Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

THURSDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 1957

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

Questions. [14 NOVEMBER.] Questions. 1021

THURSDAY, 14 NOVEMBER, 1957. UNEMPLOYMENT IN NORTH QUEENSLAND. Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) asked the Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. A. R. Fletcher, Premier- Cunningham) took the chair at 11 a.m. " Is he aware that it is estimated that there will be 2,000 unemployed in North Queensland at the end of this year~ If so, AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT. has the Government any plans to relieve BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL ACCOUNTS. the distress thus caused, and what are they~" Mr. SPEAKER announced the receipt from the Auditor-General of his report on the books Hon. G. F. R. NICKLIN (Landsborough) and accounts of the Brisbane City Council replied- for the year 1956-1957. '' Any unemployment which may exist Ordered to be printed. in North Queensland is due generally to seasonal conditions. As the Honourable QUESTIONS. Member should know the slack season in the North coincides with the period of ESTABLISHMENT OF A UNIVERSITY OF heavy rainfall when it is not practicable TECHNOLOGY. to undertake outdoor works of sufficient lllr. LLOYD (Kedron) asked the, Minister size to absorb the bulk of the unemployed for Education- from the sugar and meat industries. Also the indication from past experience is '' (1) Has his attention been drawn to that, in general, seasonal workers who work the statement of the Australian Academy of very hard and receive high wages during Science in the Courier-Mail of November 12, the sugar and meat season, in addition to relating to the critical shortage of sustenance payments in the off season, scientists and technologists in Australia~'' usually prefer to take a comparatively "(2) If so, will he give consideration to long vacation prior to accepting other (a) a revision of the syllabus taught at employment during the slack season. State Secondary Schools along the lines Actually there is a shortage of skilled suggested by the Academy and (b) the tradesmen in North Queensland as is establishment of a University of Technology evidenced by the fact that recently the in Queensland~'' Department of Public Works found it neces­ sary to send from Brisbane, bricklayers to Hon. J. C. A. PIZZEY (Isis) replied­ Cairns and Townsville, and carpenters to " (1) Yes." Mount Isa. Furthermore contractors for "(2) (a) A copy of a revised syllabus the Department of Public Works on the for State Secondary Schools as suggested Atherton Tableland advised that they were by the Academy of Science has not been not able to obtain sufficient carpenters not­ received by this Department. (b) The withstanding that they have a standing establishment of a University of Tech­ order with the employment agencies for nology in Queensland is neither feasible this type of employee. No previous nor necessary at this juncture.'' Government was able to :find a solution to the problem of Northern slack-season CARE OF INFIRM AND CHRONICALLY-ILL unemployment but I can inform the PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS. Honourable Member that my Government is making a practical approach to the prob­ lllr. KEYATTA (Townsville) asked the lem of seasonal unemployment wherever it Minister for Health and Home Affairs- occurs and we have great hopes of finding a '' Will he give urgent consideration solution. We are accelerating the construc­ to, and, if possible, take expeditious tion of new buildings and additions to action in providing a special ward in cases existing buildings where required and much of infirm and chronically-ill patients, where of this construction is being carried out such special medical and general nursing in North Queensland. Our further plans care are not available in their homes?'' to overcome this seasonal unemployment problem will be disclosed in clue course.'' Hon. H. W. NOBLE (Yeronga) replied- '' The Townsville Hospitals Board is NEW PORT FOR BUNDABERG. using a section of the former General Hospital building for the accommodation lllr. DAVIES (Maryborough) asked the of infirm and chronically-ill patients. The Treasurer and Minister for Housing- Department's policy is that aged and '' In view of his reply to my questions infirm persons living alone, and not able regarding the new River Port at Bundaberg to care for themselves, or not able to obtain in which he stated that the port would be necessary care and attention where they built to accommodate vessels of 6,000 tons reside, are to be retained in hospital or and that the estimated cost of such a port admitted to hospital until satisfactory would be £782,314, will he state if there arrangements for their care either at an has been a change in plans as the Courier­ Eventide Home or elsewhere can be made. Mail of November 12 headlined statements The Hospitals Board is aware of the policy that the new Bundaberg Port would be of the Department on this matter.'' dredged to handle 10,000 ton freighters~ 1022 Tra:ffi Acts, &c., Bill. (ASSEMBLY.] Land Acts, &c., Bill.

If the Cou1·ie1·-Matil article is true, will not the Whole to consider of the desirableness the cost of a port to accommodate 10,000 of introducing a Bill to amend the Traffic ton freighters be far in excess of .Acts 1949 to 1957, and the Local Govern­ £782,314~'' ment .Acts, 1936 to 1957, each in certain particulars.'' Hon. T. A. HILEY (Coorparoo) replied- '' There has been no change in plans. Motion agreed to. The position is as stated by me in reply to the Honourable Member's previous ques­ ST.A TE ELECTRICITY COMMISSION tions. The Courier-Mail article is not ACTS AND ANOTHER ACT .AMEND­ correct in this respect.'' MENT BILL.

WORLD BANK LoAN FOR MT. ISA RAILWAY INITIATION. PROJECT. Mr. DAVIES (Maryborough) l!Jsked the Hon. E. EVANS (Mirani-Minister for Premier- Development, Mines, and Main Roads): I " In view of the public statement by move- the Minister :for Education as reported in '' That the House will, at its present the Courier-Mail of November 11, 1957, in sitting, resolve itself into a Commit~ee of regard to a World Bank loan of £35,000,000 the Whole to consider of the desrrable­ to the State of Queensland to push the ness of introducing a Bill to amend the Mt. Isa R.ailway Project ahead, will he State Electricity Commission .Acts, 1937 inform the House if the Minister is cor­ to 1954 and the Electric Light and rectly reported and what stage negotia­ Power Acts, 1896 to 1946, each in certain tions have reached~'' particulars.'' Motion agreed to. Hom. G. F. R. NICKLIN (Landsborough) replied- LAND ACTS AND OTHER ACTS '' The statement to which the Honourable AMENDMENT BILL. Member refers was not given as a Press statement by the Minister :for Education. INITIATION IN ('o;,nnTTEE-RESUMPTION OF It was a report of a talk to a Junior DEBATE. Farmers' School at Bargara, during which the Minister referred to the mineral (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Taylor, developments in North Queensland. Details · Clayfield, in the ehair.) outlining the possibilities of the rebuilding Debate resumed from 13 November (see of the Mount Isa railway line were reported p. 1020) on Mr. Muller's motion- in the Cmtrier-Mail as a news item pub­ '' That it is desirable that a Bill be lished on May 22, 1957, in which it was introduced to provide for the freeholding at stated that-' Chances of the £30 million the option of selectors and lessees of lands railway link are expected to depend on the held from the Crown under perpetual lease report of three consulting engineers from tenures and for that purpose to amend the a major .American firm who are examining Land Acts, 1910 to 1955 and other Acts." the project. Their report will be the basis of an application for international finance Mr. FOLEY (Belyando) (11.11 a.m.): At for the railway rebuilding to handle greatly the outset I desire to thank the Minister for increased Mount Isa Mines Ltd. produc­ his full and comprehensive outline of the tion'·'' principles of the Bill, which is very helpful to hon. members on the Introductory stage. PAPER. The general proposal in the Bill is to free­ hold land. If I might ask a very pertinent The following paper was laid on the table, question, whose land~ Land that is not and ordered to be printed:- alienated at the present time is described as Report upon the Operations of the Sub­ Crown land. The average pBrson thinks that Departments of Native .Affairs, "Even­ the Crown is the owner of the land, but tide" (Sandgate), "Eventide" the actual position is that the Crown is the (Charters Towers), "Eventide" (Rock­ trustee of the public eotate, of which land is hampton), Institution :for Inebriates a part. The land is owned by the people of (Marburg), and Cr"'eensland Industrial the State, not by the Government of the Institution for the 'llind (South Bris­ day. Although the Government may by virtue bane), for the year >156-1957. of their majority pass legislation giving them the legal right to sell land, to alienate it TRAFFIC ACTS .AND .ANOTHER ACT from the people, they have no moral right to .AMENDMENT BILL. do so. INITIATION. Opposition :uembers: Hear, hear! Hon. K. J. MORUIS (Mt. Coot-tha- Jir. FOLEY: That is my contention. I Minister for Labour and Industry): I consider it is a retrograde step. If the move- present Government are in power :for a num­ ,' That the House will, at its present ber of years, this alienation of land will sitting, resolve itself into a Committee of seriously affect the people of the State. The Land Acts and Other Acts [14 NovEMBER.] Amendment Bill. 1023

Minister said that 24,000 land-holders may 'I'he Minister tried to prove that the Govern­ elect to have their holdings converted from ment were endeavouring to help the workers their present tenure to freehold, embracing of this State by giving them the opportunity 6,813,936 acres, or 1.59 per cent of the to get the freehold title to the perpetual land of the State. The reason the Minister lease land on which they had built their quoted those figures was to impress on the homes so as to protect the property and Chamber the fact that only 1.59 per cent. of the improvements on it, but I point out that the land was being alienated, and that this a lessee of perpetual lease land is legally small percentage did not matter. I take the entitled to the land allotted to him. He can stand that it would make no difference if it erect any improvements on it that he desires. \Yere only lOO acres; the principle is a bad No-one can take that right from him or one. It is unwarranted. Why disturb a confiscate his land. policy that has proved to be sound over the years~ Successive Labour Governments have Mr. Windsor: The Government can. amended the Land Acts and improved our Mr. FOLEY: Under the Public Works land laws up to a point when one can say Land Resumption Act the Government can that they are the most liberal of anv State take any property, freehold or leasehold, if in Australia and more liberal thar'i those it is required for public purposes. Any operating in many parts of the world. Wl1y financial institution will advance a loan on forfeit land revenue which can be nsed to mortgage secured over a perpetual lease area advantage for the people of this State~ In as freely as it will over freehold property. the past the money obtained from rents has been used for many purposes to the advan­ Mr. Windsor: Have you tried? tage of the people. Mr. FOLEY: Yes. The hon. member can I agree with the hon. member for \Varrego go to any grazing district where 28-year­ that _the l_and is the heritage of the people, leases obtain and in some cases to pastoral and m th1s State they can boast that they holdings where there are 30-year leases, and own 93 per cent. of it, something that cannot he will find that the financial institutions be said by people in other States of the vie with e"aeh other in making adYances to Commonwealth or other countries of the leaseholders on those properties. The world. As the hon. member for Warrego safd, Commonwealth Bank or anv other financial the Government are the trustees of the estate institution will take a mortgage on perpetual of the people, and consequently have a moral lease as freely as on any other tvpe of lease. right to protect that estate. That is the ·when all is said and done, what is freehold duty of a trustee under the relevant laws of tenure~ I ask hon. m em hers that question. the State. If he violates the duty to protect the estate of which he has bePn appointed A Government Member: An asset to the trustee, he can be dealt with. It is criminal man himself. to alienate by way of sale land of which the Government are the trustees. Their duty Mr. FOLEY: It is a title to land in per­ petuity. Can anyone dispute that~ What as trustees is to obtain the best economic is a perpetual lease; It is a title to land value for the people of the State. in perpetuity. Mr. Aikens: And it was criminal for us Mr. Muller: You are destroying your to take it in the first place from the own case. aboriginals. JUr. FOLEY: I am not. Perpetual lease }fr. FOLEY: The land has gradually is the title to land in perpetuity and freehold come down to the people of this State from is exactly the same. the aboriginals by a natural process of Mr. Aikens: The only difference 1s the deterioration of that particular race. rent the Crown can charge. In the older countries of the world kings, JUr. FOLEY: That is so. If you purchase monarchs, and others with great power have a block of freehold land from a private land­ over the ages claimed the land as their lord, in this case from the Crown, you pay property and in England and the Continent it off in ten or 20 years as the case may be, they have distributed it among those in their whereas with perpetual lease, in the case of favour at the time. In some instances they country land you pay 1·ent at per cent. sold it to obtain funds for the purpooe of H of the capital value of the land and in the war, and today the land-users in Great case of residential areas, city, town and Britain and the Continent are paying tribute suburban allotments, you pay 3 per cent. to the landlords of those countries. Surely That is the answer to the interjection. a Government that claims to represent the people do not want a similar state of affairs The inference from the Minister was that here. But once a precedent is established leasehold land or a lease in perpetuity was not as good as freehold-that a man did not and legislation is passed to freehold land, own the land. The law of the State protects pressure will be brought to bear and the the leaseholder in the same way as it protects remaining 93 per cent. will be reduced to a the freeholder. It recognises him as owner bare minimum, or possibly eliminated in perpetuity and nobody can argue against altogether. that. 1024 Land Acts and Other Acts [ASSEMBLY.] Amendment Bill.

Let us look at the matter from another the man who has had the courage to bid to angle. A perpetual lease in perpetuity, not the point where he has had the land knocked a 99-year lease as many people think, is one down to him will have an advantage over for ever and ever, can be mortgaged just the those who were unsuccessful. After he holds same as freehold; it can be sold or trans­ the land for five years and fulfils the condi­ ferred as in the case of freehold, and it tions of sale, he will be able to "cash in" can be handed down to one's successors as at possibly three to five times the value in the case of freehold. If it is farming placed upon it by the Land Court. land it will produce as much as a piece of ~Ir. Aikens: You are to blame for that freehold land of similar quality. Indeed, it for auctioning the land. has an advantage over freehold in that the full price is not demanded, but only a per­ Mr. FOLEY: No better method of deter­ centage of the capital value is taken. From mining the capital value of land has been whatever angle you look at it a perpetual anived at than that laid down in the Land lease has an advantage. \Vhat is the benefit Acts-that is, to submit the land at public to the individual of freehold over a perpetual auction where there is fair competition with lease title~ a proper determination of the value of the :Firstly, freehold is a title in perpetuity; land. Over the years it has been pToved the perpetual lease is exactly the same. Secondly, best method. f;eehold can be transferred; perpetual lease, Jir. Aikens: Why didn't you auction too, can be transferred. Thirdly, freehold grazing leases~ can be mortgaged; perpetual lease also can be mortgaged. Fourthly, freehold must be Itir. FOLEY: T'he ballot system has been paid for on the capital value to. be deter­ found to be the best for grazing leases. mined; perpetual lease can be acquu~d, after Mr. Aikens: Fish of one and flesh of the capital value has been detm·mmed, by another. paying an annual rental of 3 per cent. on that eapital value in the case of city an~ suburban Itir. l<'OLEY: No, it is not that. Most residential land and H per cent. m the case grazing land ballots attract applicants from of country or faTming land. From all parts of the State and from other States every angle, leasehold is comparable and it is difficult for them to congregate at one point for an auction. with freehold; indeed, in many cas~s it is superior to freehold. The mam I protest against the principle. It is bad difference between leasehold and freehold is and unwarranted. Any disturbance of the illustrated in many countries throughout the present policy is undesirable for over the world where the land has been alienated from years it has proved to be sound. We have the people. Those who are using it now are built up in Queensland a more liberal land subiect to the terms of private landlords. In policy than any other country in the world. Qu:ensland any rent that is derived from Any selector with a perpetual lease and perpetual leases is paid into consolidated ~ pastoral holding or a grazing hom~stead, revenue and is thus used for the benefit of IS guar~nteed a lease over a living area in the people as a whole. That is the very great perpetmty. The Crown does not subdivide difference between perpetual lease and free­ land that is less than a living area or even hold. T·o alienate the land is a retrograde ~an_d ~hat is ~ little more than a li~ing area step. It is criminal! The Government have If It IS not big enough for two living areas. no moral right to do it. The rental amounts to a few ounces of wool per sheep or little more than a pound of rump :: come now to residential areas and I refer steak per beast per year. What better con­ particularly to the South Coast, where there ditions can be imagined than thaU Instead 1ms been a great demand for land in recent of paying Tent to a private landlord who can years. People wh~ l1ave wanted land thm;e lay down his own terms, the lessee pays it have competed agamst one another at pubhc into Consolidated Revenue to be used on auctions. Hard-headed investors, knowing behalf of the people as a whole. what they were doing, have been prepared to bid a capital value above what they would It is bad policy to alienate the land from be prepared to pay for freehold. In some the people. It may be described as Crown cases they have bid a value equivalent to a land but it belongs to the people, not the rental of £300 a year. According to one Government. The Government have no moral investor from the South, that is a good right to dispose of it despite any legal right proposition for a man who wishes to build they may have because of their majority. serviced rooms on the land. An annual Itir. EW AN (Roma) (11.33 a. m.) : I con­ rental of £300 is a mere bagatelle compared gratulate the Minister on his very clear and with the revenue that he will get from a comprehensive exposition of the Bill. I number of serviced rooms. speak for hon. members occupying the Govern­ It has now been decided by the Govern­ ment benches, and possibly for most people ment to place a new capital value on this of the State, particularly landholders, when type of land; that is to say, the Land Court I congratulate him on the way he has taken will determine the capital value that the Gov­ up his duties and overcome many of the ernment will recognise in the future. If the tremendous problems passed on to him by capital value determined by the Land Coul"i: previous Ministers, whose ineptitude shocked is lower than the amount bid a.t public auction, most landholders of Queensland. Land Acts and Other Acts [14 NoVEMBER.l Amendment Bill. 1025

It gives me great satisfaction to follow this gentleman, a man of many years' experi­ the hon. member for Belyando and to answer ence, told me that if he had the opportunity some of his criticisms of the Bill. Most he would convert all his leasehold land to free­ landholders have a set standard by which hold. In other words he is prepared to pay they live and it seemed to me to be colossal 9d. per sheep area more under freehold tenure impudence for the hon. member for Belyando than under leasehold tenure. to criticise as he did. Next to Frank Sinatra he is the greatest tear-jerker the State has Mr. Houston: Why is that? ever known. The hon. member stood there Mr. EWAN: If hon. members opposite and self-righteously said, "Your land~ You had any intelligence they could work it out have no moral right to legislate for the for themselves. Hon. members opposite hate alienation of land! The principle is bad! to see anyone make a success. They seek It is unwarranted! Why disturb the present to obtain information from me every time land administration W'' He was talking about I get up to speak so that they can lift their the land administration that he is proud of, pecuniary position to approximate that of the land administration that had him con­ the more successful people of whom I speak. victed of malpractices before a Royal Com­ mission on land settlement. Do not forget I remember clearly during the period from that he answered his own argument when he 1950 to 1953 when I had the honour to told the Committee that the Queensland land represent the people in my area, the hon. laws at present were the best in the Com­ member for Belyando piloted a Bill through monwealth. If the land were all freehold this House which breached the ethics of it would not lend itself to the corrupt prac­ decency and honesty in regard to the per­ tices which have been going on in Australia. petual leases that the hon. member talked I refer firstly to the land sales scandal in about. He altered that agreement without New South \Vales and more recently to the consulting the other signatories to it. scandals which the previous speaker knows He altered the appraisal term from 14 years all about. If it were all freehold land the to seven years without consulting the other skullduggery and the juggling that went on in signatories to the agreement so that the the extension of leases could not have Government could get a greater income from occurred. When the ex-Minister criticises this land. the Bill he stands condemned out of his own Mr. lliann: The Minister or his Gov­ mouth. He is very indignant about the ernmenU land speculation which he made possible. llir. EW AN: His Government. Mr. Foley: I did not say it was specula­ lation at all. llir. Mann: Why not say so? Mr. EW AN: It is speculation. I can rsay llir. EWAN: His Government. I thank with some authority that if you endeavoured the hon. member for his correction. I think to give effect to your desires and the desires I have damned the hon. member for Belyando expressed from the Opposition benches enough without adding any more. The against the provisions of the Bill, every one hon. member glibly talked of lands in other of the men who bought land under the pro­ countries being subject to the acts of visions that you and your Government laid dreadful landlords. I do not know what is down would have to forfeit this land. going on in other countries but I know what has gone on in Australia. If hon. members The CHAIRMAN: I ask the hon. member like to travel New South vVales and Victoria to address the chair and not the Opposition where the great bulk of the land is freehoJ.i benches. they will find that a greater advancement has taken place than in Queensland. A~ a Mr. EW AN: I apologise. I was carried result of the efforts of the present Minister away in an endeavour to bring hon. members and the Government I prophesy that in a opposite to a reasonable state of mind. short space of time the development in this The ex-Minister said that there was no State will equal that in New South Wales difference between freehold and perpetual and Victoria in the last 30 or 40 years. The lease titie. By way of interjection the hon. development in those States is a cogent member for Mundingburra reminded him that argument in favour of freehold land. I chal­ there was a slight difference in that rentals lenge hon. members opposite to refute my were charged for leasehold land. The hon. statement that New South \Vales and Vic­ member for Belyando was very careful not to toria under freehold tenure have made more remind the Committee that there is such a rapid advancement in land industries than thing as land tax. Despite the iniquitous Queensland has. The hon. member for application of land tax many people in the Belyando referred to what might happen in State hold both freehold and leasehold land. this State as a result of the activities of I know of many instances but let me refer the dreadful landlords after the passing of to one case in particular. I know a man who this legislation. If by some strange set of owns freehold land who is required to pay circumstances something not desirable did land tax at the rate of 2s. 6d. per sheep area. happen-I say it will not-would it not be His neighbour on leasehold land pays 1s. 9d. possible to introduce legislation such as the per sheep area. When discussing the advan­ amendm.ent to the Landlord and Tenants Act tages of freehold tenure as against leasehold, that was introduced some years ago to give 1026 Land Acts and Other Acts [ASSEMBLY.] Amendment Bill. justice to the people who rent homes, so as Commonwealth Constitution covering acqui­ to prevent landlords from doing something sition on just terms. I do not mean 1942 that may be considered unfair~ The ridicu­ values, a basis that blackened and damned lous statement by the hon. member for the previous government In the eyes of the Belyando has no foundation in fact. I shall decent people of Queensland. If the land is not take up any more of my time in not re-acquired for some specific, important refuting his statements. We all know that purpose, it may be passed from one genera­ he knows nothing about land or the motivat­ tion to the next generation and the next ing force behind those who seek to acquire generation under the laws governing inheri­ land. tance. Hon. members opposite will say, ''And I shall now deal with the reasonable argu­ so deny anyone else in perhaps lOO years the ments of the hon. member for Warrego who right to get this land.'' If they investigate spoke very sincerely of land administration. the position they will find that the greatest I sympathise with him. He is not a bad settlement schemes in Queensland have been fellow and I like him quite well. put into effect by the dissolution of freehold estate. iUr. Mann: He does not want your sympathy. Mr. Davies: If what you say is so, why does the Bill not include grazing and pastoral li'Ir. EWAN: I shall not give hon. mem­ areas, to give people in that area a similar bers opposite my sympathy if they do not opportunity~ want the hand of friendship. I can fight without being friendly and I can be friendly Jir. EWAN: The hon. member wants after I have had the fight. During the me to look into the crystal bowl and tell him whole of his life the hon. member has been \Yhat will happen in three months' or six a representative of the A.W.U. and we all months' time. I cannot be drawn into a know that he has had to act as the discussion such as that. I am dealing with traditional enemy of the landholders. In the provisions of this Bill. I will say that many instances he did not, as it was against everyone should be treated alike. his make-up, but that was hi~ traditional position. After his experience among the :ilir. Davies: Why do you not give everyone people with whom he has mixed for many a chance to freehold his land~ years in the western areas of the State, he must find it difficult to give a reasoned lllr. EWAN: Who said we will not? opinion against the Bill. Hon. members opposite have smiles all over He attempted to forecast what the Gov­ their faces. They stand condemned by their ernment may do with land other than town, criticism of the Bill. They know only too country and suburban leases and perpetual wel~ that the great majority of houses in thmr electorates in the city of Brisbane and lease land. elsewhere are built on freehold land. Why Mr. Wood: Did not the Minister say in have they a preference for leasehold land~ "Country Life" that other steps would The hon. member for Wan·ego said that the follow~ • Government would do nothing for the workers. The Mi~ister stated quite clearly that the Mr. EWAN: The Min1ster is quite capable Government will do everything in their power of looking after himself. It is not necessary to help the workers to acquire their own for me to take up the cudgels on his behalf. homes and to own their own land. I have no doubt he will reply to that inter­ jection. Let me point out that in 1909 an anti­ Labour Government introduced what is Mr. Davies: Tell us your opinion. known as the Workers' Dwelling Act. Do not let it be forgotten that at that time it was Mr. EWAN: I am not going to anticipate all freehold land and the Government bor­ legislation that may or may not be intro­ rowed over £2,000,000 to build homes for duced at a later stage. I am confining my workers on freehold land. In 1915 Labour remarks to the Bill. came into power and it was not until 1919 The hon. member for Warrego said the that Labour attempted to give effect to this Government were custodians of the land and wonderful preference for leasehold. In that that unborn generations should have the right year Labour introduced a measure that of acquisition of that land. I agree entirely, debarred the worker from securing a loan if but can he point to any provision of the Bill he had freehold land. He had to sell it; he that will deny unborn generations the right bad to have perpetual lease. To show how to acquire land. Is there any better method sincere they were and the confidence they had of looking after unborn generations or the in the security of leasehold, borrowers could present generation than the freeholding of get nothing if they had freehold. It was an land~ That does not prevent its re-acqui­ :instance of the highwayman-'' money or sition by the State, provided just com,­ your life.',- And what is more the Labour pensation is paid, and the Minister dealt Government of that day compelled any effectively with that aspect. I shall later person who sought a loan to build a house suggest that our Constitution should be under the Workers' Dwelling Act to take out amended to include a provision such as in the a life insurance policy covering the whole of Land Acts, &c. Bill. [14 NOVEMBER.] Supply. 1027 the loan and transfer the equity under the .iUr. EWAN: The hon. member for policy to the Labour Go>"ernment-the so­ Hinchinbrook has done that on many called friends of the worker. occasions. I can quote them. What about the ''Green Parrot' ' and the rest of them~ lUr. Davies: That is what the trading banks are saying today-'' your money or 11Ir. Jesso1n: It is better to be a green your land.'' parrot than a yellow mongrel dog.

