Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

TUESDAY, 20 AUGUST 1929

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QUEE\SL-\ND PAHLL\J1EN I'ABY PEB \TJ~:s.

FIRST' SIGSSI{ >N OF '.I'HIG '.I'W"'l:<~NTY-FIB'TH PARIJIAMJ<~N'J.:

APPOL:-iTF.D TO lo.Il~ET

AT Bl1IS3ANE OX THE '!'WE >TIETH DAY OF AUiiUST, Dl 'rilE T\H;:\TIErii y};o\.R OF TilE Rl•]IGN OF IHS .I!AJES'l'Y KING GEORGE V., IN TilE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1929.

TUESDAY, 20 AUGUST, 1929. The Premier thereupon produced a Com­ mission under tho Public Seal of tho State, c,npowering him, the Hon. Roginald MacDonnclj King, and the Hon. ·waiter OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. I-Ienry Barlte3, or any one or more of then1, l'ursuant to the proclamation of Hi. to administer to all or any members or Excellency the Governor, dated 25th July, member of the House the oath or affirmation 1929, appointing Parliament to meet this day of allegiance to His !1-:Iajesty the King, which for the despatch of business, the House met Commission was then read to the House bv at 12 o'clock noon in the Legislative the Cleric - Assembly Chamber. The Clerk of the Parliament read tlw RETURN OF WRITS. proclamation. The C!Prk informed the House that the writs for the various electoral districts hacl COMi\HSSION TO OPEN PARLIA­ been returned to him severallv endorsed as ME:'\T. follow:- · The Clerk acquainted the House that Hi< L Albert-Thomas Flood Plunkett. Excellency the Governor, not b2ing able con­ 2. Aubigny-Arthur Edward Moore. ,·eniently to be present in person, had be..,n 3. Balonne-Samuel ,John Brassington. pleased to cause a Commission to be iS'med 4. Barcoo-Frank Wi!liam Bulcock. under the Public Seal of the State, appoint­ 5. Bowcn-Chari ··s Collins. iHg the Hon. Arthur Edw:u--d Moore, the 6. Bremcr-Frank Arthur Cooper. [-[on. Reginald MacDonnell King: and the 7. -Michael Joseph Kirwan. Hon. \Yalte;· Henry Barnes Commissiow- ·s 8. Bulimba-Irenc Longman. in order to the opening and holding of this 9. Bundaberg-George Philip Barber. •ossion of Parliament, which Commisoion he 10. Buranda-Edward Joseph Hanson. then read to the House. 11. Burkc-David Ri01·dan. The Commissioners so appointed havicog 12. Burnett-Robert Livingstone Boy·cl. taken their places upon the dais, 13. Burrum--William Alfred Brand. 14. C'airns-William McCormack. The SENIOR COMMISSI00TER (the 15. Carnan-on-Edward Costello. Premier, Hon. A. E. l\.Toore, A ubigny) said: 16. Charters Towers-William Jolm Hon. members of the Legislative Assemb11·, \Vellington. we have it in command from His RxcE>llen,·y 17. Chillagoe-Ernest Albert Atherton. the Governor to let you know that, as so011 18. Cook-James Alexander Charles as the members of the Legislative Assorn bl:,' Kenny. l1ave been sworn. the cau"es of t.his Parli:t­ 19. Cooroora-Harry Fredcrick ·walker. ment being called together will be declarcrl 20. Cunningham-William Arthur Deacon. to you; and. it being necessary that a 21. Dalby-Wilfred Adams Russc!L Speaker of the Legislative Assemblv be first chosen, it is His Excellency's ple-asure 22. Eacham-Georgo Alfred Duffy. t.hat you proceed to the election of one of 23. East Toowoomba-Thomas Robe,·t your number to be your Speaker, and th1t Roberts. you present such person so chosen to His 24. Enoggera-James Stevingstone Kerr Excellency the Go,·ernor at such time and 25. Fassifern-Ernest T'homas BelL place as His Excellency shall appoint. 26. Fitzroy-William Edward Carter. 1929-B 2 [ASSE:\IBLY.] El, .•ion of Speaker.

