Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
TUESDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 1907
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
Change of Ministry. [19 NovEMBER.] Ministlfrial Statement. 1743
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
TUESDAY, 19 NOVEMBER, 1907.
The SPEAKER (Hon. John Leahy, Bulloo) took the chair at half-past 3 o'clock.
ASSENT TO BILLS. The SPEAKER announced the receipt of a message from His Excellency the Governor, conveying the Royal assent to the following Bills:- Income Tax Act Amendment Bill; Children's Courts Bill ; Poor Prisoners' Defence Bill; and Acclimatisation Society Bill.
MINISTERIAL:STATEMENT. CHANGE OJ.' MINISTRY. The PREMIER (Hon. R. Philp, Townsville), who, on rising, was received with Government cheers, said: His Excellency the Governor de sires me to state that he has been pleased to accept the resignation of the Hon. \Villiam Kid ston as Vice-President of the Executive Council, and of his followers in the same Council, and to appoint the following :- The Honourable RobPrt Philp to be Chief Secretary and Treasurer of Queensland; The Honourable Digby Frank Denham to be Home Secretary of Queensland; The Honourable \V alter Henry Barnes to be Secretary for Public Lands of Queens land; The Honourable ,f ohn Dunmore Campbell to be Secretary for Rail ways of Queens land; Hon. R. Philp.] 1744 Ministerial Statement. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
The Honourable Patrick J an,es Leahy to be GovERNMENT and OTHER MEMBERS : Hear, Secretary for Public 'Works and Secre hear! tary for Mines of Queensland ; The PREMIER : The country also wants a The Honourable Francis Isidore Power, vigorous land policy. The~e tldngs are what we M.L.U., to be Minister of Justice of purpose going in for. At the present time all QueenRland, and discharge all the powers, we ask this House to do-if hou. members are etc., of the Attorney-General; and gracious enough to do it-i,;, to pass the Esti mates, and pass the plans and r'ections of a The Honoumble William Stephens to be number of railways. If that is done, we purpose Secretary for Public InRtruction and closing the session and asking the House to meet Secretary for Agriculture of Queens much earlier next year. I have nothing further land. to add. If the House see fit to entrust me with It is incumbent on me, at. this stage of the proceed the conduct of busuwss during the session, we ings, to make a short Ministerial statement. A shall go on with it; but, if hon. members think week ago I had not the slightest conception that otherwise, we are prepared to take the conse such a crisis as we have had wasgoingto take place. quences. I never for a moment dreamt that the late GovERNMENT MEMBERS: Hear, hear! Premier-with a ~eemingly large majority in the HousP.-would have thought fit to resign his The PREMIER : It is " very difficult thing appointment. On that day His Excellency for anyone to take ch,trge of the House as at sent ft•r me, and asked me to undertake the present constituted. \Ve have three parties. formation of a Ministry. I told him I would We have the Labour party, consisting of seven use my best efforts to do so. To-day I have to teen members; we have the Kids ton party, con inform the House that a Ministry has been sisting of twen,ty-four members; and our party formed, consisting of Mr. Stephens, as Secre consists of thirty-one members. \Ve are the tary for Education and Secretary for Agricul largest party in the Houoe at the present time, ture; Mr. Campbell, as Secretary for Railways; and, until we can go to the country and come Mr. Denbam, as Home Secretary ; Mr. Barnes, back with a two-party House-- as Secretary for Lands; Mr. 1'. J. Leahy, as A LABOUR MEMBER : Y on never will. Secretary for Mines and· Secretary for \Vorks. The PREMIER: I do not think we shall have Mr. MAXWEI.L: This is a Queen-street any satisfaction in dealing with legislation in this Ministry. (Opposition and Labour laughter.) House. The PREMIER: In the other House the GovERNMENT IvlEMBERS : Hear, hear ! Hon. F. I. Power takes the position of Minister Mr. BOWMAN: You are not going to get rid of Justice, and the Hon. \V, V. Brown takes of the third party as easily as that. the position of :Minister without portfolio. I, The PREMIER : It is in the power of the my.self, take the position of Chief Secretary and House to do what thev think best. All I intend Treasurer. to do is to go on with "the Estimates, and pass a GovERNMENT :MEMBERS: Hear, hear! certain number of railways. If the House do The PREMIER: At this late stage of the n•)t think tit to allow us to do that, then I say session it is not the intention of this Ministry to the House must take the consequences, and we go on with any legislation beyond >tny measures are prepared to take them. that may come from the other House. \Ve pur GovERNMENT JlilEMBERS : Hear, hear ! pose going on with the Estimates and bringing in Mr. MULCAHY: \Vhat are the consequences? the rail ways w hieh we have heard a great deal about. I nnder~tand there are fourteen or fifteen plans which will have to be dealt with in this SUPPLY. House. Further, we have no intention of going RESUMPTION OF C0~!11ITTEE-\V ANT OF on with the Old Age Pensions Bill. CoN~'IDENCE MoTION, OPPOSITION :MEMBERS: Ab, ah ! Mr. KIDSTON (Re>ckhampton), who was re Mr. MuLCAHY : \V e knew that long ago. ceived with Opposition and Labour cheers, said: (Laughter.) I beg to move, Mr. Jackson, that you do now The PREMIER: But we propose paying the leave the chair and report no progress. (Opposi sum of 10s. per week to the old people from the tion and Labour laughter.) 1st of J an nary. The PREMIER: Before you leave the chair, HONOURABLE MEMBERS: Hear, hear! Mr. Jackson, I think we might have a little The PREMIER : The way that measure was discussion on this matter. received by all parties in this House could only GOVERNMENT MEMBERS: Hear, hear! and lead to the one conclusion-that it would be a Opposition and Labour laughter. · long job to get such a Bill through this House at A LABOUR MEMBER: We will go on all night. this stage of the session; so we have determined that all the old people who are now receiving 5s. The PREMIER: No, we will not go on all a week shall be entitled to receive 10s, a week. night ; but we will go on for a very short time. Of course, if the majority do not want to do any GovERNMENT and LABOUR MEMBERS: Hear, business, I am quite willing to obey the will of hear! the Committee. But, before we come to a vote, The PREMIER : From the 1st January that I wish to say that I think the Committee are amount will be paid. We propose going on with making a very great mistake. the business of the House. I think a great deal Mr. JENKINSON: Blocking Supply, of time has been wasted during the present session. Mr. KIDSTON : Is this a threat? Mr. BOW>IAN : By whom? The PREMIER : When I sit down the hon. member for Rockhampton can get up and speak The PREMIER: Now we ought to come to if he wishes to. I make no threat, nor do I say real business. The country is looking for some there was any threat made. business to come out of this Parliament. (Hear, hear!) The country is looking for some railways GovERNMENT MEMBERS: Hear, hear ! to be built. The country is also looking for The PREMIER: But I do say that we have some vigorous steps to be taken with regard to been here since the 27th of July, and very littla immigration. business has been done. The late Premier, Mr. [Hon. R. Philp. Supply. [19 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1745
