Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

TUESDAY, 28 AUGUST 1951

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

Supply. [28 AUGUST.] Questions. 129

TUESDAY, 28 AUGUST, 1951.

Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. J. H. Manu, Bris­ bane) took the chair at 11 a.m. APPROPRIATION BILL No. 1. ASSENT REPOR'l'ED BY MR. SPEAKER. QUESTIONS. ScHOOL BuiLDINGS NoT IN UsE. Mr. SPARKES (Aubigny), for ltir. HEADL'VG (Marodian), asked the Secre­ tary for Public Instruction- '' Will he kindly inform the House what State school buildings are not now in use for school purposes, from what elate in each case, and for what purpose (if any) each such building is now being used~'' Hon. G. H. DEVRIES (Gregory) replied- '' The buildings of closed St·ate schools are not removed when official reports indicate the probability of reopening within a reasonable period. When it is established that the school will not reopen, the building is recorded as available for removal to and use, if suitable, in another 130 Questions. [ASSEMBLY.] Questions.

centre. Many factors have then to be con­ these farms, because of shortage of water si~ered, for exampl,e, eond·ition otf t:b.e for irrigation, will, for a certain period, structure; size in relation to the enrolment be subject to a condition that no water to be accommodated and in relation to will be supplied during the tobacco growing other buildmgs to which it may have to season~ If so, for what period~'' be attached. Moreover, opportunity is not always presented for removal to a centre Hon. T. A. FOLEY (Belyando) replied- which is within a reaspnable distance. "Yes. The hon. member for Haughton, Owing to the migration of population during who has interested himself in this matter, the war years, few removals were effected. was recently informed that until storage is All closed school bui1dings are under established in the temporary weir which regular inspection by both district works will not be ready until 1953 season, water officers and district Inspectors of schools. can ·only be supplied on a usage basis from Of the 79 schools in the hon. member's .January to August (both inclusive), for electorate, only six are at present unoccupied the growing of crops other than tobacco. and not in use for school purposes. These If this policy had not been followed, are :-Ban Ban Springs, closed 12 Decem­ trainees could not have been allotted farms ber, 1947-Following a report obtained in in this area until the temporary weir had 1950, held for possible reopening. Brooyar, been completed in 1953. '' closed 8 March, 1940-Reported in 1946 as available for removal on suitable oppor­ tunity. Removal to another centre now CANE FIRES, TULLY HYDRO-ELECTRIC under consideration. Ginoondan, closed PROJECT. 15 .July, 1949-Held for possible reopening. llir. WATSON (Mulgrave) asked the District Inspector now investigating Secretary for Mines and Immigration- prospects of this. Nulla Creek, closed 1 May, 1947-Noted as available for '' In reference to the tests which have removal when suitable opportunity arises. been made by the Cairns Regional Elec­ Oakfield, closed 22 March, 1951-0nly tricity Board in connection with the Tully recently closed. Possibility of reopening Falls hydro-electric project with re·gard to will be investigated shortly. Rossmore, the heat generated by cane :fires, will he closed 5 March, 1943-Reported in 1948 as kindly supply details of the results of such available for removal. Now under con­ tests and the recommendations made, sideration for removal to another centre.'' particularly as to resumptions from cane farms, or any interference with existing sugar-cane assignments~'' SHORTAGE OF STAFF ON RAILWAYS. Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) asked the Hon. W. POWER (Baroona) replied- Minister for Transport- '' I am informed by the State Electricity '' In view of his public statements that Commission that, as tests have not been the Railway Department is desperately short completed, the results are not available, of staff, and because of this he is contem­ but the hon. member may rest assured that plating arranging for the mass immigration the matter will be the subject of discussion of European migrants and the provision with representatives of cane-growing of homes for them to overcome such short­ interests in the area before final recom­ age, will he discuss with the railway unions the possibility of retaining and re-employ­ mendations are made.'' ing in the railway service over-age employees who are physically and mentally ELECTRIFICATION OF BRISBANE RAILWAYS. capable of performing such work as they may be required to perform~'' lUr. KERR (Sherwood) asked the Minjs­ ter for Transport- Hon. J. E. DUGGAN (Toowoomba) '' 1. What was the cost, giving details, replied- of earthworks, &c., on the electrification '' The suggestion offered by the hon. of the suburban railways to 30 '.June lasU member has been in operation for some '' 2. What number of men were employed considerable time. Its extension to classi­ in this work~ fication not already covered is receiving consideration. ' ' '' 3. What plant was used and what was the cost of same~'' NEW TOBACCO FARMS, CLARE. Hon. J. E. DUGGAN (Toowoomba) Mr. COBURN (Burdekin) asked the replied- Secretary for Public Lands and Irrigation- '' 1. The total expenditure on electlfifica­ '' In reference to the opening of new tion and associated works as at 30 .June, tobacco farms at Clare, is it a fact that 1951, was £71,417, comprising:- £ Earthworks, bridges, &c. 13,966 Drainage ...... · · · · · 188 Resurveys, construction of refuge sidings (earthworks, drainage, platelaying, hallast­ ing, signalling, &c.) at Petrie, Zillmere and Goodna, and,raising and lengthening of certain existing piatforms .. 34,462 Purchase of land ...... · . · · · · · · · 20,630 Hire of plant ...... · · · 1,679 Miscellaneous expenditure (including water services, electric light, sanitary services, &c.) 492 £71,417" Questions. [28 AuousT.J Questions. 131

"2. 99." '' 3. The following plant was used:­ (a) Hired from Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool- £ 1 " Osgood " shovel ...... 1,119 1 " Buckeye " shovel .. 560 £1,679 (b) Plant bought for work- 2 Tractors .. 7,051 1 Concrete mixer 233 2 Air compressors 6,196 2 Motor trucks 2,405 1 Jinker for truck .. 577 1 Pile frame and winch 1,273 Tools and equipment, &c. 2,895 £20,630

(c) Existing Departmental Plant-- 1 T.D. 18 tractor with dozer 6,400 1 10-yard scoop 3,039 1 4-ton ripper .. 675 6 Concrete mixers 2,000 £12,114"

GOODS TRAFFIC, KYOGLE AND W ALLANGARRA years 1941 to 1951, inclusive-(a) Tonnage into Queensland; and (b) tonnage out of RAILWAYS. Queensland~ ~Ir. KERR (Sherwood) asked the Minis­ .'' 2. What were the tonnages carried via ter for Transport- Wallangarra in the same years~'' '' 1. What was the tonnage of goods Hon. J. E. DUGGAN (Toowoomba) carried on the Kyogle Railway during the replied- ''1. and 2.:

Vw Wallan~arra. Via Kyogle. - To From To From Queensland. Queensland. Queensland. Queensland. Tons. Tons. Tons. Tons. 1940-41 ...... 26,085 29,502 84,250 83,441 1941-42 ...... 97,698 31,935 170,683 104,794 1942-43 ...... 159,493 65,238 505,620 154,014 1943-44 ...... 183,524 93,776 552,680 179,565 1944-45 ...... 78,417 67,117 387,207 172,210 1945-46 ...... 33,135 75,457 187,016 187,652 1946-47 ...... 61,747 56,976 201,006 134,838 1947-48 ...... 23,598 56,547 156,929 132,687 1948-49 ...... 26,725 31,542 171,727 121,6R3 1949-50 ...... 23,942 41,937 166,356 117,473 195D-51 ...... 25,118 42,974 179,747 136,572 Total ...... 739,482 593,001 2,763,221 1,524,929"

dated 27 June, 1951, said that the Spanish BREAK OF RAIL GAUGES. Scheme is not an answer to Australia's lUr. KERR (Sherwood) asked the Minis­ gauge problem.'' ter for Transport- '' 1. Has his attention been drawn to a report in the ' 'Sydney Bulletin' ' of LIFE INSURANCE, PURCHASERS OF STATE HousEs. 1 August last, that a new type of axle to enable freight trucks to cross the break Mr. DECKER (Sandgate) asked the of gauge at the French-Spanish frontier Secretary for Public Works, Housing and is in use, and that the same trucks are Local Government- running smoothly over both systems~ '' In reference to the free life insurance '' 2. Will he inform the House if he has scheme of the State Housing Commission,- any knowledge of this, and would he be '' 1. What is the total amount of good enough to give the House his premiums paid to dateq comments'?" '' 2. How many claims have been made, and what is the total amount of such Hon. J. E. DUGGAN (Toowomba) claims'?'' replied- " 1. Yes. Hon. P. J. R. HILTON (Oarnarvon) replied- '' 2. Insufficient information is available to· enable a considered opinion to be given '' 1. £48,167 13s. 9d. net has been paid at this stage, but I note that Sir Harold by the Treasury Department to the State Clapp, Direct-or of Rail Standardisation, Government Insurance Office to 22nd Federal Department of Transport, accord­ instant. ing to the ''Sydney Daily Telegraph,'' "2. Nil." 132 Inspection of Machinery Bill. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply.

WESSEX SADDLEBACK BOAR FOR QUEENSLAND­ '' 2. What price was paid for this boar BRITISH FOOD CORPORATION, and what was the cost of transport to the Mr. V. E. JONES (Callide) asked the piggery at Bajool ~ '' Premier- '' 1. In reference to the report that a Hon. V. C. GAIR (South Brisbane­ Wessex saddleback boar has been obtained Acting Premier) replied- from Melbourne for the Queensland-British Food Corporation, will he kindly give the '' 1. The boar's pedigree is- details of the breeding of this animal~ ( Charity Oak 21st (Windrest Jaques (imp. I in dam) ~LBoreland Jael (1mp.. ) rwindrest Motorist, I 2079 f Charity Oak 21st I~ oar I Windrest Sweet Temper 1(imp. in dam) LI Boreland Jael (Jmp.. l Born 21-2-51 JDelorane ~Iajor 466 1 Para Major 18th 1088 I Windrest Little r L Para Star 35th 914 L Wonder 1446 ~ Windrest Collette 2nd ( Delorane Sandy 133 820 ~ l L Brunsbane Collette 483 '' 2. The price paid fM the boar was 30 guineas, and the cost of transport to the SOIL CONSERVATION BILL. piggery at Bajool was approximately £18 (air freight)." INITIATION. W. lU. lliOORE (Merthyr-Secre­ PLAYI:\'G AREA, WARWidK CENTRAL STATE Hon. tary for Health and Home Affairs) for ScHOOL. Hon. H. H. COLLINS (Tablelands-Secre­ Mr. SPARKES (Aubigny), for Mr. tary for Agriculture and Stock) : I move- MADSEN (Warwick) asked the Secretary '' That the House will, at its next sitting, for Public Instruction- resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole '' In view of the continual increase in the to consider of the desirableness of introduc­ enrolment of the Warwick Central State ing a Bill relating to the conservation of School and the urijent need for more play­ soil resources and the mitigation of the ground area, lVIII he l'econsider the erosion of soil, and for purposes incidental resumption of adjoining land which was thereto and consequent thereon.'' proposed some months ago and has Motion agreed to. apparently been dropped, particularly as it is s~ill strongly supported by the School Comm1ttee and the parents of the children ADDRESS IN REPLY. concerned~'' RESUMPTION OF DEBATE-THIRD ALLOTTED Hon. G. H. DEVRIES (Gregory) DAY. replied- Debate resumed from 22 August (see "I am having the proposal re-examined p. 99) on Mr. Lloyd 's motion for the adop­ to see if the urgent needs of the school for tion of the Address in Reply. additional playing space can be met with­ o~t immediate d~sturbance ·of the occupan­ llir. BURROWS (Port Curtis) (11.15 Cles of the dwellmgs on the subject land." a.m.): At the adjournment of this debate I was indicating the weaknesses of the present Federal Government in dealing with com­ PAPER. pany-promoters and stock-exchange riggers The following paper was laid on the table­ in connection with capital issues and was quoting from a thesis prepared by a leading Proclamations ( 4) under the Valuation of accountant and an accepted authority on Land Acts, 1944 to J 950 ( 28 June). these matters, particularly the question of bonus shares. This authority states- INSPECTION OF MACHINERY BILL. '' It may be that the speculators, those who do not constitute the core of the enter­ INITIATION. prise shareholders, stand to benefit most by taking advantage of the situation within a Hon. W. POWER (Baroona-Secretary for Mines and Immigration): I move- short term. There will be plenty of these on the share register at any particular point '' That the House will, at its next sitting of time.'' resolve itself into a Committee of the Who!~ to consider of the desirableness of introduc­ Further on in the article, in referring to the ing a Bill to consolidate and amend the law incentive behind the issue of these shares, this relating to the inspection of machinery and authority says- the s~curing of safety in the operation of '' The incentive for management to pro­ machmery, and for other purposes.'' vide from time to time some tit-bit for shareholders can hardly be denied. Any Motion agreed to. alteration to share capital affects the Address in Reply. (28 AUGUST.) Address in Reply. 133

general body of shareholders and interests The gain of £27,520 in 14 years represents the stock exchange; it is news destined to 183.2 per cent. on original cost, or a yield get mention in the financial pages of the equivalent to £13 1s. 9d. per cent. per annum Press; it shows activity on the part of the over the period. company and enlivens the interest of all The Leader of the Opposition has said that concerned. The lure to provide this popu­ it is necessary to make sacrifices to save Aus­ lar tit-bit from time to time, may rause tralia from this economic malady. I quite management to fall in with the . curr.ent appreciate that sacrifices will be necessary, trend without full regard for the Implica­ but when we hear the plausible pleadings tions.'' of members of the Opposition, I am reminded of this story, which was current during the I was submitting in the course of my argu­ depression period: a man brought his pay ment that the implications attaching to t~e envelope home, and naturally it was not issue of these shares have had a very big qflite as bulky as it had been previously. contributing effect on the inflation that is His wife said to him, ''The bills amount to more or less paralysing our economy today. more than that.'' He said, ''That is all I At the back of the thesis there is an appen­ am earning and we shall have to live within dix showing bonus shares issued for 1950 in our income. '' She said, as one would expect respect of Victorian companies, an~ the every good wife to say, ''I quite appreciate amount involved is £6,376,195. There Is not that. We shall have to make some sa cri­ the slightest doubt tha~ the total for Au~­ fices.'' This made the husband say to him­ tralia would be a considerable sum and It self, "Well, I have a very sensible wife," could have a big influence on the inflation and he felt quite proud of her. He said, I have been referring to. "Have you thought anything ouH·" She said, "Yes, when it comes to making sacri­ I have also a pamphlet issued by J. B. fices, it cmmot be one-sided. We shall both Were & Sons, who need no introduction to have to make sacrifices.'' He said, ''That hon. members, who know that this firm .is is quite all right,'' and he felt even perhaps the biggest firm of stockbrokers m proud er of her. She went on to say, ''You Australia. The pamphlet makes the follow­ knock off smoking, and I will cut your hair.'' ing remarks- (Laughter). When the Leader of the Opposi­ '' Since 1937 the total paid ordinary tion spoke of the necessity to make sacrifices capital of the 37 companies ..... '' he brought that story back to my mind, because all I have heard from his side of the Thirty-seven promine:qt companies have been House is that if workers work longer hours selected and I will not weary hon. members and put up with a reduced standard of liv­ by reading their names as they can look at ing, everything in the garden will be lovely. the pamphlet and see the names for them­ These company-promoters, and various other selves. These are leading companies in Aus­ people who enjoy the privileges of life, will tralia such as Broken Hill Pty. Ltd. and then be able to continue to exploit the Gorddn & Gotch Ltd. and they represent a country. They want the worker to return to cross-section of the various companies. The 48 or 56 hours a week and a reduced basic article says- wage. However, I remind hon. members '' ..... has risen from £58,994,598 to opposite that the basic wage cannot rise if £114,189,055, an increase of £55,194,457, or the cost of living does not rise. If, therefore, 93.6 per cent. The most notable advance they want to peg the basic wage, they should in paid capital during the period, of course, peg the cost of living. That would auto­ was the Broken Hill Pty. Co. Ltd. which matically result in the pegging of the basi<' moved up from just on £5,000,000 to wage. Do not make an opep season for one £20.6 million." and a closed season for the other. In the same pamphlet they show what an In my opinion, there are many things that investor with shares in 37 companies would have brought about the economic condition of have gained, taking into consideration their today and I agree with the statement of previous values and their present values. Mr. Menzies at the recent economic confer­ Over the period they deal with, they sho\': ence that our under-production of coal is that if an investor had bought £100 worth of one of the biggest inflationary factors in ordinary shares at par in each of the 37 our economy. There is not the slightest companies in 1937 and had taken up all doubt about its being a big factor if not the rights to new shares, he would have fared biggest factor in our economy, but it is remarkably well, as the following table illus­ remarkable that Mr. Menzies is prepared to trates:- admit it because there is not a man in Aus­ tralia today who has done more to hinder Original Cost £8,590 the stock production of coal in Australia than Cost of Subsequent Mr. Menzies. However, he has the impudence New Issues 6,429 and impertinence to go to that economic con­ ference and admit that our under-production Total Cost £15.019 of coal is one of the biggest inflationary Present Market Value 35,054 factors in our economy. JUr. Pizzey: Why should he want to Capital Appreciation 20,035 restrict production~ Dividends Received .. 7,485 Mr. BURROWS: He has refused and Net Gain on Investment £27,520 still refuses to help the Queensland coal industry. Only last week the Secretai-y for 134 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply.

