Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
WEDNESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 1950
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
726 Questions. [ASSEMBLY.] Questions.
WEDNESDAY. 18 OCTOBER, 1950. was the opinion of the State Premiers that whilst the scheme had merit, it was a Commonwealth scheme and, therefore, the Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. J. H. Mann, Bris Commonwealth should bear all costs in bane) took the chair at 11 a.m,. connection with its implementation and operation. The Prime Minister thereupon QUESTIONS. stated that the contention of the State Premiers would be considered by the Com ERASURES FROM ELECTORAL ROLLS. monwealth Cabinet. The decision of the Commonwealth Government in regard t(} Mr. BROWN (Buranda) asked the this matter is now awaited.'' Premier- '' 1. Has hi& attention been drawn to the fact that representatives of certain organi 0VER'J'IME, RAILWAY DEPARTMENT. sations are visiting people in the suburbs Mr. NICKLIN (Landsboroug):l-;-Leader of Brisbane with a view to reporting to the of the Opposition) asked the Mm1ster for electoral authorities that some people should Transport- . be crossed off the roll~ ''What was the total cost of overhme ' '2. Are any of these people employed in the Railway Department for 1946-47, · by the State Electoral Office, and, ff so, 1947-48, and 1948-49, respectively~" how many are employed on such work and in what districts? Hon. J. E. DL"GGAN (Toowoomba) '' 3. Does he know that quite a number replied- ?f people, including old people, are receiv '' 1946-7, £428,812 j 1947-8, £460,591; mg notifications intimating that m1 1948-9, £900,719." objection has bPen received against their appearance on the roll and asking them to TOWNSVILLE-GIRU ROAD. show cause why their name should not l'e erased from such roll.' ' 1\Ir. JicCATHIE (Haughton) asked the Treasurer- Hon. E. lU. HANLON (Ithaca) replied- '' 'With respect to my' recent representa '' 1. I have ascertained that Roll Review tions in re the road through the Gap on Officers, employed on contract by the the proposed route between Giru and Towns Commonwealt!1 El;ctoral Department, are ville and his reply theTeto, would he now at nrescnt checkmg the CommonwEalth indicate- electoral rolls covering the metropolitan '' 1. If a survey has been commenced by area. lt rs lllWerstooct that these officers the Main Roads Commission of this route~ are required to report the names of persons who are found not to be enrolled for their '' 2. If the survey is not in progress present addresses as well as those who arc could he indicate when it is likely to be not living at the addresses for which they commenced~ ' ' are enrolled. As these officers are supplied Hon. V. C. GAIR (South Brisbane) with a card of authority, electors would replied- be well adviRerl to ask to see the authority '' 1. Yes. of the caller before giving the information '' 2. The surveyor engaged on the work &ought. had to be ·withdrawn some time ago, but "2. No such officers are employed by instructions were recently issued for the the State Electoral Office, as the checking survey to be completed.'' of 1ihe State rolls is carried out from time to time most efficiently by uniformt·d officers of the police force. TIMBER ON ENOGGERA CATCHMENT AREA. '' 3. I am not aware that electors Mr. JUORRIS (Mt. Coot-tha) a~ked the entitled to remain enrolled are recervmg Secretary for Public Lands and Irrrgatwn- notices of objection to their enrolment, '' 1. With regard to a letter (Reference but it is recommended to any person R.309, Enoggera B) forwarded by the Sec receiving such a notice to reply t,J the retary, Sub-Department of Forestry, to Mr. objection so that bis name will not be Thorpe, Femy Gr?ve, o~ 29 _August, 1950, struck out of the roll. " relating to standmg pme trmber on t~e Enoggera Reservoir C!ltchment. Area, wrll MILK FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN. he indicate the quanhty of pme over 72 inches girth considered to be on that area, Mr. NICKLIN (Landsborough-Leader taking into consideration the fact that I of the Opposition) asked the Premier- hav.u a report from an experi~nced timb~r '' Has the State Government been assessor that the Rrea contams appr?xr requested to co-operate in a Commonwealth mately 15 million super. feet of m:er-gut!1 scheme to provide free fresh or powdered pine, very readily accessi?le, ancl, m, adclr milk for school children~ If so, what tion, a consi~erable quanhty of crow s ash, reply has been made~ '' tallowwood, rronbark, &c.~ '' 2. If this timber were collectecl and Hon. E. 11. HANLON (Ithaca) replied milled does he consider that this site would '' The proposed scheme for the supply of be an' excellent one for a reafforestation free milk to &chool children was c1iscusBer1 scheme for the extension of new pine at the recent Premiers' Conference. It forests~'' Auditor-General's Report. [18 OcTOBER.] Death of Mr. S. Theodore. 727
Hon. T. A. FOLEY (Belyando) replied- PAPER. '' L Departmental estimate is 16,000 The following paper was laid on the table, superficial feet of scattered pine over and ordered to be printed- 72-inch girth. The figure of 15,000,000 superficial feet quoted by the hon. member Report of the Public Service Super is grossly inacrcurate. annuation Board for the year 1949-1950. '' 2. No. This area is not a pine plant ing proposition, for two reasons, first that DEATH OI<' MR. S. THEODORE. the area suitable for planting is too limited, second that the clean felling JliiO'r'ION OF CONDOLENCE. involved in planting would result in temporary pollution and some siltation of Hon. E. ~I. HANLON (Ithaca-Premier) (11.17 a.m.), by leave, without notice: I the Enoggera Reservoir. The State Fores't move-- is mainly of value for hardwood pro duction, and a gang is employed on the '' 1. That this House desires to place on reserve treating it for the promotion of record its appredation of the services growth, quality, and regeneration of hard rendered to this State by the late Stephen woods. For the information of the 3:lon. Theoclore, Esquire, a former member of member this area was originally a water the Parliament of Queensland. reserve under the control of the Brisbane '' 2. That Mr. Speaker be requested to City Council, which consented to its convey to the widow and family of the reservation as State Forest conditionally deceased gentleman the above resolution, that opemtions likely to result in pollut[on together with an expression of the •of water supply would not be alloweJ. The sympath:-· and sorrow of the members of hon. member will recognise the imp,,rtance the Parliament of Queensland, in the loss -of this proviso. Recently the matter of they have sustained.'' timber sales on the 1 eserve was discu~i!od Mr. Theodore was elected to the 28th between Council and Forestry Officers Parliament as member for Herbert, succeed and it was agreed that no further sales ing Percy Pease, on 9 November, 1940, bnt ·would be made for twelve (12) months as that Parliament was dissolved on 28 when the matter will be further dis February, 1941, Mr. Theodore did not sit in cussed.'' it. He was elected for Herbert in the next Parliament and continued as member for FREE Bus TRAVEL, TOWNSVILLE SCHOOL that district until the end of the 31st Parlia CHILDREN. ment on 27 Mm·ch, 1950, when he retired on account.of ill-health. Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) asked the Secretary for Public Instruction- The late Mr. Theodore, Mr. Speaker, during the nearly 10 years he sat in this Chamber, '' L Is it a fact that the Commonwealth became, I think, not only respected but Government provides free bus transport affectionately regarded by the members of for Balt and other alien children from the this House. Immigration Housing Camp at Stuart who attend Townsville State schools~ Honourable ~!embers: Hear, hear! '' 2. If so, will he provide free trans Thlr. HANLON: He was one of those men port for Australian children who are com who, during their time in this House, while pelled to travel by bus to attend State fearlessly putting the case for the political schools in Townsville ~ ' ' party they support and of which they are members, never say an offensive word to Hon. G. H. DEVRIES (Gregory) any member of this House. He was one of replied- the kindliest souls we ever had here and I '' 1. It is understood that such trnnspurt am sure he held the respect and regard of has been provided by the Commonwealth every member of it. He was very affection Government. ately regarded by members of the Labour '' 2. The Queensland Government alr1'"1dy Party who, of course, were more closely in provides, under prescribcr1 conditions, free tonch with him than the Opposition. He was road transport to and from the nearest a very valuable man in the party; he was existing- State school for all primary always in his place and prepared to give his school pupils desirous of attending such views on any subject that came before us. State school and residing more than three While he wns forthright in his ideas, he had ( 3) miles therefrom. ' ' a very natural courtesy and the kindliness of nature that made him appreciated by every ' member of the House. AUDITOR-GENERAL'S REPORT. Mr. Theodore 's thoughtfulness for other DA'rE OF PRESENTATION. members and their feelings was remarkable. He neYer allowed himself-as most of us do lUr. KERit (Sherwood): Mr. Speaker, \Yhen we get heated-to say things that per will- you inform hon. members when the hapR would be better left unsaid. Stephen Auditor-General's report will be ready for Theodore was one of those charming person presentation to this House: alities that are perhaps only too few in our legislative bodies. I personally regret his lUr. SPEAKER: I understand that the loss to the party and to the Parliament of report \Yill be r0ady for presentation to Queensland. ·when he realised that his Parliament on Thursday week. health was failing he wrote to me and 728 Death of Mr. S. Theodore. [ASSEJ\1BLY.] Tully Falls, &;c., Bill.
suggc steu that since he would not be able to him of little incidents that had occurred. I do justice to an election campaign it would can assure hon. members that Jll[r. Theodore be better if he retired from the field. That had a very high regaru for them all aml his was typical of Steve Theodore 's outlook. At passing will leave a ueep void in that part , that time I doubt whether he had any idea of North Queenslanu for which he worked that his life was going to be so short. He for so very many years. simply felt that he could not do justice to Motion agreed to, hon. members standing the party in an election campaign and pre in silence. fencd retiring from politics altogether to taking part in it under such circumstances. TULLY FALLS HYDRO·ELECTRIC I am sure I express the feelings of every PROJECT BILL. member when I say that 1ve deeply regret his loss to Parliament and to this State. INITIATION IN COMMITTEE. Honourable JUembers: Hear, hear! (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Farrell, Marybmough, in the chair.) I\Ir. NICKLIN (Landsborough-Leader of the Opposition) (11.20 a.m.): Mr. Hon. E. lU. HANLON (Ithaca-Premier) Speaker, I regret the cireumstanccs of having (11.26 a.m.): I move- to second the motion moved by the Premier '' That it is desirable that a Bill be and desire to associate every member of the introuucecl to authorise and provide for Opposition with the hon. gentleman's remarks. the construction, maintenance anu utilis All of us who had the privilege of knowing a~i?n. of a hydro-electric project in the the late Steve Theodore appreciated his v1cnuty of the Tully Falls for the purposb friendliness, his kindly nature, and the valu of securing increased supplies of electricity able work that he did in this Chamber. It for the further development of Northern can truthfully be said that Mr. Theodore Queensland, and for purposes incidental earneu the title of one of nature's gentlemen, thereto or connected therewith.'' He was a particularly hard worker in the The purpose of the Bill is to authorise the discharge of his Parliamentary duties and construction of this undertaking. The whole concentrated most of his attention on prob matter has been carefully surveyed and such lems associated with the sugar industry. things as the flow of water in the storage I had the pleasure of knowing Mr. area, the annual rainfall and things of that Theodore many years before he came to this kiucl have all been considered, and it has House. vVe worked together in the interests been decided that the scheme is perfectly of the early organisation of the fruit indus sound economically. Of course, as a capital try when he grew bananas on the ~lope of the work it will receive assistance from Buderim Mountains. The hard work that he illf~ State Government. \'V e have submitted put into it on the problems that he tackled the matter to the Commonwealth Govern was indicative of the way in which he ment, asking them to provide a subsicly for accepted all his responsibilities. I think all the undertaking, not on the ground that it hon. members will agree that all his speeches is a completely economic undertaking but in this House were marked by great sincerity. on the grounu that it is desirable in the He had a very temperate approach to all the interests of the settlement and industrial the problems on which he spoke and, as the development in the North that electrical Premier has said, he never had a harsh word power should be made as cheap as possiol~ to say about anybody, irrespective of how in that area. It is hoped that the Common he might have been provoked in the heat of wealth will give the same assistance as the debate. He was one of the most even State and if it does the Cairns region will tempered men this House has seen in the time have electric sup,ply at a cheaper rate than I have been here, and this House and the in any other part of the State. This is State have certainly lost a vCTy valuable desirable in the interests of industrial member and citizen in the passing of the late development in the North. The under Steve Theodore. Those of us who had the taking will supply the electrical energy that privilege of knowing him valued his friend is essential for comfortable household work ship. We have lost a great friend whose and living in the tropics. qualities were