Kidston, resigned his position, and said he could wait until we dealt with that obstruction, and not go on with busines8, I say, then, that we mean to deal with that obstruction, lYir. having been asked by His Excellency to form a Jackson-- Ministry, I have formed one, and we are pre LABOUR and OPPOSITION MEMBERS : Hear, pared to go on with business. hear! and Government laughter. Mr. MAXWELL: But the House is not prepared Mr. KEOGH: Is that a threat? to let you go on with business. Mr. KIDSTON: No matter who opposes it, The PREMIER: If the House says so, then we mean to deal with that obstruction. the House musL take the consequences of their action. GovERNiirENT MEMBERS : Hear, hear ! LABOUR and OPPOSITION MEMBERS : Hear• Mr. KIDSTON : It has been a long time hear! simmering. It has been four years simmering, and it has got to be dealt with. (Hear, hear!) Mr. CowAP: \Ve will not ask you what we will do. And it is going to be dealt with. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC 'Nomcs: You The PREMIER: We are prepared to go on might be dealt with, too. with business, but if the other side are not pre pared to go on with business, there is only one Mr. MAXWELL : You were dealt with at the result, and that is that we will adjourn this last election. (Laughter.) House. I warn every member of this House-- Mr. KIDSTON: A week ago to-clay, the hon. LABOUR and OPPOSITION MEMBERS : Oh ! oh ! ·gentleman who was given permission to form a and laughter. Government could have formed the same Go vernment that he has formed to day within half The PREMIER: You were sent here by an hour. (Hear, hear!) He could have formed your constituents to do a certain amount of the same Government within one hour ofleaving work. Government Hou,e. There was no trouble about Mr. RYLAND: \Ve are not let do it. that part of the business, yet the hon. gentleman The PREMIER: Up to the present time wanted time. very little work has been done. Mr. BARBER: To do a Lit of scheming. Mr. MuLCAHY: Mr. Thynne will not let us do Mr. KIDS TON : And the hon. gentleman did any work. not tell the HouRe what he wanted time for. He Mr. RYLAND: \Ve are being blocked by the did not tell the House how the time was used four Upper House. years ago. Although the members on this side of the House conceded the time asked for when The PREMIER: There are a certain number the Governor asked it, it was a courteous thing of rail way plans and specifications to be pasced to do for His Excellency, although we all knew by this House, and we are prepared to paFs quite well how the time would be used, and for them; but if the House, in their wisdom, say what purpose the time would be used. Hon. that they do not want railways and that they gentlemen on this side of the Honse know how do not want any business done, well, then, I am that time has been used, and the attempts at prapltred to abide by the vote of this House. bribery that have been made. GOVERNMENT l\IE11BERS : Hear, hear ! GoVERNMENT MEMBERS : l'\ o, no ! LABOUR MlniBERS : Question ! No, no ! :iYir. P AGET: Give one instance. Mr. KIDSTON, who was received with Another GovgRNMENT l\1E1IBER : Name one. "Hear, hears," said : I can only weigh the hon. gentleman's words in connection with a number Mr. KIDSTON : Only this morning, after all of stage whispers that have been passing around their attempts had failed, they tried again~- this House this afternoon-- they tried at the last moment last night and it A LABOUR MEMBER : Very loud whispers, too. failed, and this morning there was circulated the last expedient-the last unscrupulous, unwar Mr. KIDSTOJ'\: And very loud whispers ranted expedient-to try to frighten members of too,-loud enough to be heard in Queen street. this House. It is the first time, so far as my reading goeR, The PREMIER: I rise to a point of order. that any Legislature, any Assembly, any people's Is the hon. member for Rnckhampton justified Chamber in any British colony, or in any in using the word " unscrupulous " ? British community anywhere-any British self The CHAIRMAN: The leader of the Oppo governin~; community-has been threatened to make them do what the hon. gentleman and sition-I understood the hon. member to refer to some person else wants them to do. something that occurred outside the House. If he used "unscrupulous" to any member of the LABOUR and OPPOSITION MEMBERS: Hear, House he is out of order. hear! GOVERNMENT MEMBERS : No, no ! Mr. KENNA (Bowen): I rise to a point of order. There is some interruption outside the Mr. CREAGH interjected. bar of the House, and I ask your ruling as to Mr. MAUGHAN (to Mr. Creagh) : Go and sit whether it it in order? over on the other side of the House. Mr. AmrsTRONG : Put the strangers out of the Mr. CREAGH: I will sit where I like. gallery altogether. Mr. MuLCAHY : That is only the fourth Mr. KEOGH : They all want to hear what is party. going on. Mr. KIDS TON: The hon. gentleman just The CHAIRMAN : I must inform the people told the House that I resigned because I could outside the bar of the House that it is not in not go on with business. I did not tell the order for them to interrupt-- House that I could not go on with business at .all. (Hear, hear!) I told His Excellency, and Mr. JENKINSON: You cannot take any notice I told this House and also the country that we of that. could go on with business here-- The CHAIRMAN : I must inform them that LABOUR and OPPOSITION MEMBER~: Hear, they must keep order, or it will be my duty to hear! remove them. Mr. KIDSTON: But because of the obstruc Mr. KIDSTON : I consider that I am using tion of our legislation in another place we had to· exceedingly mild language. 1907-5 p Mr. Kidston.] 1746 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
LABOUR and OPPOSITION MEMBERS : Hear, been resorted to within the last few hours, and hear! how events have justified the action we took last Mr. KIDS TON: It would not be proper in Tuesday. \Vhat has been done since has amply Parliament to use language that would properly justified the good sense of onr conduct last describe what has been taking place these last Tuesday. (Hear, hear!) The hon. gentleman two days and again early this morning, Do you opposite- that was why I mentioned this know, Mr. J ackson, that an attempt was made matter-three times in the course of his short this morning to frighten members of this House speech-knowing the rumours that had been cir against standing by their duty because they cnlated-was not ashamed to stand np in his were told that Mr. Philp had got a promise of a place, and three times over warn members of dissolution from the Governor. this Chamber that they would have to take the Mr. MAUGHAN : Let it come. consequences if they voted him out of office. Mr. ARMSTRONG: So they will. Mr. ·KIDSTON : Never before in any Aus tralian Parliament has such an attempt been HoNOURABLE WlEii!BERS : Hear, hear! made to frighten hon. members from doing their Mr. KIDS TON: One thing Queensland need duty. not be afraid of is the consequence of keeping l\Ir. ARMSTRONG : Was it made officially ? him in office. (Opposition laughter.) 