Printed Questions and Answers [29 Aud., 1973] Questions without Notice 663 (ii) During the same year, the corres­ (c) The Prisons Act and regulations ponding concentration of caesium- made thereunder and the Parole of 137 in milk was about 14 picocuries Prisoners Act limit early releases. There per litre. This is about 0.1 per cent remains a question of "how much earlier?" of the reference level of 10,000 pica­ and also the problem in many industrial and curies per litre. commercial undertakings of annual shut (iii) In 1972, the average concentration downs in January. of iodine-131 in milk in the Sydney area was under 0.1 picocuries per litre, or less than 0.05 per cent of the reference level of 200 picocuries per 1fi.egi$letti'u.e J\$$.Ctnhl~ litre. Thursday, 30 August, 1973 In the absence of information to the con­ trary, it is reasonable to accept these refer­ ence levels and to regard the amount of Governor's Speech: Presentation of Address in Reply­ Questions without Notice-Institute of Rural Stud­ radioactivity in milk as acceptable. ies Bill (third reading)-Dairy Industry Authority (Amendment) Bill (third reading)-Mine Sub­ sidence Compensation and Mines Rescue (Amend­ PAROLE OF PRISONERS ment) Bill (third reading)-Farm Water Sup­ plies (Amendment) Bill (third reading)-Special Mr PETERSEN asked the MINISTER OF Adjournment-Standing Orders-Inflammable Llq• uid (Amendment) Bill (third reading)-Veterin­ JusTicE-( 1) Has he received complaints ary Surgeons (Amendment) Bill (Int.)-Preven­ tion of Oil Pollution of Navigable Waters (Amend­ regarding the release of prisoners on parole ment) Bill (second reading)-Govemor's Speech: Presentation of Address in Reply-Printing Com­ or on remission of sentence just prior to the mittee-Adjournment (Child-Care Centre, Chats­ Christmas period? (2) If so-(a) Does wood)-Printed Question and Answers. this cause difficulties for those persons be­ cause of lack of employment opportunities Mr SPEAKER (THE HoN. SIR KEVIN at that period? (b) Is there any evidence ELLIS) took the chair at 11 a.m. that persons released at this time are more Mr SPEAKER offered the Prayer. likely to be recidivists than persons released when employment is available? (c) Will he GOVERNOR'S SPEECH: PRESENTATION give consideration to the release of prisoners OF ADDRESS IN REPLY at an earlier period when employment is Mr SPEAKER: Order! Upon adoption of available? the Address in Reply on Thursday last I Answer-( 1) Some views have been ex~ informed the House that it was the pleasure pressed concerning the release of prisoners of His Excellency the Governor to receive on parole or remission of sentence just prior the Address in Reply to His Excellency's to the Christmas period. Opening Speech at 3.30 p.m. today. It has now been ascertained that His Excellency (2) (a) It is a matter of common know­ will receive it at 3 p.m. instead of 3.30 p.m. ledge that the availability of employment is -that is, half an hour earlier than was pre­ reduced at given times throughout the year. viously intimated by me to the House. Some difficulties could arise because of re­ Would honourable members please note the lease prior to festive periods, particularly in change in these arrangements and be ready to leave for Government House at approxi­ the case of seasonal and low-skill workers. mately 2.40 p.m. today. (b) Although there is no evidence to this effect it is of course desirable to ensure so QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE far as possible that gainful employment is available on release. Departmental and AUSTRALIAN FACTORS LIMITED Parole Board policy and practice takes ac­ Mr HILLS: I direct a question without count of this factor as far as the law and notice to the Premier and Treasurer. Until practicality permits. yesterday when forced to do so by public 664 Questions without Notice [ASSEMBLY] Questions without Notice disquiet, has the Government repeatedly re­ is well aware that it concerns the adminis­ fused to table reports by the Corporate tration of the Attorney-General. The ques­ Affairs Commission into the affairs of com­ tion asked is an intricate one and I am sure panies until any proceedings arising out of every fair-minded member of the House such inquiries have been finalized? Were would agree that it would be impossible for charges laid against Alexander Ewan Arm­ me to give an answer immediately. I do strong, Stanley Louis Mowbray Eskell and not know much about the whole business. Walter Septimus Lamerton as former direc­ It is an involved legal question about a tors of Australian Factors Limited, and did case that went on for some years. The a jury acquit them on 27th March, 1972? Government is anxious to make available all Did Australian Factors Limited collapse