Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER 1944

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

640 Questions. [ASSEMBLY.] Questions.

These figures are exclusive of the sum of £8,343,770 invested by the Insurance Com­ missioner in Commonwealth loans, and advances to local authorities and similar bodies by way of debenture loans. '' 2. This information will be made avail­ able in the quarterly statement of the Trea­ sury Accounts, which will be published shortly in the 'Government Gazette.' ''

SHOWGROUND RESERVE, LONGREACH. Mr. DEVRIES (Gregory) asked the Sec­ retary for Public Lands- '' 1. Will he give further consideration to the matter of vesting the Council of the shire of Longreach with control of the show­ ground reserve at Longreach, pursuant to the provisions of section 45 of the Local Government Act of 1936 ~ '' 2. Have the councils been vested with the control of showgrounds reserves in the towns of Barcaldine, Bundaberg, Charle­ villeW" Hon. A. JONES (Charters Towers) replied- '' 1. The showground at Longreach is a reserve set apart under the pTOvisions of the Land Acts, and it is at present under the control of trustees comprising three local persons appointed pursuant to the provisions of those Acts. The Land Acts provide that a local authority may be appointed trustee of a reserve. Upon receipt of the resigna­ tions of the present trustees, and an intima­ TUESDAY, 3 OCTOBER, 1944. tion that mutually satisfactory arrange­ ments have been made for the Council to take over as trustees the property, &c., of Mr. SPEAKER. (Hon. 8. J. Brassington, the trust, I am prepared to seek Executive Fortitude Valley) took the chair at 11 a.m. authority for the appointment of the Long­ reach Shire Council as trustee of the show­ QUESTIONS. ground reserve under the provisions of the Land Acts, but I am not disposed to view STATE INVESTMENTS AND CASH BALANCES. favourably any proposal which would have llir. MACDONALD (Stanley), for llir. the effect of taking the administration of BRAND (Isis)., asked the Treasurer- land reserved for showground, or for any like public purpose, outside the provisions '' 1. What are the details of investments of the Land Acts. The relevant sections of of surplus State funds at 30 September 1944? those Acts have been specially designed to provide for the administration and control '' 2. What is the present cash balance of of reserved lands and for the supervision of all funds, ex·clusive of investmentsW" the affairs of trustees of such land. Hon. E. M. HANLON (Ithaca) replied­ "2. No. The reserve at Barcaldine is a ,' 1. Invested on account of- reserve for recreation and showground pur­ poses under the control of the Barcaldine £ Shire Council as trustee, pursuant to the Main Roads Trust Fund 500,000 Post-war Reconstruction Land Acts. The reserve at Bundaberg is and Development for showground purposes only, and is held Trust Fund .. under deed of grant in trust under the con­ 8,500,000 trol of local persons as trustees, appointed Treasurer's Trust Funds 2,000,000 pursuant to the provisions of the Land Acts. Other Trust Funds 95,500 The reserve at Char leville is for racecourse and showground purposes, and is held under £11,095,500 deed of grant in trust under the control of local persons as trustees, appointed pur­ Invested as follows:­ suant to the provisions of the Land Acts.'' Commonwealth Inscribed Stock . . . . 5,045,500 FIXED PRICES OF MUTTON. Fixed Deposit with the Commonwealth Bank 6,050,000 Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) asked the Attorney-General- £11,095,500 '' 1. Has his attention heen drawn to· various Press articles which assert that the Supply. [3 OcTOBER.] Supply. 641

Commonwealth Prices Regulations, especially :Mr. :MAnER (West Moreton) (11.12 in regard to mutton, are detrimental to a.m.) : I should like, first of all, to this State insofar as they give preferential talm this opportunity of congratulating the trade treatment to New South Wales~ Treasurer upon the compilation and the '' 2. If so, will he ascertain from his delivery of his first Budget. The hon. gentle­ Crown Law officers if in their opinion this man has been selected by his leader as is a contravention of section 99 of the Com­ Treasurer of this State. That is no doubt monwealth Constitution? in recognition of his undoubted industry and capacity both in this Parliament a'nd in '' 3. If sa, will he recommend to the the Department of Health and Home Affairs, Government appropriate action to see that which he previously administered. the Constitution is observed W" I should like to break a lance this morn­ non. D. A. GLEDSON (Ipswich) replied- ing with the Treasurer on many important points contained in the Budget, but many of " 1. to 3. Neither I nor the Crown's legal the subjects on >vhich I would do so have advisers have sufficient knowledge of the been so effectively covered by the Leader of facts upon which to base a decided opinion the Opposition, the hon. members for Logan in this matter. Any person who may think and Oxlc:y and other members of the Opposi­ himself damnified by these regulations may tion, that for the first time for a number take such action as he may be advised for of years I will let the Budget points go by his own protection.'' the board and deal with the report of the l~oyal Commission on Fruit and Vegetables. REPORT OF APPRENTICESHIP INVESTIGATION The preliminary report of the Royal Commis­ COMMITTEE. sion has been printed and is now available. :Mr. PATERSON (Bowen) asked the Sec­ It would repay hon. members the time they retary for Public Instruction- would occupy in studying its conclnsions. It '' 1. Has he received the report of the bears out every statement I made in this Parliament last year when I a'sked for the Apprenticeship Investigation Committ·ee~ appointment of a Royal Commission to '' 2. If so will he kindly make the inquire into the abuses that were apparent in report available to Parliament and the the marketing of fTUit and vegetables under Press~'' war-time price control. Hon. J. LARCOlllBE (Rockhampton) :Mr. Gair: It bore out all you said, replied- together with the fact that the farmer was '' 1. and 2. The report will be presented getting his chop, too. to Parliament this morning.'' Itlr. :MAnER: I will cover all points as I proceed. PAPERS. I attended many sittings of the Royal The following papers were laid on the Commission at Brisbane and at Gatton. I table, and ordered to be printed:- pay a tribute to Mr .•Justice Philp, the chair­ Report of the Police Investment Board for man, for his splendid work. He applied the year 1943. himself with great vigor and brilliancy to Report of the committee appointed to the elucidation of the intricate details and inquire into matters relating to the knotty problems associated with the ma'rket­ employment and training of apprentices ing of fruit and vegetables as it affects the and minors. growers, the consumers, and the agents. Where the growers' difficulties were concerned Report and balance-sheet of the Public the bulk of the work attached to the examina­ Curator of Queensland for the year tion of witnesses fell on Mr. Justice Philp. 1943-1944. Unfortunately Mr. Wort, who was selected by The following paper was laid on the the Government as the representative of the table:- growers, proved to be the silent member of the Commission, and was of no help in Proclamatiou, dated 28 September 1944, relating to the cleaning of school build­ making the growe·rs' case understood. Although Mr. Ha'rvey was the consumers' ings and the allowances payable therefor. representative I should like to express my SUPPLY. appreciation of his very fair and rea'sonable approach to th~ problems of the growers. I COMMETTEE-FINANmAL STATEMENT­ would remind Parliame·nt that the conclusions RESUMPTION OF DEBATE. and recommendations of the Commission were absolutely unanimous. It should also be kept (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Mann, in mind that the final report is still in the Brisbane, in the chair.) hands of the Government Printer, a'nd is not Debate resumed from 28 September (see yet available to hon. members. The report p. 640) on Mr. Hanlon's motion- that is available is merely the preliminary report furnished to the Government and " That there be granted to His Majesty through them to Parliament. Unfortunately, for the service of the year 1944-1945 a onlv a limited number of copies of the pre­ sum not exceeding £300 to defray the lim.inary report were printed. When I applied salary of the Aide-de-Camp to His Excel­ for six copies I was told that there were lency the Governor.'' none left. Subsequently, however, the officer 1944-x 642 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. made inqmrres and informed me that some­ On page 5 of the preliminary report they body had returned six copies. It seemed to make this quali:fication:- me to be more than a coincidence. ' 'In considering the present high returns Mr. Hanlon: If the officer went to the to growers the following facts must be trouble of gathering them up for you you taken into account:-- should appreciate his courtesy. 1. The fact that through lack of man­ power the growers generally and their Mr. MAHER: If those were the facts I wives and families have been working should be grateful, but it seems to me that excessively long hours to produce the my stroke of good fortune was more than a crops. Most of those people are middle­ passing coincidence-six copies were returned aged or older and the ill-effect on their by some person who had no further use for health of the sustained hard work in them and I had asked for six copies. Other cHrtain districts was apparent to us.'' people ~ave informed me that they applied for copies of the report and were told that I therefore wish to submit to the Com­ none were. avail?-ble .. I hope, therefore, that mittee that if many growers have shown the Premier will give instructions to the increased pro:fits during the past two years it Government Printer to run off several is not as a result of one man's labour and thousand copies of the preliminary report industry alone; it has resulted from the assist­ and also of the final report. Once it is known ance given by their wives and families, and that the reports are available farmer~' in the words used by the Royal Commission, C>rga'nisa tions and others interested in the because they "have been working excessively vroblems of marketing will provide a fairly long hours to produce the crops." That constant demand for copies of what must be should be kept in mind. After all is said and very informative and highly interesting done, if substantial re,turns were made by documents. Action should also be taken by one farmer working alone on short hours with the Government Printer to see that the reasonable leisure they would be high returns interests that h>tve been 13t1·ongly criticised. in but when the farmer works from early morn­ the report should not be permitted to buy up ing till late evening and is helped by his the whole issue when printed, l'nd thert'by wife and family and thus imposes consider­ stop it from getting into circulation. able strain on himself and on them we may, in assessing what is stated to be a high 1Ur. Hanlon: Do you not think it would income, justly take into account the fact be a good idea for those bodies that require that it is a pool return for the family labour. copies of the reports to order them in advance The Commission has taken that into account. and so avoid waste~ There is hardly a farm in the State where one, of the sons is not in the :fighting services Mr. MAHER.: It is not known at the and in many cases one or two daughters have present time that the reports are available. enlisted in the different women's auxiliaries. The :final report is not in the hands of hon. The growers, with their wives and families, members yet, but when it becomes available have made a considerable effort to grow the and the, farmers' organisations have an crops essential to supply the Allied armies opJ2ortunity of knowing that fact then I am and :field services, as well as the people of sure there will be constant demands for Great Britain and our own civilian require­ copies of the report. ments. It will be agreed that the farmers generally have shown a :fine patriotic spirit The :findings of the Royal Commission and it can truly be said they have kept the based on the evidence collected was as food production front fluid and active. High follows: :first, the growers generally have taxation has removed the incentive to strive been for the past two years enjoying very for high pro:fit in many different directions good and in some cases excessive returns; today. The farmers and fruit- and vegetable­ secondly, the growers' agents have received growers, as the Commission states, have and are receiving excessive commissions; worked excessively long hours together with thirdly, the retailers have received and are their wives and families to produce the food rece·iving excessive pro:fits. that Australia needs today. Having regard In regard. to the first :finding the Commis­ to their indu&trious efforts to assist food sion stated that it merely used the word production, as acknowledged in the Commis­ ''excessive'' in respect of some growers' sion's report, it is appropriate that I should returns as meaning-and I quote the Commis­ at this stage draw the attention of Parlia­ sion's own words-- ment to the contemptible satement made by Mr. Foster, the Australian Potato Controller. Tbe CHAIRMAN: Order! I hope hon. on oath before the Royal Commission, as members will pay attention to the hon. follows:-- member for West Moreton and that those who ''That certain Queensland potato-growe,rs do not want to hear him will carry on their refused to sign potato contracts in 1942 sub-committee meetings outside. because Hitler was well and truly in the saddle at that time, and these people were Mr. MAHER: These are the exact words more or less favourably disposed towards of the Commission:- him.'' '' The pro:fits made are extremely high The clear intention of Mr. Foster's state­ comparing capital employed and the effort ment was that Queensland potato-growers of expended, with those employed and German descent hampered the war effort in expended in other types of business.'' 1942 by refusing to sign potato contracts. Sttpply. [3 OcTOBER.] Supply. 643

~Ir. Power: If he knew who they were Queensland Royal Commission on Fruit why did he not tell the military about iH and Vegetables. No such Tefiection was stated or intended. lUr. 1\IAHER: He made this statement before the Royal Commission. This is a '' 'l'he reply made by me and to which very serious statement that has been made exception has been taken did not even sug­ on oath by a highly plaeed officer of the !Sest that all growers who failed to Tegister Commonwealth and not one ve,stiae of m accordance with National Security Regu­ evidence was adduced by him in supp~rt of lations were actuated by disloyal motives, this statement. but it did indicate to the Commission that some vegetable-groweTs of enemy alien lUr. Hilton: The Commission could have origin did not appeal' to be in sympathy asked him some questions. with the objectives of Food Control, and Mr. JliAHER: We owe a very great debt showed a lack of co-operation with the to the old German settlers who came Government. here in the pioneering days and · helped ' 'No-one realises more keenly than I the to clear the dense coastal scrub of south­ magnificent job which has been done by eastern Queensland. V cry few of the Australian vegetable-growers in stepping old German settlers are alive. Their sons up production of potatoes and other vege­ and daughters are Queensland-born and these tables, and I have given them unstinted sons and daughters are to be found in all praise in the Press, over the radio and on our Australian fighting services today. Could the platform. anyth_ing: be more stupid than to suggest that the Signmg of a potato contract is a test of ''I would not wish to hurt any of these loyalty? If loyalty centres round potatoes patriotic producers and I have no hesita­ then the real test was not the number of tion in saying that I regret having uncon­ contracts signed but the quantity of potatoes sciously hurt their feelings. I can only grown, and the potato crops of 1942 approxi­ say that my remarks did not in any way mate those of any other year. That disposes refer to them.'' of Mr. Foster's cowardly allegation. I asked You see, Mr. Mann, that Mr. Foster cleaTly the Deputy Controller, Mr. Brabiner, for the draws a line between what he teTmed loyal figure~ for .1942 and 1943, 1942 being the Austmlian vegetable-growers and growers of year m wlnch Mr. Foster said Hitler was enemy alien origin. In his letter to the well and truly in the saddle, and Mr. Brabiner Minister he does not offer one scrap of informed me on 26 April last that the 1942 evidence in support of his base charges, nor production figures, between 24 October and does he express any contrition for his 31 December, 1942-and that is the year men­ slander of the Queensland vegetable-growers tioned by Mr. Foster-were 10 644 tons and born here of German descent. He does not for the corresponding period of 1943 11 538 appear to realise that a man can trace his tons. The difference is slight and dould be ancestry to an enemy country yet be a loyal due to better seasonal conditions. and honourable citizen of this country where The facts are that there was some hesitancy he was born. If Mr. Foster had his way on the part of many potato-growers, irre­ General Eisenhower would be removed from spective of national origin, about signing the supreme command of the Allied armies in potato contracts in 1942. It was a system Europe. General KTueger would be removed entirely new to them and the contract pro­ from his conrmand of United States forces vided for a minimum price of £10 a ton. in the Pacific, and General Eichelberg would N,ran_:v growers at the time thought that by be relieved of his command in New Guinea. srgmng the contract they would be restricted All these men aTe American citizens of what to that sum of £10 a ton and rather than Mr. Foster calls enemy alien origin. On sign a contract were willing to take a business that basis none of those men should enjoy risk on the open market. It was therefore citizen rights in the country of their birth. purely a business matter with them and loyalty to this country did not enter into Mr. Hanlon: That is what you put over it. I may add that a public meeting was about Dr. Dittmer in the Oxley by-election. called a't Gatton. This meeting was largely attended and thereat a JlllOtion was unani­ Mr. MAHER: I know Dr. Dittmer person­ mously adopted protesting to the Minister ally and res·pect him. I have never made a for Commerce and Agriculture, Mr. W. J. single reference to his nationality. If a man is Scully at Canberra. The matter was referred born in this country he is an Australian and by the Minister to Mr. Foster, and his reply has the sa'me. rights as anybody else, irre­ adds insult to injury. This is what he said spective of national origin. If this extra­ on 29 May 1944- ordinary attack of Mr. Foster's on the potato­ grower of enemy-alien origin was pursued to , 'The Hon. W. J. Scully, M.H.R., its logical conclusion many distinguished ''Minister for Commerce and leaders of German ancestry in the A.I.F. Agriculture, would lose their commissions. I went to ''Sydney. school in Grenfell, New South Wales, with a boy of German descent named Jack Peck. ' 'My dear Minister, He enlisted in the A.I.F. and had a most ''I ~egret very much that any loyal distinguished record in the war of 1914-1918. Australian vegetable-growers in Queensland He served in Gallipoli and in France. He ~hould have taken offence at any of my enlisted as a private and returned to this answers given m evidence before the country as a lieut.-colonel. Regrettably, he 644 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. died in Brisbane while he was State Com­ For the year 1942-43 61 Brisbane produce mandant for Queensland. There is no reason agents made a net profit of £172,000, an OT justice in the attack Mr. Foster has made average of £2,829 per agent. upon the potato-growers of German descent, The fo'llowing table taken from the Commis­ to whom he refers in sneering tones as being sion's report sets out the position clearly- of enemy alien origin. 5 agents made under £500 net profit. A very great principle is involved in this subject. 'I'he Asiatic threat to this country 12 agents made between £500 and £999 will not diminish as time goes on. Our net profit. wisest political leaders today, irrespective 18 agents made between £1,000 and £1,999 of party, recognise that European immigration net profit. must be strongly stimulated and encouraged 9 agents made between £2,000 and £2,999 in the post-war period. European migrants net profit. will feel little encouragement to come to a 11 agents made between £3,000 and £4,999 country where high officials of the Common­ wealth are permitted to slander their Austra­ net profit. lian-born sons and daughters. Australia can 3 agents made between £5,000 and £9,999 never rise to the heights of national great­ net profit. ness unless our national leaders and the 3 agents made £10,000 and over net profit. people in general help in the great duty of From this table it is abundantly clear that the welding together all the different elements wolf is not howling outside the door of the of our country. People of the Foster type farm pToduce agent. And these are net who wilfully create disunity should be profits too; many contingencies have been punished. There are· far too many mis­ provided for before a net pTofit is returned. chievous people in Australia today who take These are substantial figures. sadistic pleasure in baiting native-born Aus: tralians of German, Italian, and Jewish The statement was also made, based on origin. A sense of tolerance, justice and fair the results of the first nine months of 1943-44 play should animate our people and our as furnished by the C.O.D., that the profits lead·ers. There is a place for those who are made by most agents will be greatly in excess disloyal and guilty of subversive activity. o·f the 1942-43 results. I think the exact If the case is proven against such people I words contained in the report should be would show them no mercy at all, but in my stated here. They are as follows- experience the children of parents who come "It is manifest then that the a:Ilowance from European countries are f'ager to be of 10 per cent. selling commission is and assimilated and to become good and loyal has been too high especially when it is citizens of this country. remembered that prior to the war these During 5 years of war I know of only agents had really to sell the goods whereas one man who was interned from the electoral now because of short supply and strong division of West Moreton, which, I think, is demand they are for the most part dis­ a very fair indication of the loyalty of the tributors.'' people of that district, in which there is a The C.O.D. gave rebates to suppliers for big element of people of German ancestry. 1942-43 of 50 peT cent. of the 10-per-cent. Mr. Foster's unjustified attack upon good, commission deducted. Of course, the C.O.D. decent, loyal Australian citizens helps to is exempt fTom the payment of income tax, break down all those principles of liberty and which would help it very considerably in a .iustice expressed in the old term, ''British matter of that kind. fair play.'' I have no hesitation, therefore, in denouncing Mr. Foster as a bounder. A lUr. Collins: It is taxed on the profits man who would make that charge, unsus­ it makes. tained before the Royal Commissioner is a ' 'nastv piece of work,'' to use the vernacular; Mr. MAHER: As I understand it, the and I charge him accordingly. If the C.O.D. is entirely exempt from the payment o'f income tax. I take the report of the Minister for Commerce, Mr. Scully, had any sense of rightness at all he would have Royal Commission as my authority for that directed Mr. Foster to reappear before the statement. Royal Commission and furnish proof of his The question arises: what do the State charges or offer an apology to the potato­ Government intend to do~ The rate of growers whom he had so grossly insulted. commission is fixed by regulation under the The Royal Commission unanimously found Farm Produce Agents

