Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
THURSDAY, 31 OCTOBER 1940
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
.LVI'± /Supply . [ASSEMBLY.] Deaths in Air Disasters.
THURSDAY, 31 OCTOBER, 1940.
Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. E. J. Hanson, Bnranda) took the chair at 10.30 a.m.
DEATHS IN AIR DISASTERS. REPLIES TO MOTION OF CONDOLENCE. ltlr. SPEAKER informed the House that he had received acknowledgments of motion of condolence passed by the House on 20 August- (1) From the relatives of Brigadier the Hon. G. A. Street, M.C., the Hon. S'ir H. S. Questions. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1075
Gullett, K.C.M.G., the Hon. J. V. Fairbairn, The SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND ::'\Iajor-General Sir Brudenell White, Lieu INDUSTRY (Hon. T. A. Foley, Normanby) tenant-Colonel F. Thornthwaite, and Mr. replied- R. E. Elford, victims of the Canberra air disaster. '' 1. 1938-39: 4,924,310 lb., value £65,667; 1939-40: 4,572,469 lb., value £71,514. (2) From the relatives of the officers and crew of the R.A.A.F. plane lost near Bris '' 2. 1938-39: 4,700,787 lb., value bane on 12 August. £140,009; 1930-40: 4,109,875 lb., value £142,773. ''This information appears on page 3 DEATH OF HoN. J. M. HUNTER, HoN. of the Fish Board's annual report, tabled H. D. ::\IACROSSAN, MR. C. J. RYAN, in Parliament last week.'' MR. E. W. ARCHER, l\IR. R. HERBERT SON, 1\lR. R. J. WARREN, AND MR. R. J. CARROLL. ILLEGAL SwEEP ON MELBOURNE CUP. REPLIES TO 1\IOTION OF CONDOLENCE. Mr. YEATES (Toowoomba) asked tlie Acting Attorney-General- Mr. SPEAKER informed the House that he had received acknowledgments from '' 1.. In reference to his statement on relatives of these ex-members of the Queens Friday last on the subject of the illegality land Parliament of motion of condolence of sweeps on the Melbourne Cup, is he passed by the House on 20 August. aware that tickets inscribed 'Charity Sweep,' 'Bill Rankin-The Casket King,' are being sold at 1s. each, and that the DEATH OF :\1:R J. P. KEOGH AND sellers of such tickets are paid 15 per cent. HoN. P. PEASE. commission~ REPLIES TO ::\IOTIO)[S OF CONDOLENCE. '' 2. ·wm he ha Ye investigations made, ~Ir. SPEAKER informed the House that and adYise whether or not this sweep is he had received from the relatives of the late illegal~ Mr. J. P. Keogh, :M.L.A., and Hon. P. Pease, '' 3. If it has not been authorised, will M.L.A., acknowledgments of the motions of he take action to have it suppressed and condolence passed lJy the House on 3 and 24 September, respectively. ticket money refunded to the purchasers~'' The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Hon. J. 0 'Keefe, Cairns) replied- QUESTIONS. "1. No. RAILWAY FREIGHTS, FoDDER FOR ST·ARVING STOCK. '' 2. All such sweeps are illegal. Mr. PLL'NKETT (Albert) asked the '' 3. The police, at my request, informed Seaetary for Agriculture and Stock- Mr. Rankin on 19 October that the sales of tickets in this sweep must be discon '' In view of his statement that fodder tinued immediately. Mr. Rankin stated he for starving stock would be carried on the would give the matter the necessary atte~ railways at half rates, will he take immedi tion immediately. Since then I have had no ate steps to proclaim the districts to which further reports of ticket sales.'' such rates will apply, and to provide for the concessional rates mentioned~''
The TREASURER (Hon. F. A. Cooper, SUPPLY. Bremer), for The SECRETARY FOR AGRICULTURE AND STOCK (Hon. F. w. RESUMPTION OF COMMITTEE-EST1}1[ATES Bulcock, Barcoo), replied- THIRTEENTH AND FOURTEEXTH ALL01'TED DAYS. '' The necessary action will be taken by the Railway Department and the Treasury (Mr. King, Maree, in the chair.) to ensure that the usual concessions in rates of freight for transport of fodder for ESTIMATES IN CHIEF, 1940-1941. starving stock under the drought relief DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC LANDS. scheme will be allowed.'' CHIEF OFFICE. FisH SuPPLIEs, 1938-40. Question stated- ~Ir. DART (Wynnum) asked the '' That £69,810 be granted for 'Depart Secretary for Labour and Industl-y- ment of Public Lands-Chief Office.' '' '' 1. What was the quantity and the value lUr. MOORE (Aubigny) (10.35 a.m.): of the fish forwarded to the metropolitan This is an important vote and I am sorry fish market during 1938-39 and 1939-40 ~ that the shortage of paper has necessitated '' 2. \Vhat quantity of fi·sh, stating value the cutting-down of the annual report, for each year, was imported into Queens although what we have of it is certainly full land during 1938-39 and 1939-40 ~'' of interest. 1076 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
On page 3 of the annual report of the The annual report of the Department of Prickly-pear Land Commission we find this Labour and Industry for 1938 states on pages statement- 38 and 39- '' Control of the prickly-pear pest is being ,' The amount made aYailable for well maintained throughout the State not· advances to settlers for the financial year 1vithstanding that in some localities there was £30,000, This money was fully are considerable anas of dense seedlings allotted before December, 1937, and any and regrowth, some of ,,·hich haYe reached sums sunendered by borrowers were the fruiting stage.'' quickly granted to other waiting applicants. It proceeds to say that- ''It must be again emphasised that the '' 'l'his is largely the result of the heat· benefits arising from the expenditure of waYes last summer reducing the reprodue this money are not confined to the selectors, tion of the ne to blastis insects. Hecen t and the men employed by them, but the inspections, howeYer, indicate that these circulntion of the money in wages and the insects will soon breed up again in sufficient payment for material and equipment has numbers to rer1uce the infestation very sull· brought prosperity to many towns and stantially. Another factor 1vhich · con· l'illnges, especially in the Darling Downs tributes to this optimistic outlook is the and ::\Iaranoa districts.'' work of the cochineal insect, \Yhich is The Treasurer expects £2,275,000 this year destroying immense numbers of seedlings from the State deYelopment tnx; not one as 1vell as retarding fruiting.'' penn:· is provided from that sum for loans for rural development in the way in which We ha1·e had experience of that. In 1932, this money has been expended preYiously. just when the first loan moneys became ayail able-after the r1epression-for public \Yorks, One would have expected that it would be the State Employment Council, which was recognised that it was impossible to spend appointed for considering proposals for ':be woney for State deYelopment better than in expenditure of thr £620,000 allotted to these instances, especially since such eYidence Queenslanc1, recommended that £190,000 be exists since 1932. Se,·eral references in the spent on rural development, and each year annual reports of the Department of Public thereaftar a certain amount of money has Lands for previous years all go to show the beneficial effect of this policy. They also been made aYailable for that purpose. point out that as the lands are already On page 5 of the report of the Depart settled it follows that extensiYe and wide ment of Public Lands for year ended 31 spread development can be accomplished only December, 1939, one finds under ''Rural through the agency of the landholders them· Development Loan Scheme'' that the moneys selves. Any other method would, in com made available were as follows:- pnri2on, produce infinitesimal results. \Ve know that by far the greater part of the land tl,at is suitable for closer settlement has £ Interest. already been alienated or is in process of ------·------alienation, or is in occupation in some form or other, and the way to get increased Per cent. From the Commonwealth and deyelopment and production is to obtain a State Fund for the relief of un· greater return from the areas upon which eJuploylnent 190,000 people are living rather than endeaYour to From 8tate Funds 100,000 3 l<'rom State Funds 199,066 clear new areas. Tbe Secretary for Public Lands: Many u1cl there is a note at the bottom, '' 5 per people oYerloo.k that fact, an J some com cent. to 31 December, 1934, and 4 per cent. missions' reports ha Ye overlooked it. from 1 January, 1935 "- ::lir. MOOR.E: That is so, but the Depart ment of Public Lands points out the effect £ Interest. this has had. On page 12 it says- '' The work done last year, of which the result is now showing, is a reYelation of Per cent. From State Funds 162,838 4 what good has been accomplished. Many l<'rom 8tate Funds 19,000 4 of the areas, which previously were dense From State Funds 18,000 4! prickly-pear scrubs, are now showing a growth of Rhodes and other artificial A big bctor in gn·mg employment and grasses from 1 to 2 feet high, capable of de1·cloping the State was that the interest carrying a large number of sheep and rate on these loans should be as low as cattle. Everywhere selectors are enthusi· pos:oiblc in order to enable people who were astic in connection with the scheme, and {·ndea vouring to deYelop these lands to from my observation I am satisfied that it hnproye them at the lowest possible cost. hns brought thousands of arres into pro There has been a great demand for this ductiYity.'' money, and the reports of the department That 1vas a policy of providing money as haYe drawn attention to the de1·elopmont that cheaply as possible for difficult and arduous has taken place from these loans. work of clearing, ringbarking, suckering, Supply. [31 OcTOBER.] Supply. 1077 scrubfalling, fencing, and providing water developing our lands is the lending of money on lands Teclaimeu from prickly-pear. at low rates of interest. On page 1;') of the annual report of Public One would have thought that with cvidenee Lands for 1937 we find the statement that- such as that before it that the department would have provided money for the continu '' The scheme has the support of the ance of this development. One would have banks, the wool firms, and other financial thouo·ht that from collr~tions of £2,2/;),000 in institutions. A very large number of the Stat~ development tax-a name that in1plies advances made haYe been backed by the that the money raised thereby will. be u~ed banks, ·who have conceded priority to the for dewloping the State-every cons1deratwn Crown mortgage.'' would have been given to the reports of the Department of Public Lands and a very con Tlwt >vas one of the conditions that had to siderable amount of money would have been be complied with-a first mortgage on the made available for this class of loan. But property. Recognising the ad.-antage that >vhat do \Ye find~ The following figures was going to accrue to the productivity of indicate the position and show the amounts the country, the banks and fi-nancial institu made available:- tions were willing to take second place to the Crown mortgage. £ 1932-33 from Commonwealth and Tl!e Secretary for Puhlic Lands : They State loaus 190,000 n:cognised that the Government were improv 1933-34 from State loans .. 100,000 ing securities. 1934-35 from State loans .. 199,066 1935-36 front the Unemployment ll!r. )WORE: That is so. The report Relief Funtl and State goes on to say- loan 112,504 '' Already 407 advances have been repaid Hl36-37 from the Unemployment in full. Interest payments to date are qu_ite R.elief Fund and State satisfactory..... The advantage wh~ch loan 33,535 has accrued to the State by the operatwn 1937-38 from the Unemployment of the several Rural Development Funds Relief Fund and State can hardly be calculated. Not only have loan 25,751 the borrowers profited by being able to 1938-39 from loan account 12,515 bring their land into production earlier 1939-40 from loan account 14,598 than would otherwise have been possible, In the last two years nothing has been taken but unemployed bush workers have been from the money raised by the State develop provided with congenial employment at ment tax. In 1932, when loan money was award rates of pay. The expenditure of very difficult to get, £190,000 was made avail their wages has kept in employment numer able, almost 30 per cent. of the available ous town workers, while the handling of loan m'oney. But in the present year a paltry the produce of the dewloped land has given £14 000 odd has been made available from work to many more hands. This is the case r~o;n Funds and nothing from any other particularly within the area formerly over fund. For 1938-39 only £12,515 was pro run with prickly-pear." vided. One would have expected, seeing the Another statement they make is-- results obtained and knowing that the people who borrowed the money have been prompt '' These loan moneys ha.-e been expended in their payments, that the amount of actual by landholders ii1 all parts of Queensland, loss has been so small-! think the amount but the major portion has been used for written off so far has been under £3,000- the development of the reclaimed pear that there has been only a small amount of lands. The following figures are offered arrears, and that in the first three years 407 as an indication of the increased produc loans were completely paid off, that the tion brought about by the destruction of the Government, instead of allocating a continu prickly-pear and subsequent improvement ally diminishing amount of money for this of the land by ringbarking and the pro class of work, would have increased it as loan vision of water. In the Dalby, Chinchilla, money became more plentiful and the State Roma, and Taroom clerks of petty sessions development tax produced more and more districts in 1918 the returns showed the revenue. One would also have expected that the number of cattle depastured as 263,900, and rate of interest, instead of being increased sheep at 526,500. In 1938 in the same dis from 4 per cent. to 4i! per cent., would haYe tricts the numbers had increased to 362,200 been reduced to 3 per cent. in order that we cattle and 1,434,000 sheep. In the case might obtain the greatest amount of develop of the cattle, the improvement is better ment and increase our carrying capacity. than the figures indicate, as the cattle Indirectly, the State would have received returned include numerous dairy herds. tremendous benefits, as pointed out in those This is shown by the fact that the butter authoritative statements to >Yhich I have production in the Dalby and Chinch~lla referred. The reports indicate an increased districts increased during the same penod carrying capacity and an increase in the from 1,157,000 lb. to 9,007,000 lb." number of stock grazing on reclaimed pro The efficacy of these loans has been substan perties. tially set out in the reports furnished by It is extraordinary that we should have officials of the Department of Public Lands, reached a stage at which, although we have who show that the most effective method of a tax imposed for the purpose of State 1078 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
development, nothing whatever from that tax is covered with a dense growth of pear, but has gone in developing the State, and from a immediately the pear is removed by the sum of £190,000 made available in 1932-33 biological agents, cactoblastis and cochineal we have come down to only £14,000 odd in insects, enough capital should be made 1939-40 and £12,000 odd in 1938-39. available to the new settler to enable him During the period 1932 to 1940 the to ringbark or to have the ringbarking done. Government spent £28,000,000 from Loan If he is not able to begin ringbarking Funds, and nearly £18,000,000 from the operations quickly and the land becomes Unemployment Relief Fund and the State re-infested with scattered pear, it is extremely development tax, but during the last two difficult to distribute the biological agents years, 1938-39 and 1939-40, they spent nothing to enable them to destroy the pear a second time. The new settler must not be compelled at all from the Unemployment Relief to undergo unnecessary difficulties through Fund or from State development tax sources on this important work. Here is the lack of capital at a time when it is highly important that he should have it. He should best opportunity the Government ever had of have enough money to enable him to ring encouraging increased returns for the State. bark, sucker, and lay down the country with In addition, it must be admitted that the grass. It is necessary to lay this country quicker these settlers on the land can get to down with grass, otherwise it is a long pro work the_ better the prospects for the complete cess to wait for weeds, small saltbush, or reclamation of the land from the prickly natural grass to grow of their own accord. pear, even though they may not put it under It is much better to sow the grass and get cultivation or improve its carrying capacity. a return as soon as possible. 'rherefore, the There is another matter in the report that department should concentrate upon making I should like to mention, but I am not going available the maximum amount of money as to say that it arises because the requisite quickly as possible, either by co-operating amount of money was not made available to with the Department of Labour and Industry in getting funds from the State development increase the productivity of the land. Climatic tax or by making it available from its own conditions have had a bearing on the resources. subject, as is pointed out in the report. It is mentioned that the extreme heat has Instead of paying money fTOm increased retarded the propagation of the cactoblastis, rents and increased forestry sales and that which might have increased more rapidly sort of thing into consolidated revenue, it with cooler weather or in a rainy season. should set it aside to provide cheaper money However, it is rather disturbing to read for this work. It would he an investment in the report that there are still Ja'rgo areas that would return one hundred-fold to the of land infested with prickly-pear, some of State, whereas the longer it is left and the which has reached the fruiting stage. Those greater the infestation the more difficult it of us YYho have had experience with prickly will be for settlers. The longer the work is pear know how difficult it is to deal with delayed the greater the difficulties will be. it when it reaches the fruiting stage, and Anyone who has had to do with prickly-pear the seeds are scattered widely by birds and knows just what it means, and what an animals of all descriptions and clean areas enormous amount of re.-enue has to be are re-infested. 'The crows are the worst expended before he gets any return at all. offenders, although magpies are very bad, too, be_cause they eat the fruit, fly long distances, The big factor is: How long will the cacto alight on trees and s0atter their droppings blastis be an effective agent~ That no-one over clean areas. It will be admitted that knows. In other parts of the worId the the cactoblastis did a marvellous work in effectiveness of the cactoblastis insect has Queensland in helping to destroy the prickly reached a stage where there is a sort of pear. I suppose it is one of the few instances balance. The cacto blastis has destroyed so in the world in which plant eradication has much of the pear, and the pear, by means of gone on continuously to a successful con protective agencies, has grown so much as to clusion. Usually, where biological means are strike a balance. In this State, under our employed to eradicate vegetable pests, the climatic conditions, the cactoblastis is in the plants sought to be destroyed develop a pro ascendancy. How long that will remain so tective quality, just as the prickly-pear did we do not know, but we hope it will be for when attempts were made to poison it >Yith all time. Time alone will tell, but it is for arsenic pentoxide. The pear used to develop us to take the greatest advantage of the an encrustment on the leaves, and although splendid work done by this insect by provid they appeared to be dead the tissue would ing the greatest amount of money possible crack, new sprouts would develop, and the pear to bring the country into development at would grow again. The destruction of the once rather than permit the pear to get a pear by the ea cto blastis is one of the few hold again and reach the fruiting stage, as instances in which the balance of nature YYas stated in the departmental report. destroyed by biological means, but it is certainly disturbing to read that re-infesta The hon. member for Maranoa has said tion is likely to take place. that the tiger pear growing at Nindigully was being effectively checked by means of The quicker the land is brought under the cacto blast is and cochineal insects. The production after the cactoblastis has done its country in that district is not of very good work the better it will be for the State, and quality, in fact some of it is very poor. the easier the job for the new settler. He Therefore, immediately the pear is destroyed is unable to ringbark the country while it on that land our business is to get it into a Supply. [31 OcTOBER.] Supply. 1079 condition to carry stock as quickly as pos depends upon the primary industries for its sible, otherwise it will become reinfested and prosperity. the expenditure of a great deal of mon~y in reclearing ·it will become such a burden as Mr. Macdonald interjected. not to make the work worth while. lUr. COLLINS: In the report of the department I notice an amount of £688,904 I am distressed to find that the falling off has been spent under the rural development in the provision of money for rural develop loan scheme. That is a very large amount. ment has reached the stage it has. I should The following amounts were granted under prefer to see an ascending ratio instead of a descending one. Instead of that expenditure the different headings- decreasing from £190,000 to £14 000 I £ should like to see a movement in the other Ringbarking and suckering 371,454 direction, particularly in view of the amount Scru bf a !ling 8 7, 7 54 of unemployment relief and State develop Clearing, stumping, and ment taxes that have been available. It grubbing 40,919 would have been perfectly competent for the Fencing 75,450 Govemment to adopt a policy of obtaining \Vater improYements 100,083 the greatest possible return for the expelidi Other improvements 6,569 ture of those taxes by providing 10 times the amount of money they have done to enable That money has been wisely spent, and it this developmentai work to be carried out. has done much for employment. It is not This money would pay for work that would suggested that this is one of the best ways be done, not by machinery but by human the State can spend its Loan Funds for the hands, and would result in a tremendous purpose of relieving unemployment-other increase in productivity and an increase in sclHJmes give more immediate relief in that our _land_ returns. It would also create -pro respect-but the increase in the productivity spenty 111 the country towns around which in the land that will result from that expen the money was spent. Yet we find that the diture will continue for all time. I cannot advice tendere·d in the reports received by see how money can be more wisely spent the departme~t is ignored, and they are for the purpose of relieving unemployment, apparen~ly. p1geonholed as not being of both in its primary and secondary stages. much s1gmficance. We are spending vast Primary relief is given when a man gets a amounts of . n;oney on all sorts of things, job to fence or fall scrub or ringbark or such as prov1~mg £80,000 to pay interest on conserve water, but the secondary and per the Story Bndgc-a_ sum that would bring manent relief comes when the production of 120,000 acres of th1s land into cultivation our wool increases and cattle-grazing, dairy or a state of production-land in all sorts of ing, and tobacco-growing develop, which directions that return nothing to the State give increased employment to large numbers yet in one avenue in which the State could of people. reap an enormous advantage expenditure has At the present time, the very serious con been cut down until to-·dav a miserable cern of those on the land in the southern £14,000 is being provided from Loan Fund portion of the State is the drought. I believe Account and nothing from consolidated that the wisest expenditure that can be con re;-enue or the State development tax. templated in the future is the making of I should like to know from the Minister irrigation plants available for people who later some particulars concerning the £25,327 have no facilities to irrigate certain areas that has been expended on reclamation work of their land in order that when rainfall fails at Sandgate. they may grow fodder under irrigation and store large quantities of it. If that is done (Time expired.) it iYill relieve this State of one of its biggest Clnses-the curse of drought. lUr. COLLINS (Cook) (11 a.m.): I con gmtulate the ::Yfinister on his elevation to the No tax falls so heavily on all the people high office he now holds. I feel sure that of the State as the tax of drought, yet no-one appears to take very much notice of it. It is il ith his thorough knowler1ge of land matters said that it is a calamity that we have to and agriculture and his business acumen he endure, and when it occurs we give relief to will be a very capable' Minister and will ably the people who are suffering from its ravages, fill the position. with the pious hope that it will not continue. I regard the Department of Public Lands That is not the right method of tackling the as one of the principal departments of State, problem. The time to tackle drought is not in a period of drought, but in periods of so far as the production of wealth and the good seasons, by planning ahead, as a welfare of our people are concerned. Every Governmc11t can, to off-set its terrible ravages. thing that can be done to develop our lands must receive the fullest consideration, not lUr. lllacdonald: What have you spent only by the Minister-and I know he will now~ give it the fullest consideration-but also by lUr. COLI,I:XS: We have spent here no the Go;-ernmcnt. No Government in a State less than £688,904 in amelioration and in like Queensland can afford to neglect the develop~nen~ of land. As I have already development of its land, because the land is stated, 1t mll afford a great measure of relief ehief amongst the national assets. All pri to these people. mary industries naturally depend upon the deYelopment of the land, and the State ~Ir. Macdonald again interjected. 1080 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
lUr. ~OLLINS: I am making this speech, lUr. COLLINS: That is one market. M_r. Km~, not ~he hon. mem?er for Stanley. Does the hon. member know where our His persistent mane suggestiOns are discon market for tobacco is~ If he does not know certing. then I shall spend half an hour educating With irrigation, much can be done in the him on that subject at a later stage. In far West, where most sheepowners have that area there is a good deal of excellent access to some of our principal rivers-the dairying land, and for the benefit of the Warrego, the Maranoa, the Thomson, the Dia hon. member for Stanley, I say that we can mantina, the Georgina, and the Flinders. sell good butter, both in this country and All these rivers are available for the storing overseas. The more we can sell, the better of water and irrigating the land. This would it will be for Australia. The lands to which provide a large source of fodder in such I refer are rich agricultural lands enjoying places if the settlers would only take the good rainfall. I suggest that a complete trouble to use the opportunity. survey of their possibilities be made, especially of the areas on Bailey Creek, The scheme proposed by Dr. Bradfield and Roaring Meg River, the Bloomfield River, and commented on by hon. members of this Com the Laura River. Such a survey would be of mittee in eaTlier debates is worth investi extreme value to the department, because I gating. I do not suggest that it can be put believe those lands have great possibilities. into operation immediately, but there must be some form of long-range planning, so that In the area on the Laura River, in the flood waters that ordinarily run to particular, there is a vast amount of good waste can be conserved and the irreparable tobacco land, and tobacco is a crop that is losses of drought may be prevented. Drought gradually coming into its own in Queensland. has been responsible for the loss of There we have land that is capable of 28,000,000 sheep in Queensland in 10 years. growing at least the best tobacco that we This loss does not fall only on the stock know in Australia, and there is an increasing o:vner, altho~1gh certainly it falls most demand for tobacco in this country, but, duectly on lnm. He is the initial sufferer, unfortunately, we see increasing quantities but all the people of the State lose eventu of this product imported each year. We ally. If we can afford to lose all that stock haYe land that is capable of producing this which represents much money-I should not commodity lying idle, and we have men out assess the value of those sheep at under of employment who are capable of growing £28,000,000-should we not take time by the tobacco. As tobacco can be produced during forelock and sp~n~ £28,000,000 on a complete the slack sugar seasons in the North-sugar, survey of the unga tion possibilities and in the main product of the North, gives putting the resulting recommendations into employment from July to November-I sug effect~ "\V e should not suffer these recurring gest that there are wonderful possibilities for the development of the tobacco industry losses1 but sho_uld permanently increase the carrymg capacity of the lands of our State. and the employment of our seasonal workers As. we ~ncrease ~ivestock we increase industry, in the slack season. The tobacco crop can ;;vhiCh, m. turn, mcreases population. If there be cleaned up completely between the months IS anytlung that lends itself to long-range of November and June. There could be no and orderly planning, it is the correct con more ideal way of utilising labour that would servation of water. otherwise be unemployed during those months than to develop tobacco production. I feel sme that as time goes on a far greater sum than we have ever contemplated 'There, again, funds could be set aside for in the past will be spent in that direction. irrigation purposes, not necessarily for grow There appear to be many possible avenues. ing the entire crop, but for watering seed There is no necessity to launch a huge beds and the plants in the field until they £30,000,000 scheme. The scheme can be are established. Once established they will begun by first damming the smaller creeks be all right until the wet season begins. and continued by damming the larger rivers, Should the season fail the power could fall providing money to enable settlers to buy back on irrigation, because tobacco, like plant, encouraging them in water conserva many other crops, has to be quickly and tion, and providing them with the requisite continuously grown. It must not suffer a knowledge for the correct utilisation of water. setback. To keep it growing continually If that is clone well and on a scale large there is no better way than to use irrigation. enough, there will be a new era of develop With the development of this land must ment in the State of Queensland. necessarily go hand in hand the construction "\Vhen land is opened for selection I should of roads. The Public Estate Improve like to see more attention given to the ment Branch of the department ·did good development of that fairly rich area between work in road construction during last year. Cairns and Cooktown, in which there is a That branch has excelled itself in the build great deal of country that is entirely ing of good roads to these new settlements. undeveloped. It is rich agricultural land and :Much unskilled labour has been used, work enjoys a good regular rainfall. and wages have been provided, the land has been opened and developed, and production Mr. 1\'Iacdonald: Where are your is taking place to meet the continual demands markets~ for our products in the cities and towns as JUr. COJ,LINS: Does the hon. member well as in countries abroad. know where the market for butter is~ One can see a fine example of what can lUr. }Iacdonald: Yes. be clone by irrigation in the growing of Supply. [31 OcTOBER.] Supply. 1081
tobacco round Mareeba, where irrigation has example of the late Minister, who was always proved very successful and excellent crops sympathetically disposed towards the man are being grown under it. I want to who was struggling on the land. He never compliment the department on the survey failed to come to his assistance, and I have that is being made of that area at the present no doubt that the present Minister will be time with a view to extending irrigation in as sympathetic with the man on the land order to use up water that otherwise goes and as magnanimous in his treatment of him. to waste, in addition to increasing the pro ductivity of the land. I commend these few suggestions to the ~Iinister for his consideration in the hope The Public Estate Improvement work in that they will be of benefit to the State, building roads in North Queensland has done especially the North. It is essential that the much for the advancement of that area. I North should be fully developed, not only do not know to what extent its operations with the object of winning greater wealth have been extended to other districts, but from the soil, but also for the purpose of I can speak particularly of my own electorate. populating the land and there by establishing The work accomplished by this branch has our first line of defence. If we will not been excellent and the means of rendering develop the land we have little justification valuable assistance to our primary producers. in asking other nations to stand aside until I refer particularly to such places as Kuranda we make up our minds to do it. Queensland and Julatten and the roads made into the is not far removed from the East with its forestry areas where settlers have had no teeming millions seeking an outlet, and so means of outlet for many years. They the devclopmen t of the North is also a certainly had a rail service, but the train national policy, one that concerns the Federal went out only once a week and such a service Government, too, and just as the people have could hardly be said to be of much use. I helped to develop the sugar industry in the commend the continuation of this fine work interests of defence, the Federal Government to the Minister, because there is land avail should encourage the development of other able for selection and until suitable roads industries for the same purpose. A complete are provided we cannot expect settlers to survey should be made of all the land, suit go there. They want roads leading to towns able roads should be constructed, and the where they can do their shopping and enjoy people helped to develop the areas. That amusements and other amenities of life would lead to considerably increased returns available to city people. Present-day settlers to the State, and redound to the credit of are not willing to settle on the land under the Government responsible for it. the same conditions as our early settlers 30 or 40 years ago. We have no right to ask lllr. IIIACDONALD (Stanley) (11.24 them to do so. We say we have made pro a.m.) : First of all, I should like to con gress and the man on the land is entitled gratulate the Minister upon being elevated to to the fruits of that progress just as much the office of Secretarv for Public Lands. as his fellow in the city, although perhaps I think that it was a '~ise choice, because he he cannot enjoy the benefits city people can lJTings to the department useful knowledge, obtain so cheaply and so easily. ·with roads not arademic knowledge but knowledge and irrigation, however, his conditions can gained in the school of hard experience, not be vastly improved in comparison with those in one small parochial area, but throughout of the early pioneers. the State. I am perfectly certain that in his Reforestation I propose to speak on later. political life he will do justice to all con At this stage I content myself by commend cerned. ing the department for spending money on The Secretary for Public Lands: Party rural development, and saying that I should politics will not prevent my doing justice in like to see a greater sum spcn t on it in the the department. future. I agree with many of the comments made by the hon. member for Aubigny this llh'. MACDONALD: I am sure the mmning about land development, because I :\rinistcr will c1o justice in the administration think it is one of the most valuable projects of his policy. this Government have embarked upon. I should like to correct the impression I do not think that we have yet exploited sought to be conveyed by the hon. member our natural wealth to a very large extent. for Cook, that during the 12 months the Indeed, I· think we have only scratched the Government spent upwards of £600,000 from surface, and that as time goes on we shall Loan Funds through this department for the be able to do much more. development of the State. The department has also given s:·mpa thetic At 11.25 a.m., treatment to Crown lessees, those who were :\Ir. BRASSINGTON (Fortitude V alley), not willing to spend much money on improv one of the panel of Temporary Chairmen, ing their land when their leases were falling re licvec1 the Chnirman in the chair. in. However, the la.te Minister offered them concessions by way of reduced rent or an Jir. lUACDONALn: That impression is extension of lease, provided they carried out utteTly wrong. This £688,000 was spent certain improvements, and this policy has had during a period of 10 years. Of that amount very beneficial results, because it has led approximately 33,t per cent. was spent at 3 to the development of the country and an per cent. by the Deputy Leader of the Oppo increased return to the S"tate. The present sition in his tenure of office. 8o successful Minister would do well to follow that excellent has this expenditure been that up to 31 1082 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