Mines and Immigration, in answer to a ques­ facility, even to t~e ext_ent of a ver! gener­ tion, pointed out that the Menzies-Fadden ous subsidy, is bemg given ~o the Importa­ Government were paying a subsidy of £8 7s. tion of coal from South Afrrca. That must 1d. a ton on foreign coal and at the same have a great influence, sooner or later, on our time doing their best to stop the production economic position. at Callide. Why will the Menzies Government not give Mr. Pizzey: Why? the butter people a su?sidy~ Bec::;use their money is all tied up with the Afncan coal­ lllr. BURROWS: I will tell the hon. owners. If the same amount of money as member why and it is because the Blue Star is being paid in subsidising the importation line and other big interests dictate their of coal from South Africa was paid to the policy. butter industry, you would not have .the same state of affairs as exists in Australia today. lllr. lllorris: You know that is not true. No-one would be happier than the Callide coal interests and the Queensland coal industry, lllr. :BURROWS: I know it is true and and also the Australian taxpayer, if Mr. as an Australian I am ashamed to have to Menzies abolished all subsidies on coal. If admit it. he did that he woul

Mr. SPARKES: If the hon. member will a certain amount of alar.m the remai!'k of His go and have a look at the position himself Excellency that it would not be long before he will be able to speak of his own knowledge this country would be short of foodstuffs. rather than merely make wild statements. What an indictment a.gainst the country where Mr. Menzies has been in power for less than we enjoy such good natural conditions! There two years. If the hon. member is correct, is no country in the world that has the natural there should be no coal left at Callide, as benefits enjoyed by Australia. To th~nk that the Chifiey Government should have shifted we cannot feed a handful of people IS some­ the lot of it. Why was not Callide coal thing on which we should ponder. I belie;re being exported to the southern markets when that in the event of a war most members m the Chifiey Government were in power~ N at­ this House would get together with a. view to withstanding the fact that a Labour Govern­ stopping the enemy from destroymg our ment had been in power for years prior to· people. We may disagree as to the best the advent of the Menzies Government, they methods to employ to stop them, but we would did nothing for Callide. Why did they not all get together in an endeavour to prevent act~ That is the answer to the hon. member the destruction of our people. Surely th~ mat­ for Port Curtis. ter that I have brought up-the starvatiOn of Mr. Power: Because the Victorian our people for want of food-is on a parallel Government would not buy it. with the destruction of our people by bullets or some other means! Mr. SPARKES: The hon. gentleman is now at loggerheads with the hon. member An Opposition Member: It is more for Port Curtis, and the sooner they discuss deadly. the subj~Jct among themselves, and many Mr. SPARKES: My friend says it is other matters, the sooner they will be even more deadly. Therefore one could at enlightened. least expect that hon. members on the At the outset I wish to make it clear to this Government side in particular, who alwa;ys House that the views expressed by me on the pose as the poor man's friend-I emphasise matter I am going to debate are entirely my the word ''pose' '-would be prepared to own, and not necessarily those of my party or work with me in an endeavour to feed our anybody else. (Government interjections.) people. Listen to my friends! How they would love We have tried many ways, and I m:'st to have that privilege-to be able to come into pay hon. members on the Government side this House and get up and speak their own tribute for having endeavo)lred to produce minds! They a.re not game• to do it. cheap food for the masses. Of course, sorr;e A Government Member: What did they would be cruel enough to ~uggest that .t~eir do to Charlie Russell ~ main objective was the1r own political hides. Mr. SPARKES: They are not game to 1Ur. Power: You would not suggest do it. T'he late member for WarTego, Mr. Ran­ that, would you~ dolph Bedford, got up and spoke his mind on one occasion, and the Premier of the day, }Ir. SPARKES: Not at an. I never Mr. Forgan Smith, said, ''I will deal with suggest anything nasty. I say things to you later.'' their faces, just as I say now, and as I have Mr. Power: Why don't you let the dead said year in and year out, hon. members rest in peace~ on the Government side have always thought only of secondary industry and allowed Mr. SPARKES: There is no disrespect primary industries to go to hell. to the late hon. gentlemen. Hon. members opposite would love to have that freedom Mr. Devries: You can blame the enjoyed by members on this side. Wa admire Liberals for that. our leaders; we have the greatest respect for Mr. SPARKES: I blame the Labour them; and there is no running round corners Government for the destruction of primary trying to push them out or anything like that. industry in this State. Again I give them (Government laughter.) We members on this credit for having tried to get cheap food for side are happy friends; we are not at one the people, but have they got iH another's throats. lir. Nicklin: They have got no food. A Government Member: They double­ crossed you at the last election. Mr. SPARKES: That is so. Every tii1J.e I mention the subject I have the remark lUr. SPARKES: There goes my friend ''More profits'' hurled at me from the on the left. Government side. Ever since I have been a member of this Assembly I have heard talk Mr. SPEAKER: Order! I ask the hon. of fixing prices, control and an orderly member to address his remarks to the Chair. marketing that is going to give the people Mr. SPARKES: I wish to refer to the plenty of cheap food while at the sam.e time Governor's Speech and other speeches at the allowing the primary producers to thnve. Royal National Association dinner. The Mr. Power: You do not believe in Deputy Premier made a speech there that has price-control~ already been mentioned in this deba,te. The speech I have in mind particularly is the one Mr. SP ARKES: I definitely do not made by His Excellency, and I am sure that believe in it. I believe that price-fixing, with every decent Australian citizen will view with its twin-brother controls, taxation and scarcity 136 AddreBB in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] AddreBB in Reply. of materials, are the chief reasons why we lllr. SPARKES: First of all they were J,ave not got food today, and I name price­ dying and now we are getting £50 a head fixing :first. for them! This quotation continues- Mr. Power: I am glad to have your '' Diocletian failed; his paternalistic admission. efforts were barren of useful effort. His scale of fixed prices is one of the greatest Mr. SPARKES: The hon. gentleman curiosities that has come down to us from has it. The position now is that we are short ancient times. of food and shall be shorter still. ''By such legislation as this the spirit Mr. Power: I do not know that there is of independence, enterprise, and individual anybody who is very hungry in Queensland, effort was paralysed.'' and you did say, ''Give us more money and we will give you more beef.'' Have not hon. members heard me say that in this House before~ Mr. SPARKES: Exactly. I have been ''More and more people came to rely saying that since 1932. I was called to order upon the Government and less upon their by the late Mr. Pollock when he was Speaker OIYn effort. Diocletian 's idea was that of this Assembly because I said that sooner production could be fostered by edict. The or later we should not have food and the result was that children were ordered to sooner this happened the better. remain in their parents' profession; crafts Mr. Aikens: There would be plenty of and tenant farming became hereditary. food if you graziers were not so hungry for Thus a custom that had been forming since money. the second century A.D. became :fixed and lUr. SPARKES: The hon. member has what had been a trade or an art became the same view as hon. members on the an actual public service. The death penalty Government side. I ask him: where is the was decreed for disobedience, but in spite food for the masses of the people today? of this the attempt failed. Tradesmen closed their shops; many articles of com­ ~Ir. Aikens: Dying on the billabongs merce disappeared and food riots followed. be~ause you will not sell it. The law dropped into disuse. Communism could not have been more exacting in bind· lUr. SPARKES: That interjection is so ing the individual to the State. One may stupid that it doe~ ;not w~rrant a reply. I am that the Mmister will appreciate this : well pause to think what may be the sur~ relationship of paternalism and Com­ !here IS only one law, that of supply and nemand-the law of the Creator. I am munism in actual practice." surprised that there is no interjection by One could almost say the same today in hon. members opposite. regard to what is happening in Queensland, llir. Devries: Is not there a law which the greatest State within the Commonwealth. says " Thou shalt not steal "~ We are faced with shortages of virtually every one of our primary prod nets. llir. SPARKES: The Minister quotes bt:t I propose to quote from this publication Mr. Aikens: More racketeers to the entitled "Relation of Government to square mile than any other country in the Industry.'' world. ''The culmination of this paternalism Mr. SPARKES: Price-fixing encourages wa~ the Edict of Diocletian in 301 A.D., racketeering in its blackest and dirtiest form. which attempted. t_o :fix the price, not only Every time you :fix prices you encourage for all commodities, but for service as black-marketeering. well. This law has come down to us almost ivtnct. Its preamble i.s a curious mixture lUr. Power: £190 a ton for onions. of bombast and uneconomic thought ..... Diocletian failed. ' ' lllr. SPARKES: The hon. gentleman will rush in! What will happen if controls The same as the Government of this State have failed! are lifted~ What happened in the United States of America, a country only the same lUr. Power: They have not failed. size as ours with over 140,000,000 people~ I have travelled over every State in the United lli"';'. SPARKES: Why, you cannot buy States, and not one of them eolllpares with a thmg today that you want, and a Minister Queensland. of the Crown has the hide to say ''They have not failed. '' ' llir. Power: Queensland is much better.

llir. Power: Not by any means. ~Ir. SPARKES: Of course it is. lllr. SPARKES: Things are harder to They decontrolled and, as the hon. gentle­ get today than at any time during the war. man said, prices went up. However, the :iUr. Power: You said, "Give us more incentive was there and the people produced, money and we will give you more beef.'' and today it is the only country in the world that has an over-supply of food. Here, with Mr. SPARKES: The Government refused only a handful of people-less than the to give us more money and today they are ]JOpulation of the city of New York-we can­ reaping the benefit. not feed our population. Mr. Aikens: At £50 a head for lllr. Aikens: You are the wealthiest man scrubbers. in the House. Address in Reply. [28 AUGUST.] Address in Reply. 137

