Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

THURSDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 1960

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

Barristers Act of 1956 Repeal Bill [8 SEPTEMBER] Questions 235

THURSDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER, 1960

Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. D. E. Nicholson, Murrumba) took the chair at 11 a.m.

QUESTIONS

DEVELOPMENTAL CONDITIONS, LE.'-SEHOLD LAND, TULLY DISTRICT Mr. AIKENS (Townsville South) asked the Minister for Public Lands and Irrigation- "(1) Is it a fact that two blocks of land, approximately 1,000 acres in each, have been thrown open for lease in the Tully area and that the opening of more blocks is contemplated?" "(2) Is it a fact that the successful lessees will be required to clear and plant with suitable grasses within a period of five years only 300 acres of such land and can, if they wish, allow the remainder of the land to be idle and unproductive?" "(3) If so, in view of the urgent need to provide additional cattle for slaughter, will he alter the terms of the lease to ensure that the land will be brought into full production as soon as possible?" Hon. A. R. FLETCHER (Cunningham) replied- "( I) Two blocks of land, one with an area of 981 acres 2 roods and the other- 1,022 acres, have been thrown open for selection as Settlement Farm Leases, and the opening of a further nine blocks is in hand." "(2) The selections will be subject to conditions which will require the lessees within a period of five years from the commencement of the terms of the leases to destroy the standing scrub on an area of not less than 300 acres on one block, and 400 acres on the other, in equal pro­ portions during each year, and plant such areas with suitable grasses." "(3) The cost of establishing tropical pastures on scrub. lands is considerable and whilst it is desirable to have the selec­ tions in full production as early as possible, conditions of lease must be economically within reason. The Honourable Member must remember also that the whole of the areas does not require timber treatment. Further, only parts of the areas are com­ prised of good quality scrub land whilst 0ther parts are of a type which does not lend itself to timber treatment, such as 236 Questions [ASSEMBLY] Questions

in the case of the Teatree swamp area. Works for an estimate of cost for the Regard must also be had to the inescapable construction of a bitumen surfaced parade expenditure on improvements such as area at the Seven Hills State School and accommodation, fencing, etc., facing the it is therefore very unlikely that this work new settlers. It must be remembered that will be completed by the 1st proximo." men entering the ballot for blocks like these must be assumed to have the inten­ tion of developing the block for the pur­ STUDENT ENROLMENTS, PANEL BEATING AND pose of making a living thereon. While MOTOR MECHANICS conditions within the reasonable limits of a new settler are insisted upon it is Mr. BAX'fER (Hawthorne) asked the not in any way a limitation of his desire Minister for Education and Migration- to develop the major portion of the block "(!) How many students are enrolled immediately. Development conditions for the panel beating course at the constitute the minimum requirement which Technical Correspondence School, the Department considers reasonable. Brisbane?" Consequently no alteration in terms and conditions is considered necessary." "(2) How many students are enrolled at the same school for the motor mechanic course?" DISMISSAL OF EMPLOYEES, IRRIGATION AND WATER SUPPLY DEPARTMENT Hon. J. C. A. PIZZEY (Isis) replied­ "(1) 69." Mr. BAX'fER (Hawthorne) asked the "(2) 583." Minister for Public Lands and Irrigation- "Will he inform the House if it has been decided to dismiss up to thirty-five COMMONWEALTH FINANCIAL AID, TOWNS­ clerical and professional officer employees VILLE-MT. JSA RAILWAY PROJECT from the Irrigation and Water Supply sec­ tion of his Department? If not, has the Mr. HANLON (Baroona) asked the dismissal of some officers in these cate­ Treasurer and Minister for Housing- gories been considered and, if so, how "(1) With regard to the underwriting many?" by the Commonwealth Government of the Hon. A. R. FLE'fCHER (Cunningham) necessary loan money required by the replied- State for the Mount Isa rail project, will "It has not been decided to dismiss any he advise when it is anticipated that the clerical or professional officers of the the exact terms of such loan will be Irrigation and Water Supply Commission. expressed in the form of a contract and The funds available to meet salaries of presented to the House?" staff in the Irrigation Commission will not "(2) Is he prepared to issue a statement be known until the Budget has been now on the current situation and to keep debated by Parliament. If, following con­ Parliament and public fully informed from sideration by Parliament, funds are inade­ quate, and this appears likely at present, time to time on the progress of these from 40 to 50 officers could be surplus, negotiations with the Commonwealth and details of these officers are being regarding terms of the loan?" referred to the Public Service Commis­ "(3) Will he include in such statement sioner with a request that he examine the a brief comparative outline of (a) the possibility of transferring these officers to direct contribution and (b) the favourable other Departments if this is necessary." terms granted by the Commonwealth to other States in major projects such as the Snowy River scheme, the Melbourne­ BITUMEN SuRFACING oF QuADRANGLE, SEVEN Albury rail standardisation, the Leigh HILLS STATE SCHOOL Creek rail project, etc., so that public opinion in Queensland can be directed to Mr. BAX'fER (Hawthorne) asked the impressing on the Commonwealth the Minister for Education and Migration- claims of this State for consideration on "In view of representations made by the Mount Isa project at least comparable me requesting the bituminising of the to that given by the Commonwealth to quadrangle at the new Seven Hills State other States in helping their major pro­ Primary School, the official opening of jects, particularly in view of the national which takes place on October 1, 1960, value of the Mount Isa project?" will he inform the House what arrange­ ments, if any have been made to have "(4) Has the Commonwealth Govern­ this work finalised before the official ment made a direct cash contribution to opening day?" any major developmental project of the Queensland Government in the post-war Hon. J. C. A. PIZZEY (Isis) replied­ years?" "It has not yet been possible for the "(5) Are there any other States which Main Roads Department to meet the have not had such a direct grant in that request made by the Department of Public time?'' Questions [8 SEPTEMBER] Questions 237

Hol!l!. T. A. HILEY (Chatsworth) replied- Hon. G. W. W. CHALK (Lockyer) "(1) The concurrence of the Common­ replied- wealth Government to a suggested draft "Whilst there may be some room for Agreement between the Commonwealth improvement in the transport facilities at and State Governments is still awaited. Inala, as in other growing areas, I do not As soon as the Agreement is finalised, it agree with the suggestion of the Honour­ able Member that they are inadequate. will be placed before the House with the At present the licensee of the road portion necessary enabling legislation." of the road-rail co-ordinated service "(2) The broad terms of the proposed operates sixty-six round trips by omnibus loan were contained in an exchange of per day between Inala and Darra to cover letters between the Prime Minister and the 29 time-table services and, with the Premier. There has been one agreed co-operation of the Railway Department, vanatwn since broad agreement was has provided a sterling service to this reached and that was in relation to the growing community. During the financial interest rate. The Prime Minister's year ended June, 1960, he carried 800,000 original proposal, which was accepted adults and 400,000 children, most of the by the State, was that interest should be latter being on school trips. It is too paid at the rate currently applied by the late now to criticise from a transport World Bank for loans of similar amount point of view the selection of this site by and period, with rebate in respect of a previous Government for a Housing raisings at a reduced cost. The Prime Project, but its location does present many Minister later sought to have this uncertain transport problems. The Honourable rate replaced by a presently ascertained Member for Sherwood, whose electorate rate and accordingly he suggested that the previously included Inala, was most Commonwealth would, subject to Loan assiduous in his representations for this Council approval, allocate the proceeds of area and the factors now introduced by two recent overseas loans for the purpose the Honourable Member for Salisbury do of the Mount Isa Agreement. The weighted not break any new ground. The possibility average interest rate in these two loans of a rail link is out of the question for was 5.54 per cent. and the Commonwealth the present owing to lack of funds, but was prepared to round this off at 5.5 per the Commissioner for Transport is examin­ cent. As the current World Bank rate was ing a proposal for a direct bus service to of the order of 6t per cent. the Govern­ Brisbane, a bus through Rocklea to ment gladly agreed to the Prime Minister's link up with the tram at Salisbury, and proposal. I might add that the State has a service for High School pupils direct to the right to progressively draw the money Corinda. Whilst the two latter proposals as required and the Commonwealth is have considerable merit, I doubt that a bearing the full interest charge until such through service to Brisbane, which must time as Queensland draws the money. The divide public patronage between road and Loan Council at its subsequent meeting rail, would be in the best interests of the granted its approval to the two overseas area, or that. it would result in _cheaper loans being allocated to the Common­ fares. Also, It would add appreciably to wealth in order that it, in turn, could the traffic problems in the city. The make advances to Queensland for the Honourable Member can rest assured that Mount Isa Railway." the transport needs of the Inala area are "(3) The request will be kept in mind receiving the fullest consideration in the when the legislation referred to is being hope of devising a scheme which will best introduced." meet the needs of the community." "(4) Yes." "(5) No." DECLARATION OF FLINDERS SHIRE AS DROUGHT-STRICKEN AREA

PUBLIC TRANSPORT FACILITIES, lNALA Mr. HEWITI (Mackenzie) asked the Minis­ ter for Transport- Mr. SHERRINGTON (Salisbury) asked the Minister for Transport- "In view of the drought conditions at present existing in the Prairie-Hughenden "In view of the many deputations and area, will he give consideration to declar­ requests relative to inadequate transport ing the Flinders Shire a drought-stricken facilities at Inala and in view of the added area?" financial strain placed on the resources of residents of this area due to increased Hon. G. W. W. CHALK (Lockyer) rail fares, will he take steps to (a) investi­ replied- gate the possibility of building a rail link to Inala to replace the present co­ "The district Charters Towers to ordinated service; (b) carry out an Richmond and from Hughenden to White­ investigation into the desirability of direct wood is being declared a drought-stricken bus services to the city, and (c) explore area and enquiries are being made con­ any other avenues to alleviate the trans­ cerning the condition of the area west of port problems of this area?" Richmond to N onda." 238 Questions [ASSEMBLY] Questions

SUGAR AND TOBACCO PRODUCTION, LOWER Inkerman, Pioneer and Kalamia Mills for BURDEKIN AREA each of the seasons 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959 is as follows:- Mr. COBURN (Burdekin) asked the Minis­ ter for Agriculture and Forestry- Pioneer Kalamia Mill Mill "(!) What was the total value of the sugar produced at the Inkerman, Pioneer £ £ £ 1955 2,447,356 1,945,008 2,020,610 and Kalamia Mills for each of the years, 1956 2,721,493 2,242,566 2,348,332 1957 3,011,318 2,761,649 2,843,443 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959?" 1958 2,954,816 2,430,809 I 2,525,643 1959 2,792,052 2,241,054 ! 2,327,656 "(2) What were the tonnages and the " value of tobacco leaf produced and, also, "(2) (a) The value of tobacco leaf sold as far as is possible to advise, the value from the Lower Burdekin District (Shire of other crops produced in the Lower of Ayr) prior to 1958-1959 was grouped Burdekin for each of the years afore­ with other small quantities from coastal mentioned?" areas of North Queensland. The bulk of the leaf was however grown in the Hon. 0. 0. MADSEN (Warwick) reolied­ Burdekin area. Since 1958-1959 separate "(1) It has been ascertained that the figures are available. The relevant figures total value of the sugar produced at the are given below:-

Coastal North Queensland I Burdekin District Only Season Quantity Sold Value ~- Quantity Sold Value Tons £ Tons £ 1955-1956 371 428,393 Not available 1956-1957 .. 233 242,082 I Not available 1957-1958 ·I 527 559,671 I Not available 1958-1959 .. 774 746,220 I 734 702,494 .. I 999 I 1959-1960 1,041,081 I 904 935,766 I (b) No separate figures are recorded by the major crops other than tobacco and sugar Bureau of Census and Statistics for value cane grown in the Lower Burdekin District of production on a shire basis. The (Ayr Shire) have been made by the following rough value estimates for the Division of Marketing:-

Crop 1954-1955 1955-1956 1956-1957 1957-1958 1958-1959 ---- £ £ £ I £ £ Cotton ...... 1,171 4,972 I 1,913 4,956 6,573 Beans ...... 453 1,453 8,718 30,783 43,688 Potatoes ...... 44,733 39,519 37,243 I 24,551 11,345 Pumpkins...... 7,763 12,290 19,736 10,327 6,520 Tomatoes ...... I 18,783 26,728 36,294 I 32,693 22,743 Total ...... 72,903 84,962 103,904 103,310 90,869, ' I

SEWERAGE FACILITIES, BELGIAN GARDENS "(2) The connection of the school to STATE SCHOOL, TOWNSVILLE this system is receiving the attention of Mr. TUCKER (Townsville North) asked the District Architect, Townsville, who rs the Minister for Education and Migration- being asked to expedite his report." "(!) Is he aware that although the cuburb of Belgian Gardens, Townsville, is now almost sewered the necessary facil­ ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT FOR 'WORKERS, ities have not been erected at the Belgian RAILWAY ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT Gardens State School to take advantage of this hygienic amenity?" Mr. MELLOY (Nudgee) asked. the "(2) If so, will he inform the House how Premier- much longer children will be forced to "In view of the already serious unemploy­ use the present revolting E.C.'s, considering that the Education Department was first ment situation and in view of the reported advised of the advent of sewerage in this proposed standing-down of hundreds of area on April 11, 1958, and that reminders employees on the suburban electrification were sent on February 13, 1959, and February 12, 1960?" works with the consequent hardship that will be imposed on the families of these Hon. 1. C. A. PIZZEY (Isis) replied- men, has the Government any plans for or "(1) It is known that part of the Belgian Gardens area is connected to the City given thought to alternative employment sewerage system." for these men?" Questions [8 SEPTEMBER) Questions 239

Hon. G. F. R. NICKLIN (Landsborough) Hon. J. C. A. PIZZEY (Isis) replied- replied- "It is proposed that a school building "Firstly, for the benefit of the consisting of two classrooms with a folding Honourable Member and in reference to door partition, a staff room and a library what he chooses to call 'the already serious enclosure be erected at Bloomfield River unemployment situation,' I should like so that the use of the existing temporary to state that the latest available official accommodation can be discontinued. The figures disclose that at the end of July date for the commencement of work on of this year the number of unemployed in the new building is not available." Queensland was considerably fewer than at the same time in 1957 following 25 years of Labour rule, and the number TUAN AND OTHER FORESTRY AREAS of persons registered for unemployment at Mr. DAVIES (Maryborough) asked the the same respective dates had also Minister for Agriculture and Forestry­ materially decreased, whilst the registered vacancies showed a substantial increase. "(!) How many men are employed at Maryborough's Tuan Forestry at the present I feel I should state these facts to time?" emphasise the improvement that has taken place in the unemployment position since "(2) How many acres were planted at this Government assumed office and to Tuan during 1959 and how many during remove any misunderstanding which this year's P..Ianting season?" might be created by the Honourable Mem­ "(3) How many men are employed at ber's remarks. As to the purpose of his the various Forestry Stations throughout question, I can assure the Honourable the State at the present time?" Member that the Government will continue "(4) How many acres were planted in to pursue its vigorous policy of maintain­ Queensland this year?" ing con,fidence among the business com­ munity and the encouragement of expan­ "(5) How many feet of merchantable sion in industry which constitute the main timber does the Forestry Department factors in creating a state of prosperity estimate to be on the land the Govern­ in which the spectre of unemployment ment intends to make available for grazing becomes a diminishing feature." purposes in the Tully District?" Hon. 0. 0. MADSEN (Warwick) replied­ RE-0PEN!l\G OF RAIL CROSSING, EAGLE FARM "(1) 54." AIRPORT "(2) From April 1, 1958 to March 31, Mr. MELLOY (Nudgee) asked the Minister 1959, 682 acres; from April 1, 1959 to for Transport- March 31, 1960, 852 acres." "In view of the fact that its closure is "(3) 1,404 on reforestation work and causing considerable inconvenience, loss of 321 on other works-a total of 1,725." time and trade to business and industry in "(4) 4,860." the Pinkenba and Myrtletown areas, will "(5) 15,000,000 superficial feet. Mer­ he, as this matter is most urgent in the interest of industry in the area generally, chantable timber will be marketed by take action to have the rail crossing at the Crown." Eagle Farm Airport re-opened immediately with the necessary adequate safeguards installed?" INMATES OF SENILE ANNEXES Mr. GRAHAM (Mackay) asked the Minis­ Hon. G. W. W. CHALK (Lockyer) ter for Health and Home Affairs- replied- "In relation to his answer to my question "The crossing referred to does not con­ on the matter of inmates of Senile Annexes nect public roadways, but gives access to on September 6,- Commonwealth property. The re-opening of it, therefore, does not come within my (1) Under what Act or Regulation are jurisdiction." these rules laid down? (2) What authority is responsible for NEW STATE SCHOOL, BLOOMFIELD their implementation?" Hon. P. J. R. HILTON (Carnarvon), for Hon. H. W. NOBLE (Yeron_ga) replied- Mr. ADAIR (Cook), asked the Minister for "The Medical Superintendent is the Education and Migration- person responsible for the discharge of "Will he indicate when the building of patients from Hospital. It is his decision a new school to replace the old temporary as to when they are fit for discharge. Any building now in use at Bloomfield will be patient leaving Hospital prior to discharge commenced?" does so at his or her own risk." 240 Questions [ASSEMBLY] Questions

