Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
THURSDAY, 24 AUGUST 1950
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
Questions. [24 AuousT.] Commonwealth Powers, &c., Bill. 165
THURSDAY, 24 AUGUST, 1950. CO: Hon. J. E. DUGGAN (Toowoomba) COMMONWEALTH POWERS (AIR replied- TRANSPORT) BILL. '' 1. Sleeping berth bookings from Cairns SECOND READIKG. for the south on the Cairns-Brisbane mail trains are controlled by Cairns, which has Hon. E. :u. HANLON (Ithaca-Premier) tt separate allotment of first and second ( 11.9 a. m.) : I move- class berths to cater for passengers from ,' That the Bill be now read a second stations north of Cm·dwell. 2. There is time.'' ample time at Townsville for passengers As I pointed out at the introduction of this to change into their sleeping cars and Bill, the necessit:: for it arises from the obtain a meal at the refreshment rooms, as expiration of the transfer of reference of the train from Cairns is due to arrive at powers to the Commonwealth Government Townsville at 7.10 p.m. and is not des given during the war. Of course, that refer patched until 8 p.m. 3. It would not be in ence was made for 1var purposes, to give the the best interests of the travelling public Commonwealth the wiliest possible freedom in to make Cairns the booking centre for the the carrying on of the various functions and whole of the accommodation on the Cairns acth·ities associated with the war effort. Brisbane mail trains, which have to serve Those powers were transferred to the Com not only the people north of Townsville but those west of Townsville and south monwealth for a period of five years after thereof. The number of pa•sengers to be the cessation of hostilities and at the end of that period the reference would have no catered for at Townsville is considerablv further effect. However, during the period greater than that to be catered for at Cairns.'' in which these powers were referred, arrange ments were made for T.A.A., the Common· wealth Air Lines, to conduct services within AREA AND CATTLE, QUEENSLAND-BRITISH FOOD the State of Queensland. It was obvious CORPORATION. thut a Government-owned service is better fitted to carry on deYelopmental services than ~Ir. SPARKES (Aubigny) asked the services conducted by private enterprise, ancl Premier-- that T.A.A. could undertake services that '' 1. What was the area held by the would . not be undertaken by private enter (,lueensland-British Food Corporation on prise becrruse it would not be influenced by 1 July, 1950 W profits. '' 2. ·what was the number of cattle on The State insisted that any service con the said country on the same day (a) males, ducted by the Commonwealth should meet the (b) females, and (c) breeders; same taxrrtion as any private organisation that might be competing with it and the "3. What is the number of cattle sold Commonwealth Government agreed. The as fats since 1 July, 1950 (a) males, (b) method of allowing these services to be females W' ' continued was by an amendment to the Australian National Airlines Act enabling Hon. E. lU. HANLON (Ithaca) replied T.A.A. to conduct such services within ,' 1. For agricultural and grazing pur the State with the approval of the Premier poses, 487,121 acres; and for piggeries, of the State; and one of the conditions 3,242 acres. was that such services would hrrve to "2. (a) 13,261 males; (b) 1,103 pay the same rate of taxation as any females; (c) no breeders. private company. That condition has con "3. (a) 1,528 males, (b) 60 females." tinued until the present time, but the 166 Commonwealth Powers [ASSEMBLY.] (Air Transport) Bill. power we refcned expires on 2 September operation immediately after the Common· next. It was on 2 September, 1945, that the wealth Powers Act of 1943 of this State surrender of the Japanese was received and ceases to be in force, which will be on 2 Sep the day upon which hostilities actually ceased. tember next. It also provides that it will The Commonwealth Government are not able cease to operate on any date proclaimed by to obtain any renewal of that power through the Govemor in Council. So that the pro their own Parliament and it becomes essen l·isions of the Bill seem to cover all possible tial that we continue the reference of powers contingencies. ns existing- and so we take this means of The Commonwealth Powers Act of 191~ doing so and thus continuing the services refenc>cl certain powers, including the power that ha1·e been created. We continue them of controlling air transport, to the CommGn for no fixed period, but only until they are wealth Parliament. Other powers ilealt wilh cancelled. employment, organised marketing, unif~rm The Bill enabks tlw present Australian company legislation, profiteering and pncv Nation tl Airlines Act as amended to fixing, etc. That 1943 Act referred those ('Ontinue and no parliamentary action will powe-rs for the pe1·iod of -world War II. :::nd be required hy the Federal • Government. for a further period ending at the expiratrm~ So long as we continue the reference of of fi1'e years after Australia ceased to J.w po1vers, the existing Commonwealth Act will engaged in hostilities. The Premier has sa~d enable the intrastate sen·ices to be main that the authorities are working on the tained. But if we once allow the reference assumption that, for the purpose of that Act, of powers to expire it "·ill become essential hostilities ceased on the date that Japan s11ed for the Common1v!'alth Government as well for an armistice. as this State's Gm·ernment to pass legisla tion to enable them to contimie. The Acting :ur. Hanlon: On the date of Japan's Prime Minister has made it clear that the fonnal surrender. method 1ve propose iu this Bill would be the :ur. ~ICKLIN: On t11e date of the formal simplest and t>::tsicst way and the State sunencler of Japan, which was 2 September, Government are anxious to continue the 1945. On that assumption, the reference of ser\'ie('S of T .A.A. The State has therefore powers under the Commonwealth Powers Act agreed to introduce legislation in this would cease to operate on 2 September of this Parliament. That is to say, we continue in operation the power referred to in the year. present Australian National Airlines Act It is interesting to note that at the time hnt ample care is taken to see that the when that Bill \YaS being discussed in this State can at an:v time, if it so desires, ran House there was a doubt in the minds of rd the arrangement by proclamation. The many hon. members as to whether the Com Government of Queensland can terminate the monwealth Powers Act of 1943 would cease reference of this power. to operate on that elate. The Premier of the day, Hon. :P. A. Cooper, said th~t in his lUr. Sparkes: Even although they have opinion it vvoul(1 definitely be termmable on given the powers to the Commonwealth~ the elate laid clown in the Bill, that is, five years after the cessation of hostilities. How ll!r. HANLON: I do not see how we could ever some doubt exists about the matter and e;mcel a power we had not given ; if you do it is' interesting to note that the Premier him not give a power there is nothing to cancel. self, by inserting in .the Bill ~he provision If this Bill is not assented to prior to with regard to a termmable penocl, also had 2 September and the Commonwealth Parlia some doubt as to whether the 1943 Bill really ment have not met, the services will cPase transferred the powers of this State for a until the Commonwealth Government can terminable period or for all time. pass fresh legislation to continue them. JUr. Hanlon: It is an additional shot in lUr. Sparkes: I appreciate what you say, the locker. but I was wondering about Clause 4. ))Jr. NICKLIN: It discloses that there is llir. HANLON: Clause 4 will be dealt some doubt in the Premier's mind on that with when we come to discuss the Bill. \'ery important point. When the Common wealth Powers Act 1\'as before this House Mr. NICKLIN (Landsborough-Leader hon. members opposite said that there was no of the Opposition) (11.15 a.m.): This Bill doubt whatever that the transferred powers refers to a constitutional matter, and is an would cease to have effect after the expiration instance of the clashing of the Constitutions of the period laid clown in the Act-five of the State and the Commonwealth. It pro J'Cars after the termination of hostilities. poses to refer to the Commonwealth power that it does not otherwise possess under the There is no objection to the transfer to the Commonwealth Constitution to pass legisla Commonwealth of power to regulate and C()Il tion dealing with air transport, for a termin trol air navigation because there should be able period. I ask you, Mr. Speaker, to note uniform control over regulations relating to air transport. It would be just foolish and that provision in the Bill. chaotic for each and every State to have its The Bill really contains three provisions. own set of regulations in connection wil:h the In the first place, it provides that 1f iL is control of air navigation within its area. The found that the State Parliament can11ot Commonwealth should have power to control legally refer such power for a terminable and regulate all air navigation, particularly period, it shall be deemed to be not referred. in respect of safety measures, and it i& essen: Secondly, it provides that it will come into tial that they should be uniform throughout Commonwealth Powers [24 AUGUST.] (Ai1· Transport) Bill. 167 Australia and governed by Commonwealth Therefore, its operation is limited by that legislation. It is not desirable, however, that provision and no doubt the Premier is relying this State should lose its right to licmsc on it to see that a fair basis is established intrastate air traffic and to impose f8,3S in between Commonwealth and State and that respect of commercial air transport uf pas the State will retain that most desirable right sengers and goods. That is an aspect of which should be the State's, namely, the right the matter that requires a good deal of con to license services within its own borders. sideration. The Act was designed to separate Nevertheless, there is considerable doubt, as the responsibilities of the Commonwcal th aild I shall point out as I go along, whether a the State in respect to these matters, giving power once transferred to the Commonwealth to the Commonwealth the right to make and can be terminated or limited. administer safety regulations for the conduct It is very important to bear in mind that of air navigation while reserving to the State the Commonwealth Constitution provides in the right to impose licensing fees in rcc>g:ud Section 128 that it cannot be altered except to the operations of air-line companies witlrin by referendum. Therefore, once a Sta~e its own borders. transfers powers to the Commonwealth they We have had previous legislation dealing cannot be terminated or altered except by a with air na,·igation. The original Act wns referendum conducted under that section. In passed in 1937 nnd amended in 194 7 and it March, 1937, a Commonwealth referenc1um was then clt>arly laid down what should be was taken on the question of transferring the powprs of the Commonwealth and the complete control of aviation to the Com powers of the State, giving the Commonwealth monwealth Parliament. The majority of powers over air navigation while retaining to votes was in faYour of such a proposal, the the State the right of licensing traffic within voting being 1,924,000 to 1,669,000, but as its own borders. When this Bill comes into four States, namely, New South Wales, South operation it will, being later legislation, Australia, ·western Australia and TaRmai)i:l, probably over-ride the provisions of the 1937 recorded adverse votes, the proposal was and the 1947 Acts. This Bill gives the Com rejected. monwealth unlimited powers in regard to air The next step was that all States in 1937 transport but apparently the Government are passed legislation, as I mentioned previously, relying upon their po\ver to terminate them giving the Commonwealth pmver to make in order to safeguard the rights that are regulations relating to aircraft and aero regarded as belonging to the State. In the dromes anrl ancillarv matters. The States Bill you \Yill notice that there is no reference believed, however, thi.tt they had retained the to any division of powers as between the right to license intrastate air transport. In Commonwealth and the States-giving the 194 7, however, the Commonwealth Govern Commonwealth the power in respect of saf~ty ment amended their National Airlines Act of regulations and retaining for the State the' 1945 to allow the creation and operation of right to license. We are giving the Com a Commonwealth air service to operate intra monwealth unlimited powers in respect of air state services in any State. The amendment navigation. at that time sperifie~lly referred to the opera lUr. Hanlon: Air-na\rigation control was tions of T.A.A. The State, to protect its tnmsferred years ago. own rights, then amended its own 1937 Act to assert its sovereign right to license intra lUr. NICKLIN: Yes, but the State retains state transport of passengers and goods by the right to license within its own boundaries. air. That amending Act will, however, as I lUr. Hanlon: Yes. pointed out earlier, cease to have effect when this Bill becomes law, because this later legis lUr. NICKLIN: This Bill gives the lation will be the legislation that will prevail Commonwealth unlimited powers in regard to in law. ' all aspects of air navigation, in respect not only of safet:· regulations but also of licens The constitutional aspect of this matter is ing regulations. Of course, there is that a very complicated one. There are differen()es provision whereby the arrangement can be of opinion in regard to thPse matters amongst terminated at any time and Rpparently that the highest constitutional authorities. At the is the one that the Premier is relying on. Powers Convention at Canberra in 1942 all States agreed to transfer certain powers to JUr. Haul on: \Ve have transferred no the Commonwealth for the duration of the licensing powers. war and for five years thereafter. I was one 1Ur. NICKLIN: The Bill does not specify of the delegates at that convention and I the powers by sa;ving safet:· powers, licensing signified my- approval of the proposals agreed powers, or anything else. to hy it, subject however to the legal interpretation of their full implications. Mr. Walsh: The Commonwealth never The late Mr. Dunstan, the then Premier of had that power um1er the old Act. Victoria, and Mr. Playford, the Premier of South Australia, promised to obtain such Jir. NICKLIN: I admit that, but this Bill will over-ride the provisions of the Act. legal interpretation and to let me have it. This Bill, when it comes into operation, being Subsequently advice was obtained by those later legislation than the Acts of 1937 to gentlemen and the opinion of their advisers, 1947, will probably over-ride their provisions, Mr. Ham, K.C., of Victoria, and Mr. Ligert because under it we give unlimited powers to wood, K.C., of South Australia, was that the the Commonwealth. But the State retains a powers could not be transferred by the States very tight hold over the whole question to the Commonwealth for a limited period. because this Bill provides that its operation Mr. Hanlon: They both introduced can be terminated at any time by the State. legislation to give effect to it. 168 Commonwealth Powers [ASSEMBLY.] (Air Transport) Bill. }Ir. NICKLIN: That was agreed to at in 1944 and 1946, and the Government of this the eonference-that legislation on those lines State at the time were prepared to hand ovc!" would be submitted to all State Parliaments, to the Commonwealth-hut the people said in which was done; but the agreement and its no uncel'tain terms that they were not-thos~ provisions were subject to legal interpreta vital powers to which I refer, which shows tion. that the Opposition's action was vindicated very emphatically on appeal to the people of lUr. Hanlon: They both passed the legis this State. lation. The Premiel' stated during the introduction lUr. NICKLIN: Both those gentlemen, as of the legislation that under tlw Comm;;n- well as others, were against a definite transfer 1\-ealth National Airlines Act of 1947 the of powers to the Common wealth for all time Commonwealth can operate intrastate ser and there was a grave doubt among very Yices, but only if the Premier of the State many people whether it was possible for 1,1s roncemed signifies his approval in writing. to transfer those powers to the Commonwealth The Premier lJclievcs, ancl so do I, that the for a terminable perioc1. The advice was to States should retain the right of control in the effect that it IYas not possible so to D'ans nt;nnl to the lirensing of these services. If, fer powers-that once powers were transferred as seems to be ,-ery clear under this proposef[ the:\' were transferred for all time, and could k"·isbtion, the Commonwealth is being given be taken back lJv the States only as a result full pmwr over nir transport that safeguard of a referendm:{l under Section· 128 of the could be withdrawn. I rlo not b,,Jiei'O that it Commonwealth Constitution. will he 1Yithdra1Y11 hy the prespJlt" Common ;tir. Walsl!: What about the Financial we~llth Go.