'I'hat is Mr. KIDS TON: Two hundred years ago they one thing they need not be afraid of. would not have allowed such a thing in England. The SECRETARY FOR RAILWAYS: Do not geh Two hundred years ago they would not have excited. stood the King sending down and threatening The PREMIER: Three or four years ago what them with a dissolution. steps did you take to get into office ? Mr. ARMS'rRONG: Who made the statement? 1\ir. AR1IS1'RONG: Your memory is a very Was it made officially? (Hear, hear! and No, short one. no ! and general interruption from Labour An HONOURABLE MEMBER : "\Vhat stE>pS have benches.) This is all imagination. been taken the last two days? A LABOUR MEMBER (to Mr. Arm strong): Mr. KIDS TON : I quite agree with the state "\Vhy are you not on the front bench? ment made by someone behind me that the steps Mr. KIDS TON: I want· the House to under taken in the last two days-and particularly that stand-and I want the country to understand nnspeakable attempt to drag His Excellency into how I look n pon this political stage whisper that the business-- has been sent round. Mr. ARMSTRONG : Y on were the first to bring Mr. AI\MRTRONG: Yes, it was a stage whisper; him there. but you did the same. GoVERNilfENT 1h~IBERS : Hear, hear ! Mr. KIDS TON: They tried to get certain Mr. KIDS TON: To nse His Excellency's members of this House to recede from the posi name for the purpose of trying to terrorise mem· tion which they, after mature deliberation, had hers on this side of the Chamber-- taken np, believing it to be their duty to stand by Mr. JENKINSON: They are not children. the people's Chamber in this emergency. (Hear, hear!) I, myself, have not been troubled one Mr. KIDS TON: To keep hon. gentlemen in whit about the matter, because no one who knows office. Mr. J ackson, why should we be ter His Excdlency would believe for one moment rorised by a dissolution? (Hear, hear!) Does imag~ne that he did anything 130 outra.geon~, or would do the hon. gentleman for one moment that :tnything to stretch his prerogative in such an the people of Queen~land are likely to go back on ontrageous way. No man who knows that gentle a party that are maintaining the privileges of man would believe it for one moment. (Hear, this House-the people's Hawse? Does the hon. hear!) gentleman imagine for one moment that the people of Queensland are likely to do that ? A LABOUR MEMBER: They dragged his name in. 1\ir. KEOGH: You test it and you will see. Mr. KIDS TON: They dragged his name in. (Laughter.) Mr. KIDS TON : In any case, I am not Rt all GOVERNMENT MEMBERS: No, no! afraid of Queensland going back on such a party. Mr. KIDSTON : They cannot mn.ke a state OPPOSITION and LABOUR MEMBERS: Hear, ment without dragging His Excellency's name in. hear! Mr. BELL : Ministers were prepared to bet on Mr. KIDSTON : And if I was afraid-if I it. knew they would go back on me-I would go Mr. MuLCAHY : The hon. member for Rose forward all the same. (Hear, hear!) wood did it. Mr. JENKINSON: Gang forward! (Laughter.) Mr. KEOGH : That is a lie, if you say the mem Mr. KIDS TON : It is a case of "I will gang ber for Rosewood did it. forward " all the same. No man ever fell in a Mr. KIDSTON : If it had been true that His better battle than to maintain the rights of the Excellency had made such a promise, what will people of Queensbnd to manage their own ·anyone think of the half-honr·old Ministers who affairs in their own way. (Hear, hear!) go down Queen street, and betray His Excel Mr. MULCAHY: Against Mr. Thynne. lency's confidence? Mr. KIDS TON : That is the crux of the ques The PREMIER : Could you name anyone who tion-the right of the representatives of the people did so? to rule in Queensland, and not, as the Premier Mr. ARMSTRONG: Name them if you can. told a little party of his own friends, to have some Mr. MAXWELL (to Mr. Armstrong): You said gentlemen in the Legislative Council ruling so at lunch time. (Laughter.) Queensland. (Hear, hear !) I am much obliged The CHAIRMAN : Order ! I must appeal to the hon. gentleman for his frankness on that to hon. members on both sides of the House to occasion, because it showed what the situation preserve order and avoid personalities. (Hear, was. hear!) Mr. BoWMAN : You cannot remind him too Mr. KIDSTON: I do not dwell upon that often. matter at any length, and I am only mentioning Mr. KIDS TON: It showed that it was time it to show the unworthy expedients that have we dealt with the situation. The hon. gentleman [Mr. Kidston~ Supply. [19 NovEMBER.] Supply. 1747 has not any business to go on with. This party The SECRETARY ll'OR PuBLIC LANDS : As you has a good deal of busine~s to go on with have been doing lately. (Opposition "Hear, hears!" and Government Mr. KEOGH: Peter Airey gave them 2s. 6d. laughter)-and in spite of the foolish laughter of some hon. gentlemen opposite-- Mr. KIDS TON: I agree with the bon. gentle man in one thing-there has been a great deal of An HONOURABLE MEMBER : It came from your time wasted this session, and I therefore move own side. that you do now leave the chair. Mr. KIDSTON : This party means to go on Mr. JENKINSON: That is how you want to get with that business. (Laughter.) We mean to on with the business. put that business through. Mr. MAUGHAN and OPPOSITION MEMBERS: Mr. KIDS TON: That is how I want to get on Hear, hear! with business-cutting off one of the joints of the little finger to save the whole body. Mr. KIDS TON: And we will adjourn when that business is through. I think it is eminently Mr. JENKINSON: You cannot have many joints desirable that a number of railways projected by left now. the late Government, and for which material has Mr. KIDS TON: The conduct of its own been ordered from the old country iu anticipation business is a matter in which this Assembly is of a parliamentary vote, should begoue on with. supreme, and it depends upon the members of They were being arranged for this purpose. There this Assembly to say on this occasion whether are some fourteen or fifteen rail ways which will be you should leave the chair or not. If bon. mem ready to be laid on the table of the House within bers wish the hon. gentleman opposite and his about a week. They were projected, and the colleagues to continue in office, then they will material ordered in advance, in order that they keep the Chairman in the chair, and go on with should be ready io start in January, when the Supply. slack time comes in Queensland-when the sugar JYir. JENKINSON: That is your business on the season and the wool season are over, and men are paper. most likely to be out of work. Mr. KIDS TON : Oh, no; the business-paper OPPOSITION and LABOUR MEMBERS: Hear, has been altered in a most humiliating way. hear! Instead of coming to the Chamber. Mr. KIDSTON; We projected these fifteen [4 p.m.] with a frank statement that he and railways, scattered through all the State, from his colleagues had been sworn in Cairns to Warwick-- that morning, and taking charge of the business An HONOURABLE MEMBER : Particularly of the House, the hon. !Ientleman opposite was