Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
THURSDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 1941
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
464 Questions. [ASSEMBLY.] Ministerial Statement.
THURSDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER, 1941. '' 2. How many locomotivBs were con structed or written off-stating class-dur ing the year ending 30 June, 1941?'' Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. E. J. Hanson, Buranda) took the chair at 10.30 a.m. The MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT (Hon. J. Larcombe, Rockhampton) replied- QUESTIONS. '' 1. About the middle of October. DISPOSAL OF SUGAR, 1941. '' 2. Eleven locomotives were constructed during the year ended 30 .June, 1941, and Mr. BRANn (Isis) asked the Premier- another one was completed early in July, '' 1. What sales of raw sugar manufac 1941. Ten were of the 'B18±' passenger tured from the 1941 crop have been made type and tw·o were 'D 17' tank engines. No to (a) United Kingdom, (b) Canada, (c) locomotives were written off during the New Zealand, (d) Pacific Islands, (e) other financial year ended 30 June, 1941.'' overseas destinations~ '' 2. What is the estimated quantity required for Australian consumption, inclua MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. ing quantities required for reserve stocks The PRElUIER (Hon. W. Forgan Smith, and power-alcohol distillation~'' l\bckay) (10.33 a.m.), by leave: 'l'he matter The PREl\IIER (Hon. W. Forgan Smith, of the operations of sections 6 and 7 of the ?11ackay) replied- Railway (Capital Indebtedness F,1eduction) '' 1. Subject to shipping- Act of 1931, relating to the Railway Renewals Tons. and Replacements Resm·ve Fund, has been (a) 100,000 rr.ised in this Assemblv. I desire to inform (b) 100,000 hon. members that they have obviously taken (c) 85,000 a wrong view of the legal interpretation of (d) Actual requirements those sections. 'l'he Treasury had difficulty in when ordered esti inteTpreting them from the beginning, and mated at 5,000 in 1933, I, as Treasurer, a'pproved of the (c) following instruction:- ''Treasury to Bst::lblish a subsidiary 290,000 '' 2. 445,000 tons.'' account (to be included with the security aml sinking funds accounts). DUTIES 0:-J SUGAR OVER 99 DEGREES. ''Net profit in railway accounts to be ~Ur. BRAN]) (Isis) asked the Treasurer- credited to the subsidiary account. '' 1. In reference to the action of the ''Railways to open an 'appropriation UnitBd lGngdom Government in accepting a·ccount,' to which net profit is to bo trans for the period of the war responsibility for ferred. the penalty duty on ra\v sugar polarising "Railways to charge to that cleparhnent 's over 99 degTees on delivery in the United votes, in the ordinary way, cost of renewals Kingdom, is it proposed to change the and replacements (for which provision is present practice in polarisation of raw included in that department's ordinary sugar to bB manufactured for the balm1ce revenue votes). Dailway votes are not to of this season f be increased by the amount of the net profit. '' 2. Does the Canadian Government ''The appropriation account to be debited impose ::t penalty duty on raw sugar exceed with the cost of renewals and replacements ing 99 degrees pola'risation delivered in Canada~ to the extent of the credit in the account. '' 3. Are any such penalties imposed by ''Railways to advise Treasury, from time the New Zealand Government on raw to time, of amounts charged to the appro sugar delivered in New Zealand~'' priation account.'' The TREASURER (Hon. F. A. Cooper, The account was not opened by the Moore Bremer) replied- Government, and it was not operated on by the present Government foT the obvious reason " 1. No. The mills were circularised on that there never was any net profit to put 12 September giving the reasons for the into such an account or justify the estab decision. lishment of such an account. Net profit was "2. Yes. to be paid into that account, and ''net profit'' means the amount available after all legal "3. No." charges have been provided for by the Com missioner for Railways and the Treasmy. REPORT OF COMMISSIONER FOR RAILWAYS; LOCOMOTIVE STRENGTH. That is the legal interpretation of the two clauses. They arc obviously clumsily worded, Mr. YEATES (East Toowoomba) asked and attention was called to them at the time thE' l\Iinister for Transport- they were passed. A Bill was prepared to '' J. When will the Railway Commis omit those two clauses from the Raihvay Act, sioner's report be tabled~ but it was not proceeded with for the reasons Ministerial Statement. [25 SEPTEMBER.] Production of, &c., Aluminium. 465
I have stated. The legal interpretation of In '' :iYiay,'' 13th edition, page 73, the matter the clauses briefly is that net profit was to be is cleorly set out again in these words- paid into such an account and, as no net '' 'l'hc Houses declare what cases, by the profit was available after legal charges had law and custom of Parliament, are breaches been met, there was no need to operate on of privilege; and punish the offenders by such an account. :b~urthermore, the matter censure or commitment, in the same manner was left open in the hope that the revenue as courts of justice punish for contempt.'' results from the railway enterp1·ise might, at a later date, justify the operation of such I hope that it will not be necessary to account. That situation has not yet developed, raise this matter again. I want to emphasise lJecause the Treasury not only provides that, in the interests of Parliament, hon. interest on sinking fund and exchange on the members should seek to verify the acenracy £28,000,000, but also has to pay money from of any statement they propose to make in consolidated revenue to the Railway Depart this House, rather than give rein to political ment to meet commitments in excess of the malevolence. extent to 1vhich raihmy revenue is able to meet them. Mr. Sparkes: That applies to both sides. I should also like to call attention to the lUr. Edwards: Certainly it does. question of parliamentary privilege. Par The PREl'\IIER: It applies to everybody. liamentary privilege is a precious privilege of democracy, and 1vithout it democracy can· not be effectively maintained, but if pm·lia PAPE•RS. mentary privilege is abused anrl that abnse The following papeTs were laid on the injures democracy, it is liable to bring Par table:- liament into contempt. Shortly stated, paT Order in Council under the Supreme Court l;amentary privilege is an instrument to enable Act of 1921. members of Parliament to speak the truth in Parlimnent as they know it or believe it. Proclamation under the Sugar Experiment Tlwt is the object of"par!lamcntnry pri>ilege, Stations Acts, 1900 to 1938. hut obviously the onus is on members of Parliament to seek to verify the truth or PRODUCTION OF SHALE OIL AND othenYise of any statements or allegations ALUMINIUM. they make before they are made. There is o geneml tendency recently to disregard the ~Ir. NEU~IO (Oxley) (10.43 a.m.): I honour on which members of PaTliament are move- placed and to make loose allegations of a '' That, in the opinion of this House, in politically hurtful character for the pnrpose order to assist the war effort, the State of party gain. No1v, that might be regarded, Government should endeavour in every if carried to extremes, as a breach of privilege, pmcticablc way to encourage the produc and Parliament has authority to deal with tion of shale oil and aluminium in this breaches of privilege. The hon. member State by at once instituting expert investi for Oxley has already been censured in this gation into thes~ matters. That apart from P:ulimnent for false allegations against the obtaining full information as to suitable Go>·ernment. deposits and any project in which the State and possibly the Commonwealth Govern l'\Jr. ~immo: On a party vote. ment might see fit to participate, the State The PRElUIER: The hon. gentleman got Government should make it known that it only eight hon. members to vote with him, and will giYe fayourable considemtion to any all the decent hon. members on his side of the application by private enterprise for House walked out. The hon gentleman has assistance (financial or otherwise), and that already been censured. I am pointing out in the case of shale oil a substantial reward that Parliament is the custodian of its own will be granted to any concern producing authority, and hon. members should be careful (say) 20,000 gallons at a specified cost in to see that abuses of parliamentary privilege this State." are not allowed to creep in, because in the I move this motion to afford an oppor interests of democracy and in the interests tunity for the House to consider this all of Parliament and the people, Parliament important matter, and to arrive at a conclu should maintain the highest possible standards sion as to w·hat is the best method to solve of conduct. Therefore, allegations should not the problPm of fuel-oil supplies for the many be ma(le under cover of privilege unless petrol-driven engines in the State. exhaustive inquiries are made to ascertain the vemcity of the statements beforehand. There is no doubt that, because of petrol rationing, great hardships 'have been inflicted Hatsell, an authority on parliamentary on many people \Yho ha1·e internal-combustion privilege, puts it vel'J clearly. His opinion engines. A large number of people have is quoted in these >Yords- used this method of tmnsport for carting their own goods, nnd others are engaged in '' Hatsell lays great emphasis, when stat canying goods for others. There is .also a ing the law as to privilege of Parliament, large army of private nsers, who dern·ed a upon the fact that privilege is solely great deal of pleasure and health from the intenderl to guard the fnnctions of Parlia use of their motor cars. 1\Iany industrial ment undisturbed, and is not intended for plants in this State depend soleiy on petrol thEJ advantage of members.'' for their power. 466 Production of Shale Oil [ASSEMBLY.] and Aluminium.
It, therefore, behoves us as a Parliament primary produce economically, and, therefore, to consider some means of overcoming the was believed to be of little value, but to-day serious disa'bilities in which the State is now land' that distance from our railways is not placed. regarded as being under a'ny disability. In fact, farmers are now carrying on dairying Moreover, an industry has been built up in 25, 30, and up to 50 miles away from the the servicing of motor cars and distribution railway. That is solely due to the introduction of oil fuels. These garages and petrol stations of motor transport. are scattered throughout Queensland, and are the means of providing employment for a Mr. Edwards: In some cases dairying is large number of people. Unfortunately, the being carried on 70 miles from the railway. owners of many of these businesses a're virtually facing disaster because, notwith lUr. NIMJUO: That is so. We must co!l standing that their overhead costs continue sider the seriousness of the position. vV e h:wc almost as they did before, the sale of motor yet time to counteract the effect of what is fuel and servicing of motor vehicles has occurring, which might be aggravated. Sup fallen to such an extent tlmt it is no longer posing war came to the shores of this country possible to get the living they formerly got --it could very easily s>ving here-what would from them. I made inquiries from a ga'rage lw.ppcn ~ All our petrol reserves would natm at Corinda, where I obtain my petrol, and ally be required for war purposes. All motor discovered that its sale of petrol, prior to transport, other than that engaged in the war, petrol rationing, was 7,000 gallons a month, would be idle. No petrol would be availabl~ and that every month the business was an for the commercial user. increasing one. Naturally, the owner expected The Government have done something to his sales to increase, by diligent attention to encourage the production of charcoal, or pro his business, but since the introduction of ducer gas, but a very unsatisfactory situation petrol rationing they have dropped to 2,000 has arisen by the adoption of this means of gallons a month. That is an example of the alleviating fuel shOTtage; no provision has serious falling-off in this type of business. been made in the countrv to enable consumers Motor vehicles also provider1 a means of to procure supplies. 'Happily, the po>ver transport for many people engaged in our alcohol industry was established in this primary industries, and by them their pro country some years ago, and that to n certain ducts were conveyed to markets for distri extent has alleviated onr difficulties. But the bution at a much chea'per rate than formeTly. important point is that we have fuel supplies Any extra cost entailed in sending primary here tha't still remain to be exploited, and it products to market for distribution must be is the dutv of the members of this Parlia borne by the people. Therefore, everyone is ment to get together and solve the problem, suffering both directly and indirectly some if possible. disability through a shortage of petrol. I The Secretnry for Labour nnd Industry contend, therefore, that it is the duty of interjected. parliamentarians, as representatives of the people, to interest themselves in this matter, ltir. NiililUO: What are we doing? We in the hope of providing some substitute fuel have a Minister who interjects that they have to take the pla'ce of the imported one. never been prospected yet. We have a Depart ment of Mines that has known abont them, There is in Brisbane a body styling itself and sat calmly down and virtually done the Fuel Substitute Group. Its members have nothing. already done yeoman service in bringing the aims of that body prominently before the According to the Queensla'nd Government public and showing the possibilities of obtain '' 1\fining Journal'' kerosene shale was dis ing fuel from our own resources. More aid covered 53 years ago by a man 11amed Hunter should be given to these people, and more nt Connole 's Gully, on the Toowoomba Hange, aid should be given to the development of 4~ miles from Toowoomba. A shaft was this fuel generally by our Department of sunk 60 feet and shale was got out a'nd the Mines. A good deal of blame for the non yield was 80 gallons to the ton. It was proved development of our na'tural resources rests to be true shale oil. That deposit extends with the department, which has not been as for a width of 2 miles. That shows very active as it might have been in testing some clearly that we had that deposit, but nothing of our known deposits .of shale. Although was done. many such deposits have been known to exist Members of this House may say that vested for many years, no effort has ever been made interests, oil interests pa'rticularly, prevent to induce private enterprise to develop them. any development from taking place, but the The position is serious, as everyone must whole of the fault Tests with our Department realise. \Ve have, as I pointed out earlier oJ' l\fines. It should have shown exactly what in my rema'rks, hundreds of motor-driven hnd been done. The department made an vehicles in the State that are being laid up excellent survey of the coal measures in the to-day through lack of petrol supplies. This \Vest l\1oreton district some :<"ears ago. I will materially affect the economic production think that survey was carried out by J\fr. \\'. of our State. E. Cam er on. It was very thorough ; the whole I would also point out how the motor of the coal of the vVest 1\foreton district was vehicle has developed the resources of Queens clearly indicated. Why could not some land. Land 25 or 35 miles distant from our similar suney have been made, particularly railways was at one time considered too fa'r during· the past two years, of shale-oil distant from our transport system to produee deposits~ No such survey has been made. Production of Shale Oil [25 SEPTEMBER.] and Aluminium. 467 ln fad, on making inquiries, I found that series of leases 81Hl spent something on pros tllC' suney of the \Vest 11oreton coal measures pecting. is the only official geological survey that has been made in this State. 1\'fr. NilUlUO: We also should have syndi cates to take np leases. vVc should encourage We have had deposits of shale oil reported them to innstignte by giYing them something. from Baflle Creek in the Pmt Curtis dis We should not be in the position of having trict. The beds are from 5 to 50 feet in no information at nll. 'l'hore arc great pros thickness and yield as much as 82 gallons to pects. the ton, and as much as 210 lb. of pa·raffin ;;rrx h::os been extra'cted from a ton of that A letter by :Mr. E. C. ::\IcConncll states- slwle. On Cnrtis Island in the close vicinitv '' After a conversation with ::\Ir. Rail, I there ::ne other deposits. In the Sugarloaf can advise tl1at on a pastol'al property of mine on the Darling Downs shale l1as been which I am chairman of directors, we have rpportcc1. That was the en cl of it; there was struck shale in boring for water. In an no prospecting and no further report. From area of 150 square miles of the property Kingsthorpe, also in the vicinity of SugaT we have put clown two wells '"here the shale loaf on the Downs, a report came to the can be seen, also six bores all of which Department of Mines that a bore pa·ssed through 10 feet of shale but nothing was show great depths of shale-grey, black, rlone. 1'.-hen the department did look into and brown in colour. Going on to another :he matter the material was so weathered part of the property where we are at thnt is was of no use for testing. At Strath present boring for water, we are striking pine, near Brisbane, shale oil was reported. very thick layers of shale beginning at a Tt appears that a man sank a well 60 feet depth of 150 feet. rkep for wnter and got a satisfnctory supply. ''Coming up with the drillings during 'l'wo years afterwards somebody cnme along and, noticing the mnterial at the top of the drilling operations >vo have found lumps "-ell, snir1. '':\Iy wor
