Queensland
Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]
Legislative Assembly
WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 1931
Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy
Vaqrants, Etc., Offences Bill. [21 OCTOBER.] Qmstions. 1453
WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER, 1931.
Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. C. Taylor, Windsor) took the chair at 2.30 p.m.
QUESTIONS. VALuE AKD TONNAGE OF CoPPER ORE FOR· WARDED FROM CLONCDRRY TO TOWNSVILLE AND CHILLAGOE. Mr. MULLAN (Flinden) asked the Secre tary for Mines- " 'Vhat was the value of copper ore forwarded from Cloncurry to (1) Towns ville. (2) Chillagoe, for years ended 30th J unc, 1928 to 1931, respectively?" The SECRETARY FOR MINES (Hon. E. A. Atherton, Chillaqoe) replied- " The information is being obtained." ::Ylr. MULLAN (Flinder-s) asked the Secre tary for Railways- " How many tons of copper ore were forwarded from Cloncurry to (1) Towns ville, (2) Chillagoe, for years ended 30th June, 1928 to 1931, respectively?" The SECRET.\RY FOR RAILWAYS (Hon. Godfrey Morgan, !lfurilla) replied " The information is being compiled."
REPORT IK RE LEAD POISONIKG AT MOUNT IsA. :1lr. :\clULLAN (Flinders) asked the Secre tary for Mines- " Has any report or information of any kind reached his department in reference to lead poisoning or plumbism at ::\Jaunt Isa? If so, will he state how many men have been affected by this disc~se since the cominenccment o£ opl-~rations there?" The SECRETARY FOR JVII="ES (Hon. E. A. Atherton, Chillagoe) replied- " The informatiop is being obtained."
SEATIXG AcconDIODATroc;r oc;r \VESTERN MAIL TRAIN. Mr. BRASSI!'\GTON (H-tlonnc) a···ked the Secretary for Railways- " In connection with \Vestern mail train, and the statement in thr ' \V astern Sentinel ' that the s. ating accommoda tion on the Cunnamulla-Charle·cille train Mr. Hynes.l 1454 Questions. [ASSElVIBLY.J Supply.
is inadequate, and that pafsengers have special services rendered-such allow to stand, will he ha ;·e this position ances not being a charg0 against rectified within the near future,., consolidated rcve,me. The SECRETARY FOR RAILWAYS Some of tho arrangr rnents are- emergency {Hon. Godfrpy :Ylorgan, Murna) replied- arrange1ncnts to 1ncot the en1ergent " The statement has l1ecn investigated, financial circurn~tances. The making of and a carriage has boun .~tntiouerl at the exha payment in th0 form of an Oharleville to bo attached to the \Yestern allowance rather than adding it to the mail train when necc sary, and this should principal salary makes the arrang·emcnt overcorne any po::sible risk of over an clastic one. and one which is oasil v crowding." terminated. ·when the time is appro priate, the qucction of merging, in some SrGGESTED APPOINT:IIENT OF O.P.S., RocK of the cases, the allowances into the HAMP'rON AS ASSISTANT POLH ~ l\'IAGISTRATE. principal ;:,alary ·will be considered. J\1any of the allm':ances \Yore approved Mr. DUNLOP (llockl arnpton) asked the y·ithout reference to the Public Son-ice Attorney-General- Con1n1issioncr." " Regarding the question of an assist ant police magistrate being appointed at such an important centre as Rockhan1p·· STATE ADVANCES HESERVE FUND, ton, and in cmmcction with which he has REAL PROPEHTY ACTS ASSUR received several requests, and seeing that ANCE FUND, AXD SAVINGS BANK the police magistrate at Rockhampton is required frequently to visit St. STOOK ACOOl!NT TRANSFER Lawrence, Y eppoon, Duaringa. ]\Iount APPROVAL BILL. Morgan, .Biloela, Theodore, \Vowan, and INITIATION. other Da wson V alley towns, cannot he appoint the clerk of pettY sessions at The TREASURER (Hon. \Y. H. Bcrncs, .1Vynnum,): I beg to rLovc- Rockhampton (1\lr. Scott) to act in such capacity during J\ir. Power's absence, '· Th·lt the House wilL at its nc>:-:t thus putting Rockhampton on the same sitting. resolve itself into. a Comn1ittee footing as Brisbane, where, I understand, of the \Yhohl to consider of the desirable the chief clerk of potty sessions acts during ness of introducing a Bill to approve, the absence of the chief police magistrate ratify, validate, and confirm the tranefer, from Brisbane." during ihe fi:.!ancial :vr 1r ended on the thirtieth day of June, on0 thousand 11ine The SECRETARY FOR MINES (Hon. hundred and thirty-one, to the consoli E. A. Athc'rton (Chillayoe), for the dated r0,~onue of certain sun1s of n1orF~y ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Hon. N. F. out of the Rr"c ne Fund in the Stat
:intentions of the GoYLTiln1cr1t in that re- \rill hccon1,3 intinitely dec gard. No doubt the Premier will adhere iors' displac,J the present ar ~he to the tradi twnal policy of the :\a tionali,t next eh,ctions. Party with regard to imported Governors. AnDther vie'>~r is that, if the appoinbnent Go·".-ERX:.\IENT l\llEMBERS: Htar, hear! is ma·de by the present Govemmc:1t. it wilt practicallv be on the eve of an election; Mr. 2'v1ULLAK: The policy of the Labour ~_,nd tho GoY£rnnu:-nt have no right to put Partv is definitely P..gajnst irnportod Uo~ this country to ~n additional expenditure vernOrs. There i ~ noth-ing personal in this of appro'-imately £40,000, knowing sery matter. \Ye haYc no objection to the present \vel! that they do not pos"·ess the confidence occupant of tlL office, who is' a fine type of the pc·ople. Thoro is no doubt that the -of Englis11 r·entlcm .n, r• ·.pc~tcd by all who Go\-ernnwnt, if they \Vcre put to the test know him. His Excdlcnc·r vill take a\Ya:· to-morro,·.-, would find themselves in a hope with him the best wi ll8s ·of all parties in le·ss minority in the country. this State. Our objection is to the policy of the present Governn1ent, "\vhich says, in There is le~.::: c»:cuse at the prc,;;ent tinle
not go on with the proposition of a fiye to become t-he "lext Lieutenant-Governor in year Parliament, which I know, seeing that Qnrc .1slcncl? If the great Commonwealth of all hon. members recognise that doom is Australia will not disappear-although the near them, would be tho most popular P1'e1nier sa.id it should disappear before thing that could bo introduced on that side. State Par!iQments did-- :',Jr. CosTE~LO: How would :·ou like it'? The Pnr>IIER: I di-d not say it should; I said that, 1£ there Y.'as •':· "ote on it:, it Mr. BEDFORD : I would not like the idea probably would. of sitting for another two years in Parlia n1ent' IYith thP hon. n1en1ber, as such a sug~ }lr. BEDFOil.D : The Pr•.·mier will be yery gestion is an insult to intelligence. lL~ wi::.e in forl ·a sting ·;'Otes. If ho foreLasts the votes for tho next election t:uly, it should One of the gre ctest protagonist.. of the gi \·c hjn1 :::uffic:icHt reason for quitting in11ne imported GoYernor is a parson named Rev. diatcly. N. S. Millar, who said it was "a question of such vital importance to Amtralia and the The PRE""IER: How did you forecast the Empire that representative men were under la't election? obligation to declcre their minds, else their :\Ir. BEDFORD: I foreca~t that we should silence Idight be mi,·interpreted as approval, con1e bad\:; and I was wrong. I did not or, 1vhat is \.VOrse, indifference." know that the people _,·ould su-ddenly go Herein Mr. Millar states only two real n1vd El!Ough to r12tqrn the prE.. ·"ent Gcn·crn matters-that he is a representative man ment. I do not beliem the community can and that ho lms a mind. He is merely a go mad twice in one generation; therefore, man using the pulpit to get for himself the there is sufficient reason for my believing publicity which his intrinsic importance does that we shall be returned to power at the not justify. next election; and, that being so, at the very ftrst opportunity we shall s0o that an Aus Apparently Sir Isaac Isaacs, according to tralian is selected as Governor of this StatE' many of thn objections raised against him, is a ''political hack, bound to party." That The PREMIER (Hon. A. E. Moore, has been stated about him, and the inference A.ubigny) [2.55): The hon. member for War was that such men as Edmnnd Barton, rego has seen fit to use this vote to cast Charles Cameron Kingston, Alfrod Deakin. unfair aspersions on former Australian John Forrest, and Mr. Justice Higginbot Governors. I do not know that there was ham, the great jurist, statesman, and fine anv justification for it. The hon. member citizen, were not fitted to be Governors also went out of his way to describe the General of Australia, but were fitted to be hon. member for Merthyr as a doctor mas labelled as " party hacks." If these men querading as a politician. One might with were compared with Lord Tennyson, Lord more truth sav that the hon. member for Northcote, Lord Denman, Lord Dt!dley, Lord W an·ego is a ·very small type of politician Stonehayen, and other figureheads, we would masquerading· as a statesman. (Government not gi,·o to them the appellation of "party laughter.) I am quite willing to admit hacks." that I believe in imported Governors. I ).Ir. W. Perry, Queensland registrar of the think it is a good thing. and I think that International Accountants' Corporation, has the Governors we have had in Queensland, a quaint reason for opposing the abolition of have been an asset of great \alue to the imported GoYernors. He said- State. I look upon the present occupant of the position as being of great value to. " The outstanding reason against such the State. a step was that it enabled Australians to lntcrt'ain a British gentleman; and a Mr. BEDFORD: There was misrepre~enta British gentlemar. was the finest speci tion about Sir Isaac Isaacs. mc·n of manhood the earth had yet pro· The PRE:YliER: I do not know about any duccd.'' n1isrepresentation. It is a weighty claim; but, admitting that, 11r. BEDFORD: There was. fo£ the sake of argurnent, Pascal, Voltaire, Plaro, Caesu, Charlemagne, Salaclin, Abra The PREMIER: I am not worrying about ham Lincoln, Michael .'\ngelo, Da Vinci, the position of Sir Isaac Isaacs. He was Pasteur. Jules \lerno, Curir, Lavoisier, appointed on the recommendation of the· Victor Hugo, Praxiteles. Tintoretto, V ela present Federal Government; and, if thev squez. Dante, George \Vashington, Edison, arc satisfied, it is all right. It is mv owr1 and ~vloses had not suffici• ut calibre to entitle pe1·sonal yiow tint a Governor from 'Great them to selection as the StJpreme head of the Britain is ,m asset and an advantage to the· Go,-0rnn1cnt in Australia, how do they corn SLte. I think ihe occupants of the position pare Xorthcote, Demnan. :"tonehaven, and have proved themselves to be such. Duclley. :md why should Australia pay :\1r. Hnms: What is wrong with having £10.0)0 a year to an imported Governor so all A u: tralian? that }Ir. Perry's association mav dine "The finc•Et :3JH-~cinlcn of rnanhood the ~arth has yet The PREivHER: It is not a question of producr:cl :'? Seeing, also, that it is no£ a what is wrong with an Australian. It is qu capacity in the public and financial life of Great Britain, so that they may be of assist only in rnaintaining our but in helping to adYance of Australia. :211r. HY:'\RS (1'o1. "·villo) r3.6]: I desire to protc_,t agan1 t the rontiuuaJ1ce of the prac tice of rE-~Olnrnondin_:~ impv:.