lUr. EWAN: I have had many years llir. EWAN: Hon. membN·s opposite are experience of trading banks but never did responsible for the speculation that has taken anything like that happen to me and I do place on the South Coast. The Government not think any person in the West has had a are to be commended for taking steps to similar experience. stamp it out. The Bill will assuredly do that. )Ir. A. J. Smith: You spoke of a Com­ Has not every person the right to acquire monwealth Constitution. How is the land land so that he can say, "This is my own"" held in the Australian Capital Territory at We all know what happens with rented homes, Canberra? All leasehold. The tenants do not look after them as they have no pride of ownership. But give them li'Ir. EW AN: A Labour Government the ownership of the property and see v;:hat insisted that everyone have leasehold land. a difference it makes. From the psychologrcal They said, in effect, "You are not going to point of view, the conferring on people of have any more freehold land; we will not let ownership of land, particularly home sites, you have it.'' is one of the greatest single factors in the advancement of the State. 1Ur. Wood: Do you approve of the Gold Coast speculators getting a rake-off as a (Time expired.) result of this Bill~ Progress reported. Mr. EWAN: This Bill will prove the At 12 noon, in accordance with Standing greatest single factor in preventing specula­ Order 307, the Hmtse went into Committee tion and preventing them getting a rake-off. of s~~pply. The speculation that the hon. member speaks of on the South Coast was brought abo,ut by SUPPLY. a Labour Government. They introduced legislation which made it possible by sub­ RESUMPTION OF COMMITTEE-ESTIMATES­ mitting land to public competition. They ELEVEN AND TWELFTH ALLOTTED DAYS. caused the enormous prices that are being (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Taylor, paid. Do not let the hon. member quote Clayfield, in the chair.) four, six or eight who competed for land down there recently. If he has any sense­ EsTIMATES-IN-CHIEF, 1957-1958. and I give the Leader of the Opposition some credit for a bit of sense-and if he was down DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND LOCAL there and thought that he could buy one of GOVERNMENT. these blocks of land and turn it over to CHIEF OFFICE. another speculator from the South at a profit, Debate resumed from 12 November (see I am sure he would have been in the racket p. 1006) on Mr. Heading's motion- just the same as the others. These people " That £153,546 be granted for 'Depart- who competed for the land had no intention ment of Public Works and Local of improving it. They were purely specu­ Government-Chief Office'.'' lators who were able to buy the land because of the actions of a previous Government. 11Ir. LOW (Cooroora) (12 noon): At the They bought it to turn it over to some mis­ outset, I sincerely congratulate the Minister guided person from the South or to some on the excellent job that he is doing. I overseas-person who had perhaps more money do not say that lightly. I have watched than sense. Under freehold, that sort of with a great deal of pleasure the way the thing cannot occur. As the Minister very Minister has carried out his duties and I fully and very clearly said the capital value know the people of the State will benefit will be determined by the Land Court. That greatly. In particular I have noted the speed will be the value of the land, and if some with which he makes decisions. With him person decides to buy he will pay for it over there is no backing and filling, no shuffling. a period of years. Hon. members opposite He sums up the position quickly. I am sure stand condemned by their own actions. They he will overtake much of the back lug in are responsible for the speculation that they departments under his control. rondemn. Speculators on the South Coast bought the land with the object of making a No doubt he is happy with the support he profit, ,just as hon. members opposite would is getting from the departmental officers. if they got a chance. If they could not sell Mr. Longland, the Under Secretary, is a man it at a profit, they would forfeit it. out to get results and the Minister must be well content with his very energetic support. llir. Jesson: That is what some of the Mr. Sewell, the Director of Local Government, speculators on your side of the Committee is ever ready to give local authorities an.d will do. their represPntatives the advantage of hrs 1028 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

great knowledge. The subjeet o:f land to climb the winding stairs. That is why we valuation is a highly contentious one in see so many school children but very few Queensland but I hope that the Minister and adults in the gallery. Mr. Smith, who has recently been promoted, will be able to develop a new outlook on it. J\'Ir. Davies: Where· do you suggest we Mr. Rutherford o:f the Immigration Depart­ put the liftW ment is always co-operative and helpful. He is particularly sympathetic to immigrants. He Mr. LOW: I suggest the stairs at the gives them a good welcome and follows their approach to the members' refreshment room. activities as well as he can in their various J\'Ir. Davies: Would it not be better to occupations. So the Minister is :fortified with have it closer to the gallery~ :four good departmental heads. J\'Ir. LOW: It could go to the first, second Mr. Davies: You could hardly blame the and third floors and serve the required pur­ Government :for the percentage of immigrants pose without too much walking around if that have come to the State in the last few there were a little re-arrangement of passage­ years. ways. Mr. LOW: I shall have something fur­ Mr. Houston: On Tuesday the Min1ster ther to say about immigrants later. told you it would cost too much. The Minister has certainly made a name J\'Ir. LOW: I was not present to hear :for himself by his activity, his determination, the Minister say that. I do not think the and his very sensible decisions affecting the matter was introduced then. kitchen at Parliament House. He was con­ cerned about its condition for many years Mr. Houston: It was introduced on but he was not able to do anything about Tuesday. it before IlO"w. It is good to know that he has acted promptly to rectify the present J\'Ir. LOW: We can rest assured that if unsatisfactory state of affairs. a sound proposal is made to the Minister and he has the money he will carry it out. It is the little things that count. The Government are very sympathetic to the I am very pleased at the manner in which working-clasq people and very interested in the Minister is approaching the problem of their comfort and their problems. Perhaps improving school aecommodation throughout many people did not expect that of us. For Queensland. In the short time that he has instance, in the past I have seen the clTivers been in office he has dealt with many requests. of official ears, stenographers and other staff I am not exaggerating when I say that in officers waiting for :Ministers, standing in many instances he was shocked at the run­ the passageway for long l)eriods. I have seen down condition of public buildings in elec­ cabbies and car drivers sitting on the steps torates held by the Country and Liberal o:f Parliament House. The :Minister has Parties. The Labour Government gave those arranged for seats to be provided at the Alice electorates a very raw deal. street entrance for them. Those small but lUr. Davies: Do you say you were badly important actions go a long way towards treated~ creating goodwill and they will pay great dividends in the future. I renew my plea lUr. LOW: I say that the previous for the installation of a lift in Parliament Government, the two factions together, were House. I have asked for it before bu: I wicked, cruel, and vindictive. I say that have not l)reviously made my plea to the new sincerely. Minister. A lift would be of great benefit to hon. members, the staff and visitors. Mr. navies: You are speaking about the last few months 9 Mr. lUann: It would encourage hon. members to be lazy. Do not do it. Mr. LOW: I am speaking about ove-r the years. I say that it was through the school JUr. LOW: The hon. member for Brisbane children that they carried out their vindictive was Speaker for many years. I am sure policy against the Opposition. I am not that the Minister will not be influenced in making any apology for that statement. any way by his decision which would not be Mr. Burrows: Give us some proof. in the interests of progress. He believes in running up and down steps and wearing Mr. Power: Did you not fall through the everybody out. I suggest that the most lavatory floor on one occasion~ logical place :for it would be near the stairs leading into the members' refreshment room. Mr. LOW: When the hon. member for I hope next year the Minister will be able Baroona was Minister :for Public Works there to find the money :for it. I was speaking to was hardly a building in any Country or a gentleman down stairs this morning. I Liberal Party electorate safe to go into said, ''Are you going to listen in~'' He said, because he was one o:f the most vindictive "Well. Mr. Low, I would like to, but I do Ministers to ever hold that portfolio. I have not :feel inclined to climb those stairs.'' nothing against the former Minister person­ Eventually he attempted it -and he is here ally, but the hon. gentleman did not look after today. It shows that we are keeping people us as he should have done. The present away. You have to be young and energetic Minister is kind and sympathetic and I am Supply. ~14 NOVEMBER.] Supply. 1029 sure, as a result of his activities, improve­ sergeant of police, the clerk of petty sessions ments will be carried out. I hope that during and the visiting magistrate, nothing has been 1958-1959 we shall be able to provide more done. It is one of the oldest buildings in the money for the Department of Public Works to town although it is situated on a most suit­ enable the Minister to overcome the lag in v ble 'site1 the corner of Currie and Mitchell school buildings, maternity hospitals and other Streets. In the near future I shall invite the public buildings. Minister to inspect the building. I showed it to the ex-Minister about 12 months ago, but JUr. Graham: Where will you get it? he. said it did not come within his jurisdiction. l'\Ir. LOW: We ,shall soon find ways and Later I made representations to the Depart­ means of getting it. I was pleased to hear ment of the Public Service Commissioner. the hon. member for Gregory make a plea Mr. Davies: Did you not get a high for the installation of septic conveniences school at Nambour and extensions to the State at schools throughout Queensland where water school ~uilding ~ facilities are available. I am sure that the amount paid by the Education Department Itir. LOW: The hon. member for Mary­ each year for cleaning the ordinary conveni­ borough has mentioned the high school. That ences would pay interest and redemption on i;, a disgrace to the Government of which the cost of septic systems. he was a member. The Minister for Public Vvorks, Housing and Immigration and the It is pleasing to know that the Minister Minister for Education visited there a fort­ is stepping up the provision of teacher resi­ night or three weeks ago and they could dences throughout Queensland. The previous hardly believe what they saw. The children Government erected an average of 10 school were crowded into dark and dingy class­ residences a year. When 500 are required roonw. There are 1500 children going to it would take a long time to catch up the the high school and more than 1000 going to lag at that rate. I trust that the Minister the primary school. The previous Government will be successful in his efforts to overcome stand condemned on the treatment they meted this shortage. In many places where elec­ out to these children, and the treatment meted tricity supplies were extended to rural areas cut to me, to the Premier and the Minister the teacher's residence was the last to be for Public Works, the representatives of that connected. area. ll!r. Hewitt: In my electorate it took 12 The hon. member for Maryborough was a months to get a power point. school teacher. He should be ashamed of himself for making such an interjection. It lUr. LOW: Those delays are very i~ a reflection on the children who attend annoying. that school. Itir. Davies: The past Government did a Jllr. Davies: My interjection did not magnificent job in extending ,electricity reii'ect on them. throughout the State. Mr. LOW: It did. ll!r. LOW: TheY might have done so in Mr. DA VIES: I rise to a point of order. the Maryborough electorate. I make an I did not cast any reflection on the school appeal for a new court house and public children attending the Nambour school. I offices at Nambour. I have made a similar merely asked was not a new high school appeal to many Ministers in the past. I built in Nambour. I ask for a withdrawal tried to find out who is resonsible for pro­ of that statement. viding these new buildings. My determina­ tion to get something done was strengthened The CHAIRMAN: I ask the hon. member when I read in the report of the Depart­ for Cooroora to accept the hon. member's ment of Public Works that a very attractive explanation. building had been erected at Goondiwindi to house the court and other public offices. Itir. LOW: I accept it, if I misunde.r­ stood him, but I knew what was in his mind. Of course Goondiwindi is in the electorate He indicated to me that he thought the of the ex-Minister for Public Works. The ex­ conditions of the high school at Nambour Treasurer had a new Court House and public were good enough for those children. offi.ces erected in Bundaberg, but none of these buildings was constructed in electorates of the JUr. 'DA VIES: I rise to a point of order. then Opposition. It is our turn now. The innuendo is offensive to me. I merely asked was not a high school built in Nam­ Mr. Davies: What do you mean by that? bour, as I believe it was. I ask for a with­ drawal. 1Ir. LOW: That the Ministe.r will at least listen to our representations. He is Itir. LOW: If I have misunderstood him, sympathetic and will listen to our appeals. I withdraw, but I do not want any misunder­ A new Court House including public offices at standing about this. The conclitions are Nambour is urgently needed. The present deplorable. Photographs have been given to Court House was erected more than 60 years the Minister for Education, and plans and ago, and has never been extended. The court specifications are being given sympathetic room is so small that one could not swing consideration by the Minister for Public a cat in it. Despite representations by the \Vorks. 1030 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Mr. Davies: You told us that the rooms matters about which he complained to pre­ in the new high school were dark and dingy. vious Ministers last session, and previous Is that correct~ sessions. The attitude of the new Ministers has entirely changed with the assumption of ::llr. LOW: There i£ no new high school responsibility. there. The previous Government neglected the old building. They now concede the difficulty of giving effect to all the things that they clamoured Mr. Davies: What are the new buildings? for and advocated from this side of the Chamber over a period of years. They have JI:Ir. LOW: They belong to the Primary come to recognise that there is an indispens­ School. The previous Government were respon­ able commodity called money, which is neces­ sible for the neglect of the high school. The sary for the carrying out of all the works area serves 20,000 people and 1,500 children. associated with Government activities. I know that the Minister will give this matter throughout this vast State. The need for his earnest attention.· The majority of money is increasing daily because of Queens­ the children who attend that school come land's growth and development. Increased from the Premier's electorate, the electorate population has brought in its train a need · of the Minister and many from my own for more schools, school residences, hos­ electorate. pitals, and all the other institutions associ­ I make a plea to the Minister for a new ated with social services. With all the work police station and rPsidence at Cooroy. That that is calling out for attention, Queens­ is the place where I went through the floor land's demands for increased loan money are with the policeman's wife when in the based on good grounds. But when I asked presence of the sergeant. The floor boards for increased loan money, and when the pre­ were badly borer-infested. She was vious Treasurer fought at Loan Council showing me round. Hon. members meetings for more loan money, it was said know what sort of a hearing we got to our that we were not courteous enough and that representations from the former Minister, that was why we failed. It was alleged the hon. member for Baroona. All also that we were pressing for more money we got from him was experience. merely for party political reasons, and to Now that there has been a change of Govern­ embarrass the Prime Minister and the Federal ment I ask the present Minister to have a Treasurer. At no time did party politics play look at the police station and residence as any part in my advocacy for money that was I do not want again to fall through the floor mgently needed for the development of with the policeman's wife. The floor still Queensland and for those things that are has borers in it and a new residence is wanted. necessary in the community life of the State. The sub-department of Local Government I repeat, we now see a changed attitudE: is well managed and I am not critical of it. from Ministers with the assumption of It is doing a fine job and as the Minister has responsibility. They are beginning to had local-government experience I am sure it realise just how difficult it is to grant all will do even a better one from now on. the requests made to them. If I may divert I am pleased to learn that the Minister for a minute, the statement by the Premier has tackled jobs that were pigeon-holed for on the Commonwealth Government's attitude months and possibly years by the previous to his claim for drought relief was no dif­ Government. The Bri&bane town plan is ferent from what I said when my Govern­ receiving his attention. No other Minister ment's claims for financial aid during of the former government had the courage droughts, floods and cyclones were rejected to tackle this matter and have it finalised. I time and time again. Indeed, I cannot am delighted to know that the Minister is remember one occasion on which the Federal getting the plan out of the pigeonhole and Government came to the aid of this State giving it his attention and I know it will not in an emergency. be long before a decision is made. I con­ :ilir. Aikens: Menzies ,said it did not gratulate him on undertaking something that matter whether Gair or Nicklin was Premier. other Ministers ran away from. I hope the Minister will give attention to Mr. GAIR: That is fair enough; there the cost of valuations to local authorities. It should be no political discrimination. But is considered by all local authorities through­ I claim now, as I did when I was Premier, out the State that the cost is excessive and that there is discrimination by the Federal should be reviewed. Government against Queensland. In a State (Time expired.) such as this, which is crying out for develop­ ment and improvement, not one penny of Mr. GAIR (South Brisbane) (12.24 Commonwealth money has been spent on any p.m.) : I listened with great interest and project. But money has been made avail­ some little quiet merriment to the speeches able to all the other States for some pro­ of Ministers who have introduced their Esti­ ject or another. The present Treasurer drew mates. I was struck by the great change attention to that at a conferenee of his in their mental disposition oince they assumed political colleagues. responsibility. I observed the defence of the ~Ir. Herbert: What has all this got to Minister for Transport against criticism on do with the Works DepartmenU Supply. [14 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1031

Mr. GAIR: If the hon. member for until we could get sufficient loan money to Sherwood will listen to me, he will learn carry out the entire work. The proposal was a great deal of the responsibility of govern­ never rejected; it was deferred. ment. That is why I am surprised that the Minister tried to make political capital out Mr. Heading: And you never put a bob of the fact that there was a torn canvas into the Estimates for this year to do any­ chair in the kitchen of this building, for thing about it, not even to buy a saucepan. which he asked me to accept responsibility. Mr. GAIR: We put £5,000 every year He then went on to say that the room that into subsidising the meals served in the I occupied was carpeted from wall to wall. refreshment rooms. For the hon. gentleman's information, the room that I occupied here is not carpeted Mr. Heading: That has nothing to do from wall to wall. If he was referring to with it at all. the office that I left-the Premier's office -as long as I can remember, it has been lUr. GAIR: Oh yes it has. It has a great deal to do with it from the point of carpeted from wall to wall. The carpet was renewed during my regime because the old view of the taxpayer. one had been there for 40 or 50 years and Mr. Heading: Nothing to do with the visitors often tripped over the holes in it. amenities and working conditions. ~Ir. Herbert: Then they carpeted you. lUr. GAIR: Oh yes it has. I say very plainly that as Premier I never felt obliged Mr. GAIR: No, they did not. At least to snoop round the kitchen at Parliament I showed enough fortitude and courage to House or other Government buildings to find stand up for a principle and a right. I out what furniture they had any more than doubt whether the hon. member for Sherwood I thought it was my job to arrange for tll8 would demonstrate the same spirit and the annual leave of the message-boy or some same courage in similar circumstances. other subordinate in the employ of the I am sure the average, responsible member Public Service Commissioner. Let us take a of the community would not expect a Premier reasonable and balanced view. If any to snoop round in the kitchen of Parliament Premier or Minister dabbled in matters of House or anywhere else to find out whether such little consequence instead of leaving the furniture was in order. Is that the job them to those paid to attend to them, he of a Premier~ It certainly was not one of would be so occupied with them that he the functions I assumed when I took over the would be compelled to neglect his important exalted office of Premier of the State. Is it and primary duties. It might be a pertinent the job of the Premier or, for that matter, question to ask how long the canvas in the of a Minister to know whether the toilet chair has been torn. facilities in a building are adequate~ Why are under secretaries, assistant under secre­ Mr. Aikens: Who tore it! taries, Clerks of the Parliament, and others, Mr. GAIR: I am not much concerned employed if the responsibility for those about who tore it. Has any application minor things lies at the door of the Premier ever been made to the Clerk of Parliament or of a Ministerf Premiers and Ministers :for a renewal of the canvas or a renewal of are fully occupied doing their own jobs with­ the chair~ I do not know, it is not my out usurping the detailed work of Govern­ business to know. The Clerk of Parliament ment officers in the departments and in has been authorised to make other purchases Parliament. for the improvement of conditions in Parlia· As to the much-discussed question of the ment House from time to time without any kitchen, the Minister probably would not reference to me, to the Treasurer or to any­ have known anything about it if he had not body else. been a member of the Refreshment Rooms Committee. JUr. ~Iann: There were neve.r any requests made. Mr. Heading: We wrote you a letter and told you what it was like, and what did you ilir. GAIR: I suspected that. All they do~ Nothing! had to do was ask for it and I am sure it would have been approved. The replace­ JUr. GAIR: The Minister has had his say ment of canvas in a chair! Let us act as and I am replying. We did receive a letter grown-up people about these things and not just a short time before a session com­ try to make political capital out of anything menced. Cabinet recognised the merit of the so paltry, a matter that could be remedied request for the reconstruction of the kitchen :for the asking. .Mthough the Minister for and bringing it down one floor but, as it Public Works has so much on his hands he entailed structural alterations, we said the has descended to such trifling matters. time was not opportune-that it would be However, his hopes were realised because inadvisable to proceed with constructional "The Courier-Mail" photographed the chair. work while Parliament was in session. Money It was said that my room was carpeted from was a consideration, too. Rather than engage wall to wall-which was not a statement of in the piecemeal reconstruction of the fact-in an effort to cast a reflection on kitchen, ,;e decided to defer any alteration me. The Minister did not say that since 1032 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. the new Government took office many Minis­ particularly those with technical knowledge, ters had had air-conditioning plants installed should see to it that these mistakes are in their rooms. I am not complaining about reduced to the irreducible minimum. It is that. important that the taxpayers' money should be expended with the utmost advantage and Mr. Nicklin: "Many," did you say? benefit to the people of this State. Mr. GAIR: Several. That is what I am Hon. J. A. HEADING (Marodian) (12.42 informed. I am not complaining but if p.m.): I take the opportunity to reply to we had done it there would have been cries the hon. member for South Brisbane. I do from this side of the Chamber. not think that in my 10 years' experience in Mr. Herbert: You were never in your this Hou~e I have seen a member try to evade office. his responsibility in the way that he did this morning. To say that he did not know any­ Mr. GAIR: Was I not! For the benefit thing about it, or it was not his resl?onsibility of the electors of Shenvood let me say that is just hooey. The hon. member sai~l t:wt he the hon. member never came to my office on got this letter from us at the begmmng of any matter. He had the reputation amongst the session. That is quite true, but what he the Ministers of the former Govermnent of forgot to tell us was that in reply to the never making one personal representation on letter he said the matter would be taken in behalf of his electorate. hand after the session was over. The then­ Speaker-! take it it was his responsibility­ lUr. HERBERT: I rise to a point of went to the trouble of getting arcbitects oi·der. That is almost too ridiculous for plans and specifications and estimate of costs words! The hon. member knows as well as for what was required in the kitchen at that I do that I have been a full-time Parlia­ time. We certainly did ask for it to be mentarian representing Sherwood and I have put on the same floor as the refreshment made very many personal representations on room but that was not the only thmg we behalf of Sherwood electors. asked for. What we clid ask for was that the kitchen be brought up to date. The The CHAIRlUAN: I ask the hon. member architect's estimate of costs was about for South Brisbane to accept the explana­ £7,000. That included, as I mentioned the tion of the hon. member for Sherwood. other day, a temprite to cool th~ beer, and the only thing we got out of It was the lUr. GAIR: I accept the explanation. temprite to cool the beer.. S?mebody m.ust I urge the Minister to confine himself have had something to do ~mth It at that time to the really important things that matter. or we would not have got the temprite. The If he can get sufficient loan money to spend hon. member said he had nothing to do with he will be fully occupied. He will find that it. We wrote to him and told him. The there will be defects for which he will be letter framed by the Executive Committee said asked to answer, defects which are not his that conditions ·were appalling, but that was but defects of the architectural branch or the reduced to ''far from satisfactory.'' It building section or somebody else. He will would not have taken the ex-Premier more be expected to accept responsibility as the than a few seconds to walk up to the floor Ministers of my Government were expected to see if we were telling the truth. There to as part of the responsibility of Govern­ were four members on the refreshment rooms ment. committee and one of them, Mr. Jack Taylor, Occupying the position of Under Secre­ the ex-me~1ber for Balonne, said, as I told tary, he has an excellent public servant, a hon. members the other night, ''If we went man with whom I was personally associated into a shearing shed and the kitchen was in in the administration of Government depart­ the condition of that one the men would ments from time to time and for whom I not start.'' have a very high regard. He is an indus­ ~Jr. Gair: The proposal was neve,r trious, energetic officer of more than average rejected by Cabinet. ability who is desirous of doing a good job whatever position he occupies. Jllr. HEADING: Nobody said that the I think that could be said of the stnff then-Premier had to do the job. He was generally. I pay tribute to the previous head of the Government and all he had to do Under Secretary, Mr. Lyons. He was a very was just refer it to the Minister for Public able officer who served the Government in Works as this Government have. It would not be various departments during his long period of beneath the dignity of the Premier n?r sm·vice. His service to thE' people of Queens­ beneath the dignity of the Minister fo:· Pubhc land was an example to the Public Senice Works to see that the workers of tlns State generally. I am sure the Minister will find got a fair deal. that the members of the staff will co-operate Other employers of labour in Queensland with him to the full. They will make would be prosecuted for those conditions. If mistakes, the same as staffs in every depa.rt­ the health inspectors of this city had inspect~d ment. They will make mistakes in construc­ the kitchen they would have condemned It. tion, lighting and other things that we It could not have been made hygienic. Imagine hear of fwm time to time. That is to be those conditions in Parliament House which expected. The under secretary and others, should be one of the most dignified places in Supply. [14 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1033 the State. It had a kitchen that would not supported by Labour Committee members. We be tolerated in some of the worst parts of inspected it and put the case to the Premier. Brisbane. The previous Government had He did his best, just as he did this morning, regulations and inspectors to police them, to slide it off his back and pass the blame to but the inspectors were kept out of this someone else. It was beneath his dignity building, because they would have condemned to think about the conditions under which it. The condition of the kitchen reflects workers were toiling and cooking meals for great discredit on the previous Government. him every day. I am not going to say it is the only thing that reflects discredit on them, but I want I have not had an opportunity to date, but the working people to know how little they I shall investigate the conditions of workers were prepared to do for their own employees. in other departments. I had a look at con­ Private enterprise is obliged to comply with ditions in the building where my office is all the conditions, but the previous Govern­ and when I saw a number of girls walking ment evaded their responsibility to their down the steps I thought that there was employees. The ex-Premier can never escape something wrong with the lift. The lift responsibility by rising and talking as he did was there with its door open and I asked this morning. It was his responsibility and the lift man why the girls were walking and he cannot get out of it by passing the blame he told me that they were coming down to the to some of his Ministers, his Under Secre­ lavatory. I asked, ''Why do they not go to taries, or somebody else. He should have seen the third :floorF' and he told me that they that it was done. Conditions for the employees had to come down to the :floor on which I were past understanding. was. I said, "What about the lower flood" Mr. Aikens: Is your Government going and he told me that there was no lavatory to make the provisions of the Workers' there. There were 300 or 400 women going Accommodation Act applicable to all workers to the one lavatory block. Surely in the course of time that would have been noticed in Government departments~ or is it that Ministers walk round with their Mr. HEADING: It does not matter eyes shut~ I called for a report regarding whether we do or not. This is a humane the Executive Building and I found that Government that realise their responsibilities somewhat similar conditions exist for female to the workers. I could not continue to live workers there. I have the job of investigat­ in this place, knowing the conditions under ing the conditions in various Government which these women were working-smoky, departments, something tha.t is 25 years over­ grimy walls, and a broken chair. I was not clue. The former Premier has no hope of responsible for having the photograph taken. evading his responsibilities. What boss does not see that the men under him are working Itir. Gair: You would organise that. under good conditions~ It is his job to clo so. It is the job of every colonel in the Mr. HEADING: I would not be ashamed Army to see that the men in every unit under if I did organise it, because I think the public his control are properly cared for. Each should know the character of the previous officer from platoons to companies has a Government. The workers today are eulogising responsibility. I know because I was in the this Government because we have taken some Army for many years. If I could not run a interest in their working conditions. unit of a battalion better than the Premier lllr. Adair: Why did you not bring up has run the Public Service in this State I this matter before~ would be ashamed. Mr. HEADING: Has the hon. member The hon. member for Cooroora spoke about ever heard of a fellow called Rip Van the secondary school at Nambour. I have WinkleW He was asleep for seven years. had a look at it and the condition in one building was such that you would not tie a ll[r, Aikens: Twenty years. clog up in it. We heard the hon. member for Gregory tell us about conditions in the Mr. HEADING: I thought it was only West; other hon. members have complained seven. of conditions elsewhere. I suggested to the then Speaker that we should have a look at it. The hon. member Mr. Coburn: And what about the Bowen for South Brisbane said that he would not hospital! be responsible for any loss beyond the loss made in the previous year. The balance Mr. HEADING: Yes. I have 'spoken in sheet contained a statement that the Com­ this Chamber about the Wondai hospital mittee manages the refreshment room. I said drawing attention to the condition of thE' to the then Speaker, "If the Committee refrigerator and the kitchen where cockroacnes manages the refreshment room, the first thing were running over the food. That has been you should do is have a look at it. I have a bone of contention for a long time. Such never been allowed up there until now, but conditions were allowed to continue in many I think it is time you had a look at it.'' parts of Queensland. There will be much It was then brought to the notice of the work still to be done at the end of our term then Premier. With the hon. members for because it will not be possible to attend to Lockyer and Darlington I had done all that everything that requires attention because of I could. We raised the· subject and were the decay and lack of care of public buildings 1034 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

