Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

WEDNESDAY, 4 MARCH 1908

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

18 Commission to Administer Oath. [ASSEMBLY.] Ministerial Statement.

CHARTERS TOWERS ELECTION PETITION. The SPEAKER announced that he had re­ ceived the certificate of the Elections Judge in the matter of the Charter-. Towers election petition, John O'Flynn, petitioner, and J oe ::'IIillican and \Villiam J ames Paull, respondents, together with the evidence. Ordered to be printed.

AGEXT-GEJ'\ERAL'S REPOR'r ON GO­ VER1\:11EKT SAVINGS BANK SECU­ RITIES. The SPEAKER announced that he had received from the Ag·ent-General his report, dated 4th January, 1DOk, upon the Government securities deposited in London under the autho­ rity of the Savings Bank (Securities) Act of 1895. Ordered t~ be printed.

A rDITOR-G EXERAL'S REPORTS. The SPEAKER announced the receipt from the Auditor-General of the following reports :- (1) Report, dated the lOth J an nary last, from the Auditor-General, on Govern­ ment Savings Bank securities, as at 31st December, 1D07. (2) Report, dated the 14th February last, from the Auditor-General, upon the balance-sheet of the National Bank, Limited, as laid before the bank in general meeting on the 13th :February, 1908. (3) Report, dated the 8th January last, from the Auditor-General, unrler the LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. Treasury Bills Acts, 1893 to 1902, as at 31st December, 1908. \VED"'ESDAY, 4 MARCH, 1908. (4) Special repott, dated the 12th February last, from the Auditor-General, regard­ ing certain transact1ons in connection The SPEAKER (Hon. John Leahy, Bulloo) took with payments made by the Treasurer the chair at 11'57 a.m. from the consolidated revenue and other funds. OrdGred to be printed. THE GOVERl\OR'S OPENING SPEECH. A message having been received that the Governor requested the attendance of l\Ir. PAPERS. Speak eT and members of the Legislative Assembly The following papers, laid on the table, were in the Council Chamber, ordered to be printed:- The Speaker and hon. members proceeded (1) Despatches, dated 14th N O\"ember, 190/, thither accordingly, an cl, having heard the Open­ and 3rd January, 1908, respectively, ing Speech, returned to their own Chamber, conveying His 1\'Iajesty';., assent to ...:-\..cts when the Speaker announced that he woulrl passed during the session of 1907. resume the chair at half-past 3 o'clock (2) Despatch, dated 27th November, 1901, The House re5urned at the hour named. conveying permission to l\1r. D. F. Den ham to retain the title oi "Honour­ able." ELECTIONS TRIBUXAL. (3) Report of the Agent-General for Queens­ Jl:J>GE FOR 1908. land for the yev.r 1906. The SPEAKER announced the receipt of a (4) Regulation, dated the 4th December, letter from His Hononr th<" Chief Justice, in­ 1D07, under the Income Tax Acts of timating that His Hononr J\lr. Justice Real 1!)02 to 1907. would be the :Elections Judge for 1908. (5) Report upon the Government life insurance and annuity business for the year 1907. COMMISSION TO ADMINISTER OATH.

The SPEAKER announced that he had :r\II:-i"ISTERIAL STATEMENT. received a Cormmb3ion from His Excellency the Governor authorising him to administer to all or CHAXGES rx P~:nsoNKEL m· GovEH!'DIENT. any members nr member of the Assembly the The PREJ\IIER (Hon. W. Kidston, Rock­ on,th or affirmation of allegiance to His Majesty hampton) said: I have the honour to make a the King. statement to the H ouee showing the changes in Commission read by the CLERK. the pcrsomul of the Government. On the 18th [Hon. A. H. Barlow. Suspension of [4 MARCH.] Str.mding Orders. 19

