Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

WEDNESDAY, 12 JUNE 1957

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

Supply. [12 JUNE.] Death of Mr. W. Bertram. 55

WEDNESDAY, 12 JUNE, 1957.

Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. J. H. Mann, Brisbane) took the chair at 11 a.m.

QUESTION.

LEGAL EXPENSES, CoLLINSVILLE ROYAL COMMISSION. Mr. JESSON (Hinchinbrook) asked the Premier- '' With refe1·ence to payments to barristers in connection with the Royal Commission which inquired into certain matters relating to the State Coal Mine at Collinsville,- 1. ·what amounts for legal expenses were paid (a) to Mr. D. Casey, (b) to Mr. D. McCawley, and (c) for any other legal expenses~ 2. What was the total cost of the Commission~ ' ' Hon. V. C. GAIR (South Brisbane) replied- " 1. (a) £4,499 5s.; (b) £4,630 10s.; (c) £5,170 4s. '' 2. £31,989 18s.''

DEATH OF MR. W. BERTRAM.

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE. Hon. V. C. GAIR (South Brisbane­ Premier) (11.2 a.m.), by leave, without notice: I move- '' 1. That this House desires to place on record its appreciation of the services rendered to this State by the late William Bertram, Esquire, a former Member and Speaker of the Parliament of Queensland. "2. That Mr. Speaker be requested to convey to the family of the deceased gentleman the above resolution, together with an expression of the sympathy and sorrow of the members of the Parliament of Queensland, in tne loss they hav~ sustained. ' ' 56 Death of Mr. W. Bertram. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Hon. members will learn with regret of the know, was a very enthusiastic member of the death yesterday of the former Speaker ot Caledonian Society. I knew him particularly this Parliament, Mr. William Bertram. when he was stationed in my electorate as Mr. Bertram was elected at the general an officer of the Forestry Department. He election of 27 April, 1912, to the 19th Par­ displayed keen interest in his work and played liament as member for the electoral district no small part in the development of the of Maree, and served through the 20th, North Coast. He has passed on after a 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th Parliaments. useful life of service and we will alw~ys remember with pride the contributions he He was Chairman of Committees from made to the State. We have lost an excellent 12 October, 1916, to 9 January, 1920, and citizen. Speaker from 9 January, 1920, to his defeat at the general election of 11 May, 1929. Mr. DUGGAN (Toowoomba) (11.7 a.m.): I understand that Mr. Bertram was on his I only knew when the Premier rose to speak way to catch a bus to attend yesterday's of the unfortunate death of Mr. Bertram and proceedings of the House when he collapsed I join with him and the Leader of the and died. He had visited Parliament House Opposition in extending to the relatives of the on Monday to reserve a seat for the opening late gentleman our sincere sympathy for the of the Session. loss they have sustained. There are only perhaps one or two members of this Parlia­ The late William Bertram was born at ment who were here when the late Mr. Hamilton, Scotland, on 11 January, 1875, Bertram was a member of it. My association and was eight years old when he came to with him was mainly confined to meetings Australia. He was educated at the East with him when I attended Scottish functions. Warwick State School, and was employed in I know of the great contribution he made the grocery trade before entering politics. when a member of this Parliament and I Billy Bertram, as he was familiarly and understand from those who knew him well affectionately known, is remembered as a tall, that he was a widely respected man, possessed lithe, good-looking man, extremely amiable of definite principles and was able to keep and friendly with everybody. Not only his his mental faculties to the very end. I and own Party but members of the Opposition members of my Party regret his passing. always found him courteous and friendly. He was one of the grand old men of the As an athlete, he distinguished himself Labour Movement and at 82 years of age he as a boxer, and he won the amateur middle­ still evinced keen interest in the political weight boxing championship of Queensland affairs of the State. We regret the passing in 1890 and 1900. of such a motion but hope that it will be some consolation to his relatives to know We very sincerely convey our heartfelt tlmt he was held in high esteem by Parlia­ sympathy to the relatives and friends of the ment. departed member of this Assembly. Motion (Mr. Gair) agreed to, hon. members Mr. NICKLIN (Landsborough-Leader standing in silence. of the Opposition) (11.5 a.rn.): I second the motion and support the remarks of the SUPPLY. Premier. We extend to the relatives of the late William Bertram our deep and sincere RESUMPTION OF COMi\IITTEE-VOTE OF CREDIT. sympathy in the loss they have sustained. (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Clark, '1 he late gentleman was ,,.ell known to many Fitzroy, in the chair). of us. I have known him for a number of years although I was not a member of this Hon. V. C. GAIR (South Brisbane­ Parliament at the time he occupied th:e Premier) ( 11.11 a.m.) : It is generally under­ position of Speaker. Since I have become a stood, I think, that this extraordinary session member, I have met Mr. Bertram on a number of Parliament has been made necessary of occasions and had discussions with him because of disaffection in the Government regarding Parliamentary procedure. He had Party; because members of the Labour Party a long and useful life and an excellent record who formerly supported the Government s~w as a Parliamentarian. He held the offices fit to answer to the dictates of an authonty of Chairman of Committees and Speaker of that is not answerable to Parliament or the the House for many years and in the latter people, on a matter that had been dehat.ed ro,it'oll he enjoyed the respect of all mpm­ on innumerable occasions by the Parlia­ bers. I have heard him spoken of very often mentary Labour Party, which had decided by those who were in the House at the time that the legislation sought by those in charge he was Speaker. He was eminently fair in of the industrial wing could not be introduced his decisions and carried out his cuties as by the Government because of :financial Speaker with credit to himself and the House. difficulties. As the Premier said, he was an athlete in Ordinarily the session would not have begun his youth and one can well imagine that on until approximately 15 August, but because seeing him in his later years. During his certain members of the Government Party I'arliamentary activities he took a very keen saw fit to withdraw their support, it was and 11rominent interest in union affairs and necessary for us to bring Parliament together in later life as you, Mr. Speaker, no doubt to deal with the circumstances that exist at Supply. [12 JUNE.] Supply. 57

present. The reason why it has been Hon. members opposite said, too, that an necessary for the Treasurer to submit the election can take place at any old time and Bill to provide for Supply beyond 31 August that there is no legitimate reason why there must be apparent to every thinking member should be any delay in conducting it. of Parliament. To avoid any embarrassment to whoever may be the Government following Mr. Aikens: If you wanted it to take an election, it is necessary to ensure that place at any time, it would take place. there is ample Supply to meet the wage and salary bills of Crown employees. That is lUr. GAIR: Anyone with a grain of why the Bill has been brought down at this commonsense knows that the first indispen­ stage. sable requirement of a properly-conducted election is a properly-compiled roll of those ln the course of the debate yesterday the qualified to vote at that election. Some hon. member for Toowoomba made extra­ weeks ago, the hon. member for Mt. Coot-tha. ordinary statements, one of the most amazing rushed into error. He said, ''The rolls have of which was that any self-respecting been printed and there is no reason why the Premier would have sought the dissolution election should not go on forthwith.'' He of Parliament of his own volition. That state­ overlooked the fact that, as this is not an ment disclosed a lamentable lack of election year, only a limited number of rolls knowledge by the hon. member on the have been printed for c~tch electorate-about necessaries associated with a dissolution of. lOO to 120-all that are necessary in a nor­ Parliament. Who dissolves Parliament~ It mal non-election year. is not the Premier. Indeed, it is not the Mr. Morris: You are not suggesting that Parliament itself. It is necessary for the it would take a long while to print the Premier in charge of the Government to seek extra rolls, are you~ a dissolution from the Governor of the State or the person acting in his stead. Governors Mr. GAIR: After the first batch of rolls do not grant dissolutions simply on applica­ was printed, all the type was taken clown tion. They must satisfy themselves that and stacked away. All that type has to be the Government have lost the confidence of set up again to print the rolls necessary for the Parliament itself and they must look for the conduct of an election. Moreover, it some concrete evidence or expression from must be patent to all that for this election, ParliRment that such is the case before a more so than for any previous election, dissolution can take place. Yet the hon. because of the three major parties that will member for Toowoomba said that any self­ con test it, m ore rolls than usual will be respC'cting Premier would have sought a required. All the forms associated with dissolution of his own volition. If only he elections have to be printed. took time to study the position, he would !mow that what I am saying is correct. What is more important and what is gener­ ally overlooked by those who say with the Dr. Nob le: You could have called dramatic touch, ''To the people! ''- Parhm,ent together earlier. lUr. Lloyd: They are doing work for Mr. GAIR: There was no need to call the l,!.L.P. it together any earlier. .Mr. GAIR: The Government Printing Dr. Noble: The majority of people on Office, as a printery, is entitled to work for this side of the Chamber wanted it called anyone who will give them business and are together earlier. prepared to pay for it.

lUr. GAIR: Oh, did they? They even lUr. Walsh: It does not interfere with presumed to advise the Administrator-a the priUt111g OI the !"OlJS. most irregular practice and most improper conduct on the part of the Leader of the Mr. GAIR: Then there is the matter of Opposition and his deputy. the d1stnuution of rolls and all the material Mr. Walsh: They embarrassed the associated with electionR. It is true that you Administrator. can put rolls and other printed ma tel'ial aboard aeroplunes and send them to Mt. Jsa. Mr. GAIR: Most embarrassing to the When it is received in Mt. Isa it has to be Administrator, to say the least of it. distributed to the more remote parts of the State by road. That takes time. According 1\Ir. Walsh: Never known in history. to the reports I have received from the Gov­ e!·nment Printing Office through the Treae,urer, lUr. GAIR: Never known in history, as the Minister in charge of the printery, it the 'l'reasurer has said. However, that is will be some weeks before the annual rolls up the position. When Parliament determines tn December, 1956, are completed and then the question of Supply, we shall be in a following the police cctnvass at present in better position to report to the Governor train supplementary rolls will have to be and to advise him on what course should printed. be pursued. Everybody knows that the only people qualified to advise the Governor are Mr. Morris: Would you please tell us his Ministers. the date of that advice g 58 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Mr. GAIR: We are getting them every ' 'Many of the 15 rolls printed this week week. Here is the first report dated 29 May- were, however, small as they were those of '' The original order from the Justice far distant electorates. In these circum­ Department for the limited number of stances the number of pages contained in rolls is now corn plete in respect of the rolls printed and unprinted gives a the whole 7 5 electorates. better picture of the position. Here it is expreso eel in pages: ''The despatch of the rolls required by the police (including those for the police Total number of pages in a canvass), clerks of petty sessions, and other complete set of the 75 officers will be finalised today. State rolls is 19,040 ''The printing of the additional annual Number of pages in the 14 rolls required to meet the needs of the rolls printed at 28/5/57 .. 3,717 election is now in hand and 14 of these Number of pages in the 15 have been completed to the binding stage. rolls printed from 29/5/57 This number includes 11 which were worked to 4/6/57 . . 3,170 off with the original print. 6,887 . '' Ei~ht. hours' o_v~rtime was worked by s1x prmtmg machm1sts and one folding Number of pages still to be machinist on Saturday, 25th instant, which printed 12,153 gave the job a good boost forward.

''SUPPLEMENTARY ROLLS. Then there are the supplementary rolls. All these things are in train. Overtime is ''To date 16,400 registrations for inclu­ being worked to print the rolls and all the sion in these rolls have been received by other necessary material associated with this Office for 36 electorates. These names an election. are now in the process of being set and read. It is important that the work on the There is no guarantee that these rolls and supplementary rolls be kept as far up to other matter associated with the election will date as possible. be eo m pleted in time to hold an election before the school holidays which commence on "This office has despatched to electoral 12 August and continue until 26 August. registrars over 110,000 claim cards since Hon. members know without my telling them the first of this month, consequently it is how important a part the school teachers anticipated that the new registrations will play in the conduct of elections, not only m be heavy. the metropolis but outside. Is it suggested that they should forgo their vacation so as ' 'BALLOT PAPERS. to discharge their duties as presiding and ''An order from the Justice Department returning officers in an election~ What is was received on 21st instant for the follow­ going to be the position if the Government ing ballot papers- Printing Office cannot turn out its work in Form 2a Section 35a 60,000 time for an election on or before ::! August? Form 27 Section 69 175,000 We cannot have an election while the schools Form 28 Section 70 25,000 are on vacation. Then we reach the end of August when our Supply is cut out. Yet we Form 32 Section 71 50,000 have the Opposition-all sections of it­ Form 11 Ordinary 1,175,000 refusing to grant the Government Supply as ''As the Section 70 and 71 ballot papers a precautionary requirement against any are required to be in the hands d the Pmergency that may happen. I can assure 139 electoral registrars by the day on you, Mr. Clark, I am just as anxious to get which the writs are issued, they are there­ to the people as any section of thP fore being given preference and are now Opposition. on the machines. After the machining is completed, the ballot papers have to be Government ~Iembers: Hear, hear! gummed and then numbered. }fr. GAIR: But I want to see an elec­ ''The proofs of the other ballot papers tion pTOpcrly conducted. Properly r,onducted have been passed and their printing will means clean rolls compiled and used in the following the completion of the Section 70 conduct of the election. Someone has sug­ and 71 papers.'' gested that we should use the Federal rolls. The next report states- The Federal Government have not printed a roll for years. Every member in the metro­ '' ANNUAL ELECTORAL ROLLS. politrrn area knows-and I am sure that Number of Electorates for which countrv nwmbers know too-that there is an the additional rolls have been printed overlap of sub-divisions that would render jt is now . . 29 impossible for the conduct of a State election At this time last week it was 14 under the Federal rolls under existing So that the number printed this conditions. week was 15 :iUr. Aikens: It would be impracticable. Supply. [12 JUNE.] Supply. 59

.Mr. GAIR: It would be impracticable. Mr. GAIR: We know that if we handed They would not have the rolls any more than out the printing of the ballot papers to we would have sufficient rolls in 1956 to con­ a private printery 1ve could not expect to duct an election today. If the Opposition exercise the same scrunity and supervision want to accept the responsibility for refusing as is being exercised at the Government Supply-the responsibility for placing the Printing Office. Government in the position of not being able Mr. Dewar: Who suggested that the to pay their employees, well, that is their ballot papers be printed outside~ business; it is a matter for their decision. I am glad it is their decision and not mine. Mr. GAIR: Many people have suggested Everything humanly possible is beino- done it. It has been suggested in the Press. for the preparation of the materials b neces­ Mr. Dewar: No. sary for the conduct of a proper election. ])fr. GAIR: It does not suit you to admit l'tlr. Hiley: Have you committed your­ it now that you haw been told the value ~elf to the House as to the date by which of having the ballot papers printed in the 1t should be possible~ Government Printing Office. Mr. GAIR: No. JUr. Dewar: No-one here has ever said Mr. Hiley: Don't you think you should? that. Mr. GAIR: No. I still want reports from Mr. GAIR: I regret that the Opposition the Government Printing Office as to the pro­ have seen fit to take this narrow view. You gress made. Next Monday is a holiday and can be sure that if the schools were not on that means an interruption to the work at vacation f.rom Friday, 9 August, until the Printing Office. Monday 26 August, there would be no necessity for this Bill, because I am sure Mr. Pizzey: Wl1at would happen if the that we should be in a position to conduct Government were defeated on the floor of the an election not later than that period. How­ House~ Would we have to wait four months ever, because of that interruption, it might for an election~ be necesary for us to defer the election until the school teachers rpsume duty and have Itir. GAIR: We would have to wait for the rolls. If it "·as an <:'lection year an ample at least a week to attend to electoral matters, supply of rolls would be printed in the first in the cases where they are returning officers, and see to it that their arrangements and couple of months, but in a non-election year only a limited number is printed to meet organisation for the conduct of an election normal requirements. Who wants rolls out­ are complete. As the Attorney-General side police officers and members of Parlia­ reminds me, postal votes must also have the ment, a library or two, and a few people attention of the returning officers, many of interested in election matters if whom are school teachers. I want hon. members to be fair enough to appreciate the l'IIr. Rasey: Are not the ballot paper-s difficulties that are facing the Government. important to'o ~ All we have asked for is two months' Supply lUr. GAIR: Of course. I have taken in case the Government are unable to go to the opportunity of discussing this matter in the people before the end of August. g_reat detail v~ith the Leader of the Opposi­ We must also have regard to the fact that twn, and 1 thmk he appreciates some of the the incoming Government, whatever their ~ifficulties. associated with the preparation of political colour, will not be able to meet tne matenal necessary for the election. Parliament to get Bupply until the return llir. Hiley: He does not believe that of the writs, if, there is a close election and they are insuperable. the result is not very decisive. The incoming Government would be greatly embarrassed by Mr. GAIR: If he· does not believe that they are insuperable, he has not made any that lack of Supply. constructive suggestion as to how the Taking into consideration all the facts, the difficulties can be overcome. Some suggestion responsible and common-sense thing to do is has been made that the ballot papers should to guard against any of these emergencies. be printe,d outside the Government Printing If the Opposition want to accept the respon­ Offire. sibility and gamble on it, that is their business, not mine. ·whatever hon. members llir. Pizzey: Not the ballot papers. might think about the necessity for having 1\Ir. GAIR: For reasons of security, the an election, I say to them, guard against ballot papers should be printed in the Govern­ any embarrassment that might be caused to ment Print cry under close supervision. \V e the Government of the State and their know that people have got away with coupon employees by the lack of authority to paper and so on from the Government appropriate and pay the salaries of the Printing Office and produced coupons that workers. I am amused by the airy way they have retailed at some monetary people without responsibility can dispose advantage to themselves. of these difficulties. I should like the .Mr. Pizzey: You could put out a gentlemen who can airily dispose of these supplementary. difficulties to have a talk with the Govern- 60 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. ment Printer, a very practical man, and one The Premier quoted from a report who knows his business. He would tell them by the Government Printer. Presumably what is involved. It is not as easy as a lot it was the first report that the Premier of people believe. I think each and every had received from the Government Printer, member bhould be responsible enough to and I remind the Committee that it recognise that the first essential in the proper was dated 29 May, notwithstanding that the conduct of, an election in a democracy is that Premier knew on 24 April that an election every man and woman qualified to vote should would have to be held. If the Premier had be on the roll in the electorate in which he had an earlier report he could have produced or she resides. it, but apparently he did not ask for a report (Time expired.) for four weeks after he knew that he would have to go to the people. During that period, :rtir. MORRIS (Mount Coot-tha) (11.36 however, either the Government Printer or a a.m.): We are facing a fantastic situation. spokesman for the Government Printing Office First of all the Treasurer asked for Supply said that no problem would present itself in for a further two months after the end of the printing of the rolls. And then the August and then equally fantastic or perhaps Premier says that the necessity to have the more fantastic was the Premier's rising in electoral rolls up to date is the main reason his place and giving all sorts of reasons why for delaying an election. I suggest there are we cannot have an election within three other reasons. months, knowing that an election was The last report quoted by the Premier was necessary and without giving the Chamber dated 4 June. This is 12 June. If the any assurance whatever that if he is granted Premier has to give us information, why can Supply he will resign, and without giving any it not be factual information as of yester­ undertaking that he will go to the people day or today? and resolve the sorry mess that exists in Queensland without delay. Of course, the :rtir. Walsll: That is here. Opposition cannot under those circumstances Mr. MORRIS: Why did the Premier not give him Supply. I go further and say that quote it? all the specious arguments advanced by the Mr. Walsll: He has quoted it. Premier today are empty, hollow and without foundation. Of course they cannot do it. Mr. liORRIS: He has not. They are the Government that over the last lUr. Walsh: Of course he haJs. ten or eleven years have not been able to l\Ir. lliORRIS: The Premier gave the arrest the drift in railway finances; they have date of the last report as 4 June. not been able to overcome our housing problems. They are a Government that have Mr. Gair: There is no report dated failed in almost every way in their adminis­ 4 June. The reports are dated 5 June and tration to look after the interests of, 11 June. Queensland. Of course they cannot do it Mr. lUORRIS: Why did the Premier not because they are old in office and have not quote the later reporH Why have we not got the V\>ill to do the job. Let us look at heard the report bearing yesterday's date~ a few facts. The Premier and his Cabinet llir. Walsll: You will hear it. knew on 24 April they would not bP able to carry on because that surely must Mr. :rtiORRIS: Only because it has now have been evident to any member of the been revealed that the Premier is trying to Chamber. From 24 April to 20 July is a keep back that information. He is not matter of 12 weeks and to 27 July a matter treating the Committee with the confidence of 13 weeks and to 3 August a matter of that he should. Such an attitude is ridiculous 14 weeks. All of those dates are possible in the extreme. He says he is doing every­ eleetion dates. Will anybody tell me that thing humanly possible to hold an election. any Government of this country can advance I do not believe that is so. In certain sound reasons wh:v they cannot have an departments since 24 April there has been a election within 14 weeks of knowing that an deliberate policy, dictated by the GovernmP;nt, of going slow on some of this work and domg eleetion was required~ I remind the Com­ mittee that only a few years ago when it other work instead. suited the book of the Government they were Mr. Power: That is ridiculous. All the able to put on an election within two months officers of the Justice Department have been of the close of the year. woTking overtime for months. :rtir. Walsll: An election year and an JUr. lUORRIS: Since 24 April? entirely different situation. JUr. Power: Yes. They have be,en work­ ing owrti11,e, and tl:f' records show it. Mr. iliORRIS: It does not alter the fact that the rolls did not dose until the end of l\Ir. :rtiORRIS: If they have been work­ the vear and the Government were able to ing overtime ciuce 24 April, why did not the stag~ an election. Of course the Government Premier quote from a report dated prior to cannot do it now beenuse they are too 29 Mavf These exeuses are completely fal­ inefficient to do it. Let me use the reasons laciou8; and hon. members opposite know it. the Premier gave to show how empty are his Iilr. Gair: You are one of those who arguments. rushed in nnd said the rolls had been printed. Supply. (12 JUNE.] Supply. 61

Mr. ~!ORRIS: I know that many of the The CHAIRMAN: I ask the hon. gentle­ rolls have been printed. Some hon. members man to withdraw the statement. received their full supplies of rolls for an election year many days ago. The argument Mr. MORRIS: Yes, in deference to you, from the other side is completely empty and I will, but, in doing so-- fallacious. ~Ir. Nicklin: Do not withdraw the state­ The Premier said that the Leader of the ments he made yesterday, though. Opposition and I acted irregularly in writing to the Administrator. ~Ir. MORRIS: In doing so, I shall quote some of the statements that he made yester­ Mr. Gair: Presuming to advise him. day and then let him eat his words. Mr. lUORRIS: I suggest that the Premier Rather than lose too much of my time, I read the letter that we sent to the Adminis­ shall go on with the letter to the Adminis­ trator; he has had plenty of opportunity. trator, in which we said: lUr. Gair: I have read it. ''We do therefore respectfully submit Mr. ~IORRIS: In it we said, "We desire and request that Your Excellency shall to inform Your Excellency'' of certain facts. ensure that the Parliament of the Legis­ ''Inform'' him, not ''advise'' him. lature of Queensland shall assemble not later than 11 June, 1957." . Mr. '~alsh: Where was your right to mform hrm ~ It is the Ministers who inform Is that giving advice~ His Excellency. ~Ir. Walsh: Yes. Mr. ~!ORRIS: Does the Treasurer sug­ gest that there is no such constitutional right Mr. Gair: Yes. for the Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition ~Ir. MORRIS: I suggest that in their officially to inform the Governor or Adminis­ spare time the hon. gentlemen study the trator~ dictionary. lUr. Walsh: No, none whatever. I and my 23 colleagues have consistently Mr. iliORRIS: What rubbish! opposed Labour because we believe its members are bad administrators and have a bad policy. lUr. Walsl1: Quote it. Quote your Heaven knows, if I had had any doubt about authority. it, I should have had it amply proved to me yesterday by statements, from Government Mr. ~I ORRIS: The office of Leade,r of the Opposition is created by the Crown and members and from those who were until recognised by the Crown. recently Government members, that all that I thought about them has been right over the lUr. Walsh: You quote the authority. years and that in the interests of Queensland the time for them to go is very much over­ ~Jr. ~!ORRIS: If hon. members opposite hav~ not up to this stage had the oppor­ due. I am satisfied, too, that anybody who tumty to learn about the office of the Leader was in the gallery yesterday or last night, of the Opposition, may I say that possibly anybody who reads the newspapers, and any­ ?ne or two of them will have that opportunity body who reads "Hansard ", will be equally m a c~uple of months' time, but many of confirmed in the belief that we have had much them wrll not, because they might not even be too much of allegedly Labour Government in here. Queensland. Why, only yesterday they proved shocking mismanagement in one of their own Mr. Walsh: You will still be over departments. The Treasurer was the very there. one who rose and spoke about £25,000,000 having been lost by the railways over the ~Ir. lUORRIS: Make no mistake. I doubt very much whether many of the hon. gentle­ past 10 years. Is not that mismanagementf man's followers or the followers of the hon. The Premier accused the hon. member for member for Toowoomba will be here. If Toowoomba of perverting the administration they are, they will be on this side of the within his Department. He has evidently Chamber and not on the Government benches. known of that for some considerable time. Why, the very Treasurer who presumes to rise He went to the extent of saying that he would in this Chamber and pose as the defender of not even say that the offteers of the Main democracy-this man who has known of the Roads Department had worked, but had irregularities that have been going on in merely been employed-another case of per­ the Government for some years, illustrated by verting the administration. These things were forn•er nwmbers of his own party until said, not by their traditional enemies, ourselves recently-- -because we are their traditional political enemies-but by their erstwhile friends, people ~fr. W ALSH: I rise to a point of order who have been working Fith them. We heard just to put it on record. The hon. gentle~ much said yesterday by hon. members who man has made the statement that I am aware call themselves members of the Labour Party, of irregularities in connection with Govern. that there has been gross political victimisa­ ment administration in Queensland. It is tion by the Government. vV e also heard offensive to me and I ask for its withdrawal charges that there has been gross political and for an apology from him. patronage. These are things that they admit 62 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

they knew were present within the Govern­ is the prize and Labour's present internal ment for years. It is only since they have fight for its control will be a bitter page had their quarrel that they tell the people of in the history of this State.'' Queensland that these things have been going on and that they have permitted them to go What a bitter page was written into the on. We have heard of standover tactics. electoral history of the State when we heard The Secretary for Labour and Industry the shocking allegations and statements accused the hon. member for Toowoomba of which would not have been permitted to be being the worst to stand over the Commis­ heard in any other Parliament in the whole sioner of Police. Have they just found this of the British ~mpire. I believe the whole out since they broke with each other on 24 fight within the Labour Party is a matter April~ Of course not. of personal hatred. I believe that if certain elements within the Right Wing or the Left The hon. member for Toowoomba said that Wing were removed to-day, tomorrow both he would go to any length to preserve the wings would be prepared to accept the same Labour Party. Mark those worgs, ''He would old thing over and over again. I think it go to any length.'' He did not say that he is high time this was cleaned up once and would go to any length to preserve the good for all. \Ve must remember two basic of Queensland but he would go to any length facts: first, that the Premier cannot govern to preserve the Labour Party. It is the duty uow and will not be able to govern af~er of every hon. member in the Chamber to go the election. Secondly, the Duggan group to any length to preserve the good of Queens­ c2nnot and must not govern. land but not to preserve the good of any political party. I was shocked at other state­ Hon. E. J. WALSH (Bundaberg-Treas­ ments by the hon. member for Toowoomba. urer) (11.58 a.m.): I propose to deal with cer· He accused members of the Government, his tain remarks by the Deputy Leader of the colleagues until recently, of Gestapo tactics. Opposition in connection with the printing of He also said one of the most fantastic things rolls, and the hon. member's suggestion that that has ever been said in any Parliament in there was laxity on the pa:rt of the Government the British Empire when he said, ''When I or the department in connection with their was a member of the Ministry and we did preparation. It is a pity that a body of these things"-he was referring to travelling men who are elected on the basis that t:t>e.1' around Queensland at the taxpayers' expense arc above average intelligence should not -"we at least clothed it with an air of make a more responsible approach to a respectability by doing some official busi­ matter like this. For example, the hon. ness.'' Of all the things I have ever heard member for Isis holds a Diploma of I do not think anything has been such vicious Education. I can understand the hon. nonsense and such an abuse of Parliamentary member for Mt. Coot-tha 's getting into these privilege. These are the people who formerly difficulties, but one expects more from a were friends. man who holds a Diploma of Education Yesterday I voted with the Government to when he tries to make out that the Govern­ give them an opportunity to tell us why ment could conduct an election within a Supply was needed. Yesterday we heard no couple of months. reason and today, even though the Premier has spoken, we still have no concrete reason JUr. Pizzey: You should be ready e.very why an election should be delayed. I do not :rear for an election. think that there is any sound foundation in :iJ'Ir. W ALSH: Let us see what is involved his argument. I have my own belief why they in preparing for an election every year. I are doing it, but I have heard no reason why know that the hon. member for Coorparoo they should. I repeat what I said earlier: would not agree with that statement. It is it is completely ridiculous that the Treasurer obvious that in a non-election year, should now assume the mantle of defender of irrespective of the Government in power, the democracy. I will also repeat something else Government Printing Office follows the because I think it must be repeated: he and practice of printing the number of rolls his colleagues and some of his friends required to meet the demand for official and intimated yesterday that there had been public purposes. That has been done over political patronage and victimisation for the years. The rolls printed would not be years-not since 24 April-yet they tried to sufficient to conduct an election within two present a united face to the people only 12 months, three months, or four months. months ago. They admitted there had been mismanage­ 1\Ir. Hiley: He would have to set the ment of departments-again for years. Hon. type up to print even a few. members opposite presented a hypocritical Mr. Pizzey: That is a point. front to the people and allowed Queensland to suffer. I am reminded of something Mr. WALSH: We are not disputing I said 12 months ago in my policy speech. that. I do not think that the Leader of This is what I said- the Opposition is unmindful of the difficul­ '' A vote for Labour is a vote to make ties; he understands the situation. Queensland a pawn in this faction fight. lUr. Hiley: He thinks theY could be Government of the State of Queensland overcome. Supply. (12 JUNE.] Supply. 63

Mr. WALSH: That is a difference of When I returned to my office, the Under opinion in regard to certain phases of the Secretary, whom I had called into my office, machinery. The rolls printed this year told me that Mr. Tucker was there. He would have been completed in February or said, '' vVould you like to speak to him W'' March. The type is taken out and put I said, "Yes, I would." I immediately went away on a rack. In most electorates there through this problem of the preparation of would be 120 rolls and they would be printed the rolls with him. He "as able to tell me for the whole of the State. When I things that I had never imagined would be examined the position, I found that certain happening in the mPchanics of an election. members, as was their right, had gone to The biggest problem in all the mechanics of the Electoral Office and taken their two the election is in the Government Printing dozen rolls, or whatever number they are Office. allotted out of the total number of rolls When he came back from holidays, I printed. In addition to the rolls taken by discussed the matter with him further and those members, other rolls required for told him that we should have an election as official purposes had been distributed to early as possible because Supply had been C.P.S. offices, Electoral Registrars, and so granted up to 31 August or thereabouts. I on, throughout the State. For the asked him how long he thought it would take Electorate of Condamine, for example, there to print the rolls, and how long he thought it were only four rolls left out of the total would take to make the other preparations. number printed. I told him that it would be necessary Mr. Hiley: But the type was set up. for him to get in touch with the Printing Industry Employees Union-and don't let us JUr. WALSH: Just a minute. I am not overlook this fact-to see if he could going to evade anything. There were other arrange the working of overtime. The electorates for which 23 and 29 rolls were Government Printer cannot compel his men left. Hon. members know that in some to work overtime. He undertook to make electorates thene are as many as 69 polling representations to the union to see whether places, all of which have to be provided with the men would work overtime. They have from one to five rolls. Take the electorates been working overtime since that date of Mirani and Port Curtis, for example. according to the arrangements made. The Each of those electorates has between 60 Premier read to the Committee the various and 70 polling places, and every one of reports regarding output week by week. those polling places has to be provided with The hon. member for Mt. Coot-tha was so a roll. To say that we could just take the interested in the last report. There is no type down from the racks, put it in, and reason to withhold the information, but start the machines going is just so much rather than bore the Committee with reading rot. every detail, I shall give the relevant parts. The hon. member for Mt. Coot-tha made the point that the Premier should have lUr. Morris: Wllat is the date? known on 24 April that we could no longer 1Ir. WALSH: 11 June. On my instruc­ carry on as a Government. Did he~ Let us tions, to make sure that there is no laxity see if that is so. Were there any published reports ·which indicated that certain members in the Government Printing Office, I of the Opposition were prepared to back the instructed the Government Printer to submit GovernmenH vVas that not a facH Specific a report to me at the end of each week. statements were published, and it was sug­ Those reports will indicate to hon. member~ gested that there was some evidence of an that I am trying to get on top to see that agreement on the part of the hon. member the machinery is in proper working order. for Mt. Coot-tha. After his visit to Sydney, The number of electorates for which th" he came back with different ideas. The additional rolls have been printed is now 42, whip had cracked somewhere. and at the time he made his report on 4 June, 1957, it was 29, leaving the number printed Mr. )Iorris: Why don't you read what since 4 June at 13. Expressed in pages, the I said on the night of 24 April 'I position is:- Mr. W ALSH: I do not think that any Total number of pages in l10n. member in this Chamber or anybody a completed set of 75 outside it would dispute that Mr. Tucker, the rolls 19,040 Government Printer, is a man of the highest integrity and honesty. At the time the Number of pages printed statements appeared in the Press in regard to 4 June, 1957 6,887 to the printing of the rolls, Mr. Tucker was Number of pages printed away on holidays. I did not even know that from 4 June to 10 June 2,945 he was on holidays, but he felt that the reports appearing in the newspapers were so Total printed to 10 June, misleading that he came back to Brisbane 1957 9,832 and conferred with the Under Secretary of the Treasury Department. He felt a little bit uneasy about the statements that had Number of pages still to been made in the Press, because they mis­ be printed 9,208 represented the actual position. 64 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