-ernment, because that Govel·nmcnt Agreement? 1vish to be fully co-operati1·e 1\"'.th t.lH' StaiPs in this respect, but do not let us forget that il[r, JUCKLIN: The Financial Agree in a former Commonwealth Go\·.,:·nn,crJt, and ment was agreed to b;· rderendum of the n Lahour Government at that, the rights of people. That is altogether different from the the State and the Commonwealth to license point under diRrussion, the reference of ;• ircraft within State borders came up for pmvers by the State Parliament to the Com consideration, and the Commonwealth Gov mmmcalth Ly legislation. ernment threatened, ull(kr the defence powers In consequence of the legal opinion ohtah ·uwned and operated scl'Vices, and that T.A.A. We should also insist that T.A.A. provide should be compelled to concentrate on the a helicopter service for the northern and out unprofitable runs and the feeder services. If back people for ambulance, hospital and other the Leader of the Opposition had said that, vital services. In wet weather, and even in we should have known "·hat he was talking ordinaTy seasons, people in isolated area'S about. meet with accidents and at the very best This Bill deals with something about have to be taken in some form of road which there is a popular misconception of the transport to an aerodrome. Sometimes that powers of the Commonwealth Government. necessitates a perilous journey of some hun The man in the street really believes that the dreds of miles to the nearest aerodrome where Commonwealth Govemment aTe vested with an aeroplane will pick up the patient and sovereign and plenal'J powers oveT all affairs transport him to the nearest doctor or hos in connection with the Commomverrlth, and pital. It is in the transport of the patient that from time to time they clelegate, or dole by road to the aerodrome that lives are lost out to the States various powers that they or are endangered. It is vitally necessary to can use. That, ho\vever, is not so. As a take the patient quickly by air to the nearest matter of fact, the exact reverse is the fact. doctor or hospital. Of course, I know it is When the States of Australia decided to form not possible to erect aerodromes on every the Commonwealth, they laid down clearly 100 square miles of the State, but with the and concisely in the Constitution the matters intense development of helicopters in recent on which the Commonwealth Parliament years it should be possible to land helicopters would have plenary and absolute powers. at any point in the State. They Tetained for themselves in perpetuity I really believe that the comeback, as it and absolutely all the pmvers that they did were, in the granting of these powers to the not under the Constitution dole out to the Commonwealth Government is for the State Commonwealth. From time to time, however, Government to request the Commonwealth as in this' Bill, a State finds it necessary in Government to institute helicopter ambulance the interests of its people to give the Com and medical services in all parts of the State monwealth Government still fm·ther poweTs, that desire them. That is something that we either in perpetuity or for a set period or, should do in all fairness and reason on behalf as in this Bill, for an indeterminate period, of the back-country and northern people. I but one that may be ended at the discretion hope that the Premier is sufficiently interested of the State Government. Because I believe, in the northern and back-country people to with the Government-and strangely enough see that helicopters are established at the with the Opposition too-that the delegation various big aerodromes throughout northern of these powers for an indeterminate period and western Queensland so that they can at is warranted, I intend to support the Bill. any time and in any case of emergency, not However, I do want to point out that in only medical, surgical or for ambulance pur the minds of the people of Australia, and par poses, but in any case of emerg~:mcy, g~ to ticularly the people in the North and in the any part of the State and do the JOb reqmred back country, . who are the only people who of them. We have the right to direct that really matter m the scheme of things so far the Commonwealth Government should do the as I am concerned there is the fear that right thing in Teturn for the concession that T.A.A. is going to be sacrificed by the present we grant them in this Bill. Commonwealth Government; there is the fear There is another matter upon which I that the T.A.A. is going to be sold or given should like to touch, and it is that it is about away by the present Government to the time that the Government faced up to the privately operating companies. L hope that position as disclos.ed by me in a ~o;m of a that fear in the minds of the people is not question that I duected to the M1mster for well-founded, much as I think it is. I want Transport some time ago. Any person who to say, nevertheless, that as the State gives boards a plane in Townsville today and flies the Commonwealth Government these powers, to Brisbane pays roughly £1 5s. 6d.-I would which permit T.A.A. to operate certain intra not be absolutely certain about the exact state services, T.A.A. should in all fairness amount-as State transport tax for the flight undertake to give certain services in the from Townsville to Brisbane, but if he travels interests of back-country people. They now from Townsville to Murwillumbah, just over operate services that would not be operated the border of this State he does not pay one by private airline companies, who are con· penny tax for any part of the journey. When I cerned only with the profit they can make out directed a question to the Minister for Trans of any operational services they give. I port he told me there was some constitutional should like an expression of opinion from the difficulty with regard to Section 92 of the Premier on this matter when closing the Constitution. That constitutional difficulty, debate on the second reading of the Bill. I if it exists, should be resolved as soon . as think the State Government should insist that possible. I fail to see why people who h:'e while this agreement is in operation T.A.A. in Queensland and who want to travel only m should not only continue to give this service Queensland should be compelled to pay a to the outback people of the State but should tax to travel say, from Cairns or Townsvi!le, also give other services to the outback people or anywhere' else to Brisbane, or vice versa, that are considered necessary by the State or pay a tax to travel between any two towns Government. I think there should be a quid in the State, and yet if they want to travel pro quo about the agreement-while we give from Cairns to Perth they have not to pay these powers to the Commonwealth and T.A.A. one penny tax or in respect of the journey they we should insist that T.A.A. do the fair thing take over the part of Queensland that the plane by the people of Queensland. traverses. I am not a constitutional lawyer, I Commonwealth Powers [24 AUGUST.] (Air Transport) Bill l7I can only deal with the law as a layman, but not giving good service, not only to Queens· I can remember that the Minister for Trans land but to Australia, he is veTy narrow port told me there was some constitutional between the eyes. difficulty in the way. If so, then let us take ~ ease to the High Court, or let us make a )lr. Aikens: Everything provided by the charge-1ve can easily thus place the onus of Australian taxpayer. proof of illegality on the other fellow-on .Mr. SPARKES: I should expect that all air travellers travelling from Townsville remark from that quarteT. I will deal with to Sydney and let him take us to the High that gentleman a little later. The A.N.A., Court where the constitutional point can be with its associ~ted companies, Queensland resolved. Airlines Pty. Ltd. and Townsville and Country Airways, has pioneered every aiT ~Ir. SPARKES (Aubigny) (12.3 p.m.): This is the first opportunity since the House lines route in Queensland with the excep assembled that I have had the opportunity of tion of those operated by Qantas between congratulating you, Mr. Deputy Speaker, on ChaTleville, LongTeach, Cloncurry, and again being elected to the high office of Chair :N ormanton, and the small links recently man of Committees in this House. I am sure established by T.A.A. between Winton, you will discharge your duties, as in the past Hughenclen, ChaTleville, and Quilpie. That with credit not only to yourself but to the gives the lie to what the honouTa ble gentle House. There is no need for me to mention Inan said. that so far as I am concerned that you will lUr. Hanlon: Oh no! receive, as you have always done, every eo-operation from me. I speak also for every :Jlr. SPARKES: I say that the A.N.A. has hon< member on this side of the House. clone a wonderful job and it is prepared to stand up to any legitimate competition. My leader dealt fairly fully with the con stitutional aspect of this Bill. This side of ~Ir. Farrell: Why does it not pay its the House held similar views away back in taxes~ 1943. The Premier did not hold his present )lr. Aikens: ·w11y does it not pay its office then, but with the then hon. member taxes7 for Mirani he rather ridiculed this side of the House for having the temerity to make )fr. SPARKES: Why do they walk in so such a statement, but this Bill shows that innocently? It is like taking food from the Opposition on that occasion had very good a blind parrot. Hon. membexs will notice ground for making snch a claim. that the Premier "·ill agree that if a concern built an aero l\Ir. Aikens: T.A.A. pays landing fees, drome the charge would have to be met by which A.N.A. does not. the people who travel with it. I am one of those people-an-d I make no backstep about l\Ir. BJELKE-PETERSEN: It pays no it-who believe in profits, because you cannot taxes and pays no interest on its money. run anything unless the idea of profit is One thing to which I object in rela~ion to before you. It spurs you on. If any hon. T.A.A. is that it has done no real pwneer member opposite does not believe in profit ing work in Queensland, but has always let him ]Je upstanding so that I can see him. come in on established air services where I should like to get his photograph. the confidence of the people has already been Xaturally, there is no hon. member opposite built up by the pioneering work of other 1\"110 does not believe in profit. It is the organisations. That is particularly regrettable ,·cry thing that spurs him on; it develops when there are so manY country areas that this country and has developed other great would benefit from new· or increased services. countries in the world. You 'would naturally T.A.A. has shown quite clearly that its main expect any concern investing millions of interest is in overlapping present services pounds, as this company has done, to look 1vhere the confidence of the people has already at the profit angle. Profit-making is the been built up. long-range idea. I have heard hon. members tiay that I think of nothing else but profit. lUr. Aikens: Are you a shareholder in I admit that and that is the reason why I A.N.A.? have made a success of my business. l\Ir. BJELKE-PETERSEN: My private I\Ir. DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr. Mann) : interests are of no importance. Order! l\Ir. Aikens: You appear to have a Jlir. SPARKES: I thank you, Mr. Deputy pecuniary interest in A.N.A. Speaker, for the lenience extended to me. I hope the hon. gentleman will see that the lUr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Bill is properly drafted this time. l\Ir. BJELKE-PETERSEN: Take first of 3Ir. BJELKE-PETERSES (Barambah) all the Brisbane-Maryborough run, which gave ( 12.15 p.m.) : Appreciating the value and a very valuable service over many years, 20 importance of air services to our State, I years or more, under the directorship of that support the measure before the House. pioneer of the service in Queensland, Captain T.A.A. is a huge organisation and, in reply Ron Adair. It was a very efficient service, to the Premier's assertion that T.A.A. in but immediately T.A.A. came in and conducted particular is able to develop new areas in a competitive service. Then take the run 1 his State, I should like to say that I am Brisbane-Goondiwindi-St. George-Cunnamulla, aot one of those who believe that air trans another very efficient service built up by port should be under full Government control. Q.A.L., but again T.A.A. came in and ran a ~\s an illustration, I instance New Zealand, competitive service, thereby making it diffi where the national airways are run by the cult financially for the other company to New Zealand Government. The way in continue. Then there was the Brisbane-Rock which those airlines are run is ample evidence nampton-Longreach service, another Q.A.L. that it is not in the interests of the air service, but again T.A.A. came in and today, tr.ti·C'lling public