JUr. Walsh: You know that a Common­ profits were, to use his own words, most wealth law can over-ride a State law. extravagant. Well, let Mr. Lindsey ponder over the Commission's finding expressed in lllr. MAHER: I know that. What I want the following words- to drive home is the question whether the State Government intend to recommend to the '' That a group of agents and merchants Federal authorities a reduction in the rate had received an excessive profit-a profit of commission so that effect may be given to in no way commensura:te with the services the recommendation of the Royal Commission rendered.'' on this matter. Let Mr. Lindsey put that in his pipe and On the subject of retailers' profits the smoke it! The Royal Commission, basing its evidence was that fruit a·nd vegetable dealers findings on the weight of evidenee, arrives at usually sold on a margin of 50 per cent. on that conclusion. Mr. Lindsey is in receipt wholesalers' prices. For example, as the of a substantial salary as Commissioner of Commission put it, a retailer bought a pine­ Prices for Queensland. His job is to control apple in 1939 for 4d., and made a profit of excessive profits and take action a·gainst 2d. by selling at 6d. Now he buys a pine­ avaricious traders who profiteer at the apple for 1s. 6d. and adds 9d. profit working expense of a helpless community. The Com­ on the basis o·f 50 per cent\. as a mark-up in mission also had this to say, and I should prices. It will be clear to hon. members that like him to consider these words- both the farm produce agents' and the " Even with regard to price-fixed retailers' profits ·expand to the point of commodities the prices being charged are exploitation as fruit and vegetable prices too high. The evidence placed before us increase in value and it should be kept in clearly shows that the price-fixing law is not mind that no more work is involved than being enforced and in consequence is not when the wholesale prices of fruit and vege­ being observed by many agents and tables were lower. retailers. In our view then the prices of l'\Ir. Walsh: The evidence showed that all fruit and vegetables should be fixed the consumer was being exploited by every and the law adequately enforced; inadequate other section. law enforcement is not only a detriment to the public but is a·n injustice to the Mr. MAHER: The hon. member must honest trader. '' take his share of the responsibility, because Those are the words used by the Royal the State Government took no action this Commission, that is its conclusion-that the time last year when prices were soaring. On law was not being enforced. We can interpret the subject of price control the Commission's that conclusion in no other way than as a finding was, as I have stated, that the strong censure of the Prices Branch. The retailm·s were receiving excessive profits. Federal Government have failed in their duty This time last year, as the Roman Emperor, to the public by not insisting on the enforce­ Diocletian, said in his famous edict, there ment of the law. The 8tate Government must was ''raging avarice;'' both Commonwealth take some measure of blame as they took no and State Labour Governments were obviously step to check prices until jolted into action pursuing a policy of what the French would by a speech I delivered on 27 October, 1943. call laissez faire. Their policy was ''Let sleeping dogs lie.'' Price-control machinery The Commission had an interesting comment existed but the Deputy Prices Commissioner, to make on the State Department of Agricul­ Mr. Lindsey, hooked his line to catch an ture and Stock. It has drawn pointed occasional little fish but winked his eye as attention to the lack of statistics to show the big sharks cruised past. the qua'ntity and value of fruit and vegetables passing through the markets each year. It It might interest the Committee to know is also clear from its report that the State just how expensive the Prices Branch is. Department of Agriculture and Stock has Professor Oopland, as the Commonwealth never enforced the Farm Produce Agents Act Prices Commissioner, started off about four so as to provide for a uniform system of years ago with a staff of one officer. For keeping- a check. The exact words of the the year ended June 1942 the cost of his Commission might very well be quoted here- bra'nch was £84,401; for the year ended June 1943 he budgeted for £122,000 but actually "We regret to say that the inaction of spent £173,682; for the financial year ended the Department of Agriculture in the 30 June 1944 he budgeted for £285,000. I enforcement of the Farm Produce Agents have not the facts showing the actual expendi­ Act of 1917 and of other Acts conferring ture of his department for the year ended powers upon it, has caused us some con­ 30 June last but the above figures are taken cern and will be more fully dealt with in from the report of the Commonwealth a later report.'' Auditor-General. This is the cost of a W11y were the Farm Produce Agents Act and department of Sta'te designed and paid to other Acts conferring power on the Depart­ control prices-£285,000 was what Professor ment of Agriculture and Stock not enforced~ Copland budgeted for at 30 June 1943. That is a pertinent question I may justly As an example of failure of the Prices put to the Government whom Parliament Branch I might say that on 28 October 1943 must hold answerable for the omission~ Was Mr. Lindsey made a statement, which appeared it Mr. Bulcock who was to blame. I do not in ''The Courier-Mail,'' to the effect that want to condemn him in the absence of my references in Parlia'ment to the Roma evidence but from my observations of him Street produce agents' making excessive over a number of years I formed the definite 646 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. conviction that when commercial and primary­ of bitter resentment amongst growers that producing interests conflicted he was usually it is likely to inhibit production. This to be found in the corner of commercial imposition of restriction and prices upon interests. growers without a hearing of their views If any officers of the department have manifests itself in the operations of other failed in their duty, have neglected to Federal instrum.entalities. '' enforce the Act, then it is the duty of the That is a very strong and pungent criticism Secretary for Agriculture and Stock, with the of the Fede1·al control. Howe,·er, the full weight of the Government behind him, Federal .Minitser, Mr. Scully, had other to deal with such officers for the failure to fish to fry so he turned his back on the enforce the law and so leave the door wide potato-growers and set up a system of con­ open for wrongdoing at Roma Street market. trol by men not qualified for this important I expect the present Secretary for Agri­ war-time n-ark. 1.Jnc1er this system, in­ culture and Stock to make an explanation in augurated by the Department of Commerce, Parliament at the right time, in view of the Canberra, grievous losses were suffered by Commission's finding against his department. groweTS and also by the Commonwealth I reserve further comment till I have an Government by the payment of subsidies in opportunity of studying the final report of 1942 to cover losses attributable to the the Commission. inefficiency and mismanageml'nt by Mr. A. I now come to the very vexed topic of C. Foster, the Australian Potato Cvntroller. potato control. Prior to control about 75 The Comn1ission has dealt at length 'ivith the per cent. of the potatoes grown in the Lock­ congestion and gluts that occurred in the yer disb·ict were bought and paid for at spring and early summer of 1942. I re.mem­ Gatton, Laidley, and Forest Hill, and the ber this period very well indeed. I mtro­ potatoes were then distributed direct to duced a deputation of growers to Mr. points of des,tination both State and :Srabiner, Deputy Potato Controller, in Bris­ inters,tate. This system gave satisfaction to bane, to whom the deputation expressed con­ all concerned, and very few potatoes ever cern at the glut of potatoes and the order reached Roma Street market at all. ·what directing the Railway Commissioner not to better system could be devised tha·n a system accept potatoes at the rail-heads'. The depu­ whereby the potatoes grown in the Lockyer tation complained also that potatoes were district are brought into the marketing lying on the farms in the heat, humidi.ty, points-Laidley, Forest Hill, and Gatton­ and the early summer storms. The deputatr?n are there inspected and paid for on delivery, urged Mr. Brabiner to clear the glut by rail­ and then raile-d to their destination, even to ing the surplus potatoes to the Sydney distant points of New South Wales and Vic­ market. Mr. Brabiner made a very lame toria and the various parts of Queensland, excuse about the difficulty of finding a direct from the centres where they are market in Sydney. At the request of the grown. Is that not decentralisation in one growers I went to Sydney in the first week of its best forms~ of December, 1942, and I made a. tour of the greengrocers in Sydney and leadmg suburbs. Mr. Nicklin: It is common sense too. I give the Committee my word of hono~1r that I was not able to find a single potato m Mr. MAHER: Common sense too, as the any greengrocer's shop in Sydney. Lea~er of the Opposition rightly says. In Apnl, 1942, however, potatoes were brought Moreover that condition had applied for under control by the Federal Government. many week~ prior to my visit. In the first Mr. Scully's clear duty, as I see it, was to week of December, 1942, the Sydney market vest control in a board of potato-growers. was absolutely bare of potatoes but we had The price was :fixed. Surely nobody was the paradoxical situation of gluts al!-d. con­ better qualified or entitled to control the gestion at Roma Street and the. Comm1ss10~er distribution of potatoes than the representa­ for Railways, under an order 1ssued on h1m tives of the men who grew them! Nothing by Mr. Foster, the Potato Controller, refusing I can say can be more effective tl1an the to accept more potatoes for transport, with following reference to the matter contained potatoes rotting in bags on the farms beca~se in the report of the Royal Commission:- of the heat, humidity and storms, and rottmg ''In the result, then, under pain of in the ground for like causes. When in allowing their potatoes to rot in the Sydney I drew attention, through the Press, ground, all the growers ·were forced to to this extraordinary and paradoxical situa­ market all their potatoes through an tion. Mr. Foster replied and ver:v meanly agency in no way selected by them at a threw the blame on Mr. Brabiner, the rate of commission imposed upon them by Deputy Potato Controller in Brisbane. the Potato Committee. When I returned to Brisbane I drew attention to the situation in the Brisbane ''The growers, neither directly nor Press and Mr. Brabiner replied denying that through any association, were not consulted the responsibility was his, but being a sub­ as to the propriety of this form of market­ ordinate officer it was too delicate a matter ing or as to the quantum of the com­ for him to suggest that the responsibility mission which was to come out of their attached to the Australian Potato Controller, pockets. Mr. Foster. At that time I was not sure who ''We mention this non-consultation of was telling the truth but I have since received growers, who one would think were entitled information that leaves me in no doubt that to some say in the method of marketing Mr. Foster was actually responsible. For of their property, because it is such a cause some mysterious reason he closed the Sydney Supply. [3 OCTOBER.] Supply. 647 market to Queensland surplus potatoes at a ship and the eompensation to whieh he would time when there was not a single potato on be entitled for any loss that occurred after the Sydney market, and then tried to the acquisition of his potatoes, and before make Mr. Brabiner the scapegoat, so I charge payment, were seeure, was grossly deceived. Mr. Foster with having uttered a false­ hood on that occasion-that he knew the Actually, while allowing the original order, Sydney market was bare of potatoes and he No. 8, to stand publicly, Mr. Foster estab­ tried to throw the responsibility onto his sub­ lished the secret power, whieh was not ordinate officer by saying that potatoes were published in the "Government Gazette," and being kept in Queensland under Mr. of which no public information whatsoever Brabiner 's orders. Referring to this period was given. So that if any farmer found the Commission reports as follows:- himself in litigation with the Government "In the latter half of December 1942 and his solicitor was relying upon the large quantities of the potatoes suffered original Potato Order No. 8, he would be severe deterioration in the heat and so thro>m out of court by this extraordinary became wholly unsalable or were sold at secret power, the validity of which could not ve1·y low prices-a loss that had to be borne be challenged on the ground that it had not by the growers. ' ' been published. If that is not the Gestapo touch I do not know what is. In this way The Commission added- the schemers in the potato eontrol dodged "Had Potato Order No. 8 been operated the legal responsibility of the Commonwealth these losses would have fallen on the Com­ for the heavy losses suffered by the growers monwealth.'' through the mistakes and blunders of the And not on the growers. Potato Order No. 8 Australian potato control. The funds of the was issued shortly after control began and it Commonwealth Treasury had to be drawn protected the grower's right of ownership in upon to pay subsidies of appeasement to his potatoes. But the Commission states that many growers whose potatoes deteriorated by this order, although issued, was never operated sta'nding in railw~~,y wagons or in stores and it is evident to me from the Commission's because Mr. Foster closed the Sydney market report that the Australian Potato Controller, to the over-supply of Queensland potatoes in Mr. Foster, resorted to trickery and secret 1942. methods of control to delude the growers. The statement made before the Royal Com­ Potato Order No. 8 was allowed to stand. mission by Mr. FostEcr that there was Knowing of no other order, the grower natur­ eongestion in New South ·wales at the same ally assumed his rights to payment and com­ time as in Queensland was another falsehood. pensation were legally guaranteed by the As I have already shown, the Sydney market Commonwealth in terms of this order. But was depleted of potatoes in the :first week this was not so at all as the Commission of December 1942 and had been bare of ha·s elicited. potatoes for several weeks prior to that. Another order was made on 23 September When I raised the matter in the Sydney 1942 under the National Security Act direct­ Press Mr. Foster threw the blame on Mr. ing a Land Transport Board to be created Brabiner. However, when examined before with very wide powers conferred on the 7 to the Royal Commission, he changed his tune 10 members. However, a regulation was then and made the untruthful sta'tement that he made, No. 18 (2), vesting all these wide closed the Sydney market to the Queensland powers in the hands of the Director-General glut of potatoes because he said there was of Transport alone. In other words, the 6 to congestion on the Sydney market also. So I 9 other members of the board did not matter say that Mr. Foster is a very tricky individual one scrap as the whole of the powers were and on his record is quite unworthy of the to be exercised by the Director-General. Is important office he :fills. not that a sample of dictatorship~ Another regulation was then issued, No. 16, which The Royal Commission made these con­ provided that orders and directions of the clusions in respe~t of potato control- Land Transport Board- '' 1. To put the matter succinctly, control '' shall be published in the 'Gazette' but of the ma'rketing of potatoes imposed by the order shall take effect from the time the Commonwealth Government on growers when it. is made and no order shall be in 1942 resulted in serious loss to some invalid on the ground only that it has not of them tl1rough no fault of theirs and gave been so published." , to a group of agents excessive profit paid What an extraordinary situation! It will for mostly by the growers. thus be seen that Mr. Foster planned to '' 2. By accident or design the Common­ exercise a secret control. The order dated wealth avoided legal liability for these 23 September 1942 creating the Land Trans­ losses. port Board vrith its wide powers-powers of '' 3. The commission and part of the a totalitarian flavour-was not published in profits received by the agents out of such the ''Government Gazette'' and as far as the marketing were illegally charged or Commission was aware no publie information received and are probably recoverable by on it was given. Is this democracy, the 1942 growers from the agents. model, under the aegis of Messrs. Seully, Foster and Cop land~ It savours of the '' 4. The subsidy system introduced by Gestapo, it has the Hitlerian toueh. In other the Commonwealth in 1943 as part of the words, a farmer, relying on the original Order scheme for lowering the basie wage yields No. 8 and believing that his rights of owner- to the grower a return satisfactory to him 648 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