appreciated. One reply I got from officers investigating Honourable Members: Hear, hear! the scheme on behalf of the Commonwealth Government was that they would not recom lUr. BYR~E (Mourilyan) (11.23 a.m.): mend it for a Commonwealth subsidy Mr. Speaker, may I be permitted to join with because it was a sound economic scheme. the Premier and the Leader of the Opposi That rather made me laugh because when we tion in expressing my sincere regret at the asked for a subsidy for the Bnrdekin it 1vas death of Stephen Theodore yesterday morn refused on the ground that it was not a ingq He was a man who had excellent ideas sound economic scheme. If we could shift and a great respect for his fellow men; he the 'l'ullv River down into Victoria for a 1nts a man "·ho could not think ill of period ~~·e should unuoubtedly get the job any man. On a recent visit to Tully I done. visited him and asked if it was possible to Mr. Aikens: If you shifted it to Brisbane, convey to the members of this House any that would be far enough. wishes he might have. He told me to give to each and every member both on the ~Ir. HANLON: The hon. member may Government and Opposition benches his very have that opinion but Brisbane people have kind regards. He was delighted when I told the idea that they are not receiving any Tully Falls Hydro-Electric (18 OCTOBER.] ProJect Bill. 729 better deal from the Commonwealth Govern long-term view of the safety of this eountry ment than the rest of Queensland. It is and give some aid in the developm8nt of quite obvious to any unbiased person and one N ortlt Queensland. I am not in the least who is not parochially-minded, that the whole ashamed of asking the Uommonwe
Tully Falls project discloses that there has economics of the proposal. As a result we been dilly-dallying all the time so far as the have presented to us a half-baked scheme present Government are concerned. They in regard to the Burdekin Dam. l<~ortunately, haYe talked a lot about doing something but this Tully Falls scheme has been soundly it is not until now that they have actually investigated, and hon. members have had an clone something, which we are now being opportunity of perusing the various reports asked to consider. that have been submitted by the expert I can quote instance after inst::mce in -committees to which I referred and of judg which this matter has been referred to com ing the value of their recommendations. mittee after committee. Instead of taking There is no doubt this scheme will be real positive action, the Government have of considerabl() benefit to the area served done nothing but continue to talk about it by the Tully Falls. It is strateg·ically placed and abuse some body else tor not doing some and it is situated in very close proximity thing that they ought to be doing themselves. to existing power lines. It will not be In November last year this scheme was sub expensive to tie up the power grids serving mitted to Cabinet, after all those multitudi the coastal and inland areas of North ous investigations, and the Acting Premier, Queensland. It is not so far distant from Mr. Gair, said that the State Electricity the great northern city of Townsville as to Commission had recommended that the Com preclude a tie-up with the northern net monwealth should be asked to contribute one work served by the Townsville Regional third of the capital cost and had urged tha_t Board in order to use any surplus power the State Government begin the project soon that may be generated. This will bring to meet the demand for electricity by about the link that is desirable between the northern consumers; that Cabinet had con various electricity grids of the northern parts sidered the commission's report on the of the State. scheme and decided to pass it to the Co-ordinator-General of Public ·works for his The Premier and in fact all hon. mem recommendation. What did Cabinet do~ bers are desirous that the Commonwealth Notwithstanding the fact that they had Government should recognise the value of reports that were complete and fully this project and help it financially from two documented, they referred those reports to points of view, namely, that it will add the Co-ordinator-General for further con to production and be a very valuable sideration and report, notwithstanding the defence work in the northern part of Aus fact that the Co-ordinator-General at that tralia. But, Mr. Farrell, I would suggest time was sno>ved under with works referred to the Premier that the way to get Com to him and re~ponsibilities that had been monwealth assistance is not by engaging in placed. upon him. carping criticism of the Commonwealth There is no doubt in the minds of hon. Government at every opportunity, such as the members on this side of the Chamber at hon. gentleman engaged in in this Cham least that from the State and the national ber this morning and such as he never loses point of view the Tully River Falls scheme the opportunity to engage in and in the is verJ- important, and it is most necessary manner in which he behaYed at the recent that immediate action should be taken to do Premier's Conference in Canberra. No something towards the construction of tl1c Government are likely to regard any pro works along the lines laid down in the ject favourably if they are blackguarded reports of those experts. We are fed up to uphill and down dale, as the present Com the back teeth with the continual backing monwealth GoYernment are by the Premier and filling of the Government in regard to and hon. members behind him. their responsibilities, and the lack of action in carrying out important projects like the The CHAIRJUAN: Order! I hope the Tully River Falls scheme. We appreciate hon. gentleman is not going to develop that the great need there is to giYe the area that argument. will be served by the Tully Falls scheme cheap power and plenty of it, just as we JUr. NICKLIN: I intend to develop it, appreciate the need to give that power to Mr. Fanell. The Premier criticised the all parts of the State where it is possible Federal Government and I intend to answer to do so. Instead of talk about this desir his criticism. able objective, we desire to see some action The CHAIMIAN: Order! I hope the on the part of the Government. hon. gentleman will not be too long. The Premier said that there had been careful suryeys of this scheme. There have Jllr. NICKLIN: I will not be too long, been very careful surve:vs oyer a number of Mr. Farrell. The Premier took up a con years. That is very desirable in the con siderable amount of his time this morning sideration of an~- scheme,, particularly a in criticising the action of the Common scheme of any magnitude. It is, however, wealth Government in regard to the Snowy notable that there is a marked difterence River scheme and said something about the between the Government's approach to this people in the south haYing their ankles scheme and their approach to the Burdekin pecked by penguins. Dam scheme. Most intensive reports have lllr. Hanlon: I never opposed the Snowy been obtained on this scheme before any River scheme at the Premiers' Conference, thing has been done about it, but in the but do not forget the