Warwick. · afraid to face the Chamber with a direct motion, and he alters the business-paper, putting Supply Mr. KIDSTON : For the purpose of trying to at the head of it, so that he might be able to get prevent that bad time happening which is the Speaker out of the chair without any discussion. always in the first six months of the year, and Then we are to discuss the important matter as whichever party is in power here, I hope these to whether the hon. gentleman is to continue to rail ways will be put through and built, so that live or not with the Chairman in the chair, and in what is usually the slack time of the year when the Chairman is out of the chair we are to there will be plenty of work going on. have the discussion all over again in the House. HoNOURABLE MEMBERS : Hear, hear! That is the hon. gentlem,m's notion of conduct Mr. KIDS TON : It is desirable that certain ing business. The hon. gentleman wa• simply legislation, which the late Government have afraid to meet the Cbamberfrankly and honestly, promised for this session, should be gone on and ask the confidence of the House. with and passed. The hon. gentleman does not The PREMIER : We are not afraid. intend to go on, he tells us, with the Old Age Mr. KIDSTON : They were afraid to ask the Pensions Bill-- confidence of the House, and to stand by the The SECRETARY l!'OR PuBLIC WoRKS: We will consequences. The hon. gentleman who threat give them the money just the same. ened hon. members that they would have to Mr. JENKINSON: Without the restrictions. take the consequences is apparently afraid of the Mr. KIDSTON: But, with a wisdom quite consequences himself, and wants to dodge them worthy of his years and quite worthy of his bold as long as possible. The hon. gentleman resorts anxiety to get back to office, announced that, to this small expedient to put off the evil day although he was not going on with the Bill, he for half an hour or an hour, or as long as he can get would pay 10s. indigence allowance a week after his supporters to stonewall. I think the hon. the 1st January. gentleman would have much better consulted his Mr. ARMSTRONG : That is his policy. own self-respect-- The PREMIER : You should be the last man to Mr. KEOGH : That is what you advocated. talk about self-respect. Mr. KIDSTON: I hope he will go on with Mr. KIDSTON : The hon. !l'entleman would the Old Age Pensions Bill; and that whatever have much better consulted the dignity of the defects there are in that Bill will be remedied in high office which he holds if he bad come down Committee, and that it will be made what it to the House and asked for the confidence of the ought to be. Chamber, and had either got it or had had it Mr. JENKINSON: You wa.nt to alter it a lot refused him. That is what almoot any self from what it is now. respecting man would have done in the hon. Mr. KIDSTON : But it is degirable that the gentleman's position. I hope-I do not make Bill should be passed, and the question of an old any bones about it-I hope that the Committee age pensions scheme pat upon a legislative foot will pass the motion that the Chairman leave the ing-so that it will not follow the exigencies of chair, and show the hon. gentleman and his the Treasury-(hear, hear !)-that no Treasurer supporters that a little trick of this kind does who finds himself hard up for money will be able not save them to any appreciable extent. to stop them or reduce them back to 5s. again. The PREMIER, who was received with Go (Hear, hear !) vernment "Hear, hears !" said : I can assure the An HoNOURABLE MEMBER : Or 2s. 6d. Committee that the present Government are not Mr. KIDS TON : Yes ; or 2s. 6d., as paid going to live on tricks. If the Committee are before. not prepared to go on with the business then the Hon.R.Philp.] 1748 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
Government will take some other step. That is Wages Boards Bill is not the \Vages Boards all. I did not wish to refer to what took place Bill on which the hon. gentleman went to the four years ago, but, since the late Premier has country. That Bill did not include the farmers, referred to it, I will make a few remarks about and their inclusion in the measure now before the matter.· My positi0n last Tuesday was that Parliament was an aftert.hought. I have had I did not know a single political opinion of one more experience of the Upper House than any of the hon. member's supporters from any con man in this Chamber, and I have never known ver•ation that I had had with them except what the Upper House to reject any measure which I could gather from what took place in the the country had approved of. Only the other House. Four years ago, before I resigned the day at Rockhampton the late Premier said he position of Premier, the hon. member for Rock had been able to put more democratic measures hampton had canvassed the Government side of on the statute-book than any previous Govern the House for support. ment had done. How could he do that except Mr. BowMAN : So did some of your followers with the assistance of the Upper House? I say last week. that the Upper House has done splendid work GovERNMENT MEMBERS : No, no ! in Queensland. The PitEMIER: On Tuesday, when the late GOVERNMENT MEMBERS : Hear, hear! Premier had resigned, not a single member of The PREMIER : They are a revising Cham my party, so far as I knew, had been spoken to. ber, and are keeping hasty legislation m check. But before I resigned four years ago, the hon. And what is his remedy? To stuff the Upper gentleman opposite said that he had forty-two House. promises of support in his box. I saw a telegram The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS: With to one of my supporters, Mr. Jason Boles, asking Mr. Barlow's friends. him to support the hon. gentleman, and that The PREMIER: If he wants tc deal with the was before I had resigned office. If I had to Upper House, let him do it in a constitutional gain office on those conditions, I would never be way. Let him bring in a Bill that will be in office. acceptable to this House and to the Upper GOVERNMENT MEMBERS: Hear, he •. r! House. That could be done, I believe. From The PREMIER: I would scorn to take the one of his own supporters I was told the other action which was taken by this man, who talks day that it would take 101 members to stuff the about self-respect. I gave no member of the Upper House, if those members acted as the House any private message from His Excel members the hon. p;entleman has already put lency, and I never told any man in the Home there· have acted. In an important vote the that if the House did not support me there other day, only ten of the members he has been would be a dissolution. I have been told that I instrumental in placing there supp'Jrted his am threatening the House. I am not threaten measure. ing the House. It is the province of the Go An HONOURABLE MEMBER : Shame on them ! vernment to say what business they will go on The PREMIER: No ~Iiuistry is entitled to with, and the Government are not going to ask place members in the Upper House just to sup permission of the Hon. the leader of the Opposi port that Ministry. All a :Ministry can expect tion as to what business they can go on with. is to have sufficient