May of this year the repayments of principal Opposition quoted the reason why the numbers totalled £149,300 and of interest £98 984. of sheep and cattle in the State have been That is a magnificent achievement. ' maintained and increased. The high carry Before I proceed any further I should ing capacity of the reclaimed prickly-pear like a little information from th~ Minister. lands is one reason for our apparent pros I refer to the item on page 6 of the perity in the grazing areas. The increase in departmental report under the heading of our beef and wool is due to the improvement ''Stud Cattle Holdings.'' If the figures there in the quality of our cattle and om sheep, not are correct, then I should like to buy the to the fact that the fertility of our land is cows that produced those bulls. Here we still being maintained. Any hon. member who has any knowledge of Western areas will have the number of stud cows stated as 450 but the number of stud bulls sold from realise that those lands are rapidly depreci thos~ ating. co.ws :•as 826. Later on I hope the Minister wrll grve an explanation. I never heard of I\Ir. JUoore: And coast areas, too. such fecundity. I only wish that I had those cows myself. Perhaps the greatest Mr. I\IACnO~ALD: And coast areas, task would be fo~ the officer in charge of too, but not quite to the same extent. In the Herd Book Socrety to· trace out the births the coast areas one can stand on a hillside of these bulls. and look across the valley and pick out the camping places of the cattle, but in the Irrigation was mentioned by the hon. '\Vostern areas, where there is a low rainfall, member for Cook somewhat loosely but there all that remains is the dung pads; these never is one phase of this work that ~pparently become incorporated with the soil; they never has not appealed to the Government. It has add to the fertility of the soil; they just not occurred to them that in weiring rivers dry up and are blown off by the winds. It and other streams they are interfering with is the same with the grazing areas. Owing to the free passage of fish, and consequently the succession of bad seasons our grasses and upsetting the balance of nature. I could acacias have been killed. Because of increased not give a better illustration of this than rent, increased wages, increased freights, what happened in the Brisbane River owing people run more cattle and sheep on the to the erection of the weir at Mount Crosby. country than can be carried with safety; Ever since that weir was erecte-d mullet and consequently the young scrubs are killed out garfish have not been able to get access to and there is no regeneration. Take boree, the river when coming back from the sea. gidyea, and mulga. No-one knows better Th~ consequence i~ that during the many than the Acting Attorney-General, who has perrods of low rarnfalls the river becomes travelled from Kyabra through the yapunyah nothing less than a mass of weed. In and gidyea country to Quilpie, that that normal times mullet live on the weed in the country is fast deteriorating. Anyone with river; that is their grazing. Since the half an eye can see it. mullet have disappeared from the river this I admit that the Mitchell grass problem is weed affords an excellent cover for leeches a very serious one. I know areas where which attack dairy cattle, getting into thei~ Mitchell grass has disappeared after a mamillary stream, and causing much economic drought. On one holding there were two loss to the owners. The Government should paddocks side by side-one was a spelled make it compu.lsory, whenever any stream is paddock, and that one has not been regener dam~ed or werred, that a by-pass should be ated with Mitchell grass, but in the other, provrded for the fish. Last year the Trea that was heavily stocked, the Mitchel! grass surer caused some netting to 'be done below has come up again. The problem is worthy the Mount Crosby weir, and transported of the attention of the Secretary for Public mullet in tanks of water and released them Lands. above the weir. They are 'now thrivinO' in that part ?f the river, which shows con~lusively I take it the department is not a charit that rt was the erection of this barrier at able institution or a philanthropic organisa Mount Crosby that had prevented them from tion. making t~e~r way up the river. This may seem. a trrvral matter to people in the cities The Secretary for Public Lands: You ?ut rt looms very large in the Iives of peopl~ differ from some members of your party who rn the country. spoke previously. I hope the Minister-and his department I\Ir. :llACDONALD: I read in iast year's is responsible for this-will take action to see departmental report a statement by Mr. Inigo that b~'-passes are made where any river is .J ones, and I addressed a question to the late weired. Mr. Pease asking him whether Mr . .Tones was in receipt of any remuneration from the I agree with other people in the community Government. I was told that he got £200 per that this is the most important vote in the annum. For the life of me I cannot see that Estimates. The greatest asset we have in the State is getting anything for that. In this State is our grazing areas. Most of us, that report he states- either directly or indirectly, gain a living from the land. The chief thing that is '' I send a copy of the paper that was severely criticised at Canberra as mentioned troubling the minds of those associated with the land is that this country is depreciating in last year's report.'' -that we have not the same carrying capacity I have read the report of the congress at as we had. The· Deputy Leader of the Canberra. It was a meeting of scientists Supply. [31 OcTOBER.] Supply. 1083 and several people read papers. This Mr. lUr. CLAYTON: I agree that we should J ones, to whom the Government are paying store it up, but we must not overlook the £200 a year-I undeTStand they are also pro fact that some farms have been completely viding him with an assistant-was listed to burnt out whilst on others there is absolutely read a paper. He had no sooner begun to no nourishment in the grass. I should like do so than it was moved ''That he be no hon. members to endeavour to visualise the longer heard' '-that it was absolute tosh and enormous quantity of fodder that would be piffle. If the £200 that is spent in this direc needed to keep 80 head of dairy stock alive tion, which is of no use whatever to this for six months. Those men who did conserve country, was advanced f(ir ringbarking or fodder have fed it all to their stock by now, some purpose of that kind it would be repro and they are unable to buy any more. The ductive. I regard that payment as being an drought has lasted longer than anyone absolute waste of money. I will enlarge on expected. the point at a later stage. 'rhe other .(lay a Bill was passed through Jir. CLAYTON (Wide Bay) (11.37 a.m.): this PaTliament under which £60,000 was I am hopeful that the recently appointed made available by the Commonwealth Govern ment for the relief of drought-stricken Secretary for Public Lands will carry out his farmers, but the only relief this Government duties in a manner that \vill be to the propose to give is a reduction in freight for advantage of Queensland, and that he will the carriage of fodder for stan·ing stock. give the san1e consideration to Opposition Even at this late stage the Secretary for and Government members alike. If he does Public Lands should see to it that something I am sure he will give satisfaction to all. ' is done to give some aid to the farmers . . The establishment of the Land Administra The Secretary for Public Lands: Do you tion Board to contro! a_ll m_atters dealing with not know that the Department of Public land, forestry, and nngatron was a move in Lands does not administer that fund? the right direction. The three members of that board are working in the interests of lUr. CLAYTON: I know that, but I t~e State and I appreciate the attention they should think that the ::\finister, who must grve any matters that I have placed before Tealise the seriousness of the position, would them. be the first to impress upon Cabinet the urgent need for doing more than is being It is regrettable that the condition of our done at present. Men aTe leaving the land country is such as it is at present owing to to-day and coming in to the cities. I know drought. I do not blame the Government for that a certain number have been doing this that. The man on the land will have to deal with nature or nature will deal with the man all along because of high taxation, both on on the lall(1. incomes and properties, but those who are sticking to the land and endeavouring to I\Ir. Jesson: It is due to the unsuitable fight this disastrous drought are to be location of some farms. admired. Certainly they are deserving of the greatest possible help from the Govern 1\Ir. CLAY'l'ON: The hon. member knows ment. The owners of share farms are in an something about them in his own eleetorate. awkward position in that so soon as difficult This drought is a very serious one and the times overtake primary pToducers the share State will lose much revenue because of it. farmer gives notice and takes his wife and The Treasurer estiinatcs that he would have children into the city, where he has a chance a surplus at the end of the financial year, of finding employment. but I do not think he took into consideration, or that any of us gave due thought of the In the Wide Bay district we have certain seriousness of this drought in Southern aTcas that have been looked upon in the past Queensl::md. Farmers "·ho have invested their as relief lands in dry times. In the past all on the land and have been working for there has been enough rain each year to keep years are seeing the savings of a lifetime those lands in such a state as to render them disappearing. In all parts of the State cattle capable of Telieving drought-stricken areas, ar:e dying and when rain (1oes occur dairymen hut this yeaT no rain has fallen on these >~·:n find that the cattle are so weak that they relief areas, with the result that as relief wrll not be able to produce very much for country that land is now useless. some time to come. T do not know whether the Secretary for \Ve hear Government members who have Public. Lands holds a leasehold or freehold not had any experience on the land saying tenure. that farmers and graziers should conserve Lands: It is fodder. I admit that the farmers have oppor The Secretary for Public tPnities at times to conserve a certain amount free hoW. of fodder, but an enormous amount would Jir. CLAYTON: Then the Minister does have been required to be conserved in order not agree with the Government's policy of to tide our stock over the present long leasehold. drought. Our trouble is accentuated by the fact that at present we cannot buy the fodder :IUr. Jesson: He probably could not get necessary to keep alive what few stock we any other. have. 1\ir. CLAYTON: He could convert it to Mr. CoUins: That is all the more reason leasehold if he wanted to and if he wanted vvhy you should store it up. to abide by the aims and objects of the 1084 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
Labour Party. I am 1Yilling to allow the O]Jera tions are being carried out on this tenure to be optional; that is the policy of area as speedily as possible. the Country Party. During the term of the JYioore GoYernmeut we allowed conyersions, '' Ap]Jroximately 200,000 superficial feet and 6,344 Crown tenants converted from of timber remains to be marketed and, perpetual leasehold to freehold. In all subject to favourable weather conditions 1,825,960 acres of perpetual leasehold land continuh1g, it is anticipated this timber were com·ertcd into freehold. I repeat that will be marketed in about six months' we should allow the man on the land to do time.'' what he likes in that respect. I hope the :Minister will give consideration to the question of making this land available Why have the Federal lUr. Collins: for settlement, because it is adjacent to a Goyernment refused to give freehold tenure~ closely-settled area and it would provide a ~Ir. CLAYTON: I am dealing with the few iarms for the young men who are anxious State GoYernment at present. VVhcn they to engage in agriculture there. The sub put their house in order they can ask the department has no objection, and I trust that Federal Government to do the same. the ~Iinister will have the rest of the timber remoYed so that the land will be made avail The question of noxious weeds is agitating able for settlement in the very near future. the minds of people on the land. Under the Local GoYernment Act local authorities can lUr. RUSSELL (Hamilton) (11.51 a.m.): compel a farmer to clear his land of noxious I am interested mostly in the report of the weeds. Let us look at what happens to the department dealing with forestry operations. farmer iYho has to contend with the seeds The Sub-Department of Forestry is a very of weeds from a block of Crown land valuable one in that it is responsible for the upstream from his holding. I should like employment of a very large number of men the Minister to tell me how much the depart· in various operations-falling, hauling, saw ment has spent in the clearing of noxious milling, &c. It is my anxiety that the sub weeds from Crown lands situated upstream department should proceed in the future as from farmers' holdings along our rivers and it has in the past in regard to the employ creeks. When there is a heavy fall of rain ment of labour, because it is a splendid means and the creek or river, is in flood the seeds for absorbing many thousands of our citizens of weeds and other noxious plants are washed into useful occupations. off the Crown land on to the holdings of farmers. These Crown land areas might be The last report of the sub-department, to referred to as harbours for the production my way of thinking, is a very gloomy one, of N oogoora burr and other noxious weeds. indeed. It is stated that the normal importa The Crown seems to be doing nothing but tions of softwoods into Australia run into is calling upon local authorities to 'force something like 300,000,000 to 400,000,000 settlers to clear their land of them. I trust superficial feet per annum, but owing to the something will be done by the Government 11ar many sources of supply have been cut to bring a bout a measure of relief to those off. The main source of overseas supply men who are forced to do that work. would be Canada, but owing to the scarcity of tonnage the high prices ruling for lumber, I should like to refer also to timber the enormous increase in freight, insurance, reserve No. 74 in the Goomeri district. It and similar charges, the price of the imported is adjacent to several farms and has canied timber has increased to a very alarming a good deal of small pine and a certain extent, and in our desire to make Australia amount of hardwood, but has been the breed as self-supporting as possible, Queensland, ing ground for marsupial pests. The Sub which has the biggest supply of sofhvoods in Department of Forestry has stated that it Australia, has been asked to supply as much has no desire to retain this reserve and will softwoods as possible to meet Australia's hand it over to the Department of Public h·equirements. We know that a considerable Lands to open for selection as soon as it trade is now going on between Queensland has cleared the timber from the reserve. and the Southern States in pine, plywood, and butter-box shooks. It is noteworthy that, JUr. Jesson: Wallabies? while years ago there was a strong prejudice lUr. CLAYTON: All sorts of marsupial in the Southern States against the use of pests. Queensland hoop pine for the manufacture of butter boxes, to-day all the States are very Tl1e Acting Attorney-General: What, eager, indeed, to get supplies of this hoop take the timber off and give the wallabies pine for butter boxes. to the State~ It is T\ orthy of note that this timber is JUr. CLAYTON: On 12 April last I made now cut fTOm wliat is known as the top logs representations to the sub-department and -the logs with the knots in-and not from inquired >vhen the timber would be remoYec1. first-class logs. \Ve have proved conclusively, I have since received the following letter despite the prejudiced opposition in the from the Director of Forests:- Southern States to the use of this timber, that the industry is glad to get supplies of ''Referring to your personal representa butter boxes from this State. tions of the 28th instant regardin" open The Secretary for Public Lands: A pre ing to selection of Timber Rese~ve 74, judice 'that was largely fomented by the Nangur, I have to advise that logging Opposition. Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1085
3fr. RUS§ELL: I do not think that the remember years ago how difficult it >vas to :\Iinister is correct in making such a statc•• sell such scrub timbers as crowsfoot elm, ment. \Ye \YCre strong ru],·oultes of the use ash, and water gum. of Queensland timber for butter-box pnr pooC'. I do not know of a single hon. member At 12 noon, on this side of the Committee >Yho deprecated The CHAIR:\IAN resumed the chair. the u'l' of Queensland timber in the butter box trade. lUr. RL'SSELL: To-day there is a· ready market for those timbers for plywood, and The Secretary for Public Lands: Do you a very large trade has been built up with the know the hemlock story? 1;nited Kingdom, 11·here plywood is used for huts for soldiers and for repair work in the ~Ir. RCSSELL: I know all about it. areas devastated by bombing raids. A large have always been a strong ach·ocate of the market has been fonn·d in India and the East use of Queensland timber in the manufac Tndies for boards for chests for the packing ture of butter boxes. Some years ago I of rubber and tea. That is a useful trade, personally visited the Southern States to and I hope it will continue. \Ye have large induce exporters to use butter boxes made in supplie' in Queensland of native scrub woods, Queen .land, not from top logs but from ''A ' ' alHl there is no fear at the present time of class logs. I >Yas complimentecl in various thPir extinction; consequently, that trade is quartn-s by the users on the fact that the one that we value very much. Queensland butter box was the best box they had ever used. \Ye have now demonstrated I am very much concerned at the gradual that this timber is eminently suite-d for the extinction of our softwoods in Queensland, manufacture of butter boxes. bec'luse in the past. we have not devoted With this tremendous drain on our sufficient attention to the reforestation of this timber. The time is not far distant resources in the way of export snwn timber, when we may be forced to import softwoods ply,Yood and butter-box timber, we are into this countrv for commercial use. The making ver:v serious inroads on our Queens only remedy, a"s far as I can see, is to land supplies. 'The Sub-Department of rec1ouble our efforts to make good the Forestry declares that the Yirgin stands of deficiency in softwoods. hoop, bunya, and kauri pine arc rapidly dis appearing. In fact, to use its own words The report states that while last year was in the annual report for the year 1939-40- a record year for replanting we are a long '' The virgin stands of hoop, bunya, and way behind the objective of 100,000 acres of kauri pine are rapidly disappearing. plantations. Lip to the present we have Before the outbreak of war the question replanted roughly 26,000 acres, and 100,000 of reducing the cut of these species \Yith acres is set out as an absolute minimum that a vie1Y to extending the supply for ;ertain would be requiTed for Queensland's needs. specinl purposes, >Yas under consideration. rf trade with the Southern States is to con tinue-and we hope that it does-100,000 On the outbreak of 11 ar, howeYer it 1Hts acres will be absolutely insufficient. It will decided not only to postpone sue]; action, require something like 300,000 acres of planta but. also to .increase softwood output tions to maintain the tmcle in softwoods in d~nng the l?enod of ~ational emergency, Queensland and the other States. That is the w1th the ob.]ect of ass1sting in supplying objective we should set ourselves to at once. the softwood deficiency in other States, After the war, I haYe no doubt our1 economic due to nnticipated serious reductions in policy will provide that as far as possible softwood imports.'' Australia must make herself self-suppDTting It seems to me that the end of our softwood in those lines that are (;Ssential for com supply is not far off, because the figures mercial use, so that >ve· 1Yill be less dependent will show that our annual replanting wil1 on oversea sources for the supply of this not be able to make up the lag betY
setback that will mean the throwing out of clip would be withheld for a period of eight employment of many thousands of decent months, the president of the Queensland citizens. Country Party (Mr. J. Leahy) said on Tuesday that the results of the wool lUr. BEDFORD (Warrego) (12.13 p.m.): appmis.oment scheme were harsh and unjust Yesterday the hon. member for Cunningham to growers. made some wild remarks to the effect that I had no sympathy with the man on the lancl. ''The present limits laid down in the I have every sympathy with the man on the scheme were too low and the average price land, but very little with the man who will of the catalogue in question was 1l.r4 cl. not attempt to dig himself out of his own a lb., compared with the average of 13.437d. trouble, not by going for reductions in the to be paid under the British purchase wages of the people who take the wool off agreement, he said. With the retention of the sheep's back an cl who help in the general 10 per cent. from the appmised price and dec•Plopment of the country, but by taking with warehouse charges, the grower would action against all the passengers who loaf on receive only 10.476d. or almost 3d. a lb. the industry, all tho foreign brokerage firms below the average price to be paid by the with Australian names who charge heavily, British Government. against all the interest-mongers who make ''Mr. Leahy said that from a Brisbane the producer carry tremendous burdens of broker's report of an appraisement of a debt, and against all the oversea parasites large catalogue of Queensland wool, which who take toll on everything that the was finally appraised on 23 October, the Australian producer does. I have very little position worked out as follows:- sympathy with the man who will not attempt to rid himself of all those things. Agreed fixed average price, 13.437d. a lb. It ·will be remembered that when objection Appraised price on catalogue in ques was made during the last war by the tion, 11.64d. Australian miners to the fact that molybdenite was being sold for £625 a ton, while the Retention of 10 per cent., 1.164d. Canadians were getting £1,250 a ton for the Immediate payment to grower, less same product, there were those who said that warehouse charges, 10.476d. any such objection was disloyal. I am very Total amount withheld, 2.961d. disloyal to Bradford and 2\fanchester-to Percentage retained from total agreed BradfOTd, which gets Australian wool at price, 22.039d. per cent.'' 1 3td. sterling, which is 10d. in Australia-- The bother is that the Australian wool indus JUr. J.Uacdonald: The other way about. try is beginning to be more and more con trolled by the foreign financial companies. lUr. BEDFORD: Yes, if a man gets 13~d. sterling it becomes a little bit more out here. The Australian MeTcantile Land and Finance The hon. member is correct. In the matter of Company Limited is Australian only in name. exch~ngc, let us see \Yhere the exchange goes Then there is the New Zealand Loan and to. The banks say they get only ] Os. per Mercantile Agency Company, Australasian in cent. f0r making the necessary transfers, but name only. Then there is Golclsbrough who gets the rest~ It is easy to see. The Mort, ·which is largely Bradford, altho~gh exporter to Australia gets it out of the Aus at one time it was mostly Austrahan. tralian consumer. The man who buvs wool in 'Whereas under Bawra the Australian \Yool Australia and pays for it in London gets it growor got half the profit on the agre~d out of the Australian seller. I have been price when the wool was actually sold, m trying for many years to get the Federal many cases now he is not getting that, Government to insist that on all wool sold because there is no resale of the raw ·wool. in Australia, Australian credits should be first It is being taken off the market by manufac provided, so that the Australian can be in ture and some of it goes to the United States an immeasurably better position than when of America. In all cases preceding that ship he buys tin or rubber in Malaya, for instance. ment the wool tha:t was sold here was sold Although it is shipped direct to Australia, in the belief that the Australian woolgrower the Australian cannot pay for it in Australia. would get half the extra profit of resales, His money must go through the clearing but that profit has disappeared because houses of London so that the monetary the woolgrower was paid 13td. sterling, and houses get the benefit. Why should there be it was sold as tops for about 6s. gold. . In this disadvantage~ Is the Australian pound these circumstances it is rather a fine tlnng really less stable than British sterling~ It to be disloyal to the hucksters of Bradford is not. In the case of the richest wool cus and disloyal to Lancashire and other places, tomer in the world-the United States of which, on finding that even during thrs war America-we have been chopped out of it Australia was getting ahead in the \Vay of largely by the difference between sterling and establishing new industries, made necessary American gold. by the \Yar-and on such a .scale that ~hey The general objection to this one-sided would never go out of exrstence agam arrangemC'nt is stated by Mr. Leahy, the statecl their objections in these words- leader of the Country Party in Queensland, '' The ultimate effects of the wartime who said it was harsh and unjust. I quote co-ordination of industrial effort within him- the Empire are being anxiously studied '' Claiming that on one catalogue 22.039 by United Kingdom manufacturers, who per cent. of the total value of the growers' fear that the Empire's capacity to absorb 1088 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
British manufactures may be seriously permitted to acquire when she cannot impaired after the war by the accelera ballot? One other joke in the Act-any tion of the development of the secondary person can hold three or more selections industries in Australia, New Zealand, and (providing they do not exceed an area of South Africa.'' 30,000 in the one land agent's district, It is utterly impossible that this country or 60,000 acres in Queensland, if the total will go back to pre-war conditions. Every rental paid does not exceed £400 per body knows the general objection of the annum). Each or any one of the selections importer to the establishment of the New may warrant a good living being made castle Steel Works, which was the one thing therefrom, but as he is entitled to section that saved Australia and enabled us, during 72 of the Land Act, he can get the whole the last war, to ship munitions, munition of the areas :for a :further period of 28 steel, and railroad iron to France for the years. In a case, where a selector has more prosecution of the war. than one area why not amalgamate the whole-the periods could be brought into At 12.23 p.m., conformity-and the lessee then granted Mr. DUNSTAN (Gympie), one of the panel section 72 over any area he desired after of Temporary Chairmen, relieved the Chairman survey.'' in the chair. The main thing I wish to point out here is the :fad that people can overlap in Queens ~Ir. BEDFORD: Had the old importing land :from New South Wales, holding big gang had a chance there would have been areas in New s·outh Wales and being per no steel works in Australia to-day, and we mitted to acquire, probably just on the other can visualise after the war a tremendous side of the river, other areas in Queensland, increase in Australi~'s secondary industries, and thus keeping the genuine selector off because the war will so establish them that the land. none of this jabber of disloyalty can put them out of action again. Here is another letter which states- The policy of the Labour Party in matters '' F. 0. T'urner is a part owner in vVyaga connected with woolgrowing is that of closer Station, containing an area of over settlement, but there should be closer safe 140,000 acres. He, one son, a daughter, guards in connection with the misuse of the and a man named Munro are in the partner lands of the State by pastoralists of the ship; one other son of Turner's holds over old Kidman type, who ran them down almost 30,000 acres. He is on his own, and works to ruin, allowing them virtually to fall into his holding for his own use. In the case disuse, dams silted up, scarcely a hoof on of the partnership the position is F. C. the place, and then approached the GoYern Turner resides at vVyaga. The son has ment for an extension of lease while the joined the Air Force (he never resided on smaller man was roaring for new country. the property), the daughter resides in Goondiwindi, distance over 40 miles, and There also seems to be a superstition of Mumo resides in New South vVales. One resi the Land Court that the small man, as a dence fulfils the condition for the >Yhole of selector, should pay more rent for almost 1\'yaga. Five years ago t>Yo areas of this precisely the same country as the big pas country, one containing an area of over toralist does, and in this connection, about J 8,000 aCTes and one of over 15,000 acres, the evasion of the limitation of acreage to was giYen to members of the company as a be held in Queensland, I have two letters. priority. They formerly held the same as The first says- n pear lease. Yet other lands in the '' There are thousands of acres of land locality were cut in areas of less than in this district, "·ith river or creek JO,OOO arres. In the past we hac1 commis· frontage, that could be utilised :for raising sioners 1vho IYere all whitehaired boys and of fat lambs, or flaxgrowing or even squatter's flunkeys. The result is that cotton-growing. It 1vould only' need the the land has gone back to the big holder. locking, or >Yeiring, of rivers, the cost Take a :few cases in this district. The won](! not be too great, and ample water Bailey family of Warrie at Nindigully. _,·onld be provided. The :family consists of two boys and two "For instance, any person cnn hold an girls. They hold 190,000 acres. Any area of 30,000 acrps of land as a grazing 20,000 acres of the holding could make a farm or grazing homestead in any one land clear profit of £] ,000 a year.'' agent's district; when he holds that area J\'Ir. ~Ioore: I should like to see him in the one lnnd agent's district, he is not try it. permitted to ballot for anv further lands in that particular district-but he can ~Ir. BEDFORD: I am not with you hold 100,000 acres of freehold land experts who according to your own state and go to the ballot-and his wife, ments have all gone broke on the land. if_ he be a married man, is not per ''Also Munro, who is a part owner of mrtted to l_Jallot for any lands carrying \Vyaga. He in person and in partnership ~ersona~ re~rdence, bnt after fiye years she, holds over 200,000 acres in Queensland, the wlfe, can acquire an area of land besides large interests in New South that she \Yas not permitted to ballot for \Vales." what a :farce-he cannot ballot, but she can acquire. A husband and wife should The writer mentions other cases, but I do be considered as one-why should she be not propose to go any further into it. Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1089
Let me get back to the original argument Mr. NIMMO: That is absurd. He has as to what constitutes settling men on the no hope of getting credit over there, except land, and what does not, and of telling him by sending goods over. whether he is wrong, what wrongs he is tolerating, and how he can be saved from The TEl'iiPORARY CHAIRlliAN: Order! them. For instance, it is utterly impossible I ask the hon. member to direct his remarks to lower taxation while the present financial to the vote.· arrangement continues, it is utterly impos Mr. NIJUl'iiO: I was replying to the hon. sible also to get any lower taxation while the member for Warrego. war is financed in the bad old way, but taxa tion could come down with a change of money Another matter the hon. member referred policy, especially ·when we know that of a to was Australian wool prices. Is the hon. total revenue of about £20,000,000 in Queens member trying to make out to the people in land more than one quarter is paid in interest, his electorate that they are getting too low a good deal of it overseas. a price for their wool~ Does he believe they have not been given a fair deal~ The hon. member for Cunningham rather hysterically put it yesterday that I was Mr. Bedford: Of course they have not. against the man on the land. I am not Jir. Nil'iiMO: Why did the South African against the man on the land; I am with him; Government, after remaining out of the I am only trying to help him get away from scheme for 12 months, almost beg to come the parasites who keep him poor. in on the same terms as Australia? It is a wonderful thing for the Australian wool lUr. NHIMO (Oxley) (12.30 p.m.): I grower to be able to sell his wool at all could not quite follow some of the argu to-day. As a matter of fact, we know arrange ments used by the hon. member who just ments haYe been made to st