·tcJ Goycrnor· for this 8L·te. Not-. ithstanding the syco phantic platitudes of the hon. member for Rr-,(nvood to the contr~try, any citizen of this State should be able to aspire to the ofiico of Go,·crnor. Vie have heard a good deccl during. the present and two prF'vious sessions regard1ng the nec,_3sity for economy. IIerc is a direction in \\hi ·h the Governn1cnt can put that polic,- in operation. I cannot see l..u: trrt!ia 1vhero we are getting value for ou1~ cx:pendi \YUS a party t·.re by continuiiJg the cxic;ting system. The , pr i11u.:n· s.urpris.:-:d -'-·J Chief .J,;·. tice is the per,•'ll1 -,, ho should &et on l'o'-'ll_,_l to En,~.dand he bccJ.n1e Chair* in the capacity o[ Go. ornor. llEtn of the Consen-.ativc lJartv. Peoplo thought th- t lH·. had no politic ?t any kind; Mr. WARREN: \Vhv di.J.n't vour Go...-ern- and. so far a'.J h;s 0( cupanCJ cf b1· Govornor n1ent practico that? V V conccrned, h'< had no )Jolitic:5. Mr. HYNES: Certai·1 foolis.h nmarkR f'1n ri e to the oCcasion, >H>re made ly th noi a ntntt,_r into the rn ,_r ·when Le at:tr>n1ptcd to land UYN';;ea l1e. c•. But. 1tkc any d. l'llt- < lt1 n, when Su· tent J'ohn Gooch·in got' into a job that required .lnp.Lrti8 !ity and fainL'."':-'i he l'O 0 to 1hc occasion and did it idea T11is i3 'Ul o] 1 subjeLi ;ur discE-.:-,iun. and tho ll<1.·-. c 11('\-~r in it I fro:11 the v .~s y1l t.::Jed to Prernier on peOllle "With 110 political 1natt'~1· hi Hftc1·nc· Hl. ~..\n· who not ,_:i) 1nuch credit to his nor rd the· hon. nt.lcnutu \Vill it reflect credit on the Go\·ernors :horn . n' :'?l~t1~~ V ~f the starcnwnt is ; ttcl>lpting to laud. The _whole idea. lmpc.nec~ CoYnrllOl' IS an ~dvantao·e of a c,en1ocracy lll'CSLl})poscs an Intencie and to the State. Tla~ hon. ~entlcma.n ga~c s.- me old rea- .m for having imported honest intere"~ in the go Ye .Tnnent of any couihl'Y b~, i1., citizens. I have- not a gret1t thctt vn.s pra<:~icall,y f;ivcn in the deal of respect for an; citizen of this country century for h·lieY ing in witchcraft, naL cl· he ausc U1e r ·ople believed whar. 01· of other rountry •.,ho does not take a keen in the good governrnent of \Va about iL. ·\nv a:iva.ntaO'e, social or cconomicJ ac._Tu:n.•r this fror11 his r__,untl'y; and. if he take;;: a kJ'Dn interest tO cou1~b;v H 'l'llOl' fr0n1 OYL'~-. tS is a nUtr :d to be in e- good governnlent of his country, he 1 cannot fail to havo h Jn and distinct political rnel'cly Lee 1 u~c people bel1eYc it. h ,yp had inl}_::'C>rtcd Governors in the opinions. -'-·~ n1an can be a keen political va -;t; a!ld the Tory frame of n1ind is that , n, 'tnd l1 a \T a kren and ~h·ong Lt ith lYe should nerer up-pt at-ything done in the t.I 1 C po·h er of a :'olitical partv or of a pr.st," r LJ ne> . ..::r try to irnprovo on it. If political programme bcin,; to the advant. ge 1 ':le ;dn.t.s put forward b,· tho Premier this of his count>~, without being a bip;ot. \Vhen ;cft,.. rnoon ar ', acccpt,Jd~that this practice the Pr_emicr labels a UL'hll_ of arly political nas exlG-1 :d ror all tu.rle) and therefore conYicbon as Le1ng a party l 1,rk or a political 1 \YC shoul( adhe1 J t . it--\YO should make no partisan. ancl consequently unfit for appoint pro;--T,__9;;:. There 1:-s r1.o n1'ore reasun for ment to a. position such ~1 , GoYc-rnor hr is Lclievinr~ tha~ an i1nporteJ. Governor is of precuppnsing that all the people ~f this any ouislanchng advantage to this countrv countr.v are political bigots. J\Iy expcriencG t~an tht re is £or 1 0lie'-·ing in gho:'ts o~~ of p oplc of all shulcs cf political com·ic >ntchcs. bon in ihi., coun~ry is that they are no more bigots in polit~cs than thr - are in religion. l\Jr. 1\. FORG.. \:'\ S' ITH (Jlar·hy) [3.22]: Yon ha Ye notlCC.!blc- e·. ample, of religious It 1.3 a n1atter f.or n ,2_;ret that the Prmnier b1gots, ancl yon haYc nobccablo exan1ples ha-s seen fit to en __ .or .:Se the nolicv vvhich of political bif:·v;:-.s: but they are verv raro has carried out wjth st~ch -~rninent in con1parisc,_1 vi+h the gre~1t bulk ~f the snc"'e.::s by the Corr:alon~'ealth in the apnoint population. It is absurd to suggest that the ~;lcr t of n~ir lBr J_(~ Isa,a.cs as Gov:-ernor citizens of this country, e,·en though they are U~nerh.L J...llA Pr ...!llUor \\"as wrong \V hen he keen political workers and associated with Stld that . tb l.t appoinbnrnt as not politica 1 parties, are so bigoted that they oppo.Bd, as It vas oppo.s-~d by fOlne people cannot perform a job that requires the same ·v.he> v; C'l''' so bli::.1ded o1: prejudiced in theil~ qualifications as are required of the Speaker news that they were of little or no account. of this (;il1mbcr-th. T the·· hould be ]m, king gprerally, the good citizens of the partial, fair, and just. · u1lth heartily approved of that a~.po~ntn~mt' n.ud t.=.'g-,udc.t it as a fitting The stre1mons dutie. of th, Gov( rnor of culnllnat:o.n tv tl1 • Cd'eer of a great Aus this State are strictlv not his duti•·-; as trallaii c1hzen. Go\·crnor, but f1e tour~ing of the country in order to n1 kc hin1sel£ acquaint.._,d 1vith it The hon. lll'. nber for Burrun1 intcri -cted ib industrit~s, and \Yhat is going on in th~ -while tho hon. n1cn1ber for J.flinder; . "\vas country. Then in1mcdiately h(~ kno1Ys thesG SJK kinr..:·. " \Yby did the Labour Govern~ thing.· he leaves the countrv :nd leaves some nte~· ~- not do that?" I ro.".J more particu one else to start th' busin; oS all over again. l!'rlY to deal with that phase of the ques The present occupant of the position of tion. The Labour Party has at all times Governor has n€vcr spared hiJns:?lf in order ·"akcn the Yiew that tlL posit.ion of GoYernor to make himsdf thoroughly acquainted y: ith Gcnoral of the Commonwealth or Governor the country. He has made the job a very of+,a StHh sllcnld be filled by an Austl chan strenuous one for himself; but that is not Cl. '?en~o1u~ who hvc8 1n ..::-\ustraha and who his job as Go,·error. His job as Governor iL,s l;;ecn identificcd with the life of the io; a comparati,·cly !ig·ht one; he has to bo people here. Fr~c:uently r. hi le we were in po·,yer \', J made t110i"e repre entations to the imparti~l, fair, and reasonable. To suggest that S1r John Goodwin had no politics authoritie~ in I Jndon The n1ost_ recent before he came to this country is throwing occ·1sion ';hen _onuncndations \Yere 1nade b.. late GoYernmcnt was when a slnr on th~t g,_:ntlernan. Fro1n \vhat I knew of him, I beiieve that he had political the Secretary of State fo·· the convi,.tions b_cfore he carne to this c.)unt.ry, Yisited Austra"!ia. On that "occa of the day init!atf l a bocat:,( 3 ht 1n1presses n1c as being a verv intelligent and fine type of citizen. and no . question; and I, with man can be that "·ithout haYing som~ political pomted out that there was conYictions, or so1ne desl re to see the country in faYour of the prin- and governed in the interests . Australinn citizen being recog people as a \\·hole. It is a!! rubbish tlu3 ''"ay. \'.~ e pointed out that in to say that Sir John Goodwin was celocted a non-party Yote had been taken on the questjon on .1 t lca.st two oc<·1sions · :from some small body of people in Eno-land0 who had no politic-:.1 conyictions. If a n1an 2 'Jcl a h1.rgc n1njorit.y of n1e1nbers of Parlia' of that type were appoinhd GoYornor, the l11Cllt there had Yoted in f&vour of an .A.us people would be justified in throwing him tralian citif_en bein':j appointed as Governor. 1'vi1-. Smith.] 1460 Supply. [ASSElVIBLY.] Supply. i\Ir. An1cry ~·u J, on behalf of his Govern~ The point raised bv the hon. member for n18nt, that he \Vas naturally prepared at all Ro~ewC!od begs ihe question, or puts up a case tin1t-s to consider t;eriou' ly any re(01nn1enda~ v hwh 1--. no.- analogous. :\lcrnbcrs of Parlia tion that mi::;ht be made be· an Australian ment are elected by the citizens of the State. GoYcrnment ·in that direction. He also Men born in Scotland, Ireland, or England pointed o ·t ,-ery clearly, and so did one of are not selected for Parliament because of his predocc,sors in office, that, if it could their countrv of origin, but bec Parliarncat Acr. and under tLc a'..-'..t~1ority I:ut what I \Yant to pc int out is -of the ruling given b~· the late King Edv\~ard; Sir John Gr ,eh in, with hi~ high and the LicuL_nant-Govenwr hnd the neces medical and 1nilitary attainnH~IlLs, had sary powe"!' to authori:-:;~-. rho_ Budget ,,:·ithout se1·Ycd ti'e Ernpil'e in ..::\u.-;tralia as an ~\us the con,cnt of the· LcgJslatlve Cotmc1l pro tralian, ho ,,.otdd not haYe been eligible in vided it had been 11assed by the LcgislatiYe the rninds of DW'l~- people to occup:'-r the A~sombJv. Thi2 incident di')clofCS a ._ ery position he f:.O '' ortl1ily fills to-day. If 1ny intcrc· ~ i~g ph use of the qncstion respecting ll1rJllor." L. c- corrccth·. a n~C(·nt occu- ihe respective po\\·ers of the two Houses of pant of ) r )Sit inn of Go;'ClT,or o{ a State Parliament. whilst it also deals with the ques in Australia ', as bon1 in ~Tclbourne. If I tion of the ·authoritv of a Governor. \Ve are am not mi hken. his father was a doctor, not concerned about the birthplace of an but lf'ft AuJtra1ia \Vhrn thi::; rrcntlon1an \Yfl3 individual; but we are concerned with a so1UC'\\·h;'l0 bout eight year::~ of age: and principle which the Labour Partv regards as h1: l'~sidecl out. idc _.\ustl'£11ia, until his fundamental; and that is that Australian appoinbncnt as Gon:-rnor. citizens ':lhould be g-iven any appointn1ents of The PR '~!H~R: Ti1·1t 1;;;, our . prrscnt the character no• · under discu :sion. Gnvcrr:or, Sir Joh~l Cooc_l-.,_z in. D t_l[rnnct Jlarr;, t) [3.33]: Mr. STOPFORD: That is the point I th;q 8n· n;;:dJ is worthy rnakc. lf ~-\.u:::.tra1ia is to becon1c a nation, \u~ltali.Ln if h,, c~v s not and if "\YO are to becon1c ,._eH-contained in 1···./ie. tl~ ;o.n posit:on evcr-.-thirH~~ '"'=' rnu~t a:"pire, as eYery other to offet· be at t'iP com{trv clc s, to fill, if possible, every high _1,.u~tl'aiiun c,.p1.blc ( f filli · _{ o.'lict' 'offering \\·ith our O\Yll people. ~o Gl''::'J.111Pt!t.:' to-Cay gi-."G it. addr:_t·cd rnatt~?r ,··hr,thrr a 1nan i~ bo1·n in En:~;land, the in1 11c .~ -ior: that the rne1nbcr<:l cf the Scodand, or any part of the Empire, Labou1 P, n.: re cp~1r: ,pd to Uovcr· ors b~ jf he is a dtiz~n of Australia and has {:aU3': the". arc llritish-l )fn; bt!t that is not played his part in the national destinies c )trect. ' \Y c c! im that any Australian of Auotralia, he should possess the same who ha.:> pia.;-cd n ~lLportant r1rt in the rights as the man who mmt learn of the ,ife of Australia in " poliric tl. medicccl. conditions of this countr:~· after he has b<'cn n:.ilitarY, or otlwr ·dir:_-cHon. ~houltl have an sent across to Australia after having occupied ~:-,lua l 1~igl1t '''>ith a per~on of equal ability some hirrh o"'-re in anothet· part of the nd with tile -~-tn1·" nttainnH'nts in otJ1cr p<'~ rh world. Am.tralians are filling high positions Df t 1 " En1pirc to t'tc highc~t po-:;ition that An:-.