North. Burdekin scheme the Government dashed in with their ears back, on Yery sketchy investi Mr. NICKLIN: That is what I am not gations of the whole possibilities and the going to do; I emphasise that, ''Don't 732 Tully Falls Hydro-Electric [ASSEMBLY.] P1·oject Bill. forget the North." But do not let us for change the attitude he is adopting towaTds get that the Snowy River scheme \Yas not them and not resort to abuse of them at started by the present Federal Govem every opportunity, as he does at present. ment but by their predecessors, the J<"ederal Labour Government, and the present Gov JUr. MORRIS (Mount Coot-tha) (11.58 emment are accepting their responsibility a.m.): Because I have been very interested in carrying on something that was spon in the Tully River pToject for some time I sored by their predecessors. was anxious to hear the introduction of the Bill this morning. I ngree 100 per cent. nir. Hanlon: I do not object to their with the statement made by the Leader of carrying it on. the Opposition that the project is a very desirable one and one that will be of great ~Ir. NICKLIX: I believe that if the help to North Queenslaud and that it should Federal Government are properly, reasonably be proceeded with at the earliest opportunity. and temperately approached, they will get I regret, as the Leader of the Opposition right behind the Tully Falls scheme, becausP nlso said, that it has taken a Labour GoveTn it has everything that is necessary to ment in Queensland 24 yeaTs from the time justify the ' suppOTt of any reasonable the scheme was originn ted to reach this stage, Government; and admittedly the present which, when all is said and done, is not one Federal Government are a reasonable G•oy · vvhit further ahend in a practical seHse. ernment. There has been a tragic \Yaste of time in But now let me get back to the point, putting the scheme into operation, and I "Don't forget the North." We want to cannot understand why a Government who see the northern part of Queensland and pretend to have the interests of the State of Australia developed so that it can be at heart could have allowed that time to properly defended and when the Premier elapse befoTe beginning anything really con talks about penguins I \Yould recall his structive. mind to the fact that it is not so very I listened with great care to the intro many years ago that he was prepared to sit ductory remarks of the Premier this morning a potential enemy right on the top of Queens and was amazed that he ga1·c so little infor laud-he was going to give away New mation of the actual scheme to the Com Guinea. What about the North then? mittee. ViTtually the whole of his time \Yas 3Ir. Hanlon: I would sooner have white spent in castigating the Federal GoYernmcnt. people there than the J a ps. We haYe heard that same old story time arid time again, and I intend to Tefer to it in some JUr. NICKLIN: Hitler would have been detail at a later sL' ge. \Ye wanted to hear as dangerous, as he was an ally of the Japs. about the scheme for which this Bill is being Mr. Hanlon: Not at that time. introduced. \V e have henrd not one word of it. It seems to me that \Yheneyer the Premier lUr. NICKLIN: There are other things to has to deal with a project in Queenslancl that be considered when talking about the defence will not be successful, he goes into flo11·ery of the North. I do not intend to sav much eloquence in describing its supposed meYits. about the scheme at present. \Ye on this But at last, when he has something clecent side of the Committee are 100 per cent. behind to sell, he does nothing to~~ the development of the Tully Falls pToject, because it has ever;dhing that makes it clesir l\I.r. Hanlon: I thought you knew all n ble, and should be constructed as eaTly as about it. You have just told us how possible. That it is a sound economic under impresse•l you \Yero IYith it. taking has been proved by the reports we l\Ir. JIORRIS: After the number of have before us and if it will supply cheap fiascos that have Leen foisted on the suffer power to the vital North of this State and ing people of QueP-nslnnd over the last few this continent, it will bring about an increase :vears by the Premier and his GoveTnment, it in population and thereby give us the most is indeed refreshing at last to haYe a scheme necessaTy requirement in a(lequately defend put fonmnl that is basically sound. ing Australia. \Ve must see to the peopling of our e:rnpty spaces. The only complaint I One comment I should like to make a bout have is that it has taken so long fm· the the dcYelopment of the Tully Falls cleals project to he put into eJfect. If it had been with the Report on the Development of the begun when ·the Labour Party saicl that it Tully Falls for Hydro-electTicity purposes 11·ould start it a>YaV bnck in J 9:26 lYe shoulc1 that \Yas sul>mittecl lly the State Electricity have had the Tully Falls project constructed Commission in 1949. I have l'eafl the at possibly one-third of what it ·will cost report 11·ith great interest, and I lwye to-day and we should have enjoyed for many never seen another report that is as yeaTs the benefits that must accrue from such informative as it is. I take it that the a work. principal officer responsible for its compila tion was Mr. Cochran and I feel that we JUr. De·vries: The cost factor can be applied in many instances. are veTy much indebted to him because it gives us an oppOTtunit;v of studying the back Mr. NJCI(LJN: Of course. ground of this scheme. I conclude by offeTing a word of advice My reasons for believing that the flewlop to the Premier. If he wants co-operation ment of the Tully Falls is very desirable from the Commonwealth Go,·ernment and the are, fiTst of all, that I think it giyes us a :·id from that Goyernmcnt that is so neces basis for a complete electric grid in l'\orth sary : nd desirable in this project, he might Queensland, which alone is very desirable, Tully Falls Hydro-Electric [18 OCTOBER.] P1·oject Bill. particularlr as it will give cheap electricity been in operation in England and is now ~hr?ughout. the »·hole area; secondly, when being developed very extensively in Victoria. It IS yut mto operation it will save huge It is an ideal methocl of provicling electric quantities of coal that would otherwise be power. used in producing electric po\ver and for lUr. Hanlon: It has been in operation in similar purposes. Brisbane for years. I should like to deal with those statements :Jllr. X ORRIS: Yes, and it should have in a little more detail. On page 6 of the been in operation in an infinitely more report appears a careful analysis of the extensive way in North Queensland than it estimates of future electricity demands in is at the present time. For instance, there the North, and it is estimated that in the are many sugar mills in the North that arc period 1950-55 there will be an increase of capable of playing a part in this inter 16 per cent. in the annual load for that area. connection system but because it was not The percentage increases for the next thrPe done their surplus pmYer has been wasted. periods of five years each are respectively For instance, even at l\lackay only two of 12, 6 a~d ?