is showing on the surface he went south a On 22 April, 1941, Mr. Clifford Hamey few chains and put in a shaft 7 feet and tested two sam'ples of shale on the Alpha found 6 feet of good shale. No. 2 shaft is field, with the following results:- four chains further south. He went down 19 feet through sandy clay, sandstone, and First Test. conglomerate before he struck shale. Nos. Total oils per ton of shale-168.5 gallons. 3, 4, 5, and 6 shafts are about four chains apart, and the same formation was found Petrol to 180 c.-23 gallons. befOTe he came to shale at 21 feet. Further Carbon, almost pme-418 lb. to the ton. on in the report he says- Second Test. " We have put down nearly 400 feet of bores and shafts over an area of 3 square Total oils per ton of shale-169.1 gallons. miles. Whilst searching for other outcrops, Petrol to 180 c.-21.7 gallons. after evidence of shale in several of the Apparently a great deal of effort has been surrounding hills and depressions, I found put into the development of some of these shale formation in wash-outs some 9 miles deposits by outside interests. east of the area under review.'' I have a letter from Senator McLeay, the lie had laboratory tests made of these Minister for Supply and Development. It is samples and he found that they showed a addressed to Mr. Francis and was sent to content of from 132 to 164 gallons of crude me with oth-er letters that he had received oil to the ton of shale. from his constituents. It reads- Those tests are referred to in the report " -With further reference to your letter of Mr. Douglas Henderson, which says- of 11 August, 1941, with which you for >Yarded eorrespondcnce from Mr. H. :;\!. '' They are a fair average sample. Any Hillard, Secretary, G.A.S.S.A. (South thing that these tests show represents con Coast Branch), care of South Coast Motor servative figures, but assuming an average Company, Scarborough street, Southport, of only 150 gallons per ton, there would be regarding the development of Australia's an indicated quantity of 697,000,000 shale oil fields, I desire to inform you that gallons of crude oil in this area alone. I have now had an opportunity of discus That the area is readily accessible is defi sing this matter with my technical officers. nitely undoubted. That portion of it to ''As I in die a ted to you in my letter of which I referred is distant 14 miles from 21 August, the Commonwealth is applying a gazetted main road, and 34 miles from itself energetically to the development the railway. Mechanical haulage offers no of the shale oil industry, and already engineering difficulties whatever, as the important results are manifesting them selves. roads are good, judged by local standards.'' Mr. Culman also had samples tested in the ''The pamphlet which accompanied Mr. Hillard 's letter seems to indicate that Toowoomba foundry. Under that test engines he is more particularly interested in the that were working on imported fuel were development of the shale deposits in switched over to the Drummond Range oil Queenslnnd. In this connection, I recently after having been run for a little while on arranged for one of my officers to explore ordinary petrol, and the remarkable thing the position in conjunction with the was that they developed greater efficiency Minister for Mines of Queensland and with the Queensland product than they officers of his department. My officer showed with the imported fuel. That proves informs me that the Minister for Mines that we have in this country an asset that is expressed the view that insufficient was worthy of a considerable amount of investi known about deposits in Queensland, both gation. We should not wait for a private as to quantity and quality, upon which to person to tell the Department of Mines that base an industry. The Minister promised, it is there and ask for a lease. The depart however, that investigations would be under ment is not there for that purpose, but to taken immediately to obtain this essential encourage people to embark upon these pro information, and when such information jects. was available, arrangements would be made for further discussions to take place.'' Mr. Clark: Culman has got the lease. Now, that investigation was only to be Mr. NIMMO: Exactly; but he has had arranged after the Federal Minister brought no cncomagemont beyond the granting of the matter under the notice of the Minister the lease. in charge of the Department of Mines here. Mr. Clark: He should not need much To show what a tremendous rush there is encouragement. in New South Wales, I propose to quote from the ''Telegraph'' of 20 August- 1\Ir. NUUIO: If that is the attitude the Government intends adopting, then we shall " Shale-oil leases in New South Wales got nowhere. \Ve have to spoonfeed and are being snnpper1 up by groups of small nurture these things carefully. Once an indus operators, nccording to reports received by try is established all the vested interests in the Federal Government. the >vorld cannot prevent our developing our ''This rush is causing concern to the own fuel resources. Government, which has not yet determined Production of Shale Oil (25 SEPTEMBER.] and Aluminium. 469
the most economically sound method of gallon tank for the storage of crude oil. developing large-scale operations from pro 'l'hose tanks have been erected for some time. duction by small plants.'' 'rhe Commonwealth Government provided £340,000 towards the capital cost, and the On making inquiries in Sydney I find that late New South Wales Government, not the Peters Arctic Delicacy Company is not present Labour Government, contributed bothered by the rationing of petwl because £160,000. it is producing petrol and having it delivered in Sydney at 1s. 9~c1. a gallon, all charges The Secretary for Mines: They put up paid. That petrol is being made from local £140,000. slwle, and the company has six retorts in Mr. NIMlUO: The Minister may have operation at Mittagong and intends dupli more information than I have on the subject. cating the plant. Tooths Limited, a firm of brewers in New South Wales, and Gartrell, The Secretary for l\Iines: George Davis's Whih and Company, bakm·s, have under order company put up a small amount, too. six retort plants each. Those facts indicate that in New South Wales the industry is Mr. NIJ\IMO: The publication that I have booming. Negotiations are proceeding with here, '' Pix,'' sets out that the Commonwealth a number of owners of motor vehicles with Government contributed £340,000 and the a view to their installing pl::mts in that State. New South \Vales Nationalist Government contributed £160,000. I must accept these The question is: can >Ye do something~ figures, but even if the amount contributed "Will the Minister assure the House this morn by Kew South Wales was only £140,000, at ing that some effort will be made to encour least it was something, whereas the Queens age the richer shale than is found in any of the eontinually accusing the Commonwealth other areas~ For that reason I recommend- Government for not doing this, that, and the other thing, \Yhereas everyone knows that thc. 1. That this House instruct the Depart must conserve their present petrol supplies, ment of Mines to test our most promising which aTe a vital necessity for the safety of shale deposits immediately; this countTy. It is our duty to gPt busy aml 2. That the Government give a lead by adopt the suggestions I have made. If that erecting a small six-retort plant; were done, steps could be taken to provide a substitute fuel in order that we might cany 3. That the Government offer a substantial on our industries. I believe that once we get reward to the first person or compa·ny this substitute fuel industry established, it will producing, say, 20,000 gallons of shale become a permanent one, notwithstanding the oil at a specified cost. suggestion of the hon. member for Gympie I wish to deal now with the other part that once the war is over \Ve might abandon of my motion relating to the production of our own established industry in favour of aluminium. We have read all sorts of reports imported petrol. in onr newspapers on the subject, but we have In Scotland they have been extracting oil not had anything official from the Department fuel from shale for a number of years. In of Mines. What is the actual position with 1927 I paid a visit to works in Germany that respect to the production of aluminium~ were extracting fuel from coal. The works The Secretary for Labour and Industry: manager told me that they were extracting The Mines Department located the first from 20 to 35 gallons of oil fuel from every bauxite deposit on Tamborine Mountain. Mr. ton of coal treated. It is because of such Geologist Ball has made two or three reports efforts as those that Germany has been able to get enough fuel to carry on the war. Dn that deposit. A man named L. G. Neill, who is living in lUr. NilUMO: As far as I am able to Brisbane, has been vitally interested in this understand, some person located bauxite at matter for a number of years-five years at Tamborine by finding it on the road. The least. I was astounded to learn that he has Secretary for Labour and Industry apparently made tests of every one of our coal measures knows more than anybody else in Queens from \Valloon to the Darling Downs. He land, because the Press has reported, and I showed me the result of those tests, and fTOm made investigations following on that report, our ordinary coal in the m·ea ranging from that a man discovered bauxite on a road at \Valloon to the Darling Downs he has Tamborine, and that it had been deposited obtained a production of 50 gallons of crude there for road-repairing purposes. That man oil. That shows the great possibilities that now sticks his chest out and says, ''I made we have not yet exploited. the discovery.'' \Vhen that man saw the material he believed it to be bauxite and had I strongly recommend the House to consider it examined. The report disclosed that it was the motion on a non-party basis. This is our bauxite. If that is not correct, then the Secre only opportunity of bringing forward a pro tary for Labour and Industry knows some posal of this nature. It is important that thing more about this matter than is gener we give an instruction to the Department of ally known. I have yet to learn that the Mines and get it moving instead of simply Department of Mines issued a Teport to say making casual reports on deposits reported that one of its officers discovered bauxite at to it and carrying out no further invcstiga Tam borine before anyone else did so. tions. The position is that we have the possibility JUr. PLUNJ{ETT (Albert) (11.21 a.m.): of We have passed the experimental stage. It no reply from the department. I am has been demonstrated in New South Wales informed that the Government Analyst that oil can be extracted from shale received a half ounce of grease, which economically. evaporated in the process of testing. If aEybody sends down half an ounce of grease I hope that this motion will be carried by for the purpose of testing, it shows that he the House and that every possible aid will be is not very keen about getting a test made. given to the many people in the State who would like to see our shale oil and bauxite Mr. Luckins: Perhaps it evaporated in deposits developed, for with this development transit. will come the expansion of other industries. The SECRETARY FOR MINES: I do not The SECRETARY FOR MINES (Hon. know whether it evaporated on the way down D. A. Gledson, Ipswich) (11.33 a.m.): On or not. That may be so, but the half-ounce reading the motion, one might gain the is all the Government Analyst got. impression that the State Government have Mr. Maher: Are not mines of that kind done nothing to foster the production of oil from shale. In fact, one thing that the brought under your noticeV motion does indicate is that both the hon. The SECRETARY FOR MINES: It is not member for Oxley and the hon. member for possible to bring everything under my notice, Albert are ignorant of what has been done because my department deals with hundreds even by this Parliament. As recently as last of samples. They are not always brought year, Parliament amended the Petroleum Acts to the notice of the Minister, and it would to encourage the production of oil from shale not be possible to do so. If the hon. mem by exempting from payment of royalty for ber had experience of government he would 12 months any person who undertook to pro· know that. The hon. member for Cooroora, duce oil from shale. Another amendment who has had experience, could tell him that was a reduction of the 10-per-cent. royalty on everything that comes to a Minister's shale oil to 2 per cent. Despite the fact that department cannot possibly be brought before that was done by Parliament last year, we his personal notice. It would be a sheer have the hon. member for Oxley and the hon. impossibility for a Minister to see the member for Albert supporting a motion this hundreds of samples that come to his depart morning urging the Government to do some· ment day by day. The Minister could not thing that has already been done. Last year possibly know of every half-.ounce of grease Parliament did everything that could possibly that came to his department. be done to make conditions for the production of oil from shale in Queensland better than Mr. Maher: There is the general impres those in any other State. sion outside that the department is too slow. Mr. Maher: I think they: are really Tile SECRETARY FOR MINES: It may trying to draw attention to the dilatory atti be the impression that the department is too tude of the department where these finds of slow, but I can give the hon. member the shale have occurred. assurance that when my department gets any matter in hand it deals with it immediately. The SECRETARY FOR MINES: If the hon. member for West Moreton likes to It is to be remembered that my depart apologise for the hon. member for Oxley, we ment does not undertake the testing of will accept the apology, but I think it would samples of materials sent to Brisbane. The be better for that hon. gentleman to make his testing .o.f samples is done by the Government own apologies. His statements have demon· Analyst. The Department of Mines is a strated that he dealt with a subject of which geological office, and analytical tests are made he knows very little. Hon. members of this by the Government Analyst. Assembly should know that no oil can be produced in Queensland or in Australia, for Mr. Mahe,r: Is there not room for some that matter, unless under permit from the co-ordination~ Commonwealth Government. The Common The SECRETARY FOR MINES: It wealth Government control the production of depends upon the amount of work the Govern oil from shale and the production of free ment Analyst has in hand whether he is oil or any other oil. A permit has first to be able to deal with these matters immediately. obtained from the Customs Department. We know that at certain periods of the year Mr. Plunkett: And pay a duty on it as the Government Analyst has to deal not only with matters connected with the Department well. of Mines, but with every other Government The SECRETARY FOR MINES: We did department. He has to deal, of course, with not hear a word about that during the hon. samples that come from the Department of member's speech. I am not complaining so Health and Home Affairs, the Department of much about the speech delivered by the hon. Agriculture and Stock, the Department of member for Albert, as about that delivered Public Lands, and almost every other depart by the hon. member for Oxley, who m~de t~e ment. It is not possible for that officer to -statement that the Department of Mmes m leave work that is on hand just to test a Queensland had done nothing at all. He sample he receives to-day. Analytical test referred to other places where oil had been ing is very important work, especially in the produced from shale. He also made the ease of poisons and it cannot be expected charge that Mr. McConnell had sent down that an analyst will drop his work on some ·grease some months ago and had had poisons simply to begin a test on a small Production of Shale Oil [25 SEPTEMBER.) and Aluminium. 