\ rnlia L1s to offer. ell over the world t')-day; aEd. because hon. Liembcrs on this sidP suggc2t that Ac:strahans To-day Sir I ~aac Is'aars occupies tlH' should as21ire to every position of-fering in high0~t po;ltion ti1at Auf'tr:1 Iia ha~ to offer. Australia to-dav, the question should not be HO is tl ll1fll1 of out.standin;l abillt ·. ~-nd rliscu88Pd rnerelv from a narrow political {)IlC ~,it~ a cat'C 1· th~t ":.li:._~ hJln the a,-1rnira point of view. t3.onw. da~~ tbe Yario.Ls parli~ tion not onl·· of all Au~tra1inn~ Unt al--.o monts o£ Auctraha will meet and d1ecp·,s th1s o£ "-..-er-"· Briti~llC'r. L-•t. us assun1c fo1· a ouest.ion nurelv fron1 a non-party viev pojnt, mo;1cnt' that nt the ·. c e of fifteen vears Sir s~':l that Aush:aliane, no matter what their Isaa.c lioac~ j~aJ left- .. \ush'alia tO li1Tc in po1itical vit'VYR, n1.1.Y be B:b1c t~ give an sonH. other part of t!!c En1pire. Let us n.::. 'Telcgr -"'~ru:;:;~ Stationer~-, c:tc., ·~ not bc.ing suffi if theY were not cient' la~~ Ye-ar. Tb _. an1ount proyid!d on .-.-oul d ·not matter. the E LintR~ics for this itcrn lt can,. as~ed 1Lre to-day. If that "\Vc_,_·e the It YYili b·< s_cn that the average rate of proposit'ou. it ' ould ·merely proyide for . a interr·;;t we1s lov;er in Queensland than in co~tly duplication, and for an increase 111 the or':cr States.. and that the percentage the of P>_r1iament, be.cal.E2 the rt 11 jn-·rcJ e in t.he public debt \va:~ less in basis justifJcuion of Parlia1nent-apart Queensland on rt per capita b~~sis than in any fron1 occa~ior::.< such as the n1easure in 1rhich of the mainland States, with the exception the Treasurer is endeavouring to s'ocurc r .titi of \Yl'Iern Australia. ('ation by Parliarnent of son1ething thut he The Premier should give some inforrnation has already done- ~,re: to Le found in thP a.s 10 the Governrnent's intentions in con~ control of financ8 and t:txation. and .r:very nertion with this 1nattcr, which has been ihlng- involYc d in a lllOTIC'Y Bill. Tf that gi,-eE pro!ninO.!C'C in the lJublic pref-':i. It has pow~·r is _,onfin~d ,.) a Lr~islati.-e A>·• ... mbly, beee1 stared that his JlCLrty are divided ou the clcct·d1 'l'l'e•c!ltatiYco of the peq1k. tLcn tllc It is natural that that Jhonld the Lrgislativc Council bf mnes a costly ex b'' so. is stated that some members of his <.:rescrn{'e. :-nd of no value \YhatcYrr to a!lVOllC' r majority do not de,ire the re>torat!on .of Council on the lines [Ugge3ted by the daily the lippor House. Those who desire Its press-and I understand the Pr~m.ier restoration ar' those in tha fortunate position adrnitted that thP. Government v>cre gn:1ng of representing vested interests. Those who con· ideration to that proposal-then the Go control vestod interests fear the return of Ycrnn1cnt will be putting the clock back one the Labour Party to power. They have hundred years so far r ·; QuLensland i3 con~ reac.)n to fear the succe, ~ of Labour. For cenwc1. \Vhcn the Legis!ntin~ Council was instance, take the pastoral con1panies and f',;:;tablishcd in Kew Sonth \Yale.<;!, it 'Y ,,s on big pastoralists w.llo have secured extensions tho basis that hYo-thirds of -the 1n.~n1Uers of leases for large areas. They know that hould bo elected bv the people. The r arlia a rctum of the L'Ubour Governm;'nt to pmver rr1cnt of ~~('\V South v.. ~alc in lf' .,i ra:. ~d >Yill mean that they must make a stand on the Australian Con'·titution . \et to provide for behalf of the peoy,le, and will be forced to the of :-;P>Y South \Yul ·s a1•d test the validity of concessions gTanted by \an Land. Tl1is ;.l_ct f Jn:;.i~::nted ~t the present Administration. Lc~i 3 lative C)uncil. with a membership of Let us go a step further. The controllers thi~ty-six, twelve to be noLlinat.Icl rrnd bYent0· of the City Electric Light Company know four to be elected bv the people of the State. that, in view of the heavy reductions in This me, st1re was 'repealed in 1855, and a \Yagcs. a Labour GoYernn::.errt would be in nominee Chamber ,. as established. The duty bound to secure a reduction of elec Queensland Government are considering a tricity charges. proposal under which only fift,cen members ?f There aro other sections who h:t ve a lot the proposed council will be elected, and m re .. pect of those members there is no definite to fe~r from the return of I.~bour at the next election. undoubtedly, as a result of statement as to whether eleetion will be on a. the suspension of various av,ardsJ a con~ full franchise or on a restricted property siderablc concession has been gained by those franchise. I feel certain that the majority interested. of hon. members opposite cannot countenance a propo•:~l which is so retrogressive. \Vhcn returnetl to power, the Labour Go vcrn!nellt, acting iu accordance 1Yith their I should like to comment on the dtitude policy of adhcrr>ncc to <-.rbitration, must of the Government to public senants in naturally remoYe the suspen~ion now operat connection with utterances concerning ing in c_,nnection >vith the awards to which I political qLwstion .. have referred. It is the vpc:ted interests Jnst recently the Government of this Stote which dcsin the rcc.toro.ti m of the l:ppcr penalif.?d t-;.vo State e!flpl~yees bec~·t~l;-:;c t~e:v I{ouse, and on th~:t :;.:ore \VC join issue with made statements publlcly 111 (.mncctJO~l with the Government and raise this important the Government's policy; hut a pubhc ser point: The hon. members who were sitting Yant of this Stat0. in the r"rson of the :in opiJo3ition prior to the la:::.t election~ present Agent-General, Sir Edward 2Y1acart ga,·e a promise that the Upper House would ncv. can < 1mn bo.ck to Queensland and, not be rcstor,,_~d \Yithout a referendum. L-.-nder whiht still in the 0mploy of the State. ca.n these circnn1sLtnces. ,v}Jere is the nece::;sity anpenr at the qonstitnlional Club and othe, to go back on that promio~ and contemplate :\ationalist bod1es and advocate the restora the restoration of the ·cpper House without tion of the LegislatiYc Council. giving the people a. voice in the mdt0r? The PnE:,ImR: He did not C' advocate a ccrto.in been Jai 1 down :\lr. Sneaker that ho is the judge-and ngr< ·" ·with that-as to adYoeated ten years IYhether the irrelc'>'tncics in a question shall ar2,·o "-a~· si1nilar to that of 1JC pennitr:'d to r~o inio the text or not; but, "'\ ictorir:.." if there is this by Mr. Speaker over I shonld like to remind the Secretary for the fonn in questions are couched, Railways that he should be consistent; and, it should :J!so in the control of ~Ir. if the Govcrnn1ent are not prepared to SpE: ~·l:ccr to •ec serious l~cplies arc given honour their clcdion promises ard give the to scrio11~· For instance, son1c ti1ne peopk a in ihis rnattcr by ''v·ay of refer- ago I for L.Lbour and endum, next thing the hon. gentle- Industr--:- this man ,hould do to see to it that the '· 1. As GoYernmont claim is that Lcgislatiw Cmmcil is elected by the people h:· s been accon1panicd of q,, ensland. As reported on pa5e 1731 of li\ ing-• uch argn of the sarne " Hansard," the hon. gentle d on the statement n1an said-- ic v.-age .of £3 14s. " There is no doubt. that the people wage as compar-.::d with Fi\Ye a mandate to abolish the Upper cost of comn1oc~ities' 1-Low-.o as a norninee bod \r and ere a tc an v, hj the price of the elective bodv." " b('lllg 8d. 1 t Augathella, The,. }Jr. Sizm·: the pre.cent Secretary for eff• dive tl e lo< al wae;c for Labour and Industrv, as reported on page of £1 10s. a \Yeek to 1733, sa.id- " families? '· In the n1:1in we aCL0pt the principle attempt at reclncing of the adult franchise in regard to the of bre aoorted b,- the L~ pp er I-Ion8L'.:) of the flom· price?" · The SpEoa'.er, l\Ir. Charles Tayior. The rcp1. I rc<:cived fr >m the Secretary had to c~y as reported on page 1734 fol' La bL nr ~tiHl Industry \Yas a stupid one- of " Hansar,·l " of that year- ·• 1. The price of broad is not fixccl at have indicated that we a.re nrc Augathclla, and nppan ntly the rc•sidcnts to accept tho adult franchise· for there arc satisfied that local prices a.re -Cppor :House. In :tnY first election Jcluptcd to loc 'l. conditions. ~pcech in 1918 I. stated from the plat "2. :\To. In nu1nr rous cas('~ local form t h.tt I was m favour of the reten prices for brc .id have been reviewed by tion of the Upper House." the Price Fixing Con1missjoner, with Then the peesent Tre~surer, the Hon. 'N. satisfactory results to the public." H. Bame~. us reported on page 1738, said- That is not anything like the reply whicl1 ." ThE) National. Party propose, and should have be(~n ,..;iYen to a serions ques' >nil bnng. m, legrdatwn to carry out a tion. I do not know whether it is the redurtwn m the number of members in departmental officers who have the answer Parliament; the Legislative Assembly ing of these questions to do, and they get a L be reduced to fifty members and the certain amount of cheap applause from the Lcgrc.latrve Council to be reduced to Ministerial head for being funny at the t.h1rty." expense of hon. members. I also asked a . Th~ following is the most important point question of the P1~emior in regard to the m the hon. gentleman's utterance:- caFe of a man named Hoy Ling, who has .. T1Jc adult franchise is to apply been appointed a Justice of the Peace, and, equally to the 'Cpper House as well a to since Labour went out of office, has replaced the Ifonsc of Assernblv." a white man as Government representative Un }lHgf: 1740, the bon. vlYlCITibcr for Eno:-~ on the Tara hospital committee. g-•:ra ::::aid-- The CEAIR::'>L\:\: Order: Th, hon . .. Dnring the elections \H' stated that 11l"Inbrt• (_,,nnot rai thet qL:stion o:.1 this. t~l-rc Lppce House should be an dectcd vote. Jle will haYe an opportunity~ lat-·r on Chatnber on an adult fr~Lnchis"_," o£ raising· it. I f-:h-_11. not -continue reading thc,,e "Xtl'-iC t~, :ur. BED:FOHD: On what vote" but , ml l content myself with saying that, 1f tnc !ncmbprs of the Government v oro The CILURMAN : The vote for the Chief smcere m_ their attitude in connection with Departme-nt. I caunot ullO\V 1h1s CJlH -:'tion sDnlc ye.- r·~. ago, the ..~ v:ill giYc iu ConunittPc on the action the J?Coplc an opportnnity to ha\~~c a ~-av j 11 of :\It·. Speaker. That is rr C[lll"_ion for the rclah~:l to the re-establishment of the Ul1]Wr Honeo ir:•c'lf. Hon::-t ) or: 1 !hey TVIll not sta11d up to ~=r. BEI)FOHD: .. \~I hayc no othrr chance !h~t JlJ'?mt~e~ then. thry can do the LC>:xt be ..... ~ Ll:ng, anrl H restoration of the to conn11and a in Parliament ; ir n1if2·ht be a grv, s rnic-tako; of the fi'-c-yc.ar exten~,:on of or ~t .._ 1nlght net of the grc.t test ;\Ielbourne ·'Age " had this gc:'' if jt "ere a Labour QoyerlJncnt' the Queensland <1 prolong ltjon-which is, in any to extend the life case, J!l iu1pudent. usurpaticn-it we 1ld be to f! vo years is a. ,·,,r....rning "dupidity " and ",_ln act of craven fear,.; all St ·tes to bo alertly on if a Tory GoYe nrnent, it vTould naturally be attempt by an:: party in " an act of the greatest crmrage ." I do not .:J!1'- State· to use nre~~~nt ll'1,tional difti- kno\Y. nor do thJ Gov0rn.nc ·1t -vet knowy cul~~'-'·: as PXCU)C fOr ensconcing itself in - ·}u-._t they aro going to do. Ol1 the one nfEc~...' for an extcndt?d 1nust Le hand ,, ln·e-year· Par!ia•11cnt might portend r. 