Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 25 MAY 1893 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Q U EENSLA.ND PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES. LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. FIRST SESSION OF THE ELEVEN'I'H PARLIAMENT. APPOINTED TO MEET AT BRISBANE ON THE TWENTY-FIFTH DAY OF MAY, IN THE FIFTY-SIXTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF HER MAJESCI.'Y QUEEN VICTORIA, IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 1893. LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. Samuel Grimes, Oxley. William Henry Groom, Toowoomba. Thursday, 25 May, 1893. William St. John Harding, Rockhampton Opening of Parliament.-Election of Speaker.-Ad­ North. journment. John Hoolan, Burke. Robert King, Maranoa. OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. John James Kingsbury, Brisbane North. THE House met at 12 o'clock this day, pursuant .Tohn Le11hy, Bulloo. to proclamation, and shortly afterwards pro­ Frederick Lord, Stanley. ceeded to the Legislative Council Chamber for William Lovejoy, Aubigny. the purpose of hearing the Commission opening John Macfarlane, Ipswich. Parliament read. O'n its return- John McMaster, Fortitude Valley. ; The CLERK read a Commisoion under the hand Charles William Midson, Brisbane South. · of His Excellency the Governor, authorisin~ the Arthur Morgan, Warwick. Hon. Sir Thomas Mcilwraith, K.C.M.G.~ the John Murray, Normanby. Hon. H. M. Nelson, and the Hon. T . .T. Byrnes Willi11m Henry Bligh O'Connell, Musgrave. to administer the oath to members elect. Andrew Lang Petrie, Toombul. Robert Philp, Townsville. The following members thereupon took the Thomas Plunkett., Albert. oath and subscribed the roll:- Charles Powers, Maryborough. Thomas Mcilwraith, Brisbane North. Robert Harris~n Smith, Bowen. Hugh Muir Nelson, Murilla. William Smyth, Gympie. Thomas J oseph Byrnes, Cairns. William Stephens, Woolloongabba. George Agnew, Nundah. Ernest J ames Stevens, Logan. William Allan, Cunning-ham. Lewis Thomas, Bundanba. John Thomas Annear, Maryborough. George Thorn, Fas;ifern. \Villiam Drayton Armstrong, Lockyer. Nicholas Edward Nelson Tooth, Burrum. Andrew Henry Barlow, Ip3wich. Horace Tozer, Wide Bay. Matthew Battersby, Moreton. Henry Turley, Brisbane South. J ames John Cadell, Burnett. John Watson, Fortitude Valley. Albert James Callan, Fitzroy. James Vincent Chataway, Mackay. ELECTION OF SPEAKER. William Henry Corfield, Gregory. Alfred Sandlings Cowley, Herbert. The PREMIER (Hon. Sir T. Mcilwraith) James Clarke Cribb, Rosewood. said: Mr. Bernays,-I move that Mr. Cowley James Crombie, Warrego. do take the chair of this House as Speaker. J ames Michael Cross, Clermont. Members of the late Parliament know Mr. David Hay Dalrymple, Mackay. Cowley very well. He is known to be a firm Henry Daniels, Cambooya. gentleman ; he is known also to be courteous ; Anderson Dawson, Charters Towers. and having had experience both as a Minister James Robert Dickson, Bulimba. and a member for many years, he has a thorough J ames George Drake, Enoggera. knowledge of the forms of the House. I know Michael Duffy, Bundaberg. that it is the unanimous opinion of all who are John Dunsford, Charters Towers. acquainted with Mr. Cowley that he will be a Andrew Fisher, Gympie. credit to the position, and command the respect John Fogarty, Toowoomba. of the House. Justin Fox Greenlaw Foxton, Carnarvon, HONOURABLE MEMBERS; Hear, hear ! 1893-B, 2 Election of Speaker. [ASSEMBLY.] Adjournment. The PREMIER: Those are qualities which elect a Speaker without giy~ng them an ?PPOrt':­ we seek for in a Speaker, and I have therefore nity to aspire to the pos1t10n, or to giVe the1r much pleasure in making this motion. vote if tbis side of the Rouse nominated anyone The HoN. J. R. DICKSON: I have much for it. It may look like a forlorn hope for this pleasure in seconding the nomination of Speaker side of the House to nominate anyone for the m the person of Mr. Cowley a< proposed by the position, but we are used to running forlor'? hopes Premier. I believe, from the manner in which and are ready to run one now, and to nommate a Mr. Cowley has discharged his duties in this gentleman from this side of the House. Therefore House in connection with Ministerial office, that I asked that the Government will explain the he will speedily acquire a thorough knowledge of matter, and if they are in an unsound positio_n, the duties of the chair, and perform such duties that they will have the courage to own up to 1t. with credit to himself and in such a way vV e are completely in the dark. I do not know as to reflect credit on the proceedings of what the legal members think about it, but to the House. I believe he will recognise that, the lay mind it is inexplicable and manifestly