to haYe airlines fully con because of that, many inland services are trolled by the Go;-ermnent. Some t\vo years difficult to run financially. For many years ago I travelled fairly extensively by air in other companies pioneered these services and both the North Island and the South Island when they have built them T.A.A. came in. of New Zealand, and well do I recall two T .A.A. runs its planes half-empty sometimes impressions that I formed on that occasion. but that gives it no concern. Then take the The first impression was the excessive fares service from Townsville to Charters Towers that were charged on comparatively short and intervening places to Mount Isa, a service runs, compared with those to which I was pioneered and built up by ex-service men. accustomed in Australia, and the second was Regardless of that fact T.A.A. came in like the lack of attention to and consideration an octopus again and sought to strangle a of the travelling public. Well do I recall very effective service. It operated over the one morning in ·Wellington, when I went to same route from Townsville and, what is more, the checking-in office of National Airways. on the same days as the Townsville company's It was rather an unattractive place and I run. T.A.A. will run its planes half-empty recall the people sitting on benches round and it can do so because it pays no tax and the wall with their luggage till someone pays no interest. called out in a loud voice, ''Come over here A few years ago T.A.A. was paid an addi and have your ports weighed in.'' Later, tional £300,000 over the amount previously at the aerodrome, when the passengers had paid to other companies in connection with boarded the plane, no air hostess or steward mail contracts, and then postal, telephone and accompanied them. If they became sick they telegram charges were increased, presumably were left to their own devices; they just to help to pay this additional £300,000 given had to manage as best they could. I am to T.A.A. over A.N.A. in connection with the not saying, of course, that T.A.A. is giving mail contracts. For the past 20 years or u service similar to that. On the contrary, more private companies have pioneered the it is playing an important part in air travel services and made them effective, and they and is giving a fair service. However, we are then eompelled to face competition from cannot overlook the fact that T.A.A. has T.A.A. and automatically lose their mail very keen competition. contracts. 174 Commonwealth Powers [ASSElVIBL Y.] (Air Transport) Bill. I want to make it clear that I believe in the Standing Orders that state that any hon. competition, and when I speak against duplica· member possessing a pecuniary interest in a tion of various services we must not overlook subject matter of legislation is not entitled the fact that these various airline companies to speak on it. have had competition from motor transport and the railways, and I know that in my own .ilir. SPEAKER: Order! I wish to state area Q.A.L. was able to meet this competition to the hon. member, if he will take the time and to maintain reasonable fares. Even in to look up a ruling I gave on that subject the face of keen competition in other direc· here at least three years ago, that he will tions it was able to keep its fares right. The find I clarified the position so far as members various companies, A.N.A., Q.A.L., and of this Parliament are concerned, but I woulcl T_.L.A.,. have done , very much valuable say to the hon. member for Barambah that pwnpenng work over the ye:us and have con· under this Bill it is merely proposed to give t~ibuted .much towards the development of powers to the Commonwealth Government and a;r consciOusness amongst the people, but on that hon. members are not in order in dis· Y;rtually all the runs that they have cussing the administration of those powers. piOneered they have lost their mail contraets I think the Iron. member has had a very wide to T.A.A. latitude on the question. In reply to the hon. member for Munding i'Ir. BJELKE-PETERSEN: I have spoken bun·a, I would s~y that these companies pay as I have because of the powers contained in over £1,000,000 m petrol tax, without any this Bill, which will enable a better co-ordina· guarantee of a regular supply of petrol. Thev tion of air services operating in this State are entitled to some consideration for tl{e to be brought about. I will conclude by payment of the tax. pointing out that we are not getting the That is one aspect that I have mentioned co-ordination we should be getting in this in reil'ard to T.A.A. contrary to what the State particularly in view of the govern· Premrer says, namely, that it will not under ment~l directions and control in relation to take a pioneering service. It starts services T.A.A. T.A.A. should undertake more on existing runs, takes over the mail con pioneering services and take those services to t~acts that have been held by those who some centres where air services are not piOneered those runs, and in some instances already in existence. runs those who pioneered the service out of My second argument is that T.A.A. has existence. sought to gain advantages through the s~r Another rather unsavoury aspect of the vices and confidence that other compames T.A.A. set-up is the method used, as we see have built over long years of service a!l(l ~t in our telephone directory, where, on look hardship, and at the same time have ~eprive~ mg for the number of the Australian National those pioneering companies of therr mar! Airways in alphabetical order we are immedi contracts. ately il'reeted on top of the page immediately My third and final point is, as I ha~e opposrte the Australian National Airways pointed out, that T.A.~. has sough~ t~ gam advertisement with a large T .A.A. advertise· prestige by an unfarr and unJustifiable ment. This is on the page of the telephone advantage over its chief opponent, A.N.A., ?:· directory where one usually looks for services the manner and methods it uses to advertrse commencing with the letter ''A.'' itself in the telephone directory. It is ilir. Hanlon: You would have no objec because I wish to draw attention to these tion to a whisky advertisement's appearing various aspects of the matter that I took the at the top of that page. liberty to speak on this Bill. Jir. B.JELKE-PETEUSEN: I object to Jlir. BURROWS (Port Curtis) . (12.3.0 this advertisement. To cnuse further confu p.m.) : I did not intend to take l?art Ill .tins sion in the interests of T .A.A., this service debnte. The hon. member for Aubrgny clnded has had inserted the name ''Australian me the other dav for not being nn orator; National Airlines Commission'' immediately today he gave ftn exhibition of his powers above the name ''Australian National of oratory, and if he is classed as an orator Airways.'' then I sincerely hope I am never classecl ilfr. Hanlon: Who is more entitled to as one. use the term ''Australian~'' I could not help being intrigued by the desire of hon. members opposite to push JUr. BJEI,KE-PETERSEN: We know the what to them is the sacred rights of reason for that. monopoly. The hon. member for Barambah! who just resumeu his seat, spo!'e on be!1alf lUr. SPEAil:EU: Order! The hon. of a monopoly. I do not beheve he rs a member is not permitted to exceed the limits shareholder. of this debate. This Parliament possesses no powers in regard to the administration of .ilir. SPEAKEU: Order! T.A.A.; it can only deal with matters con cerning the handing over of certain other }Ir. BURROWS: I will say that any powers. shareholder of private enterprise or these monopoly-seeking enterprises-- Jlir. AIKENS: Mr. Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I did not raise it before Jlir. SPEAKER: Order! I suggest to because I wanted to give the hon. member for hon. members that we do not get onto a Barambah an opportunity to develop his argu debate as to shareholders in various com·· ment, but I would draw your attention to panies. It does not concern this Bill. Commonwealth Powers (24 AUGUST.] (Air Transport) Bill. 175 II'Ir. BURROWS: I am not imputing that by hon. members opposite about profit as the hon. member is a shareholder. I have being the only motive in life is amazing. no grounds for suspecting that. There are greater things in this world than profit; there are such things as service to l}Ir. SPEAKER: Order! the community. Do not those who prate so )Ir. Hanlou: We are all shareholders much about profit think that real service to in T.A.A. the community is more important than any financial profit? Many men invest money in lUr. BURROWS: We are all shareholders enterprise to reap a little profit. There is in T.A.A. nothing wrong with that, but I hate to have to listen to these continual stories that profit 3Ir. Nicklin: Have you got any divi is the only thing that matters in this world. dends? There are many things that go on in this world in which profit is not the aim. l\Ir. BURROWS: The Leader of the Oppodition says, "Have you got any divi The Leader of the Opposition expressed dends?'' So far as I know T .A.A. never doubt about the constitutionality of a trans made a profit. Yet hon. members opposite fer of power to the Commonwealth Govern a1·e complaining that it does not pay any· ment for a period. These doubts were not tax. Where does their logic begin and end f createrl at a time when the leaders of all A few simple thoughts ought to make it Government and all Opposition Parties in clear to them. Australia, including the present Leader of the Opposition, agreed to the necessity of An Opposition }Iember: Do you pay transferring certain powers to the Common trrxation i wealth for a limited period, that is, for the duration of the war ancl five years after the l'\[r. BURROWS: Do you pay taxation if you show a loss'? war had stopped. It was decided unanimously at that conference that these powers were l}lr. SPEAKER: Order! essential to the Federal Government to enable them to carry on the war effort. But hon. Jir. BURROWS: Hon. members oppo members opposite, the County Party and the site object to paying for any service. Their Liberal Party, generally have not the respon policy is to take all the time and put nothing sibilit:r of putting these things through Par back into this country. It was mentally liament. There was p11cssure from anti dishonest of the hon. member. The hon. Labour interests in Melbourne on these people member showed mental dishonesty when he to mn ke this change. Every Premier tried to make out that he believed in com cmlcaYoured to carry out the promise. He petition yet did not believe in it. That is harl given his word. Queensland and New how he put it. He went on to say that South Wales obtained the passage of that T.A.A. was a favoured concern and that it legislation. In both States the transfer received more fees from the Post and Tele nctnally took place. Several other State graph Department for services rendered than Governments introduced legislation but had other servires did previously. I am not it defeated in their Upper Houses. One or conversant with the details of what it two 'vcre forced to accept amendments from receives, but I am conversant with what is their parties under pressure that certain r:1i'' generally by the department through restrictions should be put on the transfer of out m2 elcetorate. 1Jnfortunately, owing to powers. But cver.v Premier of the clay intro tlic contonr of the land, we have no aero duced the legislation. drome in the main centre, but I do know The hon. gentleman talks t~day about per that the mail contractors, owing to the infla sonal reluctance to transfer the powers at tionary trend with which this company is that particular time, but the policy of the cursed, arc now receiving extra fees. This Country Party provided for the complete inflationary trend has been accentuated over destruction of State Governments and the the last six months and I shudder to think creation of subsidiary bodies. Thev wanted when it will encl. to transfer everything, including ·railways, 'rhe principle behind the Bill is to be com education and every other function a State mendec1. I regret that the Opposition have Government carries out, to the Federal Parlia taken the opportunity to get up and demon ment and that the Federal Parliament should strate their loyalty to the establishment of create glorified local bodies in place of monopolies, a principle that is to be deplored. the State Parliaments. How on earth he can come here and say he never agreed to lion. E. JU. HANLON (Ithaca-Premier) transfer anything to the Federal Government ( 12.35 p.m.), in reply: Listening to hon. is beyond my comprehension. members opposite one would come to the Actually this Bill is introduced in this conclusion that profit is the only spur in life, form really to allow the continuation of that that profit is the only thing that matters huge socialistic enterprise, T.A.A. The Bill in this world. I was just wondering whether now propose~ that-with the full approval it would be only profit they would think of and at the request of the national leaders of if they saw a man being washed out to sea. the Country Party-this particular venture of I am sure there was no thought of profit in Socialism shall be allowed to continue in this the mind of the father who rushed to the State. Why the opposition~ All this Bill rescue of his son being 'vashecl out to sea does is give authority to the Federal Govern at one of our beaches recently, neither was ment to carry on this socialistic enterprise there profit in the minds of those who rushed within the borders of Queensland on condition to the rescue of father and son. All this talk that it pa::s the same tax as anybody else and 176 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] . Address in Reply. on condition that we can cancel the arrange tourist industry will become one of our ment at any time. It cannot start a service greatest industries. The smaller tourist without the approval of the State Govern islands, where people have been battling to ment and the arrangement can be cancelled at carry on, have shown the green light for the any time by proclamation of the State greater tourist ventures which are now Government. developing and I suggest that each of them What the Leader of the Opposition said is is entitled to a liquor licence. Hayman IslmH1 quite true, that a power once transferred to has been granted a liquor licence, but very the Commonwealth Government cannot be few, if any, of the others have. That restricted, but his arguments do not raise the would not be handing out licences indis question correctly. If the Act we put through criminately as it would be if it happenec1 limiting the transfer to a period of :five years on the mainland. All these . islands are a was ultra vires then no power had been trans considerable distance from the coast, and the ferred at all. In an endeavour to embarrass granting of liquor licences would merely be a Labour Govemment, faced with the defence catering for tourists in a way to which the;. of this country at the time, certain interests are entitled. I recommend the Government brought influence to