Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
TUESDAY, 24 JUNE 1890
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
QUEENSLAND PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES ..
LEGISLA'fiVE ASSEMBLY.
THIRD SESSION OF Tl'-IE TEN'I'B.: PARLIA~1:ENT,
APl'OlNTIW TO l\fE.E1'
AT BRISBANE ON 'rHrJ TWEXTY-FOURTH DAY OF JUl\E, n THE FIF'rY-FOURTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF HER JlAJES'rY QUEEN YICTORIA, IN TliE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1890,
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SE AT DECLARED V A CANT. Tuesdcty, 24 June, 1890. The PRE::\HER (Hon, B. D. Morehead) said: Mr. Speaker,-I beg to move- Vacancy du1·ing the Recess.~lfember Sworn.-)1ember Adjudged Insolvent.-Seat Declared Vacant ..:_ 'l'hat the se~t of Ernc·1t Hunter. Esq., bath become and is now vacant, by rea-:::on of the insolvency of the Message from Ili~ExcellencytheGovernor-despatch said Ernest Hunter since his election a,ud return to with reference to the increased representation serve in this House as member for the electoral district at the Federal CounciL-Elections Judge for 1890, of Burke, Auditor-General's Report.-Adjournrnent of the Question put and passed. House.-Bill pro farmd.-:l\1inisterial Statement. The Opening Speech,-Address in Reply,-Adjourn MESSAGE FRmi HIS EXCELLENCY ment. THE GOVERNOR. THE House met at 12 o'clock, a few minutes DESPATCH WITH REFERENCE TO THE INCREASED after which hour a message was conveyed by the REPHESENTATIOX AT THE FEDERAL COUNCIT,, Usher of the Black Rod that His Excellency the The SPEAKER 'aid: I have to report that Governor raquested the attendanee of 1'Ir. on the 31st of March last I received the follow Speaker and hon, members of the Legislative ing letter from His Excellency the Governor : Assembly in the Council Chamber. The SPEAKER, accompanied by hon. members "Government IIouse, Southport, "27th 3Iarch, 1890. of the Assembly, accordingly proceeded to the HSr.a, Legislative Council, and, having heard the u I have the honour to transmit to you, for the Address of His Excellency, returned to their information of the hon. the Legislative Assembly of own Chamber. Queensland, cqpy of a despatch dated the lOth ultimo, The House resumed at half-past 3 o'clock. from the l"tigh0 Hon. the Secretary of State for the Calonies, in reply to my despatch of the 6th August last, VACANCY DURING THE RECESS. in 'Which I enclosed an Address from the Houses of Leg~slature in Q.neensland, praying that an Order in The SPEAKER Haicl: I have to report that Council may Oe issued to increase the number of the since the termination of the last ·''ession the representath l 'S of each colony in the Federal Council, following vacancy occurred in the House "I have the honour to be, Sir, namely, by the resignation of the Hon. Charles "Your most obedient servant, Powers, Esq., member for the electoral district of Burrum ; that upon the occurrence of the H H. \V, NOR1\IAN. said vacancy I issued my writ for the election of "The IIon, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland." a member to fill the same ; and that such writ "Downing street, was duly returned with certificate endorsed "lOth February, 1890, thereon of the election of the Hon. Charles HSIR Powers, Esq., as member for the said electoral ,; I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of district. your despatch :1\o. l (Pederal Council) of the 6th of MEMBER SWORN. August, t1·ansmitting an Address from the I-l?uses of Legislature of Queensland to the Queen, praymg that The Hon. CHARLES PowERS was sworn in and an Order in Council may be issued to increase the num took his seat as member for the electoral district ber of the representa.tiVes of each colony in the Federal of Burrum. Council, in accordance with the recommendations made by the J.<,ederal Council in the ses.:,ion of 1889. MEMBER ADJUDGED INSOLVENT. "I received, through the Governor of TasmaniaJ a The SPEAKER said: I have to report that memo. by the Attorney-General of that colony, ex by notification dated the 31st day of March last, pressing ~doul)t whether an Order in Council of the signed by Alfred Down, Deputy Registrar of the nature desired could be legally issued. "Upon this point I have consulted the law o1:fic~rs of Supreme Court, and published in the issue of the the Crown, and I am advised that although 1t IS ex Queenslctrul Got·ernment Gazette of 5th April, 1890, tremely ditrrcult to slate with certainty the exact it was publicly intimated that Ernest Hunter was, construction which would be given judicially to the ou the said 31st day of March, adjudged insolvent. 5th section of the Fecleral Council of Australasia Act 1890-B 2 AdJournment of tloe House. [ASSEMBLY.] The Opening Speech. of 1885, Her Majesty would not be justified by its BILL PRO FOR:ft1A. terms in making nn Order in Council whereby the number of rcprt":lentatives for each of the sevm·al The PREMIER presented a Bill to authorise colonies should alter or vary in }Jroportion to the establishment of sites and apparatus for the populrttion, and thn.t anv such Order in council the purposes of cremation; and moved that it be must prescribe a definite nml1her for each colony. I read a first time, am further advised that any Order made under the section must provide for an increase in the number for Question put and passed, each of the several colonies, and it '\YOnld probably be held that the increase for each of the colonies other MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. than Cro·wn colonies must be the same. The PREMIERsai
and enterprise of the inhabitants, was greatly at the same time, to be able to state that, not. strengthened and enlarged by what I saw on that withstanding the unfavourable condition of the jomney, and I could not fail to be deeply labour market, all immigrants introduced have touched by the cordial and generous reception been absorbed into the working community. which everywhere awaited me. I much regret "As a direct consequence of the ad verse circum that the shortness of the time at my disposal stances already referred to, during the continu compelled me to forego the pleasure of visiting ance of which work of every kind was greatly various districts of which I am desirous to have retarded, and traffic on the main roads in some personal know ledge, but I trust to be in a districts enth·ely suspended, the trade and com position, before many months have passed, to merce of the colony have been almost paralysed gratify my desire in this respect. for months past, with the result to the State of "The subject which at present naturally takes a. considerable falling off in the anticipated precedence of all others in point of importance, revenue for the year. The unfavourable con in virtue of the fact th:c.t it concerns not only the ditions to which these effects are traceable have future of this colony but" the destinies of the now, it is believed, passed away, and as the whole group of Australian States, is the rapid prospects of most of the great producing interests extension of the movement in favour of Federa are of a very encouraging character, a change for tion. After prolonged negotiation on the subject the better in the finances of the colony may between the different Governments, a conference with confidence shortly be expected. The price, of representatives from all the Australasian moreover, obtained for the 31 per cent. stock of colonies was held at Melbourne in February Queensland recently placed on the London money last, at which this colony was ably represented market affords satisfactory evidence of the by the Hon. Sir Samuel \V. Griffith and the unimpaired credit of the colony, and of the con Hon. John M. Macrossan. Th3 unanimity dis fidence entertained by investors and capitalists in played by the various delegates in favour of the its financial stability and abundant resources. object of the movement furnished convincing ''Notwithstanding the abnormally wet seasons, evidence that notwithstanding certain differ rail way construction has made fair progress ences of opinion in regard to matters of during the last year, eighty miles having been detail, the realization of the federal idea opened up for public traffic, and contracts made was at length brought within practical range, at satisfactory prices for an additionall55 miles. while the universal interest in the proceed Plans have been carefully prepared, and will be ings of the conference exhibited through submitted for your approval, for proposed ex ten out the colonies showed clearly that the sinus (including the lines specified in the schedule efforts being made in the direction of federal laid upon the table of the Legislative Assembly union were in accord with popular aspirations. last se,,ion), all of which are designed for the The papers in connection with the negotiations development of the agricnltural, mineral, pastoral, referred to, with the report of the proceedings of and other resources of the colony ; the extension the conference, will be laid before you, and of main lines being at the same time arranged resolutions will he submitted to you asking your with a view to the ultimate junction of our concurrence in the appointment of representa. numerous railway systems into one. tives from both branches of the legi,;lature to "Although mining operations have also been the convention to be held early in the coming grerttly impeded on account of the character of year, at which this great question is proposed to the seasons, I am pleased to see that the yield be dealt with. Similar action is being taken in from our various goldfields has placed Queens the other Australian Parliaments. land in the first position among the gold-pro. "In consequence of the pre,~alent industrial ducing colonies of Australia, and that in other and commercial depression, due not only to the branches of mining the production continues to domestic conditions already alluded to, but to be fairly satisfactory. causes of more world-wide aprJlication, the demand "The efforts of the Government to improve for labour in the colony has become considerably the condition of our agriculturists, by providing restricted, and the necessity has been forced upon for their instruction in the latest and most the Government of imposing a corresponding approved methods of utilising their products, restriction upon the introduction of fresh candi have been attended by marked success; and as dates for employment. Fully believing that at further efforts in this direction are being made, the present stage of the colony's history immigra it is confidently anticipated that this large and tion is essential to its progress, and believing also important section of om- colonists will be greatly that the exigencies of the time are not such, or benefited by the creation of more remunerative of so lasting a character, as to demand any markets for the products of the farm. \Vith a radical change in their immigration policy, my view also to the higher development of agricul Ministers have decided that the present difficulty tural know ledge, you will be asked to give effect would be adequately met by reducing the number to a scheme for the establi*'hment of agricultural of shipments of immigrants from one per month colleges and ~xperiment stations. to two in ea~h period of three months, and by "Steps will be taken for the introduction of a terminating the engagement of their lecturing system of fvrest conservancy, having for its agent in the United Kingdom; and directions to object not only the preservation of existing this effect were accordingly forwarded to the forests, but also the re-afforesting of the denuded Agent-General in November last. It is gratifying, portions of the colony, 4 The Opening Speech. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply.