and to the agents and merchants an exces­ Emerging from the whole sorry business sive profit-a profit in no way commen­ are some facts that should make fa1·mers surate with the services provided. The and wage-earners think hard. It is clear- excessive profit is paid for not by the growers but by the taxpa'yer. '' That the Federal Labour Government, through their Minister for Commerce, 'fhe Commission also said- Mr. Scully, authorised the present iniquitous system of potato control. "We are unable to apportion exactly the blame for the grovvers' losses but so far as That Mr. Scully rejected the principle of we can see those losses arose primarily producer control, that he gave no voice from the method of marketing imposed to the men who grew the potatoes. on the gro>rers a method in the selection That he authorised the destruction of the or operation of which they had no choice.'' decentralised system of marketing pota­ toes direct from the country centres where Under this system of potato control, spon­ grown. sored by Mr. Foster and approved by the Minister for Commerce (Mr. Scully), a That he favoured 14 agents-merchants at Central Potato Distribution Committee was Roma Street Markets, Brisbane, and cen­ appointed which enabled 14 agents to divide tralised the distribution of potatoes between them about £6,000, being the declared through them. net profit after all salaries and expenses had That he sanctioned a practice by which been paid arising from the 5-per-cent. com­ fa'rln produce agents operate as mer­ mission deducted by the Central Potato Dis­ chants and vice versa, ,yhich is contrary tribution Committee from the growers in to law. respect of operations over a short period of That the Federal Labour GoYermnent failed about five or six months. to enforce the profit-fixing law and Under this same system sponsored by Mr. allowed excessive profit-taking to c-ontinue Foster and approved by Mr. Scully, the Bris­ against the consumers. bane Wholesale Potato Distribution Com­ The Federal Labour Govenunent inaugu­ mittee, known as the B.W.P.D.C., was rated this pernicious system of potato con­ appointed in 1943. Under this scheme, 5 per trol and as far as can be seen t)lis system cent. commission was payable by the Com­ of marketing is still continued despite the momvealth to each of the 14 agents to whom fact that the Royal Commission's report is quotas were given, based on their pre-war dated 19 May 1944. I trust, however, that dealings. From the winter and spring crops in the public interest the comments, con­ of 1943 the B.W.P.D.C. showed a net profit clusions, and recommendations of the Royal of £9,000 after payment of all salaries and Commission will have full and proper con­ expenses. It should be clearly understood by sideration by both the Federal and State hon. members that these two sums of £6 000 Governments, so that ultimately we may say, and £9,000 represent commission only, which ''out of evil cometh good.'' these favoured agents received on the dis­ tribution of potatoes. Hon. S. J. BRASSINGTON (Fortitude Valley-Speaker) (12.8 p.m.): Mr. Manu, In addition there was another highly may I take this opportunity of wishing you lucrative arrangement which entitled these well in your office as Chairman of Commit­ agents in their capacity as merchants to tees and may I add that it is one of the receive the sum of £1 10s. a ton on all pota­ most important offices that Parliament can confer on any hon. member~ In making that toes sold in bag lots, to other agents and remark I have in mind my own experiences dealers. In many instances the agent-cum­ in that position; because I know the pro­ merchant was deriving between commission blems that you have to face I say that I and handling charges £2 5s. a ton for every wish you well. ton of potatoes distributed by him. In this respect the Commission reports- Today I join those other hon. Speakers of the House who in the days gone by dis­ '' Now it will be noticed that under this regarded custom and took part in the debates scheme the B.W.P.D.C., unlike the agents in the Assembly. I do so for the reason in pre-control days, do no selling, nor do that the Speaker in this State has not the they run any risk of bad debts; 11 of them protection given to the Speaker of the House do nothing at all in regard to the primary of Commons of being treated as outside distribution (they each get the extra £1 10s. politics and political parties and so is not per ton on the secondary distribution) called upon to face opposition in his elec­ except contribute to the capital of the torate, as Speakers in Australian Parliaments firm, which capital, in the circumstances, have to do. Therefore I feel it my duty, is at no risk IYhatever; the other three where necessary and within reason, to state perform services which any intelligent the case for the people I represent and to clerk could perform on salaries paid by the take an opportunity -of offering some com­ B.W.P.D.C." ment upon important matters that will have a great bearing on the future welfare of It will thus be seen how >Yell Mr. W . .J. the people of the State. Scully, Minister for Commerce, as a member An Hon. ]){ember: That is a good idea. of the Federal Labour Government, has feathered the nests of the 14 favoured agents­ :r::r. I;RASSINGTON: It is a good idea merchants. and in doing that I am sensible of the Supply. [3 OCTOBER.] Supply. 649 responsibility tl1at is upon me and other our splendid pastoral lands. All th8se t}lings hon. members to serve their constituents as inspire us to see that no ,effort is spared to faithfully and as well as they can. With develop this territory in th8 interests of our th_at purpose in view may I now be per­ State, in the interests of our people, and in nutted to offer some views from the floor the general interests of the Commonwealth of the Chamber~ of Australia. I compliment this Government today-not because I happen to be a sup­ 'l'~e Budget is perhaps the most compre­ porter of them, but because as a Queensland henslv~ and progressive that a Parliamentary citizen with some small stake in it I believe Comm1ttee has been asked to consider for we should secure our future-on their fore­ many, many years. It sets out a complete sight, their progresive outlook and their sin­ resume of the financial activities of the State cere resolve to do the job t}le people returned for the financial year just closed. It does them to do. more than that. It deals very definitely and very particularly with the Government's finan­ Let me deal with some of the matters that cial programme for the present year, especi­ stand out prominently in the Budget. I ally with the Government's post-war recon­ agree with every hon. member who has spoken struction policy. Post-war reconstruction has that the problem of housing today is indeed been dealt with both inside and outside this a difficult one for any Government. The Parliament. I am glad that the members problem _of finding houses for the people who of this Government, among others, have talked are lookmg for homes today is one that is a great deal about this most interesting phase causing many of our citizens great concern. of our State's life and shown by the Budget I shall applaud this Government if they will that they are prepared to grapple with the carry out their intention of embarking on a problem. I know that we can with every polic..v of house-building. The sooner they certainty say that when the time comes to start to put that policy into effect and the put this policy into effect the Government sooner we can build a greater n~mber of will be ready, that the job will be done and houses, the greater will be the degree of that members of our fighting services' who satisfaction that will be conferred on our return will have proper attention and, last people. but not least, a splendid consistent effort will May I say that in the electorat,es you and he made to see that all the people of this I . rep;es~nt, Mr. M~nn, a progressive policy State enjoy the best possible living conditions, of bmldmg houses 1s greatly needed; and in which is their right. other parts of the State there is a housing shortage and a large percentag,e of the To deal with ort}lodox finance for a moment habitations that are available are below the or two, might I comment not only on the standard that we as Queenslanders believe Government's careful handling of the finances our people should have in which to live and but their control of expenditure during a rear their families. Every hon. member will period of buoyant revenue~ That has resulted agree with me when I make the comment in a surplus of approximately £113,000 for the that we will give all support to the Govern­ financial yea;r just closed. The position of ment in their policy to provide houses for the Trust and Special Funds is sounder today the people. Let us hope our colleagues in than for a long period. the Federal Parliament will at the earliest possible moment sec their way clear to The result of the year's work that chiefly overcome the difficulty of obtaining man­ appeals to me, however, is t}lat disclosed in power to ~o this job, which is one of the the reference in the Budget to post-war recon­ most burnmg problems today, as soon as struction. During the past year the fund possible. I know the difficulties in the way set aside for that purpose benefited to the but as soon as it can be done and the Govern­ extent of £3,'170,000. Might I drive home the ment have the man-power they will have their point that whilst this Government have chance, and I am confident that the people co-operated with the Commonwealth Govern­ of this State will within a reasonable period ment and accepted t}leir share of the respon­ be supplied with a reasonable number of sibility for making a 100-per-cent. war effort np-to~date dwellings in which they will take in this country, coincidentally the living con­ a keen interest and in which they will rear ditions of the people of the State have been and educate their families to be good citizens. p_rotected and the Government are in a posi­ twn to say, too, that every provision is being The Budget refers to the need for making made for the post-war years to meet the provision for renewals and replacements in responsibilities which the people and Govern­ our railway system. It is obvious, without ment will be faced~ I want to stress the my stressing the point unduly, that the rail­ point that in this State the Government and ways in this State during the last four years this Parliament have something we can very have done one of the most remarkable jobs well be proud of. We have a territoTy that ever done by any public utility in the history wil~ need all the development we can apply of Australia. Day after day, week after to 1t for many years. We have a territory wPek, month after month, year after year, that every citizen of this State can always our railway system and the employees in that be proud of. :ve lmve a territory, too, that system have played their part in the war can produce vntually all the raw material effort. I think it is obvious to every one and the minerals that are 'required to make who thinks on this problem that we can pay it great and its people happy, and to build a sincere compliment to the men who have up a system of society second to none. We manned the service. But we must not over­ have our splendid barrier of mountains our look the fact of the necessity for the Govern­ splendid rivers, our splendid sugar lands; and ment making ample provision to repair and 850 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. replace the overworked rolling stock when the Commonwealth Government disposed of the opportunity presents itself. the Commonwealth line of steamers at a I commend the Government for the sound figure that was a bargain to those lucky progressive policy that will do much towards people who got them. However, that is an the post-war reconstruction in this State when example from the past, and what I desire to the time comes. I notice that as usual the emphasise is that this is an industry that Government are going ahead with their hospi­ has developed over the last four years and tal and health services. It is not necessary is something that the Government and to stress this important question beyond say­ Queenslanders can be proud of. ing that no State today in Australia has a I now wish to give some figures to enforce better system of hospital and health ser­ my contention. Hon. members may be vices or has made such progress as this interested to know that the number of State of ours, and it is very satisfactory to employees engaged in shipbuilding has know the Government in recent months have increased as follows:- done and in the future will do everything possible to encourage local authorities 1938-39 224 throughout the State to improve the hospital 1939-40 265 system and to develop an up-to-date health 1940-41 1,136 service in the interests of the people. I pay 1941-42 1,893 a tribute to the way the Government, particu­ 1942-43 2,263 larly the Secretary for Health and Home Those are the latest figures available, and Affairs, have handled the Brisbane General they show the wonderful expansion of our Hospital. This great institution today is one own industry in our own State over a short of the largest and one of the best in Aus­ period. tralia; and the Government have had the services of an excellent loyal band of men The production costs were- and women led by one of the most outstand­ £ iug State public servants-Mr. Jim Ander­ 1938-39 81,171 son, the manager of the Brisbane and South 1941-42 1,397,357 Coast Hospitals Board. The point I want to That is a splendid example of the success of make is that the institution is becoming too a Queensland industry and is encouragement large and I seriously urge the Government to the Government and Queenslanders gener­ to consider as early as possible the need of ally to go on with the task of building up decentralising that great service-spreading our secondary industries and making this the service as much as possible by building State, what it is destined to become, the base hospitals over the whole of the metro­ greatest State in the Commonwealth. This politan area. A concentration like that will State, under the control of the Government in the end defeat its own objectives. As one now in power, has made remarkable pro­ who has studied that great institution for gress during the la~t 15 y~ars, and under . a some years, as one who knows the many progressive Australian pohcy cannot far!. problems that have to be met in conducting There is nothing that it cannot accom­ that institution, I give this advice to the plish in the end, and I again compliment the Minister when the time comes in the post­ Government on their progressive Queensland war reconstruction, one of the tasks under­ attitude of encouraging these concerns in the taken in the metropolitan area should be the interests of our people and the State. ilecentralising of the hospital system as it is represented today by the Brisbane General Here I wish to make an interesting point. Hospital. It is obvious that with the terrific losses of ships that have occurred during the present I desire to comment on what I consider conflict, we shall have to stand on our . o"?l to be one of the miracles of the present war. feet when the war is over. Already Bntam I refer to an industry that has been built" and America are setting out upon a policy up here in the last four years, an industry of greater expansion of their shipping space, that prior to the outbreak of war was and if we believe that the surplus of Aus­ unknown to Queensland. That industry has tralian products may be disposed .of in t?e been very ably assisted by_ the present post-war years in the markets of Chma, Indra, Government and is a splendrd example of and elsewhere, it is our duty and respon­ what Queensland enterprise, Queensla?d sibility to see that we are not left standing, workers and the use of Queensland materral so to speak. We must foster al!- industry can acdomplish. I refer to the shipbuilding such as this so that when the trme comes industry, which has pla:yed and is still. play­ for us to step out as a nation we shall have ing an important part m the prosecution _of ample shipping tonnage and thus no~ be a our war effort. Queensland workmen, wrth burden to any other country on whrch we the use of Queensland material, have. turr~ed might otherwise call for help. out at the shipbuilding yards vessels mferror to none in construction and equipment. Mr. Pie: You must give some credit to the men running that show. Mr. Walsh: At 'a less cost than in other States. JUr. BRASSINGTON: I have no desire. to take credit away from anyone, but I pomt Mr. BRASSINGTON: I will stress that out that this is an example of what Queens­ point later. This industry must not be sac­ landers and Queensland industry can do, and rificed or allowed to languish when this war I am pleased to be able to point to the is over. Never again must we see the spec­ great contribution this Government have tacle that we saw after the last war when made to its success. Supply. [3 OCTOBER.] Supply. 651

'l'he construction of the dock on the Bris­ )!r. Aikens: And probably speaking for bane River is a very valuable achievement most of the intelligent people of this country. and evidence of the bona fides of this Govern­ ment and the soundness of their conviction lUr. BRASSINGTON: I want to make of the necessity of continuing and expanding this point: we believe that finance, which is shipbuilding in this State. the very life-blood of the people, should not be the monopoly of the powerful and the I notice that the Government propose to privileged, and we object to its being made set aside a sum of £2,500,000, to be spent their monopoly. We believe that money ovc1· a period, for irrigation and water con­ should play its function in an organised servation. I do not desire to discuss the sub­ society, just the same as any other commodity ject at length. I merely say that if we are that is vital to the people. Despite much to realise our hopes, if this State is to be all loose thinking on the subject, money is not that we hope it will be, the best way of wealth. The wealth of a State is the pro­ achieving that object is to make as highly duction created by all the people. The proper productive as possible all that land that we function of money is that it shall be a have available. One way of doing this is to measure of value and a medium of exchange. implement the policy of irrigation and water :E'or a thousand years money has not served conservation. The sum of £2,500,000 is its rightful function but has been a com­ apparently as much as the Government can modity cornered and sold by vendors at find under the orthodox financial system at profitable rates. Therein lies the cause of the present in operation. I compliment the evils mankind is suffering from today-the Government on their desire to sponsor this control and manipulation of money by the few important phase of our national development, at the cost of suffering to the great majority. ancl in doing so I join issue with the orthodox Is it not strange that people will allow their financial system as we know it today. I draw very life-blood to be cornered and to become the attention of hon. members to page 5 of a monopoly of a privileged few~ Today the the Budget, on which we find a table setting hon. member for West Moreton spoke of the out the expenditure for the State. It dis­ control of potatoes. If, tomorrow, an closes that approximately 22.58 per cent. of important commodity was cornered by a group the State's total expenditure in the last finan­ the community would not tolerate it and cial year went in interest, sinking-fund there would be an upheaval. It has always charges, and exchange. That represents a puzzled me that the public have allowed the little over one-fifth of the State's expendi­ very life-blood of the community, this measure ture, or more than 4s. in the £1, and is not of value and medium of exchange, to be very far behind the amount absorbed by the cornered and lent back to the people at vary­ State's expenditure on salaries and wages, ing rates of interest with the result that on which the hopes, living conditions and suffering was caused to the great majority. homes of thousands of our citizens depend. How long is this to be allowed to go on W It That important item takes up only 16 per is not so long ago that this country writhed cent. more of our expenditure than interest, in economic agony when approximately sinking-fund charges, and interest. If this 1,000,000 men and women were compelled to process is to continue under this orthodox walk the streets and roads in Australia in a system of finance it will mean that as time vain endeavour to get work and the right to goes on, the burden upon our citizens will live while their children back at home did become greater Y'ear after year and the not have the bare necessaries of life, were greater will be the proportion of the national without hope, without a proper outlook, and income directed into this avenue. without encouragement. At that time, there was a man who had the courage to announce lUr. Macdonald: Not necessarily. new ideas that would give a new outlook and he was no less a person than the Federal lUr. BRASSINGTON: That has been Treasurer of the day, the Hon. E. G. Theo­ the trend for many years now. It is the r1ore. He was prepared to grapple with the natural trend. tragic position that faced the Australian people and so he suggested the issue of what I am not condemning hon. members of this he termed a fiduciary issue of £28,000,000. Parliament any more than I am condemning What happened~ The banks, the Press, and the public in general, but there has been too almost every other interested person screamed much apathy, too little concentration of inflation, ruin and disaster. In the end Mr. thought upon the financial system under which Theodore and his Government were pulled to we live. If this process continues, Govern­ the ground and the workers and the people ments of the future will be forced to as a whole had to carry this financial crucifix put in pawn future generations of for another 15 years without any serious our people. This great movement to which attempt at monetary reform. It is interesting I belong has long believed in financial to note today that the judgment and the reform, and when I speak of financial reform policy of a man who in my opinion is a I do not mean that we advocate what some truly great man, Mr. Theodore, have been of our friends have put forward-setting the vindicated and the very policy that he enunci­ printing press in operation, turning out notes ated and at which people of his time scoffed ·wholesale, creating inflation and giving to -vested interests, the Press, the privileged, everyone as many bank notes as he wants. and powerful groups-is now being used by \Ve adv6Jcate financial reform within sane the Government and must be used by the limits and along sound lines. I am speaking Government to finance the war to a successful for the organised Labour movement in this conclusion. Indeed, the policy that is in country. operation now is being applauded by the; very 652 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

people who opposed it in the years gone by, been kept at a reasonable level and values and so we had it from Canberra the other have not jumped beyond all reason, as they day that £342,000,000 of bank credit had did during the last war. I therefore argue, been used to prosecute the war. I desire to in the light of this experience, that these stress the fact that those people who are reforms can be brought about and will be interested in new ideals and in breaking new brought about because the people in their ground can feel heartened by what is taking wisdom will decide to do what is right, what place now and the fact that what was is best, and what is just for themselves and unpopular and attracted much attention 14 their country. My point is that inflation has years ago is today recognised as the proper been prevented in Australia, prices have been method of financing Australia in her desperate kept at a reasonable level, and the whole and critical days. system has operated far better than while We are hen,rtened by that illustration. We the last war raged, from 1914 to 1918. All are heartened to think that the march of I want to add is that in national post-war progress, with the people's support, will carry development I am hopeful that the Ourtin us on to bigger, greater, and better reforms Government will again make the Common­ in the interests of this country. wealth Bank what it was originally and what it was originally intended to be, namely, the I do not want to encroach on the time people's bank, and that they will use the of hon. members by dealing at any length national resources of Australia to develop with this sub,jeet but I do want to touch this country in a proper and reasonable way. for a short time on the old bogy that has Why should our Treasurer, and the Govern· always faced reforms instituted by the ment faced with the tremendous task of Labour movement in years gone by that of post-~ar development, go cap in hand and b~g inflation. If ever the Labour Party 'advanced a limited sum to carry out the great task 1t a new idea or adopted a new outlook on any is so necessary to do in the interests of our problem, immediately the cry was raised of people and our State Y ruin, inflation and disaster. The question of inflation is one to which all citizens should I have listened to quite a number of give some consideration. It is a term that excellent contributions to the debates in this has been used altogether too loosely in the Chamber on the question of immigration. In past. It has been used by interested people regard to Australia's future population, may to discourage anyone who was interested in I say that I stand where I always stood that reform. I want to deal with that angle of is, for a White Australia~ Any group, any the problem as it needs some definition and section that might attempt to take away fro;n explanation. In the past any attempt to use the people the principle of a White Austraha national credit was discouraged by the cry will do their country the greatest disservice of infiation. I agree that inflation is dan· it would be possible to do it. This country gerous, as deflation is; the question arises: has escaped the agony and the horrors of where does infiation begin~ The basis of war suffered by countries overseas, and it the problem is the ratio of the volume of cur­ must build up, if possible, a strong civilisa­ rency in circulation to the value of national tion, and that can only be done on the right production. If the volume of currency is basis. I submit that the continuation of a manipulated and reduced, deflation develops. White Australia policy should be the basis This results in low prices, industrial col­ on which we must build. lapse_, unemployment, and national stagnation, such as we saw in 1929 and subsequent years. As to encouraging people to come here On the other hand, inflation is caused by an from overseas, by all means let us do so if acute increase in the volume of currency to we can, but the policy should be properly a level beyond the value of national produc­ regulated, and the right types must be tion. Inflation does not occur until the value brought here. We must not again have the of national income is exceeded. A survey of spectacle that we had in years gone by of tlw economic history of Australia in the last groups being brought here and later being 40 years shows no example of serious infla­ repatriated by this country back to the homes tion. On the contrary we have suffered from they left. Any policy of immigration must be recurring deflation, which has masqueraded based upon sound principles. We should be under the title of depression. That is why guided to a great extent by the effects of the I argue that we can use national credit up unrestricted immigration policy of the U.S.A. to a sensible level. We can use national Today America is probably the most powerful credit for post-war development and for the country in the world. She has become power­ doing of things this country wants to do. It ful after many years of having to digest what can be used until the currency in circula­ could be termed a very heavy diet of immigra­ tion reaches the same level as national pro­ tion. In years gone by it was customary for duction. It is deflation to use credit as many as 60,000 people to arrive at New under the value of national production York in one week from overseas, without any and inflation to use credit above it. provision for their absorption and without To go beyond that results in the troubles that any outlet for their activities. These unfor­ inflation brings upon the people, misery and tunate people became the reservoir of cheap suffering equal to that experienced in depres­ labour which was used by those who believed sion times. It is due to the sensible policy in rugged individualism, who believed in the of the Ourtin Federal Government in adopt­ right to carve out great fortunes for them­ ing a sound policy of price-fixation that infla­ selves against the best interests of the State, tion has been to a great extent curbed during fortunes that have been a feature of that the present great war. Prices have thus country in years gone by. Men such as Gould, Supply. [3 OcTOBER.] Supply. 653