bear, and lawyers were to consider issuing a liquor licence to each trotted out to give an opinion any way it of these islands that are legitimately in the was wanted. That opinion was given but was tourist trade. never seriously held. The previous Common Last, but not least, I refer to the brick wealth Government accepted the position and industry, which was at one time carried on the opinion expressed by legal advisers was at Pindi Pindi, but which has been out of that if you limit the transfer of powers it is production for approximately 10 years. possible that you transfer nothing. To meet About 12 or 18 months ago a Brisbane the views of those who think that if you syndicate was prepared to buy the Pindi transfer a limited power you transfer powers Pindi brickworks and to spend approximate!:· irrevocably we put in a safety clause at the £15,000 on it. This syndicate actually paid end of the Bill. I do not think it necessary, a deposit, but naturally it would not com but we thought there were people who held plete the agreement till it could be assuret1 this opinion and we should give the added of a satisfactory price for its bricks. With safeguard so that they would not think we that end in view the syndicate approached were transferring powers irretrievably. the Pri~es Commissioner, but without •·ery Motion (Mr. Hanlon) agreed to. satisfactory results. C01.DHTTEE. Earlv in October 1949 the Prices Commi~ sioner " quoted the f.ollowing prices for (The Chairman of Committees, Mr. Manu, bricks- Brisbane, in the chair.) Brisbane. Pint1i Pindi. Clauses 1 to 4, both inclusive, as read, 8. cl. 8. d. agreed to. Commons, per 1,000 143 0 16'5 0 :B-,ace, , 181 3 210 9 Bill reported without amendment. Firebricks, , " 199 6 229 0 THIRD READING. The svndicate applied for the following prices, ex Pindi Pindi- Hon. E. lii. HANLON (Ithaca-Premier) 0. rl. (12.44 p.m.), by leave: I move- Commons, per 1,000 215 0 '' That the Bill be now read a third time.'' Face, , ,, 27il 0 Motion agreed to. Firebricks, , , 301) 0 The Prices Commissioner then unbent a little ADDRESS IN REPLY. and offered them the following priccs- 8. rl. RESU:MP'J'IOX OF DEBATE. Commons, per 1,000 173 6 Debate resumed from 23 August (see page Face, , , 219 3 164) on J\ir. J\icCathie 's motion for the }'irebricks, , , 23 7 6 adoption of the Address in Reply. That was on the understanding that the syndicate began operations a.nd that the 1Ur. LLOYD RORERTS CVif11itsunday) Commissioner would review the prices at the (12.45 p.m.): Another industry in the Whit expiration of three months. sunday electorate is fishing, which is carried on along the whole of the coastline of about On the basis of prices applied for, Pindi 100 miles. We have also the Dittmer gold Pindi bricks would have been landed in mine near Proserpine. There is also fruit Mackay at the following prices:- growing, and many tomatoes and mangoes £ s. d. are grown round the Bowen area. We have Commons, per 1,000 12 6 6 also the State-owned coal-mine at Collins Face, per 1,000 . . 15 1 6 ville . and the privately-owned coal-mine at Fire Bricks, per 1,000 16 11 6 Scottville. Cattle-growing also is carried on Similar bricks are now costing, landed in throughout the electorate. Mackay- Again, virtually all the State's main £ s. d. tourist islands are in the 'iVhitsunday elector Commons (ex Rockhamp- ate. I refer particularly to Hayman Island, ton), per 1,000 14 0 6 where the Royal Hayman Hotel was only Firebricks (ex Brisbane- recently opened, but many other islands in Ipswich), per 1,000 21 10 6 the electorate have been doing a great service Is it any wonder that the brickworks is idle for this State. It will not be long before the and continues to remain idle~ It can be seen Addr-e8s in Reply. (24 AUGUST.] Address in Reply. 177 from the figures that if the price asked for member there. I advocate also the payment had been granted there would have been a of a parity for pensioners, both old-age and saving of about £5 a 1,000 on Pindi Pindi miners' pensioners. The basic wage for the bricks, and remember that the whole of the Southern Division is £6 16s., £7 Is. 6d. for area in North Queensland is crying out for the Mackay Division and £7 13s. 4d. for the bricks, particularly firebricks. The Pindi Northern and North-Western Division. These Pindi brick-both common and firebrick-is parities are not granted because the workers rated as . one of the best in Australia. in the ::\Iackay, Northern and North-Vvestern Division are good singers or because they are I come now to the residential suburb of better workers; they are granted for one North Mackay, with a population of about reason and one reason only, that is, to set off 4,000. It has no sewerage system although the increased cost of living in those divisions. negotiations concerning it are pending. It These pensioners, who are in the evening of has a bad water supply, being merely an their lives, also haYe to meet the increased adjunct of the water supply of Mackay over cost of living. Therefore, if the pension is the past 25 years. The place has grown con £2 5s. in the Southem Division it should be siderably in that time. The roads are bad progressively greater in the Mackay, or the and buses become bogged on the run. Remem Oollinsville, or Northern Divisions. I r()com ber, too, that these are city runs and that the mend that to the Government. If the Govern buses run no farther than two miles from the ment are honest about it these pensioners are city itself. It has no baby clinic. It really entitled to that parity. If the Government do has one of a sort, an old building with broken not give this parity to the pensioners they windows. I recommend to the Government should give free transport to all pensioners, that now is the time to obtain a piece of land together with their goods and chattels, to for the erection of a baby clinic, even if they enable them to come down to this wonderful are not prepared to go ahead with it at the city of Brisbane where they get all the perks moment. handed out to them and where the cost of I come now to the town of Oollinsville. living is so much lower than in the ::"T orth. The Minister will realise that the State mine Then the city of Brisbane would be has lost a considerable number of workers the pensioners' paradise. This sympathetic in recent months, and there is only one reason Government of ours could go a bit further and for it, and that is that the Scottville mine is allow these pensioners some concession when offering better conditions in every respect. travelling on our railways. The majority of When I was last at Oollinsville I intended to them have not many more years to live and take a photograph of the barracks at the nntmally would like to visit their children. State mine but omitted to do so. They are Therefore, it would not be out of place for very bad. I am not blaming the present the Government to make them railway con Minister for that, because he has not had cessions. Thev could limit these railway con time to clean up these little things. The bar cessions to m1e or two a year, similar to what racks are an absolute disgrace-the boongs is done in other ways. would not live in them. You can see the bar Before I close there is one matter I must not racks from the veranda of McGee 's Hotel at forget and that is the projected raihvay from Oollinsville. However, I am pleased to know ::\Iackay to Nebo. This matter has been the that miners' pensions are to be improved subject of much discussion and deputations the Minister gave notice of the Bill today. haYe lJcen receiYed bv the Premier and others It is long overdue. For a considerable period and the request has been refusecl. Over now the miners in New South Wales have 12,000 people throughout the JYiackay district been getting bigger pensions than the miners petitioned the Government to construct this in Queensland and the miners in this State railwny and an investigation has been have not given us the industrial trouble that promised. That promise has extendecl over a the miners have given in the South. In long period but nothing has been clone. The Queensland a miner and his wife draws :Yiackay Harbour Board sought a franchise £4 1 Os. a week in pensions, whilst a miner fTom the Govemment to build the line but with a wife in New South Wales draws it cannot get any finality. The shire of Nebo £4 17s. 6d. a week. I understand that this has an area of 3,956 square miles and a popu anomaly is to be corrected in the Bill notice lation of 550, as against a population pre of which was given this moming but I viously of over 3,000. This was the popula appeal to the Government to make it retro tion when Nebo was, among other things, a spective. That is only fair. The miners at mining centre. Time will not permit me to Oollinsville took this matter up with the stress its potentialities, except its possibilities Government six or eight months ago at least. in coal and copper-mining. Therefore, it would not be out of place if the I have before me extracts from the Bill made miners' pensions retrospective to "queensland Mining Journal" dating from that period. I make that suggestion because 1901 up to 1942. One of the principal copper I know I am correct in this statement mines in that district is Mt. Flora. The members of this Parliament made their own "Queensland Mining Journal" in 1907 told us pensions retrospective, and what is fair that Mt. Flora was then receiving attention enough for them should be fair enough for from mining investors, speculators, and the miner pensioners. miners owing to the high price obtaining for lUr. Burrows: Even the old-age copper, and that there were about 150 miners pensioners~ on the field. There were three mineral free holds and 22 prospecting areas, aggregating JUr. LLOYD ROBERTS: Yes, even the 2,261 acres that were being prospected for old-age pensioners; I agree with the hon. copper. When the price of copper fell some 178 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply. of these areas were abandoned, but after the In the few minutes at my disposal this proclamation of Nebo as a mineral field other afternoon I will outline some of the things areas were converted into leases. the Labour Government have clone. This Then we come to 1912, when 10 men were State has prospe.red under Labour adminis C'mployed part of the year, but the mine tration and the position in which I and my d~sed down. 165 tons of copper matte was family find themselves today is due solely to elupped to Waratah, Newcastle. In addition the favourable legislation and development to Mt. :B'lora we have Pinvale where the that st-and to the credit of Labour Govern copper deposits are good. The Federal Gov ments. I clo not think there is present in the e_rnment are crying out for copper while these Chamber today a man who up to the age of fielcls are lying dormant waiting to be 18 had a harder life than I. I am not too developed. proud to tell hon. members about my In regard to our timber t~ere are areas younger life. I had very little education totalling 104.500 acres at 'Pinvale assessed prior' to having to go to work but I have to produce 1~,000,000 super feet of market been privileged to see the advance in edu able hoop pine. Five miles out there is cational facilities in Queensland made poss :moth:r timber reserve of 17,000 acres that ible bv this Labour Government. These 1s cstnnated to contain many millions of feet facilities were not available to me before of first-class hardwood. None of this timber the late T'. J. Ryan be~ame Labour Premier has had an axe in it. Apart from that, there of Que.ensland in 1915. Because of the edu are thousands of acres of good agricultural cational facilities provided by Labour the country that has been likened to a second children of the North an cl north-west of Darling Downs and which is suitable for the Queensland obtained a greater aYe.rage per growing of tobacco, cotton, peanuts, wheat, centage iu the scholarship and Junior Uni sugar-cane, lucerne and for dairying purposes. versity examinations than those of the South The other· day, when the Premier had a last year. The two blue ribbands of the conference with Mr. Casey, did he bring up scholarship examination, one for a boy and these matters: No. Mackay remains the one for a girl, were won by a boy and girl Cinderella it has al wavs been. I feel sure from the ::'\ orth, but we have not heard hon. the hon. member for Mackav spoke with his members representing that part of the State tongue in his cheek the other dav. I had eulogising the Government for the develop thought that when Mackay was represented ment of education in those parts. They bv a member of the Government Party some- merely criticise. the Government at length on thing would be clone. " school administTation and school buildings. (Time expired.) One would imagine that those members who have. spoken had been schooled in their Th~r. SJUITH (Carpentaria) (2.17 p.m.): speeches on the Address in Reply debate. I w1sh to make my contribution to the debate Take from "Hansarcl" the speeches of those on the Address in Reply, but before doing so hon. members opposite who have spoken and I C?ngratulate you on your unanimous one >Youlcl imagine that all of them had been elecbon as Speaker of this Parliament. I made by one hon. member. :1lso offer my congratulations to the hon. The hon. member who represents Cook members for Haughton and "Windsor the criticised the Government for their alleged mover and seconder of the motion. I 'think neglect of that· part of his electorate, an they ga,·e a good outline of t::te \Yorkings of area that on the. redistribution of electorates the Goverm;wnt ,over the many years they ceased to be represented by me in this Par have be:n m office. I also offer my con liament-Cape York and Thursday Island. gratulatiOns to other speakers from this side The hon. member for Cook spoke of Coen of the House on the valuable contributions and criticised the Government's inactivity they made to the debate. After listening to in that· ar·ea, but the hon. member has never the n_e:v members who spoke from the yet been to Coen. Re has not seen the. work Oppos1bon benches I formed the opinion that the Government are doing, nor the public ewy had been to a school and as a result of their training there they engaged in a tirade buildings there. He has not seen the main road work going on between Laura and Cook· of 1' buse of the Government and charged them with neglect of the whole of the State. town and out round Wenlock and Portland I listened to mem hers representing territory Roads. as far north as Cape York and as far west l'IIr. Aikens: He has not met Walter a,; Roma and down to Southport and in not Rhoades yet. one instance did they give any credit to the Government for their work over the years 3Ir. ,S}UTH: He is a man he has got they :wve been in office. Yet from my to meet. The hon. member clicl not tell the ohsen·ations of those hon. members I think House that for the last 30 years the post they have done pretty well in this State in office at Cooktown has been only a part-time the long period of Labour Government. Thcv office and that until three years ago it was like myself, did not have the franchise wheil under the charge of a linesman. But its finan Labour came into power in 1915-they would cial position has eo improved that as from be under the age of 21 years. But looking January next that office will be a full-time at them now one can see they have progressed post office with a fully qualified postmaster in and prospered under Labour administration charge. Is that not development~ and it is unfair for them to use all the The hon. member spoke also of the food powers and privileges conferred on them as position in the Gulf country but he did not a member of Parliament to abuse the Govern tell the House that in order to help the people ment. in that area in the matter of foodstuffs the Add1·ess in Reply. (24 AUGUST.) Add1·ess in Reply. 