"Valuable information has been collected on "These and all other matters submitted to you the subject of irrigation, which will be laid before will I have no doubt receive your earnest atten you. tion, and I trnst that, under the guidance of Divine Providence, your deliberations will issue "'Vhile it is satisfactory to be able to report in the acl;-ancement of the various interests and the continued success attending the work per· general well-being of the people for whom you formed under om system of public instruction, m-e called upon to legislate." my Jlilinister'l are giving earnest consideration to ADDRESS IN REPLY. the necessity of supplementing the system by Mr. CALLAN movecl- adding to the facilitie• now existing for obtaining 1. '!'hat a sdect eommiltee l)e appointed to consider technical instruction subsequent to the com and prepare an Address in Reply to the Speech delivered pletion of the usual school cour e, and an oppor by his J~xccllcncy the Governor in opening this the third session of the tenth l}arliamcnt of Queensland. tunity will be given of discussing the desirable 2. That the said eonunittee consist of .1\Ir. R. G. CJsey, nes3 of granting more liberal assi,,tance to the lVIr. JD. Vlunkett, ::ur. L I.issner, :J,Ir. B. D. MoreheadJ and efforts which .are already being made in this the mover. direction. Question put and passed. "The necessity of giving greater attention to The Committee thereupon retired, and having the physical training of the children attending returned, brought up the following Address, which was read by the Clerk :- our State schools is being increasingly recognised, and a large number of the teachers have accord "To His Excellency General Sir Henry vVylie ingly been afforded an opportunity of acquirin£< Norman, Knight Grand Cross of the Most a new system of physical drill, with a view to Honourable Order of the Bath, Knight its application in the schools under their charge. Grand Cross of the Most Distingubhed Excellent resulto arc anticipated from the incor Order of St. l\Iichael and St. George, Com poration of the system with the regulllr course of panion of the Mo;t Eminent Order of the school training. Indian Empire, Governor and Commander in-Chief o£ the Colony of Queensland and "GENUEIHEN oF THE LEGISLATIVE AssEMBLY,- its Dependencies. '"l'he Estimates for the ensuing financial "l\IAY IT PLEASE YouR ExcELLENCY,- year have been mrefully and economicttlly pre. pared, and will be laid before you at an early "'Ve, Her Majesty's loyal and dutiful sub elate. jects, the Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, in Parliament assembled, desire " HoNOURABLE GE!\TLE:IIE!\ OJ<' THE LEGISLA~'IVE to assure Y onr Excellency of our continued CouNCIL, AND GENTLE>IEN Ol<' THE LEGISLA loyalty and affection to onr Most Gracious TIVE AssEMBLY,- 8overeign. " The ne:;otiations which had for some time "\Ve shall give our most careful attention and been carried on between the Imperial authorities consideration to the several measures which may and the Australian Governments with a view to be brought before us, and we beg to assure Y onr the reduction of postal charg-es led to an inter Excellency that it will be our anxious endeavour colonial postal conference being held at Adelaide so to deal with them that our labours may be dnring last month, at which this colony was conducive to the material and moral advance represented by the Postmaster-General. Copies ment and prosperity of this portion of the of the proceedings of the conference will shortly Empire." be laid before you. Mr. CALLAN said: Mr. Speaker,-In "In connection with the new contract for the rising to move the adoption of the Address in mail service from Brisbane to London t·i& Torres Reply, I regret extremely that I have not had Straits, which commenced in February last, it is an opportunity before this of spmking very intended to submit a resolution to authorise the mnch in public. But, Sir, I am quite certain Postmaster-General to give the co~tracting com that hon. members of this House, both on the opposite side and on this side, and you yourself, pany notice to provide a fortnightly in place of a Sir, will give me every assistance possible. Not four-weekly service. It is further proposed to having spoken very much in public, I would introduce a Bill to amend the postttllaws and to much rather that someone else than myself had establish a parcel post. been entrusted with the duty of moving the adop tion of this Address. At the same time, when "The following, amongst other measures, will that duty lms devolved on me, as a new member also be presented for your coEsicleration :- of this House, I will try and do the little I can "A Bill to Reform the Constitution by pro to make more plain, perhaps, the announce viding for an Elective Legislative Council; ments contained in the Speech of the Governor. I do not intend to detain the Honse very "A Bill to make provision for Dividing the long, and w1ll just skim over the various Colony into Districts for :Financial purposes ; matters which His Excellency has put before "A Bill for the Supervision and Regulation of ns. First, with reference to the result of the Factories and vVorkrooms and for the Limita floods, we are told that- tion of the hours of working in Shops; " It is a matter of extreme regret that during the "A Bill to amend the Law relating to the peri'ld of the recess the colony has been visited by a Endowment of l\1unicipalities and Divisional series of floods of unprecedented magnitude, causing Boards; great and wide-spread losses." With that I quite agree ; at the same time, " A Bill to consolidate and amend the District from my experience in the colony I am ,,,atisfied Courts Acts ; that, although the floods have cansed great and "A Bill dealing with the Registration of Bills wide-spread losses, the ultimate results will be af Sale, beneficial to the colony generally. In looking Address in Reply. [24 JuNE.] Address in Reply. over the speeches delivered at the opening of last colony when rerruired. A larg-e number of those session, I observe it was a time of drought, and very person'' who are now adverse to immigra the hon. member who then stood in the position tion would not have been here had it not been for I stand in now, epoke of the drought as devastat this very vote, because I believe that at least ing the colony. vVe are no'w in a very two-thirds, possibly three-fourths, of the in much better position than we were then. habitants of the colony have been brought here At that time we could not foretell the by assisted immigration ; and some of those very result of the drought then ]mevailing. Since people now say, "Ko more immigrants; we will then we have had very large floods-the largest build a wall all round the place and have in my experience of over thirty years in the no more people brolight here." I think colony-and I am perfectly certain the results of the course taken by the present Ministry the floods will be beneficial, because, although is a very manly and straightforward one. It is we may have dry seasons for the next year or one that, mind you, is in opposition to the great two, still the country will have been so saturated bulk of the popnbtion ; but they say, " vV e that there will be plenty of feed for stock. I believe in immigration, and while we do not may ~ay at once that at prei'ent I labour under a want to bring too many people here in these times di.~ability. I want to speak to the House, and I of depression, we hold the right to bring more here feel I cannot do so. It is just as well to be when we w:1..nt tbem ;" and any Government, straight to you. Although there are many whether on this side or the other, which threw things I sqould like to >•ay; that I find myseif that right away would make a very great at present quite unable to say, although if the mistake. The next paragraph refers to the bad House supports me a little, I may be able to say state of trade throughout the colony, but it must some of them. I quite believe I shall receive be remembered that owing to the heavy floods the support of hon. members on both sides of the all traffic was suspended for a time, the result House, especially as I daresay many other hon. being that stations and townships in the interior members have been in a similar position. The wanting good,, could not get them, and of course next matter is that of federation. 0n that ques that tells upon the state of trade generally, and tion I have thought a good deal, not that I have upon the revenue. But, Sir, the result of my ever taken very mueh interest in politics, but experience, which has been very considerable, because the question of the fnture of Australia is has been that whenever you have big floods by one which I have never neglected, and have con which the country is thoroughly saturated, stantly thought about, during the whole of although there may be an intermission of traffic my residence in these colonies. Queensland and a period when the colony suffers, yet the up to the jJresent has been particularly fortu ultimate result is generally beneficial ; and I nate in the men it has sent, whether to have not the slightest doubt it will be the :Federal Councils or to conventinns on the ca,,e in this instance also. OnA thinL'" I matt•r of federation--men like the Hon. Sir S. may point out is, that our wool industry, W. Griffith and the Hon. J. M. lYhcrossan which is one of the principal inclustrieR of the who have devoted their time and their great colony, is now in a very flourishing condition. abilities to the furtherance of the question, which And not alone that, but the frozen meat industry is worthy the efforts of the greatest statesmen -that is the sending to the old country our beef in this or any other Parliament. Those two hon. and mutton in a condition fit for sale in the gentlemen have done their very utmost, and I English markets-was never before in so good a can only say that if in the future we get anything condition as it is ncnv. As you are awure, Sir, like the same quality of men to look after our in Kcw Zeahnd this industry has reached large interests at these conventions or conferences or dimensions, and no doubt it will do so here :B'ederal Councils, Queensland need not be a bit also. At present there is only one large estab afraid. It is possible there may be differ lishment carrying on the business in Queens ences of opinion on the quGstion of federation. land, that at Lake's Creek, but I trust Some may think that possibly federation is not that before another twelve months are over such a very good thing. But if one thinks there will be half-a.