DEVELOPMENT OF CATTLE INDUSTRY, works slaughtered a total of 32,453 head FAR NORTHERN QUEENSLAND of cattle. However, these works also slaughtered cattle from outside the defined Mr. WALLACE (Cairns): I desire to ask area. In addition, some store cattle pro­ the Minister for Agriculture and Forestry duced in the defined area may not be whether he has answers to the following slaughtered at these works. Meatworks questions, which I addressed to him on are not required to show the property of 25 August:- origin of cattle slaughtered. It is thus not "(1) What is the number of cattle­ possible to give a precise answer to this producing properties in the area bounded question." by a line drawn from the southern point "( 4) Official records of grading (by the of Mourilyan Harbour to the western side Department of Primary Industry) are not of Karumba?" kept. Grading of beef for local consump­ "(2) What is (a) the cattle population in tion is not compulsory and is done on a the area named, (b) the turn-off annually very limited scale. Hence the information over the last five years, and (c) the sought is unobtainable." estimated turn-off for the ensuing five "(5) Of the 324 properties referred to years?" in question 1, 55 conserved hay or silage "(3) How many of these cattle were while 26 also had some grain stored turned off for: (a) export, and (b) local for stock feed. These figures are for consumption?" 1958-1959. It is expected that the 1959- "(4) What were the number of carcasses 1960 figures will be available within a reaching 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade classifica­ few weeks." tions?" "(6) (a) An average of 4,000 head a "(5) How many, if any, of the properties year is being transported by sea within have made provision by way of ensilage this area. None are known to have been or hay for drought or semi-drought removed from the area to any other State periods?" by sea; (b) Movements by road transport have been confined mostly to local move­ "(6) What was the number of cattle trans­ ments from holding paddocks to slaughter ported from the area during the period yards. Last year a road-train began (a) by sea, (b) by road train, and (c) operations in the Peninsula area and along by droving plant?" the Mount Garnet-Georgetown road. At "(7) In view of the publicity given to this stage, exact figures of this major type the potential of the area in respect of of movement are unavailable, but it would development and the populating of Far appear that numbers moved in the area Northern Queensland as the result of to date would probably comprise not Government policy in relation to the beef more than 400 head. None are known industry has there been any new ground to have been removed from the area by broken by applications from companies this means; (c) Major movements are by or individuals for leases of large areas means of droving plant, or droving plant of Crown land in the area? If so, how in combination with rail. Movements in many, and by whom?" the area by these methods involved over 60,000 head in 1959. Of these some Hon. 0. 0. MADSEN (Warwick) 25,000 are believed to have been removed replied- from the area by this means." "(1) The area as defined does not con­ "(7) My colleague the Honourable the form to the boundaries of any localities Minister for Public Lands and Irrigation within which statistics of this nature are informs me that he has no knowledge collected. Consequently some of the figures of any application by Companies for quoted are on a proportional basis. The leases of large areas of the Crown land number of properties in the area north in that locality. However, an investigation of a line from Mourilyan Harbour to was carried out recently to ascertain the Karumba which were running beef cattle possibility of opening lands in the Tully during 1959 was 324." area for cattle fattening purposes. The "(2) (a) The beef cattle population is Committee comprised officers of the Lands 421,000 head; (b) Turn-off has ranged Department and the Departments of from approximately 43,000 head in 1955 Agriculture and Forestry. The Committee's to 67,000 head in 1959; (c) With the report has now been considered by Cabinet continued investment by producers and and it has been approved that 9 blocks in that locality be opened under appropriate meatworks in this area, plus the establish­ tenures. The blocks range in area from ment of more areas of improved pasture, 760 acres to 2,200 acres. In addition improved roads and road transport, there it has already been approved that two seems no reason why the trend established blocks on the Tully River be opened for during the last five years should not selection and these will go to ballot on continue." October 6. The necessary formalities in "(3) Two meatworks operating in this respect of the blocks now proposed to be area slaughter cattle for export. For the put up for competition will be completed financial year ending June 30, 1960, these as quickly as possible." City of Brisbane, &c., Bill [8 SEPTEMBER] Barristers Act of 1956 Repeal Bill 241

INDUSTRIAL DISPUTE AT COMMONWEALTH BARRISTERS ACT OF 1956 REPEAL BILL ENGINEERING CoY. WORKS, ROCKLEA; INITIATION IN OF DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY COMMITTEE-RESU~fPTION DEBATE Mr. MANN (Brisbane), without notice, asked the Premier- (The Chairman of Committees, 1'Ir. Taylor, Clayfield, in the chair.) "(1) Has the Premier's attention been drawn to this morning's Press report that Debate resumed from 7 September (see the Government is expected to declare a p. 235) on Mr. Munro's motion- state of emergency in regard to the indus­ "That it is desirable that a BiH be intro­ trial dispute at Commonwealth Engineer­ duced to consider of the desirableness of ing Company works at Rocklea, and, as introducing a Bill to repeal the Barristers this report is causing acute anxiety to both Act of 1956." employers and employees throughout the industry, will he inform the House if it is Mr. HART (Mt. Gravatt) (11.34 a.m.): the Government's intention to take this When we adjourned yesterday I was dis­ cussing the technical aspects of this Act. The drastic action?" hon. member for South Brisbane said there "(2) Is it true that at the same time as was no logical reason for its repeal and I he appointed Messrs. Chalk and Morris said that the most charitable thing I could as a two-man committee to try to resolve say about him was that he had not read it. this dispute, the Government had set in So I propose to draw the attention of the motion the machinery to declare a state Committee to some of its provisions. In the of emergency?" first place the Act contains provision for its own repeal in certain conditions. Those con­ Hon. G. F. R. NICKLIN (Landsborough) ditions have now been fulfilled, so the only replied- logical course is to repeal it. It is obvious "! have seen the report to which the that the Act contemplated that other States hon. member refers. I am not aware of would adopt similar legislation. No other any anxiety it has caused in the minds of State in the Commonwealth has done so. anybody except possibly the hon. member Subsection ( 1) of Section 2 reads- and his friends at the Trades Hall." "Subject to this section, a person entitled to practise as a barrister in any other State PAPERS of the Commonwealth shall have the like right to practise in the Supreme Court or The following papers were laid on the any other court of Queensland." table, and ordered to be printed:­ Subsection (2) provides that all he has to Seventy-fifth Repol1: of the Registrar of do is go to the Registrar, sign the roll, and Friendly Societies. pay his fees. Report of the Police Superannuation Subsection ( 4) says that, if it becomes Board for the year 1959-60. apparent that any other State has not adopted Report of the Golden Casket Art Union similar legislation, the Executive, on the for the year 1959-60. recommendation of the Attorney-General, may-by Order in Council-say that the The following papers were laid on the Act does not apply to that State. As no table:- other State has adopted similar legislation, Regulations under the Diseases in Plants the logical course is to issue an Order in Acts, 1929 to 1948. Council saying that the Act does not apply Regulations under the Frnit Marketing to any other State of the Commonwealth. Organisation Acts, 1923 to 1956. However, it is far more sensible to repeal it. Regulations under the Primary Producers' Let us study the Act to see if it is a Organisation and Marketing Acts, 1926 good one. First of all, it says that, subject to 1957. to Section 2, a person entitled to practise as a barrister in any other State of the Commonwealth shall have the like right to CITY OF BRISBANE ACTS practise here. Only in one other State­ AMENDMENT BILL New South Wales-is there a legal division between the two professions. In Victoria INITIATION people are admitted to the Bar as both Hon. L. H. S. ROBERTS (Whitsunday­ barristers and solicitors; some of them practise as barristers and some as solicitors. Minister for Public Works and Local Govern­ In the other three States, people practise ment): I move- both as barristers and solicitors. So any "That the House will, at its next sitting, solicitor in Victoria or Western Australia resolve itself into a Committee of the can come to Queensland, be registered under Whole to consider of the desirableness of the Act, and practise as a barrister without introducing a Bill to amend the City of anyone knowing anything about him. He Brisbane Acts, 1924 to 1950, in certain could have been charged with theft in particulars." Western Australia and he could come up Motion agreed to. here, be registered, and practise. A barrister 242 Barristers Act of [ASSEMBLY] 1956 Repeal Bill could have been struck off the roll for Chamber takes any real notice of what he three years in Victoria, could have just got says, and he counts for nothing here. I say back on again, and then come up here and that such a man is far more blameworthy there would be nothing whatever to stop him than one who has little or no ability. from practising as a barrister. The hon. member's speech consisted Opposition Members interjected. mainly of abuse of the legal profession. Similar abuse has been going on for cen­ Mr. HART: Listen to all the bush lawyers turies. The first reported case that I know in the Chamber! of was in the time of the Emperor Claudius, Again, under the Act, no person has to when the citizens of Rome made derogatory take any oath. The hon. member for Bunda­ remarks about the legal profession. The berg said that Dr. Evatt was admitted sub­ justice dispensed by judges in this State, and ject to his taking the necessary oath. I shall in other parts of the British Empire, is read that oath. It is- proverbial and the envy of other countries in the world. The hon. member spoke for "I"-and the name follows-"do swear so long that I think he eventually showed that I will truly and honestly demean one of the great loopholes in the Act. He myself in the practice of a barrister of referred to a gentleman named Gifford. I this Court according to the best of my do not know Mr. Gifford, and I know knowledge and ability. So help me, God." nothing about him other than what the hon. Every person who practises as a barrister member told us in this Chamber. I do in Queensland has taken that oath, and an not know whether or not what he said is oath of loyalty, and if one becomes a Queen's true. He said that Mr. Gifford was a Q.C., Counsel one takes a similar oath, with the but I believe that that is not so. He gave words "Queen's Counsel" substituted for the an account of Mr. Gifford's going round the word "barrister". Hon. members may think North-- that there is nothing in requiring barristers to go through the formality of taking that oath, Mr. Aikens: Touting for business. but I entirely disagree with them. I well remember at the time of my own admis­ Mr. HART: If the hon. member's account sion-- is correct, Mr. Gifford should be struck off the roll. I do not know whether it is cor­ Opposition Members interjected. rect; but if it is correct, it is evidence of the very thing that one would expect to hap­ Order! I must ask The CHAIRMAN: pen under this Act. People who are not fit left to refrain from hon. members on my to practise in Queensland can come here continuous interjection. The hon. member under the Act of 1956 and nobody can stop is endeavouring to make a speech, and I them practising and there is no check on want to listen to him. them. I draw your attention to the fact, Mr. Taylor, that I have said nothing about Mr. Mr. HART: My own admission made Gifford. I have merely said that if what such a profound impression on me that it the hon. member for Townsville South said has not been, and never will be, effaced is true Mr. Gifford should never have been from my memory, and I think every other admitted as a barrister in Queensland. He barrister could say the same. It calls to came in under the provisions of the 1956 mind in a solemn ceremony the duty one Act. If what the hon. member says is true has to perform. The Act of 1956 made it that, in itself, provides the very best evidence unnecessary for a person wishing to practise of the need to repeal that legislation. A here to do other than sign the roll. check has always been made on the char­ Mr. Walsh: Would you suggest that they acter of people wishing to practice as bar­ do not swear an oath in other States? risters before the Supreme Court of Queens­ land. We have heard stories and rumours Mr. HART: Persons seeking admission in about other acts of misbehaviour by persons other States are required to go through a admitted under the 1956 Act, but whether ceremony similar to the Queensland cere­ they are true or not, I do not know. mony. If a barrister goes to the South from I understand that the 1956 Act was the Queensland, he has to appear before the brainchild of the former Attorney-General, Supreme Court and be admitted. Mr. Bill Power. The wording of the Act Mr. Aikens: No wonder the Minister for shows a certain amount of trust in the mind Justice asked you not to speak this morning. of its originator. I believe that Mr. Power meant well and really thought that the other Mr. HART: The hon. member for Towns­ States would copy this legislation, but the ville South spoke at great length and in a 1956 Act stemmed from his abysmal ignor­ most irresponsible way. He is a very able ance and that of all other members of the man; no-one will deny that. He has every then Government. Time has proved how possible gift that God could shower upon utterly wrong Mr. Power was. The only him in the way of eloquence and ability, logical action to take now is not to issue an but he has wasted and spoiled those gifts by Order in Council but to repeal the whole his utter irresponsibility. Nobody in this rotten Act. Barristers Act of [8 SEPTEMBER) 1956 Repeal Bill 243

Mr. HANLON (Baroona) (11.47 a.m.): I Mr. Munro: No. rise to oppose the Bill because, as other speakers have pointed out, it is wrong in Mr. HANLON: That is just the indication principle. With the Leader of the Opposition the hon. gentleman is giving and nothing I take particular objection to the Minister's more-the same indication as he gave when casual approach in introducing it. When he introduced the Bill-because he gave no machinery amendments to legislation are justification at all for the repeal of the Act. introduced it is merely wasting the time of As I said, the Minister has yet to tell us the the Committee for the Minister to go into number of southern barristers who have a full discussion of the amending Bill. We taken advantage of it. had a Bill of that nature yesterday when Mr. Munro: I am most interested in the Minister introduced a Bill to amend hearing the Opposition. Up to the present the Acts Interpretation Acts. Nobody I have heard a lot of words and the only expected the Minister to take up a great deal opposition has been completely irrelevant. of time in introducing it as the Leader of the Opposition said. But this Bill which is to Mr. HANLON: That might be the repeal legislation passed by Parliament in Minister's opinion. He is entitled to that. 1956 is a serious measure. Firstly, I draw We are also entitled to regard as irrelevant attention to the wording of the motion moved what was said by the hon. member for by the Minister- Mt. Gravatt. Very little was said by the "That it is desirable that a Bill be Minister himself. We wanted to know, introduced to repeal the Barristers Act of firstly, how many southern barristers have 1956." taken advantage of the Act, and, secondly, who asked for its repeal. We even asked The business sheet yesterday read­ the hon. member for Mt. Gravatt that, but "Consideration in Committee of the he very carefully steered away from it. He desirableness of introducing a Bill to did not tell us what group of people have Repeal 'The Barristers Act of 1956'." been asking for the repeal of the Act, but In other words, at this Committee stage the the hon. member for South Brisbane told Minister has to justify the very introduction of us that he believes there has not been any the Bill. If the Committee do not consider he request for its repeal from the Bar is justified in bringing down the Bill it is Association. I do not know whether the competent for them to toss it out rather than Minister is going to deal with that. let it proceed to the second reading stage. Mr. Munro: I will tell you that. But the Minister in effect says, "We are the Government; we were opposed to the Bill Mr. HANLON: Why did not the Minister in 1956 and we are going to repeal it now. do so when he introduced the Bill? You can like it or lump it," That was his approach and I do not think it does him Mr. Munro: That is not a basic considera- justice. In fairness to him I say that possibly tion. I asked hon. members to considet he has gone into greater detail with some the Bill on its merits. Bills than was necessary but on this occasion he has shown contempt for hon. members and Mr. HANLON: We have not been given the processess of Parliament, which is not any merits, or demerits. fitting for a Cabinet Minister. He should Mr. Munro: Hon. members on the other have told the Committee who initiated the side of the Chamber know enough to be move for the repeal of the Act. Until he was able to make up their own minds. asked by the Leader of the Opposition he did not even tell us how many southern Mr. HANLON: When this Act was intro­ barristers had taken advantage of the Act. duced in 1956, if hon. members look at Mr. Munro: I will tell you when you finish Volume 214 of "Hansard" they will find your stonewalling and give me an opportunity that the present Treasurer, the Minister for to reply. Justice himself, the Deputy Premier and the Minister for Transport, who were all Mr. HANLON: That remark from the in Opposition at that time, made lengthy Minister bears out my complaint about the contributions to the debate. way he introduced the Bill. Yesterday the Committee spent about an hour on the Bill, Mr. Munro: All relevant. and, so far, about 25 minutes today from the Mr. HANLON: Now, when the Act is to hon. member for Mt. Gravatt. be repealed, the Minister dismisses the I do not know whether the hon. member matter in about three or four minutes. It for Mt. Gravatt was stonewalling or not, would appear to me that that is why the but with all due respect to him I certainly repeal of this Act is a sectional measure. do not think he gave the Committee any The hon. member for South Brisbane has information of great value. The Minister said that only a small section of the Bar apparently wants to gag discussion on this is interested in seeing it repealed. I am matter. Why, if he wants that, does he him­ lead to believe that leading members of self or the Premier not get up and gag this the Bar, like Mr. Arnold Bennett, Q.C.­ debate? Is he suggesting that he does not with all due respect to the hon. member want the Opposition to discuss it? for Mt. Gravatt, I do not think that as a 244 Barristers Act of 1956 Repeal Bill [ASSEMBLY] Address in Reply

Q.C. he would consider himself to be equal Mr. HANLON: They are relevant, because to Mr. Bennett-fully support the principle the Minister used the argument, but only in of an open Bar in this State. relation to a very small section of one pro­ fession, that is, those professional men seeking Mr. Bennett: He is not afraid of the repeal of the Act who take silk and hold competition. themselves out to be the top men of the Queensland Bar without the ability to back it Mr. HANLON: No, he is not afraid of up. He said those professional men would be competition. I suggest that every senior affected by takeovers. But if this Parliament is member of the Bar adopts a similar attitude. justified in repealing an Act in order to protect They are not afraid of competition, nor are a small section of one profession, measures average members of the Bar who would should be taken to protect the great mass of participate in the great mass of legal work people in other professions, trades, and call­ that comes before the District Court and ings generally. The process workers in clothing Supreme Court in this State, and perhaps to and shoe factories should be protected. A a degree before the Magistrates Court. shoe factory may normally get substantial Those barristers would not be particularly orders for footwear from such businesses as concerned about southern barristers coming Allan & Stark and McWhirters, but after a up here, because in a great number of cases takeover, by Myers or some other company, it would not be worth anybody's while bulk buying is done in the southern States bringing to Queensland a barrister from the and we get a flood of southern goods. They southern States. The ordinary barrister who replace in our shops goods of local manu· is not a Q.C. and is not dealing with matters facture. If the Minister thinks he is justified that call for a lengthy and difficult litigation in taking this action to protect a small section is not concerned with seeing this Act of the Bar, let him take action to compel repealed. The senior and top men in the companies who take over Queensland com­ State certainly are not concerned. I have panies to buy their goods in Queensland. instanced Mr. Arnold Bennett, Q.C., who is not worried about the Act. The only The CHAIRMAN: Order! I think the hon. barristers who are keen to see it repealed member has established the comparison. are those who are trying to set themselves up as top legal men and who have not the Mr. HANLON: I point out that by this Bill ability to carry out the responsibilities the Government are giving protection to a entailed, or to command the corresponding small section of the legal profession rather fee-people who take silk and become than giving greater protection to the average Q.Cs. so that they can command work that person in the community against suffering, gives a good return. They can then com­ either monetary or otherwise, through the mand substantial fees for their services negligence of members of the legal although they have not the ability to do profession. the work. They are the only people who I am not suggesting that members of the would be affected by the advent of barristers legal profession in !his State haye a~ything from the South. to be ashamed of m honesty, mtegnty, or ability. The record of Queensland barristers The Bill is sectional. To justify its intro­ and solicitors bears comparison with that of duction the Minister referred to many take­ legal men in any other part of Australia. But overs of local firms by southern companies, there are some instances in the legal pro­ and said that more and more Queens­ fession, as there are in all professions, of land businesses are now controlled from Sydney and Melbourne. He said there men who are dishonest or negligent. The was therefore a need to build a pro­ dishonest man would be dishonest in any tective screen around Queensland bar­ circumstances. The negligent man in some risters. From a purely monetary viewpoint cases is negligent because he becomes there is no doubt that such a case can be adcticted to alcohol, for instance, and does advanced for local barristers, but why should not attend to his business, and the client then it rest at local barristers? The Minister must gets into a deal of trouble. I should like know that, following a takeover, many to mention a recent case that came to my employees of local manufacturing firms are notice. detrimentally affected. When Myers, David Progress reported. Jones, A.C.I. or some other big company takes over a business that was formerly pur­ ADDRESS IN REPLY chasing its goods locally and places bulk orders in the South for merchandise, RESUMPTION OF DEBATE-FOURTH ALLOTTED employees of local manufacturing industries DAY are detrimentally affected. Has the Minister thought about compelling southern companies Debate resumed from 6 September (see that take over other companies, such as Allan p. 218) on Mr. Row's motion for the adop­ & Stark, McWhirters, and so on, to buy, say, tion of the Address in Reply. their footwear requirements and clothing requirements from Queensland manufacturers? Mr. LLOYD (Kedron) (12.1 p.m.): I, with other hon. members of this House, support Mr. Munro: Are these questions relevant the motion that has been moved by Govern­ to the Bill? ment members on this occasion, and I add Address in Reply [8 SEPTEMBER] Address in Reply 245 my contribution of co-operation, loyalty, were sold. Men in the railway sheds have and devotion to the Crown and the British even had to go to the nearest hardware Commonwealth of Nations. shop to buy ordinary nuts and bolts that I wish to congratulate those new hoB. were necessary to maintain wagons in service members who have made their contributions in the Railway Department. That is what to the debate. I wish particularly to con­ happened and it is not being disputed. We gratulate the new members on this side are told that several hundred men have to who have spoken. I believe they have made be displaced from employment. Several valuable contributions to the debate, and hundred men have already been displaced have indicated to all hon. members that from employment in the Railway Department their contributions in the future will be of because no officer who has ended his employ­ great benefit to the House, and to the ment through age, illness or some other Government, through their suggestions and reason has been replaced. That has been criticisms. going on for several years. Now that several hundred men are being displaced, rightly the The problems confronting us today are Brisbane "Telegraph" leader wants to know very serious, and they should be dealt with what the Government intend to do about adequately and capably during this debate. providing other employment for them. We have had some contributions from the Government side of the House-not many, This morning the Premier produced because very few hon. members opposite figures in an attempt to show that there was have spoken-but none has been of any no unemployment in Queensland compared great benefit in solving the problems con­ with several years ago. Why, then, is it a fact fronting the State. We have seen three that in many of the towns along the coast years of government that have indicated of Queensland a grave unemployment prob­ completely the inadequacy of hon. members lem now presents itself for the consideration opposite. During that time we have suffered of the Government, who are, as usual, sitting from administration by people who may be down and allowing some fictitious or theoreti­ placed in the category of enthusiastic incom­ cal committee of business men within those petents or theoretical amateurs. We have towns to decide what they, the Government, the recent example by the Minister for should do to provide the necessary employ­ Transport of a contribution towards the ment to give the people a living? economy of the State, if it can be so called. We could go through many of the Govern­ The Minister has been excusing his ineffi­ ment administrations criticising them piece­ cient administration over the past few months meal. The Minister who is in charge of the by blaming border-hoppers. Now, immedi­ Treasury benches this morning in the absence ately following an election campaign, he of the Premier-who is out submitting has imposed, in some cases, savage and a proclamation to declare a state of vicious increases in rail freight and passenger emergency-is one who can accept some rates. responsibility for the unfortunate state of Since the shearers' dispute in 1956 there Queensland's finances today. One of his first has been a gradual improvement in the acts when he took over the portfolio of carrying of goods and livestock by the Rail­ Minister for Justic.e was to relinquish rent way Department, and its earnings have controls and largely to abolish the price increased. When we examine the figures controls that had given the people of Queens­ for the financial year 1958-1959, we find land a reasonable standard of living. Today that an excess tonnage of livestock and goods although this has forced up the basic wage was carried by the Railway Department by 36s. per week men and women in employ­ amounting to 7,500 tons, with an increase ment are not receiving, through adjustments of £1,200,000 for goods carried. There may to the basic wage, enough to enable them to have been a deterioration this year, but we buy the same goods as they could buy in will not know until the Minister answers 1956. The costs of Government have my question on Tuesday. The figures we increased to such an extent that the have indicate that there has been a gradual Treasurer is very worried now, thanks to increase in the tonnage of goods and live­ incompetent Government administration stock carried, although the Minister is through the unfortunate legislation that has blaming border-hoppers for a deterioration been introduced in that time. in railway finance. One matter of grave importance to all Mr. Aikens: Any decrease would be due working people is the industrial relationship to seasonal conditions, not to the railwaymen. between employers and employees. Several days ago the hon. member for Barambah Mr. LLOYD: There is no assertion, even said that the wage and salary earners should by the Minister, that the railwaymen are make a big contribution towards ensuring responsible for the deterioration in railway that the cost of living would not rise to such finances. The Minister came before the an extent that primary industries would be House several years ago and said he intended forced off the world's markets and he criti­ to overcome all these problems. He robbed cised those who pressed for a reduction the Stores Suspense Account, and refused of working hours and an increase in wages. to continue ordering material. In some We entirely agree that at this time, when we instances, he sold materials that had to be are on the verge of automation and increased bought back from the people to whom they mechanisation, the problem of industrial 246 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLY] Address in Reply

