Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
TUESDAY, 6 JULY 1909
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
62 Question. [ASSEMBLY.] Joint Committees.
2. -n-hat quantity of land has been thrown open for selection under the perpetual leasing clauses, and the quantity selected? The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS (Hon. D. F. I lenham, O.cley): I think the hon. member could uot have he:1rd what the Premier has j11st stated. Mr. BoWMAN: \Vhat is the object? HONOURABLE MEMBERS: \Ve did not hear him. The PREMIER: I stated that, until this motion of "want of c·mfidence" has been dis posed of, the Government do not intend to go on with any other business or answer any ques tions. Mr. MURPHY : This is the bminess of last week. Mr. MANN : They are afraid to answer ques tions. The SPEAKER: Order, order!
NOTICE OF MOTIOX. On the SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC IN STRUCTION (Hon. W. H. Barne•, Bulimua) giving notice that be would move to-morrow- That the House will, at it~ next sitting, resolve itself into a ()omrnittee of the Whole to cou.ider of the de sirableness of introducing a Bill to incorporate and endow the University of Queensland- Mr. HAl\'IlLTOX (Greg01·y): I rise to a point of order. Is the :Minister in order in giving notice of a motion when other hon. Inem bers are refused? The Chief Secretary distinct-ly stated that no other business would be gone on with. The SPEAKER: I did not quite catch the point of order. \Vill the hon. member pleaoe repeat it. 1\Ir. HAMILTON:. Is the Minister in order in giving notice of motion for the next sitting of the House when private memhers have been debarred from doing so? The Chief Secmtarr said he would not transact any busines3 and would nut answer any questions. LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY, The SPEAKER: I think th<> hori. membm· is under a, misapprehension. 1 understand the Chief Secretary to say-which is quite in >icr:ord TUESDAY, (i ,JcLY, lf!09. ance wlth parliarnentary lJractice--that uutil the motion now before the Chamter is disposed of he and his colleagues will decline to answer any Tb'' SPEAKB~R (Hon .•T. T. Bell, Dalb!!) took question!-', the chair at half-past 3 o'clock. Mr. \Voons: Or do any other bnsines:'. The PnB~i\l!El\: I do not intend to go on with any other bn~iness. :ELECTIOXS TRIBU~AL. The SPEAKER: That is stricUy in accord JcDGE FOH 1909. ance with parliamentary practice when a motion The 8PE '\.KER announced the receipt of a of the kind is before thA Chamber, but an letter fr<>m His Honour the Chief Justice. annonncernent of that kind dues not dB bar, nor intimating that His Honour Mr ..Tmtice Chubb can any act of the Chief Secretary himself would be tbe :Elections Judge for 1G09. debar, 'any member of the House, i)rivate or official, frotn giving notice uf motion for n. future date. 2\IINISTERUL STATEMENT. JOINT 001-L\IITTEES. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS. The PREMIER (Hon. \V. Kidston, Rock JI.IESSAGE FHOM THE COU:ICIL. hronpton) : I wish just to announce that, until The SPEAKER announced the receipt of a this vote of "no confidence" has been clisposed messa~;"e from the Council, intimating that the of, Ministers do not propoee to answer any President, Mr. l'\orton, and J\Ir. Smith had been questions or to go on with any other business. appointed members of the ,Joint Library Com mittee; the President, Mr. Oallan, and Mr. Murpby members of the Joint Committee for QUESTION. the Manogement of the Parliamentary Refresh ment-rooms; and the President, J\fr. An near, and J<'nEE HourESTEAD 0LAcsEs. Mr. Cowlishaw members of the Joint Committee Mr. SUl\INER (Nundah) asked the Secre· for the lVhnagement and Superintendence of the tary for Pubiic Lands- ParE>tmentary Buildings ; and requ8sting that 1. "\Vill he kindly give the area and location of lands the Assembly nominate a like number with a thrown open for selection under the free homestead view to give effect to the 8th Joint Standing clauses o! the Land Act of 1908 c Order. Address in Repl_y. [6 JULY.] Address in Repl_y. 63
ADDRESS IN REPLY. Parliament. \Vith the measures passed Juring \VA""T 0>' CO!\FIDENCE JliiOT!ON-RESUMPTION that session I shall deal later on, The Premier OF DEBATE. afterwarc1s called a caucus meeting of the party. He arrived late at that meeting, and phced Mr. REDWOOD (Drayton and Tomcoomuu), before it a certain statement. He told us that if who, on ru-;ing, was greeted with Opposition we did not like that statement we could get a "Hear, hears," said: I wish to make a few remarks new leader, but that if we approYed of it he on the amendment before the House. Before would place it before the Pbilp pa,rty for their doing so, I should like to say that I deeply regret acceptance or other wise. the death of the Hon. John Leahy. I knew Mr. Mr. AIREY: It had already been before them. Leahy for many year8, and cannot speak in too high praise of his integrity, and his straightfor Mr. REDWOOD: Here, let me say that I ward, manly character. I therefore desire to have been accused throughout the country of pay my tribute to the worth of that hon. gentle being at that meeting a very warm advocate for man, whom we shall miss very much from the the coalition. political life of Queenslanc'. I wish also to say GOVERX}!E!\1' lHE}llJERS : So you were. how exceedingly sorry I am at the death of l\lr. J. D. Campbell, who was esteemed in this Mr. REDWOOD: At that meeting I said House for his straightforward, manly character, that I believed in William Kidston, that I and for his integrity and honour as a business believed in our leacler, that the last session had man and a pnlitician. Now, I intend first been a most productive one in good legislation of all to refer to a little political histc·ry for the country, and that I saw no reason to regarding myself. (Hear, hear!) I have desert our chief. I also said that if the Philp been accused and condemned pretty severely party were all behind the Kidston party as by the conservative Press throughout Queens Kid,tonites, accepting our policy, and accepting land for my action in lea,ving the Government. our leader, William Kidston, or rather the Pre I have been told that I have deviated from what mier, it would bP a good thing for the country. I professe-l twelve months ago. I wish clearly to \Vhat was the result? Mr. Kidston gave us no state, and in doing so I can defy contradiction alternative, remember. He simply said, "If that I have not deviated in any particular fro~ you do not accept this, you can get "' new the policy I advocated the first time I addressed leader." That was the alternative given to us. a political meeting in Qneensland. I have An HONOl;RAllLE J\IE>IBER : That was honest, fought four campaigns in Toowoomba, and on wasn't it? each occasion I have advucated the same policy. Mr. REDWOOD: Yes, I am not saying that I was defeatEd twice. On the third occasion I it was not honest. All I want h say about it is was victoriou•, and I am fighting for the same that it was practically a mild form of coercion principles to-day that I advocated at my election. applied to the party. 1\Iost of the men wh" :Mr. GRAN'r: Is that why you left the Govern h'd suported him did not care to desert him. ment for a portfolio? He had been their leader since they had entered the House, and they had a very keen regar·d for Mr. REDWOOD : I came into this House him, and I felt perfectly right in what I was ad':oca~ing a certain policy. I have strongly doinf( attha,t time. I acted comcientiously, and mamtamed and fought for th>tt policy, and yet I sn-id, providing thnse things \vhich I tnentioued a1n every day misrepre··-ented by V..trious journals were carried out I was perfectly satisfied. throughout the State, which .;tate that I have de parted from the principles which I had so long Mr. McLO,\HY: You did not know him as well advocated. then as you do now. (Laughter.) l\Ir. CmvAP: He who excuses accuses himself. Mr. REDWOOD: Regarding that meeting: afterwards we rnet the Philip P'rty, and after :\Jr. RED\VOOD: I do not want to make any th<~t we met the Hou
:\Ir. REDWOOD: I would like to ]'oint out let the new party come into power or go to the that the next event which took place was that electors. That is the position to~day. "What :\Jr. Swayne, the junior 1uember for 1\lackay, was the result last session? stnod np in this Chamber, and said that he re An Ho:>OUIUBLE J\IE1IBER: Barren. tained his own individuality as regards the Trades Disputes Bill. ::\Ir. RED\VOOD: Barren. That is a very good word-the result is practically barren. Mr. GIUNT : And you continued to sit behind Very keen opposition came from the Govern menu the Government? side of the House regarding the \Yorkers' Dwell Mr. HEDWOOD: We have heard the Pre- ings Bill. "Where was the loyalty on the \Vorkers' 111ier going- thronghont the C'1Untry saying what Dwellings Bill last year? wonuerfulloyalty he is getting, praising the men The Hm!E SECRETARY: \Ye had to fetch you ;,vho twelve or fourteen nwnths ago he was back, hadn't we? running down to the 'ery lowest. I shall read a few quotations before I sit down which will J\-Ir. REDWOOD: There was loyalty there show the people what the Premier has said re the Bill had to be withdrawn. garding Robert l"hilp twelve months ago. (Go :'\fr. JENKINSON: And the Port Alma Railway. vernment laughter.) Mr. REDWOOD : The Port Alma Bill was :\Ir. GHANT: 'Why did you continue to support withdrawn. him? :\Ir. CowAP: Hedwood was withdrawn, too. 1\Ir. REDWOOD: I will tell my own tale in (Laughter.) my own way. :\Ir. RED\VOOD: Now I want to answer an ::Ylr. MunPHY : Y on are doing very well. interjection from the other side of the House ::\Ir. REDWOOD: The Premier makes out " \Vhy did I support the coalition in the first in that wh·1t I have done is a terrible crime, but stance?" the Premier has used the )'rerogative him
