Legislative Assembly Hansard 1957
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Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly TUESDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 1957 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Address in Reply. [10 SEPTEMBER.] Member Sworn. 129 TUESDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER, 1957. :Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. A. H. Fletcher, Cunningham) took the chair at 11 a.m. MEMBER SWORN. MR. P. BYRNE. :Mr. Peter Byrne, having taken the oath o" allegiance and subscribed the roll, took his seat as member for the electoral district of Mourilyan 130 Questions. [ASSEMBLY.] Questions. QUESTIONS. of 3d. per lb. on export meat increased the difficulties of buyers seeking meat CROWN TENANTS, CLARE DISTRICT. for the Australian market'f Mr. JESSON (Hinchinbrook) asked the '' 2. If so, will he inform the House Minister for Public Lands and Irrigation- whether the 3d. per lb. bounty is a deficiency '' Will he please supply the names of all payment to bring the export price of b~ef farmers with Crown Leases in the Clare up to the level of guaranterd floor-pnce District, North Queensland, and the acre under the United Kingdom-Commonwealth age of each farm~'' Meat Agreement? '' 3. Is it not a fact that since the com· Hon. A. G. liULLER (Fassifern) mcncement of this season more cattle have replied- been killed at meat works in Queensland than ever before, and that the export price '' The detailed information requested by has fallen following a series of fluctuations the hon. member is contained in a list which in price~ is now laid on thP Table of the House. '' 4. There are forty-two ( 4:2) farms in the Clare As these questions appear to be of area with areas of more than 5V acres and some importance in the fixation of a reason less than 70 acres; twenty-one (21) farms able price for meat for Queensland consumers, would he make the information with area• OYer 70 acres and less than DO available to the AttOTney-General who acres; and four ( 4) farms with areas over 90 acres and less than 120 acres.'' appears to have either a wrong conception of or no knowledge of the beef export Whereupon the hon. gentleman laid the list market since July~" on the table. lion. 0. 0. MADSEN (Warwick) replied- STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATES. " 1. Yes. llfr. WOOD (North Toowoomba-Leader '' 2. The bounty pail! to exporters of beef of the Opposition) asked the Attorney to the United Kingdom is not a payment General- to bring the export price of beef up to the '' 1. Does the opinion expressed in level of a guaranteed 'floor' price. The Parliament on 3 September by the hon. bounty is paid by the Australian Meat member for Mt. Gravatt, that magistrates Board from deficiency payments made by are incapable of understanding certain civil the United Kingdom Government to Aus matters which come within their jurisdic tralia under the 15-year Meat Agreement. tion, represent his view f '' 3. Cattle slaughtering at meatworks have this year been higher than u~ual, but '' 2. Does he agree with the hon. member for some time cattle have been m short for Mt. Gravatt that in most instances supply and it is not expected that the these magistrates do not understand the increaFe in slaughterings will be maintained complicated civil actions which they are throughout the year. The London Meat required to det.ermine under existing law~" Market is depressed, but the bounty has assisted beef producers to retain this market Hon. A. W. MUNRO (Toowong) replied- which is vital to the industry. "4. The Hon. the Attorney-General is "1 and 2. If the hon. member will refer fully aware of all the relevant facts and to Mny 's Parliamentary Practice, 14th circumstances of the meat industry. As Edition, at page 336, he will note that, in the hon. memher for Kedron seems accordance with established Parliamentary to be ill-informed on the subject of prices practice, answers should not be given to fixation, I wish to inform him that prices questions which merely seek an expression are not fixed by the Hon. the Attorney of opinion. Furthermore, the Address in General.'' Reply debate is at present in progress, and in the course of this all members of this Parliament hwe the opportunity, if they Et:ROPEAN HOUSE BORER COMMITTEE. so desire, of expressing their opinions. So llTr. J,I,OYD (Kedron) asked the far as I am concerned, I will not hesitate to 'l'rusurcr and Minister for Housing- express my opinion on this or any other '' 1. Has a committee, named the matter if or when I feel it is in the public European House Borer Committee, been interest for me to do so.'' formed to investigate ways and means of combating the effects of these borers on INCRBASED MEAT PRICES. imported pre-fabricated homes at Zillmere; if so, (a) When was this committee formed; ~Ir. LLOYD (Kedron) asked the (b) What conclusions have been arrived at Minister for Agriculture and Stock- by the committee~ '' 1. Has his attention been drawn to '' 2. In view of thA obvious danger to the reported statement ('The Courier Queensland's forest stands of softwoods Mail'), 31 August, attributed to the Price will he ensure that the European House Fixing Commissioner relating to an borer has been eliminated from these houses increase in the price of meat and before thev are made available for stating inte1· alia 'The Pederal bounty purchase~ " Questions. [10 SEPTEMBER.) Questions. 