Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

THURSDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 1943

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

Supply. [23 SEPTEMBER.] Questions. 481

THURSDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER, 1943.

Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. E. J. Hanson, Buranda) took the chair at 11 a.m. QUESTIONS.

TUBERCULOSIS TEST, BRISBANE DAIRY HERDS. JUr. WAJ,KER (Cooroora) asked the Secretary for Agriculture and Stock- '' 1. How many registered dairymen sup­ plied milk to the metropolitan area for the years 1941-42 and 1942-43 ~ '' 2. How many of their herds were sub­ mitted to the tuberculosis test during those years~ 482 QuestionB. [ASSEMBLY.] Questions.

'' 3. How many cows in such herds "7. Is William Forgan Smith permitted reacted to the test, and what was the per­ by the Government to travel outside the centage of reaction~ State by air liner at the cost of the State~ '' 4. How many of such cows were '' 8. Does William Forgan Smith still destroyed because of reaction~'' retain his railway pass, which permits him Tlle SECRETARY I<'OR AGRICULTURE to travel free on all Government railways AND STOCK (Hon. T. L. Williams, Port throughout Australia~'' 'Curtis) replied- The PRElUIER (Hon. F. A. Cooper, '' 1. \Varm milk producers (chiefly pro­ Bremer) replied- ducer-distributors )-1941-42, 250; 1942-43, '' 1. A number of executive and other 220. The numbers are estimated. Cold officers in the State Government Service milk producers (producers supplying milk have, in each approved instance, for many through the Brisbane Milk Board)-1941- years been allowed the use of motor cars 42, 661; 1942-43, 708. These figures are for official purposes. exclusive of milk supplied by the Downs Co-operative Dairy Association, Toowoomba, '' 2 and 4. As the moneys concerned are for military purposes. There were 202 not voted by Parliament, I refer the hon. suppliers to the Toowoomba factory in 1941- member to the Sugar Board. 42, and 274 in 1942-43. Some of the milk '' 3. £300 in addition to his salary and produced by these suppliers was used for emoluments as Chief Justice of Queensland. supplying military establishments in centres Sir William Webb indicated to the Govern­ other than Brisbane. ment that he desired to vacate the Chair­ '' 2. As milk for the metropolitan area is manship of the Central Sugar Cane Prices drawn from districts as far distant as Board, as the increasing problems due to Woodford, Beaudesert, and even Too­ war conditions devolving upon the board, woomba, and in which the majority of in connection with man-power, transport, dairymen supply butter factories, it is not and related problems, required, in Sir practicable to collate complete figures. The William Webb 's opinion, the appointment testing carried out in the districts adjacent of a chairman ·who could devote h·is full to Brisbane, and which refers exclusively time to that office. to milk suppliers, shows th<' fo llowin a­ "5. Mr. Short is not an officer of the results :--'---1941-42, 24 herds; 1942-43, 10 Queensland Public Service, and the Sugar herds. Board accounts are not subject to parlia­ "3. 1941-42, 179 reactors, being 10 per mentary appropriation. cent.; 1942-43, 96 reactors, being 6 per '' 6. £1,650. No salary is paid to the cent. Hon. William }<,organ Smith as a member "4. 1941-42, 179; 1942-43, 96." and Deputy Chairman of the Sugar Board. '' 7. The Hon. William Forgan Smith, as UsE OF GOVERNMENT' CARS BY HON. Chairman of the Central Sugar Cane Prices W. FoRGAN SMITH. Board and Deputy Chairman of the Sugar Board has in common with other State lUr. J. F. BARNES (Bundaberg) asked the Premier- officials, b~en granted approval to use ::'ir transport on official travel as occasiOn '' 1. What public officers, other than demands. Ministers of the Crown. are allowed the use of Government motor cars to convey '' 8. Yes. As the ex-Premier and a member them to and from business to home and of the ExecutiYe Council of Queensland for for social engagements~ periods aggregating approximately 20 years, during which he rendered distinguished and '' 2. Is William J. Short, Chairman of meritorious service to the State, the Hon. the Sugar Board, allowed the use of Govern­ William Forgan Smith is qualified in his ment cars for the purposes stated in personal right as the holder of a gold pass Question 19 over the Australian railways. The qualifica­ '' 3. What annual allowance or emolu­ tion is membership of the Executive Coun­ ment was paid to Sir William Webb as cil for three years. Such being the case, Chairman of the Sugar Cane Prices Board the hon. member's prospects of qualifica­ prior to the appointment of ex-Premier tion are as far from his reach as is the William Forgan Smith~ nebula in the constellation of Orion." '' 4. What annual allowance or emolument was paid to the person who occupied the VENEREAL DISEASE, 1938 AND 1943. position of Deputy Chairman of the Sugar )Ir. J. F. BARNES (Bundaberg) asked Board, prior to the appointment of William the Secretary for Health and Home Affairs- Forgan Smith~ '' 5. What yearly salary is paid to '' How many persons, showing males and William J. Short as Chairman of the Sugar females, were infected with (a) gonorrhoea, Board? (b) syphilis in the years ending June, 1938, and June, 1943, respectively~" "6. What annual salary is paid to William Forgan Smith as Chairman of the The SECRETARY FOR llHNES (Hon. Sugar Cane Prices Board and Deputy Chair­ V. Cl. Gair, South Brisbane), ;for The man of the Sugar Board~ SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND HOME Questions. [23 SEPTEMBER.) Extension of Hours, &c. 483

A"l<'l<'AIRS (Hon. E. M. Hanlon, Ithaca), CEILING PRICES FOR TOMATOES. replied- Mr. NICKLIN (Murrumba) asked the ' ' 'l'he figures for cases notified for the Secretary for Agriculture and Stock- years ended 30 June, 1938, and 30 June, 1943, arc- '' In reference to the further differentia­ tion shown to Queensland in the case of ceiling prices for tomatoes, as published in - Sex. Gonorr- Syphilis • to-day's Press, will he make representa­ hrea. tions to the proper Commonwealth authority, pointing out the unfairness of the price 1937-38 .. Male .. 760 113 margins allowed in the Souther-n ma.rkets l!'""emale .. 279 68 for Queensland primary products, which is 1,039 181 c-ausing severe shortages to the people of this State, and handicaps to its producers~" 1942-43 .. Male .. 320 100 Female .. 969 123 'l'he SECRETARY FOR AGRICULTURE 1,289 223 , AlliH S'rOCK (Hon. T. L. Williams, Port Curtis) replied- BLOOD AND BONE FERTILISER, NORTH '' I have already made the necessary QUEENSLAND. representations.'' }Ir•• lESSON (Kennedy) asl,ed the Sec­ FODDER PRIORITY FOR HORSES. retary for Agriculture and Stock- Mr. NICI{LlN (Murrumba), without '' What is the present position Tegarding notice, asked the Secretary for Agriculture the supply of blood and bone fertiliser by and Stock- means of rail or shipping transport to Townsville and other Northern centres~'' '' In reference to the statement in to­ day's Press headed 'Fodder Priority for The SECRET.\RY FOR AGRJCIJLTURE Horses,' will he kindly inquire whether AND STOCI{ (Hon. T. L. Williams, Port this decision will apply as against dairy­ Curtis) replied- men Ruppl]cing warm milk to the metropoli­ '' The railways a.re moving limited qua.n­ tan area, and, if so, represent to the proper tities of blood and bone fertiliser from authoritv the serious effect this would have 'L'o\vnsville to Ingham, but cannot underta.ke upon milk supplies owing to the present to transport any fertiliser in a northerly drought conditions 1'' direction from Townsville to Tully, Innis­ 'l'he SECRETARY l<'OR AGRICULTURE fail, and Cairns. A very small amount of AND STOCK (Hon. T. L. Williams, Port shipping space is available at Townsville Curtis) replied- for shipment of blood and bone fertiliser to Cairns for railing to cane a.reas south '' In view of the importance of the thereof; every advantage is taken of what­ annomwe1nent made in this morning's Press e\·er transport is available. All available to which the hon. gentleman has referred shipping space from Brisbane to Towns­ I will have r-epresentations made in due ville and Cairns is being utilised in trans­ course.'' porting nitrate of soda.'' OVERTDIE IN RAILWAY DEPARTMENT. EXTENSIO:'-J OF HOURS OF SITTING; ADDITIONAL SITTING DAY. }fr. KERR (Oxley) asked the Minister for 'l'ransport- TI1e PRElUIER (Hon. F. A. Cooper, ' '·what amount was paid for overtime Bremer) (11.12 a.m.): I move- in the Railway Department in 1941-1942 '' That, during the remainder of this and 1942-1943, respectively~" session, unless otherwise ordered- 'l.'he MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT (Hon. Cl) The House may, on the days .T. Larcombe, Rockhampton) replied- allotted to Supply, continue to sit until '' 1941-42, £430,860; 1942-43, £1,040,310. 10 o'clock p.m. E•ach of the periods The record traffic and the shortage of man­ between 11 o'clock a.m. and 4 o'clock poweT has greatly increased the overtime p.m. and between 4 o'clock p.nl. nnd Ill payments recently.'' o'clock p.m. shall be accounted an allotted day under the provisions of Standing STANDARD GAUGE RAILWAY, BRISBANE Order No. 307. All provisions of Stand­ ABATTOIR. ing Order No. 307 and of Session:'!! ~fr. YEATES (East Toowoomba) asked Order of 29 .Tuly last shall, mutatis the Minister for Transport- mutandis, continue to apply. " Is there any possibility of the con­ (2) The House wj]] meet for the struction of a standard gauge rail link despatch of business at 10.30 o'clock a.m. between the abattoir and the interstate rail­ on Friday in each \Veek in addition to· way being undertaken during the current the days already provided by Sessional financial year~'' Order, and that Government business do take precedence on that day. All pro­ The ~IINISTER FOR TRANSPORT (Hon. visions of Sessional Order ·of 29 July J. Larcombe, Rockhampton) replied- last shall, mutatis mutandis, continue to " It is extremely improbable." apply.'' 484 Extension of Hours of Sitting; [ASSEMBLY.] Additional Sitting Day.