Mr. SPARKES: There again the hon. Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr. Farrell): member shows his ignorance when discussing Order! I ask the hon. member :for Aubigny wealth. What is wealth~ Does the hon. to withdraw that statement. member suggest that I am wealthy because I · spend more money or buy more things than he Mr. SPARKES: All right, Mr. Deputy does 'f It is a well-known :fact that the person Speaker; I suppose sometimes he does tell the who accumulates wealth is the most :frugal trut;h. person. He does not spend lavishly or l\'Ir. POWER: I want an unqualified ridiculously, otherwise he would not be able withdrawal. to accumulate wealth. l\'Ir. Aikens: What about your trips to :ilir. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I ask the the United States~ hon. member to withdraw the statement. lUr. SPARKES: That was a business l\'Ir. SP ARKES: All right, Mr. Deputy trip tmd it paid handsomely. Let the ho11. Speaker. I will accept anything. The point member put that in his pipe and smoke it! is that the onions went up and up in price, I brought cattle to this State that are showing and where are they today~ That is their the way to the people who are breeding them. system of trying to control, and in a little while there will be no onions, no potatoes, no l\'Ir. Aikens: With a State Government butter and little, if any, beef. They have subsidy. killed the incentive o:f the dairy farmer. Let me give you some idea o:f the reactions o:f l\'Ir. SPARKES: No subsidy at all. I these splendid men on the land, the dairymen, did not receive one penny subsidy for the the finest body o:f men that ever set feet on cattle I bought, nor did the State pay one God's earth. Let me tell the Secretary :for penny towards the cost o:f buying those cattle. Public Lands and Irrigation that he can go I have sufficient courage and sufficient confi­ into his own area and see the type that they dence in this State to pay a record price are. He said that very few of them grew today :for the same breed of ca.ttle. crops, but I .hardly know o:f a dairyman who li'Ir. Devries: You are not afraid of the does not grow a crop, and I know thousands Labour Socialists, either. of them. If there are any who have not been able to grow crops it is because perhaps they l\Ir. SPARKES: I am afraid of them! could not get the machinery they needed Let us look at this thing calmly, Mr. because of the monopolistic control by the Speaker. Let me give you an instance of Government over all the machinery required something that occurred right on our door­ :for their Peak Downs scheme. Perhaps it is step, something that was discussed in this because the Government took all the machin­ House only a :few years ago. I refer to the ery and left the dairy :farmer with nothing. price of onions. · l\'Ir. Devries: That is not true. Mr. Power: £190 a ton. llir. SPARKES: It is true, and the hon. Mr. SPARKES: And the hon. gentle­ gentleman knows it. Had some o:f the machin­ man and his stupid Government are the cause ery been made available to the men on the of their being £190 a ton. Downs and other parts o:f Queensland they What happened~ At the time to which I am would have grown 10 times more sorghum, 10 referring onions were £69 a ton. As you know, times the number o:f pigs, that the Govern­ Sir, in my electora.te and in the Lockyer ment have produced. I ask members of the district there are large numbers o:f German Government Party to listen to this resolution settlers, the finest settlers that ever walked that was carried at a dairymen's confer­ onto a piece o:f land. I take my hat off to ence- the Gern1an settlers :for the way in which " We, a combined and representative they work their properties. These people meeting o:f dairymen :from Boodua, Goom­ planted enormous supplies of onions, but when bungee and Greenwood, are very dissatis­ they were about to be marketed the genial fied with the butter price hold-up. We con­ price-fixm reduced the price to about £15 a sider it unfair :for dairymen to continue to ton, with the result that a large proportion produce without knowing what they are of the crop was ploughed into the ground. If receiving :for their product. We strongly I were to repeat what those Germans said, resent the statement of the Deputy Premier Sir, you would order me out of this Chamber, (Queensland) on the set-up o:f the costing but I agree with every wo.rd they said. Commission. Under the law of supply and demand, which "We ask you to take strong action in the is the only natural law, onions would have interests of the dairymen and see that we come onto the market in such quantities that get :full price as found by the costing Com­ the price would have been :forced down and mission. If this State does not agree to everyone would have been happy. this we urge you to take drastic action to Mr. Power: When they were decon­ see that they come into line wit)l the other trolled, they went up to £190 a ton. States.'' Mr. SPARKES: The hon. gentleman On the subject o:f price-fixe,tion I ask: can cannot even tell the truth. any academic person sit down and say what should be 'a :fair price :for primary products~ llir. POWER: I rise to a point of order. Did any hon. member opposite ever stop to I do not mind any reasonable retort, but that think what price should be paid to the wheat remark is offensive to me. farmer~ It is all very well to take the wheat 138 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply. from him at a price and sell it to the bloated any milk to the butter factories.'' Who is sheep-men that we hear so much about in this going to force the dairymen to milk their House, at 7s. lOd. a bushel, when the world's cows~ I do not want to see any direct action price was 19s. 6d. What right have the but if you force them into that position what Government to take it~ Can anyone tell me are they going to do W Are they going to pay what the wheat farmer should get when today away their money day after day on a losing he is going through a trying time, daily proposition' watching his crop dying and deteriorating~ Who can say what is a fair and reasonable ]}lr. Power: You try and buy a dairy farm. profit for that man~ I ask the Secretary for Public Lands and Irrigation to imagine what Mr. Devries: No-one is expecting him to would be his own feelings if he was standing do that. on his own doorstep with his children gazing out on his farm watching his crop slowly Mr. SPARKES: No-one is expecting dying and disappearing before his very eyes­ him to do so! Your price-fixer and controls the work of a whole year slipping away from have done so. We can trace those controls him. Wait until the returned soldiers come back to the Ohifley Government. down here from his district to see him. Then lllr. Devries: Had it not been for con­ he will realise what the man on the land is trols butter would have been 6s. a lb. up against. They will always fight the elements, a gamble that they have always lllr. SPARKES: It would be so, on the been prepared to undertake. But they do ;hon. gentleman's own admission the Govern­ not like to be stuck in t;he back with a dagger . ments of the day robbed the dairymen of at by a fixed price for an article. least 3s. or 4s. on every lb. of butter. Jllr. Devries: Who .drove the returned Mr. Power: That is not so. soldiers off the tobacco farms~ Mr. SP ARKES: Of course they did. You lllr. SPARKES: If the hon. gentleman are going to continue to do so and you expect will come up to the1 returned soldier settlers them to produce! That is what I want to in the Dalby area they will tell him all about know. I appeal to those hon. gentlemen who it. I will take him along to them. Will one represent city seats. hon. member on the Government benches get Mr. Aikens: If the Government do not up and tell me that their method has suc­ fix the price the city racketeers will fix it. ceededf Mr. SPARKES: That goes for the hon. Mr. Brown: Yes. member too. That is the position as I see Mr. SPARKES: There is one little weak it today, and ever since I have been in this voice. House. As I said when I was called to order in the past I hoped to God the day would Mr. Aikens: You have never yet been come. Now you have the position right on concerned 'about the little farmer. your own door-step. You will possibly get a little more butter on the Downs for a while Mr. SPARKES: I am concerned about because the unfortunate farmer who sees his the little farmer. The electorate, I represent wheat crop failing will put his cows to graze contains more small farmers than any other on it in an endeavour to get something out electorate-and they give me a bigger major­ of it. The effect of feeding dairy stock on ity every election. green feed will give an impetus to butter Mr. Power: They will wake up to you production for a while, but only for a while, some day. and when that green feed supply is exhausted and the fat cows are gone where is your Mr. SP ARKES: Let the hon. gentleman butter going to come from~ get up and address the butter men. What is Mr. F. E. Roberts: How many city the butter position todayf people can afford to pay 6s. a lb. for butter~ Honourable lllembers: Rotten. Mr. SPARKES: Let me put it this way; Mr. SPARKES: Of course it is. Here is had dairymen been allowed to get more money Ylhat is going on: every dairyman who gets for butter more people would have engaged in a beast in condition today is converting it into t;he industry and the result would have been money by way of fat beef. What effect will over-production rather than under-production. that have on the dairying industry~ Every That is the point. I ask the hon. member, beast, as soen it it shows a bit of condition, through you, Mr. Speaker, even at the hon. is sold as a fat beast. Today lucerne is worth member's own figure, 6s.-- about £40 a ton. Is anybody going to con­ Mr. F. E. ~.oberts: That was your tinJie to use his cattle as dairy cattle if he is figure. not going to get a price for his product W I do not want to see any direct action by dairy­ ]}lr. SPA' :. I said it would have men and I hope and sincerely trust that been 6s. I 0 ,re hungry, what is the best better counsels will prevail and there will be to offer y· .itr1ething at 6s. or nothing at no direct action, but let me tell the Deputy alH No> 11;: is the besU What do you Premier this: that whilst he may have some wanU T lyou that straight-out question. way of dealing with butter once it is pro­ What i? , good of saying that the price of duced he will have a job to deal with the butter shall be a shilling a pound if you can­ dairymen when t;hey say "We will not supply not get iU Do not get me wrong. If the Address in Reply. (28.._AUGUST.) Address in Reply. 139 farmer sells his butter at 2s. Sd. when he can themselves cheap food at the expense of those get 3s. 6d. in Victoria then he is not the man who produce it. I do urge the Governm~nt I think he is. I am certain he will not. to give some serious thought to the qu~stwn of allowing the people to get food w1thout Mr. Devries:. Communistic tactics. continual interference by the Government. Mr. SPARKES:. It is not. It is plain Mr. J. R. T.AYLOR (Balonne) (12.11 business. It is the business method adopted p.m.): I join with other hon. members in by the Government in regard to their cattle congratulating the mover and seconder of at Peak Downs. It is all very well for the the Address in Reply. I think ever,Y hon. hon. member to talk 11ow, but what did they member will agree that both d1d an do at Peak Downs~ Did they sell the cattle excellent job, and I am sure they have at Olermont or at Rockhampton, or did they proved that they will be an acquisition to get them killed at Lake's Creek in order to the Government. send them to the starving people of Great I desire also to compliment His Excellency Britain~ No. They sent them to the Bris­ bane market in order to get the highest pos­ the Governor on his Speech. Hon. members sible price. What I am trying to tell this opposite have tried to find fault with it, House is that they should give the other one just as they do every time His Excellency a chance. They have had their go with price­ delivers a Speech to Parliament. It is fixing and controls. Give them a chance and because those Speeches have always been full of meat, because they have always let them get the price for their product. mentioned a great deal of work to be done Mr. Aikens:. They gave the pig men for Queensland, that hon. members opposite a chance and what happened~ try to find fault with them. It has been established over the years that what Labour ltlr. SPARKES:. They gave the pig men has promised Labour has done. Of course, a chance and the potato men and what hap­ with the present shortages of materials it is pened~ They are growing less potatoes than not so easy to carry out these promises as it ever and they will grow less than ever. Why~ was in years gone by, but His Excellency's Because there is no incentive to do the job. Speech always mentions works that have been As I said before, no-one can sit down and by either started and completed or at least a few figures evaluate the work of the dairy­ started. man. No-one can say what a person has to I know too that every hon. member of this put up with in facing the elements in order Assembly, irrespective of his political to produce. Give them an opportunity to opinions, regrets as I do the illness of our produce. If you leave them alone they will Premier. We know he has a strenuous job, soon produce in plentiful supply and you will that he is conscientious in doing it and that have an over-supply. On the other hand price­ he is looked upon not only in Australia but fixing is always accompanied by black-market­ in every country in the world as a great ing. I do appeal to the Government at this Australian. It is possible that the strain late hour to admit that their efforts to con­ and stress of work was one of the major trol have been another failure. There are causes of his original illness and subsequent members on that side who in their hearts and relapse, but I am pleased to be able to souls know-unfortunately they cannot say say that it is now reported that he is well it-that price-fixing has been a failure. They on the way to recovery. know that the fixing of the price for beef to­ I listened to the hon. member for Aubigny day at about 3d. a pound less than the butcher this morning and have never on any occasion is paying on the hoof is ridiculous. How in seen him get so worked up as he did. · the name of heaven can they expect that man to sell the beef at that price~ I am not sug­ Mr. Sparkes: Then you are not con­ gesting that the price is high or low, but I cerned about the shortage of food~ ask you to cut it out. When you fixed the price of potatoes at 4id. they went to New Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: I am just as much South Wales and came back to Queensland concerned about it as the hon. member, per­ through Goondiwindi. haps more so, because, if there is a shortage of food, it will be the working classes who Mr. Aikens:. You believe the worker will go short. I agree t)lat some of the things should fix his own wages. he mentioned tllis morning may have a bear­ ing on the shortages, but in getting himself Mr. SPARKES:. The hon. member has worked up as he did he got away from the had his opportunity to make his speech. I real cause. I do not suggest for a moment have workmen and I believe workmen are that I know as much about raising beef as entitled to a fair deal for their work. Those does the hon. member or some of his col­ men in the bush work. What we have been leagues. I claim, however, as I come from trying to do is feed the people who do not the western part of Queensland and have been work at the expense of the ones who do work. living out there all my life, to have some That is the point, Mr. Deputy Speaker; and knowledge of the eonditions of the West. I that goes for you, too. (Laughter.) say that one of the reasons for the butter ltlr. Aikens: Don't be angry with me, shortage today-and there is no argument Dad! about this-is the very dry time we are going through. Only yesterday when returning Mr. SPARKES: I am not angry. I am from the West I saw sheep 'and cattle in speaking to the hon. member more in sorrow almost drought condition already and if this than in anger. \V e cannot go on trying to state of affairs continues for another six or give those people who will do nothing to help eight weeks I hate to think what will become 140 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply. of the grazing industry. I passed through a Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: We have ample mob of sheep on Saturday last that were down evidence that 2s. Sd. or 2s. 8:\d. would give to drought condition. The drought, I repeat, the producer a fair margin of profit. The is one of the reasons for our butter shortage. Queensland Government did not go into the I made a special point of discussing the prob­ figures. It was not a committee appointed by lem with the manager of the butter factory this side of the House that said there would in Roma and he told me that because of be a fair margin of profit in that price. 1 drought conditions the supply of cream to the take it that the people who said that were factory had fallen off considerably. competent. I have always maintained that one is lUr. Plunkett: Who were they? entitled to what one can get. In moving round the shearing sheds I have always advo­ Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: I do not know cated that. I do not want to see the grazier, their names. However, I take it thp,y would the butter-producer, the sheep man or the be competent. They would not be wharf beef man down to bedrock. I want to see labomers, for instance, who would go into each get a reasonable return for his labour the cost of producing butter. and the money he has invested. Everyone will I am not arguing that the producers should agree that the beef man and the wool man not get a reasonable return, but there is no are getting a fair return today. I am con­ doubt that had the Federal Government stood fident that had the Menzies-Fadden Govern­ up to their election promise the present ment stood up to their pre-election promises state of affairs would not have been brought -and it is no use hon. members opposite about. They said they would further sub­ saying that they did not make promises, sidise butter, but they have walked out on because t;hey did-of a further subsidy on their promise. Members of the Opposition butter things would not be as they are today. are at their wits' end to find excuses for the They went back on their promises. The faults of the Menzies-Fadden Government Acting Premier spoke very feelingly on the because not one thing have they done that matter a few days ago and even went to the they said they would do. extent of quoting what representatives of the present Federal Government had said. I As I said before, I have never been guilty repeat: they have not honoured their pro­ of saying that those who seek an increase mises and had they done so there would be no should not get it. I have taken every argument about butter today, as the producers increase that has been granted to members would have been getting a uniform price since I have been here. Unlike the hon. mem­ throughout Australia. ber for Mundingburra, I do not suggest that it is wrong to accept any increase that is On ·the other hand, some regard must be granted here. If I thought it was wrong, I had for the consumer of butter because this should say so and should not accept it, but commodity is one of the chief items on the I remind the hon. member, and other hon. breakfast table and if you allow the price members, that it is not compulsory to take of butter to soar out of all reason the work­ any increase that is granted here. However, ing class people of this State and other States with very few exceptions, all members have are hit. Whilst I think that the producers accepted the increases. As a matter of fact, should get sufficient to pay them for their I understand that only one member did not efforts I do not think the price of butter accept his increase. I have always been an should be decontrolled as onions were advocate of better conditions and higher recently, so that the price would attain ridicu­ wages, and when they are offered to me I lous heights. take them. Now hon. members will know where I stand. The hon. member for Aubigny advocated the lifting of price-control. I should like We have heard it said in this Chamber to ask whether he is in favour of doing away from time to time that the Labour Party with the Industrial Court. We on this side goes hand in hand with the Communist of the House have stood hard and fast for Party. arbitration. Would the hon. member allow the worker to fix his own wages~ If that JUr. Dewar: Hear Hear! was the position the whole thing would get out of hand and wages would be at a level ilir. J. R. TAYLOR: The hon. member in keeping with the price of onions today. I for Chermside is one whom I asked 12 months am quite sure that neither he nor any of his ago to arrange a meeting with Communists colleagues would advocate doing away with anywhere so that he and I could go- and the Industrial Court. We, on this side of the address them and I have not heard from him House, certainly would not. From time to since. If he is prepared at any time to time the Communists, whom we have continu­ make such arrangements I am prepared to ally fought over the years, despite what the go with him, but you can bet Lond_on to a Opposition may say, have advocated the aboli­ brick I shall never hear from him. (Opposi­ tion of the Industrial Court, but industrial tion interjections.) He is not game to do it. arbitration is one of the planks of our plat­ What have hon. members opposite ever done form and we are not likely to abandon it. to combat Communism~ We on this side of But if it is good enough to allow the producer the House have gone out dozens of times and to fix his own price, it is only fair to argue fought the Corns. on the jobs. Is there any that the worker should likewise fix his price. hon. member opposite who will stand up in his place and tell me that he has done any­ llir. Plunkett: It is the costing com­ thing to combat the Corns.~ The hon. mem­ mittee that fixes the price, not the producer. ber for Sherwood stands up but what has Address in Reply. (28 AUGUST.] Address in Reply. 141 he ever done~ He has risen in his place in at the conference he attended, but he did this Chamber and talked a lot of blah, blah, make a silly and stupid statement. Therefore blah. He has never done anything. I am at least entitled to my opinion. He said .ilir. Kerr: What have you done? there were 600 ghost voters on the Balonne roll and he said they didn't all vote for him. .ilir. J. R. TAYLOR: I shall tell the Somebody must have put some of them on the lwu. member in a few moments. roll if they did not vote for him. If there were 600 ghost voters on the roll and I won !Ir. · Walsh: Hon. members opposite by only 340 votes there must have been a solicited their votes. bad break somewhere. Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: They did. We have Then the hon. member was not satisfied continually fought the Corns. on the jobs and with that statement and had to attack my will continue to do so. (Opposition inter­ friend and colleague, the hon. member for jections.) \Varrego. He brought the W arrego roll into the discussion and said that ghost voters were JUr. DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr. Farrell) : on that roll also, notwithstanding the fact I appeal to hon. members to cease the con­ that the Leader of the Opposition on one tinuous interjections, otherwise I shall have occasion said that the Warrego roll was 99.8 to deal with them. per cent. correct. Therefore, I should say he Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: They know that was a bit off the mark there. I have no quar­ what I say is correct and it is getting under rel with the hon. member for Roma and I do their skin. They do not like it. For years not wish to say anything else except that it is they have tried to tie us up with Communism not good policy to try to make out a case but they have not been s.uccessful. On two that is not correct in an endeavour to score occasions the Menzies-Fadden party fought off somebody else. I have never done so, the elections on the Corn. issue and won, but because I believe that anyone doing so is you can bet all the rice in China the people getting down to a pretty low level. The posi­ have awakened to them and I do not think tion mentioned by the hon. member is well­ the) can win 'on that issue again. known to him because he and his supporters all employ labour. The hon. member may An Opposition .iliember: They will have two or three station hands working for <:arry the referendum next month. him and they enrol for the electorate in which Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: I do not think they they are working. These workers may leave will get a ''Yes'' vote. their employment just prior to an election and may travel into Roma, or into the Warrego lUr. Sparkes: I bet you do not know electorate, or may even go· out to Winton, how you are going to vote. and neglect to get on the roll for the new Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: I know how I shall electorate. The fact is that their names Yote. I am going out in the "No" cam­ appear on one roll only, which may be the paign. So far as I am concerned they can Balonne roll, or even vice versa. If they kick and belt the Corns. as much as they like, vote only once not much ;harm is done. The but I have some regard for other organisa­ hon. member has not proved to me yet that tions am1 so you know where I stand. For anybody in that election voted twice. years hon. members opposite have tried to tie .illr. Ewan: Plenty of time yet. us up with the Coms. and have been unsuc­ <:essful. They cannot deny the fact that we .ilfr. J. R. TAYLOR: He has only proved on this side of the House have continually that only one man voted for him who was gone out and fought the Corns. on the jobs. not entitled to do so, that is, Mr. Joss Robin­ You have had members of the Government son, a very respectable citizen of Roma. He :and organisers in the different trade unions wrote to the newspaper and said that he :fighting the Corns. on the jobs. Even the most voted for the hon. member for Roma and that recent arrival in this Chamber, the hon. he should never have been on the Roma roll. member for Warrego, has devoted 22 years I do not mind telling ;how I voted at the last to fighting them and in his Address in Reply Federal election for Maranoa. I voted in speech he told you where he stood on the Mitchell for Jim Kane, and the hon. mem­ matter. Hon. members opposite have just ber for Roma would vote for my opponent, about played out this cry of the Communists A. Dearden, endorsed Country Party candi­ with the people. cla.te. When the hon. member for Roma spoke in lUr. Ewan: How do you know how I the Chamber the other day I was a little bit Yoted W disappointed because I thought he was going to tell us something about the ghost votes. .illr. J. R. TAYLOR: I should not expect Had he not been present today I should have the hon. member to vote for me. My friend been fair enough not to mention the matter. on my left suggests that if a Communist However, he is in the Chamber now and I opposed me he would have voted for him. want to point out how members of the Oppo­ sition will resort to mis-statements. Mr. EWAN: Mr. Deputy Speaker, I ask for a withdrawal of that statement. It is IUr. Sparkes: The ghost vote walks. particularly offensive to me, for the hon. .ilir. J. R. TAYLOR: The· hon. member member knows the stand I have taken on knows how the ghost vote works. I do not Communism for years. know whether the hon. member did it for a .ilir. Power: There is nothing to with­ purpose, or whether he was treated too well draw. 142 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply.

lllr. ~EPUTY SPEAKER: (Mr. Farrell): Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: It was one of the What 1s tpe point the hon. member has hon. member's very close friends. I wish to raised~ point out that the tactics were unwarranted because t·hey k:now there are names of people Mr. EWAN: The hon. member for on the roll who perhaps are not living in the ~alonne said that the hon. member sitting on h:s left suggested that, if a Communist can­ district. They are the people who employ (hdate had been standing, the hon. member these people. They may have somebody for Roma would have voted for him. The working for them and he leaves a short time statement is definitely offensive to me and I before the election and votes elsewhere for ask for its withdrawal. some other c:wdidate. Yet they will persist in trying to accuse us of having "crook" Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I understand rolls. When I or any other Labour candidate ~ow _that the hon. member is asking the has to resort to doing something to a roll mterJector, who happened to be the minister that is not correct, then I say we do not to withdraw the statement. ' want to be in Parliament any longer. Mr. EW AN: No. The hon. member for: Before resuming my seat, I want to do one Balonne repeated the interjection, and l ssk of the most pleasing things I have had to do the hon. member for Balonne to withdraw for a very long time. I desire to congratu­ it. late the hon. member for Bulimba upon his winning the Bulimba seat again. Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: I ask the hon. member for Balonne to accept the denial of Government 11Iembers: Hear, hear! the hon. member for Roma. lllr. J. R. TAYLOR: It cannot be denied · lllr. J. R. TAYLOR: I did not say it that the Bulimba by-election campaign was (Laughter). I said that a friend of mine one of the bitterest ever fought in any part reminded me. (Laughter). However, I will of Queensland. If there was a more vicious campaign it was for the Maranoa seat dur· withdraw it if the hon. member wants me ing the Federal election. On both occasions to do so. (Laughter.) the opponents of Labour did and said every· Mr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! thing they could in an endeavour to win the seats, and some of the things they did and Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: I said that he said were not to their credit. Despite every­ would not vote for me. I should not expect thing that was thrown at our friend and him to. I do not know for whom he voted, colleague, he was able to win the Bulimb'i but I am going to stand up and say whom by-election with a greater majority than he I voted for. had originally. Mr. Ewan: You cannot prove it. Government Members: Hear, hear! Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: No. I am not in Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: His success only the habit of telling lies. Then he came back goes to show that the people of Queensland and nominated this very respectable citizen. today are extremely fair-minded and will not I think he voted for Ewan. He said he did tolerate the tactics adopted by the Opposition and I think he was telling the truth. in these matters. The fact that Labour can­ The hon. member also accused me of being didates won the last three by-elections makes on the Roma roll on 23 April, 1951. That is me feel confident that they reflect what the people of the State as a whole think of this quite correct. I am game enough to own Government. up to anything I do. It is quite correct that on 23 April my name did appear on Let me conclude by saying that my sum­ the Roma roll, because I neglected to take ming up of the position is that the people it off. For that reason the hon. member for of Queensland are satisfied with the Labour Roma accused me of being a ghost vo.ter. Government because they know that what I want to tell this House that on 23 April, Labour has promised over the years Labour 1951 the name of the hon. member for Roma has done and that what Labour promises in appeared on the Balonne roll. the future Labour will do. Government Members: Oh, oh! lllr. F. E. ROBERTS (Nundah) (12.43 p.m.): I rise to support the motion so ably Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: That is O.K. Why and eloquently moved by the hon. member bring it up and accuse me when he knows for Kedron and seconded by the hon. that his name was on the Balonne roll~ member for Warrego. Both those gentlemen Mr. Ewan: You challenged me publicly undoubtedly will prove very valuab~e to bring it up. acquisitions not only to this Government but to Parliament. Mr. J. R. TAYLOR: And the hon. I desire also to associate myself with their member did not make a very good reply to remarks and the expressions of loyalty to the the challenge. Strange to say, it was one Royal family. of the hon. member's close friends >lho told me to have a look on the Balonne roll; so With those other hon. members who have the hon. member did not come out of it too preceded me in this debate, I wish to e::;:press well. the hope that our Premier will soon be restored to health and that he will soon be 111r. Ewan: 'rhat is how fair they are. able to take his place again in this Assembly. Address in Reply. [28 AUGUST.] Address in Reply. 143