'isted. It a movement an 1Jppcr I--Iouse; and in .any Ct',S0 the Dl'O dange1·, ~tild one 1naking ,,uch po,al to rr-cs:1bli'h the 'Cpper House is appeal io parties in possesJion bttscd on such foolish arguments as that the sllghLe t. encoura~;-e1nent, Queensland woul Matters ,,ould be infinitelv worse if the n•ry serions i111l-JOl'tancc to Queensland~ Dpposition were in power. • J', ( ~ blislPnC'nt of tl:e -Cppcr llou~e, I am sure that the order of the parlia ho-\ve~.-cr. Js n1'or0 than a :o;harlo,v. b£'cause the men~ary hbrC~ry is pleasing to m·ost of us; l'rr~nicL' ha_, s+· ted dr-fln1tei:- in the nre~s but It is recognised that the book accommo frorn time to time that lL b_•lit_ \-os h~ tile ~ution is inadequate for the demand. The pi inciplc. tl bra nan has proved a ' orthy SL'.:CCChOl l\11·. Ci. P. B.ur:..;{~s: So do I. t~ the late Mr. Murray. I inquired from l\lr. BI'~ lJCE: the hon. l}'_L'Llber 113 him . to-day concerning the accommodation rrhcn 1·eqmrcd for books. I do not know whether ',vrong in stating his question is a shadow hon .. m(!mbers realise that adjacent to the if the Prcrnier has his wav, it 1vilf Legislative Council Chamber is a room full fac:~. a.ncl not a shado\Y. ~ \l'i,T e are of books, and that over at the stables-now 1vith ~t shado-,v, but vYith a nunter the garage-there is another room full of cble importance to the people. bo. ks and papers of ono kind and another. =..:::c;_ 1br•rs of tLc Goven:.n1u1t Party frn T.hat really led me to inauire as to tho ' ncntly refer to unemployment in Vif.toria. lnnnbt:r of volumes for whi~h there was no \Yhat has produced that positioll in Vic accommodation in the establishment and toria:' The Victorian l~ppPr 1-iou~? snp I flnd that accoinn1odation is requir~d for port'd a Bill p'e ed by the Le;:islatiYe '"? fewer than 8, 737 books. Piles and piles A"scmbly h~;ving for its object the employ of newspapers have been gathering for r-nont of uncln·plo;-rd \Vorke,·s at the ba"'ic many years. Possibly many of them should r:-.to of \VRgcs: b1tt, when ihe . 0s.~ary be burned-I ~1o not ~now; ·however, a great Ewney Bill vcas pa,s""'rl by the Legislative number are still reqmred for many purposes. s- ·Iubl:- to enable this basic 'va.ge to be ,~y·hen un ho:a. n1cm 1;er desires to sP1rch the p<" The PRE:'vllER (Hon. A. E. Moorc, The PRE::VIIER: I am refuting the argu Aubigny) [4.43]: It has been rather amusjng ment of hon. members opposite that the to listen to hon. members oppos1te referrmg Legislative Council is of no value. I con to rumours which have appeared in the tend that it is a protection to the community ne,Yspapers, and endeavouring to thrash these against wild and extravagant legislation questions out when they know f~ll well that being huniodly placed on the statute-book. all -orts of matters are ra1sed m all party ::VIr. PEASE: What did the Legislative m0etings, but, because these matters are dis Conncil do in Qm · nsland ? cussed, it does not necessarily follow that The PRE::VHER: It helped Queensland they will develop into legislative proposals. enormously. The statements made by hon. members OPJcosito as to the uselessness of an Upper The Loader of the Opposition stated that House are totally incorrect. Jlilr. Lang knows the rate of interest is higher in Queensland perfectlv well that the Legislative Council to-clay than in Interest Cost to Term. Return to State including Investor. Redemption. ------I ... £ 8 • d. £ 8. d. New South Walr' j6thl\Iar., 1924 i 10 5 4 8 19~5-5 11 2 . (£12,000,000) 'i 1055~5 5 10 Qneen,,:r,r:d ; 24 Apr., 192-1 ' 09 10 0 5i per cent. , 5 years 5 12 4 1929-6 1 10 . (£12,703,7J4) . I New Ze._-.land 8 )fay, 192± 05 0 0 \ 41 per c:ent. 20 year" 19H-5 0 10 i (£10,000,000) New South \Yales i 28 May, 1924 .1001 0 0 : 5 per cent. i 11 to 31 years 5 2 0 193:1-5 4 11 (£10,000,000) ! 1955-5 2 (j, I Queensland had to pay nearly £1 per c0nt. Lal.·mr Party abolished the Legislative Coun more r~-.u1 l'\C'\v Sonth "\Vales and :\few Zea cil, we had one loan of £25,000,000 matur land had to pay, showing· \Yhat effect tho in•r. an1 it had to be converted at a much abolitio::1 of . the Legislative Council lnd. high0r rate of interest', and Qneensland had K atur ll~· that would be the result. to ~uffe::r. Mr. w. FoRG\X s~IITH: You hav< to take :'dr. \Y. FoRGA~ SmTH: \Ve do not pay ·"lY the n• r:od of the loan. You can quote any high;_r r?,te of jnt<:•rc"t no1v. nun1 bcr of N r\v South \Vales ea _,,s -vvhcre The PHEi\fiER: \Ve have not been able they paid a higher rde of interest. to float any loans; so nobody kno\\ s what The PREMIER: Before the Legislative \\ ~ would have to pay. At the present tihlO Council in QuePnsland was nholishe·d, the the whole interesr in Australia is guaranteed rate of interest Queensland had to pay was h,,~ the Commom1'ealth Government; but for no high·.r th •. n tha.t paid by the other t:ltates. the loan the ho'l. r-cntleman's Government Ge:Jeralb, it was a little lower: lmt, after floated after the abolition of the Legislative th~ COll!-!<'il was r 1:::-olic ht~d, ,~,TC' had to r_Jay c~mnc;l ,we had to pay a higher rate than nearly £1 per cent. more. any of t!lO ether States paid. ~VIr. \Y. Fot\"'AX Sr:.JT1I: \Ye pay a lo1Yer i\Ir. \Y. FoRG of the people as to w hethcr the . proposal po~alJ kno\\ ing perfectly \V ell that it v J.:'J should be put into operation or not. gomg to be thrown out, if they had 11r. \V. FoRGAN SMITH: Suppose a Legis sincere on the qul-·_d ion, they 1.vonld lative Council had held up your financial gone to the countrv an l te,Jcd the ma·, 1neasures? but the~" \YC're not "sincere. The PRE:'\IIER : No L gislative Council I'.Ir. \Y. FoR:::::.L s~nTH: Do would hold up such financial measures, any i.-: proper t·_) use a of more than the Senate held up the Financial to advi;;:e you on n1attcrs? Emergency Bill. The PRE~IIER: I an1 prepare to 11r. MuLL '.N: \Yhat protection is given by anyone '.Yho has sufficient intelligence to an Upper House? advice. l\Ir. "'·". FoB~;\::; sj_~ITH: To use thelll a3 Tho PREMIEH: An Upper House will politiccl ,>gents. give tren1endow' pro~ccti~n1, . and _enable people to see what legis'btwn IS coming on The PRK\1IER: Xot as politic l ~nd have It tl ·llo··ghly d1scm .cJ. T!1e hon. at al]. I ron::icle'-· iho Go;ernrncnt an• rne1nbcr kuows th ·_t ha;·dly us a.grPc lied in gr·lting :dl iLc advicP the:· can v, ith the princir le of a Upper pco11lo \rL > ·l'O d to giYc· ii:. Hous:o. ::H'r. V\r. F0EG.\:'\ J)o;l"t Ylll ::,( the l\~r. HAXLOX: You had the same type of dangc:.' of 1nak-i1 .)r c f ·the m~n in the Up)"'>' House then, and they did sity political not give you any protection. rfhe PRE!\liER: lia did not nn~ fonvarct The 0 HAIR:\1AX: Order! I would draw any po:itical opinion as a poLtic~I ug:.:'nt: but the ,•ttontion of hon. m<·mbcrs to the con I 2 .ked hir:n, a::; rna11 \1 ho versPd in tinual jnterie<·tionti ''7 hich ure taking place, constitutional to give• opinion as to the advi of a second cc-:peci~lly \~+1·: n t~c Prmnicr _is . speaJ;.:in&', and ::Ja,- whc·Lhc-r it 'wonld bf' .:-tn nnJ I atn not grnng to IJC 1~ll1lt 1t. 1 a'". to the .:)tat':; and he vYas ju;-;tiA ·d hen. nH'nlbe ... s t-J c_as'e interjecting. a statcn1cnt on ib:- 1nath:r. TL·_,rc i,;; no Tbe Pl--tEivli_l___,H: I have no intention of jr.-tion to his opinion l oing p1 i11t( d in the n1akir:.g any deLni'' statemGnt as to vvhat pu1Jlic l_,~·P.qs or any~vYh:re d<:. lt i;:,' only an the Gm ern'ment intend to do. \Yhen the a.cadmr~jc f'Xpression of ovinion b\T tl llllivcr- G-ovennncnt intend to bring a Bill into this sitJ professor. ho l'ro1n his krlCn\ 1~ of }-j ou,c, '··'C will do so, and take the full the hisiorv of ar:d of lH1 1 1s rcoponsibility for it. I have always thought in diffcre;1t.. of tho vvorLJ. "\-a.~ 1n it o:,sential that there should be a second a pc- ltion to us l.'\~hethe1· an l-Io :-·e Chamber; and l remember when .. Ir. ;,vould be a prot .--ction. Then~ nothing J.IcCorrnack 8pE tking· on thi::; ~-ide o£ v.~ 11ng v,-ith g~"tting rrch ice fror:o snch a ±he Hou e at time the abolitio:. of th· Lc·gidatiYc Council ', under di~c:!:-:.;::;ion I'ro\·.ided '- public that he there should be ,, sort o£ ;--'' it 1' 'l ll re-vising bPcans0 he concidcrc-d it r· g-n!.1tio:1 '.Yas ne there sloould be one. 1 : hink it n., 'e mry bnt the sort of revising Chamber propoc;od that time v. as not ono Tbc -PRE\IIER: 1\ot nt. all, t\Dt n'i going to of nny valne at all, a. nu1n of that :•1as3, tvho is a at Lenusc it ' to he appointE>d by the Go- th" uui versity. i ', tJ cx:Jre, an Yurnn1E'nt happened to be in po1ver. o:)inion exactly in v.,a~- .ns the h10·,' in all parts of the world .Agent.-Gcncr ,l is C~ 1P<~tcnt :) ex1,rc ..;:-: hi3 cpinion. ~ wl.•3n gusts of populer l 'S -,nd ]cgi.'ilatiou is put on ihe .:\1r. V.. FoRGIX S}Jl~E · You to bv a Govrr-:u:ner;t ' itlH ut the {'('ll"'lrc P ..._ .::>f 'Ss'or \\Tithc1·bv b ! ltlfe ga Vl· ~ tirnc to cm id er the cffec;: of a lccLn·e on I{arl :\Inrx." ::n irreparable injury. IIon. The PREMIER: It is quite possible, bnt oppo,ite ha Ye only to look :et ,. h T'REl\I1J'R: .~.-;n. ...:1. Le;~i6lative a. 111 --Hlate for 111 its platforn1. , Lolvf'r I-Io ~;e fron1 do only delay the Lo· er ·when thn .:ubmitted to the .;:ee ·whnt the result then· ~nitely Yoted in favour of the like!' to be. o± th. Lcgi~JatiYe CouHci1, because :Yf' t v rious 'injury- C1ey re:cognisccl it would be an adYnntage 5hall not t,) rccain 't. I frank! admit that it is a if there aro difficult for the l'ar:':c me1joriry of the reversals of policy Y' .Jplc LO what it means in the matter given the people of stability in inYestmcnt, and what it 1neans sr· y.,}u t the posl 1 the people in the matt.r of keP:oing it must In .ke for insta- t indrr;trics ~;oing. It is diflicult for them to rcclico that th·. re should b< a ;Joriod of :Jr. Bncc-c V7:fnt did ou ~~y in your dclav before extrenco lep-islation is p"ssecl by 01<_,-.tion sph t'."O y :u~ ago'? 'Gov· rmncnt. Personally, I be lien> that a lative CJnncil is an essential factor The PRE:'.iiEH : I cannot remember all in good govcr1uncnt) irrc:;;pecti,-e of IYhatover i :w t I 1::tid lonp- aG·~o; but it is not a p. rty is in power. question of I ~ J.id then, but a ques- tion of what one thinks after having been 2\Li--. BRcC!c: To defend Yestcd interests. in a rl·spon·-iLle position and eoing thl effects The PREMIEit: No. No one can deny of r0~sible alteration;:. TJnd~r certain cir that the Parliaments of Australia are elected 'mmstancc-;, ono 1.·ould be a fool if he did c:1 the most democratic franchise there is not chaP_·e his n2incL in the -,., orld. .:\obody can say that any part ~Jr. BRcCE: Then the puLJlic < ~nnot reh- ou of a Le~·islature is created merelv to defend anv statement 1 l'aclf~ b-y a mer-1bcr during an vc:.,tcd i'nterest:;. · elcvction cn,rnpaign? . ;'.lr. :,luLL \.X: Do you belieYe that you The PPE~\liER.: I think that has been could haYe got along better during the past proYod in the b·-t eiThtecn years. The late two ; cars with a LegislatiYe Council? Governn1cnt '''e11t to the country ti1ne after The f'RElHIER: It might have been a tinlG and 1nado all of prom_ises; a~~d, bit of a nuisance; but I am q1•ite satisfied y,'hcn tho.je pr 1nises all that it would be in the intorcots and ''~' eJ.