473 quantity of grease. That may be the explana· give up our offices and take up mining leases. tion for a'ny delay that may have occurred If the hon. member for Oxley thinks that is in testing the half-ounce of grease to which what the Government and the department exist the hon. member referred. In any case, there for, he should think again. That is the posi is the utmost expedition between the Depart tion so far as Mr. Culman is concerned. These ment of Mines and the Government Analyst leases are held by him and his party, and the in carrying out testing. The tests are Government do not intend to work leases held carried out as quickly as possible and the by other people, or erect plants on them, or results made known to the persons concerned. engage in production. If the Government The other day I received some material from do so they will operate on Government pro an hon. member to be testeil and the work perty and not on leases held by individuals wa·s carried out and the report returned to for the purposes of exploitation. me virtually within a week. That matter came thr.ough me personally, but Mr. McCon lUr. Nimmo: I am not suggesting that. nell 's sample was forwarded to the depart ll'Ir. ll'Iaher: You help goldmining com ment and not to me personally. If a sample panies. Why not help oil companies~ is submitted to me I promptly forward it to the proper quarters for testing and when the The SECRETARY FOR MINES: It is report is made to me it is quickly sent to true that we give assistance to goldmining the person concerned. companies and we are willing to assist com panies that wish to mine oil shale, but they The hon. member for Oxley said that Mr. must in the first instance be prepared to help Culman had complained that although he was themselves. No person holding a goldmining carrying out certain tests he could get no lease says to the Government, ''We have help from the department. Mr. Culman has done nothing; you sink the shaft, put up the been carrying out some very valuable research plant, get the ore out and treat it, and we work in connection with shale oil and in will take all the profit.'' discovering shale-oil deposits in various parts of Queensland and Australia, but he has had Mr. Maher: No-one asks for that. every possible consideration from the Depart The SECRETAR.Y FOR MINES: The ment of Mines. All our Teports have been request of the hon. member for Oxley made available to him and he has been made amounted to that. He knows that these oil aware of all the known shale-oil deposits in prospecting leases arc held by private persons Queensland. He has been helped by the and they should first do something for them department in having tests ea rried out for selves. He knows, too, that the Government him. have told Mr. Culman over and over again Mr. Culman ''discovered'' shale oil that that they are willing to help him in every had previously been discovered on the Carnar possible way to extract oil from shale. A von Ranges and reported in the ''Queensland week or two ago I met the Fuel Substitute Government Mining Journal'' years ago. Group-I have the notes of that deputation Then he went to the Alpha district-to the before me. They informed me that they were Drummond Ranges in which certain shale was appointed for the purpose of furthering the exposed in the creeks. He applied for a production of substitute fuels. They were a prospecting area, or at least a prospecting responsible group consisting of men anxious aTea was applied for in the name of Mr. to do something in this matter. They raised Anderson, the owner of the station property, the matter of Mr. Culman 's leases and asked Mantuan Downs. The a'pplication was granted me if the department would send a technical and Mr. Culman endeavoured to form a com officer to assist Mr. Culman and his party to pany to work the deposits. That application take out samples and make a test on the was granted in April, 1939, and it has been leases he held in order to determine not held by him ever since. In February, 1940, only the quantity of shale available, but also he applied on behalf of his party foT eight the amount of oil that could be produced leases in the a'rea and they were granted, too. from it. I forthwith told them that the Although he has held the leases since department was quite prepared to do so, that February, 1940, nothing more has been done we already had geologists on the field, that to bring the deposits into commercial they had made reports to the department, production. and that these reports had been made avail ll'Ir. Nimmo: I suppose the trouble is that able to Mr. Culman. I told this group also he cannot get capital. that when Mr. Culman was readv I would despatch a technical officer with ·him, that, The SECRETARY FOR ll'UNES: If any as a matter of fact, I would go myself, not person takes up leases for goldmining pur only to see the lease but get the whole matter poses, or to prospect for any other metal, he fixed up so that a proper test could be maae. is expected to work them. If any person takes What happened1 When onr geologist arrived up mining leases under the mining laws he on the field all the work he found done was gets the right to the minerals specified. He one little shaft and a number of potholes cannot expect the Government to sink shafts filled in. He could not get any samples except or bores in order to test those areas, and from some surface shale that had been left having tested them as the hon. member for there. Each time he has gone out he has Oxley suggests, to erect a plant in order to been treated in the same way. I decided that produce oil, thereby permitting him to reap when they had something to show and were all the benefits. Why, Mr. Speaker, if that prepared to go out with us, we would certainly were so, you and I, instead of holding posi go. I am even prepared to put men on to tions in this Parliament, would be willing to help production in order to have a proper 471 Production of Shale Oil [ASSEMBLY.] and Aluminium. test, but we are not going to uo the whole The oil shale in The Xarrows, between thing ourselves. They have held this lease for Ourtis Island and the mainland, was visiter] two and a-half years and they have not done in 1913. The outcropping shale is low i11 anything except say that they have got this grade, but there is the possibility that it and got the other. They have not demon may be of considerable thickness. \Ve have strated what they have got. secured all that area for Government purpose, by proclamation, and at the present time :1 li'Ir. l\Iacdonald: What is the term of the boring plant is being assembled there. .A lease: special rotary drill will be used. Bores Will The SECRETARY FOR lUI"KES: I under be put down and samples taken from different stand they are held for 21 years with the depths. opt ion of renev; al. .Mr. lUaJ~er: In what district is that? l\Ir. Edwards: Does that mean without The SECRETARY FOR :fillNES: North working them~ of Gladstone. I think it is partly in KeppeJ The SECIU:TARY ~'OR MINES: No, they and partly in Port Ourtis, but mostly in tht' arc undPl' certain obligations. They can Keppel district. obtain exemption from the labour conditions }fr. 1Iaher: Does a geological test sug during the time they are forming the com gest that the place at which you are going pany and getting ready to work the lease. to put that plant is the best, the place where We give them an opportunity to turn out the results are most promising~ the material. That applies to all mineral leases. The SECRETARY FOR l'!IINES: Geo I wish to point out that the Geological logical tests advise that that is the most Smvey Oflice of the department has been promising area eaby of access to maTlcets. actiYC in the search for oil sinre the commence But that is one onlv of the operation' ment of this century, long before this Govern th~t are going on, and otl;er areas will be tested ment came into power. The tertiary shales if necessary. I again make it clear that by of Dnariuga wore found in 1900 to be more proclamation the Government secured the lantl or less bituminous to a depth of 200 feet and for the Crown, and this has, of course, description proved them to be oil shales. An prevented private prospectors from taking up occunence of medium-quality kerosene shale leases there and exploiting anything that the below the 'l'oo\Yoomba Range was investi GoYernment do. vV c are, however,. willing to gated in 1 91il, and several showings were help people who take up leases in every located, none of them of commercial thick possible way, cithm· by plant or other suitabl(• ness, and others on the Dawson and Fitzroy, assistance provided they put forward a sound south and north of the railway, haYe received proposal. ' The GoYernment wi~l help in the consideration. production of any shale that Will produce 01! I know that lYe had men from Bundamba in commercial quantities. who 11·ent up to the IIelidon district and Mr. Brand: You support the motion" worked the oil r;hale below the TomYoomba That is all the motion asks. Range for a considerable time. The shale \Yas ·sent away an cl tested. It pro,-ed to be The SECRETARY FOR :fiHNES: The too difficult to work at that time, conse motion is only six months too late. All thi:; quently it \Yas abandoned. A rctest has been work is at present in operation. There is no made and the shale has been examined to see need for the motion. whcthm· anything could he done. There is the possibility thut good deposits will be found Low-grade oil shale, an out-crop nca r in the Hclidon district at 1he foot of the Plevna in the Eungclla Range, Mackay hinter· 'l'oowoomba Range, but it may take some land, was first descTibcd in 1927. Hece11t search. The plac~s that were opened up in exploration suggc~ts that this may be more that district showed small sonms and the than 100 feet in thickness. The department results of the tPsts \Yore not as encouraging has ananged an intensive geological survey of as tests of shale from some other parts of the locality, and this is proceeding. A w~ll Queensland. was put down near the Plevna Homestead m 1927, and the shale was noticed, but since tlw The occUIT•'nccs in the Dnwson nnd the search for free oil has become more acute Fitzroy Valleys have been subject to con certain company has taken up a lease and siderable investigation, but the shales are all has done certain borings in that district. ThP of a low grade. At Duaringa they are of department has had reports from that considerable thickness but the production of company and also a superficial geological oil from those shales was not sufficient to survey. As I have said, a proper survey of the warrant any further work. ·when you get whole area is being undertaken, the geolo down to J 0 or 20 gallons of oil to the ton gists being on the field. The possibility that you obviously have very little petrol content sufficient shale is there of a quality to enable and the shale is not worth \Yorking. the occunence to become a commercial under· Oil-shale exposures near Lo\Ymead, \Yhich taking will be investigated. is in the area represented by the hon. member :l:Ir. lVIacdonald: Does surveying mean for Port Ourtis, were reported on in 1913-15, boring and uoss· boring? when considerable activity occurred there and drilling proved numerous thin bands of The SECRE'fARY FOR MINES: The hon. shale, samples of which yielded mostly less member, of course, knows that cross-boring· than 40 gallons of crude oil to the ton. cannot be done unless a shaft is first sunk. Production of Shale Oil [25 SEPTEMBER.) and Aluminium. 475 A survey does not include that. The surveyor The SECRETARY FOR 1\'IINES: In the and the geologist can report only on what is same year a 3-feet lead of kerosene shale exposed in the core. Vertical boring has been was discovered in the Carnarvon Ranges, done already, but it is impossible to go down further along from the prcwious tinding, about a borchole and do cross-boring. There has half-way between Injune Creek and the been a considerable amount of talk about Carnarvon Range continuing to the Drummond cross-boring in the Victorian area to bring in Rnnge. Samples yielded ;J± gallons of oil oil, but that can be done only after shafts to the ton. have been sunk. Once the shafts are put down it is possible to bore along the line of the In 1921 between Gladstonc and Rockhamp· oil. All a surveyor and geologist can do ton medium-grade oil shales were observed 011 is survey the whole area, plot it and deter Curtis Island, which was visited in eonnection mine the quantity of shale that is available, with the search for petroleum. and that is being done. In 1926 oil shales were observed in drill A geological survey of the Carnarvon ings from a borehole sunk for coal near Injune Creek areas was made in 1906. Injune, Kingsthorpe, but sufficient was not available of course, is out from Roma. A geological and for analysis. survey party went over the Carnarvon Hanges In 1927 the occmrence of oil shale at from Injune Creek and discovered shale Plevna 1vas confirmed, surface samples yield deposits. ·The reports of that party may be ing up to 18 gallons of oil to the ton. seen in the library. In 1927 an exposure on the Dawson River, Mr. Brand: But that is not the Car 14 miles south-south-east o£ Boolburra, was narvou tind of recent date? inspected but the analyses were disappoint ing, with less than 10 gallons of oil to the The SECRETARY FOR MINES: It is. 'l'he first iind was followed up along the ton. Carnarvon Ranges to the Drummond Range, In the same year the shales associated with and from the Drummond Range to the Alpha the Styx coals were sampled but with negative district, and the hon. member for Isis knows results. In 1932 oil shale was discoYered in that as well as I do. the dump of a shallow well in the Strathpine Consideration was given to prospecting for district, this yielding 51 gallons of oil to the oil shale in association with the coal seams ton. This well is not accessible now for at Sugarloaf, on the Darling Downs, in 1916, inspection as it has fallen in. Efforts were and samples were taken. The hon. member made a few weeks ago to inspect it but this for Oxley actually read a report from the was not possible. ''Queensland Government Mining Journal '' I might say that certain shales were found but, after getting the ]\fines Department's in other properties in the Strathpine district, reports from the Geological Survey Oftice, he and oils have been produced running between suggests that we have done nothing. 30 and 40 gallons of oil to the ton. 1Ur. Nimmo: It is all very well to say a In 1940 the oil-shale workings in the Alpha simple thing like that, but you should have distTict were visited. 'I'he shafts were done something to show how much is there. generally inaccessible, but a 4 feet 6 inches band of torbanite and cannel coal at 6 feet The §ECII:El'ARY :!<'OR 1\IINES: Samples depth was sampled, and yielded 44 gallons were taken m 1916, collected from a seam that was proved to be less than 3 feet in of oil to the ton. They were re-v-isited in thickness. Those samples showed a result of 1941, and samples were tn ken from the one 23 gallons of oil to the ton of shale. Later accessible shaft and these shower1 a maximum samples, which were taken further in, yielded of 76 gallons of oil to the ton over a thick ness of 2 feet 1vith <"annel coal above and nearly 40 gallons to the ton. All that infor below yielding 18 to 20 gallons. mation has been reported and is available. lUr. Nimmo: What about the 160 gallons? Mr. Nimmo: I give the department credit for that. I do not say that the department The SECRETARY FOR 1\UNES: I am not has done nothing. I say it has not done in a position to say anything about that. No enough. shale has produced anything like 160 gallons to the ton in any of the tests made by the The SIWRETARY FOR ::\liNES: In 1916 Government Analyst. small bodies of shale, similar to those at Lowmead, were located at Ubobo, in the Mary There is the question whether we have the Valley, bnt as these have not been tested necessary implements and apparatus for pro there is no idea as to their extent or value. perly testing out shales and obtaining the full quantity of liquid fluid from them. This vV e also tested certain shales in the Fassi matter is being gone into by the Government fem district in 1920, but the yield was only Analyst, who is endeavouring to bTing his (i gallons to the ton, and it was not worth plant up to date so that he can get the while developing that prospect. maximum oil fluid from shales under test. ft!r. Edwards: Would it not be worth I have not the time at my disposal to deal while developing the one that produced 40 with aluminium. I say that the Chief Govern gallons~ ment Geologist, J\Ir. Ball, 1vas at Tamborine Mountain one week-end and when walking 1Ir. Brand: No, you want over 100 along the r0fH1 he saw some metal that had gallons. been put on the road. IIe picked a piece of 476 Production of Shale Oil [ASSEMBLY.] and Aluminium. this up and brought it home-a thing he done to determine whether shale exists over a always does-ani! had it tested, and it proved sufficient area to justify the laying down of to be a very good quality of bauxite. He a distillation plant. reported the matter and it was referred to the people concerned with the production of JUr. Macdonald: Can you not force them aluminium. The TamlJorino bauxite deposits to do something~ have been tested by a company, and I think The SECRETARY FOR LABOUR ANH that something like 30 or 40 shallow areas have INDUSTRY: I suppose we could, if the been found on that line of formation. There Government desired to embark upon such a is a quarry there showing a deposit of almost policy, but when a lease is taken up under 10 feet in thickness. The company has taken the Mining Acts it has not been the practice• up leases with the object of establishing the of the Government to spur the parties to the aluminium inilnstry and it proposes to use extent of forcing them to work the lease. the bauxite ore from Tamborine in conjunction However, if any other person desires to work with other ores for the proiluction of the lease he may take arlvantage of the aluminium in Australia. provisions of the Mining Acts to move the Another company, together with the com warden's comt with the object of provin~~ pany that has taken up the leases, has applied that the properties are not being worked. to the Commonwealth Government for per If that fact is proved the finding to that mission to raise £1,500,000 to establish the effect is placed before the Minister and, aluminium inilustry and the proposal is to use under Olll' policy to-day, that lease is can Queensland bauxite and especially the ore celled. Then persons who desire to work the from Tamborine, which is of excellent quality. lease are alloweil to take it up. The Tamborine bauxite ore contains not only a fair mnount of almnina but also a minimum The point I wish to emphasise is that for of silica-which is an admirable blend for a number of years the Government have been good treatment-as well as a certain amount g·iving assistance to various mining proposi of iron, which enables it to be properly fluxed. tions throughout the State. If a small syndi The rliscoverv of the excellPnt Tamborine cate of miners wish to wmk a copper or gold bauxite ore is" attributable solelv to the Chief mining proposition we help them·. In this Government Geologist, l\Ir. Iiall, who has Yvay '' e have distributed £40,000, £50,000, or always made it a practice to pick up pieces £70,000 per annum. The syndicate subscribr> of stone ani! clay from the roads for the their quota in labour for developmental pur purpose of sampling, and thus he has taken poses and the Government aid is then applied samplrs from all parts of Queensland. It for the purchase of the necessary steel, was in the course of this pmctice that he explosives, ropes, and other material neces discovered the valuable Tamborine bauxite sary to make a thorough investigation. That ore that is now available for public use. policy has been contiuueil for a number of Tl:c only thing that has retarded the pro years. ductiOn of Australian aluminium has been Let me give an instance. Take the copper the aluminium combine, which has been in mine at :\lount Chalmers, in connection with the habit of using imported ores and is dis "lvhich the :B'ederal Government have advanced inclined to use any other. Hmvever, the new a loan of £10,000 for rlevelopmental purposes. company that has been formed on which The original holders of those leases foun the whole area. By this means they satisfied a matter of fact, it has already made a move themselves that the tin existed. There was in an area that has not yet been taken up, no occasion then for the company to come to and tests are being- carried out by a proper the Government, and the whole £240,000 system of boring. e;1pital required to launch the company was subscribed without an appeal to the public. Mr. Nimmo: Is that the Eungella Range? 