Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

THURSDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 1951

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

470 Questions. [ASSEMBLY.] Questions.

Hon. E. J. WALSH (Bundaberg)' repli&d- '' 1. £133,709 lls. 1d. '' 2. The whole question of the develop-· ment and future control of Mourilyan Har­ bour has already been discussed with me· by the hon. member for Mourilyan. Any decision arrived at will be made known in• due course. ''

THURSDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER, 1951. RETENTION AREAS, WANDOAN-TAROOM SOLDIER SETTLEMENT. Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. J. H. Mann, :Mr. ALLPASS (Condamine) asked the· Brisbane) took the chair at 11 a.m. Secretary for Public Lands and Irrigation- ' 'In reference to the resumption of the· QUESTIONS. Wandoan-Taroom lands for soldier settle­ ment, is it a fact that he gave a promise CHANNEL DEPTHS, BRISBANE RIVER. to a deputation from the R.S.S.A.I.L.A. that in case of a resumed property held by :Mr. HILEY (Coorparoo) asked the tenants in common, where one of such Acting Treasurer- tenants is a returned soldier each of them " 1. What is the latest recorded depth of will be granted a retention area W'' the Brisbane River:-(a) in the Hamilton Reach Cutting; (b) in the Bar Cutting; Hon. T. A. FOLEY (Belyando) replied­ (c) in the Bulimba Reach; (d) in the '' No. I promised that I would consider· South Brisbane Reach f each case as sympathetically as possible on '' 2. When is it anticipated that the new its merits.'' dredges on order will be delivered and to .:what ports will they be allotted~ DAMAGE TO TREES BY MISTLETOE. "3. What are the latest channel depths recorded in the approaches to the ports of :Mr. LOW (Cooroora) asked the Secre-· tary for Public Lands and Irrigation- Townsville and Cairns~'' ' ' In reference to the severe damage to Hon. E. J. WALSH (Bundaberg) valuable trees caused by the rapid spread replied- of mistletoe in this State, will he kindly " 1. (a) 26 feet L.W.O.S. There is a advise what action, if any, is being taken small patch of light silt in the downstream to deal with this pest~'' end of Hamilton Reach with a minimum depth of 23 feet 6 inches L.W.O.S., which Hon. T. A. FOLEY (Belyando) replied- is now being dredged, and normal depth '' The Director of Forests states that will be restored in the near future. (b) preservation of the natural control, viz., the 29 feet L.W.O.S. (a) 25 feet L.W.O.S. opossum, is the most important measure in (d) 22 feet L.W.O.S. dealing with mistletoe. The Director is also ' '2. One dredge being constructed by the awaiting the result of experiments by State Dockyard, Newcastle, and allotted to C.S.I.R.O. in destruction of mistletoe by the Townsville Harbour Board, is expected hormone poisons. Results to date are to be delivered in March, 1952. Another promising, but problems of application and dredge is under construction at Walkers cost remain to be solved. In the Forestry Ltd., Maryborough. It will be launched in Department's operations, due regard is paid November, 1951, and delivery date is to removal of mistletoe-infested trees when expected to be not later than June, 1952. selecting trees for thinning.'' This dredge will be under the direct control of the Chief Engineer, Department of Har­ REVENUE FROM TRAFFIC REGISTRATIONS AND bours and Marine, and whilst primarily PROSECUTIONS. engaged in the Port of Brisbane it will be available for dredging at other ports. Mr. LOW (Cooroora) asked the Secre­ '' 3. Townsville, 20 feet L.W.O.S.; Cairns, tary for Health and Home Affairs- 22 feet L.W.O.S. '' '' With reference to the operation of the Traffic Act in 1950-1951, will he kindly a,_dvill!t;-(a) the total amount collected for INNISFAIL·MOURILYAN HARBOUR FINANCES. registrations, &c., (b) the total number of :Mr. WATSON (Mulgrave) asked the persons proceeded against for breaches of Acting Treasurer- the Act, (a) the number of convictions obtained, (d) the number of licences can­ '' 1. What was the credit balance of the celled, and (e) the total amount of fines Innisfail Harbour Dues Trust Fund at 30 June, 195H imposed~'' "2. If and when a harbour board is Hon. W. M. 1\IOORE (Merthyr) replied­ appointed to control Mourilyan Harbour, " (a) £104,262; (b) 6,555; (c) 6,480; will the balance in the fund be trans­ (d) Suspended or cancelled, 332; (e) ferred to such board~ ' ' £33,918." Questions. [27 SEPTEMBER.] Ministerial Statement. 471

PATIENTS, STAFF AND COSTS, MENTAL Hon. T. A. FOLEY (Belyandol replied­ HOSPITALS. '' 1. 2,150 feet. Mr. LOW (Cooroora) asked the Secre­ "2. 4,750 gallons a day. tary for Health and Home Affairs- '' With reference to mental hospitals in '' 3. The water is suitable for human con­ this State, will he kindly advise-(a) the sumption but the saline contents are about total number of male and female patients, the limit that can be tolerated by human respectively, receiving treatment at 30 beings. It is not suitable for irrigation June, 1949, 30 June, 1950, and 30 June, except under the most favourable condi­ 1951, (b) the total number of staff tions of soil and drainage. It is suitable employed at 30 June, 1949, 30 June, for use by stock.'' 1950, and 30 June, 1951, and (c) the total cost of such institutions for 1948-1949, DAM SITES, W ANDOAN-TAROOM SOLDIER 1949-1950, and 1950-1951, respectively~'' SETTLEMENT. Hon. W. lU. MOORE (Merthyr) replied- lllr. EWAN (Roma) asked the Secretary " (a) Total number of male and female for Public Lands and Irrigation- patients in mental hospitals at 30 June, " In reference to the Wandoan-Taroom 1949-2,060 males, 1,896 females, 3,956 soldier settlement area,- total; at 30 June, 1950-2,112 males, 1,929 females, 4,041 total; at 30 June, 1951- '' 1. How many men are employed locat­ 2,168 males, 2,013 females, 4,181 total. ing dam sites~ (b) At 30 June, 1949, 1,008, at 30 June, '' 2. For how long have men been so 1950-1,094, at 30 June, 1951-1,133. (c) Total cost for 1948-1949, £597,131 11s. 2d.; employed~ for 1949-1950, £737,187 14s. 5d.; for 1950- '' 3. How many sites have been 1951, £833,477 Ss. IOd.'' located~''

FINANCIAL AID TO JUVENILE EISTEDDFODAU. Hon. T. A. FOLEY (Belyando) replied­ '' 1. One party of five men is at present Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) asked the employed in selecting and drilling sites. Acting Premier- "Will he give consideration to granting '' 2. Two of the party have been employed financial assistance to Juvenile Eisteddfod for three months, two for two months, and organisations in each part of the State to one for one month. the same extent as is now granted to Adult "3. Up to the date of last field report Eisteddfod organisations~'' (14th instant), five sites have been defimtely located, six have been classed as 'potential,' Hon. V. C. GAIR (South Brisbane) replied- and a number of sites tested have proved unsuitable for orthodox tank sinking. The " Donations are made annually by the matter of adopting alternative methods is Government to the Queensland Eisteddfod at present the subject of investigation.'' Council, the Rockhampton Eisteddfod Association, and the Eisteddfod Council of North Queensland, to assist the holding of PAPERS. eisteddfodau in the three divisions of the State. These eisteddfodau, which are con­ The following papers were laid on the ducted in the northern, southern, arrd cen­ table:- tral portions of the State include in their Orders in Council ( 2) under the Aliens programmes many juvenile items. It is Acts, 1867 to 1948 ( 20 September). understood that the appearance of juvenile choirs and competitors is one of the main Regulation under the Fish Supply Manage­ attractions of these eisteddfodau. By finan­ ment Acts, 1935 to 1951 (20 September). cially assisting the three main eisteddfodau Ordinances (3) under the City of Brisbane referred to above, the Government is Acts, 1924 to 1951 (20 September). already assisting juveniles as well as adults.'' MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.

WATER SUPPLY, WANDOAN BORE. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY; SECRETARY FOR AGRICULTURE AND STOCK. Mr. EW AN (Roma) asked the Secretary for Public Lands and Irrigation- Hon. V. C. GAIR (South Brisbane­ '' In reference to the trial bore recently Acting Premier) ( 11.12 a. m.), by leave: As drilled at W andoan,- hon. members are aware, the Hon. H. H. " 1. What is the depth~ Collins, M.L.A., Secretary for Agriculture and Stock, is a member of the Australian delega­ '' 2. What supply of water has been tion which is proceeding overseas for the pur­ obtained~ pose of attending talks between representa­ '' 3. Does an analysis of the water tives of the Commonwealth sugar-producJng contained therein disclose that it is suit­ countries and representatives of the United able for (a) human consumption, or (b) Kingdom Government, which are to take place for irrigation, or (c) for stock watering, in London shortly. Mr. Collins proposes leaving respectively~'' Brisbane by air on Tuesday, 2 October, 1951. 472 Port Development. [ASSEMBLY.] Port Development.

His Excellency the Governor has, therefore, others need further development. From by virtue of the provisions of Section 8 of south to north we have Brisbane, Mary­ the Officials in Parliament Acts, 1896 to 1950, borough, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhamp­ authorised and empowered the Hon. Arthur ton, Mackay, Bowen, Townsville, Lucinda .Tones, Secretary for Labour and Industry, Point, Mourilyan, Innisfail, Cairns, Port on and from 2 October, 1951, to perform and Douglas, Cooktown, Thursday Island, Nor­ exercise all or any of the duties, powers, and man ton, Burketown, and all these ports have authorities imposed or conferred upon the developed, as I have said, because of the Honourable the Secretary for Agriculture and needs of the areas they serve. We in Queens­ Stock by any Act, rule, practice, or ordin­ land are fortunate in having so many ports ance, and during the temporary absence of that can help in the development of sea­ the Hon. Harold Henry Collins. I lay upon borne trade. Because of the length of our the table of the House a copy of the Govern­ coastline it is essential that we should attract ment Gazette Extraordinary issued today shipping to our lllain ports and that we containing this notification. should have development in the smaller ports that serve our northern areas. The develop­ Whereupon the hon. gentleman laid the lllent of our railway system in Queensland paper on the table. has been such that Brisbane, Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns have progressed PORT DEVELOPMENT. because of the need to serve the Hinterland. The people who live in the southern and Mr. McCATHIE (Haughton) (11.14 south-western parts of Queensland lllust use a.m.) : I move- the port of Brisbane, those in the Central '' That the development of Queensland's Division the port of Rockhampton, and those main ports and harbours to the extent neces­ in the North, Townsville, whilst those in the sary for the berthing of fully-loaded North-West use the port of Cairns. modern vessels at low water is of national I should like to exallline in detail why importance, firstly as a means of encourag­ those ports have developed. Brisbane natur­ ing direct shipment to and from overseas ally developed because of the settlelllent in ports and secondly as part of the Com­ the early days round the port; it served the mon~ealth 's war preparations; and that area of early settlelllent. It has developed the Commonwealth Government be invited subsequently because of the tremendous pro­ to participate in the measures 1·equired to gress in the interior, and today Brisbane is give effect to the foregoing.'' one of the largest ports in Australia. The I cannot stress too strongly the tremendous discovery of gold at Canoona and the subse­ importance to our State of a steady and con­ quent development of Mount Morgan, pin­ tinuous development of our systems of trans­ pointed Rockhampton as the port for the port. We all know what our State Govern­ Central-Wt>st, and it developed at the expense ment are doing in the devslopment of roads of Gladstone. Similarly, the Charters Towers throughout the State for the improvement of goldfield was prilllarily responsible for the motor transport. We have heard in this developlllent of Townsville as the main House and have read in the Press many state­ northern port and that port developed at the ments about the amount of money that is expense of Bowen. I readily agree that being spent on our railway systems for the Gladstone and Bowen are particularly fine illlproved transport of goods throughout our harbours, but there are certain econollliC State and to give greater passenger colllfort. factors that were responsible for the develop­ We know what the airlines of this State are ment of Rockhalllpton and Townsville as the doing in the lllatter of freight and passenger larger ports at the expense of Gladstone and traffic and it should be obvious to us all that Bowen. I have no doubt that there will be the development of our main ports and har­ trelllendous development of Bowen and Glad­ bours should keep in step with other transport stone because they serve areas that are .oap­ improvements. able of large-scale developlllent but as I r.JVC said, various factors have precluded it 11p to For the sake of the people in the North the present. particularly, it is essential that we have sea­ borne trade to enable us to get the benefit The Mackay harbour was developed because of cheaper freights and so that our goods previously there was no safe anchorage there. will be sold at a more favourable price in Prior to the construction of the harbour, all comparison with the southern cities than if ships anchored off-shore and goods were WE? had to pay heavy rail and air freights. transported to Mackay by lighter. The We know it is desirable to hold the popula­ Pioneer River did not allow of development, tion of North Queensland, and we know too because its mouth was much higher than the that it is essential that colllmodities be sold low water spring tid'e of the sea. Certain there at prices colllparable with those ruling people in Mackay-and in particular I should in the capital cities of Australia, and that like to mention Mr . .J. M. Mulherin, who over can be brought about very largely by sea­ the years kept interest alive-were able at last borne trade. to bring to fruition a scheme for the estab­ lishlllent of a harbour at Mackay. The When we exallline the coastline of Quaens­ people there were very fortunate in that the land we see that nulllerous harbours have Hon. W. Forgan Smith was Premier of developed because of the needs of particular Queensland when the schellle callle to fruition, areas. I intend to mention those harbours and the Queensland State Labour Govern­ and examine in SOllle detail why the main lllent lllade available the necessary finance for ones have developed as they have and why developing the harbour at Mackay. Port Development. (27 SEPTEMBER.] Port Development.