There are seven printing machines and Justice Department of his requirements in one folding machine which worked 8 hours the conduct of an election. each last Saturday. A total of 880 pages were printed on that day as the result of the over­ Mr. Dewar: Having worked it all out, what do you regard as the earliest possible time arrangement with the union. The hon. member for Mt. Coot-tha wants to make out date for an election~ that we are making no effort. We can say Mr. W ALSH: As the Premier said, there that almost 20 per cent. of the total pages would be no difficulty in holding an election printed per week were printed by overtime in August. on Saturday. Coming to the registration of the supplementary rolls, the total registra· lUr. Morrls interjected. tion to 10 June, 1957, was 35,092, which are 1\'Ir. W ALSH: The hon. member for Mt. all new registrations since the old type was Coot-tha will diswrt things. The Premier set up. This is work of which the Leader of made it quite clear that the school holidays the Opposition or somebody else might say, will extend from 12 to 26 August, and "Why don't you farm it ouH" The Gov· Bxhibition Week falls during that period. ernment Printer says that as he goes along Of course, if anybody wants us to fix the he handles that part of the supplementary election date during that period, we may do rolls, and that it is not a great difficulty to it. him. Between the date of the issue of the writ and the date of nominations the Govern. Mr. ~Iorris: You would be silly enough ment Printer has to see to it that the work to do it. is done because the date of the issue of the writ is the last day on which any alteration 1\'Ir. W ALSH: The hon. member for Mt. Coot-tha ~ays we w"ctld be silly enough to do can be made to the rolls. When I pressed the it. If the machinery is ready, and if he is Government Printer for the earliest date pos­ so anxious for an early election, why would sible he could give us, one of his pleas to he object to its being held in the middle of me was, "Be sure you give us enough time between the date of the issue of the writ and August~ the election so as to provide for the printing Mr. :i'llorris: Be-cause it could be held of the supplementary rolls.'' earlier. lUr. 1\fLiberal Party towards the country dweller­ election year, all the rolls are virtually com­ wipe him off! pleted. That, of course, does not apply in the present case. As I say, in October or Various hon. members have said they November of the year preceding what is have got their rolls. Of course they expected to be an election year, the Govern­ have. I have got mine, too. I have ment Printer has the type taken from the got my two dozen, or whatever the racks and placed in position. In other words, allotment is that is made to hon. members he is preparing for the printing of the rolls without charge. All hon. members are entitled to them and, if they have not for five or ~ix months. During that time other departments, particularly -the Justice collected them, that is their fault. The fact Department, have to make arrangements for remains that, whereas on the average 120 rolls have been printed for each electorate the numerous forms that are neces"ary. It as for a non-election year, anything from is not merelv a matter of what the Justice 270 to 400-odd rolls will be required in each. Department might say; the information has to be got from every returning officer The ''Courier-Mail'' printed bally-hoo throughout the State. Every returning about using the Federal rolls and about officer in the 75 electorates has to advise the how up-to-date they are. Let them seek Supply. [12 Jmm.] Supply. 65

the opmron of the Government Printer. I We will resign on a certain date and we will do not think anybody is more qualified than go to the people on a certain date.'' Those he to advise the Government or the members are the clear moral obligations of a govern­ o:f the community in these matters. They ment who know their days are ended. will find that no Federal rolls have been Instead, they have come into Parliament printed :for the last two years. E.ven if we without offering any undertakings whatever, had to use the Federal rolls to conduct the and said ''Give us, without any qualifica­ election, where would we get them~ It will tion at ~11, £27,000,000.'' In any British be obvious to hon. members that it would be Parliament such a request is completelY too silly :for words to put the Federal rolls unprecedented and can receive only an into the hands of presiding officers and ask unequivocal denial. That is the only pos­ them to determine which streets come within sible answer to so absurd a request. the boundaries o:f, say, the Buranda or the South Brisbane electorate. JUr. Aikens: They could stave off the election until some time in September. Very definitely the obligation rests on Parliament to see that the essential Supply 1Ir. HILEY: October if they liked, and is granted to enable the Government to then come back with the same story again. meet not only the wages and salaries of Mr. Walsh: How could we come here Government servants and others in Govern­ with the same story~ ment employ but also other Government commitments. Hon. members opposite will )Ir. HILEY: The Treasurer ha;s done appreciate that. I:f Supply is not granted, it this time. No undertaking has been given. I can assure hon. members that there will 1Ir. Walsh: Parliament was prorogued be ilnancial confusion whichever Party is until 11 June. returned to power. Mr. HILEY: Parliament is together now. Mr. Hewitt: It won't be your Party. Mr. Walsh: Tell us how we could do it Mr. W ALSH: I feel sure it will. It next time~ certainly will not be those on my right, Mr. Chalk: Do not tell him, he might do because very :few of them will be returned. it. Whichever Party is returned, there will be Mr. HILEY: I have sat in this Parlia­ great confusion in the State's ilnancial ment for 13 years-- policy if this Supply is not granted as Mr. Gair: The resignation of the Govern­ requested. ment does not dissolve Parliament. Mr. HILEY (Coorparoo) (12.19 p.m.): Mr. HILEY: I know it does no~ ~ut the I am sure every hon. member has listened Government have not indicated posrtrvely to to the debate with mixed feelings. Mixed the Chamber any intention to resign. feelings, of course, have been described as what you experience as you watch your Mr. Gair: We do not have to. mother-in-law drive over a precipice in your l'tlr. HILEY: The Government do not get brand-new Cadillac. Supply until they do. The Bill asks Parliament to grant a Mr. Gair: We don't? Supply of £27,000,000. Quantitatively, the Mr. HILEY: All right, they don't.. . If amount excites no co=ent. It has not the Government will not face up to realities yet, and it should not. The timing, how­ and indicate their retirement from an unten­ ever, is extremely unusual and the request able position it is the dut:l:' o~ hon. memb~rs has been presented to Parliament in a generally to tear them shnekmg and unwill­ manner completely unprecedented. On the ing from the seats they do not want to leave. timing, the only positive statement made to hon. members in support of a Supply Bill Mr. Smith: How will you do that? at this unusual time is that there is an election pending. JUr. HILEY: By refusing Supply. Mr. Smith: You have not got the ~num­ There has been no clear, unequivocal under­ bers. You have only 24 and we have 2;;. taking by the Government to resign. There has been no announcement of an election Mr. HILEY: We will see wha~ happens date. In the absence of these two essential when the vote is taken. I am certam of what qualiilcations, to come into the Chamber an':l the result will be because I see doom written ask for Supply is to ask for a completely on the faces of everyone who is looking at blank cheque. As a matter of fact, the whole me. tactics yesterday and today remind me irre· For 13 years I have sat on this side ~f the sistibly of a bankrupt debtor whining, twist­ Chamber and it has been my particular ing, weaving and supplicating and doing all responsibility to understudy th~ :rreasurer in his power to stave off the bailiffs by a and to pay particular and specrahst atten­ week or two. The Government are politically tion to matters he brought before the bankrupt. They have lost their support. Chamber. During that period I have seen They have not got the moral courage to come many Supply Bills brought forward by t~e to Parliament and say, "We are through. late Mr. Hanlon, Mr. Larcombe, Mr. Gau 1957-D 66 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

when he was Treasurer, and by Mr. W alsh memories the important part that the power during the period he has occupied the office. of appropriation plays in preserving the Until this occasion I have never heard of a authority of Parliament over any adminis­ Supply Bill being presented to the Chamber tration. If this had occurred in January for Parliament to exercise its power of instead of April the Govemment would have appropriation without some regard being sat there for three extra months ancl they paid to some of the vital interests of the wonld have still given the excuse that tf;e State, without reference to some of the Tolis were not ready. In the course of the important problems and without some statements made to the Committee by the evidence of a sense of responsibility by those rrGasurer it seemed to me that he meeeeded entrusted with the reins of office~ What did in convicting himself. Take what the lJOn_ we hear on this occasion 1 We heard a Ion()' gentleman said about the Communists. lie tirade of irrelevancies and abuse and thi~ singled out the hon. member for Mackay morning dismal excuse. We he~rd about ancl proceeded to show that in his judgment :natters. touching police transfers, Commun­ he vvas iniiuenced by Communist rtssocbtion Ism, umon ballots, Mr. Bukowski, oil and as long ago as 1941. If the Tre,1surcr even home laundries. While on the subject honestly believed that was so, if Umt were of home laundries let me say that the com­ his conviction from 1941 to 1946, he still pany with which I happen to be connected accepted him and politically co-habitated has distributed approximately 50,000 home with him. I will go so far as to say that laundries. if there is an aristocracy of Communi~ts They. have been used in various parts of and fellow travellers the Treasurer on his Australia. If by some miracle they could own admission will be known as the prince marshal the lot of them in simultaneous of fellow travellers. operation they could not cope with the dirty Take what the hon. gentleman had to say linen which the Treasurer presented to the about trade union ballots. Again he stands Chamber yesterday. During all this tirade self condemned. He says that this trouble of abuse and excuse there was not one word has been going on for years. For years they about Queensland; not one word about her have hacl knowledge of it and done nothing problems or development; not one word of about it. He taunted us with never doing enc?~ragement r:garding the bankrupt anything about it. In New Zealand a party pos1tlon of housmg which has collapsed ot our political colour cleaned up some of under this Government; not one word con­ the trouble, and in the Federal sphere there cerning the problem of drought which is are thankful men in trade union circles to-day exercising the anxieties of primary pro­ who still pay tribute to what members of our ducers, and not one word concerning the party did to improve the system of Court basic iinancial outlook of the State. Instead ballots and access to them. of that .the Chamb.er was given an example What have hon. members opposite done in of

Mr. HILEY: You were forced, as a :1\Ir. HILEY: You would not cart all of result of what was said here, to take him it away. You \Yould cart 10 tons here and before the court, and the hon. gentlemen there, and if that is the Treasurer's only were the two men who openly defended him trouble I will see that semi-trailers are avail­ in this House, leaving in my mind for ever able this afternoon to take it to whatever the conviction that thev knew far more about printers he nominates. As to the work of what was going on th~n they admitted. envelopes, tally sheets, postal vote applica­ tions, absent vote applications, and the Mr. Power interjected. general run of incidental election printing, it The CHAIRJUAN: Order! There is far could be farmed out to 50 printers in this too much noise in the Chamber. State without the slightest complication. Mr. Walsh: I am talking about the JUr. Aikens: Almost everything excepting speech you made in the Bulimba bv-election the ballot papers. in which you accused a member of this House of being associated with forged ration tickets. :1\Ir. HILEY: Yes, and the primary roll I What did you do about that~ set-up. venture to say that the Government showed that they are bankrupt of ideas about Mr. HILEY: On that particular subject how to get the work done and it is their your knowledge is far closer and wider than duty to tell the Administrator so that he mine. It is up to us all to do something can discover whether there are any other about that. parties in this Chamber who would tackle the job of getting the election machinery set up Mr. Walsh: You are quite right. and functioning in proper time. All the argu­ Mr. HILEY: Our pledge is this: we will ments put forward remind me of my com­ waste no more time-indeed, we have not mercial experience in dealing with bankrupt yet wasted any of our time--pursuing debtors. When you get a person who cannot personal hatreds and engaging in stupid pay you find that he shuffles about and puts grasping for personal power. That is the forward all excuses and adopts any tactics issue that has divided the Labour Party. whatever to give him another week or month. Our pledge to you is that we shall get on 'Ihe days for excuses are past. Every reason with the job by giving positive government or excuse presented here merely underwrites to this State. the political bankruptcy of the Government. It underwrites their incompetency and their Mr. Power: The abolition of the 40-hour unsuitability to remain one day longer in week, the abolition of free hospital&-that is office, and with my colleagues I propose to what you will do. vote against the motion for another penny for them. Mr. HILEY: I venture to predict that-- Mr. DONALD (Bremer) (12.38 p.m.): I can wholeheartedly support the sentiments Mr. Power: By their deeds shall ye know them. expressed by the Leader of the Opposition at the commencement of his speech yesterday Mr. IULEY: We shall do everything we afternoon when he claimed that the Govern­ can to develop this State. This Government ment are a minority Government. We have have ~orfeited their right to govern; they a minority government in the British House have m fact ceased to govern; and the of Commons and in our Commonwealth lamentable whining of the Premier and the Parliament at the present time; there are Treasurer this morning about their inability other minority governments. They are a to organise the printing of rolls from type minority government because they do not that has already had the first print taken represent the majority of the people who have from it shows how incompetent they are to a vote, and because they only hold one-third remain in office for one day longer. of the membership of this assembly. They are a minority government because they have Mr. Walsh: That is a reflection on the forsaken the policy on which they were elected Government Printer. by the electors of Queensland. Hon. membPrs will agree that there is only one way out of llir. HILEY: You are the Mini,ster in charge. the present political impasse and that is for an appeal to the electors. An early appeal to the .Mr. Walsh: That is a reflection on the electors of the State will allow them to pass Government .Printer and his employees. judgment and return a verdict in a democratic "pirit. I cannot support the motion moved J!Ir. HILEY: A print of every roll was by the Treasurer for the granting of made. It is true that not sufficient copies £27,000,000 Supply until the end of October. were made, but the typP is set up. Are the In his two hours' speech in this Chamber only printing presses from which further yesterday he did not advance one argument or prints can be made with type that has been reason to cause anybody to agree with his set up the presses in the Government Printing motion. His speech was simply a hymn of Office~ I know it will mean carting some hate against the Labour Mov(:ment generally, tons of metal to different points in the and in particular against J :.ck Duggan and city. Joe Bukowski. No-one e:JH question Mr. Jack Mr. Walsh: 130 tons! Duggan 's loyalty to the I"abour movement 68 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

and his loyalty to his ex-leader and no-one Australian Labour Party, to the large audi­ can question the loyalty that he displayed to ence in the gallery. He left his opponents the Premier not only on the floor of this not only uncomfortable, but feeling very sorry Chamber but outside, in Caucus and at meet­ for themselves. No-one can deny that it was ings of the Q.C.E. T·he accusations that Mr. Mr. Duggan 's day yesterday. He scored his Duggan was disloyal to his leader and sought greatest triumph then. to promote his own personal interests are not in accordance with facts and no not reflect A Go'!'ernment Member: We felt sorry credit on those who made them. for him. The Treasurer devoted much of his two-hour Mr. DONALD: No-one need feel sorry speech to trying to tell the people of Queens· for !'Ir. Duggan. On the contrary, many land, through "Hansard," that Jack Dug­ people feel sorry that they have lost his ser­ gan was anything but a gentleman. vices, which have been retained for the Aus­ tralian Labour Party. None of us can forget what close friends Mr. Bukowski and the Treasurer were when The Treasurer has said that he and his for some years they were running the Indus­ party are on the crest of a wave. I agree. trial Group Movement in this State. Is the They arc on the crest of a wave of resent­ present hostility being shown by the Trea­ ment that extends from one end of Queens­ surer and members of his Party due to the land to the other, a wave that will eventually fact that he, Mr. Bukowski, is still a loyal engulf them and carry them to destruction. member of the A.L.P. while they are outside If they think otherwis!J, let them not quibble the A.L.P. and the Labour Movement. about holding an early election. Let the At that time I was one of the members of people go to the ballot box and make their the Austmlian Labour Party who said that decision. the introduction of Industrial Groups could Hon. members will agree that we would not result only in splitting the Labour Party in have been meeting today had it not been for Australia from top to bottom. And that is the trouble in the Australian Labour Party. just what has happened. That was the real They will also agree, in spite of the protesta­ cause of the present split in the Australian tions of the Premier and the Treasurer, that Labour Party, not only in this State but there is plenty of time between now and throughout the Commonwealth. August for the holding of an election so that Members of the Queensland Labour Party Parliament can re-assemble in August. have accused Mr. Duggan of being disloyal. What did the Premier say of the leader of The Premier and the Treasurer say we must the Australian Labour Party in the Federal grant Supply of £27,000,000 to enable the work of the community to be carried on and sphere, Dr. Evatt~ He accused him of being a wrecker of the Labour movement. I remind so that there will be no interruption in the hon. members that on every occasion when payment of Public Service wages and salaries. Dr. Evatt, as leader of the Australian Labour Not one hon. member would contend that there is any danger that any public servant Party, has appealed to the electors of Aus­ tralia, whether in a referendum or a political or anybody else in the employ of the Govern­ contest, the majority of them have supported ment will go without his wages because Suppl;y is not given. What would have been the posi­ his policy and confirmed his leadership. Again tion if all the members of the Labour Party and again Dr. Evatt has proved himself to be had been true to their pledge and true to the not only a real leader of the Australian Party platform~ Parliament would not have Labour Party, but a statesman of world renown. His reputation in the United Nations met until August. proves that, and there is no need for me to Again the Treasurer displayed the snide elaborate on it. tactics for which he is noted. He read at great length from the rule book, Rule 89, Mr. Bukowski was paid a glowing tribute but he did not read this-and this is what by the Attorney-General on 17 November, they have all been guilty of- 1953. This is what he said on page 1315 of Vol. 207 of "Hansard"- " All endorsed Australian Labor Party Members or Candidates shall be bound by "Let me say about Joe Bukowski that the decisions of the latest Convention and at least he is a loyal Labour man. He has the latest Platform, and shall sign such never ratted on the Labour Party and was Platform when called upon by the Queens­ never expelled from it.'' land Central Executive to do so.'' His present traducers cannot say the same I feel that hon. members may put only as of themselves. much reliance on what the Treasurer said in Mr. Evans: Who said that? the two hours of his speech yesterday and his 25 minutes this morning as they can on Mr. DONALD: The Attorne·y-General. his action in quoting only Rule 89. Mr. Duggan has had many triumphs in this Assembly; he has made many brilliant 1\Ir. Walsh: Very good. But I signed SJ?eeches and has scored triumphantly over the platform. his opponents. But he scored his greatest lUr. :OONALD: He did. That is the triumph yesterday, when he vindicated his exception I take and the exception that every actions, and those of other members of the member of the Australian Labour Party Supply. [12 JUNE.] Supply. 69

takes. The Treasurer dishonoured his signa­ more democratic body as far as the laying ture and dishonoured his standing in the down of political policy is concerned. It Party. He walked out. is not this party; it is not this Govern­ Let us be truthful about the whole ment, who lay down the political policy position. I will quote from the rule book. I and platform of the Australian Labour do not want to bring party squabbles into Party. As a matter of fact, the number the Chamber and I would not have done so of Parliamentary representatives at a had the Treasurer not introduced them. This convention is very small compared with is what the rule book says about the power the total number of delegates. At the last of the Q.C.E.- convention the total was 120. The hon. " To interpret the planks of the Flat· member may think he has made an attack form or any of these Rules or any resolu­ on the Government, but his attack was tion or decision of Convention, which may really on the farmers, the coalminers, the railway workers, the business men and at any time b~ in dispute, and to expel from membersh1p of the Party any membm others who make up the representation at who refuses to abide by such interpreta­ an Australian Labour Party Convention.'' tion and/ or decision.'' That describe~ the Treasurer's contribution That covers everything. How many have towards letting the Chamber know how we been expelled from the Party by the Q.C.E. ~ were going to tackle the many problems con­ The only man who has been expelled from fronting the State. He chose to make an the Party is Mr. Gair. Admittedly, Mr. attack, not on the Q.C.E., not on the Labour Foley was expelled for quite another reason Party, but on the coalminers, railwaymen prior to that . and business men of the State. . Let me read again from '' Hansard, '' this Let us see what the Premier had to say, bme from. p~ge 51 of Thursday, 19 August, and I refer to the leading article in the 1954. Th1s IS Mr. Walsh talking. "Courier-Mail" of 19 February, 1953- Mr. Walsll: Yes, and I say it again here '' On his own admission his Government, today. if it is returned to office, will have to take its instructions from the Labour-in-Politics Mr. DONALD: Let me read it now so convention after the election. This is what as to place it on record, to use one of his he said on 5 February, when he announced pet phrases. The Treasurer said- that he and other members of his Cabinet '' Everybody realises that there has to had agreed to recommend to the Conven­ be . a. certain amount of discipline in any tion a plan for zonal referendums on the political party, and it would be a bad thing question of legalising off-course betting: for the country if discipline was not exer­ 'In matters of major policy a Labour cised. If any complaint is to be made it Government, like any other political is that sometimes discipline is not exer­ party, is bound by the party's constitu­ cised as extensively in the public interest tion or, if the constitution does not pro­ as it should be." vide for the matter, by the decision of Continuing, he said- the party's supreme governing body.' '' The Labour Party has never made any ''For the Queensland Parliamentary excuse about disciplining its members. Labour Party that supreme governing That is why we have continued to remain body is the Labour-in-Politics conven­ a formidable force in the Government of tion.'' ' this State. It would be a sorry day for tht> After having been to convention time after State of Queensland if we lost control over time, after sitting on the Q.C.E. year after the Party as a whole. year, the Premier is trying to tell the people "Let me remind the Leader of the of Queensland-- Opposition too, that there is no more demo­ A Government Member: Before the Com­ cratic political organisation in this State munist invasion. than the Labour Convention. A delegate is elected from each of the 75 branches.'' Mr. DONALD: He now says that these bodies have been invaded by the Communist Honourable illembers interje.cting-­ Party. The CHAIRMAN: Order! There is too Mr. Power: You walked out of the House. much interruption and I am not going to allow it. i\Ir. DONALD: I walked out of the House. I was exercising my rights as a free citizen Mr. DONALD: Further on the Treasurer in a free country. I walked out of the says- House with a clear conscience and my con­ ''There is a delegate from each of the science is still clear. The men who walked 75 electorates. Representation is based on out of the great Australian Labour Party a formula laid down by delegates them­ have not got a clear conscience. My action selves, by delegates from industrial unions in walking out of the House has been affiliated with the Australian Labour Party approved by my union, every industrial -not by the executive of the Labour union in the Bremer electorate, every branch Party. Consequently I do not know of any of the Australian Labour Party in the 70 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Bremer electorate, and after all by the whether they want the Australian Labour electors of Bremer who gave me the biggest Party or whether they want the Country­ Labour majority-- Liberal Party. (Government interjections.) Government ltiembers interjected. Tile CHAIR:fiiAN: Order! The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask hon. Mr. DONALD: I shall say it no matter members to allow the hon. member for how much they hOYYl. I am a democrat. I Bremer to make his speech without interrup­ want everyone to have an equal opportunity tion. to express his opinion. I shall not shout ''Moo, moo, moo'' when any hon. member on Mr. DONALD: I am only telling the the other side speaks. I shall not disgrace truth. The Labour Party does not have to my position us a member. I shall not indulge go down to the gutter to succeed. Our iu tactics that would cause the people to lose policy and our objectives can be achieved by r-espect for Parliament. Such conduct causes truth. We have no need to stoop to the dirty people to believe that parliamentarians are tactics of our opponents or indulge in per­ not what they should be. These are the sonalities. We do not need to indulge in things that led to the rise of Mussolini and character assassination. We go forward with Hitler. I think we should conduct our our policy and objective. People come to the debates calmly and without vindictiveness. Labour party and people go from it. There If we are democrats we can do that. Some ~a~e bee~ breakaway groups over the years; people do not like the truth. It IS a nme days wonder, and then they fade away. But the old Labour Party goes on A Government Member: You do not like because it is a party of idealists who are the truth. working for the benefit of humanity. It goes Mr. DONALD: I am not afraid of the f:om strength to strength and victory to truth. VIctory. The Treasurer went to the last Con_vention and the Premier sat on the Q.C.E. A great deal has been said about Com­ until he was expelled, and neither of them munism. The surest safeguard against objected to any of the Trades Unions Communism is a strong and united Labour becoming affiliated with the A.L.P. nor to Party and a strong Labour Government. the acceptance of the delegate sent by the I wish to deal now with the question o£ Trades Unions to represent them on the union ballots. The Treasurer was very Q.C.E. or at Convention. caustic in his remarks about union ballots, and he referred particularly to ballots con­ Mr. Gair: They suggested you were a ducted by the Australian Workers' Union. communist when you came to the Q.C.E. I have been connected with two big industrial unions the Furniture Trades Union and the Mr. DONALD: It may have been raised but this is the fact: I am still a member of Miner~' Union, and I have been returning the Q.C.E. and have been for the past officer for both those organisations. I want 15 or 16 years. I am still a member of the to assure hon. members and the public Australian Labour :r:arty; I have not been generally that there is nothing wrong with expelled as the Premier has. their ballots. The Miners' Union conducts its ballots on the same lines as ballots are I am a man who will honour his word. I conducted for Parliament. The ballot is will fight for what I think is right, and I am secret, with a returning officer and prepared to accept the verdict of the people. scrutineers at each pit throughout Queens­ An Opposition Member: Do you believe land. Ballot papers are returned to in Socialism~ the general returning officer, and two scrutineers are elected by the rank and Mr. DONALD: I believe in Socialism file of the union, just as the scrutineers at because it is the Objective of the Australian the pits are elected by the rank and file of Labour Party. There is no member in this the union. Each ballot paper is initialled Chamber who can say that at any time have and is above suspicion. The percentage of I been afraid to expound the socialisation voters in miners' union ballots is as great objective of our party. I am not ashamed of as the percentage of voters in the State it. We are the force that we are because of elections, or perhaps a little higher. So our Socialist objective. When we break away anxious are we that every man shall be from our Socialist objective we cease to be a given a chance of recording his vote that the working-class party. We would be no better returning officer goes to the general hospitals than the people who occupy the Treasury with the ballot papers and the ballot box. benches if we neglected to advocate and adhere to our Socialist objective. I believe JUr. Gair: We made no reference to the miners' ballots. that there is every need for the electors to be given the opportunity to say what they Mr. DONALD: The hon. the Treasurer think at the earliest possible moment. 'fhe referred to union ballots. present Government cannot govern and they should do the decent thing and make it poss­ Mr. Gair: One ballot. ible for the electors to Ray whether they Wltllt Mr. DON ALD: I have a perfect right to the Government to continue with the business­ defend union ballots in this Chamber, and men and everybody else they can pull in, or I have better credentials than the hon. the Supply. [12 JUNE.) Supply. 71

Treasurer, who condemned union ballots. I Later on he said- am a member of a union and an official of " The Premier said this afternoon that a union, and I have been an official for Convention should not presume to direct many, many years. The ballots conducted the Government; and then the Premier by the Miners' Union are conducted in such sheltered behind the Constitution of a way as to be above suspicion. They give Parliament. The Premier can have his a true expression of the opinions of the Constitution and the Premier can have members. They are a true expression of the his Premiership . . . '' opinion of the members. Those remarks give an idea of the outlook, Mention has been made of court controlled the mentality and the attitude of Mr. ballots. I say that any union that surrenders Egerton so far as constitutional government its right to conduct its own ballots is admit­ is concerned. There was a lot of prattle ting its own incompetency. (Time expired.) about the democratic aspect of the Con­ vention and I now place in the witness box Hon. P. J. R. HILTON (Carnarvon­ one John Duggan and I quote from a very Sc0retary for Public Lands and Irrigation) good speech he made which is recorded on '(2.18 p.m.): I shall make an objective page 87 of this record- approach to the Vote at present before the " An opportunity may be taken to Committee. We know very well from the examine the workings of the Arbitration statements made by those opposed to the Court generally, but you cannot, on the real Labour Party in Queensland that Supply one hand lay dovm an arbitration system will not be granted, and we on this side of, as the au'thority to determine these things, the Chamber are fighting to the last ditch to if there is going to be . . . '' uphold constitutional government in this And mark these words Parliament, '' . . .. progressive in:filtration by the It is true that this very vital question of trade umon movement by means of constitutional government was fully discussed domination in the Q.C.E. or domination at the last Labour-in-Politics Convention, of Convention, to get, by that power and which was held in Mackay last year. authority, the things they cannot get from Much has been said about the breaking of arbitration.'' party pledges; much has been said about the Continuing, he said- power of the Q.C.E., and what convention '' I want to make it perfectly clear that has declared and what convention should do I have no quarrel with those powers being and the powers of convention. So that the used for the purpose of achieving major people of Queensland may get the matter social reforms in industry, and it may into its correct perspective, I propose reading be argued that the three weeks' annual from the official record of the Labour-in­ leave question may come into that cate­ Politics Convention compiled by - Mr. gory-! am not prepared to say; but, I do Schmella-no doubt with the approval of not think Mr. Bukowski, who is a repre­ Mr. Bukowski-as to what actually happened sentative of a powerful industrial union, there on this vital question of constitutional nor Mr. Devereux, who is the leader of a government. strong craft union, nor Mr. Egerton, who is secretary of a very vital union in I propose to quote extracts from some of industrial life in this community, will the speeches made by the Leader of the agree that they should use the power of alleged Queensland Branch of the Australian this Convention or of the Q.C.E. for the Labour Party sitting opposite to show what purpose of getting all those award con­ his attitude was then, and I shall quote other ditions which are refused by the Court.'' extracts to show the attitude of prominent members of the Q.C.E. so that these facts Continuing further, Mr. Duggan said- taken from official records can be placed '' I am not saying that it is not in the hands of those not present to hear technically competent for this Convention my remarks so that they can judge the to give a direction on this matter, and position for themselves. These extracts will whilst I think the Premier gave you com­ give the background of some of those on pelling reasons on the constitutional the Q.C.E. who mouth about loyalty to the aspect . '' Australian Labour Party and the upholding Note these words- of democracy and so on. Page 83 of this ' ' . . . I am not going to labour the record shows that Mr. Egerton, one of the point because I realise that the great most loud-mouthed members of the Q.C.E., mass of the people are not concerned with had to say. I will be quoting briefly from the constitutional aspect of this. I say his speech, not taking anything out of its that, not because I disagree with the context. When the Premier opposed the Premier. All I am saying is that the motion of direction from the Q.C.E. Mr. interpretation which he places on that Egerton said- is right and correct, but a similar inter­ pretation may not be placed on it by '' I think there is much logic in what people outside who are concerned more the Premier has said, but the time for with some positive action or some negative logic has disappeared.'' action one way or the other." 72 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply

What does Mr. Duggan mean by "tech­ "The Committee is to comprise Messrs. nically competent"~ All I can say is that Pont, Egerton, Whiteside, ~~;ereux, whilst under the constitution of the Aus­ Chalmers, Maxwell and Bukowsk1. tralian Labour Party he thought they could give a direction, Mr. Duggan was not That committee was to report back to C~n­ prepared at that stage to admit t~at _such a vention. It did not. Why~ The Commumst direction would be sound constltutwnally, collaborators that they brought into the Con­ legally, morally, or in any other way. He vention could not be controlled. They did not described it as a technical direction. want to accept the challenge of Government Mr. Duggan went on to say- at that time and as Mr. Duggan has already '' I ask delegates calmly and dispassion­ confirmed both 'he and the Premier came ately not to embarra~s the Government. I back and' reported to the rest of CabiD:et know where the weight of numbers is that, as long as the three weeks' l~ave. legis­ here but I am not going to be pessimis­ lation was introduced when economic circum­ tic at all. I think that possibly 100 votes stances permitted, the Q.C.E. would not press may be mustered to carry a resolution of the matter or words to that effect. Nobody this kind, but I ask you, before you can deny that, yet we hear all th~s prattle become part of that 100, to think about it about the breaking of pledges. Obvwusly, on and consider the political repercussions one occasion if not on more, the whole party which could result and be a great danger unanimously agreed to the non-introduction of to the Labour Government in this State.'' the three weeks' leave. According to Mr. I give those quotations from Mr. Duggan 's Devereaux, every member of the party should speech to illustrate the views that he held therefore have been expelled. Why should one very strongly then and that he expressed so man who repeated a statement made by a convincingly. I ask hon. members to recon­ majority of members of Caucus and made by cile those views with his present attitude. Cabinet unanimously be shamefully and shock­ ingly expelled, ripping the Labour movement The Premier, in his usual consistent and in Queensland asunder~ Do those people who sound manner, subsequently made the posi­ claim to be Labour men think we should tion very clear to Convention. It is appro­ stand by, submissive _and. arrant cowards, priate to read now what he said. This is bowing the knee to dictation on a matter what he had to say- that was fully ventilated at convention and '' If I may intrude at this stage, before on which Bukowski and his fellow delegates you proceed with the next agenda item, of the committee did not have the courage to report the result of the meeting of to report back to convention or to force the Cabinet held last evening following on the issue on that occasion 1 resolution that was carried by Convention directing the Government to include in its To indicate that the Premier and Cabinet policy speech a promise for the three weeks' triumphed in all that happened, let me read annual leave, and directing the Govern­ the final words of the convention, Mr. ment to implement that industrial reform Bukowski was again the spokesman. He in the first session of Parliament, I desire said: to inform Convention that Cabinet con­ sidered the matter very carefully and ''Mr. Gair I desire to give you a vote unanimously decided that, having regard of complete ~onfidence in your position of to all factors and circumstances, it did Premier and Leader of the Queensland not accept the directions contained in that Political Labor Party, and extend to you resolution. In the opinion of Cabinet, the and the Queensland Government all the resolution is contrary to the rule of con­ assistance that is possible from our stitutional government and a negation of organisation and financial support of the the principle of responsible, democratic forthcoming elections.'' government-namely, that the Government is responsible to the electors and only to That was carried unanimously-by every mem­ the electors. '' ber of the now so-called Australian Labour Party sitting on the cross-benches opposite. That was a sound statement for the Premier Can they reconcile their present hypocritical to make. But what happened after he attitude with their honest expression of made iH What did Big Boss Bukowski do~ opinion in unanimously supporting the Why did he not accept the challenge then motion9 and expel the whole of Cabinet, which had agreed unanimously~ Let me place on record in '' Hansard'' Mr. Graham: That 1s the mistake the·y another very interesting extract from this made. official report compiled by Mr. Schmella. This appears at page 184-- Mr. IULTON: The hon. member is saying that now. , 'The Queensland Parliamentary Labor After the Premier had made his statement, Party has added three more years to its Mr. Bukowski said- remarkable and unique record of continuous Labor Government. Labor has now been in '' After hearing the statement by the control of the Treasury benches for a con­ Premier, I desire to move-' That seven tinuous period of 24 years and, as a matter members of this Convention meet the of fact Labor has been in power now for Premier and the Deputy Premier.' 38 out 'of the last 41 years. With Labor 's Supply. [12 JUNE.] Supply. 73