'rhat was because it had been proved with The SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND the assistance of the Govemment that the INDUSTRY: No, it is in The Narrows, in tin was in the area prospected. If Mr. the Gladstone district, in the Keppel elec· Culman or :my other shale prospector in torate. this State shows by prospecting an area that he has the goods and that the proposal is an :From what I have been told by an old economic one there will be no need for him mate of mine who has been IYorking on the to come to the Government, as the necessary Eungella deposit, there are possibilities there. (·apital will be subscribed without a cam·ass They have a big deposit of shale, but not of or his going out of his office. very high value. The one compensates for the. other; 1vhere you have a big deposit Another instance is the Smith's Creek tin your mining costs are much lower than when dc:posit in :'forth Queensland. The people you arc working on a yery small and narrow <·oncerned took up the leases and did not deposit; consequently, you do not need such rush in to ask the Government to prospect high values to make it a working proposition. them. They put on a staff of men, pros There are possibilities in that area. When pected thB ground, sank test bores, and I was in charge of the Department of Mines proved that they had on the leases 70,000,000 artirles appeared in the Mackay newspapers, yards of material averaging over :} lb. of tin and I had interviews with a Mr. Tremble, to the yard. They are not going to need who was interested in that deposit. I Government assistance; they hme proved arrano·ed with Mr. \Vade from the Common that they have the goods. If they prove wealth Service, and Mr'. Shepherd, of the their bona fides, and if it is ::m economic State Department of Mines, to visit that area proposition that IYill show a return on the for a geological survey in order to say {'apital invested, the money will be subscribed whether it was an economic proposition. without canYassing one indiYidual. When they arri1·cc1, they found one falle_n-in If those who own the shale leases will sub shaft, and it 1ms impossible to get any 1dea Sl'l'ibe their mite towards a thorough pros· whatever of the extent of the deposit. ]'cding of the area, the Government IYill come That is typical of the conditions the to their assistance-as has been pointed out Department of Mines is faced with. If one b!' the Secretary for Mines-IYith a supple· g·oes to Irvinebank, one finds sterling types of menj:ary amount to enable a thorough pros· tin-srratchers and prospectors who do not want pceting of the area to be made. the Government to put in everything. vVho would not have a tinmine, a copper-mine, or It has been pointed out by the Minister a shalemine if the Government found all this morning that the area we have heard the capital necessary to prospect and work it~ so mud1 nbont in the Druufmoncl Range was originally alleged to cover many hundreds The same remarks apply to deposits of of square miles of country. It was also bauxite. A long search by the Chief Govern alleged that there was just a small covering ment Geologist, Mr. Ball, eventually resulted in the discovery of bauxite ore on the of overbun1en and an average of 5 feet of 'rambOTine Mountain. Many people have slwlo underneath that overburden. That visited the are~i and have been shown over IYOuld haYe been a very fine proposition, the deposit by the Chief Government because with yom· bulldozer and other Geologist, but it is only recently that there machine methods in use to-clay you could has been a person with capital and initiative strip that overburden to get to the 5 feet enough to exploit the development .of that of shale, and this would mean very low deposit. I think it will be developed, eventu mining costs. However, when om· geologist, ally,. because the value is very high, but, even Mr. Reid, went to the area, on more than one on the Tamborine Mountain, a great deal of occasion he found nothing exposed that would prospecting is necessary to loca ~e otl;er enable him to give a comprehensh·e report. deposits. I have seen the quarry m wh1Ch Where he was able to locate the shale, he the original deposit was discovered. This found a sort of hybrid coal mixed with the quarry, of fairly large dimensions, had sup shale, and that composition, naturally, means plied ore to the local council for roadmaking a deterioration of the deposit as a whole, and, for a number of years. No person even instead of having 5 feet of shale in those thought that there was any mineral or metal areas, you probably would have 2 feet or value in that ore until Mr. Ball discovered it. 2 feet 6 inches of shale. The question resolves This discovery caused further investigation itself into a thorough prospecting of the and other deposits were located, and probably area to determine the quantity of shale, its other deposits will be found later. There will value, the mining costs involved in producing have to be systematic prospecting. shale and supplying it to the retorts, and, in addition, the question whether it will show a The production of aluminium from that return on the capital that has to be invested. ore is faced with the problem of electricity If the prospectors are bona fide, willing to do supply. The cost of the electricity, which their share towards prospecting those areas would have to come from Brisbane, would be -as the C\Iinister pointed out-the Depart· too high to permit of the economical elec· mcnt of ;vnnes is willing to do its share. As trolytic treatment of the deposit. Probably 478 Production of Shale Oil [ASSEMBLY.] and Aluminium. the ore will be sent to Tasmania, New Zea you the proceeds of it.'' After all, that is land, or some other place where electricity is really what the motion seeks. The hon. mem cheap, the ore being worth from 30s. to £2 ber for Oxley wants us to :find the money a ton as against a value of the metal pro to prospect an area and then, after we have duced from that ore of £100 a ton or over. done that, he wants us to establish the neces· That gives hon. members some idea of the sary plant for the distillation of oil from cost of production of metal from bauxite. shale. Prom what I know of the things that A large capital is necessary to :finance such have been done by the Government and the an undertaking. I might remind hon. mem department, coupled with what the JI!Iinister b&rs that if the mining inspectors recommend has told us this morning, I suggest that the that a proposition is worth subsidising, Go>·ernment and the department are deserving assistance is given. of nothing· but the highest praise for their work. On more than one occasion I have Reference has been made to the coal pointed out how we ha've increased the amount deposits of Queensland and the possibility of expended in aid to mining from the miserable using the treatment methods adopted in other few thousancl pounds that were granted countries to extract oil from coal. There, between 1929 and 1932 to over £100,000 a again, the Department of Mines has already year and by the expenditure of that money done some work. There is a deposit of 6ii under our liberal policy the number of miner~ feet of clean coal, with an average over employed throughout Queensland has increased burden of 60 feet, at Blair A thol, in the from 5,000 odd in 1932 to 8,000 to-day. Barcoo electorate. That deposit can be mined more cheaply than a'ny other in Aus Mr. Dart: On oil shale? tralia. To give hon. members some idea of the possibilities of this deposit, I instance The SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND Alabama, in the United States of America. INDUSTRY: No, on the various mining The open-cut method is used there. A seam shows. Production of gold has increased of coal 33 inches thick has an overburden under our system of sympathetic aid from of 20 or 30 feet. Yet in Blair Athol we 30,000 :fine ounces in 1932 to 160,000 :fine have 65 feet of clean coal with an average ounces to-da'y. of 60 feet of overburden to be stripped. A Mr. JUacdonald: Because the price of stripped mine has been developed there for gold has gone up. a number of years. It is working a beautiful face of coal. Prom 30 to 40 feet of over The SECRETARY FOR LABOUR AND burden has been removed to work 60 feet of INDUSTRY: No, not because the price of coal, but the miners are working for only two gold has gone up. It has been brought or three days a week, because the mine is about by our policy of liberal aid to sma.ll too far from the coast and the main market syndicates and companies throughout the to make greater production profitable. State. 'rhat policy has encouraged such people to reopen ventures that had been lying The Government, through the Department idle for a considerable time. of Mines, had gone to the trouble of sending a parcel of many tons of coal to Germany I could take hon. members to Charters for treatment under what is claimed to be Towers, a place that I know well, for I was the most successful process for the extraction reared from boyhood to manhood there, and of oil from coal in Germany-the Fischer point to the old Black Jack mine, a few miles Tropsch process. We had received very fav out of the town. 'l'here is a mine that was ourable reports, all of which may be seen at closed when I was a lad. Many a time I the Department of Mines. Unfortunately, passed it. Mr. J. B. Olark, as the result of the establishment of a plant of any size for assistance offered by the Department of the production of oil in any quantity from Mines, opened it up. He got sufficient indica coal would cost in the vicinity of £11,000,000, tions to warrant the formation of a company. and, in addition to that, impossible terms had That company has been paying dividends been laid down by the patentees of the pro for the last five, six, or seven years and cess. only as a result of the assistance given it by the Government. '['he rea'son why I mention these things is to show that the Government and the Depart Hon. members can visit the library and see ment of Mines have been alive to the possibili what happened with regard to the Daybreak ties of the deposits of coal, shale, and other mine. At one time a syndicate of two were minerals throughout the State, and to give working this mine but as a result of Govern evidence of the fact that they have acted, ment aid seven and eight men were later that they have been investigating these employed. The aid was given :first on a weekly matters. I point out, however, that a: certain basis and then on a £1 for £1 basis. That amount of responsibility attaches to the inter mine was developed by that small body of ested parties also. Those who are desirous men. The :first syndicate broke up; another of developing various deposits should' give formed, but also broke up; still another evidence of their bona :fides by contributing formed and at 80 feet the men struck pay their share of the capital necessary to make able ore and developed the mine. a thorough prospect of the proposal before expecting the Government to help. Let me quote also the Miclere diggings and go back to Joe Lesina 's time as member I do not think any Government in any for that district, when there were over 1,000 pa'rt of the >Yorld will say to a person, ''You men working on the deposit. It lay idle have a coal deposit or a copper deposit that for a number of years as the deposit was we will work and develop, and we will give worked out, but as a result of help given by Production of Shale Oil [25 SEPTEMBER.] and Aluminium. 479 the department prospectors again went there valuable minerals have been unearthed by as well as to other parts of the Clermont prospectors; the geologist has never dis area. Good indications were obtained. I have covered anything, never in the history of been down the shafts. 'They were working Queensland. The Secretary for Labour and on a false bottom in the early stages until Industry knows that what I say is perfectly vne enterprising man-I know him personally true. -with assistance from the department, decided to sink to the slate bottom at 200 feet The Secretary for Labonr and Industry: and now hundreds of men are engaged there. The pick usually finds it. Much alluYial gold has been produced in that Mr. WALKER: Of course. Let us encour district since 1932 as a result of the liberal age the old prospector to go out year after policy adopted by the department. 'rhat year to look for bauxite and oil shale as he policy, as I have already pointed out, is did before in respect of other minerals. He being extended and the benefits of it are led a really happy life, although, perhaps, being offered to syndicates willing to pros pect shale deposits throughout the State. it 1vas a life of isolation. He was given These syndicates must, howcYcr, show their Government aiel and he did splendid work. 1;ona fides hy putting up their share of the 'l'herefore, let us encourage him again to look utpital required. for the clay deposits that may yield a plenti ful supply of alumina and shale oil. Accord I say that the Government haYe boon ing to the Minister, we have many shale a ttcnding to the question mentioned in the deposits throughout th8 State producing from motion for many years with regard to minerals a few gallons to 6'0 gallons a ton. Why not ~md gold, and in recent years they have make these facts known to the old prospector ~xtended their actiYities to the possibilities and promise him a reward, not of a lease of extracting oil from shale. but in cash, according to the value of his discovery. Mr. 1YAI,KER (Cooroora) (12.38 p.m.): I have listened to the very fine speeches I am not asking the Government to take delivered by the Secretary for :Mines and any undue risk, but I do urge them to offer a the Secretary for I,abour and Industry. If reward of, say, £500, £1,000, even £5,000, if nothing further is to be gained by the necessary. aeeoriling to the value of the dis motion mo\·cd by the hon. member for Oxley covery. 'l'hen we should get the old pros and seconded bv the hon. member for Albert pector to take a new interest in these things. we ha Ye at lc;1 st had the benefit of verv That would be better than having a few valuable information regarding the activities casual reports a bout bauxite or oil shale of the department. Why should that infor that may have been discovered by a farmer mation have only been given to-dny~ Why in the course of ploughing operations on a should it not have been printed from time to ridge away from his usual cnltivation nrca. timef They are only casual discoyeries, and, perhaps. of little value. Let us off0r n substantial The Secretary for Labour and Industry: reward on sotmd lines to the genuine pros It has lwen. pector who IYill go out to mnke the>se dis }fr. WAL HER: It has not. I have b,•en a coveries. Tlw geologist is a very useful man r lose student of the ''Queensland Government in his place, but it is only a wnstc of time Mining .Joumal," and I say that very little to depend upon him for the discovery of information is given in it. I have a copy of it bauxite or oil shale. His aflvice is very with me and it contains only a few lines on the useful in conjunction with the work of the snbject. We want to know the number of real discoverer. applications received, the rc:mlts of analyses, The Minister saifl that the )JUTpose of the and whether the system of analysis is correct hon. member for Oxlcy was to induce the :mcl whether any other system of retorting can Gowrnment to give financial Aiel to enable bl' introdnced. \Ve do not learn anything the soundness of a proposal to be established about these things until we move such a so that it could then be handed over to a motion as has been moved to-day. private company for its special benefit, but I will not say that the Department of that is a mistaken iclea. The Department of ;\1ines is doing nothing, because I know that Mines has always been very liberal in grant all depnrtmcnts arc doing something. I haYe ing aiel to pro~pectors. I can recall instances the grcntcst admiration for them because I in respect of the discoYeq of gold ancl tin. ha.-e hnrl the pleasure and priYilcgc of being All that the hon. member for Oxley asks is dosely in touch with them. \Ylmt- we need to that the Government should make finance do to:dav is to re.