The Governor's Speech is an important one .!Ur. F. E. ROBERTS: I know that there and I do not think hon. members should over­ is a switch on the wall, and I do not want it look the fact that this Labour Government to be thought that I am adopting an untrea­ have been in office in Queensland for some sonable attitude in this matter. There is a 19 years. At each election the Labour Party switch on the wall, but peG>ple do not use has been returned to office not because the the switch and are suffering as a result. I people of Queensland prefer the way we part do not want anyone to tell me that if people our hair or the clothes we wear, or anything want to switch the wireless off they can, of that "kind but because they are satisfied because all hon. members appreciate the fact the Labour Party offers the only policy that tha,t we all need, to some extent at least, to be is available for the proper development of protected against ourselves. If one compares this great State. In' addition to that, the the noise from commercial broadcasting people of Queensland are satisfied-and the stations in the morning with that from the three by-elections referred to by my colleague national broadcasting stations, one iinG.s it who has just resumed his seat bear it out­ to be far greater and far more injurious. that the Labour Party has in the past, put that policy into effect and is still prepared l\lr. Aikens: Why not use the national to do so. stations~ A year or two ago I took the opportunity -I think it was on the occasion of the l\Ir. F. E. ROBERTS: The same thing Address-in-Reply deba,te-to say something applies there as to the switch on the wall. about the unbridled and unlicensed advertising The chief reason why people dO< not listen. to being used by various commercial houses and the n.ational stations is that they do not organisations in Queensland and Australia at announce the time every two or three minutes the time. I endeavoured to point out how this as do some of the comme.rcial stations. could be controlled to some extent in the Only last night I took the trouble of interests of Queensland and the Australian listening to the wireless and jotted down a people. The only a.dvantage that has accrued few of the thin.gs that I heard. It was as a result of that speech has been that a two minutoo past six when I sat down. at the number of advertising organisa,tions regularly wireless, an.d the first thing I heard was an send me their publications. They have been advertisement for the Brisbane stadium in. very infPrmative, but by no means have con­ which we were told all about the wonderful verted me to their way of thinking. On this exploits of some young boxer named Jimmy occasion I want to say something about a Laffin. Then followed a brie·f announce­ matter somewhat akin to the subject I deait ment-and this was the only highlight in with on the previous occasion. I think it is the 45 minutes that I listened to the radio­ opportune for this Parliament to give some to the effect that Sir Arthur Fadden would consideration to the trend of our modern com­ be speaking over that station at 7.15 p.m. I mercial radio and broadcasting stations. The do not want anybody to think that I agree in first point I want to bring out is this: unlike any wav with the sentiments that Sir Arthur newspapers or periodicals of any sort that :F'adden" may have expressed, but being .a can attract attention by different-sized type, public man I think it would be in the pubhc big headlines and so forth, the only means interest for such an announcement to be made. that any broadcasting or radio station has of attracting and holding the attention of its That was followed by the Lombardo Trio in listeners is by the use of noise, and anybody a rendition of ''Where are you going to be who has sufficient time to listen to the com­ when the moon shines~'' That may probably mercial broadcasting stations in particular be very enlightening to some people, but and their mode of advertising must be con­ personally I found very little of interest in cerned about this extravagant and reckless use it. Then there was a time signal at six of noise. I feel sure that despite everything minutes past six, which was followed by an our health authorities, medical men and advertisement for Menthoids, and another pharmacists might do to help in preserving example of this excessive noise from com­ the health of the community, the use of noise mercial broadcasting stations that I am by radio stations is doing great harm to the complaining about. In a hollow, sepulchral typical man, woman and child in our com­ tone of voice, the announcer said that they munity. One can sel3ct ailly home that has a could be purchased for 6s. 6d. and 3s. 6d. wireless-the typical worke.r's home-where everywhere, and emphasis was placed upon the breadwinner is getting ready to have his the fact that they were Dr. McKenzie 's breakfast. His wife is preparing a break­ Menthoids, obviously in an endeavour to trick fast for him and working to get the children people, if they were not feeling too well, into off to school; she is cutting lunches. One or purchasing these Menthoids because they two children may be already working. I have were Dr. McKenzie 's Menthoids. discussed the ma,tter with many people and am informed that they are not interested in l\Ir. Aikens: They will cure anything the wireless as such but they have it on to get from ingro1ving toenails to heart failure. the time every few minutes, particularly when they are rushing to catch a bus, tram or l\Ir. F. E. ROBERTS: According to the train. The wireless is blaring forth during advertisements, they will. that part of the day and upsets not only the In the public interest it would be far better breadwinner but the wife and the children, if instead of such an a=ouncement as that, and undoubtedly-- the public at large were told that if they had llir. Nicholson: There is a switch on a pain in the back about which they were the wall. worried, instead of taking Dr. McKenzie 's, or 144 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply.

a.nybody else's, Menthoids, pills, or what­ Mr. F. E. ROBERTS: No, it was 4BK have-you, they should consult their medical a_nd I am not criticising that station in par­ practitioner. ticular, but I would ask whether, while there :o:ay be some people who undoubtedly may That was followed by an advertisement for hke a glass of cold bubbling Bulimba beer S~lvol, in which one could see how the when the occasion warrants, it is in the best tnckery of the modern advertiser comes into interests of the Queensland people as a whole the scheme of things. After telling us what and our younger generation in particular who a wonderful substance this Solvol soap was may be listening to these wireless broadcasts and what it would do, the announcer went on that advertisements for any alcoholic liquor to point out that vvith every cake of Solvol should be drummed into their ears. That is was given free a card on which was shown one the point and in asking the question I am of various Australian birds. I call that n_ot _allying myself with any temperance asso­ tricker_Y, because undoubtedly listening to that CiatiOn or anybody else but I do firmly and advertisement would be children who would emphatic ally believe it is not in the best complain til.l their parents actually bought interests of the young people in particular or Solvol. soap m order that they might get this of anybody to have these advertisements for collectwn. of cards portraying Australian birds. alcoholic liquor over the air, in the Press, or Irrespective of how good that series of cards anywhere else. might be, it is nevertheless a trick to obtain the business of a section of the public. 'ro add insult to injury and in order to attract attention this advertisement for Mr. Sparkes: That is legitimate. Bulimba beer from the Queensland Brewery Ltd. presented a morbid, full-of-Cockney Mr. F. E. ROBERTS: The hon. member who thinks it legitimate should keep quiet serial of the crime type entitled, as near as after the speech he delivered this morning. I could say, '' Patrick Dornish'' and presented the serial at a time when the average young Then we had the recording, ''Get out those child on whom we spend so much money for old records,'' and frankly it was not bad: I education has his or her ears glued to the rather enjoyed it. Then we had the time the radio station. announcer saying that it was ten and a half minutes past 8 with emphasis on the half. On the conclusion of that serial listeners were again exhorted with ''When you need Then I thought that I w~,.s going to hear some­ thing of interest because we were told that we a reviver, that is when you need Bulimba.'' were going to have the Hilton story. It That was followed by a recording which this sounded legitimate and all rig-ht but instead station did not have the courtesy to even of the Hilton story we had about six words announce. I do not know whether it was in an advertisement for Hilton 's nylons. Then because to a person with an ear for music there followed another advertisement similar the title should have been apparent or not, to the one that I mentioned a.bout Dr. McKen­ but for some reason, whatever it was, this zie 's menthoids and that was an advertise­ orchestral recording was put on unannounced ment for Bonnington 's Irish Moss-hon. mem­ and concluded without any announcement as to what it was, who composed it, or what the bers will remember it for that, ''Sip sip sip.'' Morning noon and night we have' thes~ orchestra was. commercial radio stations keeping up this Then we had an advertisement by Mac­ monotonous advertisement for Bonnington 's Robertsons, the confectionery people. Despite Irish Moss, and the fact tha.t it can be bought all our dietitians and doctors tell us about for 2s. 6d. a bottle-everywhere. There are the harmful effects of too many sweets and credulous people i1l the community and that confectionery on old and young alike, we were advertisement would lead them to believe that appealed to to buy more and more of if they suffered from a cold-as I have MacRobertsons' confectionery. They even unfortunately at the moment but I do not pro­ had, as most business places have also, the pose to buy Bonnington 's Irish Moss-all temerity to commercialise what should be they need to do is not to run to the General if we are going to reserve to its proper pur~ Hospital or go to the doctor or chemist but pose what' by no stretch of the imagination to go over to the local shop and buy a bottle is a commercial day, that is, Father's Day of Bonnington 's Irish Moss-2s. 6d. every­ and the children were exhorted to buy ~ where. Then there was the time signal again, j-Ib. box of MacRobertsons' confectionery followed by an advertisement for Wallace for father on Father's Day. Then, only after Bishops. a lapse of two or three minutes of time in or de~· t0 advertise their wares and get 'the An Opposition lUember: What was the pubhc support, MacRobertson 's presented time~ ' 'Inspector vV est,'' another crime serial full Mr. F. E. ROBERTS: For the benefit of of L_ondon cockney . and anything but good the hon. member it was then 6.15 p.m. and English. In the nnddle of this serial last without any entertainment at all. I was looking night we had for the benefit of those who for something entertaining during the even­ oppose my views on the opposite side of the ing but the station went straight on with an House and the benefit of the children listen­ advertisenl'ent from Queensland Brewery Ltd. ing to it, a very unpleasant account of an and we were told that if you had a toast to attempte~ m~rder by strangulation with all honour the best way of doing it was with the a~compamment _of what would ordinarily go With str~ngulatwn. No-one opposite or bubbling Bulimb& beer. anyone outside the House can convince me An Honourable lUember: You must have that that type of programme on the air or been listening to 4KQ. anywhere else, is good in the interests' of Address in Reply. [28 AUGUST.] Address in Reply. 145

adults or1 in particular, the younger genera­ crime serials to which I have been referring_ tion. If they do, I will agree with them It is a sheer waste of public money; and I that I do not know what I am talking about. suggest to the Government that although. That was a particularly horrible serial. Then broadcasting generally is under the control. that was followed at 6.45 p.m.-and here I of the Commonwealth we could do something: have not so much cricitism, by ''Dad and from the point of view of the welfare of the Dave. '' That was brought to us by Queensland people in relation to the type of' Wrigleys. programme that is broadcast from Queensland An Opposition Member interjected. stations. We cannot interfere with what is, broadcast over stations from other States. lUr. F. E. ROBERTS: In reply to the A schoolteacher friend-headmaster at a. hon. member who interjected, I did not like big school in the metropolitan area-men­ it and I am quite sure that the people on t.he tioned to me a few weeks ago what I am land in particular would feel offended by that about to relate. He asked his scholarship· serial. It is not, however, as injurious and class to write a composition on ''Tuning in,',. damaging as those crime stories to which I and he naturally expected to get some· have referred. If, bv listening to "Dad interesting contributions. He told me that and Dave,'' those who are fortunate to live he was amazed and perturbed at the type of· in the towns and cities come to believe that composition that was given to him on that the hon. member for Aubigny and other hon. occasion. One and all of them consisted· members are like the people portrayed in this of accounts of what the pupils heard in the­ serial, it is a very bad thing. On the other various mystery serials at night-time. I feel hand, it is a good thing that we should be that it is time this Parliament gave some· able to appreciate and laugh at our own consideration to the problem that I have· expense. I think that is one of the attributes endeavoured to place before hon. members of the BritiSh race-whereas other peoples today. cannot laugh at their own mistakes and mannerisms, we are able to do so. Mr. Sparkes: That is another form of' control you want. JUr. Sparkes: What is wrong with " Dad and Dave"~ Can you not laugh at itW lUr. F. E. ROBERTS: The hon. memqer does not like control. He was the one who· lUr. F. E. ROBERTS: I can laugh at it, stood up here this morning a,nd told us that but if the hon. member thinks that is right if the dairy farmer sells his butter in -that ''Dad and Dave'' is a faithful por­ Queensland for 2s 8d. when he can get 3s. trayal of what his friends on the land really for it in New South Wales, he is not the· are like in life, it is a matter for him; but personally I think it is an exaggeration, one man he thinks he is, and the hon. member has illustrated just how far his idea of' way in which we can continue to laugh at ourselves. I have no great criticism to offer controls should go. He referred to the natural law of supply m1d demand and said: of "Dad and Dave." The point I want to make is that from at least 6 o'clock, with that if it was allowed to take its course~ the exception of the time for news, until butter and other commodities would be approximately 8 o'clock at night, which is the available at a reasonable cost. But he did: two hours that our children ordinarily are in not go further. If there is a natural law the house and listening to the wireless they of supply and demand for primary products,. can listen, and many do, to nothing else but then there must be a natural law of supply those crime and detective serials. and demand for the only think the worker· has to sell-his labour. The hon. member An Opposition ltlember: They can turn would be one of the first to object to the them off. abolition of our Industrial Court and· arbitration system. Why, whenever a wh~rf Mr. F. E. ROBERTS: Children do not labourer, railway worker or any other sect~on turn them off. Hon. members who speak like of the wage-earning classes of the commumty that have no appreciation of the child's mind sees fit to ask for a little more than he iS'. whatever. getting already and in some cases tak~s An Opposition ltlember: What about direct action to get it, the hon. membe; 1s; 4KQW horrified. He calls such people Commumsts, yet this morning he was . arguing that the Mr. F. E. ROBERTS: I am not making primary producer should, 1f necessary, take· exceptions, but I point out that 4KQ is the direct action, or in other words, adopt the only commercial station t,hat does not broad­ Communist policy if he cannot get what he east these horrible crime serials. I say with­ out fear of contradiction that 4KQ is to be wants for his product. He eonten~ed that highly commended for that. this select section of the commumty, the· primary producers, shou,ld be allo;"~d to ~x Government ltiembers: Hear, hear! their own price for the1r comn:oditles while the wage-earner should be subJeCt to what­ Mr. F. E. ROBERTS: Where is the ever controls are in existence. sense, where is the logic, in this Government's spending many thousands and millions of Reverting to the broadcasts, let me direct pounds annually, as we are doing, in erecting the attention of hon. memb~rs ~o the· and fitting our schools and training our school extravagant waste of money entailed m what teachers if, as soon as the school is over and are called the giant shows broadcast over the children are finished playing they can go the commercial radio networks week . by inside and listen to nothing but the type of week. If hon. members would stop to think Il.46 Addrese in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Addrese in Reply .