131 '' 3. What safeguards were taken under there were 67 general intertown goo~s Commonwealth quarantine arrangements licenses and 132 goods licenses m when these houses wore received in other categories current on the register Brisbane~ of the Commissioner for Transport. "4. Were any reports submitted by If the hon. member has specific firms in Queensland Housing inspectors in relation mind and directs a question accordingly, the to the construction of these pre-fabricated information sought would be more readily houses and the quality of material used available. (c) The reasons for granting any and what action was taken by th~ tonnage increase to a licensee vary in Commission to remedy difficulties disclosed accordance with the submissions by the by such reports, if any~" applicant licensee when making his applica tion and all are determined in the first Hon. T. A. HILEY (Coorparoo) instance by the Commissioner upon their replied- individual merits. His decision to grant or ''1. Yes. (a) July, 1953. (b) That the refuse to grant the request is submitted to number and distribution of the affected the Minister for Transport for confirmation houses are such as to make wide-spread in accordance with Section 16 of the State establishment of the borer a possiblity. Transport Facilities Acts. Tenders were not invited in anv case before increases were "2. Yes, I will. With a view to the granted to existing licensees, upon the elimination, if possible, or the control of authority of a decision of Cabinet dated the European House Borer I have arranged 18 May, 1948, which is set out hereunder:- for a discussion at my office tomorrow after noon with Mr. G. A. Hepburn, an Entomolo ' J. "\Vhere evidence is sufficient gist of the Department of Agriculture to establish that existing licensed opera Union of South Africa, who has expert tors of goods services are carrying on knowledge of this borer's activities in his an efficient and satisfactory service and country. Following this conference a deter that when existing licensed capacity is mination will be made on the action to be insufficient to lift loading available to taken and whether tenders will be called them, favourable consideration may he for the fumigation of the houses. given to increasing the number of or capacity of vehicles without inviting '' 3. All timber when received in Brisbane applications by newspaper advertisement. wns examined by Commonwealth quarantine officers who found nothing wrong with it '2. Any increases granted should take and the timber was released. cognisance of the fact that there is need to conserve petrol to reasonable consump '' 4. Yes. Action was taken to require tion limits. the contractors to carry out correction work the Commission's inspecting staff on thi~ '3. Such increases must not in eases contract was increased, an officer-in-charge where more than one licensed haulier of one of the Commission's day labour pro operates be discriminatory in character. jects was detailed to the supervision of the Every effort to be made to ensure fair work and some of the Commission's trades and equitable adjustments of claims. men were placed on the job to carry out '4. Uneconomic and too rapid rectification work at the contractor's development of road services should be expense. Such severe action to bring about prevented and in this regard due con a proper standard of workmanship was one sideration to be given to suitability and of the principal factors which led the con efficiency of alternative service. tractors to abandon the contract.'' '5. All recommendations respecting increased capacities to be made to ROAD TRANSPORT TONNAGES. Minister for confirmation before notifica tions are sent to applicants.' Mr. HILTON (Carnarvon) asked the Where new licenses have been approved, Minister for Transport- tenders were first called by public advertise '' ·wm he furnish information showing ment or were authorised by the Governor (a) the increased tonnages granted to in Council, in accordance with Section 29 licensed road transport firms during the of the Acts.'' past seven years; (b) the names of the firms who were granted such increases HOUSING COMMISSION CONTRACT, ZILLMERE. showing the respective tonnages in each Mr. lliANN (Brisbane) asked the case; and (c) the reasons for granting such Treasurer and Minister for Housing- increases and whether tenders were invited '' 1.