members there to explain its It is the duty of the Government to say what views acd to endeavour to pass them. But if a business they will proceed with; and, if the Ministry thinks it is entitled to put members House will not go on with that business, then into that House who will be bound hand and they will tell me so, If the Committee refuse to foot to vote for and support that Ministry, then go on with Supply, I.will know exactly where the sooner that Ministry is done away with the we stand. I have been fair and frank, and better. The Upper House is a useful Chamber, hMe indulged in no double-dealing of the kind and if the late Premier wants to amend it let the hon. gentleman indulged in four years ago, him do it in a constitutional way, and not in the when he sent that telegram to Mr. ,Jason Boles,· clumsy fashion he is proposing. He wanted to asking for his support.. I would ask any get sufficient members into that House to pass his hon. member opposite to say if I had ever measures-two me~sures in particular that have spoken to any one of them about their vusition never been before the country. The country before the hon. gentleman resigned r,ffice. The has never said whether it approved of the postal two parties had very mnch the same policy. At vote or not. the beginning of the session I was invited by the Premier to confer with him about forming a An HONOURABLE MEMBER : And there are coalition. The appointment of Chairman of members even amongst his own followers who Committees was nothing as compared with the do not approve of it. bigger question of a coalition. \Vhen the hon. The PREMIER : At this stage I have no wish gentleman had "thrown up the sponge" and to prolong the discussion. I am prepared to said he would not go any further with the take an adverse vote, and I am pleased to hear work of the House, I was entitled to think that the late Premier is not afraid to go to the that members of the two partiee, who had a country. We, at any rate, are not afraid to go similar policy, would be willing to go on with to the country. the business, and I was quite justified in seeing GoVERNMENT MEMBERS : Hear, hear ! if some of the hon. gentleman's supporters would The PREMIER: \Vhy should we be afraid support me in carrying on the affairs of the of a dissolution? country. The hon. gentleman has ''thrown up Mr. KmsTON: You are going to be wiped out. the sponge," and I think he is sorry he did so. The hon. gentleman has "thrown up the sponge" The PREMIER: Yon tried to wipe us out at because some amendment had been inserted in · the last election. Did he not say he would not a Bill by the Upper House in regard to a matter take the position of Mr. Deakin for the Prime which has never been before the electors. The Ministership of England ? He came back with postal vote was included in the hon. gentle twenty-five supporters, and he has now lost two man's own Bill, and passed by his own party, or three of these, with a possibility of losing a and it was only after the late general elec few more. I am not afraid of being wiped out, tions were over that something was found out and I am confident that when the country under against the postal vote_ The Upper House is stands that man as we know him that he will be ju•tified in refusing to pass any measures which wiped out. have not been before the country. Again, the The CHAIRMAN: Order ! [Hon. R. Philp. Supply. [19 NovEMBE.Il.] Supplg. 1749
The PREMIER : The senior member for adiusted, however, and things were going along Rockhampton said that we would be wiped out. qmetly. The end of the session was in view, \Ve are prepared to be wiped out, and are pre and no difficulties were looming up. Yet sud pared to go to the country. I am glad to hear denly, a' "a bolt from the blue," he makes a pro that the late Premier is not afraid of a dissolu position to a section of the House which was tion. To my mind, that is the only thing that scornfully rejected. And I would here like to will satisfactorily solve the present trouble. say that the votes which were extracted in his GovERNliiENT lYIEMBEI\S : Hear, hear ! favour at the late election were largely extracted on false pretences. The late Premier announced The PREMIER : Let us have a dissolution he would have no divided allegiance, that he and let two parties go to the country. ' would not depend on the Labour party. And Mr. KIDS'f·ON: You have nothing to lose· there were thousands who believed in his word, you have nothing to be afraid of. ' and accordingly voted. But what do we now Mr. KEOGH: £1,500 a year as immigration find? That on the first opportunity he seeks to agent. secure the support of the Labour party so that The PREMIER: The late Premier has more he may retain office. He admitted the impossi to lose than I have. But it is not a matter of bility of his position, and stated that with uhree what he or I have to lose, but a matter of what partie• it, would be difficult to progress. He 1s best for the country. The best thing for the gave his resignation to the Governor, the Go vernor accepted it, and sent for the leader of the country JS for there to be two partieR, for some progressive legislation to be passed. The coun largest party in this Chamber. The late Pre try wants rail ways and opening up. The late mier emphasised the difficulty of the position, and it is quite time that, seeing that the late G~vern~ent have done nothing for the country Premier found it impossible to conduct the t~Is sessiOn. There. has never been an Opposi tiOn that talked so httle as the late Opposition. affairs of the House, those now in power should see if they can do so-and I believe that they Mr. HAWTHORN: What about my Estimates? can, even though an averse catch vote may be The PREMIER: The hon. member for Fas•i• taken here this afternoon. I will say "a vote" fern knew the late Minister's :Estimates better -I will withdraw the word "catch." than that gentleman did himself, and, of course Mr. RYLAND: It will catch you, anyway. had to .supply him with necessary information: (Opposition laughter.} I will hail a dissolution The HOME SECRETARY: I am satisfied with great satisfa9tion, and I think the country that on this side we shall eventually represent wants to vote agam, even though it is only six the large majority of the constituents of Queens months ago since they last voted. I think the land. co;mtry is sick of this three-cornered fight-of all GovERNMENT MEMBERS: Hear, heart· th1s personal matter. To my mind, if I studied my own convenience, I should not be a member The HOME SECRETARY: It is all very o! this House at all. I got along and lived all well to have short memories. (Opposition and right before I became a member of this House Labour laughter.} It is all very well to have but I .am entrusted wnh the duty of being leade~ short memories as to what happened during the of this r!art;r, and. I can say that .this party last Parliament. I am quite prepared to carry would hail w1th dehght the opportumty of going my memory back over all my public and political -to the country. The fight before the country life, and have it put under a search-light. I ask however, will not be the Upper House at an: hon. members to carry their memories back to That would be a very small matter, because last February, March, and April, during the the country has no reason to trouble itself about election campaign-see the bitter antagonism the Upper House at the present time. What that then obtained between the two sections who the Upper House has done in this instance is are now stan