excellent record during the last term there ''To our brothers in the A.L.P. we say, can be no doubt that Labor is assured of a united working class, under the leader­ office for many years to come.'' ship of a Marxist-Leninist Socialist Party, will prove invincible. Despite that glowing praise in the official Labour record, we find the political rabble ''I feel that the strengthening of the opposed to use now-Mr. Wood, Mr. Duggan Party can take place side by side with the and others-saying Mr. Gair really left the isolation of the rightists in the A.L.P. who Labour Party at the Hobart Convention. reject unity." This took place subsequent to the Hobart \!Vhat I have read clearly demonstrates who convention. What hypocrites they are if they are the Communist collaborators. Those of us say that now when they did not have the who have stood firmly behind the Premier will courage to stand up and oppose the vote of fight to the last ditch. We will fight success­ confidence in the Premier and oppose the fully and put the great Australian Labour adoption of the report containing glowing Party back on a sound basis in Queensland tributes to the Premier for his leadership of again. the Labour Party! Those matters speak for themselves and cannot be denied. I regret that I have not sufficient time to deal with the many relevant aspects of the It is true that Mr. Duggan and Mr. Wood, situation this afternoon. However, before I even in Stanthorpe, and elsewhere, have been resume my seat I want to throw back the saying that certain things happened at dirty insinuation the hon. member for Too­ Hobart. Time does not permit me to go into woomba made against me yesterday after­ all the details of the Hobart Conference, but noon. I made a note of his words at the it is true that since then there has been a time. He said, ''You spend all your time very strong influence operating in the defending some of the things you should Labour Party. In a book ''The Light Glows occupy your mind with. I will challenge you, Brighter'' bv Dr. John Burton, which has make no bones about that. I am not going the blessing of Mr. Chamberlain, the Federal to seek the protection of the Chamber to President, and the blessing of Dr. Evatt, who say it, either.'' I know that during this has recommended it to all Labour member~ crisis friendships have been broken, great to read, among the many sugar-coated pills disappointments have occurred, people whom let me read two extraordinary statements. we regarded as friends and men of sterling character have proved otherwise. But I think Mr. Grallam: Is it out of the "News it ill becomes the hon. member for Too­ WeeklyW" woomba to make his dirty accusation against Mr. HILTON: No. This is by a man at me yesterday afternoon. I throw the chal­ whose feet the hon. member would grovel- lenge back in his face now. Even if these " The fantastic exaggeration of 'Com­ are the last words I ever utter, I say that munism' in the country, the misrepresenta­ never in my career in Parliament have I in tion of Communist policies, and the col­ the slightest way violated my oath to Cabinet oured propaganda about Communist as a Minister. Never have I violated in the aggression which fills our newspapers every slightest degree my oath both with regard to day, are not an honest attack against a secrecy and the obligations imposed upon me real enemy, but an attempt to make people as a Cabinet Minister. fear Socialism.'' Mr. Hiley: Is it consistent with your oath as a Cabinet Minister to accept into And then we find- Y.our company a man against whom corrup­ '' Co-Existence a First Step Towards tion has been found~ Is that consistent with Co-operation. your oath~ ''In this changing situation, Lab or ~lr. HILTON: To whom are you should welcome any common ground which referring~ can honestly be found between communists and socialists, and which can make co­ Mr. Hiley: The hon. member for existence practical, and co-operation pos­ Belyando. sible. Any other attitude assumes, it seems lUr. HILTON: Let the hon. member read to me, an inevitable war against Com­ the oath that a Cabinet Minister takes. The Inunisn1.'' hon. member will not get me off the track. That clearly indicates the philosophy that I shall deal with that again, as I have these alleged Labour men are trying to ram already done, on the platform. I cannot down the necks of those who stand here as get an extension of time to deal with the the genuine Labour Party today. Now let me niatter now. I repeat that I challenge the read some outstanding chapters from the hon. member for Toowoomba to make any "Communist Review" of April, 1957- accusation in this Chamber or elsewhere against me. While I am a frail mortal I '' The Hobart Conference decisions of keep before me that striking lesson of the the Australian Labor Party regarding Pharisee and the Publican. I leave it to foreign policy was a historic turning my electors and to those who know me to point in A.L.P. affairs and allow for judge whether I have ever been guilty, tremendous unity with our party. publicly or privately, of anything that would 74 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

justify the dirty slur that the hon. member it, and I know that many men on that side for Toowoomba sought to place on me of the Chamber would not level that charge yesterday afternoon. at me. But if through the machinations of hon. members opposite, one of my children is An Opposition Thiember: To what was he hurt, I shall deal with them very quickly, 1·eferring? make no error about that. I shall not take Mr. HILT ON: I do not know. I leave that from anyone. that to him. That dirty insinuation is there The Premier saw fit to make an announce­ in '' Hansard.'' It was obviously said for the ment to this Chamber that I had a drink benefit of the Communists who, in the main, with Arch Fletcher, a very decent man, the compose the new A.L.P. in my area. I say Secretary of the Leader of the Opposition, at without fear of contradiction that the half past 2 when a meeting had finished. Who member for Toowoomba and the member for was in there before me~ The hon. member for Ithaca were recently in Stanthorpe forming Rockhampton and the Under-Secretary of the a new branch and nobody can deny that Chief Secertary ~ Department. I am not 110me members of that branch are known denying them tl'fi1lt right. But why should Communists. the Premier impute improper motives to me~ Mr. Hanlon: Your brother attended the If I want to have a drink with Arch Fletcher, meeting. I shall have it, because he is a decent type of man. Neither the Premier nor anybody else Mr. HILTON: He did not. When the will stop me, make no error about that, either. time came they closed the doors. History tells of the Holy Alliance. Mr. Wood: Your brother-in-law organ­ Yesterday we witnessed an unholy alliance in ised the meeting. the close co-operation between the official Opposition and the Government. We saw it Mr. HILTON: No. They went along to when the Leader of the Opposition unjusti­ lwar what they had to say. I repeat that fiably retained his office by means of that some of the members who were enrolled there co-operation. The official Opposition knew as members of the new A.L.P. are avowed that the Government were not asking for Communists. this further Supply in order to hold an An A.L.P. Member: Name them. election in September. There is no doubt that the Government want to hold the election as Mr. HILTON: In due course. The man quickly as they can, because they believe that who was the chairman was a man who left the tide of sympathy is rapidly running out the A.L.P. in the '40's after the origin and that the people, are learning the facts. of a scurrilous anonymous letter against When that happens the return of the Queens­ myself was revealed at an A.L.P. meeting. land Labour Party as the Government is I shall have more to say about that during inevitable. the campaign. I believe that many members of the Opposi­ (Time expired.) tion, decent as they are, did not realise that that motion would be utilised for the Dr. DITTMER (Mt. Gravatt) (2.43 p.m.) : purpose of making the most outstanding I listened with interest to the remarks of volcanic belching of venom and hate that this the hon. member for Carnarvon. The hon. House has ever heard. The standard of the member's vehemenee was amazing when he debate today has been much higher. The sought to protect his character, but he does Premier, in his own capable way, delivered not hesitate either in this House or on the quite a good speech; so did the Treasurer. public platform-nor do his associates-to We know that the Treasurer is an able man, assail the characters of the men who con­ in some respects, and his contribution this stitute the Queensland Branch of the morning was in much better taste. I Australian Labour Party. They brand them congratulate him on his speech and with the worst names they can think of, and sympathise with him. But I do not agree brand them as Communists and fellow­ with what he said about the hon. member for travellers, terms that are anathema to every Toowoomba, because I do not think anyone member of the Australian Labour Party. made a more outstanding contribution to the That is what the hon member does, but when debate ye1>terday than the hon. member for a challenge is thrown out to him he rises 'l'oowoomba. It was appreciated by the people in his wrath. The hon. member read from in the gallery, and it is regrettable that a book which was published 12 to 18 months there are fewer people in the gallery tod::ty. ago and which he had not previously con­ The hon. member for Toowoomba is quite demned. Hon. members opposite seek to gain capable of looking after himself. He did it a political advantage irrespective of any tc good effect last night; if necessary, he will other consideration. do it on the public platform. In certain statements made yesterday, It is amazing how rapidly the mantle of either in speeches or by \Yay of interjectinn, the former anti-Labour protagonists has fal:en it was suggested that I was m.. ,ocicted with on the present Queensland Labour Party and sectarianism. Even hon. members who consti­ how we are now charged with being Commun­ tute the official Opposition are decent enough ists. One could be excused for thinking that to admit that I would not be associated with it was the Right Hon. R. G. Menzies or the Supply. [12 JuNE.] Supply. 75

Right Hon. Sir Arthur Fadden who was the Country Party but members of the speaking. Of course, they would do it in a Country Party in the West and the South decent way. They would pay their money have stated that this is the greatest and have the big advertisements inserted in opportunity that the Country Party and the paper saying that we are Communiots. the Liberal Party have ever had. How­ ever, under no illusion, they have said, One name is being spread far and wide, "From where will they get their CabineU" from east to west, from north to south, OYer and it has been said, ''That is how we will the length and breadth of this State. Every­ lose the election.'' one knows that name, but for the information of the people in the gallery I shall name the Returning to Mr. J oe Bukowski, it has been man whose name hon. members opposite are suggested in recent months that the cleavage using in trying to win the election-J.oe in the Labour Party came about because of Bukowski. We have a letter here-a typed the personal vendetta ruthlessly waged by copy of a so-called letter-and, peculiarly Bukowski against the Premier. What for~ enough, two men concerned in it are dead. Because he had not been appointed to the They are Jack Beasley and Clarrie Fallon. Industrial Court! It is said that he experi­ C!arrie Fallon was the senior officer of the enced a sense of personal frustration. On Australian Workers' Union. and one of the many occasions at meetings of the inner other officers of that union was J oe Bukowski, executive of the Q.C.E. Bukowski spoke to a man born in Mt. Morgan of a decent family. the Premier and said, "You know, Vince, I His sister was Tottie Bukowski, who married not only never sought a position on the the late Dr. Uren. He rose within the union Industrial Court but I have repeatedly said ranks, and what do hon. members think I would not accept one.'' happened to this so-called Communist during 1\'Ir. Gair: I deny that. the war while Fallon was still the senior officer of the A.W.U. He was eo-opted by the Govern­ Dr. DITTMER: I want to be fair to the ment of which Jack Beasley had the honour to Premier and pay him a tribute----- be Minister for the Minerals Production Com­ Mr. Gair: That will be strange. mittee. When the war was over the late John Curtin wrote to Bukowski and congratulated Dr. DITTIUER: According to "The him on the part he played. He would never Courier-Mail'' report the Premier in a recent have permitted Bukowski to be eo-opted to television interview said of Mr. J oe Bukowski that committee if he was a Communist or -and this is what I would expect the Premier suspected of being one. Bukowski has been to do-that he, Bukowski, never sought any­ a member of the inner executive of the Q.C.E. thing for his own personal advantage. Why for 14 years. I want to do justice to the did not the Premier contradict the statement Treasurer and say that he has been a member at the Q.C.E. when there were others present longer but for at least that length of time if he now denies that Bukowski never sought the Treasurer has sat in close collaboration a position~ There would be witnesses to his and eo-operation with none other than this statement now. The Premier cannot deny so-called Communist Joe Bukowski. Hon. that there has never been a suggestion from members saw how he tried to take away this any quarter that a position should be given man's reputation by words with malevoknt to Bukowski on the Industrial Court Bench. intent. Hon. members opposite want to take his character away, not to hurt Joe Bukowski Mr. Gair: It was not important. so much as to damage the Queensland Branch Dr. DITTMER: I will show the Premier of the Australian Labour Party in Queens­ that it is important, not only in the role land. Incidentally, might I say that the played by Mr. Bukowski but also in that Premier has sat on the inner executive for played by the A.W.U. many years with Joe Bukowski but we never heard anything from the Premier concerning It has been suggested that the allega­ him until recent months. I am trying to tions in the "Worker" of irregularities defend a man who has been unjustifiably in the Lands Administration of this State criticised. He is a capable man and will no were made in an effort to bring down doubt defend himself, but I take this oppor­ the Cabinet and the Government. That tunity on behalf of J oe Bukowski to try to is completely false. We must accept the find­ disabuse the minds of people against the ings of the Commissioner. Indeed, I have misrepresentations that have emanated from evidence from none other than the Premier hon. members opposite concerning him, a and the present Deputy Premier in their misrepresentation which must hurt Mr. statements in this House to support the Bukowski and his family. findings of Mr. Justice Townley, who is recognised as probably the most eminent brain It has been said that hon. members of the on the Supreme Court bench, and whose Opposition haYe their golden chance of getting integrity is undoubted and unassailable. Was hold of the Treasury benches of Queensland the A.W.U. in the wrong on that occasion' and I believe that they are awake to their It may be suggested by our opponents on prospects, but the question in the minds of the left-many people seem to be keen on the people is from where will they get their the words "on the left"-that the A.W.U. l8aders and Cabinet members~ I am not now should not have ventilated its suspicions speaking of the Parliamentary members of through the Press, but that it should have 76 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. tried to correct any irregularities within the opportunity to vilify us and to destroy men's confines of the party. However, I remind characters. Many of them have sufficient hon. members that the executive of the decency that, if they had known the depths A.W.U. saw the Premier and requested an to which some would go, they would not have investigation into what they believed were permitted it but would have refused Supply irregularities in the administration of the and the Suspension of Standing Orders. The Department of Public Lands. They made no whole matter could then have been dealt mention of corrupt conduct. All they wanted with before dinner yesterday. was to be assured that the department would We are prepared to go to the electors at be run efficiently and fairly. A man who was any time, whoever our opponents may be, a member of the Cabinet five or six years ago and however big they may be in physique. was particularly interested in the matter. He After all, intellect plays no small part in brought it up in caucus six years ago, and if politics and victory. When we are returned, enough evidence had been available then the we will carry on all the social services, Department of Public Lands would have been the health services, and so on, consistent investigated and then administered efficiently with Labour policy as laid down by suc­ and honestly. cessive Conventions. We will improve Now in relation to a statement by the industrial conditions too. Government 'l.'reasurer last night, it is amazing how members have claimed credit for the intro­ hen. members opposite will bring in duction of long-service-leave legislation. these trivial incidents to confuse the That was introduced after repeated requests people on the eve of an election. For from the unions. I admit that the Secretary example, last night it was said that the hon. for Labour and Industry realised there were member for Coorparoo, who wanted to do anomalies in it and he saw fit to correct them someone a good turn, made arrangements for in the interests of the people of Queensland. a washing machine to be delivered to J oe The people are grateful to him for that. Bukowski and debited to his own account. I read in the paper recently where the In his inimitable way, the hon. member for Secretary for Public Instruction mentioned Coorparoo put the case as he saw it and the high schools on the periphery of Brisbane. balloon collapsed. Incidentally it was a He claimed it was a new idea and a good member of the Cabinet who had approached one. But the idea is not novel. It came from him on behalf of J oe Bukowski. Incidentally, the mind of Dr. Lew Edwards. The Ministers also, Mr. Bukowski was not getting the who from time to time have been in control washing machine for himself, but for another of the various Departments need not official of the union. Did the Minister con­ assume the mantle of cold superiority cerned rise last night and say, ''It was I lifting them above their fellows. They who made representations to Mr. Hiley~" achieved what they did not because of their own vision but because they carried out the I\Ir. Evans: Who was it? policy of the Labour Party. That is the Dr. DITTMER: I will not get down into only credit to which any of them are entitled. the gutter. I prefer to keep up on the Now that the Ministers in charge of the concrete road. various departments are on their own I hope they will not claim any credit for what has Mr. Brosn.an: Are you sure it was a been achieved as a result of that policy. It Minister~ embodies Labour ideas and ideals. Dr. DITTlliER: I am certain, but I do So with free hospitalisation. Incidentally not propose to divulge his name. I have the idea of free hospitalisation was not pointed out that the hon. member for Coor­ born in Queensland; it was born in the paroo, in his inimitable, efficient and superior minds of Ben Chifley and his Cabinet. way, explained the honesty of the dealings In 1946 the Federal Government agreed to with Mr. Bukowski about the wac;hing subsidise every public bed in Australia as machine, how it was delivered to him and long as it was free. That was how the first how a Minister had made the request. subsidy of 6s. came in in 1946. The amount was subsequently increased in 1948. It is all li'Ir. Hiley: I did not say it was a Minister. too familiar to hon. members. Now that there has been a debate it will reveal to the people Dr. DITTIIIER: I know the hon. member of Queensland, whether they are against us rlid not. I say we pay due regard to him. or in favour of us politically, whether they There was nothing wrong in that transaction. are prepared to work and vote for us, that Many people render similar services to others we are prepared to keep the campaign on a and there is nothing irregular in the practice. high level. It will show that we are not The attack was simply an attempt to dis­ anxious to assail the characters of anybody. credit the Party and to besmirch Bnkowski, Vve are not anxious to capitalise or seek and, to achieve that, no means are too low plitical victory at the expenc'e of the for some people. d1aracter of anyone and the suffering of tl1 'ir loved ones. vVe have sought an early election. If the Opposition had been completely honest, they Hon. )'V. JU. lUOORE (Merthyr-Secretary would have supported us in the motion and for Health and Home Affairs) (3.6 p.m.): not afforded the present Government an After listening to the debate following the Supply. [12 .JUNE.] Supply. 77

Treasurer's motion to provide the necessary for Toowoomba from the position that he supply to carry on the requirements of foreshadowed he might be in, because after government, I am reminded of a statement election day the Queensland Labour Party made many years ago by the late T . .J. Ryan will be the Government of Queensland. at a meeting in the City Hall. Amongst (Opposition interjections.) many other things, when speaking of the Opposition of the day, he said to the multi­ An Opposition ll'Iember: You are getting tude assembled, ''They under-estimate your white on top. intelligence, ladies and gentlemen, and they lU:r. lUOORE: I may be white on top but believe that the memories of people are very I am not yellow underneath. The ''Courier­ short.'' No truer words could have been Mail,'' stimulated by the political atmos­ uttered then or now. Because of the phere and the interest of the people in the position they now find themselves in, ho:IC. political atmosphere, hac1 this to say on members on my right are apologising or 25 April, the day following the expulsion attempting to make excuses for the mess of the hon. the Premier: they are in. They are merely foolishly trying to extricate themselves so we need not ''Mr. Gair owes it to electors who voted worry much about their utterances at this for his leadership and policy to keep faith stage. with them so long as he can carry on the Government of the State with a sufficient When all the viciousness was poured on Parliamentary majority.'' the head of the Premier and when we of Cabinet and a section of the then Parlia­ The Premier is doing what the ''Courier­ mentary Labour Party decided to stand by Mail'' said he should do and is attempting our Premier, it was very evident that there to pay that debt to the people of the State would be an election. It was also known tO> by bringing down a Bill to give sufficient people following the political matters of the Supply for Government requirements so that day that Parliament would assemble. Let the Government can carry on an election us see what the Leader of the Opposition conducted in an orderly manner. We have had to say as reported in the '' Courier• been berated by the Liberal Party which is Mail" of 27 April, 1957. He said that the going to bring along men and trucks to Country Party was prepared to support the carry election material around the town. We Gair-led Government in certain circum­ are not a Queen Street Government; we are stances He was asked, "Is it likely that in interested in the whole of the people of the some circumstances over some particular Bill State. A vote from a man or woman out­ you would vote against Mr. Gair and sup­ side Boulia or BirdsVJ.lle or at Thursday port the anti-Gair faction~'' The answer Island, is as important to them and to us of the Lc·ader of the Opposition was, ''That as a vote cast by an elector in Merthyr, is very remote.'' The Leader of the Opposi­ South Brisbane, Yeronga, or Mt. Coot-tha. tion and his party could very easily support It is no use members of the official Opposi­ the Government in the Bill before the tion trying to make out that we are prevari­ Chamber to provide Supply, and thus allow cating in this matter. \T\f e have some respon­ the Government machinery to function so sibilities. People have often said to me, that the electors in Queensland would be "Why do not the Government do so-and-so~ given the right under the electoral machin­ Why does not someone get up in the House ery to conveniently and thoroughly cast their and say anything, as certain Independent vote at an election which we all know will members do F' The people of Queensland be held very shortly. have put their trust in Labour Governments for many years. The people of Queensland I want to remind the Chamber that we all have given a mandate on two occasions to know of the attitude of the splinter Labour Mr. Gair and his followers to govern them, Party. Its leader, even in the Q.C.E. meet­ and they gave that mandate in no uncertain ing at the time of the expulsion of the fashion. They gave us a mandate to carry Premier, admitted he would come into the out all the work of government, irrespective House and if necessary move a vote of no of what the circumstances might be. The confidence against the Government. The principle we are fighting about is this great hon. member then did a bit of a moan and treasure of the electors of Queenslanc1-the sang a sOTt of swan song when he referred right to elect constitutionally their Parlia­ to the odium that would attach to him if mentary representatives, with the obligation the Labour Party in Queensland was that the representatives elected by the defeated and an anti-Labour Govmnmcnt people shall go into Parliament and govern occupied the Treasury benches. Most people, anc1 not govern at the dictates of outside including myself, thought at the time that bodies. Vv e are the only group in this that would be a certainty. But since we Parliament who have the intestinal fortitude decided to take a stand in the interests of to take a stand in the interests of the democracy and constitutional government and people of Queensland, anc1 we shun direction. in the interests of the protection of the According to newspaper reports, the Leader electors of this State, and formed a Queens­ of the Liberal Party went to Sydney for land Labour Party, the wave of enthusiasm discussions with certain of the Australian in our support has been so great from one heads of his Party on some matters. That end of Queensland to the other that I am is his business; I am not criticising him satisfiec1 we will extricate the hon. member for doing it. 78 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Mr. Dewar: He was down at Cribb Q.C.E. Por the last month I have been Island last Saturday. addressing meetings on behalf of the Queensland Labour Party flnd the enthusiasm Mr. lUOORE: The hon. member will find has been great. No other State in Australia that the interest in this question is wider has a statutory entitlement to three weeks' than the interest in the mud crabs at Cribb annual leave. The question is in the hands Island. of Industrial Courts. The Queensland The hon. the Leader of the Opposition Government hm-e not lagged behind on the conferred with his I'arty executives, and leave question. Mr. Richter took a prominent part in those consultations. The Deputy Leader of the Queensland Branch of the Australian Labour Party, The followers of Bukowski put the gun the hon. member for Mt. Gravatt made a at our head and said, ''You do so-and-so, speech with his usunl contradictions. He and you do it now.'' That is why we are said that the A.W.U. at all times wanted here today in our small numbers, and that to do certain things. In his defence of is why certain members are in opposition to Mr. Bukowski he said that the A.W.U. us today. The question we are going to wanted to do things to cm-rect the position, put to the people oi Queensland is this: and mention was made of maladministration 1vho is going to govern J ou ~ Hon. members in the Department of Public Lands. The opposite can bring in all the red henings Premier has been expelled and one of the that they 1vish. We shall talk to the people clmrge:s against him was that he deliberately of our achievements as a governmm1t. IV e brought forward the Commission in or·:ler shall not forget to clo that. The most to embarrass that particular union. That is important question-the 64 dollar question, the type of contradictory statements that as it were-is: who is going to govern the have been made by A.L.P. members in their people in the Parliament through the con­ advertisements and over the wireless. stitutional electoral machinery~ A properly Mention was also made about the consti­ constituted government, or some other partyW tution of the Q.C.E., but who are on the Dr. Noble: I will ten you-the Liberal­ Q.C.E. todayW Men like George Whiteside Country Party. who sat with the hon. member for Mt. Gravatt in planning the execution of our l'IIr. l'IIOORE: You are not a very good Premier. I am reminded that Mr. Whiteside political judge. said of the hon. member for Mt. Gravatt Everyone who follows politics closely t11at he was not even a Labour man and knows that this was the dog that the anti­ was one of the wmst employers of labour. I~abour forces, the left wing forces, threw That has been borne out by the Department into the ring to see if it could eat the other of Native Affairs because the hon. member dog. They demanded legislation. for Mt. Gravatt gave that Department con­ siderable trouble in regard to wages to a There was another way in which this ques­ native labourer. He is one of those who tion could have been dealt with. It was planned and finally expelled the Premier well known to the unions. There was nothing to prevent unions taking this matter because they knew that he would not bow to the Industrial Court and putting before to Communists. They wail about Com­ the Industrial Court, as they do on all other munism but here is a testimony given by industrial questions. their case for extra Comrade McCalman: leave. All the other unions would have had ''Our ultimate aim is to form a United to go into Court ·with them and state their Workers' Party on the basis of the defeat cases, and the Government representatives of the right wing and its class collabora­ would have had to put the case for the tion policy, and the adoption of Marxist Government. They did not want to do that, Scientific Socialist principles. because they could not have lied to the ''If we do not seek to destroy the Court as they have lied about the Treas­ A.L.P. the other wav is the ultimate urer's statements in regard to the finances Jommg of the A.L.P. ·and C.P.A. in one of this State and his refusing to better the great party of the working class. Any conditions of the workers. The Governm.ent other ideas appear unthinkable today. have never refused better conditions to the Such a united party would attract large workers while the finances enabled them sections, decisive sections, of work,rs, to grant those better conditions. farmers, and progressives to its side.'' At all times WP. have been accused of not wanting to conciliate but at all timeR we It is significant that the membership of have said that if the finances of the State the Communist Party in New South Wales warranted it better conditions would be has reached its lowest point since 1933. granted for the working people. Let me Southern political commentator Frank Brown cite the betterment of conditions in regard estimates that no fewer than 3,000 have been to workers' compensation. The amount rose dropped off the party books, leaving from £300 on the death of a worker to membership for New South IV ale!> at £2,800 today. When :finances permitted roughly the same figure. There iR, says this legislation has been passed in the interests well-informed eommentator, no mystery of the worker, not at the direction of the about where they have gone. Supply. [12 JuNE.] Supply. 79

The m1ssmg 3,000 are now in the A.L.P., Printer and remarks about certain conversa­ in which many of, them hold office in the tions-but we have no assurance that the newly constituted branches. Their influence Treasurer has given us all the information h~s resulted in an agenda for the June A.L.P. at his disposal. Conference, opening in Sydney this week-end. In my opinion, the official Opposition should I take the Treasurer back to the Federal 11ot have objected to the Bill; on the con­ House for a moment. He has spoken of the trary, they should have supported it. I difference between Federal rolls and State assure hon. members that when all the rolls. Incidentally, I believe--and I have difficulties associated with the holding of an always said-that the State electoral system election have been overcome there will be an is much better than the Federal system. I immediate election. However, we refuse to point out, however, that on 10 December, be stampeded by this smoke-screen barrage 1949, the J'vlenzies-Fadden Government were by our opponents who are trying to delude returned. The election would not normally the people into believing that there is some be due till late 1952. sinister reason behind the Premier's failure Mr. Walsh: How do you work that out? to announce the election date. The Premier The election was held in 1946; there must is not a fool; he is not prepared to announce be another in 1949. the election date until he can choose one on which every person in Queensland can con­ Mr. WOOD: I said that. They were veniently, and in accordance with the law returned in 1949. After that, the next elec­ of the land, go to the polling-booths tion would normally have been at the end of unmolested and untroubled, and vote for 1952. Parliamentary representatives who will govern as they should. We as a Government stand Mr. Walsh: No, 1951. firm on the principle of free and untrammeled Parliaments and of giving the people every Mr. WOOD: But normally. opportunity to exercise the franchise. If Mr. Gair: It would have been. that is the last thing we do as a Govern­ ment we shall be co=ended for it by the Mr. WOOD: That is my point. There people of this State. was no more warning in the Federal sphere on that occasion that there would be a double Mr. WOOD (North Toowoomba) (3.28 dissolution than there was on this occasion p.m.): In my relatively few years in this that Parliament would be dissolved. Assembly I have never heard a more uncon­ vincing case on why the people of Queensland Mr. Walsh: They did not produce a new should be denied their inalienable right to roll. decide this issue at an election than that advanced by the Premier and the Treasurer. ilir. WOOD: But the election was held We have heard n good deal about the and conducted efficiently five weeks after th~ necessary delay in preparing rolls, ballot date of dissolution, without any complaints papers, forms and all the other material fron~ any contending party. It is physically necessary f.or an election. I have every poss1ble for the Queensland election to be confidence in the Government Printer and his conducted within a couple of months and staff. The Government Printing Office is a it is morally right that it should be. ' very fluid organisation; it is, by its very nature, one that has to be geared for any I will now give hon. members information I crisis. There is hardly a time in the life have received from a very reliable source, of the work of the Government Printing namely, an ex-employee of the Government Office when it has not rush work to do. It Printing Office. Firstly, at the moment the has the men to do it, and it has the efficiency normal complement of rolls that would be printed in a non-election year has been com­ to do it. pleted for the 75 electorates. Jir. Kehoe: You would not want an 1\Ir. Gair: That is true. I told you that election, would you W this morning. Jir. WOOD: I shall welcome an election much more than will the hon. member for Mr. WOOD: Right. Nash. Between him and me is the vital lUr. Walsh: They are nearly all gone. difference that after the next election I shall be on that side of the Chamber while he .Mr. WOOD: Secondly, an order has beeP will not be here at all. giVen for an extra 200 rolls to be prir~~ill for each electorate. · Mr. Kehoe interjected. lUr. Walslt: No, some 300. lUr. WOOD: That is a very pious hope by the hon. member. ~Ir. WOOD: All right, 200 to 300. I will not accept the theory that the Govern­ ThHdly, the rolls for 42 electorates-and ment Printing Office cannot prepare the rolls these are the figures the Treasurer quoted­ and the other election material in time for have already been completed on that basis an early election. Certain information has leaving those for 33 electorates to be done. ' ·been given to us-reports from the Government llir. Walsh: That is right. 80 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

li'Ir. WOOD: Normally, when an election up until last week. If that information is is pending, it is the practice in the Govern­ wTong and the TreasuTer can produce to ~he ment Printing Office for the staff to work a Chamber an exact statement of the numoeT 10-hour day. If that practice were adopted, of man hours overtime that have been worked the rolls would be ready a fortnight from up until last weak on the compilation of rolls now. I will accept his statement and admit that Mr. Walsh: Don't be silly. They are the infoTmation given to me by a very working overtime. worthy unionist has been incorrect. lUr. 1Valsh: Sixteen man hours, did you Mr. WOOD: How much overtime? say'? li'Ir. Walsh: They are working two hours' overtime each day and eight hours on Satur­ J'\Ir. WOOD: Up until last week-16 man day. That shows how much you know. hours i11 the mrtchine room. If that is incorrect will the 'l'reasurer tell the Chamber 1Ur. WOOD: I will give hon. members exactly how many man hours have been .~ome information on overtime, and I chal­ worked in overtime since the dispute in the lenge the 'l'rcasurer to produce figures to L~ hour Party developed up until last week 9 show that the ex-employee who has given it to As he admits, they were not taking any me is wrong. unusual precautions to prepare rolls. and the Mr. Walsh: That might be the cleaner. firct report was not until 29 May. lifr. Walsll: That is not right. There !Ur. WOOD: No, it is not. It is a very could be no overtime other than by agree­ loyal unionist who is not revealing any ment with the union. 'l'hat is number one. scandal or any information about the move· ments of public men, but something in the lUr. WOOD: The usual thing is that public interest that should be given to hon. when rolls are being printed the employees members. We were told this morning that engaged on the compilation of rolls work overtime has been worked for several months 10 hours daily until they are complete. My in the Government Printing Office. information, agnin let me say I believe it Mr. Walsll: No. to be authentic, is that the compilation of the supplementary rolls is proceeding as Mr. WOOD: Oh yes, by interjection. normally as it does at any other time. It is Mr. Walsh: Not by me. always a rush. The last date for enrolments is the date of the issue of the writ and it Mr. ·wooD: By interje-ction, the is always a rush on the part of returning Attorney-General gave that information. officers and the printing staff of the Govern­ li'Ir. Walsh: His department-entirely ment Printing Office to get the supplementary different. rolls out in time. Mr. POWER: I rise to a point of order. I believe that while there is a rush it is The hon. member is quite incorrect in say­ no greater than the normal rush associated ing that I said that overtime had been with any ordinary election. I await with worked for months in the Government Print­ interest the exact information to which I ing Office. I made no such statement. I believe the Chamber is entitled. made the statement as it affected mv own Mr. Walsh: I will make a fool of you department, the Justice Department. " for SUTe. The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the hon. Mr. WOOD: That is all right. member to accept the Attorney-General 'a lUr. Walsh: I have already said this denial. morning that there were eight hours worked Mr. WOOD: I accept his statement, if last Saturday. I misunderstood him. On this subject of ~lr. WOOD: I said UP' until last week. overtime, I ask the Treasurer, if the figure"> given me are wrong, to tell hon. members llir. Walsh: Saturday, yes, up to the end of last week. definitely what overtime has been worked. Itir. Walsh: I can only tell you what the ~Ir. WOOD: The Treasurer can include Government PTinter tells me. that nncl give us the exact time up to the end of la~t week. Jl'[r. "WOOD: One of the unionists has told me that up until last week on the This Government, elected as a Labour birding flwn· the overtime worked was nil. Government, must give the people that early right for a determination of their Government lli:r. It may not be necessary. "\'Valsll: to which they are entitled. lUr. WOOD: On the composing floor the Mr. Gair: We will. owrtime worked was nil. l\Ir. WOOD: Every hon. member opposite ffir. lfalsll: It may not be necessary. will :Jdmit that the Government were elected l!Ir. WOOD: In the machine room the as a Labour Government. '£hey no longer overtime v orl<· cl was 16 man hours. For enjoy a majority as a Labour Government. tho 'e :1ssociHted with the printing of rolls the Mr. Gair: Ten Ministers out of ele•ven. iotal overtime "·orked has been 16 man hours There was only one rat in the Cabinet. Supply. [12 JUNE.] Supply. 81