over the years. I received a letter to say that ten previous Ministers. I refer to the Bar­ a building had to be pulled down because ambah electorate. It was obviously neglected of white ant infestation. by Labour. ii'Ir. Aikens: They are doing the same Another electorate in which a good deal of at the Supreme Court, Townsville. work has been done since I became Minister is Mourilyan. I am satisfied that it did not :Jir. HEADING: Whose job was it to see get a fair go from Labour. that white ants did not ruin the buildings~ The hon. member for South Brisbane Perhaps I have a dozen letters complaining should not blame public servants for the lack about buildings being eaten by white ants. of attention to public buildings. I enjoy "The Courier-Mail" gave front-page prom­ their full loyalty and co-operation. inence to the remarks of the hon. member for Gregory. I compliment him on being .Ur. HERBERT (Sherwood) (2.15 p.m.): able to make front-page news. He drew I congratulate the Minister on his presen­ attention to the neglect of his electorate, one tation of the Estimates. of the department. represented by Labour for 51 years. He told It is pleasing to see the department in the us that many buildings were in a dilapidated hands of a man of his calibre. Queensland state. has long felt the need of the handling ~f The hon. member for Cooroora emphasised the portfolio of Public WOTks on the basis the ba.d state of repair of the court house and of the requirements of the State rather police station at Nambour. He said that it than on those of particular electorates. In had been neglected by past Governments. The recent years it has been perfectly obvious hon. member for Townsville, too, said the that works have been doled out to elec­ other night that it had been decided 17 years torates represented by .hon. members of the ago to build a new Supreme Court in Towns­ Government Party and even, in the latter ville. If the building wanted replacing 17 stages, by particular hon. members of the years ago, it must be in a very dilapidated Government Party. So certain electorates, state now. Of course, we have all heard of hon. members of the Government Party about the need for a new railway station at who ·were not on good terms with the hon. Rockhampton. members of the Cabinet, suffered. Examples of that have been given by the hon. member lUr. Clark: New police offices are for Cooroora and one or two others. Most urgently wanted, too. of the \Yestern Labour electorates were sadly neglected because their representatives Mr. HEADING: On all sides we hear were not friends of the 'ruling group. How about the need for new public buildings. The that worked has been very effectively shown Rockhampton Police Station has been a by several of the new hon. m em hers from political football for years. Men have been the \Vest ·who have the interests of their put to work on it before an election, but have electorates at heart. been taken off again as soon as the election was over. Actions such as that have enabled J)Jr. Wood: You know that the worst Labour to retain the Rockhampton seat. feature of buildings in the Gregory elec­ torate, which \Yas mentioned, is the ,sub­ When I was a member of the Refreshment standard accommodation of private homes. Rooms Committee I frequently drew tJ:te Premier's attention to the conditions in the ])fr. HERBERT: The sub-standard kitchen, but he would do nothing. He used accommodation of private homes ib not the to say, "We must think about bigger things particular business of the Government, but than that. " If Queensland is to be run the , sub-standard accommodation for public properly, we must start from the bottom. servants in the electorate very definitely is. The Minister will be kept very busy Jlir. Gair: You employ people to do those things. straightening that out. Now that the yoke, of political direction JUr. HEADING: And you should look has been removed from the department, after the people you employ. If they do not many long-neglected jobs can be carried do what they should, it becomes a job for out. One does not have to go very far to the Minister. It is no good putting the see how some electorates have been favoured. responsibility for these things onto the Under Those who note where brick schools have Secretary. He has no power to allot money; been built, will be in no doubt as to whether that is the Minister's responsibility. I have the hon. member representing the electorate a staff of excellent people. I have not one was in political favour or not. It is not word to say against them. Not one of them that some have not applied for works. would fail to tell me of conditions that Not .so long ago I was accused in the needed improving. It is not their fault that Chamber of failing to make applications on money is not alloted to improve conditions. behalf of my electorate. I doubt whether The hon. member for Cooroora said that any hon. member has made more persistent some electorates had obviously been victim­ applications for works than I. Each time ised by past Governments. I can call to mind I have got exactly the same answer-'' No.'' one that must have been. In the short time Now we have a Minister who will decide that l have been Minister I have probably purely on the requirements of each area. had :

of the young to the interests of any par­ )Ir. HERBERT: Not to my knowledge. ticular hon. ,member of Parliament who If he did he acted like so many other Minis­ wants to preserve his seat by making a ters and did not give official advice that he good fellow of himself by having thousands was coming into the area. The ex-Attornev­ o~ pounds of Government money spent in General once opened a fete in my area witho;Jt Ius area regardless of the better claims of my prior official knowledge. He would not other electorates. have a look at the places that he should. The lnala Sl\lhool will have a huge problem to face EverY: hon. member knows from experience in the next 12 months because the Depart­ the senous lag between approval of jobs ment has not planned ahead. They probably for the Department of Education and the have not got the money anyway. The school actual carrying out of them by ,the Depart­ should have been foreshadowed years ago, not ment of Public Works. I do not blame the merely now when it is going to be forced personnel of the Department of Public upon them. Parents are already paying fares Work.s for that. The system is at fault. for their children to go out of the area for It w1ll be for the Minister to make sure education. Many of them are going to Darra, t~at when f~nds are available urgent works another school which has suffered because of w1ll be earned out quickly. the time lag between approval by the Depart­ In many cases in settled areas school exten­ ment of Education and commencement by the sions may be approved but a further 12 Department of Public Wiorks. Darra is prob­ months may elapse before work is commenced ably one of the most unfortunate of the older I will be parochial and install/Ce Inala m~ schools in Queensland. The playground is area that is growing at a trenmendous ;ate. far too small, a problem foisted upon it by In 1953 th~re were only a handful of people the previous administration. The Department there but th1s year there are 7,500. A school was of Public WOTks could spend months at the started 12 months ago and in that period the Darra school on repairs and maintenance attendance has grown to 1,000. Within the alone. It has been in a disgraceful condition next 12 months there will be another 1 000 or for years. I have made representations but possibly more. But what do we find' in the all I have to show for them is a big file of Estimates~ Nothing at all. Inala residents things to come. Under the guidall/Ce of the will be facing the same problem as they had new Minister I hope that there will not be so in the past. many things to come but things being done. The parents of children attending the Darra lllr. Davies: Have you another ,school school help to produce most of the cement in ground reserved W Queensland at the Darra Cement Works. We asked for a couple of bags of cement for a lllr. HERBERT: There is another school path from the school to the toilet, but they ground in the process of reservation. That is could not be supplied. T'he school grounds is my point. The Department of Education one of the worst drained pieces of land in the decides that another school is necessary so district. Every time it rains it is a quagmire. they make arrangements to acquire land. The There are scores of similar things in every Department of Public Works is approached electorate. They have been brought to the and provision is made in the next Estimates. notice of the Education Department and it If costs are too great for that year it is left to is put to the Department of Public Works and the next year. Even then it is very often a eventually in three years' time the work is couple of years before the school is ready for done. But in the meantime the children occupation. What is going to happen to suffer. That is why I make specific reference the children at Inala in the next two years~ to the Education Department. The lack of It will be the same as last year-four classes other things like court houses does not bring of 10 and 11-year-olds on coll/Crete under­ the same amount of suffering as the shortage neath the school with no protection at all of school accommodation brings in its wake. from the weather in winter. They do not even There are 20,000 people in the Sherwood have furniture to sit on. Even when I lirew electorate, and there is not a single brick it to the attention of the department it took a school. All they have done is to tack an od

llfr. HERBERT: A timber school of uni­ be dismantled and erected elsewhere, but a form construction but not one with a room two-story brick school cannot be moved, and on here and a room on there. You give the eventually it may be surrounded by factories. staff a lunch room and then they are asked to vwcate it because of the lack of available ]}Jr. Aikens: What is wrong with a good space. At many of the schools teachers have timber school~ nowhere to have their lunch. That is all llJr. HERBERT: Nothing, provided it is bound up with the treatment of Crown of good type, but certain schools in my area employees. They are entitled to decent were erected 90 years ago. The Sherwood facilities and rooms to have their meals, but school is a perfect example of hotch-potch they do not get them. vVhen you make rep­ construction. It has one of the best records, resentations to the Education Department for scholarship and teaching, but the they agree with you and they put it up to the building is a disgrace to a progres­ Department of Public \Vorks, and then there sive area. Every time more space is needed is silence for a year or two. the Department of Public Works tacks on Another lack is assembly halls. When I another room. The problem soon will be to went to school virtually every school had an find sufficient ground on which to build assembly hall. another room. ]}Jr. Aikens interjected. Mr. Wood: Not in my time. Mr. HERBERT: A school for 600 is Mr. HERBERT: In the larger centres. desirable, but in my electorate there are It could be used by the 6th, 7th, and 8th four or five about the 1,000 mark. grades for meetings, but now those meetings Wood: Have you any complaint to have to be held on the parade ground. Y on ]}Jr. make about the vocational facilities at the cannot get a number of children into any one Longreach school~ part of the building. It is all bound up with the different approaches to school buildings. Jlir. HERBERT: I have not seen them, Nowadays it is not sufficient to provide one but I have seen the one at Sherwood. I do room for each group of children and expect not know how that school will be able to it be enough for the school. That is recog­ cater for all the children next year. Those Jlised by the department. Vocational train­ children travel long distances. ing is an example. Years ago there were no vocational training centres. In my area the ]}Jr. Davies: You must admit that there problem is acute. At the moment the has been a tremendous increase in population Sherwood vocational centre is full, and next as a result of good government und the pros­ year additional scholarship classes will use perity of the State. that centre. The Education Department says yes, extra accommodation is necessary, and lUr. HERBERT: That has nothing to do it is referred to the Department of Public with it. Surely the hon. member is not going Works but you probably have to wait for to accept responsibility for the increase in three years. population! As a matter of fact the Sher­ wood electorate has increased in population by Mr. Wood: Throughout the State, gener­ more than any other electorate apart from ally domestic science and manual training Mt. Gravatt, but I do not accept respon­ are doing a good job. sibility for that. I do, however, accept responsibility for looking after the people. llJr. HERBER'l': A good job under limi­ That is the duty of the Government. When tations. The only way they were able to do many people realise the good representation a good job was because members of the inter­ of an electorate and pack into it, it is the city electorates who happened to be friends Government's duty to provide facilities, par­ of the Cabinet managed to acquire solid brick ticularly for education. The department schools in their dying areas. As those areas should provide schools to cope with the died, the number of children attending school requirements of an area, instead of asking decreased and they opened up the wings of head masters to estimate the attendance at those schools as vocational training centres schools in the following year before making and brought children in from other centres application to the Department of Public to these vocational schools. W arks for the erection of additional rooms. In places such as Inala a reliable estimate Jl'Jr. Lloyd: The only school built in cannot be given. The population in brick in the last two or three years was the 1953 was nil, whereas in 1957 it was 7,500. srhool at Mt. Gravatt. Most of those are young children. The aver­ age family in a Housing Commission home Mr. HERBERT: A number have been has several children of school age. The pro­ built siruce the war. Look at the Central blem at Inala next year will be tremendous. Practising School. If they are to be of The department apparently thought that a brick they should go into the growing areas Roman Catholic church school to be built where there will be an irucreasing need for there would take some hundreds of children accomodation for many years. Brick schools off its hands, but that school did not even­ should not be built in dying areas such as tuate and the department will have to cater inner city electorates. A wooden school can for all the children next year. A school Supply. [14 NOVEMBER.) Supply. 1037 should be built over the Christmas break. It is my plea to cut the red tape so that Frankly, I do not know what will happen finance can be spent where an emergency next year. There are 26 classrooms exists. already. The department will have to construct temporary classrooms and ~Ir. DEWAR {Chennside) {2.38 p.m.): remove them when the new school is built, I congratulate the Minister on the enthusiastic unless the department adopts the expedient way in which he has applied himself to the of the past of building temporary classrooms portfolio entrusted to him, and I particularly and allowing them to remain permanently support his comments at the introduction of because it is not able to catch up with the his Estimates about the poor conditions for lag. the staff in Government buildings. He said nothing that was not factual. I have raised The red tape should be removed if adequate this matter before. There is no doubt that schooling is to be provided for hundreds who his comments and criticism were based on are now denied that adequate schooling sound grounds. It was unnecessary for the because of a shortage of accommodation. hon. member for South Brisbane to prance There should be some way of getting addi­ around in rebuttal of the criticism levelled: tional rooms rather than by the present by the Minister at the parliamentary kitchen lengthy procedure. Three schools in that area and other public buildings. If the Minister will be affected more than schools in any in charge of the department is not respon­ other part of Brisbane-Darra, Richlancls sible for the conditions who in heaven's name and Inala. They cater for a population of is~ If the Premier was not directly respon­ over 10,000, mainly young people with young sible surely the former Minister for Public children, and many still to come. When Works should take the blame for the poor the Departments of Education and Public conditions in Government buildings at Par­ Works are considering this matter, it would liament House, particularly in the kitchen. be advisable to obtain facts from the Hous­ ing Commission as to the work to be done in The Minister has said that when he was a the area. It will ultimately be a city of member of the Refreshment Rooms Committee 35,000 people, with thousands of potential he saw the need for improvements and took pupils. These people require more considera­ the matter up with the then Premier through tion than they are getting at the present the hon. member for Brisbane, who was time in the Estimates. I know that the Speaker at the time. If the hon. member for Minister for Education is aware of the pro­ South Brisbane denies that, then the fault lies blem and with the Minister for Public Works with the hon. member for Brisbane. I should I am sure that Inala will receive its just like the former Speaker to tell us whether he deserts. Those hon. gentlemen will listen brought the matter to the notice of the hon. to representations made on the basis of the member for South Brisbane. In any ease, it wants of the community and not so much on is sheer nonsense for the former Premier to the basis of electoral representation. I am say that he knew nothing about the con­ quite sure that the Minister will not con­ ditions that existed. It \Yas his duty to make sider politics before the needs of the people. full inquiries when the matter was brought In 12 months' time when these Estimates before his notice. are before us again I hope to be able to congratulate him on the work clone in my JUr. Aikens: The former Speaker will make a speech on it later on. electorate. The Sherwood electorate has per­ haps had the greatest increase in population and so hon. members representing other elec­ .Mr. DEWAR: I hope he does. torates would not be faced with the same I must take the hon. member for SherTooJ problems. I trust that the Minister will find to task for saying that the head teacher at some money to spend on this area otherwise the Nundah State School does not know all he will be faced with a great amount of the teachers on his staff. He coul<1 not poss­ criticism which he really should not have ibly be expected to know the 1,450 pupils in" to accept because plans should have been the senior school and the 600 pupils in the prepared long ago. It is fantastic to think junior school, bnt I can a''sure the hon. mem­ that there is only one school at Inala. The ber that he knows all the teachers. I sin­ Government should have started long ago cerelY trust that next week the Brisbane City on the construction of another school. The Cour{cil will approve of the transfer to the present one has over 1,000 pupils, far beyond Education Department of land at East Nundah the number desirable for a State school. When held in trust by it for recreation purposes so that school reaches the 2,000 mark we will that a school can be built on the site. 1f it be in the same position as exists at Nundah does, I hope that the J\!Iinister and his Under today where the headmaster does not know Secretary, Mr. Longland, will set work iR train immediately for the erection of a school, his teachers let alone his pupils. I know that provision for which has been made in the I have worked the parish pump somewhat Estimates. That will relieve tremendously extensively but it was only to reveal the the awful strain that has been imposed on problem and show the delay that exists the Nundah School for at least the last eight between approval by the Department of years. In passing, I should like to congratu­ Education and ultimate construction of late Mr. Longlanc1 on being appointed to schools by the Department of Public Works. the position of Under Secretary. I know that 1038 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

he will apply himself to his job with the same three or four years ago the hon. member energy and enthusiasm as he displayed in for Isis stood over on the Opposition side the Immigration Department. and described conditions on a .wharf. He I now have something to say in support of said that not only were beds not supplied the Minister's comments on the accommo­ for the men to sleep on at night but also dation of Government employees. This week they had to sleep on top of stacks of sugar. Qne of my constituents rang me and told me The Minister for Labour and Industry, that he thought it was his duty to bring to sitting in his corner over here, said, ''Name my notice the conditions under which the employer and we will prosecute.'' The employees at the Public Library have to work. hon. member for Isis said, "Right, it is the His daughter is one of them. The hon. mem­ Queensland Government.'' I did not hear ber for Sherwood and I visited the Public that they \Ye re prosecuted. Library on Tuesday night. I know that you, 1'vlr. Taylor, know more than any of us about ilir. A. JONES: I rise to a point of ihe Public Library, but I doubt whether many order. The hon. member said that the hon. members know anything about the con­ Minister for ~Labour and Industry at that ditions that exist there. I admit tltat I knew time was sitting over there. I did sit there; nothing of them till last Tuesday night. I admit it. But he said I said, "Name the employer and we ;will prosecute.'' As a Mr. Aikens: Why didn't you ask me? matter of fact, we could not prose­ cute because the Government are not covered llir. DE WAR: The hon. member for by the Workers' Accommodation Act. That Mundingburra knows everything about noth­ has been raised two or three times. Some ing. time ago the hon. member spoke of the The complaint that was made to me about application of the Workers' Accommodation the Public Library surrounded quite a fe1Y Act to Government buildings. The Factories Qccurrences there in recent times. Young girls and Shops Acts apply but the Workers' work there at night, and one night when Accommodation Act does not. they were locking up they found a man hid­ ing in the Stygian darkness, to use an Mr. DEWAR: That is true, but what I -expression of the hon. member for Munding­ said happened did happen. When the hon. burra. They had a good deal of trouble in member for Isis raised the matter he did not getting him out. On another occasion, a at first indicate that it was a Government job. police offieer discovered a man getting out of It was only after the Minister had said, the building at 4 o'clock in the morning. He "Name the employer and we will prosecute" had been locked in the night before. The lay­ that he told him it was a Government out of the building is so ridiculous that the department. girls employed there are in a hopeless posi­ The appalling conditions under which tion. I trust that it IYill not be long before Government employees work are not being the Public Library is housed in a new building. brought to light for the first time now that It has been talked about in the past. Some the Minister has brought them to the weeks ago one hole was dug but nothing attention of the Committee. They have been has been done since. I sincerely trust that instanced in the Chamber for years, but the Minister will give immediate priority previously no step was taken by the Govern­ to the building of a public library in ment to correct them, nor have any hon. keeping with a city of 500,000 people. I members of what is speciously called . the am sure. that you would support me, Mr. real Labour Party supported the attacks on Taylor, if you had the opportunity to speak, the Government that we made when we because no-one knows more about the library were in Opposition. work of the city than you. llir. Aikens: Will you continue to argue I shall have more to say about. the staff­ that the Workers' Accommodation Act ing arrangements when the Estimates of the should apply to Government employees~ Department of Education are before the committee. However, the conditions under Mr. DEWAR: I will continue to do all which the library staff work are absolutely I can to see that workers in Government appalling. They are a disgrace to any employ enjoy the same conditions as workers employer of labour, whether private or under private enterprise. Sometimes private governmental. Men working in the rooms employers have to be forced to give good many feet below the level of William Street conditions and, if they are forced to do it, have no ventilation on three sides of the the Government should do it, too. I am -building but must depend on a small window sure the Government are well aware of that on the river side for air. When we went down and no more sympathetic man than the there at half-past 7 on Tuesday night .the present Minister could be administering the air was absolut~ly ~ank, and they have one department. I applaud the Minister for the ;:.mall fan workmg m an effort to circulate way he is carrying out his job. it. 1Ir. GARDNER (Rockhampton) (2.50 I was amused at the howls that came p.m.): The Minister for Public Works and from the hon. member for South Brisbane Local Government has a very big task ahead about workers' accommodation. When the nf him. Nobody would realise that more than ·workers' Accommodation Bill went through he. The administration of the Department Supply. (14 NOVEMBER.] Supply. 1039 of Public Works and all its sub-departments Press comments are sometimes rather dis­ is indeed a very big responsibility. As the quieting. I wish to refer to the good work Minister in charge he will be responsible for of Mr. Longland during his term there. It the expenditure of the £1,500,000 allocated is pleasing to see that since 1947, 32,332 this :financial year. In the short time avail- British migrants came to Queensland. Of 8 ble it is impossible for me to deal fully that number 23,874 were nominated and with the various sub-departments-Services 8,458 were sponsored by the Government. All -Public Buildings, Buildings, Valuer­ those sponsored by the Government have General, Immigration, and Local Govern­ been placed in employment. These new ment-in addition to the Chief Office. Indeed settlers of British stock will be readily the Minister has accepted a great responsi­ absorbed in this country. I do not agree bility at his time of life and I wish him well. ·with the popular outcry against bringing migrants to the country when we have an Many people think that it ~s just a case of army of unemployed. Full-time employment the Minister's waving a mag1c wand to com­ must be the aim of every Government. We plete every building or structure that is should not be deterred on that score in our required throughout the length and breadth efforts to bring further migrants to Queens­ of the State. Finance is always the deter­ land. Queensland is crying out for develop­ mining factor. We all express great disap­ meat. There is no shortage of develop­ pointment when we do not get hoped-for mental work as long as finance is available. improvements in our own electorate.. The provision of accommodation for pubhc . ser­ Another sub-department of great interest is vants, public buildings, schools, and hosp1tals th~~ of. the yaluer-General. It has many imposes a great task on the ~el?artment. c;-1~1cs, mcludmg councillors and others, in A high standard of school bmldmgs has c1bes throughout Queensland where the been set in Queensland. The Government set Valuer-General's officers have made new valua­ a high standard of architecture in their tions. Despite criticism, a very small percen­ public buildings. We are very proud of the tage of appeals from valuations has been modern buildings built in recent years. I upheld. notice from the report that the total number The valuation of Rockhampton is an of employees in the department as at 30 instance of the importance of this depart­ June was 1,742. It gives an indication of ment. If the Valuer-General had not valued the volume of work done by the department. the city, it is possible that Rockhampton A large amount is let out on contract. would have reached the stage of owing more I was very pleased, to hear the Minister money than the value of the city. I compli­ say that the conditions that existed when ment the department on its job in Rockhamp­ he took over the portfolio would be main­ ton. The department has had an uphill fight tained. I am referring to work done both to gain recognition, but, with the Department by day labour and by contract. He made of Local Government, it is now coming into the reservation that resulfs would count. its own. I congratulate the staff on their work. I believe that local government is a func­ tion very close to the people's hearts. People Before concluding I must refer to matters affecting my electorate, particularly after elected to local government in cities, towns and shires all work for the common good. listening to the complaints of hon. members They are the connecting link between the representing metropolitan electorates. If it Minister and the Department of Local Gov­ is good enough for them to work the parish ernment. Let me compliment that depart­ pump, it is good enough for members repre­ ment under the Minister's control. Mr. senting outside electorates to put certain local Sewell is an excellent officer who would be matters before the Committee. very hard to replace. The various sewerage I do not say that the Cabinet is a Queen and road development plans drawn up by the street Cabinet or that the Government is a local authorities are referred to the local Queen street Government. Any criticism I government department for consideration and have to make of the Government will not be recommendation. The co-operation of the until after they have been in office 12 months Department of Public Works and the Treasury and I am able to form some opinion of their is very essential for the success of this work. work in the meantime. I have written to the The Treasurer made a statement on this Minister about work I should like done in my point when he referred to the necessity for electorate in the next 12 months, and I have co-operation between the local government further matters to raise with him. department, the Department of Public Works I acknowledge the progress of the and the Treasury. Many councils have been electorate when it was represented by the late guided by the wise heads of these depart­ Hon. James Larcombe. He did a magnificent ments and many times they have been con­ job over a long period, but further work vinced that a proposed venture would be is required. The first item to which I draw inadvisable. The co-operation between the attention is the watchhouse and police quar­ local authorities and the Local Government ters. It is in a first-class area, very close to Department has produced good results. the post office, and adjoins a fine Government I compliment the Minister on the work of structure that cost £287,000. The buildings the Immigration Department, although some have been there I should say, for 70 years" 1957-2L 1040 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Portion of them are in brick but they have both accommodated at The Lodge. He is a been added to by weatherboard structures. man of very broad vision with a wonderful The staff quarters are on the top of the fund of knowledge. He has had a wide barracks and some of the men live in an experience of life and has interested himself adjoining wooden structure. The watchhouse in so many organisations of a diversified is also in the heart of the city and it is an nature that he has gained a knowledge that eyesore and a blot on the Rockhampton civic comes to very few people. I am sure that the block. The structure is in a :first-class area. State will receive the benefit of his know­ There are speci:fic laws relating to building ledge and experience. He is very approach­ in a first-class area and buildings must be in able, and I know that anybody who has to accordance with the by-laws. Brick or con­ approach him will be received with the crete construction is the order of the day. utmost courtesy. If there is anything he can People have been prosecuted for erecting do for them, I am sure it will be done. buildings in a first-class area that did not com­ ply with council requirements; others have It \Yas very pleasing to hear the Minister been debarred from building for the same say that it is proposed to build 19 teachers' reason. I ask the Minister to make an inspec­ dwellings this year. Although that may be tion of Rockhampton with a view to giving fewer than one would like it is a considerable serious thought to some improvements. Per­ improvement on what was done last year, haps he will say, ''Why did you not make when only two were completed and two more representations to the former Minister?'' I under construction. Teachers' dwellings are have been in this Assembly for only two years a very important adjunct to teaching. When and I can assure the Minister that I was con­ teachers have their families comfortably tinually on his predecessor's back. I have accommodated, they are more likely to be been to the Deputy Premier and to the contented and prepared to stay where they ex-Minister himself. When I used to go to are than if they have to find accommodation one Minister I was pushed off to anotheT. some distance from the school. I hope that They have written me quite pleasing letters the dwellings to be erected are built in places asking me to go to another Minister only to where accommodation is not easily obtain­ be referred to somebody else, even to the able and where the amenities are not on the Co-ordinator-General of Public Works. I got same scale as those in the cities. nowhere. The people of Roekhampton are entitled to some consideration. Conditions The insect proofing of teachers' residences are not up to the standard we desire. I should be part of Government policy. I live hope and trust that the Minister will give in an area through which flows the great serious thought to what I have raised and Burdekin River, with a delta-like flow through that he will visit Rockhampton later when I the districts of Ayr and Home Hill. Water shall be happy to meet and discuss the prob­ ponds in numerous places make excellent lems with him. breeding grounds for mosquitoes. In addition, The Rockh(ampton workshop staff of the there is a number of large lagoons, notable department have been working under unfavour­ among them being Cornford 's Lagoon, right able conditions for a long time. The staff have in the centre of the built-up area of Ayr, which been working in a temporary structure for the is the breeding ground for myriads of mos­ last seven or eight years. This condition retards quitoes. efficiency, and I am sure it does not meet with. One school in my area-J arvisfield School approval. The department has an excellent -is built on the edge of one of the mouths staff at Rockhampton. I am sure that if of the Burdekin River, and there is always the Minister realised what was going on he a large lagoon within a few yards of the would not hesitate to bring about an head-teacher's dwelling. From my experi­ improvement. I do not want to weary the ence in campaigning at election time, I know Minister about the science section at the Rock­ that it is impossible to get people to attend hampton Technical College, but I should a meeting there because they refuse to come mention it. He said that he and the Minister out at night and be tormented by the mos­ for Education are co-operating very well. One quitoes. The head teacher has told me that department does the work and the other asks it is impossible for him and the members of for it to be done, but the time has arrived to his family to sit down at night and do any give some consideration to the technical work because they are tormented by mos­ college and high school. I have made repre­ quitoes. I made representations to the sentations to have the science section brought previous Minister for Education and his up to a proper standard. When this matter is reply was that Jarvisfield was not the only brought before the Minister's notice by the place in Queensland with mosquitoes. I Minister for Education, I hope they will know no place where they are more numerous. improve the science section, the plumbing It would not cost much to gauze the residence .section and the electrical department of the and it would make life tolerable for a good Rockhampton Technical College. servant of the department who does not Itir. COBURN (Burdekin) (3.11 p.m.): enjoy conditions nearly as congenial as do I join with other hon. members in congratu­ teachers in cities and larger towns. I know lating the Minister on his elevation to the Minister is considering the matter and I Cabinet rank. Since I have been a member hope that at the same time he will consider of Parliament I have got to know the Min­ insect-proofing all teachers' dwellings in ister very well, particularly when we were areas where the mosquito is a nuisance. The Supply. [14 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1041