27. Flindors~J ohn l\Iullan. Frank ._-\Tthur Cooper, Esquire: 23. Fortitude Va!ley~Thomae vYiison. Owcn Daniel, Esquire. 29. Gregory~George Pollock. .John Dash, Esqmrc. 30. Gympie-\-ivian Iloyles Tozer. Gcorge Alfn>d Duffy, E .quire. 31. Hicrbert~Pcrc.- Pea.'C. Thomas Alberta Dunlop, Esquire. 32. lpswich~Jame· Erne.,t vYalker. ,J arnes Braid wood Ed~:;ards, Es(1uirc. 33. lthaca~Edward C\Iichud Hanlon. .Jalll€3 Porter Fry. }~}:.quire, 3+. Kelvin Gron·~Hichard Hill. Ernc::;t Lan("elot Grirnstone, Esquire . .35. I(cnnedv-Henrv _\dain Bruec. E(h~ ard }\lichacl 1-Ian]on, Esquire. 36. Keppcl~Owon Daniel. EchYM'cl J cscph Hanson, Esquire. 37. Kurilpa-J·ames Porter Fry. Hichard Hill, Esquire. ~'l. Lcichha.rdt~Thomas Andrcw Foley. l>1aut·icc 1'ahick Hym ', Esquire. 7 9. Lod<•·cr~Charles Hr•nrv Jamieson. Cllarlc ~ Hcn1·· .J arni.:5on, :Esquire. ~0. Loc,n.n-RegiHald l\lacDonn{•ll l{ing. ...AtfrC'cl ,J clftll':'! J on eR, EE:ctuil'e. 41. :I\I:v~ka~ ·-iSilhaur Forgt1n Srnith. ,J a1nc:.~ Ai~xtu1dc1' Cha des Kenny, :Esquj re~ (2. I\1ar ·noa-CbarlP.; \·\'illiarn Conrov, J arne~ StcYingstonr l(err, Esquire. 13. 1\Jaren-George Tedrnan. ~ Patrick J an1es Kcr--:~~ in. Esquire. 44. '\Iary]Jorongh~David \Yeir. }Jj( had Joseph l(irwi1~, Esquire. 45. Mnthvr~] -a trick .Tames Kcrwin. ~~~Tf-'. lrcnc Longn1a11. 46. ~\~iranl-Ed1Yt1.rd Bowdich S,;·ayne. Edmund :Cede M ahcr. Esquire. 47. J'.litchell~Richarcl Hm.land B~w. .] an1e··J Francis 1\iax\; eH, Esquire. 48. Mount Morgun~J aincs Rtopford. rrhouL =-';itrllllO, Esqnir .. 49. ::\Iundingburra-.J ohn })~'sh. PPrcy Pe:~sc, Esqujrc. 50. ~[uriHa--Godfrer.~ J'-Iorrran. .-~ arnes Ch1_·istian Peter::: on, Esquire. 5T. )ttnrulnba--Rjc~~nrrl.Ja~ll( ~ \\~arron. Thorna-; Flood Plunkctt, Esquire. 52. ~rtllJllt:(o--.Jaln<:s Braidw(·!Jd Edwards. David Rjorclan, Ef1uire. 53. :'\orma!llnr~.J alll('S c::ri~thtn Petrorsun. Thmn"' Robcrt Hobert.q. Eequirc. 5". :\undah~\Yilliarn J(pl·_o. lingh :0.1cDiarn1id lln<::.,;e}1, Esquirt•. 55. Oxlc .. -Thonrts ::\irn:no. 1\~ilfn cl Adnms Hms£'11, Esquire. 56. Paddlnu;ton~Alfrrrl .Tan1c:- .J Oil('''· \Yil!iaut Fo~·gan Smith, Esquire. 57. Porf Ci,rtie~F;·ank '\Yelis Butler. .r rrnH·s ~topford. EsC]nir0. 58. lucPntm·~V ern on \Yin- '·tnk-.". ::dv,·nnl Howdich Sw .. ·ne, F>.quire. 59. Hockb·ln111ton~Tl~ot Hu~ ~\lbe: to t .... h,:dcs Tu,y]o-r, Rsqnire. Dun lop. { ~~ Drg·c Tccbnaii. Esqnir1:. 60. Rohane--N:,il Francis ~J aLH_'~ E:n11 ~t \VnJker. Esqnirc. ~Vf acgroarty. Hichard Jnn1es VV rr._n, Esquire. 6~. Rtanlcv~Ernest Le.ncolot GrimstollP. D-• vid \V cir, Esquire. 64. ;l~oom 1 ;ul--I_iugh ]\Jc')ic rnid Russ,ell. \Villi am .John \V riling-ton, Esquire. G.S. 1 001-vong~..; arne-~ FLl!lCl:-; ::\la,xvi7 C!l. '_rhow , , \Yilson, E-:nu1rc. 66. rroo\voornba-.JaLH'S Dou:;l·~;;; ).nnancl. -\. 01'11011 'Yinstanley, ~Esquire. 