· Later on the report points out the seven sugar mills are connected under that tlus IS a conseTvative estimate of the this system, yet by the use of their surplus increase that will take place in the North energy they are able to produce electric and my . opinion is ~hat it is excec,lingl); conservative, because from a later l>assagc in power at . 7 d. a unit. It is no nse realising the value of the system and putting it into the repo~t,_ in dealing \_vith the 'levelopment of electncity demands m other countries. it operation in Brisbane alone, where the appears that New Zealand uses the figure of Premier says it has existed for some years, 9 per cent., \\·hich I think is nearer to -the and not putting it into operation in the North, where there is an urgent need and mark whe~1 we m·e considering North Queens land. Bnsbane 's average rate of increase demand for cheap power for industrial has been 8 per cent., but it is much more development. Evidently the Premier realises dewloped than the North. I think the figure the need for such a scheme and I want to of 8 per cent. would be nearer the mark know why the Go,-ernment have not con when considering the North ancl that the verted their knowledge into some practical estimate of 5 per cent. is much too low. action in this respect, and in particular 1. want to know why all the sugar mills in . Dealin~ with the cost of proYiding electric North Queensland have not been brought Ity, I thmk that the cheapest electricity it under this inter-connection system so as to is pos~ibl~ to proYide is h~·dro-electric pcmer help in providing cheap power for industrial \~hen It IS used in conjnnrtiou with irr;g
above ground, the five other stations will Government the Premier leads-when he can be located in large vaults hewn out of gather them together to lead them-are con solid rock deep underground. cerned only for the development and pro ''The largest station will be No. 2 .. tection of the south-eastern corner of Queens It will be 650 feet underground. . . . land. Consequently, we hear from time to• time all this casuistry, sophistry and sicken ''Now under construction, No. 4 station ing hypocrisy concerning the need to develor> will be 450 feet underground..... North Queensland. Let the Queensland State "Deepest under-ground in vertical Government give some tangible lead in the distance will be No. 1 station and No. 5 development of North Queensland and we of' the North, who know the North, the people station, but they will be under mountains of the North and the needs of the North. so steep that the shortest entrance to them will begin to believe that the Premier is at will be by a tunnel from t:2e mountain ~ast be~oming ho.nest and sincere in his. side.'' protestations. I think that is a matter of vital importance. The Premier in his opening remarks said That is what is being done to protect from that there is a need for population in North aerial attack a scheme that is 1,500 miles Queensland. He said, and he is very sententi south of the Tully River falls. The Premier ous when he said it, that you will not get and all other hon. members realise that if people to go to the North by simply inviting Australia is attacked she will be attacked them to go; you will get them to go there immediately from the air and if attacked only if there is work to employ them there. from the air the most vulnerable part 1s Let me tell the Premier that that is not the· North Queensland. In the Tully Falls scheme real magnet that will attract population to· we have an undertaking, costing approxi the North. As a matter of fact, over the· mately £12,000,000, and providing 335,000,000 last 18 years, since the Premier has been a kw, that is vital to the development of North member of this Labour-Party Cabinet, the Queensland and industries established there. North has lost population. Obviously it is vital to any war effort thnt should be in operation. We are leaving the The North has failed to retain the popu power-houses in such a position that will be lation it held when the Premier became a so vulnerable that the first attack could put member of Cabinet, a fact of which he so· the whole scheme out of action. That is one often boasts. As a matter of fact, population· of the most vital points in the Tully Falls will not go to a particular part of the scheme which is of great benefit to North country, and population will not stay in a Queensland, and I hope that the Premier will particular part of the country, unless it not see to it so that when it finally comes into only has work but has also a comfortable operation-and I hope the first part will come living and decent conditions for the womerr' into operation in 1956-it will operate from and children and is treated as white underground where it will not be vulnerable human beings should be treated; and it is to air attack and cnn be of great use in a abundantly true that since the Premier has. time of great need-in a time of >Yar. been a member of Cabinet the Labour Gov ernment have consistently treated the people Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) (12.22 of North Queensland as semi-civilised' p.m.): Mr. Farrell, in my long and useful blackfellows. It is necessary not only to· life I haye eaten many strange foods and find jobs for the people but to put them on· drank many queer liquids, consequentlv I a par with the favoured ones who live in· have developed a cast-iron stomach that other parts of the State. It is necessary to enables me to sit in this Chamber and listen give them medical facilities; it is necessary without being sick, to the sickening hypocrisy to give the children educational facilities· spewed forth from both sides of this Chamber and it is necessary to provide transport with regard to the development of North facilities and it is necessary also to give· Queensland. Let us be honest about it. One the children an equal chance in life with can number on the fingers of one's hands the the children of the favoured South-- men in this Chamber who are honestly and sincerely concerned for the development of The CHAIR~IAN: Order! the North but every now and again we have members of the Opposition seizing the oppor Mr. AIKENS: I am simply developing tunity to castigate the Government and there the argument introduced by the Premier upon standing up in this Chamber and talking himself when he said that the Tully Falls about the need to develop northern Queens hydro-electric scheme will be responsible land. They are interested in the develo}il for bringing extra population into North· ment of North Queensland only at election Queensland. I am telling that hon. gentle time and when it affords them an oppOTtun man that unless his Government alter their ity to attack the Government. The Govern attitude towards the people of the North ment too are interested in the development and particularly towards the children of the of North Queensland only at election times, North, then as fast as people go to work and at certain specified times in between. at the Tully Falls they will come away and they will come away faster than they went It is quite true, as the Premier has sni ·l there to work. The people of the North are