valuable information previously included is run with galvanised burr-is fixed at 2d. an missing from the report. acre. The same rentals should be charged I feel bound to complain about the method for adjoining :properties, but, in this case, adopted by the department in the collection the man who 1s a wonderful asset to the ~f rents. During the past eight or nine years State has to pay 4-:\d. an acre, whereas his It has played almost the role of the Irish neighbour pays only 2c1. When this can landlord. It has endeavoured to wring the happen there mnst be something radically greatest possible amount of rental from the wrong with the administration of the lands man on the land. Some of the rentals are alto of the State. gether excessive. The principle adopted in The Secretary for Public Lands: Do you regard to selections in the country is wrong. think there should be uniformity in rentals 'I A young or an old man makes application in a ballot, because everybody else is applying, Mr. NIMlUO: No, but I do think there and eventually selects a piece of land. He should be stability: that the rentals should improves that land over a period of years. be fixed on carrying capacity-that is, on the He expends either his own or borrowed money \'alue of the land; and every possible encour to pnt a number of impro;-ements on his land, agement. should be given to the holder to but the Crown then determines the rental at improve his property. The rental, once fixed, a very much higher amount than the rental should not bo interfered with merely because at which he originally selected. the holder has improved his estate by his good management and energy. The Crown should The Secretary for Public Lands: Who not \Yant to wring the last halfpenny out of determines the rent~ the tenant in such cases. JUr. Bedford: The Land Court. lUr. Hilton: Fixed for what period? lUr. NHHIO: The Land Administration lUr. Nlli'IlUO: That is a matter that will Board determines the rent. I have in mincl have to be investigated, but it should be .an instance that ocr.urred only the other clay. fixed for a fairly long period so as to give At present Queensland is facing one of the the people encouragement to treat the land most serious droughts in her history, but we almost as if it were freehold. find that rentals in the Inglewoocl district were inn·easccl by the Lund Administration Let us consider what happens in the Boanl to 3d. un ucre on land that I contend cutting up of resumed estates of, say, is not worth more than ld. an acre. After thousands of acres. The original holders much wrangling in the court, I understand it paid 15s. a square mile for the land. After was eventually decided to recluce the rental the Crown subdivides the holding, the small to 3d. an acre. Considering the facts I ha;-e selector should be placed on the same basis in mind, the holder has no possible hope of as the large holder so far as rent is con paying the rental of ewn 3d. an acre. Why cerned. The, small man is carving out a living do the Government adopt a policy of wringing for himself and increasing the productivity the last ounce of money from the people in of the State. He should be given every the country? Why do not they deal with encouragement to continue that work, yet he these matters sympathetically? is charged 3d. an acre for his holding. It is only a matter of arithmetic to ascertain how Mr. Hnton: You are making a grave much more than the large landholder the reflection on the Land Court, are you not~ small selector is called upon to pay. Mr. NIIDIO: I am making no reflection I should like to direct the attention of the on the Land Court. The court has to follow Committee to the sad neglect of the present the system adopted. Government of the development of our JUr. Moore: Cannot the Government Crown lands. As early as the beginning of appeal against decisions of the Land Court? 1932 the Moore Government made available from the meagre funds that were then avail lUr. Hilt on: Quite so. able the sum of £190,000 for ringbarking and other development of the country. Mr. Alden ~rr. Deacon: The Government do appeal against decisions of the Land Court. ussured us at that time that there was no better way of developing the State and lUr. ~IMMO: When hon. members have increasing procluction thnn the making avail finished I will proceed, J\fr. Dunstan. able of thut money, and he understood con ditions in the country. There is no doubt The TE~IPORARY CHAIR~IAN: Order! that the money that was spent at that time The hon. member can proceed. has made for a eonsidera ble improvement in lUr. NIMMO: To get these excessive cream cheques and the amount of wool that rentals from the people at the present time is being sent to market. is altogether wrong. It is time the Minister JUr. H. Will'iams: On what conditions reviewed the rentals and tenure of selections. did you lend it~ -!'- man should ~eel a reasonable security that, If he effects Improvements, he will be left lUr, SUilUO: At 3 per cent. interest. undisturbed. I have in mind a leasehold that has been greatly improved and the holder JUr. H. Williams: What wages and has not O\'erstocked, but recently his rental hours~ was put up to Hc1. an acre, whereas that of lUr. NIIDIO: They were good wages and the adjoining neighbour, ·who has overstocked hours. The hon. member has a single-track and has neglected his property-it is over- mind. All he thinks a bout is wages and Supply. [31 OcTOBER.] Supply. 1091 hours, not the development of Queensland. How have loans been repaid~ The lending The people who got that money got reason of the money by the Government has been the able employment. They got good employ most wonderful investment the State has ment. made. The full repayments of principal demanded, £78,704, were made and in addition Mr. H. Williams: £3 a week and 48 co11Siderable sums were paid before they were hours. due so that we can say the people who llir. NIJUMO: I do not propose to go bor~ow the money for this developmental into the matter of the hours. The men took work are ahead of what they contracted to the jobs. 'rhe work was carried out. They do. The State has got virtually the whole of the money back; only £2,341 has been written ·were glad to get the work1 and what d? :we find~ \Ve find an increase m the produchnty off. of Queensland as the result of the expen~i The policy of lending money for rural ture of that money. Hon. members opposite del'elopment should be pursued, because the get up and say, ''Look at the wonderful butter benefits to be derived from it are reflected production. Look at the butter we produced in Brisbane in increased prosperity, whereas under a Labour Government. Look how the the building of the Story Bridge and the sheep population has increased.'' \Vhy, the dumping of the money into that project is sheep population has increased because the taking £50,000 out of the pockets of the land has been developed as a result of these people to meet interest charges. These country loans. Take the Taroom area as an example. loans all come back to the State, not only I think the number of cattle running in that in repayments, but in the increased produc area doubled after ringbarking opemtions tivity of the land. I say very plainly that were c:uried out. The sheep population of any Government who increases the loan rate the 'T'aroom area increased from 346,000 to to the farmer from 3 per cent. to 4?; per cent. 1.580,000 as a result of the Moore Govern are deserdng of the severest censure. l<.;very rrient 's advancing that cheap mone~- to the action of the Land Administration Board has pastoralists and graziers. T.o-day the been against the man on the land. Take, for G01·ernment charge 4?; per cent. mterest for instance, pentoxide used for destroying pests the small amounts they make available, and other things. The cost of this poison has desni:e the bet that they get it by means risen from 3d. during the terms of the Moore of Tre:sury bills for H per cent. interest. Government and the McCormack Government Yet they talk about interest mongers. to 6d., another example of tlris lack of The report presented by the Minister this sympathy by a Labour Government. morning refers to the Rural Development The report of the \Y ool Advisory Commis Loan scheme and the amounts made available sion, which was presented, discloses true from time to time. The impression conveyed sympathy with the man on thr land. \Vhat is that the amounts made available are for would happen if our far \V est ern lands went the year in which the report is issued, because out of, woolgrowing~ They could not be used no date is given. The Moore Government to raise cattle or horses. It is not suitable made £190,000 odd available for the purpose for any purpose exc·ept woolgrowing. The of rural development at 3 per cent. The report of the \Yool Advisory Commis.;ion next Government in Queensland-a Labour cost the country a good deal of money, but I Government-made £100,000 odd available at am perfectly satisfied that an impartial 3 per cent., but next year charged 5 per cent. reader 1vould say that its findings W'Cl'8 very sound. However, no· effort is being made by on loans to 31 December, 1934, m1d 4 per the Government to give effect to them. In cent. from January, 1935. It made avail fact the 1·eport has never reallv been (US able another loan of £162,000 at 4 per cent., cuss~d bY Parliament. I shoi1lcl like to and then we find the drop. The amount lent quote from it to show that not only the has dronped to £14,000 odd, so that 1vc are gradually getting to the time when no money Oxley electorate, but th0 Brisbane electorate at all will be available to the primary pro and other electorate", too, may be vitally ducers of the State. There is a lack of affected if anything goes wrong with the wool industry. The report says- sympathy with them. The hon. member for "Windsor spoke about low 1mges and long " Wool has been the mainstay of hours, but it is only by the development of Australia's export trade. It has heen the this country that we can look fonvard to principal medium of maintaining good 1vnges and short hours. vVe shall be Australa 's credit overseas and paying our on the rocks if this policy is pursued any debts abroad. In other word:'·, it is the further. buttress of the economic stability of In 1938-39, £12,515 was mnde available, Queensland and of Australia. and in the following year £14,498, which was ''Notwithstanding the unsatisfactory and all loan money. Not a shilling came from the f!uctua ting prkes of the past five years, collections of the State development tax wool provided an average of 37.18 per not a shilling of that money raised went cent. of our Australian exports. Of towards helping the primary production of Queensland exports, over the same period, this Sta,te. I think you will agree, Mr. it constituted 42.03 per cent. Dunstan, that there is something radically wrono- in the administration when we have ''Much remunerative employment is also a lack of sympathy in making money avai; given locally by the wool trade. Even with able from sources at the Government s the low prices ruling during the year 1938- disposal. 39, the wool industry was responsible for 1092 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
distributing over £8,000,000 in Queensland, pointed to some ridiculous things. For mostly in wages.'' instance, scoured wool in 1914 was carried Surely to goodness, if we had a sympathetic at lOSs. 4d.; in 1929 the rate increased to Government in po·wer in Queensland they 204s. 5d., and in 1939 it has risen to 244s. would have taken steps to give effect to those (Time expired.) recommendations! lUr. MULLER (Fassifern) (12.56 p.m.) : The report gives some very valuable infor I congratulate the Minister on his elevation mation. For instance, it comments upon the menace of drought and its amelioration in to the high office of Minister in charge of these words- the Department of Public Lands. ' 'Drought is the arch -enemy of the \Ve all agree, I am sure, that the depart pastoral industry. Low or fluctuating ment is one of the most important in this prices are ruinous enough, but drought State, but it is to be regretted that while gives the final knockout blow. After a much time and attention is devoted to land severe drought little may be left but the administration matters, scarcely anything is hardy spirit of the grazier with which to done to preserve the productivity of the soil. build afresh. I believe that it should be a function of the department, and of the Land Administration ' 'Our pastoral history in Queensland, Board to endeavour to preserve the produc short as it is, definitely establishes the fact tivity of the soil. We must admit that our that a severe drought in ·western grazing lands are not nearly so fertile as they were. areas is inevitable every 10 years or so, Quite a considerable areu of our pastoral with lesser droughts in between. One of country is gradually becoming impoverished the difficulties in fighting them is that there through drought and overstocking. The is nothing to distinguish an oncoming departmental administrators should give drought from any ordinary dry spell which greater consideration to matters of that kind. may be encountered any year at all. When, In a great many instances drought compels eventunlly, it is clear that a serious drought landholders to overstock in order to meet lms developed, it may be too late for the their payments on the land. Those are grazier to take effective action. Stock matters in which the department might routes are closed, agistment country is too render some assistance. far a>vay, and in any case his sheep may I desire to deal chiefly with the Sub be too weak to travel. Department of Irrigation, \Vater Supply, and ''Several rainfall graphs throughout this Sewerage. It is a surprise to me that so little has been done in irrigation during the report illustrate rainfalls in different locali· past few years. Year after year we see ties, show the prevalence of droughts in the droughts recurring. I believe that the Minis· past, and sufficiently establish the inevitab· ter and his Cabin et colleagues must be seized ility of droughts in the future. Govern of the necessity of doing something in this mental administration cannot, therefore, matter. It is quite a big undertaking, but longer ignore them as one of the most it is a problem that must be tackled. It may dominating influences in the industry. be too big for the department. To me, water supply and irrigation are so important that ''The grazier is hit hard hy drought in the time has arrived when the Government many ways- should consider the advisability of establish· '' 1. He loses many of his sheep. ing a separate department chiefly for the purpose of c-onserving water and irrigating '' 2. He loses the lambings he ordinarily our lands. The people of Queensland would ·would have obtained. applaud the innovation. I appreciate thc '' 3. His wool clip off the surviving fact that it would take a lot of money to give effect to my suggestion, but it would meet sheep is lightened and reduced in quality. with the approval of fully 80 per cent. of the A well-fed sheep cutting 8 lb. of wool in population. The time has arriYed when some good seasons may only cut 6 11:>. of thing should be done. This is not the work impoYerished wool in a dry time. of an individual or of local government. We '' 4. His costs of production per lb. have made a fine commencement by establish of wool soar upwards owing to drought ing irrigation works on some of our streams, but the supply of water is so· limited that we expenditure, agistment, feeding costs, cannot expect the results we all desire unless lighter clip, and fewer sheep. we conserve a great quantity of the water ''Thus, the grazier suffers compound that now flows into the sea annually. The adversity.'' only way that could be accomplished is by est:otblishing a separate department and pro· I read those extracts to bring some facts viding money for the purpose. Even t.h?ugh before the notice of the hon. member for work of this nature demanded add1twnal Kennedy that he should know. taxation, the people would welcome it. It might be carried out principally from the Mr. Jesson: I have read it three or four times. State development tax, with additim;al money to be raised, if required, by taxatwn. Mr. NIM::UO: There are many facts in this report hon. members should look care At 2.15 p.m., fully into. The Wool Advisory Commission The CHAIRMAN resumed the chair. Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1093
Mr.lUULLER: When we adjourned I was house upon which we draw, and, whilst it suggesting a separate Government department is our duty to conserve its reserves, we to dral with the control and conservation of must also see to it that an incr~asing pro water and irrigation. I am not suggesting that the officers of the department have been portion of our people cume rightly into lax. A few years ago the Government saw the enjoyment of their inheritance. fiL to send the chief engineer attached to "In brief, Labour's plan is irrigation in the Sub-Department of Irrigation, \Vater the coastal regions and conservation of Supply, and Sewerage overseas to report on the methods of water conservation practised water in the Western country. A combina in other count~·ies. I am somewhat disap tion of these two methods will assist pointed that nothing has been done as a materially in Queensland's development.'' result of those investigations. I take it the remarks of the Premier in The Secretary for Public Lands: It is reference to water conservation amounted to a not conect to say that nothing has been very definite promise. I think the people of done. Queensland understood by that that the lUr. MULLER: Virtually, nothing has Government would make a serious effort been done. The Government have placed during the ensuing three years to conserve less on the Estimates for this sub-department that water supply. The Premirr also said, than they did last year; that suggests that '' \Vhat Labour has promised Labour has virtually nothing is being done; it shows done,'' but this promise has not been carried that the money that is being expended now out. The position to-day, as we see it, is not is really for administration purposes. different even slightly, from' what it was three or' four years ago. That is regret I was pointing out that it was understood table. that l\1r. Parkinson had ideas about water conservatio-n that were less costly than Moreover, of the money provided and resuming land and constructing dams and spent by this department nearly all comes going to the expense of costly reticulation. under the heading of town water supplies I did expect some definite move would be and sewerage. I am not criticising that policy, but much of the money used for made, if not with the bigger schemes then providing town water supplies is loan wi~h the cheaper schemes such as building money, and a large amount is subsidy from werrs across our coastal streams. the GoYernment. If that is so, the Govern The Premier's policy speech delivered on ment should seriously consider the setting 9 March, 1938, contained the following state aside of a sum of money for the purpose ment- of subsidising trusts or combines or authori ties of that nature for the purpose of con "Planned Water Supply. servation of water and irrigation on a larger ''Queensland is fortunate in having a scale. It is interesting to note that last year the amount provided for town water magnificent natural artesian water supply, supply and sewerage was £3,942,272, of which under which it is possible to conduct graz sum £1,762,797 was Govemment subsidy. It ing operations in the country in the \Vest, \Vill be noticed that there has been a sub which is not well served by natural rain stantial contribution by the Government, and fall. There are indications that this water wluit is more, the greater part of that money has been found, I understand, fTom the State supply is diminishing, and research over development tax money, and that these funds a period of years by the Department of will be drawn on to pay interest and Irrigation, \Vater Supply, and Sewerage redemption on the amount advanced by way shows that there must be further con of subsidies. Although there is no doubt that servation of those Yalua ble supplies. it is development, the fact remains it is purely city development, and if we are to look ''My Government appreciates that the forward with any degree of confidence to best results from the State's point of view the developing of our State, it is essential can only be obtained by a complete survey that we develop the country. A number of towns are mentioned in the list before me, of the ·waters in the West and the coastal but I will not waste the tim'e of the Com regions. This work could be promptly and mittee by reading them. The report clearly cheaply carried out by examining the mass sets out where this money has been of information already available, with a expended. view to evolving a plan whereby not only It is not a bit of good the Government's the Western lands but coastal lands may be n tt em pting to tell the people of Queensland brought to greater productivity and oppor that no money is available for irrigation tunities given to young men to begin a and water conservation. This work is Yalu career on the land. This the Government able work, the majority of the people believe it to be so, and it is the Government's duty proposes to undertake without delay. to find the money. ''Each year some thousands of boys leave The report of the department, page 13, school and many seek work in rural indus refers to the amount of money provided try. This survey will make their path easier. for iniga tion, and the shortness of the The land is our inheritance; it is the store- paragraph referring to irrigation and water 1094 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. conservation is amusing. Three items only by the use of irrigation. Up to date, the are mentioned- Government's contribution to irrigation has not been anything. Certainly a little advice Location. Work. Cost. has been given from time to time as to varia tions in supply, but that is all. I am of the opinion that if a separate Cotton Experi- Well and spray Well, £608; department was established, and a Minister mental Farm, irrigation plant Irrigation Biloela plant, appointed to administer it, he would have £401 to accept responsibility for the position, Mundubbera and 4 spray irrigation £853 Whereas to-clay this does not seem to be Kingaroy Dis- plants installed tricts anybody's responsibility. The Sub-Depart Barron Falls Duplication of 42" £11,660. ment of Irrigation and Water Supply is at pipe line the tail-end of the Department of Public Lands, and apparently nothing is being That is the complete list of the activities done. I appreciate the fact that this work as far as inigation is concerned. cannot be carried on for nothing, that nl'oney has got to be found for this purpose, It is terribly disappointing to rearl the but I believe that if there is anything that Auuitor-General 's report on the activities can be placed under the heading of State of irrigation in this State. So little space development it is irrigation. I do not speak anu so few words are devoted to it that out of any spirit of criticism. I rose merely one would scarcely notice it. It reads- to suggest that something should be done. Deputations have waited upon previous '' Irrigation, vVater Supply, and Ministers repeatedly, and each time we have Sewerage. received all the sympathy in the world but ''The operations of this sub-department, no action has been taken. I hope that dur exclusive of administration and super ing the next 12 months something will be vision of construction of sewerage, water clone in this direction. supplies, irrigation, drainage, and water I notice that the Minister is somewhat facilities, were mainly confined to- concerned about what the position is likely to be in connection with hemlock timber. Dawson Valley Irrigation Area. At a later stage I should like to give the Upper Burnett and Callide Land Committee some information as to what has Settlement. actually happened. At present I am con cerned about the position of our country Artesian Trust Bores. sawmills. It is to be regretted that a num Water Facilities, Main Stock Routes.'' ber of them are denied supplies of logs. As a result of action taken by the Sub That is about all the Auditor-General has Department of Forestry deputation after to say about it. The estimates disclosed deputation has waited on previous Ministers that the ~mount of money provided for water and officers of this department in the hope conservation and irrigation is less than for of gettinO' supplies of logs. The official last year, the amounts being- reply that'" we have always received was that there were no logs. £ 1940-41 42,000 TJ1e Secretary for Public Lands: Hard 1939-40 43,000 wood logs or pine logs~ I do not think you understand the subject with which you are It must be remembered, too, that virtually dealing. the whole of that amount is used for the purpose of administering the clepartm:cnt. lUr. iUULLER: I think that I know per To my mind, it is bad business to provide haps nearly as much as the Minister about £42,000 for administrative purposes if hoop pine logs for milling purposes and for almost nothing is being done. case timber, and perhaps more than he does about hemlock and other case timber. I I notice, too, that that £42,000 includes should like to draw the :Minister's attention fees paid to the inspectors who go out from to a part of the report of the Director of time to time to gauge water levels. I realise Forests for the year ended 30 June, 1940, that that is very necessary, but people are Yhich I think is adequate reply to the official being prevented from carrying out irriga reply received by the Country Sawmillers' tion projects to the extent that they would Association. like. I do not object to restriction from time to time, because I realise that that is neces ''As a result, Queensland's timber sary, but a number of inspectors are industry not only maintained this State's employed under this vote, and their only timber requirements, but also exported function is to keep a check on what som·e considerable quantities of sawn and plied body is doing. My point is that those hoop, bunya, and kauri pine to the other who install irrigation plants have had States. no lead from this department and I suggest that the only >'.-ay in which >>e can hope to ''There is reason to believe that the make any progress is for the Government Queensland hoop-pine supply has been ade to give a lead. It is not a bit of use for quate for those essential purposes for the Government or anybody else to say that which its high grade and special properties certain districts have done wonderfully well make it the most suitable species. Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1095
''Seven million three hundred and thir The only timber they can get to-day is sawn teen thousand square feet of plywood was boards. I am not satisfied with the position, exported to England during the year, notwithstanding that we have had a number whilst plywood for the manufacture of of replies from the department. I do not 85,000 tea and coconut chests was exported understand why these mills should be deprived to the East, and orders for further tea and of a supply of timber. It is no use saying rubber chests were on hand. This was all there is not enough timber to go round, new business, replacing part of supplies because the report of the Director of Forests previously obtained from the Baltic coun sets out clearly that there is quite enough, tries. not only for Queensland, but also for the Southern States, an·d enough to enable large ''Hoop pine has a long fibre and is cap quantities to be exported to England and able of producing a very high grade paper other countries. That is a great pity, and it pulp. Thousands of tons of hoop-pine mill suggests that these people in the ring are waste have been sent to a Southern paper getting an advantage that is not available mill to replace imported paper pulp. The to others. It is very haTd to say just what whole of Australia's butter export is now are the benefits of such a scheme, but it encased in queensland hoop pine.'' \Youlcl appear that a few people in this little I should like the Minister to tell us how he ciTcle are able to get supplies of timber, reconciles the statements made in that report and, I take it, to make a profit, whereas other with replies "\Ve ha vo received from the people are not getting their share. GoYernment that there were not sufficient logs (Time expired.) to go round. There is evidently sufficient timber to supply the case trade in normal The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS times, plus a sufficient quantity of timber to (Hon. E. J. Walsh, Mirani) (2.36 p.m.): I be exported to Groat Britain and Eastern should like to say that I appreciate the countries. This timber, of course, is suit remarks of those hon. members who have able for the case trade. referred to my appointment to the responsible The Minister seems to have some doubt position of Secretary for Public Lands. I whether those of us interested in the dairy realise that this department plays a very organisations had anything to do with the important part in the development and pros svggestion for replacing hoop pine with hem perity of the State. Indeed, as a private lock timber. I should like to tell him that if member, I have always said that the Depart it were not for the efforts of the Queensland ment of Public Lands and the Department of members of the Australian Dairy Produce Agriculture and Stock wield a tremendous Board Queensland timbers might have been influence in the prosperity of this State. It discarded. vVe were the prime movers in an is evident from the fact that rural electorates effort to show representatives from the have continued to return Labour men to Southern States that Queensland hoop pine Parliament that the Government have justi was a suitable timber and that there should fied their industrial and agricultural policy, be no need to import hemlock or New Zealand which provides for extensive land develop white pine whilst supplies of Queensland ment; and when it is realised that 93 per hoop pine were available. The question cent. of the area of the State is subject to arose first of all through what the Sub the control of the Crown it will be seen at Department of Forestry had said. It told once how careful a Government must be in country sawmillers that there were not the administration of their lancl policy. I enough i:ogs to go round, conveying the venture the opinion that the policy of the impression that supplies of hoop pine were Labour Government in this respect has been exhausted. It is very hard to reconcile those in the best intere,ots of the landholders. statements. It was only because of our con Many loose statements have been made tinued advocacy that these people were will during the course of the debate, and although ing to accept Queensland timber. It is to I do not propose to deal with all of them, I be regretted that Queensland country saw think I should expose the hollo1vness of some millers are not supplied with a share of the of them. The first speaker from the other logs. side of the Chamber was the hon. member for The Secretary for Mines: They get their Cunningham. One would imagine that after share. his experience as Secretary for Public Lands in the Moore Government he at least would li'I.r. lUULLER: So far, their share has have understood the administration of that been nil. I have repeatedly applied to the department, but anyone who listened to his department, and I am justified in making remarks in this Chamber yesterday could not the statement I have made. The position is help coming to the conclusion that the diffi becoming very acute in some of our country culties of the landholders at that time must districts, and will become more acute unless have been largely due to the fact that the a supply of logs can be obtained. Country hon. member who administered the depart sawmills will be compelled to close down. I ment did not understand the requirements of contend that this is a deplorable state of the landholders. There is not the slightest affairs whilst there is sufficient timbe1· to be doubt that the landholders suffered great shared. Country sawmillers will be actually disabilities under the Moore regime, and it wiped right out of business. They have invested was noticeable that that Government intro quite a lot of money in plant, and if they are duced legislation which, in the main, was not able to get their share of log timber, they for the benefit of big interests. That was will be obliged before long to close down. shown, too, by their many administrative acts. 1096 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