-dozen Lake's Creek estab· what a country this is-what its magnitude is lishments in different portions of the colony. it will be seen that although we have many I refer to this because the Speech alludes to the things to be thankful for, there is one thing we present deprrs,ion, and became I am of opinion, want, and that one thing is water. "When we not as a member of this House, but as a business know that water can be obtained by human man, that the colony has not been for years in a hands, then I say that the feder"'tion "and con better pusition than it is at the present solidation of the various colonies into one empire moment. \Ve have now what we never had is a great thing and one to be adopted. At pre before. Our wool is now not only required in sent Australia is something like the bundle of the old markfts, but I have seen, and others sticks in the old fable. vVe have one colony have seen, 1voollen ga.rn1ents worn in countries pulling one way and another colony pulling where wool was never known until within the another waY. :B'ederation will bind the bundle of last two or three years. \Ve have seen that in sticks together, and I cannot think that any better .Japan, and it is a matter of great importance to men can look after it on our behalf than those Australia, because it will provide a market for who have looked after it up to the present time. one of our largest and most important industries. If we can only get others ne;.,rly as good as they llailway construction h" been going on, not are, I think we need have no fear for the future withstanding the very big floods we have ex with regard to federation. The next paragraph of perienced and the difficulties attending them. the Speech states that the Government, in view \Vith regard to agriculture, I think a great of the general depre&oion existing, have thought fit deal might be done. I am sure that a great to limit the number of immigrants coming to the deal has been done, and is bein(l" done, for colony. That, I think, was very wiue on the part that industry by the present Ministry. They of the Government under the circumstances, but I have sent round the travelling dairy with am glad to see that they still believe in immigra lecturers to impart information on the subject to tion; that they still retain to themselves the power the people, and the result has been most bene· of bringing out a certain number of people, accord ficial. A curious thing happened not long ago. ing to the vote that may bepassedforthat purpose. \Vhen I wus con1ing across frmn San Francisco a At present I think that vote is a very small one. person on board the steamer told me that he Look;ng at the vast area of Queensland, and its had 1,800 hags of maize on board for Sydney, immense resources, I think we should have the and, further, that by far the greater part power to bring a large number of people to this of it went to Queensland. Now, if America .Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Repl,y. can send maize to Australia and make it pay Since then we have got relief from those there must be something wrong in the state of droughts after a good deal of praying. Our our agricultural industry, and I certainly think prayers were fulfilled, and I am sorry to say that the best course to pursue is that adopted by the I think we prayed for too much rain. Wet present Ministry-that is, to educate our agri seasons mean prosperity to the miners, the agri culturists as to the best methods to follow in culturists, and the squatters, and to everyone else, carrying out their work. Another matter iu but they came a little too thick, and something connection with this subject which has been in the style of the d:1ys of poor old Noah resulted. brought under notice is, that within the last He got out by having an ark, but we were not twelve months therE! hots bc•?n paid for prepared for it. I happened to be in the North bacon, hams, butter, and cheese imported at the time of the extraordinarily severe floods, into the colony no less than £160,853. That and on the Northern line of railway there was has been paid by the people of Queensland sixty or seventy feet of BurdBkin water. That for these articles imported from the other colonies, was enough to knock all the traffic off, and conse and I think those who have farms ought to be quently that line has not paid as much as it able to producfl things within the colony, and would have done at any other time. The thus save that £160,000. When we consider the disastrous seasons have told on everything. duty on those articles, they ought certainly to be I believe even a civilised place like the able to make them at a profit. A Bill is promised metropolis of a very large country like to amend the Constitution by providing for an Queensland- which wants dividing into three elective Legislative Council. I think that is a different colonies-was submerged. r::lome por matter that will commend itself to hon. members tions of South Brisbane were submerged so on both sides of the House. I think any measure that it was safer to go round in boats than by that takes power aw:;y from this House and from trams or railwaYs or busses. Since I have been the Ministry of the day is always objectionable, in the colony t have never experienced such and therefore it is better to have an elective heavy floods, and their results will be felt for a Upper House constituted by a vote of this considerable time, no matter what Government House. II do not think any better scheme could may be in power. Bridges and railway lines be proposed. The next is a Bill to make pro have been carried away, and the receipts have vision for dividing the colony into districts for got smaller. However, our Treasurer will, when financial purposes. That is a measure which I he brings in his Budget, show how he is going to believe in, though it may not commend itself to rectify that. I hope he will succeed, although I the support of some hon. members, particularly do not know how he is going to do it. His the Northern members. The Bill dealing with Excellency mentions his trip to theNorth. I had the regulation of bills of sale and the other the pleasure of accompanying His Excellency, measures mentioned are, I think, worthy of the and I must say that he is the only Governor careful consideration and support of hon. mem who has in one year travelled as far as he did, bers on both sides. They are all good, progressive and made himself acquainted with the different measures, and I think should command the portions of the colony. I know he obtained the support of all hon. members who have the wel goodwill and sympathy of all the people of the fare of the colony at heart. I shall not detain vlaces he visited. He is the only white Gover the Home longer, but will conclude by moving nor who has seen some parts of the colony, and the motion. he has not seen one-fourth of the colony yet. Mr. LISSNER said: Mr. Speaker,-In rising \Vherever His Excellency went, there was any to second the motion for the adoption of the amount of loyalty :1nd goodwill shown to him, Address in Reply, introduced by my h that a general federation will soon take place. tural college. I am glad that the Government So far as the alteration made in immigration is propose to submit to the House a scheme for a concerned, I believe it would be unwise to stop fortnightly mail service with Engl"nd vid Torres immigr:;tion all at once, because we have hard Straits, and I hope that hon. members will see times at present, and there are some places in the their way clear to support and pass that pro colony where we cannot employ the incoming posal. Such a service will benefit not only the immigrants. There is no doubt that we are not Northern parts of the colony, but also Brisbltne now in the position we were in when we sanc ltnd other pbces in the South. A mail service tioned the present immigration law, but I believe vid Torres Straits may not suit the majority of that nearly half of the inhabitants of Queensland people for speedy correspondence with the old have been brought here under th"t system, and country, but there is not the slightest doubt what would Queensland be without them? Some that anybody who has had anything to do with thing like Western Australia-begging and pray commerce in ihe colony \vill admit that this ing for constitutional government. Here we are mail service has brought the colony more pro a colony of over 400,000 people ; wc can depend minently before commercial men in England to son1e extent on our regular increase, but our and on the continent of Europe thltn any other native increase is born very young, and I think service ever subsidised by Queensland. It is it is a wise and good thing to mix with this in a national service, and I hope hon. members crease a lot of other people from the old country. will sanction it, especially as it will only involve J5y reducing immigration to the extent stated the small outlay of £13,000. It is all very well by the Government, all classes will be suited, and for Southern members to say that this service it will not be detrimental to the progress of the will only benefit the North. But as I have colony. I do not believe in the argument that already Sltid, such is not the case. Every we do not want anybody else to come here any steamer engaged in that service comes up the more. We might just as well liTe like Robinson Brisbane River and makes this port its terminus, Crusoe, and wait for some stray ship to take and the more steamers there are, the better will us away. I believe that immigration is the it be for Brisb"ne :tnd the colony generally. life of a colony, and that Queensland will The service doe' not seem to attract the larger never be the colony she ought to be until shipping firms at home. 'When the Government she has five times her present population. called for tenders, there was no tender received \Ve have everything here to supply not only from any company except theBritish-Indi"Com 500,000 or 600,000 people, but 2,000,000. It pany. The Orient and P. and 0. Companies would, therefore, be unwise to stop immi hltve large ships going across the ocean to other gration altogether, ltS is proposed by some countries, but they evidently did uot think it good extreme people. I am glad to see that min enough to tender for the (~ueensland service. ing has gone on succe-ssfully; that in spite of \Ve have a good service as far as it goes, but it drought and floods the yield from our gold ought to be made a fortnightly service. Passing fields has been in the aggregate a very sa tis on to another topic in the Speech, I will refer factory one. The value of the output for last now to the promise that a Bill will be brought year was £2,750,000, which is the highest yield of forward to alter the constitution of the Upper any industry in the colony. Therefore, it is fair Chamber, and mltke it an elective chamber. I to say that it is one of the most important do not think we should adhere to the old system industries we have to look to at the present time, and keep up the present Chamber as a reflex of and we ought not to allow it to dwindle to the House of Peers in old England. It is not insignificance through want of care and good good enough. \Vith our democratic ideas, and legislation. I notice that in the Opening Speech our progress as a people, we ought to have an of the Governor we are promised that provision Upper House in which the people have the is to be made for technical education. I choice of the members. Hon. gentlemen think that some further technic:tl education who belong to that Chamber tell the people is still required for miner!'