teachers are doing an excellent job and they secure satisfactory accommodation in private could be rid of such discomfort at compara­ homes. It is very pleasing to know that the tively little cost. teacher at this outlandish place will have the I ask the Minister to consider, too, the ben-efit of teacher's quarters. provision of dwellings in all towns for magis­ Improvements at the Home Hill Rural trates and clerks of petty sessions. Once I School cost £7,298. Extra rooms .were stayed at the Club Hotel in Bowen, the wanted but they were not provided. There magistrate was there too. He had been are two dingy, badly-lighted and badly­ transferred to Bowen and could not find a ventilated rooms referred to by children ,and suitable dwelling for his family. For some their parents as the dungeon. Although months they had to live where he had pre­ £7,298 was spent it was quite inadequate viously been stationed while he stayed at the to meet the requirements of the district. It hotel and looked for a suitable dwelling. will be up to the new Minister to see that That is not fair to a magistrate. additional classrooms are provided at the Recently a clerk of petty sessions was Home Hill Rural School, so that there will transferred to Ayr and he looked every­ be no necessity for the children and teachers where for a house to rent but he was unsuc­ to be accommodated in the dungeon. The cessful. Finally he had to buy one. Those Minister for Education intends to visit Ayr officers do not want to buy houses as their and Home Hill on 25 November, when I transfer is usually temporary and if they hope to have the opportunity to show him have to sell the house, especially on a falling the dungeon so that he will realise that my market, they may lose £200 or £300. Though description of it is no exaggeration. The some other clerks of petty sessions were additions to the Queen's Beach school ;near transferred, fortunately the officer in ques­ Bowen cost £2,520 and at the Ayr High and tion was allowed to remain at Ayr, because it Intermediate School, £9,145. A septic sys­ suited the convenience of the department. tem cost £4,148, so that almost £35,000 was Dwellings are provided for school-teachers spent on additional accommodation and other and for police officers and they should also be amenities for schools in the area I represent. provided for such important officers as magis­ For that, of course, we have to be thankful trates and clerks of petty sessions, to spare although we realise there is still need for them the nightmare of looking for a home more provision if we are to meet the .require­ for their families or of being separated from ments of the district. In view of the rate them for weeks. of increase in population, despite these improvements ,another two rooms will be I cannot altogether complain that nothing required at the Ayr High and Intermediate has been done in the area I represent. I would School next year, otherwise the children say at least £140,000 has been spent there graded to go to the intermediate school during the last 12 months on buildings. A new will have to remain at the primary schools maternity block was built at Ayr by con­ which is unsatisfactory. For some time I tract at a cost of £93,323. It is a very have been agitating for the establishment imposing, spacious building to accommodate of a high school top at Home .. Hill. On one 23 beds. The construction of air-condition­ occasion during the discussion on the ing facilities for the birth and delivery Estimates for the Department of Publie rooms is now nearing completion. I was Works I had a brush with the then Minister very pleased indeed to read in the Minister's who claimed the matter had nothing to do report that this facility will be a standard with public works. But as the present provision in future hospital construction. Minister for Education assures me we will It is a necessity in tropical areas where the have a high school top at Home Hill two heat is intfmse in summer. It is grand to years hence, now is the time to make know that in future operating theatres and provision for the classroom accommodation birth and delivery wards will be air­ that will be required; otherwise we will conditioned, something for which the Govern­ find ourselves in the position which we have ment are to be commended. so often found ourselves in after establish­ AJthough new schoolroom accommodation ing a high school or a technical college, of did not meet requirements there was a not having adequate accommodation for the considerable improvement last year. On children who wish to attend these schools. behalf of the people I represent whose As I am assured by the Minister that this children benefited, I express their thanks to high school top will be established at Home the department. Hill two years hence, now is the time for the Department of Public Works to interest Additions totalled £8,862 at the Bowen itself in making plans for the accom­ school. At Guthalungra a new school was modation. erected to replace the old dilapidated one at a cost of £2,720. I have been advised I know that I have no need to say much by the Minister that a new single teacher's about the Bowen Hospital, the condition of quarters will be built in the area. On one which I have described to hon. members on occasion the teacher bought an old Army many occasions. It is no better now than it hut for £5 as a home. Many people regard was then; a little worse if anything. The their homes as their castles and would Minister for Health and Home Affairs has rather have them to themselves. For that assured me that he will come to Bowen reason it has been difficult for teachers to during the recess and make a personal 1042 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

inspection of the Bowen Hospital. I am in the Ayr Shire Chambers, when certificates satisfied with that because I know that the are granted, usually to about 12 new British Minister for Health and Home Affairs is a subjects. man of sufficient intelligence to decide The chairman of the council conducts the immediately that a new hospital should ceremonies in a most interesting and impres­ replace the outmoded and dilapidated one sive style. He invites representatives of the that is there now. various bodies in the town to the ceremonies. Mr. Davies: Is it that bad? He always invites the members representing the area, both State and Federal, and, if they are not present, their representatives are Mr. CO BURN: It is worse than I can present and make speeches on the subject. de~cribe it. O~e doctor working in the area said t~at a _pnvate home was a more :fitting After the presentation of certificates to place m which to treat the sick and injured the naturalised subjects, the National than the Bowen Hospital. Anthem is sung. The chairman makes a point of having the school children of the JJ'Ir. Davies: You could not have made very satisfactory representations. Burdekin district at the ceremonies. The school children from most of the schools have been present on most occasions. At the ~Ir. CO BURN: How could you make conclusion, of course, guests have the indis­ satisfactory representations when the persons pensable cup of tea, biscuits and cake. to whom you had to make them were abso­ lutely impervious to anything. It is no use The ceremonies have become very attrac­ the hon. member's telling me that I have not tive to the people of the area, and are usually made adequate representations. What other well attended. The new citizens are instructed representations could I have made~ The in the obligations which devolve upon them and fact that they fell on deaf ears is not my the privileges conferred on them. They are fault, but the fault of the people with the given some sound advice on what is expected deaf ears. I am ce~tain that we will get a of them if they are going to :fit in with our new Bowen Hospital-absolutely certain. society and be accepted on the same level as With the Minister for Health and Home those born in this country. Affairs and the Minister for Public Works The chairman of the council, because of in charge of affairs we shall not have to his deep interest, is largely responsible for wait. ~onger than is necessary to make the the success of these ceremonies. I am sure provisi~n so urgen~ly needed for so long. the Ayr people would like me to express There IS no necessity for me to argue so publicly their appreeiation of the great ser­ much over the Bowen Hospital because I vice he has rendered in that area. I am sure think its provision is assured. the Minister for Local Government will :find The Minister also deals with local govern­ that he is most co-operative with the depart­ me~t. I _am pleased to say that in the Ayr ment, and that he will do all he possibly can Shue, whiCh IS a large progressive and rich to further the interests of local authorities shire, we have as chairman of the council in this State. Mr. E. W. Ford, who has no superior ir: I am quite happy ·with the prospects for the that position in Queensland. He is energy future concerning the work of the Depart­ p~rsoni:fied .. He is the owner of a farm, but ment of Public IV orks in my electorate. I gives very httle attention to his farm. His think that many of the things that have been two sons manage it for him and he concen­ neglected will be neglected no longer and trates on council work. He travels over there will not be much neressity for me on every mile of road, and nothing in the shire future occasions to tell the Minister how can be mentioned of which he has not necessary it is to establish the Bowen Hos­ detailed knowledge. I mention that to show pital and provide school buildings to accom­ his interest in his work. modate the children in my area.

. He attends public functions, whether of an ~fr. DAVIES (Maryborough) (3.36 p.m.): Important nature generally or whether I take the opportunity of congratulating the important only to those associated with the Minister on being given charge of this impor­ function. tant department. He has given many years In my area there are no fewer than 200 of service to Parliament, the State and miles of bitumen roads. In fact it is most important organisations outside and it is difficult to :find a road in the area without a pleasing to see that the Government who bitumen surface. Consequently we do not received support from only 43 per cent. of suffer from the dust nuisance that a large the electors have given him this important number of residents in the Brisbane area portfolio. I wish him good health during the along Birdwood Road suffer at the present remaining two and a-half years that his time, and we have no putrid water breeding Government will be in office. places for mosquito and disease germs. At I was somewhat disappointed at his reply Ayr and Home Hill there are many people to my question about a shortage of funds. who have come from other countries. Many We have always blamed the Commonwealth have done exceptionally well as farmers, Government for the shortage of money. The and amongst them are some excellent citizens. Treasurer appreciates the position and realises We regularly hold naturalisation ceremonies the difficulties in doing all the things that Supply. [14 NOVEMBER.] Supply. 1043

Ministers wish to do, but really the present School populations almost doubled. What a Government have no understanding of the tremendous problem the previous Government position that prevailed over a number of had to face up to! And they faced up to it. years. When they were in Opposition they People who have not travelled round the State complained that schools were not built, that fail to realise the gigantic problems that con­ additions to buildings were not provided, but fronted the previous Government. they failed to realise the tremendous problem with which the former Government were faced. The Commonwealth Government are largely They have spoken of a lack of amenities and to blame for the shortage of money from so on. The Minister made a vitriolic attack which Queensland has suffered. The Treasurer on the former Premier, the hon. member for realises the true position. He disagrees with South Brisbane, and on the former Treasurer the Minister. He has said that the Common­ whom he accused of poor administration in wealth Government are keeping Queensland several departments. I expect the hon. mem­ short of money, that Queensland is not ber for Bundaberg will defend his adminis­ getting its just entitlement. This is what the tration. Hon. members opposite have failed Treasurer said- to realise that it was impossible for us to do '' It is difficult to see why Queensland, ever;Ything that was required, but we should with its sparse but decentralised popula­ be given credit particularly for the building of tion, its great distances, its many ports, schools and in keeping pace with the trem­ and its potential for development should endous increase in school attendances. We did receive a proportion lower than its percen­ a magnificent job. It is only necessary for me tage of population.'' to draw attention to the increased school attendances for hon. members to appreciate The CHAIRMAN: Order! This is not a that. They grumbled and growled about debate on the Financial Statement. extensions to buildings here and there and complained of the failure of the Government Mr. DA VIES: The Minister is not facing to build another school in the Sherwood elec­ up to the position. The problem is centred torate. We could not do all that we would round the money that is available. Hon. have liked with the limitation of funds and members opposite are afraid to attack the I cannot see any hope of much improvement in Commonwealth Government. the future. The Commonwealth Government have refused to help the State Government in The Treasur,er went on to say- the matter of drought relief and I was pleased '' Queensland's development will be sub- that the Premier attacked the Commonwealth stantially :retarded unless additional Government for their refusal to grant drought revenues are available.'' relief assistance to Queensland. It is a pity How can we have all the new schools that we that ''The Courier-Mail'' and ''The Tele­ need if the Commonwealth Government refuse graph'' did not come forward with leading to make grants to Queensland for education articles attacking the Commonwealth Govern­ purposes, and refuse to give us our fair share ment for their failure to stand by the Premier. of the resources available to them~ The A forthright Press attack on the Common­ Treasurer said in another place- wealth would have helped the Premier in his attack upon the Commonwealth for their The CHAIR.l1£AN: Order! The' hon mem­ refusal to recognise the rights of the State. ber has had a good deal of latitude. I ask As a matter of fact, Government members him to deal with the Vote before the Com­ should protest vigorously against the Federal Government's treatment of Queensland. They mittee. should even go to the extent of saying that Mr. 'DA VIES: The problem will have· to they would refuse to support Fede;ral Govern­ be grappled with. I was very pleased to see ment candidates at the next electwn. the Premier come out today with a very force­ ful attack-- The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the hon. member to confine his remarks to the Vote The CHAIRliAN: Order! I ask the hon. before the Committee. member to obey my request. If he does not, I shall be obliged to order him to resume his lir. DAVIES: In 1946 there were 7,628 seat. children in the ScholarFhip class. By 1956 the number had doubled. \1\'hat a tremendous lir. DA VIES: I shall refer now to the demand that placed upon the previous Govern­ miserly amount of financial aid that the ment in providing school accommodation. Queensland church organisations receive from Again, in 1946, the number of pupils in the Commonwealth Government for the Junior classes totalled 4,442, compared with building of homes for the aged. When­ 7,938 in 1956. In the case. of Senior classes, ever a home for the aged is opened the enrolments were 1,492 m 1946, and 2,212 in Queensland, a representative of the in 1956. The increases were staggering. Commonwealth Government makes a very nice lir. Ramsden: They did not happen over­ speech and finishes it with the grand announce­ night. ment that the Federal Government are sub­ sidising the cost on a £1 for £1 basis. This Mr. DA VIES: But they happened in the Federal subsidy is only a fraction of the comparatively short period of 10 years. total cost. 1044 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

The CHAIRIUAN: Order! The hon. mem­ JUr. Heading: The water could not have ber is not allowed to discuss matters affooting been very hot because I do not remember any- the Department of Health and Home Affairs thing about it. on this Vote. Mr. DAVIES: It is still boiling up there. Not you Mr. Minister, but the hon. Mr. DAVIES: I was just wondering member fdr Toowoomba. The Minister will be what chance the Government have of build­ welcome there at any time. ing homes for the aged in the State if they cannot get the wherewithal to do it. I ask Listening to the hon. member for Cooroora the Minister to see to what extent he can you would think that no moneY: had been persuade the Commonwealth to contribute spent in his area but I was surpnsed to find because this is the only State that gives the that nearly £7,000 was spent on additions to necessary 50 per cent. on the building of the State School in Nambour and nearly those homes. I will have to enlarge on that £6 000 on the high school, a total of £12,760 at another stage. la~t financial year. Despite all the fuss that was made about Hon members have spoken a great deal the waterside worker's hostel at U rangan, about accommodation for Government depart­ at that stage plans had been nearly com­ ments in Brisbane. However, the Govern­ pleted for the erection of quarters. It was ments of recent years have been wide awake only a matter of where they should be placed. to the need for providing accommodation in As a matter of fact they were completed country towns. Some years ago, upon the four years ago. A magnificent b.uilding, amalgamation of two banks in Maryborough, complete with every necessary a~emty, has a bank building was bought by the Govern­ now been provided for the waters1de workers. ment and it is now used for Government The port must be given c?nsideration but I offices. It was an excellent purchase and the cannot discuss that on this Vote. price was reasonable. On the adjacent corner of the city square is the old Bank of New Judging from interjections I should say South Wales building. The bank has a new that there seems to be general satisfaction building nearly completed in another position with the work done by the I1mnigration but its old premises are admirably situated Department. It is rather remarkable .to and here is another opportunity for the Gov­ read the criticisms of hon. members oppos1te ernment to buy a building. Accommodation that the Immigration Department has not is taxed in Maryborough. We have no build­ been administered satisfactorily, that the ings in sight and I believe no ground is at number of migrants coming into Queensland present available. The purchase would give has not been to the satisfaction of the the Government land right along the street. Government. I was rather surprised to find I ask the Minister to have an officer report that the Immigration Department came under upon the purchase of the building. It is the control of the Minister for Public Works centrally situated, opposite the State Gov­ and Local Government. The public state­ ernment Insurance office and the Court House ments made lately by the Minister for Labour and close to the Post Office. would lead one to think that he was the Minister in charge. I hope that the The State Government Insurance building Minister for Public Works will explain that already has amenities but, with the increase he is in control of this sub-department. For in staff, consideration might be given to pro­ many years now immigration has received viding more accomodation, especially for the the attention it warranted. I remember the female staff. ex-Minister going to Melbourne to meet Most of the school residences in Mary­ migrants and travel on the ship with them borough are in good repair but the one at to Brisbane to discuss their problems. With Maryborough W.est State School is not. A Mr. Longland in charge the department did very beautiful brick building is being erected. magnificent work. I suppose the new wing will be opened early It has been said that not as much money next year. I will not enlarge on it now but per head has been spent on school buildings I believe representations are being made by in Queensland as in other States. The total letter for the replacement of the old residence. amount of money spent per head on school I am confident that if the Minister saw it he buildings and social services in Queensland would know that it has had its day. is much in excess of what has been spent in the other States. This is the only State in I was surprised to hear the hon. member for the Commonwealth that has a free hospital Toowoomba say that the matter of providing service. suitable playground and recreation areas was not being given attention. I do not know The CHAIRMAN: Order! whether it happened in Maryborough alone or whether it happened elsewhere in his travels Mr. DA VIES: In discus:sing the costs of around the State but I was told the other day school buildings and other public buildings in that the last time he came to Maryborough the State I suggest that hon. members he got into hot water. I do not know whether opposite investigate the cost of buildings in he heard of it. other States. They will find that because of the care and supervision given by the archi­ The CHAIRMAN: Order! tectural and estimating branches of the Supply. [14 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1045

Queensland department costs here have been attitude, either, that they will give. serious much lower than in the other States. The consideration to any requests submitted to cost of building a hospital in the South would them. Since the private maternity hospital be nearly 3 times as much as the cost of at Maryborough closed down the maternity a similar hospital here. section of the Maryborough Hospital is not large enough to meet the demand. The Mr. Heading: Do you not think that is hospital board approached the Minister a little exaggerated~ Do you realise what through the Department of Health and Home that would mean~ Affairs and I think plans are now being :filr. DA VIES: Hon. members would be prepared. surprised at how much greater the costs are. Mr. Heading: You did not know that we I was simply staggered at the difference in were so co-operative. costs. They would be twice as much at any rate. The average cost in Queensland is Mr. DA VIES: It is not a matter of sup­ £4,000 a bed and £12,000 a bed in Southern porting it. There is no option, because of States. The new South Brisbane Hospital overcrowded conditions. I am pleased that averaged £7,000 a bed. It emphasises the care­ a new brick building will be erected. It is ful administration of the Queensland Govern­ very essential for the future development of ment over the years. By strict supervision to the area that it should have a maternity prevent the snide tactics of unscrupulous hospital. I take it that the Minister for builders who would endeavour to evade their Health and Home Affairs stated that a brick obligations and by careful administration we hospital is needed. have prevented costs in Queensland from soaring to that extent. That explains why Dr. Noble: I did not say that. the iigure is below that of the southern States. }[r. DA VIES: I thought the Minister did. The outpatients' section of the new Jlir. Aikens: Can you name some of the hospital is one of the iinest outpatients' snide builders~ blocks in the State. Jllr. DA VIES: I have seen the work of (Time expired.) some of them in private and public buildings. I remember that a septic tank was put down Mr. A. J. SJlUTII (Carpentaria) (4.1 at a Brisbane school some years ago and p.m.): I congratulate the Minister on his later it required streng~hening; .the wh_ole appointment. I also congratulate officers of job had to be done agam. An Illustration the Department, particularly Mr. I;o~gland of what good supervision ;ueans ea~ . be who has not been long in the position of found in the work of the Housmg Commission Under-Secretary. I hope that the Minister with at Maryborough. The gravelling of school his assistance will continue the policy of the grounds and the making of :flower gardens previous Government of unbiased allocation and lawns is all worth while. We have of moneys for public works. I know the beautiful gardens in hospital grounds and it task is not easy, in view of the many requests is just as necessary to have beautiful gardens submitted by hon. members. I am astounded in school grounds. Assistance to carry out at the statements of some hon. members that work will be appreciated. The Minister representing metropolitan electorates that no apparently fails to appreciate the difficulties money has been spent here. that confront the department from the iinancial angle. All members of the Govern­ Mr. Aikens: Why should it be spent ment fail to realise that. In their criticism here~ of the previous Government they refused to face up to the problems which confront Mr. A. J. SMITII: I do not think it should Ministers. be but the hue and cry throughout Queens­ la~d at past elections was that the Labour The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the hon. Government spent all the money in the city member not to continue along that line. and none in the country. That is not borne out by the complaints of metropolitan hon. Mr. DAVIES: The Minister will have all members about lack of expenditure in their the sympathy of hon. members on this side electorates. in his endeavour to meet the demands of the various hon. members. I have no serious- complaint, because I think my electorate has been well treated in the The statement that Ministers in the last past. I sincerely hope that th:re is ~o reduc­ Government gave preferential treatment to tion in the next 12 months m public works members of the Government is not correct. and local authority expenditure in the elec­ We know that the last Government made torate; indeed, I hope to see an improvement. decisions on the merits of the representations made to them, irrespective of the hon. member Mr. Coburn: You want a high school concerned. Very often the failure to obtain teacher's residence at Mt. Isa. what was wanted rested on the hon. member concerned because of carelessness in the pre­ }[r, A. J. SMITII: I shall ratse that. If paration of his case. It was a slur that was there is any reduction in loan funds or unjustiiied. I .am confident that Ministers public works expenditure, I shall certainly of the present Government will not adopt that have something to say about it. 1046 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