were fourteen or fifteen men at that caucus, and Mr. R]~DWOOD : Take the position of they said that they understood that the Trades Canudu with regard to immigration. L (Renewed and continued laughter.) \Vel!, they Mr. REDWOOD : I am not saying that the say they cannot geo surveyors in the State. men are not doing their best. I believe they They say surveyors cannot be obtained. are, hut I do say that the I,ands Devartment A GOVERNMENT ME:\IBER : \Vho said so? must be altered. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: In what Mr. RED\YOOD : I was told so. For over direction? four years that has been the cry. \Vhat I say is that four years ago, had the ex·Ministerstarted Mr. RED\VOOD: \Ye must be more c'nn to really go into the matter of getting surveyors, mercial in the working of it. It is not enough he would ha;·e had young men fit to cut up the that we find room for 3,000, you must blocks at the present time. That is what they do [4.30 p.m.] find room for more-you must run in Canada. lines of railway ahead of settle The HmrE SECRETARY : Is it not a fact that he ment. (Hear, hear!) You must run lines of did so? railwtey into unoccupied Crown lands, and cut it up into 160-acre blocks, under the provisions Mr. REDWOOD:· :1\o. That is what I of the Act passed in 1908, for perpetutel leases or object to. The present Minister, certainly, has free holds. not had much >how, and I belie' e he is doing his best. No dou ht they were both doing their Mr. LESINA: You have to apply the better best. The ex-Jl.J:inister, versonally, I know and I ment system in connection with all railways feel did his best to administer the department, constructed. but I do not like the system. I maintain that Mr. REDWOOD: Every railw 'Y line built the department should be cut up into smaller has to give a guarantee. The great success of branches. It shnuld be worked more like a huge the Canadian administration has been caused by business concern. For in~tancr"', if :you go into a the building of lines ahead of settlement. large business concern, either in this State or in any other part of the world, you there find the The HmrE SECRETAHY: By syndicates. Do departments under different heads. You find you advocate that? each department has it::; own manager, and he is 1\lr. RI<~DWOOD : No. respcmsible for the working of tbat particular An 0PPOSITIO~ J'>IEli!BER: You do. department. N O'N, my contention is, that there are very excellent men in the Lands liep The free land policy that was introduced by the The Hmm SECRETARY: The department would House in 1908 is a principle I am very keen on. he very pleased if you hurried the settlement of I have watched its pronounced success in Canada. your transaction with them. Mr. ·wooDs: Passed by the late Govanment. Mr. REDWOOD: I don't want Mr. REDWOOD: Exactly, and that is what and what will be the result? There is practically I want to see done by our farmers generally. no market arranged for that grain, and there are vVe hear in different parts of the State, through no proper shipping facilities for dealing with it. the Press anrl otherwise, that the Darling Downs An HoNOUHABLE ::\hmnER : Yes. will only produce butter. \V ell, I maintain that if that were true, which I do not admit, dairying Mr. REDWOOD : If tho market becomes would be a much greater success if the different glutted, the farmers will have no means of cereals necessarv to provide succulent and sure handling their grain. If this country is going to winter feed were cultivated properly. The only become a large cereal-producing country, as I stand by in the winter is a grain crop of some believe it will, we shall have to adopt the methods description. \Vhether you are breeding a first followed in other countries where grain is grown class dairy herd, or raising pigs, poultry, or in large quantities. I was in Sydney the other lambs, it makes no difference, for they are allied day and I met some squatters. They complained industries, and for their success the production very much of the laxity of the department in not of cerealt; is necessary. I am, therefore, pleased reeognising the importance of providing for the to see that the people on the Darling Downs disposal of the surplue stock there will be in have realised the fact that the production of Queensland. I am aware that the present cereals is necesoary for the success of dairying Minister for Agriculture is endeavouring to get and kindred pursuits, and that a reaction is a shipment of chilled meat sent home, cut it should setting in in regard to cereal production, and have been done before-the market should have that it is becoming much more popular. been opened. As I have previously remarked, I maintain that the Governments of the past Mr. D. HDNTER: A high market has that have not recognised how imperative it is to pro effect. vide an adequate market for the products of our Mr. REDWOOD: I quite admit that a State. high market has that effect, but we require to OPPOSITION MEMBEHS : Hear, hear ! have the industry carried on in a proper manner. vVhat we should do is to go on to a man's farm Mr. REDWOOD: The system at home is and s:ly to him that we want 5, 10, or 20 acres wrong. \Vhat is the gnod of an Agent-General cultivated in a cert>tin way. sitting in his office there? That is not what we The SECRETAHY FOR AGRICULTURE: We are require; better pay double the salary and have a doing that on the State farms. live active man, and a man who is a credit to our country in commercial life. Not that I am re Mr. RED\VOOD: Ye", but we have only a flecting nn the present occupant of the chair-I few State farms on the Downs-at \Vestbrook, know he is an excellent man-l>nt he is nut the the Hermitage, and another near Roma. \Vhat type of man we require for our country. we want is plots cultivated at different places to show what is the best way to cultivute crops. An HONOURABLE JYIEMBER : You want a trade \Ve want to show farmers that a particular way cornmiss:ioner. of cultivating a crop is practicable and profit Mr. REDWOOD: vVe require a trade com able, that they must cultivate their lands on missioner to open up markets for our surplus scientific principles. If that were done, we products, and the sooner we do it the better. sbonld see a new era in agriculture in this Sto"te. Mr. J. M. HDNTER: Let us get rid of thif< An HoNODRABLE ME:\lBER: \Vhy didn't you Government. criticise that department when you were behind Mr. REDWOOD : In connection with our the Gm-ernment? Agricultural Department, there is an important Mr. RED\VOOD : I remember that I criti matter which wants remedying, and that is the cised the Government on one occasion when I Agricultural Bank. The .-\gricultural Bank is was sitting behind them, and said they were liv practically dormant; it is a miserable depart ing on money borrowed by the Philp Govern ment. To get money ont of that bank is almost ment, and I was called a very strong name or as difficult as going from here to Cook town and worse for doing that. \Vhen I was supporting back on foot. the Government I was never away from a single Mr . •T. M. HDNTER: It is badly administered. division. Mr. KEHH: Too many fossils. lYir. D. HuN1'ER: Yes, you were away seven Mr. REDWOOD: I do not know whether it teen times last year. is the trustees' fault, or owing to defects in the Mr. RED\YOOD : It's a wonder you don't Act, but I think there should be some remedy choke. (Laughter.) provided, and the bank ehould be made more use The SPEAKER : Order! ful to our people. It should be much more in touch with the people. The fee charged, £3 3s., Mr. D. HDNTER: It's a fact. is iniquitous. Take the New Zealand system : The SPEAKER: Order! It is distinct dis It is not a half nor a third the amount, and I order, when I have given an audible call for sincerely trust that this rlefect will be remedied order, for an hon. member to follow that up by as soon as poseible. I am pleased to see the rail an interjection. I am here to carry out the way construction which is going on, as I have Standing Orders, and I ask hon. members to been a very keen advocate fnr that line of policy, respect my call for order. It is a most dis and I trnst that whatever Government may be agreeable thing to have to call "Order," and I in power they will continue a vigorous and pro never do it unless I believe the order of the House gressive railway policy, that they will build rail requires it. ways ahead of settlement, and utilise Crown HoNOUHABLE ME}IBERS: Hear, hear ! lands as they should be, and not wait to get districts populated. Some districts which are Mr. RED\VOOD: I may state that since I populated, such as that of the hon. member for havE' been a member of the House I have never Cambooya, should have had a railway twenty knowingly been away from this Chamber when an years ago. important division was taken. On every occasion I have voted, and I intend to do so in the future. Mr. MACKINTOSH : You voted against that The Agricultural Department is a department railway I brought forward last year. which is at present neglected to a great Mr. REDWOOD : I never did. I would not extent by the Government. It is not accorded vote against it, because I think it is a most desir that importance which it should receive. vVe able railway, and I think there will have to be are likely to have a good gr.tin season this year, more railways built in that area between Dalby [Mr. Redwood. Address in Repl.1J. [6 JULY.] Address in Repl;y. 71 and the Goondiwindi line. You want two more 1\Ir. REDWOOD: Well, we will have a good rail ways to make that land all useful for agricul try. I believe the Guvernment are desirous of ture. doing their best with regard to railway construc Mr. JENKINSON: Mr. Speaker, I rise to a tion, but I want them, if they do remain in point of order-to draw your attention to the power-- fact that th~re are strangers here. One of them Mr. ,J. M. HuNTER: \Yill you put them out? is abusing the privilege by taking sketches or Mr. RED\YOOD: I believe they won't; but notes in the gallery, and I ask if he is in order at the same time, if they do, I hope they will in doing s0. be sincere in building railways as readily as 'fhe SPEAKER: It is not ;n order or becm1- po"ible. I do not believe that this House will ing, in n1y opinion, for anyone to come here refuse them whatever money they require to be under privilege, and sketch either any individual voted for progressive and reproductive works. or the members, and if such a performance is Mr. \Yoons: Provided they pay reasonable taking place I shall ha\·e to give a direction. wages. Mr. JENKlNSON: Do you doubt my word 1 Mr. REDWOOD : Exactly; provided they (Laughter.) build railway" properly. As regards the Pre The SPEAKER : Order ! I 'hall have to mier, the other night he made a great many give a direction that it shall cease. remarks which I think were not sincere. I am Mr. JENKINSON: I assert that it has been sorry that the Premier is not in his done. (Laughter.) He ought to be chucked [ii p.m.] place now. \Yhen speaking the out. other night it appeared to me that Mr. RED\YOOD : I am very much surprised he was merely speaking witb his lips, but his tha,t the junior member for Toowoomba did not heart was not in his words. ad vacate the Cuoyar line. The Kingsthorpe GonmNMENT MEMBERS: Oh, oh! (Laughter.) line is a very excellent railway a'' far as it goes, Mr. REDWOOD: I believe that was so. I but I certainly say th1t the Premier deliberately wish someone would tell the Premier to come in, promised in this HousB that he would connect as I want to deal with him. the Cooyar timber country with the Darling A GovERNMENT MEMBER: Go on. Downs and \Yestern Queensland. \Vhat is the result at the present time? \Ye have no pros Another GOVERNME!'