~.f to · qlv>,tion that ) the advantag~; of Quc?nsland. I am :n1ust 1- , on rncd <~S to ccrhin of that. not only from reports I have what i-- the br be Mr. KntWAN: You ha.ve ha,d Company established without a say quite candidly that Council. twenty men elected on a non-party PRE1HER : Ever since that company the different industries established it has been ptessing fo: each having his own establishment of the Legislative Council, would do more good than it finds it more and more difficult seventy-two of trs. I do not say that to get the necessary capital to contintw any ill feeling. It is my conscientious developmental work. The Premier knows that the people are tired of the present system. The Go Mr. BEDFORD: There is something insolent Party meets and discusses mea in people who have not votes in the country the other side argues the matter trying to influence the affa.irs of State. day and night, and how many amendments The PREMIER : There is nothing insolent an: aieeepted? Therefore I am a,gainst in people who have invested £3,000,000, and party politics. However, when the Premier want to jnvest more, endeavouring to that he is going to re-establish stability to enable additional capital to Upper House or institute a five-year secured for th<' development of further it will be time enough to dis- positions. That is only wisdom. qnestions. If the Premier in his policy speech that he Mr. DUNLOP (Rockhampton) recommend a five-year Parlia Bdore dealing with the principal quitG candidly that I shall which has brought me to my feet-namely, to believe three years is quite amendment-! desire to make a few any Government to retain on a matter which has been to the people. I believe afternoon. There has should sit talk on the proposed allow the the Legislative Council; its pro- remarked on House unnecessary; people are given want legislation on a referendum a Committee from not be far Legislative Chamber the at matter. The Premier and his have the re-establishment an Upper and the hon. has stated the Go the press Upper House were salaries 1931-4 X JJh. Dun!op.] HH Supply. [ASSE:.VIBL Y.] Supply. AYES, 8. "OIC~;, 44. ~Ir. Dr. Mr. Tellers: Cooper Maher ResolVf·d in the negative. Mr. W. J:i'ORGAN SMITH (Mackay) : When dealing with the 1924 conversion the Prernier quoted from "Hansa.rd," merely used a figure which he himself used when he in opposition. I quote Auditor-General's matter- recently made conversion of the payment there on new issue of scrip 1st July, 1929, Queensland Go in part, at any July, 1926, on per cent.) per c-ent. "The Tell hovv to cook a three- prlrnus stove. inter the track. me~b-ers' Supply. [21 OcTOBER.] Supply; 1475 some other company, might dictate that ments by bon. members on this side or on Chinese labour should be allowed to work the Opposition side of the House that created the mines, similarly to the action of the that difficulty, hut well-organised mining companies in South Afiica after the ganda through financial papers for Boer war. Surely we have not got to that definite purpose of forcing the Mount Isa state of affairs when are to have our Company into the combine. W"hen it came to domestic affairs by people in Lon- a question of securing additional capital to ,don? The whole is most dangerous bring Mount Isa to a producing stage, the and extraordinary. Government asked to guarantee the The : There is nothing dangerous issue, and we so. about Mr. W. FORGAN SMITH: Was any of the guarantee called up? Mr. W. FORGAN SMITH : The point the Mount Isa Company may be interested in is The PREMIER: No; but the fact that the the attitude of the present Government. We Government gave the guarantee enabled the know that the present Government had to company to secure the necessary capital. ,guarantee one of their debenture issues, Mr. W. FORGAN SMITH: Supposing that because of the propag'anda speeches made by company or any other company preferred hon. members sitting on the Government side. Indian labour, what then? Those hon. members, who were new to office The PREMIER: That does not come' into at the time, and, not realising that they it. As hon. members know, other concessions would be published in London, made the have been granted to different mining syndi statement that the Mount Isa railway would cates, but these have not come to fruition not have been constructed but for the fact for two or three reasons. One reason is that certain people were interested in it, given in the report of the Agent-General, In other words, that the whole proposition who states that, owing to the difficult finan was not in itself sound. As a result of that cial situation, investing capital is not avail propaganda, the Government had to come to able at the present time. I have had it the rescue of that company when it endeav put up to me, not by the Mount Isa Com oured to raise fresh capital in London, and pany alone, but by all sorts of investors, made a gesture of good faith by guarantee that there is a lack of confidence in the ing the debenture issue of the company. legislation of the country. That was tantamount to saying that the Go Mr. W. FORGAN SMITH: The representative vernment recognised that the investment was of the Anglo-American Company which such that the people could legitimately put invested in the Mount Isa pro;:>osition first their monev in it. There is no doubt that informed me, as Acting Premier of the day, any difficulty the company had in floating that the company was quite satisfied with its new debenture issue was due to speeches the industrial laws of Queensland, and was made by Government members. prepared to operate under them. The PREMIER : 'fhat is absolutely wrong. The PREMIER : That may be so. Mr. W. FORGAN SMITH: As a matter Mr. HYNES: Are they afraid of democratio of fact, the company went to the Common government? wealth Government about it. It is well The PREMIER: No; they are anxious known what took place in London as a result. to get government which is not swayed- If the Premier was an investor residing in London, and he was shown a statement Mr. STOPFORD: What are you afraid of? emanating from Government supporters m The PREMIER : The hon. member knows Queensland to the effect that the proposition that there were members of the Labour was a political one and not stable industrially, Party in the Upper House who did not he would be very a verse to investing hi~ approve of every measure that was sent money in it. Doubt was cast on the sound up by the Legislative Assembly, and w,ho ness of the company's undertaking by the voted against these measures because on stateme,nts of hon. members opposite.- going into the questions carefully 'thBy recognised that they were not in the best The PRJ get away from Mr. 1476 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. gentleman talks by these figures. It will be noticed in the to investment. figures I have quoted-- im"'"h'''" as well as types The CHAIRMAN : going careful investor to allow the hon. has trust funds in·~PE:trrt'!lntt of money in Mr. COOPER: reply overseas trustees ought to pro- to the argument' The decent proof of the stability Premier stated been States of the Commonwealth. obliged-- to give a comparative table which the Committee to see where The CHAIRMAN: Order If the hon .. member continues in that I shall ask stood as a field for the invest- him to resume his seat. I definitely ment trust funds in 1915 and in 1930. how the disc11ssion arose, I am not going· The PREMIER : Are they Government bonds? to allow a full discussion rhe loan quos Mr. COOPER: Yes. tion or on Mount lsa on vote. are guaranteed by Mr. COOPER: I twtmty-five minutes in which to speak, surely- I can take up· a paltry three minutes of that time on this Mr. COOPER: There is another type of question ! I am merely making a passing investor who looks not so much for stability reference to it. I think I am entitled-- as for the possibility of exploitation. '!-'he greatest check raised upon the exploiter The CHAIRMAN : Order ! I cannot allow is the regulation of hours of labour, condi the hon. member to continue. tions of labour, and the fixation of wages. As wages roughly amount to 50 per cent. Mr. COOPER: l intend to discuss it, Mr. of the cost of production, there is a type of Roberts, until you ask me to resume my investor who seeks investments . where he seat. Jf you ask me to resume my seat, I can manipulate wages and make the greatest shall do so; but, qntil you do ask me to profit. resume my seat, I am going to discuss this Tbe PREMIER : Mount Isa has still an question. award The CHAIRMAN : Order ! I a;k the hon. member to resume his seat. Mr. COOPER : I am not questioning Mount Isa. As a matter of fact, Mr. Mr. CooPER: Absolutely scandalous. Urquhart stated on more than one ocea- The CHAIRMAN : Order ! I understand SIOll-- the hon. membeJ: to refer to my action as The CHAIRMAN : Order ! I am inclined " scandalous." I ask the hon. member to to think this debate is developing too widely. withdraw the word. I have allowed the Premier to refer to the Mr. COOPER : Which word '? Mount Isa Company, and have permitted a certain amount of latitude to the Leader The CHAIRMAN: The word " scandal- of the Opposition in reply, but I do not ous.'' intend to allow any general debate on the Mr. CoOPER : I used two words. I said. question of the Mount Isa Company or on "absolutely scandalous." I withdraw the· any questions relating to mining or indus two. trial labour conditions. The CHAIRMAN: Order l ask the hon. gd back to the member to withdraw the I asked him Jo speak on. I to withdraw. Commonwealth Mr. CoOPER: I withdraw the word " scan 764, gives the ".dalous." by the various at the end of Mr. STOPFORD (Mount M organ) [5.48]: Party came The Premier made out a very bad case as. average rate to why he broke the definite promises hEl' States was- made to the people before the last election. He then promised the people that, if the £ 8. d. Labour Government were removed from 3 16 2 power, the stability and prosperity that then 3 15 2 existed-not in regard t'o the few people he 3 14 0 represented-would be intensified, and all 3 14 0 the difficulties that followed in the train of 3 12 7 the then Government would disappear-not 3 12 5 as a result of the restoration of a second Chamber, but of a change of Government. In answer to questions as to his intention to restore in some manner a Chamber that was abolished the hon. gentle- man has reason for the restoration the fact that,. in spite of many promises, since the Government assumed control oi the Treasury benches this hidden capital-this timid capi hon. tal-that was so afraid of the Labour Govern- before ment and which was march across the· border, has not been to march. Mr. COOPER: I am pointing out that the I wonder who has coHectly reported the argument of the Premier that the reason r·osition to-day-th.:~ Pren1ier or the Trea for the establishment of a Legislative Coun surer? In the Fin~ncial Statement the Trea cil in Queensland is the lack of st·ability is s'urer told us that capital is leaving New not a good argument; and I am proving it South vVales, where there is an Upper House, f.Mr. Cooper. Supply. [21 OCTOBER.] H77 system, a very often pass proper debate, an Government's inten before we are a<>ked and Legislative Esti has been two and a-half years in and in a few months sha.ll go into recess; and, if his own partv