Mr. WOOD: In reply to that, if you put 1Ir. WOOD: This time members of the the rest of the Cabinet into a hat, you Government are out-Torying the Tories; they would not get half a Duggan among the lot are stealing their catch-cries. (Govt. inter­ of them. I make no apology for that. jections). Members opposite are putting them over in a very vicious manner. (Government Mr. Gair: Ten out of eleven Cabinet :Ministers ! interjections.) There is much I should like to say in the little time at my disposal. I Mr. Duggan: A lot of them are ;sorry I should like to say something about 0om­ am not leading them now. munism. The Treasurer and those sitting with him are making the same charges which they }fr. WOOD: They have lost approxi­ quite rightly resisted so strenuously over the mately half of their strength with which they years when. they y;ere levelled at members of were returned to power. vVe will not argue the Labour Party by Menzies, Fadden, Hiley about the measure of support they have lost and Nicklin. Tl1e Treasurer is now using but indeed they have lost some measure of the same methods to discredit us as was support of the people who elected them. No used by the Tories over the years. The hon. longer e:1n the~- claim to represent the people memLcr for Carnarvon had something to say who voted for them on 19 May, 1956. In about this. It is my belief that no-one should fairne·s to Parliament, in fairness to the make a'ly charge in this House affecting the people who returned them last election and character of any person unless he is pre­ in fairness to those who did not vote for pared to stand up to it outside. He stated them, they must at the earliest possible that the hon. member for Ithaca and I went opportunity give their masters, the electors, to Stanthorpe to reform the A.L.P., and that the right to say whether they should be there were known Communists at that meet­ Teturned, and if they are not to be returned ing. the right to sny who should replace them. The speech delivered last night by the hon the l'lir. H.ilton: That is true. TreasureT was the type of speech that defeated Mr. WOOD: That is true, according to Chifley in 1949, with outpourings of hatred. the hon. gentleman. I did not know more Mr. Walsh: By Comms. like yourselves. than two people in that audience. They were very enthusiastic. I offer the hon. gentleman llfr. WOOD: I take exception to that the opportunity of naming them. If he does statement-'' by the Communists like your­ not, he smears with the brand of Communism self.'' I ask for a withdrawal. every person who enrolled as a member of the Stanthorpe A.L.P. The TE~IPORARY CHAIRMAN (Mr. Turner): I ask the hon. gentleman to with­ Mr. Hilton: Most of them are. draw the statement. lUr. WOOD: Before it was "some of Mr. Walsh: What I said was, the out­ them"; now it is "most of them"· He pourings of the Communists like those over has smeared with the taint of Communism there. If the hon. member is so sensitive every member who signed that pledge. I about it, in accordance with the Standing hope that he will name from the public plat­ Orders I withdraw. form those people who he knows are Communists. Mr. 1-VOOD: It is not a case of being lllr. Hnton: Leave that to me. sensitive. I do not take second place to the Treasurer in my locality to the Throne or to Mr. WOOD: On this question of the country. I have proved that. (Govern­ Communism, the honourable the Premier said ment interjections.) I know of no more at page 295 of "Hansard," Volume 212, less dirty way in which one member can attack than two years ago, speaking of the Opposi­ another member than by trying to hang tion Leaders- the label of a Communist on him. When '' Those people must be feeling very he does that he is striking at some­ frustrated at this stage at the lack of sup­ thing that goes to the very roots of port from their Federal leader" our beliefs. The speech the hon. gentle­ That was at a time when the Rt. Hon. R. G. man delivered was typical of the speeches Menzies had stated at Lennons that the delivered bv Fadden and Menzies which Labour Party was no more Communist than defeated Chifley. As I said yesterday, he was. one could imagine it was prepared by Mr. He went on- Wentworth, M.H.R., or Mr. Jim Killen, M.H.R., with this exception-they would have '' in their attempt to beguile the people put it over in better taste. As has been said of Queensland into believing a mistruth, by the hon. member for Mt. Gravatt, we have that Labour is associated with Communists. had the sorry spectacle of leading members We :find greater sympathy for Communists of the Government adopting the catch-cries among Opposition members than on this side of the House.'' used by the Oppo~ition at the last election. The hon. member for Mt. Coot·tha called us Again, in the same speech the Premier said- the Evatt-Bukowski-Gair Party at the last '' Labour fought Communists while the election. I ask the hon. member if that is Nicklins and Hilevs used it to try to not correct. destroy the Labour Movement.'' Mr. ~I orris: I shall look it up. An Opposition Member: Who said that? 82 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Mr. WOOD: The Premier. Last year he Mr. WOOD: Yes. was charging Mr. Nicklin and Mr. Hiley with Mr. Hilton: You cannot deny it. destroying the Labour movement. Today he is out-Torying those Tories in his attempt to ~Ir. WOOD: In concluding, let me say use the same weapon to destroy the Labour that the Premier has stated that if re-elected movement. as Leader of the Government the Govern­ In October, 1954, the Treasurer said- ment will introduce legislation in connection " It is fitting that the leaders of parties with court-controlled ballots, and he has said opposed to the Labour Party are prepared also that he would have done it earlier if to surrender to and work side by side with there had not been so many Jack Duggans Communists.'' in the Party. Never in Caucus meetings that I have attended have I ever heard the Three years ago he was accusing the Opposi­ Premier or any member of Cabinet make any tion of surrendering to and working side by suggestion recommending the institution of side with Communists. court-controlled ballots. I wish to deal now with this Hobart Con­ ference. The Secretary for Public Lands Mr. Walsh: You know that the Con­ and Irrigation denied in this House yesterday vention failed to carry a resolution. that he had voted in favour of recognising lUr. WOOD: Instead of having too many the foreign policy of the Labour Party as Jack Duggans in the Party, my only regret set out at the Hobart Conference. is that we have not more. Mr. Hilton: I said I protested against (Time expired.) it. Mr. WOOD: Oh no you did not. Mr. H. R. GARDNER (Rockhampton) (3.53 p.m.): As one of the newly-elected ~Ir. HILTON: I rise to a point of order. members of the Government and with the As a member of Caueus, the hon. member experience I have had in the last few days, I should know, Mr. Chairman, that I stood up wonder at the attitude that can be adopted and made reference to the Hobart Conference when a motion for Supply is submitted to and the foreign policy before a vote was carry on the government until an election taken in Caucus. The hon. member cannot can be held in a democratic manner. The deny it. (Uproar.) suggestions put forward by the Premier and the Treasurer this morning should be heeded The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! by members of the Opposition parties includ­ When I call ''Order! '', I expect hon. mem­ ing Messrs. Nieklin, Morris and Duggan. bers to obey my call. They should avail themselves of an interview Mr. WOOD: I shall read extracts from with Mr. Tucker, the Government Printer, to the minutes of 30 March, 1955. I moved this ascertain the true picture as outlined by th'il motion, which was very ably seconded by the Treasurer. It is all very well to say that hon. member for Keppel- this and that can be done without having '' That this meeting of the Parliamentary authentic information on whether it can or Labour Party recommends to our represen­ not. The head of a Government department tative on the Q.C.E. that he supports the is the only person to approach to ascertain instruction of the Federal Conference in whether rolls can be printed in time for an regard to A.L.P. Industrial Groups." election in accordance with the Elections Act. We, as representatives of the people, must Cabinet held a meeting during the adjourn­ guard their interests. Bill Jones, who lives ment for lunch. On our return, on behalf at Camooweal, Hnghenden or Dajarra, is just of Cabinet the Deputy Premier, Mr. Duggan, as much entitled to a vote as people who live moved a motion which was seconded by Mr. in Brisbane and the other large cities. Donald and carried unanimously. The hon. member for Carnarvon did not speak to it. I have had a varied experience in the Labour movement. After a lifetime of work ~lr. Hilton: That is untrue, I did. in the movement and less than 12 active Mr. WOOD: I took the opportunity of months in Parliament, I have been discarded checking and his name is not included. This by those on the other side of the Chamber is the motion- because I had the temerity to tell a body of '' As this Party is of the opinion that all unionists in Rockhampton the true story on decisions of the Federal Conference includ­ three weeks' leave. I pulled no punches in ing the one recently concluded are bind­ expressing an honest opinion about what went ing on all branches, no specific direction on. I did not know that I had been expelled from members of the Parliamentary Labour from the Labour Party until 11 April last. Party are necessary to our delegate on When I applied for the renewal of my mem­ the Q.C.E. '' bership ticket, I was notified that a ticket could not be issued to me. That was my first The 'Parliamentary Labour Party unanimously knowledge that I had been discarded by the confirmed all the decisions of the Hobart party, despite the fact that I had appeared Conference, including their foreign policy. twice before the Inner Executive, when Mr. ~Ir. Hilton: Do you deny that I stood Duggan and Mr. Gair were present, and also on my feet and protested against the motion 'F at a Moscow trial before Bukowski, Dittmer, Supply. (12 JUNE.] Supply. 83

Schmella and Whiteside. At that time, I was sion that the Labour Party has done any told by Jack Egerton that I would not be good; rather does it advocate the principles allowed back into the party unless I was pre­ of Communism. pared to sign a special pledge. Because I I say these things because I believe that refused to bow to the standover tactics of a in my 25 minutes I have to make my posi· Moscow trial, I was not wanted in the Labour tion very clear. I have to explain to the movement. However, I was not notified of people of Rockhampton who elected me on my expulsion by a letter from the Q.C.E., 19 May, 1956, why I was expelled from the nor was the Rockhampton Executive notified Australian Labour Party and why 19 Party by letter. Incidentally, I have had two votes members could not see fit to vote for one of confidence from the Rockhampton Execu­ simple resolution. As mates, in a spirit of tive, the last being as recently as 5 March, comradeship, they could have saicl, "vVe will 1957. Over a period of five mouths, the support the resolution and let it go back to Q.C.E. failed to notify the Rockhampton the Q.C.E. '' They dicl not have the courage Executive that I was not wanted in the to do that and so I gradually slipped out of Labour movement. the picture. Nobody worried about me, just After all that, men on the other side of as nobody worried about Tom Folcy. But the Chamber are castigating those who have when the Q.C.E. put the axe to Vince Gair 's the courage to stand up for what they regard head, 26 members of his Party were strong as right and just, and who choose to act enough and courageous enough to stand up constitutionally and democratically in accord­ to their responsibilities as members of Par­ ance with the oath of allegiance that we take liament and as members of the Labour move­ when we enter Parliament to do what we ment. I am proud that I am still able to regard as right and proper in the interests say that I have not devlated from my plans of the people. Many of my friends on the and from my convictions. Those who expelled other side of the Chamber have revealed how me will regret the step they have taken. weak they are since 24 April, 1957. At a They have brought about a cleavage in the caucus meeting in December last, on a motion Party and in the Parliament of Queensland, to lift my suspension, 19 of them walked and the people know it. across the floor and voted against it. That The I"eader of the Opposition deplored the was the result of sheer intimidation by the washing of dirtv linen in this Chamber. I boys of Dunstan House. Not one of the men disagree with him. I clo not want to wash who voted against that motion can get up any either, but I know that even he will here and say why Gardner should be put out admit that the people of Queensland are of the Labour movement. What wrong did entitled to know why 26 members of the I do W I have been in the movement since Government elected on 19 May, 1956, nine of 1920, and I have been a member of a union them Cabinet Ministers, have seen fit to since 1918. I was not wanted in the Labour stand by their Premier ancl to· fight for his movement, and the reason has been ventilated constitutional right to administer the Govern­ in this Chamber during the last 24 hours. ment. Above all else, let us have the credit The men who were responsible for my expul­ for showing some sense of loyalty to our sion from the movement are trying to justify leader. their actions before the people by saying that I entered Parliament a little over 12 we on this side of the Chamber are doing months ago and sat for the first time in the something that is wrong. However, they are Caucus room. Now I hear all these statements not prepared to stand up to the constitutional macle in Parliament by those who have been aspect of Communist infiltration in the Labour members for many years bolstering up Jack movement. Duggan and criticising Vince Gair, lauding the attributes of one and condemning those I am not basing my speech on any Com­ of the other. In the Caucus room those men munist phobia. I carried Labour's banner were elected leader and deputy leader. I in 1949, in 1951, and the one after that for leave it to hon. members to imagine my view Dr. Evatt in Capricornia, and I was opposed of what has happened in those 12 months. by a Communist candidate on each occasion. Never in my life in a public place have I The Trades and Labour Council of Queens­ advocated keeping down the Communists and land, controlled mainly by Communist officials, forcing them underground. I have never will acknowledge their stand. I have here a clisagreecl with that unionist who said to me, small leaflet written by A. H. Field of the "vVe believe that Communist leadership in A.M.I.E.U. He does not deny his Communist Australia produces the best fighters who get sympathies. Bukowski was present on this the best results.'' I have never clisputecl the elate and he supported a vote of condemna­ right of unionists to elect their own officials. tion of the Government. Let us see who is Today in Queensland the major organisa­ on this wonderful Executive of the Trades tions are definitely Communist-controlled. It and Labour Council that co-operated so well is no good saying what we clicl in 1935 in the in trying to link up with the administration Q.C.E. Today we have organisations affiliated of the Q.C.E. The president is Gerry Dawson, with the Q.C.E. that have been fighting Aus­ the vice-president is Jack Egerton. I can­ tralian Labour Party representatives, in the not say much against Jack because he is case of the A.R.U., since 1931. Never have I weak and easily led. Macdonald is the read in the ''Railway Advocate'' an admis- treasurer and then there is Hanson of the 84 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Painters' Union, Millar from the Miners' He went on further to say that that is a Union, Frank Waters from the Postal method of exploitation they want to adopt. Workers, and Nicol from the B.W.I.U. In 1937, at the annual conference of the All these people are sitting with Joe Australian Labour Party, the following Bukowski who never sat there before. The resolution was carried- A.W.U. never sat there before in its history '' In no circumstances must any branch until Bukowski had his back to the wall dur­ or member of the party be associated with ing the wool strike. When I first entered the members of the Communist party or a Chamber hon. members opposite were criti­ subsidiary thereof in the holding of joint cising the Government. J oe Bukowski was meetings in the advocacy of any matters, fighting the wool issue. He had his back to and further that any branch of the A.L.P. the wall, the graziers were getting on top which contravenes this insh·uction must be because the wool was being shorn. That was declared bogus and any member of the the first time in history that Bukowski ran A.L.P. similarly offending will auto­ for these boys on the top of the hill. That is matically expel himself or herself from when he sold the Labour Party out. It is no the movement.'' use anybody saying that the Communists have not got control. I say to members of the A.L.P.: what about Bukowski and Egerton going throughout Mr. Evans: You tried to get back. Queensland during the wool strike with Hanson and Gerry Dawson, and associating llir. H. R. GARDNER: I tried to get back with Macdonald, and blaming the Labour in accordance with the constitution. I would Party. They then come back and sit in have had the guts to say what I am saying judgment on the Government. I understand now if I had got back. I have said it from why our old friend Bukowski wants to deny the public platform. When Bukowski got this statement issued by Comrade Dixon, there and the Premier had his back to the the National President of the Communist wall we all know what was happening with Party. At an executive committee conference hon. members over on that side today who in March, 1957, Comrade Dixon said: claim to be the great A.L.P. We know what they were trying to do when we tried to get "Comrade Aaron in his report on the conferences to introduce a little common August conference in 1952, rightly stressed sense and get them into the Industrial Court that, to have things settled. The hon. members 'It is the task of the Communists to over there do not want to stand up to the assist and lead the left wing in the responsibility of trying to attack the Com­ A.L.P. towards the amalgamation of munists. Yesterday the hon. member for the Communist Party and the A.L.P. Ithaca said that the Communists are not a on the basis of Marx-Leninism.' " political party. That has been borne out by the infiltration Mr. HANLON: I rise to a point of order. of those fellows in recent years, some of The hon. member may have misunderstood whom made up the 25 delegates who voted my interjection yesterday. I said that the for the expulsion of the Premier. I give Communist Party is just as anti-Labour as credit to Mr. Goding and Mr. Willian,s and the Liberal-Country Party. I did not attempt our friend Bill Edmonds. They had tba to say that the Communist Party was not a strength and the courage to say, ' 'vV e want political party. I merely said it was just as to have a conference with the A.W.U. State anti-Labour as the Liberal-Country Party. Executive; we do not want to break up the Labour movement.'' ·what did Bukowslri ilir. H. R. GARDNER: I heard the hon. say~ He said, "I am the Almighty in the member for North Toowoomba say today A.W.U.; I am the person to decide when that the Menzies-Fadden Government brought a conference will be held." No conference about the defeat of the Chifley Government. was held and a resolution was cardeil by Let us see what Mr. Sharkey has to say in 35 to 30 expelling a man who led the party ' 'The Communist Review'' under the heading to victory at two elections with the greai.est of "History Repeats Itself"- return of members. Because men on this ''The two main factors that the Com­ s1d~ had the courage and the confidence to munist Party used in that year to defeat SL..tnd behind him it was suggested that we the Chifley Government were:- did not know what was going on. \Ve rue fighting to clean this movement. \Ve will '' 1. The coal strike which paralysed clean it. We will finish ahead of the ()fficial the whole nation for months just prior Labour Party even if we do not finiHh on to the Federal elections.'' top. Let us analyse what the Communists told 'The Treasurer made reference to that when the people. Comrade Dixon had the following he said that the military had to be put into to s'ly:- the mines in New South Wales and the " Now we have to deal with the second employees' funds had to be frozen. Continu­ part of this complicated situation in ing with what Mr. Sharkey had to say- Queensland which is confusing 80 many '' 2. The standing of a record number of our comrades. I do agree entireiy that of Communist candidates to split the Walsh is more dangerous than Ga1r him­ Labour Party vote.'' self, but the suggestion that W9 should Supply. [12 JUNE.] Supply. 85

use our influence in the Q.C.E. in of the rolls. Mr. Tucker advises me that the exposing Walsh is wrong. We have to machinists and assistants worked 328 man­ realise that we are executing our hours in the machine room on rolls. influence in the Q.C.E. through our trade 1\'Ir. Overtime? unions. People who represent our unions Wood: in the Q.C.E. are not members of our ~Ir. W ALSH: Yes. party-and you know well, that they must not be. They are the people who 1\Ir. Wood: Over what period? sympathise with our ideas or who consider our ideas opportune for their own personal .Mr. W ALSH: Over the period up till careers. We, of course, do not agree with last Saturday. these Left Vv ingers, but still we have to .Mr. Wood: From when? use them in our struggle against the Right Wing in the A.L.P., and conse· lUr. WALSH: Never mind when. The quently, we consider carefully their wishes, hon. member wants to shift his ground. The and often adjust our tactics to their fact remains that he made the specific state­ opportunism, not in order to be victims of ment that only 16-man hours had been worked their opportunism, but in order to use on the compilation of rolls up till last week­ their opportunism to our ends.'' end. The hon. member made the statement; I did not. He said that only 16 man-hours These people are interested in the downfall had been worked. What time did he mean~ of Gair, and in the re-shuffle of the (~ueensland Labour Government for their .Mr. Wol(}d: What were the times since personrtl advantage and aspirations. 24 April, for instance~ At the moment they are concerned with :illr. W ALSH: That is what has been the fall of Gair, without splitting the done since 24 April. I made it clear this A.L.P. in Queensland. It is true that the morning that, on my instructions, Mr. Tucker fall of Gair will not rid the A.L.P. in approached the representatives of the union. Queensland of all the reactionary Right I'Ve have not yet reached that stage of liVing elements, but it is also true that the dictatorship where we tell men that they fall of Gair will bring consternation into have to work overtime. By arrangement with their ranks.'' the union it was decided to work overtime, I believe that Parliament is a democratic and from the time the union agreed with institution, giving us rights and conditions the Government Printer 328 hours overtime for which we have fought over a great worked on the compilation of rolls has been number of years. Members on this side of done. Is that clear enough. the Chamber stand for the preservation of Mr. Lloyd interjected. democracy and democratic principles. If there is any man, irrespective of his political .Mr. WALSH: The hon. member is so affiliations, who links himself with the Com­ confused and will be more confused when he munist Party in this country to overthrow engages in his election campaign at Kedron our democratic institutions, I have no desire and has to meet the campaign of Dr. Uhr. to associate with him. I am sure that members on this side of the Chamber who are The hon. member for North Toowoomba prepared to take this stand will be able to again made the specific statement that there say to the people of Queensland, "vVe have had been no overtime worked in the binding taken a stand on a definite issue. We believe room. Is that correct~ I am not distorting ~hat the infiltration of the Communist Party what he said~ My information from the :m <~ueensland has been so marked in the Government Printer is that in the binding last two :·ears that we are prepared to fiaht room there were 72 hours overtime worked this issue, and we either stand or fall by the on ballot papers in addition to the 328 hours. principle~ to which we adhere.'' My Everybody knows that a ballot paper must be colleagues and I believe that the sooner we prepared before a name is put on it. can go to the country and tell our story li'Ir. Wood: There· is no printing on it. and tdl it well, the sooner we shall be abl~ to com·ince the people of Queensland that the Itir. W ALSH: I hope the hon. member stand we have taken is in the interests of has not got his name in ahead of the issue ilemocracy and for the preservation of our of writs. condition: and demonatic institutions. Mr. Wood: Can you bind before they are pTinted 9 Hon. E. J. W ALSH (Bundaberg­ Tre:-:sur~r) (4.17 p.m.): In the course of his 1\Ir. IV ALSH: I am not the Government remarks, the hon. member for North Printer. It is open to any hon. member who Toowoomba made a statement th

person charged with the administration of As a member of this Committee who has the office. The hon. member for North Too­ only recently taken the oath of allegiance to woomba could not tell me whether binding is the Crown, I register very strong objection­ done in the same room. Obviously ballot and I join with my leader, the hon. member papers are handled in the binding room. The for Toowoomba, in this-to the innuendoes, hon, member went on to say that there was the implications and the straight·out accusa­ no overtime worked in connection with fold­ tions made by the Secretary for Public ing, and for his information I have to tell Lands and Irrigation, and other hon. mem­ him that on the advice of JIIIr. Tucker that bers opposite, that I or any other member of folding is part of the work carried out ir. the A.L.P. would be the tool of the Com­ thr, machine room which is included in the munists, or any other body of people who 328 hours. If the hon. member wants to gc. might be trying to pull down democracy. Let round listening to pimps and spies of ques­ us examine those who are trying to smear us tionable standing or mental perverts I cannot as Communists. It is significant that every help it. hon. member on the other side of the Cham­ ber who has spoken on the Bill has quoted 1\Ir. HANLON (Ithaca) ( 4.24 p.m.) : I from some Communist publication or another. oppose the motion introduced by the Treas­ One is almost led to believe that the entire urer seeking further Supply for the Govern­ personnel of the Queensland Labour Party is ment, if one can call the 25 members on the on the mailing lists of those who print Com­ opposite side, in a House of 75, the Govern­ munist publications, because they all seem ment. The Treasurer referred to me as a to be able to pull out a Communist publica­ novice, a description I do not deny, but I tion and quote from it. Last night, for understand it is the practice in this Chamber example, the Treasurer produced, I think, for a new member or a novice to be allowed ''The Communist Review,'' and said that it to make his maiden speech without interrup­ told the people they should support the Aus­ tion. I do not seek your protection, JIIIr. tralian Labour Party. The Treasurer said it Clark, because I can hit to the boundary any was the April issue of that publieation. I of the innocuous lollypops bowled up to me have never read it, but if it is like most by Government members. monthly papers it is published early in the month, so that it would have been referring This is the :first occasion I have had of to the Australian Labour Party as it was addressing the Committee since my election before the Premier and the Treasurer, and at the by-election last December, and I take their supporters, left it. It was probably the opportunity of placing on record my per­ published after the Motor Spirits Distribu­ sonal appreciation and that of the electors tion Bill had been introduced into the Cham­ of Ithaca for the sincere Labour representa· ber, and when the Communists were running tion given them in this Chamber by the late round and saying, ''Hurrah for Yince Gair! '' JIIIr. Leonard Eastment, a gentleman who was sincere in every phase of his life, whether Mr. Gair: You supported that Bill. it was in carrying out his Parlia­ mentary duties, in attending to the activities }fr. HANLON: It was supported not only of the many public bodies with which he was by members of the Parliamentary Labour associated, or in his unswerving allegi­ Party, but by the Communists. However, we ance to the Australian Labour Party. 1 cannot 1nfer from that that the Premier auto­ remind hon. members opposite that if the late matically becomes the No. 1 Communist of JIIIr. Eastment was still the Labour member Queensland. 'rhat would be too ridiculous for Ithaca in this Assembly, he would have for words. Because the Communist Party i~ adopted the same attitude as I in the present anti-Labour, it knows that it can do tlw unfortunate crisis in the Labour Party. Labour Party the greatest harm by attaching itself to our coat-tails. That is the only I agree with the Leader of the Opposition reason for its support on this issue. But we when he says it is regrettable that in intro­ cannot say that everything the Communist ducing the Bill, the Treasurer should have Party supports is no good. engaged for 119 minutes in a vicious attack on the Australian Labour Party. Of course, I propose to examine what has happened in I would extend more respect to the complaint the Australian Labour Party. In the same of the Leader of the Opposition if I had not way as the hon. member for Toowoomba, T sat in the Chamber during the previous ses­ am very sad at what has occurred. The so­ sion of Parliament and heard almost every called Queensland Labour Party occupying member of the Opposition bring Bukowski, the Government benches, which in my opinion the Q.C.E., Communism, and all those issues could better be described as Tory Party No. into the discussion on virtually every Bill 3, was formed not after the Premier was that was introduced. But I say with the expelled from the Australian Labour Party Leader of the Opposition that the Treasurer but the day before, when the Premier got was not justified in going into intimate the members of his Cabinet, with the excep­ Party dealings as he did when introducing tion of our Leader, John Duggan, to sign a the Bill. As an attack has been made on declaration. members of the Australian Labour Party. however, we must pay some attention to i• Mr. Gair: Not with the exception of and make a reply. Duggan. He signed it. Supply. [12 JUNE.] Supply. 87

Mr. HANLON: If the Premier will let Mr. HANLON: Duggan did not give his me iinish, he will grasp my intention. personal pledge at Mackay as the Premier did. Mr. Gair: He signed it all right. lUr. Gair: Yes, he did. He did more Mr. HANLON: The photostat produced than I did. by the Treasurer last night showed that, on the day before the Premier was expelled from Mr. HANLON: As a matter of fact, a the Party, on 23 April at a Cabinet meeting, photostat is being taken of a declaration by he got the Cabinet-or they agreed, whichever every person who attended that Leave Com­ way :you like to put it-to sign that they mittee meeting with the Premier and the would withdraw from the A.L.P. if he were Deputy Premier. Of the nine people then expelled the next day. They all signed, but present, eight are prepared to s_wear on oath John Duggan refused to agree to withdraw that the Premier promised to mtroduce the from the Party, because he was interested three weeks' leave. in trying to preserve its unity. He agreed to show his coniidence in his Leader but he Mr. Gair: They told a different 'story at was not prepared to desert the Party any the Q.C.E. meeting. more than the rest of us were. Hon. mem­ Mr. Walsh interjected. bers may have overlooked the fact that the Premier had such respect for the word of Mr. HANLON: I would appreciate it if honour of his Cabinet Ministers that he the Treasurer would direct any remark he has would not take their word of honour. He to make to the Chair and not across the wanted them to put it in writing, that they Chamber. Much has been said about democ­ would follow him, so that they could not get racy and how members of Parliament are out of it. That is why they are over there responsible to the people. We all realise that with him today. there are many faults in the party system. We do not pretend it is perfect but it is no Itlr. Walsh: Why did the hon. member use the Premier or any of his followers pick­ for Toowoomba put his name on the paper~ ing out odd points in the system and blaming the Australian Labour Party. Every hon. Mr. HANLON: As I think I pointed out, member knows that the only reason the the hon. member for Toowoomba merely Premier remained Premier for five years and signiiied, in the interests of the unity of the only reason that his Government have the Labour Party, that he was prepared to carried on is that every member of the Parlia­ support the Premier, not that the Premier mentary Labour Party honoured the pledge deserved his support. However, he was not that the Premier has now broken. Whether prepared to signify that he would desert the they think it wise or unwise, right or wrong, A.L.P. The Premier's lack of respect for if the majority of the Parliamentary Labo~r his colleagues' word of honour may have been Party decide on something they vote for It. engendered by his own knowledge of what Is not that what happened when the Petrol happened with the Leave Committee at Mac· Bill was before the Chamber' The hon. mem­ kay. They took his word that he would ber for Toowoomba was opposed to certain introduce the three weeks' leave legislation principles in the Bill. The Premier told him and he woke up to the fact that people's word that because he was outnumbered in Cabinet of honour is not worth much. He had given he had to vote for it in Caucus and in Parlia­ his word in Mackay and got away with not ment. If he had not done so the Premier carrying it out and he thought that members would have been the iirst one to go to the of his Cabinet might do the same. Q.C.E. to complain that D_uggan ~ad b7ok~n Mr. Gair: You have been contaminated Parliamentary rules by votmg agamst him m early. the House and therefore should be expelled. Apparently it is all right for the authority lllr. HANLON: I will not be contamin­ of the party to be exercised against Duggan ated any longer by those hon. members on or Dittmer or Hanlon or Lloyd or anybody the Government benches. else, but when it is exercised against the Itir. Gair: No, not very long now. Premier it is a different matter. I remind the hon. member for Rockhampton JUr. HANLON: The matter was then that when he was suspended from the Labour taken to Caucus and the Premier sought to Party and the hon. member for B~lyando w.as put over the same confidence trick. In other expelled we did not iind the Premier orgams­ words, he told Caucus, ''Say you are going ing any breakaway parties for them. Then to support me. Say you will walk out of the they talk about democracy. It is ~ust a lot Party, and the Q.C.E. won't have the courage of "holier than thou" stuff. The Liberal and to throw me out.'' In his television inter­ Country Parties are very worried because they view in Sydney he said, ''The Q.C.E. won't have. always claimed to be the protectors of expel me; of course they won't.'' That is democracy and the Premier is trying to take how he convinced his colleagues. They thought, over this rolP, together with a great number of "Oh, nothing will come of this. We will their supporters. I understand one of them just agree to it and nothing will happen." has been nominated as a candidate for the ]}!r. Gair: Why didn't they expel Duggan? Queensland Labour Party against the hon. He opposed the three weeks' leave. member for Kedron. They are also very 88 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

worried about the money being subscribed to lUr. HANLON: With people on the the Queensland Labour Party from sources Federal Executive. that would normally be regarded as belonging I!Ir. Walsh: Yes. to the Liberal-Country Party. Mr. HANLON: Mr. Chamberlain and I draw the attention of hon. members to those people-- the application form for this new so-called Queensland Labour Party. As a prospective lUr. Walsh: Yes. member of the Australian Labour Party you lUr. HANLON :--whom the hon. gentle­ have to certify that you are not a member man now says are Communists. The hon. of the Communist Party, Fascist Party, or member was in secret contact with them any other party opposed to the Australian endeavouring to try and get them t<> patch Labour Party, and so on. I have seen the up the thing. (Government interjections.) application form for membership of the I could only gather that possibly the Treas­ Queensland Labour Party. They were handed urer was prepared to ditch the Premier as out at a meeting at Nundah. They have no long as the situation could be solved. such certification. ll'Ir. Walsh: I had approaches from Tom 1Ir. Gair: How did Ellson Gre~m get into Dougherty the other night. (Government the Ithaca Branch of the A.L.P ~ and Opposition interjections.) ]}Ir. HANLON: The Treasurer told me Mr. HANLON: He certified he was not that on no account must there be a con­ a Communist. If the Premier wishes to say ference, because he was going to try and any person is a Communist let him have the solve the thing. I said, "What about the guts to say it outside the Chamber. meeting that Mr. Gair has called for The Treasurer was very active last night tomorrow~'' The Treasurer was going telling us about secret conferences and away. Why did the hon. gentleman leave allegedly security reports which are supposed on the Thursday night instead of on the to be confidential but which he was bandying Friday night, which would have enabled about. I may be able to tell hon. members some­ him to get to Gladstone in ample time thing about the activities of the Treasurer to carry out his official duty~ The hon. immediately following the expulsion of the gentleman did so because he did not want Premier from the Labour Party. I had accepted to be photographed with the Premier till an invitation from the Treasurer some weeks he found out whether he was going to before-and I appreciate the courtesy extended ''dump'' him or not. The hon. gentleman to me--to accompany him to Gladstone where he referred to the practice in ministerial office had an official duty to perform on the Satur­ and he referred to what was done by day after the Premier was expelled. When Menzies and Fadden. I repeat that when I found the Premier had been expelled I the hon. member for Toowoomba was a considered it my duty to report to my execu­ member of the Cabinet they had the sup­ tive what had happened and find out what port of the majority of the House, but they thought about the matter. On Anzac they have not got it now. If the Treasurer Day I rang the Treasurer and told him I maintains they have still got that support would not be accompanying him. Actually and if hon. members opposite still claim I did not think the Treasurer would be leav­ they are the Labour Party, I remind them ing on the Thursday night because I had read that there is a gentleman up at Goodna who that the Premier had called a meeting of his thinks he is President Eisenhower. (Oppo­ supporters in the Executive Building on the sition laughter.) If the Treasurer still Friday morning. As the Treasurer was not thinks that they are the Labour Party and due to perform his official ceremony in Glad­ that they have the support of the House, I stone until Saturday morning I thought that suggest that he contact the authorities at if he were a supporter of the Premier he Goodna and arrange for his admission. would attend the meeting and not leave for (Government interjections.) The Treasurer Gladstone until Friday night. told us about the little dictators. Members of the Parliamentary Labour Mr. Gair: You do not think that there Party who spoke on the 4BK Political was any doubt~ Forum were compelled to submit the script to the Premier's Department for censorship. Mr. HANLON: I will tell the Premier The Premier talks of Communism, but how much it was in doubt. The Treasurer does that not savour of State censor­ asked me whether we were going to have any ship as operates in Soviet Russia'? I have meetings. I replied, ''That is not for me to say. no complaint against the Public Service Possibly it will be up to the acting leader, Mr. which, I think, compares favourably with Duggan. If he calls one, I shall attend, but I any other Public Service in the world. imagine, judging from his actions and his (Government interjections.) Members who desire to avoid a split, that he will not rush spoke on 4BK had to submit their script for into any hasty action.'' The Treasurer then censorship, which savours more of Commun­ told me that he had been in touch with people ism than anything else. I agree with the in Melbourne. hon. member for Coorparoo that Parliament in its wisdom, has kept the matter of Appro~ Mr. Walsh: T11at is true. priation within its power. Therefore it is Supply. (12 JUNE.) Supply. 89

for the House to decide whether there is to person to get in touch with the Federal be an election. If the Premier attempts to President of the A.L.P. in Australia, Mr. ignore the authority of this Parliament, the Chamberlain. responsibility for any inconvenience to the Public Service rests with the Government. Jllr. Haulon: I thought he was a Hon. members opposite were very vociferous Communi& t. yesterday that the House should be master Mr. WALSH: Never mind about his being of its own destiny and that Parliament was a Communist. I accepted the advice of the supreme. If it is supreme, we claim that it per&on in Melbourne, and, after all, I have is possible to have an election before Supply not called Chamberlain a Communist. If the is exhausted, and that the Government should hon. member accepts him in that way, that get on with the job of doing it and not go is another matter. When I have evidence to on with political hickery-dickery any more. We justify my calling Chamberlain a Con;mu~ist, know quite well that the •rreasurer said tl1ere will be no doubt about my domg lt­ yesterday that the Queensland Labour none whatever. Hovvever, he is the recognised Party is on a great wave. If they are on head of the Federal organisation in Australia. a great wave, then I say to them that they I undertook that task on behalf of the are very shortly going to be washed up. Labour Party in Queensland, and I did .it for the great body of Labour supporters 1n Hon. E. J, W ALSH (Bundaberg-Treas­ (~ueensland. The next day I received several urer) (4.46 p.m.): I shall not deal with telephone calls from persons actually advising everything that the hon. member for Ithaca me that at that &tage two members of the said. He made the mistake of saying that l<'ederal Executive were coming to Queensland I interjected during his first speech in this to take control. That was followed not by House. Any reference that I made to him any further telephone calls but a communi­ on that occasion was in reply to an inter­ cation that I received at Bundaberg after jection from him, not during the course of having left here. The hon. member for his speech. I did not look for any protection Ithaca questioned my right to le~~;ve on the from interjections when I came into this Thursday night. I had my commitments to House. my own electorate and I went there be~ore Mr. Jesson: You could smell the gum going to Gladstone. I never left the Premier; leaves on you. I am here now and that is what counts. That evening I got a ring from Mel­ Mr. WALSH: I should hate to say what bourne to advise me of the position, saying I could smell on the hon. member. that the balloon was up and the three men who exploded the balloon were Dr. Ev~tt, In his endeavours to make it appear that I Olive Cameron and Tom Dougherty. Havmg might not be on side with the Premier, the completed my part to bring somebody here to hon. member for Ithaca went on to tell the deal with these rat-bags-- House about my approaches to certain people in Melbourne. I wish to thank him for bring­ Mr. Hanlon: Did you tell the Premier ing to the notice of the public something that about iH I should not have thought of bringing out. Mr. W ALSH: Of cour,se I told the Because of my loyalty to the Labour move­ Premier. ment as I knew it in years gone by, when I saw the destruction that was to be brought Mr. Hanlon: The Premier said he did about, the obviol!s thing for me, or anybody not want the :B'ederal Executive on it. else who is interested in the preservation of Mr. W ALSH: I told the Premier that on the Labour movement in this House, to do the eve of the meeting of the House I had was to make approaches to those people who three rings from the South, one from we thought might be able to rectify the Dougherty and two from Melbourne sources. position. I make no apology for that, because I think there are many people who Dr. Noble: If these men had come up are violently opposed to the Labour Party in and your negotiations had been successful this State and in the Federal Parliament and would you have re-associated with these other State Parliaments who do not wish to people~ see the destruction of the Labour movement Mr. WALSH: I am telling the hon. in Australia. They know its value in the member that those people had sufficient inter­ economy of the country, and they know that, est in my standing in the Labour Movement up till the present, it has been the only move­ to ring me on the night prior to the House ment that had any chance of stemming the meeting. I told them that so far as I was growth of Communism. It is for that reason concerned there was no way in the world that that hon. members on this side of the Chamber I or the Premier would have anything to do have had to take charge of the Labour move­ with Bukowski, and if there was any approach ment here. We must see that that fight is to be made regarding a resumption of negotia­ continued. tions that move would have to come from the leader of the A.L.P. Party opposite. Don't It is quite true that I did get in touch tell me about my part to save the wreckage. with certain people in Melbourne. It is quite Where is Egerton today, one of the leading true, also, that I was advised by a particular lights in the dispute? On the pay-roll of 90 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

employers, running round on the racecourse about approaches that I made to people in with big bundles of notes. HP is on the pay­ Melbourne, and I have replied. He also roll of the employers to prevent industrial raised the point about what occurred when distm bances within their organisation. A all members of the Party were available, member of his union communicated that to including the hon. member for Bremer and me; the Premier is a witness and there is me. another responsible member in this Chamber >Yho would say the same thing. He disap­ llir. Donalfl: You have to rely on the hon. member for Km·ilpa to take your notes peared and got away with part of the oil companies' roll. He accompanied the leader for you. of tlw A.L.P. Party down to this House :ilir. W ALSH: He took the notes. I have immediately after the expulsion of the never stamped the hon. member for Bremer Premier. The two that came down were as a Communist, but he has all the signs of Duggan ancl Egcrton. one in that he takes notes of everything as "ilir. Chalk interjected. he goes around.