The people of Mackay-particulary those continue its shipbuilding activities and the whom I have mentioned-realised the avail­ port will always have a certain amount of ability for development of the hinterl;:tnd importance in that trade. of Mackay, they realised the wealth of agri­ cultural production that could' come from the The port of Urangan has a depth of 17 feet at the entrance with a depth of 29 feet at district, they realised the tremendous possi­ bilities of the mineral resources of that area, the berth. Pilotage can be arrangect from and even in those days they foresaw that even­ Maryborough. tually there would be a railway line from Blair At Bundaberg the depth at the entrance at Athol to the coast and have always contended low water spring tide is 7 feet, and the rise is that Mackay should be the port from which 9 feet on spring tides and 6 feet 6 inches on Blair Athol coal should be exported. I am ·neap tides. T;he river has mostly a sand quite sure that the members of the Mackay bottom and is capable of accommodating Harbour Board' are alive to the need for ships of 1,000 tons displacement. Bundaberg catering for that area, and if subsequent will continue to give accommodation to these .events indicate that a railway line from ships ana the port will necessarily be of Blair Athol to the coast is necessary, they benefit to the coast trade. will be ready to handle all the traffic that may result from its construction. They know Gladstone harbour has a depth of 25 feet the value of the hinterland to their port; they at the entrance with a depth of 24 to 27 are very active, and I am quite sure that they feet at the wharves and with tide variations will be ready to have facilities available to of from 14 feet at spring tide to 10 feet at handle any traffic that may come from the neap tides. Quite obviously Gladstone must field. develop because of its hinterland; and as my colleague, the hon. member for Port Curtis, T;he development of our harbours to the will tell you, it will be available for the extent necessary to attract fully-laden over­ export of Callide coal. seas ships requires that there should be a suf­ ficient depth of water, both in channels and: I come now to a consideration of Rock· at 'Yharves, to permit of their entering or hampton and I should like to mention in par­ leavmg port at low water on spring tide, if ticular Port Alma. This is one of the deepest that is necessary. In examining the depths harbours in Queensland. At its entrance at low at present available at ports and harbours on water spring tide the depth is 25 feet. It has the Queensland coast, I shall touch onlv a minimum depth at the wharves of 30 feet, lightly on those from Rockhampton south, as with a variation in tides of 15 feet at spring their development will be discussed particu­ tides and 10 feet 6 inches at neap tides. No larly by my colleague, the hon. member for dredging is required to keep this harbour at Port Curtis. I shall develop my argument its present depth and ships up to 14,000 tons chiefly in respect of North Queensland. displacement can be handled easily. It is obvious that the development of this port I should like to quote a summary of the will c-ontinue as trad'e with the Central-West position as I have found it in the various increases. There have been certain rivalries ports, and will then proceed: to deal with between Port Alma and Gladstone but present Mackay, Bowen, Townsville and Cairns in indications are that both ports will develop that order, as they are the ports in the nor­ and handle their respective trades. ther~ p~~t of the State that show the greatest poss1b1hhes of development, each serving a On the Fitzroy River itself 1ve have Gavial hinterland and having rail communication Creek and Deep Water, which give Rockhamp­ with it. The entrance to the port of Bris­ ton the advantage of coastal trade. In the bane is between the northern end of Moreton "Courier-Mail" of Tuesday last I noticed Island and the southern end of B.ribie Island. an article that described the preparation that There is an available depth of 5~ fathoms at was in hand for a model of the new Fitzroy !ower water on spring tide, with d'epths vary­ bridge so that the authorities of the port of mg from 7 to 10 fathoms. The anchorage in I?ockhampton could investigate the possibility Brisbane Roads can accommodate vessels of of obtaining a deepwater channel to the any size at a very safe anchorage. With wharves-obviously- the. deeper the water the regard to the Brisbane river itself, we have greater the advantage to the people of Rock­ ~eard_ for many month_s of the silting up that hampton and the Central-West. IS gomg on, and vanous reports have been At Mackay there is available a depth of made indicating what is thought to be neces­ 30 feet and at the wharves between 29 and sary to increase the depths at various anchor­ 33 feet. There is a tide variation of 20 fa0t ages. However, I do not propose to deal on spring tid'es and 7 feet 3 inches on neap with the port of Brisbane at any length. tides. The tide variations at Mackay haYe At Maryborough, the port entrance has a given the harbour authorities there consider· depth of 8 feet at low water, whilst at the able worry in that they have to make allow­ town wharf there is a depth of from 8 to• ances for it in the machinery provided to handle cargo. As I said before, this port 12 feet, and' at the Government wharf a depth was developed as a result of the vision and of from 5 to 7 feet. The tide variation constant agitation by Mr. Mnlherin and the on spring tide is 9 feet to 10 feet 6 inched fact that a former Labour Premier, the Hon. and on neap tide from 6 feet to 9 feet. W. Forgan Smith, and his Government were The firm of Walkers Ltd. has built many ships available to help, and so the scheme was at Maryborough for the Australian trade and brought to fruition. The harbour at Mackay the Navy, and it is obvious that it will was opened to trade in August, 1939, five 474 Port Development. [ASSEMBLY.] Port Development.

years after its construction had begun, and of 22 feet to 26 feet, with a range of 7 feet there is no doubt that it has proved of tre­ to 10 feet at spring tides and 2 feet to 4 feet mendous advantage to that area. at neap tides. At the entrance there is a very solid rock bottom and experts are of opinion There is a splendid harbour at Bowen and I that if any attempt is made to widen this propose to develop my argument .in relation channel there will very likely be great silting to it more fully as I proceed. There is at in the harbour. That is something that will the entrance to the South Channel a depth be considered in the near future. The desire of 20 feet at low water spring tide and of hon. members representing that area is that 12 feet at the entrance to the North Channel. a ha,rbour board should be established to colll­ A depth of 26 to 28 feet is available at the trol Mourilyan harbour. It is very obvious wharves, with tide variations of 8 feet to that if the Government think the establish­ 10 feet on spring tid:es and 4 feet to 8 feet ment of a harbour board to control it is war­ 6 inches on neap tides. ranted they will take the necessary action. Bowen handles all the raw sugar from I do not propose to develop my argument Proserpine and Inkerman mills. Frozen meats with respect to Innisfail to any extent, with amd by-products also are exported. Coal from the exception of saying that it has the advant­ Collinsville is available and it is a, well­ age of river traffic in handling cargo. recognised fact that Collinsville coal is the best coking-coal in Australia. It is quite The harbours of Port Douglas and Cook­ obvious that in the development of our coal­ town likewise serve their respective areas. fields we shall have to give particular attention Thursday Island acts as a trans-shipping to seeing that the coal from each is used for port from the Gulf. the specific purpose for which it is suitable. Collinsville coal has excellent coking qualities Normanton and Burketown have developed and it is obvious that in. future we must use because of the necessity to give the people that coal for the purpose for which it is best in the Gulf some cheaper transport facilities suited. than they would have without shipping. Over the years there has been much agita­ In examining this problem we find that tiOJl for the establishment of a steelworks at most harbour authorities are working to Bowen and I have no doubt that the obtain a depth of 30 ft. at low water spring authorities will see the necessity for the estab­ tide, and as can be seen from the :figures, lishment of such there, because large quantities there is still much development to be done of mineral wealth are available there. I have to achieve this depth. Before indicating in my hand an article taken from the· Brisbane briefly what has been done by the harbour ''Telegraph'' of 11 August, 1949 indicating boards at Mackay, Bowen, Townsville and that American interests are now pay!ng par­ Cairns, I propose to examine the question ticular attention to the Bowen a.rea and its of :finance-how the boards are financed. With magnesite deposits. Magnesite can be used the exception of Brisbane, harbour boards in the manufacture of toothpaste, milk of control all these harbours. The members magnesia, antacid powders, and alkaline foods. of the board are elected for three years, the A company has been established to develop representatives coming from the various local the industry and with the establishment of the authorities in the areas concerned. They steel industry at Bowen, where coke' and elect a chairman annually. I quote Towns­ materials for processing steel are available I ville as an illustration. The members of the have no doubt that the port of Bowen will be Townsville Harbour Board are:- developed. It has been rather hampered by Mr. L. E. D. Tomlins, chairman, repre­ the rapid expansion of Townsville, but I am senting the Ayr Shire Council. quite certain it will show great development in the coming years, because of its very rich Messrs. W. J. Wakeford and J. C. Butler, hinterland. representing the Townsville City Council. Mr. J. L. Mullins, representing the Thur­ .A.t Townsville the entrance to the harbour ingowa Shire Council. is by Platypus Channel. The official figures show there is a depth of water of 26 feet in Mr. G. J. Carbis, representing the Char­ the outer channel and 28 fee·t at the break­ ters Towers City Council. water. The berths at the wharves have been Mr. D. Downey, representing the Dal­ dredged to a depth of 27 feet. There is a rymple Shire Council. range at spring tides of 10 feet 6 inches and Mr. G. S. B. Dibbs, representing the 6 feet 5 inches at neap tides. I have found Hughenden and Flinders Shire Councils. that the harbour and channel at Townsville need continuous dredging to keep their depths Mr. A. Anthony and Mr. R. McGimpsey, available and all operators of ships are advised Government members. to check with the port authorities to make This body meets at least once a month. The certain of the available depth from time to chairman gives attention to the affairs of the time. board weekly_ I should like to mention these The port of Lucinda exports sugar from part-time organisations and the amount of the Ingham area. There is a depth of water work they put in and the excellent results at the entraJlCe of 17 feet, and at the wharves that they have attained up to dak They 25 feet and the range at spring tides is 11 feet are to be commended, because part-time work and neap tide.s 6 feet. is particularly onerous, and these gentlemen are consciou~ of their responsibilities and At Mourilyan we find a depth of 18 feet at alive to the need for the development of their low water spring tide at the entrance and a areas. Naturally, all the local authorities variation of depth at the wharves themselves who have representatives on these boards Port Development. [27 SEPTEMBER.] Port Development. 475 care very much concerned in what goes on districts in sugar production, and because of and they are exceedingly pleased with the the very natural desire of the people to see work that is being done. The board's revenue population established in the North as a is received from dues on goods imported and means to getting for Queensland greater con­ ,exported and from berthage charges, sideration from the Commonwealth Govern­ together with rentals in reclaimed areas, sub­ ment in defence . .sidies on reclamation; and loans are made by the State Government for capital improve­ The work the Cairns Harbour Board has in ments. hand includes a new traverse of Lily Creek, an increased amount of plant and equipment The aim of all harbour boards is to give for handling cargo, and an extension of the the best service possible to the hinterland, Boom defence building to house all mobile for which the ports act as gateways, and with plant. Other work includes the restoration of that object in view they are all proceeding to the retaining wall and completion of the No. improve their facilities. In my opinion it is 1 reclamation scheme. These works have been ·essential that harbour boards should li:eep delayed by cement shortage, but the whole .ahead of requirements of their areas so as to of the buildings have been built to an orderly be ready to handle all trade that may develop. plan with a frontage to Wharf Street. Work As will be seen as I develop my argument, has been carried out for the Department of these northern ports are making every effort Harbours and Marine and in addition, because to keep ahead of the requirements of their of its keen interest in the development of respective areas. I will again quote Towns­ the tourist trade in its area, the board has ville as an example. The harbour board there installed a public-address system, which has has on order and under construction at New­ found much favour with passengers because castle at the present time a suction dredge they can now have farewell messages passed to cost approximately £350,000. We expect over it to their friends. delivery early in the new year and it will be a great asset to the board, for, as I have The Cairns board was able this year to indicated, the Townsville harbour does suffer use the facilities at Townsville for the over­ tremendously from siltation, as do most of haul of its dredge, the ''Trinity Bay.' ' It was our ports, particularly those that have fast­ very happy at the saving of time that resulted running creeks and rivers discharging into and it is loud in its praises of the co-opera­ them and carrying silt from the near-by hills. tion of the Townsville harbour authorities For that reason dredging is essential at most and the proprietors of the dock. Like the harbours. Townsville board, the Cairns Harbour Board The Townsville Harbour Board is also con­ is geared to top effort to see that its port 'Sidering the widening of No. 5 berth to is right up to the mark with the equipment provide more space for Mount Isa silver­ necessary to cope with the development that lead, zinc and copper ingots that will be is likely to occur in trade in its area. coming forward for export early next year. Bowen and Mackay, too, are active, and The extension of the zinc-concentrate dump is also for the benefit of Mount Isa products. they are working to improve their harbours wherever possible. I am quite sure that The reclamation scheme in progress will be these northern ports will have all the facilities used for more buildings and storage space, available and all their handling equipment at and an approach to the new pier that is to be the highest standard of efficiency to cope with constructed. Two new berths are to be pro­ any trade that might develop. vided in the vicinity of the Commonwealth pier, which was erected during the war years In contrast with these ports, we find that on the distinct understanding that it was the methods of finance of the port of Brisbane to be removed when the war ended. That are quite different and in substantiation of pier is still there, and it is delaying the that statement I quote the following from the work of the Townsville Harbour Board some­ "Economic News" of March-April, 1951- what, but it is hoped that in the very near future the board will be able to proceed with '' Brisbane is the only port among the the development of its harbour to the extent larger Australian ports witho~t a central it thinks necessary. In all, the works port administration: . All maJO.r wh::rves programme of the board will cost in the are privately adm1mstered, bemg erther vicinity of £1,500,000, so that it should be owned or held on lease by shipping agents obvious that this board is looking to the and commercial concerns. The develop­ future and is developing its harbour and ment of the port proceeded spontaneously, facilities for the handling of cargo to the just as in other Australian capital ports in extent necessary to keep abreast and even the 19th century, that is, according to ahead of the trade likely to develop in the commercial demands. area. ''The present individual administration of port facilities along the Brisbane River At Cairns we find another very live-wire is unique. The recent State Government body that is very active in looking after the decision to construct and to own all new­ interests of the harbour and the development planned wharves in the lower reaches of of trade necessary to give the best service to the river could be regarded as a step the hinterland. It must go ahead becausf' of towards unification of the administrative the tremendous agricultural development that system of the port of Brisbane.'' is likely t·o occur on the Tableland in the Mareeba and Dimbulah areas, because of the Because I have been mentioning the work expansion of the Daintree and Mossman done by the harbour boards to encourage 476 Port Development. [ASSEMBLY.] Port Development.