made up their minds, we should knm';, be a and not be asked in the closing hours of would it session to deal in ha.sty with thn t there very a mcst important of Con- the affairs of this c'hambc·;· stitution, which hon. men1ber3 arol in his opinion, corrl is specially designed to prcvOJ:t chcck on the elected lation. people. He told us took a Bill of great imporbnco opposite made them, some had not opened promieos to the wme had said it was all right; House is to be and some picked on one or two unessential evidence that of the Bill to condemn it. If it is on the Government are afraid to face the tri of that kind that we are asked to lmnnl that should try thorn, and the same res'tore a check on the will of the direct tribunal that sont ns into opposition. representatives of the people, then I say I believe that we have exploded the Pre ·that the hon. gentleman has made out a bad mier's contention that a second Chamber ·()a se. is necessary to restore prosperity and to The only new capital that I have been attract new capital. It has been stated able to find has been invested in Queens by the Premier, the Treasurer, Cabinet land . for a nuruber of vears is in "\V hat. la Ministers, members of the Government, and ·knovvn as the Mount lSa Co211pany, tvhich the press that Queensland is the -most pros was brought in long before there 1.vas any perous State in Australia to-day. If that -thought of thr; re~torat;on of the be the position after fourteen years of House. I am not going to Labour rule, the greater part of the time of argument that the Chairmnn ru:ed .against; hut if the Treasurer is then under the unicameral system, and after two years of control by the present Government <,VC have occupied our time in efl'ect to extraordinary .concessions nlvth1cal under a similar system, then why is Queens -<'ompanies that really existed. ()pposi- land the most prosperous State in Aus tion members stated on several ocw- tralia? If the Premier's contention is cor sion& when the for Mines has beccn rect, then we should expect to find Queens fathering involving the ex- land the worst State in Australia. Queens penditU1'e in this State land is the only State with a unicameral that not of capital was system of If the Premier's available for developmental purposes, but contention correct, then the States of that those mythical companies were merelv New South Wales, Victoria, and South Aus being given concessions to hawk .about. Vie tralia, controlled by Labour Governments haYe to-day an adn1is~ion from the Premier with Mr. Lang, Mr. Hogan, and Mr. Hill that they have been unable in any one · charge, should abun- in~tanco to give effect the objects thev for the benefit of they_ had in view. unfortunate pa1:t ~aid a bicameral system ; IS that, 1f we giYe avvay a concession for n advanced by the Premier, xn~mber of months or years, we lock up cer tam resources of the State. How could an be in a sound financial position. Upper House, established to operate as a one hand, we are told that the bi- check on hasty legislation, prevent-not the cameral system is to provide finan- giving of the option-but the investment cial stability; oh hand, we are of fnndg elsewhere rather than in taking told the same people and by the press up the ? If it is a· good proposition, the~t wit,h its unicameral system, then it be readily exercised by people 1s rnost solvent and the n1ost m·osne,rous who are prepared to invest in the State. State in the Commonwealth, Jlt. H78 Supply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. Queensland be the first State to turn bring capital to the State has been dis the corner prosperity. proved, because Queensland could not bfr :Mr. G. P. BARNES : Due to primary pro- the most solvent and prosperous of States in duction. the country if the . bicameral system is a means to prosperity, because Queensland Mr. STOPFORD: Would a second Cham stands alone in the whole group of Aus ber increase primary production? Would tralian States as having adopted the uni it increase the price of wool? Would it cameral system. rehabilitate the mining industry? Would it stabilise one industry? If a second Cham The Premier, in that personal statement ber has a stabilising effect, then why has which he ma_de before the last election, said Great Britain, with its second Chamber that inst-ituting a Legislative Council the House of Lords-departed from the he submit the proposal to the people. gold standard? If a second Chamber can Tha,t was a, definite pronouncement by him perform all those acts of magic ascribed to as leader of his party. it by the Government, then why are the I would draw attention to the famous second Chambers not doing these things in memorial that was sent to Sir Matthew those countries of the world where they Nathan, the then Governor of Queensland, exist? Whv is it that in the Commonwealth before the Bill abolishing the Legislative of AustraGa, whose financial ,position is Council was given assent to. It was signed worse than that of the individual States, by Sir Robert PhiJp, Mr. P. J. Leahy, Mr. the Senate has not given that sense of Brentnall, and others asking that the Royal security which is so desired to bring about assent be deferred L].ntil a referendum of the the prosperity foreshadowed by the Pre people had been sought, These gentlemen mier? That hen. gentleman cannot have also asked that the question of the legality the argument both vmys. He must accept of the. Government's action be submitted to the logic one way or the other. the Privy CounciL In no way did those The only logical argument that can be gentlemen seek to thwart the will of the adduced for the existence of an Upper House people. No matter what the Government is that it would be a check on. hasty legis may argue concerning the majority of over lation. I can recall what a wonderful cham 62,000 votes which were recorded against the ber of review our old Legislative Council abolition of the Upper House, the fact was. ·when the ~~ erkers' Compensation Bill, remains that the Labour Government were· giving a monopoly of the workers' compen returned on three occasions after that refer sation business, was passed through this endum. Further, the Labour Government Chamber, it forwarded to the Upper had always in the forefront of their plat House, where supporters of the present form the abolition of the Legislative Council. Government were advised by Mr. Walsh, one Although the present Government may argue of our leading solicitors, as well as by a that they have been forced through economic number of barristers, who were sitting in circumstances t<;> break definite promises the lobby of that Ghamber all the time the which they gave to the people at the last Bill was before the Council. Quite a number elections, there is one promise which they of members of the Upper House sitting in are in no way forced to break-namely, that, opposition to the then Government left their before they re-establish the Legislative Coun seats while the Bill was under discussion cil, they will appeal to the same tribuna! and conferred with those gentlemen. The that elected them to be the Government of amendments moved by the Opposition were the country. If hen. members opposite drafted by those legal gentlemen in the lobbv, believe that an Upper House is necessary to brought into the C.hamber, and, being moved secure the capital which the Government said as amendments to the Bill. were passed would be available as soon as they were by their brutal majority. The Opposition returned to office, then they should submit to had an abROlute majority in the Upper Cham the people the question whether the people ber. They had the advice of all the leading desire to assist them in re-establishing an legal fraternity of this State to enable Upper House. The Premier referred to cer them so to mutilate the Bill that the State tain mining companies, which I cannot men monopoly with respect to workers' compensa tion now without finding myself in conflict tion business would not be permitted. What with the Chair; but any intelligent observer was the result? An ordinary layman, Mr. of affairs knows that the only force behind John Fihelly, was in charge of the Bill in the request for the restoration of the Legis this Chamber, and, when it returned with lative Council is the force exerted. by the all the amendments from the Unper House, large TCiry newspapers of this State. Mr. Fihelly, to the amusement of everybody, moved that the amendments inserted by the Mr. HANLON (lthaca) [7.12]: The speech Council be accepted. He had quickly dis made by the Premier on this vote is most cerned that the Legislative Council, in their unsatisfactory, not only to hon, members on review of the Bill, .assisted by the legal this side of the Chamber, but to the public fraternity, and their desire to ·destroy the of Queensland. To-day the people of Queens monopoly in workers' compensation had land a re very much concerned about the pos omitted one clause which still retained 'to the sible fate of this Parliament, the possibility Government that monopoly. The amend of an alteration of its Constitution, and the ments were agreed to by the Legislative possibility of the prolongation of the life of Assembly, and the Bill, as amended bv the the present Parliament. Wfl had hoped that, Council, was returned to that body a second when the Premier spoke this afternoon, he time. To-day we have a State Insurance would give the people of Queensland some Office which is the envy of the whole of definite information as to the policy of the Australia, It is something that the present Government. We know-and I think no one Government, who are opposed bitterly to knows better than the Premier himself-how State enterprises, have not deemed it advis deeply the people resented the proposition able to interfere with. Therefore, the value which was made last year to prolong the life of the second Chamber as a House of review of Parliament for· an A.dditional two years has never been proved. The value of t,his by legislative enactment. The outcry was so Chamber as an instrument which would unmistakable that the Ga\'emment dropped [Mr. Stop ford. ------ Supply. [21 OocroBER.] Supply. 1479 The: 111 the pr0ss F. The Pm~:\l!ER: I do not. You are on a fishing C'\jiecli- tion. HANLO::\f: The are on a fishing got a bite. totally dif The PREMIER: They did not get a bite am that the the City Hall. Bill was not thoroughly hon. members who had understood what would be, they would of the amend measure. That Premier; however, in to the people. The their obj ootion to the House at numerous elections. On two occasions since the Upper House was abolished the Premier went to the country Mr. Hanlon.] Supply. Supply. [Mr. Hanlon. [;;I OCTOBER.] Supply. 1481 of The CHAIRMAN : Order ! did it immediately The CHAIRMAN : Order : 1!82 Supply. [ASSE11IBLY.] Supply. member for- says, do not cook on a gas jet. :\1r. DUl\LOP: Yoq are uncookable. The CHAIRMAN: Order 1 The CHAIRMA:t';: Ord0r ! CHAIRMAN : Order ! DuKLOP: This is disgraceful. The CHAIRi\IIAN: Order! Mr. HYNES: What I said is correct. ~L'=""""u·""' : Order! I appeal to Townsville to continue w1nRthin like parliamentary Mr. Roherts-- ('Yer BEDFORD: Blackfellows don't cook came to the on a gas jet. Premier the history Hynes. Supply. [21 Supply. 