Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
THURSDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 1950
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
1320 Questions. fASSEMBLY.] Supply.
Hon. W. lli. MOORE (Merthyr) replied- '' This question indicates that the hon. member has failed to appreciate the answer given by me to the hon. member for Haughton. I would suggest that he re-rend that answer.'' PAPER. The following paper was laid on the table- ' Orders in Council (2) under the Aliens Acts, 1867 to 1948 (9 November) .
SUPPLY.
RESUMPTION OF COMMITTEE-ESTIMATES SIXTH AND SEVENTH ALLOTTED DAYS. (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Farrell, Maryborough, in the chair.) ESTIMATES-IN-CHIEF, 1950-51. DEPARTMENT OF RAILWAYS.
SOUTHERN DIVISION. Debate resumed from 14 November (see p. 1303) on Mr. Duggan's motion- " That £9,107,890 be granted for 'Southern Division'.' ' Mr. DONALD (Bremer) (11.4 a.m.): When I came into this Parliament many of my close friends warned me that I should be THUB!SDAY, 16 NOVEMBER, 1950. subjected to much temptation. (Laughter) . With the passing of years I found there was Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. J. H . Mann, Bris· no foundation for their alarm. However, bane) took the chair at 11 a.m. when I read the report of the Commissio~er for Railways I felt sorely tempted but ber.ng QUESTIONS. a patient individual I fortified myself wrth the thought that everything came to him who GOVERNMENT CARS AND TRUCKS. waited, and I was given strength to resist that temptation. It was left to my very Mr. LOW (Cooroora) asked the good friend, the Minister, to cause me to Treasurer- fall from grace when he produced the report " How many (a) cars and (b) trucks of the Commissioner and proudly displayed are there which are owned by the State the artist's impression of the proposed new Government and Government instrumen rail ·ay station at Rockhampton and even talities and are exempt from payment of added insult to injury, by Using my own copy registration fees under the Main Roads for that purpose. It was more than I could ActsW'' stand. (Laughter). Hon. T. A. FOLEY (Normanby-Secre I must confess, Mr. Fan·ell, that I was tary for Public Lands and Irrigation), for guilty of breaking the Tenth Commandment, Hon. V. C. GAIR (South Brisbane), for although it is true that I do not desire replied- the hon. member for Rockhampton 's wife " (a) 31; C. b) Trucks, including utilities, as we all know, he is a confirmed bachelor 1,258.'' neither do I covet his field or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox or his ass, but I do AMENDMENT OF POLICE ACTS. covet his proposed new railway station. (Laughter.) But I will forgive the hon. the Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) asked the Minister i.f he assures the Chamber that he Secretary for Health and Home Affairs- will expedite the building of stations at '' With reference to his reply to the Cairns and Rockhampton and let us get on honourable member for Haughton on Tues with the building of a station that was begun day last regarding representations made by before 1929. I think Ipswich has the most some branch secretaries of the Queensland logical argwnent of any centre requiring a Police Union. tq members of Parliament, new station. After all is said and done, will he advise the House how a plaint filed Ipswich was the first rail centre in our State in the Arbitration Court by the Queensland and possibly is still the most important. It Police Union is retarding or preventing was from Ipswich that the first railway was the Government dealing with other matters built-the railway from Ipswich to Grand in dispute that are outside the ambit of chaster or as it was then known, Bigge 's such court, and in what respect the repre· Camp. All through the years Ipswich has sentations on these matters were considered maintained its pride of place in the railway improper?'' service. While there is some disagreement as Supply. [16 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1321
to wh ere the new station should be, eYery· stops. One would thi_nk that t~is Il:umber · one there is ce1·tainly desirous of having a 1r as sufficient but there 1s a very b1g ag1tatwn new station built. for two additional stops, one between Bell bank and Goodna and the other bet1rcen I was rather surprised that no-one touched Booral and East Ipswich. There is a grow on the benefits to the community generally ing- population in both these localities and not only to the Railway Department-that is there is a long distance between Reclbank being given by. the Railway Ambulance Corps. and Goodna particularly. The department This corps is giving a service not only to has given very sympathetic consideration to the travelling public but to everyone and it the demand for these additional stops but up ncquitted itself remarkably well on every one to the present has not been able to accede to of the few occasions when rail disasters the request. have occurred in this State. What the people do not generally know is that the railway As I have said, there are 23 stops between ambulance classes are open to everyone in the B risbane and Ipswich and taking into con community-every man and woman and sideration the time t aken up in making these e\·ery boy and girl who is willing and anxious stops the transport service between the two to study first-aid is tutored free of cost at points is not too bad after all. H :ere I the railway ambulance classes that are held should mention that the train crews of these throughout the State. In the Southern Divi trains on numerous occasions have held the sion we have successful ambulance teams that train, seeing people running for it, instead have brought credit to our district and to of rushing away from the platform. For the department generally. I feel that the this people should be grateful to the crews people who are tutoring the classes and the and not condemn them. people who are looking after the interests of There is a very strong agitation by passen the classes and sacrificing their leisure to do gers who travel to and from Booval to have so should receive some recognition for their the platform at that station raised. As it is, services. it is extremely dangerous because of the con During the debate on the Vote for the siderable distance to be negotiated between General Establishment, certain criticism was the floor of the carriage and the platform. levelled at the lack of service given to the The latest reply from the department on this people by the department. I do not know matter gives a quite logical reason for ;not how many trains enter the Bremer electorate doing anything at present. It is that owmg from Brisbane or pass through it during each to the cost of the conversion of the existing 24 hours, but I do feel that we have a fairly platform and the proposal to run electrio good service. If we take the number that trains it would be unwise to make any altera operate from 3 minutes to 4 o'clock till 23 tion to the platform at the present time as minutes past 6, we find that at least nine it would have to be altered when the electri trains leave Central Station to serve the fication was put into effect. I am quite people of Bremer and between 8 minutes to prepared to accept the reason, because I think 5 and 23 minutes past 6, six trains convey it makes the need for the electrification of passengers from the metropolitan area to our suburban services all the more urgent. Ipswich or to the Bremer electorate. In Representing as I do a number of railway addition there are about half-a-dozen trains men, I have frequently made personal con that go as far as Oxley or Corinda. At tact on their behalf with the Minister, the present most of these trains are crowded, Commissioner, Mr. Lingard, and other officers because we have some hundreds of New Aus of the department, an_d here I thank these tralians at Wacol. The Railway Department officers for the courteous manner in which has recognised that we need additional trains they listen to my requests and the thorough and has therefore made provision for them ness with which they go into the matters I as from the 26th of this month. That will be put forward on behalf not only of the travel to the benefit of everyone who use the rail ling public but on many occasions for the ways for the purpose of transport from Bris employees. I feel I . must pay a special bane to Ipswich and is appreciated by the tribute to Mr. Lingard because I must be travelling public. There will be two trains a source of great annoyance to him, but at running express to Goodna, the first stopping no time has he shown any annoyance. I only at Corinda, and the second stopping at have always received the greatest courtesy Corinda and at Wacol for the convenience from him and I take this opportunity of of the New Australians. thanking him publicly. Mr. Kerr: Outbound traffic? During the debate · on this Estimate last year I drew attention to the excellent ser ~Ir. DONALD: Only outbound traffic. I vice the people of Booval and all those who thank the hon. member for the interjection. travel to and from Booval receive from the I am not conversant with inbound trains. I station-master there and the staff under him. have mentioned this fact because I have Again I take the opportunity to say that travelled on these trains and they are known to me. during the 12 months just ended I have had no fault to find nor have I detected any There are people who complain of the time deterioration in the excellent service given tnken by the train running from Brisbane by these officers. If the department has any Central to Ipswich or on the return journey considerable number of officers that measure hut these people do not take into considera up to the standard set by Mr. Mason and tion the number of stops between these two his staff, it is very fortunate indeed. The trrmini. A train leaving Ipswich for Central extent to which he will go to help the :1nd stopping at each station must make 23 travelling public, bv meeting their desires and 1322 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. caring for their comfort, is remarkable, and that the railways were carrying a very heavy at the risk of repeating myself I pay Mr. and unnecessary burden in ,the payment of Mason and his staff a very glowing tribute. is. flcl. a mile in interest. The rev~nue n•ceived by the Railway Depar~ment fr~m Reference has been made in this Chamber passengers travelling from . Ipsw1eh to Ens to the need for railway employees to give a bane is less than 1-,\d. a m1le, and a weekly better service to the department, but I feel ticket from Booval to Brisbane, wh~ch enables that in many respects this statement is not the holder to make six return JOurneys a justified. In effect, it means that the week, costs less than ~d. a mile. Further, a employees are not pulling their weight. If season ticket which enables the holder to anybody cares to check the record of the travel as often as he likes, runs out. at employees in the Ipswich Railway Workshops, approximately ls. 4d. for each return tnp. for example, he will find that those employees turn out a better job, be it on coach, wagon, Mr. Low interjected. or engine, than any outside organisation. )Jr. DONALD: The hon. me~ber who They can produce a better article than that has just interjected was in the rmlway ser produced by overseas firms or private vice for a long time, and if he does not engineering firms in the Commonwealth and, know the answer to the question lw h~s what is more, a cheaper article. The figures asked me, it is an indication that o~e ra1!·· can be checked should any hon. member doubt way employee at least was not domg his my word. I will not quote the difference in job. figures but merely say that the Ipswich Rail way Workshops workmanship cannot be lUr. Low: You tell me the answer. faulted. Another point worthy of mentioning lUr. DONALD: The hon. member ough~ is that their engines, coaches and carriages to know the answer. If the actual cost per stand up to the wear and tear to which they mile of such a season ticket, or a season are submitted better than those produced by ticket issued anywhere else in . Queensland, outside craftsmen, and the repair work is superior to that done by outside firms. What was computed, we should iind that. the people is true of the workshops staff is equally true are receiving a very goo~ ser_v1ce . at . the lowest cost possible. Cons1deratwn IS g1ven of the running staff, not only in the south eastern part of the State but throughout the also to scholars and apprentices, who can service. travel at very cheap rates. The Railway Department, therefore, is giving service not A paragraph on page 13 of the Commis only to the general public1 but to our boys sioner's report reads- and girls who are learmng trades. These '' Three records were established under children and young men and women are the heading of train milage during the being encouraged by the Government to financial year ended 30 June, 1950. Steam cbtain an education by reason of the fact train miles run amounting to 15,526,647 that their parents are not being called upon were a peace-time record, having been 1o bear heavy transport costs. eclipsed only by those of the vmr years of I again pay a tribute to the ~inister, to 1942-43, 1943-44 and 1944-45. Rail-motor the Commissioner, and to lVIr. Lmgard f?r milage at 1,943,228 and diesel-locomotive the very courteous and thorough way Ill milage at 39,334 were greater than those ,1·hieh they have dealt with the many matteTs previously achieved. The total traffic-train 1 have brought before them on behalf of milage figure of 17,509,219 ex('eederl that employees of the Railway Department. of last year by 233,464. Gross ton miles (i.e., tons moved one mile), established a Hon. J. E. DUGGAN (Toowoomba peace-time record of 4,204 millions during Minister for Transport) (11.24 a.~.): I the year, an increase of 86 millions on the should like to make some observatiOns on previous years' figure. This, despite inter the contribution that has been made to this ruption to traffic caused by the coal strike rlebate hv the hon. member for Bremer. I and floods and shortage ·of engines and shonltl 1iot feel verv comfortable if the wagons, must be regarded as highly satis ;,pinion was held, wittingly or unwittingly, factory and is indicative of the excellent that I was a party to his being tempted to effort made by the staff to deal with the 1Jreak ouc of the Ten Commandments. I increased traffic. '' feel that it is appropriate at this stage to say thnt the general e:raracter of the h_on. I quote that part of the report to refute member for Bremer rs of such a hrgh any suggestion that railway employees are stand:ud that I am sure that even those of not pulling their weight and that thev are his constituents who may have some ill-will loafing. I think that if one can prove by towm·ds him would not east any aspersions iigures of the department that greater work upon it (Laughter). I know, too, that is being done, a greater train milage is being because of his high moral standard ancl traversed and that more goods and passengers the general high that he main~ains g~n are being carried, and that we have a better m·ally in discharging both hrs parlra record of gross ton-miles in spite of the diffi mentary and his private duties, no culties that confront us, we demonstrate that suspicion will attach to him on any allega the suggestion that railway employees are not tion that he or anyone else makes. How giving the service they should is a fallacy. eyer, I should like to remind him of a I shall conclude by referring to the fares peculiar experience that befell me recently. that are charged on our railway system and I was at a home at Toowoomba, and two this emphasises the :remarks of the ' hon. women were in a room with me. The hus member for Kelvin Grove, who pointed out band of one of them came in and kissed Supply. [16 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1:123
his wife lightly on the cheek ancl said, but nowadays that distance is too short. 'l'he ''Excuse me, clear, I am going out.'' She city has become overcrowded and people are said, ''Where are you going~'' He said, compelled to live in the surrounding countr.'