For ~x:"mple, the Deputy Leader of the The CHAIRMAN: Order! I should like Oppos1tron referred to the expenditure by this to heaT the Secretary for Public Lands. Government on rural development work, and one hon. member-I think the hon. member The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: for Oxley-said that the Moore Government As I have already intimated, the fact that m:;de available £190,000 by way of loans for rural areas haye returned Labour members thiS work. to this side of the Chamber is evidence that the country people realise that no party has Mr. Nimmo: At 3 per cent.; that is right. done more for them than the Labour Party, The SECRETARY l<'OR PUBLIC LANDS: which has been in power since 1932. Let me I have not been able to find one instance in examine the position. The Deputy Leader of which the Moore Government made any such the Opposition pointed out this morning that loan for the purpose of ringbarking or for much of this rural developmental work was rural development generally but I did notice excellent business for the State. There is that in April, 1932, a loan' was supposed to no doubt that it is of tremendous benefit not have been made available by the Moore only to the individual landowners but to the Government. State as a whole. It is significant, too, that where that policy was put into operation I remind hon. members opposite that that Labour members were returned to this Parlia was the month preceding their defeat in ment. \Ye find the hon. member for Oar 1932. Obviously it was something in the narYon being returned as a Labour member; nature of a bait to the rural areas that we see that the ex-Minister for Transport was would assist in the return of their members defeated at the last election for Dalby by for those constituencies. It is all very well I>fr. Slessar, and other electorates on the for. them to take credit for this policy, but Darling Downs returned Labour men. I dunng. the three years they were in power shoultl imagine that after an analysis of the the;· chd not make one penny available to Yoting at the recent Federal elections some landholders for the purposes of rural hon. members opposite are not feeling too deYelopment. happy about facing the electors at the next lUr. Russell: They obtained the money State election. We are looking forward to during their term. the return of Ol18 or two more Labour men from the farming centres in the South-Eastern The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: and South-\Vestern divisions. There is sufficient evidence available that the Moore Go' 2rnment gave no consideration to lUr. JUacdonald: Get off the soapbox and the qu0stion of rural deYelopment until the deal with the vote under discussion. month precct1ing the election in 1932. If we The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: >vent ~o far as to giYe the J\foore Government I rpalise that the hon. member for Stnnley the credit for introducing that rural develop· cloPs not like the truth. ment scheme the fact >Yould remain that they thought it was neces,;ary to do so to relieve The CHAIRlUAN: Order! the unemployment they had created and which they left to us as legacy. The 11oore The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: a The hon. memb0r for Ounningham raised Go,·ernmcnt 'R atlmini ,trntion rrsulterl in a tremendous deficit and the creation of a tre the question of the rentals charged for lease I:ncntlons number of unemployed. The succeed holds. I intend to deal >Yith that phase of mg Lnhonr Go,·ennncnt had to pro.-ide for my department's acth·itics at a later stage of my remarks, in addition to those refer the relief of tho>~ nnemplo~·ed and had a ences which have been made in this debate tremc·Hl Jus t~~sk in getting them back to >York and on scYcral pTevious occa 'ions to the as quickl~· as possible. \Vhcn \W remember, on the statement of hon. members opposite report of the Wool Advisory Commission. thcmsel.-cs, that £109,000 was e':pended in The hon. member for Stanley made quite a 1933 by the present Govcrnnwnt on rural good suggestion regarding the provision of d·~ 1·elopmcnt, and >Yhcn .,·e remember that fish ladders. The pToposal is a sound one and they inheTitcd all these difficulties, one would >vill be considered in connection with the con imagine they would concede that our task was struction of weirs on our many streams. That e\·er so much more difficult than theirs. is a phase of water conservation that probably has been oveTlooked in the past. I promise Mr. Nhnmo: You know you had the benefit of the first loan o btaincd bv the the hon. member it will not be lost sight of M oore Government. ' in the future. The hon. member for Wide Bay brought up ~he SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LA~DS: Th1s Government were responsible for alter the question of drought relief. I do not ing the position throughout the State. We propose to go into the question extensively, must realise, too, that if it had not been for for the reason that drought relief largely the Premier's challenging the Lorm Council comes within the province of the Department we should not have been in the position we of Agriculture and Stock. I realise there aTe are to-dn:·. (Opposition interjections.) Hon. phases of it that affect the administration of mcmbrrs opposite do not like the truth. the Department of Public Lands, but there Unfortunately, it is necessary that I should are many factors to be considered, and it cannot Teasonably be suggested that the s~eak the truth so that the people outside W1ll know the true position. Department of Public Lands has not given some relief to the selectors who have been llir. lUacdonald: Bedtime stories. (Inter placed in difficulties during a dTought peTiod. jections.) That, again, is a matter that I propose to Supply. [31 OcTOBER.] Supply. 1097
deal with when I am commenting on the Crown. Hon. members must understand that. report of the Wool Advisory Commission. Mills that had not been supplied previously A statement made by the hon. member for by ·the Crown were not taken into considera Fassifern, like many other statements made tion. I think any reasonable person would by hon. members opposite, was very wide of admit that in the allocation of quotas it the mark. The hon. member seems to handle would not have been right to consider them, the truth very loosely-that is as far as the seeing that the Crown had not been pre Standing Orders will allow me to go. If hon. viously supplying them with logs. Each members opposite made themselves conversant mill got the highest cut it had during the with matters on which they speak, they would whole of the period from 1935 to 1937. A not be so likely to make misstatements similar mill that experienced some difficulty or other to those made by the hon. member for in 1937 was allowed to select either of the Fassifern. The timber industry generally other years. If its cut in 1935 or 1936 was realises that Labour has done much to higher than it was in 1937, that became the stabilise conditions in the timber business. basis on which the department worked for the purpose of supplying logs. Mr. Nimmo: By creating monopolies. The system operates in this way: if the The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: cut of pine logs is only 93 per cent. of the We are not concerned for monopolies-the aggregate of thB quotas of all the mills, then hon. member usually pays attention to their each mill is expected to suffer a reduction requirements-we are more concerned with the of 7 per cent. of its quota, as arrived at by stability of the timber industry in general the method I have just stated. On the and in seeing that it does not get to the stage other hand, if the cut is 10 per cent. or 20 at which it would be uneconomic for all pBr cent. in excess of the aggregate of the concerned. quotas, the extra cut is apportioned amongst After giving full consideration to the those mills that are in a position to take the supply of pine logs available in 1937, the logs. Could anything be fairer~ There is Government decided to introduce a system no favouritism. \Ve have a fair basis to of quotas-a very familiar term to one who work on, and from that point each mill is has had much to do with quotas in the sugar dealt with fairly and justly. industry. Mr. Edwards: That is not the way it lUr. Clayton: Look after the big fellow. works out for small mills. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: As I proceed, I shall show hon. members If the hon. member would only make himself that we have protected the little sawmiller. conversant-- I shall produce evidence that I shall challenge Mr. Edwards: It is no use putting that hon. members opposite to refute to prove that over. this Government's policy has been in favour of protecting the little sa>vmillers. To give The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: hon. members opposite an example of how It is idle for hon. members on this, or the uneconomic the present position is and how other, side of the Chamber to make state much worse it would have been if it had not ments by way of interjection or otherwise been controlled in the manner in which it has that cannot be supported by facts. I will been controlled by the Government up to the produce later thB figures showing the actual present time, I mention that there are position so far as the supply of logs is con individual sawmills in Queensland with a cerned, and if the hon. member is not then cutting capacity of 733,000,000 feet and in convinced all I can say is that he has no con 1938-39 the cut was only 293,000,000 feet. fidence in the officers who are controlling this Hon. members should appreciate the unecono department. mic state of the sawmilling industry. Is it )lr. Nimmo: Would you have any objec not obvious that if some control had not been tion to telling us the quotas of the 12 largest exercised in this matter, in the way of users~ licensing the sawmills, the position would have got to such a stage that even the more The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: efficient sawmills would not have been able to I am not going to disclose the business of any meet the difficulties that would confront them sawmill. It is not my job to do so. as a result of the over-capitalisation of the Mr. I\Iuller: How many get preference business~ in log suppliBs ~ li'Ir. Muller: How many mills are getting The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: logs~ We can tell the hon. member that. The The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: remarkable thing is this: up to the time the I hope the hon. membBr will be a little licensing of sawmills was introduced there patient. I can assure him that the depart were approximately 250 odd sawmills that ment has nothing to be ashamed of in regard used to register as required and send in statis to the supply of logs. tical returns annually. On the compulsory licensing of sawmills, over 600 mills were Obviously, if there was to be a system of licensed in the first yBar. quotas, some basis of those quotas had to be taken. ThB quotas were determined on the There is an impression abroad that the basis of the cuts of the mills that had pr•'• Sub-Department of Forestry controls the viously been supplied with pine logs by the timber industry generally, but the only actual 1098 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
control exercised by the sub-department over methods that are invented. I am confident timber is the supply of timber from Crown that if any of the efficient sawmillers in lands, generally speaking, and the only actual Queensland were to address this Parliament he control so far as the supplying of the quotas would say that if it had not been for this is concerned is in the supply of pine logs. Government's policy most of them would have There is nothing to stop sawmillers from been bankrupt to-day. I have some letters making arrangements with any freeholders in my files, and I may take the opportunity for the purchase of hardwood, in fact of any of reading a few extracts later on, without timbers other than pine. Of course, it is disclosing the names of the persons con natural that the Sub-Department of Forestry cerned. There is ample evidence in those would sell logs from Crown lands to those letters to indicate that the .timber industry who are willing to pay for them. 'Ne have was in a very bad way during the Moore no quota system for the sale of hardwood or Government 'fl time, and that it has made con any other timber with the exception of pine siderable headway since this Government were logs. returned to office. The hon. member for Fassifern suggested I desire to impress upon hon. members the that he and representatives of the Queensland fact that the Sub-Department of Forestry Butter Board were largely responsible for does not exercise control over the timber the increased use of Queensland pine in the industry in general. Purchases of hardwood, manufacture of butter boxes. The hon. mem in fact, of any logs other than pine logs, ber seems to have altered his attitude some may be made by sawmillers wherever they what on this question, because I can remember may desire to make a contract with the the agitation that sprang up some two or owners of the timber. thrre years ago because the Forestry Sub Department vms alleged to have informed Many phases of the activities of the them that it could not supply logs. The Sub-Department of Forestry become more department may have said that there was a difficult by reason of circumstances operating limited supply, and so there is-I make in other departments of the State. For the statement now that there is a instance, our difficulties are somewhat limited supply. The :figures quoted by the increased owing to conditions operating in hon. member himself with regard to exports the Department of Railways. We know that show that the department is endeavouring because of the war there has been an to meet the requirements of the trade. As increased demand on that department for the a matter of fact, the hon. member should supply of rolling-stock, and it is obvious that know that the increased use of Queensland since the increased demand for timber has pine for manufacture of butter boxes has taken place we have to rely to some extent been brought about largely by war conditions. on the railways for increased supplies of Shipping is not available for the impmtation of hemlock from Canada. Might I remind trucks to bring logs into mills. I can appre hon. members, too, that much of the timber ciate the difficulties of the Department of that is used now in the manufacture of butter Railways in this respect, but I can assure hon. boxes is being sawn from tops, the part of members that the Sub-Department of Forestry the tree that the department has found it is doing eYerything possible to provide for most difficult to get sawmills to take: It the increased demand in the timber industry, was not until recently-and this is due to the particularly in regard to defence require war conditions-when we had increased ments. demands from the Defence Department for lUr. YEATES (East Toowoomba) (3.1 various things, that the sawmills had been p.m.) : I first of all congratulate the Minister forced to cut their bo'x requirements out of on his appointment to the office of Secretary tops. I think I can remember some remarks for Public Lands. I wish him health and made by the hon. member for :\Iurrumba happiness for many years, but as to his some years ago about the difficulty experi staying in that position, of course, I am not enced by the department in getting rid of going to say anything. It depends entirely the tops. In fact, the department has railed on whether the Government occupy their tops to some mills at a loss rather than see present benches next year. them left in the bush to be burnt. The Land Administration Board was estab Mr. Nimmo: Do you not think that the lished in 1931, and since that time it has introduction of that American machine was been quite an easy job, comparatively speak responsible for that~ ing, for the Minister to take care of the The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: department. I know perfectly well the work That would have something to do with it. this board is doing. It has a good grasp of In fact, in the hon. member for Mary the position, and, therefore, the job of the borough 's electorate there is one of the Minister is made much easier. finest jointing machines that can be found Land settlement in any country is the any>vhere in Australia. key to the progress of the nation, and in Mr. Clayton: Private enterprise brought Queensland, therefore, the administration of that about, not the· Government. the Department of Public Lands, coupled with that of the Department of Agriculture Tl1e SECRETARY FOR PUBUC LANDS: and Stock, determines the rate at which we And so it should. Private enterprise is can proceed along the road of progress. allowed to exploit the industry, therefore it Given reasonable seasons, this country cannot is up to it to introduce Bome of the efficient help going ahead-the people will make it Supply [31 OcTOBER.] Supply. 1099 do so-provided, of course, that Government acquire the whole of Australia's wool pro policy is reasonable. duction the Government seized upon that as an excuse and dropped the Payne Report like In my comments on the department I will a hot potato. I like the Minister well enough, start away up at Port Douglas and come but I was astounded to hear him display so down to Dirranbandi. There has been land much party feeling in the Chamber. He went settlement at Julatten, near Port Douglas. I back into history, he referred to the Moore notice that some of that country has been Government, and he spoke of their sins of selected aiready, and I know that there are omission and commission. He made some blocks still available for dairying purposes. comparisons that were very unfair. That was Cream is being sent to the J nlatten butter very wrong of him. I ask him to reflect on factory, which, I believe, is an off-shoot of the conditions that obtained in those years, the Atherton butter factory. the severe depression years from 1929 to Mr. Collins: No. 1932. He should be quite fair about this. If he had been in charge of the Department Mr. YEATES: There is another butter of Public Lands in those years he would have factory at Daintree. These are our two most found it a different matter from what it is northerly butter factories, and I hope their to-day. It is easy enough to indulge in operations will prove successful and that carping criticism like that, but I want the they will not look back. hon. gentleman to be fair. I now come down to the Tully land, some The co-operation between the Public Estate of which will be available very shortly. Improvement Branch and the Main Roads Then we come down to the plateau beyond Commission is to be highly commended. Mackay, where 74,000 acres are being made One plant will now be used in making available for selection. A friend of mine was improvements to the public estate. In working in the survey camp there and I am fact I think that the Commission should told that this is good country. I will take a build all the roads required by shire councils, run round it some week-end. but I will talk about that later. Now let me consider the areas round The departmental report mentions that Hughenden, Winton, Barcaldine, Longreach, the amounts made available under the rural Blackall, and down to J undah. The policy of development loan scheme was £688,904. We the department in granting additional areas hear all this talk about national economy. to enable landholders to make a satisfactory I am wondering whether this excuse about living is a good one, although I have heard economising by reducing the size of the it condemned by some on the ground that it annual reports of the various departments has gives some men too much land. any basis. Not sufficient information is I suggest that watering facilities for given. Th.e hon. ~ember . for Cook. gave travelling stock should be provided at 10- this Comm1ttee the nnpresswn, or tned to mile intervals along the stock route from convey to the public, that this £688,904 was Blackall to Charleville and from Dalby to being provided this year for rural develop Goondiwindi. At present the stock route from ment. It is nothing of the kind. The fact Charleville to Blackall is reasonably well of the matter is that this is the amount watered, but there is still room for consider that has been provided for rural develop able improvement. ment over a period of years past-:-about 11. The real point is that for th1s year Now let me consider for a moment the a paltry sum of £15,000 is allowed under report of the Wool Advisory Commission, the Trust and Special and Loan Funds for more familiarly called the "Payne Report." this important work. I want to know why the Government have not implemented some of the recommendations of I notice that £2,341 has been written off Mr. Payne. The Government printed a number developmental loans as at 31 May, 1940, of the reports, and of course they sold a good £1,413 being with respect to loans from the many. I hope that they made a little profit. Unemployment Relief Fund. I am rather surprised at that. It is not a big amount, The Secretary for Public Lands: Who but I should like further information from told you that we sold any~ the Minister as to how this came about. The flimsy little departmental report states that lUr. YEATES: Did not the Government any further particulars will be gladly sup take an OTder for a few thousand just as I plied. I want quite a lot of them, and if I would order extra copies of something and do not get them in this Chamber, I will apply have to pay for them 1 to the Land Administration Board. I do not The Secretary for Public Lands: You know whether hon. members opposite know give the particulars. what brigalow and belah country is. I con cede that the Acting Attorney-General does. Mr. YEATES: I shaJl go into the matter. Mr. Bedford: If you tell us what you are The Secretary for Public Lands: Only talking about, we might know. 1,500 copies were printed and Mr. Payne got most of them for himself. lUr. YEATES: I would inform the hon. member for \Varrego that brigalow and belah lUr. YEATES: I have not enough time country comprises some of our best country, during this debate to go into all the matters particularly for closer settlement purposes in mentioned in the repOTt, but it appears to me 5,000-acre blocks. I suggest to the Land that when the British Government decided to Administration Board that it should hesitate llOO Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. about cutting up this country in 1 280-acre The CHAIRMAN: It is not a stock blocks unless it is closB to such closely-settled route, anyhow. places as Chinchilla. In my opinion, 5,000 acres should be the minimum. If there are Mr. YEATES: I take it I can speak on any leases having five or six years to run east the matter o~ water supply on a stock route. of a line drawn from Miles to Bollon and The Muckadilla bore is being used for that back to Dalby (I am spPaking about the purpose, although the Railway Department Moonie River country) the Government uses some of it for bathing-one at a time. .thould resume it, compensate the owners (Laughter.) I want another bore put down and subdivide it for closer settlement. Ther~ at Muckadilla: I know the hon. member for is still a demand for that class of country Maranoa wil! support me in this. To put it in 5,000-acre blocks. courteously, If the hon. member for Maranoa asks for it I will get behind him. _I understand that 2,500,000 acres of land Pastoral holdings comprising 379 000 Will shortly fall due in the Barcaldine square miles, rather more than half of' the HughBnden, and other centres in the Central whole area of Queensland, bring in a great district. It should be withheld for a little amount of wealth, and the Commissioner of while, because on account of the war many Taxes is indeed pleased that they exist. The of our men are serving with the forcds. We Thargomindah lands that I am about to refer should await better seasons and for inter to are suitated in the extreme south-western n~tional matt_ers to settle before making any corner of this State. I have here a map with big splash with closer-settlement schemes in a red patch-no doubt the hon. member for the far Western districts. The area most Kennedy can see that the colour suits him s:Jitab_le ~or clos~r settlement at the present to indicate these lands in the extreme south tJme IS situated m t·he Taroom District and western corner of Queensland. comprises such holdings as Cockatoo St~tion. lllr. Did you draw that map? Coming closer in towards Dalby and W arra Power: I suggest that the people should be encour~ Mr. YEATES: These maps and figures ag:d to build pit silos; those who cannot were supplied to me through the courtesy of bmld a proper cement silo can do the next the Minister, and I thank him for that. It best thing. I can imagine some farmers was only right for him to do it, but he did it readi~g. advice about pit silos and thinking and did it quickly-! must be fair. t~a~ It IS all very well coming from a person s1ttmg on a soft leather seat in Parliament There are 5,343 square miles in the name of the Kidman Estate in the south-western or some armchair critic i:r: a newspaper office; corner of Queensland. The Kidman Estate but I assure them It IS sound advice. I has been the worst tenant Queensland has resp:ctfully suggest to the farming com ever had, whereas the late Mr. Edmund mumty that they co-operate with the Depart ments of Agriculture and Stock and Public Jowett was the best. The Kidman Estate never improved its country to any extent. I Lands, and put in morB pit silos which are suggest, as I have previously suggested, comp3;ratively cheap and very ~ffective. I that the Department of Public Lands take have mspected many of them in the Warra most of that land as soon as possible and district and elsewhere, but we want far more subdivide it into blocks of 150 square miles. of them. The fodder can be dug out of these That ·would give 34 blocks. It is almost level pits during a dry spell such as the present. country \Yith a large amount of edible mulga The CHAIRlUAN: Order! That matter and is suitable for sheep. As most people concerns the vote for the Department of Agri with experience of the West know, mulga culture and Stock. I have allowed the hon. can keep sheep for two years without any member considerable latitude. other feed, indeed longer than that, and also fatten them to a certain extent, if there is a 1\Ir. YEATES: I suggest that much more large supply of water. money be ma~e available for rural develop The Secretary for Public Lands: We ment, to provide loans for farmers for ring might consider that proposal if you would barking, suckering, and so on because it is from the land that the wealtl; of the nation go out there to live. comes. lUr. YEATES: I have been out there. I lived at Adavale for years, and am not Last year £2,550,000 was collected in State ashamed of that. I can take hon. members development tax., and I firmly believe that there and show them how to develop that there is no better way of developing the corner of the State. The sheep population of State than spending more of this money for Queensland can be increased by 2,000,000 by assisting rural development. taking up that country, making use of the bores I should like to remind the Committee that already there, and sinking others. The period the :Muckadilla bore-and I speak of it as a of repayment should be 30 years, and the interest charge approximately 4 per cent. stock route between Roma and Charleville-- A large area of country is going to waste in The CHAIR1UAN: Order! The hon. that corner of the State. member cannot make a Railway Department Mr. Jesson: It is not much good. bore relevant by calling it a stock route. Mr. YEATE~: It is good sheep country. Mr. YEATES: It is used for watering I know somethmg of the carrying capacity of the cattle travelling on the stock route t~e country. Much of it is pebbly mulga between Roma and Charleville. ndges, first-class country for merino sheep, Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. llOl which do not need heavy rainfall-approxi member for Cunningham only eight months mately 10 inches a year. If there is sufficient after the Labour Government were returned water, the sheep get on all right. to office. He is reported in the Warwick Of course, the Government taboo the repur "Daily News" on 21 February, 1933, as chase of freehold lands-the Minister would having said at Warwick- probably be right up against such a thing '' There has been no more sincere Minister but some of the estates should be purchased, for Lands in Queensland than his old and if they are not offering at a reasonable friend, Mr. Billy Deacon ... I am only price, there should be a compulsory repur doing the work that he initiated. I am chase. On certain parts of that country 150 trying to do what I can to settle people on families could be settled. the land. Mr. Deacon initiated that policy, Holding conferences for land commissioners and I am trying to carry it out. '' is a very good plan. I understand there have How different. from the remarks made this been several of them, but I know of at least afternoon by the present Minister, who had one. Land commissioners should meet regu absolutely no knowledge of the work done larly. Probably they are doing so. If so, by the hon. member for Cunningham when he I hope the practice will be continued. To was Secretary for Public Lands! Let me have exchange of ideas is for the good of say, too, that the late Mr. Percy Pease was the State. The Crown land rangers should a man who asked for no quarter, nor did he attend as well. give any. I should like to know whether the depart The Secretary for Public Lands: I am ment has made any inquiry into the possi not asking for any quarter, either. bility of closer settlement in the Gulf country -in the districts of the Gilbert and Gregory Mr. BRAND: I say that the Minister's Rivers-with a view to irrigation, &c. attack this afternoon was undignified and Probably the Minister will reply, and rightly unjustified. so, that the population is not large enough. I shall speak further on that matter on the It seems that in this year, 1940, we have to vote for the Sub-Department of Irrigation explain things that happened in 1930 and and Water Supply. 1931. During the last Federal election campaign the Nationalist and Country From 1900 to 1910 our sheep population Parties made no attack upon the Labour iloubled, the increase being from 10,000,000 Government that held power in the Federal to 20,000,000, but in 1940 we have risen to sphere during 1930, 1931, and 1932. No only 23,000,000. I shall not be satisfied until reference to the conduct of that Government our sheep population is at least 30,000,000, was made, but those parties asked the people and I want to see it increased to that figure of Queensland to elect them upon things that in the next 10 years. >Yere happening at the time. (Time expired.) The CHAIRMAN: Order! I have allowed the hon. member considerable latitude, and I lUr. BRAND (Isis) (3.31 p.m.): I also now ask him to deal with the vote under compliment the Minister upon his elevation discussion. to the position of Secretary for Public Lands. I regret, however, that a new Minister should IUr. BRAND: I am dealing with it, absolutely. have opened hi~ defence of his administration this afternoon by an undignified and unpro The CHAIRMAN: Order! Will the hon. voked attack upon the hon. member for member please sit down~ I have informed Cunningham, who was Secretary for Public him that he cannot continue in that strain. Lands under the Moore Government. I am the one to decide the question. The Secretary for Public Lands: He 1\Ir. BRAND: This afternoon the Minister started by accusing this Government of dis made an attack upon the hon. member for honesty. Cunningham, and I am only dealing with :ilir. BRAND : I can only say to the matters that that hon. gentleman was allowed Minister that he can afford to be generous to deal with. to opponents, and that, at least, there is no The CHAIRlUAN: Order! I have already reason why any ::\finister of this or any other informed the hon. member for lsis that I State Government in Australia should hark allo>ved him certain latitude. I do not pro back to the drastic depression of 1929 to pose to allow any further latitude in that 1932 in an endeavour to score a mean political direction. advantage by blackguarding those who were elected to power during that period. In Mr. Yeates: The Minister-- answer to his unjustified attack, let me say The CHAIR:iliAN: Order! I will deal with to the Minister that, in all fairness, he cannot the hon. member if he wants to ''buy'' in. take credit to his Government for the improve ment that has taken place. He contended Mr. BRAND: We were told this after that the hon. member for Cunningham, when noon that the timber industry was down and he was Secretary for Public Lands, did not out during the years 1931 and J 932, and that give any help to the people living on the to-day it is in a prosperous condition. In land, that it was left to his Government to do 1929-32 the Moore Government followed a that. Let me quote what his predecessor, the Labour Government who had been in office in late Mr. Percy Pease, said about the hon. Queensland for many years. In 1927, 1928, ll02 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
and 1929 royalties on timber had been raised in the trade to build up the industry on a so high that it was absolutely impossible for satisfactory basis. This expression of appre the sawmilling industry to continue. The ciation was received by the then Premier, the Moore Government came into office, and Hon. A. E. Moore, on 13 October, 1931, from found that the great industry was in a Messrs. Wilson, Hart, and Company, Mary parlous state. They wished to resuscitate it borough- and build it up, and they laid the foundations of a policy for the development of the indus " We desire to record our appreciation try to its present state. It was upon those of the decision made by the Government a foundations that the present prosperity of the few days ago to further assist the sawmill industry was built, and that fact is proved ing industry of this State by making a by the claims made by the late Secretary for further drop of royalty payable on pine Public Lands eight months after he took and hardwood, and, in addition, to pay a office. Furthermore, when the Moore Govern subsidy of 5s. per 100 feet on rough and ment came into office we were in the midst dressed pine ordered from the State. This of a depression, and it was impossible to decision will, in our opinion, give an mill the same amount of timber then as impetus to the sawmilling industry, parti formerly. cularly in Southern Queensland, inasmuch as it will permit of our accepting orders At 3.32 p.m., for Queensland pine from the Southern States at clearly satisfactory rates. Mr. DUNSTAN (Gympie), one of the panel of Temporary Chairmen, relieved the Chair "We believe the Government's action man in the chair. will be the foundation upon which a large export trade will be built within a com Mr. BRAND: Furthermore, we were paratively short space of time, provided, handicapped by the fact that a Federal of course, the millers themselves handle the Labour Government refused to raise the duties situation as it should be handled.'' on imported timber into this country. Every one conversant with that period knows that In those words of appreciation we have the timber \vas coming in from America and opinion of a very large sawmilling company ,other places on a low duty. They know also that the Moore Government had laid the foun that it was only the overthrow or breakdown dation for a splendid export trade provided of the Labour Government, when J\Ir. Lyons it was properly managed by the millers them became Prime Minister and Mr. Fenton his selves. Minister for Trade and Customs, that the Mr. Collins: When was that? duties on timber were raised. That action promised to resuscitate the industry. ltlr. BRAND: I have already told the hon. member that it was in 1931. Again on Mr. CoHins: A Labour Government 31 October, 1931, another big sawmilling firm, reduced duties? Hyne and Sons, Maryborough, expressed their Illr. BRAND: When Mr. Fen ton was appreciation in these terms- Minister for Trade and Customs in the Lyons' Administration the duty on imported timber "We wish to tender you and your col was raised. leagues of the Cabinet our sincere thanks for your action in reducing royalties on both lUr. Collins: What Government? log pine and hardwood and allowing a rebate of 5s. per 100 feet on all sawn pine The Secretary for Public Lands: The coming from Crown logs exported out of Labour Government were not in power in the State. 1930. "We need hardly say that these conces lUr. BRAND: In 1931. sions are very greatly appreciated, and the Mr. Hilton: Now admit that you are assistance so afforded to the industry will, wrong. in our opinion, be considerable. We think that we should now soon be in a position Mr. BRAND: I am not admitting that I to retrieve our lost Southern market, con am wrong. I am saying that the Lyons sequently placing us in a position to give Government gave the industry-- more empfoyment to many of our hands Tile Secretary for Public Works: The who have been working very short time.'' Lyons Labour Government. There we have the opinion of two very llr. BRAND: When Mr. Fenton was important sawmilling companies that the Minis.t.er for Trade and Customs in the Lyons Moore Government did do something of• Government he increased the duty on timber importance in laying the foundation upon and thus enabled Queensland to build up a which our present export timber trade to good timber trade in the Southern States, the South was built. but it was left to the Moore Government in That is confirmed by the report of Mr. Queensland to reduce the royalties and so Grenning, the Director of Forests, who points help to stimulate this trade. I am going to out that to-day Queensland is able to supply outline what took place on that occasion, softwoods for our own requirements and because hon. members opposite are continually those of New South Wales and the other saying that the timber industry and those States, and that she is able to export certain associated with it in Maryborough have con softwoods to the East for casemaking pur tended that the Moore Government did not poses. The evidence thatJ I have now adduced do what was necessary to enable the people eO!'lfirms my statement that the remarks of the Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1103