-ert to the old sntem, to a avaibble with the object of being recouped system that was launched many years ago to out of the first dividend that will be 11ayablc encourage prospectors to look for metals. in the event of a profitable discovery. He does Oil shales and bauxite are new and are of not want the Government to deYelop these greater importance at the present time than industries for the sole benefit of private in normal circumstances. \Ye must not regard persons. the discovery of bauxite lightly. It is no The Attorney-General: Yes, he did. He use in saying that there are deposits here or wanted the Government to embark upon a there, that there has been a qu::nrel about State enterprise and then hand it over to metal found on a road, and leave it at that. private persons, if it was a profitable one. ·why not tell the prospector that we haYe those deposits and that we want to know thPir real lUr. WALKER: He did not say that at value. After all is said and done, all our all, or suggest it in any shape or form. He 480 Production of Shale Oil [ASSEMBLY.] and Aluminium. is a business man and, as such, he knows Queensland many deposits of oil shale averag perfectly well the Department of Mines must ing up to and more than 50 or 60 gallons of be conducted in a businesslike way. He oil shale to the ton if we could only discover wants the Government to use the helpful them. system that was inaugurated by the Philp Many a discovery is made by a fluke, often Government, one that led to the extensiv~ by a prospector or gouger as he walks along. development of mining in Gympie, and one The mineral thus found is sampled and that has helped considerably to maintain the tested. I take my hat off to such men. If industry in Gympie at the present time. Let we approach this motion from that angle it us go back to the system that was inaugurated will be admitted that no wrong has been done in the olden days. in bringing it forward. All such advances were repaid if the under We are aware that the Commonwealth taking pa'id. The Minister knows that. That, Government have treated both the Queensland shortly, is the system we are advocating. Government and other State Governments well We say that we must first find where the in the matter of advances. I am convinced shale exists. No-one can convince me that that if we can show the Commonwealth in a big country such as Queensland we have Government a good proposition they will be no payable oil deposits. It is true that it willing to co-operate, either with this Govern is becoming harder every day to work a mine, ment or private enterprise, as they have done including oil-shale deposits, because of the in the past. That will enable us to over mounting costs of production. Therefore, it come the financial difficulties. We all know is our duty to provide financial assistance that petrol must be used in Queensland, especi to develop mining projects. We have an ally in production. It plays an important instance in which the Commonwealth is giving part in primary production particularly, as financial help. The development of coal well as in transporting our primary produce mining is done by means of an embargo on to rail and market. If plants now engaged the importation of coal, for if we had to in primary production, or transport used in compete with coal produced outside of conveying that production to market, are Australia that industry would be ''gone a allowed to suffer through shortage of petrol million.'' We do not want to go outside brought about by our being isolated from of this country for what we can produce in the petrol-producing countries, then much it. economic loss and suffering will follow. If that was so I venture to say there would Many are fearful of what will happen from be a shortage of food. We should have to shortages as a result of the war. It is true utilise the horse for the harvesting of the that some people do not take the position wheat crops, and carrying out other work on seriously. We do not know anything about the farms. A petrol shortage would cause shortages of certain products, except what tremendous inconvenience to country inter we read, but when we see the Commonwealth ests. Consequently, we look upon petrol Government, on the advice of their War production as a very urgent necessity. Council, planning in conjunction with Britain and America for a war that will last another I know some people will say, "Why do you four or five years, then we as a State should not use kerosene~'' The same thing applies also plan ahead to develop our natural resources to kerosene. I know we could drive milking in order to make us independent of outside machine engines with kerosene provided they supplies, particularly oil fuel. were mechanically altered by fitting vapori sers. At the same time, kerosene is an inferior We know perfectly well that is just possible fuel compared with petrol, and it may be for Australia to become isolated from the out asked, ''Where are we going to get the kero side world,. and become dependent on aero sene from~'' Kerosene is being used now for planes for her defence. Petrol rationing lighting purposes, but its price, like that of will then be felt in the extreme, because the other commodities, is becoming almost prohibi number of aeroplanes in Australia will exhaust tive. If we do not rely on our own resources all our supplies within 12 months. Therefore, in times of war,. then we shall never develop the motion is not one that should be treated them in times of peace. lightly. Mr. Dunstan: Kerosene shale is distinct One is struck with the number of oil-shale from the other shale. deposits that exist in Queensland. They vary in quality, but I am given to understand Mr. WALKER: I am well aware of that. and this is confirmed by my reading of the I am pointing out that you can use kerosene in subject-that about 40 gallons of oil must be a petrol engine by fitting vaporisers. extracted from a ton of shale, mined under In New South Wales and Victoria they have good conditions, for it to be payable. I done remarkably well. They commenced inves believe that result can be obtained in Queens tigations about 20 years ago on brown coal, land. There are many factors to be taken which was then considered useless, but to-day into consideration with respect to mining, such we find they are using it extensively. as accessibility, distance from rail, whether mining is carried out on the open-cut system The Minister pointed out, what I already or otherwise, and the use of machinery knew, that the Federal Government have modern machinery, such as is used at the acted generously in co-operation with the present time at Rocklea-in surface working. State Governments in regard to these various All these factors have an immense bearing types of oil production. Much good may be on the cost of production, and must be taken done by advertising what has taken place, so into consideration. I am sure we have in that it will become known by prospectors and Production of, &c., Aluminium. [25 SEPTEMBER.] Supply. 481 others >Yho arc rambling all over the country. In my pocket 1 have a lC'tter, handed to me It is a small matter for the prospector to since I "came to the House this morning, from send dmvn a sample for analysis. It is carried a man who says that he can work only three free. ~When the 1vork of the department is weeks out of cYcry fonr because of petrol more 1videly publicised, I venture to prophesy restrictions. A nurse has said that she cannot that instead of having one assayer engaged attend her patients for the same reason. No it will have sufficient work to occupy many. blame can be placfd on any Government for That is tlle only way successfully to carry this state of affairs. Petrol restrictions are out tests fm payable deposits. It is a differ imposed for the purpose of accunm1ating ent matter from searching for gold. One can sufficient petrol for the protection of our tell almost at once whether gold in payable land; but as a Government we should see to quantities is in a sample, but it is necessary it that every possible enc·ouragement is given to have an analysis to prove conclusively the for the discovery of petrol or the production 1·alue of oil shale or bauxite. of a substitute fuel in Queensland. I admit I think the motion moved l1v the hon. that there are shale-oil deposits in the State, member for Oxley is a particnlar(y good one but we should follow the example set by our -it will bring under the notice of those who neighbouring State and extmct from tlwm reacl the papers 1vhat the Government are the oil that is necessary for tr sideration by Parliament and the Government. CO,l.\'lTTEE-FINANCL\L S'L\.TE'IL(T~ Although a large number of people are suffer ing as a Tcsult of a shortage of petrol for RESUMPTION OF DEBATE. motor tmnSllOTt, the two :\linisters tleyoterl (Mr. Gair, South Brisbane, in the chair.) much of their time to dealing Y,ith the Mining Acts of Queensland. They did not go far Debate resumed from 24 September (seE enough. Necessity is the mother of inven p. 463) on Mr. Cooper's motion- tion, all(] to-day we should be devoting our '' That there be granted to His l\lajesty attention to means of producing a substitute for the service of the year 1941-1912 n sum for petrol as a motive fuel for the benefit not excceclin,l.!' £300 to defray the salary of the people. of the aide-de-camp to His Excellency the I agree with hon. members opposite GoYernor. '' that the Commomvealth GoYernment are con Mr. lliANN (Brisbane) (2.16 p.m.): At cerned in this matter-they grant permits for the outset I desire to congratulate the Trea lease,<-bnt the Queenslancl GoYernment are surer on the Budget he has presented to also concerned, inasmuch as it is they 1vho Parliament aml to express the opinion that determine the term of such leases, That is the majority of the people of Queenslam1 w~ll one of the factors militating ag~inst pro also congratulate him nnon his once aga_m gress. A lessee should not be allmYccl to delay presenting a balanced Budget. Any ~~u action on his permit to such a time as suits minded person \Yho looks at the pos1hon him. At present a lessee could delay action squarely, any person who takes an unbiased for 21 years, and this at a time when people view of the position of the State to-day, approach hon. members in their dozens daily must ngree that the State has been wisely pointing- out how petrol rationing is affecting managed and that its finances h:we been them in their trades or professions. hnndle .Judging hy the nrguments used by hon. cncleavonr to criticise this Government on membr'rs opposite, it 'nmld seem that they their policy. nre harrl put to it to find any ground for The hon. member for Oxley can be somvl ronstrnctiYe criticisrrr of the Budget. r1 escribec1 as the State's No. 1 Knocker, I understand that there was a time when the because when given the opportunity in this Opposition, whilst sen•rely criticising a House he endeayours to knock the State of Budget, were able, neyertheles·c, to offer con Queenslnnd anrl always compares Queens· structive suggestions. To-day, however, the bnrl with the other States, holding South Oppositi"n have fnilerl to rlo so. 'I'hey have Australin and Yictoria up as examples for f:1ilerl to show that the State has not been this Government to follow. He goes to great l'l'opcrly manap:ed or thnt its fin~nces have lengths in quoting the taxation mtcs apply not been arlministercd \vell. They have ing in those StatecJ, but does not say any· ~ndeanmrcd to make politieal c;,pital out of thing about the wages and working conditions their cr·iticism of the I\ndget. They have of the people in them. He does not tell hon. -lrifted lower and lower. t-heir arguments have HlCmlwr,., of this Committee that in Victoria been getting \VOrse and \vorse, until now \YC thonsamls of ;jm·eniles are employed in the find hYrJ of their JHPnlhrrs assoriatcr1 \Yith :-, <·lathing factories, and that su,·h workers are thief in their criticism of the finances of a llowerl to take materials home to make up Queens] all(]. in their own time. He does not tell us of lUr. lUaher: I do not think that is fair, tho rotten conditions applying to industries ber,mse he has not been fonnrl guilty of there, ancl when he ancl others. opposite make lhievir..:; b.- om law courts. comparisons bet,Yeen Queensland and South Anstralia they forget to tell the people of Mr. JtiANN: The hon. member for West QucC'Ilslam1 that South Austn1lia lws the Moreton and the hon. member for Oxley lowest basic wage of all the 8tates of the have gained a great deal of ]mhlieity by Com1nonwealth. using a brief that 'vas pre,;emed to them A wry pleasing feature of the Budget is hy an ex-public servant 'vho had ]Jcen trit>d that whilst we have the smallest number of by a tribunal set up within the public service unemployed our Treasurer has been able to to try its fellow worker, and who has been shmv a surplus. The Budget shows, too, that found guilty of misappropriating-and I nse the (Joyermnent will continne with their the word advisedly-Government funds to his pnl.Jlie works policy, which hon. members own use. VVe find those two hon. mem'bers OJlposit e ha Ye gone to great pains to criticise. ('oming into this Chamber anrl emlr:1vouring JC:ach hon. member on tl1e Opposition benches to sc.Jrc ~-Jt ihe Go-vernrncnt 's They ''"ho h:Js spoken to the Budget has asked this kt~T been using a brief hv this clis- Gon:rnment to retrench. 'Phey cannot get ' t·eclitcil mnn in an enclPilYour to n1iskar1 the a 11 ay from the old idea of retrenching and people of Queensland into the belief th~ t r·ntting 'lcnYn expenditure, becnuse it was the they pmsncrl when they were the 1lte GoYernnH·nt hnsc n1i.cused or 11 lisapp1icf1 {·ertain ~noncy3 in the e,:>ml)"il:1tion of the "ncl it ,.,.~,.s the policy that throw Estim:-ttes. this 0t:de in:o ehaos and brought it to ruin. \\"hen the Tn·r,cnt GoYcrnment took ofllee in Let cls examine the record of the party 1932 it found on the doorstep of (~ueensland supported by hon. members opposite. \Ve a financial meqs, but, year by year, through find thn~ they have been assor·iatecl from wise administration, the mess has been clcm·ecl time . i o ti;ne with men 'Yho were prepared up. Hon members opposite are loth to give to Xor is it the intention of the Govennnent position in the succeeding years will br to carry out a policy of retrent·hmcnt. rt is seen from the following table:- pleasing to know that tlnring re,-c,nt periods £ £ of prosperity under Labour Governments wages have been increased, and why should 1Jcficit. Surpluo, the Government resort to the injurious 1933-34 ] ,J 28,530 mdhoc1s adopted by hon. members opposite 1934-35 564,611 when they \YOre in Government I Dnring their 1935-36 7±1,814 term there \Yas a c,tartling reduction in J9:36-i37 280,190 business activity, there was Tecon1 unemploy 19:37-38 228,492 ment, tremendous trade depression, and 1938-39 1±,04C <1isaster, as shown by banking returns. Above 1939-40 15,754 all, they continued to pile up colossal deficits, 1940-41 28,436 deficits that were unheard of in the history That sho\\·s that under the wise administra of this Stflte. They inn-eased taxation by tion of Labour a sound financial policy has something like £il,OOO,OOO. been pursued year by year, and the finance' Hon. members opposite pretend to be sympa have gradually improved until to-day they thetic with the family man. Let us examine are on an even keel. their reeord honestly arH1 fairly :mcl see Hon. members opposite have also chargell where their sympathies lie. How r1id they the Govemment with having a policy that tleal with him when thcv were in Government? has Tetarded progress. They say that nnder They dismissed him regardless of hmY many the high-taxation policy of the Govemment dependants he had. He \Yas saekcd from secondary industries have not been allowed Government jobs, offered rations, or put on a to expand and develop. At the same time, relief job at 10s. a day to carry out railway they say that if industTies are not allow~rl maintenance work. 'l'hat is the treatment to expand and develop unemployment w1ll that they meted out to the family man, yet surely follow. What do we find~ That as a they have the hide to come into this Chamber result of the financial policy pursued by tlw and pose as the friends of the family man. Government unemployment to-day has dropped Is it any wonder that the people are cynieal to the lowest level in the history of the State. when hon. members opposite speak in that TT on. members opposite are loth to give the strain W Government any cTerlit for that achieveme:1t. Mr. }fassey interjected. I am surprised that no hon. member oppos1te has attributed that result to the Common )Ir. ltiANN: The hon. member for Too wealth Government's policy. wong says that the hon. member for Aubigny has a large family. The large families are Jir. Barnes: Yes, to the war effort. not to be found only amongst the supporters ~fr. 1UANN: I expected that interjection of hon. members opposite; they aro to be -that the improved position in unemployment found amongst the people \\·ho never hesitate has been brought about by the war effort of to give their support to the Labour Party. ihe Commonwealth Gowrnment. Let us look Hon. memhers opposite speak ahont migra at the position existing the year prior to the tion and the need to populate this conntr:v, ontbreak of '" ar. Then we had the lowest but when it comes to populatin~· the eountry nnemployment fignres in the history of the they are found to be Fifth Colnnmists, Statr, anil in that year also the Stntc halanccc1 because they are too mean nnd lousy to brcor1 the Tincket. At the snme time, the "·~ges of a familv o~ rear one. I nsk hon: members the worl~ors have incre;uorrl ye~r hy year opposite to look at the position in Queensland while the east of living has been r hcaper to-da:''· Let them look at the trading position; in Queensland than in riny other StatP. Tf the position of unemployment; the cost of there is anything wrong \Yith the Government's Ji.-ing. particularly as it nffects the workers financial policy, how eonld these things exist~ as comparerl \Vith other States; the position Hon. members opposite must ar1mit that these of the finances of State; and the general things do not happen by chance, but are the position of the Government in respect of result of a sounrl fin:mcial policy pursurr1 l•y finance and other things. If they rlo, I those in charge of the Treasury beErlws. am sure that if they are nn biased and fair Let us look at the position in anotlw,· "·ay minded, they must answer all my questions in order to verifv my statement. The returns in faYollr of the Government and admit that from authoritative ·sources disclose that in their financial policy is sound, and the finan this period a greater amount of money has cial position of the State consequently sound been invested, business houses have shown also. more profit, that there has been a greater I shoulrl like to read a table to show that acreage under cultivation, there has been more since the control of the affairs of State was land settlement, and that the people's income assnmed by the present GoYernmcnt in 1932, has been greater than in any previous period. the financial position has been improved year Those are positive facts that cannot be by year. In 1931-32, as J stated earlier, the refuted. They are published from time to deficit ·w~s £2,075,180. That was a legacy time by Government officers and are therefore left to this Government by the friends of hon. authentic. memhers opposite who occnpied the Treasury The recent Royal National Exhibition was benches at that time. In 19:\2-il:l, the first Sl':fficient to dissipate the belief that the people year Labour occupied the Treasury benches, of this State dir1 not hn've confidence in the that deficit was reduced to £1,554,443. The fi.nancial policy of the Government. TherE' 484 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. was a record attendance at that wonderful ayeraged 107.7 last year, compared with show, money was spent freely, and the people 104.5 in 1939 and J 00.5 in 1928. generall.v showed they had confidence in this ''Business conditions improved steadily Govennnent. throughout the year. This was due chiefly 'l'he hon. member for \Vest :Moreton and the to record exports and a mar ked decline in hon. member for Oxley have gone to great unemployment. Exports for 1939-40 were pains to compare the progress made in our 10 per cent. greater than in the previous ~Slate with the progTe's made in other States, year, and in the first quarter of the current hut they have not compared the wage financial year they were 13 per C!cnt. standards and conditions of the workers in higher than for the same ~three months of Queensland with those operating in the 1939. Southern S'tates that they hold up as ideal ''Unemployment dropped from 6.3 per States. If the taxation policy adopted by the cent. in 1938-39 to 5 per cent. in 1939-40, CloYernment is wrong and injurious to this a ud is nmy down to 3.9 per cent. This is State, how is it that from year to year the the lowest percentage of unemployment on State has been able to greatly reduce deficits record and comp:ues with 9.4 per cent. in and during the last three years show a sur 1926-27. '!'he present percentage of unem plus? The hon. member for Oxley endeaYorus ployment has nearly reached the computed to belittle the State of Queensland whcneYor minimum of 3.5 for a state of full employ he gets the opportunity, and he paints a ment. pretty picture of the other States; yet he is chairman of dil·ectors of a company that is ''Higher prices for primary products making profits in this State. That company, stimulated sales in the retail trade. The like all other companies that operate in this latest index figure for retail sales is 96.1 State, has enjoyed the good conditions and compared with 91.3 a year earlier. The improved prosperity tha't haYe pre,·ailed here railway traffic index has risen from 115.9 under Labour rule. to 119.2 in the pa'ot 12 months and tram traffic from 108.6 to 115.1. It is all Yery well for the Leader of the Opposition and the hon. member for West ''Building has not shared in the greater :M:oreton to charge the Government with not prosperity, the latest index figures being reducing taxation, but that is no easy matter. 