· ''I am going to the hospital.'' She said, areas. Some live in these districts from choice '' \Vho is ill "I' ' He said, ' 'You would not but others go there because of necessity. know, dear.'' She said, ''Will you be home However, that is no reason why the excursion for dinner?" He said, "It is extremely rates should not be extended to them anrl unlikely.'' She said, ''What time will you so I suggest that the distance within which be home~" He said, "I think you had suburban fares operate should be 40 to .'JO better PX]JC('t me when you see me.'' He miles from the city. Frequently workers Jind kisst>d her again Yery lightly on the cheek it necessary to live in the outlying parts of a11d dep,ntc ''Although the steam engine milage An I •igny would close lines that did not increased from 16,460,219 in 1939-40 to show a profit. I have heard him make that :21,:252,443 in 1949-50, an increase of 29.1 statement in this Chamber, whereas the Gov ]H!r cent., the quantity of coal consumed ernment's policy is to give service to the l1y ~ocom.otives, consequent on its poorer people in all parts of the State. W oulcl the quahty, mcrwsed from 444 755 tons to hon. member close the section from Theebine G~6,_636 tons respectively, or' an increase to N anango because it showed a loss of some ot oO per cent. thousands of pounds last yearg Hon. mem '' Despit~ the poorer quality of coal, tlw bers opposite say that the people in the :JYcrage pnce per ton rose from 19s. 3d. i11 country are the backbone of the country but 1939-40 to 3ls. 4d. in 1949-50, an increase can you imagine a baekbone without a reason o~ 12s. Id. or 63 per cent. To the increased able quantity of flesh to hold it together? pit-head cost must be added a further Do not the city-dwellers depend upon the :luuge for haulage, the distance of which existenee of the backbone of the country and mcreased by 63 miles from 104.43 miles in how could the backbone exist without the 1939-40 to 167.23 miles in 1949-50 or city-dweller~ It is ridiculous to suggest approximately three times the incr;ased otherwise. lw~l of coal for the public, the fiaures for The Minister told hon. members the other which were 55 miles in 1939-40 "'as com day that the working loss on the railway pared with 75 miles in ] 949-50." system in respect of certain lines amounted to Despi~e the huge increase in the cost of £517,000. If we were to follow the policy matenals and the commodities that are neces of hon. members opposite we should close sary to run the railways, the Minister has them because they did not show a profit. hecn a.ble to sh~w a profit of £63,000 in the However, the people in those areas are com;· op~ratwns of t~Is great service. Despite the ageous enough to go out there to produce fact that tht> railways have had to carry more something for the use of the city-dwellers general m~rchandise and have had to cover a and the city-dwellers in turn are prepared greater milage and carry increased costs for to pay a little extra to make it possible for ':·ages, material, and fuel, the net earnings the country people to get this railway ser f.o:_ ~he Southern Division this year were vice. That is the complete answer to those £1;:,4,138, and the aggregate for the last five economists who contend that we cannot have years was £2,608,504. a uniform price for everything throughout Australia. That reminds me of the experi On Thursday night last the :Minister madt> ence I had about three years ago when I what I regard as an important statement called at Georgetown between Forsayth and '':hen h~ .w.as replying to some of the Opposi Crovdon. I went into a store in the town b~u cnbmsm about the inefficiency of the ancl I saw Akubra hat-boxes in the fixtures railways. He pointed out that if the system and I said to the storekeeper, ''Surely there ;nt, under th~ control of private enterprise are not hats in those boxes~" and he replied, ]lr. TUR5EU: I see no reason why Jllll"]JOC:L"'· There arc 38 of these eonccssion those of us who run about in our motor-eaTs rates that ha,-o been giYen to people in the anLl hncks in the city should be able to buy ;'\ ol'th in order to help industry. I think it our petrol at a cheaper rate than motorists is to the Commissioner's credit that he, as in the Gulf Country, where the price is the representatiYe of this Government, \r~ll 3s. 11 d. a gallon. Sl>i}1S could call in at the do things of that kind to help industry m principal ports in the North, such as Cairns, thP ~ orth and in other parts of the State. Townsville, Bowen and Rockhampton, and The dcpa rtmen t has taken sera p iron a dis nnload part of their petrol for storage in the tanc·e of from 1301 to J ,200 miles to hulk installations theTe. Toowoomba-I take it that would be for The Hailwa.v Department, too, has proyerl the Tomvoomba foundry-to help industry to conclusively to all economists who say it keep operating. This freight has been carried {·am1ot be done that an overall price for the at tremendously reduced rates. State can be fixed. If the burden of interest is iUr. S1mrkes: A very good company. eliminated jt ,,-ill Le seen that the department showed an overall profit of £63,000, despite Jrr. TURNER: I am not discussing the the fact that some sections of its railways lost merits of the company; I am trying to as much as £517,000. The sections that shmv to the hon. member that the Govern showed a profit enabled the department to ment, through the Railway Department, ha;-e continue giving service on the non-paying done everything possible to help industry in sections. It shoul(l not be a difficult matter every part of the State. As Toowoomba is for an economist to equalise the cost of all near the hon. member's locality, I thought our commodities in every part of the State. I would mention that fact. Scrap iron was The hon. mcn;ber for :Mundingburra com Jmuled distances of from 601 to 1.200 miles pluined on 'I'uesday night that some consignees at a cost of £2 18s. 2d. a ton and. distances in the Northern parts of the Slate received of 1,201 to 2,000 miles at £4 15s. lld. a eoneessional freight rates. If one turns to tou. l'\ o cargo is more disagreeable tu pages 121 and 122 of the Commissioner's lu111 iile than se rap iron. report one will see that many contract and special freights have been granted by the This department has been criticised by Commissioner, quite apart from those members opposite, yet it is more philan mentioned by the hon. member. The report thropic than even the Departnwnt of Health sets out the reason why those special rates and Hoc11e Affairs because the concessions are granted. I am happy to see that most granted by it affect more people directly of them were granted to help industry. The and inclirectl 1· than are affected by the work first concessional rate was for carting gravel. of the• Dep;rtme11t of Health ;md Honll' It is the only special rate of its kind that I Affairs, which is looketl U]JOll as the most sce in the list as bein,g- granted t.o obtain philanthropic of the Go;-ernment instrument that traffic for the department. The other rntes were granted to help industry or to alities. eompete with shipping competition in the l'\orthern parts of the State. Some of the Jir. BURROWS (Port Curtis) (12.8 special rates are granted to keep industry p.m.) : Members who have mentioned ue;~ operating and others for the transport of railwav stations drew the Minister to his special goods to northern parts of the State feet because he was a bit concerned abo"t particularly. In fact, if we analyse the list whether they might break a commandment. we find that most of the concessions granted At the outset, I should lilw to relieve the are in respect of freight for the northern Minister of any responsibility if ever I parts of the State. This Government have should yield to such a temptation and break been criticised by representatives of that area anv of the conmwndments. I am not for lack of consideration for it, yet not only suggesting that a new railway stati?1: . b~ do we see special consideration in concessional built in the part of the Southern DIVlSlDll freight rates being granted to that area py that is in mv electorate, which e nbraces a the department, but the hon. member for part of the,, Central and a part of the 2\Tundingburra complains that concessio118l freight rates are given on freight consigned Southern Division, but I am going to urge to cities and towns in it. the ::Vfinister to give favourable consideration to the extension of the railway yards I observe from this list of s_pecial freight paTticularly at North Bundaberg, "·here they rates that three billiard tables were freighted are out-dated and out-moded. The Garratt from Roma Street, one to Townsville and one engines, which require mllCh mor~ room for to Cairns. The special rates were granted manoeuvring than the large engme of the in order to compete with shipping, but the usual type, having been introduced to. ~ile people who sent those tables by rail did so Ilumlaberg-Rockhampton section, the pos1hon because they knew they could b,e transported at the limited yards in Bundaberg has been by rail \Yithout damage whereas if they were acrgrayate(1, carried by shipping that problem woulrr 1·resent itself to the!ll. The consignor took Additional roads are. a necessity. I feel a1h'nntac:e of the contract rates the Com that Bundaberg is in the unfortunate missioner is ready to grant to those people position of being controlled by the railway who wish to use the railways for special office in :Maryborough. As a consequence it 1328 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. is regarded more or less as an outpost of Commissioner make an effort to see whether, Maryborough, but Bundaberg, because of the if this timber cannot be used by the railways, revenue the department receives from such it could be marketed. a large centre, justifies its being made a rail Quite a lot of labour and a considerable way centre too. A little bit of decentral amount of material are being wasted by the isation is warranted and the domestic affairs system of putting stays to s~raining posts of Bundaberg should be controlled from a where they are in a straight hne. Anybody railway centre in Bundaberg. The present who has had anything to do with fencing system is the cause of delay and not an knovYs that stays to t posts erected in a advantage. straight line are unnecessary. The necessity for extending loops at staff I should like to express my pleasure at stations to enable trains to pass has been hr:uing the Minister's announcement the accentuated by the introduction of the Beyer other night that freight rates will be exam Garratt locomotives. Longer trains are ined, and that there will be a reconsideration hauled by these engines than by those of the contract rates, which in instances have hitherto used and when there has been a been insidious in their operation. There have hold-up in the running of a train, on asking been many anomalies and I know that the the train cre>v how long the train will stand Minister has been worried about the operation at the station I have been informed that it of these rates since his appointment. I was would be there for 15, 20, or 30 minutes. pleased to hear that in the not far distant ''But,'' I have asked them, ' 'would there future he hopes to be able to announce a not be time to proceed to the next station~'' new schedule of rates that will mean the but the crew replied that the crossing loop correction of many of the existing anomalies. at the next station was not long enough to accommodate the train. The extension of lUr. GA VEN (Southport) (12.18 p.m.) : these crossing loops and additional roads In making my contribution to the debate on would go much farther towards increasing the vote for the Southern Division of the the efficiency ,and the utility of the Railway railways, I must say that I have listened Department than the building of grandiose with great interest to the speeches made by railway stations. These are very nice, and previous speakers and I feel that the Minis to a limited extent are very necessary, but ter must have been embarrassed by their a flash railway station with very limited yard eulogistic references to him. I shall not be accommodation seems to me to be like having guilty of tedious repetition in that respect. a flash house with no furniture in it. It is I know that the Minister is charged with a much more important to get on with general great responsibility and has an area under utility work before starting on work that is his control larger than France, Germany and not so necessary. Great Britain put together. On the figures ~uhmitted to us he is beginning this yf'nr 's One of the greatest problems facing the 11·ork with a deficit of approximately Railway Department today is the supply of £1,500,000. We know that £28,000,000 has timbers suitable for sleepers and girders. bren written off the capital indebtedness of Naturally, the department is a big customer the railways and debited to Consolidated for these timbers. Periodically the clearing Revenue. gangs are instructed to fell the trees within We have approximately 70 miles of rail a distance of approximately five chains of a way ou the South Coast line and it may railway line, and outside the railway fence. be regarded as a mere bagatelle compared I understand there is power in the Railway with that in the rest of Queensland, where Act to do this. It appears to be nobody's there are manv thousands of miles of line. business to see that anv of the timber felled However, I feel it my bounden duty this that is usable is marl~eted. In these davs morning to say a word or [; .. o about the of shortages of timber, it is very distressing area l represent, othervYisc so:21e people to find logs that could be made into sleepers might sny that I was falling down on m~· and other railway necessaries being left to lie job. I had not intendecl to speak on matters on the ground to rot and at the mercy of the concerning my area, although J 2 months next bush fire. The officers in charge of ngo I could have levelled quite a lot of these clearing gangs should receive some criticism at the Minister and the Railway tuition in the value and preservation of Department generally. Since then, however, timber. There should be some method of the whole transport system to the South marketing or using the timber once it has Coast has been revolutionised in that we been felled. I suggest that quite a lot of have been provided with a good road scn·ic<>. it could be split and nsed for fencing pur 'l'he Minister was down that way at election poses. The fence along the line between time ancl macle certain promises about roncl Bundaberg and Gladstone is being rene·wed. transport in that area, and I want to con It is mostly a two-railing fence, but I notice gra~~ulace ,ldnl on carrying out the nron1ic.·{l; that the posts are being carted to this length thnt he made last April. He has liver! u~1 from some distant place whilst we can see to his promise and the peo,ple down thprc timber that could be split and used for the appreciate that fact very much ard ar8 purpose lying along the line. There should grateful to the Government for the in'Pr0't be some way of eo-relating the various shown bv them in the South Coast'" trnns branches within the service. Evidently the port system. clearing gang does not know anything about At one time it took three hours to travel fencing requirements and there appears to be by train from Southport to Brisbn11e, bnt a lack of co-ordination. I suggest that the today the journey can be accomplished in Supply. [16 NOVEMBER.] Supply. two hours. 'T!a... • .Sl'l'\-l('e has hcen Sll--'P(l.,·l it l 'fure tl1e nut~C(' of lliL' :'\l!ui~::l'" ;;r i.l:'' tr:tin·; niH front 8LHllly up aj\!1 the expn•ss l'onuni::.;~ionet·, beta USl' the,, :dread\' h n v:; l>aok to Brisbane. As the r('snlt of ex:wni1- nll a!J(Jttt it. On nntncrou's occasions theY i1:g: grieYant:'~s and o~ cn.tedug for tbe wis!l·~'s haiL'. h":Pl! l'C(jtte:storl by the !oral pr·ogre~., o" th". P?Ople, we tiud that the people "n' t~, ~Ot:lntlon and tl;e dtuntl>er of eoJnlllcr, e :llJJ!n'tlnnvu ll;-i hl~-P and A quicker and more modern metho'd should '!.'hp :Vfinister said the other tby that the be adopted for the transportation of young Central Division conwyed coal from Blair calves. This does not apply only to the A thol, most of which i~ used for railway Central Division but all parts of the State. purposes, but T should !ilie him to tell me If some modern method could be adopted it the formula on which the cost of conveying would obviate what I term downright cruelty that coal is charged to the other divisions. to young calves. I suggest the construction of rail-motor trains with high-powered engines' lUr. Duggan: I did not say that th,e and several trailer wagons. This fast-mov railw,JVs v:ere the only consumers of Blau ing form of transport could be used for the Athol · coal. ' ronveyance of pigs as welL The business Jlr. LOW: I know that, but the railways offering certainly warrants an improvement use probably more than 50 per cent. of it. in the transport of young calves. From the figures we find that in 1948-49 261,705 calves The "Minister ndded that the Railway were conveyed over the railways and in Department 11·as endea,·om;ir;g to draw m~st 1949-50, 252,780. The number of pigs carried of its coal supplies from Bmir Athol to as~ISt in 1948-49 was 490,700 and in 1949-50, industry which was efJUivalent to a subsidy 490,593. I think that an improvement in the for private umlertakings, especially those method of transport is warranted and that close to the southern coal deposits. That is it would be a step in the right direction nll right and it is a very fine gesture t_o help and would mean that young calves would be keep industry going but I sh?uld hke. to treated humanely and consignments would nut know what formula is adopted m allocatmg get to their destination with many dead on the transport costs on coal between the dif arrival. ferent railway divisions bec3use I know coal for railway purposes is carried free on the I _dra:v the Minister's attention to the big railways. declme m revenue from traffic in the Central Division. During the last financial vear the The loss in the Central Division is one railways in the Central Division conveved that commands attention at once. I kno~ about 45,000 fewer passengers than ·in that, having regard to the v~lume of busi 1945-46, when passenger journeys totalled ness and the number of trams, there are 1 ,062,fi86, whereas in 1949-50 they totalled more late trains in the Central Division than there are in any other division in the State, only 1,018,059. On going through the tables the reason being that the rail system there I find that there has been a decline in the is badly congested and in need of . ear!y passenger traffic of a considerable number of reorganisation. There are some late trams m stations in the Central Division. The hon. the Southern Division but it is largely member for Mt. Coot-tha and the hon. mem because of the late running in the Central ber for Sherwood were quite correct in draw Division and as the main western-central line ing attention to the fact that there is ground is one of the chief feeders to the Rockhamp for an investigation into the affairs and the ton area attention should be given to neces general administration of the railways in sary improvements as soon as possible, the Central Division. This great loss of because the late running of trains from the passenger traffic and revenue must have an Central-West to Rockhampton and from effect on the deficit in the railways. Rockhampton to the Central-West has a Let me go a step further. ·On page 60 of general effect on running along the coast the Commissioner's report we find that the system generally and throughout the Stat~. loss on the Emerald section, which covers I hope the Minister will give this matter his the line from Emerald to Winton anfl very earliest consideration. branches, and the Yaraka line, is very con I arrree with the hon. member for Port siderable. I do not suggest that these line' Curtis" that new fences and general repair should be closed-in fact, I believe we work are urgently required along the section should have more extensions-but it is from Bundaberg to Rockhampton. I observed important that we should examine from time that myself on my most recent visit there to time a loss that is growing at such a last year. rate that it is becoming alarming. The losses suffered on this section since 1945-46 haw ~Ir. INGRAlli (Keppel) (2.15 p.m.) : I been ns follows-· could not let the debate on this Vote pass without rising to refute some of the state Percentage of ments made by the hon. member for Cooroora, Expenses to Year who said that the numb.cr of passengers r~oss Enrnings carried in the Central DiYision decreased in £ 1949-50. I will prove from the report of the 1945-46 66,832 116.95 Commissioner that he doe,; not know what he 1946-47 45,060 110.29 is talking about. If he is correct, then the 1947-48 113,568 127.73 Commissioner's report must be incorrect. The 1948-49 180,965 133.73 report states that the receipts from J?as 1949-50 260,158 148.94 sengers in 1948-49 were £350,084 as agamst £359,521 in 1949-50, an increase of 2. 70 per In the period of fh·e years the loss on that cent. From parcels and miscellaneous traffic section has increased by approximately the reeeipts in 1948-49 \Yere £2Q6,013, com £200,000. I should like to know wl>y it lws pared \Yith £256,68ti in 1949-50, an incrpase grown to such an extent, because it has an of 13.57 per cent. T eould quote further effeqt on the general .successful adminis figures from the rcpm·t dealing "·ith such tration of thp Central Division. items os minerals, agricultural produce, and Supply. [16 Ko';"EMBER.] Supply. 