shipping to use the facilities available an with the work. D. Harman, general man­ examination of the shipping position may be ager of the company, emphasised that Mr. of interest. We find that the following ton­ Plomley 's report would not be in any sense nage used the port of Cairns for the years a planning of installations, but a prelimin­ 1948, 1949, and 1950:- ary investigation and survey to assist the Sugar Board and the industry when the 1948. 1949. 1950. next steps in bulk handling were being considered. D. Harman said the company Overseas- Number of Vessels 82 66 72 was also going into the question of bulk­ Tonnage (Gross) 435,107 400,809 450,087 railing of sugar to the New Farm refinery, Interstate and Intra- but there were considerable practical diffi­ state- Number of Vessels 696 765 660 culties to overcome. Planning of a bulk Tonnage (Gross) 471,613 527,067 506,326 installation at Lucinda was wen Freights Handled- advanced.'' Overseas(Inwards) 4,664 4,688 59,205 Certain expressions of opinion have been Those figures indicate that in 1950 there made to the effect that particular companies was a considerable increase of inward freight. will be favoured as the result of the bulk handling of sugar, and I should like to quote Interstate and Intra­ the following extract from the '' Townsville state- Inwards .. 91,920 91,868 50,668 Bulletin" of 15 September, 1951- Outwards 174,865 164,274 179,587 , 'The chief saving would be in the load­ Transhipments 96,513 109,201 102,170 ing and discharge of ships as well as in sa~ks. That saving would be a saving to From the above figures it seems that there the Sugar Board and could be spread over has been a very definite shrinkage of inward the whole industry no matter where bulk tonnage, particularly in 1950. It is obvious ,handling came first. Any reduction in the that this port authority is suffering because rate per ton of transporting sugar and of the irregular coastal shipping available, receiving it at the refinery should' be a and it is very obvious that traders must go benefit to the whole industry in the reduced to other forms of transport if they are :to charges payable by the Sugar Board. continue to give the people of their areas the ''If it were necessary to establish an goods they require. However, we hope for equalisation fund until all sugar mills were an improvement in our coastal service and on the same footing, that was a matter that more overseas ships will be made avail­ for later consideration.'' able as a result of our approach to the Com­ monwealth Government on this subject. No­ I have no doubt that that matter will recei1e one can deny that transport by sea offers the very grave consideration from the Queensland best and most economical attraction to our Government when the question is finally people. decided. I now quote the Townsville Harbour Board I should like to illustrate at this juncture figures for the same years:- the extent to w,hich the Townsville harbour can hand1e cargo by quoting the tonnages handled by it for the period from 1942 to - 1948. 1949. 1950. ---- 1945. For the 12 months ended December, Vessels berthed .. 220 200 241 ] 942, import cargo was 266,731 tons, export Gross tonnage .. 1,080,463 998,580 1,350,101 cargo 220,066 tons, and trans-shipped cargo Revenue received .. £97,866 £ll3,002 £150,963 14,841 tons, a total of 501,638 tons. The figures for the two following years are par­ Whilst this port has not suffered as much ticularly interesting because they were war as Cairns in the reduction of coastal shipping, years during which Townsville handled tre­ there is still room for improvement. We have mendous quantities of cargo. These are the been embarrassed by having last year's sugar figures for 1943, 1944 and 1945-- crop held at mills and at ports for long after this season's sugar began to be delivered, and Trans- we read a statement that 166,000 tons of sugar Year. Import Export shipment Total tonnage. tonnage. tonnage. tonnage. is being held at mills and in ports because --- no shipping is vailable to take it. As a result 1943 813,328 635,188 21,283 1,469,799 the Sugar Board has interested itself in the 1944 682,413 649,061 39,156 1,370,799 matter and the Government have given it 1945 2ll,085 348,564 1,278 560,136 authority to investigate the possibilities of the bulk handling of sugar. It is verv obvious from those figures, and I quote the following article from this from others that I have quoted', that the month's issue of the ''Australian Sugar Townsville Harbour Board can handle any Journal''- trade that is likely to develop, and, as I ''Bulk Handling Survey: The Queens­ have indicated, other ports in the North are land Sugar Board ,has accepted an offer by working to develop their harbours to the the C.S.R. Co. to carr;{ out a preliminary extent necessary to handle anything that may technical survey of the ports of Cairns, be available from overseas shipping. Mourilyan harbour, Townsville, Bowen, I should like to emphasise the interest Mackay and Urangan. Mr. E. M. Plomley, that the people in the North have in having one of the company's engineers who ships from overseas coming direct to Towns­ recently visited Hawaii, will be entrusted ville and Cairns and other northern ports. Port Development. [27 SEPTEMBER.] Port Development. 477

The following article appeared in the consider abandoning Queensland in time of '' Townsville Bulletin'' of 22 August, 1951- :war. I am sure that all Governments will , 'Big Overseas Cargo Due Here Today. be aware of the absolute need for t;he Govern­ ''Bringing nearly 4,000 freight-tons of ment to develop the ports in the North and British general cargo the overseas freighter the other ports along the coast. During the 'Treloske' will berth at Townsville early last war we had the spectacle of the northern this afternoon. ports being used for important war opera­ tions. Much important war work was car­ ' 'She will be the tenth vessel to discharge ried out at Townsville and Cairns, and Cairns. here under the four-monthly Federal Line was also the base for Catalina flying boats. service. Those operations were primarily responsible ''Her cargo will bring the total dis­ for keeping the invad'er away from North charged at this port under the service to Queensland. I stress the urgent necessity approximately 24,000 tons.'' for the Commonwealth Government to help­ in this connection by making money avail­ (Time, on motion of Mr. Whyte, extended.) able for the development of our northern lUr. McCATHIE: I thank the hon. mem- ports. ber for Mackenzie and the House for the The following statement appeared in the courtesy of giving me an extension of time, ''Courier-Mail'' of the 22nd of this month and I shall not abuse the privilege. under the heading of ''Ports Vital to State''- I have attempted to show that the avail­ ability of overseas shipping will be a '' Queensland would always need to be tremendous fact in the economy of North a port State, a British port expert, Mr. Queensland especially when it is realised Henry Basten, said last night. that local authorities and others are attempt­ ''The State would always need its sea­ ing to import goods from overseas and' have board to keep pace with certain d'evelop­ to pay tremendously high prices because they ment. Its potential was enormous. have not the advantage of direct shipment. ''Mr. Basten returned to Brisbane after Y on can realise why we in the North are a month's investigation of Queensland very anxious that the State Government ports as far north as Cairns. s.hould approach the Commonwealth Govern­ ''He is exf1mining port problems for ment with the idea that the Commonwealth the Federal Government, seeking means of Government should increase the volume of speeding the turn-round of ships in Aus­ shipping from overseas for discharge at tralia. northern ports. I have also a clipping from ' 'He said last night he would suggest a the '' Townsville Bulletin·' of 13th of this solution to Queensland's problems if he month that says that the Townsville Cham­ could.'' ber of Commerce is endeavouring to ;have Tow_nsville included in the direct passenger I hope that when Mr. Basten 's report is servrce from France and Italy. The service made availablf' to the Federal Government it has been in operation for some time already will offer some suggestions for the improve­ and ships have been calling at Cairns. ment of our port facilities, and that it will Naturally, we are anxious to have all ships also hold out to us some hope that the Federal from overseas calling at Townsville, Bowen Government will give us the necessary help· and Mackay because we realise the advantage to bring our ports to the standard at which that will accrue to us in the North from the they should be if we are to attract overseas cheaper freights. shipping. Quite recently it was stated in the Press Government Members: Hear, hear! that the financial responsibility for the development of ports and harbours in Queens­ Mr. BURROWS (Port Curtis) (12.1 land was that of the State Government. We p.m.): In seconding the motion, I should have admitted that and the State Govern­ like to endorse the remarks of the hon. mem­ ment have been very much to the fore in ber for Haughton and compliment him on making money available to harbour boards the way in which he has handled his sub­ for the development of their ports. But the ject. He has shown that he has given very statement was also made that there was a close attention to it and spent quite a con­ way of approach to the Fed'eral Government siderable time in research. for extra finance and I should like at this The development and utilisation of our juncture to suggest that if there are methods harbours and ports in the past has really of approac;h to the Federal Government that been a sad story. Vested interests and we do not know of, I for one should like to political influence have completely dominated hear of them. We feel that because of the the position. If we examine the reason why amount of money that will be available to certain ports have been developed and why the Federal Government from the Budget other ports have been neglected we shall find introduced' yesterday, more loan money that in most cases it was due to vested should be available to the Queensland interests. Economics and the ultimate benefit Government to allow them to develop to the State have been ignored, and sacrificed. the harbours along the Queensfand cotasi\ In pandering to these vested interests Govern­ to the extent that it is warranted. It ments of the past have inflicted a heavy is vital from the point of view of defence economic burden not only on present-day that our ports and harbours be developed'. but also on future taxpayers. They have I am sure that no Government will ever again retarded the development and progress of' 478 Port Development. [ASSEMBLY.] Port Development. this State. Of course, to vested interests that things, concessions and considerations were .is immaterial. Political expediency prompted extended to other ports to balance out what many of the mistakes of the past and political nature had already denied them. (Opposition .dishonesty is tempting certain present-day interjections.) politicians to perpetuate these errors and ·economic crimes of the past. An Opposition :illember: He is looking at you. I make no apology for saying that . .Recently I revealed how the Blue Star Funnel Mr. BURROWS: I know who will be Line, owned and controlled by V esteys Ltd., looking for some hon. members if there is such .exerted political pressure on the Common­ a thing as a political heaven, and they have wealth Government not to develop the port to face a judgment day. If heaven is a {)f Gladstone. The policy of ''Sufficient unto place where it is necessary to have a con­ the day'' appears to be the only creed known science in order to obtain entry, hon. members to these wicked influences. The futility of opposite need not apply. trying to build artificial ports in the most uninviting and unsuitable places is still Up to 1945 very little more than £100,000 being advocated by these unscrupulous had been expended on the port of Gladstone interests. It is particularly noticeable that by way of capital expenditure. ·firms like Vesteys, which controls millions of An Opposition Member: What about pounds of private capital, are not willing nor will they agree to venture their own money Mackay~ ·on these white elephants or harebrained The CHAIRMAN: Order! I should like ventures. Socialistic control is all right when hon. members to remember that this is Private applied to a venture where profits are very Members' Dav and hon. members should allow ·doubtful, and even when failure in the a private member to state his case without ultimate is certain. It is not Socialism in the further interruption. ·eyes of these vested interests when it is the taxpayer, through the Government of th8 lllr. BURROWS: Gladstone is one of the day, who is spending or speculating the few ports in Queensland that are able to m01wy. pay interest and redemption; in other words, I think it is fitting and proper at this it is one of the few solvent ports of the c:stage that this House should warn the Federal State. Notwithstanding the fact that this Government of the necessity of developing port has been despised and neglected by our ports, and point out the dangers of neg­ successive Queensland Governments, the lecting to profit by the mistakes of previous American Navy, on its arrival here, quickly ·Governments in yielding to political pressure realised its great value and, incredible as it and bribery by vested interests. may seem, great pressure was brought to bear on the heads of the American defence forces lUr. Kerr: What bribery? in an attempt to prevent their using Gladstone lUr. BURROWS: By contributions to as a point of embarkation and disembarkation the Liberal Party funds through V esteys. of troops, as well as the handling of that At the moment it is having a big influence heavy equipment of theirs, the magnitude of upon the development of our ports, particu­ which startled us. It is to the everlasting larly Gladstone. (Opposition interjections.) credit of the heads of the American Army and Navy that they refused to be influenced The CHAIR~IAN: Order! by vested interests or any pressure that was brought to bear on them, and they selected You are talking in riddles. lUr. Sparkes: Gladstone despite the fact that very little lllr. BURROWS: It is no riddle to the capital had ever been expended on its develop­ hon. member. In the past complete contempt ment. Very wisely, despite the fact that has been shown for the natural and geo­ Governments have been very indulgent and graphical advantages of one place over generous to other ports, they preferred the another. Perhaps no- better example than natural port of Gladstone. Fortunately for ·Gladstone could be found of dishonest advan­ Australia they were able to move farther tage and efforts to avoid using the natural north aft~r two years, but during that short port. The extent to which those forces will period of two years over 70 vessels were go is almost unbelievable. When we examine berthed at the Gladstone jetty for the the reports of the various commissions and embarkation and disembarkation of troops and investigations of the past we soon realise that the loading and unloading of tons of military it was not all stupdity that permitted these and other equipment. Within the harbour mistakes, which have had a considerable itself over 700 vessels were assembled for effect, as I said before, on the development convoy purposes. and progress of this country. Magnanimous concessions were made in railway freights and At a public gathering in Gladstone at the various other means were adopted to help end of the war, General Cramer, one of the the more favoured ports. But that was not American generals who was closely associated enough. Impositions and other handicaps with the selection of this port, paid a high were inflicted upon the natural ports, which, tribute to Gladstone 's value as a naval base. if given fair consideration, wonld have out­ He said that when he arrived here he inspected stripped the ports less favourably situated them all but once he saw Gladstone he and would have definitelv established the fact realised it had all he required from a natural that, economically, they were much more point of view and notwithstanding the fact attractive. In order to counteract all these that very little money had been spent on 'the Port Development. [27 SEPTEMBER.) Port Development. 479>