:Thir. W ALSH: It is nothing compared JUr. Donal

li_ved in <:ll these years. Why would not I he was going to form a new party. It was distrust h1m at all times~ However, that is not long before Billy Hughes was leader of all I have to say at this stage. all the reactionary Conservative forces in Australia. We had Bill Holman in New Rt. Hon. F. lU. FORDE (Flinders) (5.2 South Wales about 1916 and another example p.UL): At the outset I extend my heartiest in Queensland was Bill Kidston in 1906. He congratulations to the hon. member for was a newsagent and bookseller. The Labour Ithaca on his brilliant speech. It was one movement paid his debts and enabled him of the finest maiden speeches we have ever to get into Parliament. He was in the heard in either the State or Federal Parlia­ Labour Party for some time, but at a ments. It showed that he has many time before the industrial unions had grown of, those qualities that enabled his late father to anything like their present strength in to rise to the highest position in public life Queensland. He decided to leave the Labour in Queensland. Party and formed what was known as the I speak as one who has had considerable Kidston Party. In other words he was experience in public life in Australia in both filled with egotism, and set out to ''buck'' State and Federal Parliaments. Everyone the Labour organisation that lifted him who has the best interests of the Labour from obscurity. In the Federal sphere when mov~ment at heart regrets the present crisis, I was a Minister in the Scullin Government but It has occurred and anyone with a know­ J oe Lyons came to me and said, ''Frank, I ledge of the constitution and platform of the am going to form a new party, a United Australian Labour Party, the rules and Australia Party. I would like you to join powers of the Labour-in-Politics Convention me.'' I said, '' 'vVhat! That would mean and the powers of the Queensland Central leaving the Official Labour Party to join a Ex~cut~ve must reco15nise his plain duty, party that I believe will in no time be which IS to stand with the official Labour swallowed up by the Liberal Party in Party. In the words of Henry Lawson one Australia.'' He said, ''Oh, no, it is going of Australia's grand old writers and o~e of to be something separate and independent the sterling democrats of earlier days, ''I am altogether." But it was not long before too old to rat.'' He was not prepared to the outside Liberal Executive contacted John rat on the official Labour Party that has Latham, then Leader of the Opposition in Its roots in the industrial unions of Australia. the Federal Parliament, and asked him to That is where I stand today and that is resign as the parliamentary leader in the where every true Labour man should stand. Federal sphere to make way for J oe Lyons, who became the leader of the combined The o~cial ~abour ~arty was created by the mdustnal umons of Australia · forces under the banner of the United it grew out of them just as th~ Australia Party the old Tory Party under a great British labour 'movement grew new name. Lyons took with him Jim out of the trade unions of the United Fenton, Charlie McGrath, Jack Price and Kingdom. Hugh Gaitskell recently said that others. These men unfortunately went back he took great pride in the knowledge that on the Labour Movement. It made it pos· as the leader of ~he British Labour Party; sible for them to rise from positions of lie had the backmg of 6,500,000 affiliated comparative obscurity to positions of great unionists of the United Kingdom. We prominence in the public life of Australia. cannot have a Labour Party without They sold out to the traditional enemies the affiliation of the great mass of of Labour. History has a habit of repeating working men and women, the hundreds itself. of thousands of industrial unionists Candidates for membership of a branch of in Queensland and, throughout Australia, the the Australian Labour Party must sign a 2,500,000 workers who are in one union or pledge. If the pledges mean anything they another and are affiliated not with a break­ call upon those who sign them to honour away Labour Party like the Gair Party what they have signed. The pledges are but with the Official Labour Party. signed every year by every hon. member who The great British Labour leader, Keir comes in here as a Labour man. They are Hardie, once truly said, ''Policies are signed when they renew their membership in sounder and last longer than personalities.'' the A.L.P. The pledge is in the following I am not going to indulge in any personali­ form- ties individually. I shall try to deal with " I hereby pledge myself to the Prin· this . question factually and from the point ciples of the Australian Labor Party's of view of one who has made a close study State, Federal and Local Government of the Labour Party's machinery, its plat­ Platforms and to anv alteration thereto form and its policy. I have had previous made by a duly con~tituted Labor Con­ experi~nce of splits in the Labour Party. ve;rtio~. I also pledge myself to do every­ My mmd goes back to the days when Billy thmg m my power to further the Objects Eiughes in 1916 said, ''Those who believe in of the Party as set forth in its Constitu­ ne follow me,'' and he walked out of the tion and General Rules.' ' Parliamentary Labour Party and took with Mark those words-'' I also pledge myself to ilim almost half the members of the Party. do everything in my power to further the Jf cours~, he said he wa~ not going to join Objects of the Party as set forth in its che reactwnary Conservative Party. He said Constitution and General Rules.". Is it 92 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. furthering the interests of the Labour Party attended by 134 delegates, 75 of whom repre­ to run candidates against the official Labour sent the 75 electorates. These delegates candidates at the forthcoming election in represent a fair cross section of the com­ Queensland~ FurthermOTe, every candidate munity; the remaining 59 represent ti:e for admission to a branch of the Labour Industrial Unions on a pro rata bas1s Party must sign the following pledge- according to membership. These trieD;nial '' I hereby declare that I am not a conferences were eloquently descnbed member of a Connnunist or Fascist organi­ by the Treasurer in 1955 when I;e sation or party, or of any political party said that nothing could be more d~mocrat1c having objects and methods in any way than the Labour-in-Politics conventions held opposed to the Australian Labour Party.'' triennially by the Labour Party. Any c::n­ didate who is not an official Labour candid­ In other words official Labour declares ate is an anti-Labour candidate who will no that it is opposed to Communism and doubt be competing for the votes of the Toryism. Liberals, and trying to snatch votes from That is a clPar and definite pledge which the official Labour candidate. The Secretar.z is signed by every candidate appealing to for Public Instruction, Mr. Diplock, Labour, the people under the banner of the Labour let the eat out of the bag in his speech Party. The following pledge is signed before ·at Maryborough when he indicated that a person is selected as a Labour candidate- there hid been some collusion and negota­ tion with the Opposition parties to get '' I agree, if elected, to advocate and support for the Goverm:ll'cnt, probably on suport the principles contained in the the bT\sis of a composite ministry. Australian Labour Party's Federal, State, and local government platforms, and on Mr. Duggan: The great gamble that all questionR affecting the platform to vote failed. as a majority of the Parliamentary or Municipal Labour Party may deeide at a duly constituted Caucus meeting. In the :Ifir. FOR.DE: The great gamble that event of the question of the interpretation failed, as I am reminded by my worthy of any plank in the platform bPing in leader. dispute, it shall be referred to the Queens­ The Secretary for Public Instruction, land Central Executive for decision, and speaking at Maryborough on 5 June, 1957, that decision shall be final. I also pledge said- myself to do everything in my power to '' The Opposition had said, 'Fight this further the objects of the Party as set thing constitutionally and we will stand forth in its Constitution and General behind you,' but what it had not said was Rules.'' what it thought, and that was, 'when we Hon. members opposite who are running get you at a disadvantage, we '11 stab you under the banner of a splinter Labour Party in the back. ' ' ' signed this pledge and they cannot lightly He let the cat out of the bag. Evidently cast it aside. Surely they are expected to there had been some negotiations with per­ honour what they signed, in many cases, a sons who had indicated that they would give little more than a year ago. them support under certain conditions. The Secretary for Health and Home Affairs made Mr. HILTON: I rise to a point of order. some sarcastic reference in his speech to the The hon. member has said that I, as a broken promises by the Leader of the Opposi­ member of a splinter party, dishonoured a tion, Mr. Nicklin. It is evident that mem­ pledge. That is offensive to me. I point bers of the splinter Labour Party held some out to the hon. member-as he knows-that hope that they would get support from the Dr. Evatt broke his pledge in 1927 when he Opposition to carry on a composite Ministry. stood against an endorsed Labour candidate. (A.L.P. interjections.) Mr. Morris: Rubbish!

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: The The CHAIRI\IAN: Order! hon. member for Flinders. Mr. FORDE: I admit that the Premier, Mr. FORDE: It is obvious there is no when speaking at the Labour-in-Politics point of order. I listened on many occasions Convention at this time, in 1956, said amongst to very fine speeches by the hon. the other things- Premier. On more than one occasion during the last five years the Premier has said that '' I admit that the Government could not there were only two parties, the Labour be a Government without the assistance of Party and the anti-Labour party, and that the real worthwhile trade unions.'' if you wanted to vote for Labour you voted That is a fact. No Labour Party can func­ for the official Labour candidate. That was tion, no Labour Party can develop, no true then and it is true today. The official Labour Party can achieve victory at the Labour Party is the party that has its roots polls, if it has not the affiliation and support in the industrial unions in this country; it of the industrial unions of this country. is the party that has its policy drawn up at The official Labour Party is affiliated the triennial Labour conferences which are with those unions and the Q.C.E. gets an Supply. (12 JuNE.] Supply. 93 annual revenue from them in the form of Clause 6 of the Australian Country Party, capitation dues at the rate of 1s. 6d. per Queensland Constitution, 1944, amenued in head per annum. While the official Labour 1955, reads- Party has been given a temporary set-back, '' The council shall, in all matters I am satisfied that it will win through under including disqualification or expulsion of the able leadership of John Duggan. members, exercise full control and its decisions on all matters shall be final and The Premier can find no good in the binding on all persons and sections of the Queensland Central Executive today, but as party concerned.'' late as 15 April, 1957, he said- Clause 98 reads- '' I have faith in the Queensland Central '' The council may expel or suspend from Executive, and I think they have a sense membership any member by resolution.'' of justice, and the consciousness of the benefits of a Labour Government in \Vithin the constitution of the Liberal Partv Queensland.' ' there are also rules for disqualification and expulsion. \Ve all know what happened in the Hon. members opposite now set out to tell Federal :~phere. I was Deputy Leader of the Chamber that there is no good whatever the Federal Opposition under Federal Leader in the Queensland Central Executive, that it John Curtin, when Billy Hughes, Waiter is riddled with Communists, and so on. I am Marks, Georgc Coles and Alex Wilson, three satisfied that there is not a scintilla of truth Liberal members and a Country Party mem­ in the statement that there are Communists ber voted for a moton of on confidence on the Queensland Central Executive. When that wonderful leader John Curtin moved the Premier and others who support him in the Menzies-Fadden Government. Billy were challenged to name one Communist, Hughes said that he placed the welfare they were unable to give the name of any of Australia ilrst. He realised that man on the Queensland Central Executive there was no all-in war effort organised for who was a Communist. AustrQlia. Was he given any freedom~ He The Trades and Labour Council is a dif­ was expelled from the Liberal Party and ferent body altogether. The Trades and IV alter Marks was expelled from the Liberal Labour Council is composed of representa­ Party and George Colcs and Alex Wilson tives of nearly all the trade unions of were expelled. vVe all know what happened Queensland, but it is not affiliated with the to Sir Lyttleton Groom, that distinguished Queensland Central Executive. There are Speaker in the House of Representatives for persons such as Gerry Dawson and Mac­ many years when he did not come on side Donald who no doubt are members of the with his party and adopted an independent Communist Party. But they are not on the attitude in a crisis in the Federal Parlia­ Queensland Central Executive, and they ment. He was expelled; some time later he could not become membt>rs of any branch of unfortunately passed away. The Country the Australian Labour Party. Party member, Charles Russell, was also expelled. I have given the names of I am reminded that in 1947 MacDonald men who had the courage to stand was nominated as a Communist candidate in up to their convictions. Billy Hughes being South Brisbane; but on representations being an adroit and skilful politician, attended a made to him, he withdrew from the contest Liberal Party conference and delivered an so he would not take any votes from the eloquent address and a resolution was car­ Premier. A great deal of nonsense and ried re-admitting him to the Liberal Party. gross misrepresentation has been indulged in. Later on Billy Hughes and Percy Spender There has been a great deal of misrepresenta­ were members of the War Council, a body tion by both anti-Labour sides of the set up to keep members of the Opposition in Committee. Robert Menzies, Sir Arthur the picture in connection with Australia's Fadden and no doubt Mr. Frank war effort and to give them an idea of the Nicklin and Ken Morris would drop war effort being made, the difficulties being dead politically if they thought Com­ encountered, and the prospects of success. munists were to be driven out of this country Menzies and Fadden decided to withdraw permanently. Their election ''bogy'' would from the War Council so that they could be gone. The chief stock-in-trade of play the game of, politics but Billy Hughes and the new party opposite is that the Percy Spender remained on it. What hap­ country is riddled with Communism. Com­ pened to them~ They were again expelled munism and party-ism is being indulged from the Liberal Party, although both got in today to an extent that is almost back into it before the following election. They nauseating to the true democrat of Australia. accepted the decision of the Executive and got back later. If Gair had the true interests There has been a lot of nonsense talked of Labour at heart, he would have done that about disciplinary control of men in the instead of splitting Labour from top to Labour movement as if it were the only party bottom. that exercised disciplinary powers through its The statement has been made by Mr. "\Valsh governing executive, the Q.C.E. I have with that there is some evidence in the form of n me books of rules of the Liberal Party, the letter from Beasley that Mr. Joe Bukowski Country Party and the Labour Party. was a Communist at some time or another. :94 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

I do not believe that there is a scintilla over £460 was subscribed to my campaign .of truth in such a suggestion. As a matter fund. That monny ;;as subsCJ:;ibed by the of fact, in those days Jack Beasley had worl

suspended because he had the temerity to right, we have got the numbers. You can make a statement in Rockhampton on a cer­ do anything when you ha>e got the tain matter. He was charged with having numbers.'' made a statement he should not have made. I invite hon. members' attention to Rule 6 on JUr. Nicklin: I have he,ard 'somebody else page 95 of the Constitution and General say, '' \Ve have got the numbers.'' Rules of the Australian Labour Party. It Mr. POWER: Yes, I have said it here reads- and we had the numbers because of the '' The Right of Public Assembly and electors' votes. Free Speech to be made Statutory." I have many friends within the trade union movement. I was on the Trades and Because he had the temerity to express his Labour Council when some of these opinion the hon. member for Rockhampton people were unheard of. I was one was suspended by the Labour Party. It has of those who formed the .Federated ClcrkR' been said that nobody made any attempt to Union when it was very unpopular to be a defend him. The Premier was unable to member of a trades union. Out of a total attend the Q.C.E. meeting, but I attended on of 65 delegates 30 voted against the expul­ his behalf. The hon. member for Rockhamp­ sion of the Premier. I am not going to say ton tendered an abject apology to the Q.C.E. that the Central Executive is composed uf It was on my advice that he tendered that Co=unists but I do say that delegates are apology. I asked the Q.C.E. not to deal sent there with a direction from their Com· severely with him because he had had the munist-controlled Executives as to what the!· temerity to criticise the Q.C.E., but what shall do. I said to one delegate, ''How are happened~ He was wiped out so that they vou going to vote on this~" He said, "Bill, could get the remainder of those who were i: would like to be with you hut my Executive there to accept the direction. has directed me.'' The rule laid down bv When the matter of three weeks' annual the late Mr. Fallon and the late Mr. Boland leave was raised in Cabinet, the hon. member was that no delegate was bound to accept a for Toowoomha was one of its hitterest direction. Despite that these delegates felt opponents. He supported Cabinet's attitud0 bound to vote as they were directed, and thA in the Caucus room. What are the rules of Premier was expelled. I was a member of the Q.C.E., and I was defeated at Mackay. the A.L.P. ~ I will tell hon. members what the direction of convention meant, if it I made no complaints about that; I acceptefl meant anything. Again on page 95 of the my defeat. There are many unions now Constitution and General .Rules, we :find Rule affiliated with the Q.C.E. who were refused 16. This is what it says and this is what affiliation at one time because of their Com­ it means- munist associations and affiliations. Every­ body knows that Gerry Dawson is a Com­ '' The State Parliamentary Labour Party munist. Everybody knows that Jack Hansou to introduce during the next term of -a very excellent union secretary and a Parliament succeeding Conventions, all decent fellow to deal with-is a prominent legislation covering decisions of Con­ Communist. Everybody knows that Alex vention.'' Macdonald, who is now fraternising with What is a term of ParliamenU Is it not others in Red China, is a Communist. Every­ three years1 body knows that when the country was at war they advocated a second fr?nt for Mr. Lloyd: You get us pay for three Russia. \Vhen our boys were :fightmg and years! dying in Malaya for the preservation of democracy the Communists were only con­ Mr. POWER: The hon. member for cerned with the second front for Russia. We Kedron would not know anything about have the same story in regard to Korea. It A.L.P. rules. has been advocated that no soldier should· :fight beyond the shores of Australia, but i~ Itir. Lloyd: What? it not better to :fight outside the shores of Mr. POWER: The l10n. member sat on Australia and protect this country from the the fence and then fell over because it was horrors of warfare~ There are people who suggested there might be some refusal of would hand this country over to people with endorsement. a foreign ideology and allow the people of Moscow to control this country along lines Mr. Lloyd: I will have something to say that are diametrically opposed to the beliefs about that in a minute. of the people of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Let us examine the position in Mr. POWER: There is the rule for regard to Communism in general. Every­ everybody to see. I am not going to allow bodv knows that the only candidates Com­ any member of the Q.C.E. to alter that to munists have opposed are those who repre· suit himself. sent industrial areas. I have been opposed Wbat happened when a vacancy arose and on every occasion by a member of the Com­ the Treasurer should have been the next dele­ munist Party. I am prepared to bet a guin

One would have expected a reasonable man the other nominees~ They were men who had to seize on anv means of conciliation that some background of loyalty to the industrial might have left' the Party united to carry on movement. its great work for the people of Queensland. In the face of a threat of punitive action Mr. MO ORE: I rise to a point of order. The hon. member for Kedron is refer­ against the Premier for failing to carry ~ut his party's wishes, any degree of. compronuse ring to and insinuating that Dr. Uhr is a was obviously desirable. In my opinion, there Liberal. I have known Dr. Uhr for 30 years. was no spirit of compromise <>r conciliation He is a personal friend of mine and he has on the part of the Premier. always supported the Labour Party and voted Labour. At previous conferences wnen the Premier Mr. I have not mentioned Dr. had been asked whether it would be possible LLOYD: Uhr yet. Now that the hon. gentleman ~as to introduce the three weeks' annual leave brought his name out I will have somethmg at some later stage, he had said no. and further to say about him. In 1949 during the unequivocally refused to compromise or con­ Federal election campaign Dr. Clive Uhr was ciliate. His actions throughout have been invited to address a lunch-hour meeting of provocative. Whateve? led to the dispute the N ewman Society at the Queensland on the question of tlu"e weeks' annual leave, Universitv. At the time the hon. member the real argument was one of interpretation for Itha~a was studying Commerce at the of the rules ani} the platform of the University. During his lunch-hour address Australian Labour Party and the pledge Dr. Uhr viciously attacked the late Ben signed by every candidate for pre-election Chifiey who has been so eulogised by the endorsement. Every Labour member owes his Treasurer. If hon. members want confirma­ primary allegiance to the Australian Labour tion I refer them to the hon. member for Party just as any other member of Ithaca. Not only did he viciously attack the Parliament owes his allegiance to the late Ben Chifiey, but he called him a Com­ political party that endorsed him and munist, just as hon. members on that side of supported him in his election campaign. I the Chamber are calling some hon. members am sure that applies to members of the over here Communists or travellers with Liberal Party and the Country Party. No Communists. The people of Queensland at Cabinet Minister would have been elevated least are sufficiently educated to know that to his position if he had not received the whatever they say is merely an attempt to endorsement and support of the Australian create a pattern of mass hysteria, engender­ Labour Party. ing hatred and bitterness in the hearts of the people in an effort to beguile decent Statements and insinuations have been respectable people into believing the worst of made that I was sitting on the fence, lean­ good people. ing first to one side and then the other, and that in the end I fell on one side. Appar­ Mr. Gair interjected. ently stories are being broadcast throughout ~fr. LLOYD: The Premier 1s interjecting. my electorate, throughout Brisbane, and He inter,iected while the Secretary for indeed around the Chamber that I was in Public Lands and Irrigation was speaking. grave danger of not being endorsed. If I had He interjected quietly on the side and been frightened :hat I would not be endorsed said that the hon. member for Toowoomba by the A.L.P. what would have been my had attacked women. He did not attack position~ At least I had sufficient courage to any woman. He mentioned Mrs. Gair risk the danger of non-endorsement by and said that she was a very fine person. remaining loyal to the pledge I signed before Let us ''ee who is attacking women. being elected in 1956 as the Labour member I have a letter here in relation to the l::tte for Kedron. I stayed loyal to the pledge and Garnett Townsenc1, a foreman employed by loyal to the rules I signed in conjunction the Main Roads Commission. The late with the pledge. If I had been really Garnett Townsend was sent from Brisbane frightened it would have been quite a simple to Tara by the Main Roads Commission to matter to have moved over to the Queensland carry out special duties on behalf of t~e Labour Party and thus write my own endorse­ Commission in April. Unfortunately, wh1le ment as other members of that Party have at Tara on duty, he collapsed with a heart done. attack and died. His body had to be brought back to Brisbane for a family Let us take a look at some of the people funeral. Is not that the natural thing to who have been endorsed. Other than some of do~ The widow has no money and this the hon. members opposite very few of the Government in this letter rejected my sub· men endorsed for this campaign have any mission that they pay the cost of bringing loyalties to the real working men, the real the body back from Tara to Brisbane. The Labour men of the State. Instead we find only reason the applicution to which I have busines~men with any amount of money, film referred was rejected is because I submitted magnates and even doctors. That reminds it. Who is attacking women~ (Government me that I have a doctor representing the interjections.) The hon. member for Queensland Labour Party opposing me. He Toowoomba is a decent honest man was their selected candidate, but who were who has carried out his principles Supply. [12 JUNE.] Supply. 99 and pledges. Alderman Tom Doyle During my speech this afternoon, I did make could say a few words about attack­ the statement that certain Communists, or ing women. At a quarter to 12 one night some Communists, were admitted to the there were three 'phone calls in quick suc­ Stanthorpe Branch of the A.L.P. In the cession at Alderman Doyle 's home. It was Brisbane ''Telegraph'' of this afternoon, I said over the 'phone that someone had kept am reported as having said that people endorsed Mrs. Doyle and Tom Doyle in bread and by the A.L.P. were avowed Communists. butter for 25 years. Alderman Doyle is a As the Labour selections have not yet been most decent person who used his truck and made, it would obviously be ridiculous for me his petrol to assist in election cam­ to say that any candidate endorsed by the paigns on behalf of the Premier. 'These A.L.P. was an avowed Communist. statements were made over the 'phone My point of privilege is this: in fairness and after Mrs. Doyle hung up the receiver to men who may be endorsed as A.L.P. she fell over a chair and broke her arm. candidates, is there any action that can be Nuisance calls were put in during the next taken, either through yourself or through the two days and Alderman Doyle had to ring Speaker, to rectify the shocking mistake ?r up the P.M.G 's. Department to have his misrepresentation that has taken place m 'phone monitored. (Government inter­ the reporting by the Brisbane ''Telegraph''~ jections.) Alderman Doyle would never be opposing the hon. gentleman were it not for Tile CHAIR1IAN: It is a matter for Mr. the fact that the hon. gentleman disregarded Speaker. the friendship that Alderman Doyle had for him and for every other man. It has Mr. BROSNAN (Fortitude Valley) (7.32 :.lways been this way. p.m.) : I had no intention of par~icipating in this debate. However, several thmgs have There has been much talk about Parlia­ been said today that I think should be mentary democracy for years. When we answered. attempted to bring up some subject Before dealing with those items, I should in Caucus that we considered important like to say that I do not agree with the we were disregarded; we were steam­ hon. member for Kedron that all action rolled. Matters were brought up in taken by the Premier was provocative, and I relation to legislation at Caucus meetings. think very few members of the old Australian Legislation has been rejected and then Labour Party, if I may refer to it in that recommitted. (Government interjections.) way, would agree with him. That statement What about the Salaries Bill~ At is uncalled for, unnecessary, and untrue. I that time the Treasurer was on the inner suggest that the Premie~, as Lead~r of the executive of the Q.C.E.. We wanted Australian Labour Party m the Parliament of £1,750 and the Treasurer took it to Queensland, has carried out his job with a the inner executive and sent back a direction great deal of leniency. to the Parliamentary Party in regard to that The hon. member for Kedron also said that legislation. What is more, we accepted it was a question of interpretation of rules that direction; we accepted a compromise and adherence to pledges. We did not hear arranged between the hon. member for anything about rules and pledges until after Toowoomba and the inner executive and the the Premier was expelled. Hon. members trades unions. That direction came from the opposite have been quoting rules of the party. Queensland Central Executive. (Government What about the rule of the party that says interjections.) While the Treasurer was a that Caucus decisions are bindingW We have member of that inner executive the hon. not heard of that one. It is there, and I sup­ gentleman sent a direction from the Q.C.E. pose I might as well throw it into the ring to the Brisbane City Council which resulted with all the others. The farther we go, the in the resignation of Mr. Frank Roberts. worse the confusion becomes, and I believe it Subsequent to that statements were made in is necessary to try to clear up some of these this House by the Treasurer that discipline questions. When personalities conflict, it is is necessary and it is essential that in any only natural that we should reach the stage political party there should be discipline. of ''dog eat dog.'' That is hu;na~ natu_re. I have a statement here that was made by It is a matter for regret, and It IS a pity the Treasurer in regard to that matter. that these things have taken place in this Mr. Walsh: Why quote it? I will quote Chamber in the last two days. But as they it myself. have been said, and as my character has pro­ bably been assailed in the process, I believe 1Ir. LLOYD: "It would be a bad thing that I should take this opportunity of reply­ for the country if discipline was not exer­ ing, because if I am to believe my erstw11ile cised in any particular party." fTiends on my right I shall not have an opportunity in the future; however, if I (Time expired.) take any notice of my friend the hon. mem­ Hon. P. J. R. JIILTON (Carnarvon­ ber for Mundingburra, I am a certainty- Secretary for Public Lands and Irrigation) :Mr. Aikens: A certainty for what? (7.31 p.m.): I rise on a question of privilege. I wish to have your advice on this matter, :Mr. BROSNAN: A certainty to be and I raise it because I wish to be quite sitting here alongside him after the election. honest and fair. Mr. Chalk: He is a leg puller. 100 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Mr. BROSNAN: Yes, and very frequently the children in Hungary. The mothers it is your leg. The hon. member for Bremer and fathers of children in Hungary could not made a statement this morning. He said see any danger in Communism, but how that the, trouble in the Labour Party started the children are suffering for it! I see in with and was brought about by Industrial the Communist spread in Australia today no Groups. great danger to myself, for I have almost Mr. Donald: Correct. lived my span of life, but I have a son, and there are many other people similarly Mr. Power: He walked out of the Party placed-with children-listening to me now vote like a dingo. and it is for them and their children that a stand has to be taken. The Communists are :ilir. BROSNAN: I only want to deal with infiltrating into every walk of life in Aus­ the statement by the hon. member for tralia today. Their position in things that Bremer. I do not want to be personal, but affect the lives of the people of Australia has I remind him that he made the statement. never been as sound and secure as it is now. I also remind him and any hon. member They are doing their job to greater effect opposite lauding adherence to principles and than ever they hoped for. pledges and decisions as the right approach and method of participating in this dispute, When the Communist Party first started in that the Industrial Groups were formed as Australia, it did not meet with much success. the result of a Convention decision. They However, the depression that lasted from were initiated by the Q.C.E. under the chair­ 1929 to 1935 gave the Communists a fillip, manship of the late Clarrie Fallon and con· and from then on, in pursuance of their firmed at both Rockhampton and Toowoomba ideology and their methods of attack, they and were dissolved by the Q.C.E. and there­ tried to infiltrate into the trade unions and fore are as much a part of the Labour Party in that way get control of the masses of the as any other integral unit. If they were the people and ingratiate themselves with the cause and reason for the Labour Party's Labour movement, to which they say they being split today, it is difficult to reconcile belong. I have always said that the Con;­ that statement. They were dissolved by a munists are anti-Labour, that they are anti· decision of the Federal Party. everything that is free. There can be no place in a democracy for a Communist, or for Mr. Donald: To which you agreed. anyone who subscribes to the Communist Ur. BROSNAN: To which I subscribed. ideology. The Communists almost succeeded I make no apology for my part in the in gaining control of the masses ?f peoJ?le Industrial Group Movement. I was selected by of this nation by infiltrating the mdustnal the Q.C.E. to be one of the committee. I unions. Say what you like, none can deny made a speech in this Chamber on 19 October, that it was the industrial groups that 1954, which was so appreciated at that time stemmed the tide. by Mr. Bukowski that he had printed and distributed 1,000 extra copies of ''The Mr. Graham: And they destroyed the Worker" in which the speech appeared. I A.L.P. in the process. always subscribed to the Party's policy and Platform. I could only do what the Labour lUr. BROSNAN: That statement is com­ Party asked me to do. However, when it pletely opposed to what the hon. member for comes to a matter of conscience and deter­ Mackay said in a broadcast a few days ago. mination as to whether one subscribed He said on that occasion that the Australian rightly or wrongly, wisely or unwisely, to an Labour Party was now bigger, better and instruction, and when such adherence to the stronger than ever. Tonight he says that the instruction would completely cut across one's Australian Labour Party has been destroyed. conscience I could not do it. I was prepared If he will make up his mind I will debate to do anything the Labour Party asked me the matter with him, but while he is at sixes to do, provided it was consistent with my and sevens I cannot. appreci~tion of good faith. I do not use the As I say, the industrial groups sten;med word "faith" in a religious sense. It is the tide of Communism in the trade umons. true, I have been attacked on that basis, I am prepared to withstand any challenge ?n but I make no apologies for my religion. I my integrity, my standing, and my associa­ have never done so, nor do I ask anybody tion with the Australian Labour Party and else to do so. the industrial groups. I have never breached a rule of the Australian Labour Party or I have said in this Chamber that regardless done other than what was in its best interests. of what the political party is, it should not Everything I did relating to the ind_nstrial be a prerequisite to joining or a condition of groups was well known to the commrttee­ membership that one should be of any parti­ both Mr. Bukowski and Mr. Rasey. I have cular religion. It is a travesty of justice gone to Sydney to attend meetings of the for grown men to bring it into the realm of interstate committee; I have been met by Tom Industrial Groups. I emphasise the fact Dougherty and driven by him to .the Great that anybody who says there are not Com­ Southern Hotel, where the meetmgs were munists rampant in Australia today or that held. the manifestations of Communism are negligible should think of the parents of Mr. Graham: Was Santamaria there too? Supply. (12 JUNE.] Supply. 101