1333 so on, ::o show that percentage increases have JUr. INGRA~I: Why did not the hon. occurred in these classes of traffic also. In member's Government do it when materials one or two classes there have been decreases, were cheap from 1929 to 1932 ~ His Govern but taking the traffic as a whole the 1949-50 ment left this State in such a disgraceful period in the Central Division compares more state in 1932 that the Government who suc than favourably with that of other divisions. ceeded them did not have any money with which to do the job. The compl~tion of this Government ~Iembers: Hear, hear! work would be of great benefit to the whole Mr. INGRAM: The department is giving of the Callide and :Oawson Valley areas, and good service to the people, which hon. mem there a greatly increased tonnage would be bers opposite evidently do not want them to carried. The contractors are doing a magnifi have. (Opposition laughter.) It is not a cent job. The plate-layers are follm,·ing up laughing matter; it is absolutely true. I like the couplers and by June next year that hon. members to tell the truth about these section will be complete, to the great advan matters, instead of making deliberately false tage of all concerned. statements. The hon. member for Cooroora As I said, I got up to refute the statements also condemned the employees of the depart made bv hon. members opposite, and I think ment, particularly the engine-drivers, who he I have "clone that very effectively by quoting said did not know how to drive their loco the Commissioner's report for HJ49·50. moti;-es. Has he passed an examination as an I was very pleased to hear the Minister enginc-driYer? He said he had seen engine state the other day that they had decided to drivers driving stock trains on which a number accept the tender of a building contractor in of stock had fallen clown in the wagons. If Rockhampton for the building of a new this was so, why did he not report the fact to station at that city. When the Minister men his superior railway officer~ That is what he tioned the fact, hon. members opposite should have done; it was his duty to do sn. chuckled and grinned and said, ''It should I have travelled on stock trains and still have been clone long ago.'' Who 'vas it that clo so in parts of my electorate, and I have laid the foundation for the building~ Was never seen such an incident happen. It is all it not a Labour Government in 1928~ And ver? well for hon. members opposite to was it not a Torv Government in 1929 'vho eritirise the employees of the department, cast it aside-the ·same Tory Government that who do a magnificent job. I have heard Tory lent £2,000,000 to another State and left this supporters criticise the maintenance men State facing starvation-and the Labour Go because they stood on one side of the line vernment that succeeded them clid not have with their picks and shovels while trains were the money to carry it out because of the huge passing over the length they were working dPficit of over £2,000,000 left by their Tory on. Opposition members evidently want them predecessors. The Labour Government had to stand on the line and allow themselves to to get on their feet before they ~o;1lcl ~arry be knocked down by the trains. They should out anv of these works. (Oppos1hon mter be even more grateful to maintenance men jcctions.) Hon. members opposite clo not lih than thos<' in other sections, because they the truth. They can interject hut I shall hnw clone and are still doing a marvellous continue to put the true facts before this job in maintaining our lines to ensure the Chamber. smooth running of trains. It has also been I wish to draw the Minister's attention to said that the department is not spending the railway yards at Rockhampton, ';here sufficient money on our railway bridges. TB there is a bottle-neck. The sooner the railway it not doing so right throughout the State workshops are transferred from their present today, particularly in the Central Division~ position to the new site a~ Parkhu:s~ . the Mr. Sparkes: What is wrong with his better it \vill be for the Central Division. mentioning it? At the pTesent time the Tnilway yards at Rockhnmpton are the r7luse of long hold-ups. ~Ir. INGRAM: One would think from the way he mentioned it that thP department v>as The hon. member for Cooroora mrrintai11er1 doing nothing in this respect. We have oul;~ that the late arrival of trains in Brisbane to examine the regrading work that has been was due to faults in the Central Division. clone between Emerald and Clermont to Nothing is further fron~ the trut~. Oc:r mail facilitate coal haulage from Blair Athol and trains very seldom arnve late. m Bnsbane, the development of thP Queensland-British and if one is late the delay IS clue to the Food Corporation's work at Peak Downs. hold·ups caused by waiting for other trains to This regrading was completed on 15 Sep pass. Do the Opposition w:mt one train to hash into another and kill hundreds of tember last, and it has enabled the throu~!J load for C.17 engines from Blair Athol to passengers? It looks like it to me. Emrralr1 to be increased from 335 to 425 St. Lawrence is a railway station at which tons. The departmel!t is doing a marvellous trains stop for refreshments b~t the pl~t job throughout the State, hut hon. members form at this station is level w1th the rails opposite do not realise that during the last and it is a crying shame that elderly people, few months we haYc passed through a \·ery particularly old ladies, have to struggle to difficult period in the Central Division because get down from a carriage to go to the refresh of cyclones and floods. Another marvellons ment rooms to get a meal or a cup of tea. job is in pTOgress in eliminating the rack I should like the Minister to give serious line bebveen Moonmem and Moongan, a job consideration to having this platform raised. thnt should have been rlone many years ago. Inr. Sparkes: It must have been the ~Ir. SIJarkes: "\Vhy didn't you do it? Moore Government who put it down. 1334 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. lllr. INGRAlli: It was, and the present in country areas. The Minister made the Government are just now getting the money stnteme11t that there was a shortage of rails to rectify matters after the bad days of and I asked why there IYas a shortage. I 1929-32 when the Moore Government were quote the Minister's words as follows- in power. '' Should not need imports. At the present time St. Lawrence railway '' 'It was a shocking commentary on Aus station, refreshment room, engine-drivers and tralia's industrial structure that she was firemen's quarters are lighted with old dependent on goods from overseas that fashioned carbide lights. There are 75 to eould be produced here,' the Transport 100 of these lights in use and the lighting, :\iinistcr ( Yir. Duggan) said yesterday. although costing the department a large sum '':'If r. Duggan said Queensland recently of money, is anything but good. Carbide had to order 40,000 tons of steel rails from lights are also dirty. I understand that some overseas. 'l"his had cost the State about little time ago it was approved to instal a £800,000 more than if the rails had been diesel engine to provide power for an electric manufactured in Australia.'' plant at this station. I should like the Minister to give the matter very serious con I said when I last spoke on this subject that sideration. It is urgent. it is because of the action of the Chifley Government that we have to import rails. In conclusion I congratulate the M.inis~er Here is a statement to prove that is true: and his party on the excellent work they ''A Commonwealth Statistician's Depart have done and are doing. ment spokesman said that the 36,000 tons of steel rails and steel rail truck equip Mr. EVANS (Mirani) (2.27 p.m.) : In ment exported in 1946-48, were valued at the matter of the loose wooden stanchions on £400,000. The exports had gone mainly railway wagons for the carriage of sugar to B1·itish Dominions, headed by India and cane I would remind the Minister of the :'>few Zealand. China, which received 9,000 statement I made that all mills were pre tons was the only foreign countrty to pared to install permanent stanchions for receive big supplies:·'' the duration of the cane season at their own An hon. member should examine his own con expense if the Minister would give an assur ance that the trucks so fitted would not be science when he says that I was telling taken from our district. In his reply the untruths. Minister asked why all the mills did not Mr. Duggan: It was not Communist allow growers to use loose stanchions. Of China at the time they were exported. course, I do not expect the Minister to have knowledge of the danger that would result llfr. EVANS: Virtually all China has by adopting the suggestion that was put by gone over to Communism now. It would be him. Owing to the friction of the trucks of correct, however, to say that twenty-five per sugar-cane running along the line the stan • cent. of the rails were exported to a foreign chions are so affected that immediately the country. The fact remains that we are short door of the truck is opened half the cane of rails today. falls into the carrier and the stanchions with it. The cane is then chopped by a system I have already mentioned the question of of :knives working at high revolutions a decentralisation and how rail freights favour minute and, of course, if they strike a stan industries operating in Brisbane and i~ his chion considerable damage is caused to the reply to me the Minister very neatly pomted knives. Obviously, it is absolutely necessary out that there was no discrimination. I was that the stanchions be fixed so firmly that not dealing with the electrification of the rail there is no risk of their falling among the system but decentralisation of industry and cane-cutting knives. This is a great risk and freight discrimination. I have already under no circumstances will we allow stan pointed out, on the Vote for the Central chions to be pia ced in trucks unless they are Division the position of the Batrosa Marble fixed permanently. I know the position and Company at Mackay. The rlepartment agreed. I know the Minister wants tp help us but I to reduce the freight rates on raw materials do not like the hon. gentleman to make state from Roma Street to Mackay to £8 2s. 4d. a ments that we should do things that are not ton and immediately the manager or the practicable: things that we know we must owner of the durabestos company took the not and cannot do. matter up with the chamber of commerce he received a letter to this effect- I have made repeated representations to " I wish to advise that the special rate the Minister on the lifting of sidings. These for magnesium chloride and marble dust sidings or loops had been in existence for previously in operation on account of your many years, and it is a facility such as this firm has been cancelled as from 1 June, that induces people to stay in the country. At places where these loops have been taken 1949." up the cane-grol>ers, who are already over 'Ehe freight rate on that raw material has worked, have to go to other places to pick gone up to £16 18s. 8d. a. ton. What up their manure and produce that comes happened f The concern ceased making these along. ~ must be fair and say that a large hoards. Before I read a letter dated amount. ~s. not unloaded at these sidings, but 14 Nowmber I want to inform the Committee the facihhes have been there for many vear~ tliat Wunderliehs Ltd., prior to the last a1'd I deplore the fact that it has been found freight inercase, lw lta re the hon. member for Mirani, represent the stock vans fall down. The handling of mg the Country Party, the hon. member for livestock by our railways compares with that Whitsunday, Mr. Lloyd Roberts, representing in any other system in the Commonwealth. tlte Country Party, Senator Wood represent ing the Liberal Party, and Mr. Davidson, Govm·nment Ill embers: Hear, hear! ::\LP:, representing the Liberal Party. I am the lone wolf and I am satisfied that their ~Ir. GRAHAM: Investigations have Teal purpose is to raise the bogy in an proved that the handling of stock by the ·endeavour to convince the ,people of J\:Iackay department is right up to scratch. It is that I should be better out of the way and true t!t ere are occasions when ea ttle get it would be better for them to have a I~ibera I bruised hut I would, say from experience and Dr Country Party representative there. 1 as one who has handled livestock trains that think that that is their real purpose in more bruising takes place in the loading of raising the question of the N ebo line at the cattle than while they are in transit. I moment. myself have seen cattle knocked about by drovers when being loaded into the railway Even during the last election campaign vans; in fact, more damage has been done the I.eader of the Opposition, Mr. Nicklin, in that way than when they are being con· and the Deputy Leader of the Oppositioa. veyed to their destination by rail. Livestock Mr. Hiley, came to Mackay and referred to trains have preference over all other trains the proposal, but I am satisfied in mv owll except mail trains. I have seen trains held mind that neither the hon. member for up to allow stock trains to pass, particularly Jl.finmi nor the hon. member for vVhitsun:la ,. in hot weather, so that the stock could be is n·rv concerned about the actual coii conYeyed quickly to their destination. There strneti()n of the line so long as they en" fore, it is ridiculous for the hon. member for whip np public opinion against me and the Cooroora to accuse locomotive men of faulty La hour Government. handling of stock trains. T .l o not think that Mackay is going to be severely handicapped or placed at any The hon. member for Mirani made a great disadvantage if the line is not built request to the Minister that .further con· tomorrow. No-one will tell me that Mackay sidera tion he given to the lifting of sidings will fall back or that the city will lose an) in the Mackay area. Representations were prestige or the district suffer to any made to the Minister about the removal of great extent if the line is not built sirlings at Parapi and Otterburn. I put it at once. The construction of the linP is to the hon. member that whilst the depar essential for the development of the distrid, ment has some responsibility for providing but it c~nnot be built just now and there is facilities for the loading of goods in country no nsc in mer~ly whi,pping up public support areas, the people also have the responsibillties to try to crucrfy me and damage the Govern of using these facilities. The hon. member ment I support. I am satisfied that tlw for Mirani knows that many sidings in the people of Mac~ay have every confidence in Mackav district have not had one truckload the representatiOns that I have made for of pro'dnce on them in 12 months. That is the construction of the line and have because the GoYernment have provided good sufficient confidence in the Goyernment to roads and the farmers, baYing motor-trucks, know that in due course the area will be convey their produce to town by them and openccl and a railway line will be the onlv bring out their fertiliser and other goods on means of bringing about its fulltest rlevelop the return journAy. These sidings have been ment. ·while some of the present supporters built to help country people to receive am1 of the project merely eriticise the Govern fonnrcl their goods, yet they have ignorerl ment and find fault with everything they that fact. Yet the moment these sidings, which h:n;e done, I am afraid they are fighting a cost money to maintain, are taken up because losmg fight. No Government will stand for they are not being used and put down else the little pressure group that is operating where where they will be used, there are pro· at . ~ackay in an attempt to gain some tests. I introduced a deputation to the poh~rcal advantage by advocating the N ebo department on one occasion about the lifting proJect. of the siding at Parapi. It is only when the GoYernment lift the sidings that we hear the It 1n1s also very interesting to hear the complaints. I am with the people in their remarks of the hon. member for Cooroora, protest and their request for the retention hut J follow the attitude I adopted when I of the sidings, so long as they are being usec1 first entered Parliament that is of speak· for the purpose they were built. If the ing only of things I kn~w something about. farmers want the sidings, then let them use If the hon .. m~mber for Cooroora adopted them for the purposes they were installed. !h:Jt '·:me pnnrrple he would not get himself If th0 fanners depend on the Railway mto tronJ,]e. It is absolutely ridiculous to Department to pro,·ide these facilities it is tltink that he, a former clerk' in the depart up to them to use them and .have their mrllt, ":ould h:we as much knowledge about fertiliser and other goods brought out b~· loc·omotiVe work as about clerical work and rail from Mackay. f'oT him to get up in this Chamber' and emleavour to h_old himself up as an author It has been stated by previous speakers Ity on locomotrve handling is nothing more that there has been a decline in traffic in or less than pure humbug. As one the Central Division. There may be a decline who has had experience in driving loco of passenger traffic but that is because of thP motJvcs I ~now. that no driver pulls the inside growth of air and m,otor traffic. In years out of trams Just to see a few bullocks in gone by, before the issue of motor-bus Supply. [16 NovEMBER.) Supply. 