179 Government are subsidising John Burke Ltd. has said we must not do such a thing but to the extent of £20,000 a year to provide should leave them to look after their own a regular monthly shipping service. The business. To my knowledge, he is the only explanation is that the hon. member sub member of Parliament and the only leader scribes to the principle of the Federal Govern of any party to circularise local authorities ment-not a penny assistance to help feed or seeking their support. Those circulars were carry the foodstuffs to the people in the sent out, not on Liberal Party paper but on Peninsula or Gulf country. Not a penny Parliament House paper. Many local authori worth of assistance has been given by the ties are being misled by such interference by Federal Govemment to John Burke Ltd. the Opposition in their efforts to defeat the whereas the present Queensland Labour Labour Party in this State, which they failed Government have been subsidising John so dismally to clo in the recent State election. Burke Ltd. for years. When the steamers of, The hon. member for Roma spoke of what John Burke Ltd. cannot serve Portland Roads he tenned the inactiYe and unsympathetic and similar places because of the weather, policv of the State Labour Party in respect small launches are sent from Cairns to Port of tlie western areas. I have here a journal Stewart or Annie River to serve the people of that shows what the present Government are Coon, for example, with regular supplies of doing for the local authorities and the people foodstuffs. It ill becomes anv hon. member in the outback parts of the State. I take it eo criticise the activities of this Government that Chinchilla is in the electorate of the in these remote parts of the State, particu hon. member for Romn. larly when he has not seen them. JUr. Ewau: It is not. That shows how The hon. member spoke vigorously of what much you know about it. the Government have not done but he did not say that the Government have contri }fr. SJIITH: It is not very far away. buted many thousands of pounds towards the However, if Chinchilla is progressing so must rehabilitation of Thursday Island and the Roma lw, and other parts of his electorate. repair of damage done during the war period, This is an extract from the April issue of a subject of which I have often spoken in ''Local Government''- this Rouse. Many thousands of pounds have ''The value of the shire building opera been given to the Thursday Island Town tions in the past 1~ months illustrates the Council for the rehabilitation of the island to advancement of the Chinchilla district. its former position-to the position it occu During the periocl building permits Yalner1 pied before the civilian population was at £83,080 were issued in the shire area, evacuated in February, 1942. I only men covering 40 new homes in the tO>Yn mul 30 tion these things to show that these hon. in country divisions.'' members have been criticising the alleged "What a glaring misstatement the hon. mem inactivity of the Government when they them lwr for Roma made when he said that this selves have not actually seen these things. Government adopted an unsympathetic They have not actually been in the area con attitude towards the western parts of the cerning which they criticise the Govern State! The article goes on to say that three ment's activities. firms in Chinchilla also intend building 18 i"Ir. Xirkliu: How do you know he has houses for their employees as soon as rooting not been to the area] is m ailable. )[r. §)HTH: I had a letter the other IUr. Ewan: How many homes were day from Coen asking me to get in touch with built in Roma? the hon. member for Cook with a view to 3Ir. S::UITH: I want the hon. member having a few things done for the Coen people. for Roma to be honest and decent and tell I am concerned with this hon. member's us what the Government are doing for the criticising the alleged inactivity of the town of Roma. His part:v ib making local Government when he has not been in the authorities so politically-mim1cl1 that they locality himself. are not helping the Government to improve The hon. member for Roma spoke of the the western areas by taking advantage of drift of population from the West during the Government's generous loan-subsidy what he called 18 years of unsympathetic scheme. Many of the local authorities in legislation under Labour. He said that the Carpentaria electorate are becoming people had left the West. I have in my hand political too. Instead of doing the jobs they a little booklet that has been printed and are supposed to do for the people in their distributed dealing with local government and respective areas they are fighting the Govern if hon. members read this book they will see ment for their alleged inactivity throughout what the Government are doing for local the State. If hon. members would only read authorities. On this point I really think that this publication relating to local government local authorities are becoming too political they would become aware of the huge schemes Instead of attending to their own business of development initiated by the Government in the proper way, local authorities are becom through the various local authorities. I ing politically-minded, urged on by members merely wanted to refer to the progress made of the Opposition. Just prior to the recent in the Chinchilla district as an example ancl State election, the Leader of the Liberal I feel sure similar improvements have been Party circularised all local authorities in the can-ied out at Roma and in other areas in State, asking them to support the Liberal that part of the State. Country Party set-up for a better deal. He Mr. Nicklin: That was done some macle loc;.tl authorities political, although he months ago. 180 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply. lUr. SlliiTH: The hon. member for flooded and very few investors will attempt Roma has been a member of Parliament for to reopen them again. And I am reminded only a few months. I am not concerned tl1at the Opposition party of the day opposed about representation but I am concerned the construction of the railway from Duchess about the misleading statements he makes, to Mt. Isa. 'l'he construction of that railway presumably to get his name in the Press. by this Labour Government vvas a progressive I have observed the advance that has taken step. Yet the hon. member for Roma says place in Queensland since the advent of the that they are inactive and unprogressive. It Labour Government in 1915 and know that was this Labour Government who constructed the hon. member is wrong. the railway from Duchess to Mt. Isa, and Let me pause here for a moment to refer since 1932 this Government have given freight to the last State elections. With other ronccssiom; to the Mt. Isa mines on coal, coke Labour candidates I suffered to some extent and other supplies aggregating £1,000,000. through the propaganda issued by· the Liberal Even when thev were eulogising Mr. Casey on Country Party coalition. Take first of all his recent visit to Queensland they did not the pamphlet sent out at Townsville and give :1 true picture of what this Government signed by Mr. Thorn, but that was nothing \Yere doing for the people of the North-West. to the propaganda that they put out for the Mr. Casey did not tell us in his Press inter people of Carpentaria on the Friday night views wliat help this Government had given prior to pollil_!g day. It was published in to enable Mt. Isa Mines Ltd. to construct the Cloncurry ''Advocate'' under the head dwellings for its workers, ·who live on its ing, ''Do not vote for the Communistic leases. Both Mr. Russell, the Federal representative of Carpentaria. '' They were member for Maranoa and Mr. Casey lunched desperate and they finished up by saying with the manager of Mt. Isa Mines Ltd., but through the newspapers that I was the Com they did not return to Brisbane and say what munist member of Parliament for Carpen the. Government were doing for the workers taria. They called me everything but I with there. They r1id not tell the true story, as stood it all. Although my electorate had it was their duty to do. Had they done so been reduced, although I had fewer con thev would have revealed that in freight on stituents, I came back with a bigger majority building materials used in the construction of than ever before-a 25 per cent. majority workers' dwellings in the Mt. I sa leases a over the combined votes of my three political rebate of 20 per cent. was paid by the opponents. That shows how I was regarded 'I'reasmy to the Railway Department. by the people of Carpentaria, despite the ::tir. Low: Freight charges are too high political propaganda of the Country-Liberal now. Party. They indulged in all the dirty tactics and tricks they could think of. I was happ;· -:\Ir. S:il'UT:U: They are not too high, when I knew that there would be a Countrv considering the conditions. I was talking Party candidate against me because I kne-iY recently to Mr. Grosse, the acting general how the people regarded me personally. One manager of Mt. Isa Mines Ltd.,_ who came Independent candidate who was induced to from the United States of Amenca, and he come in to split the vote lost his deposit. informed me that to travel un the railways Mr. Thorn, the Korthern Country PartY in Amerien for a similar distance as from ~ecretary, di~ not have the decency to put :'.[L I sa to Townsville would cost in the m the 20 qmd when this candidate lost his Yicinity Or £24 .. deposi_t. They left l_lim high and dr;-·, }fr. SJlarkes: But they travel there. financmlly, morally ancl in every other way. Let me tell some more of what Mr. Thom did. 1Ur. S3IITH: They travel on the Nor~h He came to Cloncurry on W ednesilay 's train "·estern line, and the Government g1ve and on Wednesday night he had an inter faeilities for the people there. I will not be view with this young fellow, the candidate misled by hon. members OJ?posite, particula~ly of the Country Party, and at 9 o'clock on the hon. member for Aub1gny, who as chau Thursday morning he wont round, pnt his man of the Wambo Shire Coucil is still mis nomination in and paid the £20 deposit. leading the people of that are~. That is After the canilidate had been defeated no borne out by the fact that he w1ll not take one bothered about him-he was just another advantage of the loan money ~nd subsidy sucke1· for the Country Party and the Liberal offered bv the Government to Improve the crowd. farilities 'of that shire. Let him tell us how Hon. members opposite get up in the that area could be advanced if he as chair Chamber now to criticise the Government in man woJild only take advantage of the con connection with local-authority work but I ditions offered by the Government. No know so mnch about the work that I can credit is given by the Opposition for what stand. here quite confidently and give them the Government are doing to help industry the !acts-tell t:'Jem what is really happen not only in this area but in the North and mg m the western parts of the State. First North--West. The Government are not help of all, there is that huge mining investment ing any sectional part of the State, as the at Mt. Isa. ·what have the Labour Govern hon. member for Whitsunday said yesterday. ment done for that organisation? What have He asked that Mackay and other centres they done to help Mt. Isa to bring it to the have the advantage of Government loan state of development we see today? But for money and that it should not be advanced this Labour Government Mt. Isa would not to a ·select few. I do not know where the be working today; it would be closed down Government have selected a few for any and men with mining experience know t:'Jat distribution of Government money and such when a mine closes down its workings become statements annoy one who, l}ke myself, Address in Reply. [24 AUGUST.] Add1·ess in Reply. 181 traYi'ls over the extensive areas of this State o\\'n area. \Ve have hon. members here aml s•oes what is being done by the Govern from local authorities; we have the chair ment. man of one. lo~al authority and there are Hon. members opposite fail to realise the other members ·who have. been aldermen, but ,jze and area of Queensland. Why, my own they do not tell us these things. €lectorate of Carpentaria is larger thmi both 'fhc April issue of ' 'Local Government'' France and Belgium combined. Let us reports a monthly meeting of the Charleville visualise the money it has taken to develop To,vn Council and states- lJoth France and Belgium and then we can '' Much progress was reported at the appreciate what it may cost to develop my monthly meeting of the council in the street i'lectomte, comprising 100,000 square miles. improvement and entrance roads pro Hon. members will not then charge this Gov gramme. Plans of the Morven and Cunna cmmcnt with inactivity. mulla sections were approved. Tractors and This Government have given great powers graders, it was reported, were completing to local authorities to ~arry out work and to the de,·ia tion at the dangerous sector on the tnovide amenities for the people in their Morven road. The Council approved of the arcns, and the Government look to those pmchnse of an end loader, which will be local authOTities to do their duty. During tlelivcreil in a few weeks, and will facilitate the lnst financial year the Cloncurrry Shire street and pavement loan vvork, which had Council received nearly £80,000 for loan and been ilelnyed for want of adequate equip subsidy works to be carried out in the 20,000 ment.'' ' square miles of its territory and I do not 'l'his imlieates how progressive the Charleville suppm'e mw quarter of that work was Town Council is in carrying out the work earried out in the last financial year. The clesireil by its people, but the hon. member money \vas provide.d for TOads in the. shiTes, for Aubigny comes into this Chamber and street "·orks, aerodromes, and water and states the I ... abour Government are doing sewerage schemes. If the local authorities nothing for the councils in the \Vest. He in this State would do their work we should wants to create in these councils a loafers' have better facilities in the western areas paradise. He should tell his own local than we have today. At the Lo~al Authori authority to become active like the Charleville ties ConfeTence the chairman of the Clon Town Council and carry out some improve eurl"y Shire Council was asking for a better ment \\·ork in the western part of this State. deal for the North-West, and he said he, was The councils such as Cloncurry and others in going to draw up a master plan for the my own electorate should carry out similar dcwlopment of that area. I wish to point progressive work to that done by the Charle out that the Government have given his ville Town Council. But no, at the insistence shire council £80,000 in 20,000 square miles and instigation of hon. members opposite of territory and it will not spend it. That they arc becoming political and inactive. was fo11 only one year. If he would do his Their cry is, ''Let the Government Uo work in that shire he. would make it more more.'' If the local authorities will not do eomfortable for the people who live in it. If the work for which they are elected why not the B'arkly, Boulia, Carpentaria and Gordon climinntc local authorities m1d have Govern shire'l would do the same it would be a more ment administration carry out the work that comfortable area to live in than it is today. :ocal authorities should, but will not do1 I It is unfortunate that those local authoritie.s, have asked the Premier and said from the tutored by the Liberal Party from Brisbane, floor of this House that if the local auth have become so politically biased that instead orities will not spend money allocated to of carrying out their work with the money them by the Government, they should be that has been made available, they have forced to do so or be taken from office. been playing politics and criti~ising the An Opposition l\lember interjected. 