Mr. BROSNAN: Santamaria was not I was present at Convention and I was there. He comes from Melbourne. I have at the Q.C.E. meeting the night we were all met Mr. Santamaria. He lives in the same summoned and at no time at either place suburb of Melbourne as my sister, and his did the Premier pledge that he would intro­ children and my sister's children attend the duce three weeks' leave in this session of same school. He attends the same church as Parliament. On the contraq, before the my sister, and when I have been to Melbourne last State election, the Premier addressed I have attended that church and have met trade unionists in Room 30 at the Trades him there. I know Santamaria as a gentle­ Hall. I was then President of the Electrical man, a father, a citizen, and an upright man. Trades Union and I had just led them in I am not ashamed to say that I know him. a successful strike for an increase of 27s. 6d. The man who I believe is to oppose me at a week. Unfortunatelv some other unions the coming election as the official Labour have not got that yet. ·I hope they will get candidate challenged me in the Trades Hall, it. I do not like to see one union get it just as I have been challenged here by the and another miss out. However, the Premier hon. member for Mackay. The same ques­ told that gathering in Room 30 that he would. tion was asked at an A.L.P. affiliated introduce three weeks' leave when it was Unions Committee at which meeting two economically possible and sound to do so. unions were represented by delegates who I\Ir. Gair: That was on the eve of the· are Communists. Is it any wonder, there­ election. fore, that I could not see how the Queensland Branch of the Australian I\Ir. Walsh: That was on the Thursday Labour Party could continue to carry on before the election. when it admitted to a committee representa­ tive of A.L.P.-affiliated unions a delegate I\Ir. BROSNAN: There has followed an from the Butcher's Union who is a self­ attempt to expel the Premier only, not those confessed Communist~ of us who supported him, the majority of Caucus. If Caucus decisions are binding on ilir. GraJ1am: Who was he? one occasion, they are binding on another. ilir. BROSNAN: You know him as well I did my duty and fulfilled my obligations as I do. as I saw them and in accordance with my conscience. I shall with pleasure leave it Mr. Wallace: Name him. to the electors of Fortitude Valley to judge Mr. BROSNAN: All right. I am not whether I have carried out my task in a afraid to name him-Mr. Laurie. manner befitting a member of Parliament. If, they think my decision was correct, they Jlir. Graham: Good, we know him now. will return me on polling day. If they do not, I shall acc:ept their decision in accordance Jlir. BROSN AN: Oh, the hon member· knows him well! When I was challenged with the principles of democracy. by Mr. Egerton, I told him what I have I\Ir. DUFFICY (Warre.go) (7.50 p.m.) :· told hon. members tonight. Of course, you Like the hon. member who has just resumed know, don't you that his nickname in the his seat, I have no intention of engaging in' T:rades HaU is Cowboy ·Jack-because he the argument that has taken place because separates the Santa Gertrudis from the Santa­ I am not going to get down into the sewer marias. Hon. members opposite say that to attack hon. members on my left. I hope because a man knows a Communist or because that any contribution I make will at least be a Communist speaks over the Labour radio factual and free from personalities and station it does not make them Communists. abuse. If any abuse is introduced in the Does it make me a Santamaria-ite because I course of my remarks I am prepared to know Santamaria ~ I throw the same logic answer it. I am not asking for any mercy. back at them. The debate should be conducted on a reason­ As the Communist Party members were not ably high plane and I will do my part to completely successful in infiltrating into the keep it that way. During the last two days Labour Movement through the trade unions we have listened to arguments as to the and that avenue was closed to them by the rights and wrongs of the present situation. work of the Industrial Groups, it was only We have heard much about the splinter group natural that they should turn to the political on my left and the Australian Labour Party wing. Their success in that field to date of which I am still proud to be a member. has been astounding and has caused grave All hon. members sitting on this side of the concern to those in the Labour Movement Chamber behind the hon. member for Too­ who have watched them at work, who have woomba have signed a pledge that they will fought them and attempted to destroy them remain loyal to the Australian Labour Party. and keep them out of our way of life. We All the hon. members sitting on my left have have a duty to pass on to our children the also signed a pledge to remain loyal to the same splendid heritage that our forebears principles and platform of the Australian passed on to us, and sooner or later, we Labour Party. At this moment let us decide must face up to that responsibility. That who has remained loyal. Is it not a fact is why I take my stand alongside the Premier that we who are sitting behind the hon. today. member for Toowoomba, as the Leader of the 102 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Australian Labour Party, are still members there is not a member in this Chamber who of the Australian Labour Party, while hon. has done more in the fight against it tha:o:~. I members sitting on my left are now members have. I say that deliberately and honestly. of the Queensland Labour Party and not in I was an official of the Labour movement for accordance with the pledge they signed f Is more than 20 years before I had the privilege it not quite obvious who have remained of contesting an election as the endorsed faithful to their pledge and who have broken Labour candidate for Warrego. I spent it1 22 years as an officer of the Australian On the left we find the Premier. Do not Workers' Union. I am not concerned about think for one moment that I am going to industrial groups or about the Treasurer or attack him personally. I have known him the Premier and what they may have done since he first came into Parliament in 1932. against Communism. I do point out that I He may remember that he attended a victory was fighting Communists in this country wlren social I organised in Maryborough. We were the hon. the Premier was pushing a pen in a celebrating the victory of the late James railway office. I was fighting Communists Stopford over John Blackley for the seat of when the hon. the TTeasurer 1Yas farming in Maryborough in 1932. Mr. Gair had just Mirani. The only time that Communists ever been elected as a member of the Queensland amounted to anything in this State was during Parliament. When I met him he had not the depression years and shortly afterwards, even taken his seat in the Chamber At that and they were mostly economic Communists time I had been an official of the Australian then, anyhow. I was in Maryborough in \IV~rkers' Union for five or six years. Mr. 1932 when a Communist candidate named Gair was able to take his seat in the Chamber McElligott polled 1,500 votes against one of in 1932 because he had been endorsed by the best Labour candidates that the Party the Queensland Central Executive and he was has ever produced, the late Jim Stopford. a member of the Australian Labour Party. Have a look at what the Communist candi­ flates in this StatP and other States of the After each election since 1932 the hon. Commonwealth poll at the present time. I member for South Brisbane was able to take venture to say that not one of them since the his seat in this Chamber because he had been days of Fred Paterson has saved his depo6it. endorsed and supported bv the Q.C.E. With­ ?ut being personal at an,· let me say that it "When I first stood for the Warrego seat, IB a far cry from a comparatively dingy rrtil­ I was opposed by a Communist candidate and way office in which the hon. member for ll Country Party candidate. The Communist South Brisbane was pushing a pen before the <'andidate did not poll as many votes as the Labour movement lifted him from that informal votes that were cast in that election. obscurity, to the Coronation ceremony at That is true, and I refer hon. member& to Westminster Abbey. Every step the hon. the official records of that election. Appar­ gentleman took was made possible by the ently Communists were so imp_ortant in the Labour Movement and the Australian Labour Warrego electorate at that time that the Party. The hon. gentleman was able to travel Industrial Groups thought it necessary to to attend the Coronation at little or no send a man named Poulgrain-I suggest that personal inconvenience or expense. It ill hon. members on my left will know the name- becomes hon. members opposite to condemn 600 miles west of Brisbane to Cunnamulla to the organisation that made it possible for form an Industrial Group to fight Communists them ~o rise to the heights to which they where they did not exist, according to the have nsen. They rose to those heights, not offi.cial figures for the election at which I because of any outstanding ability but because was elected. That was two yeqrs after the wheel of fate and the Labour movement my election. pic~ed them up and put them where they are. It IS al&o a far cry from a sugar mill stoke­ This Communist bogy is just too silly, too hold to a seat in this Chamber. That journey foolish for words. I am speaking as a man was made possible for me because of the who has had a long association with the Labour movement-not because of Jack industrial and political life of this State. D_ufficy. I was able t~ make that journey Without any expense or mconvenience because In company with my old friend and col­ of the Labour movement and the Australian league, the hon. member for Barcoo,_ I com­ Labour Party. I was picked up by the wheel menced organising for the A.W.U. m 1928. of fate and I am now privileged to speak on Prom that time up till the present I ha_ve this motion. Hon. members on my left owe fc-ught Communism in Queensland, and I cl~Im their positions to the Labour movement and ·without fear of contradiction that the umon it ill becomes them to condemn the Australian ;vith which I have been associated for vir­ Labour Party or the Queensland Central tually the whole of my adult life has done Executive. The hon. the Premier and other more to defeat Communism than any Indus­ hon. members oppo&ite were first endorsed by trial Group or any wild statements that have the Queensland Central Executive. When been made in this Chamber. they were endorsed before the last election they did not say that the Queensland Central I resent the satements by hon. gentlemen Execvti"l'e was wrong nor did they accuse on my left who have tried to brand m~mbers hon. members who are sitting on this side of on this side of the Chamber as Commumsts. I being Communists. Speaking of Communism, say-and I defy truthful contradiction on Supply. [12 JUNE.] Supply. 103

t.his-that personally I have done more to realise that individuals do not count. Hon. fight Communists in this State than any members opposite have quoted the late Mr. one of them, I do not care who he is. Fallon as a striking example of a good Labour man. I agree with them completely. The name of the late Clarrie Fallon was mentioned. It grieves me to mention the I quote his words to me when I was a young name of Clarrie Fallon in the same breath organiser. He said, ''Always remember that as the names of hon. members on my left, in the Labour movement individuals just do because I know what he would have thought not matter; it is the movement that mat­ of them had he been alive today. I know ters. Individuals can be of no concern.'' that because I was associated with Clarrie Do not think I am worrying about Bukowski Pallon longer than any of those on my left. because he is just an individual in the scheme of things. I am not worrying about the Mr. Walsh: How long would that be? Treasurer or the Premier because they are individuals, with this difference that they are Mr. DUFFICY: Thirty years. not in the movement now and therefore they Mr. Walsh: I think I could beat you. matter even less. Mr. DUFFICY: I do not think you could, They point to Mr. Bukowski as the big, because I knew Clarrie Fallon when he was bad wolf but I wonder if the people whom at Bundaberg b~fore he started organising, they are trying to convince have paused to and I do not tlnnk you knew him then. realise that the split occurred before Mr. Bukowski was the President of the Q.C.E. Mr. Walsh: That is more than 30 years and before he was branch secretary of the ago. A.W.U. Mr. DUl<'FICY: It might be. I knew I defy truthful contradiction from hon. him before he started organising and tha members on my left when I say that the Treasurer did not know him then. He splinter group led by the Premier and the started organisin~ in Childers in 1921-1922, Treasurer had its beginnings in Hobart. Is and I followed lnm when he left. Do not it not true that six delegates were sent by let the Treasurer tell me, because I know. I the Queensland Branch of the Austl'alian was sent to the Burdekin in 1935 by the late Labour Party to attend a Federal conference Mr. Clarrie Fallon and there were some Com­ of the Australian Labour Party in HobarU munists in this country at that time. Today That cannot be denied. Nor can it be denie

rejected them. What did they do to Frank on a fine industrial background. He has Roberts, who was the Lord Mayor of this gone the other way and should be city~ ashamed of himself for turning his back Mr. Walsh: I have that down, too. on the men who helped him into Parlia­ ment and for backing Gair and those who ~Ir. DUFFICY: What did they do to him are now more violently opposed to Labour when he refused to carry out an instruction than Messrs. Nicklin and Morris.'' Qf the Q.C.E. ~ He did not wait to be expelled. He had the decency to resign. However, the I do not know how long some of those l10n. gentlemen on my left were not satisfied sitting on my right have been affiliated with for him to resign. They followed him and the Australian Labour Party, or how long expelled him because he refused to carry they were financial members of an industrial out a decision of the Q.C.E. I do not think union before they hopped onto the band the Treasurer will deny that he stood up in wagon of the Australian Labour Party for the Party meeting and told me that if I, or election to this Assembly. I have been a anybody else, thought we were not subject member of an industrial union from the day to the decisions of the Q.C.E., we were just my parents signed my apprenticeship papers fooling ourselves. for an industrial trade, even though it was not compulsor;c for me to be a member of (Time expired.) an industrial union. Soon after I commenced Mr. SKINNER (Somerset) (8.15 p.m.): my apprenticeship the control of appren­ I rise to support the motion. It was tices was taken away from the Industrial refreshing to hear the hon. member for Court and the Apprenticeship Committee was Warrego say that the decent thing to do is established instead. It was not compulsory to resign when you find yourself in conflict for an apprentice in any trade to hold a with something that cuts across the demo­ union ticket. My principles were such that cratic rights of the people and the consti­ I felt it was my responsibility to contribute tutional powers of Parliament. He is at something if I was to share in the benefits variance with his Leader, the hon. member that were being gained by my senior mem­ for Toowoomba, and the hon. member for bers in the union. Even during the depres­ Bremer and the hon. member for Ipswich. sion years I never once relinquished my They accompanied their leader to a meeting membership or failed to keep myself finan­ held recently at the Ipswich railway work­ cial. I could point to many men who are shops and to another at the Ipswich Town tagging along with the industrial world Hall, reported in the columns of ''The today, professing to be the champions of the Courier-Mail,'' when I was charged with industrial movement, who grasped the oppor­ being a deserter. Their Leader said I should tunity in the 1929-1932 period to relinquish be ashamed of myself for having deserted membership of industrial unions simply the Party. because the Industrial Court had been ring­ barked by the then Tory Government in Mr. Graham: So you should be. control of Queensland. Do not let the hon. Mr. SKINNER: I do not think so. My member for T'oowoomba or any one else conscience is clear and I can sleep at night. point the finger of scorn at me or suggest I do not think many hon. members on my that I should feel ashamed of my back­ right sleep very well. I should not be able ground affiliation and association with the to sleep well either if ever I felt that I industrial movement. should face the electors of Somerset and say, I have broken no principle or rule of the ''I have failed in my responsibility to you. industrial union I belong to. I am still a I have failed to vote in your interests in financial member and hope to remain so for the Legislative Assembly and to work in many years. At least I had sufficient intes­ your interests in accordance with the prin­ tinal fortitude to go before the trade union ciples of democratic and constitutional long before this crisis came to a head. I government.'' I have not reached that was prepared to go before the union in stage, so I have no regrets and my con­ Ipswich and diseuss it with them and give science is quite clear. When I go before my them my story about the introduction of the people, I am congratulated on every hand legislation that has precipitated the crisis. for my stand in supporting the principles of democracy and constitutional government. ~fr. Donald interjected.

The Leader of the break-away Labour ~Ir. SKINNER: I did something you did Party-and that is what it is in the eyes of not have the guts to do. those in the Labour Movement and in the eyes of every honest and decent Christian The CHAIRJUAN: Order! who supports Labour's principles-the Mr. SKINNER: I went before the dis­ Leader challenged me and said I should feel trict committee of my union. I went before ashamed of myself for having deserted the the combined shop stewards' meeting in Australian Labour Party, Queensland Ipswich. The shop stewards and the district Branch. This is what he is reported as committee are the only people I am respon­ saying about me- sible to. On every occasion that I asked "Mr. Skinner had worked in the them for opportunities to speak or they workshops over the years, and had invited me to speak I honoured my obliga­ built up a fine industrial record, based tion. Not once was I condemned by the Supply. [12 JUNE.] Supply. 105 rank and file of my union. Let us look at in answer to it. Another reason why I sup­ it from the A.L.P. side. Only a few weeks. port the motion is this: As a good indus­ before the expulsion of the Premier and trialist, the first principle I learned was that before I was called on by my own A.L.P. a good unionist endeavoured to ensure that branch at Brassall to declare myself within whatever he did would be in the interests of five days as to whether I would stand full employment for the members of the behind the Q.C.E. and sign an unconditional union in the industry for which it catered. pledge that I would relinquish all the prin­ vVhen thp matter of three weeks' leave was ciples of democracy and constitutional being debated at the Parliamentary Labour government, I attended the annual meeting Caucus, Cabinet and Q.C.E. meetings, atten­ of the electoral executive committee of the tion was drawn to the fact that there was Australian Labour Party in the Somerset unemployment throughout the State. The electorate. By 13 votes to 2 my actions A.W.U. organisers from North Queensland were endorsed on everything I had clone confirmed the statement that over 400 men through the history of the three weeks' leave in the timber industry were unemployed in dispute. that area. I represent an area in which there are hundreds of good unionists employed by lUr. Donald interjected. the Main Roads Department, the Forestry Mr. SKINNER: You cannot deny it. Department and the sawmills; and being in constant personal contact with the people in Mr. Donald: I can deny it. my area, I was aware of the full extent of The CHAIRMAN: Order! unemployment. In view of the unemploy­ ment that existed, how could I stand by the Mr. SKINNER: I challenge the hon. principles of unionism and at the same time member for Bremer-- advocatE: the introduction of legislation that would give an additional benefit to the people Mr. Donald: Outside. who were employed~ The Premier has given The CHAIRMAN: Order! ample reasons why this n;ot~on should ~e carried. He has clearly mdicated that 1t Mr. SKINNER: I have a copy of the is not for the purpose of gaining a political minutes of that meeting in my possession. advantage, but purely f~r. the purpose _of Unless someone has interfered with the guaranteeing that a position cannot anse minute book my copy is accurate because I through any emergency as a result of >;hich took my copy from the minute book. It was public servants and other. employees of t!Ie sent to me by the secretary of the E.E.C. Crown may suffer inconvemence and hardshljl. whilst she was an inmate of the Brisbane After all that is all the worker has-his General Hospital so that I could type out pay envelope. For that reason, if for no the minutes and send them to every branch other, I appeal to members of this Assembly in my electorate. It is all right for the hon. to think seriously and caref~lly befo~e member for Bremer to challenge me but I casting their votes in the negat~ve. on this know he is wrong. motion if they are the good umomsts that they profess to be. Many hon. members Mr. Donald: I am right. of the Liberal-Country Party who are Mr. SKINNER: I have a copy of the employers also acknowledge th::'t the uni~ns minutes. My actions were endorsed by a play an important part m the hfe vote taken at that combined branches' excu­ of the State and that the men who are tive meeting held only about a month before members of the unions are, in the main, good the crisis came to its head. The motion honest men and workers. I submit that no was- worker should be forced into the position '' That we express full and complete where he or his family or his dependants are confidence in Mr. A. J. Skinner M.L.A. penalised because Supply is not granted in as member for Somerset in the past and accordance with this motion. in the future. " The reasons given were ample, I submit. What could be more decisive than the com­ The rolls have to be prepared, and I believe plete confidence of the rank and file in that that the only thing that has held up the announcement of the actual date of the area~ There is not one branch of the A.L.P. in existence in the Somerset electorate once election-and I am quite sincere when I make you get beyond Brassall. this statement-is a clear, decisive indication from the Government Printer as to when :ilir. Donald: There is so. he expects the rolls and other matters con­ nected with the election to be completed. Mr. SKINNER: There is not one. (Gov­ We are not afraid to go to the people. We ernment interjections.) have taken this stand on a principle that is The CHAIRlUAN: Order! dear to the heart of every citizen of this State. Why should we be afraid to go before Mr. SKINNER: I think I have said the people~ We have made our position sufficient to convince people who are not pre­ quite clear. judiced. The Press printed the statement by the hon. member for Toowoomba and I If any further proof is required, let me. feel sure that they will accept my statement refer hon. members to the statement that 106 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

I gave to the Press on the occasion on which They are being hindered on a questio!t of I tendered my resignation from the A.L.P. loyalty. They are unable to make up their I said- minds where their loyalty lies. I say t•) "I believe that right and justice must every trade unionist not to have any fear prevail, and am quite content to leave the or doubt as to where his loyalty lies. The issue in its rightful place for determina­ policy being pursued by hon. members tion; that is with the people of the opposite cuts across the rights of democracy electorate of Somerset and Queensland to and can only end in the complete destruction determine. After all, the people elect their of the organisation to which they belong and representatives to Parliament and it is for the things that they hold dear. The question the people to determine the issue on the of loyalty need not deter any good unionist. principles that I have statet1. That is If further evidence is required that hon. I believe in the democratic right of the members opposite are pursuing a policy that people, and I shall be prepared to accept will destroy trade unionism in this State let their decision.'' me quote from a document that has been pedalled round the Somerset electorate by What is wrong ;vith that? Is there any people who declare themselves to be members reason here why hon. members opposite of the Labour Party. On the back of it should charge members of the Queensland there is a Communist publication. This Labour Party with being afraid to shoulder document is being pedalled around by mem­ their responsibilities or with being afraid to bers of the Australian Labour Party who hold go to the people~ themselves up as the champions of democracy but it is an attempt to denounce me in the An hon. member spoke here yesterday eyes of the people of that portion of the afternoon and gave a wonderful displav of State. rhetoric and oratorv. This afternoon" we heard the hon. men{ber for Bremer lauding JUr. Walsh: Where was it printed? him. He said he had lived in his greatest lUr. SKINNER: Authorised by E. A. hour of. oratorical triumph. If the occasion Bacon and printed at the Coronation ever arises when I have to stoop to insulting Printery. I heard an hon. member speaking or vilifying in any way a glorious and about his glorious efforts to destroy Com­ honourable woman in this State, the wife of munism within the industrial movement. Does the Premier, and a mother, who chooses to he think for one moment that he is the only defend-- person who has ever fought Communism in Mr. DONALD: I rise to a point of order. this State~ This is what the document says-- The hon. member for Toowoomba did not ''In this election >Ye will support the insult a woman. He spoke of Mrs. Gair as Tcturn of an Australian Labour Party lJeing a wonderful woman, a wonderful Government. We believe that this mother, and a wonderful wife. He certainly Government can do much to meet the needs did not insult her. of the people provided it bases its formula on the united workers-'' Mr. SKINNER: He was implying that this woman, the woman to whom I have Here is the reference to the unity ticket. referred as a glorious, honourable woman, and ''and submits itself to Democratic a mother, was pushed onto a political plat­ control and pursues a clear-cut progressive form against her will purely to sa.-e the policy in line with the real requirements llide of the Premier and to justify his stand. of the Trade Unions and other democratic That is entirely incorrect. The lady in organisations. \Ve will work to help question was a visitor _here last night, and expose and defeat the Gair group.'' I thought she was gomg to fall over the lmlcony with shock and surprise when she 'Nhat more do hon. members wanH Do they he:trd the statements by the hon. memlJer want further proof that loyalty does not for Toowoomba. If I have to sink to that exist today so far as trade unionists are level to claim oratorical triumph then I concernecl7 There are thousands of decent do not want any of it. I would rather tmde unionists all over Queensland who are be an ordinary person on the political deserting the A.L.P. and joining the true platform getting the knocks and bumps as democratic party whose platform is based on they come. true democratic principles-the Queenslancl Labour Party. That is why A.L.P. sup­ The hon. member for Toowoomba also said porters are becoming so concerned. If they that he would go to any lengths to preserve had n good case to submit to the people, the Australian Labour Party. We on this there would be no need for them to try to side are prepared to go to any lengths to preserve the democratic rights of the besmirch the characters of others. If you people of Queensland and the prin­ have a good case, there is no need to bolster ciples of democratic government by the it with lies and filthy propaganda. I ask elected representatives of the people. I think supporters of the Australian Labour Party that is more in conformity with tha require­ whether they believe in constitutional govern­ ments and standards of democracy as we ment by the elected representatives of the know it. Many good trade unionists in the people. They must answer that question in ~tate are somewhat confused over this issue. the negative, because they have accepted the Supply. [12 JuNE.] Supply. 10'/ principle of direction, coercion and compul­ from g1Vmg us any such assurance. Conse-­ sion from the big-time bosses who are wield­ quently, he has to be sent to the country by ing the big stick. an adverse vote in the Chamber and I wili (Time expired.) be one of those who will east it. As I said last night, the sooner the issue is sent to Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) (8.41 the people, the sooner our sovereign masters p.m.): I came down from my beloved North are given the opportunity to decide on the Queensland on Monday to be present in this contentious and chaotic political poaition Chamber and to stand dry-eyed at the grave­ that now exists in Queensland, the better side to witness the burial of the Government. it will be for all concerned. In all my experience of funerals-and I am (Time expired.) now speaking both literally and meta­ phorically-! have never seen those at the Mr. JESSON (Hinchinbrook) (8.46 p.m.): graveside so charged with venom or a corpse Until this afternoon I had no intention at so reluctant to lie still in the coffin while the all of entering the debate. I rise on two lid was screwed on. matters-first of all to refute the sugges­ tion that I have had anything to do with Mr. Walsh: This is only the wake. the Communist Party at any time and, secondly, to answer the slanderous attack of Mr. AIKENS: ·Perhaps a wake would be an hon. member opposite and to defend a appropriate for the passing of the friend of mine who, too, fought for four or Government. five years to clean the Communists out of Being rather naive, I thought that the an organisation. burial of the Government would be I very much resent any suggestion that I accomplished with some semblance of have ever flirted with the Communists or solemnity and dignity. My only regret is had anything to do with them or that I have that a talking film of the proceedings in refrained from fighting them throughout my Parliament both yesterday and today could political life. I have had women Co=u­ not have been taken and shown in every city, nists and men Communists oppose me at town, village and hamlet of Queensland so election time. With the hon. member for that the people of this State would be as Warrego I recall that 20 years ago, just shocked as I have been so frequently during after the depression, Communists could get the conduct of the debate. as many as 1,200 votes in my area. They Abuse, personalities, slander and scandal could not do that now. Thanks to the work have always been abhorrent and repugnant of the various unions, particularly the to me. We have seen in the Chamber during A.W.U., to my own activities, and to the the last couple of days so much of all those better times we are enjoying, Communism is things that at times I actually shuddered. at a minimum in Hinchinbrook. Many hon. members have complained of the I remind hon. members that as a young scandal and slander that has been heaped lad I served in World War I. My son upon them, but I give them one consolation. served in the Air Force in World War II If, during my long and colourful political and was shot down while in New Guinea and unionistic experience, slander, innuendo fighting for democracy and was lost for and inference could have stripped me of my months. I am a family man with a wife good name and reputation, and all the other and six children and seven grandchildren things [ hold dear, I would have been and I strongly resent any suggestion link­ wandering round naked years ago. That ing me with Communism. I have as much sort of thing runs off me like water off the cause to fight Communism as any hon mem­ proverbial duck's back. bers on the Government benches. Some of them have one or two children and others I have only five minutes in which to speak, none at all, but it is remarkable how so I must be brief. If any hon. member on readily they attack us. On behalf of the either side of the Committee really thinks Australian Labour Party and the various that the people of this State believe that the industrial unions, I very strongly resent the split in the Labour Party resulted from the insinuations coming from Government mem­ argument over the implementation of three bers, with the assistance they are getting weeks' annual leave, he is gullible enough and from various people in the community to credulous enough to believe that babies are spread this red bogy about the place. brought by the stork or found under cabbages. I know the Treasurer is preparing to I listened very attentively to the Premier speak; he is writing down a few notes today when he gave his reasons for the neces­ about Forgan Smith. He has already spoken sity t<> pass the Bill now before the Committee. for hours and hours and hours-till he ran Frankly, I was not impressed by the argu­ out of ammunition. Yesterday he men­ ments he advanced. If he could have given tioned the late Hon. W. Forgan Smith and us some assurance that he would resign or a certain happening when I missed a if he could have given us some definite date, division. He will probably claim that he or even a reasonably approximate date, on saved me from non-endorsement, i:r- 1938 I which he would go to the people and let think it was. them decide the issue, we could have judged Mr. Walsh: No I won't. I won't say any­ him on that. But he sedulously refrained thing about it. 108 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply,

Mr. JESSON: I am just getting in first Mr. Walsh: You are still wrong. in case he does. Everybody knows how I missed that division. I\Ir. JESSON: One of them took me, anyway. llir. Walsh: I was not thinking about it till you reminded me. Mr. Walsh: Yeronga. lUr. JESSON: I am going to tell it any­ lllr. JESSON: Yeronga. One of them way, and, I am going to tell hon. members took me there. I explained my position what Forgan Smith told me about the to Mr. Smith and he accepted my explanation. Treasurer. The Protestant Labour Party On the Monday I was endorsed. It was not was in vogue at the time. Some sectarian because Mr. W alsh and Mr. Gair loved George issue had been started off in "Smith's J esson that they went to all this trouble, Weekly" and something published in that but they knew that if I did not get endorse­ paper was attributed to me. The endorse­ ment Larry Kelly, a relation of Mr. Hanlon 's, ment was to be made on the Monday. The would have been endorsed, and Mr. Hanlon Q.C.E. had the same set-up then as it would have had another supporter and they has now. Recommendations were made by would have lost one. See how they work! Mr. Forgan Smith and one or two others to That was the hidden secret behind it. I the full executive. I do not know whether have never done a thing against \Valsh or Mr. Walsh was there or not. Gair in my life, but I know plenty about Mr. Walsh: You cannot even remember both of them. I have knocked around with the name of the paper. them. They were driven around in my old Ford years ago. lUr. JESSON: "Smith's Weekly." I\Ir. Walsll: No. Jl'Ir. Walsh: Not me'. lUr. JESSON: It was "Smith's We,ekly" Mr. JESSON: Many a time I have taken because I have a copy at home now. I have you to the home on the range, brother! still got a copy of the ''Truth'' when Mr. Walsh was outside the Party and he ran The CHAIRlliAN: Order! along to the newspapers condemning the Mr. JESSON: I do not want to get Government and members of it. He tackled personal. I want to tell the facts. Now I am me and said that I seconded a motion regard­ going to tell a story of what Mr. Forgan ing place betting. I did not second Smith said to me. I was walking down Pitt it at all, so the informer that gave him ''the Street, Sydney, and I met him. He invited drum'' up at the Lands Office Hotel gave me for a drink of coffee at the W entworth him the "wrong oil." Hotel. I went up to the lounge. We had a The CHAIRlliAN: Order! chat about politics and we went over the old days. A lot of things had happened since Mr. JESSON: I came down to Brisbane then. He was then on the Cane Prices Board. because of a wire or a letter or a phone Mr. \Valsh's name was mentioned and he message from Vince Gair, whom I was very said to me-and I told the Premier about this .friendly with at that time. (Government a few years ago-that Ted Walsh was the members interjected.) I am not going worst pick he ever made of any man to put through a list of reasons why we do not like into any position, that he would wreck the each other now. He knows in his own con­ Labour Party. He said, "Ted Walsh will science. I am not going to bring women wreck the Labour Party,'' and that he was into it. I will leave that to Mr. Gair 's con­ a FrankensteinJ and that he regretted the science. I can remember when a certain day he went out to his farm and spent two young lady said, "Mr. Gair, I leave your or three days persuading him to nominate future with God.'' I do not want to produce against Artie Fadden. That was when Fadden letters that I wrote to Vince Gair on this had run away from me down to Mirani, and lady's behalf, or speak about the dirty, :filthy was beaten by the present Treasurer. That insinuations he made. If necessary, I will. is the position, ladies and gentlemen. The If he likes to make the same statement out hon. member for Bundaberg hfi:S fulfilled in the street that he made about her and Forgan Smith's prophecy. me I will take him to court and expose him for the dirty low coward he is. The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the hon. member to address his remarks to the chair. The CHAIRlliAN: Order! llir. JESSON: On 5 February, 1957, I llir. JESSON: I am talking about out­ received a letter from the Department of side, Mr. Chairman. Public Works and Housing in reply to repre­ The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the hon. sentations I made on behalf of my son and gentleman to withdraw that remark. my grandson and his wife for a rental home at the Housing Commission. I have made Mr. JESSON: Very well. I came down representations to the Housing Commission on the Stinson plane to Archer:field. It was on behalf of hundreds of people without much raining heavily. Walsh and Gair met me and success. The lack of houses in the Ingham took me to Forgan Smith's home at Yeerong­ district has been mentioned to me. It is a pilly, disgrace to the Government. I could not say Supply. [12 JuNE.] Supply. 109

much about it. I would get kicked out if Mr. Hilton: I never thought you were. I opened my mouth. The letter to which I have referred reads as follows- ]}Ir. Dnfficy: And the same number as in Barcoo~ " Dear Mr. Jesson, ''I have thoroughly examined the case of lUr. JESSON: This letter was written to your son who is desirous of being allocated me on 18 February by Mr. W. Elson Green, a Rental Home from the Housing Commis­ and the address on it is ''Inns of Court, sion. 21 Adelaide street, Brisbane.'' Mr. Green the barrister and I have been fighting side ''In the light of refusals for similar by side for years to defeat Communism in requests in the past and to the fact that the Australian Legion of Ex-Servicemen, and the policy of the Commission is very definite we have succeeded in defeating it. The on such matters, I regret to state that people who defeated it in the South, Matt rental accommodation cannot be provided Harrison and Morrie Kelly, the Federal Pre· as requested. sident and the Federal Secretary, both "It will be necessary for Mr.---, received the O.B.E. from the Queen for their the landlord, to take the necessary steps services to a returned servicemen's organisa­ through the Court to secure his home.'' tion. They did not have half the battle that This gentleman had a spastic kiddy and he Mr. Green and I had. What have we got took a flat near the spastic home, but when from the present Government, the splinter the child showed no improvement he decided Party'? Nothing but kicks and abuse. to return to his own home, and he asked my This is what the Premier said in 1932, Vol. son to vacate it. My son, like his father, 161 of "Hansard," page 923- would sooner cut his throat than remain in ' 'Men went to war to get out of their a home that was wanted by a man who had a obligations.'' spastic kiddy. A dirty insinuation has been made against me because I sleep at Parlia­ How can we expect decent treatment for ment House. I have three families living in returned soldiers from a person who made a my home because they cannot get a house. public statement like thaU Mr. Hilton: There are priorities; you Mr. J. R. Taylor: Who said that? know that. }fr. JESSON: The hon. the Premier. He Mr. JESSON: I know that there are no was a private member then. priorities for public servants who belong to Mr. Kehoe: You did not read the re,st you fellows. The groupers get houses. of it. }lr. Hilton: No, they do not. ]}fr. JESSON: There is nothing else to Mr. JESSON: I know of a man who read. I should like to say something very came down and walked straight into a home unparliamentary to the hon. gentleman. and I know a schoolteacher from Townsville In this letter, Mr. Green said- who walked into a home. '' I feel I must wnte to you because of Mr. Hilton: A schoolteacher's residence. certain vicious propaganda now being circulated against me by certain interested Mr. JESSON: No, a Housing Commission persons. So that you will know the true house. There are no residences in the city. facts I wish to state that at no time whilst I was victimised because I would not obey I have been a member of the Australian your wishes. Because I voted for the three Labour Party have I worked or stood as a weeks' annual leave you were told to do no candidate in opposition to an endorsed more for J esson than you could help. Labour candidate (See Rule 106, A.L.P. rules). }fr. Hilton: That is an untruth. ''Anyone knowing these facts who states Mr. JESSON: Of course it would be! to the contrary is a despicable liar. ]}fr. Hilton: Of course it is. "Now that I have, after some years of striving, cleared my name of the filthy, }fr. JESSON: There is the proof-this smear of Communism and disloyalty letter. unjustly and recklessly made by certain It would be very interesting to know how groupers and other bigots in the political many Housing Commission homes there are arena of this State, I find that I am now in Carnarvon. Will you answer that~ being politically 'investigated' by these self same character destroying pigmies and Mr. Hilton: Yes, certainly. gossips. lUr. JESSON: How many? ''They have gone back twenty-six years to 1932-the year when the Moore Govern­ }Ir. Hilton: I shall have to look it up, ment was thrown out of officr-for the pur­ but about the same number as there are in pose of finding some material on which Warrego. to attack me. In that year I turned 21 Mr. Dnfficy: I thought you were a years old, but a little too late to be christian gentleman. enrolled as a voter for that election and llO Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

hence I did not have a vote. However, I intensified my campaign believing that about this time I became interested in a in the circumstances I had an excellent group of independents who were opposed chance of winning. However, Mr. Porter to party politics. They formed a political suddenly withdrew and at the last minute group known for want of a more suitable Mr. E. Hill was elected as an A.L.P. name 'The Queensland Party.' All mem­ candidate. By this time there was no turn­ bers were free to have their own political ing back. The result is well known.'' beliefs. At that time I lived in Nundah He then goes on to say that he blames a where the candidate was a Mr. McDonalll certain Labour Minister for being very close who was a Socialist. In South Brisbane to the Country Party candidate for South­ the candidate (Mr. Clancy) was more of port and helped him to get in. He further an extreme right wing Labour candidate said- like Mr. Gair who also stood for his first . ·I rejoined the Rosalie Branch of the contest. I point this out to show that A.L.P. in January, 1956, on the nomination the members of this organisation were of the late Mr. Len Eastment, M.L.A., who banded together to fight for freedom of made full inquiries into my political back­ political thought for their candidates anJ ground. I was recently elected vice-presi­ not on any stated political policy. All dent of that branch and a representative candidates except one lost their deposits on the Federal and State Electorate Com­ and the party was wound up in the follow­ mittees. ing year. At no time before or during the ''To conclude, I would say that I owe existence of the 'Queensland Party' was I no apology to those of my critics who, a member of the A.L.P. though legally members of the Labour "I first became a member of the A.L.P. Party, have traitorous hearts which are when I joined the Coorparoo Branch ahout with Labour's political enemies and have 1938-1939. At a State Election held about been so for quite a long time. 1947 I phoned Mr. Gair (whom I thought ''I am writing you because I feel I was a friend) and offered myself as a have a duty to you who have been a friend, Labour candidate to contest the almost and I do not believe that you should be impossible seat of Toowong. embarrassed by not knowing the facts. "Mr. Gair said that the party was get­ ''Kind regards, ting behind an independent named 0 'Shea. " Yours sincerely, (This should be borne in mind when con­ sidering what happened in Southport in "(Signed) W. Elson Green." 1950. I have in my hand a copy of the ''Tribune'' ''After my discharge from the Army I of Wednesday, 27 February, 1957, where it transferred to the Nundah Branch and states '' Gair shows up oil companies' blatant remained a member until 1948 when I grabs.'' The Communists are backing Mr. allowed my membership to lapse. Gair. It further says, "Urges national ''This followed a vicious lie of the inquiry'' and has a photograph of Queens­ typical grouper type, viz., that I was a land Premier Gair. The Petrol Distribution Communist, told to the then Q.C.E. secre­ Bill was so mutilated after Caucus had a go tary, the late Mr. Fallon, which resulted at it that you would not know it for the in the Q.C.E. refusing my endorsement as Bill presented. a candidate to contest the plebiscite for the lUr. POWER: I rise to a point of order. Senate. I think in fairness to the general public I "It then appeared to me that leading should state that the statement made by the members of the party had gone so far to hon. member that the Bill was mutilated after the right that they branded anyone who Caucus is incorrect. There was no variation conscientiously followed Labour principles of it and the hon. member knows that. to be a Communist as an excuse for their own defection. In 1950 a State election Mr. JESSON: I know what I am talking was held. At this time I was not a mem­ about. A thing that has worried me is that ber of any political party. However, I the hon. gentleman moved to provide that believed that an independent candidate before appointments were made they should could win the Southport seat from the be brought down to Caucus. Tories and that a Labour candidate could ll:lr. Power: I did not move it. not, as had been proved time and again. It did not appear at all likely that a lUr. JESSON: If the hon. gentleman did Labour candidate would take the field. I not move it then somebody else did. It will made certain inquiries in this direction be on record. I am sure it was the hon. and this was generally believed in Labour gentleman but I will find out from the circles to be the position. I then announced minute book. my candidature as an independent. Still Mr. Power: What I said was that no sign of an A.L.P. candidate. It then appointments should be reported to Caucus appeared that two Tory candidates would before they were made public. However, take the field, viz., Mr. Charles Porter, when I became a member of the Cabinet I who had been selected as a Liberal, and learned that once the Government passeil. a Mr. E. Gaven as a Country Party nominee. minute it became public property. Supply. [12 JUNE.] Supply . Ill

