1940-41-42. THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA, CANBERRA. VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. No. 88. WEDNESDAY, 2ND SEPTEMBER, 1942. 1. The House met, at half-past seven o'clock p.m., pursuant to adjournnunt.--Mr. Speaker (the Honornble W. M. Nairn) took the Chair. 2. DEATH OF THE HONORABLE R. B. ORCHARD.-Mr. Curtin (Prime Minister) referred to the death, on the 24th July, of the Honorable R. 13. Orchard, and moved, That this House records its sincere regret at the death of the Honorable Richard Beaumont Orchard, C.B.E., a former Member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Nepean and a Minister of the Crown, places on record its appreciation of his meritorious public service, and tenders its deep sympathy to his widow and family in their bereavement. And Mr. Hughes having seconded the motion, and all Members present having risen, in silence- Question-passed. 3. )EATH OF THE HONORABLE .1. N. H. HUMEli-COoK.-Mr. Curtin (Prime Minister) referred to the death, on the 7th August, of the Honorable .1. N. H. liume-Cook, and moved, That this House records its sincere regret at the death of the Honorable James Newton Haxton Hume-Cook, a former Member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Bourke, a Member of the First Commonwealth Parliament and a Minister of the Crown, places on record its appreciation of his meritorious public service, and tenders its deep sympathy to his widow and family in t.eir bereavement. And Mr. Hughes having seconded the motion, and all Members present having ris-en, in silence- Question-passed. 1. OVERSEAS VISIT OF An'. EVATT-MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.-Mr. Curtin (Prime Minister), by leave, informed the House of the return to Australia of Mr. Evatt after his mission abroad during which he was the accredited representative of the Commonwealth Government at meetings of the British War Cabinet and the Pacific War Council. 5. OVERSEAS VISIT OF SIR EARLE PAGE-MINISTERIAL STATEMENT.-Mr. Curtin (Prime Minister), by leave, informed the House of the return to Australia in restored health of Sir Earle Page after having represented the Commonwealth on the British War Cabinet and the Pacific Wa.r Council. Mr. Curtin announced that Sir Earle Page would act as a co-opted member of the Australian Advisory War Council and would attend certain meetings of the War Cabinet. 6. PAPE.-The following Paper was presented, pursuant to Statute- Commonwealth Grants Commission Act-Report of the Commonwealth Grants Commission on applications made by the States of South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania for Financial Assistance in 1942-43 from the Commonwealth under Section 96 of the Constitution. 7. MESSAGES FROiM THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL.-ESTIMATES 1942-43.-The following Messages from His Excellency the Governor-General were presented, and were read by Mr. Speaker:- (GO4WRIE, Governor-General. Message No. 77. In accordance with the requirements of section fifty-six of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Governor-General transmits to the House of Representatives Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for the year ending the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and forty-three, and recommends an appropriation of the Consolidated Revenue Fund accordingly. Canberra, 2nd September, 1942. GOWRIE, Governor-General. Message No. 78. In accordance with the requirements of section fifty-six of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Governor-General transmits to the House of Representatives Estimates of Expenditure for Additions, New Works, Buildings, &c., for the year ending the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and forty-three, and recommends an appropriation of the Consolidated Revenue Fund accordingly. Canberra, 2nd September, 1942. Severally ordered to lie on the Table, and, together with the accompanying Estimates, to be printed and referred to the Committee of Supply forthwith. V.6316. 380 VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 2nd September, 1942. 8. SUPPLY-BUDGET STATEMENT.-The House, according to Order, resolved itself into the Committee of Supply. (In the Committee.) Mr. Chiley (Treasurer) delivered the Budget Speech and then moved, That the first item in the Estimates, under Division No. I -The Senate-namely- Salaries and allowances . .. .. ' £8,660 be agreed to. Progress to be reported, and leave asked to sit again. The House resumed ; Mr. Prowse reported accordingly. Resolved-That the House will, at the next sitting, again resolve itself into thei said Committee. 9. PAPER.-Mr. Chifley (Treasurer) presented, by command of His Excellency the Governor-General- The Budget, 1942-43-Papers presented by the Honorable J. B. Chifley, M.P., for the information of honorable Members on the occasion of the Budget of 1942-43. Ordered to lie on the Table, and to be printed. 