67. TownsYillc~}danrice i'atrick H:occs. :\fr ..) ohn 'IInllnn, ?II.L.A., had pr~- 68. \Yarrcgo-~Rr liei11·y Barnos. Tho Clerk fnrihcr informed lho House tlH't. '1 · 0' '>\:'\:\\"EI.L (TOOii'O'I(f), who \\a'· (lrders in C'mmcil 'H'l'C iss1wd on i11c 20th n (' ,, -,d 1vi1·h Co\·crnment. cheer~ s: HJ: day of .J uno a1 d the 271 h de":· of J mw, 1923. ~\' !' •• n('l'l'.c:, ·"'· I haYC very rnnch plr;:~Qure in <'Xtending the t:me for tbc return of th0 y r~ ~ for tho cl0ctoni district of Burkr' 1mtil the .. That th0 hon. men1bcr for \:rindso1_·. 28th cla. of June, 192Q. }fr. Ch de-3 Taylor, do tn.kc tlv' C'hair n{ the I-Iousu ;n Spc-ak{1 r.'' <:u\·r.;n_',;)lE'-T :1.I;:.JJBERS: 1-Iear, heal': ;,m;\rBERS S\YOR:\. The Con1.miss}oner ~ \vho, ,vith ccrt:,in other )fr. '.L\XIYELL: I do so with a ver:. members of the ;viinist-rv had boon them­ great ~l mount. of pleasure. I realise that selves previously sworn iri bcfor~ His Excclr the po il:ion of Speak~r is the highest honoul' lcncy the Governor~ tht?n administered th8 thot. matl c.m hold in a Parliament. It oath or affirrnation of allegiance 1-o the· is the hif.dwst t:ibute that the members of an following members, who thereupon suhscribo·l _5,_s~ 2Ill1Jl:"·- ~nC'h rs this c.~~n pay to one of their theroll:~ - coll<•ag-nes: ancl. notwithstanding- the fact t.hat he' u:a:- not' ha;-e formerly lwld the .Jrtmes Douglas .i\'lHHtnd, Est1nire. George Philip Barber, Esquire. po~ition of Spca \·er or Chairman of Cmn­ Ceorg-o Powell Barncs, Esquire. ILittcP", it i 1 undoubtedly recognised that :c Randolph Bedford. Esquire. holding the position of Speaker mu>t ErnP t Thomas Bell, Esquire. ~onlE' kno,~.lrdt:·o of the Standing Ordc1·;:;~ Richard Rowland Bo,v, Esquire. al'o of parliamentary procedure. Robort Livinwtone Boycl. Esquire. To member" who have no kno·.vledrro of th1e Willirtm Alfred Brand. Esquire. ca-Jlahilitir' and the qualifications of~the hon. Samuel Jo1nl Br:~ssington, Esquir0. IHC'rnber for '\Vindsor, it 1s only ncce;;;sary fot~ Henry Adam Bruce, Esquire. me to sav that he has been as"ociat,ed with Frank ~1Villiam Bulcock, Esquire. thi. House since 1918. The manne-r in which Frank \Yells Butler, Esquire. he ha> con{'enbated on his parliamentary William Edward Carter, Esquire. dutie:- not onl:'- as a private 1nembcr hut als0 Ernest Henry Collet Clayton Esquire. as Leader of the Opnosition indicates that­ Charles Coliins, Esquire. ' he will not be a novice when he takes the· Charles William Conroy, Esquire. chair as Speaker of this Assembly. Not only Eltcti0n of Speaker. [20 AUGUST J Election of SpMl:er. h:t'i he tlonc that but he has bt'cn intinod to fulfil ih,, dut.it.s of the office of Spct\cr also in the s~ho~l of local government, in with credit to Parliament and \Yith lwno•w whieh n1anv other 1nen1bers in thi;;; Chnrnbor to himself. hnYo likcv~i:-:e served; thereforC', in noini­ 'fhe no~~ it! on of Spt akcr is one nf consider­ nating hin1 for thP po~.iticn of Speaker, I able 1fnportancc. IIc is the custodian of feel quite satisfied that we shall lwYe in him tlw rigl1t, and pl-iYilC'~·os of .Parliame_r~t. a man with a-ll the npec"nrv qtutlification:. Sitting in the chair 0xercising his office _.,1L for that high office. He ha~ tact.: he has reco0'1;isc" no sides~ he is snpJlOsf'd to lw ability; he is a courtcou~, dignilied g-entJ.e­ imp:rtial, and to carry out his dutit's. in t,he lYtan; and in propo.,ing hin1 for thC' po3ition interests of the proper C'O'ndurt of Parlutnlf'nt. of SpP~ker, I am quit" utic.fietl that in that I rcpeJt, h•. is the custodian of the ri>s.h~s office not onlv tho older mcmbt•t·s of tl1is and privileges of Parliarncnt. and I tl~Hh~ Asscrnh-h· but 'ill~o mcrnber~ \\ l1o havC' ll1'l'J,,­ that Mr. Taylor -,,,ill fulGi all that is requlrPd their dCbut this n1ornin( \Yill fl~1d in hin1 in that direction. E" tmnpr,Tament ho IS "guide, philo~opher, and friend." It is rc·cogni~ed as a man ,\,ho i, cn1iuently L~.ir. bccaus~ I think that tlw hon, member for f--Io has never at any tin1o bcnn addicted to \Yindsor '·; fully qualified to cccup:· this posi­ iL' nrlgar, sordid mendacity to ·,,·hinh tion, fuliy competent to follow in the foot­ ur•happily s0mb of his colleagues •itting on stE'ps of Ycry \Yorthy men, that I feel more the Govcrnn1cnt benches have been. than ordinctry vlea,,uro in moyillg that he GovERX:.\IEXT JY1El\iDERR: Take your gruel. take the ehair as our Speaker. =•Ir. CLAYTOX: Get a looking-glas.•. Hoxo>cRAnLE ME:\.BERS: He,u, hear! 1\!r. W. FORGA?-J SMITH: Jnd;:ing b~ 1\11-. 8\Y.\. Y='JE (Jiirani) : I am Yery th~-=' intcrjectionR en1:~nnting fron1 the Ci-overn .. pleased to second the resolution vchich h::ts mcnt sidn of the Hou ·8, I recognise th::tt th been moved bv the hon. momb0r for Spcakcr-c}.--ct will haYo to exercise consider~ Toowong. I crrn'sa>' \Yilh confidence that the able authority in controlling son1e of the hon. In cm her for \Vlndsor po.~:'C· 9C··., all th'J members sitting behind the Government. aHributr, that. arc nc~c·, :>arv for th(_' S~wakcr of this Home. It is a most ho:wurabl~ poii­ I \.:ish to Lke this opportunit~- of protc;t­ tion. T think I 'm right in :-'l'formcd in U placP other thLn t.he proper lrgislatiYe in earrylng out the rFlfs of proc0ch1re of i-hi ~ charnb\·r, which is th0 one in \Yhich \HY. are I-Iouse, ho ill do it. Y· ~t.h the ]c, ;;;:t, po <;;ib1r: at present. It might be argm•cl that thel"O frictjon. Speakiug frO""l t'or- e con~iderable ;, more accommodatioil elsc'\Yhcre. but if that C';:pPrien{i3. I s1.v i.hat i~ a YC'r",- ncccssa·.·v qualification, ancl from Hnr poiut of view I i, the argument, then the Towil ·Hall ,yould hold still more JWOp!c. I am incliut'd, how­ do not tln11k there C8 n b0 anv bona tiae c·ver, to ihink that there is n little wbtlc opposition to the ~]onion of the gentleman who i.s the subject of the rc,oiution. I h propagand on the pent of tl1c (;ovcrrnt:!cnt in ha\'ing Parli:unent opened in a place othl'r therefore, very much ]Jloasu!'( ill secondin~ it, and trust that :,r,._ T ;,vlor will be dulv than the proper legi>lativce chamber. elected to this high]·. honourable office. " The Sccm;TAnY FOR PuBLIC \YonK" AKD SECPETARY FOR Pc:BLTC J).:iTHCCTlO::: \Vhy not fioxocnADLE )IE;r~ERS: Hear. hc:tr! the Tndes Hall? :.rr. S\YAY:'\E: l3d0lc I rcsnmc my sc:rt, I would llkc to sav a '·.·ord in rdcrcnce t; !