1512 1512[COUJNCIL.] FREMANTLE HOSPITAL. TEe-ilaftiv Tonur Exchange of Land. Wednesday, 2nd November, 1955. Hon E. M. DAVIES asked the Chief Secretary: CONTENTS. Page (1) With reference to the proposed new Assent to Blls; .. .. 1512 hospital at Fremantle, what action, if any. Questions : Crown lands, availability for has the Government taken to complete pastoral purposes .... I.. .. 1512 the arrangements with the Fremantle Fremantle hospital, exchange of land .. 1512 Council for the exchange of 40 acres of Pollee Force, (a) Resignations... .... 1512 land at Hilton Park for certain small lots (b) Sergeant Kendall's position .. 1512 of Crown land? Billis: Health Act Amendment, 8r., passed .. 1513 (2) Is he aware that after a review of Administration Act Amendment, 2r. 1513 probable requirements in 1965 it is re- Superannuation and Family Benefits vealed that approximately 670 general Act Amendment, Corn. 1514 beds will be required at that year? University Medical School, Teaching Hospitals, 2r......... f158 (3) Will he expedite the securing of the University Medical School, 2r., Corn., land with a view to plans for the new report............... .... 1517 hospital being prepared? State Government Insurance Office Act Amendment, St. 1519 The CHIEF SECRETARY replied: Constitution Acts Amendment (No. 2), (1) This is a matter which is being in- 2r... ... .. 1523 vestigated by the Public Works Depart- Bank Holidays Act Amendment, 2r .. 1528 ment, and early finality has been re- Soil[ Conservation Act Amendment, 2r.. 1534 quested. (2) The department is aware that there is an increasing shortage of hospital beds The PRESIDENT took the Chair at in the Fremantle area. 4.30 p.m., and read prayers. (3) Yes. ASSENT TO BILLS. POLICE FORCE. (a) Resignations. Message from the Governor received and read notifying assent to the following Ron. Sir CHARLES LATHAM asked the Bills:- Chief Secretary: 1, Police Benefit Fund Abolition Act I-ow many resignations took place in Amendment. the Western Australian Police Force dur- 2, Cemeteries Act Amendment. ing the years 1952, 1953 and 1954 respec- 3, Inspection of Scaffolding Act Amend- tively? ment. The CHIEF SECRETARY replied: 4, Mining Act Amendment. In 1952 there were 34 resignations: in 5, Parks and Reserves Act Amendment. 1953, there were 43; and in 1954, there 6, Medical Act Amendment (No. 2). were 59. 7 Honey Pool. 8, Swan Lands Reveatment. (b.) Sergeant Kendall's Position. 9, Rents and Tenancies Emergency Pro- Hon. Sir CHARLES LATHAM asked the visions Act Amendment. Chief Secretary: (1) How many times has Sergeant Ken- QUESTIONS. dall been passed over for promotion since the Police Royal Commission? CROWN LANDS. (2) How many times has he been forced Availability for Pastoral Purposes. to appeal? Hon. 0. BENNETTS asked the Minister (3) What has been the full cost of these for the North-West: appeals to the department? (1) Is it correct that all Crown lands (4) What representation has Sergeant within the State have been withdrawn Kendall had on the Selection and Pro- from selection for Pastoral purposes? motional Boards? (2) If the answer is in the affirmative. (5) Has he objected to such representa- can he give the reason for such with- tion? If so. why? drawal? (6) Has he ever been forced to with- The MINISTER replied: draw his appeals? If so, why? (1) Yes. (7) How many inspectors comprised the (2) The Government is giving considera- Promotional Board on the 27th and 28th tion to a closer settlement policy in October. 1955? pastoral areas. (8) Who is the chairman of the board? [2 November, 1955.] 1513 (9) How many inspectors gave him a equally efficient. The argument, in dis- strong recommendation for promotion to cussion, then ranged around the fact that the rank of Third Class Inspector, and the two officers were equally efficient, but how many members of the board spoke that Sergeant Bunter was the senior 1st highly in his favour for such promotion? Class Sergeant to Sergeant Kendall. (10) Was it a secret ballot? (10) No. Show of hands. (11) Were the full notes of evidence (11) No. Brief notes of the proceedings and discussions recorded? If not, why are taken by the staff sergeant for not? record Purposes, and these can be made (12) Does the chairman of the board act available to the hon. member at the office as judge and jury, or does he vacate the of the Minister for Police. board room during such discussions? (12) No. The chairman remains in the (13) Is it recognised that Sergeant board room and takes part in the discus- Kendall with his overall police experience sion but has only the same voting Power is one of the most efficient and qualified -i.e. one vote-as any other commissioned