10. WAYS AND MEANS-CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT (NO. 8) AND EXCISE TARIFF AMENDMENT (NO. 7).- The House, according to Order, resolved itself into the Committee of Ways and Means. (In the Committee.) Mr. Beasley (Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Customs) moved- CUSTOMS TARIFF AMENDMENT (NO. 8). That the Schedule to the Customs Tariff 1933-1939, as proposed to be amended by Customs Tariff Proposals introduced into the House of Representatives on the fifth day of March, One thousand nine hundred and forty-two, be further amended as hereinafter set out, and that on and after the third day of September, One thousand nine hundred and forty-two, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, reckoned according to standard time in the Australian Capital Territory, Duties of Customs be collected in pursuance of the Customs Tariff 1933-1939 as so amended. IMPORT DUTIES. British Tariff Items. Preferential Intermediate General Tariff. Tariff. Tariff. DIVISION L.-ALE, SPIRITS, AND BEVERAGES. I. By omitting the whole item and inserting in its stead the following item :- "1. Ale and other beer, porter, cider and perry, spirituous:- (A) In containers not exceeding one gallon* per gallon 5s. 10d. 9s. Id. 9s. Id. (B) Otherwise - per gallon 5s. 4d. 7s. 7d. 7s. 7d. *Six reputed quarts or twelve reputed pints or twenty-four reputed half-pints to be charged as one gallon." 3. By omitting the whole of sub-item (A) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item :- " (A) Brandy- (1) When not exceeding the strength of proof per gallon 62s. 6d. 63s. 6d. 68s. 6d. (2) When exceeding the strength of proof per proof gallon 62s. 6d. 63B. id. 68s. 6d." By omitting the whole of paragraph (2) of sub-item (B) and inserting in its stead the following paragraph:- " (2) Other- (a) When not exceeding the strength of proof per gallon 68s. 6d. 71s. 6d. 71s. 6d. (b) When exceeding the strength of proof per proof gallon 68s. 6d. 71s. 6d. 71s. 6d." By omitting the whole of sub-item (o) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:- " (c) Gin, distilled wholly from barley malt, grain, grape wine or fruit, and certified in the prescribed form by the competent Government official in the country of production to be gin distilled wholly from barley malt, grain, grape wine or fruit- (1) When not exceeding the strength of proof per gallon 68s. 6d. 70s. Od. 70s. 6d. (2) When exceeding the strength of proof per proof gallon 68s. Od. 70s. 6d. 70s. 6d." I VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 381 2nd September, 1942. IMPORT DUTIES-continued. British Tariff Items. Preferential Interndite General Tarir. Tariff. Tariff. Division I.-Ale, Spirits, and Beverages--conti i,,d. 31--continued. By omitting the whole of sub-iteml (D) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:- " () Rum, pure, distilled wholly from sugar, sugar syrup, molasses, or the refuse of sugar cane, by a pot-still or similar process at a strength not exceeding 45 per cent. over proof and certified in the prescribed form by the competent Government official in the country of production to be pure rum distilled wholly from sugar, sugar syrup, molasses, or the refuse of sugar cane, under the conditions specified- (1) When not exceeding the strength of proof per gallon 64s. 6d. 69s. 6d. 69s. 6d. (2) When exceeding the strength of proof per proof gallon 64s. 6d. 69s. 6d. 69s. 6d." By omitting the whole of sub-item (E) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:- (" ) Blended rum, distilled wholly from sugar, sugar syrup, molasses, or the refuse of sugar cane, containing not less than 25 per cent. of pure spirit which has been separately distilled from sugar, sugar syrup, molasses, or the refuse of sugar cane, by a pot-still or similar process at a strength not exceeding 45 per cent. over proof and certified in the prescribed form by the com- petent Government official in the country of production to be rum distilled wholly from sugar, sugar syrup, molasses, or the refuse of sugar cane, under the conditions specified and so blended- (I) When not exceeding the strength of proof per gallon 65s. 6d. 70s. 6d. 70s. 6d. (2) When exceeding tile strength of proof per proof gallon 65s. 6d. 70s. Od. 70s. 6d." By omitting the whole of sub-item (o) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item:- " () B3itters- (1) When not exceeding the strength of proof per gallon 67s. Gd. 72s. 6d. 72s. 6d. (2) When exceeding the strength of proof per proof gallon 67s. 6d. 72s. 6d. 72s. Gd." By omitting the whole of sub-item (u) and inserting in its stead the following sub-item :- " (n) Liqueurs- (1) When not. exceeding the strength of proof per gallon 56s. 6d. 58s. 6d. 69s. 6d. (2) \When exceeding the strength of proof per proof gallon 56s.