. \Ve have cer that they are " patent safeguard -a sort of tainly an odd lecturer here and there-one patent brake- against rash legislation. I at Gympie and one at Charters Towers s"y, let that brake be chosen by the people, but that is not sufficient. \V e want lecturers to and they will have more confidence in it. go to all the importltnt goldfields in the colony I hope the Government will introduce this and keep up a course of instruction for miners. measure early enough in the session to allow it We also want a school of mines, and " very good to be thoroughly discussed and passed. I believe one, in some portion of the colony. The Govern the majority of members "re in favour of such " ment hltve provided diamond drills in a small way, chltnge "s is suggested ; it might not suit every it is true, ltnd I believe the".e drills will be found body, but it will suit the majority of the people very useful in some parts of the colony in testing of (lueensland. There is nothing like members the ground. But diamond drills and one or two feeling a certain amount of responsibility, and lecturers do not fully meet the requirements of nothing like going before your constituents ·the miners. Tbe Government, and in f"ct any if you have any-and telling them what you Government, can go much further in supporting have done, or wh"t you have not done, and the mining industry-which has been proved to be getting into touch with them in order to make the leading industry of the colony-than any Go that responsibilit'' felt ; and to let the electors vernment has gone hitherto. The agriculturists, themselves feel that you are their representlt I am pleased to observe, have not been neglected. tive, and not simply sent into the House by Agriculture will exist when mines are done, and this or that Government. The hon. member who I am glad to see that people in every po,rt of the has moved the adoption of the Address in colony visited by the tmvelling dairy speak well Reply has gone carefully over the whole Speech, of that arrangement of the l\!linister for Lands except one or two portions which he did not as a means for assisting them to improve the touch upon, and which it is unnecessltry for me to manufacture of butter and cheese. The gentle discuss. Members on both sides of the House m"n who has been appointed to instruct farmers will no doubt find many tbings in it to talk in the curing of hams and bacon will also do good about, and I suppose some things that ought to service. Then we have another able gentleman be in it, but are not mentioned. I think it is a very who is going round lecturing and showing how fair compilation to st"rt talking upon, and there they do things in America. Whether we can is no doubt that we shall have plenty of that yet. imitate the Amerirans in agriculture I do not \Vhen I sit down, probably the hon. gentleman know. HoweYer, the agriculturists have not been at the head of the Opposition will get up and neglected, and now they are promised an agricul- talk very se1·iously about the approaching end of 8 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply. the Government, and tell them that the ship is tion throughout the colony than anything sinking fast and all hands are lost. I have no else, was the dealing by ;the Government with doubt of that. I am prepared to hear it, and I the "Hopeful" prisoners. That is a painful trust the hon. gentleman will a! ways say so until subject and a disagreeable subject, and I do not he becomes Premier again. "\Vhen that time propose to refer to it in any spirit of vindictive comes I, for one, will survive it and meet him on ness or harshness, but the matter must be the other side with a smile. I trust mv hon. friends rderred to, and I can only refer to the action of will do the same. I ha,·e full conhdence in his the Government as showing that there is a party ability and his well-wishes towards Queensland. in this colony 'which sympathi~es with such Mr. Speaker, I have nothing more to say, and I crimes as those :committed by the "Hopeful " therefore second the motion. prisoners. The HoN. Sm S. W. GRIFJ!'ITH said: Mr. HoNOURABLE MEMBERS on the Government Speaker,-I think the hon. mover and seconder side: No, no! of the Address in Reply may be congratulated upon having made the best of a very difficult task. The HoN. Sm S. W. GRIFFITH : I main I do not remember any· instance where gentle tain that that is the position in which the matter men in proposing an Address in Reply to a stands. Or else the Government must take up Governor's Speech haYe had a more difficult task the position that they do not believe the evidence than the one performed by those twohon. members on which the men were convicted; that they to-day. The hon. member for Fitzroy, although discredit the finding of the successive juries, he said he was rather nervous, did very well and the opinions of the judge expressed at the notwithstanding, and with a little more practice time, and afterwards in an official communi will become a very useful member of the House. cation. I !mow nothing of reports sent in to the He is not a new member, and it is indeed singular pr<.. rent Government, but refer to that which was that neither last year nor this year were there any sent in when I was in office. They must either new members to move the Address in Reply. have discredited all that when they said, "We That is a circumstance which I think is unpar will set the men at liberty," or else the con alleled in the history of the colony. I am not duct of the Government in dealing with the able to take the same favourable view, Mr. matter sh0ws that they regarderl the case Speaker, of the proposals of the Government from this point of view: that these men cl id not that the hon. gentlemen who have spoken seem deserve any punishment for their crimes. That to take, although they have not committed must be their view, otherwise they could not themselves very plainly. There are some por have acted on the basis that the men who tions of the Speech with which, of course, we were convicted were all guilty in the same can all agree ; but it occurs to me that degree, while the real facts of the case were the Government in preparing this Speech that some were guilty of murder of the most felt themselves in the position of people who atrocious character, whilst others were more or ware making a speech because they had to less unwilling participators in it. They were sen say something, ancl not because they had some tenced according to the different crimes of which thing to say. The Governn,ent at the com they were found guilty. The Government, mencement of the session, seeing the position in therefore, if they wished to exercise mercy, which thA colony stands at the pre.sent time, should, at all events, have exercised it with ought to have something to say, and should not some discrimination, and on some sound basis. merely put forward a speech because they have The men who were guilty of the most atrocious, to say something. In referring to this Speech in awful crimes were all put on the same basis as the detail, I intend to refer, as the practice is, to men who were punished more lightly. and they the conduct. of the Government during the were all let free. I say that the credit of the recess. I think it is proper and usual to com colony has been injured, and the reputation of ment upon the conduct of the Government in the colony has been injured. The comments in the the management of the colony since we last Press of the other colonif•' have shown it. The met, and then to deal with their proposals ::tction of the Government has shown, indeed, for the future. Now, the first thing that that there is in this colony a party which is occurs to me is to wonder why we are so sometimes strong- enough to maintain a Govern· late in meeting. No explanation of that has ment in office tliat really sympathises with the been given, and none is visible to the ordinary crimes which have been committed in the South observer. When the House adjourned, the hon. Sea Island labour trade. That is the opinion gentleman at the head of the Government, in which has been formed, not only in the answer to a question from me, said-he did not colony, but beyond it. I say that it is very give a definite promise, because no man conld do unfortunate, but, after all, it is only of a piece that-but he gave us to understand that the House with the general course of action pursued by would meet not later than very early in ,Tune, and the present Government to which I will refer. possibly in May. I do not know what e'l:p!a The Government profess to be opposed to the . nation can be given ; nothing ~mggt-';;ts itself as a introduction of servile labour. It is part of their justification for not calling the House together ' programme. They are officially opposed to it, before the end of June. Now, during the recess the but on the other hand they are pressed by sup· Government have done some things to which porters who are strong advocates of that labour, public attention has been very much attracted. and who think they have been hardly dealt The first important function they had to per with by being deprived of it. The Govern form wa.s the appointment of the Civil Service ment have felt themselves in a difficult posi Commissioners. The hon. gentleman at the tion, and they have had to do something to head of the Government solemnly assured the please those si1pporters, while at the same time House that in the selection of those Commis endeavouring to keep their promises to the colony. sioners no regard whatever would be paid to And how have they done it? J<'or one thing, they anything but fitness for the office. I do not have released these men, and brought disgrace on intend to comment upon the officers who have the colony. I may say, in passing, that I did not been appointed, because it is never advisable that notice among the list of papers laid on the table officers, when they have been appointed, should any connected with this matter. I hope we shall be discredited in the eyes of the public, but have the papers, or such of them as may be I do assert that the Government in the selection properly laid on the table. of these officers did not keep the promise that they gave to this House. Now, one of the things The PREMIER: The papers relating to the which during the recess attracted more atten- case? Address in Reply. [24 JUNE.] Add1·ess in Reply. 9 The HoN. SIRS. W. GRIFFITH: Of course conduct of Ministers on that tour made by we know thE·re may be some papers that cannot the Governor. It has always been understood properly be laid on the table. 