Minister were unjustified, and that he wrongly for those mills. Those supplies could be condemned the hon. member for Cunningham sufficient only for the district itself. That as Secretary for Public Lands in the Moore is what the hon. member for Fassifern is Government. asking of the Minister. I do not think that the Minister quite grasped the fact, The hon. member for Fassifern made a that he was referring to those mills that com'plaint that certain sawmillers \Yere could not qualify under the quota system. unable to get supplies of log timber from the Crown. The Minister, in his reply, The Secretary for Public Lands: I knew stated that applications had been received what the hon. member was referring to. from the small millers and they were get ting a very good deal. He also stated that Mr. BRAND: The hon. gentleman did under the Sawmills Licensing Act of 1936 not refer in his reply to those mills that the Government had introduced a quota were not receiving quotas. We recognise system based on the supplies of log timber that the small m'ills that come under the received by sawmills in 1935, 1936, and quota system received quite a fair deal. 1937, and that that system was now in 'l'here is one paragraph in the report of operation. The hon. member for Fassifern the Department of Public Lands that I made a complaint with respect to those mills should like the Minister to explain- that could not qualify under the quota system. '' Stud Cattle Holdings. The Secretary for Public Lands: They ''Stud conditions.-Four stud cattle never got a supply of logs previous to the holdings carry the condition that stud cows be maintained, and that 750 pure introduction of that quota system~ bred herd bulls be sold annually." ~Ir. BRAND: Exactly. The report then proceeds- The Secretary for Public Lands: Then '' Number of stud cows maintained why should they get a quota now~ (from 1939 returns to hand) 450. Num Mr. BRAND: Under the Act I referred ber of stud bulls sold (from 1939 returns to a quota system. was introduced, and saw to hand) 826." milling companies that had not bought Mr. lUacdonald: He has been asked that Crown logs in certain specified years could question already, but has not answered it. not get supplies of Crown timber during later periods. ~Ir. BRAND: I was not aware of that. The Minister might be able to tell us The Secretary for Public Lands: You whether these figures are corre'Ct. To those supported the same principle in the sugar of us who know something about cattle, this industry. seems a remarkable statement. I should lUr. BRAND: I did not. say the greatest number of stud bulls that could be sold would be approxinYately 152 Tl1e Secretary for Public Lands: Of to 200, but the report says that 450 cows course you did. were maintained and 826 bulls were sold. Probablv the Minister will give us some ~Ir. BRAND: The hon. gentleman is somewhat befogged; he is confused between information on that matter. the two industries. The quota system in the Reference has been made to water con sawmilling industry has nothing to do with servation on stock routes. There is probably the sugar industry where every sugar mill nothing of greater interest to cattle and receh-ed a quota. The Minister knows sheep men than the provision of adequate perfectly well that those engaged in the saw supplies of water and grass on stock routes milling industry who were receiving supplies throughout the State. I recognise the diffi of Crown logs on the introduction of the culties that confront the department. I quota system received a quota. Here the know that some work has been done on trouble has arisen simply because certain some of the long-distance stock routes in the sawmilling interests were then working on north-\vest and western parts of the State; timber cut on private land, not on Crown but there is nothing of greater importance' timber. After the supply of timber from that the Committee could do than to con private lancl became exhausted, they were sider ways aml means of giving greater help unable to get logs from the Crown. That to the pastoral industry, which depends is the charge. The department informed us, largely on these routes for the transport of when we went1 to see its officers, that it had fat stock. We should recognise that we to draw the line somewhere. have not done all we might have done in the past in the control of stock routes. It is The hon. member for Fassifern asked, im'possible to take mobs of sheep or cattle and I ask, too, that a sawmill far removed over the ~Western stock routes at certain from another sawmill that is receiving a periods, because the pasturage is eaten off quota of Crown pine shall receive at least and no water is obtainable; at other periods some Crown logs in order to enable it to the pasturage is so poor that a considerable carry on the ordinary trade of that com percentage of the fat stock do not reach munity. vVe have at various places along the market in prime condition. our seaboard sawmills situated 50 miles from any sawmill that receives a quota of The many stock routes in our coast areas pine logs, yet that enterprise is unable to do not get· much attention from the depart get supplies. We ask for some consideration ment. I understand it is the practice tg 1104 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. let these stock routes to the adjoining selec fully conversant with the position, and from tors, and the result is that when a dry period my knowledge of it, will do everything is experienced little grass is left upon them possible to create greater closer settlement. and they are not of much service to the It is significant that whenever a good block pastomlist. I should like to see the con of land is thrown open for selection hundreds dition of our stock routes improved. Closer of applications to take part in the ballot supervision by departmental officers might are lodged. Tl:is proves that there is a accomplish this. The Minister might be able considerable amount of land hunger amongst to give his personal attention to the matter the people of the State-hundreds of people in the com·ing year. The late Minister gave only too eager to settle on the land, but their considerable attention to the question, and difficulty is to obtain suitable blocks. if we continue to keep on improving the stock routes, we shall assist a great industry. One matter to which I wish to draw atten tion in connection with land ballots Mr. CONROY (Maranoa) (4.5 p.m.): I although I do not suppose the department congratulate the Minister on his appointment can do much about it-is that when a good to the very high office of Secretary for block of land is thrown open for selection Public Lands. His is a very important applications are lodged by some persons who department that deals with many matters I do not believe to be bona-fide applicants. affecting the land. It controls the Sub I refer to those who lodge applications on Department of Prickly-pear Land Commis behalf of other persons, purely, I think, for sion, Sub-Department of Irrigation, Water speculative purposes. Of cuurse, if the lands Supply, and Sewerage, and the Sub-Depart are opened subject to personal residence, ment of I<'orestry. they get permission to appoint an agent, or what I call a dummy. If it is at all possible, The hon. member for East Toowoomba I suggest that strict inquiry be m~de into _the will admit that the Muckadilla bore is not qualifications of all persons makmg applica under the control of the Department of Public tions to take part in a ballot, especially when Lands but of the Railway Department. The good blocks of land are being thrown open. bore was first put down with the object of supplying water to that department, but it I notice that on page 6 of the report, refer was then discovered that, because of the ence is made to pastoral holdings, in the mineral quality of the water, it was not following terms:- suitable for railway purposes. Eventually ''During the past year an area of a lage dam was constructed within a few 921,426 acres (approximately 1,440 sql?-are miles of Muckadilla, from which the Railway miles) was resumed from pastoral holdmgs Department now obtains its water. I have in accordance with the conditions of the the matter before the Railway Department leases of the holdings concerned, or in with the object of inducing it to increase the connection with extension of lease of the flow of water in the bore, and if that is done balance of holding. the surplus water could be used for stock. ''The parts of these resumptions rcquir~d The hon. member also referred to the for additional areas for small selectors m repurchasing of estates. He has probably not the neighbourhood have either been surveyed given very serious c·onsideration to· that ques and opened and are now held, or are in tion. There is much suitable land in the process of survey, with a view of early Maranoa district that could be used for closer opening for such purpose. The balance of settlement, but the difficulty is that the the resumptions, being the areas proposed greater part of it is freehold. It would cost for public competition, are being wi~hheld the Government a very large sum of money from opening for the present unhl th.e to repurchase these estates, and one of the international situation has become clan major considerations is that the rental to be tied.'' charged settlers in order to meet interest and I take it that there is reason for delaying redemption on that outlay would be too great the opening of this land, bu.t I point out th~t a burden for them to carry. I should like the longer land is unoccupied ~he greater IS to see as much land as possible resumed for the risk of the spread of pnck!y-pear. I closer settlement-of course, land within sincerely hope that every effort will be made reasonable distance of a railway line, or a to open that land for selection at the earliest reasonably good road if, uf course, it is possible moment. economical for the settlers. I congratulate the department, particu It is very interesting to note the large larly the land rangers, on the action they area of land alienated from the Crown. have taken to enforce residence and occu Without dealing in detail with the various pation conditions. Some yeople s_o~~ matters to which these figures relate, I would times endeavour to evade their responsibili point out that the total area in occupancy ties. The percentage of selectors residing at present is 369,!Jl5,626 acres. The total personally on selections subject to personal area of Queensland is 429,120,000 acres. The residence conditions was as follows:- reserves (net, not leased), surveyed roads, and surveyed stock routes account for Per cent. 18,921,503 acres, and only 40,282,871 acres Perpetual Lease Selections 94.5 are not occupied. Perpetual Lease Prickly-pear Selections 99.3 Some of the present leases will exphe in Agricultural Farms .. 100 the near future, but others not for some Agricultural Homesteads 81 years, and I am sure that the department is Grazing Homesteads .. 98 Supply. (31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1105
Those figures indicate a remarkable posi methods, the first being the assessment by tion, and the land rangers are certainly the department itself and the second the carrying out their duties in a splendid reassessment by the Land Court. The Land manner. Court determines the rent of all existing I have previously referred to the danger holdings-pastoral leases, grazing selections, that might occur through prickly-pear on and perpetual-lease selections-which come land that was not resumed. I notice that up for reappraisement at stated intervals. the report of the Prickly-pear Land Com For instance, pastoral leaseholds are mission deals with this matter in the follow reassessed every 10 years, grazing selections ing words:- every seven years, and perpetual-lease selections every 15 years. The department '' The control of the prickly-pear pest is fixes the rent for grazing land granted as being well maintained throughout the additional areas, and land opened for new State, notwithstanding that in some locali selection. I contend that it is a wrong ties there are considerable areas of dense principle to allow the department itself to fix seedlings and regrowth, some of which have the rents. The fixation of rents by the Land reached the fruiting stage.'' Court is probably the right method, but when they are fixed by the department they lead In some instances there has been a fairly to the condition outlined by Mr. Payne in his dense regrowth, particularly on unoccupied report in these words- land. '' The Lands Department has, from time The report goes on to say- to time, been fixing rents on grazing lands '' This is largely the result of the heat granted as additional areas, and on lands waves last summer reducing the repro opened for new grazing selection settle duction of the cactoblastis insects.'' ment. I believe that if the cacto blastis is present it will soon reduce the growth of pear. I "It has been shown that the wool prices do not know whether these insects breed in ruling in the years 1933-34, 1935-36, and the district, and that is a matter concerning 1936-37 brought about the termination of which the Minister might make inquiries. the wool rental relief scheme. These good He might also ascertain through the officers prices also, not unreasonably, induced the of his department whether there is any danger department to increase its rental standards, of further infestation. and after the new level was fixed it was We all agree, of course, that irrigation adhered to in the interests of consistency, and water conservation are of great import· and little or no regard has since been paid ance, and I have no doubt that the Depart ment of Public Lands realises the great need to the subsequent drop in wool prices. of water conservation. Although not a great ' 'In consequence of this, departmental deal is said about this matter in the report rents are definitely higher than Land Court of the Sub-Department of Irrigation, \Vater fixations in the same neighbourhood. For Supply, and Sewerage, there is reference to instance, departmental rents on Wellshot a river that passes through the Maranoa elec Resumption (Longreach district), opened torate and is known there as the Condamine, and as the Balonne when it reaches the St. for selection in 1937, are 4d. per acre. George district. Along the banks of the Land Court rents on the same resumption, Balonne there is some fine land. If weirs for exactly similar land, are 3;i:d. per were thrown across the river at suitable acre.'' places a considerable quantity of water would The commission recommends- be impounded, irrigation could be carried on, and settlement could be expanded in '' It would be an act of equity to review those districts. Very little lucerne is grown these departmental rents and bring them in the Maranoa district, but my contention into harmony with Land Court determina is that if the river was weired as I suggest tions in the neighbourhood. Accordingly, a considerable quantity of lucerne would be it is recommended that all rents fixed by grown and this would promote a new industry the department on sheep-grazing lands since or one that has not been developed to any l January, 1937, be reviewed in the light great extent in Queensland-that is, fat of the subsequent economic condition of lamb raising. I hope that the department the industry, as set out in this report, and will give serious consideration to my sugges of Land Court rental determinations in the tion to construct weirs in the Balonne River. neighbourhood. The present department ally-fixed rents are generally too high.'' Dr. WATSON BROWN (Gregory) (4.7 I should like to go a little bit further and p.m.): I should like to congratulate the suggest that all rents should be fixed not by Minister upon his attainment of ministerial the department but by the Land Comt. Quite rank, and upon his appointment to the recently, the Land Court fixed rents and the important Department of Public Lands. I department appealed against the decisions of am sure that he will administer the depart the court in 106 cases. The department really ment with full regard for the benefit of the is not consistent in its methods and the use it people as a whole, and not in any biased or makes of its knowledge of the capacity of party spirit. the land. Of those 106 appeals by the Crmvn I desire to discuss the method of assessing 7 4 were dismissed and 32 were allowed. In the rent of Crown lands. There are two delivering judgment the court said, as 1106 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
reported in the ''Telegraph'' of 15 March, ''On the whole, the court considered 1940- that events since 1938 had not affected the standard of selection values established by ,' . . . the total area of grazing selec tions in these three districts which were decisions of the Land Court in that year reassessed in 1938 was about 6,534,000 and of the Land Appeal Court in March, 1939, and it thought that substant~al jus acres. In May and July, 1939, when the Land Court sat again in these districts to tice would be done to all parties if the rents on these appeals were iixed consistent determine further rents, it was faced with two important factors, namely, continuing therewith, particularly as the selections low wool prices, the average for the season were re-assessable as from a common date, 1938-39 being 10.56d. per lb., as against namely, 1 January, 1938. The desirable ness of reasonable uniformity in rents in 11.98d. per lb. for the previous season, and the same locality would be manifest.'' a continuance and intensiiication of drought conditions which in some sections of dis That supports my contention that it would tricts had reached disastrous proportions. be more equitable to have one assessing authority to assess the rents on original selec ''The Land Court had proceeded to assess grazing selection rents in the light tions. of these circumstances, and it was from The Secretary for Public Lands: How a number of such assessments that he would you describe the Wellshot country~ Crown appealed on the ground that the rents :fixed were too low. Dr. WATSON BROWN: Wellshot is certainly uniform country. ''That court said that, generally, the esti mated carrying capacities on which Crown JUr. Brassingt~n: First class and fairly assessors had based their rents were too uniform. high, in some rases being double the aver Dr. WATSON BROWN: To my mind, the age annual number of sheep which, in fact, rates on Wellshot are too high now. The the lessees had succeeded in carrying on point is that you can get a much more reason individual holdings during the preceding able assessment if it is carried out by the seven years. One of the Crown assessors court and not by the departmental officers. based his carrying capacities on the num I know it will be said that if we open lands ber of stock that could be carried in a we shall probably get a rush of applications, year of well distributed rainfall without but I do not think that would happen to-day. giving any consideration whatever to the I am quite convinced that the iixing of rents actual experience of recent years,'' by the court would be a much more equitable method than the present one. The Secretary for Public Lands: Would you say that many land rangers and com Queensland is in a state of drought more missioners in those districts have no continuously than in a state of prosperity; experience~ and the Department of Public Lands could give much aosistance remedying that state of Dr. WATSON BROWN: No, I would not affairs. In support of my statement I quote not say they have no experience, but their the suggestions made in the Payne Report, assessments are 1·ery often wrong. I suggest at page 74- it would be very much better to take the '' Enough has been said in previous pages evidence in the court than take the opinion to show that drought is a recurring circum of departmental officers. Then we should get stance in \V estern Queensland. One dis the opinion of departmental officers plus the trict may be affected this year, and a opinion of other experts. and be able to different district a year or two later. Then arrive at a much better basis of rental values a smashing drought may come which will than by taking the opinion of departmental affect a number of districts together. One officers. of the needs of modern Crown lands The court\ then went on to point out- administration is to recognise the recurring liability of drought in Western Queensland, '' The Appeal Court further stated there and to provide for automatic rental relief was no convincing evidence before it that when it comes. land values in the districts under review ''A provision should be incorporated in had increased in the past few years, and the law enabling a Crown tenant, whose it thought that the effect of better wool holding has become so dried-out that it priees under war conditions was largely will not support his stock, to apply to the neutralised by much uncertainty as to the Governor in Council for rental relief. If future. It could not be foretold for how he has to send most of his stock away on Ion[( or how short a period wartime con agistment, or artiiicially feed them, his ilitions might prevail, not what might be rental should be substantially reduced dur the trading conditions or wool prices in the ing the time his stock are ·away.'' aftermath of war." The Secretary for Public Lands: On At 4.15 p.m., that basis it should be increased in good The CHAIR.:\1AN resumed the chair. seasons. Dr. WATSO:Y BROWN: Dr. WATSON BROWN: No. The cause of his having to send his stock away on agist "These considerations have had a sober ment or having to use the stock routes is bad ing influence on values. seasons, unfortunately. If that were taken Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1107 into account, then the assessments would be a fire on Strathdarr destroyed 1,500 acres considerably lower. Rent is now assessed of grass. Other fires will occur and the coun on the full carrying capacity, and no arrange try will not have sufficient feed. If there is ment can be made for relief. no rain in the near future there will be further disastrous losses. Some scheme of Mr. Collins: On the average carrying fodder conservation and relief must be capacity~ devised, and if the Minister wishes to start Dr. WAT SON BROWN: Unfortunately, off on a sound basis in his department he one cannot get the average carrying capacity should take the initiative and call a confer in periods of severe drought. The average ence. By doing so he would certainly be carrying capacity can be obtained only by doing something that would eventually taking a period of 40 or 50 years, but if it achieve the objective we all have in mind. is taken over a period of, say, seven years, Whilst coming down to Brisbane the other periods of severe drought will be included, day I noticed that there was a considerable and consideration should be given to a system increase in the growth of prickly-pear in the of allowing rebates of rentals. I do not country out towards Morven. I should like suggest that a rebate of the full rental be the Minister to see if proper precautions allowed. I know that in 1929, 1930, 1931, and are being taken to check the spread of that 1932 there were properties that had not paid pear. It is not thick, but it is in fairly large since 1928, but it has been expected of them quantities, and perhaps something should be that the lessees should pay the rent. It is done to prevent its spreading any further. only reasonable to ask that some relief be given to people who are completely dried out. Tile SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS I certainly support this recommendation (Hon. E. J. Walsh, Mirani) (4.26 p.m.): of Mr. Payne- The hon member for Cook referred to the need for extending irrigation. I know he has been ' 'It is recommended that provision for very keenly interested in this matter, as it drought relief, applicable to all districts affects tobacco-growers in his electorate in as the occasion requires, be made accord particular. He has made out a good case, and ingly and that it be operated as from 1 the department hopes to have an extensive January last.'' investigation made into the question of provid Something on those lines should be done. I ing irrigation facilities for tobaC0o-growing do not say that if a man is carrying or feed in that locality. ing his stock on the country he should be Another matter referred to by him was the absolutely freed from rent, but some con good work of the Public Estate Improve sideration should be shown to him. ment Branch. I think that at this stage we can pay a tribute to the late Mr. Percy I again ask the Minister to consider the Pease for the expansion of that work. There necessity of giving larger living areas in the is no doubt that it has meant much to the back country. It is pleasing to note that development and settlement of new land the Government have taken into consideration throughout the State. It is one of the things an increase in areas. At one time the coun that settlers will long remember as being asso try was cut up into blocks of 5,000 acres, but, ciated with his administration of the Depart fortunately, the folly of that has been seen, ment of Public Lands. It has meant much in and the area has now been increased to 20,000 opening up jungle country in North Queens or 25,000 acres, but I still maintain that in land, access to which local authorities found most of that country 25,000 acres is not it very difficult to provide. large enough, and that no less than 40,000 or 50,000 acres would be really a living area. The hon. member for Hamilton referred to At present there are settlers who have very a discrepan0y in figures between the Auditor small areas. I have received a letter from General's report and the report of the Sub a man in Aramac who has only 5,500 acres Department of Forestry. I do not know and, unfortunately, since no country is avail whether hon. members do this deliberately, able to cut up he cannot get an extra area, but they are supplied with the same material and has to try to make a living on 5,500 that is handed to every hon. member on this acres. That is quite impossible. side of the Committee, and I remind hon. members that Ministers have enough to do The Department of Public Lands might do without making additions and subtractions to something in regard to water conservation in correct misstatements on the part of the Oppo that country. Something must be done for sition. If the hon. member would carefully the conservation of fodder, and I suggest to peruse the Auditor-General's report, he would the Minister that he call a conference of all find that the figures of expenditure on refores those interested in the land in Western tation agree entirely with those set out in Queensland to consider the possibility of the report of the Sub-Department of organising some fodder relief and conserva Forestry. For his information, however, I tion scheme. I should not like to say how point out that on page 44 there is reference this should be done, but I do know that to an expenditure of £221,785 2s. 4d. on something can be done. We must prepare reforestation, and on page 50 of the same for periods of drought, and that preparation report reference is made to a further expen can be done only by conservation of fodder. diture of £54,892 from Loan Funds, making Something has to be done at present. The a total expenditure of £276,677, the exact back country is very dry, and I suggest to figure set out in my reply to a question asked the Minister that he make a move in the by the hon. member for Cooroora a little time matter. There have been fires, and last night ago. 1108 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
The hon. member for Oxley referred to the increased costs on account of war conditions, supply of arsenic pentoxide. I notice that it is only right to grant an increase. Before the Deputy Leader of the Opposition will we agree to it, however, there will be an not allow himself to be drawn into these investigation into the matter by the Com controversies in which a number of mislead missioner. ing statements are made and I give him credit for that, even th~ugh he does not J.Ur. Moo re: It is chiefly used now for always handle the :financial side of matters in ring barking. shall.! say, the right way. Upon examining The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: the h1story of the supply of arsenic pentoxide, Yes; the pear having been controlled biolo I :find that in 1924 the retail price of arsenic gically, naturally not so much is being used. pentoxide in the open market was 2s. 6d. a lb. or £2 10s. for a 20-lb. tin, which the In his opening remarks yesterday, the hon. Commission now sells for 7 s. 6d. Large member for Cunningham said that land supplies were immediately imported by the rentals were :fixed by the Government, and Commission and made available to landholders that the Government had increased them. As at 3d. a lb. or 5s. for a 20-lb. tin as a special ex-Secretary for Public Lands he must have inducement to encourage the destruction of known then that the statement he made was prickly-pear, which, at that time, was a untrue. His remarks were followed by refer serious menace. Some years later, after the ences to the subject by other speakers, prickly-pear menace had been considerably including the hon. member for Oxley, who is diminished, this concessional price, including not always careful as to the truth of his free railage, was extended to landholders statements. I think there are many hon. desiring the poison for the destruction of members opposite who know the procedure in noxious weeds and useless timbers. the :fixation of rent on leasehold property, and I am sure they would be fair enough to At 3d. per lb., however, the Govemment say that apart from departmentally-fixed were involved in considerable monetary loEs, rents the matter is one for the Land Court. amounting to no less than £46,000 over the That court, being a judicial body, is not last seven years at which the poison was subject to direction by the Minister, ancl the sold at that price. hon. member for Cnnningham should have In the :first 10 years of the Commission's known that. It is free to :fix rents on the term certain trust moneys were voted by basis laid clown in the Act. Let us look at Parliament annually for its use, but at the the position. We shall see that there are two present time the Commission's activities, sections that materially deal with the fixation which include the purchase of arsenic pent of rent-sections 29 and 125. oxide, have to be :financed from Loan Funds, )Jr. Deacon: The department fixes some. and in the circumstances the heavy losses previously borne by it could not be carried The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: any longer. I said apart from the departmentally-fixed rents; rents generally are :fixed by the Land During the last year in which arsenic Court. pentoxidc 1:ras sold at 3d. per lb. the total qmmtity sold ~IYas 643} tons. Since the price Mr. Deacon: You fix the first rent. was increased to 4~d. per lb., from Septem Tlw SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: Lcr, 1937, the quantities sold were as The hon. member for Gregory explained the folJ01YS :- matter a little while ago. In the opening of Tons. land, or where additional areas are granted lfl:\S 49H by the department, rents are :fixed by the Hlil9 493 department, but that rent can run only for 19-W 464:!; the period laid clown in the Act. For grazing selections that period is seven ye~ns, pastoral Since the conquest of the pear by biologi holdings 10 years, an cl perpetual leaseholds cal means the quantity of poison sold each 15 years. They are then reappraised by the year has been steadily diminishing. court and the court has ample power to deal The selling price of 4:!;d. per lb. is about with the matters under section 29 of the Act, equnl to nctual cost to the department, but which says- handling and administratiYe charges and free '' lvhenever it is necessary to determine r:1ilage, 1Yhich an• considerable, are borne by the amount of any rent, or compensation, the Government. or value of improvements, or other money Recently a request was received from the payable or to become payable under this company concerned in the supply of arsenic Act or any other Act conferring jurisdic pcntoxicle for an increase in the price. This tion on the court in respect of such matters, inncase was asked for beca,nse of increased such amount shall be determined by costs generally. Before the Government the court, and the following rules shall be s:mctimied nny increase, I recommended that observed:- the whole matter should be submitted to the (i.) If the Crown is a party, the Commissioner of Prices with a view to pro Minister shall furnish to the court a tecting the interests of the users of arsenic report and a valuation with respect to pentoxicle and to see that they were not the land or improvements or other matter henvily burcl0ned by way 'Of an increase·d for which rent or money is to be paid, price. Obviously, if the compnny could put made by the Commissioner or some other up a good case by showing that it hacl to meet person; Supply. (31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1109