Fisk and others, through the use or concen· coun.try something that is not of it. Com­ trated capital, carved many monopolies out of mumsm submits a programme that resembles the public estate. I invite the attention of that of the Labour movement. I can be hon. members to the history of that phase of pardoned for saying that it is more than an American development. If we are going to echo; it sounds like plagiarism of the real become great in the sense that America is thing. Be that as it may, the fact remains great today-at the cost of the sacrifice such that Communism is the policy of revolution as those made during those years-then I say and the Communist party a party that is to hon. members and people: to pause and pledged to achieve its objects by revolution. think clearly before you adopt a policy such Where is the sense in adopting a policy of as that. There is a way out: there must be a destruction, strife and bloodshed, when all way out. I heartily agree with the motion these things can be realised peacefully that Parliament agreed to some weeks ago through the ballot box~ Therefore I say that we must bring to this country the best sincerely to all well-wishers of our country, types of immigrants, the best types of settlers, to all good Australians, ''Away with these and the best types of artisans; but when we foreign theories; they have no permanent bring them here we must not do' as we didl in place among us.'' the years gone by when anti-Labour Govern­ And so, Mr. Manu, I will conclude by ments were in power-leave them to fend for summarising my observations. In my opinion themselves. We must have all our schemes the future welfare of Australia will depend planned and developed, and we must be ready upon- to absorb those people so that they will become good citizens and will help the development ( a) The retention of the White Australia of Queensland and the Commonwealth of policy. Australia. There is no easy way out in this (b) The development and application of an problem. The Government will need to Australian sentiment. exercise the greatest concern over it and (c) A sensible immigration policy to bring handle it properly and do their best to see people of the best types here. that our White Australia is maintained and the system of immigration operating in this (d) Development of our great heritage country after the war is sound and progres­ by- sive and aimed at populating this country 1. Continuance and expansion of our wisely and developing it along sound lines. post-war development scheme to make it 100 per cent. successful- I have not much more to say. I add only and in that respect I feel that this Govern­ that the tremendous change that will follow ment merit the earnest support of all citizens the war will be the test for us Australians. irrespective of their ]!>Olitical views- We shall demonstrate whether we can accept our heritage and work out our future in our 2. The use of Australia's financial own way or slavishly imitate foreign methods. resources to achieve it. I have no desire to be misunderstood. We 3. The continuance of Labour's policy to cannot live in isolation. At the same time guarantee to all citizens, security we dare not adopt the things that have made and a standard of living that will Europe a festering sore of hatred and a ensure home life, recreation and perpetual battleground. This is a new country happiness. and we must develop a new civilisation. We should profit by all that is good in other There are great days ahead for our country countries, and oppose all that is bad. In and our people. The Labour Government, this respect might I be permitted to quote backed by the Labour movement, the only real Goethe, one of the world's most famous men- Australian movement, invite all those of good will to support this great surge forward. Our " Nothing is good for a nation but that dark days are nearing an end. Let us look which arises from its own core and its own to the future with hope and inspiration, sure general wants, without apish imitation of in the knowledge that as Australians we shall another; since what to one race of people, meet our destiny with courage, confidence and of a certain age, is its nutriment, may united effort. Surely we will build well and prove poison for another. All endeavours permanently in this land of ours! to introduce any foreign innovations the necessity for which is not rooted in the Hon. Members: Hear, hear! core of the nation itself, are therefore foolish; and all premeditated revolutions Mr. MORRIS (Enogerra) (2.15 P'.m.) : I of the kind are unsuccessful, for they are was very interested indBed to hear the Finan­ without God, who keeps aloof from such cial Statement presented by the TreasurBr, bungling. If, however, there exists an and I heartily congratulate his officers on the actual necessity for a great reform amongst way they have marshalled such a huge :frray a people, God,, is with it, and it of figures to present an orderly picturB. I prospers .... must confess that my first reaction to hearing the speech was a certain amount of dismay at As an Australian I cannot accept Communism the smallness of the surplus that appeared as a panacea and solution of our trouble, any to be revealed, but subsequent speakers-the more than I can accept the ethics of Fascism, hon. member for Logan in particular-have the principles of American rugged indi­ shown that the actual surplus is very sub­ vidualism, or the go-as-you-please attitudes of stantial. conservative groups in England. It would be There are many points in the Budget that fatal to our future welfare to apply to this require some elucidation. For example, on 654 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

pages 22 and 23 the Treasurer presents tables money on the dole the Treasurer included it showing the increased expenditure on social in his calculations and where the amount was services during the last financial year as com­ expended on work it was excluded. He also pared with the year 1931-32. Under the included in his expenditure approximately heading "Unemployment Relief," he shows £180,000 which was really not expended but that the State expended £266,722 last year as was carried to reserves in the Trust and compared with £220,904 in 1931-32; but that Special Funds and he applied the term is somewhat misleading, as has been demon­ ''unemployment relief'' to something that strated during the course of the debate. For was very substantially not that at all but instance, the Treasurer omitted from the was in actual fact social relief. I desire to 1931-32 figures aY'. amount of approximately make it very clear that it is not my purpose £750,000 that was spent on unemployment to attack the actual expenditure of the money relief and developmental works. Therefore, because it represents a very worthy and very instead of a diff.erence of £45,818 in favour necessary item of administration. The point of 1943-44 there is actually a colossal drop I am trying to make is that the Treasurer in last year's expenditure. could make the position very much clearer This is not the whole of the picture. The with benefit not only to hon. members but to Treasurer stated in answer to a question the the public. In this connection I have one other day that his expenditure included important suggestion to make and I hope £187,054, but this is not expended in the that he will see his way clear to adopt it in true sense of the word. This money was his next Budget. In the preparation of merely transferred from Consolidated Revenue Estimates it is the practice of the Common­ to Trust and Special Funds, and that is not wealth Government to set out in detail, in actual expenditure. columns provided in the Estimates, the expen­ diture for last year, the appropriation for Mr. Hanlon: That was expended in both last year and the requirements for the current years. year. Such a presentation of the financial affairs has its precedent in the Common­ lUr. MORRIS: But it is not true expendi­ wealth Government and it would be verv ture. useful and helpful to hon. members here in \Vhen we come to the Trust and Special their consideration of the budgetary position. Funds we find the expenditure from the Unemployment Insurance Fund was only Let me give one example of what I consider £21,037 for the year. It has to be ren1em­ is a lack of clarity in the Treasurer's State­ bered that the Government contribute only ment. I turn to page 14 of the Estimates one-third of the total amount of this fund, and there I find that an amount of £17,000 the other two-thirds being provided by was appropriated for the benefit of discharged employers and employees. That being so, it members of the forces in 1943-44 and that will be seen that thie Government's real the amount required for 1944-45 is increased expenditure on unemployment relief was only to £34,000. I have looked everywhere for it £7,012. Approximately £180,000 was con­ but I cannot see the details of how the money served for spending in subsequent financial was spent in 1943-44. Again I should like years, but, what is more important, that to make it clear that I am not quarrelling money need not necessarily be expended on with the expenditure and that indeed I wel­ unemployment relief. In fact, I go so far as come it because it is for the returned men to say that it is hardly likely that it will be and already there is insufficient consideration spent in this way because there is every indi­ given to returned men in the Budget. I can­ cation that in thr very near future unem­ not see how this money has been spent and I ployment relief will be the responsibility of should like to know how it was spent. I know the Commonwealth Government. the repatriation oi returned soldiers and the financial responsibility for it are matters for Even those points do not show the whole the Commonwealth Government but I think picture; the Financial Statement is mislead­ the amount provided in the Estimates by the ing in other ways. Last Thursday the Sec­ State Government is far too small. However, retary for Labour and Employment furnished I await with great interest the results of the us with details of the Government's expendi­ discussion at the Premiers' Conference in Can­ ture on unemployment relief. From that berra concerning land-settlement schemes for information it is perfectly clear that only returned soldiers. Then we shall know just the very smallest amount represented actual what responsibilities the State Government expenditure on the relief of unemployment propose to undertake. and the bulk of the expenditure was occa­ sioned by relief of distress which would be I notice that the Budget makes a huge much more suitably and helpfully described allocation for post-war Teconstruction. Of as social relief. It is certainly not unemploy­ course, this is the greatest job confronting ment relief. I contend that the Treasurer's every Government in post-war years. adherence to the conservative Treasury prac­ I do not propose at the moment tice serves merely to cloud the issue and to to offer any views as to w'hether the make the truth in many cases hard to ascer­ individual allocations are too great or tain. In his statement on social services his too small, but there is one point on which apparent anxiety to present a pretty picture I am seriously and gravely anxious for infor­ of the Government's practice led him, I say mation. Do the Government, who for many quite unfairly, to leave out comparisons of years have been traditionally opposed to pri­ expenditure on unemployment relief works vate enterP'rise and private industry propose and development works in 1931-32. In other to give them their correct place in the general words when and where the Government spent scheme of things in order to bring about a Supply. [3 OcTOBER.] Supply. 655 true post-war reconstruction~ I have also time and again in this Chamber stressed the studied the impressive list of public works, importance of preference to the returned estimated to cost slightly over £50,000,000, soldier in private as well as Government but I have searched the Estimates in vain employmenU Is it any wonder that I have for any notable expenditure on instruction to asked not only for preference of employment returned service men. It may be argued that for these men but for preference in promo­ this is the function and responsibility of tion~ the Commonwealth Government, but we I should like to remind members of the must not forget that the Commonwealth Committee that before the 1944 elections the Government have no instrumentality whatso­ Returned Soldiers and Sailors' Imperial ever to carry out such instruction. They ,have League of Australia wrote to every prospec­ no teachers and no schools and consequently tive member, without exception, I think, ask­ have had no experience in education. There­ ing him if he was in favour of preference to fore, the work of training returned service returned soldiers. After the replies were men must be a duty devolving on the State. received from the prospective members a list There has been an allocation of £20,000 for was permanently displayed for the guidance this purpose. That expenditure is altogether of returned soldiers in sele·cting their candi­ too small and paltry when taken in conjunc­ dates, and the list of members stating that tion with the importance of this subject. I they were whole-heartedly in favour of pre­ have already in this Chamber spoken on the ference to returned soldiers contained the duty we all owe to our returned men. I have names of 22 Labour members of this Parlia­ listened, too, with very great interest to the ment, a·nd it was headed by the Premier and views that have been expressed on this matter included no fewer than eight other Ministers. by other hon. members. I have heard it con­ Over 40 members of this Parliament told the tended that after this war there will be a league before the elections that they were in sufficiency of employment, which will com­ favour of preference to returned soldiers. In pletely overcome any question of lack of the face of this I contend that hon. members work for returned men. I heard the hon. are in honour bound to introduce preference member for Bowen contending t,hat in many to returned soldiers in employment in the cases preference to returned men would bring very near future. about a state of affairs in which a returned­ soldier brothe'r would be brought into conflict 1\Ir. Walsh: Every member of this party with his civilian brother engaged on essential is bound by what was in the policy speech services. Believing as I do that we shall and nothing further. not reach the utopian stage in the next few years I would reply to that contention in :Mr. :MORRIS: If the members of the this way: take the example that the hon. parties are bound by their policy speech and member ,hims·elf produced of two brothers, not by their written word to the league, one a service men and one engaged in essen­ why did they give that written word~ Was it tial industry. I ask the hon. member for to get the votes of the returned soldiers~ Bowen: does he seriously suggest that the That must be the only other explanation. man who was retained in industry, to ca'rry In the period that lies ahead of us the advantage of his initial experience for the remainder of his life, should have equal when huge sums of money are avail­ able to the Government-probably more treatment with the man whose training and money than any of us thought was avail­ experience were interrupted by being on active service, and further, whether t.he latter able to the Government-thE~ future depends very greatly on the wise use of that money. should be kept in that condition simply We are faced with many requirements and because by serving his country he lost valua­ many problems in the solution of which the a ble t·raining and experience~ Even if by wise use of money is a vital factor. some miracle we reach Utopia and all people have bestowed on them. permanent employment I propose dealing with a few other mat­ for all time, it would mean that the returned ters that I feel are of great importance to soldier would be employed in the poorer posi­ this State and to this Parliament, namely, tions offering in the community. That is a immigration, irrigation, reforestation, prim­ state of affairs we must determinedly oppose ary industry and secondary industry. I pro­ in eYery possible way. It goes without saying pose to offer some suggestions in the spirit of that the man whose training and experience constructive thought to the Govemment, were uninterrupted would be better equipped which I hope they will incorporate in their than the other whose training and experi­ legislation. Dealing first with reforestation, ence were interrupted. Therefore, when I I point out that Labour Governments in the study this impressive list of public works past have neglected very greatly this and see the niggardly provision made for extremely grave a'nd important problem. In the education and training of discharged men very rough figures, Australia uses 900,000,000 I am forced to the opinion that the interests super feet of timber annually, of which one­ of these men are viewed from the wrong third is imported. Queensland on the other angle. Post-war 'reconstruction envisages hand has been virtually self-supporting in vast road schemes, vast water schemes, and this regard throughout her history. In the other such public works. They will offer past 25 years, had forethought and states­ increased avenues of employment, but I arm manship been exercised, we should not only afraid that unless the system of preference have held this outstanding position but have is extended to him the returned soldier will bettered it. What are the facts~ Timber play the part of the unskilled labourer in has been cut out but insufficient attention these works. Is it any wonder that I have has been paid to the future, with the result 656 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. that the Director of Forests, Mr. Grenning, operation that will allow it to carry on with when giving evidence before the Land Appeal this cutting for hundreds of years ahead. Court reported in '' The Courier-Mail'' of For a moment let us consider our North. 13 September, said that at the rate our soft­ We have in existence there an industry that >Yoods were being cut there was a risk that is making veneers, for which there is almost supply might peter out in five, six or seven an unlimited overseas demand, but our years, that the supply would not peter out Governments in the past have exercised abso­ suddenly, but it would be necessary to taper lutely no control over the cutting of the off cutting. Had our politicians shown true timber. I think there also the Government statesmanship and looked to the future 20 are now taking steps to see that cutting is years ago we should not only have had suffi­ controlled but in the past it carried on with­ cient timber to supply all our needs in the out any control or limitation. During the future but have been able to give this State five-year period before this war Australia the benefit of a very valuable industry dur­ imported £10,000,000 worth of timber plus ing the past 20 years and for the next 20 £21,000,000 of paper and wool pulp. That is a years, and more. What has happened in the marlcet that would have been available to us in past~ The State Governments have fallen Queensland had we been foresighted enough down on the job of looking after the future 20 years ago to avail ourselves of it. Refores­ of Queensland from the point of view of tation is of such vital importance to this reforestation. It is indeed gratifying to State that it is a responsibility of every know the present Secretary for Public Lands member of this Committee to get behind any is so seized of the potentiality of the future r-eforestation scheme to the utmost of our in this regard that such a large vote has enthusiasm and ability and support everything been made for that purpose in the future. that is reasonably being done in this regard. I very strongly commend that section of the Budget. It is tragic to think that this State The vital subject of immigration was dis­ that was so rich in timber should have thrown cussed in this Chamber this session on a away the glorious chances it had. motion moved by a member of the Govern­ ment who revealed in his speech a very care­ llir. Theodore: War demands. ful and solid study of the subject. He made a very statesmanlike speech but he and his lUr. lUORRIS: War demands have not supporter expressed in this Chamber senti­ caused it at all. If 20 years ago a policy ments that are obviously not shared by a large had been put into effect of going in for large schemes of reforestation we should have number of his colleagues. been able to cater for our war needs and A Government Member: Why do you say have had solid capital timber resources to thaH carry us through the war to the peace years. Had statesmanship been exercised in the past Mr. lliORRIS: This is one of the 20 years a huge market would now be avail­ reasons: many of my colleagues wanted to able to Queensland. Mr. Grenning, to whom speak on that subject in this Chamber, many I referred, is reported in the Brisbane members of the Country Party wanted to "Courier-Mail" of 13 September as having speak on it, and I have no doubt many stated that England alone has arranged with members of the Labour Party wished to air Canada for the supply of 1,200,000,000 super their views but were not given an opportunity feet of timber and indicated that there to do so. would be a world shortage of this commodity llir. Walslh: They complied with the in future. I have travelled through Queens­ Standing Orders. 'l'ha t is all you can do land and also the southern States and from here. my own observations I know how compara­ tively short we in Queensland are of any Mr. MORRIS: The Standing Ord!'lrs are large reforestation scheme. Without any administered by the Government, which pre­ fear of contradiction I say that the internal vented us from speaking on it. Another demand of timber will be five times as much reason is that many members of the Govern­ as we can possibly supply for a long time. ment evidently are not particularly_ int~rested in this subject. I asked a question m the Mr. Jesson: Have you ever travelled House and I have received absolutely no around the State forests~ satisfactory answer. lUr. MORRIS: Quite frequently. If we llir. Hanlon: You want to. frame the were to increase our reforestation by ten we Premier's answers to your questwns. should still have a very large market for the timber produced. In the past hundreds of Mr. MORRIS: If the hon. ge!ftleman thousands of pounds that have been expended studied the questions ;he would. reahse. tha;t on absolutely unreproductive relief works in they have a very important bear;mg on Immi­ many cases could have been spent to very gration to this country. Early m September much greater advantage on reforestation. I asked the Premier a question and he .told South Australia, on account of wiser Govern­ me that immigration was a matter ent1re~y ment policy, has now very much larger tracts for the Commonwealth Government. It IS in existence and as a result that State is true that thEJre is an agreement. between ~he already cutting1 50,000,000 super feet of Commonwealth and the States m conn~ctw;n timber annually,. the product of its reforesta­ with immigration, and that power over Immi­ tion scheme, and this is done without cutting gration is vested mainly in tJ:e Common­ into its capital holdings in any degree at wealth but it is also true t.hat th1s agreement all because• it has a rotational scheme in still l~aves it open to the States to make Supply. [3 OCTOBER.] Supply. 657