>T J\IEMBER : He does not pect as far as I know. think you are worth it. The SECRETARY FOR HAlLWAYS : Don't lose Mr. REDWOOD: I want to point out that if hope. anyone bad watched the Premier's face when that Mr. REDWOOD : The Minister say", "Don't last division was taken the other night, the one lose hope." which resulted in 36 votes to 35, they would have seen the forlorn look in his face. It was a look J\fr. J. M. Hu!'>TE!\: Oh, he will be out in a of misery, and I thought that he would collapse. day or two. Mr. Mur.oAHY: Guilty conscience. Mr. REDWOOD : I know the Minister for Railways has done his best for rail way construc J\Ir. HEDWOOD: I am quite satisfiNl that if tion, but I•am sorry to see the line not begun he had had a weak heartJ it would have settled already. The hon. junior member for Too him. (Laughter.) woomba never made one comment about the The 'l'REASURER : See your own face when timber. \Ye must have that timber. We have this vote is taken. no timber left on the Darling Downs, and a The SPEAKER: Order ! very high price is being paid for it, and that timber should be utilised for the Downs and Mr. REDWOOD : I will not be like the Western Queensland. It is no use the Gol'ern Premier. He looked miserable. He looked pale ment acting with a sort of sham, and saying and haggard ; and when. he _was making than there are fourteen or fifteen railways being built, speech his heart was not m hrs words. He got when they are only fooling, as it will take two or up and told this House what he had done. He three years to eomplete Home of the lines. told this House about some reforms that he bad passed. \Yhy, a, a matter of fact, who were The SECRETARY FOR HAlLWAYS : There are responsible for the passing of those ref_orms? 4,000 men at work on them. It was the three ex-11inisters who are s1ttmg on Mr. RED\YOOD : I am very glad to hear the Opposition side of the House who were re there are -1,000 men employed; I would like to sponsible for the passage of those reforms. The see more employed, M I would like the lines ex-Attorney-General, th~ e;<-Home Secretary ar:;d completed. But what is the result on the Darling 'l'reasurer and the ex-l\1rmster for Ra1lways drd Down, with regard to the timber? That beauti a great p~rtion-and the maj o; port~on in my ful forest, Blackbntt Range, is being tapped from opinion-of the work that \Yrlham K1dston had the Brisbane side, because, I presume, Brisbane the audacity-- influence is greater than the Downs influence. "Why are we not getting that timber tapped? The SPEAKER: Order! "\Yhy should we be persecuted as we are, in order Mr. REDWOOD: I beg pardon. That the that Brisbane people may have the benefit of all Premier had the audacity to claim as his own the timber reserves~ They can get timber from work. The Premier made the assertion that it Maryhorough and other place", yet the timber was his work, but I claim that these three ex from Maryborough is sometimes brought right on J\Iinisters did as much as he did. In fact, none tot he Downs. That is not right. I see the Minister of those measnres would have been placed on the for Rail ways smile, and I hope the Bill will soon statute-book at all if it had not been for the be brought in, and I hope that the junior mem loyal support which had been rendered by the ber for Toowoomba, from his speech on this present Opposition. (Hear, hear_!) I am pleased question, will back me up in this matter, became to see that the Premier has arrrved, as I have his Yote at the present time is very useful on got a few words to ,ay about him. (Laught~r.) that side of the House. I trust we will get that The Premier claimecl that he was responsrble line this session. It is most necessary for the foe this great amount of legislation-wonderful Darling Downs and the \Yestern country that we reforms be told us. He also told us that they must have timber. were p'assed, although no reforms had been Mr. LENNO!'>: ·would you not put the Govern passed for ten years previously-as there were no ment out first? reforms when the Philp party were in power. Mr. Redwood.] 72 Address ~n Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply. The Premier also told us that to join the senior Co~t?·ier. He used those words in the position member for Townsvil!e meant political stagna. which he held at the time when he was defeated tion. and we had to ~;o to the country, and the Pbilp The Hoi\IE SECRETARY: Did you know all this party were in power, and Kidston then told-- when you praised him? The SPEAKER: Order ! Mr. REDWOOD: The Premier said it would Mr. .li.EDWOOD: I beg your pardon; I mean political stagnation to join with the senior should have said the Premier. Then when he member for Townsville, and claimed that it came back and resumed office he forgot the men would be betraying the democratic principle> who were loyal to him, and wanted to ridicule that he believed in. In his speeches in Too them and take away their private name or their woomba these were the remarks he made, yet the honour. Anyone who did not know me must other n:ght he claimed that he received absolute have thought that I was some sinecure of an loyalty from the members who sat on the Go individual. (Government laughter.) Yes, it was vernment side. \Vhy, he knows perfectly well impressed on many people who did not know me, that they are only making use of him. and by the man who wonld not have been in An OPPOSITION ME>IBER interjected. power if I had been in any way disloyal to him. It Mr. l'tED\VOOD: No, I dn not tlnnk anyone is no use being a miser.,ble sham. It is better to would ""'' th:Jt, as they admire the Premier in be hone,;t and sincere and straightforward. other ways. 1\lr. Speaker, if the Premier's heart, I told the Hon. the Premier, when I believed figuratively speaking, could be laid on that in him, that I believed in him bec~use I be table-- (Loud laughter.) lieved he was houest, and I gave him absolute The SPEAKER: Order, order! support. Then when I believed he was not sinc;,re, I told him so. And I am certain if the Mr. REDWOOD: It might be there sooner Premier would only spnk his mind and be than you think. (Laughter.) If the Premier honest he would be sitting- over here on this side were to really spee,k the feeling:; of his heart, of the House to-night and thanking G<,d that he and write them and iay them on the table of the was with us. (Government laughter.) Yes, he HousP, they would be in direct opposition to would. The Premier, in his s;Jeech the other what he said in hi> speech last Tbnrsday. night, tried to make it appear in Hansm·d as if I 0PPOSITIOX ::\IEMBERS : Hear, hear ! 'va~ so1ne Wl·.akling. I do not profess to be a 1Ir. REDWOOD: I Jo not believe that the particularly strong individmtl. Premier meant what he p. dd the other night at Mr. illcLCAHY: Honesty of purpose. all. I know him well, ".nd while I was associated :Mr. REDWOOD : But I can say this, that I with him I wrttchecl him closely. am honest in whftt I am tryin5>; to do. Let Mr. J\ICLCAHY: The longer you knew him the people say what they like. Tney may trample less you thought of him. upon me for a time, but I will perseYere vnd I Mr. REDWOOD: ·when I knew him I will keep going, and I do believe thau the thought he was sincere and honest, and I never people of Qneensland, or the majority of them at thought he would change his views. any rate, will bPJi8Ve in the present action Which the "guerilla" party, as the Premier termed The TREASUHER : He thinks a lot of you now. them the other night, are taking. " Mr. REDWOOD : Whether the Premier An 0PPOSI'riON :\lE}IBER : \Vould you call him thinks a lot of me or not, there was tt time not so a gorilla? long ag-o when, if I bad proved false to him, he would not be sitting in the seat he occupies to 1\Ir. REDWOOD: No, I would call him an night. octopus. I was surprised to see when the present Speaker of the House was being elected OPPOSITION l'lfE1!BERS: Hear, hear ! that he hnd to go outside and put his arm around Mr. EED\VOOD: I have seen the Premier you, :\lr. Speaker, and drag you into the House, on his knees asking me to save him. (Loud The SPEAKER: Order ! The hon. member htughter.) cannot allude to a proceeding in a former debate The Ho1!E SECRETARY: Is that the time the of this session. (Hear, hear!) hon. member for Barcoo referred to? Mr. REDWOOD : I apologise. I am sorry Mr. RED\VOOD: You were not in the House to say it took plac-", and I am sorry it is ont of then. You were very small fry at that time. order to allude to it. The junior member for (Laughter.) I mean what I say. I have seen Toowoomba stated last \Vednesday that there the Premier come to me for assistance before to was a magnificent meeting in Toowoomba. At day, and I will see him again yet. (Government that meeting the junior member for Toowoomba laughter.) The other night be devoted a lot of could not be heo.rd by three-fifths of the audience, time to n1e, and said, "Fancy the senior member and I challenge him to deny it. Three-fifths of for Toowoomba being Premier." (Laughter.) the audience could not hear the Premier-and he The Hmm SECRETARY: Just fancy it! has a good voice. The only one that got any thing like a reception-and it could not be c~lled Mr. REDWOOD : But that remark fell very flat in this House. I may not hav£ had much a good reception-was the hon. member for parliamentary experience, but I think my record TownsvillP. They could not get a platform until will compare as bvourably as the Premier's. they got the Hon. ::\lr. Pbilip to go up there. OPPOSITION MEMBERS : Hear, hear ! The SPEAKER: Order! The hon member should say "senior member for Townsville." Mr. HE DWOOD: I would not be holding the position which I hold at the present time unless Mr. REDWOOD: I mean the senior member someone did think something of me, and that is for Townsville. They called a committee meet the controlling of one of the largest industries on ing, and they got only nine people of the com the Darling Down~. Then the Premier the bined committees to attend, and the meeting other night had the presumption to say that that was held was neither more nor less thJ.n a some people did not know me, but those who rabble from beginning to end. The men round did knew that I waR_an absnrdity. the platform could hear, but at the back o.f the The HoME SEORB;TARY: Hear, hear ! hall it was nothing but a constant fire of mter jections. And the Premier at that meeting so Mr. REDWOOD : He said I was absurdity, far lowered his d1gnity and manhood as to call and rerJeated it twice. He repeated it in the the ladiea and gentlemen who were present [Mr. Redwood. Address in Reply. [6 JuLY.] Add1'ess in Reply. 