Labour party. He said the course is perfectly The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: clear, and I want at this juncture to draw the I want to say th!tt I am not personally interested attention of the men who are interested, more in this; but they say they are going to throw particularly in farming, to what the position is. the primary industries to the winds, and appar· OPPOSITION ME}fBERS : Ah, ah ! ently there are some members in this House Mr. BOWMAN: You have been trying very whose battle in the past has been fought by hard for a week with them. another place to protect them from being brought into a certain position. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: Mr. BowMAN : It was done at y0ur party's It is my duty to do it. instigation. Mr. GRAYSON: Mind yourself. The CHAIRMAN : Order, order! The CHAIRMAN : Order, order ! The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: His very evident that the Ieader of the Labour l'.ir. Jackson, I am quite capable of minding party is not only not prepared to be mtisfied myself. with his own speech, but he wants to try to Mr. Bow~rAN : Your special pleading will not upset someone else's speech ; but be will not do help you this afternoon. it with me. (Interruption.) I want to rub it The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: in, because it is a question of country. It is a sure indication that the shot hits home Mr. BOWi.I1AN : You are going to get salt when people sing out. tailed. Mr. BOWMAN : Fancy' a shot from Bulimba ! The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS : The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: It will take a great deal more than that to cure My leader made a statement this afternoon the hon. gentleman. It would require some which every man on this side will endorse, and thing more than salt to make a good job of it. that is that we are here to serve the country. \Vell, any hon. gentleman who knows anything That is the position. The hon. gentleman who about-- has just resumed his seat made the statement Mr. CowAP: Butter. (Laughter.) that the course is clear. What course is clear? The CHAIRMAN: Order, order! By saying that the hon. gentleman meant that the course is clear practically to strangle some of ·The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: the industriee of the State. \Vell, any hon. gentleman who knows anything at all about agriculture, can he seriously say it is Mr. BowMAN : That is a real old bogey of possible for agriculture to be carried on strictly ours. on an eight-hour system? The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: Mr. BoWMAN : Who said it was? Why do not t is not a bogey; it is a reality. The hon. you pub the issue straight? gentleman need not talk about a bogey, as he knows the reality is there. He practically says The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: that the industries of the State are going to be The hon. gentleman and his party by their penalised because he wants certain pe:Jple to be actions have said it was. brought under the Wages Boards Bill. (Hear, l'.ir. BOWMAN: Never. hear !) There is not a member on the other side of the House who can say that I have not been The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: sympathetic towards than class of legislation I say they did. which has for its object the helping of the dis Mr. CoWAP: Give us the doxology. tressed poor. (Hear, hear !) The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: Mr. MULCAHY : Humbug! The hon. gentleman made a remark about the The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: doxology. Let me tell him that we would sing a The hon. member for Gympie, Mr. Mulcahy, is thousand doxologies for the disappearance of any known as the bigg-est humbug in this House. member of his calibre from the House. (Laughter.) The leader of the Labour party was undignified in Mr. GRANT (Rockhampton): I rise to a point the stanq he took to-day. He was undignified of order. Is the hon. member for Bulimba in in the blow which he dealt at another place, and order in describing the hon. member for Gympie I always understood that it was a cruel thing to as a humbug·? hit at a man who cannot reply. A GOVERNMENT MEMBER: He interjected Mr. BoWMAN: It was a quid pro quo for what "humbug" firs b. they have given us time after time. The CHAIRMAN : I heard the hon. member The CHAIRMAN: The hon. gentleman will for Gympie say something about humbug, and not be in order in making any reference to what the hon. member for Bulimbawa,s replying to it. was done in another House. I called the hon. The 8ECRETARYFOR PUBLIC LANDS: member for Fortitude V alley to order for making That is the case, Mr. Jackson. The hon. gentle· reference to that Chamber, and I mmt ask the man used the word "humbug" to me, and I felt hon. gentleman nob to do so. that I was quite entitled to take it up, and I did The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS : so. I want to dwell on this point: that practically I will do what the hon. gentleman did not. do, the bon. gentlem about by the action of the ex-Premier. He ten promising to do certain things. One of the dered the resignation of his Government when things he promised to do, in very strong and we know that things were going along in the emphatic language, was to have nothing to do House smoothly enough, and we in Opposition with the party at present presided over by the were doing our utmost to make the Bills good hon. member for :B'ortitude Valley, Mr. Bow measures as they came along. Hem. members man. He promised certain other things also, were not in any way trying to hinder or hamper and in every instance-I will not say deliber:.tely legislation, and yet the hon. gentleman for some -in every instance he has failNl to c_,rry out mysterious reason-it may have been' pressure his promise. A~ for any member of his party from his friends who are sitting on the cross "ratting" 11pon him, he has practically "ratted" benches-but, for some reason or other, he went on the whole of his party; because it is not only to the Governor n.nd resigned. Now, the position one or two or three members that can "rat" on a is something like this : The bringing about of Premier; it sometimes happens that the Premier this crisis is the action of the late Premier, Mr. can "rat" on his party, as he has done on this Kidston, and I would now point out, in connec occasion. There c,m be no doubt of that, tion with this position, that the party sitting on because he has made promises on the strength this side of the House is the largest party in the of which certain hon. members representing State. agricultural districts went and got support, and Mr. MAXWELL : We are ready for a vote. when it suited him he broke those promises, The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: publicly and privately, and placed those mem And we are ready for a. vote, too. But