1337 licences, trains ran from Mackay into the I agree with the remarks of the hon. mem various districts bringing the peo]Jle to the l.Jer for Keppel as to the service given to city for shopping and amusement, but todny the people of Central Queensland by the there are as many as nine or 10 of these Railway Department and I am sure the hon. bus services operating on runs to these various members for Whitsunday and Mirani will districts to bring the country people in to agree that this department is making a very the city; so naturally there is a falling off valuable contribution to the welfare of the in railway passenger traffis. This is not the sugar industry. Owing to the shortage· of fault of the department; it is a matter of wagons the department is at its wits' end to progress. You cannot compel people to travel supply the number of wagons required by the by train if they can get a more modern means sugar industry but becaus~ of the clo~e of conveyance. The same applies to air co-operation between the officrals of the Ra1l· travel. How many people come down each way Department and the sugar industry, the day from North Queensland by aid Would industry is getting through with difficulty. the hon. member for Cooroora suggest that Because of the shortage of wagons it has it wns their duty to come by train when they been necessary for sugar in some instanees can make use of the air service~ With air to be transported by road, thus releasing and bus services operating we can expect a wagons for cane traffic on the railway. The falling off in passenger traffic on the rail matter of stanchions on wagons for the con ways. These services are operating for the wyance of cane, referred to by the hon. advantage of the country people although it member for Mirani, is a very contentious one is not good to see the department showing a but I believe that using them would overcome deficit because it is a public utility and the to a great extent the delays now occurring public should feel a responsibility for its in the Mackay district~ and allow wagons to upkeep. be loaded to full capacity, so that the number of wagons available would carry a There me one or two matters affecting the greater tonnage. Mackay district particularly to which .I wish In conclusion, I add my quota of thanks to refer. Firstly, there is the decline in fire· to the department for the good work it is wood traffic in the Mackay district. Although doing in the Central Division. the average householder may have gas or elec· tricity there are thousands of people who are 3Ir. SP ARKES (Aubigny) (2.57 p.m.): I dependent on firewood and great difficulty rise principally to reply to th_e hon. member is experienced by these users of firewood in who has just resumed h1s . seat. . . He getting supplies. I do not believe that the apparently is in a very pecuhar P?S~t~on department has given sufficient consideration He has given a wonderful exhrbrtwn. to the transport of firewood. There are only Beeau&o of the rain in his district he i; ha v two firewood depots in Mackay and one gets ing a very slippery time a:rd he nu;st . be supplies from the north and one from the feeling· the effects of eontmually shppmg south and there are continual complaints down on the road and having to get up. He about the slowness in getting consignments. is rather amusing when he attributes the Wood is loaded and consigned and trains go blame for the non-connection of Nebo with past day after day and the wood is not Mackav bv rail to the fact that the hon. brought to Mackay and consequently there members for Mirani and Whitsunday are are continual complaints. I should like to members of the Country Party. In fact, it see some consideration given to that matter. was a rather remarkable statement and I I know it is difficult at times and that vou could scarcely believe my ears when I heard cannot always pick up freight, but it. is it, and was forced to interjBct, . a very essential that more consideration be given unusual thing for me to do, but I had to to the matter. make sure that I heard the hon. member aright. From 1915 to the present time, with Another point I wish to raise is the run the exception of the three years 19~9 to ning of the mail-train between Rockhampton 1 o:12, the hon. member's Labour Go,·ern~nen~ :J.nd Mackay. It is remarkable that 241 Down have been in power and Mackay and Mumn can arrive at Rockhampton on time fairly districts were represented by very imr>ortant consistently. If the Minister cares to look Labour members. I cannot understand the at the records he will find that there is lost hon. member's reasoning. Apparently he time between Rockhampton and Mackay. I really wants it to be understood that he iR discussed this matter with certain officials at behind the Nebo-Mackay railway but at the Rockhampton and they told me that the same time he is of o]Jinion that the G•overh• delay at Rockhampton was due to the load mcnt should not build it because Country ing of goods that had to go by that train. Party members represent the district now, One railway man said, ' 'They are making a so that if they do, these Country Party m em· glorified goods train of it by sending certain bers 1vould get the credit. The hon. member goods from Rockhampton. n Some pro said that there was a little clique there push visions should be made to see that the train ing it but after all, if they are pushing leaves Rockhampton on time. Only the other the building of a railway that will be for dav the train to the North was on time at the benefit of the State, what is wrong with Rockhampton but one hour 30 minutes late pushing it and why does the hon. member in arriving at Mackay. That occurs fre· not get behind them and give an extra Rho,·e \t quently and greater consideration must he given by the officials of the Central Division ·why is the hon. member leaving the Cham· to the running of this train, known as 241 her just now? I would make refereneo also Down. to his comments on the trucking of cattle. Supply. [ASSEl\1:BL Y.] Supply. 1-f e has attacked a body of men, young fello,vs 13 head. With this wagon you get very little and bush workers, who are as good as any bruising. I am sure drovers will bear me out other workers in the State, whether they in that. are trammies, railway men or anybody else. They are good men and do a job remarkabl:· We must consider the importance of the well. I will not have the hon. member stand beef-cattle industry and the time has come in this Chamber and say that the men who when we should take steps to obviate bruising, because bruising is a very important matter. drove the cattle are responsible for the A glance at the Queensland Meat Industry bruising. These men have been a lifetime at Board's report will show the trouble caused their work and know their job. They go to no by bruising. Pnd of trouble in trucking their cattle and it is ridiculous to slander a body of working \Vithout any carping criticism and with men i:1 the country who are doing a really out being unreliable, unpredictable or any good .Job. Probably more cattle are trucked thing else, I suggest to the Minister in all from the Central Division than from any sincerity that he should investigate cutting other diYision of the State. · these K wagons in half. It would not be Mention was made this morning-! do necessary to put another door in them, as not know whether it was by the hon. member the cattle could be loaded into the first for Kelvin Grove or an hon. member on this part and then taken through the door side of the Chamber-of the padding of between the two sections. That would present cattle trucks. I know that this padding would no difficulty. I could, of course, suggest a l1ave ~ood results, but I want to suggest much better way of doing it, that is, by somethmg even better than the padding of using wagons similar to those used in the trucks. As this is an important matter I South, but that would be very costly, vYhereas ask the Minister to listen to a practical s~g the adoption of my suggestion would not be. gestion, one that will be borne out bv I\Ir. Evans: You are suggesting that those very men who travel with the cattle the wagons should be divided~ the drovers on the trains. The great troubl~ with the cattle-trucks in Queensland is their )[r. SPARKES: The wagons should be length and the big sway, particularly in a divided. I have asked drovers about this, K-wagon. I am not blaming the Minister and they say that it is only on very rare ~nd I want him to get out of his head the occasions that a bullock goes down in a 1dea that every time I get up on my feet I K.B. wagon, which shows that the big sway is am blaming him. I tell him exactly what the trouble. Irrespective of how good or I think of him and his department and he careful a driver is, swaying cannot be knows where I stand. There might be a avoided, and when the truck sways one beast very cheap method of obviating bruising, and gets the weight of all the others down on I ask that the Commissioner look into this him. If the trucks were divided, naturally practical suggestion. Halve the length of there would be only half the sway. your K-wagons and carrv from 8 to 10 'l'he hon. member for Kelvin Grove-~ bullocks instead of 18 to That is where 2o. An Opposition I\Iember: And a good the trouble lies. I have taken notice man, too! wherever I have travelled in the world, of the numbers of cattle trucked. I do not lUr. SPARKES: Quite a good man, say that the stock trains of New South Wales although I do not like some of the mutton are run better than those in Queensland nor he brings here at time~. (Laughter.) I am do I think their drivers are any better. They pleased to hear hon. members on the other might travel faster, because of the wider side say that he is a good man. I hope gauge, but the New South Wales stock trains they will still be saying it when I have do not cause as much bruising as do our finished. The hon. member said-and I am trains, because they only carry 10 head as right behind him-that people in the country against our 18 to 20. If you get 18 hig fat should be able to bny any article at the bullocks, weighing anything from 800 to same pTice as those in the city, that there 900 lb., and there is a sway down on one should be a uniform price throughout the bullock you can imagine the bruising he gets. State. He should be on this side of the We have another class of ~n agon here, "·hich C'lwmber when he expresses views such ;:s of course is uneconomical and never used for those. Do you notice the silence now, MT. the trucking of cattle. I refer to the I.C. Fan·ell • He is not such a good fellow no'v! wagon, which holds roughly 5 or 6 good J should like to point out to the hon. member sized bullocks. \Ve never experience bruising for Kelvin Grove that in Dalby, which is the with cattle trucked in that type of wagon. centre of the biggest wheat belt in the The I.C. is regarded as uneconomical because State and which has a flour mill, the people it is too expensive and the Commissioner will pay more for a bag of flour than they (11J tell you that he could not supply a trainload in Brisbane. of I.C. wagons. If anybody wanted to load A Government ~Iember: That is not in a couple of hundred bullocks he could not the Central Division. supply a trainload of I.C. wagons, a wagon chiefly used for the loading of horses and 3Ir. SPARKES: That does not matter. bulls. I have questioned drovers time and I am dealing with what the hon. member time again about our wagons. The K.B. is said. I am very pleased to know that H a wagon that is usually attached to a special member on the other side is game enough trainload of stock and holds-sometimes it to get up and say what the hon. member has a double box end-roughly 10 to 12 or for Keh·in Grove said. He said that people Supply. [16 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1339 in t!J,, Central Division should be able to delay was caused nt Rockhampton but I buy things at the same price as those do>Yn understand now that he said that the trains here. That is the spirit that deYeloped this >vere H hours late after Rockhampton. Why country, and I am right behind it. 'l'hP hon. should they be lit hours late after Rock member eYen went so far as to say that he hampton ~ That is what I want to know. did not mind if things were made a little He said it was not unusual. Then why are dearer in Brisbane so that people in the they late~ I admire the hon. member for Central Division could have them at the same raising the matter which should come under pTiee as people here, and I give him all the notice of the Commissioner, because he credit for that. I hope that the Minister and his staff have a job to do. vVe cannot will do something about this, if it is at all get .-cry far by always simply patting them possible, instead of taking something to Bris on the back and saying, ''Hear, hear! '' I bane and making the poor unfortunate am positive that the Minister will take a individual in the Centml Division pay twice note of the matter and that he and the Com as much for it. missioner will >Yant to know why the trains :!; >rant to con-ect a statement made by the nrP l~ hours lntc. I hope something will be he)]]. member for Keppel, who said that the done to remove the cause of the delay. hon. member for Cooroora had not given lUr. CLARK (Fitzroy) (3.14 p.m.): As a correct figures. The hon. member for Cooroora grca t part of my electorate is served by the rarely makes a mistake in this respect-he central railway system, it is natural that I is careful of his facts. The remark of the should have something to say on the Vote. hon. member for Keppel perturbed me and .First of all I want to congratulate the so I clieckecl up on the figures. l find that l\Iinister for Transport, the Hon. J. E. for 1945-46 the number of passen Duggan, on the wonderful job he has done gers carried was 1,062,586, wh10reas in sincr> he assumed control of the railways. 1949-50 the number was 1,018,059, or 44,5~7 He has endeavoured ,to do something for the more in 1945-46. The hon. member for people and he has succeeded to a considerable Cooroora said about 45,000 and that is near Pxtent. I know that in the future he will enoug:1. I want to throw those figures back do a great deal more than he is doing today. into the teeth of the hon. member, who ducks ~way like a dingo when he should have been We all realise that the railways were con here. structed to gi.-e service to the community. No-one belieYes that they should earn )Jig )Ir. JESSON: I rise to a point of order. profits each year, because when all is said ls the hon. member for Aubigny in order in and done, when they are giving service to saying that an hon. membCT ran away like the community they are helping to d•"velop a dingo: our State, particularly the sparsely-popHlat8d The CHAIRMAN: I ask the hon. member areas, and in consequence there are somtc for A ubigny to address the Chamber in a sections that do not pay. If the Ouposition propl'r nutnner. were in power today some of those lines would go by the hoard, just as some lines did when ~Ir. SP ARKES: I was speaking of the they were in pmver in 1929-:32. I know that hon. member for Keppel but I would not for when the Moore-Barnes GoYernment were in OllP moment liken him to a dingo. power in that period some branch lines were A Government )!ember: Then what did closed clown, one of them being the line from you say? Nankin Junction to Broaclmount, the port of Rockhampton. During the same period the JUr, SPARKES: I said that he just rails of that section were lifted and Broad ducked away because a dingo ducks away quickly. There are the figures and they mount which was used by Rockhampton as refute the statement of the hon. member for a port, is not now so used. The line from Keppcl, >vho virtually said that the hon. Mingela to Ravenswood Junction in the membd for CooroOTa was making a mistake Northern DiYision also was closed and the rails lifted. I am certain that if that branch mH1 in fact almost said that he was telling an untruth. line were still in existence it would be of great benefit to the mining and pastoral The hon. member for Mackay said trains interests of the district. were 1:} hours late because of delay at Rock· l1mnpton. I have mentioned these matters because certain lines in the Central Division are not Jir. GRAHA3I: I rise to a point of order. paying today. The line from Longreaeh to I deny that statement. I said that they vVinton, and the line from Blackall to Y araka were l?t hours late because of time lost showed losses last year. If hon. members between Rockhampton and Mackay, not that opposite were in power today those non-paying they >..ere 1-ft hours lata at Rockhampton. sections would probably he closed down. The )Jr. SPARKES: I accept the hon. La bonr Government on the other hand are mcmlwr 's statement. I gathered from his concerned with the development of the out remarl \\~ould not hesitate to build those lin3s that where there is plenty of room. The space were found to be necessary. In my electorate vacated would be very useful for other pur a big job, in the elimination of the razor back poses. section of the Moonmera-Moongan railway, In addition to the elimination of thl' is proceeding. The razor-back has existed razorback section the department is making since the construction of the Kabra-Mt. preparations to have a line built from the Morgan railway and it is high time it was Callide line to the Callide coalfield, a rhRtance eliminated. It was absolutely out of date and of about 10 miles which will be a lleneiit the work should have been taken in not only to the cdllide field but t? the far hand years ago. The present deviation mers in the adjacent areas, who w1ll iJll able extends for 6 miles 44 chains. It will cut to use that line instead of taking their pro out the razor-back and emerge at the top of uuce to the Callicle railway station. The the hill at Moongan. The Moongan yarus Dawson and Callide Valleys have developed must he developed to enable the trainloads to such an extent that it is essential that to be re-handled before going down the range. facilities be provided to transport produce to Today, the trains carry loads in the vicinity market quickly. Before long it will be found of 400 tons, but these have to be cut down to be necessary to run special coal trains at Moongan anu distributed among fonr from this field and then it will be necessaq trains. The deviation will effect a great also to install' rrossing loops to avoid hold saving and be of advantage not only to the ups. Rockhampton and Mt. Morgan people but to the people of the Dawson and Callicle Valleys. The railway-men of Queensla;nd have .d?ne The development that has taken place in the and are doing a good job and m my op1m~n Dawson and Callide Valleys has made it they are equalled by no other body of :ail necessary to eliminate the bottle-neck on the waymen in Australia. There are many ~l:11;gs razor-back. After the deviation is completed that could be done in the Central DIVIsion it will he possible for trains to carry loads of the Railway Department to put the service up to 650 tons from the top of the hill to in a better condition than it is in at present, any part of Central Queensland. That will but we must not forget that because of the he a great saving to the department in both shortages of man-power and materials the engine- and man-power. department is unable to ~o the work it 'Youlcl like to do. Certain sectiOns of the rmlway It was said in this Chamber that the could do with a great deal of attention, but miners' trains to Mt. M organ were very slow for reasons that I have mentioned the work trains. I wish to refute that statement. It cannot be done. is about 24 to 26 miles from Rockhampton to Mt. Morgan and the trip takes one hour and The railway refreshment rooms are doing 10 minutes, so when we take into considera a very good job. They are . all bustle f?r tion the 12 stops during the run and the the short time, perhaps 20 nunutes, a tram razor-back it will be seen that it is one of is at the station and the girls have to see the fastest trains in Queensland. to it that all passengers get the att~ntion they require. They do an excellent JOb. I am. pleased-and I know all Central Queensland members are pleased-that we The fettler who has to work out in the have in sight a new railway station for Rock sun and rain,' has clone and is doing a mag hampton. Hon. members opposite believe it nificent job, but I should like to see his con is only a matter of building a platform and ditions a great deal better than they an'. putting a roof over it, but there is more than One disadvantage of his calling is that when that in the building of a new station at a holiday comes along he is unable to go Rockhampton. There is an administrative anywhere, because of the lack of transport; staff there who are crammed into a small he must amuse himself by either shooting or building on the corner of Denison and Stanley swimming or some such pastime as is avail Streets, sitting virtually back to back with able in the locality in which he works. At no room to move, and they deserve some con some places he can get foodstuffs only once sideration. or twice a week and I would ask the depart ment, if it is at all possible, to give him The Rockhampton workshops are in my more amenities than he enjoys. Such men area and the work they carry out is equal to are entitled to everything that the Govern the work clone in any other workshops in ment can give them. I know certain improve Queensland. A large body of tradesmen of ments have been made in their accommoda all kinds is engaged there, but there is not tion, but today I again appeal to the Minister sufficient room to do the work that is to do everything possible for them. They required. The department has acquired land do very hard work. on the North Side so that the workshops may be built over there. 