.1Ir. JESSO~: Was it not the same thing ''Oh! ' ' As a responsible citizen and as a w1th the appomtment of Mick Lyons to the member of the Legislative Assembly-- Films Commission~ I know all about the row that the Premier had with the former Mr. Davis: A man holding two jobs! Public Service Commissioner, the late Mr. Mr. BROSNAN: Yes, and doing them McCracken, when he brought down a minute both efficiently and well. If the hon. member to the effect that there was to be no appeal for Barcoo finds it difficult to do the one he against certain appointments. In spite of has, I have no difficulty in doing the two I that, the Premier had the cheek to include have, any more than his Deputy Leader has provisions for the right of appeal in the in doing his two jobs. University of Queensland Acts Amendment Bill. Let this thought sink deeply into the minds of those who have a care for the future of (Time expired.) Queensland. It is not a fallacy to say that there is a Communist influence in Australia lir. BROSNAN (Fortitude Valley) (9.11 today; it is not too silly for words. The p.m.): I do not intend to waste the time of Communist Party in Au&tralia is stronger the Committee by engaging in levity. In my today than it has ever been. The Communist previous speech I emphasised the grave im­ Party is stronger in Australia today than portance of realising the menace confronting e\ er before in its history and it is up to all the nation today. I rise again because I those who believe in democratic principles was followed by the hon. member for Warrego, tn stand up for them. That is what lwn. who told the Committee at least seven times members on this side have done and I am during his speech that he, more than any proud to be associated with them. other person, was competent to talk about the fight against Communism. He said he Hon. E. J. WALSH (Bundaberg-Treas­ took second place to nobody, here or outside, urer) (9.15 p.m.) Before replying to hon. in that fight. Let us accept that as a fnct. members, having learned of the illness of The hon. member went ou to say that he Mrs. Nicklin, the wife of the Leader of, the had been fighting Communism for 28 years, Opposition, I am sure I speak for all hon. and then he said that to suggest that there members when I express the hope that her was any Communist influence in the natiou illness is not a serious one and that she today was too silly for words. He said sub­ will make a speedy recovery. sequently that to suggest that Communism Honourable 1\'Iembers: Hear, hear! here was rampant or strong was fallacious. That is the type of thinking that unfortu­ I\lr. Nicklin: Thank you. nately is confusing the issue today. Here is I\:Ir. WALSH: Now I have a very wide a self-confessed champion of the fight against field to cover. Subject on this oceasion to Communism. In one breath he tells us that the indulgence of lwn. members, I will he has been fighting Communism for 28 yenrs, exercise my right to unlimited time. It is and in the next he says that to suggest that very necesbary that I should reply to some of there is any Communist influence in the nation the statements that have been made. I hope today is completely fallacious. One statement that hon. members on my extreme right will or the other must be untrue or has he been advise some of their number who have fighting nothing for 25 years. It is indisput­ spoken tonight that their place is in the n ble that the Communists try to cause con­ Chamber in the concluding stages of the fusion; they get men's minds muddled. If debate, as I have no desire to say anything you examine their actions, you will always about them in their absence. Immediately find a motive for destruction. Once you find the two gentlemen to whom I particularly that, you will recognise their ~pproach refer made their contributions, they left the and attack and consequently be able \'hamber and we have not seen them since. to counteract it. Let nobody say that I know this is typical of many others. the Communists are not a force in Australia today. They can afford the most I shall reply first to the hon. member for expensive advertising space for their book Hinchinbrook. Over the years we have come depot in the Valley on page 2 of "The to know him as one of the clowns of this Courier-Mail" every Saturday. They never Assembly. On occasions he has put on a fail to get out their propaganda. You can Teally good show to entertain his members. buy reams of literatm-e about Red China and Mr. Jesson: You have not been able to every other country they have taken over. use the whip on me as ring master. Men who say in one breath that they are champions of the cause against Communism I\Ir. W ALSH: I do not think the hon. nnd in the next that talk about Communism member has ever earned his pay as Whip, in Australia is fallacious can be likened to and I hardly think the taxpayers should be the parents of the children of Hungary. What called upon even to pay his parliamentary happened in Hungary can happen here if we salary. No doubt the electors of Hinchin­ ne not careful and watchful. brook will have some say in tllat when the opportunity arises. A.L.P. Members: Ah! The hon. member had much to say about Mr. BROSNAN: I do not mind how much the time he got into great difficulty because non. members on my right '' Ah! '' and of flaunting his association with different 112 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. interests that were opposed to the Labour Mr. W ALSH: It is in "Hansard." 1 Party and were seeking, through sectarian quite frankly admit that many of my propaganda, to disrupt the Labour Party in admirers, not only at that centre but in many Queensland. He refened to ''Smith's others, were prepared to contribute to my ~Weekly," but, if I may correct him, it was return to Parliament. I have not let them '' The Clarion.'' down either. 1Ir. Jesson: It was not "The Clarion" Let me get on with this story about the at all. amendment to the Racing Act. JUr. Jesson interjected. lUr. W ALSH: And the man who wrote the article, and whom the llon. member for Mr. WALSH: You are no longer the Brisb~ne took down to the station to inter­ official ~Whip of Parliament. You are sacked. vim• him the night before he left, was Mr. Mackay, who used to write for ''Smith's l'tlr. Jesson: I sacked myself and thank Weekly." Now he is getting his facts right. God I am where I am. I will not waste any time on what the Tlle CHAIRJIIAN: Order! hon. member for Hinchinbrook said that the J\Ir. W ALSH: I did not say that the late Hon. IY. ]'organ Smith may have said hon. member for Hinchinbrook seconded about me. I think I can leave it to the any motion in Caucus. I said that a report members of that gentleman's family to say appe:~red in the "Courier-Mail" which stated whether any of the things that he said about that Messrs. Mann and Jesson had raised him tonight would be correct. I do not have the matter of the amendment of the Racing to go beyond that, because I know the hon. Act in Caucus. I know the representations member so well. He is troubled about tl1e that had been made. This was not given to time I made some reference to him and the me by a man in politics but a man who hon. member for Brisbane about a proposal comes from the country and frequents that >Yas put up in Caucus. I was not a Tattersalls Club. He was able to tell me that member of the Caucus. this particular offer of money was being made Mr. Jesson: You had the wrong oil. to Messrs. J esson and Mann. 1Ir. WALSH: I had the right oil when lUr. JESSON: I rise to a point of order. I was told there were certain interests that I strongly object to that and ask for it to frequented a particular club in the city that be withdrawn. It is untrue. I could say had £250 to pay on the spot if certain amend­ that it was a foul untruth. It is the only ments to the Racing Act could be prevented. thing you could expect from the Treasurer. Then I saw a little paragraph in the He knows very well that it is wrong. I "Courier-Mail" next morning saying that challenge him here and now to name the Messrs. M ann and J esson had raised this man. matter in Caucus. I immediately accepted The CHAIRitiAN: Order! that as a message to the people outside who were dealing with this that these two men Mr. WALSH: I have not said that the had done their job in Caucus. hon. member accepted £250. 1Ir. JESSON: I rise to a point of order. Itir. Jesson: You did. What did you say The Treasurer's statement is absolutely then~ wrong. It is offensive to me. I was not even mentioned in the paper and I did not Mr. WALSH: I said that I was informed that £250 was to be made available. What second the motion. I only spoke on it. His informant arrived back at the Caucus meet­ happened~ ing late, as he always did, and at that time JUr. Jesson: Name your informant. Mr. R.oberts had seconded the motion and I was just talking on the matter. It is no use The CHAIRlliAN: Order! denying that. I could talk about the money 1Ir. WALSH: I wanted to get this state­ given to Mr. Walsh to go to Bundaberg by ment into the Press. What happened~ I a hotel-keeper as a present from his admirers. made the statement to the Press that I pro­ Tile CHAIRRIAN: Order! teoted against the Parliamentary Labour Caucus being used as a means for peddling J\Ir. Jesson: What about the send-off this particular type of propaganda. I thought they gave him in the Lands Office Hotel~ it v.as damaging to the Labour Party. Every­ body knows I made the statement. Tl1e CHAIRMAN: Order! Mr. Jesson: Yes, to build up the race lUr. WALSH: The hon. member has no clubs and Dr. Uhr. I am a wake-up to you. need to raise that. It is already in '' Hansard.'' The CHAIRMAN: Order! Mr. Jesson: I am just reminding people Itir. W ALSH: I am talking about some­ like you are trying to remind them. thing that happened approximately eight years ago. I do not know that Dr. Uhr The CHAIRMAN: Order! was even prominently associated with racing Supply. (12 JUNE.) Supply. 113 at that time. The hon. member should not Mr. MANN: I withdraw it. introduce these red herrings. What happened~ It was discussed in Caucus. I was on my way Mr. Walsh: You are a bludger. to the North on an organising campaign and The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the I picked up a '' Courier-Mail'' in Townsville Treasurer to withdraw that remark. only to see two very good photographs on the front page. One picture was of the :ilir. W ALSH: I withdraw it. hon. member for Brisbane and one of myself. That was splashed on the front page of the Mr. ll'IANN: At a subsequent Caucus "Courier-Mail" and it said what they were meeting the matter was brought up before going to do with me and how they were the late i\ir. Hanlon and he suggested the going to deal with me at the Q.C.E. Immedi­ matter be dropped and he would handle it ately I reached Cairns I sat down in the at the Q.C.E. I had the mat almost worn A.W.U. office and dictated a letter which I out at the Q.C.E. facing charges but never addressed to the Parliamentary Labour Party 11 as I charged before it in relation to ·the Secretary, Mr. Donald. I did not forward it matter which the Treasurer talks about. I to the Party. I enclosed it in an envelope ask him to accept that denial. addressed to Mr. S. J. Bryan, Secretary of :ilir. W ALSH: I accept his denial. The the Q.C.E. I explained, as a member of the hon. member is overheated. He was not here Inner Executive, although I took up the when I made my remarks. He can thank the matter with the Parliamentary Labour Caucus, hon. member for Hinchinbrook and not me I thought I should bring it before their for introducing the subject. notice. In that letter I made certain charges which were subsequently dealt with by the Jlir. Jesson: Nothing of the sort. Q.C.E. It was quite in order. Mr. Mann: Filthy cur! Mr. MANN: I rise to a point of order. I have been informed that during my The CHAIRMAN: I ask the hon. mem­ absence the Treasurer made certain allega­ ber to withdraw that remark. tions that I was a party to bringing a matter Mr. Mann: In deference to you, Mr. up in Caucus, and there was a certain sug­ Clark, I withdraw it. gestion of £250 offered to myself or Mr. J esson if that matter was brought up in Mr. WALSH: Everybody here heard the Caucus. I give that an emphatic denial. hon. member for Hinchinbrook raise the Were I not Speaker of this House I would question. use much stronger terms in expressing my Mr. Jesson: Of course I did. I raised condemnation of the :filthy insinuation made it all right, to show what a hypocrite you are. by the Treasurer. I could say strong things I will raise a lot more, too, before you sit if I were on the floor of the House and not down. the custodian of its rights and privileges. The statement is not correct; it is untrue. ~Ir. WALSH: The hon. member having The matter the Treasurer is speaking about raised it, I immediately proceeded to out­ was the matter of the abolition of place line my attitude, no more than that. I did betting at the races at Albion Park and Eagle nothing more than I had done before, not a Farm. I had a strong objection to the thing. abolition of place betting. Everybody knows Mr. Jesson interjected. that I am an inveterate gambler. The sug­ gestion there was any representation made by The CHAIRMAN: Order! me is incorrect. The statement that the hon. member for Hinchinbrook had anything to ~Ir. WALSH: I did raise those matters. do with it is a :filthy insinuation. I moved I am not denying them. I did put charges in the resolution and Mr. Roberts, the ex-Lord to the Q.C.E. that were subsequently dealt Mayor, seconded it. I was at the following with and determined. Caucus meeting-- Mr. Mann: Why don't you tell the truth? It was not on that matter at all-nothing to Mr. WALSH: I rise to a point of order. do with place betting. Mr. MANN: I have a point of order. I don't want to get a direction from you. Mr. WALSH: Can you remember what the charges were that I put in~ Mr. W ALSH: I am not taking it from ' ~Ir. Jesson: No, he was not advised of you. them. Mr. MANN: I will not take it from you. Mr. W ALSH: The hon. member for BriJS­ bane was. The CHAIRMAN: Order! ~Ir. Jesson: He was not. Mr. MANN: I apologise to the Chair. I am not going to allow this lout to tell me Mr. WALSH: I am not resurrecting the what to do. matter, but I will go on with it. The CHAIRMAN: Order! The CHAIRJliAN: Order! I ask the hon. member to withdraw that remark. Mr. ~Iann: Go on with it. Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Mr. W ALSH: I am not bringing the The Mayor of Bundaberg is my authority in matter up. this instance, and I think every hon. member Mr. Jesson: I could have told them who knows Mr. Buss will accept him as a something about the milk vendors; I could Yerv respectable and honourable citizen. have told them about the drive-in theatres. Mr. Sparkes: A very fine chap. Mr. WALSH: I have a few cheque butts Jllr. W ALSH: A very respectable and in my possession, too. honourable citizen. On one of my recent Mr. Jesson: That is more of your dirty Yisits to Bundaberg, the Mayor of Bundaberg mongrel stuff. said to me, ''How is Elson Green getting on~'' I said, ''I do not see much of him.'' Mr. WALSH: If you want to know who He said, ''Ask him if he remembers the days gave them to me-Lanrie Kelly gave them when he was in the Young Liberals Debating to me. Club with me.'' I have named my authority. Mr. Jesson: Why haven't you raised Mr. Duggan: He is one of your principal them before~ You have carried them arouncl ,;upporters in Bundaberg. for years. Mr. W ALSH: If Mr. Buss is one of my Mr. WALSH: I do not know why the principal supporters, that is to my credit. hon. member for Brisbane should get so Mr. Hiley: That is obviously untrue, heated about it. because there were no Young Liberals when Mr. lllann: I have just been informed of they were young men. it. lllr. W ALSH: I would not take the Mr. WALSH: You were informed about responsibility of mentioning the name of it. You know that I have never run away Mr. Buss if he did not make that statement. fmm an argument with you. Thank your Let the hon. member for Coorparoo fight it ®l!eague for bringing the matter up. out with the Mayor of Bundaberg. l!Ir. I\Iann: I do not mind what you say Jllr. Hiley: You want to bring forward about me as long as you tell the truth. a statement that sounds credible before you make a stupid statement like that. Mr. W ALSH: That is all right; I never do otherwise. lllr. WALSH: I have given you my authority. Dr. Noble: We are finding out a few Hiley: Why repeat the rot? things about both sides. lU:r. Jllr. WALSH: The hon. member does Mr. WALSH: You did not have to find not mean to tell me that there is any differ­ out these things. They were all published and ence between the old Nationalist Party or splashed in the Press. the Conservative Party and the old Liberal Dr. Noble: It has been a pretty dirty Party. party in the past. The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask hon. Mr. WALSH: It has been published and members to allow the Treasurer to make his splashed in the Press. We had some very speech in his own way. regular correspondents. lUr. W ALSH: What does it matter if Mr. Jesson: You mentioned those they were the Liberals or the Nationalists~ cheques. Mr. Green was still a member of the debating club. The CHAIRliiAN: Order! llir. Jesson: Why didn't you say that Mr. WALSH: Now I come to Mr. Elson in the first place~ Green. Mr. W ALSH: It does not matter. I will Mr. Jesson: An honourable gentleman. probably get evidence later on that some­ Mr. W ALSH: I did not raise anything where in the distant past if a member af lwre about Mr. Elson Green. the Communist Debating Party-- ltir. Hiley: You are now suggesting that Mr. Jesson: The hon. the Attorney­ Mr. Buss was at one time a CommunisH Gt>neral did. Mr. Power: I said he opposed a Labour 1Ur. WALSH: No. I think the hon. candidate. member for Coorparoo has a lot to learn. It is true and cannot be denied that Mr. The CHAIRliiAN: Order! Order! I Elso:n Green did stand against the endorseLl shall have to name somebody here. Labour candidate on the South Coast. Mr. Moore: Name him. Why don't you ]Ur. Jesson: He stood against him. shut him up and let the Committee proceed~ (Laughter.) Mr. WALSH: Other members have raised Mr. W ALSH: I give the hon. member Mr. Elson Green's name, and I just want to for Hinchinbrook marks for that. Hr1 tell the Committee the position as I see it. opposed the Labour candidate. After all Supply. (12 JUNE.] Supply.

these years and after his being the secretary activities were of no real value and could of the Queensland Party which ran candi­ not be justified. If the hon. member knew dates opposing the Labour Party in 1932 the history of the pastoral industry in this when he was quite a young man, at this late State as he should, he would know that in stage when Communists are beginning to 1931 the P.W.I.U. formed a very strong infiltrate into the A.L.P. Mr. Green has found organisation, backed by '' Truck er'' Brown his way into the A.L.P. and a few more, and aided and abetted by people who want to parade themselves today J'tlr. Jesson: You condemn the Aus­ us good A.\V.U. members. He would know tralian Legion of Ex-Servicemen~ also that there was a very serious challenge Mr. W ALSH: It is a filthy lie. to the A.W.U. on that occasion. He would know, too, that an alliance between the Mr. JESSON: I rise to a point of order. United Graziers' Association and the Australian Workers' Union effectively The CHAIRlUAN: What is the point of defeated the Communist thrust into the orderf pastoral industry in those years. The hon. ll:Ir. Jesson: He called me a filthy liar member for Barcoo knows all about these in other words. things. If he was truthful, he would not deny the truth of what I am saying. The CHAJIDIAN: I ask the Treasurer to withdraw the statement. The hon. member said he was in the Burdekin area. Some hon. members will Mr. Jesson: I want to keep Parlia­ remember that in 1935 Communists Henry ment's prestige high. (Laughter.) and Neville, and others, engaged in a very Mr. W ALSH: No body believes that, strong Communist attack on the sugar knowing the hon. member for Hinchinbrook. industry. On that occasion an alliance between the organisations representing the He got on to other matters about appoint· growing and milling sides of the sugar ments made by the Governor-in-Council where industrv and the Australian Workers' Union there was no appeal. I do not know of any defeated the Communist threat in Tully and Government at any stage with a policy other other northern sugar centres. than that of appointing administrative heads and departmental heads by way of executive I warn hon. members not to brush aside minute, with the approval of the Governor­ lightly the threat of Communism. The in-Council, with no appeal. Communists are on their way again. As I proceed, I will show that they are infiltrating Mr. Jesson: What about Mick Lyons? the Labour Party. Once again I have to Mr. WALSH: Mr. Lyons is not a mem­ cite " The Communist Review" of .April ber of any department of the Public Ser­ 1957, at page 132. This is what it says- vice. The hon. member has been here for 22 '' Approaches with the A.W.U. developed years and apparently he does not know the at the time of the shearers' strike, and we machinery of administration. hope to reach closer relations with that The hon. member for Warrego made refer­ organisation. ' ' ence to the Corns. at Cunnarnulla and ta,lked Those are not my words. They are the words about a man called Poulgrain going out to of the official journal of, the Communist Cunnamulla. The only person I know who had Party appearing in an article by no less a any association with sending Mr. Poulgrain person than Edgar Ross, whom everybody out there is Mr. Bukowski. We :find the hon. knows to be a Communist. The article is member for Warrego defending Mr. Bukow­ headed: "Crisis in the Coal Industry. Report ski. He should work out with Mr. Bukowski to the Central Committee, March, 1957.'' The what the relationship was at that time. Communists have admitted that they have Of course, I do not think Mr. Poulgrain again made approaches to the Australian would want to be associated in any way Workers' Union and that they hope to have with Mr. Bukowski. Nevertheless, if we closer relations with it in the future. accept the statement of the hon. member for I turn now to the statement by the hon. Warrego, and as Mr. Bukowski was very member for Warrego that the dh·ision in the actively associated with the Industrial Groups at that time, he must take some responsibility Labour Party in Queensland had its origin in for that. the Hobart conference. He referred to what was known as the Hobart splinter group. In The hon. member went on to dismiss the the course of his remarks, when he had so Communist influence in this country as negligible. As the hon. member for Fortitude much to say about the late Mr. Harry Boland, Valley has pointed out, the hon. member to whom I referred last night as a very for Warrego said he had been :fighting the honourable Labour man and a good unionist, Communists for 28 years, and then he went I asked what Mr. Bukowski had done with on to say that it was fallacious to talk about him in the .A.W.U. ballot. I repeat it now. a Communist influence in Australia. On his He came 21st in the ballot in the Southern own admission he has been engaged in District, where 19 delegates were required. activities against the Communists for 28 In other words, he was not voted in as a years, and then he admits, in effect, that his delegate by Mr. Bukowski 's district at all. 116 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply•

. I think even the hon. member for Warrego ing a say in the selection of the six delegates w1ll concede that any difference of opinion who were accepted by the conference in Hobart. I have had has always been expressed within It is quite true that the decisions that were the Parliamentary Labour Party, the Q.C.E. made in Hobart have been accepted by the ?l" the .Cabinet itself. I have never engaged Parliamentary Labour Cauma:s here. It is also m outside argument on the domestic policy of quite true that all the other decisions by the Labour Party. As I am no longer a mem­ Convention here have been accepted irrespec­ ber of the party that is now being needled tive of whether members have agreed or dis­ along by the Communist Party, I am no agreed with them. But at no stage has it longer bound by that loyalty to refrain from been accepted by the Parliamentary Labour expressing my opinion on these matters. Caucus that the Q.C.K or any other body I cast my mind back to the unanimous should take unto itself the right to direct the decision of the Inner Executive of the Q.C.E., Uovernment as to the week and month when y;hen, much against my wi&h, I was selected legislation should be introduced into this as the representative to go down on the first Chamber. That is partly the cause of the stage of the inquiry into the charges that had split, plus the fact that the Communist been made against certain members of the organisation today is seeking to get a firmer Federal Parliamentary Labour Party. Having and firmer grip on the Labour Party in attended that Executive meeting, and remem­ Queensland. bering that Dr. Evatt had said he was going Despite what the hon. members for to make charges against those people, I expected that charges would be made. All Bremer and Warrego might say, these mat­ twelve members of the Executive-two from ters were dealt with by the Q.C.E. When the each State-decided that in the eight pages Premier, myself and other delegates to the Hobart Conference returned, the Q.C.E. of the submissions made by Dr. Evatt, the Leader of the Federal Labour Party, no refused to accept the motion of censure moved by Mr. Bukowski. By a majority charges were made and he was given until 10 o'clock next morning to make them. When decision the Q.C.E. turned it down. Hon. I went along to see him during the dinner members of the splinter group of the A.L.P. adjournment, I pointed out that he had made do not desire to accept that position, but on no charges and told he had been given till the other hand they think that the Premier 10 o'clock next morning. "What do you should allow himself and other members of want me to do, Ted?'' he asked, and I said, this Party to be pushed along by a Com­ "It is up to you, Bert. You have publicly munist-controlled Q.C.E. at their bidding and stated your intention of making charges direction. against these men and you have made none.'' When the hon. member for Toowoomba Consequently, I could not be blamed at that was short of something to talk about last stage if I submitted to him that he had no night he mentioned that I frequented a right to hang the Labour Party's dirty linen particular hotel. Everybody knows that. I do out on the public highways; there was a not dine here. Everybody knows that. I .get proper place to deal with it and he had no sick of some politicians-I see enough of them. right to use the radio or the Press to broad­ I like to get around and meet some of the east or publish statements about his intention useful people in the community. Conse­ to make charges. I told him quite frankly quently I frequent the same place as the that if I were to give an honest, just and hon. members for Barcoo, Warrego, Ipswich, sincere decision in accordance with the rules, Kedron, North Toowoomba and others in the it would be that the charges made against him Chamber. I am not getting in a plug for the lwd been upheld. Lands Office Hotel, although let me tell you However, I pass to the conference. The there is very good service there. I do not Victorian Labour Party having elected six know whether it surprises the hon. member delegates from a properly constituted confer­ for Toowoomba to learn that I have been ence under their own rules as determined bv going there for 22 years and I do not look the State Conference in exactly the same way any th.e worse for it. It is true that I have ns we do at the State Convention here, the many business friends who go to the same Commm1ists got in and obtained a hold and place. saw to it that, with the use of the Federal I feel honoured with their acquaintance Executive, a special conference was summoned and association. They may differ from me in to dislodge those six delegates. Mr. Schmella politics but I regard them as friends in the of Queensland and Mr. Chamberlain, now community. They are not conspiring or J;'ederal President, were appointed the iMtriguing against their mates the same as Credential Committee to determine the bona, you find down here, which fact urges one fides of the delegates to the conference. to get away from it. Since I came back in Two Victorian delegates were nominated 1950 I have never had one meal at Parlia­ which neither Mr. Schmella nor Mr. Cham­ ment House. I do not frequent the places berlain would certify as bona fide Labour which the hon. member for Toowoomba may :men, because of their Communist associations. frequent-clubs and various other places. I That did not stop them getting into the would not be dined and entertained with the flash wines and all the other things. Labour conference and it did not stop thC'~e Communist representatives so determined by lUr. Dnggan: You have had your share Messrs. Chamberlain and Schmella from hav- of them. Supply. [12 JUNE.] Supply. 117

l\'Ir, WALSH: I never have mixed in JUr. W ALSII: The hon. member will be the same atmosphere and I have no desire getting some liquorice before this is over. to do so. If the hon. member wants to attend at the American Club in Sydney with oil .illr. Jesson: I can give it back; do not worry about that. <;ompany representatives that is his business. Jlir. Dnggan: Secret police. lllr. W ALSII: I shall leave the hon. member for Hinchinbrook to the people's JUr. WALSII: No, not at all. Innocent court. people who go about their work, and who happened to be on holidays. lUr. Jesson: That is right. JUr. Dnggan interjected. JUr. W ALSH: I shall leave the hon. member to the people's court as we under­ lUr. W ALSH: The hon. member talks stand it in a democratic State, and not a about the Gestapo. I told him frankly how Moscow court trial such as the Premier got. I quite innocently in this House a visitor from should think that every man who is acquainted Sydney-not the Gestapo and not an infor­ with Dr. Uhr knows that he has been a very mant of the police-was able to mention the good citizen of Queensland, a man who under­ time and place when the hon. member was at went considerable hardship as a prisoner-of­ Lennons Hotel that day. war of the Japanese in Changi and other lUr. Dnggan: Would there be anything camps. (1ishonourable in that~ Mr. Jesson: You had two opportunities to go-the first war, and the second war. Jllr. WALSH: No, not at all. 3Ir. Dnggan: Why mention it? JUr. W ALSH: I have said in this House before that all I could do was offer myself. Iilr. WALSII: When the hon. member If I was rejected, that was not my fault. became so agitated about "The Courier­ Mail'' report of his dash back to the city ll'Ir. Jesson: What did you have-flat I said, out of the blue, ''I can tell you you feet, or a weak heart~ were at Lennons at a quarter to 11 yesterday lllr. W ALSH: At least I did not have a morning.'' I can assure the hon. member I bone head. have no desire to pimp or spy on him. The lwn. member has been in the public eye and Mr. Jesson: It is a funny thing; I was everybody notices him. There are many shot in the bone head, and the bone knee, people whom I do not know but who recog­ too. nises me as the very successful Treasurer of Tl1e CHAIRlliAN: I ask the hon. mem­ this Government. ber for Hinchinbrook to refrain from inter­ llr. Hiley: Your deficits will be unfor­ jecting. getable. llir. Jesson: I am sorry. .illr. WALSII: How many have there been since I have been Treasurer~ Mr. W ALSII: Dr. Uhr is accepted by everybody in the community, particularly Ur. Hiley: You emptied the Treasury; those who know him well, as a man who has two years ago there were millions there. given outstanding service in many ways. Mr. WALSH: I told the hon. member There are few men that I know of in this last night how it was emptied by the gentle­ State who have done as much as Dr. Uhr has man whom he boomed up as the great in the interests of charitable institutions in administrator of the railways. That hon. the City of Brisbane. When he is returned member was responsible for the money going to this House as a member of the Queensland down year by year. Everybody knows how Labour Party for the Kedron seat, hon. mem­ I have tried to keep my fingers on it. I am bers will find that he is one of the finest not blaming the administration. As I said debaters ever to come into this Chamber. at the conference of officers called by the I look forward to seeing him sitting side by Premier last July, when they were told they side with the Premier and his colleagues on would have to engage in an economy cam­ this side as a member of the new Govern­ paign, that any administration must have ment under the guidance of the Queensland some guidance from the Minister in control, Labour Party. and if it does not get that guidance things The hon. member for Kedron said a num­ may go wrong. ber of things about what goes on here and JUr. Hanlon: The Premier told the hon. what goes on there. I am sorry he did not member for Toowoomba that he did not tell us about his reception at Tattersall 's Club have a Minister capable of taking the Trans­ amongst his friends. He knows, and his port Department portfolio. friends who accompanied him know, what sort of a reception he received there. When those Jir. W ALSH: I do not know; that is men found out that he had run out on the hon. member's word. The hon. member democratic government, they no longer wanted for Kedron-he is away again-made some to know him. reference to Dr. Uhr. Again, he can be left to the people's court J\Ir. Jesson interjected. -the electors of Kedron. 118 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

IUr. Duggan: When are you going to Mr. W ALSH: It is nothing to do with tell us why Supply should be extended until judges. If he likes to make application for 30 October¥ a case to be heard no doubt the case would come before the court, if any one of them 1\Ir. W ALSH: If the hon. member had will come before the court. Some day this been in here instead of running out and Parliament will have to look at the position answering the phone for the oil company becau&e in other States there is a law deal­ representatives, he would have heard the ing with this particular circumstance. I do reasons. not think that in a community such as ours. people should be allowed to issue writs out of IUr. DUGGAN: I rise to a point of the Supreme Court for the purpose of stifling order. I think every one will agree that public discussion and that only. Any person some attempt should be made to bring more issuing a writ should be able to satisfy a dignity into this debate. The hon. the judge that he has a compelling reason for Treasurer should set an example. He has the issue of a writ and the judge would deter­ made a nasty innuendo that I went out to mine whether there is justification for the answer the phone for the oil companies. issue of it. When I have been absent from the Chamber today, I have been absent on official business Mr. Jesson: Alter the law and we will or dealing with matters in the interests of support it. my constituency. The statement he has made is offensive to me and 1 ask that he with­ Mr. WALSH: He went on to speak draw it. abont my association at a Fascist meeting and published this in "The Worker." The hon. The CHAIRl\IAN: I ask the hon. member for Toowoomba might complain about gentleman to withdraw. some of my references tonight, but does he· object to my replying to statements published Mr. W ALSH: I accept his denial. in "The Workerf" That is what I am doing. Under the Standing Orders, I am obliged It is true that round about 1948 or 1949 I to do so. met three very respectable citizens and I did 1\Ir. Dnggan: That is another &O at the request of Mr. Bukowski. If it was insinuation. a Fascist gathering, he was the person who invited me to go to it. I asked him the l\Ir. W ALSH: The insinuation by the nature of the meeting, and he was not elear hon. member for Toowoomba was that I had as to what it was, but he thought it was given no reasons to this House. something to do with anti-Communism. I went to the particular home and met three­ Mr. Dnggan: Neither you have. respectable persons concerned in the handling of this particular plan. It was a plan to meet Itlr. W ALSH: I have. If he was not in a pos&ible attack by Communists in the State his place and he does not know those reasons where the Communists might seek to take that is no reason why he should ask me t~ control of powerhouses and such-like installa­ repeat them. The Premier gave very sound tions. This particular so-called Fascist gang and compelling reasons why the Committee should grant Supply. had a plan based on the A.R.P. which oper­ ated during the war for civil defence. I Mr. Dnggan: All you have done is commended them on their plan, but I said I make personal attacks on various members was afraid the Labour Party could not of Parliament. associate itself with it. If the same plan arose tomorrow to meet the same set of Mr. W ALSH: I gave the reasons this circumstances I would not run away and not morning. I accept the hon. member's word commend any citizen who sought to imple­ that he had other business to discuss outside ment a plan to resist and restrain Communists the Chamber, because I know that happens from taking control of power installations to many members. On the other hand, if the in this State. I heard their story. At the hon. member wishes to insinuate that I did invitation of Mr. Bukowski, I say publicly I not give the reasons, that is equally offensive met them and commended them for their plan to me. to meet the Communist threat. They were doing no more than the late Ben Chifley, a Following the statement that I made last Labour Prime Minister, did in New South night, Mr. Bukowski wanted to make some Wales. Why then condemn them' challenge. After all, he has got no fewer than seven or eight writs on his hands now. 1\Ir. Hanlon: Did they tell you whether I would not discuss the merits or demerits of they had arms or ammunition stored up' them. 1\Ir. W ALSH: The hon. member might Mr. Jesson: A few more will do no il1quire from the Communists at the Trades harm. Hall whether they have arms and ammunition stored up. Mr. W ALSH: Some of them are two years old. If you could get him into the The hon. member for Toowoomba witness box-- seems to have a police bogey at the moment. I thought he would have let that subject die Mr. Jesson: Appoint a few more judges. last night. His real bitterness is not so Supply. [12 JuNE.] Supply. 119

much against the transfer of Inbpector Currey suggestion at Toowoomba, I resisted it at as it is against the transfer of Inspector Rockhampton, and I resisted it at Adelaide. Burns from Longreach to Toowoomba. There are men at the Trades Hall who know )fr. Duggan: I do not understand the that if it had not been for me, industrial implication behind that statement. groups would have been written into the Federal Constitution of the Labour Party Mr. W ALSH: The hon. member knows at Adelaide. No less a person than one ·what the implication is. Thomas Dougherty, the General Secretary of the Australian Workers' Union, recom­ Mr. Duggan: I do not. mended that that should be done. I was Jir. W ALSH: The hon. member's appointed chairman of a committee on memory is not as short as that. Inspector which was appointed a representative of Burns was in Toowoomba previously as a each State to report on the motion that sub-inspector. Dougherty was prepared to move. Fred Riley was there. He is a grand old Labour Mr. Devries: He is a very fine officer. stalwart, who served a term of imprisonment during World War I. because of his agita­ JUr. W ALSH: I do not know the man. tion in Victoria against conscription. He is I think the hon. member for Toowoomba still with them fighting the Communists had better leave references to the police although he is now over 70 years of age. alone. He seconded the motion in the Committee. I now come to the Australian Workers' After I had offered my resistance, they came Union and industrial groups. Of course the round to a resolution that was accepted by Australian Workers' Union was actively the Conference of the day and there was associated with industrial groups. It no further trouble. Hon. members may test derived considerable finance for its propa­ that in any corner they choose. I am sure ganda from that association. The Southern it will be accepted anywhere. The reason District Secretary of the A.W.U. used his for my action was not that at any time I car and petrol that, I take it, was paid for opposed the activities of groups in their mainly from funds contributed by the mem­ fight against Communism but that, as I bers of his union. I am not condemning said in Toowoomba, there was no room for him for that. He was giving useful service bodies within bodies. It was right and against Communist activity in this State. proper that the Labour Party as such and But now he wants to condemn all those who the trade union movement as such should ''"ere associated with him at that time. He give all the moral support they could was deeper in it than anybody else, yet he to the activities of industrial groups wants to condemn all the others. Why~ It against Communism in Australia. I will all emanates from a petition that Frank continue in that attitude despite all the Roberts drew up and had signed by more sneers from the break-away pm-ty. than 1,000 members of the A.W.U., seeking court-controlled ballots for official positions The hon. member for North Toowoomba h1 the A.W.U. It was to be presented to raised the question of man-hours worked and the Federal Arbitration Court. Mr. I replied to him. I listened to the National Bukowski cannot deny that. It was the News and I must say there was a very fair Communists and their sympathisers at the presentation of that item. They reported Trades Hall who rescued him. They got what he had said and what I had replied. Frank Roberts to hand the petition over to That is fair reporting. vV P do not always them, and it has not seen the light of day get that from the Press. The hon. member since then. It was then that the bargaining for North Toowoomba can see how he was between Bukowsld and the Communists at led astray. the Trades Hall started. lUr. Wood: No, he was not. You know Mr. Jesson: I do not think you are that the Government Printer could print the telling the truth on that, either. ballot papers in five days.