The reason for the motion is that there is Jlr. J. F. BARNES: Not since I have a desire to dispatch the business of the House been in the House. We have no opportunity in a reasonable time. \Ve did not have occa­ of knowing what is wrong with the Depart­ sion to do this last session because we con­ ment of Labour and Employment. How can templated another session later in the finan­ we say when an item should be voted when cial year. I do not know that that will be we are not given an opportunity of studying possible on this occasion, although it may it~ In the first place, it is ridiculous to say be necessary. The purpose of the motion is that Supply should be granted in 17 days. to give the House an opportunity of getting Nmv we are to have a double-decker and we through its business in a reasonable time. are to be asked to work night and day. It is impossible to do mental work night and Mr. NICKLIN (lVIurrumba) (11.14 a.m.): day, and it is impossible to prepare a satis­ I called "Not formal" to the motion not for factory case. Here are the facts. We do the purpose of entering any strong protest not go before the electors until :March next against its being carried, but simply to ask year. We have six months yet to consider the Premier to be reasm1able in the exercise the business of this Parliament. of the power that is now being conferred The Premier: How do you know? upon him as Leader of the House in respect ,of double days. I know that this is the age nir. J. F. BARNES: Well, approximately of overtime, but I do not think anybody we shall not go before the electors before likes overtime. I am sure that hon. members ~larch. do not wish t~ have too many double days, The Premier: Are you arranging the and so I agam express the hope that the day? Premier will be reasonable in the exercise of the powers that this motion will give him. lUr. J. F. BARNES: No, but I will say I do not think that double days lead to that that is approximate. good business. Sometimes nerves become a The Premier: You will be going quickly; little frayed and there is a tendency to be let me tell you that. rather hot after a long and tiring sitting. lUr. J. F. BARNES: Thank you. Now I Consequently, I appeal to the Premier to be have the information I requested. We have generous and to endeavour to cany on the approximately six months to discuss the business of the House without the necessity business before Parliament. According to the of too many double days. I am sure if that Standing Orders we must go to the elections is clone it will lead to better business and before April next year; therefore, we have to a better consideration of all the matters six months to discuss the business of this submitted to the House. House. 'l'his motion provides for the House's rising at the end of October, or early Novem­ 3Ir. J. 1<'. BARNI<~S (Bundaberg) (11.16 ber. r~ast year, as well as the previous a.m.): I object strongly to the motion. We year, the House sat into December. That was have to consider all the items under the very unusual, but the fact remains that we heading of Supply, and in this respect hon. are now going to end this session about the members, particularly hon. members sitting end of October. We had the striking in Opposition, are the watchdogs of finance. example, with the war at our backdoor, and We have to find out if there is anything Parliament not being called together to wrong with the Estimates, and in ordinary discuss the position. Now we have another circumstances we have to do that in 17 days. example of the Government's introducing rush The motion provides for double days, which tactics with the one object only, namely, so means that we shall ha.ve to do double work that members of the Opposition cannot and put the Estimates through in nine or ten possibly study Supply. It is physically days, and it is a physical impossibility for impossible to study the whole of the hon. members to do the job in 17 days. In Estimates in 17 days with long double-day the first place, it is ridiculous to think that sittings. I object. We are paid a salary to there is such a Standing Order in this Parlia­ represent the people, not to study our own ment. convenience. vVe have been elected to study thoroughly business brought down by the The Premier: There is something in that, but the Commonwealth has one day. Government. lUr. BRAND (Jsis) (11.20 a.m.): I have lfr. J. F. BARNES: Millions of pounds no serious objection to the motion, but 1 are passed without discussion or debate question the wisdom of Parliament's hasten­ simply because the time has expired. At the ing to end this session. It is especially session before last the Railway Estimates questionable whether this Parliament in par­ never cam'e before the Committee of Supply, ticular should do so because in normal circum­ and it could have been that the people of stances this will b'e the last session of this Queensland were robbed of £100,000 in the Parliament. We have been passing through Railway Estimates without any opportunity very strenuous times. Queensland is sti~l for us on this side to debate them. Further­ passing through very difficult times. It IS more, the Estimates for the Department of a time when Parliament should not be rush· Labour and Employment have never come ing to recess. Parliament should be sitting before the Committee. to protect the people of Queensland to-day from those things that are happening by The Secretary for Labour and Employ­ regulation by another Parliament. If Par­ ment: That is not true; you do not know liament is not in session the elected represen· your book. tatives of the people have not the opportunity Extension of Hours of Sitting; [23 SEPTEMBER.] Additional Sitting Day. 485 of publicly expressing themselves about those have ample time, indeed one might say leisure, regulations. The Premier, in submitting the to consider all legislation and all the m·otion, said that it was the practice adopted Estimates affecting the administration of the in the House m normal times. By wa.i cf affairs of the State. Nothing is to be gained interjection to the hon. member \Yho just by preventing members from expressing resumed his seat he indicated that after all themselves on all aspects of government or the elections will be held very quickly. by making it difficult for them to do so. I Perhaps what underlies that interjection is am pleased to note that since the hon. member the real reason for this motion. Considering for Bremer assumed the Premiership the the difficulties associated with the country­ affairs of the House have been conducted in side to-clay I see no reason "hy Parliament an atmosphere of far greater serenity than should be rushed into recess. I think that in earlier times in this House. There has paragraph 2 of the motion shoulc1 be elimin­ been more leisure; there has been more time; ated. It has been the custom for us for a the House has not been forced to sit on fill number of years to sit double clays when the late in the afternoon and late in the night, Estimates were being discussed. Hon. mem­ and there has been an opportunity for mem­ bers generally recognise that there is m nch bers to study the Bills and frame amend­ to be said for the argument of the Leader ments and cast their minds over the ever­ of the Opposition, and that at times double­ changing political conditions affecting the clay sittings become a great strain. It is Commonwealth and the State in times of war. well known that it takes 10 months for the So that we are indebted to the Premier and m·embers of the Government to guide the his Government in that respect. It is a big destinies of the State. We as a Parliament change from the nigger-driving tactics of the are expected then to sit through 17 days, ex-Premier, Mr. Forgan Smith, who would scrutinise and criticise, or support the whole frequently come into the House at half past of those activities. 5 and insist that the House should sit on till 10 o'clock at night. The Attorney-General: This Parliament sets aside the longest period of any Parlia­ I am strongly opposed to the principie of ment in Australia for the consideration uf double clays. For members to sit here from the Estimates. 10 o'clock in the morning till 10 o'clock at night-a matter of 11 or 12 hours-is too .!Ur. BRAND: The hon. gentleman drags much. up the age-worn argument that we devote Mr. Riordan: What about the fellow the longest period of any Parliament in Aus­ on the railway or on the wharf! tralia to considering the Estimates, but other Parliaments have reasonable periods which Jir. ~IAHER: That is an entirely different we are denied of bringing up matters at the thing altogether. I haYe sat in the saddle for close of each day's business. 12 hours mustering ea ttle in the heat in 'fhe Secretary for Public J,ands: You ~Western Queensland; I have worked for 16 have no limit of debate on the J<'inancial hours a day in Western Queensland on far Statement. more laborious work than is associated with my experience as a member of the Legis­ Mr. BRANn: That is so. I was remark­ lature but that is an entirely different thing ing that members of other Parliaments ot altogether from mental concentration on the Australia have other occasions to give voice problems that concern this Parliament-a to complaints at the close of each day ·s different thing altogether. I should much sitting. prefer to go out ancl work for 12. hours digging post-holes in the heat than s1t here 'L'he Attorney-General: We have sat and apply myself to the debates from 10 longer this year than previously in the history o'clock in the morning till 10 o'clock at night. of Queensland. It is not fair. On an odd occasion, no-one )Ir. BRAND: I am surprised to hear the would object to it, but to insist that over argument uf the Attorney-General who com­ a period of two or three weeks the House plains that this Parliament this year sat shall sit two days a week that are called longer than ever before. \Ve should not double days from 10 o'clock in the morning complain of sitting long periods during these till 10 o 'cldck at night, is too much. With troublous times. these rush tactic,; of putting business through the House in that way no member can apply Thir. Jlioore: He is not complaining. himself intelligently to the different matters that come up. Obviously, you pass from one lUr. BRAND: I have yet to learn that item to another so rapidly that members are the hon. member can speak for the Attorney­ unable to adjust themselves to the quick General. We should at least expect the changes; there is no time to prepare for _the Attorney-General to support the reasonable­ next item. The Government frequently With­ ness of the objections raised to this motion. held from the knowledge of the Opposition No-one can de11y that they are reasonable ancl what the incoming estimate was going to be. logical, particularly in the period through which we are passing. Parliament \Yill, as The Secretary for Public Lands: That is a result of the passage of this motion, con­ not true. tinue to rush towards recess. Mr. MAHER: That is what happened to Mr. JliAHER (West Moreton) (11.24 me when I was Leader of the Opposition. I a.m.): If Parliament is to work satisfactorily, complained in this House of the tactics of the I feel it is important that members should ex-Premier who would deliberately withhold 486 Extension of Hours of Sitting; [ASSEMBLY.] Additional Sitting Day. from me the nature of the next estimate. I to summon and dissolve Parliament, and, will say that in my experience of Mr. Cooper, in the latter case, to prolong the time for he has been extremely fair, and I am pleased the appointment of a new parliamentary to acknowledge the fact. I feel the House has assembly.'' been a much better House to sit in since he became the leader of it. It is in the Protocols that the House shall sit for a few months, and the Protocols were All I can say is that I sincerely hope that written 40-odd years ago. the Government, in exercising the power that Before my brother, the hon. member for their numbers give them, will temper the Bundaberg, entered this Assembly, the House wind to the shorn lamb, and it will only be used to sit for a few hours a day for a few an occasional emergency that will cause months. As a matter of fact, I took out the House to sit two double days a week. If the number of hours the House sat and they it is one double day it is not so bad. I ask amounted to 396 in the year. What a railway members of the Government to take that man would do in about three weeks or a month factor into account, and give to members an this House took one year to do. Hon. mem­ opportunity to consider the Estimates as they bers know full well that they have plenty of come before us with some degree of leisurely time on their hands, and it is no use their time to look into every factor and thus be hiding behind a cloak and saying that they able to make a reasoned and logical speech have to work 14 hours a day for 10 days. in the House in relation to the subject that Let us work here for 8 hours a day on 5 is under discussion. days a week so that we shall be entitled to Jir. L. J. BARNES (Cairns) (11.30 a.m.): the salary that the people of Queensland pay Probably the Premier may be actuated by us. It is all right for Government mem­ a good motive, he may be sincere in bringing bers, who probably speak only once or twice this motion before the House, but as it has a year. been rushed before the House, let us analyse .iUr. J. F. Barnes: Some of them nonce it. The people of Queensland are already a year. talking of the abolition of State Parliaments and a motion such as this will increase the Mr. L. ,J. BARNES: Since I have been in body of opinion in favour of it. No doubt this Assembly I have heard some hon. mem­ the House should sit on a greater number of bers speak probably only once in the year. days, but not sit longer hours each day. They have plenty of time to prepare their 'rhe mentality of hon. members of this brief. But take the position of the Leader Assembly is very limited although the of the Opposition. The hon. gentleman has intelligentsia of Queensland are alleged to be on his feet probably three or fom or to be in this Assembly. When one hands a even five times a day. We must be in brief to a barrister, he says, ''I cannot sympathy with those who have to work. Even go into court to-morrow morning with the Premier and his Ministers are probably this; the notice is too short,'' but we on their feet fairly frequently, but hon. mem­ are not even handed our brief so to bers sitting on the back benches of the speak, until the morning on w'hich we Government speak probably only once or are expected to plead, and notwithstanding twice a year. There is any amount of time this the Government rush the business through for them to prepare their briefs. in one day and now intend to have what are In reference to what the Premier has said called double days. Great writers that we about the elections, what is the reason for read, including H. G. \Veils, have said that the rush~ 'rhe hon. gentleman said we should the brain is more tired at 10 o'clock at night get prepared for rush elections. Is that the than at 10 in the morning. That is onlv n:roti ve behind thiil measure~ There is any a logical conclusion. There are many days amount of time if he wants to rush the that are not at present taken up with sittings elections on the people of Queensland. of Parliament and the people of Queensland desire that hon: members of this Assembly The Premier: I did not say anything should work therr number of the 365 davs of about elections. a year as the other workers in the State '1m ve j}Jr. I" J. UARNES: He said there were to do. I know that I could easily do the going to be rush elections. >>;ork of three electorates, and at tl{e present trme I represent one of the busiest constituen­ The l>remfer: I did not say it. cies in Queensland. Hon. members are not over-worked and they well know it. There is Mr. J" ••J. BARNES: The hon. gentleman no need to rush the work of two davs into said to get prepared quickly, which conveys one double day. The House can sit" for a that meaning. longer period. Where did this idea of the Mr. SPEAKER: Order! period for a session of Parliament come from~ Permit me to quote to hon. members something lUr. L ••J. BARNES: I am opposed to the relevant to the length of a session of Parlia­ motion. I am here to represent the people ment from the Protocols that are laughed at of Queensland for 365 days a year, and I by so many hon. members. The Protocols will call for a division on the motion. state- 1Ur. DECKER (Sandgate) (11.35 a.m.): " Instead of constant sessions of Parlia­ We all appear to have been appreciative of ments we shall reduce the sittings to a few the move in dividing the session into two months. Moreover, the president, as chief periods. That was a step in the right direc­ of the executive power, will have the right tion. There is no need for all this hurry. I Extension of Hours of Sitting; [23 SEPTEMBER.] Additional Sitting Day. 487 do not think hon. members desire to end the I can see on my right are never in this House session in October and then have probably no when Parliament is in recess. further session until after the next elections six months hence. Why not increase the ~Ir. J)art: That is not true. length of the session? If there is any special Iilr. JESSON: The hon. member might reason for a hasty ending of this session, we come in to collect his pay cheque, but that could postpone some of the business and have is the only time we see him. Hon. members it dealt with during another session, perhaps upposite come in here to collect their mail in the early part of next year. There is too during recess, and that is the only time any­ much rush in connection with Bills and one sees them until Parliament meets. I can Supply. It would be a good idea to stagger point out hon. members of the Country Party the periods and have two sessions so that >vho leave here on Thursday afternoon to go then' would be ample time for discussion. back to their farms, and that is why they object so strongly to working in this Parlia­ Mr. JESSON (Kennedy) (11.36 a.m.): mGnt on J."riday. As the representative of a country electorate, and a full-time member, I, like other hon. lUr. Nicklin: Nobody is objecting to members on this side, take strong exception working on Friday. to the objections raised by the Opposition, and in particular to the statements made by IUr. ,JESSON: Some hon. members oppo­ some of the hon. members opposite who are site have objected to it very strongly. On taking this opportunity of ipdulging in the other hand, hon. members of the GovElrn­ political propaganda and endeavouring to ment side may be seen here day after day and belittle Parliament and the Government. The on Saturday mornings, and even at night­ hon. member for Cairns quoted from the time, writing letters to their constituents in Protocols. What he quoted was the Fascist the country from JI.Ionday morning until Satur­ idea, the dictator's objective of belittling day at midday. Anyone may see me here democratic parliaments. every day from 9 a.m. till 5 p.m., and on every Saturday morning. Mr. L. J. BARNES: I rise to a point of Mr. J. l'. Barnes: What are you doing? order. The hon. member is trying to con­ Yey that I am trying to pass into this Assem­ Mr. JESSON: Attending to the wants of bly a constitution that fits in with Fascism, my constituents, not running round like a rat­ and I object to his statement. bag in South Australia seeing whether I will oppose Mr. Curtin. The objection by the )Ir. SPEAKER: Order! The hon. mem­ Opposition to this motion is a deliberate ber has lodged his objection, but there is no attempt to gain political capital. I have been poi11t of order. The hon. member for Kennedy in this Assembly for eight years, and this is expressing his opinion. is the first time upon which I have heard any objection raised by the Leader of the JUr. J. 1<'. Barnes: I will reply to him Opposition to this motion, which comes before later. this House at this time each year. lUr. JESSOl'l: I say that the speech by Mr. lUal10r: Absolute nonsense! I have the hon. member is an attempt to belittle objected to it time and again. Parliament. He is endeavouring to convey to the public that hon. members work for I\[r. JESSON: It is traditional for the only 200 hours a year, that they do nothing Opposition to attempt to belittle the Govern­ in this Parliament to earn their money. His ment eveq three years just prior to the elec­ speech is clearly an attempt to belittle Par­ tions. I advise the public and hon. members liament and indicates an effort to hand over of this Assembly to keep their eyes open democratic government to Fascism and Nazi· this afternoon at about 2 o'clock and they ism. He has made those statements on public w1ll see hon. members opposite getting back platforms before, and, as an Australian, I take to their farms. Then I ask that a watch be exception to them. kept to see what time those hon. members return to this Assembly. It will be seen that lUr. L ••J. BARNES: I rise to a point of thcv do not arrive here until 12 noon or 1 p.m. order. The hon. member has stated that I on ·,ruesday. They put their own private am trying to pass over this Government to the interests before the people's interests, and I forces of Fascism and Nazi-ism. I definitely take strong exception to the suggestion that object to that statement. we work only 200 hours in 12 months. I work as long as most office men, and certainly lUr. SPEAKER: The hon. member has f1o a good deal more overtime than many lodged his objection, but there is no point of of them. order. The hon. member for Kennedy is entitled to express his opinion. Mr. DART (Wynnum) (11.40 a.m.): I support the motion to sit on Friday because lUr. JESSON: And I intend expressing by sitting on Friday we shall have more further opinions. Hon. members opposite time to devote to the business of Parliament, come into this Chamber at 11 o'clock on _but I agree with the Leader of the Opposition Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but that we should not endeavour to roll two days by 2 o'clock on Thursday afternoon the into one by sitting double days. I have been representatives of country electorates are in this Chamber on occasions when Ministers, packing their grips, getting ready to go home because business has been rushed through in a to their farms. Many hon. members whom double day, have not been able to submit the 488 Extension of Hours of Sitting; [ASSEMBLY.] Additional Sitting Day.