that Federal Parliamentarians are only con losing every day in the race for education cerned for the development and protection and transport-- of the southem portions of the Common wealth. Tbat is abundantly crue, indubitably The CHAIR~IAN: Order! I should likE true, but it is also indubitably true that the the hon. member to get ba ~Ir. AIKENS: I will return to it, as Council, to the turning of the first sod in I do not want to transgress on your toler the building of the Burdekin bridge by the ance. Population will not stay in the Premier and it is not built yet. Of course, North m1der the administration of the pre we have had other schemes in North Queens sent State Labour Government. land. In one of them-I admit it is not a clevelopmental scheme, I refer to the plan for Let me tell the Premier something about the erection of an insane asylum at the Tully hydro-electric scheme and what Charters Towers-not even a fence post has it might do and what the Government fer been put up so far. vently hope it will do. Let me also tell the people of Queensland what the Govern· Mr. Burrows interjected. ment have in mind in regard to the 'l'ully Falls scheme and their other irrigation and Mr. AIKENS: If I had to live with the hydro-electric schemes. It is the intention hon. member for very long I should be the of the present Labour Government to turn first patient. North Queensland into a granary and a Jllr. Hanlon: You should have been primary-producing area of the State, simply there a long time ago. to keep the secondary industries of Bris· bane going. Our people in the North are Jlir. AIKENS: I would rather be mad to be the wood-and-water joeys for the than bad. secondary industries of Brisbane, and the Premier cannot deny that. If he really We have all these schemes and the neces wants to take population to the North and sary blue-prints for the deyelopment of .the hold them there he must get rid of the bug North, and then the Prem1er very adroitly bear of the North in an industrial sense by passes the buck to the Federal Government ridding it of the slack-season unemployment. and I believe that the Commonwealth Gov He can do that not only by irrigation ernment should bear some share in develop schemes and by the establishment of huge ing North Queensland; I believe that they farms and agrarian communities but by should accept some responsibility for the -establishing side by side with those primary North. We had "Bombay'' Casey in the industries the secondary industries that North prior to the la.st election; J::e flew over will give the people of the North per various areas and said he was gomg to help manence of employment. It is the slack in the development of the North, but, of season and the lack of other amenities that course 29 April came a few days later and are driving population a way from North Mr. Cascy immediately lost all interest in Queensland. the development of North Queensland. Mr. Pie: You cannot have secondary If the Government-and I am speaking industries in a slack season. now of the State Government-are honest and sincere in their expressed desire to lUr. AIKENS: The secondary industries de,·elop North Queensland and to .attract and -continue all the year round but could be so holc1 population there, let them glVe a No. 1 adjusted so as to absorb most of the seasonal prioritv to all public and developmental work unemployment. Since the hon. member for set out for the North; let them direct all Kedron has interjected, let me say some labour all materials, all technical assistance thing to hinl. He has, I understand, just ·md all monev to the bringing into fruition arrived back from an overseas visit and he ;ncl the comp'lction of all schemes that they has his own grandiose plan for the enlarge· have in :!land in North Queensland; let them ment of secondary industries in Queens give North Queensland a No. 1 _priority over land. I suggest that he take some of then; all other dc1·elopmental works m the State. to the North. Let him take some of his There is the test of their sincerity. I know woollen and textile mills to the North. He what reception that suggestion will &et. The has a mattress-making factory already in Premier will stand up and wave his hands the North but it was something he took like a prestidigitator; he will say, ''The over from Heatleys. I give him credit for State will be developed as a whole. The that-such as he deserves-but let him take Commonwealth Government must bear their his textile factory up to North Queensland. share of the responsibilty. We will develop the North if and when we get the money and The CHAIRiliAN: Order! I have already the men and the material." We have heard extended to the hon. member a good deal of it all before and we are sick and tired of the latitude. I must ask him now to get ba.ck hypocrisy of this Goverl?-~1ent, backed by the to the motion. majority of the Opposition, towards North Queensland. Mr. AIKENS: Very well, Mr. Farrell. I was led astray by the interjection of i he The Premier has said-and correctly so hon. member for Kedron, and I am particu that X orth Queensland must be dev:loped; larly susceptible to that sort of thing. that it must be populated, and that It must be fortified, because it is the open _door to In the past we have had quite a number of the Commonwealth. Surely the Premier does schemeR aimed at harnessing the potentiali not expect the present Prime Minister of ties of the North. For instance, I remember Australia to do anything to protect Austra going over four years ago with the then lia? Surely he does not expect th~t Mr. hon. member for Dowen and the present hon. Menzies is intel'ested in the protectiOn of member for Haughton, who was then and I Australia~ Anyone who cared to rea.d the .believe still is the chairman of the -'"Yr Shire statements that Mr. l\fenzies made pnor to Tully Patz., Hydro-Electric [18 OCTOBER.] ProJect Bill. 737 Viorld War II. would form the same honest rlecent thing. They only want a fair deal opinion as I, that is, that at the outbreak of from the rest of the community and nothing war with Germany and Italy the first two more-that is, the decent crowd. men in Australia who should have been interned were Sir Raphael Cilento and JUr. Aikens: And they do not get it. Robert Gonlon Memies. ~Ir. HANLON: They get the hon. mem ber for Mundingburra, and believe me, they The CHAIR~IAN: Order! don't like it. He spoke about goading the J.Ur. AIJ(ESS: There is a man who spent Government into doing this and doing that, all his time spev,·ing out his paneg:nics of but the only thing that he will goad them Hitler and his regime, and who the Premier into doing will be to spread D.D.T. very now asks us to belie,-e is interested in the liberally about the premises. de;·elopment and the protection of this country. The hon. member said also that educa tionally the children of the North were back The CHAIR~IAN: Order! I will not ask ward, that they were not in the race. When the hon. member again to get back to the I was in North Queensland recently I pre motion. If he cannot do so, I shall have to sented two of the most coveted prizes in ask him to resume his seat. educational circles in Queensland