not a combination of the Acts as they '' .... the powers of liquidators men­ had it in New South Wales. Wh~t do we tioned in section two hundred and fifty­ find~ We go back many years and we find four of the Companies Act and section two that those Acts were separated. The Bill hundred and forty-two of that Act shall before the House deals comprehensively \vith apply." all the phases of co-operation. You will know, Mr. Speaker, that in 1942 the Companies Act was amended at the That is an amendment of the Indust-rial instance of myself as Attorney-Geneml. and Provident Societies Act and it deals with There were very large amendments to that the co-operative movement as it is provided Act and it was brought up to date, so much for under that Act. The present Bill is a so tlrat the Queensland Act is quoted in many comprehensive measure combining these laws. paTts of the world today as an authority on Taking up and studying the New South company law. It is said to be one of the Wales Act we find that the whole of these best Acts eveT placed on a statute-book. We Acts are combined into one. There they pro­ find this Bill making provision for all these vide for the things that WB provide for in things but instead of including them in separate Acts. We in Queensland have detail'and thereby cluttering it up and having decided always that instead of combining a Yoluminous Bill, we bring into it Tderence Acts dealing with different matters they to thos,e provisions that are apt and necEssary. should be kept separate and deal with matters The hon. member for Logan said also each in its own particular province. That that there is no provision to deal with is the reason why this Bill has not included certain matteTs connected with the furnishing all sorts of things in connection with primary of retums. I remind him that the whole of producers. The Primary Producers' Co-opera­ the second schedule to the Bill sets out what tive Associations Act is not interfered with shall be done. The whole thing is complete and not one of the primary producers' and it is almost exactly the same as that organisations in Queensland wants the pro­ applying to private companies. When hon. visions affecting them taken out of that Act members get up and say that a1l these things and consolidated in this Bill. They all want have' not been considered, it is no wonder to continue to work under their own particu­ that we ask them to read the Bill before lar Act, of course having it amended when offering any criticism. Everything co1_1taineil that is required to bring it up to date. in the New South Wales Act relatmg to The hon. member for Logan raised certain co-operative societies is ,embodied in this Bill. matters. He took up the attitude that there If hon. members opposite can point out any­ should be one register for all these societies. thing that should be included we are willing Why should we have a register for co-opera­ to consider it at the right time. tive societies under this Bill and the same Mr. Kerr: You will have a busy time in register unde·r fhe Primary Producers Act f Committee. There is no need for it. The Primary Pro­ ducers' Co-operative Associations Act deals Mr. GLEDSON: If hon. members with a different matter, and. primary pro­ opposite can bring forward anything when ducers' co-operative asscociations are dealt the Bill is in Committee we are wi1ling to with in a different way from those that come listen to them. under this Bill. The hon. member for Cooroora said that it is unfair to give these societies the poweT The same hon. member asks why we do of resumption. The Leader of the Opposition not provide for those things that are said it was unfair, yet every hon. member provided in the Companies Act, which on that side of the House voted for a clause provides for winding-up of companieEJ an~ containing exactly the same words, giving similar things. But the hon. member cvr­ the same power of resumption to the dently has not Tead the Bill, othenvise he Committee of Direction of Fruit Marketing. would have noticed that we bring the pro­ Not one of them raised his voice against that visions of this Bill into line with those of clause. They all carried it without the the Companies Act-'' the society may be slightest objection. wound-up in the same manner and in the same circumstances in which a company Mr. Nicklin: Under entirely different formed or registered under the Companies circumstances. Act may be so wound-up." Mr. GLEDSON: Of course they were Mr. Kerr: It deals only with winding different circumstances. up. At that time we were dealing with an Yes. association of which the hon. gentleman is a Mr. GLEDSON: membeT. He is a member of an association Mr. Kerr: What about control? that deals with the fruit-growers and sells Co-operative Societies Bill. [1 OCTOBER.] Questions. 501 their products. This provision deals with people, anu furthermore >Ye had to face the working men and women and gives them >Yha t the hon. member for Cairns referred to. the same rights as the hon. gentleman claimed We had to buy our goods at a price at which for his association. So far as he is concerned, other shops were retailing them. That was it is all right to give his organisation these bee a use >Ye did not have a wholesale powers but the workers must not be giwn eo-operative society. behind us to p:roduce the same rights. those goods for us. I think the total member· ship of the society was 289, and the capital llir. Nicklin: How many working men's co-operative societies are there in Queensland could be reckoned at £5 a member. Hon. today? members will see what a large amount of capital we had at our disposal. The failure Mr. }'arrell: We have one at Marybor­ of the West More-ton society was due to the ough. J1re, the loss through the depression, and our Mr. Nicklin: That is one. inability to buy on markets and compete against those who had money. vVe were up Mr. GLEDSON: The Premier gave the against. the money-bags in those days, and the figures. Bill I am presenting to the House will enable Mr. Nicklin: Not of working men's us to give aid to co-opeTative societies to get societies. They were co-operatives. over the difficulties encoumered in many other societies. Mr. GLEDSON: There are many work­ ::\1 otion (Mr. Gledson) agreed to. ing men's societies. The provisions of this Bill will help the working men. SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT. lUr. Nickl'in: And quite rightly so. Hon. E. M. HANLON (Ithaca-Premier): I move- Mr. GLEDSON: The clause he refers to '' 'rhat the House, at its rising, do relating to resumption seeks to give the adjourn until Tuesday, 1 October, 1946. '' working men's co-op·eratives the help that is :Motion agreed to. necessary to conduct business in a: proper way. The House ad,journed at 5.5 p.m. Let us analyse it. First of all, the society must prove that it is necessary in the public interest to resume the land. The next step is that an inquiry must be made by the Secretary for Public Lands. He is empowered to appoint a person to conc1ud that inquiry. If he so desires, he may appoint a member of the Land Court or of the Land Appeal Court, a judge of the Supreme Court, or any other person. The fullest possible inquiry must be made into the question whether it is right and proper in the public interest to resume the land. Now, when land is resumed it eomes to a question of compensation. One would think that the Government were going to tak€ land and drive people off it without any considera­ tion. That is wrong. Land will be resumed under The Public Works Lands Resumption Act, and under that Act a certain procedure has to b€ followed. First of all, there has to be a hearing by a member of the Land Court as to the amount of compensation payable for the land. After the compensation has been fixed there is the Tight of appeal to the Full Bench of tho Land Court itself, consisting of a judge and two members. In that respect there is nothing new in this Bill. The hon. member for Cooroora spoke about the failure of a certain co-operativo society in Gympie, and said that the failure was because of corrupt managers in the society. The hon. member foT ·windsor raised also the question of the West Moreton Co-operative Society. For quite a number of yeaTS that society worked successfully, so successfully in fact that there was quite a fear that it would develop into a big business. As I said on the introductory stage of this Bill, we had a fire that burned out quite a lot of our goods. All our outbuildings W€re burnt and had to be :replaced. Then there was a loss through the depression, the depression that hit most