harbour it was still far superior to those be sufficient to develop the port of Gladstone other places where hundreds of thousands of to the extent that is necessary and to build pounds had been more or less wasted. a railway line to Callide. \V"hat an enormous The lesson taught us by the Americans saving that would mean to the Australian should not be forgotten. There is no doubt taxpayer! In addition, what an enormous that if some previous Government had spent saving it would be to Australian industry! only a few thousand pounds on facilities and The subsidy that is being paid on African equipment at Gladstone both the Australian coal is £8 10s. a ton, and even with all its and American Governments would have been disabilities, Callide coal can be landed in saved perhaps many millions of pounds dur­ Melbourne for approximately £2 a ton less ing the war period. than that. Bearing that fact in mind, one can realise what could have been achieved Are we to continue to blunder on in spite had the Federal Government taken an Aus­ of the many mistakes of the past, or are we tralian view in providing coal rather than an going to profit by those mistakes and realise African view. · our folly and develop the places nature If the Federal Government desire seriously intended to be developed~ That is the whole to promote the decentralisation of industry,, question. Assuming that the Federal Govern­ they must recognise the necessity for sufficient ment intend to develop or help in the develop­ and adequate port facilities. In addition, no. ment of harbours, ports and naval bases in matter what steps are taken in other direc­ Queensland, in a common-sense and realistic twns, our defence cannot be complete without view of the matter, there is only one question those things. I know of no better way in. to be decided, and that is: which of our ports and harbours-! do not suggest one port or which the :B'ederal Government can help not only the defence, but also the economy of this harbour onl~·-are to be developed~ It would be futile to set about constructing ports country, than by adopting a courageous,.. and improving places that nature never impartial and unprejudiced policy of encour­ intended to be used as ports and neglecting aging the development of Queensland ports. those places where nature provided ampl!l Before concluding, Mr. Speaker, I should' facilities. like to deal briefly with the question of port Mr. Sparkes interjected. control and administration in Queensland as' a ·whole. Altogether, we have 19 ports and Mr. BURROWS: To suggest that it harbours. Bundaberg, Gladstone, Port Alma, would be waste of money to spend millions Roekhampton, Mackay, Bowen, Townsville· of pounds on the development of ports is as and Cairns come under the control of har­ useless as trying to get common sense out of bour boards and, although those boards are the hon. member. Because of the length of generally efficient, only two of them, Cairns Queensland's coastline and the fact that the and Townsville, have their own engineers .. State is one of the most vulnerable points The hon. member for Haughton dealt with a in our defence the complete absence of naval few of these matters in detail, but I should bases along the coast is to be deplored. It like to mention that the development of these is not pleasant to contemplate such a state ports is at present in the hands of harbour of affairs, even in times of peace, and I can boards that are considerably handicapped assure you, Mr. Speaker, that people living because they are dependent on the Department in the North did not contemplate that fact of Harbours and Marine for virtually all with satisfaction during the early period of their engineering advice, for their plans, for the war against Japan. We felt more com­ their supervision, etc. fortable when we saw American naval units Another eleven ports, that is, Brisbane, assembled from time to time in the Gladstone Maryborough, Mourilyan, Lucinda Point,. harbour. Prior to their arrival, I can assure Innisfail, Port Douglas, Cooktown, Thursday you that I personally felt uncomfortable, and Island, Karumba, Normanton and Burketown, I am sure every person along the coastline are virtually State-controlled, and naturally of Queensland felt the same. engineering matters pertaining to them are Apart fro;m the . ~efence aspect, there is the direct responsibility of the' Department the economic positiOn to be considered. of Harbours and Marine. which at present Fortunately the development of ports from has a staff of only three or four qualified t~e defence angle makes a large contribu­ engineers. I have nothing but the highest tiOn towards our economic position. Had regard for these gentlemen. Indeed, I think our ports been developed, and had we better the State is exceedingly fortunate in having f_acilities in the shape of roads and railway the benefit of their services. They are doing hnes. to those ports, we should not have felt a mighty job under adverse conditions and the Impact of the present Federal Budget with limited staff at their disposal. as much as we shall. That Budget has The ports of Queensland, including the shocked every thinking person in Australia. The shock of the Budget would have been port of Brisbane, are actually controlled by a provisional administration board comprising greatly red~ced had we in the past given more attention to this factor in our economy. the Under Secretary to the Treasury as chair­ man, the secretary of the Department of It was very interesting, perhaps to the point Harbour and Marine, as deputy chairman, of being distressing, to hear that the Federal the Chief Engineer, Department of Harbour· Government intend again to spend so much and Marine and the Portmaster, Brisbane. on the subsidising of African coal during These men have quite a great deal of other the current year, particularly when we ·work to do as well. I know that they are Queenslanders know that an amount equal to all very highly regarded and from my per­ only one year's subsidy on African coal would sonal experience of some of them-I have not 480 Port Development. [ASSEMBLY.] Port Development. had the pleasure of having experience of all himself-and Mr. J. D. Bell, a leader of ·of them-I can sav that on all occasions on commercial circles in this city. Mr. S. F. which I have had 'anything to do with them Cochran, the present Commissioner of the I have been impressed by their efficiency and Commonwealth--iNew South Wales Jo~nt anything that I may say today is not to be Coal Board was secretary of that commis­ regarded as a reflection upon their efficiency sion. No-one would question the fact that or upon them in any other way. These men those four members of the commission were have very important jobs to do. Take for outstanding men both in the official and com­ instance Mr. Murray, the Under Secretary to mercial life of this State. Further, they the Treasury. That is a job on its own, a were men of outstanding vision. This com­ very important one. Then he is asked to mission recognised' the weakness of the con­ attend to the very important matter of the trol of the port of Brisbane and recom­ administration of the port of Brisbane, which mended- in my opinion is just a case of working the '' Some further control over private and willing horse to the death. municipally-owned wharves and frontages There is another way of looking at it too. seems desirable if the port of Brisbane is The administration of the port of Brisbane and to develop to the fullest extent, and we the 10 other ports is left to a board of busy are of opinion that consideration should be men and treated more or less as a side line. given to the creation of a Harbour Trust The port of Brisbane and to a lesser degree consisting of three or five members, includ­ the other ports of the State have been sub­ ing a harbours engineer.'' ject to a great deal of criticism regarding It also stated- their depths, facilities and so on, and after '' The function of such a body should going into the question I am beginning to embrace all those now performed by the think that the control, or rather the lack of Harbours and Marine Department and in control is mainly responsible for the majority addition the ownership of existing Govern­ of our troubles today. Brisbane is one of ment wharves, also of land already resumed the five major ports of Australia, the others for wharf purposes and the right. to acquire being Fremantle, Adelaide, Melbourne and additional wharves and wharf srtes should Sydney, all of which, with the exception of be vested' in it. " Brisbane, have specialised control. For instance, at Fremantle there is the Fremantle It is surprising, and indeed regrettable, that Harbour Trust, in South Australia the Ade­ no action has been taken to implement such lRide Harbour Board, in Melbourne the Mel­ an important recommendation. I hones;tly bourne Harbour Trust and in Sydney the believe that if it did not offer a complete Maritime Services Board. A British harbour solution it would make a large contribution expert who recently visited this country said towards solving quite a lot of the troubles that Brisbane had a wonderful future for of the port of Brisbane. You would then her port if it was developed along right lines. have one competent authority charged with the administration of the whole port of One special point about the port of Brisbane Brisbane and you would then relieve the -and it certainly does not appeal to me-is Departm~nt of Harbours andl Marine, at that the State appears to be responsible for present very much overworked, and enable establishing and maintaining the channel. its officers to devote more time to the out­ That is a remarkable phase of the control in ports of Queensland, and their immediate the port of Brisbane. The State Government development. They could follow the ~r?per .are responsible for establishing and maintain­ line of giving them more or less u:rdrvrded ing the channel while private enterprise, the attention. I am sure that the best rnterests owners of the wharves, collect the majority of o{ the State would be served if that was the dues. That is just about as sensible as d'one. It is no use beating about the bush. having the Commissioner for Railways build We must take an intelligent interest in these a railway line and then saying to the mer­ -chants and storekeepers that they can have matters. A harbour trust should be estab­ the railway stations and collect the money. lished to control the port of Brisbane. It has grown to such an extent and reached Mr. Hiley: Do you say private com­ ouch a stage today that it is a full-time job panies collect harbour dues~ for not only one man, but in my opinio_n ~or such a board or trust as the commrssron lUr. BURROWS: They collect berthage recommended. .dues. Private enterprise gets the value of the channel and does not contribute to its I urge the Government, even at this late stage to make full inquiries and investigations maintenance, yet has the privilege of running and 'if they are not satisiied, the>y could the wharves. If that is consistent with com­ perhaps appoint a further committee of mon sense, then I do not know what it is. experts to examine the whole port set-up gf In my research for matter in the prepara­ Queensland, particularly the set-up in regard tion of my speech today I came across the to the port of Brisbane. I trust that the report of the Royal Commission on Trans­ moving of this motion regarding the port and Harbour Boards of Queensland of importance and value attached to the develop­ 1937. The members of this commission were ment of the ports in Queensland when men of outstanding ability and integrity. conveyed to the Federal Government will not They were Mr. Justice W. F. Webb, now faH on deaf ears, and that the suggestions Sir William Webb, a justice of the High put forward by the various speakers will have ·Court, Mr. J. R., now Sir John Kemp, a good effect on that Government, not only ·Co-ordinator-General of Works-he is filling from the eeonomic but from the defence point that office with great credit to the State and of view also. Port Development. [27 SEPTEMBER.] Port Development. 481

Mr. HILEY (Coorparoo) (12.37 p.Ir!.): issue of the ' ' Economic News, ' ' over the Mr. Deputy Speaker, this morning has done, signature of J. A. Hempel, an expert on port I think something that has ben singularly administration, who said- lacking 'for many years: it has restored the private members' motion to the very important '' Port development means not only the place it was always interided to occupy in the economic aspect of protecting and pro­ British parliamentary system. For years we moting freight and passenger movement, have seen private members' motions headed but also largely to provide new const~uc­ by a monoply of Government motions of tion and physical facilities. Techmcal intensely propaganda character and to such development should be always kept ahead an extent that they completely dominated the of actual trade requirements. History of private members' procedure; and it is years some ports shows that techn~c~l errors . i;:t since we have seen a private members' motion planning the lay-out of addihon:>l facih­ with any useful purpose. This morning we ties have often limited port capacity as an had a motion presented in an earnest speech, instrument of trade and corrections of temperate in its expression and giving a errors proved to be costly or even useful examination of one of the really impossible.'' important aspects of the development of this That expression from one of the leading State. authorities, a man who was permitted by the Honourable Members: Hear, hear! State Government to make a survey of port administration of this State, is a perfect Mr. HILEY: If this morning does statement of what should be the basic funda­ nothing more than to revive the regard of mental approach to the problem of the ports members in this Parliament for the advantage of Queensland, and I subscribe to everything private members' motions do and should give, he said there. then this morning will go down in history as really worth while. Facing the problem for the future, we have to decide the basic issue whether our It is interesting to find this motion coming coastline is already substantially provided forward from the members of the Government with enough ports, which should be improved party because it is exactly along the lines of an argument I presented to this Chamber 12 and brought up to the necessary standard, or months ago, which on that occasion evoked a whether there is a strong case and urgent display of virtuous indignation and a chorus pressure for new ports to be developed. Look­ of physical denials that any of this subject ing at that problem, whilst I am prepared matter warranted the serious examination of to concede that in the years that he ahead the Government or that anything needed to some new ports will inevitably be developed be done. Mr. Deputy Speaker, just as King as settlement spreads and output begins to Canute found it impossible by any use of flow in the path of settlement, the paramount words to forbid the advancing tides to wash task that faces us at present is to m~ke across the shores of England, so no words or better use of our existing ports-of wh1Ch denials of the Government succeeded in we are not starved-and to see that those putting one inch of water under the bottom that are below the standard are brought up to of a vessel where it was not physically pro­ the condition necessary to enable them to vided. A succesion of groundings and other make their full contribution to the future difficulties put an end to all this display trade requirements of this State. of hypocrisy; and at last, during the last That decision receives greater emphasis 12 months, we had from the Government when you look at the general broad econo;:tly an awakened interest and sense of responsi­ of Australia today. At the moment I th;nk bility, and, I am glad to say, real evidence we are clearly suffering from and showmg at last of a voo:y vigorous approach to this signs of developmental indigestion. We have important question of the ports. Never in any so many things we regard as .necessary, past year had there been an awareness of the things that we want to do so qmckly, that problem and a determination to do something such as we have seen from the Government we are running into inescapable difficulties of during the past 12 months. For that, I believe commanding manpower and n;at.erial ~o do all the people of Queensland should be grateful. those things we need in the hmited tlme that satisfies us. When you have regard to t.he The hon. member for Haughton very cor­ general economic background of Austrah~, rectly laid it down that in approaching the you see that if oth~~ things ~ere equal,. It subject of responsibility for port develop­ would compel a decisiOn to brmg our exist· ment, it must never be a doctrine of ing ports up to full standard rather than ''Sufficient unto the day.'' Always the embark up·on the even greater task of creat­ question of what is needed in a port is a ing completely new port~. matter of looking one, two, and even three generations ahead. It is essentially a The need has been greatly varied by the question of examining the needs of the tendency first towards larger vessels, which future, and slowly moulding your facilities brings to our ports vessels of greater length, to meet not only the immediate demands of greater beam and greater depth. That has today, but what will be needed in the genera­ been an established shipbuilding tendenc;y .the tions that lie ahead. world over, tied to the economy of mantlme operation and reflecting the call for a lo•;er There was no sounder presentation of that labour cost factor per ton of cargo earned fact than that published in the March-April than is the case with small vessels. 1951-R 482 Port Development. [ASSEMBLY.) Port Development.

On top of that has come more recently the effect on shipping costs, and anything we tendency towards concentration of cargo can do to lessen this ratio between the sail­ towards sometimes one and commonly not ing time and the loading time is something more than two ports. it is our bounden duty to do in the interests of a consuming public. This business of It was quite a common thing before having large vessels plying to Australia the war for a vessel to leave United unable to get in more than two round trips Kingdom ports such as Liverpool, London, a year is something that we should regard as or Southhampton, and discharge cargo at a reproach to ourselves. We have to improve Fremantle, Port Adelaide, Melbourne, that position if we want to have the Sydney and Brisbane. For various reasons, advantage of the cheapest form of trans­ and in some respects because of the port-and that is marine transport-and put economy of vessel operation and an attempt it back to the level it should occupy. to combat the exceedingly slow turn-round of ships, the tendency in loading vessels in Tied up with that comes the question of Great Britain is to load them for a port or the need for better handling generally. This possibly two ports. And that is particularly week, one of the heaviest lifts that have ev~r so in the case of Queensland ports, where .been made from a ship in Brisbane was made many vessels that formerly reached us, after from the ''Tasmania Star'' at New Farm unloacling at successive Australian ports well wharf. It was a new alternator and other clear of the Plimsol line-clear in some cases heavy electrical gear from the English Elec­ to the extent of 6 and 8 ft.-are now arriv­ tric Company that will be used in the new ing in Queensland ports loaded well down to power-house that the City Electric Light Com­ their marks. pany is building at Doboy. That lift involved This combination of bigger vessels and a single hazard of 68 tons. That unit of heavier loading presents, unfortunately, a plant, which from the point of view of greater problem today than in pre-war days. electricity generation is something that this I think hon. members have an appreciation State needs badly, had to be held in England of the position and the effect of the topping till a vessel was available that had the of cargoes and the costs involved. Where necessary derrick capacity to handle it depths compel the need, there is the loading because we had not here any lifting gear of a vessel at a port with part of the cargo capable of swinging it out of a vessel. It available to load, to a certain level, and the was necessary to wait till the ''Tasmania vessel then goes to another port with greater Star,'' a recently-constructed vessel with very depth to take the last of the loading. This great lifting capacity, was available. has many effects, the first being the steaming That illustrates the part that proper lift­ delay involved in entering additional ports, ing gear occasionally has to play in the and it is often a question of waiting for tide work of the ports of this State. I remind or perhaps waiting> for a berth in the port hon. members that this State has in view a itse~f. That, added to the extra mileage, is an Important cost factor. number of projects in North Queensland for which immense hydro-electric gear will be I suggest that hon. members interested in imported from the Old Country, and heavy this question go to some of the wharves and lifts will be involved in getting it ashore. ~ee what is .ha:ppening when big vessels eome Thus the lift at New Farm to which I have m. There 1s m the first place the opening referred will be by no means a solitary up of the holds for further cargo to be put happening. Water-turbines and direct­ m. ~ was ~own at the wharves one day coupled generating gear of the type likely watchmg a b1g overseas vessel that arrived to be used at Tully Falls and on the Herbert with a full cargo. There was the opening River will have to be handled in this country, up of the lower hold of the vessel. Because and it will be necessary for us to look ahead of the slow work on the part of the men and ensure that either Cairns or Townsville involved it took almost the morning to get is properly equipped so that we are not faced down to the bottom section of the hold. with a bottle-neck in lifting gear when it There was need to remove many beams and floors in the successive layers of the hold to arrives. open the hold required to be unloaded. That The tendency towards the use of larger vessel was in a position where it could only vessels is to some extent a reflection of the take cargo in the lower section of the hold peculiar stage that has been reached in Aus­ at Brisbane and the cargo in all the inter­ tralia's economy, in yvhich we are importing mediate holds had to go back. At the next both at a value and at a tonnage colossally port of call all that work has to be done in excess of anything experienced in our again so that you may get down to the level pre-war days. Thanks to the terriffic pur­ where the cargo is to go. This is brought chasing power overseas of wool, Australia has about by the depths in ports. The topping­ been importing at a colossal rate from the up procedure of putting some cargo in at point of view of both value and volume. That one port and a bit more in at another is a has unquestionably had an effect on the cost factor that in the long run takes toll tendency in shipping economy to use larger on Australian consumers. vessels carrying very big cargoes. It is by The need for a quicker turn-round of ships no means certain, however-and we have had m:rst be appare;nt. At the present.time cargo warnings about this from such people as the shrps are spendmg less than one-thrrd of their Governor of the Commonwealth Bank of Aus­ time at sea. For every week of cruising they tralia, Dr. Coombs-that Australia will be are sp~nding more. th:;n two. weeks loading or able to continue in the years to come to unloadmg and thrs 1s havmg a paralysing import at the rate at which she has been Port Development. [27 SEPTEMBER.] Mining Acts, &c., Bill. 483