February the Hon. Robert Philp resigned as Premier. Every member of this House desires Chief Secretary and Treasurer ; the Hon. Digby that no further (lelay shall tl\ke place regarding :Frank Denham resigned a" Home Secretary ; the payment of the public servants. the Hon. I<'mncis Isidore Power, M.L.C., re­ Mr. JENKINSOX: There should not have been signed as Minister of Justice ; the Hon. \V alter any delay at all. Henry Barnes resigned as Secretary for Puhlic Lands; the Hon. John Dunmore Campbell re­ Mr. BO\VMAN: But an irregularity has signed as Secretary for Railways ; the Hon. taken place. I may add that the Premier in his Patrick ,Tame" Leahy resigned as Secretary for withdrawal of the second motion did a very wise Public \Vorks and Secretary for Mines; and the thing, as it will enable us to get this Appropri­ Hon. William Stephens resigned as Secretary ation Bill through without any further delay. for Public Instruction and Secretary for Agri­ I believe, on behalf of the party which I have culture. On the J 8th :February the Hon. \Villiam the honour to represent as leader, that no Kidston was appointed Chief Secretary ; the objection will be taken to this Appropriation Hon. Andrew Henry Barlow, lYI.L.C., was Bill being passed through all its stages as appointed Secretary for Public Instruction; the quickly as possible. Hon. James William Blair was appointed Attorney-Gener'd and Secretary for Mines; the HoxouRABLE MEliiBERS : Hear, hear ! Hon. Joshua Thomas Bell was appointed Secre­ Question put and passed. tary for Public Lands; the Hon. was appointed Treasurer ; the Hon. Thomas The PREMIER: Mr. Speaker,-In the belief O'Sullivan was appointed Secretary for Agricul­ that it will meet with the wishes of members of ture; the Hon. Arthur George Clarence Haw­ thi~ House, I beg to move that Mr. Douglas, the thorn was appointed Home Secretary ; and the hon. member for Cook, be appointed Chairman Hon. George Kerr was appointed Secretary for of Committees for this day. Railways and Secretary for Public \Vorks. I beg HoNOURABLE Jilg~fBERS: Hear, hear to lay on the t[Lble of the House the Gwettes con­ The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS taining these notification~. (Hon .•J. T. Bell, Dalby): I second that motion with the greatest pleasure. SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS. Question put. LEADERSHIP OF THE 0P:?OSITION. Mr. JENKINSON: Mr: Speaker,-I ask for your ruling as to whether this is regular. \Ve The PRE~IIER, in moving- have a motion before us, to be submitted from That so much of the Standing Orders be suspended, for this day, as would othe1'wh;e prevent the immediate the Chair, that Mr. J ackson be appointed Chair­ constitution of Committees of Supply and Ways and man of Committees. )'leans, the receiving of resolutions 0:1. the same day on The PREo!IER : Th[Lt is withdrawn. which they shall have passed in those Committees. and the passing of an Appropriation Bill through all its M:r. JEXKINSON: :!'!fr. Speaker,-I would stages in one day~ like to point out that a motion cannot be with­ said: As hon. members are aware, this motion drawn without the leave of the House. I have is for the purpose of enabling a Supply Bill-an no doubt that leave will be granted, but we have Appropriation Bill-to be passed through all its certain rules to go by_ stages this afternoon, so that the public servants The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LAXDS: 'Vby may, without any further delay, receive their not state your point of order? salaries-that is, the public servants and other public creditors. It is unfortunate that they had to The SPEAKER: I would point out to the wait for several days. I do not think it is the wish hon. member for Fassifern that we have not of this House that they should be delayed an hour come to the second motion yet-(laughter)-and, longer than the exigencies of the public business as far as we know at present, we may never con1e demand. (Hear, hear!) I do not think that to it. Besides that, the Government have the right any member wants to lengthen the delay. After to arrange their own business. The motion is the eJ