1483 io be travelling at country. don't want to bother The CHAIRMAN : Order ! are a buffoon. The hon. member is just wm the hon, .mon::- be AYES, :\Jr. Dunlop \Vicnholt NOES, 54. ;'/(r. P. ],1'rs. Longman H. l\ir. lVlacgroarty :Jiaxwell Moo re Morgan 1\fullan Nimmo O'Keefe Peaee Peterson Plunkctt Pollock Sizer Smith Stopford Tedman Tozer Walker, H. F. Warren Wellington Wilson Winstanley Resolved in the negative. Iten1 (Legis]atlve Assembly) agreed to~ lion. A. E. "~foore.] 118 Supply. [ASSEJVIBLY.] Suppiy. men1bers? 1Ioxo-oR1iELE IviE:_I-fBEBS: Ht The ATTOR:<:EY-GE:-;F.RAL: He did good work. Mr. he did very nnfn,,·tnm e ment. The ATTORNEY-GENERAL: Qh, no' Mr. MULLAN: As the Government did their worst up this matter. Mr. KENNY: Even you don't think that. I have given an idea wvage. [Hon. ~4. E. flloore. Supply. [21 OCTOBER.) Supply. 1485 " Sunday Pictorial oF GoLD LANDS ENGINEER SEOl:RES RECORD COXCl~SSI0:0;. Search Romance. Dorado' That is so. The facts Hoy Ling was appointed "'"~dministration, he on the recommendation the Railways. " From the QuoenBland Government The SECRETARY FOR RAILWAYS: That is not Mr. Macdonald has received a conces ~o. He was only nominated by me. sion of 10 square miles of territory enclosing discoveries which rank high BEDFORD: Very well, nominated in the mining industry. He is the first by hon. gentlem'an. man in the annals of Commonwealth The facts reg11rding Hay Ling are that mining to be awarded, as an individual, he \V aB agsociated \\ ith a Cnc;toms official in ~uch a concesBion~ Melbourne, he then being Chinese interpre h,r, in the acceptance of bribes for the pur "URGE TO PROSPECT. pose of introducing prohibited Chinese im " To a reporter yesterday Mr. Mac migrants to the Commonwealth. The others donald declared that his old mining got six months' irnprisonment, but Hoy instinct stirred within him again some Ling, I am informed, got off as he had six months ago, when statesmen, bankers, That is a lie: In p1a1n English, they cannot get the monC'y-- iGtcrs in tho nHttter. " that the tjme far substan- tial rewlts may follow the efforts of the past yenr.n I Government to prospectus of Renown Rubber he should '~ Son1e ore at least have looked out son1e such thing ;::pecimens ha~ Mr. Bedford.] !486 S~tpply. [ASSEMBLY.] Supply. tion in a paper like the "Financial News,'' of London- No date. They used the figures of forty years ago-- " 'The Under Secretary reported·-' At the Percy ing of 2,100 ounces of pieces of stone--600 having yielded 330 a claim 150 feet doubt, the "QuEENSLAND GovERNMENT GoLD AND Mr:>ERAL CONCESSION IN FAVOUR OF THE COMMONWEALTH MINES PRELIMINARY SYNDICATE, LIMITED, LEASES, APPROXIMATELY 109 SQUARE MILES. PARTICULARS OF THE CONCESSIONS. " The Queensland Government, alive to the fact that insufficient areas of ground, exacting labour aondi tio;ns,, restrictive mining regulations, and the consequent withholding of capital, had prematurely say- stopped mining enterprise in Queensland, expedition by the and further recognising the vital neces now arrived at sity for increased gold production, made to locate the what may be aptly termed a British came the fugitive Empire gesture in granting to an English quartz discovered in the syndicate-on generous terms-definite ' claim. This expedition is protective and prospecting rights over leadership of Mr. Berry, who an area of 70,0()0 acres in the goldfield was recently att·ached to the Queensland districts indicated, for ten years; with Government service as chief diamond -exemption from labour and rental cove drill borer. nants o£ the Mining Act." read all this to show that these are now being used for the very purpose we said they would be used-for the purpose, not of mining in Queensland, but of mining in the pockets of some rich British investors, if there are some people sufficiently foolish to be taken in by this. The advertisement continues- an instance, the Government land 10s. per acre (70, 000 acres) Then it goes on to say- payment of £35,000 a year; " Up to the end of 1928 the official been waived together with returns were- reJrmos1on of labour covenant . valued at over £8,000,000 ster already been taken under adverse of, production from the ceded £148,583,143 ,, Supply, [21 OCTOBER.] 1487 a chal'tered corupany \vithout having son1e~ ,, nPn I ace: em th n an Arc0nt-Gcneral be Lody rca·dy to pro1upt it-th• u-..use follcns (' us0 I think he acts generally as an ~gent ing the effect. The ''Courier 'J is all l~~ady on behalf of QuLenslanJ, and is doing a grout to giYe the propo~it 'on its blessing. 'tatiL.~- deal 111 OlE rntere,ts. 1 .an1 sure that his " In the early days of Australian settk ~ii~le is ,full~- occup-ied iu giYing valuable lncnt, espcciall:v~ i1 ~ cw Soui h \~/ales and 1nfonnahon to )ll::i ' ho lPJOll hirn Tafnlania, p-d' ,:::le corr1panics played u and I think the is' th~ beHecfit' very valuable pu_rt." 1Io {~ouJd assist us ~;T2atlv .-.··cttipo· i-nt~ That i, not true--:lwy Jid not play a valu touch \vith our Din·c:to_r 0£ ·- LinEr anJ. able par+. The Au Agf:~~t-Goncral should use every endeavour of t_us tirub0J: po::-:sible to rn-ocure orders overseas in tho has' not been used inLe1·csts of this irnp::n~tant industry. ro C) ny so1nc tin1e. Negotiation& In d1 a ling with the timber industry the conciuctN] by tlv Agcrr:_-Genoral on bchal± ,Agent-General states- of t '1c Fore~ try Dcpartrnent uro gradually lea Jing to the r:dnbli- ~nncnt of a trado " ln my last report I dealt with the in Lontlo:n \\-hich vvill do an enorn1ous n.n1onnt ;;c-cts of establishing a regular n1arket of good to '-hi Qucen•·land turpentine -for C~uC!.nsland timbers, and in th • tirnLwr has not used to a gr~>at e""';ten~ year there has been an increased in this Sta, e up to thn prrscnt. The :Forestry a11d interest sho"·n in regard to Department has adopted a method of treat products. A comiderable ing this tin1bpr \Yhich makes it n1ore suit~ ·urc of ascistance has been afforded able fu1.· the n1arkct than 'vas the case this ofH"c to those who are endcasour in the p "'t. This method of treatment to sell the tirnbcrs on this market, Jn·eycnt the tir11ber from shrinking. If a its influence has been judiciously 22~inch plruJ~._ is rut from a turpentine log, ex:Lrtcd in cvcrv direction v.,-h-rre the it ~s often found, after having been kiln~ claims of our timbers could be suitably dried, to be reduced by something like 1 adYanccd." inch. The treatment to which this timber is being subjected by Mr. Swain (chairman \Ye now haYc a wonderful opportunity to of Provisional Forestry Board) and his offi deYclop an export trade with England in cials' has Rrrcsted this R:n·inkagc, and will telegraph polcJ. piles for wharf construc make it a splendid buil"!ing timber. The tion, and similar mate1·ial. The Agent f1oor of the ne\v forestrv sho;,vrooms in Georgo GeileraJ fuTther say~- street is laid with this' timber. and I believe " It is jntcr."sting to record that after that it wi!J be used extensively in the new some protracted negotiations, in which State In~u1·ance Building. this office was closely concerned, the The TK11PORAR Y CHAIRMAN : Orcicr r British pc-tal authorities have been per J "'"''ould ask the hon. n1C'1nbcr to ('Jr:.finc· suaded to gin• a trial to ironbark tele his l't.>lnark'3 to tho report of the Agent graph poles. A trial consignment of one GeneraL nnd noi__ tlT·nch on the funetiOE'' hundred of these poles is about to be of other clt~partinent~. landed in London. This, I believe, will be the first. shipment ~f Queensland poles :\lr. Ciu-\YTOX: I an1 cndcJ..vouring to, to enter th1s country. >how that th-e Agcnt-Gcneul i taking tcp; to ~cc.:nrc orders for th'-'32 t}Inbcrs. I ul-.o 1t is gratifying to kno_w that. the Agent dc~1rc to conve · the information that the>n General has interested h1mself m the estab arc cxcellc:It t.i!nb~"T~, and \ve shuuld en lishment of an export trade of thi& kind. f·o:.-trngc the ilgc·nt-Gcnf'raJ to find a n1arket Vve hvve a superabundance of ironbark poles, fo1· tJ1c·m. T,.c Tirjtish Government nc·e { and we should end ea vonr as far as possible ~ier-1 --rs for t 1 ~eir raih7ays; and I bcli- v~· to develop a trade in this timber. If we can tlJat in th0 n (1r future v.re shall s·-u~r ~ do so, the State will be materially assisted. 1h0 nx, l'(j r._) rafl':;;; of i11ten'::t id ~)\T the nuious Sfates at the end of J unc,, 1922, were- £ s. d. Ta mania 4 15 3 So:_lth Australia 4 14 2 4 13 3 \Ya](, 4 12 2 mo't 4 6 6 a tL-~..sc \\T cst:_n _.:\_u tr:1lia 4 6 0 1 ine \-rhich v. ould sho,,· that the credit of the man to drv.1.rt h·o1n c imp1·on'd that Queensland was tutba.Jll . I Ill 110t SC'COncl lJUSition aS l'F _{ards the rate to the pl'<''ent nald, being next to Tas1nania, Ar·ent-C' c" ·' in lS15 it ,,-a.s in the worst position. d1c -...vc;r~...:: 1\lr. BLACKLEC: VY!,at did :you pay for ~\grnt~--Gencral \;·dl clone. Tho ruain job of lo :1 llJOll(·y fron1 A1nc-rica? lLfLl ls to keep th~: ntHrH.~ of the :\Ir. COOPER: I am taking all the loan H, n1nst ·do eycrything t~:at it ]~ mo,;~:,· of t~JG State, and that inclndes the for hirn to do to SL'C that the State in lt'J loan HlOnPy obtained in America. wny traduced, that ii. good name is kq;• up. and that the truth about the State Is The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN: Order ! made known to thG people who count. It I think the ho11. member is going a little is apparent also that. people seeking for too much into detail. invc tments would naturally seek m£orma ::\lr. COOPER: These figures are not tion as to the position of the State fr?m touched by the Treasurer in any way what the Agent-General on the spot. I thmk eYer. Thev do not come under the Trea we have the best indication of the way in surer's esti'mates, but they are connected which the work of the Agent-General has "·ith the Agent-General in his conduct of been done by the manner in which matters the affairs of this State in London. I affecting Qt;censland's most vital question pay him a compliment for having improved -Queertsland's public debt overseas-have the position. which shows his close attention been handled. The interests of the State to dutv. We must also take into considera could not be allowed (o flag, nor could the t-ion that the officers of the Agent-General good nam·e of the State be allowed to be haYe a big part to play. Probably the lraduce·1, without the effects being reflected permanent of!icials are more in touch with in our financial position overseas. People the financial position than the Agent-General who invest money in loans. issued by this himself. Naturally, when speaking of the State naturally make inqurries as to the Ag,ent-General, I include those ':'fficient stability of the State, its prospects, and oflicers of his who do the work so particularly resources. There is no place in England well. It shows that interest in Queensland where that information is l;etter obtain is growing, and that the work in the office able than from the office of the Agent· of the Agent-General has not gone to the General. One ca.n gather from the figures bad in any way whatever. which have been supplied