'G•overnment for the.ir inactivity in that part of the State. llr. SlUITH: The Deputy Leader of the Who puts them in? Opposition went north at election time and lUr. Sparkes: became a great northerner, but after the n'fr. S.i\HTH: An open franchise given election, in his first speech in this Chamber, to them by the Labour Party. They are he took us for a trip clown the Brisbane not carrying out the work that the people River and told us that it was not deep in that area desire they should carry out. enough. He could not hoodwink the people of the North before the election, therefore after Recently the. mayor of Charleville pointed the election he comes back to Brisbane. out that that town is the only one in the West that has not been de.pleted of popu Mount Isa Mines Ltd. has a practice of lation; on the contrary, the population is having executive dinners periodically. At one growing. Why is this so~ Because it has of these dinners a very high executive of that a progressive council that has provided company was speaking and the question of sewerage and good roads. the elections came up. He was asked what he thought of the coming elections and he l'!Ir. Ewan: Good old Harry O'Shea! replied, ''Well, we know the present Labour Government and their efficient Ministers. I Mr. S.i\IITH: He must be a good have looked over the Ministers to be appointed representative, similar to the one from should the Opposition party be returned and Cm·pen taria. have the reins of government and Lord help The Charleville Town Council has been Queensland if they are the Government.'' tarrying out a great deal of work in its Opposition members make use of untruths and 182 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply. mis-statements in this Chamber; they talk some confusion among hon. membe1~ opposite with their tongues in their cheeks on subjects -and Mr. Speaker had to check his lines the of which they know absolutely nothing. I other morning-as to where the Mulgrave know what the Government are doing in the electorate is. For the benefit of Government north-western part of the State and what members I say that Mulgravc cml1races tlw they want done and I am helping them to major part of the old Tableland seat and a the utmost of my ability, in spite of small part of the Herbert. In my remarks· the Opposition coming from local authorities today it is not my intention to get down to in the State. the deliberate untruths of hon. members of I wish to mention now the recent visit to the GoYernment "-ho endeavoured, as every Queensland of the Commonwealth Minister hon. member-- for National Development, Mr. Casey. I Jir. DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr. Mannl: thought he was in another ::\iacRobertson air Order! I suggest to the hon. member for race from London to Sydney. He flew over Mulgrave that he be temperate in his lau the State so fast that it was impossible for guage. I ask him not to use such language him to see or gauge its potentialities. He as ''deliberate untruths'' in respc~t of horL then wrote about these places in the members. ''Courier-Mail.'' He never saw them so that he could write about them. He left Mt. Isa :lir. Aikens: Give him a go. one morning, had luncheon with the shire council at Normanton, and was back in lUr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Charleville that night. warn the hon. member for Munrlinghmra that if he keeps continually interrupting the Chair JUr. Aikens: And he probably had his I will deal with him. head down in a paper bag most of the way. lUr. WAT,SON: Thank you, Mr. Deputy ltir. SlUITH: If conditions were the Speaker. Perhaps I used the wrong words. same that day as they have been when I have I wanted to say that northern members of my been travelling, he would have had his head party are here to advance the Xorth in par in more than one paper bag. Mr. Casey ticular and when members of the Government spoke of the cattle industry in the Gulf do not know where the Mulgravc scat is I fee! country, but he did not haw a r·hat to even it pertinent to say that they are not intereste•l one of the cattle men up thel'e. That is the in the North. sort of thing that annoys me. Men like him Abandoning politics for the momeut, I :nn say that they will improYe the herds of this country by 50 or 60 per cent., but they have going to do something today that won!Ll prn hably not be appreciated by onrylJody. I not the c1ocency to talk to the ll!Cll producing the cattle and the lleef in this countrv. These want to record my appreciation and that of men are by-passed. Mr. Casey by-passed the electors of the old Tablelanr1s seat of ;~ the cattle men in the Gulf eountrv and man who for many years was a CabineT Minister, being Secretary for Pu hlic \Vork< (Ill the Rm·U,- \Yhcn he< went T~hlelmHl ancl at another time Secretary for PulJlie np that "'a} · to investigate the position. Instruction. I speak of Mr. H'arry Bruee. He and others like him simply fly over the State and then come l1ack and submit long GoYernment }fembers: Hear, heart reports of what they have seen. A man who leaves Mt. Isa at 9 o'clock in the morning, lUr. WATSOX: I have no apologies to lunches at X ormanton and is at Charleville offer when I say that Mr. Bruee, in spite at night has not seen very much. Has he of his political colour, playeu a very spoken to anybol1y ~ And then there is talk important part as a northerner in the about investigating the mineral resources of advancement of his electorate and of Queem: the Cloncmry district and putting technicians land genrrall;r. Because of ill-health or for up there to investigate. \Ve had im-estiga reasons in which I am not intPrcsted he ;, tions by a Country Party Government in not with us today, but in recording my 1936; geophysical air surveys were made of appreciation of his work I am speaking on the whole of the north-western mineral fields behalf of the majority of people in the old and thousands of pounds of taxpavcrs' money Tableland electorate. was spent. What has become of the report~ In moving the adoption of the Address in Nothing. Mr. Casey is starting something Reply, the hon. member for Haughton dealt similar, anrl I say that the only way to develop the mineral resources of this State with something that is of major importance is by a definite programme of diamond drill to Queensland, that is, the sugar industr~·. ing to see what is under the earth. That is I do not intend to deal with the whole of the way Mt. Isa was developed. Diamond his remarks, but-to recall them briefly drilling went on every hour of the day and he said that the Labour Govemment had every day of the week. This was how the stabilised the sugar industry in the North. underground supplies were ascertained but \Vhether that statement was deliberate or Mr. Casey is going to flood the Cloncurry unintentional I do not know, but the stabili district with certain experts from somewhere; sation of the sugar industry was brought who they are and where they come from, I about by the pioneers in that industry and do not know. not by any political party. Various Govem ments have done a very good joh, but they (Time expired.) did not pioneer the sugar industry. }fr. WATSON (Mulgrave) (2.58 p.m.): Along Queensland's coastline, and taking I rise to speak in this Assembly as the hon. in a few miles of the coastline of New South member for Mulgrave. There appears to be Wales, are 32 mills, half of which are Address in Reply. [24 AuGUST.] Addt·ess in Reply. 183 co-opnatively owned. That is proof that of sugar in store on the worftcl 's market <:o-operative mills are proving successful.- As and l am sure that the Premier and any l havP said, the various State Governments other Cabinet Minister will agre.e that sugar of Queensland, irrespective of their party, on the world's market is a danger to the have played a very great part in the advance White-Australia-grown product. Since the ment of the sugar industry, but not in its beginning of the Korean episode there has stabilisation; that was brought about by the been a mad campaign throughout the world 1•ionecrs in the industry. to buy sugar, a commodity that is likely to It eaunot be gainsaid that back in 1915 be in short supply if the Korean business the 'ugar industry was striving for exist goes on. My latest advice is that 760,000 t·nce. Till 1921 it could not provide sufficient tons of sugar held in store by the Cuban sngaT to meet Australia's needs, with the Government has been sold on the open marke.t l'Csult that 400,000 tons had to be imported at 5.9 dollars peri 100 lb., which conve.rtecl in H1:Cl at a price of £36 5s. a ton, whilst into Australian currency amounts to £59 a the A nstralian sugar-grower received only ton. What will be the position of the sugar >;:2:) :_s, 10~d. industry in Australia if the Government are right i;1 having sugar produced and sold at In thF period up to 1921 the Govemment half the price of bla~k-grown sugar~ of thP day brought about financial disaster in the sugar industry by victimising the JUr. I''oley: You cannot buy many sugar sugnr-growers to the extent of £11 a ton. farms. In l 921, because of circumstances outside IIIr. WA'l'SOX: I do not doubt that, but their control, the pioneers in the indust·r.y in sugar farming, as in anything else could not carry on. Thanks to the Hughes nowadays, money values are deceptive. Who ;; nti-L·cbour Government we received a price could have envisaged, at the time of the. of £30 Gs. Sd. a ton to stimulate the industry Premier's visit overseas that this would have and from that point, from those three yem•s taken place on the world's markets~ The in which the agre.ement operated, the sugar whole of the. in-store sugar on the. o:e..en industry has ne.-er looked back. We have market has been sold for £59 a ton. There to thank the. Hughes anti-Labour Govern fore, I am much more tolerant today than I ment for putting the industry on a sound was during the visit of the Premier overseas financial basis. During those thr'ee years about a reasonable. price for our export sugar 1\'C were given a price equal to what we con 11·hen the agreement is actually signed. sidered was ~ost-plus but notwithstanding I will prove to hon. members by quoting that faet >Ye found that the prices outside. some simple figures that the sugar industry Australia were considerably higher and has stood on its own legs and has no Govern rlespite the fact t·hat the people in the South ment to thank for its present position. In >~·ere saying that ours was a spoon-feel 1922-ancl this can be confirmed by hon. industry. It is interesting to know that members if they ask their wives-the retail Llniing the reign of the Hughes anti-Labour price of sugar was 5cl. per lb. Today it is Uovernment agreement the export price or 5d. per lb. In 1922, under the Hughes Anti price overseas was much higher than the Labour Government, the industry received proclueer was getting for sugar in Australia. £30 6s. 8c1. a ton for its sugar, while in 1949 We know that the industry gained legis its overall price-do not forget an overall lative stability and goodwill and I am not price includes the export price-wns £24 16s., critical of any Government on that account; or £6 a ton lower than was received in 1922. I am me-rely pointing out to the hon. mem ber for Haughton that if credit is to go to I will show in another way that the anyone for the stabilisation of the sugar industry is making good its promise to stand on its own legs. Let us compare the wages industry it cannot be given to the. Labour paid in the industry. In 1922 the basic wage Government or to any other Govermment but was £4 a week, and in 1949 the basic wage to those who pioneered the industry itself. was £6 16&. a week. In 1922 mill workers Let me point out also that the sugar received 1s. llcl. an hour, and today they are indu~try has up to the present time given receiving 3s. 9.9d. an hour. There are some concessions, to the canners and the fruit simple figures to show that no Government incluBtry, of over £4,000,000 despite the can be thanked for stabilising the industry fact that they can get cheaper sugar in as we find it today. I want to pay homage to Australia than they can on the export the pioneers of the industry and give credit market. It is a remarkable statement to where it is due. Its pioneers built up the make that we have given a concession annu White Australia policy in the industry and ally of £216,000 when the price of sugar in competed at the same time with sugar-pro Australia is considerably lower than the ducing countries throughout the world. .export price, or the price throughout the Therefore, if any credit at all is clue to any world. We. are progressing along right one for the pQsition of the industry in lines and we are producing the cheapest com Queensland today it is clue to the cane modity in Australia today. However, let me growers generally. give some startling figures that have not yet Opposition Jliembers: Hear, hear! been disclosed, at least not to the PrBss and the publk I accept the statement by the Jlir. WATSON: I do not want to Premier that on his visit overseas he obtained criticise the statements made by the mover an increased market for our sugar but up to or seconder of this motion. I appreciate their ilate we have, not been told the price. We sentiments. I will not say that they were know that there was a considerable tonnage deliberately untruthful, or that they distorted 184 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Addnss in Reply. the facts. I say that they have their opinions with a woomera on the left and a stockman and I have mine. The hon. member for with a whip on the right. Yet we are paying Windsor trusted that he would see better lip-service to the North by saying that we will relationships between the worker and the do something for it. I have been told that employer. I agree with him, because I am the Premier has major projects in view. . In interested in co-operative concerns. There is his speech in Townsville during the electron less industrial trouble throughout co-operative he said so, and he was followed by the hon. concerns than in any monopoly set-up. I member for Hinchinbrook, who asserted that can prove that. every project put forward by the party wo?lcl be carried out, but he added, ''I do not thmk ~Ir. Waish: You won't be thanked for that statement over there. many of us will be alive to see the finish of them.'' What an alarming statement for a An Opposition TIIember: Yes, he will. Government member to make l )}fr. WATSON: That is all right; I am Taking North Queensland from Card,l·ell not tied to a Caucus vote. to Burketown anc1 taking in Cape York, we Opposition Jlfembers: Hear, hear! have 137,000 'square miles of countr,v, ':hirh comprises some of the finest country m North Jir. DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mr. Mann): Queenslanil· vet we have the dismal popula Order! tion of 66,298. In 1933 our population was ilir. Aikens: Welcome, another rebel! almost the snme. Notwithstanding what \Y<' are going to rlo and what has been promised lUr. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! the population is a deciding factor from the defence point of view. It is time we dropped )[r. WATSON: The hon. member spoke of a closer relationship between employer and lip-service and got down to facts. employee, but in considering that statement I wish to :Jlr. W ATSON: I do. North have been given increased mill peaks. Tlte new peaks of the mills in that district Jir. Foley: You will admit that there are- i, a big change today '1 Tons. Tully . . 47,000 lUr. WATSON: I will admit that the South Jolmstone 47,000 JlTUce Highway has played a very big part Mourilyan 32,000 in development. Goondi 37,000 The matter of hydro-electric current has Taking the cost to the sugar industry at Tlot been touched on in this debate, and to Tully at 6s. Sd. a ton, South Johnstone .and enable the people to enjoy the adYautages of Monrilvan at 32s. 6d. a ton and Goond1 at deetric current in country areas it is necessary 32s. 10d. a ton, the sugar industry generally that intalla.tion costs be reduced. At present is paving in lighterage fees roughly over I live in town and can switch on electric light £200 000 annually. That is the anomaly, in my home, if I pay £2 a month, as a bond yet 'the Government, notwithstanding that that I will pay my account. I have a farm, thev have the immediate power and have ~mcl 1rhich is eight miles from the town, anu I me{nbcrs of their p:1rty occuping these seats nm hoping to have electric current there for years will not develop Mourilyan Harbour. ~onw time, but have been told that it will I do not 'kno·w what the estimated cost would east me £42 a year for six years. Why should be today; no doubt ~t woul~ be c~nsiderab1y 1•cop le go to the country ~nd_ pay these costs higher than that estimated 1n 1923. when they can live in a town and have the 1·urrcmt installed f01· nothing' Until this \Y c listened to a debate only a few is :1ltered we cannot posibly get people to r1ays ago about the Brisbane. River, but ll'aYe the towns for the conntrv. I admit that MourilYan Harbour has the w1clth of 170 elrctricity boards are tied by the policy of feet, ancl a depth of 18 feet at low. water at the Government. In their own minds the the eutrance ancl at the wharf Itself the members of the board will ~gree with what depth is 21 feet at low water. And 15 feet I say, but they ha>e not the right to alter awav from the wharf there is a depth of 26 that policy. This appears to be one of the feet: It can be seen that all that is required 1rcalmesses in endeavouring to attract thC' is to have the entrance opened up to allow !'eople from the town to the land. l~rger boats to enter. At present the biggest ,·csscls entering Mourilyan H3'rbour ~re of I promised the electors that I •>oult1 bring approximately 4,000 tons. w.lth blast:mg at forward the development of Mourilyan the entrance and the conversiOn to a 3 ft. Harbour in my speech on the Address-in 6 in. line from the harbour to the main HPply and I now do so. I am honoured to line at Boogan or \V angan you would have kno•> that the hon. member for Mourilyan is a complete linking-up wit~ tl.w North Coast Line and the means of brmgmg sugar from in his place in this chamber. He, like me, the four mills to a central position within is, I hope, of the same mind as to the the distril't; an cl it would be sound judgment necessity for the development of this harbour. for the Government to introduce a develo-p It is a gift of nature. It is centrally ment scheme so that a particular article or situated, 11 miles from Innisfail ancl product could be brought to a central port six, fifteen ancl fourteen miles from three within an area. mills, and 30 miles from Tully mill. Since 1923 the people of Innisfail have continually Why the Government have been lax in :•pproached Ministers to have the harbour c1oing this is beyond me. Some people suggest that shipping companies haYe had a pull, but !le>eloped. There is nothing to equal it on a iigure of £200,000 annually . in freight t IH' Queensland coast. In 1923 a commission clwrges speaks volumes o~ what 1t means to on developmental works recommended that ship sugar from Mo~nlyan Harbour to I his harbour be developed and the 2-foot C:tims. I make the pomt that the develop gauge railway line be brought to the standard ment of Mourilyan Harbour is worthy of gauge at an estimated cost at that time of eonsideration in view of the increased sugar :.:74,000. That was in 1923, but up to t~1is peaks and production shortly coming into _,car of 1950 nothing has been clone. being. If we are going to allow the present state of affairs to continue a considerable The sugar industry has had to bear the sum of money will be diverted and the sugar l>urden o:l' a large sum of money, which industry generally will suffer. This project inrlirectly is borne by the whole of the has long been before the Government and gTowers of Queensland. To clarify my point, continually turned clown, for some unknown let me say that the Tully sugar mill has a reason. At the recent elections the only roncessional rate on sugar by rail to Towns· excuse the Premier could suggest was that ,-ille. To bring this sugar to the Mourilyan rails ,,-ere difficult to get. I agree with the H:ubour the lighterage would be very high Premier that rails are difficult to get, but at : Government neglect to develop this harbour daily, and the people should be encouraged during the coming term the people of Innis to produce these commodities, which are fail will be sincerely disappointed in a pro necessary to us. Grasses, cow-pea, maize, ject that means so much to them. ginger, coffee, tea, rice and citrus fruits can Now I want to deal with the expansion of all be grown in the North, so that the young the sugar industry as it relates to the new man should have every inducement to make peaks in particular. We know that there his home there. However, what do we find'? are to be new mills and we also know that No encouragement is given to young people at the present time increased assignments are by the Government to settle in the North. being granted. I take this opportunity of They must be giHn all the amenities that thanking the Government for giving small city people enjoy. Till that is clone the -ro;ro"·ers new assignments and living areas. population of the North will continue te This has been a burning question in the dwindle. Like the toads, the people come North. 'rhe 84. growers in my district have into the lights of the town. They will not been producing cane on from 10 to 15 acres, work on the farms if they can get a good but now we have pleasure in telling them living by eating under the lights. that they are to have living areas on which J<'or the first time in history you have t'n1 to produce their tonnage. Last, but not least, Country Party members from the Far North. new assignments are being granted, which Thev are not eoncerned a bout party politics, will result in the introduction to the industry of ne\v growers. That is a very worthy Lut ·are here to help the Government of the objecth·e and one that must be commended day to Lring the North into its own. Of co{usc, there are Labour members from the to any Go;-ernm~nt or any other body. North too, and I repeat the statement that Although the Royal Commission on the political considerations do not interest me Sugar Industry has not yet published its a bit-I want something for North Queens report as to where new mills should be estab land and if with the help of Labour member~ lished, it is the expressed opinion of every we cannot get it, we are simply wasting our sugar-man that if the population of the time in this Chamber. I say in all sincerity North is to be increased and if ils J.ef"nce as a representative from the Country Part;J is to be considered, a new mill ;,houlrl be stronghold that I stand for the uplift of tf~t' established north of Caims. All that js working man, and when r uplift him I uplift necessary for the growing of suga1·-cane is hnmanitv. I stand as a Country Party centred in the quality of the soi.l, and in the member; disgusted with a socialistic Govern districts that I have cited the soils are of ment. All ideas of Socialism are contnlY,V high quality and will produce high tonnages to my beliefs ancl so with the help of my and will be economic to wor1c Irrespective ,,-orkers in the North I hope to bring about of what might happen, with the increased n better deal for the North. assignments and the erection ot a new mill the sugar industry in the Xorth !J~~ a wonder OlllJOSition :ill embers: Hear, hear! ful future. )[r. TURNER (Kelvin Grove) (3.37 Dealing with other industries in the North, p.m.): I desire to associate myself with "e ha\·e dairying, tobacco-growing and, on previous speakers IYho ha;-e already con the Atherton Tableland, maize-growing. It gratulated the mover and seconder of th• is also possible in the North to grow grasses Address in Reply. Both those hon. members suitable for cattle-fattening. Lucerne gro'vs Hcquittml themselves very well indeed. The prolifically on the coast. We haw; also mover of the motion convinced the Hou&e Rhodes grass and Sudan grass, and we ha,-e that he knew his subject very well, and being not merely experimented with ~,;inger on the a northern man and having been returne•l Tableland but have proved that it tan he bv northern people, we can conclude that the grown. Dry rice also can be grown e~onomic people there are satisfied with what the ally along the coast. The hon. member for Government are doing for the North. Tlw Cook quickly covered that subject, but on manner and delivery of his speech was an our inspeeotion of Bailey's Creek we found inspiration to other hon. members-he spob: that the land along the coast would produce (leliberately, calmly, and in a manner tlwt at least 1 ton of rice an acre. On the open brought great credit on himself. market today 1 ton of rice is worth £56, and the cost of producing rice is lower than The hon. member for Windsor, wh the part where the foundation was very poor. of subsidy that Government gave to the 'jVe must remember that Rome was not built primary producers of Australia, with the m a day, and we cannot build roads under exception of the sugar industry, £65,126,995. those circumstances as rapidly as some have They did not object to taking this money been built in North Queensland. from that Socialist Government. If their I want to pay my tribute to the Premier hatred of Socialism and Socialistic Govern and give him full marks for the attitude he ments is as great as they say, why were they adopted towards the North and the people not honest and why did they not refuse tu who were contending that the Government take this money~ negl~cted the North. O;n two occasions, once ~Jr. Ewan: Did they not take it by prevwus to and once during the election the taxation in the first place. Premier went to all parts of the North' and met everybody who desired to meet him and ]Ur. TURNER: Taxation is another he convinced those people that the Govern matter. Under the Tory regime everybody ment were doing everything huma11ly possible paid tnxation, hut I am happy to be able to for the North. The fact that they returned say here that under Labour Governments no our members shows that they were satisfied. person receiving up to £500 a year payR I would suggest to hon. members opposite income tax. Never before in the historv of that they handle the truth a little more care Australia has that been so. · fully .. _I could stand here and say that tl1e i\[r. Ewan: What about the social Opposition are a Fascist organisation if I selTices tax. handled the truth .as carelessly a; hon. ~embers opposit~ do-l could say that and iUr. 