Estimates for their departments, with the country when I come in. I should also like result that the Opposition have not had the to add that the majority of Labour hon. opportunity of criticising and pointing out members are here, too, doing business in the what we believed to be mistakes in the depart­ interests of the public. Why should they ments. On one occasion I was waiting for not~ Why are we wrangling amongst our­ the Estimates for the department adminis­ selves and saying that we are not represent­ tered by the Secretary for Labour and ing the people as 1ve should~ It is very neces­ Employment to be considered. I was sary that we should have every opportunity desirous of discussing the iish question, but to discuss thoroughly the business that comes I was denied that opportunity. Of course, before the House. We should be allowed to some years we have been able to discuss his do that during the ordinary daylight homs, dnpartment. On another occasion I wanted and not have to work into the night. On one to discuss railway matters. oceasion the House sat all night, and I slept at Parliament House that night; a Minister We did not have the opportunity of doing was good enough to give me his bed. I do so, and thus helping the Govemment, and so not want th~ t to occur very often because we feel that we should not be deprived of my wife would soon want to know where I an opportunity of submitting such arguments was. (Laughter.) The business of the House as may be helpful to them. ~We, the mem­ should be conducted in a proper way. bers of the Opposition, are here to help the Government and to help to pass such legisla­ lUr. :KERR (Oxley) (11.45 a.m.): As a tion as will be for the beneiit of the people newcomer to the House I do not know a great generally. Dming the last financial year clr,al about tne time that is required to pass there were three periods in one session, and Bills through Parliament, but I am rather that was brought about largely in response concerned about the proposal to shorten the to repeaterl requests by members of the time. Bills are placed in our hands in the Opposition. Now that we have a Premier who morning, and we are expected to discuss them will listen to reason I think he will agree during the day. For instance, we may be that it is in the interests of the people that handed a Bill to amend the Audit Act or we should have an opportunity of discussing some other Act and we do not really know thoroughly ail phases of Government busi­ what they mean. ness. We all relJrC'Sent the people as a whole, The Premier: You have the Bill. and we are here in their interests and not purely for party-political purposes. We li'Ir. :KERR: We have the Bill now, but believe in good government, and 1ve are when a Bill is brought down we are not prompted by a desire to help the political given enough time to do some research to leaders to do what is best for the people. see what the Bill really means. That is my The Government have even accepted helpful impression at the moment, and it is a reason­ amendments moved from this side of the able one, too, I think. I agree with the hon. House. I should like to see the motion membet for v;·ynnum that hon. members can adopted without a division, as a division is become just as fatigued by sitting in this unnecessary. vV e should he given ample time House as they can by doing a hard day's to deliberate upon all subjects that are of work of eight or 10 hours. From my interest to the people. Let us aim to bring C'Xperience I should say that one would get about good government so that the people more fatigued here than by doing a hard will be happy and contented. That should be day's physical work. I am inclined to think our objectin~, but if we go on arguing as we that we shall not be able to do justice to the have been doing this morning there is the Bills that come before us if the time is danger that the people will make a strenuous restricted ancl we have to sit two nights of drive for centralisation of government. In a the week as the Premier proposes. 1 think country like this we need decentralisation, one night a week would be quite sufficient, we must keep our State Parliament for the and I hope it is not Friday night. (Laughter.) purpose of allo1ving it to work in the interests of the people of Queensland. We have an Tl!e PRElUIER (Hon. :F'. A. Cooper, hon. member, such as the hon. member for Brcmer) (11.48 a.m.): I want to say that Kennedy, who raises paltry things such as the House need not be afmid that there will saying that another hon. member only comes be any undue rushing of the business of this to Parliament to get his pay. Such a state­ House, or that this provision will be unduly ment is ridiculous, and it shows that he is used. incapable of contemplating the big things of life. He accused hon. members on this side HonouralJle :rtiembers: Hear, hear! of coming to Parliament only occasionally, but The PREMIER: I can promise that, and I can assure the House that I am hem every the Government promise that. week, and I challenge anybody to deny that statement. I come here to do business. I :rtJr. J. :F. Barnes: You promise the people meet the various Ministers and the officials of many things, and as your promises are not the different departments. I have to come to carried out they are not worth anything. Parliament House to make the necessary arrangements. I know, too, that hon. mem­ lUr. SPEAKER: Order! bers from the country are here in their rooms The PRE:rtilER: I do not know what the when I come in every week. I live close by hon. member is talking about. the city, only 12 miles away, and it is con­ venient for me to come to Parliament House The hon. member for Oxley has the idea every week. I meet hon. members from the that he should have a copy of a Bill prior to Extension of Hours of Sitting; [23 SEPTEMBER.] Additional Sitting Day. 489 the first reading. As a matter of fact, that Parliament I said to a friend of mine, ''There initiatory stage is merely the stage at which is one good thing about it; I shall have more hon. members have the right to propose time to read "-I rather like reading-,-but I amendments to deal with the scope of a Bill. say quite candidly that since I was elected When the Bill is introduced, it is ordered to to Parliament I have had less time to read be printed and becomes the property of hon. than before. members. In 99 times out of 100 there is a reasonable time between the first- and second­ Honourable :.\'I embers: Hear hear! reading stages. The second-reading stage is 'flle PREl\HER: Any hon. member who the stage when the Bill is fully discussed. gives full attention to his duties in this House Debate on the introductory stage is confined and to his constituency has very little time to what ought to be introduced, and the for himself. It is not a 44- or 54-hour week; House having decided on what ought to be it is more like a 64- and 74-hour week to the introduced, we then introduce it. 'l'hen there elected representative who attends faithfully is the second-reading stage, followed by the to his constituency, his constituents, and the Committee stage, and the third-reading stage. requirements of this House. 'l'herefore, hon. members have ample oppor­ tunity for discussing the contents of a Bill. 3Ir. Kerr: A very much under-paid job. The motion makes reference to the Esti­ The PREMIER: I am glad to hear the mates. Hon. members have the Estimates in hon. member say that. I agree with him that their hands already, and they >vill have them the labourer is worthy of his hire. in their hands a considerable period before being asked to discuss them in detail. I I .iust want to say one thing about an have found for the 28 years I have been in alleged authority quoted to this House against the House that the Committee usually spends this motion, that is, some precious document 14 or 16 days in discussing non-essential sub­ knom1 as the Protocols. It is high time we jectcl, and then complains that only two days exposed this document. are left to discuss essential subjects. In the )lr. J. F. Barnes: I think it is, too. main, the fault lies with the Opposition. Arrange to haYe it printed and get copies distributed. ~rr. J ..F. Barnes: That is your opinion. The PRE3IIER: It is an opinion founded Tile PRE.iliiER: It purports to be a docu­ on long experience. I know that when we ment that allegedly shows some tremendous werp sitting in opposition we attempted to conspiracy on the part of the Jewish com­ organise the discussion on the Estimates, munity to wreck Governments. devoting a couple of days to the Treasury, JUr. J. F. Barnes: A portion of the Jewish say three days to the Department of Health community. llnd Home Alfairs, half a day to the Mines, nnd so forth, so that we might discuss all The PRE1IIER: I will say a portion of the Estimates. If hon. members discuss petty the .Jewish community-to wreck Govern­ matters for a couple of days, as they do on ments as they are and get control of the many occasions, it is their fault if they find whole world into their hands. It is a most they have insnffieicnt time to discuss the whole astonishing document. It has been used over of the Estimates in 17 davs. If there was a and owr again for nefarious purposes. little organisation on the part of the Opposi­ tion they would have ample time to discuss 3Ir. J. F. Barnes: For evil purposes. the whole of the :F;stimates. Tlle PREJIIER: Adolf Hitler used it I can assure the House that this power very effectively. will not be harshly used. I do think that there is a desire that we should rise a little }fr. J. F. Barnes: He is their No. 1 agent. earlier, if possible, this year, although it may be necessary for us to make a break aml The PREMIER: It was used by the Ozars then continue the session later in the financial of Hussia in the clays that are gone to over­ year. come the cries of a democratic people to ohta in their rights. l'fr. Luckins: That would be a good idea. Whenever the Russian people attempted to 'rlle PREJ;IIER: Not necessarily in the get some of the rights to which they wer0 calendar year, but in the financial year, as we entitled, the Czars of the day rose and called did last year. out '' J C\Yish'' and there was immediately a Opposition Jiembers: Hear, hear! pogrom. 'l'he PREJHER: It all depends on what }ir• •1 . .-F. Barnes interjected. the requirements are. I have told hon. mem­ bers sitting on the Opposition side that they ."Hr. f'l'EAKER: Order! ·will require a lot of time in their electorates, particularly next year, and I give them tlwt Tlw l'HE:i¥HER: This precious document, clue notice. (Laughter.) the Protocols-- 1Ur. Luckins: About what time? 1\fr. ,J. F. Rarne~ interjected. The PREJUIER: References have been lUl'. SPEAKER: Order! The hon. mem­ made to the \York that a member of Parlia­ ber for Bundaberg must observe my call to ment does. ·when I was elected a member of OTdcr or I shall name him. 490 Extension of Hours, &c. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

'l'he PREMIER: This precious document the House they were frequent and were not was quoted over and over again. A London in the very best interests of the House or the journalist by the name of Graves happened legislation. to get into his possession a book that was written by a Frenchman named Maurice Joli. 1\'Ir. J. F. Barnes: Why bring them back? When he read this book he said, ''Where The PRE::tUER: We are not going back have I read this thing before?" He investi­ to that night sitting. The power will not be gated it and compared it, and then he used in a way to tire hon. members so that remembered-'' Of course, the Protocols. '' things might be forced through the House And he found the Protocols were practically unduly. I thank the Leader of the Opposition this book that this man had found, copied for the kindly way he has received the motion. almost word for word. I assure him and others associated directly Mr. L. J. Barnes: 1887. The Protocols with him that this will not be used to their were then not printed. detriment, or to the detriment of the forms or the dignity or good name of Parliament. Tile PREMIER: 1864 was the date of tile book that Maurice Joli found, and it was Question-That the motion (Mr. Cooper) a pamphlet lampooning Napoleon III., be agreed to-put; and the House divided- Emperor of France. For that he was sent to prison. Those people who wrote tha AYES, 43. Protocols took out the word '' Emreror'' Mr. Brass!ngton Mr. Marriott Bruce Moo re wherever it occurred and inserted the word Cl ark Moorhouse ''Jewish.'' Clayton Nicklin Collins O'Shea Mr. J. F. Barnes: How do you know? Cooper P!unkett Dart Power The PRE~IIER: Because I have the Decker Riordan authority of the man named Graves, a reputed Devries Slessar Dunstan Smith journalist, who exposed the whole thing in Edwards Sparkes the ''London Times,'' and I shall give the Foley Tay!or hon. member the dates-of the 16, 17, and Gair Theodore Gledson Turner 18 August, 1921. Hanlon Walker Hea!y Walsh lUr. L. J. Barnes: What about Mars den? Jesson Williams Jones Yeates The PRE~IIER: I quoted the authority. Kerr Because of those precious Protocols, some­ , Keyatta r. llers: Luckins DaVif' where about 30,000, 60,000, and 300,000 Maher Graham Jews-innocent people, God-fearing people, M ann people who lived decent, reputable lives-have gone to their death. NoEs, 3. Mr. Barnes. L. J. Mr. L. J. Barnes: And 300,000,000 Gentiles. Tellers: Mr. Barnes, J. F. The PREMIER: I resent a document of Brand that kind being quoted against this motion Resolved in the affirmative. in this House. Honourable JUembers: Hear, hear! SUPPLY.

The PREMIER: I want to assure the COMMITTEE-FINANCIAL STATEMENT­ Opposition and the House again that this RESUMPTION OF DEBAT'El. motion will not be harshly used; it will not be used to force things through the House. (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Brassing­ I believe, and this Government believe, that ton, Fortitude Valley, in the chair.) we are here to discuss fully all the things that come before the House. I do believe Debate resumed from 22 September (see that we may need to use a little extra time p. 481) on Mr. Cooper's motion- to get through the things it is necessary to get through. Above all, I appeal to this '' That there be granted to His Ma.ieaty, House when in Committee to discuss the whole for the service of the year 1943-1944, a sum not exceeding to defray th8' of the Estimates. Somebody said that 17 £300 days is a ridiculous period. The Common­ salary of the aide-de-camp to His Excel­ wealth Parliament has one sitting, and I lency the Governor.'' think the House of Commons discusses the The SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND whole Navy Estimates for Britain-:-and t~e EMPLOYMENT (Hon. T. A. Foley, Nor­ Navy Estimates are of some magmtude-m manby) (12.10 p.m.): I desire to compliment 24 hours. I have seen this Committee waste the Treasurer upon the frank statement he three days on the question whether a police­ has m·ade to this Assembly on the nuances man stood in front of a hotel from 8 o'clock of the State. The whole of the Financial to 8.10 o'clock or not. Statement is a clear, frank, and honesl out­ line of the operations of the various fu,1ds lUr. Walker: I saw one man speak all coming under his control. How the Leader night. of the Opposition can contend that it is The PREMIER: We have overcome the necessary to make a diligent search in order late-night sittings. When I :first came to to :find certain particulars is beyond my Supply. [23 SEPTEMBER.] Supply. 491

comprehension. I feel that one can say with­ ture of £3,571,760 from State funds on works out fear of contradiction that the average and development as follows:- schoolboy who read that statement wonld £ get a very clear and easily understoort Main Roads (including Strategic Roads) 812,220 explanation of the items of revenue and Railways ...... 493,800 expenditure and of the operations of the vari­ Land Settlement and Forestry 350,400 Cotton and Irrigation .. 131,289 ous funds, as well as a bird 's-eye view of Rural Development 206,500 both economic and general conditions obtain­ l\finiug ...... 30,500 ing in the State. Loans and Subsidies to Local Bodies and Hospitals Boards (excluding Brisbane The statement shows vision, especially Harbour) 268,747 Civil Defence ...... 100,000 when it refers to the moneys that have been Stan!ey River Dam ...... 144,500 put aside for post-war requirements, the Brisbane Harbour and Port Development 439,546 amount being £4,000,000. Then we find Buildings ...... 176,385 Workers' Dwellings and Homes 153,000 another £1,250,000 set aside for post-war Sundry Works and Advances for Develop: railway needs. In addition, we find informa­ ment .. 264,873 tion concerning the adjustment of debts and a clear statement relating to development £3,571,760 and public works and services, as well as a '!'here is just the possibility that man-power complete programme for the year. difficulties will be experienced because of the On reference to the Treasurer's financial tremendous defence programme at present tables we find that effective work ha's been being carried ont in Queensland, but provision done in that a complete list of the asset• for expenditure on works of direct defence that have been built up as a result of that value repr·esents 46.1 per cent. of the total work is given. Here are the items- expenditure and includes strategic roads, forestry access roads, port and shipbuilding £ facilities, civil defence, stimulation of cotton Main Roads (mainly Strategic Roads) 1,082,6UI Railways ...... 510,67? pToduction, emergency woTks, and other woTks Land Settlement and Forestry 246,50'/ of a defence value amounting to £1,647,649. Cotton and Irrigation .. 90,251. Not much imagination is required to under­ Rural Development 69,094. Mining ...... 11,775 stand the tremendous amount that has been Loans and Subsidies to Local Bodies and spent in Queensland in the past few years Hospital Boards (other than Civil Defence by both the Civil Constructional CoTps oT the and Brisbane Harbour) 264,750 Civil Defence .. 138,440 Allied WoTks Council and the State organisa­ Stanley River Dam ...... 178,282 tions, which will be important factors in the Brisbane Harbour and Port Development .. 218,667 post-waT period. Buildings ...... 212,312 Sundry Works and Advances for Develop- The advantage to be gained in a reduction ment .. 76,314 in cost of transport, the lessening of working £3,099,678 costs, and a decrease in costs generally to the settlers, should be very much appreciated. There we have a clear and comprehensive statement setting out the work that has been The Financial Statement is clear and frank accomplished by the State, apart from defence with regard to what has already been done work that has gone on during the same in the realm of civil defence, and reveals that period. These figures illustrate the defence the net expenditure by the State in this con­ activities in this State- nection during the year was £414,697. The total amount expended by the State in civil defence to 30 .June, 1943, was £806,949. This Expenditure. comprises- Authority. £ 1941-42. 1942-43. J,oans to Local Authorities and other Bodies 273,463 ------Subsidies to Local Authorities and other £ £ Bodies ...... 187,193 l\fain Roads Commission .. 2,045,434 7,000,413 Expenditure by Department of Health and Railway Devartment 54,513 177,456 Home Affairs in purchase of equipment, &c. 270,868 Devartment of Public Works : : 39,335 834,135 Expenditure by Department of Public Works Other State and Local in Protection l\feasnres 231,989 Authorities .. .. 10,000 280,500 .. £963,513 Total .. £ .. 2,149,282 8,292,504 Prom this amount must be deducted the subsidy provided by the Commonwealth Those figures will give the public some idea Govemment, namely, £156,664, making the of what has been done in Queensland. charge to the State £806,849. There again is A reduction of £2,603,167 was shown in a clear and comprehensive statement showing the gross public debt of the State at 30 .June, that the Government did not spare expendi­ 1943. That is a very important matter, too. ture in endeavouring to protect the people The statement on debt redemption and interest in a time of crisis. As I said previously, an:· is clear and informative for those who wish child or schoolboy reading this document can to study it. understand rt, notwithstanding the statements There is another veTy comprehensive state­ to the contraTv bv the Leader of the ment showing the State planning of works Opposition. · • for the ensuing financial year. A co-OTdinated The loans nnd subsidies granted to lonl plan of works for the year, as for previous bodies bv the C' • .-ernment are a ,·erv years, has been prepared in accordance ·with the important• factor in 'oH8 development Of this State Development and Public Works Organi­ State, and it is rather interesting to note sation Act. Provision is made fOT the expendi- that from the financial year 1932-1933 to the 492 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