this is the bers in an anomalous position. The present largest party in the House. Reference has been situation, as far as we can ascertain it, arises made to-day to bribery. from an attempt of the present leader of the Op position to swamp the Legislative Council. He Mr. MANN : Corn and chaff. objects to the policy of obstruction carried out by The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: the Legislative Council. I am reminded of the Some hon. members are not worth the price of celebrated manifesto which the late Premier corn and chaff. If there is any member in this delivered in Rockhampton, and his speeches Charr,ber who can get up and say that bribery which he delivered during- the political campaign, has been practised, let him rise in his place and and if there was one thing which stood out in a say so. There is not a man here who can say more prominent way than another it was tha th~re was any bribery. I want to emphasise this large amount of democratic legislation this pomt : When we go to the country-if we have Government had carried out. The hon. mem to go to the country through the action of the ber was either true or false. If he made a true leader of the Opposition, Mr. Kidston, or anyone statement, then I ask this Chamber how was it else-we will go with the feeling, first of all, possible for him to carry out this amount that we have put the country's interests para of democratic legislation if the Upper House mount-right in the forefront ; and we will be obstructed or prevented it in any form? As a able to go to the country feeling that there has matter of fact, six months ago, when the general no.t h;-en a single act done by anyone sitting on election was held, there was not one word said this side of the House that has been a disgrace by the Premier or his party against the Legis to anyone. We believe that we have the country lative Council, and no charge made of their behind us, and we ar!J prepared to accept the having obstructed him. What has the Legisla· consequences of any vote that may be given here tive Council done since? to-day. Mr. CREAGH : It is not a question at all of the LABOUR MEMBERS : Question ! and other inter Legislative Council. jections. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS: The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS They have not rejected a single measure sent up (Hon. P. J. Leahy, Warrego): Silly interjections from this Chamber; but they have amended will not prevent me from exercising my own right. as they have a perfect right to do-two Bills, in I listened very carefully to the remarks of the certain details, which never received the ap leader of the Opposition-the late Premier-and I proval of the country, because, notwithstanding n:ust say that never in Australia or in any Legisla what the leader of the Opposition said, there is tiVe Assembly has there been such an amusing no question that the Wages Boards Bill before spectacle as occurred on this occasion when we saw the other Chamber recently is different in one the hon. geqtleman indulging in mock heroics in material respect from the Bill introduced in the addressing the House this afternoon. The hon. preceding session, inasmuch as the previous Bill gentleman is about the last member on either did not apply to farmers, and the present Bill side of the House, or in any part of the House, inevitably does. Then we come to the question who should take up that role. The Premier of the postal vote. Hon. members opposite exposed the matter so fully that it is not neces particularly belonging to the Labour party sary for me to say more than this: that what have remarked that the provisions dealing with ever has been done by the present Government the postal vote were inserted in the other House, to form a Ministry has been done in accordance but quite the contrary is the case. Those pro with established customs and usages, and that visions were inserted in this Cham her, and the we never resorted to the things resorted to by only thing the other House did in the direc the late Premier on a similar occasion. tion of amending that postal vote was by Mr. RYLAND : You aN the Minister for making a small amendment-I think a proper Mines. amendment-to allow justices of the peace to witness the papers. Coming back to the Wages The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS: Boards Bill, we find hon. members representing A very good Minister, too. (Hear, hear!) I do agricultmal distticts who fought against the not know what deep-laid scheme the leader of clause in this House, and we have the extra the Opposition may have behind all this, or for ordinary spectacle of the sarr:e hon. members what reason he is forcing this crisis upon the going with the leader of the Opposition to fight H?use. \Ve have to remember a great many the Upper House, because the Upper House thmgs about that hon. gentleman in connection have taken up the same attitude in regard to with the present condition of things, and the this particular clause which those hon. members chief thing we have to remember about him is did in the Lower House. Was there ever an that he is remarkably well known for breaking example of such gross inconsistency? The promises, or forgetting to perform them. On leader of the Government does not desire that a particular occasion he went to the country we should have long speeches, and for that Hon.P. J. Leahy.] 1754 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] reason I shall confine myself to two or three the country, and that the men on the other side important points. We have at the present time are animated by a rlesire to make all they can a House consisting of three parties. The leader in a legitimate way, if you like. If this thing of the Opposition has an apparent majority, but does take place, the hon. gentleman opposite he cannot tell for one day or for one hour how will be placed between the upper and nether long that majority will last. I say he is in the millstone, and consigned, as he deserves to be, to position of a man who is in a hopeless minority. political oblivion, Mr. BowMAN : It has lasted fairly well this Mr. BELL (Dalby): The inconclusive and ex session. cited nature of the discussion which has been The SECRETARYFOR PUBLIC WORKS: going on in this Chamber is very apparent. Like "the baseless fabric of a dream," it may I think it right in a short way to refer to vanish into thin air at any 'moment, and "leave one or two remarks that have fallen from not a wrack behind." Thi.s man, with this so the Treasury benches. I regret very much called solid majority, dares us to appeal to the that there has been dragged into country. With regard to his statement-an [5 p.m.] this discussion-in a way such a untrue statement-that any attempt has been m~ttter has never been dragged into made by any hon. member belonging to the a discussion since I became a member of party with which I am associated with regard to Parliament-allusions to the possibility of a a dissolution, I desire to say at once there is dissolution of Parliament. absolutely no truth in it. The PREi\IIER : Your leader did it first. An HoNOURABLE ME~fBER: Have you not got Mr. JENKINSON: Your own side did it. a bet on it? Mr. BELL : I hope that I shall be permitted The SECRETARYFORPUBLIOWORKS: to make my few humble remarks without No; I have not got a bet on it. unnecessary interruption. Even during the Mr. MAXWELL : But you were wanting to bet brief period that the present occupants of the on it. Treasury bench have been Ministers, we have An HONOURABLE MEMBER: You have been the deplorable and quite unconstitutional spec seeking it every day. tacle of a Minister of the Crown offering to bet that if his Ministry were defeated a dis The CHAIRMAN: Order ! solution would be the next act in the political The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS: field. Action such as that is in the highest I wish hon. members would cease these interjec degree reprehensible. tions. 