special requisition for specified migrants if Traditionally, Labour Governments of the it requires them. I believe that we are in past have been opposed to immigration. Aus­ a position to make this requisition for those tralians as a whole are very intolerant of migrants now, and on 28 September I asked migrants. We often refer to them as Pom­ the Premier- mies or foreigners and we affect to look '' 1. Has the 'right of State Governments down upon them from our superior stand­ to make spedal requisition to the Com­ point. That is a fatal attitude and the sooner we overcome it the sooner we shall do monwealth G•overnment for migrant,'! 318 granted on 4 March 1938, as set out in some good with immigration. Commonwealth Year Book No. 34, page With a full recognition of the urgent need 300, been (a) withdrawn; (b) merely dis­ for migrants here I ask hon. members to continued during the wad point out just what have we done to attract '' 2. If the answer to (a) is 'no,' will them. Not only do I say that we have done he take immediate action so that potential nothing but if I might say so, we have done migrants may be selected and brought to even less than that. We have allowed Canada Queensland as soon as possible after cessa­ to get far and away ahead of us in this important work. Here is a report setting out tion of hostilities~' ' the views of Sir Louis Bussau, the retiring That is a perfectly clear question yet the Victorian Agent-General in London- PrP-mier 's answe'r was no answer whatsoever '' That among the ordinary people of to it. 'I ta.sked if the right 'of, the State Britain, Australia's post-war settlement Government had been withdrawn or discon­ intentions are suspect. You don't want us tinued during the war, and the Premier in Australia. You want it for yourselves. replied that the Prime Minister of Australia That is the general opinion of hundreds of had written to him telling ;him that fi'Ilancial people of all classes with which he has assistance to enable persons from the United talked during a recent 1,000-mile tour of Kingdom to settle overseas must in general the British Isles. I tell them they are com­ be terminated. He did not answer the ques­ pletely wrong, he said, but this deepseated tion that I asked. I maintain that we can impression will persist until removed by make those representations. The Government publication of some details of the Com­ of Canada is making thern and why cannot monwealth's plans or by establishment-as we~ the Ontario Government already has done­ Mr. Jesson: How do you know the of a large, highly-specialised London office. Commonwealth is not doing iH Here businessmen and ordinary migran~s could obtain technical advice on the hundred :air. }!ORRIS: I should imagine that if and one subjects from taxation, living costs, the Commonwealth Government had made any land costs, building costs, and labour condi­ representation or effort to get migrants for tions to the climate. This specially applies Australia they would not do it in secret ses­ to many industrialists, who now are con­ siml. I should imagine that t.he proceedings sidering expansion to Australia, but they of the session would be given wide publicity first require details of the planned popula­ in England, and I feel quite sure that if that tion increase for the next 10 years.'' had been done we should have heard a good Let us compare that attitude, which is deal about it. apparently rife in England so far as Aus­ tralia is concerned, with the action of the We are doing nothing whatsoever to encour­ Canadian Government. Instead of libelling age migrants to come to Queensland and expected migrants or depending upon an Australia. It is probably the day-dream of unending stream as soon as she has opened scme politicians that all we have to do is to the doors to them, she has established an announce to the world-and do it grudgingly office in London from which she is conducting -that we are willing to take a very select an energetic drive for migrants. To bring type of migrant and that thousands of people that drive to a culmination, the Premier of will then flock to Australia. If that is the Ontario himself has visited England to sign day-dream of some of them. then the sooner up the first 7,000 of these migrants. If we they awake the better. When we descend to think about it and we are realists at all, we cdd hard realism we must appreciate that must admit that for every 10 migrants we can it will be very difficult indeed to get suit­ get by our methods of co-operation Canada able n1igrants. England needs every ma11 >vill get 1,000. Therefore, we must organise and woman that she has. Her birth rate to bring migrants to this country, and we has declined seriously in the past 20 years must organise not two, three, four or five and she actually needs mo're man-power than years hence, but right now. Let us organise sht> has now to maintain her export of manu­ a vigorous drive to get and sign up every factured goods, which alone will keep her a possible migrant that we can. first-class nation. When I say we, I do not necessarily mean Although an immigration scheme has been only the Commonwealth Government; I mean in operation in Australia in the past we have the State Government too. Seeing that the not benefited materially from it. Refer-ence Federal Government appear to be absolutely to the facts shows that for the years 1930 indifferent as to the future of the Common­ to 1935, taking into consideration immigra­ wealth and are sitting idly by doing nothing, tion and emigration, we showed not a profit it should be our enthusiastic desire to use our but actually a net loss. Any hon. member Queensland Agent-General's office in London can verify that by ·referring to th-e Common­ from which to launch an urgent campaign to wealth Year Book. induce people in England to come to this 658 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. country believing that it has a glorious future. Queensland. Last week two or three hon. Let us convince the people of England that members, including the member for East this country presents glorious opportunities Toowoomba, dealt with it in their speeches. and that it welcomes them as members of a I believe the scheme to be entirely practic­ happy family-not as necessary evils to be able although of the many articles on the endured-and that we intend to welcome them subject by scientists of world repute some as part of the British Commonwealth of enthusiastically supported the project and Nations. I do not think that it is going to others just as enthusiastically condemned it. be a matter of how many we shall take. I believe it is worthy of close study by the According to Mr. Colin Clark, the Director of Government. Irrigation must be accepted the Bureau of Industry, we can absorb in principle as a work of great value. After between 15,000 and 20,000 a year, and the having seen how irrigation transformed dry, Secretary for Health and Home Affairs is arid and useless lands in both Syria and quoted in the "Courier-Mail" of 18 Sep­ Egypt into luxurious gardens, I am sure thr:t tember last as saying that the estimate would it will give similar results in Queensland 1f be between 28,000 and 30,000 a year. I take we employ it wisely and well. it that he means that that would be the net gain, and not merely the number of migrants When we have provided the land and irri­ who would come to this country. Whatever gated it to make it thoroughly productive, steps we take I doubt very much if we can and having selected, as I said earlier, the induce even half that number to settle in most suitable produce for cultivation both ~or Australia permanently, bearing in mind the primary and secondary industry, there remams fact that between 1930 and 1935 we showed one other factor closely allied to the sub­ a net loss in migration. Statistics, history ject of trade expansion and that is the atti­ and the results of the past 28 years would tude of the Government to secondary lead us to believe that the prospects of getting industries. I am sure every hon. member a large number of migrants are very small admits that secondary industries provide the indeed. · greatest source of employment in any demo­ crat,ic country. It is almost u-niversally I am not one who believes that success in admitted that they are the biggest potential handling the problem of migration is confined factor in the rehabilitation and reabsorp­ to a single factor; I believe indeed that it is tion of the men of the fighting services, closely bound up with many matters, some many of whom has passed thr~ugh trying of the important being irrigation and the experiences in this war. Australia, and par­ establishment of primary and secondary indus­ ticul:uly Queensland, urgently n~eds ~he tries. It would be useless and perhaps next establishment of new secondary mdustnes door to impossible to induce migrants to come but in the past successive Labour Govern­ to Queensland unless we planned a future ments have shown a decided antagonism to for them by creating opportunities to absorb pri' 3 ,te enterprise. I must co?-fess t;hat them in both primary and secondary industry. since I have been a member of thJS Chamber It is very necessary that we should have I have heard hon. members sitting on the planned primary industries, whose products Government benches attacking private enter­ can find a ready market. This desirable prise. In fact, too often is it their practice objective can most satisfactorily be attained to build up private enterprise as _an by establishing industries that will produce Aunt Sall:J, picturing. it as some n',: commodities for local consumption that will satiable money-monster m order_ th:;tt thet also find a ready market in other countries. may shoot at it as often as possible '': order It has been stated on many occa'sions by hon. to knock it down. In fact, Labour IS tra­ members that we have land in Queensland ditionally opposed to private e~terprise. 3:nd capable of producing cotton, jute, rice, and I am very much afraid that th1s oppositiOn a hundred and one other commodities that will be the rock on which our post-war recon­ eau be produced anywhere else in the world. struction plans will fall asunder and . that unless the Government concede. to pnvate 1\'Ir. Macdonald: At a price. enterprise its rightful plac: m _post-war reconstruction the whole edifice will be a llr. MORRIS: At a price, and to the sink for the moneys that have be~n a~cu;nu­ extent that we must provide for many of lated. The subjects of immigratwn, nnlja­ these primary products we must establish a tion, reforestation, primary and ~econda.ry m­ system of irrigation. As the hon. member dustries, must all be considered m relatwn to for Cook pointed out recently, this question is one of extreme urgency. It must be each other. extremely gratifying to hon. members to see I appeal to this Governmen~ ~o ~hange in the Estimates for post-war reconstruction their present attitude of class-distm~twn, _ of an allocation of £2,500,000 for irrigation and constant suspicion of the employer-It eJ';Ists water conservation. It is very g-ratifying, and they cannot deny it-and ~et all sectwns too, to read in the ''Courier-Mail'' of 9 occupy their rightful places m Queensland September last a statement by the Secretary so that they can avail themselves of this for Public Lands in which reference is made great OtJportunity of reconstruction for a new to this subject. It is evident from his order in Queensland. To this end I have two remarks that he is seized of the vital impor­ suggestions to make. First I suggest we form tance of irrigation and water conservation a Post-war Reconstruction and Development which are of national importance and whose Board. value will be cumulative through the years. I have read various articles in connection with A Government :Member: You are a bit Dr. Bradfield 's irrigation scheme for North late. Supply. [3 OcTOBER.] Supply. 659

~Ir. ~I ORRIS: Not a bit late. is one more important aspect of the subject that I believe must be considered in the pre­ A Government ~Iem!Jer: It has been done. paration of a public-works programme which I believe is vital. There is at the disposal Mr. ~I ORRIS: It has not been done in of the Government a greater spending power the way I suggest. Secondly, I suggest that than for many decades, and as a result of we institute a publicity drive in England now the war and the necessary restrictions it has for migrants so that the failure by the imposed on production there will be at the Federal Government will not-if it is going cessation of hostilities a huge demand for to react against Australia-react against every domestic requirement. Every home in Queensland. Let us deal first of all with the Queensland is in need of furniture, kitchen Post-war Reconstruction and Development utensils and clothing, wireless sets and a Board. I know that we have in this State thousand and one other things. a Co-ordinator-General of Public Works who Without the use of any public works what­ is responsible for co-ordinating proposals ever this would bring a great wave of submitted by various State Departments and prosperity and employment throughout this he then submits to Cabinet his conclusions. country. I would make this point very defi­ I have not had an opportunity to meet nitely: if huge public spending takes place Mr. Kemp but I do know he is universally in the immediate post-war period it will considered as having exceptional ability and result only in Governments' competing with is a very talented and able man. private enterprise for man-power that will be Mr. Walsh: An outstandingly able scarce and for materials that will be more public servant. scarce. This will in turn bring chaos and strangulation to the State's ability to recu­ Mr. ~!ORRIS: An outstandingly able pm·ate and will cause a terrific inflation of public servant-there is no doubt about that. values. On the other hand if we give to Nevertheless, post-war reconstruction is a public works therr proper place in our econo­ matter of great national importance and the mic structure, that is, the role of a safety future of this State depends on it. I suggest valve to utilise all spare available labour, we appoint this board and I believe that on then we can confidently look forward to long­ that board there should be representatives of continued prosperity in Queensland. As I the most capable men in industry and com­ have said, private enterprise should be and merce because, I repeat, secondary industry is should always be the main source of employ­ absolutely vital in the future of this country ment. Public works should be largely a and we must have men on that board who safety valve. know secondary industry better than it is As regards my second suggestion, migra­ known by any Cabinet Minister or any hon. tion, which appeaTs to be treated with much member a'ttending to post-war reconstruction at amusement by members on the Government the present time. When that board is formed benches, I still maintain that it is a vital I suggest, as we all agree that Mr. Kemp is matter. It is a matt·er that does not require an outstanding man who has done outstand­ merely talk but action and I have suggested ing work in co-ordinating reports from the how that action should be taken. If the various State departments, that he be a mem­ board completes a plan for a publicity drive ber of that board. What would be some of for migrants I suggest that at least one and the duties of the board~ I maintain its very preferably two members of this Assembly first duty is the immediate preparation of be sent to Great Britain and whatever other plans for a publicity drive for migrants in countries are selected with a view to putting Great Britain and other selected countries. into effect without further waste of time a ~Ir. Jones: When are you bringing this drive for migrants for Queensland. They Bill in~ should get these migrants and sign them up; they would then be ready to be brought to Mr. MORRIS: I should bring it in pretty Queensland at the ·earliest possible oppor­ quickly if I were over there. I should see tunity. we got on with immigration into this country. The first and most important Mr. Foley: How many a year? thing is to dmw up plans for a· pub­ Mr. l"IORRIS: Twenty thousand as a licity drive for migrants in Great Britain minimi1m, if they can be got, but I doubt and other selected countries. Secorrdly, very much whether at the present stage of we must have research into post-war problems affairs we could possibly get that number. as they apply to Queensland with the object According to [Mr. Colin Clark and the hon. of giving private enterprise and public works gentleman that number can be absorbed in their correct respective places in post-war Queensland without any difficulty. years and including just and equitable treat­ ment for our returned service men, which Mr. Foley: Mr. Colin Clark says less they urgently need and which they have fD:llY than 20,000. earned. Thirdly, I suggest that another JOb for this board would be the preparation of Mr. MORRIS: Mr. Colin Clark says 15,000 a complete general post-war blue-print for to 20,000, and I think the hon. gentleman Queensland, which can be publicised to show himself said 28,000 to 30,000. the people this Government present something ~Ir. Foley: My figure was wrong. concrete and romplete and not nebulous plans for the future, as we are having so Mr. ~!ORRIS: Mr. Colin Clark is quoted often from the Federal Government. There as saying we can absorb up to 20,000. If ti60 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

we can get 20,000 we shall be in a much Governments came into office machinery in better position than we are at present, with factories was unprotected, boys and girls the prospects of getting none at all. I again in clothing factories had their sealps torn off suggest that two members of this Parliament because their hair became caught in the go to England and other countries that are machinery. In those days men who were SAlected. crippled at their work were thrown on the industrial scrapheap. There was no workers' ltir. Foley: Scotland? compensation and because there was ample Mr. MORRIS: Yes. I should not mind labour to take the places of those who were being the one to go to Scotland. However, injured, these people were cast aside. Over who it is is not a very important matter. It is the years the legislation of Labour Govern­ the immigration that is vital to us. Two ments has brought about an improvement in members from this Parliament should travel conditions, and today life is worth-while for the countries in which are being advertised the the worker. If anything happened to the advantages of Australia and more particu­ Labour Party in Queensland or in the Com­ larly rQ(ueensland and sign up migrants for monwealth, we should see those old conditions Queensland so that the position, which has returning. The bitter fight put up during been bad for so long and promises to get the last referendum campaign by the oppo­ very m111ch worlle in the fl!ture, will be nents of Labour shows that they would like rectified immediately. to have the worker returned to those old conditions. Mr. JESSON (Kennedy) (3.13 p.m.): I I propose to give my views of immigration, take this opportunity of congratulating you, but before doing so I should like to make Mr. Mann, on being elevated to the position some reference to one section of the Press, of Chairman of Committees by the party and which in my opinion is doing the wrong thing later by the House. in publishing indecent literature and in Firstly, I should like to reply very briefly slandering the Australian-born descendants of to a few statements made by the hon. member a section of the community. My remarks are who has just resumed his seat particularly directed at the newspaper known as ''Smith's as to the Post-War Reconstruction Board. Weekly." On 30 September that journal For the benefit of the hon. member I would published an article entitled, ''The Champion assure him that that board has been created of the Dago," and mentioned the Federal already and has been at work for the past member for Herbert. My name also was two years under the chairmanship of Mr. referred to. I have never been the champion Kemp, the gentleman of whom he had so of any Dago at any time, but I have been much to say. That proves quite conclusively the champion of the naturalised citizen who •that 'the hon. member does not know the has taken the oath of allegiance to this policy of the Government for the future country, who has paid his rates and taxes, and progress of the State. As a matter of fact, who has been a useful member of the com­ either last year or the year before very munity for many years. I make a special important legislation fo deal with post-war plea for the progeny of those people who came planning was dealt with by the Parliament out to this country at the invitation of the of Queensland. This was the first State or Commonwealth Government-and it was not country in the world to deal with this matter a Labour Government-and settled in this and it was done by this Government. The land. My plea is for the boys and girls the hon. member has wasted about 15 minutes future mothers and fathers of this land. I of the time of the Committee on something make a plea for the sons and daughters, that already exists. He suggested that a whether their parents are German, Italian or new post-war reconstruction board be created. any other nationality, who have been born here, who have been educated in our State Mr. Morris: With businessmen on it. schools, who have married in our own class and who have produced more of their kind. Mr. JESSON: Put the hon. member for Hamilton on it f Many of them are now in the fighting forces, and this article is one of the most scurrilous Mr. lliorris: He would do a lot of good. and filthiest pieces of journalism ever per­ petrated on the Australian people at a time llir. JESSON: The hon. member for when we are asking for migrants to come to Windsor to be secretary, and the hon. member this country, as we have just heard the hon. for Nanango whipf member for Enoggera doing today. We owe An Opposition Member: What about an obligation to those boys and girls who you~ were born here, who were educated in our State schools, and who are taking up the Mr. JESSON: I may be already on the fight for life in Australia. They are Aus­ board. We might be able to appoint an tralian-born irrespective of the nationality of opposition bO'ard to operate in competition their parents, and they should be allowed to with the one already appointed by the Govern­ develop the Australian outlook. It is nearly ment and approved of by the citizens of time the Commonwealth or some other Govern­ Queensland in no uncerta:in manner at the ment subdued a P1'ess that defames the last elections. natural-born Australian and casts a slur on Once again we hear the old argument about the progeny of those Australian-born citizens the labourer always fighting against the boss. by terming them Dagoes. Why, 75 per cent. It is terrible to think that the worker should of the people we asked to come to Australia have to fight for the right to exist and to to fight for us when things looked so glum enjoy the necessities of life. Before Labour and dismal two years ago-I refer to the Supply. [3 OcTOBER.] Supply. 661

American armed forces-are the children of the Communist Party any more than it is immigrants who took np citizenship in because of the Australian Labour Party here America, where they had the right given to or the Republican Party in the U.S.A. This them to take out citizenship, where they were is the fight of the Russians as a people and allowed to grow up and be educated in as a nation by people who love their land no American schools and where they had no Press matter how they were bred and born in it. of the type of "Smith's Weekly" to vilify Consequently they are fighting for them­ them when they were trying to do the right selves as a people and as a nation and not thing by th~ir country. I do not propose to for any political party. My speech may sound waste any more time in talking about such a a little bit hard or harsh but I am not dirty, scurrilous rag as "Smith's Weekly." taking away one bit from the grand fight the One thing that I do regret today is that Russian people have put up over the past my former colleague and friend-he is still few years in the defence of their country. my friend-Mr. Dick Riordan-is not here to However, there are some fanatics in this hear my speech. I cannot express my thoughts country who through their propaganda and in describing the actions of the people of their little printed pamphlets poked down Bowen who, to use an Australianism, sacked the throats of the Australian workers backed Dick Riordan from the last Parliament. up by the Tory Press and the Communist lUr. Sparkes: They have given their Party, especially in Townsville, are able to decision and you must abide by it. get more publicity than any hon. member here regardless of the party to which he :Jllr. JESSON: I am abiding by it but it belongs. The Communist Party in various is a pity they did not do the same in parts of the State can often get a better the hon. member's electorate. The advent ''go'' than other people. As a matter of of the Communist Party in this Assembly in fact, they are associated with high vested the person of the hon. member for Bowen interests and Big Business because of their prompts me to say a few words about that hatred of the worker and because they are party. It is not represented by the hon. prepared to pull down the whole social member for Bowen and at no time has he structure. May I add a warning: the day is represented it by his actions or by his very fast approaching when if something is speeches. I have listened a great deal to not done to fight this red evil in our midst the hon. member for Bowen over many years. there will be revolution in this country. I have heard him expounding his propaganda. Unless something is done to deal with the It is true, as the Secretary for Health and traitors to the workers in this country who Home Affairs said in this Chamber a few would like to see a revolution we shall have days ago, that Labour's policy included many that revolution, which everybody fears and things that had already been done, many dreads. A war is bad enough with our own things that were in the process of being done boys in danger of being slaughtered by and many things that were being planned for ruthless barbarians like the Japanese and the future. I have never heard any Com­ the Germans, who are perhaps just as bad if munist policy expounded in this Chamber. I not worse, but it would be worse to have fight­ have made a research concerning it over the ing amongst ourselves, amongst our own flesh past few weeks and I find that comparatively and blood on our own Australian soil. The speaking this country is many miles ahead subject is a very serious one and the trouble of Communist activity and, if I might is being aided and abetted by the Tory Press describe it as such, Communist legislation in and the vested interests in this State. Russia today. llir. Maher: You fellows did not repu­ In making these statements I do not want diate them but accepted the support they to take anything away from the Russian gave at the recent elections. people in their fight against the Nazis. The Russian people have had to fight all their Mr. JESSON: Neither did you. lives. In Russia there has been the inter­ Mr. Maher: My word I did. mingling of the East with the West, of the Asiatics with the Europeans. It is only in Mr .•JESSON: I want to refer briefly to the north where the Nordic races abound that education. A great deal has been said by the people of Russia are white. On the East the Communist Party about it and I think and in the South there is an intermingling it incumbent on me to point out a few facts with the Mongolians and so the Russian regarding this subject. Education in Russia, people have had to fight not only for the or the U.S.S.R., begins at the age of eight wherewithal to eat but for the wherewithal years, but all children before that age are to live. We have read about the bandits in placed in kindergarten creches where they Russia. Indeed, the history of Russia teaches receive their elementary education. The us that the Russians have fought all types compulsory education period is from eight to of people-they have fought the Japs, the 16 years, but owing to the war the age limit French and the British. The whole history has been reduced to 14 years as all possible of Russia is a history of fighting for their labour is required by the nation to hurl back very existence. Now that they have been able the Nazi hordes. A student in the U.S.S.R., to get on top of the world, as they have on passing the matriculation examination, can today, they are deserving of the greatest enter a higher educational institution or the praise and commendation by us all. I do not university. On entering these institutions for one moment want to take away anything each student receives an allowance of from from the great fight they are putting up 100 to 200 roubles. In passing I might men­ against the Nazis, but it is not because of tion that a rouble today is worth 3d. The 662 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