( ii.) The court shall require the lessee The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: and every other person respectively, by Hon. members opposite had a great deal to and to whom respectively the rent or say about the Payne report, but before I money is or will be payable, to furnish proceed to discuss it I want it to be under· to it a like valuation or a claim, and such stood that whatever I may say is not to be valuation or claim shall be furnished taken as being disrespectful of Mr. Payne. accordingly. In going into these recommendations I have to pay due regard to the fact that Mr. Payne (In every case of assessment of rent of a pastoral hol.Uing or grazing selec· has had a long association with land adminis· tion, such valuation shall also state tration in this State, and I have to remember the number of stock which the holding that he was chaiTman of the Land Adminis· may reasonably be expected to carry tration Board for many years, and that, in average seasons) ; therefore, many of the things that he dis· cussed in his report would probably at some (iii.) Any party to any proceeding to stage have been( affected by his own decisions. which this section relates after he has Then, again, I have to remember that he is furnished his valuation or claim, shall still a member of the Land Court and has have the right to inspect and take a authority to determine rents in those cases copy of any valuation or claim furnished that are brought before him for decision. to the court for the purposes of the pro· ceeding." J.Ur. Ewwards: A very capable officer, too. That is the first procedure where the rents are determined by the court. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: I have gone through these matters carefully, Section 125 gives the court very wide and I want to say in fairness to Mr. Payne power, too, in determining the rents. It that I have convinced myself that there are says- fewer appeals against his decisions in respect '' The court, in determining the rent of of pastoral holdings than those of any other a pastoral holding or grazing selection, member of the Land Court. shall have regard to- That is all the more interesting when we (a) The quality and fitness of the hear so much about relief that should be land for grazing purposes; given to certain grazing selections and pas· toral holdings. I have in mind the sitting (b) The number of stock which it may of the court in Cloncurry this year, in an reasonably be expected to carry in aver· area that has been very materially affected age seasons; for a long period by drought conditions. I (c) The distance of the holding from observed that 93 per cent. of the decisions railway or water carriage; were in favom· of the Crown's assessments. (d) The natural supply of water, and That is worth remembering, especially after the facilities for the raising or storage the criticisms that have been levelled at the of water; fixation of rent by the department. (e) The amount which experienced ::\I uch has been said about the Wool persons would be willing to pay for land Advisory Commission's report. I have, as 1 of similar quality in the same neighbour· have said, gone into this matter very care hood; and fully, and in order to deal ·with the question of Wellshot rents I had a map of that pro· (f) Any other matters ·which, in the perty prepared showing the determina tions ·opinion of the court, affect the rental made by the various members of the Land vf'.lue of the land." Court at different periods. I do not know The last provision is as wide as the ocean. why the commission should have referred to It gives the court power to examine every \Yellshot holding. The hon. member for phase of the industry before it determines Gregory has admitted that the country is of the rent of a pastoral leasehold or a grazing a fairly uniform nature. The hon. member selection. for Fortitude Valley, who has had very wide experience in pastoral lands, has also inti· Dr. '\Yatson Brown: That is the court mated by way of interjection that it was itself~ first-class and fairly uniform country. Those The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: opinions coincide with the views expressed I have already explained that the court is a by the Land Administration Board. For the judicial body and thus it is not subject to life of me, I cannot understand why criticism the direction of the MinisteT. has been levelled at the departmental fixation of rents of this resumption. The facts reveal 1ilr. JUoore: Have you ever heard of the that the departmentally-fixed rents are not court's reducing the rent below the original generally higher than the court rents, as value fixed by the Crown~ intimated in the commission's report. The The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: board cannot recommend that all rents fixed Yes. 0ll sheep-grazing lands by the department be reviewed. There are many reasons for that. Mr. 3Ioore: Below the original value? Obviously, if you are going to review the whole of the rents-the hon. member for The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: Aubigny will appreciate this point-it would Yes, quite a few. have to be borne in mind that certain grazing JUr. JUoore: I never have. selections got a substantial reduction in rent 1110 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. under the \Vool Relief Scheme. If there is might mention at this stage that in the first one thing more than another that causes dis place the recommendation of the assessing content among landholders it is differentia officer was for a rental of 4~d. an acre, but tion in both Crown rents and local authority the department reduced that recommendation rates. In 1937 the department opened the to 4d. resumed portion of W ellshot for selection. In July, 1938, a large number of selections The rents were :fixed with due regard to the on the resumption came before the court, and determinations made by the Land Court with the same assessing officer again furnished respect to the adjoining blocks. These rents the valuation, basing his recommendation on were fixed on the basis of 4d. an acre the cases already quoted. That is to say, throughout. where the court had given a determination, Dr. W:atson Brown: What was the rent naturally the assessing officer would take that of Wellshot holding itself~ as a basis for his assessment of the rest of the selections. The country at Wellshot is Tile SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: generally of a uniform nature-hon. members I am referring to the rent of the resumed have agreed on that-but there are slight portion of Wellshot holding, which is coloured variations such as water costs, degree of shade, in purple on the map I have before me. flooding, &c. The inspecting officer, after Several sittings of the Land Court, presided making due allowance for the various factors, over by different members, have been held recommended rentals at 4~d. an acre, and the since then. court gave rentals varying from 2jfd. to 4d. Mr. JUoore: Were they all guided by the an acre. \Vhere is the consistency when you have a commission recommending some same principle~ uniformity in rents and the court itself Tl1e SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: apparently cannot agree or adopt the same If they were guided by the same principle I principles in its determinations? cannot understand, to be candid, how the differentiation in rentals occurred. Dr. Watson Brown: Would not the court be more competent to say than any one JUr. Itloore: I mean the principles as individual~ set out in the Act. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: The SECRETARY FOR PTJBLIC LANDS: The hon. member must realise that to some If that is so and it is agreed that the Well extent the court, like the department, has to shot country is of a uniform nature, having be guided by reports submitted by experi regard to vari:Jtions in shade and bore costs enced officers. I remind hon. members that -factors that have to be considered-! still there are members of the Land Administra cannot understand the differential rentals. tion Board who have not only a theoretical knowledge from the departmental point of Mr. Moore: The court must also consider Yiew, but also practical knowledge gained ''any other factor'' as contained in the last from experience in the outback areas. Know paragraph of that section of the Act you ing the country well, and having been for quoted. many years associated with the problems of T1w SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: the West ern areas, they are competent to That is so. If the hon. gentleman will study give judgment in these cases. If they think this map later on I am sure he will form the the assessing officer has not done the correct same opinion as I have formed. I cannot thing they either reduce or increase the rental understand _the court's de terminations in this he recommends. In one case the inspecting case at all. These rentals have been based, officer recommended rentals up to 4::\d. and allowing for the low-lying country, at 1-!;d. the court did exactly what the department and 2J;;d., and the other rentals vary from 3d. had previously done: it reduced the officer's up to 4d. It is difficult to understand why valuation from 4:;\d. to 4d. the holding itself should have been rated at At a later court, May, 1939, further selec a lesser value by the court-at 2!!d. If the tions came before the court for rental deter land is of a uniform nature why should the mination, the same inspecting officer again lessee of the holding have the use of that furnishing the necessary valuations. Hon. land at a lower rental than the selectors are members will appreciate that in each paying for portions of the original holding~ instance in which the court has had An Opposition Member: Would there not to determine the rental the report has been made by the same assessing officer. be a big area of it left~ Basing his valuation on the court's The SECRETARY :FOR PUBLIC LANDS: determination in May, 1938, i.e., 3id. an acre, There is a big area of it left. I will give he again came down to the court's determina the history of the case so that hon. members tion, and in two cases 4d. an acre. 'l'he court can follow what happened. determined the rentals in five cases at 3d., and in two cases at 3~d. an acre. It may be In May, 1938, the rentals of several selec added that the :five cases are among the deter tions on the resumptions were submitted to minations against which the department the court for determination, and the same appealed. inspecting officer, adopting the same basis of valuation, recommended reutals of 4d. an Dr. Watson Brown: How did it get on acre, and in one case 4:;\d. an acre, but the in that appeal9 court :fixed the rentals of some at 3d., of Tt1e SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: another at 4d., and of some others at 3jfd. I I have just told the hon. member about the Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1111 determinations in the Cloncurry area and how It is all very well to say that full effect the department came out of it. Obviously should be given to the report of the Wool the cases were appealed against. If the board Advisory Commission. We know that over is of opinion that the court, in which a single the years there has been a tendency member of the court determines the rental, encouraged very much by speeches from makes an inequitable determination, it is its some hon. members opposite-to develop a duty to the Crown to see to it that the deci "gimme" policy. We had a system of sion is appealed against. If the Appeal relief associated with our industrial indus Court upholds the determination, it is then tries for many years, which was introduced just too bad for the department, and we by the Moore Government. That policy must let it rest at that. That is the final ttmded to reduce the standard of the workers decision. of this State, and we find it gradually creeping into our rural industries to-day, What I cannot understand is this: whereas largely as a result of the speeches made by the commission's report recommends some the hon. members opposite. Of course, I uniformity in rental, the court itself, which know that there are JJome hon. members has complete power and is not under the opposite who appreciate the energy of the direction of the Minister, cannot as a court nian who sets out to help himself-and I arrive at a system of uniformity. appreciate it myself-but the Government After all, the question of rentals is not the have always given every encouragement to big problem of the pastoral industry that any settler who has set out to show that some would make it out to be, and it is an he can develop his property, primarily in interesting feature of the policy of this his own interests, because eventually the Government that whereas the area under State must reap some benefit. pa-storal occupation has very substantially in It is unfortunate that hon. members oppo creased-the present area being approxi site have been encouraging the system of mately 252,000,000 acres under pastoral leaning upon the Government, and I notice, holdings, sheep and cattle-the rental npon going through the report of the Wool received from the total area is much less than Advisory Commission, that many of the it was years ago for a much smaller area. points raised cannot be substantiated when Dr. Watson Brown: You mean lower they are carefully examined. There seems rents and not less assessed~ to be, running through the report, a tendency to go to the Taxation Departm'ent The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: and take something away from there, to go No. At present, there are approximately to the Railway Department and reduce 252,000,000 acres. The area has very substan freights, to reduce wages, reduce rents; in tially increased. fact, one might read the report to mean, Mr. lUoore: The occupied areas are ''Give them the land, build the houses for further back, where the value is much less. them, put fences round the properties, give them the rolling-stock and railways to carry The SECRETAUY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: their products,'' and so on. I know that That may be, but we are collecting a much there are hundreds of bona-fide grazing lower rent. During the period of the hon. selectors in this State who are not looking gentleman's own Government, the department to the Government for a penny to develop was collecting more rent from a lesser area their propertirs. They are acting on their than this Government are collecting to-day own initiative, getting help from financial from the total area of Crown leaseholds. institutions, and they arc not men of the Pastoral h'oldings are 72 per cent. of the type who would be likely to come along Crown leaseholds, and the revenue received and loaf on their fellow-citizens. It is to from pastoral holdings represents approxi be deprecated that we should develop a mately 34 per cent. of the total land revenue. policy of encouraging people to believe that thev should lean on the Government at all Dr. Watson Bro1vn: That is only because tim:es for the finance that is necessary to people cannot pay for it, not because it is carry on their activities. not assessed. ll'Ir. Edwards: The Government lean on The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: them. I am pointing out to the hon. member that his point is not correct. Of the total amount The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LAXDS: of pastoral rents due on 30 September last, That is not so. The hon. member cannot 96 per cent. was paid. That destroys the have it both ways. He says consistently in hon. member's argument that the lessees are this Chambe1· that the landholder cannot not in a position to pay. It is obvious that afford to pay taxation. in the pastoral industry, rental is not the big problem that hon. members opposite J\Ir. lUoore: After all, your Government would make it out to be. appointed that commission of inquiry. We did not. Mr. Moore: You do not suppose that a Tl1e SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: lot of those were paid by individual settlers~ As I have pointed out, Mr. Payne was the The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: chairman of the Land Administration Board, It is immaterial how they were paid. I am and he was probably responsible for many meeting the contention of the hon. member of the recommendations that have been for Gregory. The position is that the rents made, not only to this Government, but to have been paid. the Government led by the hon. member 1112 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. for Aubigny. I notice that the report gives area to be purchased would have to be credit to various Governments who under second-grade country unsuitable for settle took land reforms in the past, but I venture ment. On no account should first-class the opinion that the really effective land sheep country be allowed to be transferred policy was embarked upon in 1927 by the in this manner. If this is adopted I feel .MeCormack Government, and it has be'en sure that 'Vestern graziers will, in future, extended and continued in all possible direc endeavour to acquire relief areas nearer tions by this Government. the coast.'' A great deal of c,omment on drought This matter came before the board on relief also is contained in the report of the that o0casion under the cllairmansh;ip of Wool Advisory Commission. In this matter, Mr. Payne. That is why I read that part might I point out that some years ago of his report. Mr. Leahy, Inspector of Stock Routes, was deputed to make a report on drought-relief lUr. Moore: I wish you would let us read measures, and amongst other things, he said- it all. 'ye tried to get it. " The making available of second and The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: third-class country unsuited for settle I am giving hon. members that report now. ment, to be balloted for by approved There is nothing in it that we are ashamed grazil'lrs holding less than a living area of of, and I am showing the hon. gentleman that open treeless downs; such areas to be known the Government have done much to carry as drought relief leases; and applications out many of the recommendations made in lodged by approved selectors not to be the report. The hon. member for Aubigny subject to the area and rental limitations must know that. as set out in sections 52 and 53 of the I\Ir. lUoore: I do not. Land Act. On blocks of 20,000 acres upwards in North-Western Queensland an The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: additional area of similar country would I will now give the Committee the comments not be of such great advantage.'' made on that report by the Land Adminis tration Board. They are as follows:- Itir. JUoore: That is the report we wanted to get so badly. ''There is much to commend this sugges tion but it is not likely to be of any The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: material benefit. Only a comparatively If the hon. gentleman will let me proceed I few graziers could avail themselves of such will ask him to reconcile these statements drought relief leases inasmuch as there with the recommendations made by the Wool is practically no vacant desert country in Advisory Commission. He goes on to say- the hands of the Crown and little of the " What is required in such areas is an occupied country is likely to be put on the additional area in some other district, prob market for sale by the present selectors. ably a scrubby or desert block. This "It would be a simple matter to frame would be of greater benefit and an insur the necessary legislation to give effect to ance against drought. During good years this suggestion should it be thought advis sufficient stock could be carried thereon to able to do so. pay expenses, and the country could be held "W.L.P." solely for drought relief purposes. That is Mr. Payne 's comment on Mr. Leahy 's ''When a selector desires to purchase an report. How can the hon. member for inferior or second-grade block, unsuitable Aubigny reconcile the two' Obviously what for settlement, as drought relief area, that he said then is true 'to-day. Very little no restriction be placed on such purchase; relief country is available. any such area purchased to be converted to a drought relief lease subject to the Dr. Watson Brown: At times it has been improvement conditions consistent with the purchased. running of sheep. There are graziers who from time to time have an opportunity of The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: acquiring by purchase a block of land in You may be able to purchase a property. such districts as Clermont, Emerald, It is all very well to say that these things Springsure, and other districts suitable for should be done, but there is an officer's drought relief purposes but are debarred report saying that country is not available. by rental or area limitation under the How then can effect be given to the commis Land Act.'' sion's report so far as this question is concerned~ And he then concludes by saying- Then there was the question of railway '' I consider that where inferior or freights. The Leader of the Opposition second-grade land unsuitable for settle c·ommented on this matter last year, and made ment is required bona fide by a lessee a comparison between the freight rate on wool as a drought relief area, there should be and the rates on other commodities. For no restriction on the purchase of the instance, he said that the freight on sugar block. This would be a matter for the for 100 miles was 33s. 6d. a ton, and that a discretion of the Minister. The purchaser similiar rate applied to other agricultural would have to be a selector of a sheep products. However, he left it at that, and area in the dry Western belt, and would did not go on to explain why the freights be required to hold the purchased area as were fixed at that figure. The hon. member a relief proposition only. Of course, the for Gregory, and indeed, all hon members Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. lll3 opposite, must know that it would take about men t. Pastoral development leases providing one and two-third vehicles to carry the same for extended periods were granted on condi tonnage of wool as sugar and wheat For tion that considerable sums of money were example, it may require an F wagon to carry expended on properties, and Mr. Payne 6 tons of sugar, whereas probably two F points out-and the hon. member for Aubigny, wagons would be needed to carry the same too-that as a result, the carrying capacity tonnage of wool. Is it not obvious that the of the country has been substantially freight on \vool should be higher than the increased. Obviously, the leaseholder must freight on sugar~ Then, if we consider the benefit materially from that policy. For value of the various products it will be seen years absentee companies were drawing that the value of a ton of wool is about thousands of pounds out of the land of 20 times the value of a ton of sugar, and the Queensland and putting nothing back into it. same applies to wheat. I do not know whether it would be good Dr. Watson Brown: Twenty times? policy to lay down as a condition of all leases that substantial sums of money should The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: be expended, having due regard to the fact Near enough. that rentals are very low. Nowhere in Aus JUr. Nimmo: Wool is worth ls. a pound tralia is land so cheap as the pastoral land and sugar 4d. a pound. ~n Queensland. Having that in mind, it is but reasonable that the leaseholder should The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: be called upon t.o develop the public estate I am giving the value on a tonnage basis. while he has the use of it. I am sure that The value of wool is very much in excess of policy has the general support of all hon. the value of sugar, and the same applies to members. It is one that this Government have wheat. The comparison of freight rates is decided should be applied to country it misleading, because nowhere in Queensland would be costly to develop. is sugar carried for 400 miles. Why make such a comparison~ :JUr. :5'Ioore: That is the only class of country that it does apply to. Then there is the statement in the report about the distribution of "-ages. It is said TJ1e SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: that something like £8,000,000 is distributed That is so. This condition in leases has in wages in the wool industry. sometimes been a.bused. From some of the instances that have come under my notice, Dr. Watson Brown: So it is. affecting my own electorate particularly, 1 The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: am not altogether satisfied that the just The same thing applies to every other thing has been done by the Crown in the industry. Anybody reading the report would extension of certain leases. Leaseholders imagine that if the total return from the have come to the department, and, probably wool industry was £10,000,000 an amount of on the recommendation of some officer, have £8,000,000 was distributed amongst the obtained a reduction in rental on the mere shearers, shed hands, &0., but such a state pretence of opending £100 or £200 on develop ment would be ridiculous. \Vhat is the good mental work. It is not my intention, because of giving an example like that' The same I am Minister, to shield any officer if he does thing applies to every other indush'J, whether the wrong thing. I will criticise my own it is wheat, sugar, or butter. The blacksmith department if I find it necessary to do so, has to be paid and the storekeeper has to be and I will take up any matter with respect paid. to any lessee. That is a reasonable attitude to adopt. I expect efficiency in my depart Dr. 1Yatson Brown: It is an economic ment. fact. I will give the Committee an instance-one The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: that \vas brought under my notice the other The same thing applies to every other day. Hon. members will remember that the industry. In some industries the wages cost Senetan- for Health and Home Affairs intro would be lower than in the wool indu~try. duced a"Bill to provide for the valuation of leasehold poperties by amending certain There are many matters mentioned in the sections of the existing legislation. In justifi repOTt. It is very interesting reading, and cation of those amendments the shire con I do not condemn it as a whole, but many cerned drew attention to the conditions of a of the things mentioned in it have been particular lease. I think it was the Fox carried into effect by the Government. For borough holding in the Goondiwindi district, instance, Mr. Payne had a great deal to say and I think the matter was dealt with when about pastoral development leases and about the hon. member for Cunningham was Secre the good \VOrk of the Government in this tary for Public Lands, and Mr. Payne was respcd. This point interests me very much. chairman of the Land Administration Board The pastoral holders have occupied their and Prickly-pear Land Commissioner at lands for many years at a very low rent, the time. I observed that this lease had been depending upon good old nature for every extended for a considerable period at the thing and doing nothing in the way of fodder low rental of 2s. 6d. a square mile, or £8 conservation or water improvements. The for the whole area. The area ·was 70 policy of pastoral development leases was square miles. I could understand that initiated by the McCormack Government in this rental could be :fixec1 if the area waq 1927, and was continued by sucoeeding badly infested with prickly-pear. Fox Governments, including the Moore Govern- borough was a prickly-pear lmsehold. Its 1114 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
carrying capacity was estimated at one beast speech this afternoon. In his first speech, he to 5 acres. vVe have pastoral holdings in took credit for everything that was all right the Blackall and Barcaldine districts with a in the State, but everything that was wrong carrying capacity of one to five or one to six he attributed to the policy of the Moore paying, not 2s. 6d. a square mile, but up to Government, although it is eight years since £8 a square mile. This illustrates how diffi they were in power. 'l'he ::Yiinister has been cult it is to keep control of these matters a very apt pupil of the political party to departmentally. which he belongs, but I suggest to him that it would be much fairer to admit that the I take the view, even in connection with whole country was in great financial difficul pastoral development leases, that. there should ties during the period the Moore Government be no rental reductions unless good and were in office, and that other Governments in sufficient reason is shown. I have noticed in po1ver at that · time, such as the Scullin one or two eases that certain big landh9lders J?ederal Government, the Hogan Government have, on the expiry of their leases, bid up to in Victoria, and the Lang Government in £3 and £4 a square mile in order to retain New South Wales-in which State conditions their previous areas. They did so in order to were worse than those in any other State--- keep out some other person who was not were all defeated at the next elections. financially strong enough to bid against Would it not be just as fair for me to say them. that-- lUr. Macdonald: Is Foxborough a sheep Tile CHAIRJUAN: Order! I ask the hon. or cattle property "I member to sit down. I ask the hon. member The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: to come to the point that he is leading up to A sheep property. It is in the Goondiwindi quickly. I am waiting for him to do that. area, and most hon. members will agree that I desire him to do that very definitely and is as good sheep country as we have in quickly. Queensland. .Mr. EDWARDS: I will give it to you As L was pointing out, the holders of these veq quickly, Mr. King. The hon. gentleman, developmental leases outbid the other men when referring to the Moore Government, who are not financially able to pay what is claimed credit for his Government for the obviously an uneconomic rate for cattle work done in connection with the unemploy ment relief scheme at that time. There was country. Later on they come to the depart land developmental work in that scheme, and ment with a proposal to extend their leases. I do not think, Mr. King, that you will rule Such a lease is extended and the rental is me out on this subject. The report of the reduced by, say, £3 :V mile a ye~u on the con department of which the hon. gentleman is dition that they spend £12 a mile. It is not now in charge, in 1932, stated- the lessee's money that is being spent; it is the Crown's money. That is a phase of this '' When the Commonwealth and State form of lease I intend to keep some control loan moneys for the relief of unemploy over, and I warn any of those who may have ment were made available in April, 1932, the same purpose in mind that they are not and the Slate Employment Council was getting any extension of a lease that involves called into· being, definite approval was a substantial reduction in rent. If they get an extended lease, they have security of given for a sum of £190,000 to be placed tenure for a considerably longer period than at the disposal of the Board for advances otherwise and they should be willing, having to landholders for developmental works on due regard to the improvement in conditions rural lands. generally, by way of road transport and in other ways, to pay an increase in rent. ''The main developmental projects for which advances could be made comprised Those were one or two examples I wished ringbarking, scrubfalling, clearing, fencing, to cite to show how difficult it is to get uniformity in these matters. The court is and the provision of water facilities. Tht> guided by the Act, and even then, the rentals eonstruction of silos was also contemplated on different parts of the same holding vary as a desirable work for which advances from 2:!/;d. to 4d. an acre for grazing selee could be made:" tions. The hon. gentleman took credit for the com I wish to say in conclusion that although mencement of all that work. That shows how the Government did not give complete effect unfair and unjust he was as regards what to the Payne report, many of its recommen has occurred. It would be equally fair for dations have been part and parcel of the me to say that it was the holding up of the Government policy for some time past. State in 1925, and 1927 by strikes that caused the trouble that was responsible for the JU:r. EDWARDS (Nanango) (4.18 p.m.): Moore Government's assuming office in 1929. I congratulate the Minister upon his elevation After all the Department of Public Lands to the high office of Secretary for Public plays an important part in the administration Lands so soon in his parliamentary career. of the State, and the holding of petty and I wish the hon. gentleman to understand party ideas will never get us anywhere in the that any criticism I may have to offer is not deYelopment of the State. meant in a personal sense. I think he It is quite true that the Acting Attorney improved about 75 per cent. in his second General, myself, and others found there were Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1115
very grave difficulties in \,Y estern Queensland Mr. EDWARDS: You must admit, Mr. iu connection with land settlement. King, that we are discussing land m'atters, and this is one of the problems of the land. The Acting Attorney-General: We saw some very fine selections. The CHAIR}IAN: Order! I have just given my ruling to the hon. member. He Mr. EDWARDS: I am not denying that for one moment, but we also found very grave is quite in order in discussing r_en~s and difficulties. There was still much to be done, anything else that may come w1tlnn . the as regards development and we should not ambit of this vote, but he is not entitled forget the saying- to discuss land tax, because that matter can be discussed on the Treasury Estimates. '' So muclr to do; so little done.'' Mr. EDWARDS: Then I say exactly the The Acting Attorney-General: In a large same thing about land rents. It is unjust State such as Queensland. to dra>Y rent from a man who has developed his property fully. I have no objection to Mr. EDWARDS: There is no doubt about the levying of rent from people who take up that. I am willing to give to the Government land for speculative purposes and w~o hold all credit that is their due but on the other it for years without either stock1_ng ~r hand it is very petty inde~d for members of improving it, but if a ma~ is developmg h.1s the Government to be continually blaming the area, then he is benefitmg the State' m :Yioore Government or some other persons various ways. always shouldering the responsibility for trouble on to somebody else. - The Acting Attorney-General: You want to take taxation away, yon want to reduce Mr. CoUins interjected. railway freights, and you want to rednce Mr. EDWARDS: I will tell you some rents. How are you going to derive reve1me~ thing. Mr. EDWARDS: I know that the Govern Tl1e CHAIRMAN: Order! I ask the hon. ment have to get finance, but in order to member to address the Chair. keep up standards and be able to raise our own finance >ve must give some encourage lUr. EDWARDS: I am only too pleased ment to people to settle the country. The to do so. Acting Attorney-General knows qnite well If the money the Government are spend that the revenue will be derived from the ing were being used as it was being used people after the land is settled and when the Labour Government came into developed. Revenue will be derived from office in 1932-that is, in carrying out the land itself, from the railways, indirectly developmental work-the State would be in from the development work that is done, a splendid position to-day. We should be and in various othe1· ways. in a much better position, not only because On several occasions I have referred to we should have had a greater amount of the laml that has been reclaimed from rural developm'ent work clone, but also prickly-pear. 'rhe Government shoultl give because it would have encouraged numbers careful consideration to the development of of men to leave the large cities. We should those lands. If much of that country had also be in a position to encourage capital been developed, even to the extent of ring from other States. All this would be of barking only, I venture the opinion that benefit to Queensland. by now it would have been excellent relief ~Ir. Hilt on: That has all been done. country for our starving stock. Unfortu nately, even that degree of development has liir. EDWARDS: It is obvious that hon. not been carried out to any great extent. members opposite are trained only to look Consideration should be given by the depart at matters from the' narrow viewpoint of ment to that important question. the Government's policy. That has not been done at all. I suggest that if the hon. The Minister spent much time talking about member toured this State a little more he the policy adopted by the Government in would realise how little has been done. regard to the milling of soft timbers. I want to say, whether the Minister believes it I desire to refer to land taxation, and or not, that many of our small sawmills by that I mean rents and general taxation cannot get logs and have not been able to of the land. It would be of immense help do so for some time. In some instances, as to the people of Quc,'nsland if all land tax the Minister knows, officers of the department was removed fronl' developed lands. have written to people asking them to obtain 1Ur. Conins: It would be a big help if their logs from another mill, perhaps a big all income tax was removed, too. mill. That is not just in the interest of country districts, because it does not help lir. EDWARDS: That is an entirely development of the country. When a small different matter. I think that income tax mill is established the people round who is a jnst tax. In my opinion, it is unjust desire to get timber for building and develop to impose land tax upon a man who is ing the country-even though they are only developing his property. building cow bails or pig sties-cannot get it from that mill, but haYe to pay extra The CHAIRlUAN: Order! Land tax is a costs because they must get their require problem for the Treasury. I ask the hon. ments from a large mill a long way away. memoor to remember that. Timber is actually being drawn in some 1116 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply.
