Legislative Assembly Hansard 1959

Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 22 OCTOBER 1959 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Supply [22 OCTOBER) Questwns 815 THURSDAY, 22 OCTOBER, 1959 Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. A. R. Fletcher, Cunningham) took the chair at 11 a.m. CIRCULATION AND COST OF "HANSARD" Mr. SPEAKER laid on the table the report of the Chief Reporter, State Reporting Bureau, on the circulation and cost of "Hansard" for the session of 1958-1959. QUESTIONS ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION FOR FAMILIES AT GARBUTT, TOWNSVILLE Mr. JESSON (Hinchinbrook) asked the Treasurer and Minister for Housing- "(1) Is he aware that ten families at Garbutt, Townsville, in the temporary accommodation have received Notices to Quit, dated October 13, requiring tenants to be out of their houses by October 25?" "(2) Is he aware that in these ten families twenty-five children will be homeless unless they are immediately found further accom modation?" "(3) Are these buildings being sold by public auction, by tender or by what other manner?" "(4) (a) How does a per3on find out if these buildings are for sale? (b) Are they advertised or are there only just a few in the know?" "(5) Will he review this matter with a view to finding suitable accommodation or houses for these unfortunate people?" 816 Questions [ASSEMBLY] Questions Hon. T. A. HILEY (Coorparoo) replied- Hon. G. W. W. CHALK (Lockyer) "(1 and 2) Notices to quit were not replied- served. Letters were sent to nine families "( 1 to 6) When this matter was first stating that the buildings occupied by them raised in Townsville the paying officer had been sold and would they please vacate rightly deducted the time absent from same and hand in the keys. Action for employment from the employee's fort eviction has not been taken in respect of nightly pay and brought the matter to the these tenants. Offers were made to pur attention of the General Manager of the chase the particular buildings but they had Northern Division. The matter was then not been sold. Temporary housing build referred to the Commissioner for Railways ings at Garbutt will only be sold when they who, in turn, pointed out to me that no become vacant." authority to make payment for the time lost existed in the Railway Acts. The "(3 and 4) The buildings were not adver opinion of the Department of Labour and tised - for sale. The District Inspector, Industry was then sought, and my colleague Townsville, advised youth, cycle and judo in charge of that Department (Honourable clubs, scout and girl guide groups, and K. J. Morris) discussed the matter with me church organisations that the buildings and pointed out that apparently no ruling could be purchased for removal. As a appeared in any Award. As a result, the result of such advice enquiries to purchase matter was placed before Cabinet, which were made by other people." body decided-'That, in any case in which a Crown employee loses time from work "(5) On August 6, 1959, in answer to a as a result of questioning by the Police and question by the Honourable Member for is not charged with an offence following Mundingburra, I replied that every effort such questioning, no deduction be made will be made to provide alternative accom from the salary or wages of such employee modation for all temporary housing tenants for the time so lost.' All Government who would be likely to meet tenancy obli Departments have now been advised gations for a new rental dwelling. accordingly." The record of some of these tenants makes it impossible to consider them for MINISTER'S STATEMENT ON OVERPRODUCTION the rental of a house. We have a proposal OF SUGAR CANE in mind which will meet cases of that type." Mr. ADAm (Cook) asked the Minister for Development, Mines, and Main Roads- "With reference to a statement made by QuEsTIONING OF TowNsvrLLE RAILWAY him in Mossman and reported in 'The EMPLOYEE ABOUT KALKIE MURDER Cairns Post' on August 1 last, referring to the sugar industry-'Some of these areas, Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) asked the namely, Mackay, Bundaberg and Moss Minister for Transport- man, had suffered a loss of money as a "(!) Was a youth employed in the Rail result of having to leave cane in the field. way Stores Branch at Townsville taken by We will have to give consideration to new the police from his place of employment conditions and to deal with questions of and questioned for six hours in connection milling capacity and productivity of mills with the murder of Mr. and Mrs. Golchert in Queensland. In regard to peaks he felt that the three areas mentioned were not at Kalkie near Bundaberg on May 15 last?" receiving the full measure of justice and "(2) Was the