\Ir. W. FORGAX S!HITH: The GoYcrn­ rPcnt dP~irc of th ~ last O("_~upant 'of the po::;itior;. DurinJ to re-establish a fonn govern­ llH'nt that has disappeared for s;ome ~-ear.,,,, the twenty-h·,o vears th.'t I Lt\·c been ill and possibly a little propitg'ftnda in that P?rlian1ent then~ have be(-1 Speakers ~n-1 direction is intended in having the opening­ Speakers. Of SO'nc of them I wonld rather not say anythim:, but to the ia:t I want :o CPrenlony perforn1ed Plse"'~,Yhere. I -,... ould sug­ nudi:e some referen; ,_:, b-'cause l\Tr. Bertra. ·. gest to the new Spe>l.lcor that in the futuro in connection with the openinr of Parlia­ under conditions which 'to-,sib], l.YC'rr at tlnll'~ di!ficnlt, filled the positiqn irnpartinlly anti mc"t he assert his offic0, and demand th ,t fe.1rly. (Hcu, hcctr !) In worcb that appeal it. b0 openod in the proper lcgjslativc chamber, which is the chamber we 'no in at to ever~- Au'":tra~1an, he was "a good :-:port.': the present time. and before I s1t down, I \Yish to Jla': th;s tribute to him. · I support the nomination of the hon. mem­ ber for VVindsor to H1e position of Speaker, Hoxoc:R.\BLE ME~mERS: Heat·, hev r' nnc' I feel sut·o that he will cJrrv out his Mr. W. FOR0AX S.'TITH (Jirtr< •n;) : It :, tlutit imvartially and with cred{t to the 'Dot my iptct;tion to clo other th~n · '"PPOrt I-I on~e. the nommahon of the hon. mcml er fer c\Ir. TA YLOR (H inrisor): I wbmit myscif vVind,or. I realise t~e t, by precedent th. t to the will and pleo,uro of the House. has been l~ng cstabhshed, the GoYernmt,nt Hoxo URABLE : Party nomJnatC' one of their m\Prnbers Ds :YlE1rB~RS Hf ar, hear ! Speaker. I think their choice on this occa­ The Speaker-elect w a, e.-carted to the sion in the ver•on of the ho'l1. member fo,, chair by the mover and seconder of thE 7 \\ indsor is a very happ:,- one. motion. HONOl"RABLE ~.IF.;\IBER'S: Hear, hear! The SPEAKER. spe:1king from the dais, Mr. \Y. FOEGAN R'\1ITH: I have been said: Mr. Man\ ell, Mr. Swayne, Mr. Smith, associated with that g·cntlcman eYcr since he hon. members of the Legislative Assembly of came into Parliament. and I recognise that , I wish to t'hank you very sin­ ho has those qualities which will enabie him cerely for the very great honour that you· Hon. C. Taylor.] 4 Election of Speaker. [ASSEMBLY.] Presentctt1:on of Speaker-Elect. have conferred on me this morning in elect­ iaw shall be placed on the statute-book with­ ine· me to be your Speaker. I realise that out every tnember of Parliarnent having the this is a great honour, a·nd I also realise opportunity of . either supporting it or that it is a very great rcsponjbility. 13ut opposmg 1t. (Laughter from Governm',ent the whole of the responsibilit:· does not rest benches.) with the Speaker. Tl,cre is a yespon?ibilit,y A GOVERN}JE::T ::V1E3JBER: How did you carry resting on C\Try mcmbe~· of th1s Parharne~t it out" ~(Hear hear !)~to ass1st the Speak:r UI carrying out his duties. T'hn Parliament or 1\:Ir. CL.