financial year 1942-43 they totalled Generally, I repeat, one can describe the £6,247,754. This amount was expended where Financial Statement as a very fine review the work was carr;ied out, and one can realise of the State's activity and also a fair and the tremendous assets that have been created frank statement of the accounts of the State. in ' the local-authority areas by this expenditure. I wish to touch upon a n1atter that was Let me now refer to the assistance granted raised by the Leader of the Opposition. It to rural industries. Here again the Trea­ is the first time any member of the Oppo­ surer's tables should be self-explanatory. It sition has attempted tv c1enounce the is the intention of the Government to amend organisation set up under the Co-ordination the Rural Development Transfer and of Employment Facilities Act of 1941. The Co-ordination of Powers Act of 1938 with the hon. member for Sandgate also insinuated object of liberalising the terms of loans made that this organisation was set up purely for to bonowers by the Bureau of Rural Develop­ the purpose of political propaganda. I take ment and making available additional moneys exception to that statement, especially in for the purposes specified under it. That view of the fact that both the Leader of the legislation no doubt will be welcomed by Opposition and other members of his party the settlers who may find it necessary to voted unanimously in favour of the Bill obtain financial assistance. when it was before the House in December, 1941. Mr. Edwards: Will the rates of interest be reduced~ Mr. Decker: I opposed it then. The SECRETARY FOR J,ABOUR AND 'l'l1e SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMEN'l': The Treasurer points out EMPLOYMENT: The Bill was passed with­ in his Financial Statement that the Govern­ out division. The Leader of the Opposition ment have decided to reduce interest rates to and other members with him definitely borrowers to a maximum of 4 per cent. per supported the Bill when it was before the annum. That again will be a tremendous help House. At that time the Leader of the to the man on the land and make it possible Opposition admitted the importance of the for him to engage in further expenditure in problem of post-war planning and he providing machinery, plant, and other said he realised the subject was a tre­ improvements, which he might otherwise have mendous one. The hon. member for \Vest hesitated to do for fear of over-capitalising Moreton said that it was one of the most his property and over-burdening it with important Bills of that session if not one interest charges. of the most important he had seen intro­ duced into this Parliament. What has Mr. Plunkett: Will those loans carry happened to cause the Opposition, particu­ a first mortgage~ larly the leader, »ho naturally voices the views of his followers, to change their atti­ The SECRETARY :FOR LABOUR AND tude to this AcH Is it some fear or what EMPLOYMENT: It is usual for the Bureau is known as anxiety neurosis occasioned by of Rural Development to insist on a first the obviously favourable response that has mortgage, but in many cases arrangements been given throughout Queensland to the may be made with financial institutions that establishment of the State Employment Coun­ carry a first mortgage whereby this additional cil and the boards under this Act~ It is true assistance can be given to the borrowers. there has been some little publicity. The I now come to one of the most important Press wants to know from time to time "ll'hat problems confronting not only this State is being dealt with, and general outlines and Government but other State Governments and fair statements have been given to the Press­ the national Government to-day, namely, post­ Rydge 's Magazine-one of the most important war reconstruction. The decision of the last magazines in the Commonwealth-asked for a Premiers' Conference was to establish a full statement of the Act and its machinery National Works Council, compnsmg one because of the importance of the subject, representative of the Commonwealth and each and that was given to and published by that of the States, with the Prime Minister as journal. That is all that has been done, chairman, in addition. A scheme was evolved and where the political propaganda comes having as its object the utilisation of the in I do not know. But I do know this: that present system of works co-ordination as the greatest enthusiasm has been shown originally adopted by Queensland and sub­ throughout the State in the attitude of the sequently extended by the Loan Council to people to this Act, because the average man the control of loan finance for all State in the street, the average settler, and the Government and semi-governmental bodies. average business man realise the importance of formulating definite plans to deal with That, Mr. Brassington, is at least a refer­ post-war eventualities. ence to things we can expect in the future. We have not yet vbtained the detailed pro­ ::lfr. Maher: Have you calculated the cost gramme of the Commonwealth Government in millions of all the schemes that have been in regard to post-war reconstruction or submitted~ rehabilitation, but announcements have been made by some prominent members of the The SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND Cabinet that they are cvncentrating on that EMPLOYMENT: We have received manY work, and nv doubt as time goes on the full projects running into many millions of details of their plan will be submitted to the pounds, and an estimated cost is being State. obtained of each project. We have also, by Supply. [23 SEPTEMBER.] Supply. 493 the method of calculation that has been by this measure, it will mean that our adopted, ascertained approximately what problems will accumulate to such an extent direct employment in the form of man-years that other means will have to be found will be given from those projects. We have to cope with them.'' also been able to get some idea of the indirect amount of employment that will result from In another part of that speech I stated that the expenditme on those projects. the Bill provided for the fullest co-operation with the Commonwealth Government in any lUr. Jiaher: Who has the final deter­ post-war plans on which they might engage. mination as to the pri01·ity of the big jobs The reason I said that was that at the time that will be undertaken~ no move had been made by the Commonwealth The SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND Government. As a matter of fact, this was the J{lUPLOYJUENT: We have attempted by :first measure introduced in Australia dealing direct co-operation with the boards through­ with this subject. Certain steps have been taken since by other States and the Common­ out the 34 economic district~ of the State to give the people an opportunity of conveying wealth Government. I also pointed out that to the central organisation-the State I honestly felt the fullest co-operation would Employment Council-their idea of the pro­ be given by the unions and the employers of jects in their districts that are suitable for this State on the various boards and com­ the creation of employment, and \Yhat possi­ mittees, and as a result of the organisation bilities there are for the improvement and and the proper survey of every employment extension of existing industries and the facility throughout the State we should creation of new industries. achieve the result that would be of material advantage not only to the State Employment They have responded well, and as a result Council, but to the Government and the com­ of the brief surveys made in their respective munity generally. Up to date that co-opera­ districts have forwarded projects for con­ tion has been given. Far from being a propa­ sideration. The reply to the question of the ganda measure, the Co-ordination of Employ­ hon. member for West Moreton is that only ment Facilities Act is really another step one method can be adopted, and that is to towards better organisation, better planning, refer each project to the committee that has and better protection and security for those been set up to deal with the class of works carrying on the industries of the community or projects in which it falls. That is being to-day. done. The committees will endeavour to place them in their proper order of priority and I wish now to quote the Premier and return them to the State Employment Council Treasurer in his Financial Statement of with a recommendation. Tl1ls is a tremendous 1941. He puts the position very clearly. He task, naturally, but as time goes on recom­ said- mendations will be made. When introducing '' This tremendous problem of post-war the Co-ordination of Employment Facilities employment, however, will be Australia­ Bill I referred to the fact that the key11ote wide, and will affect all States, and, there­ of the . measure expressed clearly the prin­ fore, is one in which the Commonwealth ciple that co-operation was necessary from will require to take the lead to co-ordinate all sections of the community if we desired the employment effort, with the full sup­ to achieve success in post-war planning, and port and co-operation of the States. the Premier, who in 1941 was Treasurer, as he is to-day, gave some idea in his Financial ''Already, under war-time legislation, the· Statement of the importance of the necessity Federal Government have assumed wide· to attend to this subject. Before quoting control over the nation's economy. the hon. gentleman I might mention that I ''The legal framework is there for 3J said in regard to co-operation- planned economy. '' From what I have stated, hon. members ''These all-embracing powers should, in will realise that the work to be covered many instances, be regarded as a tem­ by the organisation set up by this measure porary infringement of normal practices, will be really a full-sized job. Naturally, but there are provisions which, basically7 it will be endowed with all the necessary should be regarded as essential in post-war machinery to carry out the job effectively. reconstruction. If the personnel appointed and also sec­ tions of the community co-operate with the ''After the last war, no attempt was made Government, as we are asking them to co­ to go forward in the light of experience. operate, much good will result to the man­ On the contrary, there was an indecent haste power of the State and to all interests in to get back to pre-war conditions. There the State that are affected by social in­ must be no repetition of that blunder after security as a result of depression periods this war. and widespread unemployment.'' ''The Government have every con:fidence· JUr. Dart: Is it under your department? that this State offers great possibilities for far greater employment in primary produc­ The SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND tion and secondary industry than is now EMPLOYMENT: Ye.,; as Minister I am the case. chairman of the council. I proceeded to "Post-war problems may and should say- provide us with opportunities for a big step '' If they do not give to the Government forward in the development of our naturat the co-operation desired and contemplated resources. ' ' 494 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Suppf;y.

I think everyone will agree that that sets must agree that that is a. clear explanation out clearly the need for the State Employ­ of the objects of the measure. ment Council to prepare plans for the future At 12.40 p.m., so that there will be no such unemployment and destitution as were experienced for a Mr. DUNSTAN (Gympie) relieved the long period after the last war. It is the Chairman in the chair. inalienable right of individuals in the com­ munity that they shall have access to the The SECRETARY FOR LABOUR ANn means of life. I quote from the American E.ItiPLOYlUENT: If hon. members opposite Declaration of Independence, signed on 4 can read political propaganda into that, then Jnly, 1776, which says, amongst other their outlook is certainly very different from things- mine, and certainly their perception is far keener than mine. The Act visualises " We hold these truths to be self­ problems ahead and the need for a plan evident, that all men are created equal, to overcome them. It visualises the need that they are endowed bv their creator for systematically planning employment, with certain inalienable rights; that among co-ordinating the employment agencies of the these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happi­ State, and the need for the co-operation of ness. That to secure these rights, govern­ governmental, semi-governmental, and com­ ments are instituted among men, deriving munity interests, to make, under the Act, their just powers from consent uf the better provision for placing our citizens, governed.' ' including those who will be returning from The men who drafted that historic document the war and those who are engaged in other point out that the individual has these rights war work at present, in employment. as members of a community, and Govern­ As I have already pointed out, the preamble ments are established to im'plernent them and sets out that there shall be a. planned to foee to it that individuals derive the •lue co-ordinated system of employment facili­ benefit from them. ties. The Act sets out the type of organisa­ Quite often ne hear a good deal about the tion, powers, and duties of the committees, AtlColin Clark. We have eo-opted EMPLOYMENT: No. The position, I take a number of public servants with specialised it, will be that we shall collaborate fully with knowledge in the persons of Dr. M. White· the Commonwealth Government in their post­ and Messrs. C. E. Chuter, E. A. Crosser, S. F. war organisation. Naturally, each State will Cochran, T. 1<'. Lyons, A. G. Melville, of the· co-operate with the Commonwealth. As, for Department of Public Lands, L W. Morley, instance, our first- or second-year schemes G. W. Watson, and P. J. Ross to assist these are submitted in the post-war period they committees, also Professor W. M. Kyle and ·will be examined by us, recommended to our Mr. R. E. Leggat. The question of finance· Cabinet, and then submitted by the Premier is one for the State and Commonwealth com­ to the National Works Council. All the bined. Naturally, any big national works· other States also will submit their proposals project will be referred to the National 496 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Suppl;y.

