Queensland Parliamentary Debates [Hansard] Legislative Assembly WEDNESDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 1961 Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy 320 Address in Reply [ASSEMBLY] Questions WEDNESDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER, 1961 Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. D. E. Nicholson, Murrumba) took the chair at 11 a.m. QUESTIONS TRAFFIC CROSSINGS FOR BLIND PERSONS Mr. BROMLEY (Norman) asked the l\1 inister for Labour and Industry- " In view of his action in having installed traffic and pedestrian lights in Cornwall Street, Annerley, near the Blind Institution, which have brought forth many words of commendation, will he consider the erection of two inexpensive signs, reading "Blind persons cross here" in Cornwall Street, Thompson Estate, to be placed one on each side of Cornwall Street on opposite approaches to Bus Stop 17 near Knight Street?" Hon. K. J. MORRIS (Mt. Coot-tha) replied- "This matter will be investigated, and if found that blind people also regularly cross at this point, as well as the other, the signs will be erected." EXPENDITURE ON BURANDA SCHOOLS Mr. BROMLEY (Norman) asked the Minister for Education and Migration- "Excluding normal supplies of essential school requirements, how much money has been spent on improvements and maintenance from July 1, 1960, to June 30, 1961, on (a) Buranda Girls School, (b) Buranda Boys School, (c) Buranda Infants School and (d) East Brisbane State School?" Hon. J. C. A. PIZZEY (Isis) replied- "The Honourable Member is informed that expenditure on improvements and maintenance at the three Buranda Schools and at Brisbane East State School during the period from July 1, 1960, to June 30, 1961, was as follows:-Buranda Boys State School, £292 12s.; Buranda Girls State School, £193 13s. 7d.; Buranda Infants State School, £309 7s. 7d.; Brisbane East State School, £1,219 2s. 5d." BLACK LIST AT COLLINSVILLE Mr. DUGGAN (Toowoomba West­ Leader of the Opposition) asked the Minister for Public Works and Local Government- "Is it a fact that the black list, which has been operated against unemployed in Collinsville by the Scottsville Mine, a sub­ sidiary of Mount Isa Mines, and the Davis Brothers' open-cut, has now been Questions [13 SEPTEMBER] Questions 321 adopted by the Wangaratta Shire Council, Roads (Contribution to Maintenance) Acts. whose engineer ignores the Collinsville The following table illustrates the Clerk of Petty Sessions office, where the position:- unemployed are registered, and will not call for labour from that office?" 1957-1958 1960-1961 1. Average number of men Hon. H. RICHTER (Somerset) replied- employed on Main "! have no knowledge of the black list Roads works- (a) by Main Roads mentioned by the Honourable Member. Department . 1,885 2,116 Enquiries disclose that it has been the (b) by Councils. 2, 722 2, 819 practice for some years past for the 2. Grants made by the Wangaratta Shire Council to select labour Government to Coun­ cils- from applicants recorded in the shire office (a) Under Common- as unemployed and seeking employment wealth Aid Roads Act £1,250,000 £1,828,500 (b) Under Roads (Con- with the Council. The matter is one of tribution to Main- policy entirely in the hands of the Council." tenance) Acts £65,350 £475,575 (a) (a) The collection of these charges commenced in NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN DEPARTMENT OF February, 1958. This represents the disbursement of MAIN ROADS collections for one quarter only." Mr. DUGGAN (Toowoomba West­ Leader of the Opposition) asked the WAITING TIME FOR DENTAL TREATMENT, TOOWOOMBA GENERAL HOSPITAL Minister for Development, Mines, Main Roads and Electricity- Mr. DUGGAN (Toowoomba West­ "What were the numbers of employees Leader of the Opposition) asked the Minister in each of the South-eastern, South­ for Health and Home Affairs- western, Central and Northern Divisions "In view of the published statements of of the Main Roads Department as at Mr. J. Seawright, Secretary of the Too­ June 30, 1957, and June 30, 1961?" woomba General Hospital, that the aver­ age waiting time for operative work, Hon. E. EVANS (Mirani) replied- including extractions, at the dental clinic was three months and that the waiting "Employment at- time for denture work was six to eight months, is he able to give an assurance I that everything possible is being done and June 30, 1957 June 30, 1961 will continue to be done to overcome this serious time lag at the Toowoomba South Eastern Division 1,519 1,520 clinic?" South~ Western Division :: 1,234 1,071 Central Division .. 812 916 Northern Division 876 982 Hon. H. W. NOBLE (Yeronga) replied- Depot, Workshops a,;;d Miscellaneous Employees "Everything possible has been, and will (all Divisions) .. 446 513 continue to be, done to overcome the waiting time for treatment not only at the Total 4,887 5,002 Toowoomba Dental Clinic, but at other Dental Clinics. As a result of the shortage By its very nature the work of the Main of Dentists, which has prevailed for some Roads Department does not involve the years, it has not been possible to comtem­ employment of large and ever-increasing plate any expansion of the Dental Clinic numbers of men. It is logical and services and efforts have been concentrated economic to utilise a large amount of on maintaining existing services." plant to mechanise road construction as much as possible and the greater the degree of mechanisation the fewer the men EVICTION OF TENANTS FROM STATE RENTAL employed and the more work there is HousEs performed. Thus expenditure rather than Mr. LLOYD (Kedron) asked the Treasurer the number of men employed is the and Minister for Housing- criterion of the amount of work carried "(1) How many tenants of State rental out under "The Main Roads Acts." It is houses in the metropolitan area were appropriate to point out that in addition evicted by the Housing Commission during to the men employed by the Department the twelve months ended (a) June 30, 1960, directly there are many men employed and (b) June 30, 1961?" by Councils on Main Roads work and many more employed on other than Main "(2) How many tenants facing eviction Roads work. This latter type of employ­ have been granted extensions of time under ment is assisted to an appreciable extent "The State Housing Acts Amendment Act by the Government's action in allocating of 1961'?" to Local Authorities, funds received by "(3) How many of these tenants who the State under the Commonwealth Aid have been granted extensions of time have Act and collected by the State under the subsequently been evicted?" 11 322 Questions [ASSEMBLY] Questions "(4) How many tenants have been means of Relief Assistance, Free Rail evicted under this legislation without Passes, Free School Books and Requisites having extensions granted to them?" for children attending Primary Schools. Free Medical and Medicine Service, Free Hon. T. A. HILEY (Chatsworth) replied- Surgical Aids and Spectacles, Assistance "(1) (a) 21; (b) 15." to meet arrears of Rent, and in many "(2 to 4) There was no amendment other ways. The Honourable Member to the State Housing Act in 1960. If, as I may be assured that the position of these suspect, he is confused with 1961, the people is constantly under review." answer is-Nil, in respect of 'The State Housing Acts Amendment Act of 1961'. I TIME LOST BY Ex-SERVICEMEN IN SEEKING might add that no warrants of possession MEDICAL ATTENTION have yet been sought under the 1961 Act but the first batch of such proceedings are Mr. BROMLEY (Norman) asked the now imminent." Premier- "(1) Is it a fact that employees of Gov­ CLOSURE OF CAIRNCROSS DOCK ernment and semi-Governmental Depart­ ments lose wages when as a result of Mr. BROMLEY (Norman) asked the injuries or sickness caused through war Minister for Labour and Industry- service they attend the Repatriation Depart­ "(1) In view of the fact that Cairncross ment or doctors during working hours?" Dock will be closed until mid-November "(2) If so, when did this practice first for conversion to electrically-operated come into operation and by whose direc­ machinery, will this result in the dismissal tion?" or displacement of any employees during the closure period?" Hon. G. F. R. NICKLIN (Landsborough) "(2) If the closure will cause dismissals, replied- will he give consideration to finding alter­ (1 and 2) Obviously, I cannot give native employment for these displaced information upon this matter in respect of workers?" semi-Governmental Departments. Nor, indeed, without very extensive inquiries, Hon. K. J. MORRIS (Mt. Coot-tha) can I elicit information affecting particu­ replied- lar cases in a Governmental work-force "The Cairncross dock does not come of over 65,000 employees. I can give an under my administration." assurance, however, that, as far as can be ascertained from inquiries which have INCREASED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR been made subsequent to the asking of this UNEMPLOYED PERSONS question, generous consideration is given to officers and employees throughout the Mr. BROMLEY (Norman) asked the Crown Service in the cases of absences Premier- from duty by reason of injuries or sickness "(1) Did he read the statement in 'the directly attributable to war service. There Courier-Mail' of Friday, September 8, that is certainly no recently established prac­ the New South Wales State Government tice of the nature implied in the question has increased by fifty per centum the assist­ which has been asked. If a specific case ance it provides for unemployed people has actuated the Honourable Member in who have no money?" asking this question, I should be glad to "(2) If he did, is he in favour of such receive full particulars concerning it so a scheme being implemented in Queens­ that it could be investigated." land?" "(3) If he is in favour, will he and his EMPLOYMENT OF MARRIED WOMEN TEACHERS Government give consideration to the immediate implementation of such a Mr.