students live in students' hostels. That is members can understand that if there is any how they manage to live on such a small education to be obtained from the wireless the allowance. On 2 October, 1940, students' Russian people are not getting that education allowances in U.S.S.R. were abolished and fees to the same extent as the people in other were introduced, as follows-300 roubles in places in the world. the provincial towns, 400 in the capital I want to touch on the constitution of the cities and 500 roubles to those attending l'.S.S.R. In Article A there is freedom of schools for medicine. That leads me to the speech. I have heard various Communist conclusion that these fees were introduced speakers in northern and southern Australia to open the back door to some bureaucratic and on the stump down in South Australia and controllers in Russia to poke some of their in the Botanical Gardens and the Domain in friends or relatives into these institutions. I Sydney say all the rotten things that could have a statistical table concerning education be r:aid about the Labour rarty. I hE,ttTd thenl in technical schools in the U.S.S.R., Aus­ calling soldiers 6s.·a -day murderers in the tralia, Canada and New Zealand. It is- Domain in Sydney. Can you imagine a1;y Communists getting up in any town in Russia Number of Number of and saying the same words W Certainly not. - Population. Colleges and Students in University Proportion of They would be taken out and shot by the Students. Population. O.G.P.U. U.S.S.R. .. 193,000,000 450,000 1 to 429 Then the next Article B-freedom of the Australia .. 7.000,000 115,627 1 to 60 Press, freedom of assembly and the holding of Canada 11,000,000 109,394 1 to 100 mass meetings. Last Labour Day, when I New Zealand 1,750,000 21,126 1 to 83 marched in Brisbane, Chinamen and others marched with Communist badges down Queen Those statistics disclose that ce·rtain sections Street. Could a similar thing happen in of the people, the Communist Party, are Russia~ Certainly not. Consequently the being educated while the remainder are being whole thing is a sham. Max Eastman, the kept in complete ignorance because if they noted American Communist, returned from the were similarly educated they might wake up U.S.S.R. and wrote- to what is being put over them. '' The Russian system guarantees no \Ve have read much also about hospital freedom of religion or otherwise. It accommodation in U.S.S.R. and have seen big guarantees the dictatorship of the Russian photographs on the propaganda used by the Communist Party, asserting that it shall Communist Party in support of the condi­ form the directing nucleus of all organisa­ tions in Russia. I find on investigation that tions of the people.'' the statistical facts are- This man goes along there and comes hack di~il!usioned about Communism. Most of these Number Number Number writers, such as Davies, tell us the same. of of Number of - Hospital Beds to of Doctors Davies wrote a book, ''Mission to Moscow,'' Beds. Popula- Doctors. to and I invite members to read that book. Read tion. Patients. any ma'n who has come out unbiased. And yet -- we have fanatics acclaiming Russia-I do not U.S.S.R. 673,000 1 to 280 110,000 1 to 1,745 Australia 65,000 1 to l 07 8,000 1 to 875 call my friend the member for Bowen a Com­ Canada 107,000 1 to 103 13,000 1 to 840 munist; he is a disgruntled Labourite; he is New an opportunist; he knows which way the wind Zealand 18,000 1 to 102 2,500 1 to 740 is blowing. While he has the country Press behind him and vested interests in this State Consequently, it is absolute nonsense for any­ I do not blame him for taking up the attitude body reading the propaganda about Russia he takes. Remember this: the day of reckon­ to make any comparison wi'th Australia, ing is coming and coming very fast, and faster New Zealand or Canada economically, cul­ than the bloated capitalists on my right think. turally, or educationally. It should be our I believe \Ye in Australia can improve the con­ bounden duty to oppose any movement to ditions of the worker immensely. I believe pull down our high Australian standard of the Australian people never had the oppor­ living to the Russian standards. This is tunity to improve their conditions, because reflected also in the wireless licences issued we had a hostile Federal Government for many in the countries I have mentioned. They years. The unfortunate part about the whole are- thing is that the present Federal Government Number. have had to do many nasty things to the popu­ U.S.S.R. 350,000 lation because of the greatest war of all time; Australia 1,293,266 but they have done a great job in getting New Zealand 3(';·5,000 Australia out of the mess 1\'8 were thrown into by the friends of our friends on the right. The Russian figures are in respect of 1936, vVhen the war is over, the Commonwealth the latest statistics, but there wireless sets Government, helped by the State Labour are installed for the most part in workshops Governments, will be able to bring those things and in specific places for propaganda pur­ in that are desirable. When the workers' poses. times are good and he shares in the plentiful In other words, in a little place like New things there are to be shared in, our friends Zealand, with 1,750,000 people, they have 5,000 on the right also share in those good things. more wireless sets than in Russia where there Article 135 of the Communist constitution are 193,000,000 people. Consequently hon. deals with the election of deputies. In Russia Supply. [3 OcTOBER.] Supply. 663 they have a vote at the age of 18, irrespective It is a wonder how the Russian people of race or nationality. The constitution was manage to live. They must eat many other drawn up in 1936 and ratified in January commodities that they grow themselves. The 1937. Since then they had one election-the difference between Australia and Russia is only one in 20 years. Only t>1 o candidates that the great problem in Russia is to pro­ dared to oppose the official Communist duce the necessary goods whereas in Aus­ candidate. tralia our great trouble is disposing of the surplus to advantage. JIIr. Pie: What happened to them? Communism is based on the principle that lUr. JESSON: I suppose they were man should serve the State whereas in a liquidated. In 1411 constituencies out of a: democracy, in which I and this Party believe, total of 1413 there was no opposition, the the State should serve the man. Commun­ candidates being merely selected, and they ism believes in the regimentation of the indi­ mostly were bureaucratic members of the vidual for State development, and that gets Communist Party who held official positions me back to the Communists who supported in that party. Only two sessions were held the referendum. They did so because they in a yea·r. Our Communist member advo­ thought that at some future date-and their cated two sessions a year, but I would point plans are long-sighted enough-this country out that in Russia the two sessions did not might turn over to Communism, and the last a: week each, and no legislation was Federal Government would have all the powers moved, No doubt because everything was to bring about the regimentation they so fixed up in the~- much desire and is so prevalent in Russia. An Opposition Member: In the ·caucus. Mr. ·wanstall: Why did you not state it publicly during the campaign~ Mr. JESSON: Caucus. (Opposition laugh- ter.) Hon. members opposite have their Mr. JESSON: I said it publicly during Caucus too. the campaign and everywhere else. Democ­ racy believes in the freedom of the indivi­ The CHAIRMAN: Order! dual to work out his own destiny, wl1ereas Jllr. JESSON: It is the same thing. They Communism believes in dictatorship and have not met since. The whole of the war totalitarianism. Democracy is a: state of soc­ and everything else has been conducted by iety in which the people give orders and the the little inner circle of the Communist Parliament sees that the will of the people is Party. I desire to quote from Dr. Hewlett carried out. J ohnson, who is known very affectionately by Now let me make a comparison of the cost tl1e Communists in Russia because he boomed of living in Australia and the U.S.S.R. The them up. following table is interesting as showing the prices of foodstuffs in Australia and the Mr. Walsh: He is the fellow who advo­ 1J .S.R.R. :- cated coloured labour for Australia. lUr. JESSON: Over there they call him Australia. U.S.S.R. the Red Dean. Dr. J ohnson wrote a book Bread 5d. a 2 lb. loaf 3d. a 2 lb. loaf that has been one of the best sellers in the Flour 2td. a lb. 3td. a lb. world, several million copies having been sold Meat 8d. a lb. Is. 6d. a lb. Milk 3td. a pint 9d. a pint -the "Socialist Sixth of the World," mean­ (if obtainable) ing that Russia held a sixth of the land part Butter ls. 7d. a lb. 2s. a lb. of the globe. On page 207 he states- Cheese Is. 6d. a lb. . . Is. 9d. a lb. Eggs ls. 6d. a dozen 2s. a dozen '' Not yet is the sta'ndard of living of the U.S.S.R. equal to the standard of So much for the cost of living. The reason England or the U.S.A.'' ;.-hv Russian workers are able to live at all I have searched through various books to is that they are fed with cabbage soups, stews find the Australian standard of living, and and other things that are served up in the the population. There is no necessity for me communal restaurants at the places where to repeat that the population of Russia is they work. Mr. Slater who went to Moscow 193,000,000. The population of the U.S.A. is as an Ambassador from Australia, became so 130,000.000 a'nd that of Australia 7,000,000. ill because he was unable to obtain necessary The following figures are illuminating. They Yitamins that he returned to Australia. show the annual consumption per head of l\'Ir. l\'.l'arriott: He was an old man who population- could not stand the climate.

U.S.S.R. Mr. JE SSON: He returned because he - U.S.A. Australia. could no t get any milk, eggs or fresh Lb. I. b. I. b. vegetables Wheat .. .. 420 290 335 Flour .. .. 240 160 203 Jlir. Pie And Mr. Davies took his own Cheese .. .. 3 6 4 food . Sugar .. .. 32 109 109 Beef .. .. 20 62 133 Mutton . . . . 10 7 74 1\ir. JE SSON: Of course he did. Every Total Meats (includ- book that tells the truth refers to the fact ing Pigmeats) .. 30 133 227 that journalists who toured Russia carried Tea .. .. 4·5 0·7 6·8 Rice .. .. 5 6 5 their own food with them in order that they might not starve. I have no desire to malign 664 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. the Russian people or anyone else, but it is ing the bureaucracy that has been set up in high time public men who have any love for Russia. Believe me, Mr. Manu, we have it in Australia and for their families who have to this country, too, and it is the duty o.f follo1Y them took steps to counteract the eYery one of us to root it out. In this con­ dissemination of propaganda containing nection I desire to quote Professor Bertrand foreign ideas. This is the greatest country in Russell, a philosopher and writer on social the world and we have to look after it. Our pn•blems. Writing in an excellent essay, greatest obstacle so far is that we lack ''The Taming of Power,'' he begins with population. It is high time we stopped the this quotation:- distribution of insidious propaganda through ''In passing by the side of Mount Thai, our workshops. Confucius came upon a woman who was There are in the community people who weeping bitterly by a grave. The Mast·er become wrapped up in a sense of what they pressed forward and drove quickly to her; term responsibility, who say that they always then he sent Tze-lu to question her. 'Your want to help others, and I wish to refer in wailing,' said ;he, 'is that of one who has particular to the kindergartens, which are suffered sorrow on sorrow.' She replied: good and necessary up to a point, but can be 'That is so. Once my husband's father overdone. If we make kindergartens big was killed here by a tiger. My husband enough and attractive enough we shall develop was also killed, and now my son has died into a race with mechanised children who are in the same way. ' The Master said: 'Why brought up by people other than their parents do you not leave this place~' The answer from the time they can walk until they reach was, 'There is no oppressive government school age, then go to school and so have no here.' The Master then said: 'Remember home life or love. If that happens then God this, my children, oppressive government help the future of this country. Despite all is more terrible than tigers.' '' the criticism that I might bTing upon myself Much has been said about the affiliation I say emphatically that the only place for a baby is its own home. of the Communist Party with the Australian Labour Party. Everywhere we see big signs Hon. Members: Hear, hear! and placards advocating it but may I ask why the unions whose executives are Communist­ Mr. JESSON: It is wrong for children to minded do not call upon the members of be sent to creches and kindergartens, most of tlw Communist Party to belong to the Aus· which if not controlled are at l~ast visited tralian Labour Party~ I know that this is regularly by members of the Communist of dull interest to my friends on the other Party. side of the Chamber because it pleases them Mr. Wanstall: Not in Toowong. We to see the Labour Party divided, but as one sacked them. who believes in unity in the Australian Labour movement, I know that it is nearly Mr. JESSON: The hon. member for time that t;he members of the unions put Toowong knows nothing. The Communists are themselves under the microscope. They should gradually getting their propaganda through take a keener interest in their unions and in to these young mothers, and it is by this the movement that has given them so much, means that they will tear down this country then all this blah about affiliation between and reduce it to the level of Mongolia and the Communist Party and the Australian other places where the people do not know Labour P'arty would become nothing more the first thing about hygiene. I say with all than mere eyewash. Then they would come the sincerity of which I am capable that back into the movement, affiliate with the the Government will have to be vBTy careful Labour Party, and do the job that their about watching the kindergartens that are forefathers set them to do in the world. I cropping up to take children from the mothers am merely issuing this warning because I while the mothers go to work or play. My fear that something more serious may happen, friend the Treasurer brought a good deal of as I have indicated throughout my speech. criticism upon himself in the Press because It is not that I have a fear complex but he referred to the women who went to cock­ that I am an Australian with an Australian tail parties and left their children in clinics family and 'I do not want the t.hings to or kindergartens. These things are happening happen here that have happened in other and if we are not careful this practice will parts of the world. be fostered by certain people in the com­ With that warning I pass on to another munity. distmbing feature in our life today. Many 'I dread to think that our children or a people may not have noticed it and many percentage of them, even as small as 10 per others may not care. I refer to the peaceful cent., should be brought up in clinics. If penetration of Australia by Chinese and some that is our purpose then we might as well Europeans who are r·egaTded as friendly adopt the Russian regime right away and be aliens, who seem to be holding cash without done with it. The point I make is that a doing any real and useful work in the war proper place for a child to be reared is at effort. I am surprised-and I think every its mother's knee, in its own home, and not other hon. member is surprised with me­ at a clinic where it is expected to assimilate to see the peaceful penetration of the Chinese a certain type of propaganda. into various businesses in the city of Bris­ Hon. Members1: Hear, hear! bane. There is no use in hiding our head under a bushel or pulling the wool over our Mr. JESSON: In the little time left at my eyes. There is the stark staring fact that disposal I propose to quote a matter concern- capital has come in from somewhere and Supply. [3 OcTOBER.] Supply. 665 there is hardly a restaurant in Brisbane that person. I believe that the leaders of this is not controlled by Chinese today. I do not Parliament whom the people have elected are say that the Chinese are not industrious alive to the danger. quite, peaceful citizens. As a matter of fact, it was the Chinese who in the early Last year I spoke on the absorption of the days developed North Queensland and opened returned soldier into industry and into land up the mining fields about Cooktown. settlement after the war is ended, and I uttered a word of warning on that occasion The fact remains that today these people which I desire to repeat. We want to hasten infiltrating into this country are not miners, slowly in any settlement of the soldiers on vegetable gardeners or land-minded. They are the land. Any such scheme must be abso­ going into businesses. They pay high prices lutely watertight and open only to the right for cafes or bits of dumps. It is a notice­ type of man. In other words, we must not able fact that they are able to get the neces­ put any square pegs into round holes, as was sary materials, such as cups and saucers, as done after the last war, so that after the well as fittings, and labour, which cannot settler had expended all his money he was be obtained by our public hospitals. I do compelled to walk off the land. I know this not object to that so much as to the from my own experience after the last war, infiltration. One of the big shipping com­ and from the unsettled state of mind of panies, or trading companies-it may be members of my own family who have been Burns, Philp and Coy. Ltd-that holds big through the present conflict. This war has interests in the East or the Pacific, is pos­ been conducted along totally different lines sibly bringing in these men to this country from the last one. Those engaged in it have because they have capital or a credit balance been subjected to almost continuous bombing, there. The fact remains that no-one has day after day and night after night. They objected so far to the, practice, but I am have been continually on their toes in order doing so. During the last war Black's cafe to secure air bases. This has imposed a in Queen Street, as well as Patty Bros.' cafe severe nervous strain on the soldier. Conse­ was a household word with the then Diggers, quently we must be tolerant. to t~em a.nd as the hon. member for Enoggera or the exercise a great deal of care m dealmg With Treasurer well knows. A common salutation them. We must remember too that in the last on going up and down the Suez Canal by four or five years many thousands in Aus­ the Diggers was ''See you at Patty Bros.' tmlia have been trained to kill. cafe'' or ''See you at Black's cafe.'' Black's cafe is now owned by Chinese and I can visualise somebody insulting a soldier the cost of meals has gone up by 100 per in a hotel or somewhere else and the returned cent. If we go down Adelaide Street, or man knocking him down because the blood into some of the arcades in Sydney we shall lust has been developed in him-he has been see many places displaying koala bears or trained to kill. It is a shocking thing in a imitation jewellery and sorts of trash for civilised community that a man should be sale to those foolish enough to buy it. Who trained for four or five years to kill his owns these places~ Not the returned soldiers, brother-his own fellow man. These men are but friendly aliens who have come here dur­ being trained to kill, consequently they have ing the present hostilities. It is high time to be trained in peace before they can take the Federal Government or someone in an occupation in the country w~en the war authority caused a close investigation to be is over. We have to treat them w1th tolerance. made into these joints, which are opening Never mind about preference for this fellow up throughout the length and breadth of and that; given a fair go, the honest, decent Australia. returned soldier will find his own level, and he does not want preference. If we do that This brings me to the point of what we I have no fear for the future, but if we do are doing to maintain our White Australia not do it these men who have been trained to policy. He will be' a very courageous man kill will probably start killing and somebody or Government who will insist on the main­ will get hurt in the process. It is time we tenance of that policy. I see a grin on the started to make our plans now because men face of some hon. members opposite. I am are coming back every day and being dis­ reminded of the old saying about the loud charged medically unfit and for other reasons laugh that speaks the vacant mind. Some -such as to go back on the farms. They will of them are too busy worrying about a few have to be looked after in any post-war plan­ pounds or a few hundredweight of tomatoes ning. Many of them are getting out now-I and potatoes to think of the national issues do not know whether it is a shrewd way that are at stake. It will, I repeat, be a adopted by Governments to shirk responsi­ courageous Government, whether Federal or bility-but many men are getting out who State, that will stand up and tell our Allies have been three or four years at the war who are not white to get back to their own and who is to say what their mental condition countries after the war is over. It would be will be in 10 years' time~ We have a big surprising to know the hundreds of thou­ job ahead of us. sands of Chinese, Filipinos, and other Eastern nationals who are our allies in this war, that I should like to mention the reabsorption are now in Australia. The White Australi::t into industry of men from the Allied Works policy has been vigorously pursued in the Council, who have done much good work. past, but it will be a hard job to get this Despite the criticism to which the Allied country white again after the war unless some Works Council has been subjected from time strong steps are taken. That must be quite to time, it has done a mighty job, and when clc.1ar to any thoughtful and right-thinking the history of that organisation is written it 666 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. will be something of which the men, women and efficiency and if they get these they do and children of Australia can be proud. No not give a dash who does the work. doubt mistakes have been made. The jobs I commend these matters to the Committee that have been done in the North, on Thurs­ -the absorption of the men of the Allied day Island and at Milne Bay and at various Works Council, the hasten-slowly policy with other places when the .Japs were hammering the returned soldiers, and the women of the at the back door of Australia is something of services getting back the jobs they had before which Australia can be proud. The men who they joined the forces. have carried out these works have to be reabsorbed into industry. I know of instances Mr. AIKENS (Mundingburra) ( 4.11 where men who were working as supervisors p.m.): All the Financial Statements tabled or foremen on public works and who had not and all the plans ever formulated for the used a hammer or a chisel for a number of salvation of the country are absolutely useless years, were taken out and placed in a job in unless those for whom these plans are formu­ the Allied Works Council as foremen or lated have confidence in the Government who gangers. The jobs on which they were formulate them. I attempted to prove and engaged closed down recently and these men I think I made a fairly successful attempt have been discharged from the Allied Works to prove that in the main the people of Council, but they cannot go back to the Queensland have no confidence in the Govern­ Government jobs as supervisors because there ment who occupy the Treasury benches today. is no man-power to permit works to go on, they cannot go back to carpentering because Mr. Gledson: Why do you say that? they have no tools and they cannot buy them; consequently they are unemployed. In addi­ Mr. AIKENS: Evidently the reason why tion to that they have been so long away they were elected is that of two evils the from the practical side of the work that they people chose the lesser. The fact remains there would find it difficult to do it straightaway. are certain members of the Government who are honest and sincere in their attitude, out­ If I were a supervisor I should strongly object to being sent to a fish market by the look and desire to emancipate the ordinary working man and woman of Queensland. The Man-power authorities. These anomalies are causing discontent. fact also remains that the organisation that controls the Government, the Australian Another important point is the absorption Workers' Union, is rotten and corrupt. I of our women. The whole basis of home life made that statement in my speech on the and every other phase of life has been upset Address in Reply and I honestly expected ~n th.e upheaval of war. Women have gone that there would be at least some members mto mdustry and done work that it was not of the Government who would be delegated to thought possible for them to do before. dis,prove the diabolical charges I made against Women have gone into the army services and this organisation, which owns the Labour done a great job. Many shop· girls, typists Party body and soul. But instead of any and waitresses have joined the various attempt to disprove the charges I made, cer­ branches of the women's army services. In tain irresponsible members of the party were Townsville many of these girls who had been obviously selected to defame me personally. working in various jobs joined the army I am not concerned with the opinion of any services and other girls came to North Queens­ person about myself as an individual because land after engagement by the American army I have done many things in my life. I have authori~ies as waitresses, typists, and motor­ been guilty of many sins of omission and car ~nvers. ~s the army moved on, the commission but I have never done anything Amencan serviCes were dispensed with. The of which I am ashamed although I have done North is a very pleasant place to live in at least some things that I must honestly despite the c?nditions that prevailed at times; say I regret. When all is said and done, and these g1rls have taken up jobs in the what does it matter what I am as long as the town in various positions. things I said were true~ Truth is truth, whether it is spoken by a man in the rags They are. there to stay. When the girl who of a beggar or 'Voiced by one arrayed in was away m the armed forces comes back to the gorgeous raiment of a king. The fact her home town and wants to take over her old remains that no effort was made to disprove j.ob, the job she had before the war, I should the diabolical charges I made in this House hke a member of the Opposition to take up on that motion. my s~atement that she will not be given back her J.ob. The replr will be that the girl in lUr. Gledson: You admit they were her JOb has held 1t for the last couple of diabolical charges. years and is quite efficient. ~Ir. AIKENS: They were diabolical and Mr. Sparkes: How do you know? they were true, and it is a disgrace that any organisation should accept those charges with­ ll'Ir. JESSON: You go back to your out making any attempt to refute them. book. It is not quite as easy as they make lUr. Walsh: Why did you not say them out it will be. I have yet to meet the great patriotic gentleman. Certainly there are a outside~ few and my friend, the hon. member for ~Ir. AIKENS: I will deal with that in a Aubigny, might be one of the few and if he moment. I am glad you fell into the trap. is I will not take that credit from him. The I pitched ·for you and you fell intn a trap fact remains that it is not a general thing that the average schoolboy would have and all that concerns these people is profits avoided. Supply. (3 OCTOBER.] Supply. 667