relationships should cause all Governments was threatened by starvation or some other grave concern, but the hon. member for catastrophe, or where the livelihood of the Barambah has very little realisation of the people or the supply of food and clothing vexed problems accompanying mechanisa­ to them were being interfered with. tion in industry. Mr. Windsor: You brought that in. The hon. member for East Ipswich drew attention to the increased productivity of Mr. LLOYD: Of course we brought it in, coal mines in the past few years. The figures because we could envisage that, in war-time he gave should be of great interest to the or peace-time, the need for it could arise. Government and should make it obvious to We did not intend it to be used by a Govern­ any reasonable, thinking person that where ment who have, as this Government have, productivity is increasing, with attendant a cloak-and-dagger arrangement with the increased profits from industry, while at the secretary of the Metal Trades Employers' same time the employment level is being Association that the provisions of the legis­ reduced, the people engaged in the industry lation will be implemented and that they will are entitled to a share in those increased support him and the employers in his associa­ profits. If it means reducing the working tion, not in an attempt to settle the dispute week within the industry, then it should be but to break down wages and force the done; and it should be the responsibility of unionists of Queensland to work for lower the Government to see that it is done to curb wages than are being paid in other States. the growing incidence of unemployment I intend giving the House a comparison within the State. of the wages received by employees in It is the same with other industries; but the Queensland with those received by employees Government are quite content to sit back and doing identical jobs in New South Wales say that questions of wages and conditions and Victoria, and I shall refer not only to in industry are matters solely for the the employees of Commonwealth Engineer­ Industrial Court. In New South Wales a ing Ltd. but also to the ships' painters and committee of investigation has been appointed dockers. to consider automation and mechanisation, Mr. Bjelke-Petersen: You are not prepared and make recommendations to the Govern­ to tell us why the unions will not raise the ment. Despite the contention of the hon. matter before the Court. member for Barambah, and other hon. mem­ bers on the Government benches, that the Mr. LLOYD: I thought the hon. member ordinary working people in the community for Barambah, in his complete ignorance of should be forced to bear the heaviest burden industrial matters generally, and industrial of the impact-- disputes particularly, or some other mem­ Mr. Harrison: To share. ber of the Government parties, would ask that question. If the hon. member will be Mr. LLOYD: They are being forced patient, I will give figures not only for Com­ to bear-bear, not share. Despite monwealth Engineering Ltd. but also for the the fact that the working people are asked Department of Harbours and Marine and to do that in Queensland, other Govern­ compare them with figures for other States. ments in Australia will accept the responsi­ The Premier and the Treasurer came into bility of making decisions on these questions. this Chamber about 18 months ago, strutted The Government have acted hastily and proudly before hon. members, and claimed precipitately and in a manner that will cause credit for having met the Queensland State the greatest possible industrial unrest. That Service Union in conference and agreed to is not a threat; it is simply a statement of increase the salaries of State public servants fact. What is happening now? On Monday on a basis of "like with like". In other evening the Premier made a statement to words, like us, they were concerned because representatives of the daily Press that he the State Public Service was being robbed intended appointing a two-man Ministerial of many of its best brains by the Public committee in an endeavour to resolve a Service of other States and the Common­ dispute at the works of Commonwealth wealth Public Service. The Government Engineering Queensland Pty. Ltd. Immedi­ agreed to increase salaries in an effort to ately that statement was made, the order retain their employees, but no case went was given to the Crown Law office of before the Industrial Court. No statement Queensland to prepare the proclamation, was made by the Premier, the Treasurer, or which was printed on Wednesday. The any member of the Government that the Minister for Labour and Industry, who was union had to go to Court to get an increase a member of that committee, went to Towns­ in salaries. Apparently there is one law for ville to open a hotel instead of endeavour­ one section of the community and another ing to resolve this dispute. The proclamation law for another section who are interested was prepared on Monday at a meeting of in receiving wage justice. I am not discus­ Cabinet, and is at this moment being approved sing the merits or demerits of the action by the Executive Council. These provisions taken by the unions on this occasion, but were designed originally to be used by a every unionist is entitled to take this action Government where the movement and if it is impossible for him to receive wage carriage of goods were such that the very justice by way of an award judgment-! existence of certain towns in Queensland remind the hon. member for Barambah that Address in Reply [8 SEPTEMBER] Address in Reply 247

I say "an award judgment". If employees of Mr. Windsor: Do you claim they should the same firm in other States are receiving give it? better pay he is entitled to ask for a confer­ ence with his employers. Would the hon. Mr. LLOYD: In every other dispute within member for Barambah disagree with that? the metal trades-in the dispute on the In this case, the irresponsibility of which wharves, the sugar industry dispute, the the unions were accused by the Premier, B.H.P. dispute, and others; they are who talked about settling the dispute, was innumerable-compulsory conferences were really that of the Metal Trades Employers' called by the Industrial Court. In this case Association-its secretary in particular. In not one compulsory conference has been called 1956 ML Grounds made his famous state­ by the Industrial Court in an attempt to ment that never again would he allow the resolve it. In every other dispute of any employers in the metal trades to meet and importance in this State it has always been come to agreement with their employees, accepted as the responsibility of the Premier such agreement to be ratified later in the to endeavour to persuade the parties to get Court, but that in future so far as he was together and discuss their troubles, and to concerned the union must go to the Court endeavour to resolve or iron out any dispute for improved wages and conditions. That that is holding up the production of goods was his stand. The Government should be in Queensland. giving the lead in the settlement of the The present Government have not made dispute, but rather are they aiding and abet­ one attempt up to the present time, nor has ting the man who made that statement on the Premier attempted to act as a leader of behalf of the Metal Trades Employers' the Government by calling a conference Association. between Commonwealth Engineering Ltd. We recognise, and have the greatest admira­ the Metal Trades Employers' Association, tion for, the work of Commonwealth Engin­ if necessary, and the unions concerned, in eering Ltd. in Queensland. At all times that an endeavour to settle out of court the dis­ firm has been a fine employer. It is unfortun­ pute that exists. We have had to wait until ate that it should be the subject of the dispute. the Government's promise to Mr. Grounds The unions have the greatest admiration for was fulfilled, that is, that they would, if the industrial record of Commonwealth necessary, implement a state of emergency by Engineering Ltd. since it commenced opera­ the proclamation that is to be issued today. tions in Queensland, but it is tied hand and Let us see the actual comparison, and I foot to the decision of the Metal Trades hope the figures will give hon. members some Employers' Association expressed by Mr. idea of the merits and demerits of this dis­ Grounds. Mr. Grounds is the irresponsible pute and whether there should be a dispute at factor in the present dispute. all. Hon. members should bear in mind that Mr. Knox interjected. since 14 July there has been no attempt by the Industrial Court, or by the Premier, to Mr. LLOYD: I expected many more inter­ call a compulsory conference of the parties jections from the hon. member for Nundah, to the dispute. There has been a steadfast but I am glad that he has not been inter­ refusal on the part of Mr. Grounds and the jecting because it means that he is quite Metal Trades Employers' Association to convinced that there is something wrong confer with the unions. Another factor is about the handling of this dispute. I am that the employees themselves have isolated convinced of that, just as I am convinced this dispute to one organisation; it is not an that the lengthy Government party meeting industry-wide dispute, and rightly so. It is yesterday centred round whether or not it a dispute with one firm, unfortunately, at should agree to Cabinet's decision to issue the moment, controlled by the Metal Trades the proclamation which is to be announced Employers' Association. It is a firm that today and gazetted on Saturday. has given over-award payments of wages to identical classes of employees in the other Mr. Windsor: It is holding up the whole States. country to ransom. (Opposition laughter.) Laugh as much as you like, that is true. Let me take one case in point. The main contract at present with Commonwealth Mr. LLOYD: The hon. member for Ithaca Engineering Ltd. is for the construction of is the person who several years ago stood up stainless-steel carriages for an air­ in this Chamber and said what a good conditioned train, the parts for which are employer he was. He said that he gave his pre-fabricated at Granville in Sydney. men five weeks' annual leave. I agree that Commonwealth Engineering Ltd. send them he was a good employer, but let him study to their works in Brisbane for completion and the facts. In the past two years the unions supply to the Railway Department. The of the metal trades have been endeavouring men in both States are engaged on identical to have a conference with the Metal Trades work. Indeed, the hon. member for Employers' Association, but every approach Barambah said, "Why shouldn't the men go by the unions for a conference on wages and to the court?" The men cannot receive any­ conditions has been rejected. They have thing from the court because the court has refused to do it in the instance of this !10 powe\ to grant, nor can it agree to, any dispute which commenced on 14 July this mcrease m wages other than on a basis of year. "like with like." At the present time the 248 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLY] Address in Reply

marginal amounts are comparable in Bris­ Mr. Knox: To use your argument, you bane, Sydney and Melbourne, but increases suggest that if we adopt the like-with-like were granted in the South outside the award, principle and the amount being paid in Bris­ on agreements reached between the Metal bane is not the same as in the South, there Trades Employers' Associatioilc---the head is a possibility that the over-award payments offce of Mr. Ground's organisation-and the in the South will be reduced? union, yet in Brisbane the same organisation is refusing to confer with the men in this Mr. LLOYD: No. State. Mr. Windsor: You want to channel the work down south, so that Queensland men Mr. Knox: You are not suggesting that will be out of work and you can then say the people in Brisbane are being paid under the Government are crook. the award, are you? Mr. LLOYD: Of course the Government Mr. LLOYD: No. Does the hon. member are crook, otherwise they would have for Nundah want to draw a geographical or realised these facts and would have taken astronomical line on the map and say, "You appropriate action. The Premier has a grave are working in Queensland on this side of responsibility and should call the employers the line. You get so much. If you are and employees into conference in an effort to working over the line you would receive £3 hammer into the minds of the parties, par­ more?" ticularly the employers, a little bit of sense. He should have endeavoured to counter the Mr. Knox: What body put the imprimatur moves by the Secretary of the Metal Trades on the agreement in New South Wales? Employers' Association which will tend to bring about increased industrial unrest and Mr. LLOYD: The agreement was made more disputes. The attitude of the Secretary between the employers' association and the of the employers' association co::ld cause employees, and it was then ratified by the tremendous industrial unrest. court. The terms of it were not included in any award. I am giving these facts so Mr. Knox: What is that? that hon. members opposite will realise the Mr. LLOYD: His statement that in future cause of the dispute. If an award provision he is not going to allow any employer regis­ was at issue, the award could be amended, tered with the Metal Trades Employers' but the conditions to which I refer are not Association to meet unions in conference and contained in the Victorian or New South come to some agreement which could later Wales awards. In Queensland these be ratified by the Court. employees receive £18 15s. 6d. a week, made up of the basic wage of £13 13s., the margin Mr. Windsor: Go to the Court. of £3 15s., and an amount of £1 7s. 6d. paid Mr. LLOYD: The hon. member for Ithaca under the power-house agreement. In Sydney is interjecting from time to time, but on how the counterparts of Queensland employees many occasions has he met his employees to receive £21 12s. made up of a basic wage discuss improvements in their conditions? of £14 3s., a margin of £4 16s. and an over­ How did his employees receive five weeks award payment of £2 13s. Commonwealth annual leave, of which he has boasted? Did Engineering Ltd. in Sydney was paying, he not discuss the matter with them and until recently, 20s. a week over the award. come to an agreement? He would not have The Metal Trades Employers' Association said, "Go to the Court'', because he would then came to an agreement with the know very well that they would not get it employees to increase that amount to £2 13s. there. But that is the attitude of Mr. I understand agreement has been reached on Grounds at a time when the officers of his a further increase, and that the agreement association in Sydney and Melbourne are has been presented to the Industrial Court, conferring with unions outside the Court has been ratified by it, and is now in opera­ and coming to agreements which are later tion. In Melbourne the employees receive presented to the Court for ratification. £20 7s. a week, made up of a basic wage of £13 15s., the margin of £4 16s., and an over­ Mr. Knox: What has Commonwealth award of £1 16s., irrespective of classifi­ Engineering Ltd. done that is wrong? cation. In this instance also a further agree­ Mr. LLOYD: Commonwealth Engineering ment has been reached which will increase Ltd. has not done anything that is the wage above £20 7s. wrong. It is known throughout Queensland The over the basic wage payments including as an excellent employer. margins are as follows:- Mr. Knox: Why the industrial dispute if £ s. d. it is such an excellent employer? Brisbane 5 2 6 a week. Sydney 7 9 0 a week. Mr. LLOYD: I intend to tell the hon. Melbourne 6 12 0 a week. member for Nundah something else. The Premier has appointed a two-man com­ The figures for the southern capitals do mittee composed of the Minister for Trans­ not take into account additional payments port and the Minister for Labour and which are being made at the present time by Industry, both of whom are in cahoots with agreement. Mr. Grounds. Whilst they have been sitting Address in Reply [8 SEPTEMBER] Address in Reply 249

back waiting for this dispute to culminate in Mr. Windsor: Have you contributed any­ the issuing of a proclamation, the Leader thing towards this illegal strike? of the Opposition has interested himself in the welfare of the working people in Queens­ Mr. LLOYD: I am making my contri­ land, and in industrial peace, and has dis­ bution towards it now. This is a flagrant cussed this matter with the general manager misuse of the powers granted by the State of Commonwealth Engineering Ltd. Because Transport Facilities Acts. The Premier has of his discussions with Commonwealth Engi­ not taken advantage of every opportunity to neering Ltd. Mr. Watson arrived in Brisbane resolve the dispute, and he is now taking this last week and there was a wonderful oppor­ all-powerful action. I am not too certain tunity, as a result of that conversation, for that the Government did not withdraw their Commonwealth Engineering Ltd. to meet the contentious Constitution (Declaration of uniofis. It seemed possible that the Rights) Bill because of the powers existing approaches of the Leader of the Opposition in the State Transport Facilities Act to would be met with success and that the declare a state of emergency. dispute would be settled amicably and If the dispute was so serious that the separately between Commonwealth Engi­ emergency should be declared, why did not neering Ltd. and the unions. However, Mr. the Premier follow the example set by Grounds again stepped in and said, "No, you previous Premiers and call the employers and are ratting on the Federation!" It does not employees together in an endeavour to settle matter to the other employers registered with the dispute? No! He wants to declare this the Metal Trades Employers' Association how emergency and send the Public Service Com­ much Commonwealth Engineering Ltd. may missioner to the Court to intervene. I am lose; it does not matter to them how much doubtful that the Court can qo anything industrial peace in Queensland is unsettled except send the workers back at the rates as long as they can force a system of low they were receiving before the dispute com­ wages upon the people engaged in the metal menced. I think that is all the Court can trades industry in this State. It has already do. That is the Premier's intention now. been shown conclusively that that is the He intends to come here as if he has done Government's stand taken on this matter. something wonderful. He has refused to Mr. Ai:kens: Mr. Grounds can stand over conciliate, just as the Treasurer is refusing Commonwealth Engineering Ltd. only if they to conciliate in another dispute that concerns allow him. Mr. Grounds and the Metal Trades Employers' Association. I am referring to Mr. LLOYD: That is true, I agree. the ship's painters and dockers. I have already quoted the figures showing the l\'lr. Amens: You are not absolving Com­ difference between the wages paid by Com­ monwealth Engineering Ltd.? monwealth Engineering Ltd. here and in the South. Mr. LLOYD: I am not absolving them completely. The discussions that the Leader Let us look at the ship's painters and of the Opposition had with both the general dockers' dispute. The Treasurer says the manager and the manager of Commonwealth men must go to court if they want the Engineering Ltd. were very harmonious, and increases. The men have been to court. A he and the manager were in agreement on new award was granted in February. It was certain aspects. What has the Leader of the the subject of an appeal by the employers' Government been doing? Has he made any association and the appeal succeeded in some attempt to intervene in this dispute? I have respects. stated that he has made not one attempt to Mr. Knox: Did they get an increase in call the parties together; he has left it to the that award? Leader of the Opposition to try to settle the dispute. The Leader of the Opposition can Mr. LLOYD: They got a reduction. be proud of his action in the matter. It is my contention that the declaration of a state of Mr. Knox: What rate? emergency is a flagrant misuse of power by Mr. LLOYD: The base rate of £16 15s. the Government. Certain Labour Govern­ for the permanent-casual was reduced to ments have done it in the past, but in all £15 lls. as a permanent base rate. cases it was a matter of necessity to have food delivered to the people in the out-back Mr. Windsor: What do you do with union parts of the State. It was never done on bosses? such a puerile matter as this. Mr. LLOYD: Never mind about union It has been said by the Minister for Trans­ bosses. port that equipment and rolling stock for Mr. Windsor: What do you do with them? the Mt. Isa railway line will not be available because of this dispute. If there is any Mr. LLOYD: I will give the hon. member emergency the contracts can always be sub­ some indication of the comparison here. let. Only a very small percentage of Com­ What happened in the other States? The award monwealth Engineering Ltd. employees are is a Commonwealth award. In Brisbane the engaged in making the equipment for the Department of Harbours and Marine and the Mt. Jsa railway line. Metal Trades Employers' Association decided 250 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLY] Address in Reply