while perfect freedom of debate should be unfair, and as such I enter my solemn protest allowed under our Standing Orders, such against it. fr.eedom should not degenerate into license, Mr. COWLEY: I thank the hon. gentlemen and that he will guard the privileges and rights who have proposed and seconded me ati Speaker, of this House, so that they shall not suffer any and especially for the kindly and complimentary encroachment, but be maintained as fully and way in which they have spoken of me. I assure with as much dignity as has been clone by any of those hon. gentlemen and hon. members generally his predecessors. I have very much pleasure in that I am deeply sensible of the honour they pro­ seconding his nomination. pose to confer upon me. Mr. HOOLAN: There is a little matter in The hon. gentleman was then introduced to connection with this Asse!llbly and public the Chair by the mover and sfconder. matters generally that this side of the House The SPEAKER: I again thank hon. mem-. would like to have explained before proceeding bers for the high honour they have bestowed with business. I ri,;e as a matter of privilege. upon me by electing me as Speaker of this I claim my ri.5ht to spelk under Rule 42 of the honourable House. It will be my constant aim Standing Orders, and if I am not within my to do all in my power to merit the confidence rights you, Sir, will please tell me so. We would reposed in me, by acting at a]l times in an like an explanation from the Government con­ impartial manner, and I am convmced that hon. cerning the present position of the Assembly, members on both sides will not only assist me all and under what law or what regulations they can, but will vie with each other in main­ they decided to call the House together taining that higb standard of excellence for at this very early and inopportune period. which this House has been so renowned. Two members of the Assembly are not yet elected, and even allowing for the utmost The COLONIAL TREASURER (Hon. H. despatch of business in those distant electorates l'.I. Nelson): Following a very old precedent, they cannot be declared duly elected before next I desire on behalf of the House to tender Wednesday. Members and candidates for their congratulations to you on attaining the election were also informed that-- high position which you are about to occupy. The PREMIER: There is no privilege in the \V e have shown our confidence in you by electing question the hon. member has stated. The very you to one of the highest positions that anyone question he refers to will be explained to the can aspire to. Although the position is one of House by His Excellency the Governor to­ graat honour, it is also one which carries with morrow. The business now is to elect a Speaker; it very great responsibilities. I am sure you will until we have done that we cannot proceed with carry out those responsibilities in a manner that business, and no question of privilege can arise. will maintain not only your own dignity but also the dignity and reputation of this House. It is Mr. HOOLAN : I fail to see how we can quite possible you may have an arduous task legally elect a Speaker as the Assembly is con­ before you; upon your judgment to a very large stituted. It is an incomplete Assembly, and it extent depends the honour and reputation of is the duty of the Government to enlighten the this House, and your performance of your duties ignorance of this side of the House. There are will have a great effect upon the conduct of some members who may aspire to the position of business. At the same time, I am aware that Speaker, and they are not yet elected ; and in the the gentleman occupying your position cannot case of others who may aspire to the position carry on the busine.ss unless he is supported by it is practico,lly impossible for them to be here. the general body of the House. Of this I can It is one of the principles of the Constitution that assure you: that on all occasions, being assured the highest offices m the State are open to any­ of your impartiality and discretion and great one, and here we are entering upon an arrange­ common senRe, the members of this House will ment that practically prevents that. Surely the most gladly second your action as Chairman Government do not intend to run this Assembly of this Assembly. I congmtulate you most as a sort of Punch anclJudyshow? It looks some­ sincerely, and I am sure that when I do so I am thing like it. I quite understand the position of the echoing the sentiments of every member of the Government and all the difficulties that surround Chamber. them, and I have no desire to do anything unplea­ sant, or, to use a homely expression, "throw water HoNOURABLE MEMBERS : Hear, hear ! on drowning rats "; but I ask for fair play.