.()f the amount of landli:ne involved in the good music and entertainment, with some­ national hook-up, as well as the cost of what­ thing to improve our culture and way of liv­ -ever the production of these shows amounts ing generally, the commercial stations have to, they will perhaps appreciate just what made a science out of making profits for they cost the Australian people who, when their advertisers. And a further tragedy is it is all boiled down, are the ones who pay, that in order to retain the listening public because these shows are paid for out of excess the national stations might have to adopt the profits. There is no other source of the same means as the commercial stations are moneys expended by these firms on the pro­ doing to get the listening public. Should duction of these ''giant'' shows than the that day ever come then the commercial radio excess profits they are making from the sale stations will have done a great disservice to <>f whatever product they manufacture. I the Australian people generally. .say quite frankly that the public, by and Mr. Sparkes: You have a poor opinion large, would much prefer to receive their of the people's ideas. You admit that the petrol, for instance, a few pence a gallon people favour the commercial stations. eheaper than they are paying at the present Mr. F. E. ROBERTS: With the crime time than to listen on the air to some persolll serials and that kind of thing broadcast at being smacked in the face with a meringue night-time the children, not knowing any ;pie, as we hear from week to week. better, are listening to them in preference to There is a show sponsored by one of the the good and healthy entertainment provided .woap manufacturers, and on listening to it we by the national stations . :might be led to believe that various Hollywood An Opposition Member: ·It is a reflec­ female glamour stars owe. their complexions tion on the parents . .and beauty to t_he exclus1ve use of o:1e of its brands of soap. If we analysed 1t we Mr. F. E. ROBERTS: If the hon. mem­ should find that more often than not the ber would face up to the facts now and Hollywood star who has been paid some again he would do a far better job as a fabulous sum to lend her name and a few representative of the people in this Parlia­ minutes of her time to the manufacturers of ment than he is doing at present. There is that soap has been umable to keep her first some control over the commercial broadcast­ half a dozen husbands. Our Australian ing stations so far as sedition and, shall we call it, unsavouriness is concerned, but that women would prefer to be able to buy their soap at a lower price than they are being is :'s far as it goes.. At the present time th:1r broadcasts are full of slang in which .asked to pay now because so much money cnme, to say the least of it, is glamorised is expended on these broadcasts. and the police generally are more or less Hon. members opposite referred to Station pi~tu;ed as so many fools and hypocrites and 4KQ and I want to stress now the real thlS 1s a very very bad thing for the public. ;reason for the establishment of that station. Earlier in my speech I referred to the Private broadGasting stations became the numerous radio advertisements for alcoholic monopolistic preserve of a few people who liquors. In one hour one night last week, I used them for their own political ends and heard from a commercial station four adver­ the Labour Movement, to which we on this tisements for alcoholic liquors, and yesterday side of the House are proud to belong, was morning there were something like 162 prose­ unable. to get a fair and equitable share of cutions in the Magistrates Court for drun­ time from these commercial broadcasting kenness. I am not saying, of course, that all stations. In order to get this share of time drunkenness is due to the advertisements for .and because these commercial broadcasting alcoholic liquors that we hear over the air, stations were being exploited, the Labour but they are a contributing factor. Our Movement had to establish its own radio church leaders frequently deplore the drinking station. of alcoholic liquors by the younger generation and say that it has become the custom at I want to say that in England-and hon. parties· and so on for both young men and members opposite are always only too pleased women to have their wine, or their sherry, or to wave the flag-there is no commercial whatever it may be, but if such criticism was broadcasting station as we know it in directed at the use of the radio in encourag­ Queensland and Australia. And England is ing that type of drinking among our young none the worse off by not having them. Our people, it might serve some good purpose. :national stations cost the radio-user some­ All in all, I feel that the type of broad­ thing like £1 a year in a licence fee. In cast that we hear from day to day is, in England, where there are no commercial many respects, a waste of public moneys that broadcasting stations, the licence fee is only this Government are spending on the educa­ 10s. If anyone cares to spend one or two

l\Ir. LLOYD ROBERTS (Whitsunday) I was interested the other day when the (2.37 p.m.): I should like to take this oppo:r­ Secretary for Agriculture and Stock made hi& tunity of congratulating His Excellency the contribution to this debate and referred to• Governor, Sir John Lavarack, on the excellent coal production in Queensland. I was par­ manner in which he delivered his Speech. We ticularly interested in some of his remarks, all know that Sir John is an outstanding man, and I made a note of them. Re said- who built for himself a very fine reputation '' Figures supplied to me the other day in the army. Everyone must admit, of course, by the Government Statistician show that that he had excellent material tn work on in overall coal production in Queensland in the A.I.F. troops. For that reason indeed 1949-50 was more than double that of the delivery of this Speech must rank as one 1938-39.'' of his outstanding achievements, because on this occasion he had nothing but free air or, Re went on to say- should l say, hot air handed to him by this '' I was pleasantly surprised to learn. Government, who are rather adept at handing that it had increased by 3H per cent." out hot air. The sooner the people of Queens­ Later on he said- land wake up to that fact, the better off they " When we take into consideration the· will be and the sooner they will have a Gov­ nature of the coal-miners' occupation and ernment worthy of the name. the reduction in the working week, it is a The present Government have been in power remarkable achievement for him to have for 33 of the last 36 years, and what have increased his production by 3H per cent., particularly when many other far more they to show for it~ In the early days the Labour Party did have at heart the interests attractive jobs are available to him. I of the people as a whole, and of the working think hon. members of this Rouse should man in particular, but that is now a thing of recognise that fact and pay a tribute to the the past. We have a Government today who loyalty of the coal-miner." are no more interested in their people than There are very few hon. members in this. they are in the man in the moon. The fact Rouse more fitted than I to pay a tribute to. is that they have been too long in the job, and the mighty effort of the coal-worker and the I am afraid that it is the old story of famili­ coal-owner who have, according to the Secre­ arity breeding contempt. All that this Gov­ tary for Agriculture and Stock, increased ernment have is contempt for the people who their production by more than 100 per cent. in put them there. It appears to me that they that period of eight to nine years. That is a climb in on the backs of the workers at elec­ mighty performance, and I ani sure that I tion time, and kick their backsides for the voice the sentiments of every hon. member next three years. when I pay a tribute to them. However, the remarks of the Minister prompted me to But the people are waking up. That was delve a little further, and naturally, as Col­ one of the difficulties confronting the Labour Iinsville is in my electorate, I obtained Party a few years ago, that many of their detailed figures relating to the production supporters woke up to them. It is also why from the Collinsville field over the period the Labour Party of today, which grew up the hon. gentleman quoted. The figures are on the ashes of the old Labour Party, is astounding. Unfortunately I did not get responsible for the entire spread of Com­ the figures for each year but the production munism in Queensland and Australia. It is in the State-owned mine at Collinsvi!le '~as- a well-known fact that the Labour Party got Year. Tons. · only 45 per cent. of the votes at the last general elections, and had there been no 1939 182,322 gerrymandering of the electorates there 1942 260,320 would have been a different political party 1943 306,149 in power today. 1944 228,899 1945 213,580 l\Ir. SPEAKER: Order! The hon. mem­ 1947 191,061 ber is sailing very close to the wind in talk­ 1948 171,807 ing about the gerrymandering of electorates. 1949 139,474 The boundaries were determined by a com­ In 1944 483 men were employed in the State­ mission set up for the purpose, and were not owned mine, and the average of coal hewn fixed by the Government. was 473 tons a m·an. The quantity of coar produced in 1949 showed a drop of 23.5 per 1\'Ir. LLOYD ROBERTS: Many of the cent. from 1939. followers of the old Labour Party could see Mr. Power: Fewer men. the rift in their ranks. They became fed up and unfortunately turned to Communism. Mr. LLOYD ROBERTS: There were However, there are really not very many Com­ certainly fewer men. I will deal with the munists in Australia and in Queensland in matter of the smaller number of men particular today; they are only disgruntled employed in a moment or two. The average Labour supporters. The sounder members production per man was- amongst them turned to our side in politics, 1944 473 and when you remember that at least 80 per 1947 502 cent. of the people of the State work for 1948 431 " wages, you can readily understand that the 1948 369 " working people give our parties the tremen­ Similar conditions prevailed more or less" in dous vote that we have had from them over the Bowen Consolidated mine. The number the years. of men employed in this mine in 1939 was d.48 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply.

:97 and the production of coaJ 64,390 tons. The letter from the Minister for Transport the .highest production of this mine, according to other day telling me that they have now the figures I have available, was in 1943, when agreed to three extra days for the rail-motor, it was 94,782 tons. In 1949 the production which will give them a rail-motor for seven {iropped to 52,825 tons, or by 18 per cent. The days a week. It is on trial for a month. number of men employed in the Bowen Con­ In all fairness to the Minister for Trans­ solidated mine in 1939 was 97, while in 1949 port, I must say that any requests I have it was 130. Their production at that period brought before him have been very sympa­ was 406 tons a man whereas in 1942 the pro­ thetically received. {luction was as high a,s 770 tons. These figures The other day the golfers and bowlers were :are really astounding. On the one hand we hoping to go down to Proserpine. They have coal production in Queensland more asked the general manager in Townsville ihan doubled, and then we have the produc­ whether the rail-motor could start earlier and tion at Collinsville, both in the State-owned come back later and instead of going to mine and the privately-owned mine, well down. Bowen go to Proserpine and back. He said 'The production at Collinsville in 1949 was it could not, and it would cost them a -down 20 per cent. compa.red with 1939. guaranteed £8;3 for the rail-motor to go to JUr. Power: That is because of the Proserpine or £101 for a train. After talk­ .Qarg. ing the matter over with the Minister, who "·as very decent about the whole matter, we JUr. LLOYD ROBERTS: That has a have been told that these people will get -certain amount to do with it. their rail-motor for next Sunday at a JUr. Power: It has all to do with it. guarantee of £13. The same rail-motor will start earlier and go on to Proserpine and ~1r. LLOYD ROBERTS: The main come back later, and the guarantee is only ;reason for the decreased average production is a matter of £13. the unsympathetic treatment which has been In order to emphasise the state of isolation, handed out in Collinsville by the Queensland of which I speak I wish to point out that ·Government. on Jubilee Day there was a big celebration in ~1r. Power: In what way? Bowen. Collinsville is 40 to 50 miles from Bowen by rail, but on that day, because the Mr. LLOYD ROBERTS: I am coming to mines were not working, there were no that. There are a lot of things I want to trains in or out of the place, and the people bring before the notice of hon. members. of Collinsville could not go down to Bowen There was a good deal of talk this morning if they wanted to. The same thing applied .about ghosts. Today Collinsville is the ghost on the King's Birthday. I was there that town of Queensland and the ghost that is week-end. There are many other incidents running through the town dangling its chains that indicate the people do not receive is the Queensland Labour Government. Last encouragement. ·we should not be worried _year I asked a question in this House about if this railway showed a small loss, because the number of men employed in the Collins­ numbers of lines in other areas are showing ville State mine. The figures I received, losses. When we are dealing with such an although va.rying slightly with the records in important item as coal, we should be pre­ the books, were- pared to meet a little loss in order to make 1944-45 452 life more agreeable to the people in the 1946 378 area. 1947 376 The same thing applies to roads. The roads 1948 385 from .Collinsville to Bowen are in very bad 1949 390 condition. If the, people who have cars and 1950 334 utilities were able to run to Bowen or to the 'Today I doubt whether any more than 250 or seaside at any time they wished there would 285 would be employed in the mine. be some incentive for them to stay in Collins­ ville. Mr. Power: Are you referring to the :State mine~ Mr. Power: What is the shire council doing about the matter~ Mr. LLOYD ROBERTS: It is the State mine to which I am referring. At Bowen Mr. LLOYD ROBERTS: The Wangaratta Consolidated they had 130 men in 1949. I Shire Council is doing a mighty job. Of went over the mines a month or six weeks course, since my election to this Parliament :ago, and in the State mine there are only the road has been gazetted al main road and 42 pairs of miners working producing coal. that will mean that perhaps in the next 5 or 10 What encouragement have this Government years some little work might be done on it. given to the people of Collinsville and to the There are no swimming baths, no amenities of miners to stay there or to induce other people any kind there. to go there~ We all know that Collinsville depends virtually entirely on coal production, 1\Ir. Power: That is a matter for the :although a little comes through from the local authority. cattle from the west. What amenities have we given them over a period~ There is a Mr. LLOYD ROBERTS: There is, too, rail service there, certainly, which proved its a Coal Reference Board that does certain capability during the war years by carrying things. -vast loads of coal, on many occasions exceed­ 1\Ir. Power: The Coal Reference Board ing well over 1,000 tons a day, but the does not· do anything at all like that, so you people are more or less isolated. I had a are mixed up again. Address in Reply. [28 AuGusT.] Address in Reply. 149

I\Ir. LLOYD ROBERTS: At present round so that hon. members can see the con­ National Service lads are going into camp and ditions obtaining at Collinsville. The photo­ something must be done to keep them inter­ graphs depict three-ply huts, probably Army ested. Surely it is not too big a job to pro­ stuff put up during the war to meet emergency vide recreation rooms, reading rooms and so conditions, and it would not cost much money on if you want to keep the people there to to build little fibro places with 10 x 10 living hew the coal~ There are a hundred and one or sleeping rooms and possibly 10 x 8 kitchens things that could and should be done, and at the back I suggest that these places could even though they may ordinarily be local­ be built for £100 or £150, and after provid­ authority matters they should be treated in ing for a reasonable percentage for deprecia­ this instance as State matters because it is of national importance that the coal be got out. tion and for repairs and maintenance they could be let at a matter of 3s. or 4s. or 5s. Twelve months ago in this Chamber I spoke a week. of the deplorable condition of the accommo­ The State mine controls the whole of the dation provided in Collinsville for single workers in particular. It is a tragedy to think electricity for the district. Have these huts that although the Coal Board inspected this or hovels electricity to them~ No. They have accommodation in July, 1950, nothing has yet hurricane lamps or similar light. I seriously been done. state that if these matters were attended to there would be an attraction for people to I\Ir. Power: It is not the responsibility go and work in the Collinsville area. of the Coal Board to provide accommodation I\Ir. Walsh: Is not the Wangaratta for the workers. Shire Council responsible for the installation I\lr. LLOYD ROBERTS: I am pleased of electricity~ the Minister mentioned that. Apparently I\Ir. LLOYD ROBERTS: Not necessarily. what is good for one is not good for another. As a matter of fact, that shire council is For instance, it is the responsibility of not responsible for the installation of elec­ farmers and so on to provide accommodation tricity throughout the mines, the offices or for their workers, and the following extract from the Workers' Accommodation Act is any other part of the field. These buildings interesting- are owned by the mine and the owners of the mine should be responsible for the installation " Every employer shall kalsomine or paint of electricity, the same as the farmer-the the external walls and roof of all buildings used for the accommodation of workers cocky-is responsible for artificial illumina­ once in every five years and the interior tion, whatever it may be, for his farm walls of kitchens, storerooms, and dining­ workers. There is no inflation today at rooms once in every three years or as fre­ Collinsville; as a matter of fact, I suggest quently as directed by an inspector. Any that Collinsville is going through a depression, paint so used for the painting of the roof contributed to by this Government because of such buildings shall be completed lead­ they have forgotten the place and will do free.'' nothing at all to attract people to it. Empty I congratulate the Government on there being houses may be got in Collinsville today. I no lead on the roof of the men's quarters in know of people who have shifted their houses Collinsville. As a matter of fact, not only is from Collinsville and cannot sell the land the roof absolutely lead-free but it is paint­ upon which they were erected. And speak­ free because there is not and never has been ing of land, I am reminded that quite recently any paint on it. the mining warden issued notices to a con­ The Act even goes further and allows a siderable number of miners holding miners' direction to be given a& to the colour they homestead leases notifying them of increases can paint the external and internal walls and in rents and stating that they could appeal. the roof. Collinsville should be one of the Miners wrote and complained that it was biggest towns in Queensland and it is deplor­ not fair to increase rents, because the land able that the accommodation there should be had not improved in value. On Friday, 8 such an eyesore. I took a camera on my last June, they were invited to attend the court visit there and propose laying on the table a at Collinsville and state their case against tmmber of photographs I took of the single increased rentals. If the miners had attended ,men's quarters, for which the miners are court on the Friday afternoon they woRld charged 2s. 6d. a week. have lost a day's pay and, what is more, they Mr. :iliunro: By whom? would have lost pay for the following Mon­ day, which was a holiday. From the State's Mr. LLOYD ROBERTS: It must be the point of view there would have been a loss Government because they are State homes. in the production of coal. The charge for married men's quarters is 5s. llir. Walsh: That is the Gallagher a week. I know that when I mention married award~ men's quarters I shall probably be told that the married men can obtain Housing Com­ I\Ir. LLOYD ROBERTS: I would not mission houses. debate the matter with the hon. ·member. Of course, there are State Housing Commis­ The fact remains that these men had their sion houses, but these people cannot afford to rents increased when they were really not pay the rents that are being charged. I in a position to defend themselves. intend to place these photographs on the table Mr. Power: What was the amount of of the House and ask that they be passed the increase~ 150 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply.