Works Council, consisting of representatives alreadv four years of arrears to make up of the Commonwealth and State Govern· in building, and there we.re arrears that ments, with Mr. Cm·tin as chairman. It will existed before the war started. There consider whether the finance for such a pro­ were, approximately, 10,000 tradesmen to ject will be found wholly or in part by the do that work in pre-war days, but from a Commonwealth. That is the method we shall preliminary estimat·e made by Mr. Colin adopt in regard to these particular matters. Cla:tk it would appear that 27,000 wJrk· men will be needed to catch up with the Then there are projects for the promotion arrears of work in constructing new homes of transport and trade facilities, health and and other buildings that will be necessary cultural matters, including housing, hospitals, in the post-war period. 'l'here is the ques­ domestic water supply, sewerage, drainage tion whether we can arrange a system of and stream purification, public administra­ training tradesmen, and whether we can get tion, including public buildings, equipment, the unions to agree, as they have done dur­ research and surveys in collaboration with ing the war, to a system of dilutees to the university and other bodies. enable the work to be gone on with without There we haye a rough review of some of delay. Those are a few of the many hun­ the projects that 1Yill be considered by these dreds of problems that will have to be tackled committees, after being recommended by the as time goes on. boards in the various districts to the State lUr. Maller: Is it necessary for the Employment Council. Government to get the consent of the unions Mr. Kerr: Are all these officers perform­ in order to introduce a system of dilutees W ing this work voluntarily~ 'l'l!e SECRETARY FOR LABOUR A::VD The SECRETARY l<'OR LABOUR AND l{!tiPLOYJUENT: Tl1e hon. gentleman with EMPLOYMENT: Yes. If the hon. member his experience knows that over the last half­ was present at question time on ·Wednesday he century-before the war began-unions would have heard my reply to a question throughout the Commonwealth have had asked on that point by the Leader of the definite rights governing apprenticeship that Opposition. had been agreed to by the various Govern­ ments, whether Labour or anti-Labour; and as It was pointed out that although we have those customs have been recognised as the 169 members of the boards throughout the right of those bodies, naturally in fairness to State all they haye asked for up to date is them they are consulted, but I have no fear £158 for travelling expenses and remunera­ that when the time comes, and when the tion for those who had to leave their work matter is properly discussed IYith them, they to attend meetings. The principle is similar will co-operate with the council in adopting to that adopted in the Civil Defence Organisa· some scheme that will meet the position to tion, in whirh thousands of men and women enable us to go on with this tremendous pro­ are doing their bit towards the protection of gramlne. the citizens. Members of the State Employ­ ment Council receive no fees, nor do members I think I have clearly pro.-ed that the of the boards, but. where travelling expenses organisation I have referred to is not set are involved and the members cannot afford up for the purpose of propaganda. \Ye have to pay them we have to meet them. It is the realised our responsibility, as the Treasurer most cheaply-run organisation that we know in his Financial Statement in 1941 made of in the Commonwealth. clear; and realising this responsibility we have in our humble way attempted to set up Immediately ahead lies the work of these under the Co-ordination of Employment committees I have referred to. They will be Facilities Act the necessary machinery to engaged in analysing and investigating pro­ enable us to solve the man;~- problems \Ye jects submitted by the boards and dealing lmow are ahead. When the measurB was with many other problems. For instance, we introduced the Opposition could have opposed have yet to obtain from the Commonwealth it and suggested a better method nf solving GoveTHmcnt their post-war policy in detail, the problem:, if they k1row of one. its relation to the State, and the extent to which they will help financially, particularly At 2.15· p.m. in regard to national projects. Let me point out some of the problems that The CHAIRMAN resumed the chair. m·ise from time to time. One of the most important things that will have to be con­ Tlle SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND ElUPLOYMENT : I rose principally to sidered is the training and retraining of many endeavour to quash the dastardly tactics of the men 1vho ha1·e been away from industry adopted by the Leader of the Opposition on the fighting fronts for a number of years. in an attempt to create suspicion for use They have dealt effectively with that problem as election propaganda in regard to the in many of the States of the United States, Act I have been discussing. He attempted, where they have set up an elaborate system of as it were, to kill incenth-e, eo-operation. making people fit for various industries after and fellowship, some of the best of the war. If they can do that surely we can human traits, and to discourage citizens do something of a similar kind. from endeavouring to formulate an effective Another problem has been specially referred organisation for the purpose of finding em­ to the council by the Premier-the question of ployment for their fellows. If the organisation ensuring the supply of tradesmen who will set np under the Act has any merit, it will be needed in the post-war period. W·e have naturally appeal to the people. If it creates Supply. (23 SEPTEMBER.] Supply. 497 enthusiasm and the desire to help in meet­ the goods. Ever since 1914-15 we have car­ ing post-war problems, at least the Govern­ ried on the affairs of the State successfully. ment have achieved something by its intro­ We have improved the standard of living from duction. It is only one of a series of an index figure of 67.7 in 1915-16 to 105.2 measures passed by this Parliament to meet at the beginning of the v.-ar. This in itself definite sets of circumstances. For instance, is some indication of Labour's ability to in pre-war days it was found necessary in carry on the affairs of the State. I repeat order to prevent duplication and waste to that I am willing to leave the matter to the introduce what is known as the State Develop­ people, notwithstanding the jibes of the ment and Public Works Organisation Acts, Leader of the Opposition and his attempts 1938 to 1940, under which Mr. Kemp, the Co-ordinator-General of Public Works, to create suspicion and prejudice. Labour organised and carried out some very effective has always delivered the goods, and we shall work throughout the State. There are also continue tO' do so in the post-war period. the Financial Anangem'ents and Development Mr. KERR (Oxley) (2.24 p.m.): It seems Aid Act of 1942, the Post-war Reconstruc­ incredible that in times of war we should be tion and Development 'Trust Fund Act of experiencing apparent prosperity in this State. 1943, the Local Government Acts and Other It seems a paradox to me, and I make so Acts Amendment Act of 1943, the :Main bold as to say that the prosperity through Roads Acts Amendment Act of 1943, the which ~we are living is a fictitious one because Rural Development Transfer and Co-ordina­ of the tremendous wastage that war causes, tion of Powers Act of 1938, and the Bureau the enormous amount of employment that is of Industry Act. These measures, with created through war, and the fiow of money the Co-ordination of Employment Facili­ that is created for the purposes of war. For ties Act, are a set of statutes purposely all these reasons this prosperity that we designed to meet the circumstances of our experience to-day-I cannot say ''enjoy' '-is time. Naturally, the keynote has been nothing more or less than fictitious. co-ordination, the prevention of duplication, overlapping, waste, and their objective the Jlir. CoHins: Does it not merely suggest attainment of the maximum efficiency possible what we could do in times of peace~ in the organisation and construction of public works. Notwithstanding his endeavour to Mr. KERR: I do not know. We have create prejudice in tho minds of the people yet to see what tbe aftermath will be. \Ve of Queensland, I am satisfiec1 that the do not know. I submit that in bringing Leader of the Opposition will fail to i1ave down his J<'inancial Statement the 'Pl'aasurer any effect on the State Employment Council realised that it is not all gold that glitters, and on such men as Mr. Kemp, Mr. Colin and that he, at any rate, appreciated the fact Clark, the Commissioner for Railways, and that this apparent prosperity is not real but others on the ,bo'ards and committees set up fictitious. under the Co-ordination of Employment 'Phe Financial Statement disclos-es a surplus Facilities Act. They have carried out very of £102,022 for the year 1942-43. I have effective work in the past. I must pay a com­ deh·ed into some of the figures, and I find pliment to Mr. Kemp, in particular, for the that at page 22 a sum of £5,250,000 is men­ splendid pro'gramme of work he has carried tioned that has to be added to this disclosed to fulfilment, not only in times of peace, but or alleged smplus. On page 4, too, we find during the past four years of war. that from revenue a sum of £311,359 has been r.aid to Trust Funds. On page 3 •:-e I am willing to allow the people to judge find arl item of £100,000 that has been repaid for themselves the benefits likely to accrue to the Loan Fund Account. All these items from the planned organisation we have set aggregate £5,763,381, from which I submit up. If it was possible, as we did in the pre­ m'ust he deducted the trust accounts that are war period, to take over the affairs of this now still in debit, the balances amounting to State when the business index was at its £261,201, giving us a net surplus of £5,502,173 lowest point, 83.6, and improve the conditions for the year 1942-43. to such an extent that the index figure is 107.2 to-day, surely it is possible for ns in For the year 1944 the Treas~rer ~xpects ihe post-war period to carry out Just as the surplus will be £68,618. His estimated efl:ective a plan of work. surplus for 1942-43 was £39,142, but it actually was £5,502,173. Therefore, I say 'vV e increased the number of workmen in IYithout hesitation, and without fear of con­ full-time employment contributing to our tradiction, that the surplus. f?r the current insurance scheme from 105,000 in 1932 to year will be so~ewhat s1m1lar, probably 164,047, and we raisPd the wages bill of the greater. For the hfe of me I cannot under­ State from £37,000,000 in 1932 to £61,000,000 stand why the Estimates are not brought 1938-39. From these figures hon. members down in their true perspective, and why the can visualise the amount of employment that ;;urpluses cannot be show11 as they really are has been created. N at only did we increase without any of the paring or trimn1ing down the number of full-time workers; we also that has been done. increased the production per head of popula­ tion. In fact, no matter from what angle As I have said, I believe that the present the position is viewed, it will be seen that prosperity is fictitious. The greater supply an imnrovement has been effected as a result of monev for the Government comes from of oui planning and our programme of works Common~vealth sources. It comes by way of during the period between 1932 and the out­ taxation and refunds to the State, and also break- of war. Labour has always delivered from nigh railway receipts. The problems 498 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. of government have been such that the Com­ :Jir. Collins: It is the cheapest wool they monwealth Government have had to use bank can buy. credit extensively to meet their commitments Mr. J(ERR: The Agent-General issued to the States, and bank credit can only be this serious warning, and I hope the Govern­ looked upon as syuthetic money. Therefore, ment will take clue notice of it in their post­ our surpluses to-day are not real; they are war planning. 'l'he Secretary fm· Labour and actually synthetic or fictitious. Employment has said that no suggestions are The subject of taxation has been raised in ever fOTthcoming from hon. members on this this Chamber on many occasions. The theory side to help in implementing the Govern­ is held that when revenue is buoyant taxa­ ment's post-war employment plans, and tion should be at its peak, and with that before I ronclude I shall outline a scheme theory I am inclined to agree, but I also whereby the national wealth of Queensland think that when revenue is depressed the c::m I think, be greatly augmented. Such a level of ta.:mtion should be at its lowest. That sch~me should receive the earnest considera­ idea is quite logical, and one to which we tion of the Government. can all subscribe. However, that is not how 'l'!Je Agent-General goes on to say- it works out in practice by any means. High taxation is brought about in times of pros­ ,' The accumulation of wool in the three perity, but when the times a1·e depressed the principal wool-growing dominions and in peak of taxation remains. That is unjust, South America is an additional reason for and we should adopt a better and more equit­ anxiety, for, with the increased competi­ able means of imposing it. If it is right to tion from the substitute fibre, the question increase wages in accordance with a rise in of stock liquidation is likely to constitute the cost of living, it is right to reauce the a far greater problem after the present war tax scale when prosperity declines, in the tlwn was the case in the years following same way as there is a reduction in wages the 1914-18 conflict. It is stated on good in accordance with a reduction in the cost authority that staple fibre production of living. increased in Germany and Italy alone from 38 nrillion lb. in 1934 to 800 million lb. in The Secretaxy for Public Lands: This 1940!" Government have not increased income tax since 1933. The Minister for Propaganda-I beg his pardon, the Secretary for Labour and Employ­ M;r. KERR: I am not prepared to acknow­ ment-who I understand will be the Minister ledge the truth of that statement for the in charge of post-war reconstruction and post­ moment, but I know the Government have war planning, in his brochure dealing with not decreased it when they have had oppor­ the preliminary economic surveys of the 34 tunities to do so. empJoyment exchange districts, constituted in pursuance of the Co-ordination of Employ­ The Secretary for Public Lands: We have reduced it. ment Facilities Act of 1941, and the Employ­ ment Exchanges Acts, 1915 to 1941, states- Mr. KERR: As revenue is buoyant much " I forward herewith bound compilation of the money should have been allowed to of the abovementioned surveys, the pre­ remain in the hands of the people long ago, fatory matter to which sets out the pur­ but I suppose the Government will now con­ poses and uses immediately in view ..... tend that they are precluded from doing that because they are providing for some highly ''The surveys are highly informative, speculative scheme that will mean that private despite wartime difficulties in compiling enterprise will not get its fair chance of statistics. Although not advisory in a developing the incentive of man. These funds special sense the surveys will be developed would be better in the hands of private enter­ to that end following suggestions being prise than with any Government. sought from Employment Exchange Boards. It is confidently anticipated that suitable I think it is appropriate at this stage that proposals propounded by boards will be I should draw the attention of hon. mem­ amplified and supplemented by the various bers to a paragraph in the Agent-General's departments and other instrumentalities report for 1942, dealing with tra.de and com­ actively assisting the State EmploJlllent merce. He said- Council in employment planning, having in '' Under the terms of the Imperial wool mind that the above legislation provides purchase agreement,· an increase in price that the measuring of such employment is of 15 per cent. was granted in 1942 by the to be achieved- United Kingdom Government. This raised '' ' by means of co-ordination and the average price for Australian greasy collaboration as between governmental, wool from 13.43d. to 15.45c1. per lb. (Aus­ semi-governmental, and general com­ tralian currency) . munity interests of the State.' '' ''It is, perhaps, not surprising to find I am intrigued by that statement. I do that the British woollen manufacturers are not understand the meaning of ''general showing concern over the rising price factor community interests of the State" or how as affecting their raw material-Australian these boards are to be constituted. The and other Empire wool-having in mind, Minister stated that these boards have been no doubt, the very serious threat aimed at constituted by public servants on community their industry by the amazing development interests, but I failed to hear that any com­ which has taken place in recent years in mercial interest or private enterprise is repre­ the production of synthetic fibre.'' sented on them. He fails wholly in his Supply; [23 SEPTEMBER.] Supply. 499 scheme if he does not make provision for the wonderful things in the past for which I appointment of at least one such represen­ give them credit. I should like to compli­ tative on each of the 34 boards. Nobody in ment the Minister on the compilation of my opinion is more fitted than a man engaged ' 'Economics of Queensland.'' I think it is in private commercial life to give expression very fine and has been done in a most to ideas, apart from his interests in any economical manner. It contains a great deal particular scheme. Such men would be of of information, and I hope it will be put to great assistance in formulating post-war the best possible use and that the rights of plans. \IV e have a wonderful well-equipped private enterprise are not ignored when the country. In 1929-30 the total wool produc­ scheme is implemented here. tion was about 910,000,000 lb., of which about 47,148,000 lb. was scoured and used locally. I have listened to many speakers from The greasy wool exported was 763,339,527 lb., country districts. The hon. member for and the scoured wool 47,201,000 lb. I suggest N anango talked about peanuts, and another that not a bale of wool should go out of this hon. member from the North spoke about the country in the grease. Every bale should be luscious fruit of the North. degreased. This would enable us to get our A Government Jllember: Why criticise maximum price for it, and in addition we them~ should save tremendous costs in freight. 1Ur. RERR: I am not criticising them. ]}Ir. O'Shea: I understand a better price It appears to me that everybody has some is received for "·ool if it is shipped in the interest, which is quite right-they sometimes grease. work the parish pump, but that is in order, Mr. J{ERR: I understand that there is too-but although hon. members have spoken more profit to be made out of greasy wool on various subjects, nobody has spoken about because of its by-products. Some years ago the wealth of the sea. I have had a long a hydraulic pro·cess of degreasing was dis­ experience at sea and I have had experience of covered by an officer of the C.S.I.R. in which the spoils of the sea. In Moreton Bay we have the wool in the bale was impregnated by a a wonderful deposit of coral amounting to benzol solvent or Thrichlorethylene solvent millions of tons that will provide material and emerged half its original size. for cement to meet our needs for 100 years If it was shipped in that condition, the to come. It is only recently that its com­ freight would be halved and many thousands mercial value was discovered, and I do not of pounds thereby saved. In addition to think it has been fully exploited. There are that, the by-products, such as lanoline, could many other uses to which the coral could be be saved here, and valuable potashes that are put. I suggest to the Secretary for Agricul­ extracted in the process. Most of the wool ture and Stock or the Secretary for Public exported in the bale is treated in Roubaix and Lands-whoever deals with the matter-that Dusseldorf in Europe, and Bradford in Eng­ there are other ways in which it might be land. In 1928-29, Poland alone bought about exploited. We all know that shell grit is £14,000,000 of degreased wool. Most of the getting very scarce, and I think the crushing wool imported by Poland, for which they pay of coral will produce a good substitute for 6s. 6d. to 7s. a lb., is made into gloves and shell grit that could be used throughout other things. I maintain that with the same Australia at little cost. preparation all this could be saved to A Government JUember: Coral would not this country. The matter is worthy of be any good for shell grit. consideration. Itir. KERR: It would be a substitute for lUr. Duns tan: Is that the line from Bhell grit and could be produced cheaply. Colonel Lassetter 's statement~ Pulverised, it would also have great value JUr. KERR: I am not looking for Las­ for the sweetening of pastures. setter 's lost reef. This is an earnest sug­ gestion that the State should set about There are some wonderful things to be sincerely to put into effect. One of our great found in the north of Queensland, too, but pastoralists who died some years ago said we neYer hear about thenr. For the past it was the finest thing ever put before the 10 years the Japanese have had fishing fleets public to increase the national wealth as well and floating canneries to the north of Queens­ as to increase employment. land. These fleets come down to the Aroe, Tanimbar, and Kei islands and through the lUr. Turner: We have been advocating Arafma Sea. This industry is open to this that since 1921. State. Then there is the valuable pearl­ shell, which grows very quickly. In fact, ll!r. KERR: Why not do it? it can be said to have a terrific growth. In Jl'Ir. Turnt>r: vVe have been advocating four months a shell >vill grow to the Gize it. of almost the palm of a man's hand. So;ne Tlle Secretary for Labour and Employ­ years ago the Japanese discoYered marvellous ment: How would you overcome the oppo­ pearl-shell reefs extending out from D:uwin, sition of the >YOol brokers? the greatest being north of Darwin, between that place and the Tanimbar islands. The I\:Ir. KERR: The State Government is normal ea tch for a lugger was 7 or 8 tons, a powerful institution, and now that their but on this reef the catch could be increased party is in power in the Commonwealth they to 30 and 40 tons. These patches are still have an oppOTtunity to do it, and conserve in existence aml awaiting exploitation by the national wealth. They have done some Australians. 500 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