'What has been that when the sovereign, or the representative the conduct of the Government during the recess of the sovereign, is present no reference is made with respect to this black labour business? I to party politics. No person who knows how did sincerely hope two years ago that that ques· to behave himself ever takes advantage of speak· tion was settled ; but it is not settled yet. The ing on such an occasion to advocate party Government have deliberately and systematically politics. But what do we find was done in the endeavoured to revive that question throughout North? vV e find the tour of His :Excellency the cr>lony. the Governor converted by the Minister for HoNOURABLE MEMBERS: No, no! Lands into a separation campaign-a separation and black labour campaign. That was de· The Hox. SIRS. W. GRIFFITH: I say that liberately done by the Minister for Lands. I during the recess the Government have deliber sa.id just now that the hon. gentleman at the ately and systematically endeavoured to revive head of the Government did not know what was that question throughout the colony. They have done, and I am telling him now. encouraged people to believe that although here in this House they are pledged to oppose the The PREMIER : You are painting it in your system of servile labour, nevertheless in their colours. inmost hearts it is their desire to see its con· The HoN. SIR S. W. GRIFFITH: I was tinuance, and that those who are animated by a not there, and I take it as reported in the papers, similar desire must support them. That is what and as it has gone throughout the length and the Government have been doing systematically breadth of this colony and the other colonies. I during the recess. say that the tour of the Governor was converted The PREMIER : No ! by the members of the Government who were The HoN. SIR S. W. GRIFFITH: The hon. present-not by the Colonial 'l'reasurer, but by gentleman at the head of the Government does the Minister for Lands-into a separation and not know anything about what has been done by black labour campaign. I say that is a most his colleagues, but I will tell the hon. gentleman lamentable thing to have done. Wha.t does it what has been done. \V e had, first of all, a mean? Does the hon. gentleman, who has deputation that waited upon the hon. gentleman separation at heart, think the movement at the head of the Government, who was accom will be forwarded by that means ? On the panied in receiving them by the Minister for contrary. He has made it plainer than Lands. That was a very large deputation, ever, that so far as he and his principal allies are representing the sugar industry, ancl they asked concerned, the foundation of the movement is for some relief. Some reference was made to servile labour. But the keeping up of ,,ervile black labour, and the hon. gentleman then told labour is a matter that does not concern them what was ostensibly the policy of the the Northern planters alone. The whole of Government, and that the deputation could Southern Queensland and the white population expect no relief from the Government in that of the whole of Australia are concerned in direction. But what did the Minister for Lands the question, and they are beginning to take say ? " The Southern members are too many for a very warm interest in the matter. They us," meaning, "You will never get black do pot intend that Australia shall ever be labour until you get separation!" given over to any but white men. So that the hon. gentleman, in the course he pursued, very The COLONIAL SECRETARY (Hon. J. M. seriouslY prejudiced the chances of his separation Macrossan) : And not then. movement. The hon. gentleman smiles becau"e The HON. SIR S. W. GRU'FITH : That is he does not think so, and thinks that in spite of what the Minister for Lands said in effect : all he is going to get separation, and with it "The reason why we C':mnot give you black black labour. labour is because the Southern members are too The MINISTER FOR LANDS: No! many for you. \Vein the North want black labour; but the Southern me m hers outweigh us, The HoN. SIRS. W. GRIFFITH: That is and so we can do nothing." That is the state what the hon. gentleman thinks, and that is ment made by the Minister for Lands in the what he expresced as plainly as pos~ible. In presence of his chief, and not contradicted. the meantime, I venture to s>ty he has re· What did we see during the Governor's tour in tarded the cause of separation by the course the North? Then it was put plainly enough, he pur;ued. For my own part, I venture to "There is no hope of getting black labour until express the opinion that one of the strongest you get separation." objections to separation is the danger of servile labour; and I will g-o so far as to say, Mr. The MINISTER FOR LANDS (Hon. M. H. Speaker, that if sufficient guarantees were givPn Black): No. that servile labour \mule! not be introduced in The HoN. SIR S. W. GRIFFITH: Yes; it that portion of Australia, my opposition to separa was put plainly enough. Then the Minister for tion would be very much relaxed. There are many Railways and \Vorks said a great deal too much other objections and difficulties in the way ; was made of this black labour question for but if the separation advocates would give political purpos0s. substantial guarantees that this system would HoNOUHABLE MEMBERS : Hear, hear ! not be introduced in the North, I would con The MINISTER JTOR LANDS: You are sider the matter from a very different point of doing it now. view, and would endeavour to see whother the other difficulties could be met or not. They may The HoN. SIR S. W. GRIFFITH: We or may not be met, but that diffic'ulty is insur· know the views of the Po"tmaster-General on the mountable. subject expressed in this House last se~sion. He strenuously supports it. I said just now I had The COLONIAL SECRETARY: No guaran hoped this question was settled. But during the tee could be given to bind a colony like that. recess we have seen the Government deliberately The HoN SIR S. W. GRIFFITH : The hon. keeping the question alive, and encouraging the gentleman says that no guamntee could be given. people in the North of the colony to hope that by I think it could, but it is plain that no guarantee separatiOn they will get a continuance of the would be given. They are determined to have system of servile labour. In connection with their hands free, and think they may hoodwink this subject, I must refer to the extraordinary the people now into thinking it will be all right. 10 Add1•ess in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] .Address in Reply. "When we look round and see the Northern mem If they do, they are very great traitors to the bers of the House, I s:.ty put them into a Parlia colony generally, whose servants they are. ment by themselves and ask them to vote on But they are placed in a very cliflicult the black labour question. \V eknow perfectly well position. They are in a position in which how the votes would go. Yet they ask us to give it is their duty to serve the whole colony. them separation, and say they will then hold At the s criminals, some of whom, as the hon. gentleman quite agree with him that if it were to he so it said, had forfeited their lives. The hon. member would be intoleraLle, and that it would not be must know that is hardly in accordance with tolerated by any other colony in the union. But the facts. He must be aware there was no I do not believe for one moment that the majority precipitate action taken by the Government of the people of the North would return members with regard to the case. He knows as well in favour of black labour if they had separation. as I do that for months and months the In fact, we have onlytnlook round the House to see Government inquired into the case, and it that this would he the case. The miners, and was only after the most mature deliberation also the people of the towns mnst necessarily be that the Executive decided-not in any panic O!Jf>Osed to black labour. 'fhe hon. gentleman-I or in any hurry. and not in consequence think unfortun::ttely-rrmde an allusion to the of outside pressure, but c::tlmly and delibe Agent-General, when he said that the action of rately decided upon the evidence Lrought be that gentleman was of a piece with the action fore them that it was a fit and proper thing taken by the :Ministry-that is to say, as I that those men should be released. The whole understood the hon. gentleman, that he was of the papers dealing with the m::ttter will be laid averse, and showed his aversion, to the introduc before the House in a few clays, and the Govern tion of white labour into Northern Queensland, ment challenge a debate upon the subject. I or cm·tain portions of the colony. He Lased that hope it will be fully discussed, hut it can assertion, I understood, upon certain evidence be better discussed after the papers have purporting to be correct which was published been laid on the table of the House than in the Courie;·. I think the hon. gentleman it can be now. The hon. gentleman went :1 might ha<"e waited, :1s the Government waited, little too far when he stated that the until we get the evidence as it was actually given "Hopeful" prisoners w~re let out of gaol as a before the committee of the House of Commons. sop to the sugar planters. Surely the han. I do not consider it fair to judge a gentleman of gentleman cannot have been in earnest when he the well-known capacity and undoubted nbility made that statement, Lecause I think no men of Mr. Archer as the leader of the Opposition could possibly dnrnat;e the sugar industry more has done, and to condemn him without having than the "Hopeful" prisoner>. Kothing could heard the caee. The explan::ttion I have from possibly have clone more harm to that industry Mr. Archer is to this effect: He does not, of than the outrages those men committed, or were course, give his evidence in detail, hut supposed to have committed, and to say that states that his evidence was in connection their release was a sop to the sugar inoustry is a with the question of relieving the large statement hardly in accordance with the reality. towns of England, where there W::ts a con It would have been better for the industry ge.sted population, and he states that he threw had those men been hanged, rightly or cold water on a proposition to send out the wrongly; but to say tl.at theirliheration is a sop surplus pop11lation from those congested districts to the industry is a strange perversion of facts. to this colony, and in so doing I think he was Then the hon. gentleman went on to say that perfectly right, and he has the fullest approval the Government, or certain members of the of the Government. Government, in a tour up North, wherein they The Hox. Sm S. W. GRIFFITI-I: Nobody accompanied the Go\'ernor, took advantage of objects to that. the Governor's visit to turn the tour into an electioneering campaign on the basis of separa The PREMIER : That is the information I tion and black bbour. Now, the hon. gentle have from Mr. Archer. man knows as well as I do that the Governmel.lt Mr. GROOM : He went further than that, have no sympathy with black labour. ·what according to the evidence l read. ever sympathies the Minister for Lands may have had with black labour he has disclaimed The PREMIER : I have not the evidence as them. At any rate, so long as he is a mem Mr. Archer gave it before the committee. ber of this Government he must be opposed to black labour. I believe that he is opposed