'l'here are some persons who are not Tbe SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC 'VORKS: Who responsible for their interjections. It is well said it? known that the Press throughout the length and breadth of Queensland during the past week, Mr. BELL : Perhaps the hon. gentleman can since this question arose, have been discussing tell me who said it. the question of diswlution. I have in my pocket The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS: now a long leading article extracted from the I rise to a point of order. The hon. member has Too1voomba Chronicle. (Laughter.) by inference referred to me, and I give his state An HONOURABLE MEMBER: The Charleville ment a distinct, emphatic, and deliberate con Times. tradiction. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS: LABOUR MEli!BERS: State your point of order. An absolutely erroneous view which you would The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS: expect coming from the prejudiced quarter in this My point of order is that the hon. member .is not matter. Then, the leading papers of Bris justified in making a reference of that kmd to bane-.- myself. It is not true. OPPOSITION and LABOUR MEMBERS : Oh, oh ! and laughter. The CHAIRMAN : I do not think there is any point of order. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS: Mr. BELL : The hon. gentleman thinks I am Every man who takes an interest in politics in Brisbane is discussing the same question. The referring to him. general consensus of opinion is that a dissolution The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC 'VORKS: Your is not only constitutionally right, but the only friends told me you were. , thing which will enable the Government of this Mr. BELL : Upon that follows the assumption country to be carried on with a, majority on one that I believe the hon. gentleman should be side and a solid Opposition on the other side. capable of doing that ~ii_>d of thing. I g_ive no We on this side of the House do not fear a disso assent to such a propositiOn. All I know IS that lution, if that should be the result. It may be the statement I have referred to was made, and that that is not the consequence which our leader I have every reason to believe that it is true. had in view; it may be that he cannot-I do nob say so for a moment-but H may be that he can The SECRETARY J!'OR PUBLIC WOJ:tKS: not possibly defeat the present leader of the I rise to a point of order. Has the hon. gentle Opposition in this motion. If we knew that our man any right to say that he has reason. to J;lelieve V<>te would mean a dissolution, we would go to that a certain statement made by h1m IS true the country with the firm conviction that we when I say it is not true? stood on the solid ground of principle, and were The CHAIRMAN: The hon. member for prepared to take whatever the consequences may Dalby must accept the hon. member's denial. be. It has been well said by some poet-I think Mr. BELL : I did not indicate the ban. it was the ban. member for Bowen or lhe late member. (Laughter.) Home Secretary, Mr. Airey, who said it- The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC WORKS: You He either fears his !ate too much, have not the courage to do it directly. Or his deserts are small, Who fears to put it to the touch, Mr. BELL : However, I shall pass away from To win or lose it all. this matter with merely the sad reflection that I make this Rtatement th~tt, when this occasion in this new Government we have one man, at all arises-and I make it with the greatest confi events, who is attempting to unite the functions dence-the country will decide that the men on of a Minister with the practices of a bookmaker. this side of the House are animated with a (Laughter.) I desire to avoid, as far as I .can, desire to further the interests of all classes in any of the political topics which have so deplor- [Hon. P. J. Zea}r;y. Supply. [19 NovE:MllER.] Adjournment. 1755 ably characterised this discussion up to the pre Mr. BELL : That is not a threat ; it is merely sent time, but I wish to dwell brtefiy upon the an announcement. (Government laughter,) I gross departure from constitutional usages, could quote from a •ituation that occurred which, I regret very much to say, it seems to me in one of the provinces of Canada almost the bead of the Government has been guilty of similar to this, as it could be quoted with that is, the threat the hon. gentleman made of perfect appositenes., to the position that exists the possibility of a dissolution. now. I shall refrain. I shall resume my seat, The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS : He made but will ilrst say this : That I shall a! ways no threat. hope, for ·the sake of the liberties and progres sive policies of the people of Queensland, that we Mr. BELL : I am dealing with the head of shall take care that we never allow a situation to the Government, who is perfectly well able to arise under which a party minority in the popular take care of himself without the assistance of Chamber shall have the chestnuts pulled out of the hon. member for Bulimba.; and why my the fire for them by a party majority in another successor should put himself forward in this way, I am quite unable to understand. I call place. the attention of members of the Committee to OPPOSITION and LABOUR MEMBERS : Hear, the point I am now making, and I call the atten hear! tion of the head of the Government to this Question-That the Chairman leave the chair lJoint-I believe he is a fair-minded man; party (Mr. Kid1ton's (~mendment)-put; and the Com politic;; do not make me regard every man who mittee divided :- sits opposite to me as a villain-and I hope that the hon. gentleman will see that he was doing an Ar>;s, 37. -exceedingly unconstitutional thing in making Mr. Adamson :Mr. Lennon those dramatic veiled allusions to the possibility , Barber Mackintosh {)f a dissolution. Bell ., Mclntyre The PREMIER: Your own leader did that. Blair Mann Bowman :;\tfnughan Mr. BELL: Let me read what is said on this Brennan , .1\Jaxwell subject by the greatest authority, outside Cowap May "May," on parliamentary government. Douglas Mitchell Mr. JENKINSON: Are you trying to put up an Gra.nt Mnlcahy Hamilton .:-levitt Aunt Sally to knock it down again ? Hardacre O'Sullivan Mr. BELL : I hope the bon. member for Hawthorn Payne Fassifern will pre,erve that silence which, I Herbertson Rankin should think, best expresses his feelings on this Hunter Redwood