In conclusion, I have something to say in the people in general~ Indeed, I go so far reference to preference to returned soldier j. as to say that the social services and hospitals I am a returned soldier myself, and I feel services renderad to the people of Queensland I must say somethi:1g about it. In common by this Government compare more than favour­ justice something s\10uld be done by this ably with those of any other State through­ Governn!'ent to compensate them for the out the Commonwealth. \Vhen you remember sacrifices they are making and will have to the chaos and ruin that faced this State 1d1en make in the next fe>' years. Great praise the Labour Government took office in 1932, has been given to them by hon. members you will agree, J\!Ir. Brassington, that it is on both sides of the Committee, but of coarse hard for us to sit here and listen to the lip service is as nothing. IV e must do some­ statements of hon. members opposite, who thing tangible, or perhaps I should say con­ made such a mess of the finances of the State crete. 'l'he Government should take courage, during their three years of office. I know discard party politics and partisanship in all that was a difficult period, and perhaps I their forms, and allocate a substantial sum should not have mentioned that point had of money to benefit those who are paying the the Leader of the Opposition not ref,erred to price to enable us to live here in security it when making comparisons in an endeavour and comfort. I trust that the Government to build up a ease against the Government. will not lose sight of the obligation we owe to Why, one can almost feel sorry for the Oppo­ these men. During this session I have heard sition in their attempts to criticise the Budget, only one member of the Government side-and in their efforts to find fault with it. This that was the hon. member fo1· Cook-openly is specially true of the Leader of the Opposi­ urge that these men should be specially tion, who, in his endeavour to build up a rewarded fo their sacrifices and services to the case against us, had an extremely difficult people of the State. task to perform. His case was very poor, lUr. JIANN {Brisbane) {2.49 p.m.): I bccanse he had nothing but poor material to congratulate the Treasurer on the Budget work on. He even went back to 1929-32 for presented to the Committee, and I express a comparison. He certainly said many things, the opinion that the majority of the people but there are many more that he left unsaid. of Queensland also will extend to him' con­ :F'or instance, he failed to tell the Committee gratulations on the good financial position that when his party were the Government of the State. The :F'inancial Statement is they heaped tax upon tax upon the backs admirably compiled and contains some very of the workers and reduced incomes. They useful information for the guidance of hon. increased taxation wherever it was possible members. AnylYody who is fair will admit to do so, and they explored other avenues for that the problems that confronted the Govern­ new taxation. On top of that, they reduced ment, after three yea.rs of mismanagement employment. Their policy was to reduce by the party of hon. members opposite when instaad of to build up, and to-day their they were the Government, were varied and economic outlook is the same as it was then. many. Anybody who is fair must admit, They talk about what private enterprise will too, that the Governm·ent tackled the problems do, but I ask them what happened to private in a straightforward and proper way and enterprise during those years after the last in the interests not only of the people of war. this part of the State, but-and I say this ~rr. L. J. Dames: They produced a lot of for the benefit of those hon. members oppo­ goods. Nobody starved. site who state that we cater only for the big cities--for the whole of the State generally. 1\Ir. MANN: The hon. member for Cairns They husbanded and expended their funds either has much to learn or he has a very in a way that has been beneficial to all. short memory. He should know that those Criticism has been levelled at the Budget by years were the worst period in this State's hon. members opposite, particularly by the history. Hon. members talk about private Leader of the Opposition, but it is entirely enterprise, yet the unemployment figure satisfactory and shows that there has been steadily rose and rose until the percentage sound financial control and planning for the of unemployment reached the highest point post-war period of reconstruction to ensure in the history of Queensland-22 per cent. the wellbeing of all sections of the people Hon. members opposite hold up private 'enter­ prise as their god. They try to tell the as well as the development of the State. It reveals that the Treasurer has given consider­ Government that we are on the wrong track able consideration to war-time economy, but with our wise public-works spending policy. has not lost sight of the necessity for post­ It has been the wis'e public-works spending war reconstruction. policy of this Government that has stimu­ lated private enterprise. As our policy of The hon. member who has just resumed his public works expanded, so did private enter­ seat referred to the buoyancy of the revenues. prise develop, and on that point I might No-one will deny that revenues are buoyant. quote the general manager of the Bank of We know that they are, and the Treasurer New South Wales, Sir Alfred Davidson, who has seen tit to place large sums of money in said in 1935 that- a trust fund for the post-war period, thus showing that the Government are alive to "World opinion is now gradually coming tlNJir responsibilities. The Budget also shows to the conclusion that the first step to that large sums have been expended in cer­ recovery must come from Government invest­ tain directions, but who would oppose the ment.'' sp

The Budget presented by the Treasurer Force, the militia, or to the men manufac­ shows that the financial resources of the tming and producing the implements of war1 State have been carefully husbanded and that Or do they propose to give it to the men of money has been wisely expended in the best the merchant navy or the airmen~ To what interests of the people and in a way that has section of the soldiers will they give this made for the gradual development of the preference'! The Labour Party will give State. Hon. members opposite still advocate preference to everyone in the socialised job the policy they pursued between 1929 and that the Government will do. 'rhere will be 1932 when they threw this State into the work for all. That is the rolicy Labour is worst condition of chaos and ruin that it ever committed to. vV e will provide work and experienced. More small business people went wages for all the people, not preference in insolvent than at any other time in our employment for one section alol1'e. The Oppo­ history. Many business people have never sition are not sincere when they speak about 1·ecoverell from that period. There are many giving preference in employment to one sec­ people to-day who can t·ell a sad story of tion only. Hon. members opposite fail to the failure of hon. members opposite when realise that the people have lived in a world they vvare the Government, stories that show wherein the basic law has been the law of how incapable they were of gov·erning the the jungle, the survival of the fittest. Hon. State. In spite of all this, they presume to members opposite have made social heroes of advise this Government on matters relating those who have been able to amass money to finance and criticise our policy. It is and reach the top of the social ladder regard­ easy to criticise, but it is hard to construct less of the human suffering that they may and carry on the affairs of State efficiently. have caused or the people who may have been downtrodden in the process. These· 'l'he proposal of the Government to set aside funds for post-war purposes is both reople have amassed wealth, they have reached the top of the social ladder, and so· a sound and frugal one, and one on which the they are regarded as social heroes by hon. 'l'reasurer is to be commended for his fore­ members opposite. These men with big busi­ sight. The Act recently passed through this ness interests have been allowed ruthlessly Parliament by the Secretary for Labour and to destroy their small competitors in business. Employment is certainly a step in the right Hon. members opposite, especially members direction, and I desire to pay a tribute to of the Country Party, are the mouthpieces him for the splendid service he rendered in of vestell interests in this country, although the compilation of the Bill and his sincerity the members of the Country Party contend in desiring that all the workers of the State that they represent the struggling farmers should have full and plenty, and that the of the community. The Labour Party believes State should be developed along sound and equitable lines. Hon. members opposite who that there is too much power in the hands· of vested interests, and that it is wrong that stress the virtues of private enterprise have a few private individuals should be able tO> failed to learn the lesson of the recent say who shall work and who shall be unem-­ Federal elections. ployed. The Labour Party bel~eves that the great mass of people living in this country )Ir. L. J. Barnes: Private enterprise is still carrying on and functioning well. have the right to the things that are produced. Hon. members opposite have boosted private Mr. MANN: If the hon. member for enterprise, but I want to tell them that a Cairns understood he would not make that system that means thousands of unemployed inane interjection. He does not understand in a land of full and plenty has to go and the economic situation that prevailed during that the day of huge profits will have to go. the period I have mentioned. I am trying to I can visualise the time when the Government tell hon. members opposite that they have will have to legislate for the elimination of failed to learn the lesson of the recent Federal large profits so that any excess profit will elections, the lesson that there is a tendency go back into industry for the purpose of to move to the left, that the people to-day creating greater production and more realise as the general manager of the Bank employment with perhaps a shorter working of New South Wales said that the lead week. will have to come from the Government, The time is coming when the Government that the post-war period will be a difficult one will have to legislate for the elimination of calling for Government planning and wise large profits and compel the companies that Government spending to reabsorb all the mem­ in pre-war days were making excess profitS' bers of the fighting forces and munition to put them back into industry. There was a workers in civil employment. clear lack of leadership in the last few years on the part of our Nationalist Governments. The hon. member for Oxley spoke about They displayed a tendency to mark tim'e. preference for returned soldiers. That is It was only with the advent of Labour in the perpetual cry of hon. members opposite, the last 20 months that progress was made. the sole purpose of which is to nail something In this policy of marking time adopted by unfavourable upon the Government. To our old leaders at Canberra, the same outlook whom would they give this preference in as permeates hon. members opposite was dis­ employmenH And, by the way, may I ask played-the old economic order was weU them how their Tory friends in the Senate maintained, and profits rather than service dealt with Labour's Bill to give preferenc-e to the people were supreme. to returned soldiers~ To whom do they pro­ pose to give this preference in employment~ Proof that the people of Australia wanted' To the memhers of the Australian Imperial the Labour Government in power is founai 502 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. in the fact that they want a Government to Those who control industry control the means :give them a lead in the post-war period in of distribution and exchange. The people the expansion and development of this great who own and control industry are the people 11ation. Throughout this debate hon. members who say when prices will go up and when have frequently nl'entioned the Treasurer's prices will go down. I say that the tendency references in the Budget to the co-operation is to the left, and for the Government to step that exists between State facilities and the in and take control. That is why the Federal Commonwealth. 'rhose facilities include the Labour Government have obtained such a big Main RDads Commission and Department of majority. That is why the people of Aus­ Labour and Employment. Their officers were tralia gave to the Government that mandate eo-opted by the Commonwealth to do urgent -because they were afraid to trust the friends national work in conjunction with the State of hon. members opposite, who are the mouth­ administration. On 21 August last the people pieces of monopolies and vested interests. The by their mandate to Labour showed appre­ people meted out a severe rebuke to them, ciation of the bet that all State Labour and that was not only because they had proved Governments were willing to co-operate, and their inability to govern, but also because o~ were co-operating, with the Commonwealth the campaign of lies and slander indulged Government in their great national service. in by the 'l'ory Press on behalf of the Tory Never in the history of this nation has the candidates. Everyone knows there was a work of a Government been applauded by deliberate attempt to vilify John Curtin and the people as it was at the polls on 21 August. members of the r~abour Party. Not only was Never before has the work of any adminis­ the Tory Press not willing to give them credit tration been so triumphantly vindicated as >Yhere credit was due, but they attempted to the work of 'the K ational Labour Government discredit and vilify Labour and Labour's during its short tcrnr of office was then. leaders by all means, no matter how decep,­ Despite the \York of hon. members opposite tive. If the elections have done nothing else and the hon. member for Bnndaberg, Labonr to the Opposition they should show them that was returned with the greatest majority of in Australia decency and fair play in politics anv Government in the historv of Australia. pay better dividends than the tactics of dirt 'rhe result was a rebuke to tlwse hon. mem­ and dishonou1:. bers who were prepared to slander and vilify the leaders of our Labour Government and lUr. J. F. Barnes: You know all about Labour candidates in the hope that they dirt. might be defeated. It was also a rebuke to The CHAIR3IAN: Order! the Tory Press throughout Australia for its lying and slanderous attacks on Labour Mr. MANN: The hon member would not know. He is one of those gentlemen who Governments and Labour leaders. \Vhere is think their own vanity and ego can override the prophecy of the hon. members for West Moreton, East Toowoom ba, and Passifern the will of the people, and they can overcome the unity of the great working mass, but he that the people would sweep Labour out of ,,-ill return whence he came, like Bruce Pie office and return an all-in Government~ They and Anderson and others of that kidney. He wanted a national Government of the old die-hard, hypocritical, hard-headed, crusted is only a political misfit, and is not long for Tories at Canberra. The Tory Government the legislative benches of this State. The hon. member and others like him think that in power laid down the reins of office imme­ they can vilify and abuse Labour, but as the diately a national crisis arose. 'fhey held years go by they will learn that the people the reins when this country canie face to face are alive to their responsibility. That is why with the greatest crisis in its history, yet they were willing to stand aside a1lll hand the Opposition are so weak and scattered in this Chamber, and that is why they have been over the job of tackling it to Labour rather than tackle it themsch'es. As a result, the so scattered at Canberra. peovlc were only a>"aiting an opportunity to lUr. J ..F. Barnes: I do not control police s·Nee)J them out of office. \Vhere are the magistrates. candidates such as Bruce Pie, Anderson the The CHAIRlllAN: Order! If the hon. Ean2agc King, and all the satellites and member will not ohey my call to order-if place-seekers who put their own persona I he persists in not doing so, I shall have to vanity before party or country~ They were use drastic measures to enforce the authority carried away by their ego and yauity and of the Chair. thought they could over-ride the unitv and strength of the people. Where are ' they : )fr. MANN: The hon. member can dish Gone with the wind by the hurricane of it out, but he cannot take it. I intend to the people's voice. J\Iany of them lost their finish my story. I say that the lying and deposits as a result of that voice. Surely, vilifying campaign-the slanderous campaign Mr. Brassington, that result should be a indulged in by the opponents of Labour lessoll t•o mE>n likE> the hon. member for throug·hout Australia, with the assistance of Bundaberg. He should take notice of what the Tory Press-was responsible for the happened on 21 August. Surely, they can result at the election. The people were so see the trend of the people's thoughts, which disgusted that they were glad of the oppor­ is in the right direction. That trend is tunlty to sweep away all those hypocrites for a Government who will not exactly who were crying out for a national Govern­ abolish private enterprise, but take away ment. Even to-day you will find the ''Courier­ from it the right to make excess profits and Mail''-'' Granny Courier' '-backed up by the right to dictate whether the people shoulct the Leader of the Opposition, endeavouring be employed or starve amidst full and plenty. to carry on the propaganda against Mr. Ward, Supply. [23 SEPTEMBER. J Supply. 503 who is a Minister in the Federal Govern· to swing a section of the people of Aus­ ment. That paper published a sub-leader tralia from Labour by contending that we headed "Mr. Ward Rebuked." They did were associated with the Communist Party. their utmost, crying Wardism, Dedmanism We have no connection with thc'l Communist and Communism, in an endeavour to dow~ Party, and the :first job of the Labour move­ Labour. Wherever the Tory Press could put ment throughout Australia will be to allay a spoke in the wheel of Mr. Ward they did any suspicion that there is any connection so, and wherever they got an opportunity to between the Communist ,Party and the Labour criticise him they took advantage of it, but movement in Australia. the people of the electorate Mr. Ward repre­ sents sent him back with a greater majority Mr. L. J. Barues: Don't forget that on than ever, showing in this way their great your soap box. faith in him. Any member of the Labour Jir. JIA~N: The hon. member for Cairns Party who receives praise from the Tory Press cares little or nothing that it was the vote should look out for himself, because it is of the Communist Party that returned him the mouthpiece of vested interests that always to this Parliament or he would not be here attempts to criticise and vilify any Labour to make a nuisance of himself. It was the man who is willing to put Labour's policy association of his people with the Communist into operation. A slanderous attack was Party that defeated the Labour candidate and made on Mr. I'Vard. returned him to this Assembly. They care .:tir. Jiaher: Did not Ward make a slan­ nothing of the fact that Jim Scullin, one-time derous attack, too~ leader of the Commonwealth, was opposed at. this election by a Communist, nor do they }fr• .MANN: The people of the electorate care about the attack made on George Martens Mr. Ward represented sent him back with a in Herbert, nor about the fact that the Com­ greater majority and his mates in the munist Party put up only one candidate in: Government have elected him again to the Queensland because it believed it would wiru Cabinet; yet you find ''Granny Courier'' Herbert. To-day it knows it has been ruth­ coming out and saying ''Ward Rebuked,'' lessly swept aside, but it was in an endeavour because he was given the portfolio of to split the votes at the polls that those whe> Minister for Transport. were opposed to Labour endeavoured to link The cry of Dedmanism was understood by the Communist Party with the Labour Party .. the people, but not by the opponents of Despite that I emphasise that the first step Labour. Dedmanism has been taken by the of the Labour Party will be to allay any people to be not a harsh regimentation of suspicions in the minds of the people of Aus­ the people, but a new name for the organisa­ tralia that we have any connection with the· tion of the nation's economic effort in a Communist Party and to show that the Aus­ total war. tralian Labour Party has a broad Australiaru The people of Australia have shown that sentiment and outlook. The Communist Party they are willing to make sacrifices to ensure has an international outlook and believes irQ the social security of this country. On racial equality. We believe in a White 21 August Dedmanism received the approval Australia policy. It was because we had this of the workers, the housewives, and small policy that a serious position was prevented farmers. One can quite understand that it from arising in this war. But for the fact would not have the approval· of hon. members that we had a White Australia policy there opposite, because Dedmanism, as they call it, is no doubt that Japanese would have been or the gearing of the economy of the nation residents of the northern parts of Australiar for war irrespective of the feelings of the and the western coast of Australia. To Billy vested interests would not be in keeping with Hughes, although he is a rat and betrayed the policy of hon. members opposite. The the Labour Party, I pay this compliment: story told ·by the Tory Press throughout it was he who at the Versailles Conference Australia in an endeavour to link the Labour in 1919 stood for a White Australia policy, Party closely with some bogy or something one of the planks of the platform of the Aus­ that people would mistrust has rebounded on tralian Labour Party. Woodrow Wilson, wfiO' the Opposition. The Opposition failed to was then· President of the United States of realise that in their own leader, Mr. Menzies, America, was supported by Lloyd George, they have a greater load to carry than they then Prime Minister, and Clemenceau, Premier suggest Ward or Jack Lang is to Labour. of France. Billy Hughes refused to submit He is a greater handicap to any political and when Wilson asked ''Whom does this party than Mr. Ward or any other member Hughes stand fod'' Billy Hughes retorted, of the Labour Party is ever likely to be. "I stand for 60,000 Australian dead out of a population of 6,000,000. '' .Mr• .Maber: Then the honours are even. I have said we of the Labour Party stan