Mr. LLOYD ROBERTS: In some cases, working on this :field and to correct a they were increased by from 50 to 100 per statement by the Chairman of the Board cent. relative to mechanisation. Mr. Power: What was the value of the ''The chief reasons why the Collinsville laJ1d? :field cannot supply the needs of the whole of North Queensland, are lack of long Mr. LLOYD ROBERTS: In the vicinity range planning and bad supervision by the of from £20 to £40. As a matter of fact, Government. This is apparent to anyone I think they were being robbed, because it who knows the history of the :field. would be impossible to grow anything on it. In many cases the land is eroded, and I ''I make the statement without fear of think they •paid more than its true value contradiction that the Miners' Union is not anyhow. opposed to mechanisation where it will not affect the health and safety of our mem­ Collinsville should be one of the largest bers. During the war period the miners of tow11s in Queensland today. It has been Collinsville agreed to the introduction of proved that the coal is there. There is a scraper loaders, a form of mechanisation mighty face. From the point of view of now out of date, but so far the Depart­ underground mining, there would nort be a ment of Mines has not installed one scraper greater face in Queensland on which to work. loader. The place has everything in its favour, and miners could be quite happy there if they ''At this mine todav the men are still were provided with the amenities that would using the antiquated h'and-boring methods make Collinsville the place it should be. of 50 years and more ago and take up to 20 minutes to bore a 6 foot hole. Most Mr. Power: The Government intend to mines in the Commonwealth of any con­ spend £500,000' there on mechanisation. sequence have power borers installed, which bore a hole in about a minute. It is invari­ Mr. LLOYD ROBERTS: I shall tell hon. ably the case that where they are ~n opera­ members something about· that in a minute. tion production has increased consi?erably. It might be something like the mechanisation The miners here have agreed to mcrease when they were going to put scraper-loaders their output if the laborious hand boring into the mine some years ago. methods are eliminated. Collinsville coal has a grading of 13,000 ''Another reason for the gradual decline British thermal units, as against 11,000 for in production is that the number of men Blair Athol and 8,000-odd 'for Callide coal. employed at the coal face is the lowest for lUr. Power: That is pure rubbish! You many years. This is due to a number of do not know what you are talking about. reasons, the chief of which are, viz., the The :figures for Blair Athol and Callide are miserly policy of payments by the man­ 11,000 and 10,000 respectively. agement for work performed not covered by the award, the almost total elimination ltir. LLOYD ROBERTS: The Callide of overtime work by oncost labour neces­ :figure might have improved. sary for the smooth working of the mine, The following item appeared in the the lack of amenities in this isolated area, "Courier-Mail" of 26 July last- shortage of accommodation, e~pecially ~or '' Blair Athol Railway will be strengtlHmed. single men, and greater earnmg capacity in other industries near larger towns. ''Coal Output to Rise. "£653,000 Job to take 16 months. ''From records I possess of memberships during the war period and the present "Blair Athol 's coal output will be time show a decrease from 450 members increased at least 30 per cent. by a £653,000 to 230 and the number of pairs on the railway track improvement scheme.'' coal face from 109 to 37. £100,000 of that amount would do all the "The Coal Board established by the work t.hat is necessary to more than double Queensland Government 'and wh~c~ ~r. Collinsville 's coal production. I am not say­ Hanlon said would make the conditions m ing that this work should not be done at Queensland mines as good as and in some Blair Athol-by all means let it be done--but cases better than those in New South greater and quicker production would be Wales, seems only concerned with open cut. achieved by spending some of the money on mining. No effort h'as been made to Collinsville. Money could also be spent on a rehabilitate the underground mines as railwa,y to Nebo. promised. We understand and sympathise I have here a copy of ''The Collinsville with those who pay the high price for coal Star'' of 22 June last, containing an item frpm the open cuts, beeause the ratepayers under the heading, ''Local and General,'' will -:finally have to foot the bill for the written by Mr. J. Nisbet, secretary of the extra cost. Collinsville Branch of the Queensland Colliery ''With a progressive policy in all under­ Employees' Union. This is what he says- ground mines in Queensland the Coal Board '' Referring to recent reports in the could ensure quantities of coal at reason­ 'Townsville Bulletin' on statements by able cost to meet the requirements of con­ members of the Townsville Regional sumers. This :field has the necessary Electricity Board and a reply by the Min­ quantity and quality second to none in ister for Mines, Mr. Power, I would like Australia, with the possible exception of the to give t,he general viewpoint of miners N eweastle :fields, to supply those needs. Address in Reply. (28 AuGUST.] Address in Reply. 151

''We feel that because of the hazardous matter. In other words, it seems to me that nature of the industry and working in this Government have given no lead to the unnatural conditions underground more people as to how we are to meet t;his press­ inducement should be given men to work ing problem and they are now merely, as in the mines. Miners endeavour to place they have done for some time, sheltering their sons in more congenial jobs. Finally, behind the thought that this is a problem not let me say that those who so caustically for them but for the Commonwealth Govern­ criticise the mine workers, should at least ment. We have a much more direct respon­ visit the human beings who work in the sibility in this matter than that. I propose bowels of the earth and judge for them­ in the time available to. me to indicate some selves if their struggles for better wages ways in which I feel we at least should do and conditions are justified.'' something towards overcoming this evil. That comes from the miners' own secre­ 'l'he evil of inflation, or for that matter in tary. I have also a letter addressed to me other times of deflation, lies in its social injus­ dated 23 July, 1951, from the Queensland tice. In pe'riods when there is either infla­ Colliery Employees' Union, which says- tion or deflation, there must be social injus­ " At the last meeting of the above branch tice. I wish particularly to draw attention it was decided to ask vou to have a discus­ to the very grave social injustice that is being sion with union officials from this centre on imposed on all persons wit;h fixed incomes, such your next visit. as annuitants, pensioners and persons in "Our members are concerned about the receipt of other controlled incomes, such as, decreasing production and lack of develop­ particularly, rentals of dwellings. To per­ ment on this field and would appreciate sons who have invested money in Government your viewpoint.'' loans, or Government Savings Bank, there is a very grave social injustice. I am particu­ (Time expired.) larly mentioning this angle of the problem Mr. lUUNRO (Toowong) (3_13 p.m.) : In because it may be necessary for us to consider making my contribution to this debate I the fact that deflation hurts just as much as shall take my lead in the first place from inflation, except that it hurts different classes the remarks of the Leader of the Opposition of people. If, by reason of events, which we in its early stages, when he drew the atten­ are unable to control, a period of deflation tion of the House to the very serious economic occurs, there will be another great social problem that we face at the present time and injustice, but on this occasion it will hurt to the lack of any sign of Government appre­ mainly our young people, people who in these ciation of the problem or of any clear indica­ artificial boom times are buying properties, tion of what they intend to do. I am, of and in some instances goods, at purely arti­ course, referring to the general problem of ficial prices. Very often they are borrowing inflation, but I do not propose to discuss it much greater amounts of money than they particularly as inflation, because I think that, should, so that we shall come to a stage when although it is to some extent an economic there will be very great hardship to people illness in itself, to an even greater extent it is to whom we owe some duty of protection. in the nature of an indication of an illness. Therefore, all reasonable-minded hon. mem­ As regards the extension of this inflation I bers will come to the conclusion that both wish to mention only briefly that for three deflation and inflation are in t;hemselves or four years now we have had continuous inherently bad and must be viewed seriously. rises in prices to the extent of approximately We must use our best endeavours to see 10 per cent. per annum, and in that time, or whether we can establish equilibrium in both at least since the early war period, prices the financial and economic senses so that we generally have approximately doubled and shall be able to give to everybody financial housing costs in particular have increased and economic security. until at the present time they could in some cases be said to be three times the pre-war As I mentioned, inflation itself is more a figure. symptom than the disease itself and it is an effect rather than a cause. If, as we have In these circumstances I have looked to been told, inflation is substantially a matter His Excellency's Speech for some guidance, of too much money chasing too few goods, it and in it I find this- is obvious that it can only be overcome either '' In our own country a long-t;hreatened by reducing the amount of purchasing power danger has come to a head. I refer to the or, on the other hand, by increasing the supply inflationary situation now occupying the of goods. I propose to base my remarks attention of Governments and various · almost wholly on this way of overcoming national orgttnisations. One can but wish inflation-by increasing the supply of goods them success as a result of their delibera­ rather than by relying entirely on measures tions and express the hope that the people that will reduce money credit and purchasing as a whole, and as individuals, will lend power. their aid in an effort to overcome the evil.' ' There is a further problem at the present I turn over the page, looking for some time. We are all told that with inflation the further indication as to the intentioml of the thing it is most difficult to overcome is the Government, but I am disappointed because momentum the inflationary trend acquires. I the matter is left at that, and the Speech of think our present state might be likened to His Excellency, which is of course based on that of a motor car running down a steep the advice of the Government, merely goes on hill and getting out of control. Its monren­ to certain recitals of fact without any refer­ tum can be check(Jd by applying the brakes; ence to any consideration or action in the but there is also the possibility that in the 152 Address in Reply. [Ai:l~EMBLY.] Address in Reply.

necessary process of applying the brakes we associated to a considerable extent with pro­ may upset the balance, and we may find ductive industry and I have never been in that as we get out of one problem we any way directly concerned with any problem create another. For that reason I would of strikes. I think the reason for that is stress the necessity, in devising measures to that in the organisations with which I have overcome this problem of inflation, of doing been in any way associated there has always two things; first to increase production; been a fair spirit of give and take between secondly to get better production. With the management and the employees. If reference to those terms I might mention that there have been any problems, we have got I had the privilege, in conjunction with the round the table and discussed them together. Deputy Leader of the Opposition, of writing Over the 25 years I have had no personal articles that were published in the ''Courier­ experience of anything remotely in the Mail" of 12 and 13 June, 1951. In those nature of industrial trouble, and I submit articles we defined ''greater production'' as that if a little more of that feeling can be meaning increased production by the com­ iHculcated into the business community and munity of the goods we need or things that into industrial circles generally we should can be exported in exchange for the things achieve those three objectives. we need; and we defined ''better production'' as being a more efficient production with a The fourth is- resultant decrease in unit production costs '' Explore the field of incentives, and a more balanced production. I wish to co-partnership and profit-sharing, and use stress those distinctions because I think we any arrangements found suitable to par­ hear a great deal in many places about the ticular requirements.'' necessity for greater production but, unfor­ tunately, ~-e hear far too little of the much The field of incentives and profit"sharing is more important necessity for better production extremely wide and is not limited to money in the sense 1 have indicated. To the extent incentives. Neither is it limited to some par­ that our high prices are caused by shortages ticular scheme where you have involved agree­ of commodities or of ea pital goods those ments legally binding as between employer and shortages can be overcome by greater pro­ employee. In almost every business there is duction, but to the extent that our high prices some way in which the employees can be are caused by artificially high costs those shown that they have some interest in the artiiicially high costs can only be overcome by successful carrying on of the concern, and better means of producing. That means pro­ in that way you can get peace, harmony and duction at lower unit cost. efficiency in industry. In the course of these articles, we said- As an example, I cite Bruce Pie Industries '' All Governments must play their part in attacking the problem of excess pur­ Ltd. which was founded by the former hon. chasing power, and in controlling abnormal member for Kedron. There we have an money pressure. arrangement which is only one particular ''Assuming that this will be done, our type of incentive or profit-sharing but which nine-point plan for heating inflation b~­ is particularly suitable to the problems of thut achieving 'greater p1·oduction' and 'better elass of industry in which you have, of production' is shortly stated as follows.'' necessity, considerable numbers of female employees who usually create a tremendous I propose reading this short statement and I problem because what we refer to as the invite any hon. member of the Government rate of labour turnover is high. Many of to indicate to me now or subsequently just these female employees usually do not stay what the Go,·ernment have done or are doing long enough to become really efficient and to meet these essential requirements. The usually do not acquire a real interest in the first three items were- success of the undertaking. '' 1. Educate employees and employers to recognise that their interests in common There we have a very simple scheme. Last are greater than their interests in conflict. year it so happened that a dividend rate of This means co-operation rather than class 5 per cent. per annum was paid to share­ warfare. holders, and at the same time to every employee who had been in the employ of the '' 2. Eliminate strikes and go-slowism. company for the full period of 12 months a This can be done by a common-sense bonus payment at the rate of 5 per cent. on approach to the problems by all concerned, the employee's wages was made; if the supported by legislation and firm action employee had not remained in the employ of where such is found to be necessary. the company for the full period of 12 months '' 3. Use and improve our present facili· but had been there for six months the bonus ties for industrial conciliation and payment on that employee's wages was at the rate of 211 per cent. That is a scheme suit­ arbitration.'' able to that type of business and it had a I submit that to make these points effective wonderfully good effect because the employees we must rely on the education of the people have some interest in the successful carrying of this State and that is why I say it is neces­ out of the venture, and they also have some sary for the members of this Government and inducement to remain in the company's of this Parliament to give a lead. employ instead of perhaps drifting away from one place to another after a few months. In So far as I am concerned, I might sa~ the net result, after making those payments, that for a quarter of a century I have been our costs and efficiency compared more than Address in Reply. [28 AUGUST.] Address in Reply. 153

favourably with those of any similar indus­ and secondly, because it was considered at our trial undertaking throughout the whole of recent Liberal Party Convention, when the Australia. following resolution was passed- The next points are (5) "Improve man­ '' That the controls on dwelling rentals a~erial efficiency and extend the application be relaxed to meet the substantially changed of the 'Know How' gained by scientific conditions since February, 1942, and so as research;" (6) "Use our natural resources to permit of rentals being determined on to the best advantage;'' (7) ''Extend a basis more in conformity with present­

mechanisatio'n where practicable·"1 and ( 8) day costs.'' ''Eliminate economic waste.'' Time would not permit of my saying much on those points J.Ur. Donald: Raise the rents? s~para tely_; some of them have already been JUr. ]}IUNRO: Yes, I shall be quite clear discussed m the course of this debate. There on that. In some cases it will be necessary to is a. wide field for the attaining of greater raise rents. Not only will it be fair to raise eflici_ency and lo,yer costs in industry and rents, but it will be in the best interests of for Improvement m managerial efficiency. the community as a whole. The matter of using our natural resources There are two sides of this matter to be to the best advantage is in itself a problem. considered. First, we must consider the It is one on which I am not competent to rights and the interests of the owner of the express any technical opinion but I am sure property, and then we must consider the rights my view will be shared by ~any hon. mem­ and the interests of the tenant. Many of bers on this side of the House when I sav these people are supporters of the member that much good would be achieved if we wer'e who made the interjection. They are people assured that this Government would do who have saved all their lives, who have put nothing to retard the use of our by a little bit whenever they could. Twenty na~ural. reso.urces. There are many ways in or 25 years ago it was the proper thing for which It nught be shown that the actions a man to save enough to buy his own house, t~ken by this Government during the years and then perhaps to put his savings into smce the war have retarded that advance­ another house with the feeling that when he ~ent. . J\fec.hanisation could apply in many reached the age of retirement he would get mdus~nes; m some f?rm or other it is appli­ a reasonable return from that property on cable m almost every mdustry. In the clerical which to keep going in his declining years. work of the Public Service there is very often I suggest that those people have been robbed room for saving in labour by the 'use of by the combined effects of the inflationary modern machines. They are used to a con­ trend and the action of this Government in siderable extent, but I still think there is controlling rents at a figure that is entirely room for improvement. On the question of artificial and uneconomic. Therefore, merely €COnomic waste I submit that there is scope as a matter of social justice to those people, for considerable improvement within the l would reply to the intm·jector that there Public Service, both the Commonwealth and is a case for raising rents in cases where the State. My experience of the Public they have been kept at an artificially low Service is that whilst the officers on the whole figure. are conscientious and efficient, there are many Let me now deal with this matter from the departments in which work carried out is point of view of the young people of this really not essential, and I suggest that one State who are gettiiig married-and old of the means of improving the satisfactory people too, for that matter-and who require working of the Public Service would be to make an examination of all the work carried homes of their own. I emphasise the fact out. We should ascertain just what part of that these people require homes in which to live. The question of ownership is merely that work is unessential or unnecessarily incidental. complex. I am not suggesting that that would reduce substantially the number of During the last few years we have been public servants, because I know that many canying on in this easy way and, taking the Government departments are understaffed at lead from Government,;, our young people present. However, by this means I think we have been encouraged to borrow, many of could accelerate the work of many depart­ them, more than they can comfortably afford ments that are unable to give complete and to repay, and they have been encouraged to expeditious service at the present time. In buy their own properties and to borrow that way some contribution would be made relatively huge amounts on which they have to the problem of high costs. to pay interest and at. so~e time or o~her will have to repay the prmcipal. That brmgs The last point deals with the relaxing of me to the point of view of the purchaser of a artificial restrictions that hamper essential pro­ house in these times. When this inflationary duction, and the using of the powers and trend is continuing and while their property facil~ties of ?overnments for long-term plans, values are increasing at about 10 per cent. keepmg a Wise balance between present and per annum, I ask hon. members, the hon. future needs. In the period since the war, member for Bremer in particular, what is Governments in Australia on the whole have going to happen to these young people if that been far too tardy in relaxing or modifying continues to the stage when we reach the controls that have outlived their usefulness. peak, when the value of the properties on Rent-control is an example. I can give only which these large amounts have been one or two examples of these points, but I borrowed will decline~ These people will be wish to mention rent-control particularly, faced with tremendous difficulties in meet­ firstly because it is really a pressing problem, ing the many obligations they have so lightly 154 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply.