in the past. The Governor of the Common­ We cannot escape the attention that must wealth Bank of Australia warns us quite be given to the provision of docking facili­ plainly that Australia is faced with a deficit ties, because if we want to encourage this in overseas trade for 1951-52, and even if maritime trade, then inevitably we must wool prices remain at their present levels, the accept some maritime responsibility in hav­ tendency necessarily will be for both the ing adequate, well-serviced dock facilities to value and the tonnage of goods coming to serve the multiple ports that we hope to Australia to fall. If that is so, there may be develop in the future. Sufficient channel and some fortuitous easing in the loading of swinging depths have to be accompanied by vessels for Australia and that fewer vessels adequate plant. Dredging is the only known will be needed. Consequently, the concen­ means at the moment of correcting the ade­ tration of goods arriving on the one-port or quate Phannel and swinging depths. With two-port loading basis may ease if the total our main ports we should aim for a maximum volume eases. of 30 ft. with an irreducible minimum of 26 ft. If we can show, generally speaking, Against that, we are pushing ahead with a 30 ft. at our main ports with a minimum of very vigorous programme of migration and 26 ft., I think we can reasonably meet the development in Australia, and whilst the requirements of the overseas trade that we present volume of imports in relation to a hope to attract. population of 8,000,000 people, with a high wool income, means heavy loadings, we may Another important thing is to see that the find in 10 or 20 years' time, when our popu­ channel depths are not shallower than the lation is up to perhaps 12,500,000 or berthing depths. That is one of the bad 15,000,000, that even with a lower percentage mistakes we have made in the port of Bris­ of imports we shall still have a very great bane. We have our channel depths shallower tonnage of goods arriving. than the berthing depths and this brings But although it is quite proper that we about a considerable silting of the berthing should look at the effect of our wool economy depths. Every vessel that goes down the on the flow of imports into this country, it channel scours and swirls the silt intt> the would be very wrong for us to say, ''Let us berthing depths simply because the cha~nel hope that the volume of our imports will itself is shallower than the depths provided drop. Let us make do with the ports that for the vessels at the ber1hs. we have, with their lack of handling gear.'' ,There ar~ many other aspects of this. proJ;>­ For those reasons I am convinced that the lem that I should like to develop, but time IS basic need is to have a thorough survey of running out. At the moment there is not all our existing ports in order that we may enough plant to go round and the question be prepared to carry out the additional work arises should we direct our attention to the required to bring them to the standard improvement of the plant already available necessary to handle this heavy trade we are or would it be· wise to make better use of the now experiencing, which may become lighter plant we have~ in the years ahead but which we shal~ sooner or later find to be our common expenence. At 2.15 p.m., Along what lines are these developments In accordance with Sessional Order, the House proceeded with Government Business. to take place~ First of all, we must concern ourselves with the channel and swinging depths. Then we must examine the question MINING ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. of wharf accommodation, which in turn means that we must examine the question of shed SECOND READING-RESUMPTION OF DEBATE. accommodation. At several ports in Queens­ Debate resumed from 26 September (see land the bigger tonnage and bigger vessels p. 470) on Mr. Power's motion- are completely overrunning the shed accommo­ dation that is available and this places the '' That the Bill be now read a second vessels in tremendous difficulties. There are time.'' not sufficiently big sheds on the wharves or Hon. W. POWER (BanJOna-Secretary near them to cope with the heavy flow of for Mines and Irrigation), in reply: At the cargo from these vessels. outset I want to emphasise that the severity of the pollution in the Herbert River has On the side of adequate labour to meet not been regarded in the light it should have port development I do not touch, beyond been by the company responsible for it. T~is mentioning that adequate port labour is a pollution, which is the reason for this Bill, ''must' ' in any planned scheme of port began on a large scale in Oetober, 1943. At development. that time the people who had settled along the river for a distance of 450 miles had We should spend some little time in exam­ suffered serious inconvenience as a result. ining the question of rail and road feeders, The company attempted to brush complai~ts because every port is to some extent the aside and to delay the day when the pollutiOn entrepot of the vast surrounding back menace had to be faced and overcome. A country. Adequate rail and road feeders to conference between representatives of the make the various ports the funnels for the Tableland Tin Company and the Hinchin­ back country are just as important as having brook Shire Comteil took place in Brisbane suitable swinging and channel depths in the in August, 1943 at the company's office. What port itself. was the Tableland Tin Company's reception 484 Mining Acts [ASSEMBLY.) Amendment Bill.

of the council's suggestions and its attitude This report also says:- on the whole question~ Its representative "The small boats' harbourage at Halifax at that conference said- a little downstream of the bridge was '' Financially we have been up a.gainst it reported once a clea:n sandy anchorage for and it was not easy to O.K. the spending :fishing vessels and other boats. Now its of £45,000. We have not treated this matter upstream entry channel has silted up and lightly, and in spending this money we have a depth of 2 ft. 6 ins. of clay, typical of done so mainly to overcome these waste· dredge pond clay, was measured within the water difficulties. The shire should bear anchorage. A professional :fisherman inter­ with us until we see if the additional water ·viewed bitterly complained of the change storage will prove successful, if not then from clean sand to slime underfoot when we must try :filtration or evaporation or beaching boats for painting and repair.'' some other method. We ask that you let the matter ride until these tests can be The company is not concerned about the made.'' services that should be given to the people That was in 1943, yet in 1951 the pollution at all. There were dams at Herberton and is as bad as ever. Later on at that conference they were blown up on instruction of an one of the directors of the company made a engineer of the company. further stateme11t. I have endeavoured to peaceably solve this I remember that at one election the Leader problem. The Government have spent money of the Liberal Party, now the Deputy Leader in obtaining the services of Jack Mulholland, of the Opposition, stated in the course of a whose report is here. There have been speech at Ingham, "We can cure the pollution attempts to humiliate Mulholland and decry of the Herbert River.'' yet we :find tfiat his report. Attempts were made in my own from 1943 up to the present time no attempt office in regard to the report. Tests were has been made to overcome the difficulty. made b,y Mulholland and those statements that had been made that his scheme would One of the directors had this to say at the not prove successful were not borne out. conference I mentioned- '' Discolouration of water does not worry Jir. Collins: He is one of Queensland's lots of people. Many rivers are likewise brilliant students. discoloured and in many cases far worse and still used. ' ' Mr. POWER: He is one of Queensland's A council representative said- brilliant students. I am not interested in him personally but in seeing that no river or '' The people can see the change in their stream is polluted. river caused through your dredgh1g and what the eye sees the heart grieves. '' I cannot agree with the suggestion of the A representative of the council said- hon. member for Sherwood that I shall say ' 'Six thousand people are concerned. The to the company, ''Either work on the closed­ river was a national asset-now it is being circuit system or take the Mulholland scheme.'' spoilt.'' It was suggested that whichever scheme the company accepted I should ask the Govern­ Six thousand people are affected as a result ment to pay these people compensation if it of that pollution. We :find, notwithstanding failed. That. when it is their responsibility! all this talk about building dams to overcome the pollution of the river, that no dams have My responsibility is to see that there is no been built for that purpose. Dams were built pollution of any river. These men have been for the storage of water, but no attempt was callous and ruthless in their treatment of the made at any time by the company to overcome people o:f Queensland, so :far as the pollution the pollution now present in the Herbert River. of the Herbert River is concerned. I say The statement of one of its directors that that emphatically. I believe that there has dams were being built to prevent pollution, been procrastination in not putting that when they were only building dams to store scheme into effect. According to the report water, was an attempt to mislead the people. submitted to me, the company says, '' 'vV e are now working on the closed-circuit but we are The hon. member for Sherwood suggested unable to keep all the water in because there that the company should have the alternative is a leakage from the dam.'' We are told of accepting the closed-circuit system or the that the pump breaks down from time to time. Mulholland scheme of dealing with the sludge I have been the Minister :for over 12 months water, the company will not accept the Mul­ ancl I have exhausted all the means at my holland scheme. I have the report on the disposal to get these people to come to some Mulholland scheme before me. These people arrangement to overcome the difficulty. I am have treated the people of Queensland as if told that they have not much more life in they were a mere nothing. Gra.ziers on the that mine. I do not want to see any company Herbert River have complained about the have to spend much money if it is a dying pollution and the Hinchinbrook Shire Council asset. But I am not prepared to accept the complained about it. In addition to that, statement that it is going to cost a large sum a couple of boys lost their lives as a result o:f money to put the Mulholland scheme into of the pollution of the river. Two towns E:ffect nor am I prepared to accept the state­ Halifax and Cordelia, were affected as ~ ment that it will require more ground as tests result of the pollution of the river. Since were made. I do think Mulholland 's scheme 1943 the Macknade mill has complained about is one that can be put into effect to overcomp the position. The town of Halifax also was the difficulty, but I am not going to direct the affected. company to do it. Mining Acts [27 SEPTEMBER.] Amendment Bill. 485

Information has been supplied to me to the COMMITTEE. effect that they have settling dams in the tin-mining areas of Malhya, and they operated (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Farrell, successfully in Queensland until some engineer Maryborough, in the c,hair.) went out into the country with a brain-wave Clause 1-Short title and constmction-as and blew them up. The result now is that read, agreed to. • we have pollution. The responsibility rests with the company and I cannot agree with Clause 2-Amendments of s. 183B; Certain the suggestion by the hon. member for Sher­ applications for mining tenements to be wood, although I know he is not acting on referred to the Minister- behalf of the company- lUr. KERR (Sherwood) (2.31 p.m.) : JUr. Sparkes: He is trying to keep the This clause provides for the power of the mine going. Minister to :fix conditions in respect of mining tenures. I shoul~ ~ike an assu;rance Mr. POWER: There is nothing wrong from him that present mwmg leases will be with that, and the Government are trying to allowed to continue because he said some­ get meat a little cheaper for the people, but thing to the effect that the asset was a the hon. member has demanded the highest wasting one and there was _not a good deal prices for his bullocks. It is all right to sug­ of mineral life left in the mme, and I under­ gest that the mines should be kept going, but stood' him to sav that he would not impose if they are to be kept going to the detriment the conditions in the Bill. I think he said of other towns, the position must be analysed. that he would not impose' these con­ What a fine position I should have been in ditions for the balance of the life of a today if I had told the company that it had particular lease. I think that if a company to accept either the closed-circuit or the Mul­ has a lease that has less than six months or holland system! I do not say it would be so to run the Minister would not expect it done but it could bP possible for these to go to a great deal of expense ilil either schemes to be sabotaged. We have already adopting the Mulholland scheme .or the had experience of a man taking certain read­ closed-circuit scheme. The company m ques­ ings and then having the company refuse to tion has been operating for eight or nine allow him to continue. Is that an attempt to years and the Governme~t hav~ no~ thought overcome the difficulty~ IR that co-operation~ it necessary to do somethmg until this amend­ To be fair, I do admit that the company did ing Bill was brought down. Wher~ _there place some facilities at the disposal of the is only a short period of lease remamm&" I Government and Mr. Mulholland when the hope the Minister will not use th~ amendwg scheme was first being put into effect, and Bill to force the company to put m a scheme the time has now arrived when the people are to prevent sludge from running i?-t.O t~e not going to have their rivers or streams river. I should like to have the Mw1ster s polluted by this or any other company. The ·assurance on this matter. responsibility will be on the company. I do not care what system is adopted so long as Mr. SPARKES (Aubigny) (2.33 p.m.) : the difficulty is overcome. The argument put forward by the hon. mem­ ber for Sherwood seems to be reasonable. In conc]usion I thank the Leader of the It would look as if a, new Minister had Opposition for the way in which he received discovered this trouble and' that the previous the Bill. He did say that for years the Secretary for Mines ,had allowed it to go on. Department of Mines had been the cinderella We were told about mud poisoning-- of Government departments. When the Premier asked me to take control of it he illr. Collins: You do not like drinking said, ''This is a very important depart­ dhty water. ment.'' I did not look upon it as the Mr. SPARKES: The hon. gentleman is Cinderella, because I know that without coal very fortunate in being able to get water. at no industry could operate in Australia. That all but if he had his way he would not glVe being so, I look upon the Mines Department us the tin with which to make drinking as one of the major Government departments. troughs. The hon. gentleman wants his mea.t I repeat that it is my responsibility to see and other things but will not give us the there is no pollution of these rivers and means of getting them. ~.h·eams from which the people of Queensland The CHAIRMAN: Order! obtain their water supply. It has to be remembered that people obtain their drinking­ li'Ir. SPARKES: Why has this been water from the Herbert River and we have a allowed to go on for so long~ Was it because report from the Department of Public Health the ex-Secretary for Mines did not know his to the effect that it is dangerous to drink job~ Tl1e present Minister shakes his head. this water. I have a responsibility to see Is the Minister going to wield the big stick~ the people of Queensland are not poisoned He will not get anywhere like that. (Inter­ through any action of any company and all jections.) I ask these companies to do is to see to it that there is no pollution of our rivers and TI1e CHAIRMAN: Order! I hope when streams. I am not going to say how they hon. members have :finished their discussion must do it because that is their responsibility, thev will allow the hon. member for Aubigny not mine. to get on with his speech. Motion (Mr. Power) agreed to. Mr. Walsh interjected. 486 Mining Acts [ASSEMBLY.] Amendmen Bill.

JUr. SPARKES: The hon. member for by drinking a very turbid water. ~ro:n Bundaberg said that the company would not graziers ' experience of recent years, .1t lS their conviction, although unsubstantiated do it before. by definite proof that some loss of stock Mr. Walsh: It would not do it occurs on these ~ccasions, when if better voluntarily. watered these beasts would have been Mr. SPARKES: It has taken eight ye!Lrs saved.'' for the Government to find that out. AB Mr. Sparkes: That was in a drought. against that, we find the Minister saying that the company has been very co-operative in Mr. POWER: That is what the graziers connection with the Mulholland scheme. have to say about it. However, other sections of the community than the graziers have to Mr. Power: I said that it co-operated to lile considered. some extent. This is what the Hinchinbrook Shire Coun­ Mr. SPARKES: The Minister said also cil had to say- that this mine was just about worked out. '' The Hinchinbrook Shire Council drew Mr. Power: No, I did not. attention to five disadvantages being suf­ fered by the people of the district- Mr. SPARKES: Will the Minister admit (i.) With the clouding of the river, anything at all~ crocodiles are venturing further and on Mr. Riordan: Have you ever been there? a larger scale. Three crocodiles were shot by Councillor Borello at Gowrie llir. SPARKES: Yes, and I saw this (foot of gorge section) a few months terrific pollution of the Herbert River. ago and a fourth was seen. Others have The hon. gentleman would sooner use the been seen by Councillor Oovell at Gair­ big stick and close up the mine than adopt loch.'' a conciliatory attitude, irrespective of who is This report is dated February this year. It put out of work or what the State loses. goes on to say- Instead of going about it in a conciliatory ( ii.) The loss of two boys ' lives which manner, as the hon. member for Sherwood has occurred five years ago was definitely suggested, he is copying the bad habits of the attributed by would-be rescuers to the Secretary for Agriculture and Stock. That turbid river water.'' will not get him anywhere, and I am rather You cannot see their bodies in the water surprised at his adopting that attitude. It is the result of the bad company he keeps. because of its turgid state, but of course Surely the Minister could agree not to put that means nothing to the hon. member for Aubigny-loss of life does not mean anything this company to great expense~ Is it feasible that it will spend an enormous amount of to him. He is satisfied so long as the com­ pany is permitted to go on in the way it has money when it has only a short time to run~ W:ill the Minister close these people up, or done in the past. Will he say, ' 'Do your best for the next six The report continues- months, till you cease operations' '~ I think (iii.) Extensive deposits of sludge he should accept the suggestion of the hon. have been observed over the lower member for Sherwood. reaches, causing growth of vegetation from which siltation is expected. Hon. W. POWER (Baroona-Secretary for Mines and Immigration) (2.38 p.m.): If ( iv.) Fish once plentiful are no I co~ld f!et an ::-ssurance from the company longer so. that It Will remam there for only another six (v.) Prior to dredging pollution, the months, I should be quite happy to accept the Herbert River was used to a great extent hon. member's suggestion. I regret t? say, for bathing. Now this attraction for the however-and the hon. member bore th1s out people no longer remains. The nearest when he said that the Go