Jir. L ••J. Barnes: ·wm you borrow money lUr. ~IANN: If the electors of Hamilton from their fathers to do it9 decide that they would be better represented 506 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

by the Lord Mayor than either of the other not enter into those side issues. Probably two candidates, we shall welcome him to this some of the other hon. members must be out Chamber-after all, I believe that the voice of step, because the hon. gentleman did not of the people should be paramount-to allude to it. I think the report he submitted -expound the new deal he says Brisbane so on the financial positron of Queensland will wishes to have. be accepted by the people. We cannot give lUr. J. I<'. Rarnes: Give him some of the credit to any particular Government for the money from gambling. success of the operations of the past year and the big surplus of £102,022. The sur­ Mi'. MANN: If I were to use the plus is really greater than appears-£5,250,000, expression I am entitled to use in reply to plus £102,022, which brings it to £5,352,022. that interjection, I should not be fit to retain my seat in this Chamber. During last ses­ It is natural that we should look round sion I said that the hon. member for Bunda­ to see where so much mo11ey hns come from berg reminded me of soma lines written by during the last 12 months, and inevitably we Henry Lawson- attribute it to the war position. The other States have also been favoured with big ' 'He speaks the gutter language with surpluses. the easy flow that comes To the man whose childhood only knew We heard of ' 'Rydge 's Magazine'' from the the gutter and the slums.'' · Secretary for Labour and Employment, who seemed to be pleased because it asked for a The more I see of him the more I am con­ report on the big scheme the State had in vinced that those lines fit him. regard to employment. I wish to quote The war situation is shaping much better another report that appeared in "Rydge's for the Allies than it did a year ago. Whilst Magazine,'' which, reads- I do not wish to encourage any slackening '' States Are Having a Picnic. in the war effort, I do believe that the war situation is such that victory now se·ems to ''There is urgent need for a review of be in sight for the Allies. Tl~is war has been the financial arrangements between the waged against dictatorships over which Commonwealth and State Governments. Governments for democracy will triumph. The time is ripe for an immediate review ·ro-day it is a matter of the defeat of those of this subject for, whilst the Common­ who believe in rule by force by those who wealth Government is at its wits' end to believe in rule by right. I believe victory find the money necessary to meet war needs, is in sight for the Allies, and in the post­ most of the State Governments will show a war period the national Government will plan substantial surplus in their accounts for for the development of our country so that the current financial year. In these days ,,-e shall have social security for the people. the State Governments are assured of their The State Government are to be corn­ income tax returns by reason of the opera­ mended for their handling of the affairs of tion of the States Grants (Income Tax the State, and for the way the finances have Reimbursement) Act, under which the been spent, The work that has been done Commonwealth Government collects all by the Government, as revealed in the Bud­ income tax and makes specified payments get, and the projects they contemplate, show to the States. The State Governments they are alive not only to the interests of have also received substantial windfalls the people but to the needs for the expansion lately in increased railway revenue, due vf the State. largely to freights paid by the Common­ >vealth Government on the transport of war I say to the Opposition: The Government personnel and equipment. Moreover, the stand ~olidly upon the rock of the confidence States haYe not been able to incur even Df the people, and will carry out the policy normal expenditure on developmental pro­ to which they are pledged. jects. I have made a close examination of the railwav accounts of the various State Mr. DART (Wynnum) (3.40 p.m.) : The Governmen"ts, and have abstracted the fol- hon. member for Brisbane castigated every­ lowing details:- body but himself. He must be suffering from an inferiority complex, probably brought Revenue Revenue about by the thought that the Brisbane seat State. Year ended Year ended will be taken away from him; his anxiety 30th June, 30th June, ,apparently arises from something that has 1939. 1942. nappened in his own party. I thought this £ £ was an occasion for discussing the financial New South Wales 19,946,000 28,487,000 position of the State, not politics; but the Victoria 9,284,000 14,520,000 Queensland .. 7,798,000 11,654,000 l1on. member for Brisbane could not help South Australia 3,119,000 4,944,000 giving vent to his feelings; his outburst must Western Australia 3,599,000 3,996,000 l1ave been a great relief to him. Tasmania 487,000 854,000" The tendency to-day appears to be towards ·socialisation. The Secretary for Labour and Queensland's revenue for 1943 is £16,917,791. Employment expressed himself freely along That indicates that increased revenue has those lines, and I am sure the last speaker been general throughout the Commonwealth, must believe that socialisation of industry is and other States also have benefited because the only end the Government should pursue. war equipment and troops have had to be I was pleased to note that the Treasurer, made and transported. Of course, this has when reading the Financial Statement, did resu_lted in exceedingly buoyant revenue. Supply. [23 SEPTEMBER.) Supply. 507

The Secretary for Labour and Employment trawler, railway refreshment rooms, the: was very anxious to point out that he had Hamilton cold stores, sawmills, coalmines, a scheme in the air, but he did not say that arsenic mines, a produce agency, a cannery, it was doing any good. This was a proposal the Babinda Hotel, metalliferous mines and to deal with post-war reconstruction. He treatment works, a gem pool, and a State said the Government have already asked the steamer and showed a. loss on all of them. Commonwealth Government to form a Not only did they go in for cape gooseberries National Works Council. That organisation but also for mining. Now they tondemn has not yet been formed. How can there be private enterprise, which was able to take co-operation or collaboration with something up these ventures and make a success of them. that is not in existence~ The hon. member for Baroona is always quoting past history, and I find it necessary Jir. Power: It has been formed. to quote some, too. The Labour Government Jir. J)ART: Last year this Parliament lost over £5,000,000 in those ventures. They passed the Co-ordination of Employment now have £4,000,000 set aside for post-war Facilities Act for the purpose of appointing reconstruction and I should like to know if men in various districts to investigate pro­ that money is going to be wasted just as the: jects for the improvement of the State. Of State's money was wasted on those State course, there can be nothing wrong with that, enterprises. These reports show that the but the Minister puts forward a scheme that Government are not to be trusted with finance will eventually lead to Government control when they propose such dangerous ventures as and then there will be a clanger of this those to which I have referred. Government's using much of the money laid The Secretary for Labour and Employment aside for post-war purposes to boost them­ has 34 boards with a total of 169 members, selves and to benefit only one section of the and in that scheme we have the foundation community. That one section will be decided for the socia.lisation of industry. 'l'he Leader on in the Department of Labour and Employ­ of the Opposition has pointed out how ment by the adoption of certain methods. important it is that private enterprise should At 3.49 p.m., be encouraged, and I agree with him. Why Mr. DECKER (Sandgate) relieved the should we agree to all these systems of Chairman in the chair. socialisation that seem to be favoured by members of the Government Party, who ~Ir. BAR'r: I have asked the question really favour the communistic system of how the 34 boards and 169 members will government, \Yhen we know that they would work, only to find that they will be working be detrimental to the State? Hon. members under Government control. Much has been on the Government side admit that they said by hon. members opposite about the good believe in community farming, one of the old days. very principles of Communism. All these things show that there is a risk that this ~Ir. Power: 1929-1932? money they are putting aside now will be expended umvisely. As they have shown great ~Ir. ])ART: The hon. member for Baroona is ever ready to quote the deeds losses on previous occasions, we have to of former Governments. I, too, can quote realise that it is possible for them to show the deeds of other Governments. Does the great losses again, and I am warning the hon. member for Baroona. want to know what Government of the serious danger lying ahead other Governments did? of this wonderful land of ours, this land that cannot progress without private enterprise. }Jr. Power: Taxed the washerwoman. For the information of hon. members I JU:r. HART: They started State enter­ desire to quote the following extract from the prises in Queensland. There is the danger ' ' Queensland Trustees Ltd. Review''- that under the bureaucratic control of the ''Too Much Bureaucracy. Department of Labour and Employment similar deeds will be approved by the Govern­ "Mr. J. L. Webb, chairman of the Com­ ment. Queenslanders have had the bitter mercial Banking Co. of Australia Ltd., expeTience of the abolition of the profit and Mr. E. R. Knox, chairman of the motive. Commercial Banking Co. of Sydney Ltd., Labour's Red Book, ''Socialism at Work,'' have been warning Australia of the growth published in 1918, explained the benefits of of bureaucracy, both of them saying in State enterprises as follows:- addresses to shareholders, that while: ''By retaining for the State the profit bureaucracy may be a necessity for wartime: previously accruing to private enterprise, safety, an extension of it to peace-time: add to the revenue and render taxation and activities will destroy the spirit of enter·· borrowing increasingly unnecessary.'' prise and discourage that initiative and' energy that have characterised Australian Instead, £5,110,728 was invested in the various development. That also is troubling many enterprises, and between 1915 and 1929 the able students of national development. net loss was £3,452,838, apart from uncharged They realise that it is going to be a. very interest amounting to a further £994,378. difficult growth to curb.'' Interest on the loss is still going on. In those days, the Labour Party thought they I want hon. members to pay particular atten­ could manage these things a.s well as private tion to this part- enterprise could. They went in for cattle '' Since 1940, Commonwealth civil servants stations, butcher shops, fish supply and have increased from 30,000 to more than 508 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