that they would accept only men on a per­ of great importance that they should be manent rate although this is casual work; improved. For instance, every day in the it is not possible for the steamship com­ newspapers you see that large southern ship­ panies or for the Department of Harbours building firms, the Victorian Railways, or and Marine to keep men in full employment other large companies in the south are adver­ in the industry. Up to the present there have tising in Queensland for tradesmen. If we never been more than four men employed on keep tradesmen in this State on the low wages the permanent base rate in Brisbane-and that they are now receiving under awards they were employed by A.U.S.N. Two are of the court, we will continue to lose them to employed at present but there have never industries in the South, as we have in past been more than four. Now, whereas in Bris­ years. bane employers decided to employ men only on the permanent rate of £15 lls., the metal (Time expired.) trades employers in Sydney agreed to pay Mr. HERBERT (Sherwood) (12.41 p.m.): 15s. over the award rate and granted 9d. an hour retrospective to December last year, I endorse the sentiments expressed by the plus 6s. 6d. on the ship repair rate. In mover and seconder of the motion for the Adelaide and Melbourne the work proceeded adoption of the Address in Reply. I think at the casual rate of £18 13s. 2d. a week. At the general standard of debate on the motion Newcastle State dockyard the base has been higher than it has been for many rate of £17 3s. was paid, with 9d. an hour years, and hon. members on both sides of retrospective to December, plus a recent the House made very valuable contributions. increase of 4s., and £2 a week in bonus payments. In Brisbane, besides endeavouring As we have a new Speaker in the chair, to force the men to accept permanent employ­ I should like to drag out my usual chestnut ment only, they have tried to abolish travel­ and refer to dress reform. You, Mr. ling time, although travelling time is included Speaker, have the opportunity, by introducing in the award. Other matters of contention dress reform in this House, of initiating a between the Department of Harbours and move that will be welcomed by most Queens­ Marine and the employees include smokos land men. If you will permit hon. members (morning and afternoon), washing time, and to attend here without their coats in the the shipping repair rate. Is it any wonder summer months, your action will be appre­ that the men are unsettled? It all flows ciated not only by every hon. meP1ber but from the Government's determination to keep also by all long-suffering males. I realise workers in Queensland on a wage lower than that you would have to keep a close watch on those operating in the other States of the some of the more irresponsible members, Commonwealth. but I do not think the dignity of the Chamber The Minister for Transport is one who has would be impaired if we were allowed to come to an arrangement with Mr. Grounds attend in belted trousers, shirts with full­ of the Metal Trades Employers' Association length sleeves, and ties. As a matter of in this manner. He has given him an under­ fact, I think the dignity would be improved, taking that the Government would declare and hon. members would possibly stay in the a state of emergency. Chamber for longer periods. As it is, they spend a good deal of their time outside, Mr. CHALK: I rise to a point of order. where they can take their coats off, par­ I have just come into the Chamber and I ticularly in the hotter months of the year. did not hear the whole of the hon. member's The custom of wearing coats and waistcoats speech-! have been at the Executive Council came from a country where snow is often on meeting-but I heard him say that I have an the ground and the temperature rarely rises arrangement with Mr. Grounds of the Metal over 80 degrees. It was brought to the Trades Employers' Association to do some­ tropical and sub-tropical climate of Queens­ thing or other. I want to make it per­ land, and we still cling to it. Women have fectly clear that I have no arrangement with enough sense to regulate their fashions Mr. Grounds or any other person connected according to the seasons, but men do not. with the Metal Trades Employers' Associa­ tion. Men must be given a very strong lead, because in matters of dress they are naturally Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I ask the hon. conservative and do not like to make the gentleman to accept the Minister's denial. first move. If you, Mr. Speaker, gave a Mr. LLOYD: I accept the Minister's lead by permitting hon. members to sit in denial, but I will put it this way: it would this Assembly without coats, I think the com­ not be beyond my comprehension to think munity would be happy to follow it. that members of the Government have come Mr. Aikens: I was thrown out of the to this arrangement and have given an under­ dining-room 11 times for going in without taking to the Metal Trades Employers' a coat before that became the rule. Association that they will stick with them right through and endeavour not to settle or Mr. HERBERT: We are permitted to enter resolve the dispute but to break a strike. the dining-room without a coat, and I do not I do not think the Government's action is think there has been any loss of dignity conducive to improved industrial relation­ there. I suggest that you give my Sc!ggestion ships in Queensland, at a time when it is very serious consideration. Address in Reply [8 SEPTEMBER] Address in Reply 251

I also suggest, as I have on previous in that they can get £500 towards their occasions. that the staff of the House be capital expenses-a big help when it is allowed to remove the blue serge coats that remembered that a creche and kindergarten they have to wear right through the hot can be built now for between £3,000 and months. If they were allowed to wear belted £4,000. That £500-£250 from the local trousers, a shirt with long sleeves, a tie, and association and £250 from the department­ an epaulette with their distinguishing mark is a very big help along the road and, in upon it, they would be comfortable and addition, the £150 for some and £250 for would be able to perform their duties much others each year is a big help towards the more satisfactorily. The House would not payment of wages. I should like to lose any of its dignity by having those men see the aid increased, but considering suitably dressed for a tropical climate. You, the financial situation we are faced with at Mr. Speaker, have certain robes of office. the moment, we must be grateful that the which would probably mean that you would Minister has been able to assist creche and continue to suffer, but I think if you were to kindergartens to that extent in his first three allow this dress reform for members of the years of office. staff, you would start a very necessary dress I move on to the primary schools and reform in the City of Brisbane. It is rather shall refer to the latest attendances figures. strange to speak about it at this time of the The State's education system has had to year. Normally we wait till the temperature meet a big influx of children following post­ is in the hundreds before we start complain­ war births. That increased number of ing; but nothing is ever done. Very few students passed right through the primary are game to attempt dress reform because schools, to the secondary schools, and next they feel out of place in a group of people year will start to worry the University. But who :.Jre prepared to sweat it out. I have from the figures available it seems that we tried to do it on a number of occasions, are not to get any relief by way of a reduc­ but like most people I prefer to be one of tion in the number of youngsters attending the herd when it comes to dress. If you would secondary school because, strangely enough, give us a lead by granting hon. members we are getting almost the same number in permission to dress as I have suggested, I each year. In other words, they have levelled should be only too happy to adopt it and out at approximately 25,000 per year per come into the Chamber appropriately clad. grade. The following figures of attendances Now that we have been in office for three at Queensland State schools in the various years we can look back over our term of age groups illustrate how the numbers have stewardship with a feeling of satisfaction for levelled out:- a job well done. There are many phases of 6 years 24,450 Government activity to which I could refer, 7 years 24,616 but as I have had a particular interest in 8 years 24,200 education I shall refer to what the Govern­ 9 years 24,192 ment have done in this field in their three years to overcome 25 years of neglect. 10 years 23,378 The State's education system is still not up 11 years 23,333 to scratch but it is a long way along the 12 years 24,930 road. For the past three years the State has had a Minister in charge of its educational On top of that, we have an attendance needs who understands the problems that at non-State schools-that is, Church and arise, and he has done everything possible other schools-of approximately 6,000 each to remove some of the more glaring year. In other words, for every year, we anomalies. I shall mention but a very few have 30,000 youngsters in each age group of the improvements he has effected in his in the schools of this State. three-year term. I shall start with the That gives the department a breathing youngsters in kindergarten. Had the present space in which to prepare for additional Government not taken office when they did secondary school education. This secondary the Creche and Kindergarten Association school education has not become necessary, would have collapsed, purely and simply as in the past few years, because of a large through Jack of funds. The people who increase in our juvenile population; it is were running kindergartens were desperate. because of the awakening of the community The previous administration did not regard to the need for secondary-school education. kindergartens as important, in fact, they When most hon. members were in their ignored them altogether. Not only was the teens, secondary-school education was present Minister able to save the Creche and unusual. Very few of the overall popula­ Kindergarten by substantial cash subsidies tion ever had the opportunity to proceed but also under the system of cash subsidies to a secondary school. Many of them went to kindergartens, particularly in the to school at night or obtained secondary metropolitan area, they have been given education by correspondence, but secondary­ access to additional funds for capital expendi­ school education was not regarded as a ture and running funds for maintenance. necessity-the vast majority of youngsters The smail committees that previously strug­ went as far as the Scholarship standard and gled to raise money now have added incentive then left school. 252 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLY] Addre~s in Reply

In the main, parents realise now that for Mr. Aikens: What do you suggest should their youngsters to have a chance in life, be the maximum enrolment? they must go as far as the Junior examina­ tion, preferably as far as the Senior. So Mr. HERBERT: For a primary school with those 30,000 a year going through our 600 is regarded as the maximum and the entire State education system we have to absolute maximum for a high school is prepare for a larger number of them to somewhere between 600 and 1,000, but it enter secondary schools. By "a larger is quite obvious that many high schools number" I mean that most of them will go will exceed that limit. I have the oroblem through to Junior standard, and we are in my area, but it does not affect only my waiting with interest to see the findings of area. It is a matter of concern to every the committee appointed to inquire into parent with children growing up and requir­ secondary education, because the State will ing secondary education. be faced, within the next few years, with The Corinda High School is an example. the problem of providing secondary school In its first year the enrolment was approxi­ facilities for nearly all those youngsters. mately 300, in the second year we expect 400, and there will be 700 students in Junior and At the moment, if a man enters this sub-Junior classes. Even with the opening State with a growing family and decides of the Inala High School, nothing can that he will give them a secondary educa­ prevent the Corinda High School from going tion, and he inquires at any of the private over the 1,000 mark in the next three years. schools in Brisbane, he will be told that if The story about Brisbane high schools can be his child is now in the fourth grade State repeated over and over again, and this state school standard, the secondary school is of affairs exists not through a large increase booked out. In any of the big schools in in the number of children, but because many the metropolitan area he will receive that more children are now proceeding to high reply, which means that parents who decide school than in the past. now that in the next few years they desire to Church and private schools are not give their children a secondary education they expanding rapidly enough to cater for the will have to attend a State secondary school. children who normally enrol at them. Many That means we must think particularly of of the students at the Corinda High School the development of those secondary schools came from private or church schools that because they are becoming more and more were unable to take them for secondary the only avenue available. I do not like education. The problem is such that I can­ that position myself. I should like to see not see any resurrection of the g·~ammar the development of other supplementary school system. Fortunately we have a systems. At the moment, we have church number of grammar schools that are schools as an alternative to State high functioning satisfactorily, but the resources schools, but I should have liked to see, in of the State will probably not allow further past years, the development of a grammar development of the grammar school system. school system similar to that in Great It would seem, therefore, that we are tied Britain. We are now paying for the errors to the State programme. of omission and commission in the past, I am not going to presume that the com­ and that is something we are unable to mittee inquiring into secondary education control. will make certain findings. But a number of thoughts have occurred to me, particularly With this number going through to our when I was on the committee inquiring into secondary school system, we have to be youth problems. Until that time I had an very careful that we do not make further open mind on one point, but I am leaning mistakes. I compliment the Minister on more to the opinion that we should con­ the stand that he has taken up to date in sider very closely our present system of the building of new high schools. We have having boys and girls attending the same a number of them now in the periphery of high schools. This is an old chestnut that this city but they should have been built we could argue until the cows came home, years ago. Unhappily, they were not, and but more and more teachers are of the the Minister has taken very strong steps opinion that separate high schools for boys to correct this error. High schools are and girls at different locations might be an reaching the very dangerous situation where advantage. I am not going to elaborate on there will be attendances of over 1,000 that point. It is a subject that could be pupils at each such school. A high school debated with psychologists on one day and of over 1,000 pupils presents a very practical teachers on the next and no con­ dangerous situation. It is perilously close clusion arrived at, but it seems to me that to becoming a factory to turn out diplomas in certain circumstances separate high at the end of two years' study. A secondary­ schools for boys and girls might be desir­ school education should be more than just able. Whatever conclusion we come to, the a diploma at the end of a course, if one important thing is that we need more high manages to pass an examination. Some of schools and we need them quickly in order these periphery high schools with heavy to avoid turning them into factories that enrolments are unable to give much of the will turn out a thousand diplomas a year training required by a boy or girl during but not give to youngsters secondary educa­ secondary education. tion in its many aspects that they should get. Address in Reply [8 SEPTEMBER] Address in Reply 253

The latest figure for enrolments at State have left for the Teaching Serivce are either secondary schools each year is 22,000, those dedicated souls who want to teach which is slightly less than the total of and will accept nothing else, or those who 25,000 in any one year for primary schools. would like to get the higher pay but have There are at present in State schools 210,000 not enough ability. We have to face the primary students and 22,000 secondary prospect of either paying our teachers more students. or being forced to accept slightly lower standards in the Teaching Service. The The figures for the non-State schools are latter alternative would be extremely dan­ quite interesting. There are only 53,367 gerous, because as soon as you lower the students in the non-State primary schools, entry standard for teachers, you necessarily and 13,909 in the non-State secondary lower the standard of output from the schools. schools. It is quite obvious that a consider­ able proportion of the community does not We cannot in this community refuse want to use the non-State school in the educatioJJ to anyone. We certainly do not primary grade but wants to use it after the want to reach the position that has been Scholarship. reached in other countries, where students If we change the age for Scholarship entry have to go to school in shifts, and where, -personally, I think that will come; we in many cases, children are refused must put the Scholarship starting age back education. 12 months-it will have a very marked We are indeed fortunate that we have impact on the non-State secondary schools at the helm a Minister who appreciates the that are at present taking a fairly large pro­ problem. He is a practical teacher with portion of students. At the moment they a degree and he understands the difficulties are taking just under half those who attend he has to face. He has already provided secondary school. If we tack another year the answer for next year but he will have on to the secondary grades, those schools will increasing problems in the future because either have to increase their capacity or in the last few years State High Schools have decrease enrolments. In most cases they will doubled their intake and it looks as though have to decrease enrolments because they the figure will be doubled again. No Minister have not the financial resources to extend on earth can produce trained teachers out of their schools. When the change comes­ thin air. Among the problems that the State as come it must-we will have to expect an will have to face are training more teachers added impact on the State secondary schools in the sciences and the arts and paying them to take in youngsters who normally, under a more. That will mean a financial commit­ four-year course, would go to the non-State ment that will make our £20,000,000 for secondary schools. The department will have education look extremely small. to face the problem of increased numbers of students seeking secondary education. The I do not for a moment suggest, as has number is increasing every year, and the been suggested in the Federal Parliament, increased numbers will not be able to find that education should be taken over by the accommodation elsewhere. Commonwealth. That would be one of the It is extremely unlikely that very many of greatest mistakes ever. The day education is the non-State schools will be able to increase taken out of the hands of the State will be their enrolments or start new branches the beginning of the end of the Federal within the next few years. The State system. Education should be left entirely secondary schools will therefore have to face within the control of State Governments. an extreme problem, because you cannot In the university sphere the Federal Gov­ manufacture secondary school teachers out of ernment have given us considerable financial thin air. We are approaching that position support. Recognising that the shortage of now. We could provide money for high skilled technical men and technical teachers schools, with an effort, but no amount of is a national problem, they have provided money will produce a teacher. At present, finance for our universities on an unpre­ we are just managing to keep ahead of the cedented scale. They are to be complimented demand. So far no child has been refused for that, but I do not for moment suggest secondary education, and the students are that Federal intervention should go any getting a very good secondary education further than financial assistance to the educa­ within the limits imposed on such a rapidly tional institutions. The Commonwealth aid growing system. However, as I have said, that has been given to our universities will we are rapidly approaching the time when have to be materially increased to handle we will either have to restrict some entrants the influx from bumper post-war births now or restrict training in certain subjects, because going through the secondary schools when science and language teachers cannot be they reach the university. The university at acquired from the ranks of primary-school St. Lucia admirable institution that it is, is teachers. They can take over most of the already o~er-crow~ed, and the un~versity col­ humanities, with the exception of languages, leges established m the North wtll not ta~e and leave the languages and science for very much of the weight because tJle. mam teachers trained in those subjects. pressure is coming from students wtthm the Unfortunately, scientists are in such metropolitan area. Just as more and more demand from other organisations that are students are looking for secondary sch?ol prepared to pay them big money, that all we education, so more and more are demandmg 254 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLYj Address in Reply tertiary education, and more and more 1959 there were 4,147 male and 3,780 employers are setting tertiary-level standards female teachers. It will be seen, therefore, for applicants for positions with them. that the profession still depends to a great The shortage of teachers is very vividly extent upon women teachers. demonstrated by the figures. The latest When considering the qualifications held by figures available show that in 1958 the grand our teachers, we must bear in mind one very total of teachers in the State Service was important fact. A number of our teachers 7,374 while in 1959 it was 7,927. The in secondary schools do not hold university increase of 600 looks good in that form but degrees, but many of them are infinitely it is not quite so good when dissected. In better teachers than those who do. They 1958 there were 1,659 Class I male teachers have passed first-year university examinations, while in 1959 there were 1,679. In other which gives them a little more knowledge words, there was an increase of only 20 than the students, even those who have passed in the number of Class I male teachers, and the senior examination, and have the experi­ they are the backbone of the teaching ser­ ence acquired during years of teaching in vice; they are the men who might be trans­ primary schools. We should not be uneasy ferred to secondary service; they are the because a number of these teachers do not future principals and head teachef13, and they possess a university degree. Some years are the men who hold the schools together. ago a degree was an accepted qualification for Further down, we find that in 1958 we had a secondary school teacher, but that has now 737 teachers on probation while in 1959 we gone by the board because we have not had 1,031. That means, of course, that sufficient people with degrees, and also in years gone by we did not train the number because the possesion of a degree can bring of teachers necessary to cater for this huge a person much greater remuneration in other increase in the number of students. The fields. The salary paid by the C.S.I.R.O. to present Minister has endeavoured to over­ a science graduate gives an indication why come the problem by taking in a large we are not getting many teachers with degrees number of trainees, and he has overcome it to in the State teaching service. In the future some extent during his three years in office. a larger number of secondary-school teachers However, the majority of schools now have will not have the full qualifications of a a large proportion of junior teachers, and degree, but that will not detract from their many trainees are being given the opportunity ability as teachers at secondary-school level. of teaching higher grades than they would have been given years ago. Because of this Departing abruptly from the subject of large number of teachers on probation and secondary and tertiary education I should very young teachers, a much greater weight is like to touch briefly upon school transport necessarily thrown on the shoulders of senior services that have been sponsored by the teachers, and in many cases they have to do Minister in his three years in office. The far more work. amount of money spent on school transport services reached an all-time high in 1959-1960 In ten years we wiii have a magnificent when £463,806-almost £500,000-was made body of teachers, with adequate experience available for this purpose. It is a great deal and training to meet the needs of our primary of money but every £1 spent has helped to schools, but there is no way of overcoming bring a child into proper teaching, and taken the problem at present. Every hon. member him away from the correspondence or other knows of schools in his area where there less satisfactory types of teaching. The are only one or two really experienced number of services in operation are- teachers on the staff, and the Minister is to be commended for introducing at long last Primary pupil services 517 the two-year training scheme for teachers. Secondary services 36 Previously youngsters have been given only Weekly vacational services 150 12 months at the training college and have then been sent out to schools to teach. Mis­ Total 703 takes have been made in the past, and mis­ takes will probably still be made under the The number of pupils travelling on school new system, but at least people will have an opportunity to be trained properly for transport services are as follows:- their job. I compliment the Minister on Daily primary services 13,632 taking this step when it would have been Daily secondary services 1,476 easier to say, 'The one-year system has been Weekly vacational services 4,193 going on for a long time. We will let it The aggregate distance covered for primary go on a little longer." If we had waited pupil services was 21,466 miles. The average the move may never have been made. cost per mile for daily primary services is A large number of teachers on probation 1s. 9d. and the average annual cost per child are coming up through the service and is £29 6s. 6d. That means that £29 6s. 6d. graduating as Class II and Class I per child is paid by the Department of teachers, the people upon whom the Education, which in many cases would be greatest burden falls in the teaching far more than some parents would be abre profession. Hon. members may find to afford. It is very gratifying to know these figures interesting. In 1958 there were that most of these youngsters are receiving 3,815 male and 3,532 female teachers; in an education now that would have been Address in Reply [8 SEPTEMBER] Address in Reply 255