'l'URNER: That is not income tax. It would be defimtely untrue. The accusation The social-senices tax is a means of giving that the Government are a Communist govern to ppople what they are entitled to. It is ment is equally untrue. We have the same because of the social-sC'rvices tax that people platform as the party had in 1893, when it can obtain free treatment in hospitals, for wa;s ~reated. Today we stand for the same instance. And the Queensland Government prmCiples. If other people have come in and relif'nrl thC' local authorities of the hospital ~tolen some of our thunder, we cannot help. pr·ecepts anrl one can obtain treatment in tlH' 1t. I remember that at one Federal election, publie hospitals in Queensland tor1ay free of after the Leader of the Labour Party deliv cost, irre,pective of financial position. The1·e ered his party speech the then Leader of the is no me:ms test. No patient has ever heen Fe~eral . CJ:overnment, who is now deputy turne1l a>1·ay from our Queensland public Pnme Mmister, after having heard the broad hospitals, but this has not been so in the cast of the Labour leader's speech put some southem States. Only recently I read that of Mr. Curtin 's planks into his owr{ platform. in Victori:1 8,000 persons were awaiting treat We could not stol.? him; we could not stop me11t in public hospitals of that State. That anybody from takmg part of oul' policy or is a s:1d state of affairs. Despite the fact adopting our principles. that the ]'ederal Labour Government by WD.:'' of the social-services tax made it possible to It is strange that every speaker from the proYicle that serviee to the people, they Opposition benches is a pro-socialist uncon cannot get it. Are they not entitled to it? sciously or otherwise, because everything they Does anybody begrudge paying the social want done in their areas they >Yant the services tax, considering the benefit it gives Governl?ent to do_. They do not want private enterpnse to do It alone; they want Govern to so many people? Child endowment is pro vided out of that tax. I have figures that ment help. There are two shining examples show that a man with a wife and five children that should be a guide to us, and they are can eam up to £950 a year and not pay the Commonewalth Oil Refineries and the income tax. But he can get social service in A.W.A. Both these organisations are 51 per the form of child endowment for his :five cent. Government-controlled and 49 per cent. children. He would pay a social-services tax privately controlled. Instead of the Govern of £71 a year, but he would receive back ment's trying to make it possible for private £104 in child endowment; in other words, lw enterprise to establish itself and make profits would show a profit of over £32 a year. Is I suggest that in the future, when Govern: not the man with a large family the man we ment~ are c:'l!ed upon to finance such projects, ·want to help? Does anybody begrudge paying we grve senous thought to a policy of retain the social-services tax when it is for such a in~ 51 per c~nt. of the shares, allowing worthy cause? pnvate enterpnse to take the other 49 per cent., if it so desires. That would be a step This so-callerl Socialist Government created in the right direction. We should have both markets for the primary producers. They parties operating: the Government fincling the ga;-e them £65,250,000 in the form of sub finance and having a say in the manage sidies and in addition found world markets ment, and these people, who claim to be for their produce. This was responsible for experienced business men, could look after an increase in exports from £140,000,00 in the business side of it. I am sure they would 1938-39 to £269,000,000 in 1947 and all be as successful as the C.O.R. and the £409,000,000 in 1948. Under the Labour A.W.A. Government we saw their production increased To justify my saying that those who are from £184,000,000 in 1938-39, to £363,000,000 condemning the Government and Socialism in 1947 and £547,000,000 in 1948. What are pro-Socialists unconsciously, I would more do they want~ It has to be remembered remind them of what Federal Labour Govern that a Federal I~abour Government made ments _did to the primary producers of that possible. Australia. From 1944 to 1947, in the form iUr. Low: Inflated values. Add1·ess in Reply. [24 AUGUST.] Address in Reply. 189 1\Ir. TURNER: They are not inflated Such an animal has much more flavour and values. I now wish to deal with the meat is of more value to the butcher than the Olle question. At the outset I say that I am very killed under the system operating a~. the P.leased to find that the women's organisa abattoirs. tions of hon. members opposite are taking up the cudgels with the working-man's wife. For as long as I am able, I shall continue ~rs. Byth, who is a great worker .for the to fight for a change in the system operating Liberal P~rty, has taken up the organisation at the abattoir. I want to see the clay when of housewives on the question of boycottinG' the wholesale meat merchants are entirelv meat markets. It is time the Federal Govenf eliminated, when the station-owner will sencl ment took a hand in this matter because in his beast to the abattoir and it will be killed in his name; when the carcass will be th~ years ·when. price-control operated every thmg was all nght for the producer and the 'veighec1 and hung up in the meat hall ant1 n eonsumer, but since a big overseas meat price put on it. Under that method meat conhaot has been obtained the best of om wonlcl be sold in the same way as are fruit meat has been slaughtered ancl sent abroad. and vegetables at the markets. The producer ·when price-control was lifted in the southern would then get all he is entitled to and the States, although it was maintained here, Tetailer who buys the meat would know what he was paying for and not have to '' diddle'' more went to New South Wales than should -and I use that word deliberately-the con have gone. The meat producers in this State sumers in order to get out of it. ·No butcher do not care whether Queensland people have today can buy mutton at the abattoir and sell a bi.te of meat. to ~at. Perhaps the greatest it at the fixed price and recover what he paid beef-producer m tlus State, the hon. member for it, much less make a profit. Consequently, for Aubigny, made the alarming statement retail butchers are now co'ncentTating on the today that all he was interested in was profit commodities that are not controlled in pTice, and the people he represents in this House that is, pork, veal and lamb. It is possible can starve-he has to get his profit. today to buy lamb chops at 3s a lb., but it is My view is that the Govemment shoulr1 absolutely impossible to buy a mutton chop. r1o something in the future to prevent the Butchers will not buy mutton because they cannot s<'ll it at a profit. Instead, they buy destruction of valuable meat in the foril~ of lamb, pork, and veal. It is possible to buy calves. It is a tragedy that we allo \'- so veal anywllC'Te in town because its price is many of our calves to be slaughtered. In 1948 no fewer than 280,897 calves were not fixed. slaughtered in the meatworks and slaughter Quite a number of people have Tecently been houses in this State. In 1949 the figure was urging the lifting of all price-controls, but I 276,063. If those animals had been allowed intend to support theiT continuation. I will to develop for a couple of years we should give hon. members an example of what can be getting considerably more beef than we happen when controls are lifted. Four allot· are getting out of the half-starved animals ments of land at Broailbeach, with areas rang· slaughtered today. I say they are half ing from 23.9 perches to 29 perches, were sold starved because of the tlistances these ymmg by the GoveTnment when prices were con animals have to travel to be slaughteret1 anc1 trolled 'vith upset prices ranging from £150 to the time thev have to wait at the abattoir £:300. When prices are controlled, if more than before slaughtering. 'Within a couple of one bidder goes to the upset price, the pur miles of our abattoir there are areas of lalid chaser is decided by ballot. Since the lifting that the board could be asked to take over of price-controls, the prices of those properties as resting paddocks for the animals brought range from £1,000 to £1,650. \Vhat working to the abattoir for , slaughtering. A few man could afford to bny a piece of land at ' weeks ago a butcher friend of mine vai 1 J:7 Broadbeach 1 The Government are urged to each for 40 wethers, the skins of which were spread the population and various people are worth 30s. each. These wcthers were three endeavouring to establish private enterprise days in transit from the station property to in and around Surfer's Paradise ancl the abattoir. He bought them on a Thlus Broarlbeach. Thev will want labour to work day but they were not slaughtered until the in their enterprises, but what earthly chance following Tuesday. has any working man of competing against these moneyed people who are prep~red to J\'Ir. Ewan interjected. pay from £1,000 to £1,650 for properties that previously had upset priees of from £150 to 1\Ir. TURNER: The people the hon. £300, merely to build themselves week-end member represents and supports control the cottages? abattoirs; the Government have only one representative on the hoarcl. As I was }Jr. Walsh: They will have to pay £10 saying, the sheep were there until the a week rent. Tuesday and not only would the mutton 3Ir. TURNER: They will build week depreciate in quality but I am assmed by my end cottages for themselves and when they do fnend that the sheep lost between IC and 12 not want them thev will let them for £8 or lb. in weight. That is too great a wastage £10 a week. I poin·t out these things to show on account of existing conditions. If these what the lifting of price-controls has done rest paddocks were bought animals for there, in the same way as it has in the case of slaughter could be rested until they were pork, veal and lamb. required for slaughtering and so the meat produced would be better. In outside places Another example of the result of lifting cattle. are not put into the killing pen until controls on land sales can be seen in the the mght before they are to be slaughtered. town of Coolangatta, ,,-here an allotment 190 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply. 11-ith an Hea of 25.4 perches had an upset It has not been possible to implement this priete of £:200. The highest bidder got the free hospitalisation scheme fully, only because land for £l,O:JO. Hen• is another allotment. we have not the necessary buildings. Vie have at Currumbin, 24 perches, upset price £loo; to admit that homes must come first. A& and the highest bidder got it for £1,150. Is soon as we catch up with home-building, we that not some justification for the retention can embark on the construction of these of price-control, in respect of both land and general health clinics, which will give wonder meat, too·l I hope the Federal Government ful serdce to the community, and be of \\'ill see tlJe wisdom of reintroducing price great benefit to health, as our baby clinics eontrol, p:uticularly for foodstuffs and have be0n, particularly to expectant mothers eHpecially for beef and mutton. and mothers with young children. Last night The hon. member for Yeronga spoke about I attended a children's fancy-dress ball in lJOspltalil'ntion and while he gave credit to my electorate, and I could not refrain from the Govcmment for some of the things they remarking to the president of the organisation had done he omitted to tell the House-o'r on the beRutiful and healthy children who did not lmow-all that they had done. paraded. It was really a treat to see such Apparently he did not know or he did not a number of beautiful, healthy young children tell the House what the Go,·ernment did in taking part in that fancy-dress ball. 1944 in providing for free hospitalisation. In conclusion, I want to express to the The Act that brought it about was spon Secretary for Public Instruction my appreci sored by the then Secretary for Health and ation for the answer he gave to the deputation Home Affairs, Hon. T. A. Foley and it con consisting of women's organisations asking tains 17 principles. Some of them can be fm the establishment of a conservatorium of set out as follows:- music in tllis State. That is something the "Division of the State into hospitals Go\-ernment have been endeavouring to I"egions to improve health and hospital establish for many years, but building services on a basis of decentralisation. restrictions and the need for providing homes ''Determination of certain hospitals for the people, which come first, have pre within the hospitals regions to be base vented them from doing so, but the Minister, hospitals. not onl~ the present Minister bnt his pre ''The establishment of medical special decessors, have assured members, as the ties at base hospitals. present ::\Iinister assured us, that .such an institution must eventually be estabhshecl. lt ''The establishment of health centres for is becomincr more and more necessary every the purpose of increasing the good health clay. The"' establishment of choirs in our and well-being of the people.'' State schools and the urgent desire of the Speaking on the Bill the Minister explained people for music is becoming greater and that there would be centres throughout the oTeater. If these young people are to be State that people could attend to get a free helped in their niusical education, it is medical check-up. If a person felt that he necessan to establish a conservatorium of was under the weather, so to speak, he could music to enable them to complete it, and it go along for a free medical check-up periodi must be ag free as our primary and secondary cally and he could get specialist treatment, education. too, if that was recommended by the local doctor. The people could get this treatment ..lir. Aikens: If a conservatorium is to in their own locality and, as the hon. mem be established in the North I will be behind ber for Y eronga suggested, the doctor could it. continue his local private practice. He could attend at the different centres to examine ilir. 'l'URNER: I am not concerned that the patients by appointment. That would a consen·atorium should be established only enable people to have a continual medical in Brisbane. We have to be sensible about it. cheek-up instead of going to work when they were not really fit for work, thereby further \Vhen an announcement was made that a injuring their health. In short, it enabled now Supreme Court was to be constructed in people to keep fit. Brisbane I advocated the conversion of the present building into a conservatorium of However, I am becoming very suspicious music, but plans have since changed. I will of the B.M.A. because some of our doctors therefore make another suggestion. Between >tre giving every minute of their lives to Queen Street, George Street, Albert Street research work, in an effort to prevent disease, and Elizabeth Street there are seven hotels, whereas I am afraid that some have developed and I sav without fear of contradiction that the outlook that some of the workers have. that is five too many. One of those hotels has vVhen a new machine is introduced into an the Theatre Royal behind it. I suggest that industry the workers get the idea that it is the GoYernment should take over that property going to throw them out of employment and and convert it into a conservatorium. The T think that some of our doctors today are hotel bedrooms could be converted into study afraid that they will have to go onto the rooms for students and its bar into shops, wharves or drive trucks if they are successful possibly music shops, and the theatre could in eliminating all the causes of disease. be modernised. We could establish there an Mr. Aikens: They would be better ideal conservatorium. I understand that the 1Yharf-lumpers than they are doctors. owner of this hotel is the Queensland Brewery. Its licence could be transferred into some Jir. TURNER: The hon. member is a other locality where a hotel was needed, but better judge of that than I am. not, as I heard stated today, to one of the Questions. [29 AUGUST.] Questions. 191 islands off our coast; there are other places where hotels are necessary to provide board and lodging for our people. I dare say that one hotel could accommodate all the boarders IJOW residing in the seven hotels in the area I mentioned. They are just drinking houses, and are not serving the purpose for which hotels were established, namely, for boarding our people. This hotel property is in an ideal position in the heart of the town, and could be renovated at very little cost and converted into an ideal conservatorium. With these remarks I conclude by again offering my congratulations to both the mover and seconder of the Address in Reply. Debate, on motion of Mr. Nicholson, adjourned. The House adjourned at 4.16 p.m.