to two children of the North-they had beaten the Mr. AIKENS: Very well, Mr. Farrell. rest of Queensland. One was in Townsville I merely want to say that this is just another and I think the other "·as in Cairns. Two piece of political flim-flam. I am going to of the most coveted prizes, the Lilley medal support it because I support everv move, and the Byrnes medal, went to two children howe\·cr visionary it may seem, 'for the of the North, one in Cairns and I think tlie development of North Queensland and I shall other in Townsville. They had beaten the do all that I possibly can to help or to goad rest of Queensland. Yet, \ve have this relic the Government into doing something concrete of the indecent age getting up in this Cham and tangible about it. I support this Bill in ber and saying that educationally the children regard to the development of the North in of the North were not in the race. Why exactly the same way as I go in and buy a does the hon. member for Munclingburra ticket in the Golden Casket. The odds are slander the children of the North like that~ against my winning a ,prize but hope springs In scholarship and Junior examinations they eternal in the human breast. The odds are are certainly equal to the hest of the children against anything tangible being clone to in the State, and physically I think they are harness the Tully Falls for electric power or superior to those in the southern parts of for irrigation, but because the shot is on, to Queensland. They have courage, they have use a sporting phrase, I shaH support the ability, and they must have industries. Bill, in addition to goading the Government The workmates of the hon. member for from time to time into doing something about Munclingburra in North Queensland have it and about the Burdekin dam scheme and given him the sardonic name of ''Energy.'' about the various schames and other things He was portrayed as ''Energy'' because he they have promised for the North. I shall sat down and did nothing. (Laughter). It also do what I always do after every session is rather a pity to waste so much time over of Parliament, and that is expose to the a man who pretends to represent but really people of North Queensland the hollow sham slanders the people of North Queensland so and mockery contained in the Premier's consistently as he does. It is evident that remarks on such a Bill as this. he is endeavouring to make up a little for the absence in this Parliament of the ex Hon. E. M. HANLON (Ithaca-Premier) hon. member for Bowen, his party comrade. ( 12.37 p.m.) : Replying to the hon. member for Mundingburra, I would say that it is ~Ir. Aikens: He supported you in the remarkable to find so many men in this last election. counb-y with great powerful bodies but minds :illr. HANLON: He supported you. about the size of a body louse. \Vhenever :ilir. Aikens: He supported you. they approach any subject they always like to find out first whether there is something J.Ur. HANLON: No, he supported you. in it for themselves, and these people are (Laughter). His party advocated voting doing more harm to North Queensland than for Aikens. Naturally, the hon. member any other force in North Queensland. Mr. was regarded as a member of this party. Menzies will never do as much harm to North Let us examine some of tibe criticism Queensland as those people who portray North >Yhich we heard from the Opposition. The Queensland as the home of bums, crawlers Leader of the Opposition said that they and bellyachers, and thnt is what is being were solidly behind this scheme but there done by the hon. member for Munclingburra. was only one thing wrong with it, that was Whenever he gets up in this House he it was not clone long ago, and if we would describes North Queensland as being the only go to the Federal Governtment and home of hoboes howling out for someone else pull our forelock nicely for Mr. Menzies to feed them, screaming to someone c lse to we should get somewhere. (Dissent). He give them something, whereas North Queens probably meant that we were to be con land is a place of decent and independent siderate of Mr. Menzies-perhaps show free men who only 'vnnt the opportunity to appreciation of his physique. The Leader work for a living. They want to rlo the of the Opposition pulled his forelock when 1950-2A. 738 Tully Falls Hydro-Electric [ASSEMBLY.] Project Bill. he asked J\Ir. Menzies to forget about the became £200,000,000. The then Prime State's northern projects a nu give him a Minister talked about a £66,000,000 pro dam at Obi Obi Creek. (Government gramme; and we spent a day on it at laughter). He pulled his forelock, too, when Canberra. I did not object, provided North he asked Mr. Menzies for aid to drain the Queensland got a deal. LateT on it became !"ferrimac Swamp. That is strongly implied £200,000,000. Although we had an undeT m the hon. gentleman.'s notice of motion- taking fTom Mr. Chiftey in regard to the development schemes for the North, the . ''That in yiew of the paramount undertaking was withdrawn by the Menzies Imp~rtance of I.ncreasing the wealth pro Government. I do not like the present Gov duct~on ?f this State as rapidly as ernment's withurawing an undertaking given possible, m order to improve the defence by a previous Government to do anything potential of Australia, to safeguaru liv about North Queensland. mg standards, and to provide for a snb st~ntia.l i.ncrease in population by There \Yas also the case of the aerodrome m1grahon m the near future it is the in the Cape Yorl' Peninsula. I had a letter opinion of this House that the Gm·ern from the Prime Minister, Mr. Chiftey, about ment should have a thorough review and November last pointing out that approval o-:erhaul .of its d~v~lopmental programme had been given and an instruction had been w1th a VIew to g1vmg priority to works given to the Department of 1\'orks and an~ projects most likely to give the Housing to put that aerodrome in order. It qmckest and best results commensurate \Yas an emergency lanuing place on a flight with the quantities of materials, labour, from Thursday Island and it would be useful and so on.'' for defence purposes. A couple of months ~ere is the Le~der of the Opposition get ago I had a letter from J\fr. Fadden saying hug up and saymg that this work in North that the Federal Government were counter Queensland should have been done long ago, manding the instruction to the Department after he has gone down to Canberra ·with of Works and Housing. Something had been his eo-conspirator, the Leader of the Liberal granted and an instruction to go on with Party, and asked Mr. Menzies for the time this work had been given and they counter being to forget all about the projects the manded it. You do not find them counter Government are asking to be done for the manding anything in the south-eastern corner development of North Queensland and con of the Commonwealth_ struct a dam at Obi Obi Creek, near his orchard. (OpposHion interjections). Obi The hon. member for Mt. Coot-tha gave a Obi Creek is in his electorate and the very learned discourse on hydro-electric pro Merrimac Swamp is in the electorate of one duction generally and told us we should of his supporters. These are the things have linked up all the sugar mills at J\Iackay he went to Canberra to ask the Prime long ago. The chairman of the electricity Minister to do for the defence of North authority there is a gentleman called Ian Queensland! It is just as well that the Wood, a Liberal Senator in the Federal Tweed River is not too far from Brisbane Parliament. He was the mayor of Mackay or he would be away down near Newcastle for se ne years-not a bau sort of a joker; somewhere. (Government laughter). I know him pretty well-and I suggest to the hon. member that he get in touch with My quarrel with the Opposition is that him. I hope he will take notice of his they see no virtue in anything that does opinion. He might advise him. At Mary J?