Mr. GROOM: I read it in the Tirnes, and his to black labour. Now, with regard t0 what explanation. that hon. member said ::tbout separation up The PREMIER : I also only read it in the North, I have read all he said just as carefully Times. Mr. Archer points out in his letter to probably as the leader of the Opposition, and me that his communication was not inserted in what has he said? He has given expre,sion to extenso by the editor of the Times, and the opinions that every member of this House knew Go\'ernrnent have full confidence in ]\Jr. Archer, he held when he joined the Ministry. There was and are not going to allow him to be charged no secret about it. It was perfectly well known with failing in his duty, in the way he has been that the hon. members for Mackay and Towns by the leader of the Opposition in this House, ville were in favour of separation. They have been and also by the Press. I believe that Mr. separationists, they are now separationists, but Archer would he one of the last men in the they are not separationists so long as they are mem world to do that. The hon. gentleman then bers of the present Government. This is no more mentioned the jesting promises ::tbout the separa accentuated now than when the Government was tion of the Central districts, and said that the formed, and the remarks the hon. gentleman has cry for separation did not exist when he was made might just as well have been made two Premier. I suppose the people of those districts . years and more ago aq to-clay. I deny that the had so many grievances to attend to at that Minister for Lands in his trip up North in any time that they had no leisure for such a small way made use of his position as a Minister thing as separation, hut now they are so well off accompanying the Governor to preach the doc that they are looking about for something to trines of separation and black labour. I deny grumble at, and mise this cry for separation. I that he ever did so, and he will justify him may say at once that this Administration has self. I am perfectly satisfied from what I not the slightest sympathy with that cry, and I have read, and from what I know of the believe myself in the arguments brought forward Minister for Lands, that he never conducted by the leader of the Opposition with regard to himself in the way the leader of the Opposition this question. The hon. gentleman further went desires it to be believed he did. I also totally dis on to say that it was impossible, though he agree with the hon. member as to the probability of admitted the honesty of purpose of the two black labour being accepted in the Northern Ministers to whom he alluded, for the Minister portion of the colony should it be separated. I for Lands and the Colonial Secretary to do their 14 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply. duty honestly and fairly in this Cabinet, because £10,000,000 loan. If the £10,000,000 loan had been their sympathies and aspirations are in favour all, that would be bad enough, but that is not as of separation. He also indic11ted that those hon. bad as the expenditure which has been entailed by gentlemen, either unknowingly or unwittingly, rail ways only half madP, and which it will cost an were led to do thingR, in some cases to favour enormous amount of money to complete, so that and in others to injure the North, in order to the blame for the commencement of this prodigal intensify the feeling in favour of separation, expenditure lies with the late Administration, and he stated that one of those Ministers had been and the hon. gentleman is the chief culprit. I selling large quantities of land in the North in sincerely hope that this side of the House, and order to exasperate the Townsville people still members on the other side also, will sit down, further. I do not think that any hon. member and sit fast, on this system of expenditure, and who know' either the Minister for Lands or the see that railway expenditnre does not proceed in Colonial Secretary would believe for a moment the way it has done for the last few years. vV e that either of them would be guilty of such are borrowing too n1uch money; we are getting treachery ; at any rate, I do not believe so. overweighted with interest. vVe cannot shut vV ell, the hon. gentleman, dealing with the onr eyes to the fact, and there are men in this Speech, went on to say that it w11s a matter for Ministry who do not shnt their eyes to it any regret that \Ve had not said more in the more than members sitting opposite, and who Speech with regard to the finances of the are not afmid to gra]'ple with it, as will be colony. The hon. gentleman would not him shown by the statement of the Treasurer when self-and I am sure he could not expect this he brings it down to the House. I have now Government to do so- disclose his financial dealt with every objection raised by the leader of policy through the Governor's Speech, delivered the Opposition, except that to the construction from the Throne. The hon. gentleman surely of the Speech. With regard to that objection I did not suppose that the Government W'mld may mention that during the preparation of the exhibit to the House any scheme of taxa Speech, it never entered into my mind for a tion in the Opening Speech of His Excel moment whether it would be pleasing or not. lency the Governor--certainly not. They are If we revised some of the Speeches constructed just as firmly seized as to the state of the hy the hon. gentleman, ::tnd they h>tve been finance~ of the colony lB any hon. gentleman revised, it would he found that this Speech opposite. They are perfectly well aware of the compares very favourably with many of them. gra,ity of the situation; they are perfectly well The hon. gentleman, I think, hardly did credit aware that the deficit will be a very large one, to the Government in some respects. I think we probably larger than it was when the hon. are entitled to some little commendation for the gentleman left office ; but, even although that is action we took with regard to federation. The so, the Government certainly do not admit that action of this Government had a great deal to the colony is in a perilous condition. Those are do with the meeting of the Federation Conference. the words used by the leader of the Opposition. If it had not been for the position taken up by I emphatically deny that the colony is in a perilous the Queensland Government then, quite likely position. The colony has gone through some the whole thing might have tumbled over, and very bad times-exceptionally bad time,-but the meeting might not have taken place. I take there is no reason to suppose that we shall not this opportunity of saying that the colony owes in the very early future be in a very good a debt of gratitude to the two gentlemen who financial position. I do not say without extra represented Queensland at the conference. taxation. Extra taxation will happen, and that Anyone who hac; read the debates that took place extra taxation will, I hope, be brought before will see that we certainly had two of the very the House within a month from now. I hope worthiest representatives in Melbourne on that that the Colonial Treasurer will be in a position occasion. I think further, that some little com before the end of July to make his Financial mendation might have been given to the Post Statement, and let the House know what his master-General for what he has clone at the scheme of taxation is. The hon. gentleman Postal Conference, which I hope he will explain spoke of what, I think, he called the promising fully later on, and also for his efforts in regard to Minister, the Minister for Railways, and said technical education in our schools, for which he that the Government, through that Minister, deserve~ the highe,t praise from every member were making lavish promises of railways in all of this House. The Minister for Lands we know directions. He warned the House that we were has done admirable work in his department, and travelling very fast and getting heavily into deserves credit for it. vVith regard to the proposal debt, and that the financial position of the to create an elective Upper House, I am very colony is one which must be seriously considered. glad to hear that the leader of the Opposition is, I admit that the hon. gentleman is right to a at any rate, prepared under certain conditions to certain extent. I admit that for reasons which support the measure. ()f course it has got to go are patent to all hon. members. Enormous sums through another ordeal than this Chamber, but of money have been wasted in this colony in at the same time I think it is a step in the right railway expenditure. I believe that it can be direction. I think we should show to the people clearly shown that not only the late Government, that the anachronism of a nominee Upper House but almost all previous Governments are r;reatly should cease to exist, and that we should have to blame for the heavy expenditure on railways, the people represented in both branches of the even in the North. In order to equalise the legislature, which they are not at the present expenditure there with that in the Southern time. There is one other matter which I wish to portion of the colony money has been spent in refer to, and that is the question of immigration. • constructing railways which will not pay till the I do not dispute for one moment that Mr. crack of doom. Instead of placing the money in Randall WCLS an admirable officer, and I hope the books to the credit of those districts, it has the day is not far distant when his services been expended on railways, many of which will can be availed of, and I may say they will be cost a large sum to complete. But where did this willingly availed of when the time arrives to lavish expenditure start? Is not the leader of send him home. He is well aware that the the Opposition himself to blame for this? It is Government have a very high appreciation of his like a wild beast tasting blood, for money to be services, but at the present time it is not neces given in the lavish way it was given by the sary that he should continue lecturing. vV e are leader of the Opposition. The commencement of now getting immigrants of a very good class. this great and terrible and growing evil lies The Ho!;'. Sm S. W. GRIFFITH: How do with the leader of the Opposition and his you get them now? Address in Reply. [24 JUNE.] Address in Reply. 