Tile CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the hon. arranged for me, after nine years as a Lab­ member for Mundingburra to address the our councillor and alderman, six years in the Chair. shire of Cloncurry and three years in the city of Townsville, to be, refused endorse­ 1Ir. AIKENS: _I thank you, Mr. Mann, ment for the 'fownsville plebiscite so that and I regret the mterlude. I will deal with Kogler could win. I want to say now in the hon. g·entleman later. When all is said faimess to him that I have no evidence that and done, the only statement about me that Koglcr was either cognisant of or connived was made was to ask the question as to what at Dougherty 's stab in the back at me. right I had to speak for and on behalf of the Labour Party, in view of the fact that I It is expected that when a man is refused had been expelled from the Hermit Park endorsement in the Labour Party he should branch of the A.L.P. That is true. I take the dirty stab in the back lying down was so expelled. There is no doubt about but I was made of different stuff and threw that. Certain scurrilous statements were the whole weight of my personal following made about me and in order that the in Townsville behind the present hon. mem­ atmosphere may be cleared once and for ber for Townsville who won the plebiscite all and so that in future I may be able to and eventually the seat, much to the devote all my attention to the job for which discomfiture of Dougherty and the A.W.U. the people of Mundingburra sent me here-to I could not be forgiven for failing to lie see that the North gets a fair spin which has down meekly and humbly accept all the kicks been denied it not only during the war directed at me by Dougherty and his stooges but for many years before the war-I feel it and heelerSI. In 1940, ·when it was expected incumbent on me and for the benefit of the that Jack Dash, because of failing health, House to clear up the circumstances surround­ and he also after a: long and honourable ing my expulsion from the Hermit Park association with the Labour Party, would not branch of the A.L.P. in 1940 and to acquaint be standing again for Mundingburra, it was them with facts already known to every man, considered necessary by Dougherty to gain woman, and child in the North. · control of the Hermit Park branch of the During the 1939 municipal election Tom A.L.P. which was the head centre. All Dougherty arrived in Townsville as district these facts are known to the people secretary of the A.W.U., a man consumed with of the North-they have been voiced so much colossal egotism that he is almost off every platform in the last four of five a meglomaniac. years on scores of occasions by both sides. During the 1939 municipal elections after He determined that one man he would first years of Tory rule in which only four h:we to remove-I was only one of many Labour aldermen-Illich, Corcoran, Hamilton, that he had in mind-was myself. How was and mysBlf-were on the Townsville City he going to aceomplish that~ I presented a rather difficult problem. He could not charge Co~ncil, but had built up such a repu­ tatwn. for. honesty and fair dealing on the me with disloyalty to the Labour Party Councrl thmgs looked very well indeed for beca'use I had always been loyal to every the Labour Party. It seemed that the party to which I belonged. He could not Labour Party would capture the Townsville charge me with dishonesty because I have City Council for the first time in historv. I never betrayed a trust that any person or any might say here that nothing would ever "have aggregation of persons had reposed in me. been attempted or done in regard to me but He could not charge me with anything in for the unfortunate fact that the late M. P. connection with my industrial, domestic or Hynes, after a life time of genuine servicB civic life, because all were above reproach. to the Labour PaTty, died during the cam­ He could not charge me with any personal paign. Immediately he died the A.W.U. sin because the people have vindicated me began to wangle for its particular man to in that respect time and time again-he win the plebiscite. I was looked upon­ could not charge me with any personal sin and I say ~ightl;y: so, with a little egotism because I live a rather mid-Victorian exis­ -;-as the logrcal wm.ner of the coming plebis­ tence. I do not bet, I do not gamble, I do crte. Dougherty drd all he possibly could not go to the races, I do not even smoke, I do not ba'sh barmaids, I do not ''take the to defea~ me in the municipal elections. But desprte the fact that I am the terriblB knock'' on bookmake,rs-which is a very joy­ person that some members of the Ministry ful pastime of some A.W.U. officials-! do not do many -of the things that the ordinary and of the .Pa~·t:y would make out, I fought the 1939 mumcrpal elections in Townsville man does do; and for which I do not criticise neck and neck with the popular Talbot him because they are his particular ways of Heatley for top place in the poll and was filling leisure hours. Like other men, how­ only narrowly defeated for that position. My ever, I possess an Achilles heBl. Labour colleagues-four in addition to myself Thir. Walsh: You broke into the Roxy -were returned and with the help of the theatre and drank their grog. present hon. member for Bowen, Labour had control of the Townsville City Council for the lUr. AIKENS: I wish I could discuss the first time in history. I defeated Bill Kogler Achilles heel of the Minister for Transport, Dougherty 's candidate for the plebiscite i~ but I ha've not the time for that now. 1939, by 2000 votes. It became apparent to Although I sometimes drink, I snppose in all Dougherty that there was no chance of defeat­ my life I would not drink for more than an ing me by fair means in the plebiscite, so average of 10 days in any one year and as he adopted foul means. He got in touclr with hon. members of this CommHtee know, when Fallon and by collusion with Fallon he I am not drinking I am absolute teetotaller 668 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

for the other 355 days. In 1940, I did to take on as a branch the junta that con­ honestly have a few snoutfuls with the boys, trols the A.L.P. body and soul, the to use the vernacular. members of the Hermit Park branch Later I was charged with getting intoxi­ did something that the stooges and cated. That was the charge. Fancy, as I the heelers of Fallon do not tell you, and told them, the Labour Party of all parties that is they decided to send for me. They charging anyone with intoxication, even wrote to me-this was the very branch that spasmodic intoxication! As I told them at had expelled me. They offered me membership the branch, if intoxication, even spasmodic in­ in the branch with continuity of member­ toxication, were a sin punishable with expul­ ship. Because I was' proud of the branch and sion from the A.L.P., then you would be because I was proud of the stand it had taken able to number the members of that party I accepted the terms the branch offered to on the fingers of one hand. At that me and I came back into it. That was time, as I pointed out, too, the Labour in 1942. In 1943, with Arthur Murgatroyd Party was led by William Forgan Smith of as eo-campaign director, I organised the all people, before whom Tom Dougherty branch and led it to the greatest municipal and the present Minister for Transport genu­ victory in the history of this State. With flected and actually grovelled. It is true that 29 candidates in the field and only 14,000 cney expelled me, abundantly true. The charge effective votes polled I, the terribly indecent against me was that on one of these particular type of person according to my enemies, times I ~ad 1l: few beers with my mates and I polled nearly 10,000 votes-and with 29 can­ became mtmucated. That is the fact and so didates in the field. All my seven Hermit far as that is the charge it is the truth. Park branch colleagues were returned. The There they let it rest but they do not tell hon. member for Bowen, who was one of the you what subsequently transpired. three Communist candidates tpat helped to fill up our team of '10, ran me a very close Now what did subsequently happen. Later second. Both he and I ,established a record on Dougherty himself got drunk or drunker for Townsville and I established a Tecord than usual in tpe Excelsior Hotel and boasted for the State. of the fact that the charge against me was a frame-up and that the next two he intended No State politician or alderman in the to ~et were Corcoran and Murgatroyd, now history of this State ever received as many pres1dent and secretary of the Hermit PaTk votes from the people as I received only A.L.P. He blew the gaff and became so last year from the people of 'l'ownsville. unpopular with the Hermit Park branch of What greater vindication has ever been the A.L.P. that he did not go back to any given to any man than the vindication given o~ the meetings. I must say that my expul­ by the people of Townsville to one who has swn was made at a packed meeting and was lived among tlwm for the last 14 years~ carried by only two votes-I do not want Let the Labour Party get over that hurdle anyone to have the idea that I was expelled if they can. by anything like a unanimous vote. But here is something more-the story is Dougherty packed the me-eting sedulously. not completely told. We got all seven Hermit After his Excelsior Hotel statement the Park candidates returned as aldermen, one of branch, to use a vulgarism, woke up to the Communists-the hon. member for Bowen Tom Dougherty and so he began a long­ -and two Independents who had openly sup­ term plnn to e:et control of the head ported the Medical Aid to Russia Committee centre of the Mundingburra electorate, so on the council, and who were parties to that he could control the plebiscites for that the affiliation of the council with the electorate. He had a long-term plan for the Medical Aid to Russia Committee, and transfer of the head centre from Hermit t\yo other Communist members of 'OUr team Park to the Ayr branch, which is controUed ran 11th and 12th. I defeated the closest entirely by the A.W.U. and its supporters. Tory candidate by almost 5,000 votes. I In 1941, when the Medical Aid to Russia defeated the closest official A.L.P. candidate Committee was formed, the branch took its by 7,000 votes, despite the assistance rendered courageous stand that has raised it in pres­ to its candidates on the public platform by tige and in the minds of every working man the hon. member for Townsville, the hon. and woman in Queensland, and Tom member for Kennedy, and no less a person Dougherty swore that he would disfranchise than the Attorney-General who came to the Hermit Park branch of the A.L.P. The Townsville to sweep us out of existence, but branch carried on the fight. It knew that who came back to Brisbane so disappointed it was right and it challenged the Q.C.E. that he said afterwards, "It will be the last to give any ruling or to quote any rule under time I will go to Townsville to talk to the which it had made its dictatorial demand grass.'' on the branch to withdraw their affiliation But the story is not yet finished. Of the entirely from the Medical Aid to Russia Com­ eight official Labour candidates four lost mittee. The Q.C.E. adopted the attitude and their deposits-in that cradle of Labour! I followed the motto that was ins,cribed over the might point out that in order to save his burning st:'kes of the Inquisition, "Don't deposit in a local-authority election a candi­ argue; beheve or burn. '' The members of date has to poll only one-fifth of the votes the Hermit Park branch decided to burn polled by the lowest candidate elected. In and when they set a light to themselves they this instance, he had to poll only one-fifth of lit a bonfire that has illuminated the N o'rth the votes polled by the candidate who ran and will never be extinguished. Having made lOth in the poll, but four of them could not the declaration to stand and having decided do that. Had they to poll one-fifth of my Supply. [3 OCTOBER.] Supply. 669 vote I believe the whole eight of them would not selecting a keeper of tll€ pearly gates, we have los,t their deposits. Where can you find a are electing a member of Parliament; and greater vindication of any man than that~ it is far better to send to Parliament a So I went on-this terrible man, this awful sinner with guts than a saint with none.'' Aikens! My colleagues re-elected me deputy You might be asking yourselves why it is mayor. In January this year they elected I attacked the A.W.U. It is because I was me chairman of the branch and in April this reared and bred and born in the very home year, men with 40 and 50 years' m em­ of the A.W.U. Despite what the member for bership of the A.L.P., men like Wheeler, Warrego said, I was an A.W.U. member. The Corcoron, and Illich, and babies in the first ticket I took out was when I went as a movement like Murgatl·oyd and others boy to work in the shearing sheds, and it with a mere 20-odd years' membership, was an A.W.U. ticket. I know that Parlia­ stood up on the public platform of Towns­ mentary procedure and Standing Orders are ville in support of me. I received enough 1such that you, Mr. Mann, would resent my votes at the Townsville end of my referring to him as an ordinary barefaced electorate where I lived to win the election. liar, so I will not say that; but I will say I received in this quarter as many votes as that if he is going to make any statement the Labour candidate and the Q.P.P. candi­ about me let him be sure of his facts. This date combined. Is there any further vindi­ is why I feel so bad about the A.W.U. Twice cation needed of this terrible man Aikens ~ a week I go across to the Kurilpa electorate, I ask only this: that if there is any scandal where I see my 101-year-old grandmother, to be said about me, I ask him who is going who is still physically able and mentally alert, to say it-I have asked them to do this off and who votes every election day for the the platform in the North-to go to member for Kurilpa. The member for Car­ M\mdingburra to say it, or come to 'l'owns­ pentaria will tell you about my mother in ville and say it. I will arrange their his electorate who is 70 years old and who platform, I will advertise their meet­ votes for him. These people were born and ings, and I will give them a complete bred in the West and so was I. My grand­ indemnity against any action I may have mother and her husband drove bullock-wagons against them for libel or defamation in from Rockhampton and St, Lawrence respect of anything they might say, irrespec­ and later from Hughenden. They blazed tive of the turgid depths their filthy mentality the trail in IS-month and two-year may descend to. ,No man can make a trips and made roads over which the fairer offer than that. My experience has A.VV.U. organisers now speed in luxurious been this: that when you persecute a man sedan-cars. My mother was born alongside then the people themselves rise and vote the bullock-wagon and >vith my grandmother against the slanderers and scandal-mongers suffered and starved in the shearers' camps unless they can prove their charges to the during the strikes of 1891 and 1894 where hrlt, and the man they slander will be the they faced the shearers' shooters' rifles the man who will eventually arise. If the Minister same as they were faced in 1912 by . the for Transport or some other responsible Brisbcme workers, when one of the nfles Minister of the Government will accept this was held by the member for Hamilton. . I suggestion, I will book the City Hall in Bris­ was born alongside the bullock-wagon m bane, I will pay all expenses in connection the \V est. I had the very germ of the with it, and I will allow the Minister for Lnhour movement horn in me. I can remem­ Tran8port or anyone else to have one hour to ber as a boy when Charlie McDonald used to say anything against me that his distorted tour his electorate on a bicycle and how brain can conceive. Again I will give him a they would go out for miles in buckboards legal indemnity for anything he might say, and on horseback and bring him back to provided he gives me a similar undertaking town in a triumphal procession. That is about what I might say in half an hour what I want to see in the A.W.U. today. I after he finishes. Could anything be fairer want to see the A.W.U. and the Labour Party than that~ Let my opponents accept the back to the days where the symbol of the challenge and meet me. Let them come to party was the flannel shirt a_nd the bluch~r the North where I was born and bred and boot. Instead of a flannel shut (metaphon­ defame me. If they do, it will mean another cally speaking) flying in the breeze on the 1,000 votes to me at the next election. The flagpole of Dunstan House to-day as a symbol people of Mundingburra and the people of of the people who sent us to this House and a Townsville know me. They know, as I have symbol of the glorious Labour P~rty, . there told them from the platform, that I am no floats feebly in the zephyrs somethmg hke a shrinking violet or perfumed pansy. They dinky brassiere. Let us go back to the days know all about me. There is nothing- about of the flannel shirt and the blucher boot. me the people who sent me here do not know. The other day I watched the 29th B_rig:;-de I want to tell you someth~ng that happened as they marched proudly in the dnzzlmg and something that was said. A prominent rain in Que'en Street. Nearly all were Queens­ minister in Mundingburra was asked by a landers, many of them c:;-me from the North, parishioner prior to election day for whom he some came from Mundmgburra and would intended to vote. He said, ''For Aikens.'' have voted for me if they had ha~ .the The parishioner said ''Wasn't there some opportunity to do so. Many of the. ongm~l scandal about his drinking some years ago~'' 29th sleep their last sleep on fore1gn so1l, And the minister said, ''There is always and many of those boys who marched have scandal about public men; there was con­ yet to die in defence of democracy. Some siderable scandal about Christ; but we are may go down to the tongueless silence of 670 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. the dreamless dust in the cemeteries of Tokio the hon. member for Bowen! What a sen­ itself in the final battle against Japanese sation! If they want it said outside, do not Militarism that we may be free and the wait for mE'. It can be found in the scripts democracy we believe in may endure. ,When of my broadcast. Oir let Fa1lon take the the boys of the 29th return the first thing they ' 'Guardian'' on. will do will be to buy a union ticket. I for It has been said, and it has been chal­ one, as they have fought for me, will fight lenged, that the A.W.U. does not control the for them, and go to gaol and die if necessary A.L.P. I will prove that it does, very to see that the ticket they buy is an intact briefly, right now, realising, as I say, that ticket and that no ballot slips have been stolen all the members of Q.C.E. are not crook, and from it by an unscrupulous organiser or that all the Labour Party is not crook. official in order to secure his re-election. Let There are some genuine, dinky-die, honest us be loyal to people like my old grandmother elements in both. The Q.C.E., realising and thousands of her kind who made the towards the end of 1942 or early in 1943 that Labour Party, and be loyal to the boys march­ it had been made the utensil of Tom ing and fighting today in order that a clean Dougherty 's egotism, appointed a commission decent Labour Party may be here for them to go to Townsville and inquire into the when they return. deregistration of the Hermit Park branch of The Minister for Transport and some of the A.L.P. It was virtually a commission and the other hon. members who spoke in reply the commissioner was none other than the to my speech on the Address in Reply asked Deputy Premier, the Hon. E. M. Hanlon. He why I did not say outside the things I said came to Townsville and met the representa­ then. I have said them outside. tives of the Hermit Park branch of the A.L.P. Outside I have made my criticism of the of "·hich I was one. He courteously listened A.IV.U. a score of times. I have broadcast to all we had to say and ve,ry paiiistakingly it over commercial radio stations in the listened to all the evidence we had to adduce. North imd not at any time has any action Mr. Hanlon occupies the second-highest place been taken against me. Is there any mem­ in the party. Because of his fairness and ber of the party so simple or so gullible as because of his sense of justice he came back to believe that if I were to go out in the to the Q.C.E. and said, ''Gentleman, there public street away from the hallowed and is nothing wrong with the Hermit Park privileged precincts of this Chamber and branch of the A.L.P. or its members. I refer to Fall on as a thief, a crook, a ballot­ recommend that it be readm;tte.l to the faker and a ticket-snatcher, he would take Labour Party.'' any action against me~ Mr. W alsh: He did not say anything of Mr. WalslJ: Give him a chance. the sort. =nr. AIKENS: He does not have to wait Mr. AIKENS: He did say it and you for me to say it because I have said it a opposed it. Tom Dougherty, although not a score of times. He does not have to wait for member, got into the Q.C.E. meeting on a me to say it and to put a witness in the box proxy and so defamed the Deputy Leader of to prove I said it because here it is printed the party and so swung the A.W.U. that the a bout him. In last week's ''Guardian'' they Q.C.E. actually turned down the recommenda­ refer to him as a thief, a crook, a ballot­ tion of its own commissioner, the Deputy faker and a ticket-snatcher, words that I Premier of the State. Could there be any deliberately used in order to trip that colossal greater or more glaring example of A.W.U. fool, the Minister for Transport, into falling control of the Labour Party than that~ If for me. In God's name, if they want to there is, tell me. You know it to be a fact. take action for defamation against anyone, Mr. Walsh: I am afraid you are wrong, let them take it against the editor of the as you are in everything elsl'. ''Guardian,'' who not only printed those words but published and distributed them. Mr. AIKENS: Now let me tell the Com­ I have only a layman's knowledge of the mittee something else, now that we are on law--I underst:md that the hon. members for the question of defamation. This will interest Kurilpa, Bowen, Toowong, a'nd Stanley those hon. members who represent electorates as barristers have a smattering of the in which there is a preponderance of farmers. law-but I know that although in a I know that they, like the hon. member for court it is not absolutely necessary for the Bowen and myself, have had considerable plaintiff to enter the witness box it has a difficulty in having men released from the distinct bE>aring on credibility with a jury army to go back and carry on the work of and it has a very large bearing on any their fathers' farms, the farms they them­ damages that may be awarded. Fallon will selves will inherit in the course of time. I not go into the witness box to take know it has been almost impossible to have the "Guardian" on because if he did so it the military call-up of any one of these men would be the greatest political sensation deferred so that the farm could be canied in the history of the State. In order that on. I ·know, and they know, that there are the audience might be accommodated the farms in the North on which the crops are court would have to be held in the rotting in the fields, unharvested because Exhibition Grounds. Imagine the spectacle, they cannot be garnered owing to lack of Fallon in the box trying to vindicate his man-power. They know that there are ~m:ms crooked control of the A.W.U. under cross­ going back and slowly but surely dnftmg examination by the counsel for the '' Guar­ into the hands of money-lenders and mort­ dian,'' one of whom would undoubtedly be gagees. Supply. [3 OCTOBER.] Supply. 671