denied them before the extension of the It has been amply demonstrated from the school transport servrce by the present addresses of hon. members on both sides of Minister. the House that the new members on this side have more than held their own with those on The average cost per child for daily the Government benches, whose speeches secondary services is £27 15s., slightly lower have contained nothing more than a continual than the cost for daily primary services. patting of each other's backs. They have The extension of school transport services said nothing about either the Governor's means that at most places in the State Opening Speech or the Government's policy. children are not only within reach of a They have simply told each other what primary school whilst living at home but wonderful fellows they are. The only other also within reach of a secondary school. It content of their speeches savoured of witch­ means that wherever people go in Queensland hunt. they can be assured that their children can I say without fear of contradiction that receive an adequate education. In the past neither the Premier nor any other member parents have refused transfers to jobs in the of the Government has lived up to the promi­ country for the very good reason that ses that were made during the election cam­ education would not be available for their paign. Many of those promises definitely children. Today it is not only the city have been broken. I say without hesitation children who can demand and get a that outside of this Chamber the Premier is a secondary-school education. That service gentleman and I have a high regard fo,''',bim. would not be available now but for the very But as a politician he is a vicious man and welcome change of Government three years is prepared to stoop to any level to win the ago. The inadequate service provided by the Government benches; he is prepared to go previous administration condemned many to any lengths, even to using his gracious youngsters in the country to leave school at smile on television. Hon. members will Scholarship standard-if they got even that probably have seen a television broadcast in far-giving them no chance whatever to Brisbane in which the Premier was asked why continue with a secondary education. The he did not introduce preferential voting in present Minister is to be commended for this State. He replied that he was directed the steps he has taken in this connection. by his own party not to bring it in because My time of speaking has almost expired; it would not be in its best interests. That is I could speak for hours on the improvements the man who comes into this Chamber and and increases in educational services through­ denounces the Australian Labour Party out the State. Nevertheless most of them because of directions given the are known to the people and they appreciate land Central Executive. What this fact that at last Queensland is beginning to build a really worth-while education service. In 1957 this Government promised to intro­ duce the Constitution (Declaration of Rights) Mr. THACKERAY (Rockhampton Bill, commonly known as the Bill of Rights, the North) (2.35 p.m.): I would like to join with intention of which was to provide protection the mover and seconder of the Address-in­ against outside direction and outside influence, Reply motion by offering, on behalf of my including the direction that the Premier constituents in Rockhampton North and stated openly in his television broadcast had myself, allegiance to Her Most Gracious come to his party from outside. Majesty Queen Elizabeth H. I join also with Mr. Pizzey: Did you hear the broadcast? other hon. members who have spoken on the Address-in-Reply in the remarks they Mr. THACKERAY: Yes, I did. passed about the Governor of this State. He has been prepared to mix with people from This is a great State, which hon. members all walks of life and be an Australian in represent in this House. We are here to every way. He is prepared to meet men look after the interests of the people of the working in mines as well as those in the top State, yet the Premier and his Government strata of society and that, to us, is a wholly openly supported the Commonwealth Australian outlook. In my view, that is why Government in opposing an increase in he and Lady May have endeared themselves the Federal basic wage. He also openly to the people of this State and why they are moved to oppose a 35-hour week for held in such high regard. the miners in New South Wales. And hon. members opposite talk about the so­ I should also like to thank the Queensland called Bill of Rights! In June, 1957, the Central Executive of the Australian Labour Federal basic wage was £11 18s., and in Party for endorsing me as their candidate for July of the same year the State basic wage the seat of Rockhampton North. I also pay was £12 ls., a difference of only 3s. Now, tribute to my local executive, the various however, the Federal basic wage is £12 18s. and the State basic wage £13 13s., a disparity branches in the electorate. and the trade­ of 15s. The basic wage is supposed to be union movement generally, for the support based on the cost of living, but those who they afforded me during the election cam­ are employed in Queensland under the paign, and to the people of the electorate for Federal basic wage have to use the same electing me. I am deeply indebted to them trams and busses and buy the same bread all. and commodities as those employed under 256 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLYJ Address in Reply the State basic wage. However, despite the the State, finding new lands in the North, and difference of 15s. that I have just referred to, looking at South Pacific areas. Let us con­ the Leader of the Government has stated sider some of his glorious plans and famous that he went to Canberra primarily to oppose words which are, right or wrong, wise or an increase in the Federal basic wage. At unwise, the plans of the Government. In the same employers' organisations such September, 1957, in one of his wild state­ as the of Commerce and Chamber ments or dreams-and dreams are all right, of Manufactures said that the State basic if you can dream and not make dreams your wage would have to be frozen. If that master-he said to the people of Central the result for the workers will be Queensland, "The State Government are preparing a 5-year plan for the industrial development of Queensland." The GoYernment contend that productivity He went on to say how he had worn himself is increasing, but want to put a strangle- to a frazzle working on this glorious 5-year hold workers. They do not plan. Another statement on this plan was want to enjoy a share of the released in the issues of 7 and 9 September, of the big monopolies operating in 1957. He said, "So we are now preparing They do not believe in giving a wide survey of the Centre's resources and workers a fair and just wage and have prospects, and this will be correlated in the refused confer with unions who seek a fair five-year plan." He must have been over­ wage their members. seas on one of his "Missions to Russia" The foliowing newspaper article is of on a 5-year plan, but unfortunately he did interest:- not bring the plan back here because we "Professor Clarke Kerr, Dean of the in Central Queensland have seen nothing of of Industrial Relations of a leading it. visited this country several We had another of his rich statements: ago. quoted the net productivity "Big plan to expand Central Queensland." per annum as being at the rate He said it was a big Cabinet plan to extend cent. This meant, said the Pro- Central Queensland. That was when Cabinet fessor, productivity would double it- members were up there on their holidays. self every 20 years." This statement was made on 3 December, other things, he predicted an eventual 1957. There was a big Cabinet plan to of the working week in Australia help Central Queensland and we were given to four increased wages, and four further hope of a survey. I believe that weeks' leave. somewhere in that survey the Minister for Development was mentioned. It says- During the week "The Courier-Mail" con­ "The State Co-ordinator of Public Works tained a report to the effect that the Sydney would be responsible for making a full report City Council is moving for a 35-hour week to the Development Minister, Mr. Evans, who and four weeks' annual leave for its would make recommendations to State employees, but the Queensland Government are opposed to those improvements in work­ Cabinet." ing conditions. They do not believe in He said Central Queensland had a conciliating with departmental employees or big potential, and all the rest of it. unions in arriving at a fair basic wage. Hav­ The next thing that came out was, "Raw Deal ing regard to some of the increases granted Claim for Central Queensland." That was recently and the fact that tradesmen are said by the flamboyant member for Rock­ underpaid, how can the Government claim hampton South, Mr. Pilbeam, who delivered to be fair? They are asking for more his maiden speech in the House last Tues­ apprentices in industry, but how can they day. He must have seen Dr. Noble first, expect to get them when a semi-skilled person because he was very .subdued in his open­ who has received a marginal increase is now ing remarks. He is not as flamboyant in this paid 1s. week more than a skilled trades­ House as he is in Rockhampton. He comes man? to this House as a member of the Liberal Party; you can belong to any What happened to this "3-D plan" that we party, and then join the Liberal Party so long heard so much about in 1957-"decent as you win seats. That is entirely different government," "decentralisation", and from the Labour Party, because we do not "development"? None of those things has have rejects. come to pass in the three years the Govern­ ment have been in office. On 6 April, during the election campaign, the Premier was reported in "The Courier­ I shall now deal with some of the state­ Mail" as saying, "The State Government has ments of the Minister for Labour and received the first report on a master plan-­ Industry, or the Minister for "tripping for the development of Queensland." He around", or, as a Pressman said to me, said it was already under way and was going "Marco Polo the Third." Marco ahead in Central Queensland. That is rather Polo the First discovered the world, the like the rest of these reports. We have heard Prime Minister of Australia is Marco Polo nothing more about it. I was astounded at the Second because he is never in Australia, the hon. member for Rockhampton South and the Deputy Premier is Marco Polo the coming into this House and not even mention­ Third, because he is always tripping around ing unemployment in Central Queensland. Address in Reply [8 SEPTEMBER] Address in Reply 257

We have the famous words of the Deputy Mr. THACKERAY: The hon. member for Premier, "More jobs than men to fill them." Mackay is worried about his own electorate, How untrue! What a fallacy it is for the but what are the Government doing about people of Central Queensland, who are walk­ it? Exactly nothing! ing the streets of Rockhampton with empty What about all the new industries we stomachs! Then Senator Benn referred to hear so much of? In the Governor's Open­ it during the Address-in-Reply debate in the ing Speech we read that the new industries Senate. He was charged by a Liberal senator in Queensland this year were an all-time with making an untrue statement. They were record. Let us study that. To register an unemployed, but he said they were seasonal industry under the Commonwealth you must workers. What difference is there between a have four employees. but to register one seasonal worker and any other worker in under the State you need have only two, so industry? If he is unemployed, he is unem­ every petrol station is an industry. That is ployed. All he wants is a job. how it moves along. It sounds well. The Rockhampton Trades and Labour Let us have a look at some of the factories. Council asked the mayor of Rockhampton The Deputy Premier told us of one factory to call the various authorities together to that was registered with a paid-up capital combat unemployment in that city. I have of £250.000 or more. and the name of it was been appointed secretary of that organisation, Fathom Fisheries. I ask the Deputy Premier and I say without fear of contradiction that does he know of one prominent man who is I know what is happening. A committee alleged to be associated with that company, was formed of people from all walks of a man who is today being prosecuted in the life, and without political allegiance to any Commonwealth Supreme Court for libel and party, to look after Central Queensland as slander-a gentleman by the name of Mr. a whole. Smith? Did the Deputy Premier ever meet him and did the Deputy Premier ever put the I have here an article reading, "Mr. screws on another Federal Liberal member in Morris gives another Press statement in an allegation that he was guilty of corrupt regard to loans to combat the Central practices, namely, 10 per cent. of a big c

to be repaid in full in 20-odd Hinchcliffe, the General Manager of Lake's years. But for the standard-gauge line Creek Meatworks. The hon. member has between Albury and Melbourne they gave already spoken openly in this House against the New South Wales and Victorian Govern­ the wishes of the Country Party, ments two-thirds of the total cost, the other which is the senior Party in the one-third to be repaid over 53 years. It is Government. He openly opposed what the a shocking indictment of the Commonwealth Country Party believe, and what we Government in their treatment of Queens­ believe, on an abattoir at Rockhampton land. Arthur Calwell and Mr. Bob Whitlam because he is under the dictates of the realise the potential of the North and when C.Q.M.E. Company. He said the trade the Australian Labour Party Government are unions were wholeheartedly behind the returned in the Commonwealth sphere, as I Vestey empire and against the establishment am certain they will be after the next elec­ of an abattoir. That is quite untrue. tions, they will do everything in their power The trade union movement at no time has to develop the North. They have said that supported monopoly control by the Vestey £60,000,000 is needed in developing the empire, and its members remain firm and North. That is what is needed in Central sol[d in their attitude. We are not pushing and North Queensland. the barrow of the Country Party, but we I must say something about a Country believe in the interests of development of Party member from Central Queensland. I the cattle industry that a public abattoirs was ashamed when a Central Queensland should be established in Rockhampton. The Country Party member of Parliament, Minister for_ Development, Mines, Main Mr. Jones, openly canvassed and voted Roads and Electricity summed up the position against the election of a Central Queensland about the cattle industry in Central Quees­ member of Parliament to Cabinet rank. It land. I say that any city that can was reported in the Press and freely dis­ offer only seasonal employment cannot cussed in Rockhampton, and I have no doubt prosper and cannot be fully developed. How that that is what happened. Yet members on can an area be developed if it has no other the Government side of the House tell us industries to absorb those who seek work? there is complete unity in the Party! Mr. Pizzey: Townsville has done well. I have no axe to grind, nor do I hold Mr. THACKERAY: Townsville is in a any brief, for the former Minister for Public different category altogether, as the Minister Lands and Irrigation or the present Minister well knows. The Premier acknowledges the for Public Works and Local Government, truth of my remarks about a public abattoirs. but as a Central Queenslander I must in all In that respect the policy of the Country fairness assert that a Central Queensland Party is the same as the A.L.P. The Premier Minister would be of great benefit to that knows that the hon. member for Rock­ part of the State. It worries me to think hampton South ratted on the Country Party that in the first ballot, in which the hon. on the abattoir issue, and he cannot deny member for Whitsunday was elected by one it. The hon. member for Rockhampton vote-I would say it was the casting vote South is supporting monopoly control. I of Mr. Jones-and Mr. Hewitt was defeated. am not putting up the case of the Graziers' When the second vacancy in the Cabinet Association, but the graziers would have to occurred because of the Country Party's assist in the development of an abattoir. In decision to depose the former Minister for 20 years it would be much more than a local Public Lands and Irrigation, who did such a abattoir; it would be comparable with the wonderful job, it was decided that the former Brisbane abattoir. Speaker could have a second chance at the pudding. The Country Party in Southern We do not want to see a great merger by Queensland decided, when he missed the first the meat barons of Australia to buy up ballot but still had the Speakership, to gang all the butchers' shops in Rockhampton and up and say, "No, you are not going to have so control the buying and selling prices of a secret ballot on whether he should stand meat. The establishment of a local abattoir down from the Speakership-elect." The result at Rockhampton would be the first step in is that North Queensland has only two breaking the vicious ring that operates in members in the Cabinet of the "Queen Rockhampton and that is why I whole­ Street" Government. I am not push­ heartedly support the Premier's policy. I ing anyone's barrow, but a Central Queens­ only hope he has the courage t.o go ahead lander with a broad outlook would have with the plan for a public abattoir in been an acquisition to the Cabinet and an Rockhampton. asset to Central Queensland. I am sorry that the hon. member for The hon. member for Rockhampton South Rockhampton South is not in the Chamber. has been in Parliament only a few days but He would be in Rockhampton. He is now already his absences from the House total the Liberal member for -the electorate and, 25 per cent. Yet he says he can do two as he cannot change his spots now, he will jobs! This is the man who had a three­ be the Liberal Mayor of Rockhampton and year build-up. He only had to take three his Party will function under the monkeys from a train and he had his photo Liberal banner, not the Civic Advance­ in the paper. He is not even the mayor of ment Party banner. The latter Party has Rockhampton; in fact, the mayor is Mark some members who are not affiliated witb 260 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLY] Address in Reply the Liberal or Country Parties. It is freely be ever vigilant and mindful of their interests. rumoured in Rockhampton that, if the hon. I shall take an active and personal interest member for Rockhampton South is returned in the electorate; I make no apology for as mayor of Rockhampton for another term, being here. I shall work for the betterment he will make the Town Clerk a civic adminis­ and progress of the electorate and the State trator with unlimited power and deny the and I shall fight for the rights of my constitu­ aldermen the rights they now exercise. In ents against any injustice. other words, the aldermen will be rubber With those thoughts in mind, I now submit stamps for . the Town Clerk, who will have for the consideration of the House certain virtual control of Rockhampton. suggestions to improve the lot of humanity The writing is on the wall for the Rock­ and so further contribute to the progress and hampton Harbour Board, and the people prosperity of this sunshine State. should be informed of what is going on. As hon. members know, there are a large Is the Treasurer investigating increases in number of people in our community who are port dues at Port Alma? retired, aged, invalid, and physically (Time expired.) handicapped. Mr. HUGHES (Kurilpa) (3.15 p.m.): In Mr. Aikens: And there are those who are having the opportunity of speaking during unemployed. the Address in Reply I am mindful of the Mr. HUGHES: There are a few who will honour and privilege afforded me in being a always be unemployed. I remember that member of this assembly. It is therefore Mr. Les Haylen, Labour, New South Wales, with a deep sincerity that I associate myself once said in Parliament that a figure of 2.4 with the expressions of loyalty to the person per cent. of unemployed was a very good of Her Majesty the Queen, and to the Throne. thing. There are the aged and physically I also desire to record my respect to His handicapped in the community, and I will Excellency the Governor, Sir Henry Abel firstly relate my remarks to them. It is for Smith. He has taken a wonderfully inspiring those people in receipt of a pension that I and personal interest in Queensland and it express my concern. Whilst I am primarily can be said with safety that he knows more concerned with the requirements of the about Queensland than do most Queensland­ people of Kurilpa, I realise that this is of ers. His personal interest has been an inspira­ city, State, and national interest. tion to the citizens of this State. The same may be said, of Lady May, who has taken a I believe that in this group, a large great personal interest, particularly in women's majority suffer loneliness, frustration and organisations with their rightful place in the economic insecurity, to a degree. I contend community. I extend to you, Mr. Deputy that both economically and psychologically, Speaker, and also the hon. member for the present system of early and compulsory Murrumba, my congratulations on being retirement is wasteful and unsettling. I do elected to the positions of Chairman of not believe in "a human scrap heap." Committees and Speaker, respectively, in this I am concerned that in Brisbane there Assembly. You have very onerous responsi­ are many old and physically handicapped bilities, and I assure you that I shall always people, who are wasting away their lives, conduct myself with the dignity and decorum because of present circumstances. required in this Assembly. Mr. Aikens: They are rotting away instead I think it is encumbent on me to extend of wearing out. to the Ministers of the Crown my confidence Mr. HUGHES: Up to a point that can be in them, because I have a personal know­ said of them. I shall make further comments ledge of their sincere desire to do things for on that later. The State should have the Queensland. I am sure they will continue benefit of the time and skills that older and on that very high plane. handicapped people can offer. Many of I place on record my sincere apprecia­ them prefer to remain in retirement and to tion of the confidence that the electors of enjoy their remaining years in a leisurely Kurilpa have placed in me, and I thank the way. For them I am happy-as I am sure many men and women who worked so hard all hon. members are-but I speak for the to ensure my election. I exoress my appp'cia­ large majority who want to do something use­ tion to the Liberal Party Organisation which ful with their time while earning a few so ably assisted all Liberal candidates. pounds to combat, or help combat, the effects of an inflationary trend. This number will I pay tribute to my political opponents increase rather than diminish and I will quote who were nominated against me in the State figures soon to prove it. My authority is election because, while the fight was hard, the recently prepared Brisbane population they made me earn my place in this forecast. The books are readily available Assembly. It is unfortunate for them that to hon. members who wish to studv them. there are no second or third prizes. I am The forecast has interesting aspects. For cognisant of my responsibilities to the 1961 the population is estimated to include electors of Kurilpa and while they need no 80,851 persons over 60 years of a)!e, or 11 further assurance from me that I will carry per cent. of the population. The forecast for out my duties to them, I stress that I will 1981 is that the Brisbane population will Address in Reply [8 SEPTEMBER] Address in Reply 261