73 "things," and he said they had a pain in their Mr. RED\VOOD: At our meeting on Mon stomach. (Laughter.) 'l'o use the correct word, day night the ball was packed, and there was he said they had a pain in their belly. (Renewed not a sound. I would have been glad of more laughter.) Do hon. members think those were interjections ; but the people went there to hear; nice expressions to fall from the Premier? I may they wanted to make an absolute contrast, to not be fit for a Premier, but I would not use those show the difference between the hearing they expressions in the presence of ladies and gentle gave to their enemies and the hearing they gave men. At that meeting the Premier must have to their friend". I ask the junior member for lost his head-as I have seen him lose it before. My Toowoomba is he game to addrhs a public meet colleague, the junior member for Toowoomba ing in Tuowoomba to-rnorrow? he is not my colleague now-(laughter)-got up Mr. RoBEHTR : Yes. and tried to make this House believe that there was an excellent meeting at Toowoomba ad Mr. HEDWOOD : Let the hon. member go dressed by the Premier. It is absolutely wrong and do it. He said here the other night that I -there were interjections from beginning to end. did not represem To<1woomba·. If I call my Hence the PremiPr losing his tem}Jer. After committee together, they will come in hunrlreds, wards it was advertised that they were going to not nine all told. If I call a public meeting at form a People's Progressive League, but they three clays' notice, they come in thouRands. The were not game. 1 t fell through-it fell fiat-and junior member for Toowoomba took three weeks yet they tell me that Toowoomba is not with to work up the Premier's meeting, and he could me. \Vhat was the result of the meeting in 1908 not have got a successful meeting at all bad it in Toowoomba when the Premier arri \ t1d there? not been for the hem. member f.•r Townsville It was one of the greatest political meetings ever coming to his '"·'istance. I claim that I was held in Queenoland. There were ii,OOO people elected by the democrats of Toowoombn to follow assembled in the Austral Hall. Three hundred a certain 'po!ie? and aclvoc .... te cPrtain pr~nciples. ladies with torches marched in frnnt of the ladies' I am advocating those principl< ,, ; I have not committee and a committee of about 300 men. deviated from them by one flaction frrJm the Mr. JENKI:->sox: Headed by a Syrian. first time I stood on the hustings to the present moment. \Vhcre is the jnninr member for Too Mr. REDIVOOD: The gentleman you refer woorn ba? He is with the party he promised he to is a French subject. would not tollow. He can justify himself if he The SPEAKER : Orrler! \Vill the hon. mem likes-he will have the opportnnity of replying to ber be good enough to address the Chair? nw. The Premier the other night marle use of sorne remarks against me. .!Ie said, H Fanc.Y the Mr. RED\VOOD: The hun. member for hon. member for Bowen and the hon. meml>er for Fassifern spoke of a Syrian. I wish to say Toowoomha, the senior member for Brisbane that gentleman is a French subject born in South, and the hrm. member for Barcoo being France. He was certainly dressed in Syrian together! Just fancy an alliance between them!" costume, with drawn sword. (Laughter.) The IV e were all together in the one party. I think Pren1ier on that occa:'l;ion was dra\vn in a car~ it was an extraordinary thing to say. He then riage by four white horses, and behind was a ridiculed the hon. member for Barcoo for his magnificent banner with the words "Gang remarks about me in South Brisbane. forrit!" And the banrl was playing "Three Cheers for the RBd, White, and Blue." All those GovERN1IENT l\IE}JBEHS : Hear, hear ! people went to the Austral Hall, where we had Mr. REDWOOD: Yes. Well, I wish to say a magnific~nt meeting. I think it was the that I S The SPEAKER: The hon. member must Mr. RED\VOOD: I will oppose the Goyern endeavour to clothe his sentiments in a little ment, because I maintain it is only a farce. more parliamentary form. (Laughter.) I have The HOii!E SECI\ETARY : Oppose democratic· no doubt that if he only exercises his ingenuity legislation ? he will find himself quite capable of suggesting that the Treasurer on a certain occasion made Mr. REDWOOD: It was political stagnation observations that were not correct. (Laughter.) last session, and it is going to be the same this It will be out of order, howev.•Jr, to characterise session. them as being absolutely false. (Laughter.) 0PPOSTTIO~ 1\IE;l!BERS : Hear, hear ! Mr. RED\VOOD: I accept your ruling, Mr. Mr. REDWOOD : They may run down the Speakcr-(laughter)-and I shall say that the Labour party on the Conservative side, but I can hon. gentleman\, statement is not in accordance say that while the Labour party supported us with fact. they were absolutely loyal to us. The HOME SECRE1'ARY : You only lost your Mr. HABDACRE: Hear, hear! head, that's all. Mr. REDWOOD : And they followed us; The TREASURER: I was only quoting your own consistently, and I say emphatically that you words. could not get better or more loyal support than Mr. REDWOOD : That is all right. the Premier got from the Labour party. They The TREASUHER : You said in the House you stuck to their pledges, and they t•;uried out what were going to issue a writ against him. they said they would. They were absolutely loyal to the Government then in power until the· GovERN1fENT MEMBEHS : Hear, hear ! Premier brought in syndicate rail ways. Then, Mr. REDWOOD: \Veil, Mr. Speaker, Mr. and only then, did the Labour party oppose us. Kidston-(Laughter.) Mr. 1\IACKINTOSH: Are you in favour o The SPEAKER: The Chief Secretary. syndicate railways? Mr. R:I<;DWOOD: The Chief t:\ecretary-that Mr. REDWOOD: Never mind what I :1m in is better-the Chief Secretary remarked the favour of. (Laughter.) The hon. member will other night that I was not sincere in what I was not draw me on this occasion. I told the House doing-that it was practically a subterfuge, or previously that I am in favour of State-owned some excuse-that it was a matter of revenge. railways, and if the hon. member for Cambooya :Now, I wiRh to emphatically contradict that, had list,ned he would not be interjecting now. and I wish to say that, ifi have any dispute or any The Prermer rolls out the Rockhampton pro trouble with anybody, I generally have the fight gramme, and so do hon. members on that side. out forthwith, a" I have had with the Premier. Some of them are vc·ry uncomfortable, and do But I do not bear him any ill-will. I have not not like being where they are. They are one unkind thought about him privately, but nervous, and they will be suffering from nervous politically I am opposed to him. I assure every prostration in a week or two. (Laughter.) That hon. member in tbe House that I have not one is a complaint they will all have before they are unkind thought against any member of the many weeks older. House, rmd I have not an unkind thought per. The Hoii!E SECRETARY: You know all about sonally against the Premier. Politically I am it. dealing with him, and politically I have a·s much 1\Ir. RED\VOOD : They talk about the Rock right to my own opinion aq the hon. gentleman hampton programme as if that was the whole has to his opinion. \Ve were also accused of aim and the whole desire of the Kids ton party to" offering practically down Queen street a portfolio pass. \Vhere is the State InsnranGe Bill? to every member we met. Mr. J. M. HuNTER: Overboard. The Holi!E SECRETARY : Hear, hear ! Mr. REDWOOD: Yes, and that is where it Mr. RED\VOOD : Thrtt is wrong-entirely is going to stop. I will not bet, but I would wrong-and I wish to contradict it. I wish to like to bave a pretty high wager that there is not state absolutely that it is not so. much chance of passing State insurance as the The Hm!E SECRE'l'ARY : Ah ! Government are situated at the present time. Mr. REDWOOD: It in not true. I wonld \Vhy, there is no more desirable measure-there like to know what the Home Secretary knows i;;; no measure that we require, or that is more about it. 'The hon. gentleman knows very little desirable for the welfare of queensland-than a about the affairo that occur in this House-or proper sys\em of State insurance, both in hfe, out of it, for that matter. It would be· better fire, and accident. for him to rr:iud his own businesq. (Govern Mr. HuxHAc\I: There is money in it, too. ment laughter.) In speaking about the Trades Mr. REDWOOD: At e•·ery election at which Dioputes Bill the other night the Premier main· I have stood there was a cry howled round the· tained that the Government policy is undoubtedly country that there was going to be a democratic policy, and a policy to be carried [5.30 p.m.] a land tax. \Vherever I went that out. Now, I wish to state that I do not believe cry was howlPd by the Conservative it will be carried out. I have come to this con· Press, that a land tax was inevitable if the elusion myself because I believe that, no matter Kidston party went into power. \Vhere is that what legislation is passed in this House, if the to-day? I heard the Premier himself deliber administration goes into the hands of the con ately say-he was asked if he was in favour of a servative-dominated Government the measures land tax, and he said "Yes, I am in favour of a will be administered by them in a conservative land tax." That is so, but the Conservative manner. That is my firm conviction. I do not journals cannot remember this-they can only care what legislation we pass-and I know per remember what suits themselves. I like to be fectly well the Government are unable to pass fA.ir and just to every member of the House, no legishttion-they have not sufficient power to matter on what side he sits. pass legislation, and thev C!tnnot retain those benches with honour, as "they will not be able The HOME SECHETARY : Do you believe in a to carry the leiiislation that they desire, or any land tax? legislation. Mr. REDWOOD: I believe this--( Govern The Hoi\IE SECRE1'ARY : Are you going to ment laughter and interjections.) oppose it? The SPEAKER : Order, order ! [Mr. Redwood. Address in Reply. [6 JULY.] Addnss ~n Reply. 