information possible. I shall refer the ques­ after a loss of $1.5 million in the financial tion to the Attorney-General and I suggest year 1962-1963 and at that time did Mr to the Leader of the Opposition that should Armstrong attribute the writing off of he desire any more information on the floor $926,069 of doubtful debts mainly to the of the House he might direct his request actions of two company officers whom he to the Attorney-General who is the appro­ accused of an elaborate plan of deception? priate Minister. As these officers have not been charged and the Crown's case appears to have been Mr HILLS: The head of the Govern­ finalized, why has not the Attorney-General ment is responsible. tabled the report of the Corporate Affairs Commission? Sir ROBERT ASKIN: And I hope to remain as such for a long while yet. The Mr McCAw: Do you want to try them question was perfectly legitimate and I do on the floor of the House? not query it except the part at the tail end which, I repeat, did not do the honourable Mr SPEAKER: Order! gentleman justice as it was quite unfair and Mr HILLS: Whose name and what is unwarranted. the Premier and the Attorney-General keep­ ing secret by not tabling that report? BLUE MOUNTAINS CHURCH OF ENGLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL Sir ROBERT ASKIN: I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that as far as I Mr COATES: My question without am concerned, and I am certain that I notice is directed to the Minister for Edu­ speak for the Attorney-General too, the cation. On previous occasions have I Government is not protecting anybody's arranged for a deputation from the Church name in relation to this matter. The Leader of England authorities to the Minister to of the Opposition does not do justice to the discuss with him financial difficulties affect­ high position he holds by making sugges­ ing the old-established Church of England tions of that nature. The reason for some Grammar School at Wentworth Falls, which delay in tabling the papers would be obvious is in my electorate? This morning did the from the size of the file laid upon the standing committee of the Sydney diocese table yesterday. Officers of the Corporate announce its decision to close the school? Affairs Commission have been working flat Will this lead to the dismissal of about forty out-- professional and domestic staff and also re­ sult in 200 children enrolled in classes Mr HILLs: On other matters entirely. ranging from fourth class primary standard Sir ROBERT ASKIN: In the early part to sixth form secondary standard being ab­ of his question the Leader of the Opposi­ sorbed into the State school system? Is the tion suggested that yesterday the Govern­ financial problem of the grammar school ment had been forced to lay certain papers climaxed by the federal Government's clas­ on the table. This is very much a legal sification of it which will result in a sub­ question and the Leader of the Opposition stantial reduction in its annual income? Questions without Notice [30 Auo., 1973] Questions without Notice 665 Will the Minister investigate immediately [Interruption] the matters I have raised and endeavour to provide further State assistance to the Mr SPEAKER: Order! school? Mr WILLIS: That the Commonwealth Mr WILLIS: I am aware of the recent Government has not accepted the recom­ financial difficulties that the Blue Mountains mendation of the Karmel committee that Grammar School has been encountering. private schools falling within category A As the honourable member implied in his or B should receive for at least the next question, recently I had a long and interest­ year or two similar assistance to that pro­ ing talk with Bishop Robinson and Arch­ vided for them in 1972-73, amounts to a deacon Fillingham who are concerned with win for the left-wing of the Australian the administration of this fine school on the Labor Party, which is dedicated to the de­ Blue Mountains. They told me about the struction of the private-school system in school's financial problems, expressed some Australia. concern about its capacity to continue and On this occasion the left wing of the inquired whether there was any way in Labor Party won a victory and, as a result, which the State Government could assist many private schools will go out of exis­ by way of State-aid programmes in meet­ tence because of the inability to continue ing the needs of the school. Regrettably on the meagre, if any, assistance they will I had to inform them that there was no now receive from Canberra. In those cir­ way in which the State could assist the cumstances, it is not surprising that the Blue school to overcome the particular difficul­ Mountains Grammar school council reached ties confronting it.