include 141,783 persons over 60, or 14 per and Government departments, will be cent. of the population. Hon. members will interested in assisting its formation and its see that the problem of this aspect of society conduct. In particular, I will seek the co­ will become more acute with an increasing operation of the unions, because I recognise population in view of the longevity or that unions play an important part in a greater life-expectancy that medical modern society, and I wish to see that the science has brought about. standards and amenities are kept at a high The community is willing to divert part of level. its total income to support a large group I am confident that, upon presentation of of the population in retirement. While this the relevant facts to an industrial magistrate, may have many advantages, there is a gap an aged or infirm worker's permit will be in the life of the community, a leeway to be issued to enable the project to reach fruition. made up. Something else is needed for the I know that elderly and retired people and 60-75 years age-bracket and that is part­ aged and incapacitated people do not seek time work for them, taking into account their luxuries. They think simply in terms of health and strength. On the latest figures obtaining their basic needs. This project will available from the Commonwealth Depart­ enable them to have those things that they ment of Social Services, there are presently in now find it almost impossible to get. Queensland 102,000 persons in receipt of pensions. Bearing in mind the figures I have To give hon. members an example-the given, I pose this question: To what extent hon. member for Ithaca is present, and do older people work less than full time I am sure he will vouch for these facts-a because they wish to? In my research into visiting dignitary from the South was being this subject-which is of vital interest, and of conducted round a street in Ithaca, and he personal interest to me as a member of this noticed that on every house there was a tele­ Assembly-! found a quotation from "The vision aerial. It was a long street, and he Census Bureau of the United States of remarked upon the standard of living in America," which has given a basis for judg­ Queensland and the fact that every one of ment on this point. Taking a total number these houses had a television aerial. How­ at work as 100 in the 65 years-and-over ever, he noticed that the end house did not age group, the statistics from the census have one, and upon arriving outside the house are- a sign was seen on the front gate that said, "We have a fridge." That makes the position Per cent. quite clear. Undoubtedly therein lives an aged Worked Full-time 78.7 person. These people do not want Worked Part-time 21.3 luxuries; they want essentials. They want On a further breakdown they show- to live with self respect and do something Per cent. productive in the remaining years of their lives, instead of living in idleness and Usually work full-time 3.8 Usually work part-time 17.5 loneliness. Prefer and could accept full­ According to the book "Old People in a time work 3.1 Modern Australian Community", a survey in Do not prefer full-time work 16.0 Victoria showed that of aged persons in the The last figure is the one we should pay community almost 50 per cent. would take a particular attention to because it proves that job if they could, and there is reason to sup­ only 16 per cent. of the people covered by pose that this proportion would be larger if the census do not want full-time work. it were known that qualification for the Therefore, having given mature consideration pension no longer depended on a means test. to this problem, I propose to establish in the Further observations show that the difficulties electorate that I represent, for the benefit that retirement bring with it are divided of elderly and partially incapacitated people fairly evenly into two groups. On the one who reside there, a means by which they will hand, more than half the age group be assisted financially and still retain their mentioned financial problems; on the other sense of independence and self-respect. I hand, 40 per cent. mentioned boredom, have in mind a building in which the people "being put on the shelf", "being played out", of whom I speak may work for a day or two loneliness, and frustration because they have a week and receive some remuneration to the ability to work but cannot find employ­ supplement their present meagre income. ment. The project will be conducted as a co-opera­ To the individual, satisfactory employment tive venture, the administrative reins being makes possible in most circumstances a held by a committee of management. If it is degree of financial independence and a sense conducted on sound business lines, it will also of communal partnership, and these together provide amenities, club rooms, a meeting are the integral and basic ingredients of place, and a haven for the lonely. I have personal wellbeing. We need a positive already obtained the support of a number approach to the problem of employment for of persons and business organisations, and I the aged and physically handicapped, and I shall be out seeking more help in establishing know something of these problems because I this centre. It should be of vital and humane am a member of the Advisory Committee interest to every person, and I am hopeful for the Training and Placement of Blind that the public, the church, businesses, unions. Persons. As an illustration, I will tell hon. 262 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLY} Address in Reply

members of the most recent case we have Mr. HUGHES: I appreciate the hon. yet to deal with. A man of 46 years of age member's point. There should not be a has become blind. He was employed by a human scrap-heap-they are not derelicts Brisbane engineering firm for many years and of humanity and society-and greater interest has now been dismissed. He went to the should be taken in their welfare. Ultimately Commonwealth department and underwent it means to the individual and his family a test for a pension. He has been rejected the lightening of financial and other and is not eligible for a pension because he responsibilities, the freeing of relatives to failed to pass the 6-60 test. That means that carry on their own careers, the improvement an object visible to a sighted person of home-life and the reduction of strain and from a distance of 60 metres is not visible domestic worry. to one 6 metres away, which indicates blind­ In this regard I envisage the co-operation ness. He is not eligible for a pension and he and understanding of the unions concerned. is without employment, having been I base this premise on the statement of dismissed. Mr. W. Ritchie, Industrial Officer of the Mr. Aikens: You mean that he is not Labour Council of New South Wales. In totally blind? November, 1958, while attending the first Pan-Pacific Rehabilitation Conference held in Mr. HUGHES: According to his employer Sydney, he said- he is totally blind, but, according to the "It is a principle of the Trade Union Commonwealth department, as he has not Movement that physically-handicapped passed this test he is declared not totally persons should be placed in employment blind and therefore is not eligible to receive by mutual agreement between the par­ the pension. What is to become of this ticular employer, the appropriate union, man? He cannot get into a workshop for the man, and the Department of Social the blind because they cannot take anyone Services." over the age of 45. He has children; he He also said- cannot get employment in a sheltered work­ "The Trade Union Movement will shop, he cannot get a pension, and he has co-operate and is co-operating on this basis. been dismissed. It will be a difficult case In New South Wales where there is pro­ for the committee. vision for a slow worker's permit, the Another case concerns a young girl now Union arranges with the Department of attending high school. It is hoped that this Labour and Industry and the employer for year she will pass the Senior examination. a permit to be issued to allow the disabled We have blind people on switchboards, work­ person to be employed at a reduced rate ing as typists, working at rope-works and in of pay." other facotries. They are handicapped to On that premise I base the hope that the some extent, but can do certain types of unions of this State will demonstrate their work. They want to take a rightful place co-operation. To support my contention that in the community. These are the the electors of Kurilpa should and will have people that I am personally interested in, and the same opportunity, I remind hon. members I hope that the unions and all sections of the that in England there are 90 workshops for community-indeed, all public-spirited citizens the employment of the disabled, under the -will also take an active interest in them. sheltered control of the Ministry of Labour. At this stage, I should like to express my They are known as "Remploy." I recall very deep appreciation and thanks to Tickle also in America there is an organisation Industries Pty. Ltd. for their help in this known as U.S.A. Abilities Incorporated matter. which commenced competitive business with 8,000 dollars of borrowed capital, and in just It is estimated that over 100,000 people in four years it has erected a building valued at Australia are officially classified as being ov:er 1,000,000 dollars. There is also need more than 85 per cent. disabled. That figure for such an organisation in this community. is known, because they are entitled to pension benefits. No-one can say with any authority What can be done overseas can also be just how many there are with a lesser degree done in Brisbane; worthwhile things will be of disablement who, because of their dis­ done in Kurilpa. Our own people can carry ablement, find it difficult to get employment. out their desire to live again because of the However, I understand that to that 100,000 sincerity in our hearts. By our hands we Wt1h 85 per cent. disability we could probably will take such measures as will enable them add another 250,000 with some impairment to enjoy the remaining years of their lives that limits the type of work they can do. in a productive capacity with some remunera­ To the community the employment of tion. That above all will overcome their physically handicapped people would mean frustrations by their skills and talents not reduced costs in taxes, increased production being used. Today brains and fingers have and increased taxable income. It is there­ replaced the strong back and brute strength fore in the national interest to see that they, type of employment. I appeal to all, along with the aged, are gainfully employed. but particularly to businessmen to join me in this venture, to employ physically-handi­ Mr. Aikens: Above all things it would capped people. I have already approached mean happiness for the people concerned. many organisations about it, but with Address in Reply [8 SEPTEMBER) Address in Reply 263

mixed results. Some employers believe aged and handicapped persons can be that because a person is blind, he is only a expected to have a beneficial effect on the threat in employment. Nothing could be economy of the country, particularly as the further from the truth. In Brisbane blind proportion of aged persons in the commu­ persons in employment have a better record nity increases-and that trend is borne out for industrial safety, attendance and an by the population forecast-and will at the aptitude for the job they do today, than same time do much to halt the process of many sighted people. personal deterioration which the hon. mem­ ber for Townsville South said takes place Mr. Windsor: The machines would have when old persons are idle. That is a common to be made safe. feature of retirement. The problem is a Mr. HUGHES: The hon. member for difficult one and presents a challenge to Ithaca says that the machines would have public men, management, unions and public­ to be made safe. I hope he will give me spirited citizens. In this respect, as the repre­ the opportunity to prove that his contention sentative of Kurilpa electorate, I pledge is entirely wrong. Will the hon. member myself to strive for tangible and worthwhile allow me to visit his works with a blind results. person and, on his assurance and test that Before I conclude I think I should touch he can do a job, employ him? on another subject of great moment, the Mr. Windsor: Yes. use of alcohol. Socially this is one of the most important subjects of modern times, Mr. HUGHES: Thank you. I have here with far-reaching effects on the community. an example of what a blind person can do. We must consider all the factors associated I crave the attention of hon. members to with the use, or rather the misuse, of alcoholic look upon this object. It was made by a beverages. I do not think any hon. member totally blind person who operates machines will deny that view. My thoughts, based on in his own furniture factory. It was made personal observations and facts gleaned from to specifications as a business letterbox. I investigations into the subject, have been will pass it around so that hon. members prompted by the opinions expressed by the may see it. I repeat it was made by a totally hon. member for Wavell and the hon. mem­ blind man named Harold Dickinson. It is ber for Townsville South. I hold similar as perfect a job as obtainable anywhere. views. All intelligent persons must agree that we must face the facts, even if they I invited a committee of blind people to have are unpleasant. Some one has to bell the lunch with me and to look over this House a cat, and I join with those hon. members in few weeks ago. There were three blind people expressing concern about the use of alcohol in the group, Miss Mercy Griffin, Harold and its effect on the economy, the family, Dickinson and the blind physiotherapist, and human life generally. It calls for a close Malcolm Bryce. I suggest without fear of scrutiny. The hon. member for Townsville contradiction that those persons could describe South spoke of drunken driving and man­ the intricate carvings and mouldings round slaughter cases. the walls, and on your dais, Mr. Speaker. It was pointed out that there was an "S" through Mr. Aikens: Do you agree with my con­ those intricate carvings on your chair. I feel tention? sure they could describe those markings better than many hon. members who have sat in Mr. HUGHES: There is need to overhaul this Chamber for years, and I say that with­ the legislation regarding liquor and the penal­ out reflecting on them. The blind people ties for offences. We must take a realistic have perceptions and senses far keener than view. We cannot bring a person back to many sighted people. life, nor can we replace an injured limb. Hon. members will see that this letterbox Mr. Aikens: Have you a particular case is an example of first-class workmanship and in point on which you are making your it was carried out by a blind person. It was observations? made hurriedly from scrap timber, and according to specifications. Mr. HUGHES: The hon. member asks if my views are based on personal experience. I have had inquiries for labour from many Yes. I mention a case that came up during employers, and I hope more will be forth­ the last election campaign. I knew the driver coming. Admittedly, old people have certain and the victim. The driver was taken to limitations. I admit that physical strength court and dealt with on two counts. He and speed decrease with age but many was fined the paltry sum of £30 and his licence essential jobs demand neither quality. Jobs as was suspended for a few months, but the quality control and inspections are often victim, a woman in her early thirties, had handled better by older workers. While her sight impaired for life, she is on crutches youth may have colossal speed, in comparison and is almost paralysed in one leg. Her life with older workers, the latter have the has been ruined. The car driver is happy. advantage of greater experience in per­ He is walking around the city quite formance of the task and in adapting them­ unconcerned; he can afford to be happy. selves to the industrial climate. Look at the terrible loss! Like other hon. It is my firm and sincere belief that members, I am concerned with the problem of increased facilities for employment of those who are injured, mangled. and killed 264 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLY] Address in Reply by drunken drivers. This is cause for great I submit that human behaviour patterns concern. The hon. member for Wavell are the concern of Governments. Over the quoted figures and said that 6 per cent. of the centuries the problem of alcoholic beverages population of Australia were alcoholics and was, primarily, not how to produce or market that one in every 15 of our children would them, or how to make them palatable, but become an alcoholic. That is cause for alarm, rather how to use them. That is the sub­ and we, as responsible public men in the stance of my submission, and I think it is community, must look into it. worth while to mention here the definition of "moderate" drinker given by Haggard I shall refer now to another alarming aspect and Jellinek in "Alcohol Explored," New of this matter. I am sure every hon. member York, 1945. It is as follows:- i~ concerned about the death toll on the road. A very recent publication states that in the "He does not seek intoxication, and he United States of America the death rate from does not expose himself to it. He uses accidents has increased by 450 per cent. It alcoholic beverages as a condiment and is hardly an exaggeration to declare that the for their milder sedative effects. Alcohol menace of the intoxicated driver is the most constitutes neither a necessity nor a con­ serious public-safety problem of the day, and siderable item in his budget." one of the most difficult to combat. The ink The use, or rather the misuse, of alcoholic on these figures which I now quote is scarcely beverages is a controversial subject. In the dry, and they refer to persons appearing before community are opposing groups who support lower courts on charges involving alcohol and extreme views. I beseech hon. members to being drunk in charge of motor vehicles. They view the problem dispassionately and objec­ are the 1959-1960 figures, and they reveal tively, while exercising a degree of tolerance. that in that year the total appearances in I lean to the sane, common-sense course of court on cases involving alcohol were 29,791. recognising that "an open mind that searches The report of the Commissioner for Police for the truth, and a tolerant view of oppo­ for 1958-1959 showed that there were 24,997 nents, shapes the path by which progress such cases; in other words, an increase of advances." 16 per cent. For 1959-1960 there were 1,157 cases of drunk-in-charge of a motor vehicle, Medicine and science have made it very as against 1,000 cases in 1958-1959. That is clear that alcoholism is a problem of per­ cause for alarm. In the Police Commis­ sonality and the forces of the environment sioner's report for 1958-1959 it was shown that play upon it. Let us face the facts. that there were 528 road accidents directly Alcoholic beverages are here to stay, and a related to drink, 28 persons were killed, and sane, responsible, orderly and friendly enjoy­ 283 were injured. Eleven motor cycle acci­ ment of such beverages by an educated dents are listed, involving 12 deaths. Of public is possible. I sound a note of warn­ course there is cause for alarm! To the hon. ing, an entreaty for the proper use of alcohol member for Wavell, Mr. Dewar, who is and not its excess use, which ultimately ends seriously noting my remarks, this is in disgrace, disruption of the home, or an cause for further concern: there were 782 offence against person, property or society, cases involving drink, and drunk-in-charge of such as committed by drunken drivers, youth­ motor vehicles, relating to persons under 21. ful drinkers, drunks throwing bottles from I received those figures less than one hour moving cars or smashing bottles on roads, ago from the Bureau of Census and Statistics. footpaths, public parks and beaches, the problem of the aged drinker, and the skid-row Our legislators, law-enforcement authori­ types who daily come before stipendiary ties, the Press, and all other authorities have magistrates. a task upon the success of which will depend the security and happiness of countless lives Hon. members are surely aware of the and the welfare and safety of the entire large number of misfit skid-rowers who, by motoring public. I believe that the Govern­ an excess of alcohol, are reduced to metho ment should consider realistically all the drinkers. They frequent public parks, such community aspects associated with alcohol. as Musgrave Park, Albert Park and Anzac Square. I have seen them in front of the I wish to emphasise one aspect of the City Hall and down at Fortitude Valley; problem associated with modern times; I have seen them, too, at the tram waiting­ modern times pose complicated modern prob­ shed at the corner of Wharf and Ann Streets. lems. A few years ago, if John Citizen They are a strange and pitiful fraternity, imbibed too freely there was more than a who abide seriously by weird drinking rites. reasonable chance that he would get home For instance, one of their number is nomi­ safely and without injuring anyone, because nated to go to a nearby shop, where he "Dobbyn," his faithful horse, with sulky purchases one bottle of methylated spirits attached, would be waiting for him, and even and one bottle of Fanta soft drink. Hon. if the drinker did not know the way home, members will doubtless agree th_at Fanta is then "Dobbyn" did. But, in 1960, if John a delicious drink, but wait until I explain Citizen gets drunk he wends his way unsteadily how these derelicts make it a skid-row super­ to a different form of transport: a "metal special cocktail. Assume that in the club monster" with the super-surging power of 100 are Joe. Jack, Jim and John. Joe, who has horses locked under the bonnet, and waiting been delegated the job of messenger to go fiendishly to be released. to the shop and buy the drinks, brings back Address in Reply [8 SEPTEMBER] Address in Reply 265