The TREASUREit : Casual workers. I Tuesday. If we cannot reach a better state· of understand that there were certain small bal­ mind on Tuesday, we shall have to do the best ances, from which those moneys were paid. we can; but I think it is desirable that, in Hon. R. PHILP: No railway servants paid approaching that business-which I consider of at all? vital importance-we should do so on its merits. I think business should be settled on its merits, 'rhe TREASURER: Only a few casual men and as free a' possible from that kind of party in the rail way service, none of the regular hands. feeling which hides the merits of a question Clause put and passed. when it is before the House. Hon. members The remaining clauses and the preamble were know quite well that the state of parties as passed without discussion or amendment. shown in the House yesterday is not the kind of thing the country expects from this House. The House resumed. The ACTING CHAIRMAN reported the Bill without amendment. Mr. JENKINSON: \Vhose fault was that? OPPOSITION :iHE>IBERS : Hear, hear ! THIRD READING, The PREMIER: It is not in that spirit and The Bill was read a third time, pas,ed, and it is not in that manner that the country is ordered to be transmitted to the Council for their expecting us to deal with business that we have concurrence, by message in the usual form. to do. At seventeen minutes past 4 o'clock, GOVERN)!ENT J\fEliiBERS: Hear, hear! The SPEAKER said : I shall resume the chair The PREMIER: I am honestly desirous that at 5 o'clock. all businP~S should be considered on its merits. Hon. R. PHILP : \Vhat business are you re­ The SPEAKER resumed the chair at the hour named, and said : I shall resume the chair at a ferring to? quarter to 6 o'clock. The PREMIER : The business that is to At a quarter to G o'clock the SPEAKER ag'ain come before us when the House gets to business. resumed the chair. Mr. JENKINSON: The keeping of yourself in office, as a matter of fact. APPROPRIATION BILL No. 3, 1907-8. The PRE2viiER : That is very important. RETL'RNED FRO>! COL'NC!L, (Government laughter.) :\fr. \VooDs: Keeping you where you are. The SPEAKER announced the recPipt of a message from the Council returning this Bill The SECRETARY POR RAILWAYS: You aspire to without amendment. be a leader, you know. Mr. MANN : He is going to resign from the party. JOINT CGnL\HTTEES. The SPEAKER : Order, order ! MEssAGE FRo>r THE CouNCIL. The PREMIER : I think hon. members will see that I am trying to n,void saying anything The SPEAKER announced the receipt of a which is likely to provoke party recriminations message from the Council intimating that the just now. I am avoiding that myself; I think President, Mr. Norton, and Mr. 8mith had been it is desirablP to avoid it, und I think hon. appointed members of the Joint Libmry Com­ members know that, as a usual thing, I am not mittee; the President, Mr. Callan, and Mr. very eager to avoid that kind of thing. (Laugh­ Murphy members of the Joint Committee for ter.) But I think-and I hope the Hou•e will the J\iaintenance of the Refreshment-rooms· and agree with me-that at the present moment, in the Pre1ken into considera­ Tuesday for that reason. I am proposing that tion at the next sitting of the House. because I think it is the best thing for the public business of Queensland, and I hope the House SPECIAL ADJOURKMENT. will take that view. HoN. R. PHILP : Nobody need be ~urprised The PREMIER said: I beg to move that this at any action of the Premier ; but this is the House, at its rising, do adjourn until the usual most unusual action I remember ever taken by ~our on Tuesday next. The position of parties any member of this House. \Ve have some m the House is such that I think it is eminently business in front of •Js-the election of the Chair­ desirable to do that. \Ve hwe some verv im­ man of Committees-and, apptuently, the portant public business to deal with-public Premier is afraid to take the voice of the House business that should certainly not be dealt with in the temper of the House as shown yesterday. on that question. Mr. LENNON: A calm temper. OPPOSITION ME>IllERS : Hear, hear ! HoN. R. PHILP: Is not that the truth? The The PREMIER: I do not mean bad temper great business before us is simply the election of -anger. (Labour laughter.) the Chairman of Committees. Is the Premier Mr. AR>I:lTRONG : Bluster, you me>1n, I sup­ afraid to take a vote of the Home? So far as pose? You want to anger the House. the party on this side are concerned, we will not open our mouths. \Ve will vote. I say it is an The SPEAKJ<~R : Order ! insult to the intelligence of hon. members to say The PREMIER: I think it is of great im­ that thPy are not in a position to vote on a ques­ portance to the country that we should approach tion of that kind. If they are not ready to vote that business with our minds free from those on it now, they never will be ready. They will party feeli_ngs that ~o int~rfere with public not be any more ready next week or the week busmess bmng dealt w1th on 1ts merits. I think after. I hope the House will not adjourn. This is we may hope to do that if we adjourn now until the first time I have ever heard the adjournment Hon.R. Philp.] 22 Special AdJou?'nment. [COUNCIL.] Address tn Repl,1J. of the House asked for because the Chairman­ ship of Committees is in doubt, and the Premier want" further time to see if he can square matters ontRine. That is 11bout the truth. I hope the House will not consent to the adjournment, hut will go on with the business. \Ve on this side of the House have been blamed for having stopped business for three monthe. \Ve are here now. \Ve have done nothing this week beyond electing the Speaker and passing an Appropriation Bill; and now we are n,sked to adjourn until next Tue,day in urder that the Premier may get further time to avert defeat. That b about the truth of the matter. I say, let the Premier take a Yote of the House. l remember some three months ago when we were sitting' over there the hon. gentle­ man said that the Government were defeated six times. He was defeated twice yesterday. ;\~r. MAX\YELL : Yes, but you did not know how tn avert defeat. HoN. R. PHILP : He does not want to be defeated now. I hope the House will stand up for its rights and get on with the business in front of it, and then adjourn. Mr. EOWMA::\ : On behalf of the Labour party, I desire to say that I am in agreement with the motion to adjourn until Tuesday next. GOVERlDIEXT ,\.ND LABOUR ME~lllERS : Hear, hear! Mr. EOW:\IAX : I think there is a possible 8olution of the difficulty that the Premier finds himself in. Hi' statement this afternoon indicatp,, that he wants to make the election of the Chairman of Committees a non-party ques­ tion, and I think that the Premier has given the best argument himself why the election of the officers of this House should be a non-party matter. :\Ir. JEXKESON: You did not say so yester­ day. Mr. BO\VMA:;s: \Veil, every, party yester­ day resolved to nominate its respective candi­ date, and we acted accordingly. If by adjourn­ ing until Tuesday we can g-et the principle affirmed that for the future the election of the officers of this House shalt be regarded as a non­ party question, it is worth while adjourning. LABOC:R l\fE)lllERS : Hear, hear ! l\Ir. BO\VMAN : I hope that the Premier will allow the matter to be dealt with as a non­ party one, and that the man who is elected to the chair will go there without further demur. It should not be a que,;tion of the Premier want­ ing one man and another party wanting another man. If the majority decide upon a man, I hope the verdict will be agreed to, as the Premier appeamd to indicate when he moved the adjomnment till Tuesday. I hope that on Tues­ day we shall be in such a frame of n1ind that we can deal with the question on non-party lines. I think that the temper of the House yP'terday was admirable. (Hear, hear!) The sitting was prolonged until you, Sir, got the coveted position of Speaker; but I think at the pre,ent time that it is well we >'honld adjourn until Tuesday to give the Premier an opportunity of coming before us with his proposal, when we can settle the matter once and for all. I hope that it will be settled on non-party lines, and that we shall get to business and do the work foreshadowed to-day in the Governor's Opening Speech. l\Ir. \Voons : \V ould you elect Mi:;isters on the same principle? Mr. EO\VMAN : I would elect Ministers, too. Question put and passed. The House adjourned at two minutes to 6 o'clock. [Hon. R. Philp.