lUr. Sparkes: They are not all in the get Mr. Fall on's son-in-law BxemptBd from North, either. military service. I do not think that that is fair to an hon. member of the Commonwealth ~Ir. AIKENS: I am glad to have the hon. Parliament and I ask the hon. member for member's assurance that those conditions are Mundingburra to withdraw that insinuation. not peculiar to the North. Those farms are slowly but surely drifting into bankruptcy M;r. AIKENS: I did not assert it; I or into the hands of mortgagees while the merely suggested it and I will not withdraw farmer's son is away iighting for the country. any suggestion. His release cannot be obtained or, if he is called up, the call-up cannot be deferred. Tlte CHAIRMAN: Order! I inform the I know of one case in the Ayr district where hon. member for West Moreton that the hon. they actually sent the military police to the member for Mundingburra is not casting any farmer's son and arrested him when he was in reflection on any hon. member of this the midst of garnering his father's crop. Assembly, and any statement he makes about That is what the boys of the 29th Brigade any hon. member of thB Commonwealth Par­ were marching for the other day. liament is admissible. I will tell hon. members something else Mr. AIKENS: Let us get away from the that they were marching for. Quite recently A.W.U. and the rank and file of the party Fallon 's son-in-law was called up for military for a moment. Let us refer to some of the service. No sooner was he called up than his statements that were made by the hon. call-up was cancelled and he was granted com­ ministry of the Labour Party. One hon. plete exemption not only from military call-up Minister, the Secretary for Health and Home but from all national services. I can almost Affairs, referred to me as a renegade. As a see hon. members thinking, ''Well, he must matter of fact, several pamphlets were issued be in some vital war industry; he probably through the Mundingburra electorate suggest­ is engaged in the preparation or processing ing that I was a Labour renegade. Perhaps of foods; he must be working in some I may be a renegade from the official Labour important transport industry.'' Not on your Party but at least I have not forgotten the life. Fallon 's son-in-law was recently people from whom I have sprung, nor have I exemptBd-and the hon. member for Bowen forgotten thB people whom I represent in this and I have said this scores of times on public Assembly. platforms in the North and it has been pub­ I have never been disloyal and I will never lishBd in the papers in the North-because be disloyal to the solid core of the Labour he is a taxation clerk employed by A. W. Party. You can find me in my hours /of Fadden. I have the papers to prove that what might be termed leisure with t;he people that was the excuse given for the exemption to whom I belong, the people who sent me of Fallon's son-in-law. Now hon. members herB, instructing them, advising them, and know why the legal sham iight was staged educating them to the best of my poor not long ago when Fadden took action against ability. You will not iind me in the 19th Fallon and why Fallon did not go into the polo of some swanky golf course sipping box and why they went through all this legal whisky and sor1a and swapping smutty storiBs hocus-pocus in order to try to nullify as much with simpering suo bs in flash pullovers, plus as they possibly could the terrible statements fours, and tartan socks. Whatever I might that wBre being made by thB hon. member do, at least I am honest; and I am honest for Bowen and by me off the public platforms and sincere with the people I represent. in the North. Fall on did not enter the box because he would have had to admit under Let me now touch on another matter, that cross-examination that his son-in-law, a hale, awful charge of collaboration with the Com­ hearty, husky A.l Australian was exemptBd munist Party. Let me say that the Deputy from military service because he is a taxation L€ader of the Labour Party in the Federal clerk employed by the Federal Leader of the House, the Hon. F. M. Forde, had prominent C.P. and a man who is allegedly his bitter and known Communists on his election com­ enemy. mittBe during the recent Federal election. No action was taken against him by the Q.C.E. ~Ir. Maher: There was no make-believe because it was in the interests of the ruling about that litigation. Fallon had to pay clique to take full advantagB of any assistance £1,000. that the Communist Party might offer. ~Ir. AIKENS: I doubt whether the Let me tell you of another little incident. cheque was ever drawn. I do not want to keep harping on the poor old Minister for Transport. I am particu­ Mr. Healy: You cannot blame him for larly pleased that the hon. member for his son-in-law. Mackav is in the Committee. Everyone will Mr. AIKENS: No, but I can suggest admit that the hon. member for Bowen played that he entered into some form of collusion no inconsiderable part in winning the Mackay with Fadden in order to get his son-in-law by-election for the Labour Party. It has exempted. been said bv all with whom I have discussed the questiori: that the integrity and sincerity ~Ir. MAHER: I rise to a point of order. of the hon. member for Mackay is undoubted. Mr. Fadden is a personal friend of mine. He The hon. member for Bowen challenged the hon. has occupied a very high office in the Com­ member for Bundaberg to a public debate, monwealth. The hon. member for Munding­ which challenge was declined, and that was burra asserts that he entered into collusion the turning point of the Mackay by-election with Mr. Fallon for a base end, namely, to in favour of the Labour Party. The hon. 672 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

meJ?ber for Mackay did not need any such to the last State election from Cape York to ass1stance at the recent election because he Mackay. He would leave Cape York with the had t~en been long enough in the House to blessings of and as a supporter of the Labour establish the fact that he was quite well able Party but the moment he crossed over into The to look after himself. Tableland electorate he became a rat and Let me tell you of an incident that renegade. The moment he crossed to Cairns occurred after the Mackay by-election and he became a good fellow. The moment he after the forces of evil represented by the crossed over into the Herbert electorate and hon. member for Bundaberg had been routed. travelled down through the Kennedy, Towns­ Labour was preening itself on its victory ville, Mundingburra and Bowen electorates he and had not got back into the state of would be spurned again and would again mental stagnation in which its members become a rat or renegade in those electorates, always say, ''Get thee behind me, Communist but the moment he stepped over the border until election day.'' The Minister for Trans: into the Mirani electorate I have no doubt port was standing outside the hotel at which that the Minister for Transport would be he was staying in a street in Mackay. Per­ there to welcome him with open arms as a haps the hon. member for Bowen does not long-lost brother and to kiss him on both know that I know this, but as he was walking cheeks. (Laughter.) That is some idea of down towards the post office the Minister for the sickening hypocrisy indulged in in respect Transport who was honest enough, because to Communists during the last election in the he had not time to think of anJthing dis­ North. My time is getting short and I desire honest, sang out in a loud voice, ''Good on to deal with something concerning Townsville, you, Fred, old boy; thanks, Fred." He and particularly to reply to something that actually and publicly complimented the hon. appeared in the copy of the Townsville member for Bowen, the leading Communist ''Bulletin'' that I received this morning. I in Queensland, for assisting him in winning YYas going to say I was about to deflate the Mackay by-election. Is that true, I ask the hon. member for Kennedy I cannot do the hon. member for Bowen ~ The hon. that physically as it would need a major member for Bowen says that it is true. He surgical operation. (Laughter.) I propose to did not know that I knew it. It is true. deflate him politically. I wish to tell the hon. Now let me tell you something else. At member for Kennedy that just as the Towns­ the lust State election you know that certain ville City Council proposes to institute an Communists and C·0rtain renegades--as we honour board to those brave lads who left this have been termed-decided to contest certain land to fight the enemy without so that we northern electorates. The campaign director might continue in our own way of life, there of the Labour Party-I am using that in a is also a suggestion to institute an honour ridiculous sense-get out an anti-Communist board for those citizens who stuck to Towns­ pamphlet virulently attacking the Communists ville during the darkest hours of the war. and he sent it in separate bundles to variou; Many citizens' names will be on that board; people in the North. He sent a covering many names of prominent unionists and letter with each bundle and took care to prominent public servants will appear on it. address the letter to each individual to whom At least two military officers' names will also it was sent. If it had been in the form of appear on it, Colonel F. R. North, of the a circular I should have had one to put on Australian Forces and Colonel H. C. Brown the table of this Chamber. I read this little of the American Forces, by reason of their extract from the public platform during the firmness with their own troops and respect of last election. It has n·ever been denied and civilian rights, and because they were at all it can be taken as being true. Wit;h' each times ready to lay their cards on the table bundle of pamphlets, he sent a covering letter and collaborate with and work with the civic that read something like this- authorities. That was one of the brightest "Under separate cover I am sending spots in Townsville 's dark hours. I can you a bundle of anti-Communist pamphlets. assure you that the name of the hon. member These are only to be distributed in Towns­ for Kennedy will not be there. vine, Mundingburra, Kennedy, Herbert, I propose to deal in the limited time at my The Tableland, and Bowen electorates, disposal with two of the many questions that where the A.L.P. candidates are being confronted the people of Townsville. One opposed by Communists and Labour rene­ was housing and the other was ice. As you gades. In these electorates they should be distributed from door to door." know, Mr. Mann, when the Army entered Townsville it grabbed every house in the city. I took this down from a fellow who was We could do nothing for a while, but fortun­ showing it to me in Sturt Street, Townsville. ately Mr. Forde, the Federal Minister for the Thr letter went on to say- Army, came there and a deputation consisting '' They a:re not to be distributed in t;he of Alderman Corcoran, Murgatroyd and I Cook, Cairns, Carpentaria, Charters Towers were introduced to him by the hon. member Mirani, or Mackay electorates where th~ for Townsville. I might say in passing that Communists are supporting the official the hon. member for Townsville deserves all Labour candidate.'' the credit possible for sticking to his town The circular letter was signed by C. G. and sticking to his people during their time Fallon, the local parliamentary representatives of trouble. He did as much as he possibly having nothing to do with it. could and as much as he was allowed to do, circnm"cribed as he was by the attitude of the Now let us take a hypothetical case of the Cabinet, who deserted the North economically Communist or renegade travelling just prior just as Menzies-Fadden Government deserted Supply. [3 OCTOBER.] Supply. 673: us militarily, and by the bitter hatred of tion campaign, the Labour Party saw the­ the official A.L.P. of the Townsville City most disgraceful mee·tings conducted in Council. He remained in Townsville right Townsville. At one meeting in Church street throughout the piece and did all he could for when the hon. member for Townsville, Mr. the people, while the hon. member for Keyatta, got up and spoke, he received an Kennedy was conspicuous by his absence. attentive hearing, but when Jesson got up he· The worst case of impressment of a house was was howled off the platform. that of a >Yidow named Grant. She had lost The CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the hon. her husband and her only son was in the member to refer to the hon. member for Ken­ :fighting forces. She went away south for a nedy as the hon. member for Kennedy. little while, leaving the house in the hands of an agent. She told him he could rent it Mr. AIKENS: I regret the omission •. for the few weeks she was away but she The hon. member for Kennedy was howled would require it the moment she returned. clown at that meeting, much more disgrace­ A man named Munro walked into the agent's fully than the member for Bundaberg when office and said his wife was coming up from he attempted to talk under the famous Tree­ the South and if she did not get into a house of Knowledge on the Referendum issue. she would be compelled to sleep on the street. Let me deal with a despicable political He put his hands on the agent's table and tactic. I pay the hon. member for Kennedy became emotional. His emotionalism affected this dubious compliment: in attacking me· the agent to such an extent that he said ''I on my Address in Reply speech he refrained have m;ly one house vaca~t and that bel~ngs from personalities. In that he exercised con­ to a Widow. All her clothmg, all her private siderable tact and judgment. Perhaps the clothes, and all her wedding gifts are still Premier whispered in his ear the biblical there. If. Y?U like to take it you can have it text," Judge not, Nugget, lest ye be judged.'' on the distinct assurance that you vacate it I will return the compliment by dealing the moment she returns.'' He gave the agent with him in that way. When he was in that assurance.. I called this man Mongrel Townsville over the Seaview Hotel business· Munro, for SIX weeks later this widow he did not then know what had ,gone on, returned and on going to her house found but he was told by the manager of Allen a notice to the effect, ''This is military and Sons, the virtual owner of the Townsville property; anyone entering it will be shot.'' Chamber of Commerce, what had been going In the meantime, when Munro found that on in Townsville during the previous: six t~e widow was returning, he got into touch months. The member for Kennedy rushed WI.th the R.A.A.F ., which in consequence down to this Assembly-the people of Towns­ smzed the house together with the contents­ ville have never forgotten him for this-and ej'e~ her clothe~ and wedding gifts-under a knowing the member for Townsville was NatiOnal Secunty order. The widow went to going to speak on the rotten conditions in the court but lost her case on a technicality. Townsville and know~ng the member for She took action against Mum·o but when the 'rownsville had :first-hand knowledge of it, case came before the court she discovered the membm· for Kennedy blatantly rushed t~at the real. tenant was the R.A.A.F. by under his neck and stole his thunder. As vutue of their power under the National a Tesult of a previous arrangement, I assume, Security order. The point I wish to make in he received a wire from the Chamber of Com­ this matter. is that all this time, despite the merce congratulating him on his speech, and· f~ct that this case was blazoned in the Towns­ the member for Townsville received a wire VIlle Press and southern weekly newspapers, from the Chamber of Commerce urging him the hon. m:mber for Kennedy, in whose to support the member for Kennedy. It was electorate this house was situated was silent like sending a wire to MacArthur asking him· He did nothing. The time ca{ue when I to support Bob Menzies in winning the war. decided to do something. It was said that if we had taken steps to solve the ice problem we could have done so. At. t~~ Townsville City ComH !I me~ting 1 I smd, I have had enough of the widow's Let me fire a parting shot. at the Secretary c~se; I will organise the workers of J'owns­ for Health and Home Affaus. He probably ville and mtu:ch them out to Uumnln·py ~ti·eet does not know we possess this letter, but and throw tins mongrel Munro into the street. here it is and I will table it when I have· I know I will go to gaol but no man could :finished. I have not time to go into what go to gaol in a better cause.'' In a week we had to do subsequent to the terrible state­ Mongrel Munro 1ms out of the house and the ment made in this letter. We wrote to the· unfortunate widow was in possession. State Government asking them to do some­ Although this took weeks to do, although it thing for ns. At that time the Cabinet was was bla20ned throughout the State, the mem­ holding special meetings to see that ice was; ber for Kennedy was silent. But when the delivered tlaily to the door in Brisbane. We army seized the Seaview Hotel-the £26 000 did not know at that time that there was property belonging to the family of 'the one Tule for Brisbane and another for the member fo:: Carpentaria-Nugget Jesson flew North, that in the North people were to be· to To>msnlle to protect the Seaview Hotel. treated like indigenous myalls. The following I do not know the. result of the negotiations letter was written by Colin Olark to Mr. but when he wanted to get back from Towns­ Martens:- ville the army sent its wire, ''If there are "Mr. Foley, State MinisteT for Labour, no mails take J esson; if plenty of mails, dump has been good enough to give me this Jesson," and they clumped him. That is enclosed report on the ice position in why when Jesson went north on the last elec- Townsville, prepared by one of his officers.'"' 1944-Y Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.

He then sets out the position as it existed, the name and the possessions of the Smiths. .und the letter finishes up with the statement- At no time have I ever solicited the hon. " It appears that no action is possible." member for Kennedy to come to Townsville to protect my mother's property. The Hotel The letter is dated 11 January, 1943, while Seaview is the result of lifelong savings of at the same time special Cabinet meetings my father, now deceased, and something that were being held to deal with the ice position he passed on to 'my mother. The hon. member in Brisbane. for Mundingburra has known me for 30-odd Years. He knew me as a lad and knows that I regret I have not the time to enlarge on I could defend myself. He knows that I am that matter and tell you how the Townsville quite capable of defending myself at my City Council organised the demonstration present age. :that brought Murphy to Townsville, and of !he .()ther organisation in Townsville that ralhed The Hotel Seaview at Townsville was not to our support to see that justice was done. seized by the Army. It was leased by an 'The only two organisations that received invi­ agreement of lease that I will table in the tations to the delegate meetings but would not House tomorrow morning by the Australian turn up were the official A.L.P. and the Aus­ Defence Canteen Service to house Australian tralian Workers' Union. The hon. member officers returning from the jungles of New for Bowen is the man who organised, with Guinea to give them a place where they could Mr. Murison of the Txades and Labour rest their heads for a few nights when