73.2 compared with 77.5 in the preYious A few years ago in this Chamber I spoke year. Share prices :rlso haye been affected against the reduction of the State develop by the war and the index has declined from ment tax. The hon. member for Fortiturle J 02.5 to 100.0. Yalley a'nd I both expressed our yicws freely. ''The State's record prosperity is \\' c argued that if the tax was reduced the reflected in bank deposits which exceeded rcoplc who were receiving benefits from the the amount held 12 months earlier by tax >Yould have those benefits reduced. 19 per cent." 'Because of an agitation hY the Press, which wn taken up bY certain ·industrial sections That statpmcnt proves that ,t]w financial of the com;;1unity, it ,_-ns agreed by lhc> position of the State is sound nnd lhc policy Premier :1t the Labour Conn'ntion that the of the Government good. Hon. members tax should be reduced, and the GoYernment opposite ~re not prone to gi.-e the (Jm·crn remitted £1,250,000 in tnxation to the people; ment any ereclit for thnt. and the benefits to recipients of that relief Xobody c~n contend that the '''l'axpayer'' were, consequently, re hon. member for Oxley, are nothing more even to taxing the woman who had to go out nor les:s than barefaced political humbug. washing for a living, and the boy who sold 'l'he hon. gentleman at all times dives down papers on the street, even to taking into the cesspit in an endeavour to bring up ls. a >Yeek from the orphans of this something rotten to throw at the Govern State. The people who did those things have ment. Anybody who meets him in the street the temerity to come into this Chamber and can tell him any tale about the Goven1ment criticise ou'r financial policy. They fail to or their finances, and he comes into this realise that it is much better to set an Cilamlwr and tells it in the hope of getting example than merely to give advice. The man cheap publicity at the expense of the about 1vhom hon. members opposite pretend to Govcmmcnt inespcctive of whether the infol' be so concerned-the man 1vith the big family mation is true Ol' not. -will be hoodwinked no longer by the cries of lower taxation from hon. membeTs oppo Raving shown by means of extracts quoted site. For many years to come that man from these jouTnals that the finances of the and his family will remember the misdeeds, State are sound, permit me now to draw maladministration, and financial bungling of attention to the legacy left to the Govern the J'.Ioore Government. ment by hon. membeTs opposite when they were the Government. Hon. members opposite Not only did they increase direct taxation, left nn empty Tre::tsury, they left record but they also inflicted greater hardships on deficit~, recoTd unemployment and insolvent the workers of this Stnte by indirect taxation, accounts, there was a heavy drop in State by taking away the people's means of employ :revenue, they shattered confidence and ment, by taxing their wherewithal and even paTal;vsed trade, yet we find the hon. member by taking away the wherewithal that meant for \Yest MOTeton suggesting in this Chamber so much to the man with the big family. that the Government should place surplus Hon. members opposite seek to create in the moneys in a trust fund and set it aside for a miny day. minds of the people the impression that taxa· tion is not necessary-every hon. member of liir. J'\Iaher: Would that not be a wise the Opposition has suggested that the State proceeding~ development tax is not necessary; they argue that it should be abolished. I lwve endea Jllr. J'\IANN: I ask the hon. member for vomed to show that in order to abolish it \Vest '\/[oretou why his party did not practise we should have to cut clown our social services what he preaches when they were the Govern and adopt the policy that \Yas pursued by ment~ An enormous amount of money was tho Opposition when they were the Govern left to them by the Labour Government in ment-a policy of retrenc•hment and wholesale 1929. Did they place that in a trust fund sacking-and that we ,,-ill not do. for the benefit of the people of this State 9 They did not. 'l'hey lent it at interest to The public must know, the public do know, other States in order, that those States miaht that to receive proper social services they rehabilitate themselves and benefit tl~eir hanl to pay for them. They know that the own people. 'l'hey lent it to States that Govemment must inflict taxation upon the they are now lauding as being the prosperous people in on1er to be able to carry out those States of the Commonwealth. social senices that nre so necessary for the maintenance and wellbeing of the State. J'iir. Jliaher: Those States repaid it with interest. \Vhcn hon. members opposite charge this Gm-ernment with increa'scd taxation, we do J'\Ir. J;IANN: The hon. member may say not fincl them making any attack upon the what he likes but he cannot deny that money political party in control in the Federal was left to them as tTustccs to enable them sphere, because it is of the same colour as to continue the goveTnment of this country, themsel.-es. \Ve have not hearcl mention made but instead of doing what he suggests we of the sales tax nnd this excise t1x imposed by should do, they gaYe trust moneys to other the Fedcml Government, which mea'n much to States to the detriment of the workers, small the big-family man in the cost of the com farmers, and businessmen in our community. modities he buys. Hon. memhcTs opposite JUr. Barnes: Did they give it a way? shed crocodile tears over the big-family man. '!'he man who wants a glass of beer-and this :'\Ir. :UANK: I am not going to concern r1ocs not affect me verv much because I am myself with the interjection of the hon. one of the big-family ~en m1d can spend my member for BnndalJerg, because I believe that money in other ways-hn's to pay an extra no-one takes him sm'iom:ly. Like the hon. 1 d. on a glass and 2d. on a bottle. member for Charte.rs Towers, I am going On his cigarettes he pays an extra 1 d., and to try to humour lnm. he pays 2d. an ounce on his tobacco. I point out to hon. members opposite that These matters affect the income of the big if there was m·er n time in the history of this family man and pla'ce a lmnlcn upon his back State when taxation should haYc "been at he cnn ill afford to carry. These imposts were least left at its then lm·el, if not reduced, it placed on the people by the party in power was when the presPnt Opposition held the of the same political faith as hon. members reins of government. Instead of leaving taxa opposite. tion at that level, ~IYhcn times were bad, or Onr new PTimo Minister, :\fr. Fa cl den, told instead of reducing it as they suggest we us that "·e ha\·e to ray and ha,-e to make shoulr1 do, they ~went on piling up taxation, sncrifices. \Yho ha.-e to pay, who have to c;;ploiting every possible a\·enuc of taxation, make the sacrifices? The pooT or the rich~ 486 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. You \Vill find, Mr. Gair, that as this war advances for industry as a whole. If they proceeds and its early miseries are brought were sincere in their desire to develop A us home to us a greater toll \vill be levied tralia they would urge the Commonwealth on the poor than the rich. Sacrifice is a Government to impose further restrictions physical thing, not a finaneial one. It is all upon imports into this country. Why should very well for rich men like the landlord hon. we import sardines from Seandinavia, marma member for \Vymmm and the hon. members lade from Scotland, and crab meat from for We:·:t ~T oreton and Oxlev to go to the J:::pan, for instancef \Vhy should we not pro TrC'asmy and write out cheques ·for large rlnce these things in our own country~ amoEnts to be bnnclecl to the Commissioner of Taxes. Sanifice does not begin there but :lir. :.'Uassey interjected. hegins \VlJCn a' man with a family has to do .ll[r. :rtiANN: I understand that the hon. without something in order to pay the taxes member is interested in a clothing factory, imposer] on him hy tltc Government. ·when the worst type of employment that can . be nn Prime ~Iinister tells us that we have to giYen to tlle people in our community. He make sncrifi·ces, I tC'Il hon. members opposite interjects and uiticises the Government, but that the men with the large families-the bo exploits the workers ·whenever he can so people they pretend to have so much sympathy as to make a profit for himself and his com for-will be paying all the time. pany. lU:r. Edwards: You do not know what it lU:r • .liiASSEY: Mr. Gair, I rise to a point means. of order. I ask that the hon. member with draw that statement that I exploit the ili:r. lfiANN: I presume the hon. member workers. He said that I exploited the workers would be one of the Fifth Columnists and at every opportunity. would bo ono who practised child-(laughter) -I do not want to be pulled up, Mr. Gair, The CHAIRiliAN: Order! The hon. for breaking thG rules of tho Committee, but member for Toowong takes exception to J want to sav he would be in the same class the remark, and I ask the hon. member for as Dunenn Ifughes and Arehie Cameron who Brisbane to withdraw it. advocated the conscription of the young men in this ~ountry to send overseas, 'vhen they Mr. MANN: I withdraw. The hon. had no families of their own. I have no member belongs to a party that stands for sons to send' abroar1, hut I have at least done long hours and low wages. my share in populnting this c.ountry, because I have seven daughters, my wife, and myself Mr. lUuller: That is nor true. to pro1·ide for, fl]](1 I have never set myself .lii:r• .liiANN: It is true. I am not refer np as one to exploit the family man, as hon. ring to any individual hon. member, but to the members opposite \".Oulcl if they had the party opposit0 as a whole. I am criticising opportunity. I should not like to be working their policy and all that it stands for. for the hon. member for Aubigny, because when he was a member of the Opposition, .liir. Ximmo: The usual tactics of the and this Government were attempting to Labour Party. build up from the ruins that the pre\·ious 1U:r. 3IAN:"i': The hon. gentleman says Government left and to put back on the that thcv arc the usunl tactics of the Labour statute-book the Industrial Arbitration Act Party. 'During the hon. gentleman's absence that was wiped off by hon. members opposite, from the Chamber I said that if there was he, with the hon. member for Oxley nn,[ the nny muckraking to be done by hon. l1181Jtben ex·hon. member for \Vynnum, Mr. Ba,-ley, opposite the hon. gentleman would be the one was lour1 in denunciation of the Govemment''s to do it. In any reference to tho I..abour policy. Party it ill-becomPs him to judge anylJcHly To·da'y they shed crocodile tears in this else in this Chamber by his O\nl sta!lflanl r:' Chamber over the men with big families who eomluct. He ha's no monopoly of ::m~ :He working in industry. If hon. members ~.tandard unless it is that of muckraking-. ' opposite were sincere in their desire to have nclvise him to take a loaf out of the book of the I.eader of the Opposition. I notice that reduced taxation, they would start at the top he did not handle the brief about the public -and by that I mean that they would nccounts but that it was handled by the hon. approach the Commonwealth Go~·ernment member for Oxley. It was left to the muck· because they eontrol the monetary system of slinger. I take very strong exception to a·ny this country-instead of hm·ping on their thing the hon. member for Oxley may sny alleged desire for reduction in taxation by about the Labour Party, and I am encloa\·om the Stnte Government. Let hon. members ing to show that Labour's policy has won for opposite tender their advice to the Common it the good will of the majority of people wca'lth Govcrnmen t. They are in a position of Qucenslnnd. It is a sane, sound policy1 to do that becaus0 tho Commonwealth Govern onE· that ha's lifted the State from cktas and ment are men of their own political faith. ruin to stability, as the ''Telegraph'' has pointed out. Let hon. members opposite advise the Com· monwenlth Government to make money avail· When hon. members opposite speak of nhlo to the various State Governments and reduced taxation, I am prompted to tell them to companies for the (levelopment of water that the Commonwealth Government have conservation in thP pastoral industry and the wrung millions of pounds in taxation from tlle construction of silos and big dams for the pcor in the community. They have loaded farming industry and generally to make tax upon tax on the backs of the workers. Supply. [25 SEPTEMBER.] Supply. 487 ·when the sales tax was first imposed it was sta'tement in order that the public will 0l'ly 2J, per cent. ridicule me. Thir. J\Iassey: By whom was it imposed? The Attorney-General: What did you say~ 1Ir. lH:ANN: By Labour to meet an emer gency. Although a Labour Government lUr. BAR.NE S: I said they ask me to do imposed that tax to meet an emergency it these things; I have thrown them out when "hns hN'n increased year by year by Govern they have refused to ring up the police. I ments favouring the policy of hon. members have thrown them out, and would continue to opposite, until to-day it stands at 15 per cent. do so. On top of that the hon. member for 'That is an indirect tax on those least able Port Curtis said that the man who served to bear it. dnmks with drink should be put in gaol. The Secretary for Mines agreed with him. Sec JUr. :Ximmo: Just like your relief tax. tion 58 of the Liquor Act of 1912, which was amended in 1935, says- }fr. ~IANN: The policy of this party is to makr those best able to bear taxation pay '' AnY lieensed victualler or wine-seller it. who supplies or permits to be supplied any liquor- Mr. Barnes: That is why you tax the man with the children. ( a) To any penon in a state of intoxi cation or to any habitual drunkard; )Jr. JLtNN: The hon. member for Oxley shall for the first offence, be liable to a criticised Labour and its financial policy and penalty not exceeding £20. '' pretended that his party was the friend of rhe fnmily man. He is talking with his tongue If the Secretary for Mines wore true to his in his cheek, for he has allied himself with oath of office he would see that the Liquor a party that represents vested interests. The Act, which he was a party to enacting, was f:tate Government are not taking from the enforced and those people who supplied. neople in taxation any more than is neces liquor to drunks were proseeuted.. It is o bvi sary to carry ont their programme. ous that both he und the hon. membel' for Port Curtis did not know the provisions of The Treasurer deserves to be congratulated the Aet they passcr1, otherwise they would on the production of this, his third Budget, not haYe attempted to ridicule me. I advise and I am confident that the ma,joTity of the them to read their Act before attempting people, too, will say that it is a satisfactory further criticism. one. I intend to c10'll with the Liquor Act at a }fr. BAR.NES (Bundaberg) (3.2 p.m.): I later date and show how absurd it is, and desire in the fiTst place to reply to the criti ask a few pertinent questions as to why its cism of the hon. member for Charters Towers, provisions are not carried out. I >Yill also the hon. member fol' Fortitude Valley, the ask why hon. members allow drunks to roam RecTetary for Public ·works, the Secretary for the street, and if they do not agree with me Public Lands, and others. In my opinion, it will show that they will not acknowledge their criticism is in the nature of the weak my suecess because of their selfishness. My paying homage to the strong. I also wish to success in the Labour movement will be, as reply to the criticism of the Secretary for I said, the other party will come over to Mines ani! the hon. member for Port Curtis. me, for the reason that I represent the true I believe that the Secretary for Mines is a Labour Party. lay reader in the church, and that his brother is a Methodist parson, but, notwithstanding 8cdiou IS (:l) of ihe S>lme Act says- that, he got up in this Chamber and miscon '' The maximum amount of anv annual strued my statement in the hope that the fee ehargod, lc.-ic<1, collectc•.l, ancf payable publication in the Press of his speech would shall not exceed. £300. '' make me ridiculous in the eyes of the workers. That is impossible, as I 'have the workers That Ad was amC111k·1 in 193.) by an Act behind me. that allmYed the big_gcr ho!els the benefit of Pome lmncheds of pounds. \\'hY shoulrl the The hon. member for Port Curtis made a Labour Govcnnnent gi.-e hn•<>:ery hotels statement to the effect that I threw drunks Yested interests, r ombinoo--a benefit] The out of my hotel. My statement, which I have Act snys that the amount shall be 2~ per bkcn from my speech on the Address in cent. on the purchases of :Jlroholic liquor. Reply, >VflS- J\Iy licence fee for the last l:l months I '' The game is illicit. A customer crm w:i s in 1he Comm crcial IT utd n t Bunda berg come in and say, 'Arc you going to shout9' was £107 12s. Gel., 2~ per cent. on my pur I have said, 'Why should I shout 9' And chases. The Grand Central Hotel, whose pur ehascs would be 12 times bigger than mine, the reply has been, 'If you don't I shall shonld have paid 12 times the amount I ring up the police.' To that I have ]laid, bnt this Labour Guvernment passecl rejoined, 'The number is so and so' ''-- an Act >YhcTeb.