There are many schools in my electorate, Two new residences were recently built for some big and others with only one teacher. mining inspectors. Residences are being built Complaints have been made about residences for the married men in the police force. In for teachers. In Cloncurry there is a teacher's all thousands of pounds are being spent residence and at the high school and the on accommodation for the public service, and two State schools. At Mt. Isa, Dajarra, it is astounding for me to hear hon. members Camooweal and Croydon there are head­ representing western electorates castigate the master's residences. I should like the Government for not doing this and not doing Minister to consider the building of two that. It appears to me that they do not more residences. I shall send a written case know their own electorates. I have no com­ through the Minister for Education, seeking plaints to make. In 1956-1957 and 1957-1958, a residence for the headmaster at Norman­ nearly £2,000,000 of Government money will ton and for the headmaster of the new school have been spent in the area. at Mary Kathleen. Hon. members have said that the Gair A headmaster with a house is a more Government did not work in harmony with contented administrator, and a more con­ private enterprise. Mt. Isa Mines Ltd. tented administrator means better instruction started a co-operative housing scheme. It for the children. acquired an area of land and houses are being built for the employees of Mt. Isa In Cloncurry and Mt. Isa the position of costing £2,000, £3,000 and £4,000 each. The teachers other than the head teacher is Cloncurry Shire Council would have had to serious. At Cloncurry four or five teachers build streets, channelling, kerbing and foot­ have found accommodation at hotels and paths, and provide water, sewerage and electric private houses but the situation at Mt. Isa light. Through the generosity of the previous is acute. There are two schools and a high Treasurer, the Mt. Isa Mines housing scheme, school. The lack of accommodation for which is almost a township in itself, will them has a great bearing on our ability to be handed over in the near future to the keep them in Mt. Isa. I should like the Cloncurry Shire Council free of capital cost to Minister to give serious consideration to the the council. To June, 1957, the Queensland building of dormitories for the male and Labour Government had subsidised the hous­ female teachers at the three schools. ing scheme by almost £140,000. I was amazed to hear members of the llir. Aikens: Can they get accommoda­ Country Party during the elections, when they tion from Mt. Isa mines~ visited Mt. Isa, express surprise that the Government had done nothing about housing }fr. A. J, SMITH: Through the gener­ in that area. I thought it was part of the osity of Mt. Isa Mines Ltd., accommodation policy of the Country-Liberal Party that hous­ has been made available for male and female ing should be undertaken by private enter­ teachers. Without that generous gesture on prise. Only recently a Country Party branch in the part of the company the Government my electorate wrote to the Premier and told would not have been able to hold teachers him that the Government had done nothing other than the head teachers at Mt. Isa for about housing in Mt. Isa. As I have already any time at all. The Commonwealth Bank said, the previous Government helped private has .provided accommodation for its single enterprise to the extent of £140,000 in hous­ male employees. The Post and Telegraph ing its employees and a further allocation for department has accommodation quarters for 1957-1958 brings that total to £190,000. That single men working at the Post Office. There is good policy on the part of any Government. are not the number of female employees in I remind hon. members that the Queens­ the post office as in the schools at Mt. Isa land Housing Commission has frequently and Cloncurry. I trust that the Minister called tenders for the erection of houses in can get dormitory accommodation for the Cloncurry and Mt. Isa, but the tenders were male and female teachers. An area is being so high that they could not possibly be resumed for another school in the new housing accepted. If they had been, it would have settlement at Mt. Isa and this will necessitate a headmaster's residence and accommodation been necessary to charge rentals of £8 or £9 for male and female teachers. Mt. Isa a week. Mines Ltd. is discontinuing some of its The hon. member for Maryborough spoke dormitories and these with some alterations about snide contractors. We had one at Mt. and improvements might be suitable for the Isa recently. In May of last yearj he submitted accommodation of teachers. I mention the a tender of nearly £12,000 for the erection of matter to the Minister as consultations may be additions to the Mt. Isa Town State School. arranged with Mt. !sa Mines Ltd., with a Just before the previous Government were view to getting some of these dormitories defeated, the Department of Public Works which should be acceptable for teachers at had to cancel the contract because very little Mt. Isa. The high and intermediate school work had been done. The department decided at Mt. Isa cost the Government well over to do the job itself and sent workmen from £100,000, and to accommodate the pupils other parts of the State to Mt. Isa. It was next year an extra room is being built. There then discovered that 6-ft. concrete stumps are the two State schools also at Mt. Isa. that had been erected by the contractor had In 1957-1958, many thousands of pounds will not been reinforced. Hon. members can be spent on improvements to the three schools. imagine what would have happened if 300 Supply. [14 NOVEMBER.] Supply. 1047

pupils had been in a building resting on Following is the future estimated expenai­ concrete stumps that had not been reinforced ture on approved works- if a willy-willy had hit it. Their lives would £ have been in serious danger. The contractor's Mary Kathleen police residence 5,200 name is Bell, and I suggest that the Govern­ Mt. Isa High and Intermediate ment give him no more contracts. School 5,190 A Government Member: Why did it take Mt. Isa Inspector of Mines the department so long to cancel the residence 4,433 contracH Mt. Is a police residences .. 3,604 Mt. Isa State School 11,124 lUr. A. J. S~IITH: A legal point in the contract presented a good deal of difficulty in Tenders for additions to the Mary Kathleen its cancellation. The contractor said he could Sclwol closed on 10 July-an additional not get timber, then he said he could not get £19,000. It is hoped that the successful men. He raised all sorts of excuses. How­ tenderer will have the building completed for ever, the building will be completed for the the new school term early in February, 1958. 1958 term. I appeal to the Minister and his Under Secre­ tary to consider building a residence for the In my electorate many thousands of pounds school headmaster at Mary Kathleen and at are spent on public buildings. The report N ormanton. I understand N ormanton is of the Department of Public Works for the well up on the list. year ended 30 June, 1957, includes estimates for the following expenditure on works- Mr. Heading: You seem to have, had a £ very fair share of money up there, unless Cloncurry School, new vocational those figures cover 20 years. classes 12,000 Mr. A. J. S~IITH: I sincerely hope that Mt. Isa Mines State School 6,000 the Minister will be unbiased in his adminis­ tration and that because I have been very Mary Kathleen School 6,500 attentive to my electorate in the 17 years Additions to be completed for new that I have represented it he will not now term next year .. 8,000 cut it off the estate of public money and say, ''They have enough up there. We will see in Police Station, Dajarra .. 2,000 future that some other part of the State gets Police residences, Mt. Isa 13,000 more money.'' I mention it only because it is fair to point out what has been done and Mt. Isa Mines Inspector's the amounts I quote are not for 20 years Residence 10,000 but only 2 years for the Minister's informa· tion. That represents a total of more than £50,000 for Government buildings in the area. And Last year I appealed to the Minister, the yet it has been said that the Gair Labour Premier and the Treasurer on behalf of local Government neglected the West. authorities. I said that the local authorities of the North-West were hard pressed to keep The hon. member for Gregory shrieked up with the development in the area. In about the neglect of the Gregory electorate. particular the Cloncurry Shire Council has The report shows that nearly £21,000 is to keep pace with the great development of being spent in one town in that electorate on Mt. Isa Mines and Mary Kathleen. I appeal schools and child welfare centres. They to the new Minister, and to the very efficient have a beautiful hospital, too. His state­ head of the Department of Local Govern­ ments are misleading. ''The Courier-Mail'' ment, Mr. Sewell, to see if the Cloncurry Shire featured the alleged neglect of the West. I Council can be given a grant of a few hundred can speak with authority of my own elec­ thousand pounds from the Commonwealth torate. The following amounts have been Treasury to help it keep pace with the expended there in the last two or three development in the area. Water, light, years:- sewerage, and roads have to be provided. It £ is a very dusty area and the sealing of the Mt. Isa High and Intermediate roads alone will cost many thousands of School 101,429 pounds. The district is entitled to a grant (For the information of the hon. from the Commonwealth Government because member for Burdekin, plus a from the people of the Cloneurry Shire the residence for the principal.) Commonwealth take between £1,000,000 and £2,000,000 in taxation each year-from an Mt. Isa Mines State School 11,974 area of 20,000 square miles. Mt. Isa State School 9,761 What do they give back~ They give nothing Cloncurry State School .. 30,621 back. In two years the State Government Mt. Is a Police residences 25,855 allocated between £1,500,000 and £2,000,000 for improvements in that area. Let me give Mt. Isa Inspector of Mines the Committee some idea of what has been residence 5,424 done. The water and sewerage scheme and Mt. Isa Stock Inspector residence 2,200 other facilities at Mt. Isa was a co-operative 1048 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

effort by private enterprise and the Labour Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) ( 4.26 Government for which £192,000 was provided p.m.) : I was pleased with some of the by the Labour Government. For the Mt. Isa remarks of the Minister the other day, town water scheme, £128,000 was found. particularly those in which he said he was Further subsidies for works to be carried out a country man-not necessarily a Country on the Mt. Isa housing scheme amounted to Party man-and that he believed that the £76,000. An amount of £450,000 was people in the country were the salt of the found for the Mary Kathleen road. For earth, that they produced all the wealth the Cloncurry Shire Council programme of the State and consequently should get the in 1956-1957 £307,000 was allocated highest possible priority from the Govern­ and in 1957119581 £400,000·.' For ment. I could not agree more with any schools, residences for mines inspectors statements than I agree with those. I hope and police, the amount was £50,000. In that the Minister during his term will not all in two years the total was develop into a city slicker, but that he will £1;197,468. The B:~,rkly Shire Council, t~e see to it that the needs of the country Burke Shire Counc1l and the Carpentana people are given priority over the needs of Shire Council have been allocated about the people in Brisbane. Brisbane lives on £50 000. With the new hospital building in the Country. As I have said before, were Mt.' Isa and the recent additions and improve­ it not for the countn- Brisbane would still ments to the Cloncurry Hospital, in two be a village of bag ai1d bark humpies along years £2,225,000 was allocated . to the the Brisbane river. If we are to have any Carpentaria electorate. It 1s only priority in the spending of public money reasonable that hon. members should review for public improvements let us be honest the statements of western members who ride and give that priority to the people who in from a rodeo and a buckjumping show to need and deserve it-the people in the say ''The whole of the West is neglected. country. From the previous Govermnent, No' money is spent there." In the interval, I have to say in all honesty, that I received between taking their seats in the saddle and most of the things for my electorate the buck, they should see what the Labour that I asked for. If I did not get Government have spent and have allocated for them by a soft approach then I the western areas of the State. Let ' 'The launched an attack in this Chamber, and if Courier-Mail'' too get the right picture. We that was not enough I launched an attack have not got all that we required but in two on a public platform. Inespective of the years nearly £2,000,000 has been allocated means I employed I have to give credit­ for the area. whether I was responsible or the Govern­ 1)1r. Hewitt: Is that for the Gregory ment were. I did get something from them in electorate~ regard to the public works which I requested in my area, such as new schools and other works. Mr. A. J. SMITH: I am talking about There was an oppOTtunity school at West the Carpentaria electorate. If the hon. End, a new school at Kurrajong and exten­ member is a westerner he should know sions to other schools which I requested. as well as I do. I am sorry that By one means or another I got them. There I spoke loudly and woke the hon member is still much to be done. The Minister for up. I suggest that he has his 40 Education advised me that a new school is winks in the Lodge. We know that much to be erected at Pimlico. That need is more money is needed to keep pace with the urgent. I was at the speech night at huge mining concerns in ~he area but we are Townsville High School and Tech!niG'al making a big effort. I smcerely hope that a College with the Speaker of this Alssembly, continued unbiased administration of the new and the school Principal, and he Minister the north-western part of the State may look for more assistance. We urgently recognised as I did and the Minister for Education and the department and every­ need the money and I trust that he will take t'he matter up with his Cabinet to oee if we one else that the present Townsville High school is' overcrowded, and limited in playing cannot get a grant from the Commonwealth Treasurer for local authorities in the area area. The Minister has decided to erect a new high school at Pimlico. We shall have to keep pace witl_J. the colossal . expansion of mining concerns hke Mt. Isa Mmes Ltd. and a look at the site next Sunday week. I hope Mary Kathleen. Mary Kathleen has created when the Minister comes back and sees the its own township and its own amenities. Minister for Public Works that it will be a However, it has been ably as8isted by the priority job, followed closely by a new Gair Labour Government. Road conces:;ions infants' school at Hermit Park, where again were granted. The housing scheme at Mt. I shall show the Minister the conditions !sa was assisted by a 25 per cent. freight under which they eat and study. I am reduction. confident when the Minister comes back that he will have the same views on the urgent As a result of that there were squeals from needs for that job as I have. the Coms, Dawson and Hanson who put out pamphlets castigating the Gair Government I wish to m.ake some comment on the for giving this assistance in freights. What remarks of the Minister when introducing his Estimates. The hon. gentleman told us does it do~ It only keeps the worker employed. how much money he had to spend and I interjected, ''Not half enough,'' and the (Time expired.) Minister agreed wholeheartedly that the Supply. [14 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1049 amount was not half enough. I think we Works and Local Government-for the benefit all agree it is not. The reason is because of the hon. member for Brisbane. I did not this State Government cannot get sufficient know that until yesterday, and the hon. mem­ money from the Commonwealth Government. ber for Brisbane did not know until I told One of the reasons why we cannot get him a moment ago. sufficient money from the Federal Govern­ ment for the development of this State and It is equally true that from European the needs of this State-hospitals, schools countries we have received many immigrants and public facilities-is because the Com­ that are undesirable. Manv of them are momvealth Government are spending millions insane, many are diseased, and many have of pounds today in the Far East, in Indo­ criminal tendell!Cies. On the first occasion nesia, Burma, Ceylon, India and all the he goes to Canberra to attend one of the other countries under the Colombo Plan. immigration conferences regularly held there, the Minister should stress the need for the The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the hon. best type of immigrants from Europe. I have member to return to the Estimates of the no racial prejudice against immigrants from Department of Public y;l arks. Europe. I have a prejudice, not necessarily Mr. Wood: ThC>y say we are not cour­ racial, against Asian immigrants. I believe teous enough. in the policy whether it is called the White Australia policy, or some other Mr. AIKENS: This Government was name. We should never admit coloured very courteous with regard to drought relief migrants to this country, and I stand and they were knocked back. Menzies told on that, but let us obtain from Euro­ them bluntly that it does not matter to him pean countries the very best migrants. I whether Gair or Nicklin is Premier, that hope the Minister will do all he can to make Queensland is not going to get anything. tighter the migrants screen through which Tucked away in a corner of yesterday's many undesirable migrants have been brought ''Telegraph'', is this little article, sent not to this country since the end of the war. from the Commonwealth Government but from I mentio1~ now a particular aspe>Ct of Reuter 's Press- immigration. A Scottish seaman off an " Singapore, T'uesday: Australia will English boat took ill in Townsville. He was build a £200,000 medical SIChool in Central left at the Townsville hospital and the boat Sumatra next year." went home without him. When he recovered J11st think what he could do if the Minister from his operation he obtained a good job in had available to him that £200,000. Townsville and good accommodation. He wanted to remain in Australia, but we had The CHAIRMAN: Order! the devil 's own job with the Commonwealth Immigration Department to get permission lUr. AIKENS: I shall desist, but I think for him to remain in Australia. He was a you will agree with me that the Federal Gov­ gooc1 Scot, a good citizen, a single man with ernment owes a duty first to the people of good accommodation. The Commonwealth Australia, instead of fattening and educating Department tried every trick in the trade to these people until they are strong enough and force him to leave Australia merely because cheel'Y enough to come out openly as Commas. the shipping company wanted to send him When they are cheeky enough or strong back to Scotland, yet we read recently of a enough, they will come out as Commas. We Comma woman who walked off a boat in are only breeding them. Sydney and went to the zoo and did not report back to the ship. The next develop­ Tl1e CHAIR!IAN: Order! If the hon. member does not desist, I shall ask him to ment in her case was that she claimed politi­ resume his seat. cal asylum and the Commonwealth Govern­ ment laid out the red carpet for her and !Ir. AIKENS: I did not intend to disre­ sprinkled her path with rose petals. She gard your ruling, Mr. Taylor. You are very was allowed to remain in Australia. She was fair. not sent back at the behest of the shipping company owning the ship on which she came Mr. Mann: What makes you think they to Australia. are Commas~ lUr. :iliann: Was she a Commo? The CHAIRl\IAN: Order! ll[r. AIKENS: Of counse she was. I Mr. AIKENS: One of the departments really believe she was a Comma spy planted under the Minister is Immigration. It is in Australia. That is one of the oldest ways true that since the war the Commonwealth of planting Comma spies or any other type of Government opened the floodgates to immi­ spies. They pass themselves off as refugees grants from foreign countries. We got quite or people seeking political asylum. If it was a number that will make good citizens. good enough for a Commo woman off a boat :ilir. Mann: What has this to do with the to stop here why was it not good enough for Department of Public W arks~ a real dinky-die man from Scotland to stop here g Because of the activities of the Cale­ :ilir. AIKENS: Immigration is one of the donian Societv in Townsville-and I have a departments of the Department of Public big file of co;respondence on the subject-he 1050 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

is to be allowed to remain in Australia women and children, they took into account because certain cash guarantees have been the way in which people of the electorate given by the soreiety, There is another man voted. I defy any hon. member to bring any so situated in Townsville, and I have no evidence before this Committee of that. The doubt that there are many others sprinkled all first consideration has always been the wel­ over the State and in the same position, whom fare of the State and its people. That is the Commonwealth Government are trying the only attitude any Government can adopt to force to return to their native countries A Government interpret their own political because the shipping companies want them policy acreording to their lights, but no Gov­ to return. There is one rule for the Commos ernment could hope to survive if they adopted and one rule for British migrants. the base methods suggested by the hon. mem­ ( T1me expired.) ber for Sherwood. Not one hon. member could fail to find some way in which the Mr. WOOD (North Toowoomba-Leader public buildings in his electorate could be of the Opposition) (4.36 p.m.): In the time improved. But if he is fair, he will admit available ·to me I should like to comment on that the Government have done their best to the remarks of two Government members who carry out their duty fairly and impartially were at variance with each other in their to all sections of the people and to all parts attitude towards the problems of the State. of the State. I refer ~rstly to the hon. member for Sher­ wood who, devoted the greater part of his Mr. Aikens: A good deal depends on the representations that hon. members make. time in trying to show the Committee that more money should have been s·pent in his electorate. I do not think anyone can take I\Ir. WOOD: Of course it does. A great away from any hon. member his right to deal depends on the way in which the elected advance the claims of his electorate, but I representative of an area brings before am more than convinced that the outlook of Cabinet the needs of his electorate and its most members of the Liberal Party is essen­ people. tially a Brisbane line one. I advise most of In the short time that I have left I should them in criticising the activities of any like to refer to the matters raised by the department to look at the overall picture as hon. member for Gregory, who was listened it afferets Queensland. to in silence as is customary when an hon. member is making his maiden speech. He lUr. 1\'Iorris: They do. started by paying a well-deserved tribute to I\Ir. WOOD: In reply to the Deputy his immediate predecessor. But then he tried Premier, I did not see any attempt on the to tell us that Labour Governments had done part of the hon. member for Sherwood to view nothing in his area over the years. Nothing the picture from a Queensland outlook in is further from the truth. any shape or form. He devoted most of his I\Ir. Aikens: He implied that George time to pointing out some possible deficiency Devries fell down on the job. in the number of schools in his electorate. There is not one of us who will suggest that I\Ir. WOOD: That may be so, but I do any Government have ever been able to pro­ not wbh to pumue that line of argument. It vide all the facilities the State requires for would not be fair. its schools. I have always said that you could give the Department Df Education I saw a large part of the Gregory elec­ £20,000,000 to spend and it could spend it torate, and from what I saw of it and other most effectively and still look for more. If western electorates I was convinced that every hon. members are fair-minded they will admit hon. member in the Chamber should do his that past Labour Governments have distrib­ utmost to support the principle of placing uted their expenditure fairly and that the first the needs of the outback electorates. money has been well spent. I shall never However, in the Gregory electorate, the splen­ accept the proposition advanced this morning did hospital at Longreach is, speaking com­ by the hon. member for Sherwood that any paratively, better than that in my own city Labour Government have allowed their policy of Toowoomba. And I would be the last to to be dictated by the manner in which the say that that should not be so. Again, I majority of people in any particular elere­ called at the State school at LongTeach and torate voted. I think it is an unworthy sug­ found it to be a splendid building with an gestion, and I have not seen any indication of outstanding vocational training block. It has it by any Labour Government. I make that a secondary school too with very few pupils. statement without qualification whatever. We I would be the last to suggest that because heard the hon. member for Mundingburra only a few children are availing themselves of who has never been a supporter of the A.L.P. the opportunity of secondary education, that Government say quite frankly that he was privilege should be taken away. While the satisfied with the result of his representa­ Gregory by-election was being conducted, a tions. Other members of the Parties opposed very fine maternal and child welfare centre, to us have said exactly the same thing. As which was conceived and planned by the I said in a previous debate no Government Labour Government and built under their would be worthy of their salt if, in con­ sup.ervision, was opened by the Minister for sidering what facilities should be given for Health and Home Affairs. Supply. [14 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1051

Let no-one say that nothing has been done Department of Public Works. They could not in the western areas by previous Governments. dress the high-quality timbers to give the .As I said by interjection this morning, the schools good long-wearing ftoors. In con­ worst type of building in those electorates is junction with the State Sawmills they the sub-standard housing accommodation that experimented. I was called in to consult with is being built privately. the heads out at the Ipswi~h Road workshops . The hon. member for Gregory said that sep­ .After experimenting with steels used in the tic systems should be provided in schools steel industry I suggested that they use a where water is available. I support him in particular steel I developed called poldi that. I shall also support him in any com­ maxium for the dressing of timber for the plaint he makes to the shire council on its ftoors and mouldings. Those timbers could not failure to provide sewerage throughout the be handled by the imported knives made of area, with the same adequate water supply. carbon steel. The best run they could get was I shall also support him in any represen­ 10 feet. Then the knives got red-hot where tations that he makes to the shire council to they met the boards and turned inside out, improve the roads in the area and to pwvide leaving two small horns sticking out on the the other amenities that are directly its timber. responsibility. They were greatly perturbed because they could not market the timber. An Opposition lliemi:Jer: Blackall has its own sewerage scheme. lUr. Lloyd: What timber was it? lUr. WOOD: Of course it has, and so ]}lr. WINDSOR,: Satinay, or turpentine have Goondiwindi, Oharleville and Hughenden. as it was know in those days. I was very Let the hon. member for Gregory be fair in concerned about it, but with the first test we his criticism and in placing the responsibility. got a run of 10,000 feet. It was so success­ I will support him, as any other hon. member ful that we were sending dressed timber to will, in his claim for more amenities in southern States. We received many compli­ western areas. No-one deserves them more mentary letters about the wonderful finish on than they do. But let him not put all the our timbers. blame on Labour Governments of the past. In making statements about someone's having Mr. Davies: What did you call that to work in the light of a hurricane lamp at steel? Birdsville, let him not overlook the many Mr. WINDSOR: Poldi maxium. We can­ splendid things done in the West by Labour not get it today. There is a substitute for Governments over the years. it but it is not in the same class. Carbide Mr. WINDSOR (Fortitude Valle,y) ( 4.46 tips is another development today. The p.m.) : I want to add my word of praise for department have a fine body of workmen. the Minister. I have known him only since I Even today when I go along they take me became a member of the new Government but into their confidence. They say, ''What do in that short time he has inspired me with his you think of this~ Can you help me on this optimism. He impresses me as being a man problem?" It has always been a joy to me of his word. I am sure he will carry out his to accomplish something or help an industry. promises. Optimism builds and pessimism We have kept this industry in Queensland, destroys. an industry that can help the department in its work. Not only are workmen skilled, but I have risen to speak on what I know about some of the school equipment they turn out eertain sections of the Department of Public is second to none. It is made out of the Works. I do not know much about some sec­ best timbers. We can only do that by tions of it but I have been closely associated having the tools to handle the timber. with the section that designs and deals with all kinds of equipment, such as cupboards and Usually it is left until nenr the end of tables for schools. Without any fear of con­ the year to issue orders to private firms for tradiction I say that the department has the jobs such as modern-type seats for schools. most skilled tradesmen one could possibly find. It means a rush job so that the new seats­ They are most co-operative and conscientious sometimes hundreds are needed-will be in their jobs. Of course, they come up ready at the commencement of the new against some very tough problems at times. school year. If orders were placed early in Thirty-one or 32 years ago when they were the year it would save the rush and obviate starting out on the manufacture of their own any possibility of bad workmanship, or the equipment they found it hard to dress high­ use of inferior materials. Sometimes a class timbers such as walnut and satinay. certain sized steel has to be substituted because the right weight is not available. Mr. Jesson: You are on the wrong The seats are accepted by the department Estimates. under protest because they are required for Mr. WINDSOR: This is on the Depart­ classrooms almost immediately. ment of Public Works. Mr. Lloyd: They do a pretty good job. Mr. Jesson: Not timber and sawmills. ]}!r. WINDSOR: I will grant that. It ]}Jr. WINDSOR: Furniture. I am lead­ would be a great help to industry generally ing up to the handling of timber by the if the Minister could adopt my suggestion 1052 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

because the department cannot handle all the the finance will not be available. The Govern­ steel work themselves. Tinsmithing and all ment will find that it will not be possible that sort of thing is second to none. Quite to meet all the demands made on them. I a number of retired departmental employees do think a very unworthy statement was made come back for a yarn with me over old by the hon. member for Sherwood. It was times. Even though they have retired they quite untrue. It ill-becomes the hon. member are prepared to discuss problems and make to say that work was carried out in Labour suggestions that may help the department. electorates to the detriment of electorates It is a wonderful thing to find men so represented by non-Labour members. That enthusiastic about their old jobs that they is entirely untrue and the suggestion is are prepared to help the department today. unworthy of a member of this Parliament. If every one of us endeavoured to go that No evidence at all has been furnished of that extra mile, no matter what field we are policy. Of course, the hon. member is young engaged in, we would reap an unparalleled and without much political experience. Untrue reward. statements of that kind will not do him any good. Mr. POWER (Baroona) (4.55 p.m.): I It is well known that for years there congratulate the Minister on his elevation to was a lag in the building trade. During the important portfolio of Public Works and the war many employees were in the Forces Local Government. ·That was the pDTtfolio I and after the war there was a shortage of took over on my election to Cabinet. The material and labour, although the money was hon. gentleman will find as time goes on available. Those shortages arose because that it is a difficult one. He will not be able private contractors were paying much higher to accede to the many requests that will be wages than could be paid by the State Gov­ made and he will be subject to unfair ernment. They were paying amounts of criticism. The money will not be available £30, £40 and £50 a week for the building to carry out the various works throughout the of homes, homesteads and other buildings State. The hon. gentleman is fortunate in on station properties. The Government leaving the assistance of two excellent officers. could not afford to pay those wages. Mr. Longland who was a splendid choice for the position of Under-Secretary, was for some Futhermore, Government building costs years in charge of the Immigration Depart­ were much higher, because the Government ment, where he did an excellent job. He is during my period of office in this department a man of ability, honesty and integrity. I used imported iron so that private enterprise do not know his politics; I have never could by using local iron erect buildings at inquired. Mr. Sewell, the Director of Local lower costs. The imported material was much Government, was appointed when I was dearer than the local product. Minister in charge of local government. The A similar policy was adopted in the use advice of both these gentlemen will make of steel. Imported steel was used by the the work of the Minister much easier. Some State Government, so that private enterprise people think that the Minister should be could use the steel produced at Broken Hill able to answer all questions put to him. I and so construct buildings at lower costs. In entirely disagree with that. The officers from other words, the State Government by using the various departments are there to advise the dearer overseas product were subsidising the Minister who should not be expected private enterprise. to know all the minor details of matters such JUr. Coburn: We could do with another as those raised here regarding school facili­ iron and steel works. ties. It is the responsibility of departmental heads to advise the Minister on these matters. ~Ir. POWER: I agree. I know the hon. The hon. member for South Brisbane was member's views on the subject, but the report attacked in regard to the condition of the of a man who was sent out here-I think kitchen at Parliament House. I did not see his name was Brophy-did not substantiate it myself until the other day. I was a the claim that there is sufficient material for member of the Refreshment Rooms Com­ the establishmveranda Government. to give him more privacy. The residence was very close to the footpath. People In my own electorate I have not much to walking along the street had a clear view complain about. Mackay has had its share of into the police inspector's home. The public works expenditure. Every school has Minister approved on the spot but it was had additions; they were justified. Admit­ three or four months before the district tedly there was some delay and that is under­ supervisor could get on with the job. He standable. It is not always possible to have had to send a sketch plan to Brisbane, wait the work done atl soon as it is necessary. 1 for approval, the preparation of a plan, and take umbrage at the remarks of the hon. mem­ an estimate of the cost. It was many ber for Sherwood who thinks that the require­ months before the job was done. If the ments of his electorate should be attended to works supervisor had authority to carry out overnight, that the Minister should drop the work as soon as he received the approval everything else, neglect the rest of the of the Minister it could be done in a day State to look after his electorate. and a-half. It is not right that the works As rr{y leader said, public works expenditure supervisor should be bound hand and foot. should be based on the requirements of the I know that in a time of flood or cyclone State as a whole, not on individual elec­ he is allowed to undertake urgent works torates. If the Minister is to be stampeded immediately. It is necessary that he should by the demands made upon him by hon. be given greater authority. members opposite to spend all the available money in the electorates which they say have ~Ir. Heading: We have done that. been neglected it would mean that elec­ :Mr. GRAHAIII: I am glad to have the torates represented by hon. members on this Minister's assurance on that. That is some­ side would go wanting. thing that has been needed for a long time. I\Ir. Heading: You know that I will not A capable works supervisor such as the man be stampeded, don't you~ at Mackay would have the necessary sense of responsibility and would not do anything li'Ir. GRAHAI\I: We can all wilt under foolish. pressure. Because of his age, experience and capacity maybe the Minister will not be Mr. Heading: We doubled what you stampeded. I sincerely hope that because of allowed for urgent jobs. Supply. [14 NOVEMBER.] Supply. 1055