youth released after the six the Minister promised that he would join hours questioning when the police were in helping to have a review of the whole convinced that he had nothing whatsoever of the mill peak set-up in Queensland,' to do with the matter?" what action has he taken to fulfil his promise and with what result?" "(3) Did the Railway Department dock Hon. J. A. HEADING (Marodian the six hours' pay from the youth's wages Minister for Public Works and Local claiming that the youth was 'off duty' for Government), for Hon. E. EVANS (Mirani), the period he was being questioned?" replied- "(4) Did the Justice Department also "The Minister for Development, Mines, disclaim any responsibility for the payment and Main Roads is at present in far North Queensland on matters connected with his of the youth's wages?" Department. This question will be brought "(5) Has the youth yet been paid for before him for attention upon his return." the time lost and, if so, by whom?" RAILWAY EMPLOYEES ATTENDING "(6) Will he issue through the Weekly LoCOMOTIVE ENGINE BOILERS Notice full and complete advice to railway employees as to their rights at law, when Mr. DAVffiS (Maryborough) asked the being questioned by the police, and instruct Minister for Transport- them not to leave their employment unless "(1) Does the Machinery and Scaffolding placed under arrest?" Act now apply to Crown employees?" T. V. Broadca&tiny by "Hr. Speaker [22 OcTOBEH] Supply 817 "(2) If so, how does the Act apply to the SUPPLY ratio of junior and senior employees attend ing to various numbers of locomotive RESUMPTION OF COMMITTEE-ESTIMATES engine boilers in a shed on (a) week days -FIRST AND SECOND ALLOTTED DAYS and (b) Sundays?" (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Taylor, "(3) Is it according to the Act for a Clayfield, in the chair.) cleaner to be in a shed attending to boilers and lighting-up same from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. EsTIMATES-IN-CHIEF, 1959-1960 on a Sunday without assistance and DEPARTMENT OF RAILWAYS guidance of superior officers?" GENERAL ESTABLISHMENT Hon. G. W. W. CHALK (Lockyer) Hon. G. W. W. CHALK (Lockyer- replied- Minister for Transport) (11.15 a.m.): I "(!) No." move- "That £2,294,020 be granted for "(2 and 3) See answer to No. (1)." Department of Railways 'General Estab lishment'." If hon. members immediately accept that PAPERS motion and then make a comparison with the amount voted last year and the amount The following paper was laid on the table, expended during the last financial year then, and ordered to be printed- without knowing the full facts, they may be Report of the Minister for Education for occasioned some concern. Because of that, the year 1958. it is necessary that I make an explanation of the basis on which this amount has been The following papers were laid on the arrived at. This year's appropriation table:- exceeds that of last year by £1,234,630 or £1,219,109 in excess of actual expenditure Report of Queensland Trustees Limited for last year. The fact of the matter is, how the year ended June 30, 1959. ever, that at the request of the Treasury Department, an amendment has been made Order in Council under the Landlord and in the method of recording certain expendi Tenant Acts, 1948 to 1957. ture. The payments representing retiring Regulation under the Liquor Acts, 1912 allowance, cash equivalent of undrawn leave, demolished and obsolete assets and workers' to 1959. compensation, were previously featured under the respective Votes in each of the divisions. This year, however, these amounts aggre- TELEVISION BROADCASTING BY gating approximately £1,184,000, ~ are included in the Vote for General MR. SPEAKER Establishment. Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) (11.14 a.m.): Mr. Walsh: The other amounts will be I should like to ask you a question, Mr. reduced accordingly. Speaker. I should mention that I have already had a conversation with you on the Mr. CHALK: That will develop. I think matter and I accept the explanation you gave I should emphasise it so that the public will me, but, in order to get the matter on record, be acquainted with the contribution by I should like you to inform the House. Did the Railway Department in relation to pay you make a television broadcast last night? roll tax; an amount of £659,144 which, due Did you say that I was an Independent, to the rise in the Wages and Salaries Bill, which would be incorrect, and did you say is £16,256 more than last year. Automatic that I always voted with the Government? wage and award increases are expected to account for an additional outlay of £29,344. Mr. SPEAKER: There is no provisiOn in Important significance attaches to my presen Standing Orders that permits an hon.

Load more