15 The PREMIER : They come through the serious one indeed. One has only to travel about agents, and are passed in London. When a con and hear what people of different ways of think tinuou£ stream of immigration is resumed, ing in the community have to say with r heterogeneous to exist in a Speech like this perfectly free from everything state of cohesion. Every department is a g-overn like a feeling of animosity towards individual ment in itseH, acting almost independently of every members of the Government, I should like to other department. If this is the kind of thing we know how it is possible to criticise in any are to have as an alternative of a one-man Go other than an unfriendly spirit a Speech vernment, I say, give us back a one-man Govern· such as that placed in our hands to-day. It is ment again. It is all very well for the Premier very patent to every person in this community to say that the members of the Government that the state of affairs in this colony is a very are a happy family, that they are agreed upon 16 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply. questions of public policy, on questions of impor was going to say, but at all events those tance, such as the introduction of coloured labour manifestations of respect for His Excellency's into the colony. But what is the fact? If they person and office, were twisted into an endeavour are a happy family, it is in appearance only ; it to promote the interests of separation. Now, cannot be in reality ; for the statement made by His Excellency was made to believe that the the Premier to-dav is at variance with state enthusiasm shown upon the occasion of his visit ments made by the Minister for Lands during to Charters Towers, together with the way certain the celebrated tour he made in company with sentiments were expressed at banquets, and the His Excellency the Governor recently, unless way in which certain expressions were cheered he is misreported in the papers I re•td giving an by persons who were prt-;ent, that there was in account of the tour, or unless I have misread the North an almost nnanimons feeling in fa vonr the published reports. That hon. gentleman of separation. I deeply regret that those who said that when he connected himself with the had charge of those things should have permitted Government he was left a free hand-those were the thing to be so managed that such an impres his words-on the questions of separation and sion should be made upon the mind of His suitable labour for the sugar plantations. Now, Excellency. \Ve know very »~ell how these I want to know how it comes about, if he thinks things are managed. \Ve know very well it necessary to tell the people of the North in the that under the cover of His Excellency's presence of the Governor that he has a free hand presence at those banquets there was a great with regard to tho9e matters, knowing that the dertl done towards producing an impression Premier does not favour what he calls the most which I venture to assert, without any fear of suitable kind of labour for the sugar plantations, contradiction, does not give a correct idea of the ancl has no sympathy with separation-how facts as regards the minds of the Northern people comes it that the Government are a happy as a whole upun this vexed question of separa family, having only one idea with reBpect to these tion. I am not going to try to find ont all the two most important questions? That tour, while faults I can that have been committed by the it was a very happy conception on the part of Government during the rece,s. I am prepared the Government to give His }~xcellency an to admit that the various members of the Gov~rn opportunity of .visiting the various parts of the ment have applied themselves to their various colony which he is called upon to govern, was duties, so far as I have been able to see, with a not nsed for right !Jllrposes by some of those who great deal of conscientious zeal. I am perfectly had to do with the programme which His prepared to admit that they have tried to do their Excellency carried out up there. There can be best, and in trying to do their best and accomr,Jish no doubt that it was made use of for party poli ing so little they have clearly demonstrated their tical fA1rposes. I do not say that was done incapacity. If, with all the energy they dis only by the Minister for Lands. And I may played, and with all the conscientious zeal here remark that the Colonial Treasurer did which they have applied to the discharge of not, by any word or deed, commit anything that their duties, they succeeded in allowing this could be construed into an effort to serve party colony to drift on to the rocks of financial dis purposes. I freely concede that to the Colonial aster, I say that they have only demonstrated Treasurer ; but I cannot say as mnch for the their own incapacity, and the sooner that this Minister for Lands, and I regret to say that I colony is in charge of men who know how to cannot say as much for some of those who were steer the ship of State more safely than it has honoured with invitations to accompany His been steered lately, so much the better. Now, Excellency. Some of the supporters of the there are some things that I cannot help advert Government who accompanied His Excellency ing to as a reason why fault should be had the bad manners, at a banquet given by the found with the Government. I am not mayor of Ch:wters Towers in honour of the going into any of those matters touched Governor, to inveigh against the choice made upon by my hon. friend this evening. After by th~ people of Charters Towers in selecting the he has dealt with a matter and applied men they considered fit to represent them in this the force of his argumentative ability to it, there chamber. is not much left for anybody else to say. But I Mr. PAUL : I was there and I never heard say this : Do we W>tnt an illustration of how them. things are going? Take the case of the Minister The Hox. A. RUTLEDGE: They so far for Railways: That the 1\Iinisterfor Railways is a. forgot themselves in the presence of their enter conscientious, hard-working Minister, everybody tainers, and in the presence of His I~xcellency, will admit. Bnt what do we find? Surely, as to grovel in the mire of party politics of the now we h>tve Commissioners, a great deal of worst kind. labour that used to fall upon the shoulders of the Minister has been removed, and he might Mr. PAUL : No such feeling was ever shown. have had time to display a little originality and The HoN. A. RUTLEDGE: Thehon. gentle energy in the management of his department. man is putting the cap on with remarkable Yet what do we find? That on the occasion of celerity. There was throughout an attempt an attempt to organise a system of insurance for made to impress upon His Excellency that the the railway servants of this colony, he has so whole of the K orth was in favour of separation. mismanaged the office he represents that we find I am happy to say that His Excellency recog the railway service almost in a state of rebellion. nised the manifest>ttions of loyalty with which he was met during the course of his Northern tour. The COLONIAL TREASURER: Whatabont I am proud to say that the town which I have the Commissioners? the honour to represent took a leading part in The Hox. A. RUTLEDGE: Of course there impressing His Excellency with the deep-seated are Commissioners, but I have no doubt they loyalty which prevails among the people of the have been very much at the ear of the Minister, North towariis the Constitution of this colony, or he has been at their ear. They do not manage and towards His ExcellencY as the chosen ruler the affairs of the Railway Department at arm's of this colony. I am prond of the enthusiastic length. If they do, they ought not to; The reception which was accorded to His Excellency Minister has been applied to on this subject, by all classes in the town of Charters Towers. and he has taken it upon himself to say, and I deeply regret that on the occasion that the Commissioners notwithstanding·, that this His Excellency was banquetted there, and on matter is not to come into operation at once. the occasions that he was banquetted elsewhere, Three months will be given, during which some hose manifestations-of exuberant loyalty I other scheme will be devised, and a comparison .Adrlre.ya in Reply. [24 JUNE.] .Address in Reply. 17 will be instituted between that other scheme in the Speech relating to federation. I am aud the scheme already proposed, in order to see quite prepared to give the Government all the which is the best. When I find a state of things credit they can lay claim to on that account. like that, I say somebody is to blame. vVe I am quite prepared to give !,hem credit for cannot blame the Commissioners. They are not having seen exactly what public opinion really here to answer for their conduct. In a matter was and is on the subject of federation. But of this kind, a matter of State policy, to a while I give them credit for having done their great extent the Commissioners carry out the best towards bringing about the conference which ideas of the Minister, and I think the Minis was so successfully terminated at JYielbourne ter onght to exercise a little judgment in a a short time ago, it must be borne in mind that matter such as that sought to be imposed they were well aware that they had public upon the railw>ty servant" of this colony, which opinion at their back. This idea of federation I am sure everybody who examines it will ag-ree is not a new thing to be credited to the is a very unsatisfactory one inde~d. Now, the present Government. Both the hon. gentlemen Speech opens with the expression of a desire on who repreoent North Brisbane have for years the part of His Excellency that hon. memuers, been ardent advocates of federation. They have after the troubles of the recess, will come to the both spoken and acted with the view of bringing discharge of their legislative duties with no about the federation of the Australian colonies. diminution of that hopeful energy which is They have done this for years, and I am very necessary to their effective performance. That glad that the present Government have acted is a very nicely rounded phrase-exceedingly in accordance with the best opinions, as I under nicely rounded ; but in order that there sliould stand them, upon this subject, and have contri be an exhibition of hopefL1l energy, there ought buted their quota towards bringing this question to be something to stimulate it. Hopeful to a successful issue. The Speech goes on to energy is not a thing which spontaneously refer to the matter of immigration-and here I exhibits itself in grappling with stern ancl cannot express so much approbation as the hon. severe and arduous duties like those which gentleman at the head of the Government claims engage the attention of members of this for the Government in respect of what they have Chamber. We should h"'ve something to stimu done in that matter. I need not repeat what has late our energies; but we have nothing to already been said on this side on the subject of eaU forth those latent energies within us. There the kind of immigration that ought to be intro is everything to discourage us. It would be duced here, and of the tremendous mistake made encouraging if we saw the Government, which by the Government in recalling Mr. Randall, must be fully aware of the most serious position who really was one of the principal safeguards in which the colony is in at the present time, we had at home against introducing unsuitable rising to the occasion and doing something- to persons into this colony. But I say the Govern grapple with the difficulties in which the State ment have not gone far enough