Mr. GRAHA!I: I am glad to hear that. as residential, heavy industrial or light The amount used to be £25. industrial, and the people suffer inconvenience. lUr. Heading: We have- made it £50. I am certain that the Minister will not be llir. GRAHAlU: That is fairly small too, influenced by the excessive demands of Gov­ in view of the high cost of labour and ernment members. I have listened to state­ materials. It is hardly sufficient to put on ments by many Government members about a veranda door. things not done by the previous Government,. Many hon. members have referred to the and of steps the Govemment will have to amenities required in the various electorates ~ake t~ cope with the backlag of public works. and I wish to make a plea for a new high 111 vanous centres. school at Mackay. A new primary school was Tl1e Minister will experience the same diffi­ built in the Mirani electorate and the old ~ulties as the previous Minister. His purse· West Mackay school was converted into an 1s not bottomles:;. He will find that under infants school. The present high school cannot the present financial relationship betweeen cope with the increasing numbers of students. the State and the Commonwealth he will not I do not know whether it is correct, but I have ~ufficient money to accede to the repre­ understand that there is a distinct possibility sentatiOns of every hon. member. It will be that the primary schools will be asked to take interesting to compare his work in the next back 7th and 8th Grades so as to relieve the three years with the work carried out in the: pressure on the high school. The building past three years by his predecessor. of a new school is of the utmost importance No matter how we approach the public· to the people in the area. Every parent is works programme I honestly believe that no· concerned with the education of his children. member of this Committee can conscien­ The last Government made a valuable contri­ tiously say that he has been overlooked in bution to the education of the children, and his requests to the Minister for his. I do not say that the present Government are electorate. unmindful of their responsibility in that regard. I am sure that the Government will The hon. member for Gregory complained give full consideration to the appeals of that his electorate had been neglected but hon. members for school buildings. the Leader of the Opposition refuted his statements by indicating what work had been Another important department that plays done there. Go where you will in Queensland· a great part in the lives of people is local and you will see evidence of the good work government. \Ve are fortunate in of the previous Government. Go to Long­ having Mr. Sewell in charge of it. reach, \Vinton, Cloncurry and Mt. Isa and He has such a thorough knowledge you will find splendid institutions like hos­ of local authority requirements. The pitals, baby clinics, at Rockhampton a very problems vary throughout the State. fine administrative building was erected. The Director of Local Government has been Splendid buildings were erected at Toowoom)Ja able to give very valuable advice to local and \V arwick and there is a splendid court­ authorities. Aldermen and councillors, while house at Jliiackay. I know it is not enough men of public spirit, sometimes lack the and that much more remains to be done. It knowledge and training necessary for local will be the constant responsibility of the authority administration, and must approach Government to keep their public works pro­ the Director of Local Government for gramme to the fore because in some respects guidance. it is a means of combating unemployment. The Brisbane Town Plan has been men­ Unemployment is now developing in the State. tioned. No town in Queensland has had more If the Government can lay down a progre.s­ trouble in reaching finality on the matter of sive public works policy they can give employ­ town planning than Mackay. It was one ment to skilled artisans and others out of of the first towns in Queensland for which work. Mackay has its greatest number of legislation was passed on the subject. The unemployed in the slack season. A public Mcinnes plan was the first used. With a works programme could overcome it and change in the local authority, the New absorb the unemployed. A scheme was intro­ council introduced the now famous Langer duced some years ago of reclamation work in plan. Dr. Karl Langer is a prominent archi­ the south-east portion of Mackay. It would. tect in this city. It was accepted by the then provide a building area for hundreds or City Council, but the following council, which thousands of homes and it could absorb the was of a different political colour, considered unemployed in Mackay. We are greatly con­ that the plan was unsuitable because of the cerned to see a large body of unemployed. At cost of implementation and rejected it. present there are about 100 unemployed in Over the last eight or 10 years successive Mackay but when the crushing season finishes councils have operated under the Langer there will be about 500 available for other plan, or an amended version of it, or a employment. If the Government could start combination of it and the Mcinnes plan. The the scheme they would do away with the man­ present councils and past councils have con grove area that is a mosquito menace and at tinually sought Mr. Sewell's advice. I sin­ the same time provide a good building area. cerely hope some finality will be reached soDn. I offer the suggestion to the Minister believ­ Until it is reached, land cannot be classified ing that the scheme will provide much· 1056 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

employment. We have to tackle the unem­ talking a lot of rubbish about the failure of ployment position immediately otherwise it the Commonwealth Government to help the will have a very detrimental effect on the State. The money is simply not available. economy of this country. It is tragic to see That is all I have to say on that subject. a vast body of unemployed going to the various social service departments for weekly I assure hon. members that necessitous sustenance. The standard of living is reduced cases will be considered first. There is no use because no man can maintain a wife and a in an hon. member's approaching me for family of three or four on sustenance. something in his ele>Ctorate unless he has a sound case. Each department for whi>Ch the The Government should stimulate industry Department of Public Works is the construct­ at Mackay and other places and the reclama­ ing authority has the right to set the priori­ tion scheme should be undertaken. However, ties. There is the greatest co-operation I am not unmindful of the problems that between the staffs of the Education Depart­ lie ahead of the Minister-the next ment and my department. T'hey get together three years will be difficult onps for him. and talk things over so that the Minister for Because of the economic trends that are Education and I will not be at cross-purposes,. developing, the Government will probably have The Minister for Education and I get greater difficulty than past Governments in together and discuss these matters for the :finding enough money to undertake all the smoother working of the department. works. Of course, essential works must be undertaken :first. It will be necessary for the Mr. Windsor: ''Under new management." Government to set aside huge sums for soehools, hospitals, maternal and child welfare 1\Ir. HEADING: Yes, and I am sure it centres, and similar institutions, and for the will be successful even if I do say it myself. repair and maintenance of existing buildings. -'\Ir. Power: Then you will not adopt the However, because of the State's inreasing policy suggested by the hon. member for population, many demands for new public Cooroora-' 'Spoils for the victors.''~ He buildings will be made by every hon. member said, "It is our turn now." and the Minister will have a great deal of difficulty in acceding to them. Mr. HEA:DING: I will not follow the bad As I say, I am not unmindful of the prob­ example set by the previous Government. lems that lie ahead of the Minister. How­ I will try to hold the scales of justice evenly. ever, if he views conditions in their proper Some electorates have done so well in the perspective and acts in a fair and impartial past that we will not need to do much for manner I am sure he will receive considera­ them until the others catch up. When I tion and co-operation from all hon. members. have finished, all will be on an equal footing. I have mentioned one or two elec­ Hon. J. A. HEADING (Marodian-Minis­ torates that were neglected. ter for Publie Works and Local Government) ( 5.42 p.m.) : I listened with interest to all I have a lPtter about the police residence at Cooroy. The place is full of borers and the points that have been raised b'' hon. so is the furniture. The sergeant has asked members. On the subject of a lift in this us to meet some of the cost of the furniture, building, I have already said that the cost and the Commissioner of Police is looking would be very high. A plan was prepared for into the matter. the previous Government but it was not pro­ ceeded with. Wlhether it was because of I listened carefully to the hon. member shortage of funds, I cannot say. I was one for Sherwood and I noted the difficulties of of those who advocated a lift in the building schools at Inala. I assure him that those and I still say we should have it. There are matters will be- carefully considered and fair three floors in the building and in the treatment will be given. Urgent matters interests of those who work here a lift should will certainly be attended to. We have be provided. In addition to members of already secured a site for a high school Pariiament and those who work here, many there, although I cannot promise that it will visitors I am sure would appreciate a lift. I be built straight away. We are attending hope it will be possible to install one before to the legal title to the land. I retire from Parliament. One hon. member suggested that we The hon. member for Cooroora referred to ,eliminate red tape. I am doing my very conditions at the Nambour school. I was best to assist. One officer complained that staggered with what I saw there. Of course, he had tried for 12 months to have a point I am not blaming any public servant for the installed in his laundry. I :fixed it up in condition that it is in. The N ambour court two weeks, so that bit of red tape did not house and police station, too, will have to be last very long. attended to when funds are available. I agree with some of the remarks of the It all comes down to money. I have no hon. member for Mackay. We have depa;rt­ need to tell hon. members that it is very mental supervisors in eight districts in difficult to raise loans. On every occasion Queensland and we have increased the on which a loan has not been fully subscribed, amount they may spend on urgent cases .the Commonwealth Government have made up from £25 to £50. Instead of having to wait the deficiency from their funds. It is useless for permission from the Brisbane office they Supply. [14 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1057 have the jobs done and send down details because he has had a great deal of experi· of the money spent and the work carried ence. Still nobody need be a "Yes" man out. and I shall always debate matters with departmental officers. lUr. Windsor: When you dispense with the red tape-send it over to the Opposition. An hon. member said that local goYern· ment was close to the people. That is quite Mr. HEADING: I will leave it all to right. I believe we should give greater power them. to local authorities. I do not think for a ·we have examined the matter of the moment that we should be continually inter· East Nundah school. When the new site is fering with their work. After all, a local granted by the Council we will prepare the authority is elected by the people to govern plans for the job. the small area in which it operates. I do not think that I should be poking my nose It has been suggested that we look into into their business all the time. When we amenities in public buildings. That is being were speaking about local authorities a man done as quickly as possible. said to me, ''But they might make a mis· My attention has been drawn to the public take.'' Perhaps tlmt is the best thing that library. For the centenary year, 1959, we could happen because the next time they propose to have a new library built, and no would not make the same mistake. They will doubt those appalling conditions will be not make the- same mistake if they have any rectified. However, we will do what we can brains, and after all they should have. about them in the meantime. Directions should not come from Brisbane I have been aslred why we do not apply all the time. the provisions of the Workers' Accommo­ The hon. member for Baroona and one or dation Act to the Public Service. A humane two other hon. members referred to immigra­ administration does not have to be spurred tion. I am very interested in immigration and on to do the right thing by public servants. I believe we are doing a good job. I agree Ever since I have held the portfolio I have that oome migrants should never have got been looking for ways to give them reason­ here. If they cannot behave themselves they able and humane treatment. Hon. members should be sent back to where they came from. opposite know that is true. All they have to do is approve of what we are trying to do. Mr. Power: I said, "If they were con-­ I am quite sure that we will get co-operation victed of a major offence.'' from every right-thinking hon. member on that side of the Chamber. lir. HEADING: yes, a major offence. r no not think that we should accept the waste JUr. Power: \Ve know what the previous from other countries. If they commit a major anti-Labour Government did. They took crime why should we have to pay . to .keep them out of the Arbitration Court and them in prison for the rest of the1r hves ~ reduced their wages by legislation. Migrants of that type should never have been: allowed here in the first place. Mr. HEADING: It is about time hon. I noted the remarks of the hon. member members opposite forgot about 1929-1932. for Rockhampton. I have all·eady discus~ed' They have no argument. The Moore G-ov­ the police station and the watchhouse w1tt ernment did a better job than any other Gov­ the hon. member. At the earliest opportlm­ ernment in Australia at that time. For five itv I will make an inspection in Rockhamp· years after the Labour Government took to~. The Police Department has its own Vote,. office they did not raise the salaries of the so before I do anything I shall have to get­ \Yorkers of this State. If I were hon. mem­ the approval of the Commissioner of. P.oli?e. bers opposite I would not say any more about 'The other matter comes under the JUnsdiC· it. They have been telling the people what tion of the Minister for Justice. I have to fear if we assumed office, but all their noted that the staff of the Department fears are groundless. The workers will never of Public Works are badly housed- believe hon. members opposite again. in Rockhampton. The plumbing and electricity will receive the same consideration. :il'Ir. Woo

year. We bought four houses to accommo­ that the Department of Education decides date the industrial inspector at Emerald, the what schools are to be built and then takes stock inspector at Gayndah, the district up the matter with my department. supervisor of works at Maryborough and the mining registrar at Mt. Morgan. A tender The hon. member who discussed hospitals has been accepted for the erection of a new on this Vote was out of order when his residence for the harbour master at Bowen remarks went beyond the building of hospitals. and executive approval is being sought fo~ About £8,000,000 was spent on the South the erection of a residence at Mt. Isa for a Brisbane Hospital. I think it was a tragic public servant. We are making some pro­ waste of money. I disagree with the spending gress but we are restricted to the amount of of so much money at one centre. Many hos· mo~e:y available. There are requests for pitals could be built at different places for add1twnal accommodation at many schools that amount of money. Interest and redemp· and these will be looked into. tion amount to about £350,000 a year, a It is important that hon. members should charge against the Department of Health and send a letter. outlining what is required so Home Affairs. that there Wlll be a file to refer to. The m.atter of a high school top for Home Hill Mr. Walsh: Surely you are not con­ demning the construction of the hospital at w1ll be looked into. The hon. member for Burdekin will consult the Minister for Health South Brisbane! and ~ome Aff~i~s about the Bowen Hospital, a~d 1f that Mm1ster provides the money we Mr. HEADING: I am not condemning w1ll be happy to carry out the work. the building of hospitals, but the building of an immense hospital in one centre with The hon: member for Maryborough said we consequent travel difficulties. There is no would be m power for only 2t yr·ars. Let general hospital at Southport, and people the hon. member not delude himself · we shall there have to travel 50 or 60 miles to get to a be here much longer than that. As 'time goes hospital. The wisest course would have been on I shall expose some more bad manage­ to build another hospital there. Take the ment by the late Government. There are position at Wynnum. A woman who wanted many . more things that I could say to see her husband at the South Brisbane about 1t; other departments have examples Hospital would have to bring her children up of bad management too. The hon. in the train or bus, then take a tram over men;b~r for Maryborough said that I was not to South Brisbane Hospital, and repeat the reahstlc, that I did not know there was a procedure when returning home. It would be shortage of money. better to build legs costly hospitals in more Mr. Davies: No. centres than establish a big hospital in one centrP. That is my idea, and it is fairly ~Ir. HEADING: He suggeste.d that we sound, despite the opinion of the hon. member were too optimistic. We have one of the best for Bundaberg. Treasurers_ il~ Australia and he has put in much of h1s t1me in examining the finances of The hon. member for Carpentaria is the State. There is a shortage of funds pleased about the expenditure of money in. particularly loan money, but I am sure that his eledorate. I am glad of that. He spoke tl:e Treasurer, assisted by Cabinet Ministers about the allocation of money in the future. w1ll do a good job in looking after the He will find the scales of justice evenly fh:ances of this State, and that things balanced. He asked for a school at Mary w1ll not be as bad as the hon. Kathleen and Normanton. I shall discuss his member for Maryborough fears. request with the Minister for Education. The ?'he hon. member for Maryborough seemed to Government should do everything possible to 1mpl;y that I said nothing was done by the improve amenities in inland areas. We want previOus Government. I do not suggest for a the people to stay there, and we cannot mom.ent that the previous Government did encourage them to do so unless we give them notlung. They did quite a lot of work. I some amenities. Hon. members can rest am very pleased about the purchase of the assured that I will listen with a sympathetic land near the Belleview Hotel. That was a ear to the needs of far western areas. I hope very wise move of which I approve. It is they realise that we must keep people in the unfortunate that money is not available to country to produce. One hon. member develop the area and so give better accommo­ opposite said that the Liberal Party had a dation for public. servants and storage space Brisbane-line outlook. I do not think that for records. I d1d not say that nothing was can be said any more of the Liberal Party done by the previous Government, nor did I than of the Labour Party because most hon. say that there was not a shortage of money. members opposite emanated from the city and There was a shortage, and there will probably represent city electorates. Many who repre· be a shortage for y.ears to come. sent country electorates live in Brisbane and seem to forget the needs of the countryside. Mr. Davies: I did not say that. I hope that the recent small drought will lir. HEADING: I thought the hon. mem­ bring home to them how conditions in the ber said that. I know the position very well. country affect the cities and employment. I repeat for the benefit of those hon. mem· ])Ir. Hilton: A large drought-not a bers who spoke about the building of schools small one. Supply. (14 NOVEMBER.] Supply. 1059

llfr. HEADING: Many areas have suffered his Government were defeated not one worse droughts than the recent one. They penny was appropriated in the Estimates for have an effect on unemployment. improvements in the kitchen. The hon. member for Mackay had a lot to The hon. member for Baroona spoke about say about unemployment. One reason for it the Petrie Terrace Infants' School. I is the short kill in the various meatworks. assure him that we will have a look at it. Meatworks will :finish killing earlier this year than usual. The rain has come and the cattle JUr. Power: I want you to do more than now coming in will be held on stations to get have a look at it. I want you to do some­ fat and there will probably be more unemploy­ thing about it. ment because of that. Hon. members opposite have to realise that the city is so dependent JUr. HEADING: Everything depends on on the people in the country and when they how much money is available. do that they will appreciate that I am doing something for the country people. The hon. member spoke also about the department's workshops. I can assure him The Leader of the Opposition criticised the that we have no intention of closing them. hon. member for Gregory by saying that a lot As long as the men are doing a job they of what he said was not true. I get letters will be kept on. If we get a fair return, we of complaint from time to time from the will continue to use day labour. West. I have had communications about buildings being eaten by white ants; others Mr. Power: I am happy to have that are out of date. I learned that a C.P.S. assurance. is living in a humpy the iron on which came from the old place that was eaten by white JUr. HEADING: I remind the hon. mem­ ants. I do not think that the Gregory elec­ ber that his Government did quite a few torate will lose anything by its representation jobs by contract. For example, the painting by the new member. of the school house at Childers, which cost about £2,000, was done by contract. No JUr. Walsh: He knows he will not be doubt other jobs will have to be done by there for long. contract if our own employees are otherwise engaged. All that we want is value for our lUr. HEADING: Many hon. members money. opposite will get headaches at the next elec­ tion; they think they will come back again. The hon. member for Baroona also men­ Unless thev mend their ways and look after tioned the Department of the Valuer-General, the people· better than they did in the past and said that the Act should be amended they will never get back. They speak of the to provide that all shires be valued before Moore Government but people are now learn­ any of them are done for the second or ing some of the things that the previous third time. I have been discussing that Government did not do. matter with the Valuer-General for some weeks, and I hope shortly to take steps that I was pleased to hear the hon. member for will result in the valuing of every shire. We Fortitude Valley explain the work of the men intend to delay some of the :five-yearly at the Ipswich Road workshops-the equip­ valuations until all shires have beom valued. ment and furniture for various schools. They There are still 60 to be done, and the sooner are doing a fine job and I compliment the they are finished the better. Labour Party on establishing the shops. The Country-Liberal Parties, working as a team, Mr. POIWer: You and I are getting on are doing a good job for the country. very well tonight. The employees of my department are lllr. HEADING: As long as people are making furniture for government buildings reasonable, I am easy to get on with at any throucrhout the year. We are hopeful that time. they ~vilr be able to meet the requiJ::ements of the new buildings and keep up w1th the The hon. member for Baroona urged the demands of the old ones as well. Government to make it easier for migrants with degrees to practise their professions The hon. member for South Brisbane said in this country. His recommendations will that a Minister could not himself do all the be given careful consideration. Queensland work. I assure him that I am not trying is very short of skilled men in some to. I have a very efficient and co-operative professions. However, I ask the hon. mem· staff. They are doing everything possible to ber what did his Government do about it~ help me and between us we will clean up Apparently they did not do everything they many things that should have been done should have done or I would not be receiving long ago. He went on to say that I did not so many requests now. The only work that raise the condition of the parliamentary the previous Govern.ment gave Dr. Langer, kitchen in the Chamber. I intended to do who is a very capable town planner, was that but his party was defeated too soon. the designing of a few railway houses. They I V:as going to do it this session. The should have used him while they had the :first letter that we wrote to him complain­ opportunity. ing about conditions in the kitchen was m November, 1955, but between then and when llfr. Walsh: God forbid! 1060 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