75 Mr. RED\VOOD : As regards a land tax, told two or three years ago that there was no there is no occasion for it at the present time occasion for it-that there were very good -(Government laughter)-and I do not think insurance companies in this country. I am any Treasurer, no matter whom he may be, quite aware that there are good insurance com would inflict further taxation when there is no panies. I am not going to _deny ~he fac:;t that necessity for it. \Vhen necessity arises, and there is, at the present t1me, m Brisbane not until then, would any Treasurer bring in some splendid institutions, and in various further taxation. parts there are other institutions. But what Mr. LESixA: It is to break up land monopoly, would be the result to a man who after not for the purpose of taxation. (Government paying twenty or thirty years to one of these laughter.) companies if it then ':'ent insolvent'? \Vhe~e is the man's money? \1 hat would happen to bs Mr. REDWOOD: As I was remarking regard· wife and children? He is an old man then. The ing State insurance, we had another great cry same thing applies to the fire insurance com when the \Vorkers' Compensation Act was panies. After a man pccying into a fire insurance passed. It was said to be fill iniquitous measure company for a number of years, he has a fi:e, and which was going to do fl great amount of harm, the company goes insolvent: \Vhere b he? while the result of that measure has been most Practically ruined. Now, there is another phase beneficial to the people of the State. It was of the question, and that is the sending away of stated the other night that a sum of £10,000 bad so much money out of the State when we can been paid by the Government under that Act. make better use of it. The majority of the In Toowoomba we started a mutual insurance shareholders, of fire insurance companies parti com,,any, on the co-operative principle, and cularly, are outside the State. They m·e in other what was the result ? \V e started it under the parts of the world, and those gentlemen draw \Vorkers' Compensation Act, and the first year very large sums of money out of this country. we tJaid a bonus of 33 per cent, to the share My contention is that if the l{cvernment would holders. The only death that occurred in Too take up the principle of State insurance earnestly woomha was that of a man who hroke his back on and honestly, it would be a great boon to the range while driving a cab, and we had to Queensland. In Germany they have a system pay £232 to his widow and children. Before the where the employer gives so much and t~e em Act was passed they would have got nothing. ployee gives so much, and the State g1ves so The second year we were in existence we had much and I say there is a fund under the 66!l: per cent. profit, and the third year we had Germ'an system at the present time of practically 66~ per cent. profit, showing whflt an e>weller.t £26,000,000 of money. That is a way of making profit is being made out of it by these big the people provident. insurance cotnpaniEs. The TREASUHER : That is the old-age pensions The HmrE SECRETARY: How much of that system. profit did you divide amongst the workers? Mr. RED\VOOD : The old-age pensions Mr. RED\VOOD: We divided amongst the system is a very good one, but we must go people 'Who insured-that was, the shareholders- further than that-we must strike at the root of 56* per cent. as bon uR. · it. I want the people when they are young to The Holi!E SECRETARY: It was not allowed to provide something for .their old age. I want to the workers. encourage the populat10n of the State, and the young mcm will not marry unless they feel some Mt·. REDWOOD : I am very much surprised security for the woman they take as a Wife. fit such an unintelligible remark coming from the (Laughter.) They will not. The Home Secre Home Secretary. (Laughter.) tary seems to be enjoying himself. Small things The HOME SECHETA!\Y : You don't like it. amuse small minds. (Laughter.) :\Ir. REDWOOD : Then there was another Hon. members being engaged in conversation, howl-a terrible howl-ahout the \V ages Boards Act. The W3ges board was going to kill every The SPEAKER : Order, order ! farmer on the Downs-it was one of the most The hon. junior member for Fortitude Vallry detestable things that ever happened to the continuing in conversation, State. \Vhere are those men who made this The SPEAKER : I must ask the hon. member great howl? They are behind the very party that passed that Act. Even take the pocition to resvect my call to order. of the State insurance at the present time. Mr. McLACHLAN : I did not hear it. \Vhat do we find? It is omitted from the pro The SPEAKER : I can only say I am very gramme, and yet it was in the Rockhampton surprieed to hear so. I hope the hon. member programtnP, nnd the Premier is not gfJing to bring that measure in. He knows perfectly well will refrain from conversing in the Chamber. he could not get it through. Neither is he game Mr. REDWOOD: I am pointing out that I to bring in a proper Trades Disputes Bill. He consider young fellows hc,;itate to get married is not going to bring in one or the other. when they feel there is no security as regards An HoNOURABLE MEillBER : Do you want a their wives, find I repeat it. I say a young man, Trades Disputes Bill? per baps drawing £2 or .£2 10,. a week, could get married and he would do very well. He would Mr. REDWOOD: Yes. I voted for a get his' home and go along steadily, but what Trades Disputes Bill, and I think it is only would be the result if anything happened to right and just that we should have one. him? \Ve want to encourage those young men. A GovERNMEXT MEMllER : Y on will get it. (Hear, hear!) \Ve want to encourage those young men to get m~rried, and we want an Mr. REDWOOD: I hope we will get it. I insurance system so that thos? young men:s want to know what chance ho,ve we of getting wives would be provided for m case of the1r State insurance, and it is one of the planks death. Any thinking young fellm'; would c~m of the platform I believe in, and have believed sider what would be the result If anytlnng in for many years. I think it is one of the happens to him, and his wife and children left most de,,irable find excellent measures that could helpless in the world. be passed by this Ohambet·, and so place the people in a position that they need not fear The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS : \Vhat the insumnce companie.s going insolvent. I was about the Australian Mutual Provident Society? Mr. Redwood.] 76 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in R1ply. Mr. REDWOOD : A very good society. I Act, and I believe that originally the Govern am not going to say the Australian Mutual ment intended to bring forward a system of Provident Society is not a good society. State insurance after that Act was passed. But The SECHE'rARY FOl\ PuBLIC LANDS : Could that is a measure which I know perfectly well the State offer anything better? the present Government will not be able to pass. They will not even be able to bring· it forward. Mr. REDWOOD : But it is possible that the They keep on bowling about the Rockhampton Australian Mutual Provident Society may, manifesto, and saying what a wonderful success twenty or thirty years hence, go in the same it will be, when at the san1c time they know it direction as some of the largest insurance com will not be carried out in certain particulars. I panies in the United States have gone. Tlwy do not blame the members of the Philp party for may get speculative directors in power; those their influence on the Government. They are directors may make heavy investments, plague the dominant party on that side ; they number or son1e other epidemir:: rnay cmne along, causing about twenty-four, while the Kidston party the deaths of thousands ol their pnlicy-holders, number only fourteen. It must, therefore, be and they might have to suspend payment. The perfectly clear to everyone in this House and to Australian :Mutual Provident Society is not a everyone in the country that the Philp party third as big as the Equitable Company of 1'\ ew are the dominrmt party among those who support York, which was shaken to its foundations a few the Government. And they ought to he, seeing years ago. I an1 not going to say nne di:-paraging that they are the more numerous partv. word about the Australian :Mutual Provident Society nr theN ational :VIutual Life and Citizens A GovERXUEN'f l\IE}IBER: \Vh ich is the domi Association or any of the variou,; life insurance nant party on that side? companies doing busine'"' in these States. They Mr. REDWOOD: We are all progr8'oives are very good societic,s, and am run well, Lut over here. (Laughter.) \Ve are all actuated by still it would be much better to have State thu same desire for reform. \V e can give and life insuranc-3. Th,.n, consider the operations take, and we can accomplish much good ]Fgisla of fire insurance companies. The people of tion. But I question very much if there can be Toowoomba and the surrounding district pay ,mything accomplished on that side of thE House about £8,000 a year in fire insurance pre with the present constitution of the Government miums. About £4,000 has been the average following. Mr. Philp laid it down in this House annual payment for lo,ses by fire d':'ring the some years ago that he could not hold office with last ten or twelve years; so that dnnng every a majority of two, anrl he resigned. And I year of that period we have been £4,000 poorer. claim that it is not a fait· thing, that it is not a That £4,000 would be kept in our own hands if wise thing, for a Government that i~ unable to we had State fire insumnce. I cannr1t see the p Mr. REDWOOD: YPs; he has been like a nation to exist as exists in the United Kingdom phonograph to-day. I do not wish to say that I at the present time with regard to immigration. do not make mistakes-if I do, I am prepared to He sent "'good exhibit, but the Government have admit them-but I do object to people having gone no further. Perhaps it is because he has the presumption to incessantly claim that they not had the neces."ary training. That may account are always right, that they have never deviated for it. (Laughter.) He may lack that necessity from a policy, when at the present time they are to be a progree,ive and satisfactory Premier. absolutely acting the part of the hypocrite, and However, the leader of the Government at the that is what I believe the Premier is doing to-day. present time is in a very weak state. I think he GovEHNMEN'r MEMBERS: Order, order ! is suffering from an attack of nerves. 