in the way of finds itself-trying to extricate the colony from restricting immigration. I believe that all that the difficulties into which it has been plunged. has been said by the Premier and by others on But nothing of the kind. vV e are told that the subject of immigration is true, and that the seasons have been bad, but they are all the encouragement of immigration is a dght right now ; that there never was such a good thin[£. But what may be a right thing to-day season as the one now setting in, and depend may not be a right thing for all days, and it is upon it everything is going to go right. One quite possible to overdo even a good thing. feels inclined to be satirical after reading a There oug·ht to be some discrimination. Although paragraph like this in His :Excellency's Speech, the Speech tells us that the colony has been and remembering what used to be said by tho~e passing through a period of unexampled drought same hon. gentlemen when they sat on this side, and floods, yet immigration has been allowed to :md when members of a former Government used go on until within the last few months, at the to speak with regard to the effect upon the undiminished rate of one shipload every month; finances of the colony, and upon the industries and now, when the labour market is congested, of the colony, of the succession of disastrous and hundreds of men are walking about unable to droughts which prevailed a few years ago. Why, find employment, the Government have found they laughed us to scorn, and said that those no more stringent remedy than that instead were only idle pretexts invented by incompetent of having one ship every month we are to men to cover their incapacity. That is what have two ships every three months. At a time they said in effect, but as soon as they like this they ought to have recognised the fact changed places and got over there, and found no that there are hundreds of honest working men earthly reason could be given beyond a partial looking for work and unable to find it, and have drought last year and a flood this yea-r, thFy restricted immigration in a much greater degree say the droughts and floods have played the than they have done or propose to do. It is all mischief with the finances of the ·colony. "You very well to make the Governor say that it is a must be generous in your criticism of our matter of satisfaction, notwithstanding the un administration, and not lay the blame upon our favourable condition of the labour market, that shoulders, but lay it upon the shoulders of thoc e all the immigrants introduced have been absorbed natural causes, and hope for the be,.t in time to into the working community, but I feel justified come." That may be a very comforting theory for in taking exception to that statement. It is per Ministers to apply to themselves ; but, cer fectly lamentable at the present time to see the tainly, it will not, I think, in the estima numbers of able-bodied men-men who are tion of thoughtful persons in this colony, willing to work-who are spending- all their account for all the evils, all the flnancial days in the vain search for employment. And troubles, which at the present time affect this this is not only the case in Brisbane. I colony. Now, the Premier has stated, with thought that in this Brisbane was singular, but regard to the criticism addressed by my hon. that it is not so, hon. members on both sides will, friend to that ]Jart of iho Speech, that hon. mem I am sure, bear me out. It is a painful thing to bers ought to give the Government every credit be applied to, as one is constantly, for assistance for those things for which they claim credit; towards getting men employment who are un and among the things which the hon.' gentle able to obtain it, or to contribute to prevent man says the Government deserve crerlit for, them or their families from starving w bile and which the hon. gentleman specifies as they are seeking for employment. I thought one of his grounds for claiming credit, is this kind of thing was peculiar only to the that which is touched upon in the paragraph metropolis, knowing the tendency there is on 1890-o 18 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Add1·ess in Reply. the part of the unemployed, as a rule, to gra vi what is needed, I may point ont that qnite tate towards the metropolis, but I found on recently in the district I have the hononr to my recent travels that Brisbane is not singular represent, in places where it was supposed in this respect. I found that there are hundreds formerly that no auriferous riches remained in of working men in the Northern parts of the the ground, by well-directed and intelligent colony who are going about seeking employment application, they have succeeded in striking very and cannot obtain it ; and I say that at a time rich reefs. In many other parts of the colony like this, when there is so much destitution, and the same thing exists. ·what is wanted is the such a difficulty to find even temporary employ application of trained intelligence to the efforts ment by deserving men, the Government ought which are made by our h .An HONOURABLE MEMBER: That and similar The MINISTER FOR LANDS : I noticed ones. that when we arrived at •rownsville, which was The MINISTER FOR LANDS: Yes; that the first port of call, that every ar:!?ress, or and similar ones. I say that the planters as a almost every address, presented to His _Excel class have always denounced in the most lency contained referen~es to ~he questiOn of unmeasured terms such atrocities as those. separation. Most certamly neither I nor any But we must bear this in mind, that the time of member of our party ever referred to the subject their conviction was after a general election, in talkino- to His Excellency on board the steamer when there was a great deal of political excite going up. It was most marked in Townsville, ment. and no one was more a.stonished than myself when we arrived at Clutrters Towers to find that \Y. It The Hox. Sm S. GRIFFITH: was the feeling of the people of Charters To"':ers w~s twelve months after the general election. quite as pronounced in favour of separatiOn as 1t The MINISTER FOR L.ANDS : At the was at Townsville. general election there had been agre~ttdealof politi The HoN. A. RUTLEDGE: No! cal excitement in connection with theblacklabour traffic, and guilty as I believe those men to have The MINISTER FOR LANDS: I assure been, I do not think they had extended to them you, :Mr. Speaker, it was quite as pronounced, and that measure of justice at their trial which they there was no effort made by me, nor, as far as I would have obtained had there not been such know, by any of our party, to bring about. what political excitement at the time. But whether was to me such an unexpected state of affairs. or not I think that now that similar crimes to Mr. HODGKI~SON: What about your great those 'for which those men have suffered have supporter's threat at Cairns? ceased to exist, ant! now that that labour is The MINISTER FOR LANDS: I wonlcl about to expire-and I have no hesitation in like to ~tsk hon. gentlemen opposite, \Vhat are saying that it is properly going to expire, not you afraid of? Are you afraid of separation ? I withstanding the remarks of the leader of the have been attacked on this question, else I should Opposition in connection with that industry ~tnd not refer to it now. It is my duty, as long as my connectiun with it-I say that, taking all I occupy the po.,ition I do, to carry on the affairs these things into consideration, and the of the colony without dismem he ring it; but wh~tt severe penance those unfortunate men had are hon. gentlemen afraid of? Are they afraid already undergone, the Government were quite that there is no justice in their case, and that justified in the action they took in recom they cannot justify themselves? Are ~hey afraid mending His Excellency to exercise mercy to that His Excellency should see with his eyes. and wards those men ; and from the opinions I have hear with his ears all the arguments for and al;(au:st, been able to gather-and mind I have travelled and find out what the real state of affairs IS? a o-reat deal during the recess through different I am not afmid. I have never swerved from the p;rts of the colony-I have no hesitation in opinion w_hich I he~cl. when I .jo~ned the Minis saying that the action of the Go\"!lrnment is try. I jomecl the Mmistry reta.mmg a free hand, supported by the majority of the well-thinking should the matter ever come to a vote, to act people of this colony, of men who certainly have no ~tccorcling to my discretion on the subject, and I sympathy with crime any more th~tn the Govern say it would be a good thing for both North and ment have. However, the papers in connection South if separation did take place. The South with this matter will be duly laid upon the table will o-et on just as well with the North sundered of the House without any unnecessary delay ; fromb it, and the North will get on a great and no doubt in the debate which will probably deal better without the South. But because I ensue the Government will be able to jmtify the hold this opinion it does not follow that I action they have t~tken ·in recommending His should act as a traitor to the colony, as the Excellency to act as he did. The leader of the leader of the Opposition put it, ~nd per Opposition referred to the recent tour that His form acts irritating to the North m order :Excellency made to the N ort.hern and Central to compel the people there to be more portions of the colony, and he insinuated that the ardent in the cause of separation. vVhy, Mr. tour of the Governor was converted by me as Speaker, I would scorn such a thing as that. Minister for Lands into a separa.tion and black The hon. "entleman referred to the land sales at labour campaign. Those were the words the Townsvill~, and to prEcs.sure being brought to hon. gentleman used. I utterly deny that bear on the Government to stay off further I entered upon that tour with any such sales. There is no doubt that the excess of intention, or that I did anything approaching Northern revenue last year was brought about to what the hon. gentleman has alleged. Travelling a very great extent by the land ~old at Towns with His Excellency, as in honour bound, ville and Cairns, but land IS only so~d I considered it my duty, and a duty th~tt I faith in accordance with the rlemand for It. fully carried out, never to say one single word to There is a requisition, I believe, on the way His Excellency upon the subject of separation. clown from Townsville that until separation It is also quite certain that I took no steps is granted no more land shall be sold in the towards converting it into a black labour cam North. Would the hon. gentleman have n:e paign. The North is opposed to black labour. agre and so long as the North and South separate on the difficulty is proposed to be met; but I do not, amicable tern;1s, it will be a good thing for both. and I know the Government as a whole do not, But so long as they are one colony we will do take a dis>