lUr. HEADING: That may be the hon. his activities in show societies. I am con­ member's opinion, but I should say that Dr. fident that he will deal justly with all Langer knows a good deal more about town requests from hon. members on this side. planning than he does. My colleague the hon. member for Carpen­ The hon. member for Mackay was critical taria gave an excellent speech. His speeches­ of the demands of hon. members on this side are always worth listening to and I am of the Chamber. However, I know that they sure his electors know it because over the will not be unfair in their requests. I know years they have continued to return him to they would not be unfair about it. Any Parliament. Like myself he represents a problem that is submitted will be carefully very large electorate. It is amazing to hear considered. If the work can be done it will hon. members opposite, particularly those be done. If not it will have to wait its representing metropolitan electorates, com­ turn. plain about conditions in Brisbane. Children The hon. member for Mackay wants some­ in the metropolitan area are indeed very thing done to the Mackay High School. fortunate. Ample facilities are available That matter will be attended to. for primary and secondary, school education He spoke about Mackay 's town plan. I and university training. It is a constant have studied one or two problems up there. source of amazement to me to hear hon. It is not much good having a town plan if members opposite, particularly Liberal any new Council that may be in power for Party members, make their requests of the­ a short time is given the right to amend Minister. the details of it with facility. I am not an I congratulate the officers of the depart­ e:x-pert on town planning. I have not time ment on their excellent work throughout to make myself an expert and I do not Queensland. You can always be sure that intend to try. Many people are paid to do when buildings are constructed by the Depart­ that work and I leave it to them. What I ment of Public Works the job will be well have to do I will do. However, this has done and the buildings will stand for years. happened: a town plan is decided on and Throughout my area the workmanship on everybody thinks everything in the garden is schools, police buildings, court houses, and. lovely. Suddenly it is amended. If that is other public buildings has been excellent. allowed, I do not see how a city can develop The supervisor in Cairns, Mr. Tolcher, has auild a factory or a home or whatever .is up into the electorate of the hon. member for laid down. If somebody amends the plan Carpentaria. He and the men under his and re-zones the area, no-one can get any­ control have done an excellent job. where. At one time the Brisbane City Council had a road surveyed through onto There are many local authorities in large the Gympie Road and carried out recla­ electorates. In Brisbane the Brisbane City mation work and moved back building align­ Council is run by men who are paid to do ments. Later someone else decided that the the job. As members of Parliament we are road was not wanted, evidently because it responsible to look after the vast areas we would cost too much. All that work was represent. Throughout my electorate there therefore wasted. That should not happen. is the Cairns City Council, the Mulgrave Shire Council, the Douglas Shire Council, I am expressing my personal opinion. It the Cook Shire Council, a small portion of should be made harder than that to alter a the Ma.reeba Shire, and Thursday Island. town plan once it has been adopted. I compliment Mr. Sewell on the excellent job Certainl;r__ a council in office for a brief span he does in the department. He is also the should not have the right to alter it at will. Administrator of Thursday Island. The Perhaps that power should be reserved for revenue from the island is only about £3,000 the Governor in Council or for Parliament. a year. As two-thirds of the island is owned Illr. Windsor: Every plan, however per­ either by the Government or religious bodies fect, must have some elasticity. that do not pay rates only one-third of the total area can be rated, It is very easy to I\Ir. HEADING: I do not say it ,should understand whv it is difficult for the local not have any elasticity, but suppose a authority to f~nction. The Labour Govern­ C.M.O. council is in power when a town plan ment gave wonderful assistance to Thursday is decided on. A Labour council may come Island. I hope this Government will give in with completely different ideas and alter the same degree of assistance. The Minister the plan. At the next election another assured the Committee that he would look council may amend it again. If that goes after the people in the West, but I am sure on nobody will get anywhere. he meant the North as well. It is just as necessary for the people of the North to Mr. ADAIR (Cook) (7.34 p.m.): I con­ get assistance as the people of the West. gratulate the Minister on his elevation to Thursday Island is a problem for the Govern­ his important office. I knew him before I ment. The local authority at that centre entered Parliament and I know that he is could not function without assistance from highly regarded in the Far North because of the Government. _The water conservation on Supply. [14 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1061 the island is limited, and unless rain has the present school as it is on the side of . a fallen recently there will soon be a shortage mountain. The school is one of the oldest m of water. The wet season does not start Queensland. till the end of December and the Government I draw attention to the condition of police may be asked to undertake more water con­ stations at Laura, Cooktown, Coen, and servation on the island. The only way to eonserve water there is to dig ground tanks. Thursday Island. Most of them ~eed. renew­ ing or renovating. I hope that m tlme t~e Government will allocate some money for th1s Mr. Windsor: When we were there in 1940 we helped to build a condensing plant, purpose. but I do not know whether they have used The department deals with immigration. it. During the last few years hundreds of New Australians have gone to the Far North to llir. ADAIR: The,y have not used it work in the sugar industry. The cane since to my knowledge. Further down we season is virtually over and many men .have the Shire of Cook which covers an area employed in the industry will be .o~t of work . .of 48,000 square miles. The revenue collected They will come south to the c1tles ~ecause is only £16,000 a year and it is v~ry diffic~lt there will be no work for them m the for the shire to function. It 1s essent1al industrv. With mechanisation of cane­ that the Government grant considerable help farming very little labour is required. to the Cook Shire Council to enable it to Chipping and scarifying have been d~ne away carry out the necessary road and other works. with as thev are now done by machmery. I ·when dealing with requests from that _ar~a have heard ;everal members say how necPssary I ask the Minister to remember that 1t 1s it is to bring migrants to this country. I know very large-probably the largest in Queens­ that the only way to make this country great laud-and sparsely populated-550 people is to get probably millions of new settl~rs, in 48 000 square miles. The shires of but I realise that it is no good bringmg Dougl~s and Mulgrave, are different altogether. I am sure that the Minister ';ill settlers out if there is no work for them to look after their interests. On every occaswn do and no accommodation for them. I do on which I asked the previous Government to not know how we are going to provide New do something in connection with schools in my Australians to the North with homes and electorate my request was granted, and the work. I think that there should be a cessa­ schools are in excellent condition. As the tion of immigration until we can find work number of pupils increase, more rooms will and homes for the migrants already here. be necessary. I trust that the Minister will I cannot see how the bauxite deposits in give me as good a spin as the previous ~ov­ Cape York Peninsula will absorb many ernment did. We have a high scl}.ool at Cauns employees for the next two or three years. which is second to none in Queensland. A There are about 80 employed at the works high school was constructed at Mossman about now and about half that number are from 18 months ago. When it was opened there the Mission Station. I have been told by were nine pupils, but now the attendance representatives of the two companies operat­ is 47 and the people of Mossman are very ing there that there is no chance of further grateful to the previous Go_vernment for ~~at employment for some time to come. high school. Next year m all probab1hty extra classrooms will be required. The state­ lUr. Evans: Who told you that? ments of Government members that the pre­ Mr. ADAIR.: I should be pleased if the vious Government neglected the Far North Minister can say that there is a possibility are hooey. I have given the position in my of men being employed there in the near electorate, and the hon. member for Carpen­ future. Cane-cutters and others have no taria said that the previous Government gave chance of employment in the area and, as all possible assistance to him. I said, many of them will go to the cities. I ask the Minister to consider favourably llir. HEWITT (Mackenzie) (7.54 p.m.) : the building of a new school at Port Douglas. I congratulate the hon. member for Marodian The present school is on the side of a hill on being elected Minister for Public Works and has no playground. It was built before and Local Government. He is a gentleman to Cairns was settled, when Port Douglas was whom the State owes a great deal. the port for ilie Tableland and hint_erland. He has given faithful service not only to I cannot give the exact date of erectwn. Queensland, but to Australia. I have no I made representations to the previous doubt that he will put the same energy into Minister. The only obstacle was the selec­ his present office as he has into jobs that he tion of a suitable site. I am informed has held in other spheres. We are indeed that on the flat at Port Douglas there is fortunate in having such a man as Minister a suitable piece of ground, but that it will for Public Works. He has not lost the com­ require filling. It is alongside the beach mon touch and will give sympathetic treat­ and a high mound of sand. With a bulldozer ment to everyone, from the humblest in the it could be filled without any difficulty. land to the highest. It was not my intention to speak during A new school is essential. There is no this debate until I heard some things that in possibility of constructing a playground at my opinion need correcting. I interjected 1062 Supply. [A.SSEMELY.] Supply.

when the hon. member for Carpentaria was of fact, he has already given his approYal speaking, and he said that I had been asleep for work at the Clermont State School. and had not heard what he had said. I can The dingy old classroom was nnpainted and tell the hon. member that I have never been badly lit. Already the Minister has agreed asleep in the Chamber and never will be. to change that and I feel sure that all I have A reference to '' Hansard'' will show that he to do is bring other matters to his attention. has been absent from the House for 14 of the and he will do his best to , right them 35 sitting days of this session. He should be promptly. In a few days he dealt with a the last to accuse anyone of being asleep. power-point that had been awaiting attention The hon. member for Gregory, who has for 12 months. All those items mean much to only recently become a member of this the average citizen. Assembly, was attacked by the hon. member The Government want to give the people for Carpentaria, and by Mr. Nolan of the of the outback the amenities they deserve, and Australian Railways Union, because he is a the sooner the better. buckjump rider. That is to the credit of the hon. member for Gregory. He served his Western and Northern towns are very hot country well in the Royal Australian Air in summer. Day after day the temperature Force and rose to the rank of squadron leader. reaches 105 degrees. I urge the Minister It is necessary to have at least a little ability to make sure that in all cases school buildings to do that. We should have none of this are adequately ceiled to insulate classrooms­ bally-hoo about the hon. member's being a from the intense heat. buck-jump rider. Let hon. memhers opposite lUr. BEARDIUORE (Ealonne) (8.2 p.m.): get on with the job of doing something in I congratulate the Minister on attaining the interests of Queensland. high office and on his sensible approach to the Mr. Walsh: Bill Hamilton was a she,arer job. I am sure he will more than justify his and he became President of the Legislative appointment. I associate myself with the Council. personal remarks the hon. member for Ma>ekenzie made about the Minister because Mr. HEWITT: That is true. J. E. I believe they are all true. Chifiey was an engine driver and he became Prime Minister of Australia. All credit to I make no apology for raising some matters him for it. affecting my electorate. Away from the burly-burly of the city the western people The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the hon. miss the amenities that city people take for member for Mackenzie to get back to the Vote granted. Today schooling is particularly under discussion. important. Schooling calls for school build­ ings and mo~t western towns sadly lack them. Mr. HEWITT: I should like to correct Most of my schooling has been in the school some of the statements that have been made of life but the children of today deserve about the Gregory electorate. I spent some better than that. time out there during the election campaign, and everything that the hon. member for Mr. Walsh: I thought you went to the Gregory said about the condition of the pub­ Mitchell University. lic buildings in Winton was correct. The hon. member referred also to Eirclsville, Mr. BEARDMORE: I went to the which is approximately 500 miles from both "Mulga university". Unfortunately the Longreach and Winton. The police sergeant State School at St. George has only a small area of 5 acres. I hope that in the near there has to work at night with the aid of only a hurricane lamp. That is no credit to future the Department of Education will buy the State. The people in those far distant an additional area adjoining it, so that there areas are entitled to the best amenities. will be room to establish a high school top. Surely he could be supplied with an electric Mr. Windsor: How big is the adjoining light plant. I know that the present Govern­ area~ ment will do something about it because they have the interests of the workers at heart. ~fr. BEARDlliORE: It is only about an The way in which the Department of Pub­ acre but it will be a help. At present the lic Works has been administered in the past Department of Public Works is building a has been responsible for holding the State domestic science manual-training building, back. There has been far too much red tape. which it hopes to finish early next year. The Much of it should be removed and I am sure boys and girls will then be able to get that that the Minister will do something about it. training locally and will not have to leave That will allow the public servants in the their parents to get it. A high school in department to get on with the job and not the district would give the children an oppor­ have to waste so much time going through tunity to get this desirable schooling without numerous channels. the necessity of disturbing their home life. Accommodation is available so the provision Some things are needed in my electorate, of hostels would not be a problem. but with a new Minister in charge of the department there is little need for me to say We are fortunate to have a very public· much about them. I know he will lend a spirited man in the district in the person of sympathetic ear to my requests. As a matter Mr. Nixon. He made a present to the school Supply. [14 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1063

rities in the:ir a Housing Commission home where that was operations is all piffle and nonsense. The possible. I do not for a moment criticise charter given to local government is a wise the hon. member for Gregory, a new hon. one and envisages close co-operation between member, for stating a case for his elec­ local authorities and the Government. As torate. I admire him for doing it, but his the Government have to guarantee their statement that the Housing Commission loans so they have an interest in that built only 11 homes in Longreach could be direction. When the Government subsidise misleading. There is a housing shortage at works to the extent of 33 per cent. and Longreach for public servants as well as 50 per cent. naturally they have to take an the other residents, but time and time again interest in the work. tenders were called for large numbers and Mr. Power: And 66~ per cent. small numbers of homes in that town. The previous Government could not get con­ lir. HILTON: Ye1s, and I think up as tractors to build the houses at a reasonable high as 70 per cent. for electricity under­ price, or anything approaching a reasonable takings. Supply. [14 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1065

I\Ir. Davies: What subsidy would the I\Ir. Heading interjected. Government have given the Longreach Council to put sewerage in~ Mr. HILT ON: As the hon. member for South Brisbane pointed out today, the only I\Ir. HILT ON: A 50 pe.r cent. subsidy. way to do the job thoroughly is to shift the Yet according to Press reports the Govern­ kitchen to the same level as the dining room. ment have neglected Longreach. Quilpie, That would cost thousands of pounds. I Cunnamulla and other towns have sewerage. regard it as a waste of money to spend £9,000 Where there has been a measure of co-opera­ on the kitchen now instead of waiting till tion and initiative on the part of local the job can be done properly. The hon. mem­ .authorities in participating to the full in ber for Sherwood complained this afternoon the generous assistance given to local about not being able to get an extension of .authorities great progress and wonderful the vocational training centre at the Sherwood work has been done. I repeat that there is School because of a lack of finallJCe. While no provision in the Local Government Act he was speaking it entered my mind that it that is calculated to hinder in any way the would be much wiser to spend £9,000 on successful operations of any local authority granting the hon. member's request than on in Queensland. improving the kitchen at Parliament House. We have heard hon. members acknowledge First things come first with me. In due the ability and capacity for work of the course a modern kitchen can be built on the Director of Local Government who has same level as the dining room. handled local authority affairs in this State. With a man of his calibre at the head of Mr. Heading: You had 25 years to do it. the department if there was any phase of I\Ir. HILTON: I take the Minister back the Local Government Act which was in 50 years. In those days the kitchen staff fact operating adversely against the interest was able to cater for the members of both ·of local government the Director would have the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative brought it to notice long ago. He has Council. Nobody can say that we as a Gov­ devoted his life to a study of local govern­ ernment were indifferent to the interests of ment and I think we can be proud of the the staff. part he has played and the great help he was to the former Government and undoub­ Mr. Heading: I say it very definitely. tedly will be to the present Government in carrying on the work of local government in Mr. HILT ON: Unfortunately, the Minis­ this State. ter is engaging in cheap publicity. He knows that nothing could be done during the par­ Mr. Rae: Seeing is believing. liamentary session and th<>n the financial posi­ Mr. HILT ON: At any time that the hon. tion deteriorated. During the last financial member for Gregory wants to discuss matters year hundreds of men employed by the depart­ with me, I shall be happy to give him any ment had to be paid off. advice or direction that he seeks. I shall I\Ir. Heading: You paid them off, not us. put him wise to many things that obviously, being a new member, he knows nothing about. lUr. HILTON: They had to be paid off. He should be made conversant with them as It was essential. It would not be good policy soon as possible. to spend thousands of pounds in providing an up-to-date kitchen to indulge the palates And let me refer to the now famous kitchen of members of Parliament and at the same at Parliament House. Everybody knows that time pay off hundreds of men from the it is not up to date-it has been there for Department of Public Works. That is the years-but I resent some of the charges that real position that faced the Government have emanated from the Government about it. before the elections, and nobody can deny it. In 1950, when I was first appointed to the I am all in favour of improved amenities position of Minister for Public Works, a sub­ and I support the Minister in his efforts to stantial sum of money was spent on the provide them for all Government employees; kitchen. Certain things were said by some but let us put first things first and not indulge people and I told the then manageress to in cheap and unwarranted publicity. submit a full list of what she wanted in the kitchen. It was eventually sent to the Depart­ I\Ir. Aikens: Close the dining-room and ment of Public Works and subsequently ven­ let us bring our cribs to work. That would tilation work was done and a motor was suit me. installed to draw off the fumes. Eleretric grillers, too, were installed. All the equip­ I\Ir. HILTON: I would be quite happy ment that was asked for, including refrigera­ to do that too, if it meant that more men tion and a new servery downstairs, was could be ~mployed or if it avoided giving supplied. We also paid attention to the others the sack. bathroom and toilet for female members of Finally I pay tribute to the excellent the staff. On the ground floor we provided officers of the Department of Public Works, certain amenities for the cleaning staff, who the Department of Local Government, and the previously had had nowhere to enjoy a cup Valuer-General's Department. Time will not of tea or change their clothes. It makes me permit me to speak at length on them, but sick to hear all this talk about the Workers' I may be able to make further observations Accommodation Act. later. 1066 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

Mr. V. E. JONES (Callide) (8.23 p.m.): co-operation between the Department of Pub­ I offer my sincere congratulations to the lic Works and the Department of Education. Minister on his appointment and I extend the This will mean a great deal to the mass of congratulations of the people I have the Queenslanders who are interested in the honour to represent. Because of his wide education of children. experience in publw affairs he is more fitted In the last 12 months we have enjoyed for the important portfolio than any other perhaps the best Minister for Education man. Looking round the Chamber I can see we have ever seen and also the worst. We few who have known him as long as I have. are all aware of the tactics of the We. first .became acquainted in the pig world. ex-Minister. He always examined the political It ;.s fittmg that he should be given the port­ aspect before doing anything. Today the folio to clean up a state of affairs brought Minister for Education is having the closest about by a Labour Government who believed co-operation from Mr. Heading. the workers should live and work under pig­ sty conditions. The Minister was most effic­ The hon. member for Mackenzie said that ient in the conduct of his piggery and those the new Minister is effectively cutting red who visited his stud and saw the conditions tape. I have known the hon. gentleman from his pigs enjoyed will readily understand his Marodian for many years. He has a great fitness to clean .up the mess. He has already capacity for administration because of his made worth-wh1le moves. Those of us who principles, courage and capacity. He is the have known him for a long time know that type of man who can say "Yes" or "No" he has achieved his office by dint of hard depending whichever answer is to the advan­ work and real merit. The people as a whole tage of all. We know the practices that will greatly benefit from his work, as they existed in the Labour Government over many have done in the past. years. We have seen how various Ministers have failed to accept their responsibility, but It was with pleasure that I attended a it has been handed down along the line until civic dinner given in his honour at Gayndah it could not be handed down any further. It recently and it was pleasing to hear Councillor was finally handed down to the office boy Lutvey and other prominent citizens of the and as he could not hand it any further he distri.ct paying tribute to him and tell the had to accept the blame. gathering of the many monuments to his hard work in the district. He has done great The new Minister will be very welcome work in all the important offices he has held. when he comes to Central Queensland. He In any association he has been connected is no stranger to that part of the State. He with, his main objective has been to give has been there on many occasions before in the employees good conditions. Many years different capacities. There are many dis­ ago he drove me round the Burnett district. graceful public buildings in Central Queens­ At that time he was chairman of directors land today. The Kelpie from Keppel said of the Proston Butter Factory. He showed that the Labour Party had never done any­ my good wife and me the high standard of thing in Central Queensland. manufacturing equipment throughout the !Ir. JIANN: I rise to a point of order. factory. His chief pride was to show us the Is the hon. member for Callide in order in conditions and amenities for the employees. referring to the hon. member for Keppel in I will never forget what he showed us that the terms that he did~ day. I think that is the answer to what the hon. member for Carnarvon said. Over the The CHAIRJIAN: I ask the hon. mem­ years we have had too much verbiage from ber to address the hon. member for Keppel the Labour Party. Under the guidance of the by his title. I ask the hon. member to with­ 11ew Minister we shall not have verbiage, but draw that remark. action. I subscribe to what the Minister has Mr. V. E. JONES: I do so. I am sorry. said about the conditions in the kitchen at He is known so commonly as that that it Parliament House. As members of the com­ more or less slipped out. The hon. member mittee, the ex-Attorney-General and I made for Fitzroy-- an inspection. He should be ashamed of the conditions up there. Mr. WALSH: I rise to a point of order. The hon. member for Carnarvon talked You, Mr. Taylor, gave a specific ruling and about the money that had been spent. He asked the hon. member for Callide to with­ told us about the bathroom and toilet facili­ draw the observation he made, but he has not ties. A male caretaker lives upstairs. Many done so. of the girls who work here live upstairs, but The CHAIRJUAN: I heard him ,say, "I there is only one toilet and one bath. Are withdraw that remark.'' they conditions to be proud of~ No, but they are the conditions allowed by the !Ir. Gair: He did not. Labour Government. Yet the hon. member The CHAIRMAN: Did I hear the hon. for Carnarvon has charged the Minister with member for South Brisbane cast a reflection getting cheap publicity. I am proud to be on the chair by saying that he did not~ associated with the Minister's remarks this morning when he outlined the horrible condi­ lUr. Gair: I say he did not. All he said tions. Now that he is head of the depart­ was it slipped out because it was customary ment there will be much closer liaison and for people to refer to him in that way. Supply. [14 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1067

The CHAIR:iliAN: Order! I ask the· hon. parents, children and others are very pleased gentleman to withdraw his reflection on the about it. The parents who perform public Chair. As I say, I heard the hon. gentleman duties deserve some consideration. The say, ''I withdraw. As he was customarily members of parents' associations and com­ known by that name it slipped out." I heard mittees make a super effort. him say, "I withdraw that remark." As I The hon. member for Brisbane made further am facing the hon. member I had a better admissions about good buildings erected opportunity to hear than the hon. member for throughout the State. South Brisbane. Mr. WoiOd: Who did? Mr. Gair: In all deference to the chair, and to be consistent with my conduct in this llir. V. E. JONES: The hon. member for House, I withdraw. But I say that I am in South Brisba11e. a better position to hear what the hon. mem­ ber said and my faculty for hearing is much llir. WOOD: I rise to a point of order. better than the chairman's becauRe onlv the I draw attention to the fact that the hon. other day he admitted that he did not· hear member is not addressing the Chair. the wireless set that I had that the Press could hear in the gallery. The CHAIRMAN: I ask the. hon. member for Callide not to point with his finger. The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the hon. llir. V. E. JONES: I refer to another member for Callide again to withdraw the admission by the late Premier, the hon. remark that he made in his description of member for South Brisbane. the hon. member for Keppel. It revealed their principles. He spoke Mr. V. E. JONES: Mr. Chairman, I am about grandiose buildings throughout the pleased that you used the word ''again''. I State, hospitals, schools and other public accept that. As you have heard me once, for buildings. There is a very attractive the benefit of others who did not hear it, I do building erected by the Department not mind withdrawing it, therefore I with­ of Public Works, on the corner of draw it. I say he was commonly known by Fitzroy and Bolsover Streets, Rockhampton, that name and it slipped out. but I ask hon. members are not the people The hon. member for Fitzroy referred to of Rockhampton entitled to that buildingr the shocking condition of our police station The tone of the hon. member for South and said it should be thrown into the Fitz­ Brisbane would suggest that he did not roy River. What an admission from a party think thev were worthy of that building. They that had the reins of government for so are certa'inly entitled to any building that long-that our buildings have got into a has been erected. ' shocking condition. Since I have been a mem­ In the course of time representations wiJJ ber representing a very valuable area I have be made to the Minister on major projects. made repeated representations to Ministers The Minister, by the way in which he has for improvements to our police stations. I say dealt with all points raised by hon. members, that the Labour Government have never con­ has proved his outstanding cap~city. ~revious sidered the merits of the requests of members Ministers had to run to their advisors on of Parliament in the way that they should every point raised by hon. membe~s. The have been. I go around to look at public Minister has demonstrated today his know­ buildings. I do not wait for police officers or ledge of every matter raised in the Chamber. schoolteachers to approach me. I go round I compliment him on the way he is gniding myself. Only on Saturday, when nobody was the Vote through the Chamber. in attendance I went to a little school in the Upper Burnett. The steps were in a shocking A matter requiring urgent attention is the and dangerous condition. In fact some intelli­ revision of boundaries of local authorities. gent person had nailed a cleat under the I hope in the near future the Minister will tread to stop the tread from falling through. be able to deal with it. I shall cite a case I examined the place and found that many as an example. The Fitzroy Local Authority treads were in a dangerous state of collapse. built and maintains a road that is for many What a shocking state of affairs! I do not miles of its length only a stone-throw from the adjoining local authority. I think the blame the public servants. I repeat that it loral authority that built the road has a all starts from the leader of the Government. claim on the rates paid in the adjoining area. If the ex-Premier had paid more attention I can cite many examples of that type. I to his Ministers in urging them to administer hope it will not be long before the Minister the department instead of offending them and can consider the matter. watching the political aspect, our State buildings would not be in such a poor state The Minister's tasks are difficult and of repair. I admit that I have not approached varied and include the Department of the present Minister with any major project. Immigration. His wise administration of t~e I have made representations to the Minister department will undoubtedly be. reflected m about a number of tiny jobs costing between increased numbers of migrants to £10 and £25. The Minister has already proved Queensland. his desire to eliminate red tape. The jobs have Mr. WALSH (Bundaberg) (8.50 p.m.): been carried out immediately and the teachers, Having read the remarks of the Minister in 1068 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. introducing his Estimates and having listened necessarily in this Chamber. Do not play io him this afternoon I was reminded of the those tricks with me. I am in regular ·Old saying, ''Distant pastures look green.'' attendance although I do not necessarily When he was on this side of the Chamber have to sit here to listen to all the rubbish he was continually castigating the Govern­ coming from the other side of the Chamber. _ment for their extravagance in expenditure. I can listen to some, but I have been here Led by the present Premier and backed by virtually all the afternoon. those who sit behind him they stressed the necessity for curtailing expenditure. They lUr. Heading: No. were backed by an anti-Labour Press in saying that the Government should speml Mr. W ALSH: Oh yes I have. If the Minister continues to speak in the strain he less and less. Yesterday and today the 1\'linis­ has been about things that have not been ter made his first line of excuses. What he done by Ministers in previous Governments will do next vear I do not know. I have I can refer to him. I could listen to all no doubt that· many members on the Govern­ the talk from outside from various offices ment side as they get "knock-backs" from the Minister has occupied and it the Minister and other Ministers will realise would be futile for me to say that that the Government have their problems he was to blame for all the things not as previous Governments had. They will live clone by him when he was occU'pied to learn that the Government in· power in those offices. I do not say that. the Federal sphere will largely dictate the In the organisations that the Minister was extent to which the Minister or any of his previously associated with, many things are colleagues can engage in developmental works now being clone that are part of the or loan expenditure in this State. It does progressive plans of development of those not matter what the Minister might say. bodies. And so it is with the Government. 1Iis Government have an allocation of £19,000,000 from the loan Council plus I am glad to see that the Premier is in domestic raisings which are part of the loan the Chamber, because I have said that I do programme, and it is from that source, not think any Minister or any department whether he likes it or not-unless he interferes should try to get away from the system that with offidal submissions made by competent has operated over the years under which the -officers-that he has to carry on adminis­ Government are more or less guided by the tration. From that source will he give effect recommendations of the Co-ordinator-General to the recommendations based on the merit of Public Works. .and priority of particular work. Let it be Mr. Gair: The Advisory Committee. understood that when loan funds are made available the Co-ordinator-General of Public :illr. WALSH: As the hon. member for Works is the officer and rightly so-and I South Brisbane says, the Advisory Committee hope that set-up is not disturbed in this comprising the Co-ordinator-General and rep­ State--who "-ill recommend the priority of resentatives of various Government depart­ the work to be undertaken. If some Minis­ ments. There was a time when each depart­ ter wants to interfere on a political basis ment was given its head and submitted that would be far different from what was projects on its own behalf. The result was indulged in by the previous Labour Govern­ that some departments were starved for ments. The work to be carried on in this finance, which was not in the best interests State goes through the hands of the Co­ of the State. ordinator-General and is carried out on his There were other matters that I should :recommendation. After the allocations have have liked to mention, but probably I shall been made the Co-ordinator-General 1\ill be able to touch on them at a later elate. recommend to the Ministers the priority of Announcements have been made about the the work whether schools or public buildings. possibility of certain legislation being If the Minister is going to break away from introduced. However, the Minister has that policy and get down to political dis­ referred to the Brisbane town plan. He -crimination-- seems to have taken a sudden interest in it. Mr. Heading: If you had been in this He overlooks the fact that for 10 years Chamber today as you should have been, you during the regime of the Chandler adminis­ would have heard me say what you are tration in the Brisbane City Council, nothing .saying_ effective wus done about the town plan. It was not until the Labour administration took :illr. W ALSH: If the Minister wants to over the affairs of the Council in 1952, that play that sort of game, I can recall times it was necessary for Parliament to bring when he was absent doing jobs outside his down legisaltion ratifying and validating parliamentary duties. many of the decisions that had been made by the Chandler administration. Over 100 :ilir. Heading: How do you know? resolutions had been carried by it, but nothing had been clone on the town plan. :ilir. WALSH: If I went to my electorate It spent thousands of pounds in employing -yesterday it was my business and it is what technical officers who had been brought here I am entitled to do. If I am in Brisbane from overseas, but there was still no town I am at Parliament House every day, not plan. Supply. [14 NOVEMBER.] Supply. 1069