-Ot benefit their own interests. Their borough the regional board has linked up mterests are centred on their own elec Hynes and Sons, \Vilson and Hart, and t~e torates. They fail to see the interests of Jlii~uyborough sugar mill, with an electric this State as a whole. It is amusing to me suppl,v. \Vhen you create an electric authority ~o hear . the. Le~der of the Opposition say you do not go round with a safety-pin, a mg by 1mphcat10n that I should scrape my napkin Rncl the bottle; you expect them to boots and pull my forelock to ::lir. :\Ienzies, undertake their own work. Alreaclv that when no doubt he would be considerate. electric authority has linked up the~e con The L~ader ~f. the Opposition suggests that cerns; the Gm'ernment clid not do it. In the Pnme Munster of the Commomvealth is JI.Iacl :and they looked at the northern rivers as a llir. ]}!orris: Sheer nonsense! whole; they were not interested in this river or that river. The CHAIR~IAN: Order! ]}fr. HANLON: Hon. members opposite Mr. l11orris interjected. evidently do not know the political history Mr. HANLON: The hon. member of this State. Sir Robert Philp, Sir Alfred exhausted his time cackling nonsense this Cowley, and Mr. J. A. Walsh were sent from morning; he cannot interrupt me with any the Opposition to London to prevent the then more of it. Premier, the late E. G. Theodore, from getting In 1946 the Labour Government instructed the loan money neces·8ary to do these works. that the northern rivers were to be surveyed In order to keep some work going. Mr. Theo to ascertain the way in which they could be dore was forced to raise a loan in America. best put to use. They have now been surveyed He was forced by the Liberal Party of Aus down as far as the Burdekin. All of them tarlia to do this. These men did not go have some potentialities. In 1946 instruc overseas of their own volition but under tions were issued to get on with the plan instructions from the party that is now ning of the Tully scheme. I know that the sitting in Opposition criticising this Bill. hon. member for Mount Coot-tha could They went overseas to prevent_ the money design a dam ancl the foundations and all the from being obbined. They aJ:>solutely pre rest of it in a matter of five minutes or vented the loan to carry on tlns work from perhaps overnight bnt Jlilr. Kemp 's organ being raised in England. Now their isation has been working on it for some years political descendants-- possibly it would be glad of a little advice Mr. Morris: Absolute and sheer from the hon. member for Mount Coot-tha.. nonsense! But the work is going on. Borings took quite The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the hon. a long time. A dam cannot be built lJefore member to take notice of my call to order. establishing the foundations. The fall of t:1e His interjections are unparliamentary and whole of the river, not at the actual falls, had I will not permit them any longer. The to be surveyed and tested to ascertain what Premier must be allowed to make his state additional dams could be put in. The idea is ment without further interjections. to make full use of the flow of the river. The work is going on now. If we had a }fr. HANLON: The political descendants policy for the development of this country of Philp, Cowley, and Walsh sit in this of the same kind as that adopted by the Chamber today and ask why this project was people of the political kidney of the Country not built in 1920, but they are descendants Party, we should get nowhere. When a of those who prevented the Government from previous Labour Government were in office getting the money to do it. It was not because they 'vcre faced with the same hostility as the work was not desirable, not that it had we are faced with except that it was .more not been recommended, but that they hated barefaced and more open. The good old the very existence of the Labour Govern I,iberals in those days were frankly out to ment. 'l'he Country Party did not then e.xist destroy the Labour Party and Labour Move as a party. The only country representatives ment at any price. They did not conceal in this Parliament in those days were the their attitude. representatives of the squatters, who regarded the ordinary farmers as bein.g. mere slaves lUr;;; Evans interjected. and vassals not worthy of pohtical represcn :ilir. HANLON: The hon. member who tation at all. has just made an interjection should know The political Country Party, as we know this because he was in North Queensland at it today, could not be charged wit!: that the time. It was a Labour GovernmcnL who attitncle. There are a lot of people m the linked up the North Queensland railway. State like the hon. member for Mount Coot One could not get even as far North as tha who were not old enough to take notice Rochhampton at one time. One had to travel of what was happening in Parliament in the by steamer from Gla.dstone. One had to '20s. travel also by steamer to get from Rockhamp ton to Mackay and to Townsville and Cairns. Mr. H. B. Taylor: Some of us were old Then? was no rail link between 'l'ownsvil1e enough. and Cairnsl It was a Labour Government Mr. HANLON: Then what is the hon. who huilt these hundreds of miles of railway member doing on that side of the Chamber at a time when they were having t:1e greate,st if he knows what happened~ If hon. mem difficulty in getting money. They also built bers know the political history of this State, co-operative sugar mills and developed the why then are they associated with a party sugar industry in the North. Everything that that has clone so much to destroy the State~ is worth while in the North has been done by I am inclined to think it is because they arc a Labour Government. But at what a price ignorant of what has happened that they are and under what handicaps! The Labour with the Opposition. Anybody who knew Government were in power during the war what was done to destroy the Labour Party years. At the end of 1919, when these great should not be associated with the Opposition. projects were in hand, the Liberal Partv, I shall content myself with those remarks, then in opposition as is the Li bt)ral J>n.rty as I only wanted to answer the statements today, sent three of its leading men to Eng hon. members opposite had made. land to prevent the Labour Government of this State from getting the money to go on Progress reported. . with State work. The House adjourned at 12.58 p.m.