'When I saw his face when that vote was taken the other Mr. RED\YOOD: I have endeavoured this day, I had a feeling of sorrow and regret. evening to show to this House, and through this (Laughter.) The Premier accused me of wanting House to the cnuntry, the position revenge. Let me assure him that I have not one [7 p.m.] which I intend to take up. T have atom of ill-will against him in my heart-not one endeavourc·d to explain to the House atom. "\Vhe,tever I have to say about him I will the reason why I am not following the present say to his face, but I have no revenge against him. Government. I have felt honestly that I did not I would have liked the Premier to have been believe in the present Government, and feeling absolutely candid with me, and I would have that, I have determined to take the step I have had the same confidence iu him as in the past if in entering the Opposition. I maintain that in he had been. In conclusion, I will say that I the firilt place the Premier was not honest with have endeavoured to show clearly the reason us, and did not tell us the true position of why I have taken an active opposition against affairs. I do not deny for one moment that I the Premier. I do not believe he was honest to followed him, believing in him implicitly. I me, and I told him so. I do not believe it is followed him because I thought he was telling honest to Queensland thttt he should stay iu us what he honestly believed would be an power, because he is unable to cury any legisla advantage to Queensland, ttnd when hf: refused tion. And even if any legislation is pa:;sed, it to go on I still had confidence in him. He will become a dead letter on the statute-book of told us emphatically that he would not go Queensland. It is our duty as meml.Jers to make on with the support of the Labour party. He this House progressive, and to make the country told ua that he intended to place this matter progress, and to do that it 1s our duty to have a before the Philp 11arty, and if we would not Government in power that will have the confi agree to it he would choose some other n1eans. dence of the pe0ple, and that will be a power in I am satisfied that with the statf• of parties this House, and make Queensland, as she ought at present we have arrived at a state of poli to be, the most progressive State in the Com tical stagnation, and I do not see what good monwealth. can come out of it or what remedy there can be OPPOSITION liiE1!BERf<: Hear, hear! and Go unless there is a change of Government, or unless vernment lau(ihter. an election takes place, or some event occurs and Mr. MACKIKTOSH (Cam~ooya): Mr. a new p;trty is formed that will have the confi Speaker,-I wish to congratulate you upon the dence of this House. It will be evident that this position which you have attained to in this House, House has arrived at a I give him credit for having any amount of sense. never had better men. I have known men who He is a good neighbour, aud generous to a fault, did not know bow to harness a horse or follow a but since he has taken to practical politics he plough become successful farmers after they had has become rather erratic. (Laughter.) It is got experience. If I came to this country with something new to me to hear that he is a farmer. only a shilling in my pocket I would be an em Of course anyone-even the hon. member for ployer in a couple of years. There are greater Clermont-can talk about farming. The senior facili tie~ here now for making a living than there member for Toowoomba has a right to hope the were forty-seven years ago ,;,·hen I came to the farming industry will go ahead, because it has country. \Vhen I came here I walked all the made him a very profitable living. (Laughter.) way to \Varwick-I always go forward. As to All the times I have heard him express himself, the construction of railways, the bon. member publicly and privately, he was in favour of for Toowoomba has clearly stated the case. The giving the Premier a free hand, and getting House is in a state I never knew it to be in before, the support of the Labour party, and it is a and I recollect all the Parliaments we have bad in mystery to me how the subsection of the Queensland. I think it is deplorable that there is Labour party could go away from their only one of a majority-but whose fault is that? allegiance t<> the Premier they are sworn It is the fault of those who departed fr"lll this to follow. Some members went on their side. 'fhey say they wanted to keep the Kids ton knees agitating to have a coalition with the pttrty from being conservatiseu. Then why did senior member for Townsville, s,nd there is they not sh1y here and kePp the other party no doubt that until about three months ago from being numerically stronger than onr party? the hon. member for Toow<>omba impressed To show the intention of the Government to the community as a whole with the belief that enable the people to develop the resources of the he was the cause of the fusion that took place. soil, I may mention that last year the number of I mnst say it iR giving· g comprehended what he was doing, his action than I «m threatened with a dissolution. So would be contemptible, but. I thoroughly believe much so, that I am afraid that I will have to that he did not comprehend it-that he jmt got borrow money to see me through the next elec a slight touch of temporary political insanity. tion if we go on at this rate. I trust something (Laughter.) That is my belief. No sane man will be done so that the peovle who compel would give utterance to the speech I have just frequent and unnecessary elections will have to read, und then leave that party without rhyme pay for them. or reason. Mr. HAMILTO~: Get rid of the present Mr. MAX:>' : Whut did you say at Charters Premier. Towers? Mr. MACKIXTOSH: Make me Premier? Mr. MACKINTOSH: I CJuite believe that (Loud laughter.) There is no office in the this will be a sort of political crisis. I am ex Cabinet of Queensland but what I consider my pressing my own op1nion on matters that took self c 1p:1ble of filling-everything from the place in the Parliaments of this great State during Premier's seat t day that the Ministry was becoming steadily capacity as a member or as a Minister in thi>!> conservatised. I do not think tbat tbe pre House ever displayed a large share of that sence of the hon. member for Kennedy in the charity that he now claims for himself? Jl.1inistry at the present time is any oontradic. Mr. KENNA: He is all self. tion of that. I know that the hon. member for Kennedy has many good qualities, but for Mr. AIREY: We all remember his denun all that, I recognise in him one of the greatest ciation of the hon. member for Townsville, conservativ,es in this House. and we all remember his denunciation of the hon. member for Oxley, Mr. Denham, when The SECRETARY FOR MINES: That is not so. he first proposed the coalition. And five Mr. AIREY: Mr. Jach{)ll is eminently well minutes after he spoke about charity being sutted for the position which he at present extended to himself, I heard him use such occupies. words as " spite " and " corruption " about his critics. And I also remember him saying, The SPEAKER: Order. order! some years ago, when he was criticising cer tain members, that he would like to kick them ~f~. AIREY: Evidently the Philp party are across to the other side of the House. gammg m the Cabmet. It is quite right, as Mr. BOWMAN: Hear, hear! I was one of the hon. member for Toowoomba said that them. they should do so. I hope they will co~tinue to do so, and I hope they will demand their Mr. AIREY: He does not say that now. pound of flesh to the full. They number He has a different feeling now for those who twenty-four against some thirteen or fourteen sit behind him, and whom he referred to the other night as the "dress circle." (Laughter.) of the other:c, and they have a perfect right to I turn to his speech in H ansard, and I see more represenbtion in the Cabinet. he says:- Mr. KENNA: They are too modest. The denunciation of the very sensible and public Sllirited action taken in October last springs from ~1r. AIREY: As the hon. member for chagrin here, spleen there, and disappointed hopes Bowen states, they are too modest-they are further over. altogether too modest. I draw the attention Mr. GRANT: A very fair definition. of the democrats over there to the fact that some dozen of their own comrades have left Mr. AIREY: When Mr. Denham said- them. To-morrow it ic. quite possible that The SPEAKER: Order! you may lose half a dozen more. (Government laughter.) No one knows' what will happen Mr. AIREY: When the hon. member for on the day after to-morrow. The papers arc Oxley took the sensible and public-spirited hinting that even the leader will be departing action, which he did some eighteen montlis ago very ehortly. (Opposition laughter.) What in advising that _a coalition should take place, then will happen? lt reminds me of the old before an electwn--(hear, hear !)-what did the denunciations of the Premier spring from? Jacobite song-- Was it from " spleen, malice, dicappointed Poor ,John wa.., a ca11tain bold, hopes," or what did it spring from? Tn battle fierce delighting; He fled full soon on the first of June, Mr. KENNA: £1,000 a year. But he bade hi-s men lmep fighting. Mr. AIREY: The proposal of the hon. \Yhen I heard the Premier ;aying on Thurs member for Oxley to bring about a coalition day night that they were going to keep fight before an election he denounced as treachery.. ing, the old song kept running through my . Mr. CoYNE: He said it "as demoralis-ing head, and I said, " f-Ie, bade his men keep m the extreme. fighting." Look at the attitud Mr. AIREY : The assertion that the hon. fourteen months, the expenses of the House member for Ipswich was the most eloquent during that time being something like £40,000. advocate of the coalition is scarcely correct. And though that amount of money has been spent for the purpose of keeping Parliament, T'he TREASuRER: He never denied it. we have not been allowed to discuss the Esti i\lr. AIREY: The first advocate of the mates. The net result is that people outside =aliiiDn wa.s the hDn. member for Oxley. are asking what is the use of having a State Mr. KENNA: He has been consistent in it. Parliament at all. (Hear, hear!) It has been hurled at the Labour party and at myself that 1\Ir. AIREY: The Premier s11id I was the we are in favour of unification-which is not most eloquent opponent of the coalition. No. true; but is there any stronger justification That honour only belongs to the Premier him for unification than the fact that Parliament self. (Hear, hear!) Shall I get H ansard and has been in recess fourteen months and has read those charming diatribes which he made sat only five weeks? As I said before, there against any such coalition, and in which t.he have been one or two appointments made hon. member for Oxley was anathematised for dnring the recess which, in my estim vital question. I say the sooner that is done South Wales had just tried to float a £3,000,000 the beUer. One thing I think the Minister loan and had been successful in only 70 per and the Government deserves commendation cent: of it. This is what the London Financial for: that i,q, for prohibiting licenses within ...:.T eu:s says- 5 miles of railway construction works. Xew South \Vales has worn out its \Ydcome on the HONOURABLE l11EMBERS: Hear, hear! loan market. This fiasco should teach New South Mr. HAMILTON: But they do not stop the '\Vales an unforgettable lesson. sale of drink there? If that was true