to us for a period of fifteen or sixteen years as to the work I shall quoto figures to round off my argu· which has been done by the Agents-General ment. to ,.. how the ayerage rate of mterest in thi3 regard. paid by the ,-ar·ious States in June, 1929, to indicate the general progress made m the Taking as my guide the " Official Year advnnrenH!nt of -tffairs in Queensland, and Book," No. 9, the average interest rates as evidence that the officers have kept up to paid by the various States at the end cf th0ir work and kept Queensland to the front. June, 1915, were- They have impressed the financial instit~ £ s. d. tions with the fact that Queensland securi Queensland 3 16 2 ties are sotL··cl, and that Queensland stands i,I a very good position; and that there may Tasmania 3 15 2 be a great amol[nt of confidence imposed in South Australia 3 14 0 Ouc·cnsLnd because of the general att;tude :.lew South Wales 3 14 0 o£ t 1 e State in regard to these mattct'3. The ·western Australia 3 12 7 for 1929, as set out in the " Ollicia.l ·victoria 3 12 5 ._r Book," are- £ s. d. It will be seen from that table that Queens· Sou:-h L\u·3tralia 5 0 11 land paid the higlLJst average interest of New South \Vales 5 0 1 any State in the Commonwealth. That being '\~ic 1 oria 4 19 0 cc, it stands to reason that Queensland's \:V estol'n ~1\.ustralia 4 16 7 ~ccurities were regarded as not so good as Tas.;:ilania 4 16 2 the ,.?curitics of the other States, tho best Qnccusland 4 16 2 securities being generally indicated by the Tho ,c figures show a :~bwnd _ dyance in Lte o£ interest. Securities in which there Qut _;->_siund. js son-::o risk have to pay higher rates of interest. vYe know that in connection with The TE)IPORARY CHATRMAX: Order! private concerns. They have to pay 8 per The hon. merr1boe knows that he is out of cent., 9 per cent., or 10 per cent. if the or.der in rhe remarks he i.:-: no\v n1aking. security is not good; but, if you give a Mr. COOPER: I am •peaking of the hank or a financial institution a first-class Ag-ent-General's office, Mr. Fry, ancl, if you security you can get money at 6 per cent., ca'il show !118 any C'thBr 1 ote under V'hich 5~ per cent., or even 5 per cent. Let us tbis mettcr C'll be di,·.c,.ssed, I shall be look at the position a few years later. delighted to postpone my 1cmarks until tha·t According to the "Year Book," No. 16, vote is reached. llut r have searched the 1931-4 y Mr. Cooper.] 1490 Supply. [~iSSK\IBLY.] Supply. Estin1aL.:~, t..nd can find no other YL-tr under \Yith ~\Ir. E. Fryer have provcJ that the which this r tatter m Bene_ Range area is suitable for tobacco emlcn,vourecl to have the service" of ar.Tr~0 and ihero is no question that they cultural instructor,_ made available for sn,,:cc;:;dod. In the J uno issue of " Oun1- prO' pectivc in the locality. I have C .mpbell's Nlonthl:· :Magazine," I he 1·c some ihe correspondence that has reference to the suitability of the pa~· cd br~hVP811 the Departn1ent o£ \gri cuHure "-Hld the Charnber of Con1111erce at " Expcrin1cnts rnade bv the To\vn:::ville TnwnsYille regarding this matter, and it is Chamber of Commerce. in conjunction well that I should read it. I received this Coope1·. Suppb;. [21 OCTOBER.) 1491 communication frcm the TmYnsYille Chamber '' I am to ..cJay in :·oceipt of your formal of Commerce- acknowledgment of my letter dated the " rrO\VllSYillo Chatlbcr of Con1lllCrce," 9th imta.nt, advisinb th •.t the mattc1· is "rrownsyille. 18th Scph rnber, 1931. receiYin~~ considera1ion. ::\iy Chan1ber appreciatcG your reply, but they aro P. JJvnes. .. -..I. 1nost enF'hatic on the nrgcncy of definite " Parl1<~n1crlt Bri >bane. action being taken without delay. Tho "Dear Sir~ year is rapidly passing anJ one month's "'l'ol.Jac o dclaJ' in ··+ving z;on•ideration to the suh A j cct m a: easily mean the loss of a SP tr ).fr. I-IY~ES: I run no\v dealing with l}lent should i_ ~ dirrcr·,•d t·J i:ho othCI' page 19 of the report of the Commission, district,,. wherein it is said that tobacco~gTO\Ying s11otdd I have pointed out rhc Cha1 1lwr c,f not be confined to a particular locality_. but Co1nrncn in To\\ u· should bo undertaken all over Queensland. tion to the t ran:;.fc_' of I a1n taking exception to what appears to the Toy·nsvilio di:,tricr. m0 to be favouritism shown to certain dis had to supcrYisc trict,. of ~orth Q•.tecndand. I will be can in Town;;:;,~ilJc and did_. and uention that I refer to f>Iareeba. Giru ancl Bovven. Other districts in Que police 1nake full inquiries -when they rccci n~ approYed by this GoYcrnnwnt and those a nomina lion. and the Labour Government interested sent overseas to secure capitaL of the day ppointed him a justice of the The Prm:.\UER: They are still going on. peace . He is in every way a decent indi vidual, and one would not know that he is JHr. JCEl'f~·JY: As the Prmnier s=ty.s, they a Chinaman. His namo is Hoyling, but it are still going on. I very n1uch regretted is spelt· in one word. He is cultured in every to hear the hou. member read the article way; and the bet that he takes part in all which he quoted. public gatherings in the district is an indica 11r. BB:DFORD: It \'.as the advcrticemcnt of tion that he is in every way qualified, and the com;Jany. I do not know why he should be attacked by =lr. KEN:'i"Y: I think greater care should the hon. member. If he did commit an be sho\vn in advcrtiscrncnts of such a nature, offeLce, as alleged by the hon. member, I because they arc liable to do a r.rrcat arr1ount understand thct he was not tried for that of h.1rlll to ~uccnsland. I agree with the offence. hon. Inernbcr for \Varrcgo in that. 11r. B.:-,DFORD: n:~.~ 'YD·l tried, and his 'Iho ..::-\.gcn-L-Gcneral'.s vote is one I am friends got six 111011t ~1s. pleL1s-:d to support, because ev-eryone in (;uccnsland realises the great amount of good The SECRETARY FOR RAILWAYS: work that the Agfnt-General can do for us vYhy did he get off? in England. I am not of the opinion of a Mr. BEDFOHD: Because he ;vent to the w ..• r. number of people that one man appointed by the Comrnonwealth Government should be The SECRET:\RY FOR RAIL\VAYS: I the sole representative in Lo:odon for the shall make inquiries into the matter. Evi Commonwealth and the whole of the States_ dently he went to the war and fought for I maintain that, as Queensland possesses such Australia. I do net know what good pur [re:tt assets which we ;nmt to have developed, pose can be served by this attack on him. it is necc'>nrv that we should have our own :\fr. BEDFORD: l asked a quution, and Agent-Gen~r;l to handle our affairs m w ,. given an impudent reply. England. The PREMIER : There was nothing impudent The hon. member for \V arrego referred to about it. lhe ::\onh Quec'n,Jaud Dc,-dopment Com mrsswn and the recommendation the com Mr. BEDFORD: There was. The reply was mission made for the granting of a charter that he wa.s appointed during the time of the for the development of J'\orth Queensland. Labour Government. at which nobodv He pointed out that other· companies were laughed more than the hon. gentleman. · being floated in England at the present time_ The SECRETARY FOR RAILWAYS: If Personally 1: disagree with the hon. member a pergon is guilty of an offence and suffers when he sa vs that a charter should not be punishment, that should be the end of it; granted to ,;ny company for the development and after that he should be treated as an of North Queensland. For a number of years ·ordinary individual. No good purpose can nothing has been done to develop that por be served by bringing the matter up in Par tion of the J'\orth which has been referred liament, and it may place a stigma on his to bv the commission. I am of opinion that family. He has sons and daughters, and I the 'Agent-General in England is a great cannot see that any good purpose can be asset to this State in developing that portion served. Simply because the Premier did not of the State. answer the question in the way the hon. I would· suggest-and I do not think it member for Warrcgo desired, he is making is beyond the hounds of possibility-that the an attack on an inoffensive individual. Government themseh-es should formulate a Mr. BEDFORD: I have had experieace of scheme for the development of North Queens you. land, and allow ~he Agent-General to state that a charter wrll be granted to any com The SECRETARY FOR RAILWAYS: It pany that would be prepared to develop that does not matter as far as I am concerned. area on definite lines laid down by the If it is an attack on me, I know how to Government. handle it, and will handle it successfullv. Instead of attacking me, the hon. memb~r :vir. BEDFCRD: A chartered company with is attacking a person who cannot defend him lts Ohn local authority ruid its own police. self. If the hon. member makes an attack }lr. I{E:,~:--;_,-: The 11rivilcr:e'" that ~uch on me. I will give him a little more than he a company cn.ioycd would be a matter ~or wants. I know his history. He \vill be the thP GoY(~rt.mellt. The su;gestion of the most sorry man in this Chamber. I will let Connnisf'ion i~ a good one, and. if th Go~ the people know what he really is. Yt:rnn1cnt- did fon11ulate n ::;chcino, tht_-y Mr. BEDFORD: Yott are only funking_ could control t'w polic<' and other acr,i,citi•, lo ,,,hich the hon. member has rcferrrrl. It The SECRETARY FOR RAILWAYS: I v-rould be- pc,sible to get a JS'O ._l sound 8rl:enl'J only make those remarks bcca use I do not \:vhich then· \YOuld b~ no clwncc of p:uple think it ;,-as fair for the hon. member to havd.;ing round ah!·oad. The .\gcnc:v-Gencr d attack a gentleman who is not here to defend in London i.o.: Yerv bt:'nPficia! to the SL1te himself. r_nd to pcJpL-~ in t:ngl~ncl \'rho baY rnoroy f.Ir. BEDFORD: Therefore nobody should be to put into tl1c dP"clor)n1cntal work rccfnll 1 criticised here at all unless he is a member Jn udcd l the C'orr:;nis:-:lon. and the svg·~es of Parliament. tion is ,,~t'll vv._~rthy of con~ideration .. 1\Ir. POLLOCJ\ : ~~Yh)' the .Agent-Gc'n· ral? Mr. KENNY (Cook) [9.20]: There are a couple of points I would like to refer to, ::\Ir. KE::\'\Y: T' t C 1 ho ''d and the first one is a matter referred to bv really a-:t us n ('~-~;~ll;;~_,l~ial .fctr;~~.'~.!l~r f~r t.he hon. member for \Van-ego. In dealing Qur~cn· hnd. with the Agent-General's vote, he dealt with ?.1r. HYXES: \-Yhv :::.houlcl lF' be traveli:ng different mining propositions that were out to (~uccrt:-land ~: Mt-. Kenny.] 149± Questions. [ASSEl\'IBL Y.] :Yir. KE:\:\"Y: Hon. mcmbc13 who profess concern for the workers of Queensland and sav they do not ''i'h to keep them working all the· time oug;l!t not to object rf ncan like tho Ag('nt-t;dH:ral ~;ots to take a holidr1 \' fm: er otbcr rea::s·on . I am sure h8 h•1 ,;; CJut his dutiPs in EngL.ncl n::ry ( ffieicntly, .and orrangen1ents have been nH'c1c to conLln:-tc that efficient work during Ls nb,cn< '· At 9.25 p.m., The TE?dPi : Under the provisiGns agreed to bT" the Ho tu··~ on .J nl v. I 3h all IEnv lea vc tfw clwir, and nHtke 111.· 7 rvr-port to the :House. The 1-Iou~\ l'CS1llllb1. The TE--;),'\P. · ·pori ] pro- gress. Rcsu1npiion of Ccnn1ltt Dtade all 01·llcr of the D<' fr t l-LJOlTO'... Tlw Hou-c r:djoLunl\_l ::t 9.26 p.rn.