- the big man pays only a The CHAIRJUAN: Order! The hon. smalJ ]Jl'Opmtion of what the small man member is not permitted to quote from p:1YS: ~'et thev talk about putting taxes on '' Hansard'' a speech delh'cred dming a 1he slwuLi0rs of tho,,e best n Lle to bear them. previous debate in the current session. \Vhy would a supposed Labour Government ghe a benefit to the Grand Central Hotel, :.Ur. BARNI~S: I will show that the Secre which is owned by the breweries, and to other ta'·-'- for :\Iines has misconstrued my big hotels~ By that Liquor Act we lost the 488 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. benefits conferred by Magna Charta. Before national crer1it. I know they \Yill e!Joosc Magna Charta an employer could take an national credit. I belong to an organisation employee out and have him fiogged, but, after that is doing colossal woTk in AustTalia. Magna Charta, he had to be brought before a 'l'hat oTganis:1tion forcer! the l•'ecleral Labour court. Under the Liquor Act you go to the Party out on the platfonn with a policy Licensing Commission and they say: 2 and 2 of monetary reform. At the end nf the are 10, nothing further can be done. ~Why last sittings I travelled with a mem beT of should a Labour Gm·ernment bring in an Act Parliament. I said to him,. "What infor like that with no right of appeal? That is mation have you got about this monetary 1 one reaRon why the people arc behind me. reform policy of the l<'ederal Labonr Party ·' He had no information. I said. ' 1 If l it a percentage JUr. JUaller: Is not on were in the audience of any · meeting basis? you addressed T shoul<1 c-ertainly tie you lUr. BARNE§: :t\o, the bigger brewery up.'' That hon. member in is this Chamber hotels pay about ± per cent., but it was 2~ per now. The Federal Labour Party have inaugu cent. for my hotel. For the brewery hotel it rated a new policy--thnt is, to use national may work out at .06 per cent. or .G ·per cent. credit. Unfortunately. the Federal Labonr I want to know why~ Party know nothing ;,bout it thcmselvf's; at least, the majority of them do not. Dr. Evntt 'l'he Secretary for Public Lanus said that mm·ed an nmendment in caucus last year to he could not put into ,,-orcls what he would defeat the Government and inaugti1·ate :1 like to say about Jlle. The same thing national credit system. He was beaten by 21 applies to me; I am not allcnvecl to say what votes to 19 Yotes, '"hich indicates th:1t the 21 I think The Secretary for Public Lands who voted against the motion !me"· nothing yesterday in his criticism of nl'e was only about the subject. I h:n-e Mr. Frank Fonle, actuated by the fact thnt he is supposed to n memlwr of the House of Ticpr<'sentatin's, be the next Premier, but he will not be the half convinced since then. He ha-s lived in my next Premier. electorate !iince I won it. " An Opposition ll'Iember: Who will be? :lf Ltch has been said about Fifth Columnists in Qur>ensland. In this Sta to there is an l'IIr. RlRNES: I am not saying who will organisation known as the Queensland Central be; the hon. me1uher for Minmi wiil not be. Executive. That organisation bans any The criticism clirc·ded at me ),v the Seere ]Jorson cmmeded with that organisation who tnrv for Public \\' orks is rromj;tcr1 by the wants to help an allc-. 'rhat is a Fifth fact that he realises I lmow moTe nbout the ColnnmisL I refer to the recent publidty economic system than hon. members opposite ns reganls tlw !ton. members for Enoggera rlo. That will be proved DS time go0c.; on. I will and Bnlimbn. not·' ,kc my lwt oii to any profecoOr of eco I haw in my hand "The Fhst World nomics born. Hon. members on the other side \Var,'' written in 1934. This magazine con are starting to realise that. The hon. member tains statisti<' as to the number of persons for Charters 'l'oweTs paid me a compliment. killed, wounded, and prisoners in the last IYnr. !ie referred to me as Charlie Chaplin, ,yho It states that under 10,000,000 people in 1s the greatest of all comedians-am] he Russia gave their blood in that conflict. Do referred to me as Hitler, the greatest m"an not misunderstand me; I am not communistic, at the present clay. \Vhat a compliment they but I realise facts. Under 10,000,000 Russians pay me I I shall live up to that compliment. .~·aw their liws dming· the last 'YaJ'. The hon. mem'ber for Charters 'l'owers also ~\ !{tn8ia there were 60,000 jumps and one acci Stalin. Just as I saw those things then, I dent, a8 compared \\'ith 15,000 jumps and see to-day that national credit will be the n iue accidents in England, and in }''ranee salvation, not only of Australia, but of the mul Italy 9 or 10 acciaents. whole world, and if we clo not lead the way, New Zealand will. Fortunately for the Any nation that had that number of trained British Empire, New Zealand rs more people had Yision. \Vhen I read ' 'Mein advanced than we are. It is true that vou Kampf'' I said to myself that he could do can fool some of the people some of "the quite easily what he said he was going to do, time, but it is just as true that you cannot because he was going to use the nation's fool them all the time. eredit to do it. If he had depended on the (>rthodox methods of finance he could not During the llepression of 19~9, \Yhen Sir haYe done it. I haYe asked my banker friends Otto N eimever was sent out to Australia from how Hitler has financed his war, and they haYc the Bank of England, he told us we were told me frankly that they do not know. He living above our means. That, of course, is lins finaaced it by using the nation's credit. a physical impossibility. It is physically Hitler would not bother to borrow £11,000,000 impossible for the man \vho earns £5 a week from England to build the Sydney Harbour to spend £8 a week. If he attempted to clo Bridge, for instance. \Ye ha Ye the steel, the so,. his creditors would soon stop him. Ho\v machinery, the tools, and the men here. He ever, if the man who earns £5 a week spends would issue national credit. Nine years ago, that £5, he is keeping the money in circula \\·hen Dr. Schacht told him that his army was tion, and the Treasurer explained to us the costing the equivalent of 4s. 6d. in our money other day how colossal is the power of that ]'Cl' heacl to keep, ancl that he ~would haYe to money as it cil·culates. curtail his aetivities in that direction, Hitler JUr. lUaher: You know that the New replied, ''You arc fiTed, Schacht. You belong Zealand Government had to resort to compul to the olcl monetaTy system.'' sory loans. Hitler can tell us \\'hat he is going to clo, Thir. BARNES: I have no illusions about because he is different. He put down in black it. In 1935, when the Labour Government and ~white Yhat he \vas going to clo, and so went into power in New Zealand to use far he has been most sncecssful. 'l'wo years national credit through the new central ago I maclc a bet that Hitler would suc~ess bank, :B'raser or Nash went to London, and fully invade England, although at the i ime was top-hattcd by No. 10 Dovvning street, ancl I hoped thnt I should lose my het. l mmle came back with millions of pounds. The the het because I could see nothing else for financial Jew realised that New Zealand ha cl it. \Ve hacl a standing army of 250,000, aclvancecl so much that he hacl to give it the because we knew there would be no war, money to keep it quiet. In effect, the :finan while he had one of 6,500,000. Of course cial Jew said, ''You have made these he knew that he wa's going to ~.taTt a \var anangements for these roads and for public ancl that he must ha,-c soldiers. works; we shall hm-e to give it to you to At the same time, however, the R.ussians keep them quiet.'' He lent millions of pounds, Ita cl also read '' Mein Kampf. '' They also ancl before this war broke out the New knew that Germany \vas going to start a war, Zealand taxpayers were paying more taxes antl they had a standing army of 18,500,000. than \YC were paying two months ago. I The only qualifieation I made to my bet was have already quoted to hon. membeTs the that if Russirt inten-cned the bet was off. remaTks macle by a director of a New Zealand Hitler knmv that Russia was going to invade bank, who said that we have to use the Germmw. He had no alternative but to nation's credit. That gentleman admitted invade liussia, because he knew that Russia that in Darwin, on his Teturn from England did not have her 11l,500,000 soldiers in a -I do not know whether that was this year standing army for nothing, that she did not or last :year, hut I do lmow that their have all the now wc·apons of war for nothing, country hns to use the nation's credit. Russia knew, just as I knew, that Hitler JUr. 1\Iaher: We are doing it now. would attempt to do \vhat he said in ''~\le in Kampf.'' He is not going to do it. lUr. BARNES: To what value? Once a sovereign is change cl from 20s. to 2] s. the Five years ago I suggested to friends in monetary system has fa ilerl. The sovereign my bar in Bundaberg one way of preventing is now valued at £2 1Gs.-if you can get onc this \Yar. I ea bled the Duke of \Vindsor a mld :vou cannot. Two and two make four, couple of dnys before he abdicated from the and not four and a bit, but with the monet throne, and I saic1, ''In this new era, have the ary system it may be anything at all. courage of your convictions; best of luck.'' At that time T thought he woulcl go back to When I arranged my private members' clay the people for a mandate from the people to speech on financ~ on the motion of the hon. introduce national credit, something for which member for Cook, I thought I should have I stan Australia-somebody wanted to know why loans were permitted to transfer into thl' tal'e Australia "?-and let us remember that later higher-interest loans, and u,m-el 's in J 900 the national debt was £197,000,000. interest upon credit \Vall added to the In ] 910 it had increased to £258,000,000, and national burden, so that to-day the nation:d. by 1930 it had jumped to £778,000,000, and burden is insupportable and the nation to-day is is 11early £1,400,000,000. It tends staggers along, cutting the bread and cheeoc to double itself nearly ewry 10 years. The of its poor and stan·ing the soeial servic~ interest on that debt is about £1,000,000 a in a vain attempt to meet the chargc' week, in other words £1l0 a minute. Local incuner1 in the great war-loan ramps.'' authorities in Australia now owe £89,000,000, and semi-governmental bodies £134,000,000, lie goes on- and the annual interest bills are £4,000,000 '' Professor Soddy has estimated that t1Je and £5,000,000 respectively. Australia has bankers actually created £2,000,000,000, neYcr repaid one farthing of the money she no less, of this bank credit, and lent it out. owes, and it has been calculated that if the to us at 5 per cent. 'L'hat means Australian national debt increased in the £100,000,000 a year or nothing (apart from next 70 years at the same rate at which it £5,000,000,000 at a lower rate of interest). has been increasing, we shall owe £7,800,000,000,000 and that , means that '''Ne must note another, even more amaz each family will haYe to pay £13,500 per ing and more impudent, of the methods of annum in interest alone, and yet we stand debt and interest concoction in these deliri here and say, ''Borrow, borrow, bonow, the ous war-times. The banks actually issued Go>·ernment is right; you are both wrong.'' circulars to thousands of their customers The total amount of interest paid by the inviting them to apply for a portion of the Commonwealth and the States from 1901 to now war loan and to borrow credit from 1937 exceeds £1,090,000,000. That is called the banks for that purpose at ;3 per cent. sound finance! I prefer to give it its proper ''The customer was to put up no money name of high treason. There is no better for his war loan, no margin, no securities. name for it. The bank was to supply the credit, or ·whoever savs that this war should be rather was to back the customers' credit financed as the Great \Var was financed and was to charge the customer 3 per cont. should acquaint himself with the facts. You interest for so doing; but the State was might remember, Mr. Gair, that on the day pledging itself to pay 4:! per cent. interest war was declared in Britain in August, 1914, on the war loan which the customer was there was a rush on the banks of England, purchasing with his 3 per cent. money. and, with the notable exception of the Common ''The customer, after allowing for hi wealth Bank in London, all banks were income t:1X, &c., was clearly 1 per cent. obliged to close their doors. They were bank better off on the deal. It is, indeed, difficult rupt, unable to meet the heavy demands made to write in cold blood of these finaneinl upon them. That is proof of my statement dodges, arranged between the city and the that the banks only possess about 10 per cent. cash of their advances. Treasury and committed upon a nation in extremis. '' The British Treasury came to the rescue of the banks by printing £280,000,000 of Trea The fact remains that they closed their doors and for the same reason that .Jack Lang sury notes, '' Bradburys, '' backed by the credit of the nation. With this help the closed the dom·s of the banks in New South banks were enabled to open their doors again. Wales-they had no money to give the people. If the people of Australia went to the banks In March, 1916, the Bank of England, with and asked for their money to-morrow they out any apparent sense of shame, issued Press would have to close their doors again, whether advertisements as follows:- there was a war on or whether it was in times of peace, for the simple reason that "If you cannot fight, you can help your there is only £67,000,000 worth of note isslu: country by investing all you can in 5 per in Australia. cent exchequer bonds. Unlike the soldier, the investor runs no risk.'' Last year the people got worried about tlw banking system, withdrew their money an•l That is the most wonderful tale of grand put it into florins. Later on the mint had larceny in the world's history. After 1916, the to make over £9,000,000 worth of florim. war was financed by the banking houses to whereas in normal times the extra nnmlwr the extent of £7 ,ooo,ooo,ooO-institutions required for circulation \vould have been onlv that in 1914 had to close their doors, and a few thousand. That increased the legal called in the Government to liquidate their tender issue beyond £67,000,000. Although worthless paper. there are only £67,000,000 worth of notes in I have another exposure, a very illuminating circulation the Commonwealth Bank accounts exposure, to make. Perhaps the most illumi alone show i:tn average of over £300,000,000. nating exposure of the great >Var-loan Therefore there must be l 0 times more credit racket has been made by the Right Hon. Thos. than actual cash on hand. In 1929, the time J olmson, P.C., Lord Privy Seal in the of tho depression, the banks had a reserve of MacDonald Government. In his book, ''The only 7~ per cent., but if the Commoll\rcnlth Fina'nciers and the Nation,'' he wrote- Bank was carrying on the banking system on its own throughout Australia it woulrl nee request that above notice of motion be and the urgent need of money for all placed on agenda paper for Loan Council States' developments, the Commonwealth meeting on April 15th. Government should reinstate the Com "(Sgd.) HoBERT CosGROVE, monwealth Bank in its original constitu tion as established by the Labour Govern Premier.'' ment under Andrew Fisher, to administer Here is a statement the Premier made in the national credit to the national a broadcast recently- purpose.'' '' llfcn, money, and equipment are That, I might mention, is lip service. There urgently required. We must all resolutely is a resolution on our records, yet when the resolve to serve the Commonwealth. It is I'remier goes to the Loan Council he ignores ours to shape and mould and our fighting t llE' motion of the Premier of Tasmania, and forces on land, at sea, and in the air must the motion on national credit, and when he be adequately reinfoned.'' comes back to this House is he asked for an explanation by the La'bour Party~ No. Why? 1 certainly agree with that-the Common Yet this same party purports to know some wealth is ours to mould-but what has the thing about economics. If there is a resolu Premier done about it) tion on the books of this Parliament that The following appears in the ''New Times'' resolution should not be ignored; and I say of Friday, 25 April, 1940:- that resolution was ignored in that case. ''The Loan Council Scandal. According to members opposite their policy is to carry on along the lines we have been ''Vital Issue Suppressed. following, a's the hon. member for Fortitude ''The apologists and political puppets of Valley said. Have you heard anything more the money monopoly often find themselves humorous-humorous in this respect: 'l'hey in tight corners nowadays. ::VIr. ]j'adden a.ro borrowing, borrowing, borrowing. And found himself in such a corner at last the hon. member for ]j~ortitude Valley agrees week's Loan Council meeting. 