direct from the river or from spears sunk not for me to state what method should be 18 to 23 feet deep near the river. The adopted. The methods are now clearly set Council has received numerous complaints out. The company has its engineers and it from these people, objecting to the fouling can also get engineers or their advice from of their supplies and clogging of spears. any part of Australia. Mr. Morley, an officer In the case of the cane farms, large num­ of the department, stated at one time that he bers of cutters also are affected whose knew of no scheme that would prevent the barracks for the most part cannot be served pollution of the Herbert River. Now Mr. by house tanks.'' Morley agrees with the company's suggestion That is what has happened as the result of that the closed circuit is a solution. the pollution of the Herbert River by this I am not going to object to his agreeing with company, and the hon. member for Aubigny that. I respect his opinion, because he is a still wants my Government to allow it to con­ technical man. He favours the closed-circuit tinue to do this. The report continues- scheme. This Bill sets out that a company '' Mackade Mill. The mill management can adopt either the Mulholland or closed­ reported that, as a direct result of river circuit scheme. It is because some action pollution first observed about five years should be taken to prevent the pollution of ago, priming troubles in both mill and loco. our watercourses that this provision has been boilers and increased corrosion in loco. brought down. If the company moves its boilers had forced the company to search operations to another area I am not going to ask it to spend a lot of money, but if it for an alternative water supply.'' is its intention to operate on its present area lE there any reason why the company should for an indefinite term then I am going to be allowed to continue to cause this incon­ impose conditions to make it comply with venience to the people~ It is my responsi­ this Act. bility to call upon it overcome the difficulty. :For instance, these people were told that they ~Ir. Sparkes: That is all we want. might be able to overcome it with the closed­ Mr. POWER: At least I have one circuit system, and then we were told that satisfied customer. there was a certain leakage and nothing could be done until the dam became dry and repairs .Clause 2, as read, agreed to. could be effected. In the first place the Bill reported without amendment. Government gave the Tableland Tin Co. a guarantee, and had it not been for the action REGULATION OF SUGAR CANE PRICES of the Government the company might not ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. have made a start. The money that the Gov­ ernment lent to the company was not the SECOND READING. Government's own money. It belonged to the people of Queensland, and they are entitled Hon. H. H. COLLINS (Tablelands­ to some measure of protection now. Secretary for Agriculture and stock) (2.49 p.m.): I move- Mr. Kerr: You got it all back again. '' That the Bill be now read a second time.'' -:!fr. POWER: We got it all back, but I am pointing out what the Government did. I gave a fairly comprehensive outline of the Then we are accused of being a Socialist Bill on the initiation. It will give effect to Government! I do not propose to be drastic requests that have been made by the o.ugar ·with this company so long as it is prepared industry for some years. We believe after to overcome the pollution. Its representatives examining them that effect should be given have told me that they do not think that there to them by legislative enactment. is much life left in this mine. I gave that The sugar industry has helped Queensland direction some time ago-that action must to prosper very considerably. We know of be taken to prevent pollution of the Herbert no better way of settling our good tropical River, and it was stated that the com­ lands that have a good rainfall and are easy pany was going to work the closed-circuit of access than by the growing of sugar-cane scheme. My report from the mines inspector under irrigation or otherwise. It is our duty in that area shows that the pollution is as to do everything we can to help the industry. bad as ever. This thing cannot go on indefin­ itely. The company now proposes to transfer This Bill is a continuation of that policy and its operations to another area, but before it I believe it deals with the industry in a way is granted a lease for its new area I will in which the industry would desire to be impose a condition that no repetition of the dealt with. It gives additional powers to trouble we are now experiencing on the Her­ the Central Sugar Cane Prices Board, which bert River will be tolerated. has covered the industry particularly well over a long period of years. It is a board Mr. Sparlres: We have no quarrel with with great knowledge. It mixes with the that. sugar-growers and co-operates with the local boards in the various districts. The board Mr. POWER: I propose to do that, not only in this case but in all future applications is a judicial body. It has the same power for dredging leases. Under existing legisla­ as other courts to take evidence, and it can tion my hands are tied; I had to set out what in addition dispense with a good deal of the the holders of the lease had to do. I am not formalities that are observed in courts. experienced in that matter and I might make There is a suggestion of another amend­ mistakes. If a company wants to start ment and I do not want to say anything that operations in any part of Queensland it is would prevent that amendment from being 488 Regulation of Sugar Cane [ASSEMBLY.] Prices Acts Amendment Bill. discussed. The growers, I believe, will wish got out of rotation and we had excessively that matters of discretion will be left to the large crops. I think both millers and growers board's decision as it understands the will appreciate the fact that it is only reason­ industry and has every sympathy with the able to expect the millers to crush the cane :indust'ry. Two of the five members are in a reasonably economic period. The hon. direct representatives of the industry, so it member for Haughton mentioned 25 weeks. will be seen that it is constituted fairly. The period might vary slightly in other dis­ The chairman is an understanding man who tricts, but determination of an economic has given great service to the industry as crushing period might well be left to the well as to Queensland. The other two mem­ Central Sugar Cane Prices Board. It should bers are technical advisers, one from the be the responsibility of the mill-owner to mills and one from the growers. develop his mill to such a state of efficiency as will enable it to crush the crop within I do not think we can make the Bill any that time. better than it is. When we use the term ''crop,'' in the Bill Mr. ~IcCATHIE (Haughton) (2.52 p.m.): it is possible that there may be some ambi­ I wish to add my commendation on the intro­ guity. Do we mean the crop that will pro­ duction of this measure, which has been duce enough cane to enable a mill to crush sought by the industry, particularly as to its peak, or do we mean the crop from the continuous sampling, which for years has assigned lands of the area~ I propose later caused growers some perturbation. I fool to move an amendment to clarify the term. sure it will be accepted in my arra, where the The second amendment empowers the growers naturally think they are entitled to Central Board to direct a mill to install everything they grow. apparatus for continuous sampling, in This measure will create greater harmony the interests of the grower. I think between growers and the millers. The that within the next four or five years economic period of crushing in the Burdekin we are going to see a great deal more area has been established over the years, as of mechanical harvesting in the sugar indus­ a 25-week period. If we can establish that try. One of the greatest problems today is fact we shall find the cane-cutter, the miller to get labour for field work and necessity has and the grower will be able to work in reason­ forced people to try all sorts of mechanical able harmony. The Burdekin area is a dis­ means of harvesting their cane. There is in trict that has a reasonably dry period during operation in the Bundaberg district now a the crushing and by virtue of that fact we new harvester that I think far exceeds the find the cutters seek employment there in expectations of any of the people who invented preference to other areas. I believe in the the earlier harvesters. It not only cuts and tops but also bundles the cane. I think it is last few years the mill has asked that it the best of those that have yet been evolved crush the cane in that period, and in and, with a few adjustments and modifica­ accordance with the policy of expansion in tions, we are going to see the time when all that area the four mills are moving to install the straight cane of reasonable height will be the necessary machinery to give the farmers harvested mechanically. When that time the full benefit of the economic period. We comes continuous sampling will be more of a have been able, as a consequence, to keep necessity than ever. The Minister realises most of our men reasonably employed. that it is not possible to install apparatus The measure will be welcomed bv the for continuous sampling in all mills, but it industry and will do much to create that is only reasonable to expect that it be done harmony that is essential in the sugar wherever possible. industry. The last clautie merely ensures the mill's right to run steam locomotives on tramlines lllr. PIZZEY (Isis) (2.54 p.m.) : 'l;'he Minister stated that these amendments were and roads over which the mill has leases. in accordance with requests from the various This amendment becomes necessary because of a doubt that was created by a recent sugar organisations. For years the Queens­ decision of a judge. !and Cane Growers' Council has been agitat­ mg for some procedure to enable an economic 1\Ir. WATSON (Mulgrave) (2.59 p.m.): crushing period to be declared in the I spoke the other day mainly about con­ industry and to limit the length of that period. tinuous sampling, because I knew something During the last two years we had over-long about it. Today I should like to discuss the crushing periods, to Christmas and the New economic crushing period. The hon. member Year or the end of January. In these holi­ for Haughton has suggested something in the day periods there has been great difficulty in vicinity of 25 weeks. I suggest that it is not obtaining labour, not only for the mill but possible for any person to set down an econo­ also for the field, and the growers were con­ mic crushing period within any sugar mill cerned not only with the loss of commercial or district. It is governed a great deal by cane content of the sugar but also with the nature. An analysis of last year's crushing inefficiency in the mill due to inability to get figures in the Far North, where we had what the right labour after Christmas. might be termed a freak year in that we had These over-long crushings have been due rain over every week of the crushing peri@d, to phenomenal climatic years, mainly because discloses that our c.c.s. for the 1950 season there was a drought in 1946 followed by was in the vicinity of 12 for most districts. tremendous ploughing-out and then tremen­ Now, it may be suggested that we should dous planting, with the result that farmers not have crushed our cane last year, but at Regulation of Sugar Cane [27 SEPTEMBER.] Prices Acts Amendment Bill. 489

1he peak of last season our c.c.s content COMMITTEE. climbed to about 13.5. This year most of the mills started off with about 14 c.c.s., a thing (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Farrell, very rarely heard of in those mills in the Maryborough, in the chair.) North. TherefoTe, with favourable weather Clauses 1 and 2, as read, agreed to. and conditions, the economic period could go into 30 weeks instead of 25. The argument Clause 3-Amendments of s.20; Matters for eould be used the other way, too, because if consideration in fixing prices- we had bad weather we might only crush for Mr. PIZZEY (Isis) (3.6 p.m.): I move J 2 weeks, and that would be the economic the following amendment- period. '' On page 2, line 26, after the '.Vord I see a weakness in the clause. I think the 'occasioned,' insert the pToviso- Minister said yesterday that he would con­ ' Provided that the Central Board shall sider mill peaks as the means of fixing an not impose upon the owner of a mill the economic period. I would agree with him, economic loss referred to in paragraph but the position may be distorted to this (b) hereof if, in its opinion, the undue extent: in the past, because of the demand length of the crushing season was caused for sugar overseas, there has been an inclina­ by delivery to the mill of sugar cane in tion on the part of the mills to take cane excess of the quantity required to pro­ from assigned lands in excess of their mill duce the quantity of sugar specified peaks. In that case it would not be economic opposite to the name of the mill-owner to go up to January or February because the and the mill under the provisions of mill would be crushing at a material loss, Section 12A hereof.' '' but the grower would be gaining from the Section 20 of the Act deals with matters high export price in excess of the mill peak. for consideration in fixing prices and sub­ There is a reasonable doubt in my mind as section (4) says, in effect, that the mill shall to the economic period of a mill, and I sug­ take delivery of and shall crush all cane gest that if the economic period is within the grown on land assigned to that mill area of mill peak, that would be the right thing. 7 c.c.s. or above that figure. In other words, Mr. Riordan: What percentage of your as long as the cane has a commercial content mill workers would be employed in the mills of sugar of 7 or more, the mill is obliged to take it, outside the mill peak as well as over that economic period~ within the mill peak, provided it comes from Mr. WATSON: The same number of assigned land. men would be employed as at any other time. Clause 3 of the Bill says- " (a) Upon an application made, within ~Ir. Riordan: You would have full employment~ twenty-one days after a mill has ceased crushing for any season, to the Central Mr. WATSON: In the past few years, Board by any twenty cane-growers or by yes. The Minister will agree that what I the mill suppliers' committee constituted have suggested is a real difficulty. If the for that mill; and economic period is within the mill peak, I " (b) Upon being satisfied that the support the measure, as I feel sure it is very crushing season in question of that mill was necessary and desirable. unduly long having regard to the total quantity of sugar cane which the owner Hon. H. H. COLLINS (Tablelands­ thereof was lawfully required to take Secretary for Agriculture and Stock) (3.3 delivery of and crush during that p.m.), in reply: The question raised by the season . '' hon. member for Mulgrave will come up for I deem to be ambiguous the words, "the total full discussion in the Committee stages. I quantity of sugar cane which the owner am, however, interested in what the hon. thereof was lawfully required to take member has just said, as there would be con­ delivery of and crush.'' siderable doubt as to what would be the economic period. This is a matter that Mr. Collins: "Lawfully required" are deserves very serious consideration, and that two very important words. is why we have written into the Bill the Mr. PIZZEY: I listened very intently to power for a judicial tribunal to resolve the the Minister yesterday and made some notes doubt. I think the hon. member will agree as he went along. He said that the intention that that tribunal is best fitted to resolve any of this clause was that the mill should build doubt that may exist-better than any other itself up and install or modify its equipment committee that might be set up. The clause in order to make it an efficient unit capable is more or less elastic and I think it would of crushing cane to the limit of its mill be undesirable to tie the hands of the Central peak within what was considered a reasonable Board and write anything more specific into time so as to ensure the maximum recovery the Bill. The Central Board will understand of sugar. In answer to an interjection, he local conditions, and as it has applied itself said something to this effect: ''The Act lay~ to the benefit of the industry over the years, it would be the best body to make the deci­ down the mill peaks, and we want the mill to be able to crush its peak within a reason­ sion. We can leave the matter for discussion at a later stage. able period.'' It would appear that both the Minister Motion (Mr. Collins) agreed to. and the Opposition are in agreement as to 490 Regulation of Sugar Cane [ASSEMBLY.] Prices Acts Amendment Bill.