members of the Police Force? officer. (14) Is it a fact that be is highly re- (13) He is recognised as an efficient garded and respected by the majority of officer and has qualified for Promotion, the Police Force, and by the public gen- which he could no doubt receive in the erally? normal course of seniority. (15) H-ave his seniority in service, qual- (14) 1 cannot answer that question. fications and efficiency fitted him for pro- (15) Answered by No. (13) above. motion over many junior officers? (16) Yes. In 1949 certain members, who (16) Have any of the members sitting were then non-commissioned officers and on the Promotional Board been charged were members of the Police Union Execu- by Sergeant Kendall with any mis- tive, were charged with a technical breach demeanour, and convicted? of the Royal Commission Powers Act for (17) If the Minister for Police has not action taken by the general secretary of sighted the papers dealing with Sergeant the union in regard to the suspension of Kendall's grievance, will he do so, and, in Sergeant Kendall from the union. the meantime, instruct the Acting Com- (17) The Minister sighted Papers deal- missioner of Police to withhold the ap- Ing with Sergeant Kendall's grievances proval of the last successful applicant for some time ago but as the Act Provides promotion until an inquiry has been held? certain procedure through the Selection and Promotional Boards which have been The CHIEF SECRETARY replied: followed in the last appeal lodged by (1) The hon. member would be better Sergeant Kendall, he is not willing to with- informed on this question by Perusing the hold the approval of the last successful relevant Police Department papers on this applicant for promotion until an inquiry matter, and arrangements will be made has been held. accordingly, if he so desires. (2) Covered in answer to No. (1) above. BILL-HEALTH ACT AMENDMENT. (3) There has been no cost to the de- Bill read a third time and passed. partment, other than the lost time of BILL-ADMINISTRATION ACT members of the force having to attend Appeal Boards. AMENDMENT. (4) No member of the force has any Second Readin~g. representation on the Selection Board, which comprises the Chief Inspector as HON. A. F. GRIFFITH (Suburban) chairman, and two senior inspectors; nor [4.40] in moving the second reading said: has he any representation on the Appeal At the outset I wish to explain that the Board, which comprises the Commissioner Bill was introduced in another place by a of Police, as chairman, and all commis- private member and I have been requested sioned officers of the force other than the to present it here. In doing so, I Propose District Officer from Broome and the to explain the details of the Bill, and, at members of the Selection Board. the conclusion of my remarks, to repudiate one of its clauses. The object of the meas- (5) This is answered by No. (4) above. ure is to amend certain sections of the (6) No. It is not possible to force any Administration Act. appellant to withdraw an appeal; nor was If the Hill Is passed, it will delete the this possible under the provisions of the word "curator" from the Act and insert in Government Appeal Board. lieu the words "Public trustee". At one (7) Twenty-three. time the curator was a public officer, but he is no longer in existence under that (8) The Commissioner of Police. title. (9) I have no record of the actual num- The Bill seeks to clarify the position of bers, but I should say the majority of those Intestacy. Provision is made that the present agreed as to his efficiency. But specified sum shall not be applied in rela- they also agreed that Sergeant Suntbr was tion to the value of the estate as at the 1514 1514[COUJNCIL.) date of death for the purpose of calculat- Hon. Sir Charles Latham: Where it has ing the fractional shares of beneficiaries. been assessed but the assessment has not including anyone entitled to the specified been received or paid. sum. It is considered that the specified sum, being a set figure, should be regarded Hon. A. F. GRIFFITH: I think the as a straightforward legacy and therefore present Act Provides for that position. if deducted from the net value before any there is any Question that the hon. mem- fractional shares are arrived at for the ber would like to raise in that connection, future distribution of the estate. I shall make further inquiries in regard toIt. Further provision is made in the Bill as to how any income derived from an inte- The clause I wish to repudiate is one state estate prior to distribution, shall be which was actually inserted in another distributed. It is suggested that the spouse place on the motion of the Premier.