Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly THURSDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 1961 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy Questions [21 SEPTEMBER] Questions 437 vehicle transporting oil in bulk, the sum of threepence by the weight of the oil carried in the bulk tank expressed in tons (includ­ ing fractions of tons expressed in hundred­ weight) and by the number of road miles on which such oil is carried on the vehicle pursuant to a permit. (ii) A charge under 'The Roads (Contribution to Maintenance) Acts, 1957 to 1958,' at the rate of one-third of a penny per ton of the sum of-(a) The tare weight of the vehicle; and (b) Forty per centum of the load capacity of the vehicle, per mile of public highway along which the vehicle travels. (b) A charge under 'The Roads (Contribution to Main­ tenance) Acts, 1957 to 1958,' at the rate of one-third of a penny per ton of the sum of-(a) The tare weight of the vehicle; and (b) Forty per centum of the load capacity of the vehicle, per mile of public highway along which the vehicle travels." "(2) (i) A permit fee under 'The State Transport Act of 1960' calculated by multiplying in respect of each and every vehicle transporting petroleum products in packages the sum of three pence by the load capacity of the vehicle expressed in tons (including fractions of tons to the nearest hundredweight) and by the number of road miles on which such petroleum products in packages are carried on the vehicle pursuant to a permit. (ii) A charge under 'The Roads (Contribution to Maintenance) Acts, 1957 to 1958,' at the rate of one-third of a penny per ton of the sum of-(a) The tare weight of the vehicle; and (b) Forty per centum of the load capacity of the vehicle, per mile of public highway along which the vehicle travels." TOWNSVILLE ABATTOIR BOARD Mr. AIKENS (Townsville South) asked the THURSDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER, 1961 Minister for Agriculture and Forestry- "(1) At the end of last financial year what was the total indebtedness of the Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. D. E. Nicholson, Townsville Abattoir Board?" Murrurnba), took the chair at 11 a.m. "(2) What were its total annual (a) operating costs, (b) administrative costs, QUESTIONS (c) interest and redemption commitments and (d) any other costs?" ROAD TRANSPORT FEES PAID BY OIL "(3) What effect has the foregoing on COMPANIES, TOWNSVILLE the retail price of meat in Townsville?" Mr. AIKENS (Townsville South) asked the Minister for Transport- Hon. 0. 0. MADSEN (Warwick) replied- "(1) The Balance Sheet of the Towns­ "(1) What permit or other fees are paid ville District Abattoir Board shows the by oil companies transporting oil in bulk total loan indebtedness of the Board at by road radiating from Townsville on (a) June 30, 1961, was £209,045. The interest the oil and (b) the empty tanker on the and redemption on the greater part of this return trip?" is repayable over terms of twenty years." "(2) What fees are charged on the road "(2) The following were the total costs transport of oil not in bulk?" debited to the Board's Income and Expen­ diture Account-(a) Operating costs, Hon. G. W. W. CHALK (Lockyer) replied- £71,241; (b) Administrative costs, £6,441; (c) Interest, £11,460; (d) Depreciation, "( I) (a) (i) A permit fee under 'The State £9,819. The following amounts were also Transport Act of 1960' calculated by paid during the year-Redemption pay­ multiplying, in respect of each and every ments, £18,234; Compensation payments 438 Questions [ASSEMBLY] Questions for closure of slaughter yards, £2,751; CONSTRUCTION OF SMALL-BOAT HARBOURS Payments to Treasury for interest on special Treasury Loan, £3,150; Purchase of Mr. TUCKER (Townsville North) asked plant, £548." the Treasurer and Minister for Housing- "(3) At the Townsville District Abattoir "(1) How many small boat harbours it has been necessary to charge a rate of have been constructed or are in the course 50s. per head for slaughtering of cattle. of construction on the Queensland coast This slaughtering charge of 50s. per head and from what fund are they financed?" for an average trade bullock is equivalent "(2) Is there an order of priority for to a cost of approximately 2d. for every the construction of these harbours and lb. of saleable meat obtainable from the how is it arrived at?" beast. The killing charge represents the "(3) Where would the port of Towns­ greater percentage of the Abattoir Board's ville, which is acknowledged to be the income, and with other receipts is calcu­ second in Queensland, stand in this lated to meet the whole of the operating priority?" costs of the Board." "(4) Did he receive a request from the Townsville Motor Boat Club in October, RECLAMATION OF SALT-PAN COUNTRY BY 1960, for the provision of such a harbour AMPOL PETROLEUM CoMPANY and what is the present position with regard to that request?" Mr. COBURN (Burdekin) asked the Premier- Hon. T. A. HILEY (Chatsworth) replied­ "(1) Has he read in 'The Advocate' "(1) Three boat harbours are in the (the newspaper published in Ayr) of Friday, course of construction financed from the 23 June, 1961, that Mr. W. G. Walkley, Commonwealth Aid Marine Works Fund." Managing Director of Ampol Petroleum "(2) No." Company has expressed particular interest "(3) See answer to Question (2)." in the possibility of reclaiming vast areas of salt-pan country along Queensland's "(4) Yes. A satisfactory preliminary coastal strip by building dykes similar to examination has been made of the proposal those in Holland and converting it to lush and the site is to be surveyed by the pastures?" survey launch 'Ferret' at present in North Queensland. Following the survey, plans, "(2) Has any approach been made to etc., will be prepared. The provision of him or to any other Minister of the Crown in regard to the reclamation of funds for construction work will be consid­ these lands?" ered in conjunction with next year's pro­ gramme of works from the Fund. I would "(3) If so, what assistance is the Gov­ remind the Honourable Gentleman that the ernment prepared to give in support of fine new jetty at Magnetic Island was the this proposed scheme which, I understand, first major expenditure from the Fund. I will be centred mainly in the Lower have not lost hope that some day the Burdekin?" Honourable Gentleman will feel impelled Hon. G. F. R. NICKLIN (Lands­ to make some expression of gratitude borough) replied- rather than, by the language of his ques­ tion, to appear to be complaining of the "(1) Yes. I understand that Mr. W. G. treatment of Townsville." Walkley, C.B.E., Managing Director of Ampol Petroleum Co. Ltd., was a guest speaker at the Top Management Confer­ IMPRISONMENT OF HUGH O'KANE ence conducted under the auspices of the Australian Institute of Management at Mr. BEJ\'NETT (South Brisbane) asked Townsville on Saturday and Sunday, May the Minister for Justice- 13 and 14, 1961, respectively. At this con­ "(1) Was one, Hugh O'Kane, on or ference, Mr. Walkley delivered a paper about 20 January, 1961, at Glenmorgan entitled 'It Can Be Done,' and in the course convicted by two Justices of the Peace, of his address he suggested the possibility constituting a Court of Petty Sessions, who of reclaiming vast areas of salt-pan country imposed a fine of three pounds and in along the coastal strip of Queensland and default of payment of the said fine sen­ converting it to lush pastures." tenced him to fourteen days' imprisonment "(2) It was mentioned to the Treasurer for each of two separate offences?" at Rockhampton in particular relation to "(2) Does not the official Minute of the Fitzroy Delta with no mention of the Conviction show that these sentences were Burdekin area." to be served concurrently?" "(3) The Government would be prepared "(3) Does that not mean that to favourably consider proposals for such Mr. O'Kane should, accordingly to law, reclamation. There are already successful have served only fourteen days' imprison­ projects fringing Broadsound. A splendid ment if he did not pay the fines?" example is at Glen Prairie, and another on "(4) Was not Mr. O'Kane in fact the Lower Fitzroy at Fitzroyvale. The cost imprisoned for twenty-eight days for the is high, but the benefit is really significant." offences referred to above?" Questions [21 SEPTEMBER] Ministerial Statement 439 "(5) Does not this mean that Mr. O'Kane Hon. 0. 0. MADSEN (Warwick-Minister has served fourteen days more in gaol for Agriculture and Forestry), for Hon. A. R. than he should have served?" FLETCHER (Cunningham), replied- "(6) If the answer to Question (5) is in "Provision has been made for the con­ the affirmative, (a) has not Mr. O'Kane struction of four stock route water facilities been wrongfully and illegally imprisoned between Laura and Coen, and tenders for by the Crown for fourteen days, (b) who these facilities were advertised last is responsible for this and how has it February. No tenders were received at the come about that Mr. O'Kane has been closing date. Tenders for these facilities wrongfully deprived of his liberty and (c) are again to be advertised at an early what action does he propose to take in date." this matter?" SCHOOL AT WHITE ROCK Hon. A. W. MUNRO (Toowong) replied- "(1 to 6) Enquiries are being made in Mr. ADAm (Cook) asked the Minister for relation to this matter. I ask the Honour­ Education and Migration- able Member to repeat his question on "Owing to the urgent necessity for the Tuesday next." building of a school at White Rock and the desire of parents and residents of the AcCESS TO SCHOOL 0VA:L, BURANDA GIRLS' area to have the school ready for the com­ SCHOOL mencement of the 1962 school-year, will Mr.