che meaning of the clause, but we disagree Mr. Collins: As against the grower. with its wording. We feel that the intention of the Minister is not stated clearly at Mr. PIZZEY: Because it is just and fair. present. When I saw it, I communicated The growers would not want it otherwise. with leading men in the sugar industry and They would not expect their own Isis mill to they agreed that the interpretation of the spend another £250,000 to increase its words ''lawfully required to take delivery crushing capacity to deal with a phenomenal of'' was that it included all cane grown on crop. They would not be able to get the ~ssigned land. money to do it and they would not expect the mill to do it. lUr. Riordan: What is wrong with that? Mr. Riordan: And they have not much "\fr. PIZZEY: I will tell the hon. say about doing. it either. member what is wrong with it in a minute. Mr. PIZZEY: They have all the say. 'l'he clause then proceeds to give the board a discretionary power. In the last few years I come now to a consideration of the economic crushing period. In our district the Isis area grew something like 70,000 to you can normally say that the c.c.s. is low 80,000 tons above its peak. at the beginning of the season, that it Mr. Riordan: On assigned land? increases and reaches its peak in September, October and November, and that towards the Mr. PIZZEY: Yes. It was the result. of end of December it fades away. It is hardly an exceptionally good season and t~e· J?lantmg worth while crushing in January. Therefore, of new varieties that almost revolut10msed the it is desirable, if possible, to build the mill sugar industry in southern Queensland. That up so that it can crush up to its mill peak could happen again and for two or three years by the middle of December. In arriving at some districts might produce cane very muc.h the economic crushing period it is preferable in excess of their mill peaks. Therefore, IS to fix that point as the ceasing time and work it reasonable to expect a mill to install back. It is better to start early in June machinery- and equipment generally to cope and finish crushing in middle December than with the maximum crop produced under very start later and continue to crush after best seasonal conditions and with the most Christmas. prolific varieties~ If you went to a bank for financial accommodation for the purpose Mr. Riordan: Would you agree with you would not get it. The bank would their treating the standover cane in the Isis ask, "What is your peak~ What is your area~ allotment under s. 12A ~'' Mr. PIZZEY: We have standover cane­ There may be a time perhaps when the sometimes we have 60,000 tons-but when we crushing will have again to be restri~ted to get the new harvesting machine we probably the mill peaks. When the overseas pnce for shall not have much standover cane because sugar was very much lower than for home all growers will want to grow the upright consumption it was not in the interests of cane. the industry, to crush beyond the peaks but lllr. Riordan: There is nothing wrong today we have an unlimited market for sugar with that. until 1953-Great Britain has agreed to take all that we have for export. All that a mill Mr. PIZZEY: I know that. We have an should be required to do is to provide an assurance from the Minister that the mill must efficient unit that ;vill crush the cane allotted take responsibility for the mill peak only, to it under s. 12A. In short, it should not and even though it is left to the discretion of be penalised for the crushing of an amount up the Central Board, and we have every con­ to its peak within a reasonable crushing fidence in the ·Board to deal with any ambl­ period. If the farmers want to go beyond guity whatsoever, why not remove it and make that point and have the cane crushed the the clause clearer than it is~ mill should be permitted to crush it without any penalty. JU:r. AIKENS (Mundingburra) (3.17 p.m.): I am not happy about the amendment Mr. Collins: It is not suggested that because the principle of the clause it seeks there should be any penalty. to clarify revolves round the phrase ''law­ Mr. PIZZEY: The penalty is that the fully required to take delivery of. '' price may be adjusted in favour of the JU:r. Collins: That is the point. grower. Mr. AIKENS: What cane is the mill Mr. Collins: The board has to be satis­ "lawfully required to take delivery of~ " fied that the mill has endeavoured to cope The amendment seeks to interpret that clausE with the situation. as all cane up to and including the mil' Mr. PIZZEY: The matter is to be left peak. I am not in favour of that. What h to the discretion of the Central Board. If to stop the mill from taking the first cam the Minister agrees with what I am contend­ that comes along, crushing it, and lettin~ ing, that the penalty shall operate only up some farm peak stand over until the nex· to the crushing of the peak, then what is season. (Laughter.) It is all very well fo; wrong in putting in that safeguard~ hon. members to laugh but they do not knov what they are talking about. Let us assum• Mr. Collins: Whom are you safeguard­ for the sake of argument that a mill has t< ing~ crush 200,000 tons of cane in order to crusl Mr. PIZZEY: Safeguarding the case of its peak of sugar. This amendment simpl: the miller. means that the mill will crush the firs Regulation of Sugar Cane [27 SEPTEMBER.] Price.~ Acts Amendment Bill. 491

200,000 tons of cane going through the rollers because I could not get a copy of it when I and absolve itself of any responsibility under came in. I gathered what I could from his this clause. If the amendment provided that somewhat incoherent remarks when moving the mill was required to crush all the farm the amendment. I stated my attitud'e regard­ peaks first and then crush all cane grown in ing the responsibility of the mill to crush excess of the farm peaks I should be in cane that was available, and said that it favour of it. My interpretation of the should crush farm-peak cane first and after phrase "lawfully required to . . . . crush" that any in excess of farm peak. is that the mill is lawfully required to crush first of all, the cane comprising the farm Mr. Pizzey: We are all agreed. peaks not the mill peak. Take the case of a man on one side of a road with a farm ~Ir. AIKENS: Then the hon. member peak of 1,000 tons and a man on the other agrees wit;h me. While he was speaking and side with a farm peak of 1,000 tons who while the hon. member for Mulgrave was grows 2,000 tons-1,000 tons in excess of speaking, I was able to obtain what is prob­ the peak. Could it be argued that the mill ably the only copy of the amendment floating could crush all this 2,000 tons before it round, and I find that I cannot see much crushed his neighbour's 1,000-ton farm peak' wrong with it. When it is all said and d'one, I do not agree that this clause should be it provides that before any penalty is interpreted to mean the mill peak of sugar. imposed on a mill after what might be termed Not on your life. You will not get me to fall the economic crushing sea.son or extension for that. If there is to be any lawful respon­ of the economic crushing season, that penalty sibility on what the mill is to crush first it shall be determined on the mill peak. I is to crush all cane up to and including the believe the mill peaks in the Bu'rdekin area, farm peak, not the mill peak. Then if there which I represented capably for six years, is to be any standover cane it should be were about 35,000 tons. That 35,000 tons of from cane that has been grown in excess of mill peak should be considered as the th_e farm pe.ak. It should have nothing to do economic crushing for the season for that With the mill peak. The mill peak is based particular mill and it is not the mill's fault on the tonnage of raw sugar produced and if it tries to crush more than 35,000 tons of the farm peak on the tonnage of cane grown. sugar in an endeavour to prevent any cane Unless the mover can offer any sounder from being left to stand over. argument than he has advanced he will not get me to support his amendment. Hon. H. H. COLLINS (Tablelands­ Secretary for Agriculture and Stock) (3.26 ltlr. PIZZEY (Isis) (3.21 p.m.): I wish p.m.) : I was given a copy of the amend­ the ;hon. member for Mundingburra had had ment this morning and have examined it a copy of my amendment; if he had, I am carefully, because I am anxious to make this sure he would not have spoken as he did. a good Bill. If the amendment had been There is no question of the mill's crushing a good one, I should have had no hesitation only the mill peak or the yearly peak first and leaving it to the mill's discretion to in accepting it. select the farm peaks it will crush. The The Bill provides, under Clause 3, that­ amendment is to the effect that in determin­ ing the economic crushing period the mill '' Notwithstanding any other provision peak be taken as the determining factor. of this section- It is not a question whether a mill takes (a) Upon an application made, within this fellow's cane before the other fellow's twenty-one days after a mill has ceased cane. It will crush the mill peak and more. crushing for any season, to the Central All the amendment says is that in deter­ Board by any twenty cane-growers or mining an economic crushing period and in by the mill suppliers' committee consti­ requiring the mill to build up its efficiency tuted for that mill; and to match it then you consider the mill peak as the measuring stick. (b) Upon being satisfied that the crushing season in question of that mill ~Ir. WATSON (Mulgrave) (3.23 p.m.): was unduly long having regard to the I rise to support the amendment. I think total quantity of sugar-cane which the the Minister must agree that there is a weakness in t;he clause. There will be some owner thereof was lawfully required to abnormal years and certain mills will have take delivery of and crush during that an excess tonnage from their assigned land season and that cane-growers were for their peaks, and' there should not be any economically prejudiced by that undue penalty on those mills if they have crushed length, their peaks of sugar. Tb.ey will then be the Central Board may change by increas­ getting into the wet period of the season and ing by such amount as it deems just the it would not be right to inflict a monetary penalty on them when they are carrying out the base price fixed by the award if, but a service by manufaCJturing all sugar in only if,--" excess of their peaks. It is a simple case Those words are important- of the economic crushing period within the " the Central Board is further satisfied that mill peak. the undue length of the crushing season in Mr. AlKENS (Mundinglmrra) (3.24 question was occasioned by acts or p.m.) : In regard to the statement I made, omissions of, or other circumstances within the mover of the amendment is to blame the control of, the owner of that mill ... '' 492 Regulation of Sugar Cane [ASSEMBLY.] Prices Acts Amendment Bill.

That makes it perfectly clear that it applies afternoon at about this time, and we have only to the quantity of which the mill is law­ only had twenty-four hours in which to con­ fully required to take delivery. The Central sider it. Nevertheless, within that 24 Board has to be satisfied that the grower's hours-- loss is due to some neglect on the part of the mill. l\Ir. Walsh: Where are your sugar experts over there~ I a~ not particularly anxious to give either the mrller or the grower something to which JUr. NICKLIN: There is one Minister he is not _entit~ed. T~at is the reason why, handling this Bill and not half a dozen. Dur­ not only m thrs but m every industry, we ing the short time we have had it at our dis­ have set up courts of competent jurisdiction posal we have had the matter considered by to investigate the pros and 10ons of every E'Xperts in the sugar industry, men who are case. We all agree that no-one knows more vitally concerned, perhaps more concerned, about the sugar industry than do the mem­ than the Minister is. bers of the Central Sugar Cane Prices Board. At the beginning of every season the board l\Ir. Walsh: Do you mean millers? makes full inquiry and ascertains the amount of sugar-cane available and the market for Mr. NICKLIN: And growers. When the the sugar. It allots the mill peaks accord­ Acting Treasurer talks about millers and ingly. We do not know exactly what the growers, let him not forget that the growers Australian market is but we do have a known own the majority of the mills in this State. export market, and even that can be expanded. Originally it was for 420,000 tons of sugar l\lr. Walsh: Where did you get that a year. Since then it has been expanded to erroneous idea from~ over 600,000 tons. The Central Board con­ Mr. NICKLIN: The point is that we siders the various aspects of the industry want to have it definitely determined. and it knows exactly what cane there is in each mill area. Knowing what is in each par­ Mr. Collins: The Bill says, "lawfully ticular mill area the board knows what is in required to take delivery of.'' · · all mill districts in Queensland. That is a matter of Mr. Aikens: It does not fix the mill peak l\lr. NICKLIN: at the beginning of each season. opinion. The Minister's advisers say ''Yes'' and our advisers, who are equally competent Mr~ COLLINS: That season is fixed by legally, say ''No.'' Where there is a dif­ the various mills within the State, and legal ference of opinion is it not better to deter­ effect is given to it by the Governor in mine the matter~ Of course it is, particularly Council. Having allotted the mill peak, the in a vital provision. There is no argument board starts to allocate to each of the vari­ between the Minister and anybody on this ous growers of assigned lands the quantity of side of the Committee in regard to the advis­ sugar he can deliver to the mill. That having ability of determining an economic period of been done, the board allots a mill peak to the crushing. We merely want to establish some various farmers within the area. The Central measuring stick by which the economic period Board, having done that judicially and laid can be determined, and at the present time it down lawfully that those people can deliver the wording of this amending Bill is very this cane to a mill and the mill being obli­ indefinite. It says, "having regard to the gated to take the cane, we should be doing total quantity of sugar-cane which the owner considerable injustice if we took out of the thereof was lawfully required to take delivery Act or wrote something into it that was of and crush. . . '' Exactly what does mandatory and took its jurisdiction away from that mean~ a board legally and properly set up to decide the matter. The Central Board would Mr. Collins: It means what it says. It naturally take a mill peak into consideration means what is laid down legally for the owner as a factor in determining the economic to take delivery of. period. Mr. NICKLIN: Does it mean only the To accept the proposed amendment would mill peak allotted to that mill~ interfere with the delivery of cane set out in Section 20 (8) of the Regulation of Sugar Mr. Collins: It means what the mill is Cane Prices Acts and limit the board's discre­ lawfully required to take delivery of. tionary power with regard to peaks and assignments generally. The Bill refers to sugar­ Mr. NICKLIN: Let us have an inter­ cane of which the owner of the mill is law­ pretation from the Minister of the words, fully required to take delivery. I do not want "lawfully required. " If he can give us the Bill to be emasculated by adding an that, it will probably save some delay. If amendment that I feel sure has not received he can say that a mill is lawfully required the same consideration as my advisers and I to take only the mill peak allocated to it have given to the Bill. and crush it within an economic period, we shall be quite satisfied. Is that what it Mr. NICKLIN (Landsborough-Leader of the Opposition) (3.33 p.m.): I do not means, Mr. Farrell ~ altogether appreciate the Minister's state­ lllr. Collins: It is lawfully required to ment to the effect that this amending Bill has take delivery-- not received the same consideration as has been given by him. He must not forget that Mr. NICKLIN: It is no use repeating we only got a copy of this Bill yesterday those words time and time again! I want Regulation of Sugar Cane [27 SEPTEMBER.] Prices Acts Amendment Bill. 493

the Minister to give us his interpretation of select the weather, the soil, the mechanical the clause. If he will do that, we shall be processes, and then turn a wheel and get the satisfied. same result every time. Things vary in the lllr. Collins: You want to take power sugar industry, as in any other primary from the Central Sugar Cane Prices industry. The quantity of cane available to Board-- the different mills varies according to the type and the seasons, and seasons can be Mr. NICKLIN: I do not want to do that. All I want at this stage is that the variable. There can be floods, frosts, good 1'Jinister should give us his interpretation of seasons and' bad seasons-they all affect the the meaning of the words, "lawfully quantity of cane produced and the sugar to required.'' be marketed. Again, you have to take into consideration the marketing of sugar~an JUr. Collins: I will give it to you again unrestricted market in Australia and a if you desire it. defined market overseas. That is why we Mr. NICKLIN: We want the Minister to have said that the Central Board shall in tell us the meaning of ''lawfully required.'' fairness to the growers, the millers, the If he will give us an assurance that those business community, and the industrialists, words mean that the mill is required to take determine what shall be done. Consequently only its mill peak within the economic period the Central Board will determine every year set down, we shall be perfectly satisfied. I what each mill is lawfully required to take. feel that the Minister can determine the We do not want to do anything that is not matter and save a lot of trouble. lawful or is not laid down in the law but the amendment proposes to take this power Hon. H. H. COLLINS (Tablelands­ away from the Central Board. I know that Secretary for Agriculture and Stock) (3.37 there has been in certain mill areas a lot p.m.) : As I said before, in the allocation of of manipulation as far as growers' assign­ cane to the mill, the Central Board lays down ments are concerned, and the hon. member each season the peak not only for one mill for Mulgrave knows that pretty well. but for even- mill in Queensland. From that peak it alloc'ittes peaks to farmers on assigned lUr. W ATSON: I rise to a point of order. lands. The Central Board is allowed a certain I know nothing of the sort. amount of latitude in the allocation both of the mill peaks and what the farmer is legally lllr. COLLINS: Then the hon. member allowed to deliver to his mill. Up to that d'oes not know the cane industry. I know stage, the thing is perfectly fair. The board that a great number of growers have sent decides the amount of sugar that the mill in cane from unassigned land that it is not can crush legally, having regard to the legal for them to send or for the mill to amount of sugar in its area and to all the take delivery of. If the hon. member circumstances connected with the matter. opposite wants to drag that type of grower A peak having been allotted to the mill and in, I am not coming into the swim with him. a peak to the farmer, it becomes the legal The Bill simply lays down what the miller obligation of the mill to accept that cane. is entitled to take, what he is legally entitled That is what the Central Board has laid to take, and I do not propose to recede from down as the mill's liability as far as taking that position. I will not hamstring the delivery of _the cane is concerned. board and that is the only purpose of the amenchnent. . :illr. PIZZE~ . (Isis) (3.39 p.m.) : I take It that the Mmister 's interpretation . of the Mr. NICKLIN (Landsborough-Leader words, "lawfully required to take delivery of the Oppasition) (3.43 p.m.): I am afraid of,'' is that it includes all cane produced that the Minister has not clarified the point on assigned. lands up to the farm peak. That, in any way. Here is a very doubtful legal however, might be m excess of the mill peak. point that conceTllls the Opposition. As I Mr. Collins: As laid down by the Central said at the outset, we are concerned about Sugar Cane Prices Board as the mill's tidying up this question about the mill liability to take delivery of. being required to crush its peak within an economic period. When legislation is not _JUr. PIZZEY: That amount of cane definite, when it is capable of two or three might be more than that allocated in the different meanings, is it not far better to mill peak. How is the mill to know what clarify it right away and thus save any future crushing capacity will be required~ That is bother~ If the clause goes through in its an indeterminate amount and would vary present form and it is challenged there will from year to year. The mill requires some be a tremendous amount of legal argument measuring stick to determine what it should as to its correct interpretation. We do not do to build up its capacity in order to crush want to pass legislation that will be just a in an economic period. We suggest that the good feast for the legal men. If we want mill peak should be the measuring stick. We to write an intention into the measure we are not saying that is all they should crush; need to make it perfectly clear. T;he Minis­ they should crush the lot but as a measuring­ ter made a rather unwarranted allegation stick the mill peak should be the amount used against a certain section of the industry that in assessing an economic crushing period. is not worthy of him.