1\Ir. DAVIS (Barcoo) (3.30 p.m.): I compliment the Minister on his ad mini·· The shunting yards are rather limited. The tration of the Railway Department, and draw lines that go into these yards are on an angle attention to the magnificent service rendered and when the vard is full of trucks the by the railways of this State during tlw shunter is unabl~ to see the driver and the gravest emergency this nation has had to f ~ce. driyer is unable to see the shunter. It is a It would be asking too much of a servict·. wonder to me that these yards have not been depleted and neglected during the years of the scene of more accidents. The only way the depression and called upon a few silon to eliminate the bottleneck that exists in the vears later to carry virtually the whnl" Rockhampton yards is to transfer the work burden of the defence of this nati01c t<> shops and yards over to the North Side, rehabilitate itself within a few years of Supply. (16 NOVEMBER.] Supply. 1341 the cessation of hostilities. Everyone will has also his Commissioner, who has risen agree t}Jilt the railways did a magnificent joL from the ranks to that position, and is to ([urmg the war and probal1lv mnrle it possiLlP be complimented on his initiative. He will for us to be in this Chamber today. Hn 1 the find that what I am saying is factual. Until P~"·ers that be decided that during the years these links are built in the West or South ot 11·ar 11·e should hnve the same seasonal West, Central-West, and North-West, the loss conditions as we experienced this year antl will go on, irrespective of what may be said last yenr, when many of our road b·ansport about the conservation of fodder. How in systems were rendered ineff.ective, we should the name of good sense can fodder be con have been in a very bad plight in the served when you have five and six years of enrringe of men nnd munitions. drought~ What does it matter if these links . There is one phase of railway nctivitie.'> do not pay axle· grease in the actual running? .l am Yery much concerned about. I know They certainly pay national dividends, any that thr general concensus of opinion is way. Until this security is achieved both tlwt it is impossiblP to build more raihmvs in the North and in the South, there will at. present, owing to the shortage of ste(·l always be these problems, because seasonal rmls but the development of a nation is conditions vary so much. There may be an it~ means. of defence and the tragic foature abundant season in the South-West and at of the rmlways of the State of Queensland the same time a period of drought in the 1s that we as a Government-not only thi~ North and North-West, and vice versa. Until (:overnment but past Governments prior to we can bring about this security so that we the advent of Labour to the Treasury bench can take our stock, not through a bottle -.faik In regard to his comment about the delay special rates for the purpose of depriving in the delivery of cement ancl tiles to North the Railway Department of a certain amount Queensland I want to say that the Commis of revenue. However, the fact is that we were sioner has been in touch with Wnnderlich losing revenue and had to get traffic back JAd. ancl the Queensland Cement and Lime by quoting special rates. If Wunderlich Ltd. ()o. l,tll. and they have offered to work during is able to make an arrangement with the the normal Christmas close-down period if shipping companies, I see no reason why a it is necessary to overcome any back-lag in company in Mackay could not ha Ye done the filling orders and we on our part will make same thing. wagons available for the movement of cement ~wll tiles. :illr. Evans: quoted a letter from Mackay to the effect that you quoted a ~[r. Evans: Wunderlich boards. certain rate and then doubled it to £16. lUr. DL'GGAN: If there is a back-Jag in JUr. DUGGAN: No purpose can be served onlers those companies are prepared to work by going into that matter now, because the during the normal Christmas vacation and company has closed down. However, the chief we in turn are prepared to make trucks reason for its closing down was not the available. freight rates but the great discrepancy between the prices of the two types of The facts are not quite as the hon. mem material that were produced for the same ·ber for Mirani wonlcl have people believe purpose. I am not suggesting by any means regnnling the company at Macka;' that he that the article produced in Mackay was ;,:ays was obligetl to CPasc production. We not the more durable of the two, but {]ill quote special freight rates from Brisbane apparently the people in Mackay preferred to Mackay for certain types of building to use the Brisbane product because it "·as material and we favoured the company in cheaper. Macknv with that rate. It is true that we were subsequently obliged, because of the '\Vhilst I am not against the principle of L'xistence of shipping competition, to quote decentralisation, there is obviously some limit a lower rate for the movement , of these to the lengths to which "'O can go in estab boards from Brisbane to Mackay. If we lishing industries in other parts of the State. found it necessarv to do that because of the One of our most overworked words toda r is shipping competi'tion, the manufacturers at ''decentralisation''; in fact, it is being Mackay could have done the same thing in overworked to the same extent as '' Meso Maekay and used shipping ,for their purpose, potamia'' was in '\Vorld War I. '\Vhenever if they felt they could get a better deal. The a deputation waits upon me in the country, I <·losure of the Batrosa Marble Company at can bet without fear that somebody will use Maekay did not occur because of the differ the wonl ''decentralisation.'' It is a part of entiation in rates but from the fact accord every proposal that is put before an!· ing to the information presented t~ me-I Minister. I agree that we should do every rece~ved a minute from the Secretary for thing ]JOssible to encourage decentralisation, A~ncnltnro and Stock somp months ago in but I point out to hon. members that we tlns matter as he was interested in it and have onlv one steelworks in Au~tralia. 'That saw a deputation that came down on one is becauie it is much cheaper to erect annexes occasion-that the price of cement sheets to the steelworks at Port Kcmbla than to h:r the Batrosa Marble Company in 1948 establish separate steelworks in other parts was 39s. for a sheet measuring 6 feet by 3 of the CommomYealth. The same remarks feet. The price to builders was that amount apply to the manufacture of motor-cars. For less 10 per cent. discount, whereas the price instance, about 80 per cent. of the components for a suitable class of sheet manufactured bY of the Holden motor-car are manufactured in .J aml's Rardie & Co., was 5s. 10c1. Obviously Australia, but in onl!- onp factory. General P''ople '"<'re not prepared to pay 39s. le;;s J\Iotors-Holdens have not dccentralisecl their 10. P~'l' ' ;~t. d~scount if they could get a organisation by erecting a factory in every lnuldmg mntenal more suitable for their State, because it would be uneconomic to do so. purpose at 5s. 10d. a sheet less discount. Some factories are cstablised in outside areas Freight had nothing to do with the closing down of that eompany. for the reason that accommodation might be more easily procured and employees might lUr. Evans interjected. work a little harder and there . might be fewer industrial hold·ups than in a large city, Mr. DUGGAN: I have information here all of which things may outweigh the dis to the effect that the ordinarv rate that ad>antage of being awa)' from the large would have operated in respect ~f that com centres of population, but the large industries pany was 162s. 4d. a ton, with a minimum have been centered in Victoria ancl New weight of 1 ton, and that we quoted a special South Wales, not hecause the workmen down rate of 155s. a ton. The rate for that type there are anv l1etter than those anvwhere of commodity from Brisbane to Mackav was else, but because the great concentration of population is down there, We tried to induce s'mthern States. Of course, we could not do to st'"P down the extra 9 inches, sav once or that, because if we had we should have had twice a yenr. As to St. l.awrence, we attach He tu do it for every other industry. As the dining car to our trains, which runs from Rock result, that :firm established its works in the hampton to Mackay and consequently elderly South because there its distribution costs people have no neeil to leave the train at would he lower. all-the dining car is on the train. I respect fully suggest that very few elderly people I am in favour of decentralisation. The would nce(l to leave the train to get refresh Toowoomba Foundry Company has 1 200 ments aml in nnY cnse there are condacton; employees and it is able to sell machi~cry who are usuallY· nn·y courteous and would in India, South Africa and other places of not hesitnte to< get refreshments for peoph' the world. It is a very efficient organisatioll. who, hceause of infirmity of for other good I was speaking in Sydney the other dav to reason. eould not leave the train. The con the managing director of Emco a factory ductors 11·ould he happy t.o get the refresh- at Orange employing about 600 to 700 me~. ments for them. Some people seem to think He told me that they .were interested in the that the raising of a platform is a verv possibilities of decentralisation and thnt the simple matter and woulrl cost only £200 a·,. New South Wales Government offered them £300 hut that is quite an erroneous idea. They all sorts of inducement but they found that cost a eonsidera ble sum of money, not only although it looked all right on paper it diu in putting in the additional earth anc1 the not. work out so w~ll in actual practice. asphalt on top but in raising the level of the yYlnle. ~ am most desHous of seeing provin station building itself. In how many Cial crties grow and become self-contained we instances do >Ye find that the station building myst face the fact that you cannot go very long is actually on the ground level nnd that is a chstances and compete on the same basis "s rliffiC'ult~· we shall experience in conneetio11J you can in the more populous areas like Bris with eleetrifieation-that many of the main· bane, Sydney, Melbourne and elsewhere. It platforms in the metropolitan' area are ver,•, has been proved to be uneconomic beyond lo\Y. 'I'ltey were nhle to get over their uiffi- certain. limits: If it were not so, why should eultY in Svunev in connection with electri:fica we .be rmportmg many things from England~ tion: becatrse 'in many instances the exits ~t rs only because England is able to compete from the eaniag·es >vere leYC'l with the plat m the manufacture of certain things on the form. mark~ts of the world, she has specialised in Here then' is a yariation of 9 to J."i certam forms of production, but she has to inehes, acrording to the height of the send the goods 13,000 miles by sea and com pete against Australian manufacturers. platform. It will he a costly matter to have these plai;forms built up level with the floors I know that you have given me a good of the eleetric trains to obviate clanger to deal of latitude in regard to the Vote for 1wople getting on and off them. Electric trains· accelerate very quickly, and it is vitall~· th~ Central Division, Mr. Farrell, but the necess:1r.v that the platforms should be level pomt was taken that the policy of the Gov with the floor of the trains. In the metro ernment has been responsible for the decline politan area travellers by these electric trahJS in certain secondary industries and I wished will use them twice a clay, and when yon to reply to it. multiply that by 40 or 50 weeks in a year the prospect of injury is multiplied very greatly, The hon. member for Mt. Morgan, the hon. hut in the far-distant parts of the State I member for Mackay, and the hon. member doubt whether a person will travel over an for Keppel made some very useful contribu area more than once a ~·ear. Therefore, the tions to the debate which I have requeste(l liability to accident and the addccl physical the office to note. The hon. member for hnrden are not .,·orth mentioning. K~ppel was particularly concerned about the farlure to provide better platform facilities at I shall be pleased to ask the Commissioner,. St. Lmvrence ~ncl also because electric light through his general managers, to examine the had not. been mstalled b_nt,, as in everything various matters submitted by hon. members, else, whrle I agree that rt rs desirable to do and if we ~an provide relief in the directioll these things, there is a limit and as the hon. asked for then we shall be pleased to do so. member·. fo~ Southport said today, some must take pnonty over others. It is according Yote (Central Division and Mackay Rail· to the assessment of the priority of all thes<:> "·~y) agree cl to. works that their order is determined. The sum of £3,500 has been estimated as the :-. A summary of increases and decreases com provide the necessary steel for at least pared with 1949-50 expenditure is as some spur and/or connecting lines in the follows:- near futnre. INCREASES. "Discussing the fact that sheep and £ £ cattle han~ not made any permanent gain Award and automatic increases in- cluding part paid 1949-50 222,346 in Queenslanll oyer the past tiO years, the ~Full provision appointments, &C.', bureau quotes as factors the lack of 1949-50 28,672 stability of price levels; the need for Extra staff ...... 42,445 Overtime, Sunday time and allowances 4,592 developing some form of fodder resen·e; Fuel-Increased price and extra and inadequate rupicl trnnsport. milage ...... 14,457 ''The bureau saYs the best form of Stores-Extra requirements and in- erensrd prices . . 28,549 transport would be 'proviclecl by an exte~l Special Revenue works, bridge and sion of rail ways from existing railheacls station buildings .. 9,000 into the breeding areas and the construc Maintenance material . . . . 26,488 Deferred engine and wagon repairs .. 59,000 tion of additional lines through the fatten Staff variations and miscellaneous ing areas. services 19,366 454,915 ''The report says that some means must be found to reduce losses during droughts. LESS DECREASES. ''·while organised stocking and improved Extended leave and retirin'g allowance 220 pastures can materially assist in this, Flood damages . . . . 10,933 Re-armngement of gangs 2,983 wherever possible in normal seasons suit 14,136 al1le soils located in satisfactory rainfall areas, must be used to produce crops which Net Increase £4±0,779 will provide fodder resen·es. These would insure against the failure of natural pas ~Ir. KEYATTA (Townsville) ( 4.19 tures in dry seasons. p.m.): I desire to speak on this vote so ably ''The baling of natiYe pastures with moved by the Minister. \Ve have heard much modern machinPry, either alone or in asso from our Opposition friends of the adminis ciation with grain production, is worthy of tration of the railways, but they are in agree consideration, the report continues. ment in expressing their respect and apprecia "It also is essential that a regular turn tion of his administration. It is a compliment off of store cattle should be maintained that can be ·paid to him generally. Many ench year, so that the country in the cattle members of the Opposition engaged in our breeding areas will not be overstocked in industrial life, or other activities, have dry years. similar compliments paid to them J:tnd it is only right that we should offer our compli ''Obviously the very important probte they were receiving reasonably high rates of wharf labour and ship wharfage for goods of high value. Core of the com· and berthage and so the turn-round of petition complaint is whether road motors ships is delayed. Could not these organisa should be allowed to pick and choose the tions I have mentioned co-ordinate some high-class goods they can carry (leaving system under which ships could be diverted to the unprofitable lines) and run distances other ports on the coast at which the nece,, that suit them on roads built and main· sary man-power and equipment are available,. tained by public moneys. there to discharge and if necessary the goods ''This was not modernising but rather transported, say, back to Brisbane~ The duplicating transport facilities. quicker discharge of the ships would, of ''Duplication of transport facilities did course, reduce the port and other charges. not create new transport. It merely on the goods, and this reduction could be set lessened the effectiveness of existing trans off against the extra railway freight, and port agencies. taken into co_nsideration by the Commissioner ''In many instances country district of Prices. The port of Brisbane is congested, roads, built and maintained at high cost whereas most of the ports along our coastline parallel to the railway lines, carried are idle, and when you realise the capital negligible traffic. invested in the railways you inevitable con clude that something will have to be none to ''In the interests of producers more con Bee that they get some of this trade. sideration should be given to providing access roads to the railways. Only to a Consideration should be given by the relatively minor extent had money been Commonwealth authorities to work in con spent on these feeders to rail towns.'' junction with the North Australia Develop 'rhe Press report on the matter goes on- ment Committee's scheme. T.he railways " Mr. Wills quoted extracts from over play an important part in