both bottles and commences the ceremony Mr. DUFFICY (Warrego) (3.55 p.m.): I in this way: he takes a mouthful of Fanta, convey to you, Mr. Speaker, my sincere spits it out, grimaces, "Ugh!" pours in methy­ congratulations on your elevation to the lated spirits and then passes the two bottles important office that you now hold in this to Jack. Jack drinks a mouthful of Fanta, Assembly, and I also congratulate the and then adds more metho to the Fanta Chairman of Committees on his appointment. bottle. That process goes on until all the Perhaps I should also congratulate the methylated spirits is in the Fanta bottle. Government parties on their excellent gerry­ So we have this procession of drunks. mandering of the electorates, if they think They pose a difficult public-health that is anything to be proud of, and the and social problem. I am reliably informed hon. members for Somerset and Ashgrove, that 12 per cent. of the drunks in the com­ who I understand were the brains trust in munity are over 60 years of age, and that 90 that redistribution. If a perfect job of gerry­ per cent. of them have had previous con­ mandering is worthy of congratulations, then victions. I extend my congratulations. I did not interject when the hon. member Mr. Mann: Don't you believe that! for Kurilpa was speaking because he is a Mr. HUGHES: I can quote from the report new member of this Assembly, but the hon. of the Commissioner of Police. In fact, the member made a remarkable statement that hon. member is probably in this number. I his predecessor in that electorate, Mr. Peter read recently in the metropolitan Press Connolly, was only entitled to run second. where one such person has over 1,000 con­ That was his place, he said. I think his victions. I bring these facts to the notice opinion must conflict to some extent with of the House as I believe the problems asso­ that of the Premier and the Cabinet, because ciated with alcohol should be recognised they saw fit to give Mr. Connolly and two and a campaign for sane, sensible, safe and others the important task of reviewing the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act. moderate drinking instituted. Surely nothing could be more important to Let us look, too, at the problem of how the workers of Queensland, industry an excess of alcohol has its effect on the car generally, and the economy of the State, driver, the economy, the home, and especi­ than that Act. The hon. member for Kurilpa ally the young and the aged. Legislators said that Mr. Connolly was a second-class in California, who are concerned for the kind of person. public welfare, have recognised facts asso­ Mr. Smith: The hon. member was talking ciated with the nature and effect of alcoholic about his Labour opponent. beverages. This recognition is shown in sec­ tions of the California Education Code, Mr. DUFFICY: I am making this speech, from which I shall quote if time permits. and I am quoting what the hon. member However, before concluding let me say that said. The fact remains that the Premier in Queensland the drinking of alcoholic and members of Cabinet saw fit to appoint beverages raises many special and urgent Mr. Connolly to that position, and I shall problems. Therefore, while commending the have more to say about that later. Government on what they have done, I sug­ I think I should now speak about gest that they further investigate alcohol, Western Queensland, which has returned its place, its use, and its effect in and on the me as a member of this Assembly for the community. How else can the Government past 10 years. While congratulations are fully and properly ascertain matters affecting the order of the day, let me congratulate liquor and the legislation necessary, the the Country Party on their good sense in not advisability of reducing the alcoholic content opposing me on this occasion. I am sure in beer, the effect on the economy, the home that they realised they would merely be and human life, and the advisability of insti­ wasting their money. tuting a programme of education? Mr. HUGHES: I rise to a point of order. Mr. Mann: What about gambling? Although I was not in the Chamber, it ha~ Mr. HUGHES: I am not speaking of the been brought to my notice that I have been hon. member's Spring Hill interests. quoted as saying that Mr. Peter Connolly had come second and that that was all he Mr. Aikens: Don't you believe in gambling? was entitled to. I point out that I have been misquoted. I said I paid tribute to my Mr. HUGHES: I am making this speech. opponents; that they made me work hard in the election and made me earn my Mr. Aikens: I was talking to the hon. place; unfortunately for them, there was no member for Brisbane. second or third prize. Mr. HUGHES: I return now to quote the Mr. DUFFICY: After that interesting little provisions inserted in the California Educa­ speech, I will just repeat that the hon. mem­ tion Code by the legislators of California ber did say that Mr. Connolly ran second whereby they include "Alcohol" and its effect and that that was his place. in the school education programme. Mr. Dewar: He was referring to your (Time expired.) mob. 266 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLY] Address in Reply

1\'lr. HUGHES: I rise to a point of order. Communism played a significant part in the Having been misquoted, I am asking for political and industrial life of this State. the withdrawal of those remarks. Let me give hon. members an instance of it. In Maryborough in 1932, which was in l\'lr. SPEAKER: Order! As the hon. mem­ the midst of the depression, a Communist ber for Kurilpa has said that he has been candidate who had no social standing and misquoted, I ask the hon. member for not a very great personal following opposed Warrego to withdraw his remarks. Jim Stopford, one of the most capable Mr. DUFFICY: If the hon. member says Ministers this State has ever known. I misquoted him I am happy to withdraw, This person stood as a Communist but I am going to consult an ear, nose and candidate in Maryborough and his vote was throat specialist as soon as possible to have 1,500 at that time, against a Minister of my ears attended to. the Crown and a particularly capable and As I said, I compliment the Country Party popular one. If a Communist stood in on their good sense in not opposing me, Maryborough today, he would lose his but I cannot compliment them for advising deposit. their supporters-the few they have in that Mr. Davies: He would not get 100 votes. area-to support my Q.L.P. opponent. They did not have the intestinal fortitude to oppose l\'lr. DUFFICY: I ask hon. members to me themselves, and it seemed a "round-the­ tell me how many Communists have been corner" attitude to adopt. The subject of successful in saving their deposits since the unity tickets was raised in the House recently. days when Mr. Fred Paterson was a member I did not hear anything about a unity ticket of this House? between the Country Party and the Q.L.P. l\'lr. Mann: None at all. They cannot on that occasion. It did operate in my answer it. electorate. I wish to make only one further comment l\'lr. DUFFICY: This bogy of Com­ on the debate so far, and it concerns the munism is simply a political trick to smear remarks of the Leader of the Queens­ the Australian Labour Party, and when it land Labour Party who have endeavoured is done in this House by our political to smear the Australian Labour Party with opponents, I resent it, particularly as I spent an association with the Communist Party. the best days of my life fighting Com­ Speaking personally-! shall speak on behalf munism in this State. I resent the smear of the party later-! was for very many personally and from the point of view of years an official of an industrial organisa­ the party to which I have the honour to tion which I maintain has done more to belong. combat Communism in Queensland than It does not reflect any credit either on any other organisation that has ever been the Leader of the Q.L.P. or hon. members in existence. I refer to the Australian on the other side who, for purely political Workers Union, and I defy hon. members reasons, want to smear people who have opposite to deny my statement. For 22 attacked and fought Communism for years. years I had the honour of playing an active I feel strongly on the matter and I think part in that union and during that time I am entitled to in view of my early I would say that the A.W.U. did more to activities in the industrial field. combat Communism in Queensland than any other organisation has ever done. I want to make some comment about challenge any hon. member of the Queens­ the conditions existing in the West today land Labour Party, or any hon. member and the problems that are facing the wool opposite, to deny that I personally have done industry in Queensland. I want to bring all more to combat Communism in this State the facts under the notice of the Govern­ than any of them. It is all very well for ment and I appeal to them to give them earnest consideration. them to prate about Communi~m in the Chamber. After all, there are no Com­ The wool industry is our major source munists here to attack them. It was an of income. Queensland and Australia entirely different matter, particularly in the generally are still riding on the sheep's back; depression years, to stand up before hundreds there is no doubt about that. Most of our of men and fight Communism on the job income comes from wool. Eighty per cent. as I and many of my colleagues had to do. of our total exports are rural and, of that 80 per cent., wool represents 60 per cent. How many of the so-called Communist­ That should demonstrate the importance of haters in the Chamber have ever done that? this industry to the economy of this State What right have they to smear hon. members and Australia generally. of my party who have consistently fought Communism over the years and are con­ Most hon. members opposite have never tinuing the fight? They have no right to been far from Queen Street and no Minister do so, particularly when it is remembered comes from more than a few hundred miles that they have not taken a single step to from the coast, comparatively speaking, and attack Communism but rather are they I might surprise them when I say that breeding Communism by their actions. It within a measurable period of time, perhaps was only during the depression years that within 15 or 20 years, there is a distinct Address in Reply (8 SEPTEMBER] Address in Reply 267

possibility that the wool industry will face and Industry issued an instruction that a shortage of labour. I think that will accommodation inspectors were not to be the position. I invite hon. members travel in the same car as union officials. opposite to visit western shearing sheds. My colleague, the hon. member for 1_3arcoo, They will find that the average age of realises the significance of such an mstruc­ shearers is well over 50 years. There are tion and the effect it will have on accom­ not many young men in the industry, and modation in the west, as does every other I shall endeavour to give the reasons for westerner. However, that is by the way. that. If hon. members opposite think the subject is not serious, let them consider The very evolution of this industry, which for a moment the effect of the wool industry must continue, has a tendency to decrease on the economy of Queensland and the effective wage of pastoral employees. Australia. Labour Governments in the past have agreed with the principle of closer settle­ This industry is remarkable in that it is ment which has been in operation for a possibly the only one in which automation number of years. I might say that the has not played, and probably will not play, ex-Minister for Public Lands and Irrigation an important part for many years. In other agreed completely with me on this matter. industries automation is being introduced. I do not know if that policy is going to be In the sugar industry we have mechanical continued. I will have more to say about harvesting, and the use of these machines it afterwards. Nevertheless, the implementa­ will increase, thus reducing the number of tion of closer settlement has a tendency to men employed in cutting cane. We see decrease the effective wage of pastoral automation even in the dairying industry employees. Before the advent of closer and, possibly to a lesser extent, in the wheat settlement we had large holdings in the industry. But scientists have not yet devised west, and pastoral properties which would a mechanical process for shearing. The run 70,000, 80,000 and 100,000 sheep. The methods employed today are identical with shearing industry employees would be work­ those of 20 years ago. Shearing is hard ing at the one shed for six, eight, and manual labour, and shearers still use the possibly ten weeks. Today, I venture to types of combs and cutters and machinery say the average length of a shed in Queens­ that were used more than 20 years ago. land would be less than two weeks. As automation will not play a major part Mr. Windsor: What is the reason for in the wool industry for many years, if the industry is to survive we must have an that? effective work force of sufficient strength. Mr. DUFFICY: The reason for that is I sound a note of warning. If the Govern­ closer settlement. I have told the hon. ment do not take steps to overcome the member that. I can only tell the hon. problem, in a short space of time we s~all member· I cannot give him the intelligence not have an efficient work force of sufficient to und~rstand. When one Minister said strength. The young man of today is not there was "a long tail" in the party, he must prepared to put up with conditions accept_ed have been speaking the truth, and the hon. by his father-flies, heat, and dust, With gentleman must be the last joint in that tail. little or no facilities for relaxation, and Today for a shearer to get the same absolutely no opportunities for recreation­ numb~r of sheep, he has to visit eight and I do not blame him. The con­ or ten sheds and in doing so he ditions must be made more attractive if we has to travel ' many hundreds of miles. want to induce young people to become It is expensive travelling many hundreds efficient shearers or shearing-industry of miles in the west. In spite of the union employees and remain in the industry. arguing on numerous occasions, along I do not wish to convey the impression that the lines I am arguing the travelling I think Shearing Industry Award conditions clause in the award at present provides are unfavourable when compared with the for employees only lOd. a mile, one way. award rates in other industry. Even in That is travelling expenses. Hon. members casual industry, such as the sugar industry, will realise the impossibility of travelling in the wages and conditions are reasonably that country at lOd. a mile. Those people aood. We must realise the work is carried are certainly not adequately reimbursed. ~ut in the less favoured portions of this With the shorter times of operating in the State. We must realise, too, that the smaller sheds the tendency is to decrease accommodation-despite the fact that there the effective wage of the employees because has been continual improvement over a there is an inevitable loss of time between number of years-is still not up to the sheds even though what they earn during the standard operating in other industries on time 'they are employed may be substantial. the coast. In fact, the conditions under I do not argue that their award is inadequate. which these people work would not be I simply say that the conditions no_w operat­ tolerated by the city worker for five minutes; ing in the industry decrease their annual they just would not be tolerated! earnings-their effective wage over the I may say that the gradual improvement year-to the extent that the industry is not in accommodation that has taken place over an attractive one for young people to enter. the years has reached a standstill, more or What is far more important is that it is less, since the present Minister for Labour a seasonal industry and the Government have 268 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLY] Address in Reply

not set aside any public money for amenities How many houses have the present Govern­ in the West or for giving the workers some ment built in the West since they assumed continuity of employment in western towns. office? Unless the Government face up to their Mr. Evans: A whole lot more than your responsibilities-unless they put on long­ Government built. distance glasses instead of looking only to Queen Street and the coastal strip-and Mr. DUFFICY: Oh no, they have not. provide adequate amenities in western towns How many have they built in Charleville, and employment for pastoral workers in the and how many in Cunnamulla? slack season, this great industry, on which the economy of the country depends, will, Mr. Evans: What about Longreach? within the next 15 or 20 years, be hampered and hamstringed and probably destroyed Mr. DUFFICY: What is the Government's through the lack of sufficient labour. expenditure on main roads in that country? Public expenditure on western parts of Mr. Pizzey: You must admit that it is a Queensland has been virtually non-existent difficult problem and that you people could since this Government took office. The use not find a solution in 40 years. of more efficient methods in the pastoral industry has lowered the effective wages of Mr. DUFFICY: Oh yes, we did. the workers, and no public money is avail­ Mr. Pizzey: What was it? able to provide employment. Consequently, the population in western Queensland is Mr. DUFFICY: I will tell the hon. gentle­ decreasing. I ask hon. members opposite to man. deny that if they can. The population in Mr. Pizzey: I will be interested to hear Brisbane and in coastal areas is increasing. you. Because of their lack of consideration for the people of the West, the Government are Mr. DUFFICY: I know the Minister will going the right way about destroying not only be interested and I hope he and his Govern­ western towns but also the great pastoral ment will follow the example we set. It is industry, on which we are so dependent. a rather remarkable fact that the first town 1\'Ir. Evans: What about the Channel in Queensland to be sewered was Cunna­ country? mulla, and a subsidy of 50 per cent. was granted on both materials and labour. That Mr. DUFFICY: I am making this speech, is to say, the total cost of the scheme was and I have finished with that subject for the subsidised to the extent of 50 per cent. by moment. I shall be interested to hear what a Labour Government. the Minister has to say at a later stage. The second town in Queensland to be sewered was Quilpie-620 miles west of I am particularly interested in land matters, Brisbane-and the same conditions applied and I have made many speeches on the there. The third town in Queensland to be subject in this House. After all, our wealth >ewered was Goondiwindi. springs from the land, and the land policy of any Government is one of the most Mr. Pizzey: They are still being sewered. important phases of Government. The hon. Take Barcaldine, for example. member for Condamine said that 5,000 acres in the brigalow belt might be a living area Mr. DUFFICY: That is right. We were at present, but that in years to come, with seized with the necessity to go ahead with the help of science, 1,000 acres might be that work. enough. In effect that is what he said, and Mr. Evans: That subsidy still applies. I could not agree with him more. I made precisely the same statement when we were Mr. DUFFICY: If that subsidy still applies, arguing about the fallacy of freeholding 5,000- it is rather remarkable. What is the subsidy acre areas in the brigalow belt. I said that for swimming pools now? after all the Crown loses authority over that Mr. Evans: We are talking about sewerage. area immediately the land is freeholded, that it should be left under leasehold tenure, and Mr. DUFHCY: What is the Government's that when science progressed sufficiently the subsidy for swimming pools? When swim­ land could be subdivided into the living areas ming pools were built {n Mitchell and Cun­ required under the then-existing conditions. namulla the Labour Government gave a In future I am looking for support from the subsidy of 33:\ per cent. I venture to say hon. member for Condamine when land that this Government have reduced the matters are being debate, subsidy to 25 per cent. Am I right or In the little time at my disposal I wish wrong? to refer to the late Minister for Public Lands Mr. Evans: That is right. and Irrigation. Mr. Pizzey: That is right. Government Members: He is not dead. Mr. DUFFICY: Of course I am right. Mr. DUFFICY: From a ministerial point That indicates how much consideration the of view he is dead-much to the discredit Government have for the people of the West. of the Government. I suppose there is Address in Reply [8 SEPTEMBER] Address in Reply 269 nobody in the Chamber who at times dis­ As time passes it becomes more and more agreed more violently with the hon. member apparent that in our beloved Governor, Sir for Fassifern than I. While he was Minister Henry Abel Smith, Her Majesty has as her there were some phases of his policy-the representative in Queensland a person Government's policy because I suppose it possessed of an extremely high sense of duty was not only his-with which I violently and one whose desire to concern himself disagreed but I pay him the tribute that he with the problems of his people and with had the courage of his convictions, and the people themselves is becoming a house­ probably that was the rock he perished on. hold word today. Every Queenslander, I I know that many of the big pastoral com­ feel sure, hesitates to think about the time panies and big landholders in Queensland when our Governor and Lady May must were violently opposed to him, because they leave us. I extend to His Excellency and told me so. I know, too, that a good deal Lady May best wishes for good health and of pressure was brought to bear by financial full happiness in their position. interests in this State to displace him. It is to During the course of the remarks that His the discredit of the Government, particularly Excellency addressed to this Chamber there the Country Party section, that they allowed were one or two comments to which I must outside pressure to influence them to displace refer later on. Before doing so, might I a person who had the courage of his con­ extend to you, Mr. Speaker, my congratula­ victions and was, after all, a very loyal tions on your elevation to your high office, member of the party. In this instance it and to the hon. member for Clayfield on was the tail wagging the dog because I think his reappointment to the other high office in most of the pressure came from the Liberal this House, that of Chairman of Committees. Party, or at least some members of the I congratulate, too, all the new members Liberal Party, who caused that pressure to on both sides of the House. With the be applied. extremely high percentage of new members, Although I have the very highest regard we can expect new thoughts and new for his successor, the hon. member for approaches to old problems and, if each of 'Cunningham, it is unfortunate that the those hon. members devotes himself with Country Party selected a person with abso­ keenness and interest to those problems, I am lutely no knowledge of the outlying parts of sure we will go a long way towards solving the State, a gentleman who, when opening the many of them. Cunnamulla show said, 'This is my first Mr. Davies: You will get some good visit to the West, and I just don't know thoughts from this side of the House. anything about it, but I am happy to be out here." He did not know then, of course. Mr. SMITH: Some of the thoughts I have that he was going to be Minister for Public heard from the opposite side scarcely bear Lands and Irrigation, but it was a fact the appellation the interjector gives them. that probably he had never been over the However, a man can judge only according Great Dividing Range before. Everybody to his own lights. must realise that land problems are not along It was interesting to listen to the hon. the coast but out in the West. Land problems member for Warrego describing how, as an along the coastal belt have been dealt with. organiser of the A.W.U., he was forthright It is in Western Queensland, where large in his fight against the Communist peril. areas must either be subdivided or dealt with It was more interesting, and a deal more in some other way, that the real problems of suspicious, to note that the same hon. mem­ land administration are posed. Although I ber slipped over or failed to mention how have great respect for the hon. gentleman the A.W.U., in this forthright fight against J am afraid that his inexperience and lack Communism, dissociated itself from the of knowledge of land matters and western Labour Party. He chose to ignore that conditions make him completely unfitted to hold his portfolio. I doubt very much point. whether he will have the intestinal fortitude From His Excellency's Opening Speech I to withstand outside pressure from large take the first statement on which I wish to pastoralists and industrial groups, and be able comment today. His Excellency said- to do the right thing as the hon. member "My Ministers have been distressed by for Fassifern did on numerous occasiong the ever-increasing toll of the road." when he held the portfolio. I have made it a point, and I have said on (Time expired). more than one occasion in this House that, as long as I am here, I will raise my voice Mr. SMITH (Windsor) (4.35 p.m.): I join on every possible occasion to ensure that the with the mover and seconder of the motion welfare of road-users in this State is para­ under debate in their expressions of loyalty mount in the minds of those people con­ to Her Majesty the Queen. I congratulate cerned with legislating for roads and their the hon. members for Hinchinbrook and use. Bowen on their entry into the Chamber Mr. Houston: What about road hauliers? which is, I consider, the richer for their pres­ ence. On my own behalf and on behalf of Mr. SMITH: If hon. members of the my constituents I again express loyalty to Opposition want mention of road hauliers, I the Crown. will do it now. 270 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLY] Address in Reply