districts for 40 to 60 miles past small saw to become a worthy successor to the late Mr. mills at the present time. Many small saw Pease in that office. mills that were sawing softwoods have gone out of the trade and people are depending I rose especially to refer to the rural for the building of their! homes on a monopoly developmental loan scheme, because the hon. that exists in connection with the purchase of member for Oxley had made some misleading soft timbers. A town may be going ahead statements about it. In the first place, he in a country district and able to get hard said that the Moore Government had made wood timber, but the people of that town £190,000 available to farmers and settlers, have to send great distances to get their but he omitted to say that the money was softwood requirements. I do not think that provided by the Commonwealth Government. is fair. The Maryborough Milling Company It was a Commonwealth-State loan that was had quite a large mill out in the Bunya to be made available to farmers and settlers Mountains employing many hands, but to-day at 3 per cent. to enable them to improve that mill is almost closed down. their properties. The second loan was one of £100,000, provided out of State funds at The Secretary for Public Lands: Which 3 per cent. The next one was £199,000 from mill are you referring to~ State funds at 4] per cent., the next of £62,838 at 4 per cent., the next £19,000 at lUr. EDWARDS: People are drawing 4 per cont., the next £18,000 at 421 per cent., the logs away instead of sawing them where and on these Estimates there is an amount the timber was obtained. Those logs are now of £15,000 for rural developmental work. going to the centre of Maryborough. The first loan at 3 per cent. provided for The Secretary for Public Lands: Whose easy repayments over a period of 15 years company? and for the first two years interest only was Mr. EDWARDS: Hyne's. That sort of to bo paid, and after that interest and princi thing is going on all over the couniq. pal. 'The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth loans at 4 per cent. and 4t per cent. provided for The Secretary for Public Lands: Are repayments over 25 years and for the first you referring to pine logs W five years interest only. Mr. }~DWARDS: Yes. Everyone must When the hon. member was speaking and admit that that is irritating for a small saw pointing out what had been done 1 asked, miller to see splendid pine logs going past by way of interjection, what wages were to his mill almost every day to mills somewhere be paid to the men who were employed to do else. Perhaps much of the sawn timber has the work. The hon. member for Oxley replied to be carted back again when required for that I was an advocate of higher wages and building purposes. I think every little centre shorter hours, and I said that I was. I should be given The amount that has been written off as Contrast that policy with the policy of the unrecovcrable is £2,341. These figures show Government to-clay. Before a block of land that these loans have been a good investment together with the timber growing on it i~ for the Government. It is important to thrown open for selection to-day, the Gov~rn observe that of £688,904 advanced up to date ment build a road to it. After all the avail for developmental work, the only apparent able timber is taken off, it is put up for loss after eight years, is £2,341. auction and the timber that is left becomes the property of the person who was successful These advances were used in the following in the ballot, if he applies it to the develop manner:- ment of the land. £ I had an opportunity of seeing the mar" Ringbarking and suckering 371,454 vellous work that the Public Estate Improve Scrubfalling 87,754 ment Branch of the Department of Public Clearing, stumping, and grub- Lands is uoing, not only in building feeder bing 14,919 roads to the railways, but in throwing open Fendng 75 450 timber lands. No greater illustration of the Water improvements 1oo:os3 great •vork it has done is to be found than Other improvements 6,569 the Kirrama road, which has given access to 'The total amount expended by borrowers to a great area of timber. In various other 30 June, 1940, on this developmental work is parts of the State the roads built by this £664,727. During the currency of the loans sub-department have proviuecl much employ up to 30 June last, 22,613 men received ment and done much to make its timber employment under the scheme. Therefore, resources accessible. I forget the figures. for not only was thP scheme of benefit to the the amount of timber that has been taken farmers, settlers, and graziers, but also to the off, but it has been enormous. All this unemployed men in the districts where the shows that the policy of the Labour Govern" money was expended. To-day, not only the meut has been very effective in developing Governm.ent, but the people are benefiting the State. A fine example of that is the from tlns developmental work in increased reclamation of thf' land at Cairns, which has production. made a large area available to the people and given the local council additional rate I commend the Government for making able property in its area. available a further sum this year to carry on that excellPnt work. I know that the The hon. member for N anango was very department has received many letters from concerned about comparisons maue between graziers, selectors, and farmers, expressing this Government and the Jl.foore Government. thanks to the Government for the advance at As I sat here and listened to him, he such a low rate of interest to help them reminded me of something that happeneu in improve their property, and adding that had the last war. l\Iy brigade was to attack the it not been for this aid they could never have village of Hamel, and, in order to give them effected the improvements. experience, some American troops were attached to the battalion, and, being good Mr. FARRELL (Maryborough) (5.42 Australians, we taught them as much as we p.m.) : I, too, wish to take the opportunity could, including ''two-up.'' During the of congratulating the Minister on his appoint" battle, we took a certain number of prisoners, ment. I am sure by the manner in which he and one of the Yanks who were coming back answered the criticism of our opponents he with half a dozen prisoners happened to meet has established the fact that he has not only our colonel, and he went up to the colonel the ability but also the capacity to take and said, ''Where do I take these guys charge of such an important department and to shoot them~'' I suggest to the hon. be a worthy successor to the late Mr. Pease. member for Nanango that he take that ghost out and shoot it, the same as the AmP.rican I shall always be grateful to the late Mr. wanted to do. Pease for the opportunity and privilege he afforded me of accompanying him on a tour After all is said and done, it is not hon. of his electorate in North Queensland. I members on this side of the Connnittee who was thus able to obtain an insight into the are continually referring to the Moore Govern" Government's policy. In addition, the trip ment, but him. members opposite. was an education with respect to that great country, North Queensland. I was able to TI1e Premier: It is a ghost that will compare the policy of our opponents and the haunt. them all their lives. policy of the present Labour Administration Mr. FARRELL: Yes, as the Premier has especially in land settlement and timber. Th~ stated, it is a ghost that will haunt them all policy of earlier Governments was to throw their lives. open blocks of land, together with the timber growing on it, in such areas that only the The timber industry in Maryborough is big people were able to tender for it. As a one of the most stable industries in that city. result, not only did they buy the timber on It provides the greatest amount of employ" that land, but the land also. After falling ment at the basic"vmge rate, and the three and selling the timber, the owners were able mills combined pay over £2,000 a week in to cut up and sell the land and pocket the wages. profits. As the hon. member for Port Curtis reminds me, Kingaroy is another example of The hon. member for Isis read out two that policy. letters, one from Hyne and Sons Limited, and IllS Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. one from Wilson, Hart Limited, congratulat· Much has been said to the effect that ing the Moore Government on the steps they small sawmills are not able to get logs. had taken to make the timber industry more The hon. member for Nanango suggested stable. During that period I think they that Hyne and Sons Limited had closed were working something like three days a week. their mill in the Bunya Mountains, and all I do not dispute the fact those gentlemen its logs are sent to the Maryborough mill. did write those letters, because they would, I want to give that the lie direct. That is no doubt, be grateful for anything that was a misstatement of fact. What has occurred done to put the industry on a better footing. is that whereas the mill in that area may If they were thankful for what was done then, have been closed down, it has moved on to how much more thankful must they be to the another area, but any quota to that mill Labour Government for putting the industry must remain there and not be transferred on the footing it is on to-day~ to another mill. As a matter of fact, there are two mills in the country, one the pro Not only do we employ that number of perty of Wilson, Hart Limited, and one of men in that industry to-day, but we are Hyne and Sons Limited, in addition to the filling contracts not only in Queensland, but two large mills in Maryborough. Nobody throughout the Commonwealth. That is the can show that the principle laid down by result of the policy of the Government. the Minister and his officers as regards the Moreover, during the greater part of the quota for log timber is not fair and reason year two shifts are being worked at the able. It is all very well for country saw mill. Of course, I do not suggest that that millers to say they should get this or that, is being done all the time. Credit for the but supposing the' policy they advance stabilisation in that industry is due to none to-day was adopted, what would it mean f other than the Labour Administration, in It would mean simply that the transfer of which the late Hon. Percy Pease was head logs from one sawmill to another would only of the Department of Public Lands. We increase or decrease the volume of employ are not only filling Government contracts, nl"ent in the two areas, since between them but supplying butter boxes and munition they cannot get any more logs than they are cases for the Defence Department. In getting at present. Nor can we sell any checking over the lists of Wilson, Hart more than we are selling to-day. It is Limited a few days ago I found that really only a question where it is desired to 375,000 butter boxes were made this year. gh'e employment. All that can be done is That does not include munition cases. Hyne really to transfer employment. If you and Son Limited do not make up the boxes take the logs from one mill you decrease its but consign them as case timber to Bris employment and increase that of the mill to bane, and their returns disclose that which the logs are transferred. Actually, the 1,500,000 superficial feet of this timber industry would not be one whit better off. was manufactured in 12 months. These figures give hon. members some idea of the The object of introducing the quota magnitude of the work of these firms and system was to make an equitable distribu what they are doing by utilising every bit tion of supplies. At the present time, even of pine cut. though a pine log might be growing at Maryborough 's back door, Maryborough It was suggested, I think, by the hon. would receive only her quota, just as other member for Hamilton, that to-day cases are centres do. In fact, the great part of our made only from tops. That is not the only pine supplies to-day comes from as far North method used to-day. as Many Peaks. While the country sawmills Mr. Nimmo: The Minister said that. participate in this quota system with us, they have the right to buy from private lUr. FARRELL: I do not think he did. persons, so that actually their position canno~ lUr. Nimmo: Yes. be improved except at the expense of Mr. FARRELL: He may have mentioned stabilised mills. Another factor to be con it in passing-I ·will not deny it-but I sidered is that the country mi.lls cannot remember hearing the hon. member for handle waste as efficiently as the larger Hamilton say it. In the large mills in mills do. Marybmough to-day there is not 2 per Another important point, too, is the fact cent. waste in the use of pine timbers. By the that in the larger mills the Australian use of the Lindeman jointer machine the Workers' Union, by protecting the interests whole o-f the timber is utilised for the makin.g of the ·workers, is able to see that all of butter boxes and a great number of youths amployees are paid a just return for the in :Maryborough are given employment. In work they perfmm, ·whilst, on the other hand, addition, these mills also make table tops it cannot be said by any stretch of imagina and consign them as far as West ern tion that that can be done in country sawmills. Australia. I know that the country sawmills not only 1Ur. Nimmo: Good old priva.te enterprise! do not pay prescribed wages, but they work much longer hours than we do in the city. ~Ir. I<'ARRELL: It is private enterprise, but it is assisted by the State Government's I was pleased to see a statement by the policy. It cannot be gainsaid that the Minister a few days ago to the effect that timber industry is enjoying the prosperity he was going to do his utmost to encourage that it is experiencing as a result of the more extensive use of hardwoods. I suggest policy of the Labour Government. to hon. members that they pay a visit to Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. lll9 the Forestry showroom and see what beau If the proposal was properly investigated, tiful effect can be had by the use of our I am sure the Minister would agree with me han1 woods. Very often one finds architects that that is something that should be done ir.sisting upon the use of, say, a piece of in that locality. In the Proston districts 4 by 2 pine when a piece of 3 by 2 hardwood there is an amount of millable timber that would serve the purpose better. h.nother with assistance from the Government we thing is that many architects do not use could rail down at key-market rates. We narrow flooring boards. Narrow hardwood have key-market rates in Maryborough the flooring boards can be used to great same as in other places and the prices of all advantage. the salable timbers are based on that rate. If the Govemment would further assist that For the last 60 years we have been cutting industry by giving it a rebate to bring the and carting timbers from districts round timber down, it would prove to be an asset the town of Maryborough, but during recent to the Govcmment. I hope the Minister will years any deficiency in supplies has been have my proposal investigated by Mr. Gren made up by timbers obtained from Fraser ning and his officen. J:sland. I ask the Minister to consider care fully the closing up of the timber areas round The timber industry is one of the most 11aryborough for about 10 or 15 years and stable in the State, it is a valuable asset, and allowing us to draw our supplies from the it should be encouraged in every possible way. Proston areas for that period. It is not possible to spend too much money For the last 60 years we have been cutting on reforestation, because that constitutes the our hardwoods in the Maryborough area to foundation of our future supplies. I have no such an extent that we are not getting the complaint whatever to make about the amount best out of the timber. ·when I say "best" of money spent on reforestation in the Mary I mean that one has to realise that a log will borough district, but I should like to see more increase 1:': inches in girth each vear. I was spent in reforesting hardwood areas if at a mill the other day and saw· some beau possible. tiful logs brought in which, had they been lllr. From the revenue received allowed to grow for some years, ·would have Nimmo: been of immense value to the industry. I from royalties~ should like to point out to the Minister that Mr. F ARRELL: Hon. members opposite a considerable amount of our hardwoods is seem to think that the Government do nothing being left in the bush as a result of the to maintain and promote the timber industry. policy we are following to-day. There is a considerable amount of tops which, if allowed The Secretary for Public Lands: It does to grow, would make millable timber in years not matter where the money comes from so· to come. long as it is spent for a useful purpose. lllr. ::!Iac Mr. F ARRELL: If we adopted that policy that brought them about. I give the Govern and pursued the parochial course of spending ment of that day the same credit for honesty everything obtained from a distric;t-- of purpose as we give the Government to-day. They did much for the benefit and advance ~Ir. lUacdonald: No. ment of the State. Ever since Labour came Mr. FARRELL: In that district-- into power, we have heard of the cry "big areas.'' In fact, that was their war-cry before .lUr. Macdonald: I am not advocating they gained the Treasury benches. They said that. that the big areas must be resumed for closer ~Ir. F ARRELL: A real difficulty would settlement, whether in the Coast or ·western be created. districts. Labour has been in power for many years. What has been the result? We .Mr. :;}lacdonald: I am not suggesting find that these large leaseholders in tihe that. Western districts-they are not freehold as ~lr. F ARRELL: The hon. member is the people were led to believe-were cut up asking that the whole of the revenue obtained for closer settlement, but after an experience from the sale of timber should be put back of a few years we found that they weTe too into the industry. small. If one reads the report of the Land Administration Board one will see references lUr. lUacdonald: Yes. to resumptions that will be used to increase Mr. FARRELL: If the money was spent areas thrown open a few years ago so that in the districts from which it was earned, it they may be made into living areas. What is would lead to inequity. A policy of reforesta the good of our opponents roaring all over tion should be carried out on suitable areas the country that our big areas must be sub throughout the State. I am grateful for divided into living areas, >Yhen many of the what has been done in my district, and I subdivisions already made are not living hope it will be continued. areas~ There are many places where subdivi sions have not worked out as the Government In conclusion, I should like to pay my expected. The most difficult thing for a respects to the officers associated with the man settling on our Western areas is to get sub-department, and particularly to the officer enough capital to make his holding economi in my district, Mr. Rose, for the courtesy that cally efficient and give him a respectable he has always extended to me in my advocaey living for himself, wife, and family. of matters for the benefit of that district. Let us for a moment review the position lUr. WALKER (Cooroora) (7.24 p.m.): I in the more settled areas in the early days. think it will be agreed that land settlement I remember the position at the outbreak of has always been an important subject for the Gympie gold rush in one of the most discussion in this Chamber, both now and in fertile districts of Queensland. Large areas the past. Successive Governments have been of scrub existed in that district, suitable for compelled to alter their policy to suit the production of any description. J.\Iost of that times, and to meet the requirements of the land was then lying idle. The majority of it people. has now been selected, but I remember the day when it lay dormant because people did It is very difficult for the young hon. not think its settlement was worth the cost members in the C:bamber to-day to under of falling the scrub on it. VVe Queenslanders stand the reasons that prompted the policy of did not know the value of scrub lands then. land settlement, say, 50 to 60 years ago. Nowadays we fall the scrub on that land and Loo kin:; at the matter in retrospect, one finds put it under grass. When a great number of that the people of these days are inclined New South Wales settlers settled on the land to regard the land-settlement policy of the between Brisbane and l\Taryborough, quite very early days as being almost tantamount an outcry occuned in the New South \!Vales to a crime, but it was the only policy that Parliament. Those of us who have had the could be followed in those far-off days. opportunity hnve seen how conditions alter Indeed, land settlement 60 years ago was from time to time. It is only 35 years ago almost non-existent, because the rank and file that all our beautiful scrub lands merely of the community had no money to spend awaited the settler to come along with the on closer settlement, and, indeed, the wealthier axe. It is no use now crying about land settle man was in almost the same position because ment and saying what we should have done there were no markets for his products. I and what we should not have clone. can rc~all that, even in my lifetime, good, sound bullocks ''ere boiled down just for the I heard the hon. member for Maryborough lard on vVidgeo Station, 20 miles from Gympie, advocate the construction of roads into newly because the c~ncasses could not be disposed of settled areas before they vmre worked. Why, in any other way. the Kidston Government introduced that policy 36 years ago. If the hon. member It was wise for the Government of that day cares to go to the Department of Public to settle the c·ountry in big areas. I remember Lands, and inquire at the Public Estate the late Sir Alfred Cowley, in the course of Improvement Branch, he will find that what a speech in this Chamber, saying that if it I say is correct. I myself have had many were not for the money received from the big sums granted by that sub-department to sale of Crown land at that time Queensland construct roads to areas of lOO and 160 acres would have gone broke. Therefore, hon. under the supervision of the Public Estate members must realise that the facts of to-day Improvement Branch. We built the whole of must be considered in the light of the causes those roads from the funds of that branch, Supply. [31 OcTOBER.] Supply. 1121 and this sub-department has continued that your deeds. That is the finest syrstem of all, policy to this day. It has never altered. The because it gives men an opportunity to get a Moore Government carried it out; it has been start and become independent men and get carried out by the present Government, on the same footing that some of us are on. perhaps to a greater extent than formerly, because they have been able to use a greater Hon. members abuse the Moore Government, number of unemployed on the work. It and talk about what they did in regard to should be sufficient for hon. members to know land settlement. The Moore Government that this policy was introduced by the Kidston reintroduced the homestead system on the Government. We must realise that many Atherton Tableland, where the hon. member factors must be taken into consideration in for Cook comes from. The hon. member knows relation to land settlement to-day, and that what a great success that was. The first year perhaps in another 30 years the policy of 20 blocks were thrown open as an experi to-day will be criticised just as we criticise ment, and the following year something like the policy adopted 30 or 40 years ago. We 150 blocks were thrown open. To-day it have progressed remarkably well in land is a successful settlement, settled by a good settlement. class of men with a first-class knowledge of production. Those men are able to borrow a When you take a young country like this, few shillings that they would not be able to where settlement only took place about 50 borrow if it were leasehold. That is the years ago, it will be seen that we have done reason why_ I say that the policy of the remarkably well. It is no use attempting J\Ioore Government and of other Governments to draw comparisons with other countries, over the last 40 years was a good one. because I do not know that there is one that is richer in natural resources, but when we We heard a great deal of talk about big make a comparison with the other States we estates on the coast. When I represented the find that none have done better. Look at old Wide Bay area, which ran up to Mary the enormous production we are getting from borough, there were only three or four big the land, and all accomplished during the estates. Three of those estates have 1een last 50 years. purchased by the Government, and there is a first-class settlement there. Traveston station Policy certainly comes into the question, had a lease from Conondale to Curra. The and I am a great believer in the policy Government wanted somebody to go on the inaugurated 40 or 50 years ago. When Gympie land, so that it would be producing some broke out a few settlers came along. They thing, even though it was only the lard out did not altogether live on the land at first of the bullocks. Ultimately, this land was there was a certain travelling population reselected and sold, and we see a fine settle but eventually most of the people stayed ment there now. Allowance has to be made there and they did very well. Ultimately, for the altered conditions, which are due to the old pioneers were joined by those who many factors. came during the last 30 years, and to-day you have no finer productive district. That policy Certainly, the present Government con was the best of the lot. Hon. members may tinued the policy of building roads into talk about the virtues of leasehold. I heard settlements. It is quite a wise one, but it the Minister say that leasehold tenure was must be remembered that it is not wise to the policy of the Government. If that is so, go in for a big road-construction policy in why does not the hon. member and other scrub lands. In many instances the roads hon. members opposite, who hold freehold, have to be resmveyed and the routes altered transfer from a freehold title and take up after settlement has taken place. For it leasehold~ That is a fair way of putting it. instance, can be said that the original If it is good enough for the other fellow, it roads on the Atherton Tableland were in the right place~ On the contrary. When should be good enough for hon. members settlement took place resurveys had to be opposite. made and the roads altered to conform with The Secretary for Public Lands: There the settlement. is no provision in law for you to surrender I spoke some little time ago of the lands freehold land. in the Cooroy and Kin Kin areas and in Mr. WALKER: The hon. gentleman could districts now represented by the hon. mem hand it over to the Crown and the Crown ber for Gympie. Every settler who took up would give him a lease; the hon. gentleman areas in these lands has made good and would have the pleasure of putting his own to-day we see many fine settlem·ents, but ~ignature to his own title. I am not speaking can one honestly term the land policy of m a personal sense; I am treating the matter the Government to-day a successful policy'f in a broad sense. Mr. Jesson: Yes. Thirty or 40 years ago the Governments Mr. WALKER: What do hon. members were commonly referred to as Tories and men opposite think of the Beerburrum settle who made money under false pretences and menH Was that a good policy of land goodness knows what, but they established the settlern'enH Originally there were approxi homestead system. Men took up homesteads mately 40 men on that land, but theTe are at 2s. 6d. an acre, payable at 6d. a year for none there to-day. Cania is another five years, and when some improvements were instance. Analysis proved that the soil con effected and the house was erected you got sisted of 90 per cent clay and 5 per cent. 1940-2 N 1122 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. grit. These are settlements the present Gov the world, but they could not get them. As ernment have been responsible for and they all these boxes are required for so many have been failures. purposes, I suggest that the department should experiment with the soft woods that ltir. Collins: What do you think of the abound in our scrubs. I am confident that sugar areas in the North~ many of them could be used satisfactorily Mr. WALKER: Most of the sugar lands for this purpose. Why, it is only within the in the North were taken up long before the last 10 or 15 years that we have discovered Labour Party got into power. The point that flooded gum and other timbers are is that the success of the land-settlement eminently suited to the manufacture of boxes, policy of the Government is almost nil. I especially those used for the casing of spoke very strongly on the opening up of bananas. In my opinion, there are many the Eungella lands. There is some good timbers just as useful as flooded gum for land there and the same applies to much box-making purposes. I urge the depart of the sugar lands, but generally speaking, ment to investigate thoroughly our soft hard the Government's land policy has not been woods with that end in view. I venture the the success they would like people to believe opinion that in the Gym)Jie, Oooroora, a~d it has. Wide Bay electorates there are enough smt I now come to leasehold tenure as it is able timbers to supply the whole of our box to-day. How many people are converting needs for the next 50 years. to freehold year after year~ How many The Secretary for Public Lands: On are there each year asking for further exten Crown lands~ sion of their leases~ They are too poor to pay for freehold and therefore ask for Mr. WALKER: In State forests, as a. another extension to give them an oppor matter of fact. In the Mary Valley there tunity to obtain :finance to convert to free are vast a,reas that are well worth investi hold. That shows conclusively th!lt the gating. policy of leasehold tenure is not good for Mention has been made of our quota the State. And when it is a question of system for pine logs. The original quota freehold versus leasehold, where is the harm system was quite fair and equitable. The in freehold tenureW There is no harm in late Mr. Percy Pease went to no end of it. It merely assures to a man something trouble to give information to the Committee he can call his own. last year, and after attending a big meeting in Gympie with the hon. member for Gympie, The returned soldiers were placed on and after being a member of a deputation Beerburrum and other lands. It was a that was introduced to the Minister by him tragedy. We must have a land settlement I was satisfied that at that time the quota policy ready to put into operation at the system was quite sound, and that it was successful conclusion of the present war, but being administered fairly, but I am afraid we must be very careful and see to it that that I cannot say that to-day. There is we give these returned soldiers some encour something wrong. The hon member for agement by giving them the very best and Maryborough said to-night that he is quite not lands similar to those at Beerburrum. satisfied with the amount of timber that is We have heard many statements about coming from the Maryborough mill. I know, timber, and I realise that the Minister is too, that some other mills are even working faced with a difficult problem. The other overtime, whilst many country sawmills are day I read an article by him urging that we turning out only half their previous output. use more hardwood in lieu of softwood. We The Secretary for Public Lands: Not in have been doing that for years, and, when the pine mills. all is said and done, our soft coast hardwoods Mr. WALKER: I am referring only to arc absolutely the best timbers that could pine. I admit that the other day I saw hard be had for building purposes. For the last wood in many sawmill paddocks, and no 10 or 15 years we have been using nothing doubt many of the millowners brought that but hardwood in the coast districts. Another timber in in order to keep the mill going on factor is that it is not uncommon to see full time, but I suggest to the Minister that :first-class timber used for flooring, only to a strict inquiry be made into the pine posi be covered almost immediately with lino tion in order to satisfy himself that every leum. In my opinion, this is a waste of thing is fair and aboveboard. It is no use money. Those of us who have had the plea saying that the workers in the towns and sure of going through scrub lands at various cities require consideration, because the coun times realise that many of our hardwoods, and try mills have workers with homes and the many softwoods that are now looked upon Government are breaking up those homes as useless, could be utilised with advantage. when they reduce the avenues of employment The Minister has a difficult problem to there. solve in regard to box timbers. I do not I should like the Minister to take this desire to refer to butter boxes now because matter up with Mr. Grenning and his officers they have been dealt with quite ably already to see if the case is as I have stated. If they by two hon. members on this side of the give their word that it is not so, I shall be Chamber. Many other types of boxes are content, but there seems to be something needed for various purposes. Only the other wrong. I passed a mill coming down to Bris day I heard that they wanted 50,000 beer bane the other day, and saw hundreds of boxes in Sydney to send to the other side of pine logs, but when I go into the country Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1123' districts I hear the complaint that they are to the very up-to-date sawmills in that not receiving sufficient pine. I know the district, and I should like to add that by the position in Maryborough district, which I investment of their capital the owners of these think is quite wrong. The rationing prin mills have been able to install machinery ciple is quite a fair one, provided it is that enables them to treat small logs that carried out on sound lines. formerly were allowed to decay in the scrub. With that machinery it is possible to use We also recognise that reforestation is the tops and small logs, which is to the interests correct thing, but the policy pursued in the of the dairying and other industries and of last 8 or 10 years is the same as that the State generally. I suggest that any hon. carried out when the hon. member for member who may visit Maryborough should Cunningham was Secretary for Public Lands avail himself of the opportunity of going and when the hon. member for Gympie was in through the modern and well-equipped mill that office. The principle adopted then is the of Wilson, Hart, and Company; I am sure same as the present one, and it is of no use he will be satisfied that no waste takes place saying that the Moore Government did not do there in using our fast-diminishing supplies. this and did not do that. The hon. member of soft woods. for Gympie did the same thing as the Minister is doing to-day. The Govern Not only should the Government take care ment have had the advantage of being able of all the timber that is growing on Crown to do more work because of the use of land, but they should also encourage private the unemployment relief fund; thousands of owners to conserve all their hardwood supplies. pounds from that fund were switched on to For instance, they should recommend to them this work. Tha~ is the reason why the that they thin out stands of timber by Government have done a bigger job. Regene removing the small and useless trees on their rating hardwoods is sound policy, as the hon. properties, and thereby improve them for member for Maryborough said. The trouble grazing purposes and at the same time build is, that you have to prune so many of the up a small forest of useful trees that could small trees which gives a greater amount of be disposed of in a few years and give them sunlight and greater opportunities for lantana a retum sufficient to pay for the rates on to grow. At the same time there is greater their land. I think that every landowner risk of fire, which might 'sweep the whole should be advised not to ringbark every tree plantation away. That is what the Minister on his property, but to retain good shade should watch. Lantana is growing thickly trees and the better class of milling trees from the Blackall Range down to the coast. because that would be to their interests as In the Gympie area it has grown to such an well as to the interests of the State. I extent that if there was a fire in the next 24 have attended the meetings of many project hours it would sweep through the whole clubs, where I have heard very interesting district. Anyone who understands country and instructive addresses delivered by the conditions realises that there is a likelihood children on the subject of protecting our that all our reforestation work will be burnt forests. These children are really teaching out because of the neglect of the department their parents what is required in the interests in the last 10 or 15 years to keep lantana of the State in the protection of our timber down. resources. I recognise that ringbarking has been a It is essential, as the hon. member for Wide mistake in many cases, but it is no use asking Buy pointed out, that care should be taken a farmer why he is ringbarking his paddock. to protect the timber resources in the Wide He knows his own business. Buy district. Much of the prosperity of that (Time expired.) district depends upon the timber industry. Some time ago Mr. Grenning, the Director Mr. CLAYTON (Wide Bay) (7.49 p.m.): of Forests, informed me that the hardwoocl I agree with the remarks of the hon. member supplies on Crown land in the Maryborough for Cooroora that the Minister should give district were only enough to keep the mills consideration to those men who have estab there going for about 18 months. The posi lished small pine mills in the country districts. tion is serious, and I hope that the Govern They have invested their capital in them, and ment will take steps to encourage the people I think it i~ only right that they should have in the district to conserve the hardwood a share of the softwoods to provide pine for resources there. We are always in fear the conB'truction of building.s required in that fire will sweep our forest areas. It is country districts. interesting to note that the Director of I am of the opinion that we should do a Forests, together with his officers, has estab great deal more than we are doing in the lished lookouts at various points in forest preservation of our hardwood timbers. I reserves in order to minimise the risk of know that the Government are spending large fire, particularly during the present dry sums of money in the growing of hardwoods, period. The Director and his staff are to be which I think will be required in building complimented on the fact that not only dur construction in the future more than pine has ing the present drought period, but during been in the past. It is in the interests, not previous dry periods, they have been able only of the Wide Bay district, but also of to protect our forests effectively from the the whole State, that hardwoods should be ravages of fire. regenerated in that district. As the Sub-Department of Forestry derives In the course of a very interesting speech a good deal of its revenue from the sale of the hon. member for l\faryborough referred timber it should gh-c greater assistance in 1124 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. the reconditioning of those roads over which men, as the Moore Government were during the timber is hauled. their period of office, one would imagine that that class of work would have been consider Mr. T. L. WiUiams: They are doing a ably extended, because no class of work pro good deal in that direction. vides greater employment than road work lUr. CLAYTON: When the enormous and forestry work. Those two classes of weight of the logs hauled over the roads is work give greater employment on direct considered, together with the pace at which wages than any other works. What do we the trucks are driven by the haulers, it must find~ We find that the paltry sum of be apparent that a considerable vote is £30,000 or £40,000 a. year was spent during n~~essary from this sub-department to recon the l\foore Government's term of office. It dlhon these roads and put them in the condi is only fair that we should tell the people tion in which they were left by the Main what we have done in extending this branch. Roads Commission. I admit that a great The hon. member also raised the question deal is being done to preserve our roads but of the supply of logs in various districts more is required. Last year the W ~ocoo throughout the State. I forwa.rded a reply to Shire Council was granted £66 Ss. 10d. by the department to recondition timber roads the hon. member, as well as to every other hon. member who was interested in the depu in its area, while the Tiaro Shire Council only receh·ed £2 15s. The Kilkivan Shire tation to which he referred, irrespective of Council received a much larger grant· it is what side of the House they were on. Every individual case that was brought under my surrounded . o~ all si~es by forPstry' land. T_herefore, 1t 1s only nght that it should be notice at that deputation was completely g1ven a greater measure of assistance. investigated, on my instructions, by the officers of my department. The hon. member I am hopeful that in the near future the for Cooroora has indicated he is willing to Minister will move in the direction of pro accept the word of Mr. Grenning or Mr. viding irrigation facilities for settlers. Last Duffy. I wish to tell the hon. member that session of Parliament we expected that the the information I forwarded to him was Government would do something. The then supplied by Mr. Grenning and Mr. Duffy. If Secretary for Public Lands introduced a the hon. member cares to listen to the talk Bill dealing with the subject, but for some of some sawmiller who has some personal unknown reason that Bill was dropped. interest to serve rather than the interest of (Time expired.) the sawmilling business generally, he will not get the true state of affairs. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS lUr. JUoore: The sawmilling interest is (Hon. E., J. Walsh, Mirani) (7.59 p.m.): The an individual one. hon. member for Cooroora made a long speech concerning land -settlement policy in this The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: State. He seemed to think that it was I do not agree with that view-not after I wrong for the Government of the day to take listened to some of the members of that some credit for the existing policy. After deputation. The deputation allegedly came all, all we are doing, and rightly so, is to take along to represent the Country Sawmillers' credit for the policy put into effect by this Association, but, as each member got up, he Government. I am sorry for the hon. member referred to his own individual problem, and if he cannot see the benefits that have accrued not the problem of the country sawmillers. to this State as a result of the application One gentleman wanted all the pine harvested of a sound policy by Labour. He must realise without any restriction, irrespective of what that thousands of tons of extra sugar-cane might happen to our future requirements in are now handled in the northern and southern softwoods. Another gentleman got up and cane areas as a result of increased settle disagreed with that policy, and said that he ment. He must know that the butter factories thought the quota system was a fair and that have been established in the northern reasonable one. areas have to rely on the new settlement that has taken place there, also. That has been The hon. member for Isis quoted a letter done during the term of office of this Govern forwarded to the hon. member for Aubigny ment, which has extended over eight years. when he was Premier of the State. Since he has used a letter from that firm I take it I It is agreed that the Public Estate Improve am at liberty to use another letter that that ment Branch of the Department of Public firm wrote to the late Mr. Pease, dated 13 Lands was established many years ago-I December, 1939. Amongst other things in the think 1907 was the date. l't is all very well letter, it says- to establish such a branch and then allow it to lie dormant. The credit we take is that '' Those who know anything about the we have spent thousands of pounds more conditions which existed during the Moore through this branch than any previous regime, and those which now exist under Government. I am not attempting to take your Administration, know full well which a.way any credit that is due to the Govern they would prefer. ment of the day for their foresight in estab lishing that branch. It did good work on the ''I will be quite c-andid with you and tell Eungella Tableland away back in 1910, when you that had this company had another it built a road over the range. When a term of the Moo re Government's methods Government are faced with the difficulty of in the timber industry, we would have been finding employment for great numbers of advised to go out of the business.'' Supply. [31 OcToBER.] Supply. 1125 I will quote from a letter from a large firm cent., this group of mills got 94.8 per cent. in the timber industry in reference to some of the cut. This is for 1938. comments made by the hon. member for Hamilton during the debate last year- The small mills of under 500 trucks annually, the cut for the year being again 97.8 '' Mr. Russell knows a little bit about the per cent., got 100.3 per cent. of their quot.a. I timber trade as regards selling it on am giving that as i't is a very good example commission, but nothing of the practical of how the quota applies to mills in general. side, and when he states that butter boxes As hon. members will see, the cuts for the were cut out of first-class logs this is not State I have referred to here were approxi true, at least not for the last 20 years. mately 2.2 per cent. below the aggregate of The company, of which I happen to be the quotas established under the 1937 cut. managing diTector, have never used first class timber for butter boxes since 1902.'' In 1939 the total cut represented 106.4 per cent., or 6 per cent., roughly, over the aggre Mr. Nimmo: Do you fall for that sort of gate of the 1937 quotas. We find that the thing~ large mills of over 1,000 trucks annually got J 00.5 pel' cent of their quotas. In other The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: words, they got approximately their 1937 I realise that the truth hurts. quotas and no more. Mr. Russell: You know better than that. The mills between 500 and 1,000 trucks annually got 106.4 per cent., or the equiva The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: lent of the total average cut for the State. I have already indicated to-day that my policy will be to rely on facts. I cannot help it if The small mills of under 500 trucks hon. members opposite c-annot take it. annually got 112 per cent. of their quota, or 12 per cent. over their 1937 cut. As regards the quota system, I have here a copy of the letter that I forwarded to the Mr. Moo re: That all depends upon what hon. members for Cooroora and Nanango, and their quotas were. members on this side of the Committee. In The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: that letter I pointed out that the basis of the That does not matter. The hon. gentleman quotas was the 1935, 1936, and 1937 cuts, appears to be in disagreement with his friend, with provision for certain adjustments. If a the hon. member for Cooroora, who has mill had had some difficulty in 1937 it was already stated in this Chamber to-night that allowed to substitute the cut for 1935 or he believed that the quota system was a fair 1936, if the cut in either of those years was higher than that of 1937. During the investi one. gation into the complaints put before me I lUr. lUoore: That it was based fairly at instructed the Sub-Department of Forestry to the beginning, yes. take out typical examples of the various mills The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: throughout the State. I shall take the posi And that actually it protected the small tion as it has been set out by Mr. Grenning miller. The hon. gentleman knows as well as I and his officers. We take the total Crown do that if you are going to have freedom of hoop and bunya pine cut for 1937 and the buying, the big mills are in a better position total of the mill quotas as being the correct to buy pine logs than the smaller mills. figures on which to work in order to anive at a basis on which to allot future quotas Mr. lUoore: The big millers started off according to the decrease or inc-rease in the with a tremendous quota. Half of the smaller actual cut of logs for each year, and I should mills were cut out in the first place, because like the hon. member for Cooroora to listen to they were deprived of pine. this carefully, inasmuch as it sets out the true position, and shows that actually the The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: small miller has been given some preferen The hon. gentleman loses sight of the fact that tial treatment over the large miller, and that they are getting more timber to-day than they if the quota had not been issued many small ever got in their history. mills would to-day be out of business. lUr. Walker: Owing to the altered con lUr. Moore: Two or three others will go ditions brought about by the war. out directly. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: It does not matter what it is due to at all. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: The complaint has been that these mills are That may be because of many other reasons. not getting their supplies. I am pointing out Mr. lUoore: I know the reason quite well. that they are getting bigger supplies of logs now than they have ever got. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: I will first take the large mills of over 1,000 lUr. Moo re: I know of one mill that was trucks annually. Taking thpir 1937 cut as cutting 500 trucks and got no timber at all. 100, the actual deliveries to all mills for 1938 The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: were 97.8 per cent., and of the total cut the The hon. gentleman must realise that, if one is large mills got 90.7 per cent. of their total to arrive at a system of stabilisation, one quota. can only consider those mills that were deal Coming now to the medium mills, those of ing with the Crown at the time. between 500 and 1,000 trucks annually, we Mr. Moo re: The system of stabilisation find that, the cut for the year being 97.8 per is being broken every day. 1126 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: many people the right to grow cane. I am Does the hon. gentleman suggest that every mill not complaining about it, because it was in in Queensland that is licensed should be given the interests of the industry, of the indivi a pine quota~ dual, and the State. Mr. Moo re: I say that every mill whose I want to say quite plainly that if any of pine supply has been cut out should not be the information supplied to me by any officer deprived of getting more supplies from the of my department is incorrect and misleading State after it is cut out. and has had the effect of damaging the posi tion of hon. members on this side or the other The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: side of the Committee, woe betide that officer. The hon. gentleman's suggestion is that we I am not going to allow any officer to supply should take something from those mills that incorrect information to his Minister. I do have been buying from the Crown for years not believe that any have, but the hon. past, and give it to other mills that have member for Cooroora said in this Committee never dealt with the Crown. I do not agree that he does not believe the information with that. I believe that the scheme intro supplied to him by officers of the department. duced by my predecessor is a fair one, that In other words, he implied that he was not the only way in which we could arrive at a given the correct information. basis was to consider only those mills that had been dealing with the Crown up to the Mr. Walker: Will the Minister listen to time the adjustment took place. me for a minute~ I said I did believe you when you made a statement, but I have ]jfr. Nimmo: That is, that you should reason to believe otherwise. create a monopoly. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: In other words, that the infor~ation is Nothing of the sort. I have referred to the incorrect. Officers of the department should fact that 600 odd mills are licensed in this State. For the benefit of those hon. members give correct information to the. Mi~ist~r a_nd the Committee. If I find anythmg mdiCative who asked the question, I point out that there are something like 174 mills cutting hoop and of favouritism to any mill, large or small, I bunya pine that is being supplied by the shall want to know the reason why. Crown, and 32 cutting kauri pine. One of the Government Members: Hear, hear! 174 also cuts kauri pine. In all, 206 mills are actually being supplied with Crown logs :ilir. lUoore: You will be busy. to-day. The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: It is evident that something had to be done I am here to do a job and give effect to the for the sawmilling industry. I cannot Government's policy. imagine that any hon. member opposite is Something has been said about reforesta sincere when he suggests that the right thing tion. I replied to the remar~s .of th~ hon. has not been done in the establishment of member for Hamilton, and mvrted hrm to these quotas. look at page 44 of the Auditor-General's Mr. Walker: I do not think it is being report in reference to the amount spent from done now. Loan Funds. He will see that the figures con tained in the report of the Sub-Depart~ent The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: of Forestry agree with those in the Audrtor I interjected this afternoon! that the principle General 's report. operating in this quota system is no different from that operating in the sugar industry. On this question it is interesting to note Whether it is sugar, butter, cheese, wheat, or that thanks to the greatly increased financial anything else, the basis of quota systems is provision made by the present Government the same. reforestation activities have been consider ably expanded. The department must be In 1929 the Moore Government established credited with making the largest year's plant the system of sugar mill quotas. They took as ing in 1939-40, when nearly 4,000 acres were the basis the highest production manufac planted. I hope the hon. member for Cooroora tured up to that date, and they disregarded is still interested. That is nearly 1,200 every factor that could have an effect on acres greater than the previous year's record. the settlement of the land and the develop During the past three years over one-third of ment of the sugar industry. Then they came the forest plantations now existing in this along with a system of assignments to sup State were established, and this is interesting pliers attached to these mills, and we had to when it is considered that planting started adjust the position to see that they could as far back as 1918. The figures I have grow only a certain amount of cane to supply quoted are eloquent of the encouragement the market available. After all, the prin given by the Government in rural employment ciple of the quota system as applied to the and national economy. I repeat, that sawmilling industry is no different, the idea although this planting has been going on being to stabilise the industry and encourage since 1918, one-third of the total area planted millers to introduce more efficient methods. to date has been planted during the past three years. Is that not sufficient evidence of Mr• We did not cut any grower .Moore: what the Government have done~ Why out, but you cut some sawmills out. should hon. members opposite make insinua The SECRETARY FOR PUBLIC LANDS: tions that this Government have done The hon. gentleman's Government refused nothing~ We realise that there is much to Supply. [31 OCTOBER.] Supply. 1127 be done in reforestation, and for that matter been in power-that the subjects of forestry in irrigation and other matters, but I think we and reforestation have been seriously con can rightly claim that the Government have sidered. The officers of the department who done much; and we have done what we have have carried out this splendid service to the because we owe a duty to the people of this State have earned the praise and the com State to see that their timber requirements mendation of everybody for their excellent are attended to properly. endeavours. Their achievements in the face of great difficulties have been really mar I take the view that irrigation and vellous. It is true that the older countries forestry will play a very important part in of the world have established their timber the post-war policy of proviuing employ industries upon very sound lines and that m'ent and settling people on the land, and they have an advantage over this young it is in respect of these phases of develop country, but it should be remembered that ment that the Government are planning with 50 years ago they were passing through the the idea of conferring immense benefits upon same phase• of the timber development as the timber industry and the people generally. this country is going through now. The The· Government hope to be able to carry Government have everything to be proud out an extensive planting programme of in the work of this sub-department, par throughout the State in the next year or ticularly when it is remembered that this two. is a comparatively young country with wide Mr. JESSON (Kennedy) (8.21 p.m.): I open spaces and that this has necessitated congratulate the Minister upon being the expenditure of thousands and thousands selected by the party to hold what I regard of pounds to construct access roads to haul as a very important ministerial position, one our tim:bers to market. Any hon. member that I am sure he will fill with credit to who would say otherwise is only talking himself and to the Government. I under with his tongue in his cheek. stand that he was responsible for having I have in mind that beautiful access road the photograph of the late Secretary for now in the course of construction to open Public Lands, the Hon. P. Pease, used as up the huge timber areas in the Kirrama a frontispiece to the last annual report of Range. That is wonderful timber country. the department. He is to be congratulated In adtlition, no district in Australia will on his kind thought. It is one that will be compare "With Kirrama in agricultural pro appreciated, I am sure, by hon. m'embers duction -..vhen it is divested of its timber. and particularly by myself, for it is my Hon. members opposite have given evidence intention to have it suitably framed in of remarkable shortsightedness. Need I honour fof our la.t.e colleague, who as a remind them that it was only the advent good Labourite served his State faithfully of Labour in 1932 that put a stopper to and well. their scheme to give the Lahey combine Very little constructive criticism has been huge concessioi]S in the Kirrama Range advanced by hon. members dming the country, including its inimense area of debate. Indeed, they have strained them timber, in return for constructing a road selves to the utmost to draw red herrings to that area and a few paltry pounds in across the trail in the hope of belittling addition. The Kirrama district contains the Government, in connection with their millions and millions of valuable timbers as forestry operations in particular. They well as thousands of acres of valuable dairy even referred to conditions 20 or 30 years ing land. The value of opening up that area ago in an endeavour to throw mud at the cannot be estimated in pounds, shillings, and Government, but it must be admitted by pence. It will be of inestimable value to every thoughtful person who has not a North Queensland from a population and single-track mind and who is willing to defence point of view and make available an accept the good with the bad that the Sub immense area of timber that will provide Departnl'ent of ForeBtry, the Su)JJDepart work and wages for a considerable number ment of Irrigation and Water Supply, and of men over a great number of years. A the Public Estate Improvement Branch have huge sawmill has been constructed at Kennedy done more over the past four or five years siding, near Cardwell. It employs between than those departments combined have ever 30 and 40 men, and is working continuously done in the history of Queensland. That cutting sawn timber. I visualise in a short is a very big thing to say, but I go further time the construction of a fine harbour at and say that it is only within the last seven Cardwell, which will become one of our main or eight years that forestry operations and exporting ports in Queensland, if not reforestation have been seriously canied on Australia. in this State. There is also an area on the Seaview It is appalling to think that in years gone Range that contains untold timber wealth. by high-class timbers such as cedar, maple, I spent the better part of a day in com walnut, and silky oak were used for the pany with a couple of officers of the depart construction of fowlhouses, stockyards, ment in an endeavour to discover the exact outhouses, and fencing posts and rails. Why, location of this land and whether it was almost all the fence po:;;ts and rails, out freehold or Crown land. In fact, much of houses, and other buildings at Cooktown it is no man's land. Its potentialities have were constructed of these valuable timbers, never been investigated. It contains thou which are yearly becoming scarcer and sands and thousands of square miles of scarcer. It is only within the past few dense tropical scrub which must contain years-since the present Government have excellent tropical timbers such as cedar and 1128 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. maple, which, when harvested, will leave a that it will not be awkward to use. A friend rich a1·ea of valuable agricultural land. of mine who has lived in Innisfail for a number of years came to Brisbane seven or Mr. Moore: Where are these thousands eight, months ago and told me of a certain of square miles of dense scrub~ In the class of timber that grows in North Queensland Kirrama Range~ and has no commercial value at the moment. Mr. JESSON: No, in the Seaview range. It is not of much use for household furniture. Many of its gorges have never been This gentleman informed me that on the explored. If the hon. gentleman cares to coast area between Cardwell and Innisfail accompany me on a trip after Christmas we there is enough of this timber to provide will explore that area on horseback with charcoal gas for many years. It gives off shovel and dish. I am quite serious when great heat and at present is worth nothing. I say that there is a huge area of the finest In former days a number of charcoal-burners timber country in this range. Any hon. operated in North Queensland, and one can member who doubts my word can visit the still see the charcoal-burning sites when Department of Public Lands, where he will travelling by the Great· Northern train. The probably discover the facts to be as ~ information this gentleman has given should stated. be thoroughly investigated by the Govern The land has no number and has never been ment. explored. If it had not been for the advent of the aeroplane no-one would know any During the day the hon. member for Wide thing about Kirrama. The country was so Bay rehashed drought relief. He went to dense that no-one would attempt to go the trouble of again telling us all about through it. It was explored through the how cattle were dying and bushfires were aerial service. I think the hon. member for raging. All this was debated for nearly Aubigny instituted that service. Mr. Lahey two days last week. At various times during came back and talked about that wonderful the six years I have been in Parliament I tract of scrub country. The Government of have drawn attention to the advisability of the day wanted to sell it, but the people getting dairymen to remove from the locali woke up and everybody knows what happened. ties in which they are at present and seeking fresh fields and pastures new. At At 8.32 p.m., the present moment there is no margin of Mr. DUNSTAN (Gympie), one of the panel land ill Queensland. In other parts of the of Temporary Chairmen, relieved the Chairm·an Commonwealth very serious consideration has in the chair. been given to compensating farmers who will move from areas that are totally unsuitable Jlr. JESSON: The Sub-department of for their class of farm. I am reminded that Forestry is a branch of the Department of the hon. member for Cooroora spoke of roads Public Lands that is not sufficiently advertised· that were put down at random, perhaps like The showroom in George street is worthy of a the narrow streets of Brisbane. I do not great advertising campaign. Various members know any worse in the Commonwealth. on both sides of the Committee have mentioned Evidently they follow the old bullock tracks the fact that during the last few years many and people with single-track minds allowed timbers that were one time thought to be them to be foisted on the people. useless are now being converted into articles of furniture. I think the Government would There are probably farmers in the drought be well-advised to spend more money than stricken areas of the State who were settled they do in advertising that part of the at random, too, and would be well advised to department's activities. If the showroom is obtain expert advice as to their moving to not already on the list of places that tourists other districts. One hears in this Chamber are taken to it should certainly be included. of settlers on the land who have experienced successive droughts over a period of seven When I went to Melbourne on one occasion or eight years. It must be apparent to any I had rheumatism and I took with me a person who considers the matter that if such walking stick made of tulip wood that was areas are suffering from drought continually presented to me by the late Hon. Percy and the settlers have to come to the Govern Pease. That walking stick was admired by ment for ration relief or relief in other everyone who saw it and when I returned to forms, there is something radically wrong this State I got another one and sent it w It is just as well that the Opposition the Government who caused these soldier should think the Government have a skeleton settlements to fail, it was the settlement on in the cup board, otherwise they would be the land of men who did not know which tongue-tied. Much has been said during the way to turn. The Government did everything debate in speeches and by way of interjec they possibly could. tions of soldier settlement schemes. There I venture the opinion, too, that, if the has been much condemnation of something Scullin Government had remained in power that occurred over 21 or 22 years ago. Why for another two years, the tobacco industry blame the Government of the day for a would have been stabilised in North Queens scheme that was foisted on them hurriedly land. If I had the time I could tell a story and without proper provision? One of the about what happened in the tobacco areas planks in the platform of the Federal Labour round Major Creek, a story of how a com Party during the last election was the making pany, of which the principal is one of the of some provision for soldiers, sailors, and leading lights in the Federal Parliament airmen when they return from the present to-day, sold land for which it paid 2s. 6d. war. That policy was decried by hon. an acre for £5 an acre, and it was left to members opposite. When the soldier settle this Labour Government, when those settlers ment scheme at Beerburrum was put into crashecl, to provide relief for those men in operation, men were put on the land without the shape of food and rations. This Govern any help and with very little instruction, and ment also wrote off over £2,000 worth of left there to get on the best way they could. debts in order to give those farmers an Mr. Nimmo: By the Labour Government. opportunity to rehabilitate themselves, and this only two or three years ago. l\Ir. JESSON: Never mind by whom. The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order! Mr. lUacdonald: By whom? Will the hon. member link up his remarks JUr. JESSON: By the Labour Government with the vote~ if hon. members want it that way. Without Mr. JESSON: I think I have said all that making any inquiry or any preparation, the I desire to say on that subject. Nearly every ·Commonwealth Government handed a certain hon. member of the Opposition has had an amount of money to the State Governments, opportunity to castigate the Government and told them to settle those men on the land about the soldier settlements, and I think I to get them out of the towns and cities, and have dealt with the matter very effectively. the Government did what they could. 'l'hose (Opposition laughter.) Hon. members oppo men certainly were unsuitable. I should not site may laugh, but I remind them that like to have the job of making a jockey out ''loud laughter speaks the vacant mind.'' of the hon. member for Cooroora, for instance, Despite the hearty laughter of the Opposi and unsuitable men were placed on these tion, I wish to congratulate the Minister and farms. They were round pegs in square holes, his officers for the support they have given as it were, and should never have been sent me during the past 12 months. there in the first place, but they did have a try at it. They did the best they could. lUr. SLESSAR (Dalby) (8.45 p.m.): I They went out and had a "crack" at the desire to congratulate the Secretary for Public land, but, unfortunately, they were not suit Lands on his occnpan0y of a very important able. They were the men who went out and position, one that I think is the most impor fought the enemy while others stayed here to tant in this State. We must realise that collect profits. Those men went on to those everything we do depends on the land. The land settlements, fresh from the battle, war ramifications of the department extend to tortured, and with the wanderlust still on all parts of the State. We in the city depend them, and they failed. It is natural that they solely on the efforts of the man on the land. should fail, and, after this war is over, irres Because he was a land man himself I feel pective of what Government are in power, sure that the Minister will realise the impor if suitable places are not provided for putting tance of the position he holds; he will also soldiers on the land, they will fail again. It realise the trials and tribulations with which is no good the Opposition's talking about the man on the land has to contend with from failure of soldier settlements. As a matter time to time. As a Government we are for of fact, in the Beerburrum area to-day there tunate in having a man of the hon. member are many successful farmers. In other parts for Mirani 's experience holding the portfolio of the countq, too, where soldier settlements of Secretary for Public Lands. I feel sure that were established, there are successful farmers. he will carry on the excellent work inaugurated Take the settlement at Mildura. After many by his predecessor, the late Hon. P. Pease, years of struggling and adversity, until they who I think every member in this Committee got proper instruction, the soldiers have will realise put every ounce into his work in made a success of their venture. Who will the department: He gave his whole life to his say that the dried-fruits industry is not a job; he devoted a long study to questions success? Then we have those men. who went affecting the land so as to be of service to to areas around El Arish and Silkwood in the State. The late Mr. Pease was a personal the North. They struggled for many years friend of mine, and on oc0asions we had many to get on to their feet, but they had enough talks concerning land matters. I always backbone to go out and fight the land as they found him very sympathetic towards the man fought the enemy during the war, and they on the land. I am sure the present occupant have made a success of it, yet we have the of the position and the department and its Opposition condemning such men. It was not officers generally will tackle land problems in 1130 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. a businesslike manner. I feel sure that the and financial help is forthcoming from the policy of the department is one that must Government to provide for water conserva commend itself to everybody, not only in tion and irrigation. It is extremely important Queensland, but in Australia. that steps should be taken to provide for The eradication of prickly-pear has been one water conservation and irrigation, and, in this of the most important developments that has respect, I suggest to the Minister and to the ever taken place in the State. We have Co-ordinator-General of Public Works that, millions of acres of country throughout instead of building bridges across rivers and Queensland that is perhaps the finest agri creeks, they recommend the constructing of cultural, dairying, and mixed-farming land concrete weirs, with the object of impounding to be found in Australia. Unfortunately, in water in the various streams. This proposal past years that land was thrown open for has already been carried out in the Goondi selection in large areas, and the occupants of windi district with considerable success, and I it were not fortunate enough to have the should like to see it extended to the Miles, capital-and in some cases had not the incli Wandoan, Chinchilla, Dalby, Tara, and other nation-to develop the land to its best advan districts where water may be impounded tage. Owing to the wise policy adopted by in gulleys and streams. Although such a the late Minister and pursued by the Land policy might mean incurring a small addi Administration Board, many of those people tional expenditure, it would have the advan have been allowed to subdivide their lands, tage of conserving water and developing the and in place of one selector, t'' o, three, and use of the irrigation in those areas. even four families are now living on the We have heard quite a good deal to-day original holding. By selling part of the about forestry matters. Some hon. members original selection the old selector was able to have mentioned the probability of a shortage finance his undertaking. I think that this of pine and other softwoods. Whilst I do was a very wise move on the part of the not profess to know a great deal about Land Administration Board and the officers timber, I do know that by the encouragement responsible for it. of the production and use of cypress pine, At one time we did not seem to make very particularly in Government buildings,_ ml!ch much progress with grazing homestead might be done to conserve our dwmdhng tenures, which provided for a term of 28 supplies of softwoods. Many public buildings years. are being constructed throughout the State To-day we are moving in the right direc by the Department of Public Works. Up to the present I do not believe that cypress tion by ' subdividing these selecti?ns ~nd pine has been used to any extent in them. giving the original selector and the mcommg I should be very pleased to see cypress pine selectors on the other blocks a secure tenure, tested out in these buildings. I am quite perpetual leasehold, over living areas. Capital sure, from the experience I have had with is flowing into districts that were at a stand this timber, coupled with assurances I have st.ill for very many years. I know that, for had from builders, that cypress pine can be a long time, very little development took used as satisfactorily as hoop pine or other place in the Wandoan, Tara, Miles, and part softwoods, if not more satisfactorily, and of the Taroom districts, because the people that it would give equal service as hardwood did not seem to realise the wonderful poten in flooring and lining and for other purposes. tialities of such rich agricultural areas. I have had personal inquiries for this land from Our land policy is to be commended. I people in t.he Southern States. It is now compliment the Minister and his depart coming into prominence, because of the mental staff on the courteous attention they eradication of prickly-pear and the constru: have given to any request I have made in the tion of Public Estate Improvement and mam past year. If any hon. member has any roads. The Public Estate Improvement common-sense submission to make he will Branch of the department has done excellent always receive courteous consideration from work in many of these new outback areas, the officers of the department. although some hon. members opposite have complained about the money that is spent Mr. HA YES (Nundah) (8.58 p.m.): I there. It is clear that they have no concep congratulate the hon .. member. for Mirani o!l tion of the potentialities of the district, or his elevation to the hrgh and Important posi they would not have made those inquiries, and tion of Secretary for Public Lands. Hon. instead would compliment the department on members opposite will agree with hon. the good work that it had done and the ser members on this side of the Committee as to vice it had rendered to settlers. the ability he has displayed during the period At 8.52 p.m., he has been a member of this Parliament and as to his practical knowledge of land matters. The CHAIRMAN resumed the chair. This happy combination will prove him a Mr. SLESSAR: The Public Estate worthy successor to such a particularly Improvement Branch has spent thousands of capable and progressive Minis:ter as the late pounds in the Wandoan district, and I fer Percy Pease. vently hope that further large sums of money I do not profess any great knowledge o.f will be spent there, because there is consider land or timbers, probably because my consti able wealth to be derived from the develop tuency is not one in which agriculture or ment of the lands in the Miles, Tara, Wan forestry is a main industry, but it is wise doan, Chinchilla, Dalby, and adjoining for those hon. members who have industrial centres, provided good access roads are built experience to make themselves acquainted Supply. [l NovEMBER.] QueBtion. 1131 with these important matters and the know broad outlook and who are progressive and ledge can only be acquired by travel. It was are for ever pushing onward and onward that my pleasant experience a few years ago to development can be achieved. There must have the opportunity of taking a trip north be no stopping. The programme must be as far as Cooktown, and travelling en route planned, extended, and carried out, in con through vast belts of cane, forest, and mining junction with other governmental depart areas. Knowledge can be acquired only ments year after year. This has been done by meeting with the people engaged in those and is being done, and I trust those res~wn industries and learning from them first-hand. sible will not allow any curtailment of those things that are required to be done in the I was amazed at the great wealth that is as yet untapped in the far North of Queens building up of the State and the nation. land. Much has been said and written of the We find in the report of the Sub-Depart scenic beauties of the North. The fertility ment of Irrigation, Water Supply, and ·of the soil is such that it is capable of pro Sewerage that due regard has been pairl to ducing a variety of crops. When I was up much necessary work. Moneys have btcn there I met a Sinhalese, who in his own expended in districts as far apart as Too .country had grown curry-leaf, cinnamon-leaf, woomba, Texas, Goondiwindi, and Childers, and tea, and he produced samples of these and the sum expended on that work amounts leaves tha.t he had grown in the North of to £3,942,272. The number of men engaged Queensland as proof that this land could in the construction of these works was 2,017 successfully produce these crops. He showed during the last financial year, and the us some tea-buds that he was keeping for approximate expenditure of wages £511,192. seed for replanting. Part of the area we visited has since been thrown open for settle I trust that this progress will be maintained, ment. We visited such areas as Julatten, and I express the hope that the Secretary for Clump Point, and Kirrama, where roads are Public Lands will occupy his present position now under construction and others have been for many years to come. I am certain th~t completed. in the hon. gentleman his predecessor w1ll have an administrator who will carry out the During a journey of hundreds of miles work that the State expects of him. through the cane areas I noticed that the people did not have a cow about the place and Vote (Department of Public Lands-Chief were using dried, powdered, or condensed milk Office) agreed to. imported from the Southern States. This was due to the fact that no dairying land was Progress reported. available at that time for settlement. I am The House adjourned at 9.11 p.m. pleased to say that since then land has been thrown open for dairying and mixed farming in blocks of 200 to 400 acres, according to the fertility of the land. One enterprising firm, Fraser Brothers, of Ingham, had a pasteurising plant and they were sending milk 900 miles to Mount Isa and shipping it to Java, and they stated they could dispose of all the milk that could be supplied to them. The dairying industry that has been €stablished in that area is evidence of the foresight of the late Secretary for Public Lands, and we are now reaping the fruits of his efforts. The Julatten area in the Cook belt con sists of dairying and general farming land. These activities are also e.arried on in the Palmerston area, on the Eungella forest lands, and also at Kirrama. A road, 14 miles in length, is under construction at Kirrama and will help to develop one of the richest forest areas in the State. The fmther extension of that road, which will eventually be con structed, will pass through the Culpa lands, in which a vast amount of wealth in the form of softwoods is still untouched. This road will open up lands from which £2,000,000 of soft timbers will be taken. From Cardwell to Shipton flats is a journey of 40 miles over bush tracks. The timber taken in the past few years from this area is the result of wise planning and application bv those who were not afraid to create a pre c~dent and push forward with the work that is still required in the development of this great State. It is only by having at the head of the Ad'ministration men of vision, with a