been encouraged to undertake. It is in the Mr. Power: Private enterprise could interests of these people that I speak and not build a house and charge the same rental I . sp~ak now for the future, without any as the Queensland Housing Commission. cntlc1sm of what has happened in the past. It is in the interests of these people that Mr. JUUNRO: I do not wish to enter into re_nt-control should be so adjusted that there any controversy as to the relative costs of the Will be at least some encouragement to Queensland Housing Commission· and private people to build homes, to use their individuals, as that is outside the point, and own funds in building houses that can be I agree that more houses are available on the made available at a moderate and not an home-ownership plan than otherwise. This uneconomical rental, and not a rental that however is a very important thing, and in this under our artificial method of control is out way we could do something for a very of harmony with the economics of the situ· deserving class of people who have saved and ation. put their savings into houses for their old age. I will give one other example, the prices Mr. Foley: Your argument is that a of commodities. One hon. member earlier in person who bought a house on 1930 values this debate, I think the hon. member for should now be able to get 1950 value for it. Balonne, spoke of price-control as though it lUr. MUNRO: I would refer the Minister were simply a matter of price-control as good to the wording of the resolution which I or bad. That sort of view in reference to price­ quoted, which says- control only indicates lack of appreciation of the real problem. Some form of price-control ~' . . . and so as to permit of rentals in a community of this kind is absolutely bemg determined on a basis more in con· essential, particularly in these times, and it is formity with present-day costs.'' entirely wrong to ta.ke the other view, that no I think it is entirely wrong-! know that good purpose can be served by any control of there is a little administrative relaxation-for prices. I feel sure that the hon. member for legislation to be based on the view of rental Aubigny will agree with me tha.t, where there as at February, 1942, when present-day costs is a considerable degree of monopoly in the of building and other costs are two to three production of any commodity, price-control is times that figure. absolutely essential. I do not think the hon. Let me proceed to look at the matter from member for Aubigny would disagree with me, another angle. I should like to see every per· again, if I said that, when the conditions of son in Queensland occupying a home or the production and consumption of certain everybody who wishes to own a home ha~ino­ commodities are such that they are relatiyely the opportunity of owning one, but ~e must slow in their reaction to the economic laws remember that there are many people in of supply and demand, some regulation may be Queensland who, by reason of their occu­ desirable. But if we can get to the stage pation, are unable to settle permanently in where we have full and free competition and one particular locality. There are many get our goods produced and sold without people in the Public Service and in large vexatious price-control in full and free companies with branches in various parts of competition we will get much greater efficiency the State and Australia. The effects of this in industry and much greater economic Government's rent control are that the flow of efficiency than we ever get with price-control. houses available for rental purposes is being If ever we come to the stage of a relaxation of slowly but surely dried up. the present laws in reference to price-control we shall get a much better supply of goods Mr. Foley: There were 10,000 built last to the people. year. Mr. Aikens: Do you not think it is Mr. ]'IUNRO: Not for investment pur­ much better for the Government to control poses, not for rental purposes. I am i1ot prices than city racketeers~ pleading the case now of the people who are :

to it. We must try in every way to get this Mourilyan harbour, yet we :find that during greater production and better production in this current season it has had one ship tied industry-better production that will reduce up at Townsville awaiting repairs, with the our costs and make the goods we require avail­ result that sugar shipments are delayed con­ able not only in volume but at reasonable cost siderably. Why should it be necessary to have se that we can once and for all overcome this a ship on the slip awaiting repairs when that inflationary bogy, retain the economic bal­ work could have been done during the slack ance, and have for our people generally the season~ goods and services they so urgently require. The whole of the North is crying out for lUr. BYRNE (Mourilyan) (3.52 p.m.) : I the movement of our sugar, but still we :find regret very much the absence from this that by one means or another the fault is laid Chamber this afternoon and during this ses­ at the Government's door, and wrongly so. sion of the Hon. the Premier, who has been It may be said that two ships could not be eonfined through sickness to his bed and it at Mourilyan harbour at the one time. That is my earnest hope that he will soon recover argument is not tenable either, @ecause that from that sickness and be able once again to shipping could be either at Goondi or Port take his place in this Assembly. Douglas, picking up the suga; available the_re. This company is doing nothmg to help w1th Honourable Members: Hear, hear! the transport of sugar from North Queensland. JUr. BYRNE: The Premier has for many It merely takes what it wants to take and has years-and this has been said by members of no intention of doing anything more. It has the Opposition-devoted his life to the wel­ been pointed out to the company that its job fare of this great State of ours. That devo­ is to carry goods into the port, but it will tion to duty has brought about the illness give no undertaking that even if the goods from which he is now suffering. He ranks are available that will be done, and various as a great man in the Labour Movement, and excuses are given for that. he ranks very well with the other Labour Mr. Aikens: Do you not think Mourilyan Premiers of this State. harbour should be developed to take big ships Carrying on in his place is the Acting instead of the little lighters~ Premier, the hon. member for South Brisbane. Mr. BYRNE: That would come if we It is pleasing to note that the members of were able to get the sugar away, but if they the Opposition have a high regard for him. cannot do the small job, how on earth are He is a man who is easy to approach and he they going to do the big jaM is willing to listen to them. I am sure he will carry out his duties in a very efficient Amongst other things, the company said and satisfactory manner. that it did not necessarily mean a frequent or reo-ular service for Australian shipowners are My compliments are due to the mover of not able to pr~vide a regular service to much the Address in Reply, the hon. member for larger ports that have all navigation, berth­ Kedron, and the seconder, the hon. member for age and labour facilities. \Varrego. Both those members are young and energetic men and in my opinion they will be My point is that the company has a profit­ of great assistance to. this Parliament. able charter for the transport of that sugar. It has been very profitable to the company I desire particularly to refer to Mourilyan for a number of years, yet we :find our sugar· harbour and I will endeavour to elucidate today lying in store in N ~rth Quee~sl~nd some points on which there is a considerable awaiting the company's own trme for sh1ftmg amount of confusion. We hear people from it. The wharf labourers are doing a good job, time to time suggesting that the Government there are, no labour difficulties, and there is no are at fault in not making available the suggestion of the slow turn-round of ships. facilities that undoubtedly exist there. The Eventuallv, the mill-owners would be obliged fact is that the Government have paid a great to ask the State Government to come to the deal of attention to Mourilyan harbour in ~id of the ship-owners, who have been doing that they are carrying out a considerable so well in the past. I ask that the Sugar Board amount of work in order to make the harbour examine this question with a view to endeav­ as effective as possible under the circum­ ouring to obtain an improved service for the stances, and they will continue to do so. The sugar mills in North Queensland. bugbear in the whole position is none other than the Adelaide Steamship Company, which As to the bulk handling of sugar, I is directly preventing the progress of that earnestly request the Treasurer and Acting port. What is wanted is an active policy in Premier to give consideration to the facili­ respect of shipping. The Commonwealth ties available at Mourilyan harbour. With should force the shipping companies, which are the increase in sugar allocations to the South earning so much and who are doing so well .J ohnstone, Mourilyan and Tully mills, out of the shipping trade, to carry out the together with the possibility of the duplica­ service for which they are so well paid and tion of Tully mill-I do not suggest that provide the vessels that are necessary. Tully mill will be duplicated, but there is the possibility that it will be-somewhere in Sugar is being held up in the various mill the vicinity of 200,000 tons of raw sugar areas today by the lack of shipping facilities. may be exported from that port each year. The suggestions that wharf labourers or other If we can be sure that we are going to send facilities are not available is so much bunkum. out 200,000 tons of raw sugar it will obviously The Adelaide Steamship Co. has a valuable mean that the inward cargo must automatic­ charter !or the shipment of sugar from ally be increased, irrespective of what the 156 . Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply.

Adelaide Steamship Company thinks. At the Mr. BYRNE: I quite believe that, and present time inward cargo is being refused it proves my argument that in most instances and the company will not give a guarantee a~ monopolies are not an advantage to the State. to what services will be available to the public. Another matter is the disparity between the price paid to the cane-grower by the co-opera­ . The sugar industry is of great national tive mill and that paid by .the proprietary Importance and we in the industry must look mill. Instances occur annually in the Innisfail a long way ahead because it is one of the district where a co-operative mill, such as basic industries of Australia that must pro­ South Johnstone, is able to pay approximately gress. New assignments are being made in 10s. a ton more for cane than a proprietary ~o~th J ohnstone, Tully, and other areas and mill, yet the distance between two fa,mls It IS only by means of these increased assign­ supplying those mills is only the dividing ments that additional sugar will be produced. fence. In ~ully returned soldiers who have recently I ask the Secretary for Agriculture and obta.med cane a~signments are toiling and Stock to inquire into whether the Act can be gettmg along qmte well and they will next amended to make it compulsory for all mills year produce somewhere about 50 per cent. to install plant and machinery to enable them 'lf their assignments, and in some cases over to complete crushing in an economic period. their assignments. They will do that in one They should not be allowed to continue in year after the granting of the assignments. the old haphazard way of completing the ~ecau~e of the Gove_rnment 's policy of grant­ crushing when they so desire. There is every mg mcreased assignments or additional reason to believe that it is the farmer who assignments the sugar industry will come into is bearing the cost of an unduly long crush­ its own and we shall be able to produce not ing season. only the amount required for Australian con­ Another matter I desire to stress is that sumption but for export as well. the Regulation of Sugar Cane Prices Acts There is an obligation on the mills to see should be amended to make continuous that t~ey extend their crushing and milling sampling, which has been a,dopted by a num­ operatwns to the extent that they will take ber of mills, compulsory in all mills. Many all the cane coming from these additional of them have not yet introduced it. It is no as~ignments. Very many of the mills are use saying that it cannot be done. The fact domg excellent work in this regard, Babinda that some mills are doing it is proof that it and South J oh:r:stone for instance are doing can be done. They are all sufficiently finan­ excellently to mcrease mechanical facilities cial to be able to do it. To quote some but Tully has done very little or nothing at examples, for a number of years Racecourse all. There are some mills in Queensland that mill has made huge profits, and only last year have very little desire to extend their crush­ it made a profit of £101,000 after providing ihg capacity in order to comply with the Gov­ £20,000 for depreciation, and last year was ernment's desire that additional sugar might regarded as a very bad year. In addition, be produced. Farleigh made a profit of £50,000, Pleystowe made a profit of 28 per cent. on its invested . The re~neries al~o have to play their part capital, and other co-operative mills made m supplymg sufficient refined sugar to the huge profits. The installation of machinery people. I want to quote an incident that for continuous sampling, therefore, cannot be really happened in the earlier part of refused to the growers because of finanPial the season, about June or July in Cairns stringency_ It is something that is necessary particularly when tourist ships dome in. A and should be done without any more delay. number of the tourists began to criticise the lUr. Aiken!!: The profits of the pro­ sugar industry for its apparent laxity of pro­ prietary mills are concealed. We do not d~ctiol_l because little sugar was to be had in know what they are. VIctona and other southern States and the people down there had to rely in some cases Mr. BYRNE: Whether they are con­ on raw sugar, and this was rationed and was cealed or not, the profits of the proprietary sometimes not available. In shol'\ these mills are, in the main, sent to the South, and people did_ not have a good word to say for the districts tha,t produce them are not bene­ the sugar mdustry. They were unable to buy fiting to the extent they should. The profits go to the shareholders, most of whom are refined sugar in the South and it was not a~ trustee companies, shipping companies, and uncommon sight to see tourists walking the other huge concerns in the South. Of course, streets of Cairns with 6- and 10-lb. bags of sugar in their arms. I admit that a certain number of share­ holders in proprietary mills live in North Queensland produces an enormous amount Queensland. of sugar,. yet we. cannot supply people in the I am not in any way anticipating the South ''VJ.th then requirements of refined report of the Royal Commission on the Sugar sugar.. It is a disgrace to talk about the Industry when I mention the duplication of quantity of sugar that we export when we the Tully sugar mill. The report is not yet cannot supply the people in the South with available. all their requirements. It is difficult at times even for people in Queensland to get refined Itir. Walsh: That does not mean that it sugar. should not be duplicated. Mr. BYRNE: No. I am not suggesting )fr. Aikens: The C.S.R. monopoly con­ that the commission will recommend its trols the requirements. duplication. I am simply making a guess, Address in Reply. [28 AuGUST.] Address in Reply. l5T

and in view of the fact that I have had so say there has been absolutely no attempt to, much to do with it, I believe it is the right do so. What about their promise in regaril' step to take. If the con1mission should think to the price of butter~ Nothin15 ~as been along the same lines, well and good. The done. It is a case of one repud1ahon after· duplication of the mill will mean tremendous another. Take the Commonwealth bonds that develdpment of the land, and the putting on recently came before the public. We were· the land of people versed in the industry. It asked to subscribe to the issue at £99, which will also mean the supplying of extra sugar­ is a discount of £1. Today these same bonds cane to the mill in order to keep the wheels are on the open market at about £92 or £93. turning, which in turn will make additional Here is the confidence shown in the Federal labour available and that in turn will mean Government. that their own bonds that were the settling of our people on the land on bought for ·£99 are now valued on the open conditions remunerative to them. However, market for £92 or £93. costs are particularly high at present and that may retard development to some little llir. Aikens: They call them "Fadden's, extent but I assure you that if the Tully Flimsies. ' ' mill is duplicated production will proceed :i1Ir. BYRNE: I do not know whose· fast enough to provide the cane required by flimsies they are, but I advised a certain, the mill at the time when the mechanical person to invest £1,000 in them. What am I duplication takes place. to do in the future~ Am I to sa,y to my Of course, there has been some local hostil­ friends ''Here is another Commonwealth. ity to this proposal and why it should be I loan b~ing floated; go and invest i~ it as it cannot understand. It would lead to the is a gilt-edged security.'' What If such a development of our town and our land. That man says to me, ' 'What guarantee can y·ou local hostility has been engineered to some give me, that if I put in my £100 or £200 or extent and a great battle was put up before £300 in four weeks' time the stockbrokers, the Royal Commission in an endeavour to the financiers or those who monopolise the prove that the duplication of the mill was monev market will not bear the product down not necessary. Those efforts in my opinion to £fl0 or £90 ~" My suggestion is that until were purely unpatriotic and were prompted we have confidence in Governments, Rtate or· by a desire for personal profit and gain. Federal inflation will continue. We must have c~nfidence in our Government as the, Associated with the advancement of the first essential in the rectification of the infla­ Government's sugar policy is credit control. tion that exists. We must be particularly careful to see that Another matter for consideration is the, Federal financial control in the sugar indus­ competition between the manufacturing and try is not pared to such an extent as to primary industries. It is all very well for hon .. cause injury to the industry. Primary pro­ members opposite to say that the. Gover:1ment duction is one of the things about which we are 110t doing enough for the pnmary mdus­ need to be particularly careful and I ask try. We had the hon. member for Aubigny the T'reasurer to ascertain from the Federal saying this morning that the Government are. Treasurer whether it is his intention to pare crippling primary production. He sugges.ted down the amount of money to go into the that the trouble in the first place wa.s pnce­ sugar industry for capital improvements and fixing, in the second place taxation,. and in working expenses and to see that the Queens­ the third place the shortage of matenals. He land sugar industry does not suffer to any said that he was speaking purely from his great extent. Now is the time when we want own point of view and that in doing so he our primary production to go ahead. Now is was not tied to any political party. Fi_rst of· the time, too, to prove to the people of all primary production is not being cnppled Australia and everyone else that we can by' price-fixing. Again where shall we get the produce the refined sugar for our own people materials required by prhnary producers but and for the oversea market but on present out of taxation~ The law o,f supply and! h;dications that will take some years to do. demand in many cases means monopolistic con­ Vie sing to high heaven that we should export trol. We had that illustrated by his remark more of it. Why, the overseas people can that the price of butter should be round about take all the sugar we can export but the 6s. a pound. trouble is we cannot produce it. VVe cannot even produce enough refined sugar for our During the speeches on the Address in, own people. Reply hon. members opposite have complained that the 40-hour week contributed to the­ I propose to make some observation on the present economic situation. Tha! is. simply subject of inflation, not that I am an expert a bogy. Let us have a look at this VIew an_d on the matter but in the hope that my words assume that the award wage for 40 hours IS may have some little weight with my listeners. £] 0 a week which is 5s. an hour. If a worker The first thing in connection with inflation is worked 44 hours a week under that award that we must have confidence in our Govern­ he would earn £11 a week. You will see every ments, both State and Federal. This is an day advertisements by employers ~or labour essential prerequisite if we want to combat at very high rates. They are domg every­ inflation. But when we have no confidence thing possible to filch from primary produc­ in a Government we know that chaos must tion the labour that has been there for so­ ensue. Where today is there that confidence many years. They are doing it because they in our Federal Government. Has their promise are able to outbid the primary-production to put value back into the £ been fulfilled, employer. That is taking place every day .. has any attempt been made to fulfil iU I Why do the employers do this~ Do they say 1158 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply.