\YTOX: rrhe "gag." t;ucensland, from m,v knowledge and from Mr. \Y. FOHGA'\ SMITH: Some of t.he what I have read, IS seconrl to none w1th members on your right, Mr. Spcakel', do regard to procedure and the carrving on of not appear to appreciate the truth of what i's business, and also in so far as the orderly I am saying. conduct of its members is concerned. I sincerely hope and trust and believe that The SECRET.\llY FOR PUBLIC .WORKS AND SECRETARY FOR Pc:DLIC INSTRC'CTION: We have th et will continue. appreciated it. In directing the activities. of Parl.iam"nt there a.re three rules or pnnmples, wluchever A GOVERKii!E;';T lHE:IIBER: vVe had fourteen you choose to call them, which the Speaker years of it. has. to recognise and by which he has to ],e Mr. W. FORGAN SMITH: They guirlcd. The first, I take it, is the Stan~ing apparently have a singular contempt for Orders; the second, the- 1Cul0s of Practice; some of the principles I have enunciated. 8,nd the third--and what I consider to be the (Government laughter.) I repeat, Mr. greatest of the three~is common sense. Speaker, that you, as the custodia'n of the (Hear, hear !) ~ights and privilegt·.; of this House, have nn During my tenure of office I intend, so f.ar 1mportant duty to perform, and in the exer­ as I possibly ca·n, to carry out my dut10s cise of that duty impartially, y~u will obtain impartiaJly and ,, ithout favour to any the support of every right-thinking member particular individual or particular party. of this House. I congratulate vou on your (Hear, hear!) I take it that is one of +,he appointment. and wish vou eve1:y success in duties of the Speaker. I feel sure that hon. the high office to which you have been calle.l. rnernbers will ,support me in that. I again thank you for the very great honour you have conferred on me in electing me as you,· PRESENTATION OF SPEAKER-ELECT. Bpeakor. The PREMIER (Hon. A. E. Moore, HONOl.:RABLE ME~IBEm;.: Hear, hear ! A ubigny) : I desire to inform hon. members The PRE~IIER (Hon. A. E. Moore. that His Excellency the Governor will .luln:gn,y): :Mr. Speaker, I. desire to con· n'ceive Mr. Speaker-elect and such other gratulate you on your electwn to the high hon. n"embers as care to accompany him at and importctnt office of Speaker of thi;; half-past 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. Parliament. I am perfectly sure that your experience, your courtesy, and your kecm ;.,H1so of justice will enable you to discharge SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT. thu duties of the position in the way they should be discharged. I am also confident The PREMIER : I beg to move~ that you wili do all in your pewor to uphold '.'That the House, at its rising, do the best traditions of Parliament. I know adjourn until 9.30 a.m. to-morrow." that vour weli-known fairness will operate Question put and passed. for the b< which you are now called upon to administer is to see to it that the reprc· ~f~ntative ~haractf'r of Parliament is Jlre­ served. Properly understood, the Standing Orders and Hnles of Practice help to e'tab­ lish and perpetuate that system. In othe1· words, the Standing Orders are there for the protection of hon. membe1·s so that no [Hon. C. Taylor.