Hon. H. H. COLLINS (Tablelands­ ~Ir. Walsh: It is none the less true. Secretary for Agriculture 'and Stock) (3AO p.m.): It is all very well to say that you can JUr. NICKLIN: If a responsible Minister provide a measuring-stick or that we can of the Crown makes an allegation such as 494 Regulation of Sugar Cane [ASSEMBLY.] Prices Acts Amendment Bill.

that about a section of the industry he should the Minister suggest we should impose a substantiate it here with positive informa­ penalty on mills that crush up to their peaks tion. and then do not crush the other cane~ lUr. Walsh: That would not be hard. Mr. Walsh: I will tell You what I think when I get up. Mr. NICKLIN: Let the Treasurer get up and do it. illr. NICKLIN: I shall be very pleased to hear it. We are endeavouring to get every Mr. Walsh: I have done it. stick of cane crushed that it is economically Mr. NICKLIN ~ I know the hon. gentle­ possible for thes.e mills to crush, but we do .lilan made a lot of wild statements, but let not want to put undue and unfair burdens us make statements that can be substantiated on mills that are playing their part in this par~icular~y when. wrongful allegations ar~ great industry of ours. That is what the made agar~st an Important industry such as Minister is doing-putting a handicap on the sugar mdustry. I am sorry the Minister mills and also bringing about much legal has not read this amendment. He cannot argument to determine the meaning of the ~ave rea~ it _when he says that if it is legislation he is introducing. The amend­ mserted m this clause we shall hamstring ment will clarify the clause and say exactly the. operations of the Central Board. The what "lawfully required" means. The quties are laid down for it in the amend­ Minister does not seem prepared to give us ment. Let us r~ad the ~mendment again his interpretation of these terms about which and see whether It hamstrmgs the board' in there is considerable doubt in the minds of any way. It says- hon. members. " Provided that the Central Board shall Hon. E. J. WALSH (Bundaberg-Acting not impose upon the owner of a mill the Treasurer) (3.50 p.m.): Despite any sug­ economic loss referred to in paragraph gestion of the Leader of the Opposition that (bY hereof, if, in its opinion, ... " I desire to take charge of this measure, I N o~e "if in its opinion." The board ;has propose to exercise my rights in this matter, a nght to express an opinion and decide on especially as I represent the electorate of the evidence before it. How then can the Bundaberg, which is to a large extent depen­ amendment hamstring it' dent on the sugar industry. Mr. Collins: It is already written into I can appreciate the interest of the hon. the Act that the mill is legally required to member for Isis, but I am rather surprised take delivery of it. that they should hand over to him, as one who has not had an extensive interest in the , Mr. NICKLIN: I ask the hon gentleman sugar industry, the moving of an amendment to give his interpretation of · the word's that involves such vital principles as this ''legally required.'' He has not given it. does. During the speech of the Leader of He has only made the position more con­ the Opposition I interjected that the mills fused than it was previously. Then the would apparently favour this amendment. He amendment proceeds- said it was not a question of the mills but, '' . . . the undue length of the crushing after all, the growers owned the great season was caused by delivery to the mill majority of the mills. That shows how of s_ugar-cane in excess of the quantity badly advised he is. The hon. member for reqmred to produce the quantity of sugar Mulgrave would know that fewer than specified opposite to the name of the mill­ 33 per cent. of the mills are owned owner and the mill in the provisions of co-operatively or semi-co-operatively. The Section 12 (A) hereof." Leader of the Opposition was very wide of That i;n other words means the mill peaks. the mark. All ~his a~endment does is to clarify the When the Government of the hon. member ~·ery mdefimte provisions of this clause. There were in power they introduced a peak-year IS a very de~nite legal difference. of opinion scheme and tied the growers down and ~s to :What IS "lawfully required." There limited the new growers to the development of IS a ~Ifference of opinion among hon. mem­ their areas and gave the mills that went out bers m regard to it. Why not define it~ for high production a protection against the The _amen~ment will not in any way weaken struggling mills. The same principle is the mtentron of the clause, which is to set involved in the amendment moved today. up some means whereby an economic crush­ What they are trying to do is to tie down the ing period .can be determined. It will pro­ Central Board in determining what quantities tect the mi_ll-own_ers . who are endeavouring of cane shall be harvested in any particular to meet their obhgatwns to the industry to year without imposing a penalty on the mill. crush all cane above the peak that is avail­ Is not that the eff·ect of iU able in an exceptional period. That is all it Mr. Pizzey: Determining an economic seeks to do. crushing period. Mr. Walsh: Do you not want them to illr. WALSH: Exactly. He is trying to crush over the peak. tie down the crushing to 916,000 tons, the equivalent of what the maximum production ilir. NICKLIN: There is no doubt about was up to 1939, when we had over 900,000 that but what we want to read into this tons produced in the whole of Australia. Look !egislation is a definite interpretation of what at the amount of excess cane that is grown It means and protect millers who will be outside the peaks! You are going to leave penalised for not crushing their peaks. Does it in the hands of the mills to say whether Regulation of Sugar Cane [27 SEPTEMBER.] Prices Acts Amendment Bill. 495 they will continue to crush. (Opposition power mentioned in this clause. Seasonal interjections.) The hon. member for Mul­ conditions can have an influence on deter­ grave shakes his head, but he knows it better mining the economic crushing period. I know than anybody else. I say that as one who farmers in the Mackay area who are getting has been closely associated with the Babinda higher c.c.s. for standover cane from last mill, which has done a good job over the year than they are getting from plant cane years-and that was not due to the hon. that was grown last year and harvested this member for Mulgrave. year. lUr. Watson: I happen to have been a It is obvious that the Opposition have not chairman for 10 years. read the amendment very carefully. They might have had the;i.r legal experts on it, JUr. WALSH: That is during the latter but I have seen legal experts thrown aside period. Before the hon. member was chair­ by laymen from this side of the Chamber, man it did a pretty good job. The fact just as I have seen professional accountants remains that if the mills had their way and upset by the common-sense approach of lay­ were allowed to determine how much cane men on this side. If hon. members will read they would crush they might say to the the Bill they will find that it says- grower, "We will stop when we crush 60 '' Notwithstanding any other provision per cent. of the cane. " of this section .... '' It is all very well for the Leader of the Then it goes on to state under the headings Opposition to say that these things do not of (a) and (b) the particular amendments go on. There are things that I should like that are made, and it continues- to say but that cannot be discussed on this '' . . . the Central Board may change measure, and they justify the statement made by increasing by such amount as it deems by the Minister. I have referred to the just the base price fixed by the award if, factual evidence-involving reference to the but only if, the Central Board is further Farleigh mill too. It is all on the files. You satisfied that the undue length of the might have the position-and the hon. mem­ crushing season in question was occasioned ber for Mulgrave knows it-in which a cane by acts or omissions, or other circumstances inspector for a mill would go round and so within the control of, the owner of that estimate the farmer's cane that you would mill and that that owner should justly find him left with 75 per cent. of his cane bear the economic loss thereby Jccasioned.'' in the last month of the crushing. What are Does not that clearly indicate-- you going to do about that~ ~Ir. Watson: No. JUr. Watson: It has nothing to do w_ith the Bill. Mr. WALSH: The hon. member wants to deny what is written in plain language. lUr. WALSH: If the hon. member fqr Here we have a provision that leaves it in the Mulgrave eannot read that into it, I can. He hands of the Central Board to decide whether would be left with a proportion of his crop there has been any act on the part of the mill if the mill had the right to say when it was that has unduly occasioned a lengthening of going to close down. the crushing, and is not that righU ~Ir. Pizzey: On what basis would you ~lr. Nicklin: We are not taking that out. determine the economic crushing period' lUr. W ALSH: The amendment that has Mr. W ALSH: It amuses me when I hear been moved will nullify that. these statements. I can remember the days when the mills were starting in the second ~Ir. Nicklin: Not at all. week in May and finishing in the second week Mr. WALSH: I have had sufficient in January. experience amongst some millers in the sugar Mr. Watson: They are still doing it. industry to know their sharp practices. In this amendment I say the effect will be to Mr. WALSH: And who is worried about nullify the principle that is written into the it~ Bill. There is ample power for the Central ~Ir. Watson: We are. Board itself to determine whether the crush­ ing season has been lengthened unduly by the JUr. W ALSH: Of course the mills are mill. If the miller is responsible, why worried about it. I know that many niills should the growers pay~ Are not the Central did set out to so increase their crushing Board's awards full of penalties on the capacities as to meet increased production, grower if he fails to supply his cane under and I am not unmindful of the fact that it the conditions laid down in those awardsf is hard for a mill to keep abreast of any If it is good enough to impose penalties on added production that might take place. The the grower, what is wrong with providing growers might introduce tractors and penalties on the miller if he fails from time mechanisation to the fields and produce sub­ to time to see that the crushing capacity is stantially increased tonnages in one year, but so increased as to provide for the increased you cannot increase the capacity of the mill crop~ in that year to cope with that increased production. You cannot determine what is ~Ir. WATSON (Mulgrave) ( 4 p.m.): I the economic crushing period-- am not going to allow hon. members opposite to make statements that I believe are untrue. ~Ir. Watson: I have already said that. I wish to reply to the Secretary for Agricul­ Mr. W ALSH: Then that is all the more ture and Stock, who said that I knew that reason why this Bill should contain the malpractices were going on within the sugar 496 Regulation of Sugar, &c., Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Liens on Sugar, &c., Bill.

industry. I deny that and I challenge him by any Minister of the Crown or any member to make an open statement of where mal­ of Parliament with regard to the interpreta­ practices are going on in the sugar industry. tion of any Act of Parliament. liVe have Mr. Collins: I have quoted it in the seen, time and time again, courts of la.v make Press. findings in direct contravention of assurances given by a Minister when a Bill was going Mr. WATSON: Quote an instance in this through Parliament. I am applying myself Committee. I have no- desire to debate the to the interpretation of the Bill and the matter with the hon. member for Bundaberg, amendment with whatever intelligence I because he has not read the Bill. The point possess. I really think, in the circumstances, is: what is the economic crushing period~ It that I must vote against the amendment, not is not a question whether farmers are being because it does not contain some merit but robbed or not; they are not being robbed because I believe that of the two cases the under this Bill. We are asking that the case of the Government is the better. economic period be laid down as applicable to mill peaks because mills are expanding their Amendment (Mr. Pizzey) negatived. machinery to co-operate with growers to Clause 3, as read, agreed to. economically crush the cane they produce in Clause 4-New Section 41A inserted; a period. The Minister is not fair to the Powers of owner of mill with respect to sugar industry and when I say that I am tramway-as read, agreed to. speaking as a growers' representative, not as the representative of the Mulgrave mill, Bill reported without amendment. but of the Babinda mill which is a co-opera­ tive mill owned by growers. I have repre­ sented the growers of Queensland at confer­ LIENS ON CROPS OF SUGAR CANE ences. Growers have asked for this amend­ ACTS AMENDMENT BILL. ment and unless the Minister agrees to it the SECOND READING. Bill is not worth the paper it is written on. Hon. H. H. COLLINS (Tablelands­ Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) ( 4.2 Secretary for Agriculture and Stock) (4.7 p.m.): I have listened with considerable p.m.) : I move- interest to the debate and I think I can bring " That the Bill be now read a second an air of common sense and tranquillity into the final stages. Let us be quite honest about time.'' this. Last year, the year before and probably In giving an outline of the Bill yesterday, I the year before that, when an abundan,ce of pointed out that it took into account the use eane was grown, it is true that some-of the of more effective fumigants, insecticides, mills through their own faults of omission fungicides and poisons than were available or commission, left hundreds if not thousands when the Act was originally framed. Over of tons of stand-over cane in the field that the years science has evolved more improved should have been crushed. Do not let us methods of dealing with pests, particularly burke or question that. This amending Bill cane grubs, in the canefields, and in the gives the Central Board power to penalise control of weeds and their germination. any mill that does that. Previously the only effective chemical in the Mr. Collins: That wilfully neglects to control of cane grubs was carbon bisulphide, do its job at the expense of the farmers. but this has been replaced by a more effective chemical, benzene hexachloride. Mr. AIKENS: We agree that that should be done. I think the Opposition will agree Mr. NICKLIN (Landsborough-Leader that any mill that either by its own fault or of the Opposition) ( 4.8 p.m.) : As the neglect, acts of omission or commission, Minister has said, no new principle is leaves farmers' cane to stand over should be involved in the Bill. Section 16 of the penalised. The only point at issue is: what principal Act provides for absolute priority, is the economic period or what is the mill except over wag€s liens, to liens given to lawfully required to take delivery of~ The a cane pest board to secure payment for hon. member for Isis moved an amendment fumigants supplied by the board to a cane­ that the mill shall be absolved from blame grower. As the Minister has said, great once it reaches the mill peak. advances have been made in recent years in the different types of fumigants, insecticides, Mr. Pizzey: Within the economic period. fungicides, poisons, and other materials, and Mr. AIKENS: Very well. Suppose a the Act is being widened to include them. mill area grows sufficient cane to crush 70,000 As the amendments are verbal and no new tons of sugar and the mill peak is 40,000 tons principle is involved, we do not offer any of sugar. If the amendment of the hon. objection to the Bill. member for Isis is carried, once the mill economically and expeditiously crushes 40,000 Motion (Mr. Collins) agreed to. tons it can do as it darn well likes with regard to the other 30,000 tons, if you tie the law COMMITTEE. down to the question of the mill peak and (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Farrell, not the cane grown. Maryborough, in the chair.) I want to say with regard to the sugges­ tion made by the Leader of the Opposition Clauses 1 and 2, as read, agreed to. that we should have an assurance from the Bill reported without amendment. Minister, that I have been in this Chamber long enough to disregard any assurance given The House adjourned at 4.11 p.m.