the development seas publications to show that the attitude of this nation and are also a strategic defence adopted by the administration of the measure. I suggest that connections be made Queensland railway towards so-called com from the present terminals, such as from petitive forms of transport was endorsed Forsayth to Croydon, N ormanton to Burke by railway managements in other countries town, Burketown to Camooweal, and Camoo where the great volume of business gave weal to Mt. Isa. Camooweal would then be railways a far better opportunity of over a point on the inland railway to Darwin. coming the obstacle of unfair competition We should therefore have a network of rail that was presented in Queensland.'' ways connecting the dead-ends in Queensland and have a strategic railway system. I am That statement is correct, and shows that the not saying that this could be done from the Queensland railways have rendered an effi resources of Queensland alone but the job cient and valuable service to both industrv could be undertaken with the co-operation of and the public generally. · the Commonwealth and the southern States. Railways can play a very important part We can visualise what a great impetus it in the transportation of wool to centres of would be to industry to have such a system wool appraisals and wool sales, if the cost of rail transportation, with motor transport is within reason. Now-a-days, to the detri bringing in goods to the railway line and ment of many Queensland ports, wool is roads radiating therefrom. Queensl:md is a carried past them to Brisbane for appraisal growing State and on the eve of great and sale. In the years before the war development and such n scheme should he approximately 100,00·0 bales of wool were considered. trans-shipped at the port of Townsville, but that trade has been lost to Townsville. The We hear much about the development of Townsville Harbour Board is prepared to act the North, and the North is a vital part in in conjunction with the railway services to the defence of this nation and its develop provide facilities for wool appraisement at ment should be considered by the authorities, that centre, and in this connection something particularly the Commonwealth. North should and must be done by those responsible. Queensland, the Northern Territory, and the The railways can and should work in co north-western part of Western Australia are ordination with the harbour boards and the most vulnerable places in this continent the Australian Shipping Board for the and we have to remember that a chain is purpose of providing for the expeditious only as strong as its weakest link and the transportation of goods. Quicker turn-about weakest link in our chain of defences is in of ships in ports means greater expedition the areas I have mentioned. At present there in the distribution of goods to the various is an open door inviting invasion. We have centres to which they are consigned. One of already experienced the unpleasant and my colleagues, the hon. member for Port horrible fear of a Japanese invasion; history Curtis, made brief reference to this point. has a habit of repeating itself. The recent ';I'he Australian Shipping Board, harbour war should be a warning to .the powers that boards, and the Queensland Railway Depart be that the North should be developed and ment, working in conjunction, should be able that population should be poured into those to formulate and put into effect a scheme places. Unless we develop the North we that would operate 11ot only at the port of cannot have a strong line of defence in ports, Brisbane but at the other eight major ports roads, railways, and population and it along our coast. We know that it frequently behoves Governments in the South-both happens that the port of Brisbane is con Federal and State-to throw the whole of gested with shipping because of the shortage their weight behind such a scheme. ill.348 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. My brother sent down to me a suggestion Trade will naturally go to those points where in regard to the joining of railway rails. ships are calling and where there are loading At present they are connected by means of facilities. There is additional trade to be fish-plates and it is because of the gap considered, too. The bugbear of industry in between lines that we hear the clicking noise the North today is the lack of expeditious as the wheels of a carriage or engine pass transportation of goods, but unfortunately over the joints. The idea is to have the rails there is an aTtificial boom in trade that I checked in, one to the other, and that this think might ·be remoYed in the interests of would eliminate the clicking noise. I will the railway system. table details of this suggestion and I ask the Minister to place it before his officers. It Let me again compliment the Minister on appears to be an excellent idea. his efficient administration. A good thing cannot be repeated too often-it is true, an One of the greatest bugbears in the railway undeniable fact is no boast-that he is giv service is the level crossing. We have many ing an efficient service. He, the Commis level crossings in the State, most of them sioner, and the staff and other employees in the densely populated areas. The level generally are to be complimented on their ;.;rossing is one of the greatest dangers .to efforts. The department has frequently car human life that exist in any community, ried commodities below the cost of trans mtd irrespective of what precautions are porting them and in this way it has done a taken, we shall always have careless people good job and given an efficient service. Speak in our midst. Loss of life is tragic and a ing to a high-ranking American army m::n country such as ours cannot afford it. I during the war. I was told that our tram suggest that where possible overhead bridges servi..e was a toy service, but later he was or underground tunnels should be provided, amazed at its pulling capacity and, to use and that the number of crossings should be his own American expression, he snid it was reduced by diverting the traffic to a locality a ''darn good iron horse' '-and you all where there is an overhead bridge. In no know the tremendous pulling power of the <'ase should pedestrians be expected to use horse. During the war years every railway a level crossing; overhead bridges should vehicle was overloaded, it carried more th::n :always be provided for them. the regulation axle-load. But the rail The existence of level crossings has been ways gaYe service, a mighty job they did, the cause of a good deal of discontent in and how they contributed to the defence of mv electorate. Various branches of the this country~ A:L.P. and the progress assoeiations and (Time , expired.) local authorities and other public bodies all regard level crossings as a grave menace Hon. H. H. COLLINS (Tablelands 1~0 the safety of our community, and I Secretary for Agriculture and Stock) ( 4.43 'trust that the Minister will be able to see p.m.): As this vote concf'rns my electorate lliis way clear to do something about elimi Yitally, it is necessary that I sho_uld, to some onating them. extent, use the parish pump m order to I should like to make some reference to bring before the Minister certain phases of the co-ordinated development scheme that is railway transport in North Queensland. First .at present in the blue-print stages for shift of all, I should like to say how much I appre ing the railway line in Townsville from the ciated the work of the Minister, the enthu :main thoroughfare to a location that is less siasm he has shown, and his long-range view thickly populated, in an effort to eliminate in laying down plans for the future develop the danger to which I have referred. The ment of the Queensland railways. I have present danger to life and limb would be always received every help and courtesy from greatly reduced if the line could be shifted him, not that I have always got all that I ·and the present level crossings eliminated. have asked for, because there are many things I understand that the Townsville City Coun that he lias to consider apart from those "~il and the Townsville Harbour Board and that affect mv electorate. However, he has ether bodies have discussed ways and means given considei-able attention to any matter ln the few minutes that l have left at up into a frenzy, aided and abetted Lv his m;c di'fJOsal, 1 wish to refer to the trans hon. friend from Ro111a. It is all very' well puniug of milk from the Atherton Tableland for the hon. member for Aubigny to get up to T< wnsvillc. The Athertou Tableland is in the Chamber and speak against the honest eapni>le of prouucing all the fresh milk that toiler, the bush-worker, and run him down is n,-[airell, not only by Townsville but by and accuse him of bruising cattle. I have the \\'hole of the ~orth anu the Korth-West, had some little experience in the trucking of and it woulU be a very good thing if some cattle-I worked on a stock train in my attention was paid to this matter. At the younger days. As a matter of fa~t, I brought present time the butter factory is consider in a trainload of bullocks to Alligator Creek ing spending thousands of pounds in provid or the Ross Ri\·er Meatworks-I forget which ing road transport, but I feel that the job at the moment-from Bunda Buncla station, •·ovl<1 be done mueh better bv the Railway where I worked for many months. Hon. l lcp. r:mcnt. ' members opposite do not 'know everything about the cattle industry. I have seen what Jir. JESSON (Hinchinbrook) (5.8 p.m.): happens with my own eyes. Hon. members l should like to a Opposition. c bv Communists and by the Liberal Party, who are the same reallv but Mr. Franklin has The CHAIR~IAN: Order! been able to talk these employees over and the Townsville railway workshops have been Mr. JESSON: If we got the money from brought to a high state of efficiencv. An the f )ommomvt•alth Bank we could build these excellent job is done there. Many years ago Supply. [16 NOVEMBER.] Supply. 1353 these: \\Orkshops took iu wol'k from outsitle thin~.:. ihen~ is a ('auso fur tl1is and firms Lut uowadavs the boot is on the other :\lini&ter awl his ~talf shoulcl gu llliO ti1· foot: the men ii1 the workshops are going l'C~lSOll WhY this train is SO COPS::--l('liC',\ their hardest to do their jobs. Mr. Frankliu, lt lll:t)' ]J~ that it stop> too u;·,,_., the administrative staff and the tl'adesmen and long; there 1nay be other tall s t ,:tt t_;lJ <'mploytces generally in these \YOrkshops have tllr- :'llinister and his sUtff ran corrctt. Jf done a very goou job. It is an enormous it is i.npossible to run the train on the north undertaking. Many hundreds of acres of ern trin ns on the southern trip, it is time land. are covered by the shops and the the sehcr1nle ,.-as altered so that neople "·null marshalling yards. Millions of tons of goods, kliO\V \Yhat tO expect along the line. r wi]\ iucluding wool and minerals from the West lean• that subject for a momC'nt, becausr• tll<' and :\lt. Isa, in addition to cattle and sugar, hon. member for l\Iulgrave "·ill give the Com a re handled in these yards with a minimum mitte" facts concerning the incon,·eniellctl of trouble. Things have run along very suffered in the Cairns district as a result smoothly and, as I say, all the railway of this late running. employees connected with it are to be highly commended. - Honourable }{embers interrupting. The CHAIRliAN: Order! I should like .Mr. WORDSWORTH (Cook) (5.30 p.m.): ho11. members to stop cross-firing across tlw I am very unhappy in having to disappoint Chamber am! give the hon. member for rook the hon. member for Hinchinbrook because an opportunity to make his speech. [ do not intend to ~tdvocate the br:ilding of an underground rmlway from Cape York :Jir. WORDSWORTH: I will leave that to Dutch New Guinea, or anything like that. I matter as the hon. member has more details nse m response to the invitation bY the in his possession, emanating from railway :\linister to offer constructiYC' critiei~"l on :cm•n, as to the great inconvenience that i' the railway system~ being· snffcrcr1 between Cairns and Go.rdon vale nnd Aloomba as a result of the consistent ! ;cm on0 who does not sulJscrilJe to the idea that the railways are ont of ·':we>. 1 late-running of the Sunshine Express. have re~cl a lot about railway practices else The Cairns railway station is within the where m the world and I have seen in electorate of the hon. member for Cairns, an authoritative publication instances in but it serves the part of Cairns I repre America where modernised rail wa vs have sent, just as the Cairns Base Hosp~tal, which put their opposing airways compcti"tor" ou1 is in Cook serves the part of Cauns repre of business; and although we are prolJa hi, sented by 'the hon. member for Cairns. I a long way from that ultimate aim, t'w point think I am therefore entitled to discuss this I make is this: Government members insh·ad station. The Cairns people were first pro of producing alibis out of the hat' for the mised a new railway station by the late Mr. raihYays and saying that they !Jave doue a Jack 0 'Keefe about 1935, and that promise good job in the past-we all ]mow that has been repeated at every subsequent elec should realise that we have to improve them tion. Before the last election, however, we and see where the flaws in the svstem are. got something better than a promise; we An;· , riticism I offer will be tonstructive. were shown plans of a new railway station,, My ideas may not be all practicable, but at and tenders for its erection were called and least I know that the :Minister will listen to them. one of them was subsequently accepted. However, many months have passed but no l''irst of all, the b.on. member for Hinchin work has yet been carried out on the new hrook mentioned the good running of the station. I understand that the Railway Sunshine Express on the Townsville-Cairns Department has to carry out certain work Sl'dion. and he spoke in p:uticular of t]p before the contractor can start on the job, down trip. I agree with him. lmt T want but I should like the Minister to tell us tfl Priticise that Sunshine Express ven· later on when we can expect the erection of severely, because it has quite a lot to do the new station to be begun. The best bricks with the upsetting of the running of other in Queensland, if not in Australia, are at trains and rail ,motor services in the North. present being made at a place 10 n\iles on It usually runs on time from Cairns to Bris the Mareeba side of Kuranda, and the plant bane but rarely on time from Brisbane to is being duplicated. If the Govern Cairns. At one time when the mail train ment really want bricks, I think they could was late tb.e local newspaper used to feature make it worth while for the owners of the the fact that the train was half an hour plant to quadruple the present capacity. late. because it was news. Now. it w generally from a quarter of an hour to 1i I know that other towns have been pro hours late when it arrives at Cairns. If it mised new railway stations, but it is no good ran on time today that fact would probably leaving everything until tomorrow. Everyone be recorder! as news. One hon. member says this is a co~tly time to build, but it said that time is lost in the Central Division, might be more costly tomorrow. History has lmt the lost time is not made up. For shown that once prices increase they never donkeys' years any time within reason that revert to the level of 10 or 15 years pre was lost used to be picked up between viously. As an instance of that, prices after Bowen and Townsville. I have recently the first World War never fell to their previ travelled on many occasions on this train, ous level, and they will never again revert and instead of picking up lost time on that to the level of 1939. The sooner we get on section, where it used to do so for manv with the job of getting these essential works ~·ears, the train has lost further time. I clone, the better. 1354 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. My criticism is directed not only towards from Cooktown to Lam·a and in wet weather the delay in erecting the new Cairns railway the goods could be amply protected. I have station, but towards the lack of convenience receivecl the suggestions by mail from two at the present station, not only for train sources in the last few days. travellers but for the staff. For instance, I was in the parcels office at the Cairns rail I agree with the Secretary for Agricul way station a few weeks ago and noticeu ture and Stock that there is need for further that in addition to the clerk in charge there rail extension in the district and· that there were a bout iive or six porters working in cannot be any more development in the North the room and there was hardly space for than there is today unless this is carried them to move. It is difficult to imagine how out. However, I do not agree that the time men can work efficiently in such a coniined to do it is not today. Today heavier rails space. The same remarks apply to the whole nre being installed on certain sections, which of the building. Another complaint I have means that light rails must be taken up to is that although Cairns is in a high-rainfall give place to the heavier ones, and I now area, the station has three platforms but suggest that these light rails could be only one of them is covered. used in laying a track from Mungana through Palmerville to Laura on light rails I have mentioned parcels and I have saiu that would not be required to carry heavy also that I will endeavour to offer the Minis traffic. Then I come to the problem of ter suggestions as well as criticism. I know sleepers. Of course, it is admitted that iron that he is desirous of iinding ways and means wood sleepers are the best in the world of increasing the revenue of the railways, white ants cannot get their teeth into them. and I have a suggestion to offer in that Plentiful supplies of ironwood are avail direction. When a private iirm has something able along this proposed route, Unfortunately to offer to the people in an effort to over all the ironwood that can be economically cu"t rome competition, it advertises it in an in close proximity to Cooktown-Laura railway endeavour to sell it. On occasions I have has been taken out. I make these sugges had quite a lot to do with getting parcels tions for the consideration of the Minister. I and small pieces of machinery, and so on know that Rome was not built in a day but from Brisbane to Cairns. The average per: I trust that something may be done. I trust son who wants something in a hurry imagines that my criticism has been factual. It was that he will get it in the quickest possible mainly concerned with the ruiming of the• time by air freight, but I have frequently Sunshine Express. found that air-freight parcels take four days to. come from Brisbane to Cairns, whereas Without wishing to join the mutual admirn rarled parcels take only two days on the mail tion society I do believe that the Minister has train. The Railway Department, m.oreover, the ability and intention to do a good job carriPs parcels at a considerably lower rate and I the~efore wish him every success. I than that charged by the air transport com have heard something of his Army service panies, and I suggest that here is a "·on,ler and I know that any man in the Army who ful opportunity for the Railway Depar .. tent has been posted as an adjutant to a battalion to advertise the services that it can g1 n· in and has held the rank of staff captain in his the. matter of carrying parcels by rail along brigade has a great amount of administrative the North Coast by passenger trains. If the ability, tact, and energy, >Yhich should stand service is keyed up at both ends, that is if ~Iim in goou stead in administering this the deliveries are made promptly along 'the Important portfolio. Most of the officers of li~e, as they are in Cairns today, the service the Army haxe another qualification and thnt Will attract more patronage. It is a service is the capacity to produce alibis out of the that is really good and its benefits could hat. 