)Ir. W ALSH: The hon. member can 1Ur. W ALSH: The hon. member made make his own inquiries. the specific statement that no more than :lir. Jesson: I have made a few. 16 man-hours had been \\'Orked in overtime. .il'Ir. W ALSH: I call as my witness no lUr. Wood: Up till last week. less a person than John Schmella. JUr. W ALSH: Up till last week . .il'Ir. Jesson: He is in England, and the

IUr. W ALSH: The hon. member will be lUr. W ALSH: I gave the information in his political grave after the next election. quite clearly to the hon. member as from the Everybody knows my attitude towards date the Government Printer entered into industrial groups and to the suggestion that the agreement with the union to work over­ they should be accepted constitutionally as time. part of the Labour Party. I resisted the lir. Wood: What date was that? 120 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Mr. WALSH: Up till last Saturday !lr. W ALSH: I am more popular there 328 hours had been worked on the compila­ than the hon. member will be in tion of the Rolls and 72 hours on the Hinchinbrook. binding of the Rolls. ~Ir. Jesson: That is a funny one! Mr. Wood: How many of those hours were worked last week~ Mr. W ALSH: Yesterday I quoted from a very important judgment of the House ltir. W ALSH: I cannot answer that. of Lords. In my concluding remarks it 'fhe hon. member is not going to subject me would be very pertinent to put o,, record to cross examination to get the Government an extract from the same judgment. Printer down here to check on those :figures tonight. I will not keep hon. members here :l'!Ir. Wood: Did you not say yesterday as long as all that; they would not put up that you would not follow British tradition'? with it. 1\Ir. W ALSH: I never said that at all. I kno''" that in all these establishments there are people who may be suspect. Even Mr. Wood: You voted that way. during the war, people >vere able to get from JUr. W ALSH: I am amazed at the hon. the Government Printing Office the specially­ member for North Toowoomba for wanting marked paper that was handed out for the to follow British tradition. I made it quite printing of ration coupons, which were then clear yesterday that the Speaker had circulated throughout the State at 30s. a informed the House of his obligations if sheet. Certain employees of the Government he were to accept the 1937 English Act in Printing Office were charged under National relation to the Leader of the Opposition. Security Regulations in 1943 and I have not If he accepted that obligation it would not the slightest doubt that somewhere in the structure of the Government Printing Office be this House that was deciding the point there could be a cell. It could include at all. He was obliged under that Act to someone who in his youth was accustomed certify in writing, but the Speaker did not to distributing Communist literature and do any such thing. He wanted to use only reading Communist pamphlets. Such people part of the Act to justify his argument. The could still be about the place, you know, as arguments advanced yesterday were accepted they could be in many other places. by this Parliament, that is that Parliament had complete control over its own business. Mr. Jesson: Do you know there is a That is still in accordance with British cell sitting at the table that you have your tradition. lunch at every day at the Lands Office Hotel that passes information back to me lir. Hanlon: We have control of Supply on what you say about us' too and you are not getting any more. Mr. W ALSH: I am sorry that the hon. lir. "\V ALSH: I was very youthful once. member has not revealed that before tonight. He will live and learn. Mr. Jesson: I told you months ago in lir. Dnggan: He has started off better the bar. than you :finished.

Mr. W ALSH: He did not tell me any­ ~lr. W ALSH: Before this is all over thing for the reason that he always steered there might be a few other things that we very clear of me. One of the reasons he has can teach the hon. members for Ithaca and never come under my :fire is that he has Toowoomba. I know that the hon. member never seen :fit to misrepresent my position. for Toowoomba has applied himself to read­ Earlier in the day I made reference to ing books in the Parliamentary library. I Mr. Egerton. Everybody will agree that his have read material dealing with the adminis­ name has appeared very prominently in the tration of government and the procedure in papers over a lengthy period. At one stage this Chamber, constitutional procedure, and when they sought to quieten him they had before we :finish we might still be able to an industrial union spokesman-still identi­ tell the hon. member something. fiable, of course-but now you cannot see Mr. Egerton 's footprints anywhere at all in I will conclude with these remarks of the split in the Labour Party. He has Lord Shaw- completely disappeared. Why~ ' 'Parliament is summoned by the I am curious to know where he is. I was Sovereign to advise His Majesty freely. wondering whether he has got a job from By the nature of the case it is implied that the oil companies. At one time it was coercion, constraint, or a money payment, suggested he might go to Bundaberg to which is the price of voting at the bidding contest the seat against me. I told some of others, destroys or imperils that of the trade unionists then to do all in function of freedom of advice which is their power to encourage him to be my fundamental in the very constitution of opponent. I would love to have had him Parliament. Inter alia, the Labour Party there. pledge is such a price, with its accom­ ~lr. Jesson: You are not so popular up paniments of unconstitutional and illegal there. constraint or temptation. Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Motor Spirits Dist1·ibution Bill. 121

"Further, the pledge is an unconstitu­ especially if the issue is close. If there is tional and unwarrantable interference with anything over five electorates outstanding no the rights of the constituencies of the Parliament can meet. I emphasise that if United Kingdom.'' hon. members opposite find themselves in the position that in the middle of October there ''The Corrupt Practises Acts, and the is no finance to meet the commitments of the proceedings of Parliament before such Government for salaries or otherwise, the Acts were passed, were but machinery to responsibility will be on their shoulders. make effective the fundamental rule that the electors in the exercise of their fran­ Question-That the motion (Mr. Walsh) chise, are to be free from coercion, con­ be agreed to-put; and the Committee straint, or corrupt influence; and it is divided- they, acting through their majority, and AYES, 25. not any outside body having money power, Mr, Brosnan Mr. Kehoe Collins McCathie that are charged with the election of a Cooper Moo re representative, and with the judgment ori Devries Moores Diplock Power the question of his continuance as such. Dohring Robinson English Skinner ''Still further, in regard to the member Foley $mith Gair Walsh of Parliament himself he too is to be free; Gardner, H. R. he is not to be the paid mandatory of any Gardner, R. J. man, or organization of men, nor is he Hadley Tellers : Hi!ton Mr. Rasey entitled to bind himself to subordinate Jones, A. Adair his opinions on public questions to others, for wages, or at the peril of pecuniary NOES, 45. loss; and any contract of this character Mr. Aikens Mr. Ke;vatta wonld not be recognized by a Court of law, , B'lxter L!oyd , . ~ielke-Petersen Low either for its enforcement or in respect of , .l:irown Madsen its breach. Accordingly, as it is put in the Byrne Marsden words of Fletcher Moulton L.J., 'Any Chalk Morris Davies Miiller other view of the fundamental principles Davis Munro of our law in this respect would, to my , Dewar Ni holson Dr. Dittmer Nicklin mind, leave it open to any body of men of Mr. Donald Noble sufficient wealth or influence to acquire Dufficy Pizzey contractually the power to exercise that Duggan Roberts Evans Sparkes authority to govern the nation which the Fletcher Taylor, H. B .• law compels individuals to surrender only Forde Taylor, J. R. Gaven Turner to representatives, that is, to men who Graham .. Wallace ~ccept the obligations and the responsibil­ Gunn Wood Ity of the trust towards the public implied , Heading Hewitt by that position.' '' , Hiley Tellers : Jesson Mr. Herbert I think those words are very fitting for this · Hanlon occasion. I ask hon. members to pay some Jones, V. E. attention to them. I am sure those are the Resolved in the negative. principles which will be uppermost in the minds of the electors when they are asked The House resumed. to decide who is to be the future govern­ Hon. V. C. GAIR (SoJ!th Brisban~ ment of this State. The government have Premier) (10.38 p.m.): Mr. Speaker, m done their duty in introducing this measure view of the adverse vote just taken in Com~ for the additional Supply till the end of mittee of Supply I now wish to state that I ~ctober in order. to guard against emergen­ propose calling on His Excellency the ?Ies. that may arise. The Premier has clearly Administrator of the Government as early as mdicated the disorganisation that could possible to inform him that Supply was occur in the middle of August. There is no asked for by my Government and it has been doubt the government will have the addi­ refused by this House. tional money before the Supply to the end of ~ugust runs out. I wish to place this warn­ MOTOR SPIRITS DISTRIBUTION BILL. mg on record. The responsibility will be on the shoulders of hon. members opposite­ PROPOSED DISALLOWANCE OF PROCLAMATIONS. the traditional enemies of Labour the Liberal-Country Party and splinter gro~p on Mr. HILEY (Coorparoo) (10.39 p.m.), by my right, if in the months of October and leave, without notice: I move- November they find themselves in a very ''That this House resolves that the confused state financially. No hon. member Proclamations published in the 'Govern­ can sav what is going to be the outcome of ment Gazette' on 11 May, 1957, whereby the election. When we remember that up to lt was proclaimed- three weeks has to elapse before all the writs 1. That Section 24 of 'The Motor can be returned and no member can take his Spirits Distribution Act of 1957' should seat until the writs are returned one can come into force on and from 1 August, imagine the confused state that may result, 1957, and 122 Motor Spirits [ASSEMBLY.] Dist1·ibution Bill.

2. 'fhat Section 23 of the said Act the Opposition was that it is made operative should come into force on and from largely by proclamations and/or regulations. 1 August, 1957, in the following Local It is very improper for a Government who Authority Areas, namely, the Area of have, to say the least, a very precari?us the City of Brisbane, and the Areas ot' political hold, to table proclamations tenclmg the City of Ipswich, the towns of Red­ to implement a very important section of this cliffe and South Coast, and the Shires controversial legislation. They are doing it of Albert, Pine, and Redland, in the face of tremendous public opposition. which said Proclamations were laid upon It was apparent to all yesterday that this the table of this House on 11 June, 1957, Parliament would die in the near future--in shall be disallowed in whole pursuant to fact, it has been proved tonight-so that the provisions of Section 36 of the said we should not approve of any proclamations Act and shall thereupon cease to have that implement any part of what I have effect.'' referred to as controversial legislation. In suppo1·t of that motion I point out that Rather should we leave it to the new Parlia­ the Motor Spirits Distribution Act provides ment that will be elected by the people. They for certain administrative steps to be taken will be given an opportunity at the polls to by proclamation. In accordance with the voice their opinion not only on this legisla­ usual practice the proclamations had to be tion, but on other legislation and adminis­ laid on the table of the House, which was trative acts of the Government We of the then afforded the opportunity of either con­ official Opposition opposed the legislation at firming them inferentially by passing no com­ all stages and it is only right that we should ment on them, or putting forward a sub· now oppose the implementation of any sec­ stantive motion to disallow them and thus tion of it by proclamation. I support the make them void. motion. Because of the extraordinary circumstances under which this session has been held, it Hon. V. C. GAIR (South Brisbane­ was necessary for me to seek the indulgence Premier) (10.47 p.m.): I cannot support the of the House so that I could move this motion any more than I can accept the argu­ motion without the customary notice. I ment as to why proclamations affecting the acknowledge the courtesy of the House in Motor Spirits Distribution Act should not be permitting me to do so. accepted by this Parliament. The main I shall now proceed to give my reasons argument advanced is that since the intro­ for moving the motion. It should not be thP duction of the legislation, and indeed since administrative act of a Government who have it was agreed to by the Parliament, there already forfeited their right to govern to has been a change in the numerical strength introduce proclamations that are to take of the Government. The fact remains that effect from 1 August next. The proclama­ the legislation was dealt with by this Parlia­ ment and this Parliament decided to accept tion~ were the first of a series of administra­ it as submitted. Indeed the third reading tive acts and should have been left entirely was carried by 42 votes to 23, indicating very to a new Government who will be elected clearly and decisively that the Parliament by a new Parliament. was in accord with the legislation. The pro­ It is obvious from the character of the clamation of it is merely a routine matter motion that no attempt is being made to giving effect to the voice of this Parliament repeal the Act or to inhibit in any way a and enabling and authorising those charged free consideration of it by the succeeding with its administration, the authority in Government. I repent, fl Government wh'l power, to draw up the regulations and all the were under sentence of death had no right necessary machinery for its implementation to seek to exercise their administrative to give effect to the intention of the Legisla­ powers in extension of the period during ture. Where is there room for argument~ which they knew they could retain the man­ If it had been simply a regulation or an elate of the people. Order in Council or something else that Parliament had not had the opportunity of We say that the proclamations should be considering or deciding, I might have been disallowed and that it should be left entirely ready to concede that there was some merit to the incoming Parliament and the Govern­ in the motion. We cannot overlook the very ment who emerge from it to decide what important fact that Parliament considered they will do in the future administration of the legislation at length. It was considered the Act. in detail in Committee and even on the third reading it received the express approval of Mr. NICI\LlN (Lanclsborough-Leader Parliament. of the Opposition) (10.42 p.m.): In second­ ing the motion, I agree entirely with the Mr. Hiley: And Parliament reserved to reasons submitted by the hon. member for itself the right to disallow any Proclamation Coorparoo. Let us remember that the pro­ as part of that legislation. clamations that we are seeking to have dis­ allowed concern possibly one of the most con­ Mr. GAIR: Even conceding that. it is troversial pieces of legislation ever intro­ going to be very difficult for people who duced into this House. One feature of th,3 voted for the legislation to disapprove of the legislation that was objected to violently by Proclamation which merely gives effect to the lY1 otor Spirits [12 JUNE.] Dist1·ibution Bill. 123

principles of the Act and gives those charged Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) (10.56 with its administration the power to p.m.): There can be no douut as to the con­ administer it, and implement its provisions. stitutional right of this Parliament to dis­ allow this Proclamation. Consequently, if Mr. Nicklin: You must admit that at we are exercising our rights in accordance [east we are consistent. with the Constitution and the law, there can be no cavil about it. I propose to support 1Ir. GAIR: I will concede that. Hon. the resolution moved by the hon. member for members opposite were opposed to it. Coorparoo for the simple reason that I (Time expired.)

Because I was bound by the decisions of the Queensland can expect if we have as a Cabinet and the Caucus so to do that is Government a coalition of the official why. I kept my pledge in thi~ matter Opposition and the Duggan-Bnkowski party. something that you have repudiated. ' I want to warn the people of Queensland I made it abundantly clear in Cabinet that that this will be No. 1. Free hospitals will this Bill contained some provisions that all be No. 2, the 40-hour week will be No. 3, decent, self-respecting people should and long service leave will be No. 4. repudiate. When we have the opportunity of I am delighted that they have moved this examining this Bill with all the facilities resolution tonight because they have now available to a Government, we shall see praYed to the people of Queensland what whether or not this Act should be proclaimed. they will do if by some chance they sit on VV e have no desire to frustrate Parliament's these Treasury benches. giving effect to the clearly expressed will of Parliament, but we all know the suspicious Hon. W. POWER (Baroona-Attorney­ circumstances associated with some of these General) (11.5 p.m.): There is no doubt that pro vi 'ions. Some of the principals of this the motion will be carried. Its carriage organisation that this legislation seeks to pro­ provides sufficient proof of what we have tect will be very sony indeed that they been telling the people of Queensland, namely, placed themselves in the hands of people who that members of the Queensland Branch of have compelled them to invest large sums of the Australian Labour Party will carry out money on very uncertain foundations. They the directions and dictates of the Q.C.E. At are the people who will be regretful, perhaps our Party meetings the Bill was approved they may even be spiteful, because certain unanimously. In Cabinet the hon. member promises given to them cannot be honoured. for Toowoomba, the champion of the oil companies, was opposed to the Bill as he was On behalf of the Australian Labour Party, opposed to legislation dealing with price I say that we are prepared to oppose control. monopolies and cartels and propose to intro­ duce legislation to deal with them. But we ~lr. Duggan: You made a shocking mess shall be happy to preserve all the provisions of price control. of this Bill that are not obnoxious and not in contravention of British justice and fair ~Ir. POWER: I will make a mess of the play. l10n. member when I go to Toowoomba. He has been the champion of the oil companies For those reasons, I say that we should and on one occasion he threw his hands into support the resolution moved by the hon. the air and said, ''Why have a quarrel with member for Coorparoo. the oil companies over a penny~" That is Hon. W. M. MOORE (Merthyr-Secretary his attitude. You, Mr. Speaker, and every for Health and Home Affairs) (11.3 p.m.): member of the A.L.P. part of the Opposition One would have thought that the Opposition, were advocating and supporting this legisla­ tion. I have been fighting the oil companies af~er 25 years in Opposition, and after being reJected by the people of the State on eight all my life. As a result of rule by a Labour occasions, would have learnt something about Government the price of petrol is cheaper in tactics. Here you have them, one minute in Queensland than in any other State of power, one minute in authority, and they begin Australia. We warn the people that that the vicious interfering with the rights of Party opposite will accept direction. the people of Queensland. (Opposition Dr. DITTJUER (Mt. Gravatt) (11.8 p.m.) : laughter.) I wish to make my position clear in relation One would have imagined that in their to the motion before the House. I sat on a election campaign they would have selected Committee that discussed this Bill and I the matters that they would attend to if opposed it. returned. In one drunken minute of politieal I quarrelled with the extraordinary power power they eould not withstand a temptation given to the Minister or his departmental offi­ to start to tear up all that Labour Govern­ cers. The Bill we discussed was intimidatory ments have laid down, and the Duggan and in its approach in the way it gave certain Bukowski politieal hypocrites of this powers to inspectors. I did not quarrel so much State-- with those powers but I did quarrel with the penalties imposed. There was no discretion Mr. SPEAKER: Order! The hon. gentle­ man will withdraw that remark. vested in the magistrate and the penalty was nothing less than £200 and that penalty had Mr. MOO RE: I withdraw it. I shall go to be applied. It was pointed out that under on to say that the gentlemen on my right the Magistrates Court Act the magistrate led by the Speaker himself:, said in Caucus would have the right to exercise a discretion. that this was the type of legislation that the Mr. Power: Why did you not raise this Lab~ur Party should have been bringing into in Caucus' Parliament more often. That was said by the hon. the Speaker himself, and the Bill Dr. DITniER: I did not raise it in was passed unanimously in Caucus. That Caucus because I was unavoidably absent. shows the hypocrisy of the gentlemen on I want to make it clear that I said to the my right. It also shows what the people of Minister in charge of the Bill that I thought Motor Spirits [12 JUNE.] Distribution Bill. 125 it was bad as it was giving one man too much destruction of a Labour Government that has authority. The Bill was vesting supreme been in power for 25 years. They are also authority in one Government official. It was lining up with the traditional enemies of not founded on a sound basic principle. Labour to destroy the only piece of legis­ These gentlemen who are speaking of lation that has been introduced into a Parlia­ Christian principles and seeking to enlist ment in Australia challenging the oil those who believe in the application of monopolies. I have to concede to the official Christian principles are the very people who Opposition, led by the hon. member :for Lands­ are running round the country making all borough, that at least they consistently sorts of unworthy inRinuations about our opposed the legislation. But what explana­ stand on this matter. It is because of the tion will the 24 members of the splinter suspicious circumstances associated with the group be able to give the vast body o:f reasons for introducing this Bill that we, if Labour supporters outside~ They voted with returned as a Government, will use all our the Government a few weeks ago in the resources to find out all the things that were passage o:f the legislation and supported it responsible for its being introduced in this unanimously in Caucus. At that time you, particular and peculiar way. Mr. Speaker, said that this was the type A Government lliember: Why did you of legislation that the Labour Government vote for it~ should have introduced years ago. You are not in a position to cast a vote tonight, but Dr. DITTlUER: Because I followed the the splinter group-the wreckers of the practice of all political parties in that once Labour Government-are associating them­ the majority had determined a matter I selves with the official Opposition, on behalf accepted the decision. of the oil monopolies of Australia, to prevent the implementation of legislation that repre­ Hon. E. J. WALSH (Bundaberg-Treas­ urer) (11.10 p.m.): The Premier did not sents the only challenge ever made in Aus­ suggest that Parliament had not the power to tralia to those monopolies. disallow the proclamations. What he said Hon. P. J. R. HILTON (Garnarvon­ was that only a few weeks ago-on 3 April­ Secretary for Public Lands and Irrigati.on) by 43 votes to 23, Parliament approved of (11.15 p.m.): I rise to oppose the moho~. the principle in the legislation that authorised Although I know full well that the Opposi­ the Government to bring down these proclama­ tion with the aid of the breakaway Labour tions. Included in the 43 votes to which I rats; will carry it, I oppose it because, under have referred were those of the splinter party the laws of the State having regard to the now sitting opposite me. Constitution, the Act was the only effective lllr. Sparkes: And Dr. Evatt congratu­ legislation that could have ~een brought down lated you. to deal with oil combines m Queensland. The hon. member for Toowoomba said that Mr. W ALSH: I will come to that. he had to vote as Cabinet decided. He I am not disputing the right of Parliament knows full well that if his conscience pricked to disallow the proclamations, but I draw him on the matter and he could not con­ attention to some unusual features of the scientiously support the measure, he could attitude of the splinter group. As the hon. have resigned from Cabinet and fought the member for Aubigny just interjected, no less matter on the floor of Caucus. He did not a personality than Dr. Evatt, the Leader of do so. Let me remind him of an occasion, the Federal Parliamentary Labour Party, which I now make public, when I was cal~ed congratulated the Premier and the Queens­ upon by him in the absence o:f the Premier land Government on the introduction of the from the St~te to take a certain line of action that was in conflict with my conscience Bill. We also received many letters of and in conflict with a decision previously congratulations from throughout the State. arrived at by Cabinet. I did not do it and I remember the significant remarks of the I told him that I could not in all conscience. hon. member for Toowoomba when this matter I offered my resignation from Cabinet was finally decided by Cabinet. In one of his in preference to do.ing . it. I. want violent moments of hostility towards the to expose his hypocnsy m saymg he introduction of the measure he said, ''You had to vote for the measure because of will be sorry for this later on." How true! majority decision. Why did he not resign In the concluding stages of the debate in this from Cabinet and fight it on the floor of Chamber, I said it would not surprise me Caucus~ if the oil companies made inroads into the I oppose the motion with all my heart and Labour Party in this State with a view to soul. bringing about the destruction of the Labour Government. What clearer evidence would Mr. H. R. GARDNER (Rockhampton) anyone want of the confirmation of my state­ (11.18 p.m.): The Opposition have adopted menU On my right the hon. member for a rather surprising attitude at such a late Toowoomba, who represented the oil interests hour in the life of the Government. I am very effectively in Cabinet, is leading a not very critical of the members of the splinter group consisting of another 23 mem­ official Opposition for they have opposed t~e bers. They are now lining up with the tradi­ measure ever since it was first mooted m tional enemies of Labour to help in the Parliament. I think we all believe that the 126 Motor Spirits [ASSEMBLY.] Distribution Bill.

Liberal-Country Party are the direct repre­ them to the people of Queensland¥ We on sentatives of monopolies in the State just as this side of the House will be quite prepared Menzies and Fadden are in the Federal sphere. to explain our actions. We will not be We do not pledge ourselves to monopolies and afraid to tell the people of Queensland our monopoly control and we are not financed by attitude. There is no excuse for people to them. Those hon. members opposite who vote unanimously in Caucus, to support the Toted in the House for the legislation should Bill in Parliament and vote for it on every :analyse their actions over the last few weeks. division only to say now that they are on Bukowski has pulled the strings and cracked the side of the Leader of the Opposition. the whip. Mr. LLOYD (Kedron) (11.22 p.m.): I I have in my possession an article that listened very attentively to the hon. member appeared in the morning ''Bulletin'' of 3 for Rockhampton. I was rather amazed to April 1957, which has this to say about Joe think that in the dying stages of the session Bukowski at the Australian Workers' Union he should suggest that on controversial legis­ conference in Sydney- lation we should vote with him. Hon. mem­ " But Mr. Bukowski agreed that the bers on the other side do not know very Premier (Mr. Gair) was following the cor­ much about responsible government. Whib rect line in demanding a full inquiry into there is no Government we should at least the ramifications of the oil companies in give the people an opportunity to say what Queensland and Australia generally. they think by way of election on contro­ versial legislation. With a new Government "Mr. Bukowski said that oil companies, coming into power let the people decide more or less, had held the State to ransom. whether the legislation is correct. The Gov­ 'But if Mr. Gair has instructed the ernment have not the confidence of the Prices Commissioner to consider the sub­ electors. To have responsible government missions of the oil companies, then he has somersaulted on his original state­ we must have a statement from the electors ments,' said Mr. Bukowski. themselves. ''He said that one matter which should Hon. A. JONES (Charters Towers be dealt with by the Queensland Govern­ -Secretary for Labour and Industry) (11.24 ment was that of compelling oil companies p.m.): I was astounded at the attitude to sell more than one brand of petrol. adopted by some hon. members on the other ''Oil companies, in common with all side. They sat in Caucus and discussed this other forms of business, should be open to legislation, they sat in Committee when it competition.'' was discussed, and "Hansard" shows thnt What a change of front! Every hon. member they voted consistently in favour of the Bill on the other side who was part of the Aus­ I can understand the hon. members for Coor­ tralian Labour Party machine voted for that paroo and the Leader of the Opposition. At legislation. I made an appeal this least they are consistent. They havl afternoon when I spoke on the action opposed the legislation right through an,J of th~ Inner Executive of the Q.C.E. we know exactly where they stand but It remmds me of the day when Vince Gair the attitude of some of the other went to the Inner Executive meeting with hon. members over there really amazes me. Jack Duggan while the Bill was being dis­ It is a most inconsistent thing. They say cussed in Parliament. What happened at the that they are the official Labour Party. As second reading~ You will recall that the members of the official Labour Party two or Q.C.E. somersaulted on J oe Bukowski 's own three months ago they assisted to put this advocacy. Duggan voted with the Inner Bill through, but today they say that they Executive of the Q.C.E. and left the Premier will vote against it. I wonder what the on his own. A modification of the Bill was position will be if this crowd are elected asked for. Is there any hon. member on by some fluke. They passed this legislation my right who can honestly tell the workers a short time ago and now they want to repeal of the State that they defend the interests it. (Opposition interjections.) They are of. L~bour to fight monopolies. They are prepared to vote against it. That indicates elarmmg that they are the official Australian to me that there is something wrong. I L~~;bour Party representatives. How are they cannot imagine a body of men adopting that gomg to explain their position to the rank attitude. As the hon. member for Rock· and file. of the Labour movement when they go outsrdef When I was in trouble with the hampton said, this is a matter that was Inner Executive of the Q.C.E. I was prepared considered by the different Labour organisa­ to accept disciplinary measures, but were tions over the years. At the meetings I these ;people prepared to carry a simple addressed recently I read a resolution that :resolutiOn to ask the Inner Executive to was carried by the Trades and Labour relieve m.e of my . suspension~ No, they Council a yenr or two ago asking the voted agamst that simple resolution to help Government to take action in connection with ?ne of t~eir mates. I had placed my faith oil monopolies. Mr. Bukowski made a m mankmd. I had believed that at least similar statement when he suggested that the the;v would be sincere. We have seen their Government should do something in aehons here today. How can they explain connection with this matter. 1vfotor Spirits Distribution Bill. [12 JUNE.] Dissolutian. 127

Mr. Jesson: You are a bit worried about Question-That the motion (Mr. Hiley) be being deregistered. agreed to-put; and the House divided- Mr. A. JONES: I was at a place recently AYES, 43. Mr. Aikens Mr. Keyatta and I was told that one hon. member said Baxter , Lloyd he knew nothing about the petrol legislation, Bielke-Petersen Low B-rown Madsen that it was not explained to them. Hon. Byrne , Marsden Ohalk Morris members know the composition of the Labour Clark Miil!er Party. We have our committees and the •• Davies Munro , Dewa.r Nicholson gentleman who made that statement was on Dr. Dittmer ., Nicklin :Mr. Donald Dr. Noble the industrial committee. Duggan Mr. Pizzey Evans .. Roberts Mr. Jesson: I was the chairman of it Fletcher Sparkes , Forde .. Taylor, H. B. and I had to get the Parliamentary drafts­ Graham Turner man to explain it to me. (Government Gunn Wallace Hanlon \'loo.l interjections.) Heading Hewitt Tellers : Hf!ey Jesson Mr. Herbert Mr. A. JONES: In reply to the hon. Jones, V. E. Gaven member I point out that he made a report and he moved its adoption. We know the NOES, 24. Mr. Adair Mr. Hilton hon. member's attitude in connection with the Brosnan Jones, A. matter. The day that Cabinet discussed this Collins Moore Cooper Moo res legislation the hon. member for Toowoomba bevries Power was not present but he was there when the Diplock Robinson Dohring Skinner matter was discussed for some time in Caucus. , English Smith Everybody knows the resolution was carried Foley Walsh Gair unanimously by Caucus. The whole thing Gardnel', H. R. Tellers : satisfies me there has been some collusion Gardner, R. J. Mr. Rasey between the Opposition and the A.L.P. in Hadley Kehoe connection with this matter. (Opposition Resoh-ecl in the affirmath-e. interjections.) If I talk for the next hour I know it would not make any difference. It SPECL\_L ADJOURNMENT. is a sad thing to see that hon. members who took such a prominent stand in Caucus on Hon. V. C. GAIR (South Brisbane­ this matter are now prepared to turn a Premier) : I move- complete somersault. It proves what the hon. '' That the House, at its rrsmg, ilo members on this side have said-that hon. adjourn until 11 o'clock a.m. on Tuesday, members on the other side are now taking 18 June, 1957." instructions from .Joe Bukowski at Dunstan Motion agreed to. House. Immediately the legislation was passed Bukowski was the first to criticise it. The House adjourned at 11.40 p.m.

On Thursday, 13th June, 1957, the following Proclamation was issued by His Excellt:ncy the Administrator of the Government:- A PROCLAMATION by His Excellency the Honourable ALAN .JAMES MANSFIELD, Chief Justice of Queensland and Administrator of the Government of the said State and its Dependencies, in the Commonwealth of Australia. [L.s.] ALAN J. MANSFIELD, .Administrator. In pursuance of the power and authority vested in me as the Administrator o! tJH" Government of the State aforesaid, I, ALAN .J AMES MANSFIELD, do, by thrs my Proclamation, Dissolve the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. Given under my Hand and Seal, at Government House, Brisbane, this thirteenth day of .June, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven, and in the sixth year of Her Majesty's reign. By Command, V. C. GAI:H. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN !