[19 OCTOBER, 1948.])71 1711 Referring to my question and then answer thereto on the above subjevt (vide Minutes of the Proceedings of the Legislative Coun- Tuesday, 19th October, 1948. cil No. 26 of the 30th September last)- 1, Why was the recommendat[ion of the Select Committee ignored? CONTENTS. page 2, Who was responsible for the recon- Assent to Dill ........ 1711 st.-uction of the Railway Advisory Board? Auditor General's report; Section " A," 1IM 1711 Question : Railways, as to standard gauge 3, Who are the memabers of this boardV and advisory board's report. ... 1711 4, Will the Minister table the report of Motions:. Obituary, late Hot. P. Collier, M.L.A. .. .. 1711 the hoard!~ increase of Rent (War Restrictio'ns) Ac~t, The GRIEF SECRETARY replied: to disallow court proeedings regula- 1714 *1, The Government of the day decided to Bills : Supply (No. 2), £8,700,000, Standing refer the matter to the Railway Advisory Orders suspension, all stages. .. 1716 Bush Fires Act Amendment, Ir;. .. 1716 Board. Health Act Amendment, Sr..... 1719 2, The former Premier, Haon. F. J. S. Stats Housing Act Amendment, Wise, in May, 1946. passed ......... .... .. 3r.,.. 1719 Marriage Act Amendment, Assembly's 3, Members of the board who reported amendments.......... ...... 1719 on the matter were- Registration of Births, Deaths and Mar- riages5 Act Amendment, Assembly's Ake-4srs. the late T. S. Parry, Surveyor amendments ... .. 1719 General, Chairman; D., Brisbane, 'Manager, Builders' Registration Act Amendment, Midland Railway Ca. of Western Australia; Corn .. .. 172 Western Australian Trotting Association G. K. Baron-Hfay, Under Secretary for Act Amendment, 2r.. .... 1781 Agriculture, Western Australia; A. MeCiil-' Adjournment, special 173 loagh, Deputy Chief Civil Engineer, W.A.G.R. 4, Yes. The PRESIDENT took the Chair .at 4.30 p.m., and read prayers. NWOTON-OBITUARY. The Late Hon. F. Coller, X.L.A. ABSENT TO DILL. Message fromn the Lieut.-Governor received THE CHIEF SECRETARY (Hon. HI. S. and read notifying assent to the Brands Act W. Parker-M.%etropolitan-Suburban) [4.42]: Amendment Bill, 1move- That this House places on record its sin- AUDITOR GENWERAL'S REPORT. ccc7 appreciation of the services rendered to the State by the late Hon. Philip Collier, a Section "A", 1948. member of the Legislative Assembly, a former The PRESIDENT:- I have received f rom Mnrxister of the Crown and for many years Premier, and to express its deep sympathy the Auditor General a copy of Section "A" to his wvidow and family on the irreparable of his report on the Treasurer's' statement loss they have sustained in hiskdeath; and that of the Public Accounts for the financial year thi) President be asked to forward this resolu- ended the 30th June, 1948. It will be laid tican to his widow., on the Table of the House. The late Hon. Philip Collier wvas person- ally known to a great many of us. He was; QUESTION. a man of an extremely kindly nature; a man RAILWAYS. with a keen sense of humour and of respon- sibility. Hie led this State as Premier for a As to Standard Gauge and Advisory Board's long period-in fact, for nine years, For Report. ten years be ivas Leader of the Opposition Hon. A. THOMSON asked the Chief and for some 14 Years in all he was a Min- Secretary:-s ister of the Crown. Kalgoorlie-Fremantle railway: Southern He -was elected as representative, for Cross-Corrigin route to Fremantle, Equlder in October, 1904, so that for 43 171l 1719 1712COUI$CILJ1 years he had been a mewber of the Legis- age af 22 years hediAst madeaasatrk asesoe lature and had given of his best in the fram- retaxy to the late Xr. Frank Lnstey i ig of the laws for the government of the was a member of the Commoni&lb Pwlia country. He was Minister for Mines from meat. Thus Mr. Collier started on, his lonj October, 1911 to July, 1916, Minister for career of public work well over half a een Railways from October, 1911 to November, tiny ago. The yonnlpr generation, does no 1914; Minister for Water Supply, Sewerag& realise today the great debt of gratitude i and Drainage from November 1914 to 'owes to men like Mr. Collier. July, 1916; Premier, Treasurer and Min- It was not always a popul~ar task to hi ister for Forests from April 1024 to April .& leader, but right from the age. of 22 year .1930; Premier, Treasurer and Minister for unti he resigned through ill-health from thi from the 24th April, 1933 to Lba Forests Premiership of thi State, Mr. Collier dih 19th August, 1936, when lie resigned. He remarkable work for the Labour moverneni VWa Leader of the Opposition from 1907 to- and as a statesman in Western Australia 3.924 and again from 1930 to 19M3. I -am pleased to, bear the Chief 'Seeretarl * All members, will agree that that is a. 