'l'hat will be a very helpful asset to the he au\·ertised to the public by the spending Minister in administering this portfolio. of only a few pounds and tlw Department would thereby get back more and more parcel ::\Ir. W.\TSO~ (Mulgrave) (5.46 p.m.): traffic from the airways each 'IYeek. In my preYious speech in this Committee I deRlt with the Railway Estimates in general, I now desire to refer once again to the but I now propose to I wish to express my appreciation of the would be able to get home at their correct help of the Gm·ernmcnt in obtaining trans time. The railways have competitors in the port facilities to supply cement to tl]e North. field of transport. We have bus transport to The Minister told us that transport could contend with in the North. So acute did the not be given for such freight as quickly as position become because of the delays in the he would like. I want to pay tribute to the workers' trains from Cairns to Gorclonvale ·Minister, as I lwxe now been informed that that the State Transport Commission was the North will be receiving cement in a few compelled to allow a bus service to run from days and this will enable urgent woTks to Cairns to Edmonton. This service runs parallel he completed. That only goes to show that with the railway line for eight miles and it is you can force things through this Chamber taking a consif1erable amount of revenue and get some satisfaction. from the department. I suggest that if the timetable gave a good service the bus sPn·iee I 1vant to deal brieflv with the lateness of would not be necessary. train arrivals in the ·far-northern distTicts. The hon. memlJeT for Hinchinbrook was quite There is one other matter I ha>e been corrrect in saying that the downward trains asked to -bring before the notice of the run to timetable. I was led to believe, by Minister, and I ask that he give favourahle the hon. member for Keppel, that these trains consideration to it. From Cairns to Brisliane do arrive in BTisbane on time. I cannot is a distance of over one thousand miles. ;tll([ contradict that statement although it is if the Northern Mail runs to time it takes yery difficult to reconcile it with the fact 44 hours. Many mothers with young children that although these trains leave the North travel on this train. The Country \Nomen's on time 2.nd arrive in Brisbane on time the Association placed the matter befo-re the up trains arrive as much as three hours late. Minister, and I ask him to give consideration to the matter when the new transport system T~at creates chaos in my area, particularly he talked about is being dealt with, and w1th the transpoTt of workers. Approximately have facilities provided to enable the motlwrs J 50 workers in Gordonvale travel 14 miles t~ to feed and bath their children. Cairns and return to their homes dailv. On the ordinary timetable they would be absent A great deal has been said in this debate from Gordom·ale approximately 10 or 10~ on level crossings and the Minister has tol(l hours a clay, but the late a~rival of th~ us that there are over 2,000 in the State. :c;r orthern Mail, in many instances np to three In my electorate there are many dangerous hours, Cll\ISCS the down workers' train crossings but there is one that is· verv to be clela~·ca in Cairns until its arrival. dangerous, situated on the Bruce Highway ii1 'l'hat mC':u1s-and I have evidence given to the centre of the township of Gordouvale, me by the workers of Gordonvale-that thev approximately 3 chains from the milwav do not arrive in their town till as late a·s station on the one side and with a very 7.30 p.m. We believe in the 40-hour week, acute curve on the other. There is a hotel and the'c men living in Gorclonvale and within 12 yards of the railway on one side \Vorking in the railway workshops and other and the National Bank on the other. 1vorks in Cairns are away from their homes Visibility, unless the driver stops and goes npproxin_:mtely 12 hou;·s a day. The heavy right up to the rails, is absolutely nil. I overloadmg of matenal means that trains agree with the Minister that the Act pro,-ides must run late, but where a workers' train is that a driver must get out of his vehicle and brought in the station-master should be able go and look to see whether a train is coming. to fix a time-table to allow the men to leave In this particular spot the driver can r1o this Cairns and get back to Gordonvale at the but before he gets back to his vehicle a train latest at 6 p.m., which would allow them one can be on the crossing. Numerous accidtnts hour travelling time from the time they have occurred here. ''Stop'' signals a re of cen sed work. little value, but ''Stop'' gates would be of value and ''>e should not be so flR sh ns to In discussing the matter with the workers feel that a man carrying a reel flag ·would I found that the delay is caused be0anse the not be of some value. It has been said that workers' train is delayed in Cairns. They a reel flag is out of date, but we should not offered this solution for what it is worth: ~ mind whether the flag was reel, white, or loop is to be put in, I understand, at W oree blue. Representations have been made by and another at Kamma. Kamma is· an the chamber of commerce, the local branch excellent place for such a loop but Woree is of the A.L.P., and the Mulgrave Shire of no value. to the rail-motor. It is approxi Council many times. mately 3 ·'mles from Cairns and it is not on \Ve have also brought the crossing at a sn~table site. 'l'here is a sharp curve and Babincla before the notice of the Minister. a. ~ndge at one end and in their opinion a That crossing is not quite so dangerous as s1clmg could be used much more economically the one at Gordonvale, nevertheless it too is somewhere on the golf-links straight. They very dangerous. Almost nightly the 9 o'clock make those suggestions to the Minister who goods train closes the entrance to the town. has asked for constructive criticism. The The fire brigade :md ambulance have been workers believe that they have a case for held up there on occasions and the travelling being able to get in at a reasonable time. public on the Cairns Highway are also delayed If the sidings were put in the workers' rail at this point. These two crossings, right in n;otor would leave Cairns on the ordinary the heart of the town, are occupied by a trmetable and would run into the sidings at standing goods train, goods being unloaded Burphu, Edmonton, and Kamma, and they at one end and water taken on a.t the other. Supply. r AS::lE.:.\IBL Y.J Supply. It has been suggested that the unloading of area. That is a very reasonable sum, but station should be moved back to allow the what happens after that~ Immediately the engine to be clear of the crossing. I am department charges £1 for the lease the sure the Minister will give every considera shires come in for shire rates and they are tion to the improvement of such worthy getting from the land perhaps two and three northern towns as Babinda and Gordonvale. times more than the people pay as rental. This is a definite anomaly. It is very There are one or t1vo matters for which good for shires and I think the Com I commend the Minister. The Sunshine missioner should be able to overcome the Express gives a reasonably good service to difficulty very easily. It is said that we the people of the North. Apart from its can avoid taxation and this might be a case late running I should say that it provides where the Commissioner could show the a service equal to if not better than any in people how to avoid paying rates. Australia, but in the far northern end there is a complaint that I wish to air tonight con 1Ur. llicCATHIE (Haughton) (7.20 p.m.): cerning the comfort of the travelling public, I had no intention of speaking on this Vote, particularly in comparison with air transport. as I made a small contribution to the debate If you travel from North Queensland to Bris· on the Railway ]~·stimates on th_e Gener!ll bane by air you are greeted when you get Flstablishment vote. On that occaswn I pa1d your ticket with a cheery ''Good morning'' mv tribute to the Minister for his courtesy in the office of the airway company, your m~d to the staff for its efficiency. However, port is carried in for you, and your ticket I cannot let this opportunity pass without is placed in an envelope. What happens at expressing the satisfaction of the people in the Cairns railway station? To get a berth the North with the generous concessions they people stand in a queue at 4 o'clock in the ha ,.e received from the Railway Department morning, waiting for the allotted number of b:v menus of the special freight contracts that berths from Cairns to Brisbane to 1Je made have been mentioned and to reply to the available. It is not very pleasant to have unprovoked attack of the hon. member for to wait in a queue from 4 o'clock in the Mundingburra on the probity of traders morning until 8.30 or 9 o'clock when the throughout the North. Contrary to what he booking office is opened, particularly when has said, I should say that traders in the such fine service is rendered by the airway North are particularly anxious to pass on to companies, which provide everything possible f'Onsumers the benefit of these freight con for the comfort of their passengers. The cessions, because they know that people are travelling public of the North have been only too eager to leave the North and West neglected in this respect and the people are and go to the cities, where they can enjoy most sore concerning the method adopted in better conditions and buy cheaper commodi· the allocation of berths. I am led to believe ties. Despite any n1elodramatieo that the that when the allocation of a berth or a hon. member for Mundingburra may indulge seat is given to a traveller it does not become in during his visit to Townsville, I feel sure operative until the passenger gets to Towns that he will be taken very severely to task ville. That is not the correct way of attract by the working-class people h1 North Queens ing people to travel by the railway, and if land, and that they will give him their answer we are to enter into competition with the in three years time. airway companies, the berths or seats should be made available to the passengers I have already paid my compliments to immediately upon entering the tmin at Mr. :E'ranklin, the general manager of the Cairns. People joining the train midway Northern Division, and to his staff. The between Cairns and 'Townsville can take the employees of the Northern Division who are seats allotted to others until the train arrives in my electorate are particularly keen and at Townsville. I trust the Minister will give arc doing a yery fine job indeed. As I have attention to that anomaly. He may ask me sai(l before, the ballasting of the line with for the solution. As there ·are only so many heavy ballast has improved running conditions allotted berths from Cairns to Townsville and in the section within the Haughton electorate. many people are not given seats, what is I have made representations to the Minis· there to stop the Commissioner from running ter for improved living conditions for the the two divisions from Cairns instead of maintenance ,staff, and I have been informed from Townsville~ If people are travelling in that tent :flooring has been provided. I have sufficient numbers let us have the two made representations also for the provision divisions direct from Cairns to Brisbane and of a hut for a fettler, and that will be pro· it might obviate the queueing up on the vided in clue . course. It has not been Cairns railway station at 4 o'clock in the constructed yet" because other areas have morning, which makes the people very higher priorities. dissatisfied. In passing, I should like to mention the There is another matter to which I draw work of the department in constructing con his attention, and he might care to pass the crete and steel bridges in the Northern buck in this regard too. In the past, as Division. As an indication of what has been at the present time, land alongside the rail done, I quote the Elliott River bridge, which way fence is leased to the public. The grass was constructed last year at , a cost of is becoming so high that it constitutes a fire £37,582. We all know, of course, what is hazard. For a nominal rental people can happening at the Burdekin River, which has get a lease of the property along the fence, alwavs been one of the main causes of inter if they fence it in securely. If I remember ruption of railway traffic to and from the right, the lease is at £1 a year irrespective North. In addition, we liave been informed Supply. [16 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1351 by the Minister through Press .announce who pass the scholarship are unable to coH ments tlmt u bridge is to be built over the tinue their education because their parents Huughtun River at an estimated cost or are not in a position to pay for their school· £l:::o,uuu. Jn that connection, I have sug ing. However, an alteration in thio time gcst\>J that the Commissoner of :Main Roads table would enable the children to attend the shouhl look into the matter of providing Townsville or Ayr school and that would be alternative road transport over this projected very beneficial to them. bridge in periods when the present road It has also been suggested that the l~iru bridge is nmler water, which frequently station building be raised slightly to put it happens for weeks at a time during the wet above the level of the last flood wheu ·water sc:tson. I hrn·e been informed that my came in from the Haughton River anc1 broke suggestion will be investigated, and although through the to\\'11. The railway station and such a practice is not usually favoured, there other buildings were inundated and it is felt might be some merit in it in this instance. that it would be an advantage to r:1i.-;c· tll" I shonlrl like to tal bd improved its population bv 2 835 Mirani fa nmrable consideration. 'l'he only reason by .159, Nebo by 139, Pioneer' by 1,674, and l mention it tonight is to have a record iu Rarma by 147. Those local authorities go to '' Hansard'' that I brought the matte•· make up the Mackay Division. before the Committee in an endeavour to do the best I could for the people I represent . . L('t me go a step further. Proserpine is nrtually a £1,000,000 town insomuch as its I refer to the timetable between Bowen allfl Rowenville. income ~rom sugar growing and other primary fH'?ducbon reaches almost that figure. On Passengers for Collinsville alighting at gomg through the records as suprlied by the Bowen from the north-bound or south Commissioner for Railways I find that for bound Townsville mail have a long wait at the year ending June, 1950, the income of the the Bowon railway station for the departure department at Proserpine was- of a train for Collinsville. The Sunshine Express arrives at Bowen from the North at ~mnber. Receipts. 12.45 a.m. and the mail train from the South arrives at 1.30 a.m., but passengers for Col Outward. £ Passengers ](i,812 13,22:3 linsville from either train must wait until l'arcels . . . . 1,305 4.30 a..m. or 5 a.m.-I do not know the exact _F'crtiliser and minerals 11i2 tons 230 time of departure-for the Collinsville train, Log and sawn timber 953 tous 1,245 Agricultural produce :39,042 tons 33,189 and Collinsville is only 48 miles from Bowen. General merchandise 1,072 tons This early-morning train to Collinsville con Lhestock 5,535 93 sists mainly of empty coal hoppers and there 'l'OTAL may be 1, 2 or 3 trucks of goods. It arrives 54,819 at Collinsville usually about 8.45 a.m. and Inward 66,191 tons 66,533 consequently passengers from it arrive at the hotel too lnte for hreakfast. That may not £121,352 be a major hardship, because cafes are av:::n The total income from all sources was able, but it has been brought to my not1ce ~121,352. Here we find the sum of £121,352 that workers in the mine returning from 1s . c,oll.ected . by the Railway Department, doing business at Townsville, Mackay, or ll'lllen 1s eqlllvalent to approximately 12 per Bow en must lose a day's work because they rent. of the total annual income of the dis cannot reach the pithead by 8 a.m. There trict. I . will go s~ far as to say that on may be difficulties in the way of making this 1 lia t bas1s Proserpme must be considerecl train arrive at its destination earlier but I om; of the hest money-producers for the feel there should be none. I can see no Railway Department. Thev have an end reason whv the Collinsville train cannot leave loadinc; ramp at Gunyarra,· ll miles awav, Bowen even one and a half hours after the and t.he people of Proserpine, through tl~u arrival of the last mail train, that is, at eomrmttees I have mentioued, lmve a 8 ke 1 approximately 3 a.m., and arrive at Collins that this ramp at Gunyarm be removed to ville at about 7 a.m. Workers returning to Proserpine. Last year the income from Collinsville would be able to reach home, ( nmyarra was £975 compared "·ith £121 000 change, and have a hurried breakfast and be from Proserpine, so that it is obvious that at the pithead by 8 a.m. and pnssenger~ the ramp is wasted at Gunvana anrl could doing business in Collinsville would anive be used with advantage • at Proserpine. at the hotel in time to have a bath and got Although the Minister has statE'd that the ready for their breakfast. I know the Minis n·moval w.ould. involve considerable expendi ter is going into this matter and from past tnre-I tlnnk 1t was suggested it would cost experience I know that he will give it his in the vicinity of £600-in view of (h('se earnest consideration. I sincerely hope that figures, even if it did cost £600 that is onlv he will see fit to alter the timetable and the equivalent of .5 per cent. of the depart thus please a considerable number of people ment's income from Proserpine for one year. in the Whitsunday electorate. Do you not agree, Mr. :E'arrell, that .5 per eent. of one year's income would nGt be Mr. BYRNE (Mourilyan) (7.45 p.m.): I too great an amount to give by way of dis· join with hon. members who have spoken in eount to those people and at least allow them congratulating the Minister for Transport to have some of the amenities they cannot on his administration of a very important have at the present time because of the Railway Department. absence of a loading ramp? If thev had There can be no question that he is enthusi those amenities perhaps we should not find astic in the performance of his administrative there was a loss in their population, whereas duty, is a capable officer, and one well versed every other shire in the area has shown in all railwav matters and, in my opinion, an increase. I do implore the Minister, on :m excellent 'Minister for Transport. That behalf of the people of Proser,pine, to go Iron. gentleman will, I am sure, appreciate fully into this matter again and consider the constructive criticism offered by hoR. the income coming from this area and see member's opposite, as well by those on this whether the department cannot stretch a side of the Chamber, but I am sure he will point to install this end-loading mmp for have no regard whatever for the criticism which they have been asking for such a con that had no basis or foundation in fact, and siderable time. was designed, in many cases to serve a There is another matter that is being con political purpose only. sidered by the Minister at the moment, and I am one of those who believe that the to which also I have no doubt he will give railm1;·s are really a national undertaking, Supply. [16 NOVEl\1BER.] Supply. 