l~O,?OO, and about 200 boards and com­ work were able to make a success of their missiOns are administering something like undertaking and to rear respectable families, 2,500 regulations, some of them needing a but to-day they are taxed by the Government Bench of Judges to secure a reasonable on every hand. interpretation. The Judges have ruled some of them invalid, but still regulations control The Treasurer: Don't be absurd. most things from a bank advance to the Mr. DART: I am not absurd. What did making of a cake. The war organisation the Government do~ They increased railway of industry, for example, seems to have freights and fares by 17 per cent., and they developed into a suekering growth of have reduced them by only 10 per cent. 1 ,tJxperimentalism. It is hardly to be w.ant to know why the Treasurer has reduced wondered that some of the bankers and them by only 10 per cent. when he has &O leaders of industry are complaining that much revenue at his disposal. Private emer­ bureaucracy has grown to dimensions never prise has done splendid work and has done it .dreamed of a couple of years ago.'' well in the country, but the men who have We have had the bureaucratic spirit in made a success under that system are the full strength from the Secretary for Labour very men the Government seek to tax. and Employment to-day. HB did not hesitate I have a quotation from the "Metal Trades to display it. He is in favour of government Journal " I wish to read. It states- by public servants. He made special refer­ ence to one man who is in receipt of a salary '' Communism of Opportunity. of £2,000-a very good man, too, and one '' 'The most business-like thing that a who is doing his work well, but he will be Government can do is to keep out of busi­ one of the officials who will help to run the ness,' declared former Senator Mr. R. D. country in that way if we do not see to it Elliott in Mildura recently. Continuing, that it is conducted on democratic lines. I he said: believe in democracy, and it should be upheld " 'We who beHave to the utmost in by a Labour Government just as by any other individual effort and initiative look with Government. I am sorry to say that there intense anxiety upon the ever-developing are hon. members in this Parliament who bureaucratic paternalism of modern govern­ are drifting away from true democracy. ment. To destroy initiativ·e and effort is Why, where would the country be without to destroy individuality and 'to destroy private enterprise~ I have been to the man­ the very citadel of man's worth. power authorities and to the Repatriation Commission and I can say that private enter­ '' 'I am convinced that many of the prise has taken back quite a number of social reforms we all desire can be brought returned soldiers and re-established them in about, but only if we do not upset the business. What are the Government doing foundations of our national wealth and to-day to equal the effort of private enter· prosperity. Take away the right of a man prise' I know of quite a number of people to earn, by his own work, as much as he who have been accepted for employment by can; destroy the freedom of a man to save private enterprise with the consent of the and live on his savings; put the organisa­ man-power authorities-! should not be act­ tion of all industry and commerce under ing fairly if I did not say that it was done Government control-and you will ruin men with the consent of the man-power authorities. and women, not only in cash, but in What did the Labour Government d·o for character. the soldiers who returned after the last war' '' 'With every advance in production They triBd to excuse themselves by saying under the impetus of private enterprise, that someone belonging to the party on this the nation advances toward the only com­ side of the Chamber selected land or munism that can benefit mankind-the com­ approved of land that was not suitable for munism of opportunity. selection by these men. Hon. members can ' ' 'For our survival as a nation, for our .depend upon it that whoever selected the land, success in the spheres of production and it was not a member of the party on this eommerc·e, the more the Government keeps 13ide of the Chamber. It was selected by in the background and gives place to indi­ those who were in power at the time and if vidual courage and enterprise, the better they selected inferior land the onus 'for the for all concerned. failure is on them. I could mention qmte a number of eases in which private enter­ '' 'We must not look for new permanent prise has been very kind to returned soldiers development in trade and commerce com­ of the last war. mencing in Parliament. Governments, how­ ever, have a duty to perform: It is to The Treasurer: And private enterprise establish and maintain the basic conditions was very unkind in some instances, too. under which private enterprise can develop and earn a just reward. Mr. DAUT: After all, what is private enterprise~ It means a man with some initia­ " 'Work comes from the desire of men tive who is prepared to strike out for himself. to work, not from Acts of Parliament. No-one can tell me that the men who Wealth comes from work, not from Parlia­ returned from the last war had not the spirit mentary budgets. These things destroy; to go on the land and work for themselves. they do not create. Let us be careful also They did not hang round a Minister's door of eeonomists.' '' looking for a Government job. They went The hon. member for Brisbane referred to out into the country and by dint of hard the necessity for an adequate water supply Supply. [23 SEPTEMBER.) Supply. 509 for Brisbane. The hon. member spoke of measures, and the other instrumentalities many things I do not approve of, but I do shou.ld look after the sick. Is there any approve of his suggestion that we should reason why one should be preventing and the have a better water supply for Brisbane. The other curing~ Why should they not co­ city's water consumption is about 22,000,000 operate and work togethcd Th8 Government gallons a day, and the maximum capacity of should see that they eo-operate in these big the plant is 23,000,000. 'rhe fault does not matters. We want to build up a healthy city lie with the Brisbane City Council. The hon. with a clean water supply. The only way to member for Brisbane would lead ns to believe achieve that objective is by co-operation and that the Lord Mayor and his followers are working together. Let us obtain the release not doing their job in the way they should. of pipes and material to build the filter beds. I commend them for the energy they have If we do that we shall be doing something displayed in endeavouring to provide the in the interests of the people we represent. people of this city with their requirements. We also favour the extension of electricity to The GovernmBnt have not taken up with a outside areas-in fact, to the whole of the full heart the needs of the Brisbane City State. I was much concerned about the amal­ Council. They could co-operate with it in gamation of the City Electric Light Company improving the water supply. The Govern­ and the Brisbane City Council's Electricity ment have turned their backs on the council. Department, and I assisted in bringing about It might be asked: what can they do~ They an understanding when they united. I have can help the council by approaching the Com­ been instrumental in helping to get electricity momYealth Government for the release of the mains extended to many farming areas. I 11ecesomry metal pipes to lay a new pipeline was on a committee with three other gentle­ between Lake Manchester and Holt 's Hill. men that considered the supply of electricity to the Somerset Dam. The Government The Secretary fo1• Health and Home created a board under the Bureau of Indus­ Affairs: That has not been done because try to construct the dam, and expected the Chandler neglected to do it. Brisbane City Council to co-operate with it lUr. DART: He is now asking the Govern­ and supply electricity. The matter came ment to give some assistance in that direction. before the Electricity Committee, and I favoured the extension of the Brisbane City Tile Secretary for Health and Home Council's mains to the dam. We beat the Affairs: That is not true. company from coming in the other side to make a gain. There are times when we have JU1·. nART: If the Government co-operate to be alive to the opportunities that occur. with the Lord Mayor and his colleagues we shall get an adequate water supply for the Many farmers are now denied the amenities city much more quickly than if the Govern­ of electricity. If I had my way every ment sit back and say, ''He is not of my farmer would have electricity. When arB the varty; therefore I will have nothing to do Government going to help in the extension with him.'' 'rhe council must receive cer­ of electricity~ They talk about it, but they tain authority from the Commonwealth do not do much. I was in the council when Government before they can proceed with Lord Mayor J ones was in control, and under such a work as duplicating the pipe-line. It his administration an extension had to pay is essential for the city that its water supply 10 per cent. before it was approved. Three should be improved, not only for the citizens other aldermen and I had to consider a job but for all those men who are serving in returning H per cent., and I asked them to the defence of the Commonwealth. It is the put men on it, as it would pay handsomely duty of the Government to co-operate with and before the end of the year. The chairman, help the council. They can do so by approach­ Alderman Warmington, refused to do it. ing the :E'ederal Government for the release Aldermen Austin and 0 'Brien said to me, of the necessary pipes. ''Dart, you know it will have to go to the At 4.8 p.m., Caucus meeting~" I said "I do not object The CHAIRMAN resumed the chair. to its going.'' When the matter came up the Lord Mayor stood and said, so my alder­ Mr. DART: The subject of filtration has men friends told me-'' Gentlemen, I have also been raised. It is true that additional every confidence in the Electricity Committee :filtration plant at Holt 's Hill is needed. The to allow it to use its own discretion in the construrtion of a new filtration plant at matter.'' I got electricity through to Roche­ Holt 's Hill and an additional pipe-line from dale at 71t per cent., Salisbury a~d Cooper's Lake Manchester and Holt 's Hill, would Plains at 7 and 8 per cent. respechvely, and to greatly assist to meet the increasing water Grassdale at 5 per cent. These men worked requirements of the people of Brisbane. harmoniously with me, and the people are getting the benefit. We supported the move Whose responsibility is it~ This Govern- tO' get the Brisbane City Council ~nd the ment must accept some responsibility. There City Electric Light Company to umte, and are times when they could give more help to-day we have unity between them. We than they do, but where are they' In the should be able to extend electricity to every background, because of party politics. We part of the area. These extensions were very should not tolerate party politics in these big necessary because the people are able to use matters. electricity for bringing to the .surface ~he In regard to the health of the city, the artesian waters that are used m growmg Government will tell us that the duty of the vegetables. At a time such as this, when council is to look after the preventive the Secretary for Agriculture and Stock is ulO Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. pleading for the growing of more vegetables, :Minister is ready to do his best in the it would be a great help to the people in the interests of education. Of course, it m'nst country to have the benefit of electricity. be remembered that I am not casting any reflection on his predecessor, who did an The hon. member for Cook is not present excellent job. this afternvon, but a few days ago he put forward a proposal for the conservation of The time has come when we should give water. I travelled through the area repre­ attention to kindergartens that cater for sented by him five years ago. There are children of the pre-school age. I believe silos close to the Atherton railway station, that the Minister is now considering ways of and on the Atherton Tableland a large area making provision for such children. While is suitable for growing maize, and irriga­ the voluntary system may operate satisfac­ tion would be a great benefit. I am stne torily in the metropolitan area, there may be the people of the hon. member's electorate outside districts in which it would not be look to him to move in this Parliament in satisfactory, and it was a step in the right that direction. If he does, I will giYe him direction to send those two girls South, as he my support. At the time of my Yisit it was did, for training in order that they might a dry season. The young maize hacl had a be able to train others to carry on the work good season, but as hon. members know rain when they returned. I commend him for his is necessary at the time of tasselling and action. cobbing, otherwise the crop will fail, \Yhich I regret that I cannot sing the same praises means loss of revenue not only to the farmers, of the :Minister for Transport. He seemed but to the State, inasmuch as the Railway to be more inclined to do a little pruning Department loses the freight to Brisbane. instead of helping. He said that as it was Mr. Hiordan: It does not come down by springtime he thought it necessary to clo a rail tv Brisbane. little pruning ancl he did not devote enough attention to helping with any souncl proposals. :ur. DART: I was very much surprised that, being a Labour supporter, the hon. It is time, too, that something was done member for Cook did not bring forward a to encourage people to marry. :Many men proposal for electricity supply and water in our community would make good citizens conservation in his area. and fathers and certainly they could do much to increase our population. I commend the All of us should give consideration to the hon. member for Brisbane for the very able need for decentralisation. 'l'he Budget refers way in which he spoke about our schools. to the decenb·alisation of schools, and that is a much better proposal than the one put Private enterprise should be encouraged. forward by the Government some time ago. We have both primary and secondary indus­ tries here, but it is useless to encourage the A GoYernment 1Uember interjected. growing of primary products unless some­ thing is clone to develop secondary industries )fr. DAR't': I am sorry that there are at the same time. We on this side of the those who arc not interested in the govern­ Committee clo not favour only one section of ment of their country. They should keep the people. We believe that the working quiet, and if they do so I will conclude my man should get a fair deal, ancl this cannot speech much more quickly. All hon. members be given to him unless we encourage secondary should be interested in the welfare of the industries. Up to elate these industries have whole of the State and not of one partif3ular been going to the South and staying there. area. Some are really too parochial. The 'l'hey have been doing good work for the Committee \Yill remem'ber that some time ago States in which they are established, so much the portfolio of Secretary for Public Instruc­ so that in those States it is possible to buy tion was helcl by another hon. gentleman who barbed and other types of wire, whilst we had the idea that the better svstcm was to are denied even a nail. One may go to bring the children into the sclwols than to Murwillumbah ancl buy a ton of nails. One take schools to the children, ancl he was in may buy nails at Tweed Heads, but in not favour of Government subsidies for the trans­ one of the shops in the Brisbane area is it port of children to the larger schools. I am possible to buy a nail for repairing a fence. pleased that I am able to support the present :Many people give as their excuse the facts holder of the portfolio, who is seeking to that theTe is a war on ancl labour is not sencl the schools out to the children. 'rhat obtainable, but this Government aTe doing is an excellent idea. I am not parochial. nothing to obtain labour. In Rockhampton I claim to have the best high school in tnis a movement has been formed to launch a State, and am very grateful to those who nation-wide petition to take to the Prime helped me to get it. T am not pleading tor the decentralisation of schools for my own Minister for the release of army personnel and equipment for harvesting ancl transport benefit, but for the sake of the children of as well as for the processing of foodstuffs. the State. After all, our children must be educated in the best possible way. Recently Rockhampton is not so far from the elec­ I had the pleasure of assisting in having torates of the hon. member for Bowen ancl correspondence tuition papers sent to a girl the hon. member for Kennedy. Not so long in the country. I was treated very well by ago men were released for work on the cane­ the Minister when I interviewed the hon. fields. Some of them turned up and were gentleman, and I am sure that both the girl askecl immediately to take out union tickets and her mother appreciate his action. l for 12 months. I believe in unionism, but certainly do. I believe that the present I also believe that if a man takes on a job Supply. [23 SEPTEMBER.] Supply. 511 for only three months he should not be withdraw the butter subsidy and give the required to take out a union ticket for any dairymen the full value of their labour. Hon. longer than three months. In this case the members opposite have been eating butter at union insisted that they take out tickets for 1s. 8d. a lb. when they should have been pay­ the full year, with the result that the men ing 2s. 6d. and 3s. a lb. They know it very gave up the job and went back to the army, well. The hon. member for Brisbane made and hon. members opposite allow the unions pointed reference to the recent Federal elec­ to do these things. tions, but he did not tell us that the Common­ wealth Government took action whereby the Everybody has the right to belong to a people were offered 5 lb. of potatoes for 6d. union if he wishes to do so, but it is the duty of the union to play fair by him and not to lUr. Ri01·dan: You can still get potatoes. demand a subscription extending over 12 months when a person is assured of work for lUr. DART: You cannot get potatoes now only three months. the elections are over. I went to a shop the other day, but I could not get potatoes; ~Ir. Jesson: That statement nearly cost I was told they had run out. Before the elec­ Arty Fadden his seat on the Darling Downs tions they were sold at 5 lb. for 6d., and the because it was a lying statement. people in the South were given a subsidy of lUr. DART: Any statement I make I can £8 a ton. That principle is wrong. As the Yerify, and the statement I have made is as elections were approaching they offered the truthful as any made by the hon. member people potatoes at 5 lb. for 6d., and paid a for Kennedy. Why should any section O:f heavy subsidy in the South. The price of the community be expected to work for potatoes was fixed at £16 a ton in the city, another section in return for less than the but the Government paid a subsidy at the rate basie wage~ That is a question that should of £8 a ton so that the people could have be seriously considered by hon. members. We potatoes at 5 lb. for 6d. know full well that a subsidy is paid to the It has been decided that New South Wales dairyman to enable him to make up the loss shall send 12,000 tons of flour to Great that he cannot help incurring in the pro­ Britain. I hope the Secretary for Agriculture duction of butter. And how do we stand in and Stock is listening because I want to make regard to butter production to-day~ The an appeal on behalf of the poultry fari!ll2_l'S production is the lowest for the past 14 years. of Queensland to have some bran and pollard For the month of September the production sent here. It is about time we did something amounted to 74,287 boxes of 56 lb. each, the for the poultry industry of Queensland. lowest that it had reached since September, The poultry industry is fifth on the list 1929, when the production was 67,869 56-lb. boxes. Here is a Press statement concerning of priorities. It is deserving of encourage­ ment, and at a time like this every effort the subject- should be made by the Government to -obtain "Production for the month was 74,287 a share of these by-products to help our boxes of 56 lb. It had not dropped so low poultry industry. It is very necessary that since September, 1929, when the yield was provision be made for foodstuffs to come 67,869 boxes. August output was barely from the southern centres to Queensland. more than half the quantity produced in We must feed nur troops. The majority are August, 1942. congregated in Queensland. Why should ''However, improved seasonal conditions our primary producers be compelled to pro­ of early spring have created expectations duce sufficient foodstuffs not only for the of an increase to about 105,000 boxes in civilian population, but the troops also~ September. Mr. Riordan: It is a shameful suggestion ''First quarter's production in 1943-44 of yours that you should put up the price of is only 260,776 boxes, a decline of more butter to 3s. a lb. than 60 per cent. compared with the corres­ ponding period of last year. Mr. DART: I am only asking that the price of butter be paid for according to the ''Butter production trend in 56 lb. labour necessary to produce it. If butter boxes is- can be produced for 1s. 6d. per lb. it should 1942-43. 1943-44. be sold for that price, but if it cost 2s. or Boxes. Boxes. 2s. 6d. per lb. the producer is entitled to .July 150,475 81,489 that price. Why should not the farmer be August 141,847 74,287 rewarded for his labour~ To prevent Jum September 129,163 105,000 '' from doing so is only playing at party politics and setting one section of the com­ It can be clearly seen from those figures that munity against the other. The working man there is a serious decline in butter produc­ is deserving of cheap food and clothes, if he tion. What is the cause~ Some will say is able tn get them, as well as the best wage that it is because we have so many soldiers possibk if I had my way quite a number l1ere. Why, that is the very time when we of men would receive more than they are should increase our butter production. The receiving to-day, particularly those on the cause is that men were taken unnecessarily basic wage, but some holding certain posi­ from their farms, the farms perforce tions are not worth what they are receiving. became neglected, and the dairy cows were The basic-wage-earner deserves every penny slaughtered at the meatworks. It is the duty he gets. Every consideration should be given of this Government to take immediate steps to the family man, but under the Federal to induce the Commonwealth Government to Government's scheme nf taxation a marnei' 512 Special Adjournment. [ASSEMBLY.] Questions. man having an income of only £104 pays income tax. He gets no consideration whao· soever although he may have a family of six to 13 to feed and clothe. The working m·an shoulci get a better deal. There are a few other matters I should like to dwell on but my time is almost exhausted. I intend to reply to the remarks of the Minister for Transport on his dilapid­ ated railway system. The system could be worked to better advantage if it provided better accommodation. The working man is deserving of as comfortable a seat as it is possible to give him. There are no two classes of travel in Russia. They do not call them first class and second class there but soft and hard. (Laughter.) We should have only one class of travel on our suburban trains. I ask the Premier and Treasurer to consider in his post-war reconstruction scheme the electrification of all our suburban rail­ ways. It is a very important matter and should be considered. The Secretary for Labour and Employment com·plained that he did not receive any suggestions from this side. I not only made that suggestion before the war began, but have made it since, and I make it again now. I hope that it will become an aceomplished fact under the post­ war planning scheme. Tbe Treasurer: I can assure you that will be so. If. it was not accomplished before the war it must be after the war. lUr. UART: I am glad that it will be accomplished in the future. If the hon. gentleman's Government are not in po>Yer then I will press whatever Government are in power to carry out the work. The whole suburban system should be electrified as the people need quick transit from their homes to their work and from their work to their homes. Then they will be able to enjoy a short time looking after their gardens or rest­ ing even if daylight saving is not operating. In fact, if we electrify our suburban railways our workers may save so much more time in travelling that they will be able to spend it recuperating at home. We have a shortage of meat and a short­ nge of clothing. (Government interjections.) I am glad the mem•ber opposite me thinks there is plenty of I"!leat. There is, of course, plenty of meat in the State. I am acquainted with men who grow beef cattle and sheep, and I have been told by more than one that there is an abundance of beef cattle in the western country, but there are no ways of getting them into the city at present. Why should we go short of beef when there are plenty of stock in the western areas W (Time expired.) P1·ogress reported.

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT. The PREMIER (Hon. F. A. Cooper, Bremer) : I move- '' That the House, at its rising, do adjomn until Tuesday next.'' Motion agreed to. The House adjourned at 4.42 p.m.