'speak of the lastimug value of Mr. Collier'i record of which anyone could he proud, and work. The deceased gentleman 'was able t it must he a great relief to his faanily inL inspire confidence in people who were elosi their sorrow to realise how great a man wa to Ifim politically and also in his opponent Hon. Philip Collier. He was extremely able as well. I think he, with others, raised tin and without doubt an outstanding manof standard of conduct in the Houses of Par. his generation in the history of this State. liament. in Western Alustralia. * There were many dif ficult times durin 'nose of us who have read what the eon. which be led his Government with great. duct of Parliaments used to be in the ok credit to himself and also to the advance- ,days, regret that -we have not the same spiril menit of the State. He contributed tremend- in the Commonwealth Parliament as ani. ously to the welfare of Western Australia rates the Parliament of this State. I thini and, to his credit be it said, one direction inL Hon. Philip Collier did much to raise the which he did a grpat amount of good for this; :4tandard of conduct of members and theii country was the reforestation of our timber respect for each other's political opinions, areas- He was partic-ularly keen and in- His passing is a great loss to the State and terestedl in that work, realising and always the Commonwealth.. It will also be a severE appreciating the value of those forests to blow to the Labour movement in Western Western Australia. We are now beginning Australia. He -was a brilliant leader and to feel inl a small -way the benefits of his I shall never forget him. * foresight in that respect, and in years to come they will be even inure prononced. RON. G. rRASER (West) [4.501: 1 Philip Collier was a man of very keen greatly regret the necessity for the motion. humanitarian feelinig. and wIU, always oit I iernonally fe") that I owe a debt of deep to help all classes and sections of the corn- gratitude to the Ile -.%r. Collier. Hle assisted inunity. When I first entered Parliament me in my first election camnpaign in 1928 ana he was a great. help) to me and tendered much I believe that the help he gave mie at that excellent advice, as be did to all new mem- time was largely responsible for m-y success. bers. I feel sure the State is the poorer by Since being a member, I have hail the privi- the passing of such a mar'. He -will indeed be lege of servingx under him as Leader of ttq hard to replace. Although hie retired from Party, and 1 know of no better mnan than the Premiliership some- years ago, I feel that he under whom one could study. been flilled, and his place has not yet really I recall that on one occasion a delegation it -will be some years before we shall be from England had been visiting Australia able to find a suitable successor to him. and was completing its tour in this State. 4 At a dinner given to the visitors at Parlia- HON. E. H. GRAY (West) [ .47]: 1 meat House, the greatest tribute that could desire to second the motion. The late Hon. ble paid to any man was offered to the late Philip Collier ranks high in the inemorie5 hon. gentleman. The leader of the delegation of the old school of the Labour movement. statedl that, after having visited the whole I particularly meution that because at the of Australia, they had met the most states. [19 OCT'OBER, 1948.] 1713 manlike man in the Commonwealth in Mr. 43 years of his representation of Boulder, Collier. he 3erved his constituents Well and traly. HON. G. BENRETTS (South) [4.52]: 1 desire to support the motion because my HON. SIR CHARLES LATHAM (East) province includes the district represented [4.56] : 1 should like to associate mvAzelf by the late hon. gentleman and because, be- with the remarks of the Chief Secretary ing- a pioneer of the Goldfields, I know and other members. For 21 years I was siomething of his career and what he did associated wvith the late -Mr. Collier in alt- for the goldnilning industry at a time when other place. He was a man who held very the outlook for the Golden Mile was very strong ideas and did not hesitate to express black. For- his work on that occasion, he wil them. Forty-three years of service to a not be forgotten on the Goldfields.