1359 :lt:l'> till· w,.,.,, eo;tstrude\1 for tltat purpose, 1\iullignn, from Cnirns to HaYcns!toe Cin -t'O:t], }JOIYOl', tl'.lllSj.•OTt lll[([ 1\'Uter l'OllServa de,.,·lupmcnt of the Territory >n In the paragraph headed ''Sheep lands of undoubtedly the best use to which the the Territory'' the report states- country could be put. '' The estimated number of sheep that ''Sheep produce much greater wealth, can be carried on these three belts of give more employment, lead to better dis country, within the next ten years, is· tribution of money, provide large credits sheep. overseas, and generally maintain a much Central Australia 300,000 larger population than the cattle industry Barklv Tableland 1,250,000 can do, no matter how efficiently that 'rhe North-West 1,000,000 industry might be conducted. It is, there fore, desirable in the national interests to Total 2,250,000 '' convert as much country as possible from There is no need for the Federal Ministry cattle to sheep.'' to wait on further investigation, when such What greater project could there be for the a comprehensive report must be already in Commonwealth and the State for the settle their possession. ment of returned soldiers on the land~ The Commonwealth could come in with the exten We should at the earliest date set about sion of the ·railway with the help of the the construction of that part of the railway State and the opening of this land would for the development not only of North mean soldier settlement on the Barkly Table Queensland but the whole of the North-West land. and the Northern Territory and the Common wealth as a whole. I know that it will be said that climatic conditions are adverse to settlement. I want . It mi15ht. be said that th.ere would be great difficulties m the constructiOn of this railway to say that the climate up there is good and, but this report goes on to say- ' in fact, is better than in anv other part of the Commonwealth. Reports indicate that ''All these difficulties could be overcome the people are better off; physically than ll:ny by extending the Queensland Great where else in the Comriwnwealth. The time Northern Railway onto the Barkly Table is opportune for the Commonwealth Govern land. Fats could then be railed direct to ment to do something to help not only the the Queensland works without dipping as State-it has to be a co-operative scheme the Queensland stock authorities have but the Northern Territory and, as I said advised us that the dipping of Territory before the whole of the Commonwealth. cattle would only be required if they were Natur~lly if we extend this railway into being consigned to tick-free areas. If, the Gulf ;~e must have a port for the shipping therefore, cattle were placed on the trucks of our products overseas. in prime condition, they would be prime when they reached the works. Moreover, The report speaks of the R the State I"cgislaturc representing the · '.\ survev would Le neerled before a l"overnment ani! Opposition parties, reliable estin~ate of the cost could be made, inquired into a proposal to extend the but such cost is unlikely to exceed Queensland Great Northern Railway to £:;,ooo,ooo. Camooweal. They took evidence on the ' 'As the construction of this railway is matter, ani!, on the 14th August, 1936, sub the only means of developing the Barkly mitted a report recommending the exten Tableland in the 'renitory, and as it sion from Daj arra to Camooweal, a dis >ronld also assist the development of the tance of 1;)8 miles, at an estimated cost land further west, and to the north, we of £1,500,000, or an average of nearly consider it equitable that the railway be £1'"1,000 per mile. constructed by the Commonwealth Govern ''The Commission reported that the rail ment. mHl that thereafter the responsi way was justified from a land settlement Lilit,: of >1-orking ancl maintaining it stnndpoint having reganl to the extensive rle1·o The other day I listened to a number of Commissioner \vill do all they can in this concessions that had been granted to Towns regard, not only for the North but also for ville, Cairns and other northern places but the South. Let us have a beautification in this the railways were doing nothing more scheme for railway stations and surrounding than should have been done for these places. properties. Beautiful gardens would prove an By these concessions the North is only get asset to the State and he pleasant to the ting back something to which it is entitled. eye. I recommend that claims for loss or damage On looking through the returns for traffic should be investigate<1 and adjusted more on the Great Northern Railway, I notice that quickly. The delay that now takes place in 1948-49, 570,123 sheep were conveyed over loses business for the railways. the Great Northern Railway, and the thing I believe that not only in the northern that concerns me is that in 1949-50 only part but right throughout the State the Claims 145,642 sheep were carried in that part of the Branch and those employed in the settling State. ·what a drop t I am sure there must of claims for loss and damage should be he some good reason for it. About 430,000 ' 'gingered up.,' because this is one branch fewer sheep were carried during the last 12 that causes a great deal of worry and trouble months than in the previous year. I notice and delay from time to time. also that in 1948-49, 422,193 tons of agt·i· cultural produce were conveyed on the Great The running of the Sunshine Express has Northern Railway for a total revenue of hcen mentioned by previous speakers on this £355,714, whereas in 1949-50 the tonnage Votf', and when the Railway Estimates were dropped to 363,095 tons, for a total reYemw last before this Committee. Once the Sun of £312,333. It will be seen that 59,098 tons shine Express leaves Rockhampton it loses fewer of agricultural produce \Yere conveyer] time over the rest of the journey, and I say rn·er the railways in North Queensland dur that an investigation should be made into ing the last year, and that there was also n the running of this train. An improvement loss of £43,381 in the revenue. Passenger in running time could be brought about hy traffic has also r1eclined hy 29,255 passengers the elimination of unnecessary refreshment since 1946-47. I quote- room stops and the greater use of buffet 1946-47 1,071,455 car services, and quite a good deal of time could be saved to people who have a long ]949-50 1,042,200 journey to undertake, ena])ling them to get I realise that there has been a full discus to their destination quicker than uniler the sion on this vote and that the recommenda· present circumstances. tions and suggestions that have been offered Another matter concNning the North artd will be of great benefit to the State. How \Vestern people is the provision of more ever, I believe that sufficient interest in the refrigerated wagons for the conve~·anco of general welfare of the Railway Department fmit, vegetables, and other perishable pro· has been shmYn by the memlJers of this r1ucts to the North and North-West. It is Committee to justify the Minister in eon essential that we get fresh fruit and vege· sidoring the adoption of a similar practict• tables out to places such as Mount Isa anr1 to that adopted hy the Treasurer of inform other towns in the remote parts of the State. ing hon. members in regard to ~fain Hoads This would not only help the people situated expenditure on capital works and improvP· there but would be of advantage to the indus ments. Such a method would give members tries concerned. There is room for improve of this Committee full information 011 ment in this direction, and if we could get developments and proposed expenditure in fresh fruit, vegetables, and other perish a hle every electorate in Queensland nnrl it would commodities to the people in the remote parts be very beneficial not only to members them· in good condition it would stop the drift from selves but to the whole of the State. those places to the coastal belt and to the 1\Ir. IUOIWAN (Flinders) (8.52 p.m.): South, and the articles would be welcomed 1>)' As this is a very important Yote, I feel it the women and children who go out to these incumbent upon me to say a few worrls. J places with their husbands, many of them should feel happier if a little more interest against their will. was taken in votes affecting northern nnd The Railway Department should play fl north-western matters. greater part in the development of the tourist I have heard many arguments during this trade, which is not controlled by the railways debate about \\·hy the raihvays do not pay, at present. Since it has been transferred hut the reason usually advanced for their from the Railway Department, the whole thing has gone as flat as a pancake. When the failure to pay is the introduction of the 40-hour week. However, I think tlwt can tourist traffic was in the hands of the depart be answered in a verv few worrls. \~T e rea rl ment the officials were interested in the busi ness, but to-day they take no notice of it frequently in the local Press, which can h." and take no part in furthering the trade in , no stretch of the imagination be Tegard0rl the State. as a Labour Press, that every ess0ntial industry in Australia is torlay reaching its The North of Queensland lends itself to the greatest production. That result has been beautification o;f our railway stations and brought about despite the fact that le's platforms. We have some beautiful shrubs man-power is a \·ailahle torla:- than ever before and magnificent ferns in the North, but in in the histon- of Australin. As an instance, recent years no beautification scheme has been tliPl'<' arr> no;v 400 or ;,on fnYcr coal-miners carried out. I hope the Minister and the in the X ewcastle district alone th1u were Supply. [16 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1367 employed in the clays of the depre,sion, :yet rate for one conductor. Penalty rates will the production of coal has reached an n11- not compensate any conductor for going time record. It IYOulr1 seem, therefore, that through the train in the western areas aml the statement that the railwnys are not pay having to control the people on that train. I ing because of the introduction of the 40- do not suggest that the people there are auy bour week is so much hooey nnd cannot lJC worse than any other section of the com subsbmtiated. Further, the same state of munity but the fact remains that when you affairs exists in the coal-mining industry in travel 500 or 600 miles you want some contTol Queensland. In every phase of industry pro OYer the train, particularly IYhen men get the duction figures are higher than ever before, worse for drink nncl \Yomen and children nrc notwithstanding the fact that less man tra ,·elling. power is available. The other clay the hon. I believe we should not be behind the times. member for Mulgrave said that industry had The electrification of the suburban railways to pay overtime, which is true, hut the is long overdue, but at the same time we must reason is that industry has to pay it in order not lose sight of the fact that while we arc to cope with the large volume of business carrying out this progressive work in the tl:at is now offering. The same applies to metropolitan area the western and north the railways generally. The railways must western areas should have some development pay overtime today but the fact Temains in their services, not only in the improvement that it is handling a greater volume of busi of the classes of engines used, but in oth ~r ness than ever before in its history. The improvements and in the homes of the people. Minister told us that it could not cope with The latter is the most essential. Let anyone its present business, even hy paying the g-o out to the western areas represented by overtime. the hon. member for Carpentaria and myself, Then we have the complaint from hon. People there are living in small huts which, members opposite that all troubles come from nlthough an improvement on the buildings in the introduction of the 40-hour week, from the past, have a little roof tottering over the the fact that the working week is four hours top of them. There must be a gradual less than it was hitherto. I have pointed improvement all round. If not one section out before that when we were faced with the of the communitv is benefited and the other greate~t crisis in our histor~' and just before suffers. I contend that we should not lose Mr. Mcnzies was replaced by Mr. Curtin, sight of the wes:ern an cl north-western areas Mr. :Menzies made the positive statement while 1ve are doing the big works that can be that we could not expect the workers to go done and should be done in southern \lueens back to the old clays of wOTking longer Ja;Hl. Again! some hon. members want every hours for less monPy, that there must be tlnng- done m western (~ueensland. That is greater security foT the people of this coun i_~1possihle. Due regard must be had by the try if the people were asked to defend it. (,owrnment to every part of the State. I The Leacler of the Opposition saitl that in w_ould . draw attention to Hughenr1en, a very principle he did not support the 40-hour wecl< l11;t rmhv:.y centre in the North-West. There but he (lid support it when it was introduced, we have o~e of the most decrepit, out-of with certain qualifications. He said that he da~e, derchet workshops in Australia. would support it if it was extended to rural Anaemia. industries and the rural industries coult1 An OpJ)osition }[ember: afford it. Is there any rural industry in :ur. RIOHDAN: It has no blood pressure Australia today that cannot afford a 40-"hour at all. Unless something is done to the week~ Not one. The Leader of the Opposi present huilcling, one of our essential inr1us tion went so far as to move an amendment to give effect to his ideas. He said t;hat if tric~ cannot be carried on. they could substantiate the claim that a 40- They are without the latest and up-to-date hour week could be extended to Tural indus methods of grappling with the problem of tries he would be happy to support it. Now repairs to their engines. Everything at the iT attempts are made to show that the 40-hour disposal is the reverse of what one wonlrl week is responsible for all the ills of the expect in any workshop in Queensland. 'l'hcv day when that is not so. are without bathrooms and without dressing I have some criticism of the Railway sheds and they havP no dining-room; an cl Department to offer. More consideration the North-Australian breeze, which mostlv should be given by the department as a prevails when they are having their meais whole to the western part of the State. I and somebody decides to drop coal into the am sorry that the Minister ancl the Com bins, blows through the workshops. Many missioner are not listening to the debate, as people would say that the railway workers my remarks affect the western and north are people who are alwa:·s dissatisfied. If western members. If inspectors were sent the railway men at Hughenden were as hard out to have a look at the trains runninrr in to satisfy as others I have worked with there that area, particularly those that pretend to woulrl be a continual strike in the workshops cany passengers, and see the conditions they there. Something has got to be done. travel under I should say the railways would Recently I received a letter from the be doing a good job. They travel under the Minister for Transport saying that the most horrible conditions. I saw a recent department recognised that something ha I draw the attention of the department to these facts because I believe that unless we do something we are going to find ourselves with a first-class industrial dispute on our hands in Western Queensland in the near future. This morning I received a wire from a tradesman in the Hughenden district who told me unless the conditions were improved in that district there would be first-class industrial trouble. I bring it to the notice of the Minister and the Commissioner. I know the Minister is out on particularly important business tonight and I am sorry there is no responsible officer of the Railway Department in the Chamber to listen to the complaints of northern and north-western members. Whilst I am in this Assembly, no matter whom it pleases or offends, I will state the arguments for the people I represent in that area in the Flinders district before the Chamber. Hon. W. POWER (Baroona-Secretary for Mines and Immigration) (9.8 p.m.): I wish to state on behalf of the Minister, who is attending to important business, that there is an officer of the department present who has taken a careful record of all the requests and suggestions that have been m·ade by the various members, and I assure the Com mittee that thorough consideration will be given to these matters by the Minister and the Commissioner and the general managers in the various districts in Queensland. Vote (Northern Division) agreed to. Progress reported. The House adjourned at 9.11 p.m. >Yholc financial 11·hich runs through the lo>v rainfall belt responsibility should rest with the Common of :South Australia, trayerscs lnnrl of very llealth, anll if it is a project thnt >l'ill help limited productive value. It seems almost in Commonwealth defence the Commonwealth mcredible that it should have been built. shoui