of a laan 70 per cent. af which Mr. AIRE,Y: I was just going to say, if the was taken up, it must be a sad loan af which Government stopped the sale of drink there, 84 per cent. was taken up by the underwnters. well and good; but I very much doullt There is another point I would like to refer whether they have. I have had experience on ta in cannection with this. Some three .or railway lines where there are not many hotels, faur years ago I heard the present Premwr and I know what it means. Sly-grog shanti<:·s talk about the near approach of the ye~r were rampant all over the place, and unless 1915, when same £14,000,0{)0 of loan money 1s the Government at the same time send round falling due, and we have to go slow an account an excise officer, then the regulations will not af the appraach af tha.t year. Thac polwy, I be worth a snap of the fingers. In the Go· think, i:" a sound one. \Vhat is the case now? vernor's Speech, I note there ic, an allusion It appears to me the closer we get to the year to the fact that there are some fifteen railwavs 1915 the more careless we get about these building-. and that some fifteen railways are promised, including amongst others, as men matters. It is one af those e:draordmary m versions of opinion which stagger th~ best tioned by the Premier the other day, a trans. friends af the Premier af late. I ;v1sh. to continental railwa.y to connect the ·western speak now concerning a ma;tter of v1tal 1m· lines. I should like to know how long the portance ta all of us-that lf·. the matter af £2,000,000 loa.n is going to last at this ra.te. our financial relations with the Fec!Na.l Par Mr. HARDACRJo: : It is all gone already. liament. This is o, mast vital questian, and ane which we cmmot afford to neglect. The Mr. AIREY: As was pointed out the othm· first axiarn we can lay clown in counechan day, this means going on the loan market with anv scheme propounded for acceptance next year in order to carry out this extra· bv the Federal Parliament is that it should ordinary development. Four or five years ago be one that bath parties can ac·cept-one that the Premier was content to spend £250,000 of has some elements of usefulness a.bout it. If laan money in one year. Either his policy at there is samething in it ·of such a nature that that time was very mnch mistaken, ar naw his one or the other party cannot accept 1t, t~cn policy is to be very much condemned. I sa v the framer af it is guilty of political foahsh· ane of those two policies is very mnch wrong. ness. The first thing '"e have to cons1der 1s, We know Ycrv well the hon. member far whethe1· the scheme possesses the. elements af Townsville has' always advocated a generous soundness, or, in the plain American phrase, expenditure of loan money--as much as "will it Pee"? '\Ye have had about eight con £1,500.000 in one year; the Premier was very ferences, and what da they mea'.'? To a. great careful in regard to this matter four or five extent they simply mea.n magmficent pwmc•,. years ago, and only spent £500,000 per annum There has been Yery little, serious business done for some four years---and this simnl:v indicates there. Of course·, while the States had plenty to me that the hon. m<>mber for Townsville is of mon·'Y that did not matter very much. In running the policy of this Government. the early days, if the Customs and Exmse Hon. R. PHILP: Y au spent £1,000,000 yaur revenue ran to £8,000,000 or £9,000,000, every solf. body said that was magnificent. \Vhen it came to £10,000,000 ar £11,000,{)00, some of the l\fr. AIREY: The hon. member again makes States cauld nat hale! themselves. But we are a mi·,take. There was £1,000,000 spent dur naw earning close to dang<'raus times. Though ing the last year I was 'rreasurer, although I one canference after another has been hold, was only Treasurer for a little over half a year. the Premiers could not agr.ee upon anything. There was £1',000,00(1 spent that year, but if They were magnificent as critics; they could the hon. member goes into the matter he will slate and criticise tho praposals of the Federal find that something like half of that amount Trea.surer in magnificent style, but somehaw was surplus pnt into loan-a very, v·ery they did not appear to be able to pr?pound different matter indeed. anv definite practicable scheme of th81r own. Hon. R. PHILP: Revenue paid into loan As" far as destructive criticism was cancerned, maney? they were simply magnificent. I remember that Sir Geono:e Turner made some proposals. j\1r. AIREY: That is so. The surpluses are HB was cau;teous and painstaking. Then paid into capital accounL The hon. member came Sir John Forrest. a man who, I believe, must know that. It was stated the othE'r clay was sincere in his dBsire to give the State> a in the Governor's Speech that onr loan af fair dea.!. Then came Sir \Villiam Lyne, and, £2,000,000 had been very successfully floated. whatever his faults may bB, therB was the I do not know what they mean by 'uccessful basis af a goml ,scheme in his proposals. But flotation. When a ship goes ont af a h'!rbonr since that time the aspect of Federal finance she is insured. If, nfter she goes out she is has cha.nged altogether. The Federal Pa;rlia wrecked, the people do not say when they go ment has now tak<>n aver old-age penswns, to the insurance company for the money, and, in additian to that, defence expenclih1re "\Vhat a successful va:;age it was." is to go ahead to the extent of somethmg hke An HoNOL:RABLE MEMBER: Perhaps some· £1,000,000 per annum. The surplus we used times it is. (Laughter.) to get wa., £800,000 ar £90(),00{) oyer and above the three-fourths, and that is now being re Mr. AIREY: Yes; but when a loan is taken tained bv the Commonwealth. It 1s qmte up to the extent of 84 per cent. by the under clear th-;,t the ane-fourth which hitherto writers, it makes one say, "If this is a success· sufficed for the needs of the Federal Parlia· ful loan, what is an unsuccessful one?" The ment will not suffice in the futnre. That was ather clay I took up the T,ondon Financial admitted bv onr own Premier at the last News, and I saw it stated there that New Hobart Conference. The Federal Parliament [Mr. Airey. Address in Repl,y. [6 JULY.] Address in Repl,y. 89 'has received certain powers with regard to to note that the hon. member for l\loreton the finance under the Constitution after 1910. other night, in dealing with this question, 'Then they can alter the pnesent arrangement. took only one year, the year 1908, when we Whether we like it or dislike it, whether received nearly £9,000,000. I do not take one we approve of it or disapprove of it, whether year. I take four years. In those four years we think it is wise or unwise, there is the we received at the rate of about £8,004,000 per fact that the Commonwealth has the power annum. In the year just concluded we re· to dispose of that revenue just as it chooses. ceived about £7,939,000. Now, what i'l the And yet, owing to the foolishness of the State Premier of Queensland and the other Pre· l:'remicrs and Treasurers, no arrangement has miers asking for? They v.ant. £6,750,000 been arrived at; no practical proposition has down, and then they want the Comm we had only realised 84 per cent. of onr loan. The Commonwealth do not make themselves This is what the Premier said-- arbiters at all; the thing has been a.!ready llroad;y speaking, the proposal of the Cf)nference was done for them by the Constitution. This is to give the Commonwealth about 50 per cent. more of the kind of stuff that the Premier ladles out the. Customs and ~xci~e revenue than formerly . . . in the daily Pr,css for the edification of th& wlnle the t-~tates, mstead of receiving £~.000,000 as esti mated for this year, or £~.750,000 as actually received last people who do not study the question. Then :rear, \Vould get as their share in 1911 only £6,i50,0C,O. he winds up by telling everybody that he The most prejudiced anti-:::..tate man could hardlY look regards the proposals as extremely satisfactory at these figures and honestly say that the Coutf.rcnce -proposal,, that there i-s not the r The TREASum:R: So did I~I took Mr. ~but I am pointing out the fact that there is Thallon 's estimate. a steady growth of expenditure out of all proportion to revenue. It would be well for Mr. AIREY : But the Premier throws it up gentlemen on the Treasury benches not to di> at me as if it was a hasty and ill-considered claim their responsibilities. Expenditure is estimate on my part, whe;r I simplv took. the continually increasing and there is no hand estimates of the officers of the department. at the Treasury strong enough to stop the The SECRETARY FOR PrBLIC LANDS: Were drift. In spite of the booming revenue caused you his colleague at the time? by the fifteen railways, we are steadily lapsing, Mr. AIREY: I knew nothing about it. I will and I am afraid a deficit is not far ahead. tell the hon. member privately, and I feel sure The TREASL:RER: You said we were certain I shall be able to satisfy him. I said the to have one this year. estimates :were unreliable, especially in regard to expenchture. Is not that true? Is it not J\Ir. AIREY: I hope the hon. member will £170,000 over the e:timate? Another predic be a little more orderlv. \Vhatever I said last tion I made was th1s: " The truth is that if year was based on figures given by experts, by any chance there is a surplus this year, the and not on my own figure'S, and therefore I Treasurer w1ll have to thank the Common was backing the hon. gentleman's own ex wealth collections." That is the absolute fact. perts. The hon. gentleman may thank the The hon. gentleman has a surplus of £9,940. Federal Treasurer for the position in which hR finds himself to-day~he cannot thank any The TREASURER: You predicted a deficit of thing he himself has done for that position. £75,000. Two years ago we had a surplus of £396,000. lllr. AIREY: To-day the Commonwealth In 1907-8 we had a surplus nominally of revenue is £81,000 over the estimate, so if it £115,000, but really of £240,000. This year had not been for the rise in the Common \\ e ar<> down to a surplus of £9,900. Before the w.ealth revenue the hon. gentleman would expiration of the Braddon Blot. and after five have been £70,000 to the bad. If anyone most prosperous years~under the regime of turns to the Financial Statement he will find a Premier who made his financial reputation that it anticipated a drop of £95 000 in the by describing the hon. member for Townsville Federal collections. I believe th~re was a as fhmncially incompetent~we are drifting page devoted to lamentations concerning the stead1ly towards disaster, and the revenue is cond1hon of the Federal reY€nue · but instead not a normal revenue. It has been boomed of a drop of £S5_.000 