I remind the Minister that it is the duty milk or the few greens they need from time of a local authority, not the Government, to to time. Would not a man of such wide submit a town plan. The Mackay Town experience be expected to think of all those Council and the Toowoomba City Council things instead of leaving it for a group of submitted their town plans under the laymen to point them ouH Mackay got a relevant section of local authority law, and satisfactory town plan. Then certain the Brisbane City. Council has the same Country Party and Liberal supporters in responsibility. Mackay wanted to break it up and do things that would entail heavy compensation if the Mr. Heading: It submitted a town plan, legal processes were followed through by the and what did you do with it~ parties involved in the land transactions. Mr. WALSH: What did we find? A It is all very well for the Minister to speak bundle of paper coloured in red, blue green of delays. While he is in office many things black and yellow, without any prope~ inves: will not be completed, and I do not expect tigation into the use that thp land had been them to be. But in the first place any Minis­ put to. Who should undertake that job? ter must get the advice of his departmental Does the Minister think that the so-called officers. No Minister can be expected to nndpr­ Queen Street Government should have done take the functions of administration. He can it for the Brisbane City Council but not for decide on policy, certainly. The departmental the other local authorities that submitted head expects some lead from him in consul­ town plans. If Mackay, Bundaberg, and tation. Toowoomba can fix up their own town plans If every departmental head gave as good in consultation with the Local Government service to the State as Mr. Sewell, the Direc­ Depar~ment, it is up to the Brisbane City tor of Local Government does, the Govern­ Counc1l to assume its proper responsibilities. ment should be well satisfied. If a town­ I realise that it is a big job, and if we see planning authority is appointed by the Govern­ an effective town plan for Brisbane within ment there is nobody I could recommend more 10 years, somebody will have done a mag­ nificent job. confidently to be head of it than Mr. Sewell. He would dispensP with all the theories of The only authority in Australia that has architects and planners and get down to· really got down to anything like effective something practical. The Government may town planning is one that was set up in do that. I do not know. At least he is W,estern Australia. It set about the job qualified. properly and found out in the first place The Minister spoke of delays with the Films what use the land had been put to. Not Commission. I hope that when the Minister one tittle of evidence to that effect was introduces the Bill all the political stooges submitted by the then Brisbane City Council who had so much to say about the Commission in its town plan. It is true that to allow will take advantage of the opportunity to dis­ certain adjustments to be made in the town plan conferences were held with the Lord cuss it fully. Mayor, and a satisfactory arrangement was J\'Ir. Heading: I leave all the stooges to, arrived at until major policy could be you. I am not going to use any of them or determined. any of your suggestions. Sooner or later it may be necessary to Mr. WALSH: I am making my remarks­ appoint an authority to deal with town general. So much was said during the elec­ planning not only for Brisbane, but for tion campaign-not necessarily by those on many other towns throughout the State. If the Government side but by some in the that is done, someone will set up the cry Chamber and bv others outside-that when that more powers are being taken from local the amending bill is introduced they should_ authorities. Doubtless the Minister would use the privilege of Parliament to say what. say that if he was on this side of the they believe to be true. Let them say it. } Chamber. am sure I will not be ashamed of anything. The Minister lauded Dr. Karl Langer and I The Minister knows that in many cases the am entitled to give my opinion of him. If legal representatives ask for an adjournment every town plan submitted by him is in the because, one party or the other is not ready. same mess as his Mackay town plan, God for­ I do not denv that there were some delays bid that he should be associated with to·wn maybe because members of the Commission. planning. He provided for two rcclamations, were engaged on other departmental duties. one on the eastern side of the city and one But the bulk of the delays should not be on the western, each to cater for about 1,200 attributed to the officers or the members of residences. On one side provision was made the Commission because of that. If the for schools, parks, and so on, but no such Minister likes to analyse the delays he will provision was made on the other. It was find that legal points were taken. I am not only after the Director of Local Government saying that they were unjustifiable but a~pli­ and I discussed the matter with the Mackay cations were made by the legal representatiVes City Council and its engineer that they got and the Commission saw fit to agree to down to anything like a sensible plan, and it adjournments. Do not blame the Minister was subsequently adopted. Dr. Langer 's plan for that. These things no doubt can be more had made no provision for the small shopping fully debated when the Minister introduces centres where women can buy the bottle of his City of Brisbane Act Amendment Bill. Jl070 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

When the films legislation is brought down of Bill Hamilton who did time in gaol there will be greater scope to discuss these because he engaged in the shearers' strike. matters. He ended up in a very good position in the As to the expenditure of public moneys, Legislative Council. It is no disgrace to be it is futile for any hon. member to say that a buck-jump rider or a navvy but the hon. there has been political discrimination. I cite member should present his case more in my genial friend, the rebel of the Country accordance with facts. Party, the Minister for Agriculture and Stock Blackall with a smaller community than as an example. I am sure he would say Longreach has sewerage. Why~ Because they that he received very favourable treatment have got men like Jack Banks and Bill Hart in response to submissions from his electorate, ancl others 1vith some civic pride who were .but only because his representations war­ :prepared to share the whole of the expenses ranted the expenditure, nothing more. Many mcurred, over £200,000, over the whole shire. people want to say how much money has The whole shire is bearing the expense, not been spent in Bundaberg and refer to the the little town itself. That is going on in port development. I am not going to get Quilpie and in other western towns. Let ·onto that. All I want to say is that it is me tell the hon. member that the late Mr. the Harbour Board's money. Apart from Hanlon who was Minister for Health and the subsidy they raise money by debenture Home Affairs under a previous Labour loan, the ~ame as every other port along the Government had to fight the distant western coast. Council money is council local­ shires to get them to agree to the establish­ .authority money. ment of a base hospital at Longreach. lUr. Heading: How much subsidy did Cloncurry would not be in it. The Labour Government never sought to foist their ,you give them~ policy onto local authorities, but they said lUr. W ALSH: The same as the hon. in effect, ''Here is a plan an cl this is the ,gentleman gives them at Mackay or any assistance we will give you.'' Longreach other port. has a base hospital equal to anything out­ side the big general hospital. Go to Mr. Heading: How much did you give Barcaldine. Where could you see a nicer them? structure than the new hospital there. Various other towns like Isisford, Julia Mr. WALSH: It does not matter. They Creek and Richmond have their electricity get 20 per cent., and if the Minister does only because the Labour Government sub­ not know it the bulk sugar te1·minal did not sidise& those bodies. I hope that under the .get one penny. leadership of the new Premier that Would the Minister say that the type of assistance will continue for the short time public building going up in Bundaberg is any that the Government are in power. I hope .different from that in Cairns or Mackay~ that the hon. gentleman will get a bit more Not at all. The only thing is that the lag generous treatment than previous Govern­ has been in Bundaberg. The northern cities ments got from the Federal Government. ,got it long before Bundaberg. The hon. Up to elate it does not look as though the member for Gregory put up his case. I Government will get greater assistance than put up my case for my electorate. If I get the previous Government got. The factual results it is good for the electorate. It is position is that the Government have a all right for me too-l am not complaining certain sum which is allocated to the areas .about it. where settlement has been undertaken and no Government can clo other than put it on If I wanted to make complaints and follow that basis. The hon. member for Carpen­ .a cheap line of propaganda about discrimina­ taria truly said that the Mt. Isa Mines tion, what would I do~ I would refer to undertook to build 500 houses for their the Main Road Expenditure in various elec­ employees because of the extension of the torates held by hon. members of the Country industry in that area. That necessitated Party. That in itself would not convey water supply, electricity, roads, drains and the true position. The fact of the matter so on. The local authority would have had is that the money was spent. The roads to clo that work if they were prepared to probably lead to places beyond the electorates undertake it. Having put up the proposition and thus give service to other parts of the that they were going to hand it over to the 'State. But the evidence is there. I could local government without any liability what­ complain about the hon. member for Cooroora. ever construction of roads and water supply Everybody knows what happened in the prov'ided at the expense of the company, the Maroochy Shire. Due to closer settlement company got the same subsidy as would have ancl so on there was a big expenditure on been paid to the local authority. The Labour main roads. Of course there was this expen­ diture, justifiable expenditure because the Government would have clone that for any settlement and production is there. Let me other other private enterprise that was pre­ refer to the statements by the hon. member pared to assist in the same way and house for Gregory. I clo not accept any of these their employees. Why should not the Govern­ cheap jibes about what he may have been ment give assistance under those conditions~ before he entered Parliament. I was just I do hope that the Minister will not be as humble as and probably more humble than influenced by the cheap parochial approach -the hon. member. I remind hon. members made on many of these matters. All I ask Supply. [14 NOVEMBER.] Supply. 1071 for my electorate is that any proposition I that these assessments, based on present valua­ put to the Department of Public Works be tions and rates of land ta.."'{, are of very treated on its merits. serious concern to the producers. I quote the case of a farmer who was not liable for land Mr. HARRISON (Darlington) (9.14 p.m.): I join with other hon. members in offering tax in 1947. my congratulations to my friend the Minis­ Mr. Power: Land tax does not come ter for Public Works and Local Government. under this vote. I have known the hon. gentleman for a long time and I am sure that with his ability he Mr. HARRISON: It ts tied closely to it. will do a very good job. I under~tand he is The unimproved value of land is the basis fortunate, too, in having very able lieutenants. on which land tax is imposed. This farmer I know Mr. Sewell, having worked with him did not have to pay tax in 1947, but he is for a number of years. If the Minister's now paying out £123 in tax on 378 acres. Other other officers are of the same calibre he has a examples show increases up to 14,700 per very good team. cent. from 1947 to 1953-1954. Can hon. As the Minister controls the Department members imagine the staggering effect of of the Valuer-General, I shall deal with the such an increase on land-owners, because the very steep increases in land valuations that increase in exemption has not followed the have oceurred since 1948 and their conse­ increased valuations. quential effect on every landowner whose land Mr. Porwer: Land tax has nothing to do is subject to land taxation. It must be with this vote. understood that when I refer to land valua­ tion and land taxation, I am not referring to Mr. HARRISON: I am talking about the such matters as shire rates or to precepts valuation of land. I just said that the under the Co-ordinating Board or the Rabbit increases in exemption have not corresponded Board. These are capable of adjustment. If with the increase in valuations. In 1947 valuations are high, then the rate or the pre­ the maximum exemption on country land was cept can be reduced and you get the same £1,500. It was raised in 1951-- amount of money. But that is definitely not the case in the tie-up between the valuation The CHAIRMAN: The hon. member is of land by the Valuer-General and the land not confining his remarks entirely to the tax imposed on the same land by the Com­ valuation of land. missioner of Land Tax. No adjustment is Mr. HARRISON: I shall try to bring possible to counterbalance whatever higher my remarks within the ambit of the Vote. values are imposed by the Valuer-General I now want to deal with appeals. A very because the Commissioner of Land Tax serious objection in appeals against valua­ adopts the valuations by the Valuer-General tion by the Valuer-General ariRes from the as his basis for supplying Land Tax. On all valuation figure of £3,000, which is specified freehold land of a greater value than the pres­ in the legislation. Any appeal against a ent exemption of £1,900, the Commissioner valuation of over £3,000 has to go to the imposes a tax on an ascending rate, which Supreme Court involving a very serious in effect means that as valuations increase risk to the landowner. It involves him in the rate of tax increases too. heavy expenditure for legal costs and if the That works out unjustly as I shall prove. court decides against him he has to pay a The introduction of the new system in 1948, further penalty. Landowners who really resulted in enormously increased valuations believe they have a very strong case for an and owners of freehold land have many appeal are reluctant to go to the Supreme serious grounds for complaint. Court. The procedure is weighted heavily There is no doubt that the landowner against them. Appeals against valuations desires an increase in the present exemption. beyond £3,000 should also be heard in the He desires a reduction in the rate of tax, magistrates court. and that super-tax should be abolished. The ,Another cause of complaint among land­ land-holder would like an amendment of that owners is the Valuer-General's practice of section relating to appeals against valua­ revaluing some areas every five years while tions. I have figures for some valuations others are never valued. I was glad to hear which give an indication of the steep the Minister say that he has the matter in increases since 1948. The figures for a group hand. I have no doubt that a correction of properties show that in 1947, before the will be made as soon as possible. I assure introduction of the new system, the valua­ the Minister that it will be deeply appre­ tions averaged approximately 30s. an acre ciated by landowners. over all properities. The first valuation of the Valuer-General became operative in 1948, I drew an analogy previously between land and it then averaged about £4 an acre. After valuation and land taxation. The same the second valuation, five years later, the analogy could be applied to land valuation values ranged from £14 to £20 an acre. The and probate and succession duties beca;rse i.n increases in local authority valuations in the main the Valuer-General's valuatiOn IS some instances reached the staggering figure accepted 'for probate and succession duties. of. 1,635 per cent. The percentage increase for When the valuation of a parcel of land larfd tax is even greater. There is no doubt reaches £3,000, the landowner comes within I 1957-2M 1072 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. the scope of super tax. That is something as we can absorb population with a reason­ that the small landowner in Queensland has able chanr.e of success. I pay tribute to the never previously had to face. It is imposing work of the officers at Yungaba and others in an almost impossible burden on him. Mter the Immigration Department. I compliment buying his land, he is in effect paying Mr. Longland on the work he did as Migration rental on it through land tax. Officer. The hon. member asked how we are going to house and find work for immigrants. The CHAIRMAN: Order! The hon. mem­ I do not know the reason for his pessimism. ber is getting outside the scope of the Vote under discussion. Mr. Power: I can answer that-the pn~sent Government! :Mr. HARRISON: Many hon. members have raised n1atters that need attention fron-1 Mr. HEADING: It is difficult to follow the Public Works Department in their elee­ the workings of the hon. member's mind. It torat_es. There are many things in the is so stupid to say a thing like that. He Darlington electorate that call for attention, knows that his Government ·were going to too. I am sure that they will be attended sack men but we kept them in employment. to in their correct order of priority. I have So it does not look as if we are going to great confidence in the present adminis­ cause unemployment. If the hon. member has tration of the department, and the people any powers of reasoning he does not use them. o~ Queensl!lnd c~n re~t assured that they lUr. Gair: Tell the truth by accident if w1ll get fmr cons1derat10n of their requests. you cannot tell it deliberately. Hon. J. A. HEADING (Marodian-Minis­ Mr. HEADING: The hon. member for ter for Public Works and Local Govern­ South Brisbane would be very well advised to ment) (9.29 p.m.): I should like to reply keep quiet. He has no argument to advance. to the hon. member for Cook, who put li:p He certainly did not advance one today. If a plea for his far northern electorate. I he wants me to I will tell him what I think assure him that we have not lost sight of of the policy he adopted when he was Premier Thursday Island's troubles. The Directo:r of the State. of Local Government is administering th.e affairs of Thursday Island and I have Because of seasonal conditions some sugar discussed that part of the State with him. mills will close earlier this year and the kill­ I hope to visit it next year. The hon. ing of cattle will stop earlier. Naturally member said that Thursday Island's incom.e some seasonal workers will be out of work from rates was about £3,000 a year. As a earlier than last year. That is because of the matter of fact, the correct figure is £2,5()0 unusual drought. I think the hon. member and the Government make a grant t>f for Carnarvon described it as a very bad drought. I have known worse. But that is ~2,000 a year. An amount of £4,500 a year why some of the men are out of work. Another IS not a very large sum on which to administer the Island. I am aware of the reason is that the previous Government did shortage_ of water. on. the island and durin_g not provide sufficient money in the Main Roads the commg year 1t 1s proposed to improve Fund to keep shire council employees in work. the water supply. That is not our fault but the fault of the Government that just went out of office. I have learned something about the Cook electorate since I assumed office because the The hon. member for Mackenzie referred to chairman and clerk of the Shire Council came ceilings in oohools. All school buildings should to see me. The Treasurer gave them sOll'le be ceiled. I am surprised to learn that there money and they went back fairly happy. I are any that are not. Sitting under an iron agree that the area needs a vast amount of roof can be very uncomfortable. I hope that money, but what it needs more than anything something can be done. else is population. It will take years to buil.d Mr. Hewitt: They use the verandas. that up, but we will see what we can do :in the meantime. Mr. HEADING: The verandas need I do not know anything about the Port ceilings too. Douglas school but the matter will be co:n­ The hon. member for Balonne made an siderecl. We hope to build a new school one appeal on behalf of the school in his elec­ day but it will have to take its turn. We torate. I entirely agree about the desirability have sympathy for the North just as we ha.ve of providing secondary school facilities in for the West. country areas. In the short time the Gov­ The hon. member said that four or fi_ ve ernment have been in office we have already police stations in the Cook Shire weTe in need taken steps to extend secondary school educa­ of repair. He said that the previous Govern­ tion in the country. We hope to be able to ment had done a great deal. I am astounded provide more children with secondaTy oohool that so many are out of repair in such a education, particularly the children of parents sparsely-settled area. It seems to me taat who cannot afford to send them to church they could not have been repaired for a schools. long time. I suggest that the hon. member discuss a He mentioned immigration. I know taat high top at St. George with the Minister for we have to populate the country as quickly Educ.ation. It comes within his jurisdictio\n. Supply. (14 NOVEMBER.) Supply. 1073

The hon. member for Carnarvon became was a great disappointment to the hon. mem· very excited about the kitchen at Parlia­ ber that all those things have not happened. ment House. All his talk does not hide the The hon. member for Carnarvon has not been fact that it is in a shameful condition. It up to the kitchen yet. amazes me to think that in 1957 any hon. member should say that we should not spend Illr. Hilton: I have been up. £9,000 to put the kitchen in order. They lflr. HEADING: If the hon. member had use a long-handled shovel to put the coal in I do not think he would have put up the the old-type stove. Why should that happen arguments he did tonight when he said that in 1957 when there are electric stoves, gas he would not spend the money on it. stoves and all sorts of amenities available~ The hon. member would allow the women I\Ir. Hilton: I did not say that. to continue to work under these conditions. Frankly I do not understand it. He says IIIr. HEADING: It is no use denying it. that all these things were done in 1950. I That is what the hon. member said. I do would like to see the report because there is not know whether the hon. member satisfied no evidence now of many of the things he Miss Richards, but I bet he never satisfied talks about. the cook. The only decision I can arrive at is that the previous Government thought only IIIr. Hilton: It is on the file. of themselves and became arrogant and care­ .Mr. Power interjected. less. They thought they would be in power for many years to come and they became Illr. HEADING: It is all right to make careless of the welfare of the people they these remarks if you wander about the place were governing. I thank all hon. members and look at something and know nothing who wished me well. I shall do my best to and do nothing about anything. If we had see that everything possible is done. the money now we would put a room along­ Reverting to the kitchen, I did make side the present refreshment room. At an inquiries and I found that the estimate for architect's estimate it would cost £24,000. the repairs to the kitchen were sent to The former Government- did not leave us Cabinet and the answer was that it would much money. We have found £9,000 for the be looked at later. The later was probably job. during the next 10 years. I know now that IIIr. Gair: We did not want to do it it went before Cabinet. The hon. member piecemeal. for Bundaberg has a great imagination. He would say anything because he thinks he can .illr. HEADING: No, the former Govern­ get away with it. He is in a different posi­ ment memhers did not want to do anything, tion now. He cannot bulldoze his way only look after themselves. We are going to through. He said that I said when I was a dean the kitchen, remove all the soot from member of the Opposition that the Govern­ the walls and paint them. We shall provide ment should spend less and less. He knows up-to-date cooking utensils and make it a that is not true. I know many who said place where white people would like to work, that you should spend more. I did say that not what it is today, a place where nobody the hon. member ought to resign as Treasurer should be asked to work. When it is :finished -:md send somebody else to Canberra to see we hope that it will be something we can if they could not get a better deal for be proud of, not something to be ashamed Queensland. All the hon. member did every of. time he visited Canberra was to come back An hon. member of the Opposition said that squealing that he could not get all he wanted. they never stopped any children from going Jifr. Power: You we.re knocked back on to school. What about lifting the age for drought relief. ehildren to start school~ Jilr. HEADING: That is the first one. Illr. Hilton: That was because· of teacher shortage. I said to the Director of Local Government, ''What are you doing about the Town Plan~'' Illr. HEADING: You said that you never I did not know anything about the town plan. stopped any children from going to school. I did not know it was in my hands. I had No matter what the cause, you stopped them. not thought about it. I was told it has been there for years. No-one has done anything .Mr. Hilton: I said not because of lack about it. It accumulated the dust of the of accommodation. ages. Illr. HEADING: You said you never llfr. Walsh: You can read in "Hansard" stopped them. I am telling the hon. mem­ what was done about it. ber the truth. Hon. members talk about not being party political, yet many of them I\'Ir. HEADING: I know that. went round telling the people they should Mr. Walsh: Then it is untrue to say vote Labour if they wanted to get any ameni­ that nothing was done about it. ties in the electorate. The former Premier in his policy speech mentioned all the things .Mr. HEADING: I will put it this way: that would happen if they returned a Country­ very little has been done about it in the last Liberal Party Government. I suppose it few years. Would that suit the hon. member 1074 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. for Bundaberg? I was asked what I was Jir. HEADING: Whether the City Coun­ going to do about it. I am certainly going cil will use Dr. Langer or not, I do n?t to take an interest in it. I am not going to know. That is the job of the City Council. leave it about the office for years. The hon. member for Bundaberg said that Brisbane The support of Mr. Sewell is rather would not have a town plan in the next 10 belated although I agree that he is an years. If the Government carried on in the excellm{t officer. I do not forgive the hon. same way as the previous Government, Bris­ member for Bundaberg for his action on bane would not have a town plan in the next the Films Commission. He had Mr. Sewell 50 years. as chairman, but Mr. Sewell, although an excellent officer, did not have the time to Mr. Walsh: We will see what you do devote to the work. Mr. Ryan, the about it. Solicitor-General, another excellent officer, was in the same position. He had too much ~Ir. HEADING: The hon. member asked other work to do. Some of the applications the Director of Local Government to prepare were lying in the office for two years. Does a report on the town plan. He wrote two the Treasurer call that business~ Some of the books on the subject, but the ex-Treasurer matters have not been looked at. I instance did not read them. He did not worry about the case of a widow with three children a town plan. If my interest is sudden, it who came to see me and told me that her is because I want to do my job. I have had picture show had been burnt down long interviews with the Lord Mayor. The hon. ago and she could not get a~ywhere. I member for Bundaberg said he read my realise just how business was bemg held up recent statements. He repeated some of my because the former Government did not do statements. I said yesterday it was the job their job. of the council but that I was going to assist by lending Mr. Sewell to the council. He Mr. Walsh: The Commission is a statu­ knows quite a deal about town planning. I tory body. have arranged with the Lord Mayor that Mr. Sewell and officers of the department 1lir. Dewar: The Government wa;s a and the Town Planner will discuss the stationary body. subject. Mr. Walsh: The Government did not Mr. Walsh: They have done that be,fore. dictate to the Commission. }fr. HEADING: If they cannot work out Mr. HEADING: If you find that a body a town plan it is no good having the file cannot do the job, what do you do~ W_hat lying round my office. No-one will be able I have done is to get men who have the time to say that Jim Heading did nothing about to devote to the work. it. Mr. Walslt• One of the men you put on Mr. "\Valsh: They have had discussions the Commissi~n asked to be relieved of the and conferences with the Lord Mayor. job. He had good reason for asking to be relieved. Mr. HEADING: All the hon. member had to do was to say it was either right or wrong. If he vetoed it, why did he not ~Ir. HEADING: At the time hi~ wife was send it back to the Council? sick. I found difficulty in gettmg people who had the time to do the job. I got Mr. Mr. Walsh: If I had vetoed it, there Hamilton, the former Solicitor-General, and a would be no town plan at all. very excellent officer he is. I also pu_t ~r. Archer, a retired grazier, on the Comnnsswn. Mr. HEADING: What was the good of He had the time to devote to the work. I having a town plan that was not worth knew him when he was connected with the anything~ You might as well n

The department is at present developing a standard design of residence more readily capable of modification to suit the require­ ments of five climatic zones within the State. Plans for a residence for the Regional Director of Education at Longreach are nearing completion. This Tesidence will be an improved variation of the present stand­ ard type and further adjusted to suit the climatic conditions of the area. The depart· ment 's painting specification is being amended to include provision for the external and internal painting of residences in con­ temporary colour schemes.

The hon. member for Mundingburra men­ tioned the installation of a septic system at the Mundingburra school. The matter has not been allowed to rest. We are taking action to give the school a septic system if possible. It is the desire of the department to push ahead as quickly as possible with the installation of septic systems in all schools where a permanent water supply is assured and where there is a satisfactory means of disposing of the effluent from the septic tank. With the amount allocated for the purpose the department hopes to have at least 30 new installations completed or under construction during the year. I could say a great deal about classrooms and so on hut I have not the time.