they will increase a man's wages out of good­ was it not reasonable to assume that New heartedness~ It has been mentioned time Zealanders, given the opportunity, would .and time again that employees are paid nave filled the positions~ he asked. <;onsiderably more than the basic wage by these manufacturing concerns. They take "In the interests of Queensland textile .away the primary-production labour not employees, the Australian vVorkers' Union because of their good-heartedness towards the and Bruce Pie Industries had collaborated .-employees, but in order to make greater 111 suggesting that workers should consult profits for themselves. There is no doubt dither organisation before leaving their .about tha,t and proof of the statement can be permanent jobs here . .obtained in the published balance sheets of ''He said payment of return to any these companies, and from the people who are employee who, after a. few weeks, dis­ ·employed by them. The latter will tell you covered she wanted to return to Australia that wages and conditions in these manu­ was too much to expect. facturing concerns in Brisbane are better " 'Remember the old maxim-distant than they are able to obtain in the sugar fields look greenest,' Mr. Pie said.'' industry or any other primary industry and therefore they have no intention of return­ There is the complete answer to the sug­ :ing to primary production. gestion made by the hon. member for Aubigny this morning that the State Government Let me read an advertisement that were crucifying primary production. It also .appeared in yesterday's ''Telegraph.'' It bears out my allegation that primary pro­ is signed Stanhill Pty. Ltd. and dated duction is suffering in the first place through .27 August, and reads as follows- competition between the secondary industries and primary production for the available ''Textile Employees. labour, because the inducements secondary ''See the beautiful New Zealand and industries are able to offer are such that Australian scenery while you work: once the employees have been taken from primary production they will never return ' 'An extended holiday on full pay to that sphere of activity. If the advertise­ This is the unique offer. ment I have quoted is genuine it is an "Karma Mills (N.Z.) Ltd. make to the excellent illustration of the competition following skilled female operatives: Over­ between manufacturers and between States lockers, fiatrockers, seamers, seam coverers for employees. button sewers, plain sewers, dressmakers' linkers, buttonhole machine operators. ' lir. LOW (Cooroora) (4.27 p.m.): At the outset I wish to pay tribute to Their ''Free return air or steamer trip. Kxcellencies Sir John and Lady Lavarack, who "Fast luxurious transport by flying boat l•ave taken an intense interest in and done an or steamer to and from New Zealand is enormous amount of good for this State. I provided 'free of charge.' venture the opinion that to date Sir John Lavarack has proved to be the most-travelled "Wages well above award plus efficiency Governor we have had. He has travelled in bonuses. \V est ern, Central and N 01-thern Divisions of ''Wages are guaranteed well above the the State as well as giving great attention award. Your skill will determine just how to the coastal belt, and the people of Queens­ much. (Remember, the New Zealand pound land appreciate these visits because they help is worth 24s. 7d. Australian.) A superan­ his Excellency to understand the State's nuation scheme is in operation, the benefit problems, and certainly boost our spirit of of which is equal to six months' wages for loyalty to the throne and Empire. Only every four years continuous service.'' last week I had the pleasure, privilege and honour of welcoming Sir John and Lady I do not know whether Stanhil! Pty. Ltd. Lavarack to my electorate and their visit 1s such a wonderful concern and such a bene­ was certainly ver~· pleasing to those people tficent employer that it will do these things whom I have the honour to repre~ent. unless they can find some mugs to foot the bill. Who are the mugs who will foot the I hope that next year we shall be able to bill~ Only the wage plugs and the workers meet Their Majesties the King and Queen ·of this great State. Bruce Pie, whose repu­ and members of the Royal family in person tation as a good employer is now known in in this Parliament House. I know the people Australia and who is spoken of highly by of Queensland are looking forward eagerly to my friends on this side, has something to say this visit. ·On this matter. There is a catch in it and he i_s endeavouring to prevent the people' from Last year, when speaking to the Address falhng for the kind of stuff that is advertised. in Reply, I made a special plea on behalf 'The following appeared in the '' T'elegraph'' of the local authorities and the Main Roads •Of 27 August, 1951- Commission for an improvement in the roads '' New Zealand Lure is Queried. system of the State because I believe that it would lead to closer settlement and the ''Textile employees attracted by the speeding np of the dispatch of business prospect of working in New Zealand today throughout the State, especially for people were warned by Mr. Bruce Pie to be on their guard. living in rural areas. Since that time I am pleased to be able to say that local authori­ "If conditions as detailed in advertise­ ties have had a considerable amount of help ments were all they were claimed to be, from the Federal Government. Address in Reply. [28 AUGUST.] Address in Reply. 15!)

Under the Federal Road Aid Scheme that the road has been shifted towards the £806,000 was made avruilable last year to eastern bank and a temporary track provided local authorities in the State. The scheme and red lights have been burning there for will be applied again this year and continued almost 12 months. This matter should receive :for five years. It is one of the best ever put the attention of the Tre'asurer and the Com­ :forward to help local authorities in this and missioner of Main Roads at the earliest other States, and but :for it many of our possible date and thus avoid a serious accident local authorities would have been bankrupt and possible loss of life. or on the verge of bankruptcy or, on the As State highways are financed by the other hand, a considerable amount 6I Main Roads Commission, I believe that all' important work would have been curtailed State highways-and the Bruce Highway in because of the lack of money. I hope that particular-should be the sole responsibility local-governing bodies will -put this money to of the Main Roads Commission's district very good use on permanent works that will engineers and that their construction also be of benefit not only to the shires but to the should b~ supervised by those officials. State. Another matter about which I have some­ The work of the Main Roads Commission thing to say is the dairying in~ustry. qn has also improved during the last 12 months. I behalf of the dairymen of this State :n can see a very definite improvement, no doubt general, and of those in my electorate ~n because of better weather conditions, and I particular, I wish to lodge a very emphatic­ think that the Commissioner and his staff are protest at the very shabby treatment that doing all they can to bring about an all-round they have received from this Goyernment. The· improvement. I make an appeal today to the dairying industry is now passmg through .a Government to reclassify the Bruce Highway very grave period; as a matter of fact, It between Brisbane and Cairns. That very has reached a crisis. With the drought that important coastal road is not classified suffi­ dairymen are at present experiencing, the ciently high to permit of a high priority being stock losses the shortage of feed, and the given to it in construction work. The road lack of a pr~per price for their products, what from Brisbane to Tomvoomba is in a was once a great and :flourishi~g industry higher grade and I feel sure that the Too­ is gradually being crippled; Dmrymen need woomba road, particularly between here and a price that will cover the~r cost of produc­ Ipswie)l, is a higher-class road than roads in tion plus a reasonable margm of profit. the coastal area. I appeal to the Govern­ Mr. Power: That is what they are ment to. bring the Bruce Highway into a getting. higher dassification. It is the responsibility of every hon. member representing a northern ~fr. LOW: As far as I can see, they are· constituency to b'attle very hard :for an only getting it in the neck. improvement in the standard of this road. This State Government are working on one The Bruce Highway has recently been set of figures prepared by the Commissfoner improved in places, but much more is desir­ of Prices, and the Commonwealth Government, able in respect of both width and general are working on another set of :figure~ prepared construction. For many years not much pro­ by the Joint Dairying Industry Advisory C~m­ gress has been made beyond Eumundi, and mittee. The dairymen are undoubtedly bemg although the highway has been under con­ underpaid for their product. struction :for the last 20 years, I feel that It has been said that an increase in the suf:ficient importance is not attached to it in price of butter would mean an increas~ ~n t~e· order that the work on it may be pushed basic wage. However, very .few famihes In ahead. In November last, during the very Brisbane are not connected m some w_ay or heavy rains that fell all over the State, a another with people who are engaged In the slip occurred on the highway between Nam­ dairying industry. bour and W oombye, and although I have made repeated representations o!l:l the matter, I ·do not think they would deny t~eir re~a­ nothing of a permanent nature has been done. tives and :friends in the country a JUSt pnce· 'rhe Teason given for this is that no survevor when they know perfectly well that they are is available. I have often been asked why underpaid :for it today. I think that we use this work has not been attended to; it is butter more extravagantly today than we· a very serious slip alld is in need 'of urgent should. It has been said with truth t~at attention. since the de-control of butter the consumptiOn per capita has increased by 6 lb. a year. Quite recently I had a photograph taken uf this slip. I have it here with me and I :Mr. Aikens: You want to get the: will show it to all honourable members. It children back to the dripping and pepper and proves that that part of the road is receiv­ salt condition that we had in our day. ing no priority at all. The slip is about two Mr. LOW: Nothing of the sort: I want chains in length and half the road in width. to see all human beings enjoying the highest It is very dangerous and is in urgent need of standard of living but I do want to s~e ~he· attention. present situation ended so that the dauymg ~fr. Aikens: I will bet that if it was industry will no longer be a political football closer to Brisbane it would be attended to. between State and Federal Governments. I hope this State will see the light, fall into Mr. LOW: That may be so. line with other States and agree to pass on In its present state, the slip is a danger the full additional price to the consumer. I and a menace to every motorist who uses that am sure that the consumers are ready and' highway. All that has been done about it is willing to pay it. We are passing through 81 160 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply.

tragic time. We are gradually having fewer The Public Service Commissioner controls and fewer dairy farmers in Queensland and the Public Service as well as the Depart­ throughout the Commonwealth. There is an ment of Public Instruction. Let us look at .acute shortage of labour in country areas. the salary paid to the juniors entering the !'f early all the people engaged in the dairying Department of Public Instruction and com­ mdustry are getting up in years and the pare them with the salaries of the juniors ,young folk are finding their way to the cities. recruited into the Public Service. T'ake the There is a grave shortage of material too average age of the junior at 16. The salary .and I go so far as to say that under present of the trainee teacher, 16 years of age, is conditioM millions of man-hours are lost £104 at home, whereas the salary of the junior -~ach Y.<'ltr by -people ~n country areas, includ­ of the same age entering the Public Service Ing dauymen, m rushmg round looking for the is £24 7 5s. The same junior trainee teacher material they require to carry out the work compelled to live awav from home receives an ·On their farms. For instance, there is a away from home salary of £130 as against s~o~tage of fencing wire, roofing material, £302 5s. paid in the Public Service. ppmg and cement and general farm needs. Mr. Devries: One is being taught, and In addition they have to contend with the other is working. ·droughts, bush fires, floods and pests. Many TOads are not of a high standard and this Mr. LOW: That is where the Minister takes toll of the vehicles that have to travel makes a mistake. The junior takes more ·ov_er them. I say with all sincerity that while notice of the pay offered when he is starting ·this battle is' going on betwen the State and work than he does later on. i:he Connnonwealth the dairying industry and Mr. Devries: Apply the principle to the 'Bver:rbody associated with it are being kicked pay of apprentices and the pay of fully to pieces and it will take a considerable time qualified tradesmen. to re-e,stablish what was at one time a great industry in this country. Mr. LOW: The Minister knows that ! I:epeat that as the representative of a these young people in the Training College -dauymg electorate I appeal to the Govern­ do not earn sufficient to pay their board. ment to do the fair thing by the dairymen It is because of the low number of juniors throughout the State and the Commonwealth offering as trainee teachers that the period and to do the fair thing by their families of training in the college is being altered too. I know it was said in this Chamber from year to year, and it is now down to 12 while I was speaking, "What about the months. 'l'he juniors in the Public Service children in the city P" but I reply "What are being trained to become qualified for :about the c?ildren of the countryW What higher positions. Immediately the Minister about the children of the dairymen who have· gets away from the trainee idea the better it to battle along in difficult circumstances and will be for the educational service. How can nre ,unable to get full educational facilities

At Away I\Ir. LOW: The hon. gentleman will Home. from Home. have a greater shortage if he does not get the pay fixed up. I haw been reliably £ £ informed that only recently the students at First Year Junior, average age 15 years 78 104 the Teachers' Training College held a mass .second Year j,~nior, -~verage. age iti years 1r1eeting about the salary question, and it was ...... 104 130 decided to appoint a deputation to meet the First Year senior, average age 17 years 130 169 Director-General of Education on this very ;Second Year Senior, ·~verag~· age i8 serious matter. In due course the Director­ years 169 221 General met the deputation, whose statement was that the amount these people received Address in Reply. [28 AUGUS'J'.] Address in Reply. 161 was totally inadequate to meet their require­ has no control, but when one is making repre­ ments, to enable them to receive tuition at sentations on behalf of some firm asking for the college and keep themselves in a decent an additional tobacco supply, a reply is standard of living and dress. received eventually under the letterhead- :iUr. Power: They do not get a salary '' Tobacco Trade Distribution but an allowance. Committee, Box 616 J, JUr. Devries: We might have a look at G.P.O., that for you. You are a long way behind. Brisbane.'' There is no indication as to the place of Mr. LOW: I will still catch up one of origin, there is no indication as to who is these days. associated with it, there is no telephone Mr. F. E. Roberts: Would you pay all number, and it is not possible even to go ;:~pprentices tradesmen's wages~ and see these people. :illr. LOW: The teaching service is of llir. Aikens: W. D. & H. 0. Wills run grave importance. Once we fail to get that. sufficient teachers this State is sunk. We feel Mr. LOW: Let us find out who these that recruitment of teachers should receive people are. I do not like this sort of busi­ rriority. It is the country people who g0 ness. I suggest that there should be an short of teachers. Every child should have investigation into the whole matter, because I an equal chance to qualify for a position in want to drive these people out into the open. life. Mr. Power: They are out in the open. Mr. Aikens: Whether it is a question of salary or allowance, they still have to live lllr. LOW: They are not. on it. lllr. Power: They have a telephone number. Mr. LOW: Yes. Other members too on this side are very cou0erned about the matter Mr. LOW: They have not. of recruitment of teachers and any sugges­ Mr. Power: And they have a place in tion we make is made with great sincerity. Adelaide Street, and they are a pretty decent It is a matter that should have the earliest crowd. attention of the Minister and the Government. :il!r. LOW: They have no telephone Mr. Devries: You are not suggesting number. It is not on the letterhead and we that my Government are not cognisant of do not know where to go and see them. We the fact~ should drive these people out into the open so that those in control can be interviewed Mr. LOW: The hon. gentleman may be instead of our having to deal with them while well aware of the fact but I believe he has they are behind closed doors. not ma.de any public effort or he has not convinced us that he has been able to convince On 29 May, 1950, I made representations the Cabinet that it is necessary to increase to this committee and asked- allowances for these trainees. It would be " (a) Who authorised the setting up of interesting to know the result of the deputa­ the Tobacco Trade Distribution Committee~ tion that waited on the Director-General. "(b) Is it controlled by the Govern­ llir. Devries: You might be surprised ment~ If so, by whom~ when you heard it. "(c) The aims and objects of the Com­ mittee! Mr. LOW: I should be very pleased to "(d) Names of office bearers and mem­ hear it and I hope it is good news_ bers of the Committee, how and when My time is getting on and I have one or elected~ two other matters to deal with. A matter that '' (e) Business address of the Committee, has caused me a good deal of thought during such as place, street, etc.? recent years---;-and I do not know whether this Government can do anythin!!' about it-is the '' (f) Reason why new quotas are not distribution of tobacco supplies in this State being granted~ and the granting of new quotas. If the Gov­ "(g) Any suggestion for improvement ernment cannot help me something might be of supplies~" done whereby we could discuss the matter, Mr. Power: Another interference with because the position is very unsatisfactory. private enterprise. I am not asking for the reintroduction of control of tobacco supplies, but I cannot lllr. LOW: No. It is merely a matter of understand the shroud of secrecy that is finding out with whom one is dealing. I want thrown about the distribution of tobacco in to know to whom I am writing when I am this State. making representations. One does not want It is very unsatisfactory. It is hard to• to be writing to the man in the moon. discover who has control over it, how they Mr. Power: Did you get a reply? came to get control over it, a.nd who is involved. The Prime Minister, when ques­ Mr. LOW: Yes. The answers to my tioned in the Federal Parliament about questions were- the matter, said that the Commonwealth had " (a) 'rhe Commonwealth Government. no control over it. I know that the State also "(b) No. 1951-G 162 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Questions.

" (c) To ensure a correct and equitable distribution of tobacco. " (d) Messrs. J. M. Marshal!, Chairman, representing the manufacturers, A. E. Maugham, representing the wholesalers, and G. Edmunds, representing the retailers. "(e) Box 616 J, G.P.O., Brisbane. '' (f) Insufficient tobacco for the pur­ pose. " (g) An increased allotment of dollars for the purpose of purchasing increased quantities of tobacco leaf.'' There was the problem of :finding out the name of the secretary. I defy anybody to read the signature to that letter. I wrote to the secretary and asked if he would be ki:r;u enough to type his name under his signature so that I could :find out something about the set-up. I found that Mr. L. G. Cooksley was the ~eeretary of the eommittee. I am afraid that the Government are treat­ ing this matter too lightly. T'hey are sup­ posed to be interested in eo-operative enter­ prise. In February, 1950, a co-operative store was established at N ambour. There are at least 600 customers of the store and up to the present not one packet of tobacco has been allocated to it, let alone one pound. If we are to establish eo-operative undertakings, cannot something be done to get tobacco quotas to satisfy their customers! Some­ body should be in a position to see that businesses of this kind, which are set up to look after the interests of the people-- JUr. Gair: A combine has got it. }fr. LOW: I have made an investiga­ tion and I am bringing the matter before the notice of this House. The committee is hidden in mystery and secrecy. I am making the plea in order that co-operative under­ takings and other reputable :firms and busi­ ness people may get tobacco quotas. It is not right that such a co-operative undertaking should be in existence for nearly two years without a tobacco quota. I have asked several honourable members who is in control e:f the distribution of tobacco and I have not been able to :find out a word about it. llir. Gair: I agree with you entirely. It is a very unfair and unjust distribution of tobacco in the hands of monopoly. Mr. LOW: If there is anything I hate it is a monopoly. I believe in sma.shing up every monopoly. I bring the matter to the notice of the House as I think some investiga­ tion should be made to drive this adminis­ tration olut into the open and thus bring a bout a fairer distribution of tobacco in this State. This is a rause that both sides of the House should support. I reserve any further comments I have to make to my Budget speech. (Debate, on motion of 1.1r. Brosnan, adjourned.) The House adjourned at 5.5 p.m.