we have act{Jally £54.000 by fifteen railways. The statement that those more than the year befOTe. I wonder \vhat railway' are being pushed ahead for the sake the hon. member for TownsYille would haye of developing the country is not correct. said in his distressful years if the Common There is another object~that it is to swell the wealth Government had r.eturned him £5•1,000 revenue, to escape a deficit, and to dodge taxation. The Premier told us at several n:ore than he expected. The most serious meetings there would be a shortage of some s1de of the question is that in 1906-7 our £300,000 if Mr. Fisher's proposals were carried revenue 111e1·eased two a.nd a-half times as out. There will be the same deficiency fast i>S our _expenditure; the next year, 1901-8. whether Mr. Fisher, Mr. Cook. or Mr. Deakin the expend1ture 111Crtased twice as fast as the 1s in power. And what preparations are being revenue; and this year the expenditure has made to ~void that deficiency? T'he only pre gone ~P tw10e as fast as the revenue. This is paratwn 1s to steadily boom expenditure. a senous que•stion. Looking at the annual 1ns1do of two years this House will ha;-e the returns of last year we find £383,000 increased choice, on the one hand, of putting on land expenditure But that does not represent the and income taxation; or, on "the other hand, :ea! pos1hon. As the Treasurer pointed out of cuthng down the public service and of m thf' Press, the actual expenditure for 1907- wholf•sale sales of land. \Yithin two' or three 8 was £125,0()0 le's than stated in the Treasury years one of those two choices will be in :figur~s. r\nnual returns show increase in ex evitable, and with the present pa.rty in power penditure, @383,207; actual bond fide expendi I know. which alternative will be adopted. I ture for 190t-8 was £125,000 less than shown in spoke JUst now about the floating of these the Trea•,ury _figure.s, as £125,000 which should loans, and _the increa.sing difficulty year after h~v? gone mto . .surplus was paid towards year that IS apparent not only in Queens w1pmg out certam old accounts~which were land, but also in New South Wales an.d I a standing debit against the Trcasurv~ believe in Victoria~certainly in Ne.,; South £!2,).000; actual increas-e in expenditure, \Vales~and there is no husbanding of our £;,08,000; :surpluses, 1906-7, £396,000: 1007- loan money, such as the Premier himself aavo 8 (really),. £240,000_; 1908-9, £9,940. There Cdted three or four years ago. Instead of foro, thD 111creaoo 111 the exponditur<> is not gettmg ready for the year 1915, when we shall ~he _£383,000 shown in the annual returns; have to meet renewals to the extent of 1t 1s £38~.000 plus £125,000; in other £14,0p0,000, we are pursuing what I can only words, the mcr.oase in the expenditure over cl8scnbe as a boom policy; and, when that the precedin'( year is £508.000. There has pohcy slumps, there will be thousands of men been. a good increase. in revenue, but the fact thrown on the labour market; and of course remams that. \Vhat do we find takes phce? Alfred Deakin hampton-they are following the hon. member comes into power, and the ~2ueendand Premier for Oxley in the Cabinet, and they are following tells him to "gang forward." A day or so after the hon. member for Townsville outside the wards ::Yir. DJakin takeR the advice and "gangs Cabinet, and the institutions they represent. for~ard" to the tune of £2,000,000, as a present 'fhnse hon. members are not the real leaders. to the old country. Let me repeat this-it is \Vhy, the Rockbampton programme-this much a matter so all-import:tnt that it is worth re· talked about Rockbampton prog-ramme-is only peating. \Vhen the Premier was in Cnarters a stalking-horse. Tower", he wanted to justify his pDsition, and he OPPO~ITION ME:IIBERS : Hear, hear ! bases his posit.ion on these grounds: That Mr. Mr. AIHEY: I have heard the Premier him· Fisher's proposal meant taking away from the self tell time after time how the liberali«m was States a sum of £3,000,000. If those were good broken, and grunnd, and crushed, under the grounds for opposing Mr. Fisher, they are Griffith-}[cllwraith coalition, and now the same admirable grounds for opposing .Mr. Deakin. If thing is g-oing on here. The other clay I picked it is right to oppose .Mr. FishPr because he wants up the J1Ielbow·ne Aye and I found an account £3,000,000, then JYh. Deakin, who wants that there of the speech made by 1Ir. McKinnon who £3,000,000 and another £2,000,000 for Dread was leader of the Liberals. It said- noughts-that is all the more reason for more strenuously opposing him than 1Ir. Fisher who There was a Slnrdy note in 3Ir. }lcKinnon's .Ara.rat speech. A~ one who has just had some years of life in does not bel:eve in a Dreadnought at all. a coalition Government he says he deeply di~likes coali The hon. gentloman in speaking the other night tions.. When J1r . .:\IcKinnon 1n~s a member oi the Bent talked about the conditions of the coalition, and he Coalition Government he ·\Yas always hoping that the talked about the same thing at Charter. Towers. libentl c!en1ent might as-sert itself. But the time uever But there was one thing he did not mention, came.. Tb -\ Premier of that day used to amuse himself anJ his colleagues by talking from the platform about and that w..ts, his own party was absolutely a day when a liberal land policy '''ould Oe initiated. assured before they combined with the other But the liberal land policy never came. Mr. 11cKinnon party that there was to be absolutely no coali used to urge, in Cabinet and out or it, that there must tion-that puty-a section of it at all e\·ents be some departure in the direction of a graduated land were absolutely opposed to a coalition. The tax, of honest valuation. and of compulsory pnrcha~c. BnL neither the graduated lanll tax nor the honest vulua Premier gives as a justification for the coalition tion nor the compubory purchase ever came. The nf the parties tlmt they are pledged to the Bent coalition never frnctitied in a liberal direction. Rockhamp~on programme. I am sick of bearing And now :\lr. :neK1nnonlets us sec how disgusted he was about the Rockhampton programme. I will 'vitll the part lw was made to play. He s:aw hmv the give the answer he made tu the Philp party in conservative seetion of the Cabil1et always got its own 1008. They biked about their programme, way, in spite of all the l'Lheral promiseE<, and he pre which wa' as good as his. They are much the dicts it will be the same with tile ).Jn ray coalition. same. The Premier replied- The SECRETAI\Y FOR PuBLIC LA;,vs: That I am not c0ncernfl abont your programme. 1Ve does not apply to this Government at all. have a bigger question to settle. \Vhat right have you Mr. AIREY: Of cou"'e not. (Opposition there at all P laughter.) I say the experience of Mr. 1\IcKin Mr. HARDACRE: Hear, hear! That is the non will be the experience of this Government. question. It is eminently applicable. The other day I 1\fr. AIREY: That is the question we have to read the speech the Premier made at Charters settle. It was the clear intention of the people Tower,, and I wa"· highly amused at the '"tate to 1mt in a Governrnent that should at least ment he made there th 1t his Referendum Act fortifv the democratic sections of this House. had completely destr.,yed the power of the That" intention-a perfectly c))e""r and di,tinct Upper H,u,e for all time. In lllY opinion the intention-\:'" n•rllified by the PrEmier. He is 1Jpper House i:-c pretty p(lwerful to-day, althnugh in power to-clay by the g-race of the conservative that Biil was pas. The SECRETARY FOR PCBLIC LANDS : Hear, hear! An OPPOSITION MEil!BER : They are shivering in their shoee. Mr. AIREY: I, for one, will accept that issue without hesitation. Let me say that the Gamaliel at wh, se feet the Premier has sat-Sir Thoma8 Bent, who did the same thing-be was for ever appealing to the god of battles, and the g-od of battles went against him. It is perfectly true that his party survived; but as for Thomas himself, he perished in a political bog of his own creation. 0PPOSI1'ION MEliiBERS : Hear, hear ! and laughter. Mr. AIREY: A day or two afterwards he received a letter of congratulation from the Queensland Premier. (Laughter.) As to the dissolution the Minister for Lands has just alluded to, let me remind the House that the dissolution of 1904 was forced by the Conservative party, and the Conservative party came back eighteen strong. In the dissolution of 1908, the experiment was repeated by the Conservative party, and they came back sadly reduced in numbers, and seYerely chastened, if I remember rightly; and if the present Government like to repeat the experiment, I venture to think that a similar disaster will overtake them. The TRnSVRER: They will risk all that. The SECRETARY FOR PVBLIC LANDS : You won't give us the chance. Mr. AIREY: When I heard the Premier talking the other night about what he WRti going to do-to get a dissolution and get Supply-if he could, mind-a singular commentary on his own party-I thought of what he said in 1908 when the member fnr Townsville went to the country. What did he say? That it was the last desperate throw of a gambler, and those words summarise the position now. The Premier said the other night, "If you will give us Supply, I will get a dissolution." I wottld like to know what right any man has to say that here. Mr. JENKINSON: Very derogatory to the Go· vernor. OPPOSITION MEMBERS: Hear, hear ! Mr. AIREY: Luckily for m, however, the power to get a discolution does not reside in the hands of the Premier. It resides in the hands of somebody outside this House ; in the hands of a power in which we have some little confidence that we shall get justice. It is not kept up the sleeve of the Premier. As to a, dissolution, J, for one, have no objection to take up the gage if the gage is thrown down. OPPOSITION JYIE11BERS : Hear, hear ! Mr. AIREY : \Vith regard to the resolution moved by the leader of the Opposition, I support it strongly for several reasom. In the first place, because this Government is in power in opposi· tion to the directly expreseed will of the people. I support it on account of their defective ad ministratic·n. Their administration cannot be good, becaw;e their financial administration is unsound. I support it because their financial administration is aboolutely unsound, and also on account of their inability to deal with Federal questions, and I think I have proved it up to the hilt this evening. OPPOSITION JYIE1IBERS : Hear, he"'r ! Mr. MITCHELL (Ma1·ybm·ough) : I beg to move the adjournment of the debate. Question put and passed. The resumption of the debate was made an Order of the Day for to-morrow. The House adjourned at three minutes to 10 o'clock. [Mr. Airey.