Mr. Bennett: You should have them pro­ subject of the institution of a nominal defend­ duce their books. ant on my entry to this Chamber three years ago. Mr. SMITH: It is good to see that my learned colleague reads the law reports in the Mr. Aikens: Why won't your Government papers. It might be better for him if he were introduce it? to read the law reports as published by Mr. SMITH: I have mentioned it since authority. A common hazard on our roads and I wlll continue to mention it until the are unattended trailers, broken-down trailers, Government can be prevailed upon to prime-movers, and sometimes broken-down institute it. It is a creature of Statute, and prime-mover and trailer together. That is a a very worthwhile creature, and, as long as common sight. As His Excellency points we go on without it, there will be homes out, his advisers are distressed by the ever­ prejudiced and families distressed because increasing toll of the road, so I commend they cannot recover any damages after an to the Minister concerned very serious con­ accident. sideration of the problem that confronts a road-user when he is driving on a fairly Mr. Bennett: What is their objection to it? narrow roadway, as we are forced to in this State, and is faced with a broken-down Mr. SMITH: Without going into the trailer. objections to it, I point out that all I am concerned about is that I should make as Mr. Houston: Didn't you raise this matter strong a case as possible for the institution of three years ago? this instrument. Mr. Aikens: Didn't you reduce the sentence Mr. Bennett: Have you approached the of the killer of a young boy from five years Minister for Justice? to 18 months? Mr. Aikens: Why can you not sell such an excellent idea to your own Government? Mr. SMITH: I did not raise this matter 18 months ago. I am raising this problem Mr. SMITH: The interjectors are not today for the first time, and, if the inter­ doing the case any good whatever; they jectors opposite and the hon. member for are merely wasting time. Townsville South would join with me instead of trying to hinder me, the State may be Mr. Aikens interjected. better for it, because it may well be that one Mr. SMITH: If the hon. member for of those interjectors will be injured in an Townsville South who has a bull-like voice accident. and possibly other bull-like attributes will The particular matter I have in mind at restrain himself I will be able to proceed. the moment is the practice of leaving trailers, As so many new members are in the often loaded with 15 or more tons of produce Chamber, I think it is an appropriate time or goods on the side of the road. A road again to canvass the subject of a nominal user driving along that road-perhaps at defendant and to point out to hon. members, night when it is raining--can be confronted not as well endowed with legal knowledge as with a particularly awkward obstacle. At the hon. member for South Brisbane the night oncoming traffic and the headlights of need for it. those vehicles can render this unseen obstacle Mr. Aikens: And the hon. member for a fatal trap. Drivers are required to switch Townsville South. on the warning lights of unattended trailers, but I am referring particularly to the prac­ Mr. SMITH: The hon. member for Towns­ tice that has developed among hauliers of ville South has shown on previous occasions, leaving trailers for more than a day by particularly when advising his constituents on the side of the road. I have no quarrel alimony pendente lite, his lack of knowledge with the man whose vehicle breaks down of the law, and he is not showing any at 2 o'clock in the morning. All we can improvement now. expect him to do is to pull as far as possible off the road and put on his warning lights, but In an accident involving a car that I submit that no haulier has any warrant to absconds, leaving the victims without any leave a trailer by the side of the road during knowledge of the identity of the car, the the hours of daylight, because, wherever he owner or the driver: in the case of a car may be, he can go to the nearest town, get which stops but is not insured; and in the a truck and unload his vehicle or get some case of a car which although insured is other vehicle to pull the trailer clear of the being used for some purpose other than highway. It is not uncommon to see these large that for which it is insured-for example, vehicles stuck out in the middle of the road­ a farm vehicle which should not be used on way, causing unbeknown perils to people the road-there is a distinct risk that the coming in their wake. person injured will be left without redress, and I do not want that to occur. It is my This matter brings me back to my previous ambition to provide for all injured people statements, which hon. members opposite as soon as possible the means whereby they have referred to, about a nominal defendant can be assured of the protection the statute for motor vehicle insurance. I raised the envisages they should have. There is Address in Reply (8 SEPTEMBER.) Address in Reply 271 no doubt that the statute envisages that all hope that in three years' time when I again vehicles using the road should be covered mount this rostrum to make my Address-in­ by an insurance policy, and that people Reply speech-- injured by those vehicles will be able to claim. Despite what I said three years ago, Opposition members: You will not be here. this has not been accepted or acted upon. Mr. SMITH: Many of those in Opposition I would have thought that in such a worth­ will not be here, and I hope that those new while matter three years would have been, members on this side of the House who will politically, time enough for some action to be replacing them do not have to listen to have been taken on it. When we consider this speech. that the money does not come out of the Government's pocket, we must come to the Mr. Aikens: It is certain I will be here. conclusion that the Government have had I will be singing out for Peter Connolly. adequate time to implement it. This money Mr. SMITH: There is no doubt the hon. is not even in the Government's purse; the member will be singing out, wherever he is. money is provided by the premiums paid by car owners, so there cannot be any reason I hope that in the case of the uninsured financially why we cannot institute this bene­ vehicle, in the case of the hit-and-run vehicle. fit. There is perhaps the possiblity of a and in any other case where the nominai slight increase in premium. I say "slight" defendant is needed, this State will join with advisedly. There have been various forecasts all the other States in implementing this that the claims will increase, but until such worthwhile institution. time as they do, I am prepared to say a I have the good fortune to have the "slight increase", and any increase that is Treasurer in the Chamber and I should like suffered will be borne by the road user­ to mention another matter on which I have the owner of a car. As many hon. members previously made submissions, and that is the here are car owners, and as many hon. mem­ question of workers' compensation claims, in bers present have heard the submissions and very doubtful cases. Twelve months ago I endorsed them, I can only take it that their unsuccessfully submitted a case to the House reaction is indicative of the reaction of other or the change in onus of proof in matters car owners who, realising the worth of this where there were two or three contributing institution, the nominal defendant, will accept causes of death and it was impossible to any increase in premium, in the spirit in ascertain which was the actual cause. In which I am making the suggestion. It is such a case, where you have conflicting causes well worthwhile, for the sake of a few of death, one of which might have been extra shillings to have the added protection attributable to his employment, unless the for ourselves and our families. applicant can satisfy (a) the Insurance Com­ Mr. Hughcs: You have my approval. missioner, and failing him (b) the Industrial Magistrate, and fail~ng him (c), the Full Mr. SMITH: I am indeed pleased that the Bench of the Industnal Court, that the death hon. member for Kurilpa, one of the new was the result of the industry, or the members, has indicated his approval of the occupation, the deceased's dependants will scheme. It is not only in cases of death that not recover. I think that is very harsh. It this institution of the nominal defendant is is grossly unfair. The money is not public worthwhile, particularly when one considers money. It is not the public purse that is that the claims that have been made recently being picked. It is money found by the for the loss of use of limbs, the loss of employers. I have no brief whatever for sight, and the loss of hearing, are mounting saving employers any contributions on this in size. We see claims for £12,000 and score. For the sake of the deceased worker £15,000 being awarded to some claimants. and his dependants I would willingly involve This makes it all the more necessary to pro­ the employer in extra expense. vide that the person, or his dependants shall I agreed with the answer that the Treasurer have available to them the means, or was kind enough to give me on the occasion the wherewithal whereby that claim can of my previous submission. That was when be met. It is scant satisfaction to I wanted the complete reversal of the onus that person to have an empty judgment, or of proof. I now submit a modified version a piece of paper from the Supreme Court of of that submission. I do not request him to Queensland telling him he has succeeded change the onus of proof but to investigate in his action and is entitled to recover the possibility, in such cases of death and £15,000. There is not one financial institu­ in such cases of competing causes, of making tion that will give him a penny on that, if provision in the Act for the benefit of the the person against whom the judgment is doubt to go to the applicant where there is given has not the funds. I make the request any circumstance or cause or matter in doubt. with the utmost sincerity, that the Govern­ At the present time if the applicant cannot ment act on this submission. satisfy the Court as to the cause of death, Mr. Aikens: Have you ever brought this he loses. In view of the fact that workers' up at the party meeting? compensation has a strong analogy with insurance, with a policy in force, if the Court Mr. SMITH: I have made the submission is not satisfied as to what happened the to the Government in this House, and I benefit of the doubt should go to the worker; 272 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLY] Address in Reply his dependants should be allowed to claim. their own grounds for playing fields. One Remember. I make this submission in respect sees children from the Ascot State School of death, not injury. As I said a year ago, going to Fox's Paddock, wrth which I am if the person is alive he can point out some­ familiar because it was on the boundary of thing that might influence the Court to find my former electorate. But when we have one way or the other. The case of death space within the fences of the school is totally different. grounds, I submit that we should move the buildings elsewhere and make the Mr. Aikens: A person who is alive can be ground available for the use of the school. submitted to tests, too. I also wish to draw the Minister's Mr. SMITH: Yes, and I think there are attention to the state of the ramp leading many men alive who should be submitted to to the infants' section at the Windsor school. tests. During the war, as I think I have pointed I turn now to a parochial matter affecting out in the Chamber previouslv, the infants' the Windsor State School-a school with over school was used as an auxiliary hospital. 700 pupils. I know I will be accused by That was an emergency measure. and a some of the grandiloquent statesmen in the ramp was constructed to give vehicular Chamber of adopting a parish-pump attitude, traffic access to the school. That ramp has but in this instance I make no apology for it. now become slightly unsafe. I would not I am forced to renew, three years later, a say it is very unsafe, but it is sufficiently submission I made in 1957 requesting the unsafe to warrant the closing of the gates. removal of some large stores located in the As there is an opportunity school in the school grounds. The girls attending the building, there is a good deal of vehicular school are denied adequate playgrounds. We traffic to it. To get there, the vehicles cross have heard throughout the length and breadth the playground of the other sections of the of Australia, and indeed throughout the schooL where in playing hours there are world, commentaries upon juvenile delin­ from 700 to 800 children, because thev quency and the need in childhood especially cannot use one gate. It would be a very for recreation and for healthy sport. These good thing if the ramp could be repaired-· subjects are frequently mentioned in the it is only a short one-to allow vehicles to daily Press and from both sides of use it. The lives of the children in the the House, but when half of the playground would not then be endangered playground at the Windsor school is taken unnecessarily. I know that the drivers drive up by large buildings occupied for purposes cautiously, and I know the children know other than the immediate needs of the school, the cars go through there. But in the heat I submit we are not doing our utmost to of the game and the excitement of their assist the girls of that school to reach their amusements the children can become care­ appointed status in life. The girls cannot less, and I think it is a pity that the vehicles play softball because they have not a pitch have to cross the playground. I make a on which to play it. The boys have a cricket plea for two things: firstly, the removal of pitch of limited extent. If the stores buildings the buildings: and secondly, the repair of were not there the girls could have not one the ramp to make accessible that part of the but two softball pitches. Moreover, removal school building which is now accessible only of the sheds would leave a large concrete by driving vehicles through the school slab, which would in itself provide an ideal grounds. playing surface for many of the sports Another matter that has come to my envisaged by the school and by the school notice is of concern to the parents of masters. There would be no need to root children at schools, particularly high schools. out at great expense any of that concrete where new tuck shops are installed. Many slab. All that need be done is move the of our State schools are under construction buildings. They can easily be removed. and the tuck shops have not yet been They are only of frame construction and installed, and I wondered whether the they could be shifted, if necessary, to some charter under which the Butter Marketing other spot. Board works could be enlarged to allow the Mr. Windsor: Are they Commonwealth Board to make soecial refrigerators for use in school tuck shoos. Possibly the Board, buildings? which at present makes farm refrigerating Mr. SMITH: They are used by the machinery-and makes it very well, if I Education Department for school stores. I may say so--could make a refrigerator suggest that there should be ample space ideally suited to the needs of high school in the Teachers' Training College building and State school tuck shops. An ordinary for school stores, and that would mean that refrigerator is not really suitable in a high the girls at Windsor State Schc:ol could have school with 700, 800, or 1,000 pupils, when the playing facilities to wh1ch they are counter space has to be considered. I entitled. I think it is a mistake for us to suggest that it would be a simple matter continue for one day longer than we have for the refrigeration department of the to with anything that interferes with the Butter Board to design an ideal type of use of the school grounds by the pupils. refrigerator, standardise it, and supply it to Many schools in Brisbane today, because the parents without profit. or at a minimum of lack of space, are forced to look outside profit. Addre~s in Reply [8 SEPTEMBER] Address in Reply 273

Mr. Wallace: Socialism! rails, but could use a permanent way on which rails had previously been laid but Mr. SMITH: I heard an interjector from had been taken up. It is unfortunate that the Opposition benches suggest that we have not done anything about this matter Socialism was involved. In this case I before now. We could use the permanent support Socialism, if it !S Socialism, but way as it is laid down, even the roughest I do not think it is. permanent way. All of these craft operate Mr. Davies: ·what art your opinions on about five or six inches above the ground and Socialism? are able to operate under either wet or dry conditions. The levapad is ideally suited to Mr. SMITH: I will givt you my opinion~ moving over a rail. on Socialism when I think the time is oppor­ JVrr. Duggan: Whilst I commend you for tune. At the moment I am trying to g~::t refrigerators suitable for school tuck shops your research, I must say that in three years at a reasonable cost. The price of you did not get very far with those buildings. refrigerators affects the purse of the parents. Mr. SMITH: I shall continue to try to get If they could be obtained in the way I the school buildings moved. The Country­ suggest we would be going a long way Liberal Government came into office only in towards improving the lot of school children. 1957. Those buildings were put in the The other remarks of His Excellency to Windsor State School grounds during the which I said I would refer were- years 1940 to 1945 and they remained there "My Mini11ters inform me that the Rail­ until 1957. No action was taken by the then way Department whose true value lies in State Government to have them removed. its continued contribution to the develop­ We would do the State a good service if ment of the State, had an excess of we investigated as expeditiously as possible expenditure over cash collections." the use of the levapad system. It is not new. My purpose in referring to the Railway It has been in vogue for 30 or 40 years and Department is to ask the Government at I understand that it is intended to introduce this stage to undertake immediately an investi­ the air pad principle into the ferry service in gation of the possibility of using Hovercraft New South Wales in a couple of years. vehicles on the railways-! do not mean on the railway line but on the permanent way. Mr. Morris: It is being investigated here. A considerable amount of development in Mr. SMITH: I am glad to hear that. this field has been carried out in England hope the Government will institute it in the and America. At present four different types near future. It would overcome the necessitv of vehicles are in use that use the air-thrust for the maintenance of rails and permanent method of propulsion. The first type, the way, and rail freight could be transported plenum chamber, uses an air space to sup­ at much greater speeds. port the vehicle. The second type, known as the annular jet type, is used in the British Hon. members opposite apparently have Hovercraft and in types developed in not made very much research into these America; the third type is known as the matters, and it might interest them to learn labyrinth seal, which is perhaps a more useful that the ultimate speed of this principle is adaption of the annular jet, and the fourth in the vicinity of 400 to 500 miles an hour. is the levapad. I submit that the latter type The wheel has an ultimate speed of about 150 would be more applicable .for use by the miles an hour. A rail service using wheels Railway Department. can never hope to achieve the speed of these vehicles and I am happy to hear the Mr. Davies: Would the hon. member make Deputy Premier say that an investigation is this point clear: does he intend the State being carried out. to undertake this or to leave it to private enterprise? Mr. Duggan: It might be interesting to get from Elizabeth Street to Queen Street at Mr. SMITH: I suggest that if the hon. 50 miles an hour instead of at the present member had not been making inane com­ speed. ments to other hon. members opposite he Mr. SMITH: That interjection gives me the would have heard me say that I commend to opportunity to congratulate the Minister and the Government an immediate investigation his traffic experts on their solution of our of the possibilities of using this system on traffic problems in the last year. I did not the railways. I do not know whether hon. want to raise it but I think the interjection members are familiar with any one of the by the hon. member allows me to. four types. The use of wheels is rather restricted for travel use. We must face the It is amazing to note that, with all these fact that there is an ultimate in the useful­ achievements coming to pass, our opponents ness of the wheel. We can achieve only a have not one modicum of approval or certain amount of speed with the wheel and appreciation for what is being done. They it can run only on the rail itself. If we want to knock, knock, knock. That has could dispense with that form of movement been evident even in the simple matter about and replace it with an air pad we would not which I was speaking. Not one of them was be so restricted and not constrained to use prepared to help. All they could say was, 274 Questions [ASSEMBLY] Questions

"Didn't you raise that 18 months ago?" I might have, but if hon. members opposite had the welfare of the State at heart, and if they could think of anything at all, they should get behind me and !JJ!lp me in my fight. Debate, on motion of Mr. Davis, adjourned. The House adjourned at 5.10 p.m.