'fhe way he 1Yith them and the member for Brisbane wriggled out of it at the last minute shows agrees with them. It is a brick wall, and how valuable he is to the money monopoly. we have to realise it. But it is a public scandal. The following n ppeared in the Press under '' 11r. Cosgrove, Tasmania'n Premier, had the hea'ding ''Labour Resolution'':- given due formal notice of his intention to submit a resolution, the principal feature ''The following resolution was carried on of which was a recommendation to the Friday last by the Now S'outh Wales Commonwealth Government that it should Executive of the Australian Labour cease borrowing privately manufactured Party:- money. This was placed on the official '' 'That the Federal Parliamentary Labour agenda of the Loan Council (Item No. 10), Party could only govern on the policy out but Mr. Fadden, as chairman, summarily lined at the last Federal elections, the first dismissed this vital issue at the eleventh plank of which was that the Commonwealth hour by ruling the motion out of order on Bank should be restored to its original a technicality.'' status and that the credit of the country Mr. Fadden ruled that motion out .of order should be used to further the war effort.' for no other reason than that the Financial ''Addressing the Executive, the organis Agreement says that loans for financing ing secretary, Mr. E. Wright, said that the deficits shall not be included in a Common only way to finance the wa'r without load wealth loan programme or be otherwise sub ing the people with an intolerable burden ject to that agreement. This had no relation of debt was by debt-free and interest-free to loans, it was a gift to the Government, credits from the people's bank-the Com and not a loan, and Mr. Fadden was out of monwealth Bank. order in ruling it out. '' 'It is impossible to pay for the war in The statement goes on to say- taxation, and if the Government gets th0 rest of the money from private banks, the '' Mr. Cosgrove protested, but the other post-war burden of debt will make the States' representatives 'took it lying people sla'ves of private financial institu down '-which is also a public scandal, tions,' said Mr. \V right. especially in view of the declared policy regarding national credit of the Parliaments '' 'Labonr has always contended that pri of ·western Anstrrrlia, South Australia, Yate bnnks should not be allowed to domin· a·nd Queensland, and of the Government ate the credit of the country,' he con Party in Victoria.'' cluded.'' Again, that is lip service. I have here Th0 following is an extract from page 327 of "Hansanl" for 1940:- the platform of the Labour Party, and in 1908 the third plank of that platform is "Functions of Commonwealth Bank "nationalisation of banking and insuranre." That is nothing less than plain '' l1ooey. '' "Mr. Bedford (Warrego) (10.46 a.m.): That is, again, lip service, as it was in the I move- late Mr. Handolph Bedford's motion on the That this Parliament resolves that, in Commonwealth Bank, and the motion of the view of the Commonwealth's necessary hon. member for Cook now on the paper. commitments for the defence of Australia The nl'otion of the hon. member for Cook Supply. [25 SEPTEMBER.] Supply. 493' asks the Federal Government for finance to member of the Commonwealth Intelligence do certain things, but it is purely lip service. Service, the hon. member for Baroona, now (Laughter.) It is no laughing matter; it sitting on the Government benches. He should is a serious state of affairs. I have already tell the investigation committee about his told representatives of the Government that friends on this filthy Queensland Central I shall leau the party after the next election Executive. This filthy Queensland Central that is, three years anu one day from the Executive dominates the legislation of Queens date of the last election. Members of the land and endeavours to force these people to Labour Party will realise that they are not retire from advocating aid for Russia. I have Lahour any mor0. I am speaking the truth. no brief for the Communists, but I do realise People speak of asylums. I agree with the that they are helping our allies, and giving hon. member for Charters 'l'owers that it them very necessary help, too. I have a may be an asylum, but, if it is so, I am letter from a friend in England-how it the doctor and not the patient. We have passed the censors I do not know-in which reached a position in which people are he snys that it is a disgrace that we are not starving, anrl the feeling of insecurity is invading on t1Je western front. My secre too gTeat for the human frame to stanrl. tary has that letter, and anyone who cares to N otwithstanlling this. we will not realise the see it hns my permission to do so. Why are fact that we cannot fight our way to victory we not invading on the western front~ It out of debt. is like the old story of the matchbox-the The hon. member for Brisbane has said people will not think. that the basic wage in Queensland under a Only a few weeks ago a captain who l1ad Labour Government is the highest and the retnrned from the Ji1editenanean met me and cost of living the lowest of the States of said, ''Par Gael's sake, Frank, eo me and the Commonwealth. 'l'hat is .iust '' hooey. '' have a drink. I must talk to somebody.'' That is on a par with the '' hooey'' of the He sai<1 that our men over there have not l10n. member for Kennedy, who told the oven got sticks, let alone guns, with which people in Bowen that the Federal Govern to fight. What arc "e doing about that~ ment had closed the hotels at 8 o'clock. I All we need to do is to utilise national credit, bet a friend of mine in Bnndaberg that that and the 21,000 people who were unemployed was incorrect, an<1 the next r1ay the Secretary in Queensland at the time of my election for Health and Home Affairs in .Queensland could be maki11g those g"uns. There would denied it. I can prove that it was incorrect. be no financial cost incurred in making them. I will now give a comparison of the wages 'l'ho only cost of the guns would be the paid in New South \Vales and Queensland a ln bour. The cost of anv article is labour. There is no such thing as·' financial cost. fortnight before the elections- De~pite the fact that the Treasurer chal N.S.W. Qld. lenged my statement the other day, I desire £ s. d. £ s. d. to quote the following letter dated 25 June, Man with one de- 1941- pendant .. 4 5 0 4 4 0 Man with three , 'Waterside IV01·kers' Federation of children 4 15 4 4 4 0 Austmlia, A Tory Government were in power in New '' Bundaberg Branel1, South Wales and a supposedly Labour "No. 70 Curtis street, Government in Queensland. Again, it is a "Bundaberg, 25 June, 1941. ease of '' hooey.'' ''Mr. F. Barnes, ::\I.L.A., In my policy speech I said- ''Parliament House, Brisbane. " When I am elected I shall, at the first ''Dear Sir,-I am instTUded to for opportunity, move in Parliament- ward copy of the following resolution That Mr. J~organ Smith be instructed which was carried unanimouslv at a meet to cal'l'y out the declared financial policy ing- of the above hclcl on 8 June, 19+1 :- of the Queensland Assembly, and that 'l'hat this meeting of the Bnndaberg all Loan Council meetings support Mr. Branch of the Waterside vVorkers' Gray and all other progressive monetary Federation of Australia challenges Mr. reformers in a demand for the proper use Cooper-Minister for Education-when of the national credit.'' he states that two-thirds of the men The Queensland Central Executive has unemployed in Quecnslam1 are either failed in Bundaberg. It has failed on the unable or unwilling to work. Russian position. I have previously made the This meeting reflllests Mr. F. 13arnes, statement that hon. members from the Govern M.L.A., to voice this protest in Parlia ment benches will come over to me or be on ment, and to dcmanr1 that the blame for this side or not in the House at all. Three unemployment be placed where it belongs hon. members opposite will come over. I -upon the Govemmcnt. started the dry rot in that executive. The Queensland CentTal Executive is filthy. Those "Yours faithfully, members of the Labour PartY who wish to ''A. L. GRAHAM, help Russia, an ally of the British Empire, ''Secretary.'' are to be rooted out, because that executive is Fifth Columnist. The personnel should be The Treasurer: I have listened to the reported to the Federal Government. I see a letter that the hon. member for Bundaberg 494 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. 'has read, and I want to assure him that no ascertain the names of the sh:ueholt1ers sn~h statement was ever made lw me, and of the Bank of England~ T ask him to accept my denial. Sir E:ingsley Wood: I will inquire, The CHAIRJUAN: Order! I ask the llon. and if I have anything to communicate, member for Bundaberg to accept the denial I will inform the hon. gentleman. of the Treasurer. Mr. Gallacher: Is it not the duty of Mr. BARNES: I read it in the paper the Chancellor the Exchequer to give myself. The paper must be >nong. How these particulars to the haiL member~ Bver, I will accept the Treasurer's statement. Sir Kingsley Wood: I have no donbt that the hon. member for Ipswich (Mr. The Treasurer: It is wrong, I can assure Stokes) will be able to look after him you. self. lUr. BARNES: I read it in the paper Mr. Stokes: Mr. Speaker, in view of myself. The paper may have misquoted the the fact that the Chancellor of the hon. gentleman, but I remember what I read. Exchequer is not clear on this point, Y on have heard me read out, Mr. Gair, may I ask you whether there is any that after the hanks closed their doors in means by which a member of Parlia Bnglallll in Hll-t the Goycmment came to ment can extract the information for theit· rescue and issued £280,000,000 of which I have asked~ moncv. It is rumoured throughout Australia Mr. Speaker: I am afraid I cannot and ot li r parts of the world that the Bank answer the question.'' of En:.;land is a Government bank. That is \Vhy afraid? Why should anyone be afraid inst n.s much '' hoooy'' as the other matters to ,,-hich I have rc{ened. 'l'he fact is that to answer a question~ .it belongs to the shareholders, and the follow I now propose to give the Committee some ing m·tide, whic·ll DJl]JNll'C That is a spectacle of a Tory paper apologis On Monday, 31 March, 1941, the same paper ing for a Labour Government. It goes on to came out with the people's verdict and this say- is what it said- '' l\Iany electors, it is true, will be sorely ' ' The highlight of the Queensland ballot, tempted by the Australian's typical sense from Bnndaberg 's point of view, is the of humour to cast a vote for Mr. McLean 's spectacular success achieved by :Mr. Barnes. opponent.... '' As far as this ne>vspaper is concerned, we It does not even pay me the courtesy of make no apology for the attitude we mentioning my name. Continuing, it sail!- adopted towards the campaign. \Ve found less to admire in the policy enunciated by '' They will be attracted by amusing Mr. Barnes than in that of the Labour mental pictures of Forgan Smith's discom Party. Whether our judgment was correct fiture (assuming, of course, that a Labour remains to be seen. Mr. Barnes 's victory defeat in Bundaberg ·would worry the nevertheless entitles him to unstinted con Government to that extent) and even more gratulation. He has accomplished a feat by visions of Mr. Barnes 'busting' the unparalleled in this district for very many Labour caucus single-handed without even years, and he tackled successfully a task being a member of the party or even which neithn the U.A.P. nor the U.C.P. attending one of its meetings.'' were willing to attempt. Lacking both the I never made that statement. I did say, how financial resources and the moral backing ever, that I would bust up the Q.C.E. 'rhis that parties are able to give their candi paper even apologises for a Labour Govern dates, he nevertheless won through.'' ment's faults. I contemplated that because I It went on to mention some flattering things had beaten them in two Supreme Court about me, but I do not like to read them. actions. This statement also appeared in the I should now like to point out to hon. members some of the advertisements that '' N e\'V:s Mail''- were displayed in this very paper on the eve '' 'The 'News l\lail '-and we hope Mr. of the election, in the issue of Friday, 28 Barnes will not begrudge us the privilege March. (The hon. member exhibited several -will wish to retain its right to criticise. advertisements.) should occasion warrant. On the other hand Here is another one on Friday, 28 March. it will be anxious to co-operate with him I had only hvo small advertisements hut I in constructive wOTk and progress at what was charged 5s. an inch for them. I told e.-er opportunities he presents. We, in them to keep their paper, that I was not common with the vast majority of the interested. Of course, I was thinking that I people of this community, are proud of had the wireless; they, too, held the gun at Bnnda herg 's status among the cities of my head. I told them ''I will win the Queensland, we are proud of what it has election without the wireless or the paper.'' achieved and we haYe unbounded faith in Here are mv two small advertisements what, given clear thinking and action, it representing 2" or 3 inches. Despite this, I can yet achieve. For the next three years won the election. I point that out to show that future will rest very substantially in hon. members that they should be either the hands of the hon. member for Bunda on my side or out of the Chamber next berg. In common with e>·eryone who has elections. the interest of the district at heart, we wish him success. '' I wrote this letter to the newspaper on 29 March, 1941- Following that the paper came out with this report- " Sir,-It is perfectly obvious to myself and, I believe, to thousands of Bundaberg '' Mr. Barnes Startles Parliament. electors, that your leading article of "In Long-Awaited Maiden Speech. yesterday was not actuated in the public ''Until Speaker says Sit Down.'' interest. Three years ago the editor of the 'News Mail' published a leading article The paper could not support me-it could castigating Mr. McLean with the strongest not forget that I had won two court cases permissible la:nguagc, Two paragmphs against it-hut it published this to make are enough-' He (Mr. M cLean) has assisted out I >vas a failure- in voting himself a Christmas box of £77 and an increase of £150 a year-and beyond ''Not 'Sat Down.' that there is not the slightest thing to place ''Mr. J. F. Barnes, M.L.A., >vho spent to his credit' and 'That a change in repre the week end in Bundaberg, pointed out sentation is most desirable is generally that newspaper reports of his maiden agrred.' speech m the Lcgislatiw Assembly ''That such a volte face as occuned recently, suggesting that he spoke until yesterday after three more years of ineffec he was asked by the Speaker to resume tive representation together with the his seat, were not actually correct. Mr. attempted ridicule of myself and my policy Barnes produced a copy of 'Hansarcl' to can only be placed to the fact that on two show that ·while at one stage of his speech occasions I was successful in Supreme Court -when he referred to the police-the actions against your paper. Speaker requested him to resume his seat '' J. F. BARXES.'' while he called him to order. Mr. Barnes Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. resumed his address immediately after and in public life to-day character is some wards and spoke at considerable further times brought under certain suspicion. l'ublie length.'' men owe certain obligations to the public When I came back to Brisbane I read in and ha Ye a certain work to do. I said in the '' Hansard'' '' B for bunkum.'' That course of my speech on the Address in Reply article was in the same issue as the para that Parliament should meet more often. It graph I have just quoted. I had not seen 11·ould be a good thing if we reviewed all our it when I asked that the above be corrected. old laws in relation to which so many amend I auvise the hon. member for Charters ments are being bronght do1111 session after Towers, the Secretary for Public Lands, session. and the hon. member for Port Curtis, who The Budget deals mainly >Yith finance. 1 are so fond of quoting the Bundaberg remember that Mr. John Artlmr Fihelly, an paper, to make sure of those extracts in ex-Treasurer, said in this Chamber that finance the future. was the test of government. The real te,<, t By the use of this system of national creuit of finance, in my opinion, is the serYice it I speak of it is my intention also to do what renders. Queensland to-day budgets for an might be describeu by the phrase "East is expenditure of approximately £22,fi00,000 to meet the State's financial commitments. That, east and west is ~west'' by eliminating the kanalws from our midst and placing them, to my minc1, is a huge amount to ask its for instance, on :l''raser 's Island. The other citizens and taxpayers to find. \Yc hm·e a clay I askeu the Secretary for Health and big war bill to meet. The >\'ar will take Home Affairs the present rate of State the full measure of our resources; certainly indigent allowance to kanakas. I was it will place a much greater tax upon them informed that it was 5s a \\·eek. vVe must than it has up to the present. I do not remember that an Australian out of work begrudge the Commonwealth Gonmmcnt the largest amount it is possible to rnisc in order recei,~es an allowanC'c of onlv Ss. a week to live on. As a resnlt of l1i·s allowance the to bring the war to a successful conclncion. kanaka mams and 1·obs homes in the district. At 4.5 p.m., r do not blame him for robbing to live. ::\Ir. DUNSTAN (Gympie), one of the panel Mr. Mall er: He is entitled to more. of Tompornry Chairmen, relieved the Chair liir. BARNES: He is entitled to sufficient man in the chair. to enable him to live. 1 do not believe that l\Ir. UJCIONS: It has been suggested by an Austrnlian out of work can live on Ss. a economists that State needs have to vield week. The tragedy of it all is that an unem second place to the Commonwenlth war effort. flloyed man with a ~wife and six children, all living at home, is penalic I received a letter this morning from :\h. ''No mention of the amount of expenses ~\IcCalfrey, the ex-senior auditor, in which he OYerclaimed was mentioned at either hear challenges the Premier's statement yesteruay ing. that he is a thief and has been found guilty ''I ha ,.e not been charged with any of misappropriating funds. This is a very offence of the nature mentioned by the serious mutter and one that strikes at the Premier in any court, although I would wry foundation of a man's character, his welcome any such plaint as an opportunity future,, and his name; before a man can of th0reby vindicating my character. l•c prowd a thief he is, in my opinion, entitled to trial befoTe a court and jury-a court that ''Of course the Premier has sheltered is competent and has legal knowledge to behind privilege in the libellous statements ascertain whether a person hn's been guilty or he has made regarding me in the House, not. 'With your permission, ).Ir. Dunstan, I and a harassed man usually becomes will Tead that letter. It is as follows:- almsi1·e. ''Brisbane, "The ventilation of certain information to Parliament was primarily made by me "25 SeptembeT, 1941. with the idea of vindication of my charac ''Mr. L. IV. I,uckins, i\I.L.A., ter. There were reasons and good ones why '' Parliament House, a Supreme Court judge should have been '' Brisbnnc. on the bench at my appeal and I desire to get a ,iud -;-e e,-en now for the purpose ''Sir,-- of receiving a just deal. I am not a '' The following statements weTe made by criminal and even a criminal, by British the PremicT in PaTliament yesteruay as Ja,,-, has to be granted such an opportunity. reporte