Queensland

Parliamentary Debates [Hansard]

Legislative Assembly

TUESDAY, 10 AUGUST 1937

Electronic reproduction of original hardcopy

QUEENSLAND PAltLIAMENTARY DEBATES. llegislattbe ~ssembl!'.

THIRD SESSION OF THE 'F\VENTY -SEVENTH PARLIAM:I<lNT

APPOINTED TO MEET

AT BRISBANE ON THE TENTH DAY OF AUGUST, IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE REIGN OF HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE VI., IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD '1937.

TUESDAY, 10 AUGUST, 1937.

OPENING OF PARLL\MENT. Pursuant to the proclamation by His

Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor,· dated 9th July, 1937, appointing Parliament to meet this day for the despatch of business, the Ii'ouse met at 10 o'clock a.m. in the Legislative Afscmbly Chamber.

Mr. SPEAKER (Hon. G. Pollock, Grcoory), took the chair.

The Clerk of the Parliament read the Proclamation.

ABDICATION OF KING EDWARD VIII., A::\D ACCESSION OF KING GEORGE VI.

~1ESSAGE rROi.II THE LIETJTE"'A~T-GovERNOR.

The PREMIER (Hon. \Y. Forgan Smith, JI ackay) presented the following message from His Excellency the Lieutenant­Governor-

" The Lieutenant-Governor acquaints the Legislative Assembly, in accordance with the provisions of the fourth section of the ' Constitution Act of 1867,' that our former beloved sovereign King Edward the Eighth by an Instrument of Abdication dated the tenth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-six, declared his irrevocable determination to renounce the Throne for himself and his descendants, and that on the fourteenth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-six His Most Gracious Majesty King George the Sixth wa.s duly and lawfuily pro­claimed at Brisbane as King by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Defender of the Faith, Emp0 ror of India.

" The Lieutenant-Governor further acquaints the Legislative Assembly that, before members thereof sit and vote o,s such, it is necessary that they should take or make the Oath or Affirmation of 1937-B

Allegiance to His Most Gracious Majesty, a& required by the Act hereinbefore men­tioned.

" Government House, Brisbane, lOth August, 1937."

The Clerk read the message.

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO KING GEORGE VI.

The PREMIER (Hon. W. Forgan Smith, M:ackay) produced a commission under the public Sf-al of the State, empowering him, the Hon. Pcrcy Pease, the Hon. John Mullan. and the Hon. George Pollock, or any one or more of them, to administer to all or any members or member of the House the oath or affirmation of allegiance to His Majesty King George VI., which commission was then read to the House by the Cleric

.ME1IBERS SWORN. The Commissioners (the Hon. \V. Forgan

Smith, Hon. John Mullan, and Hon. Ge01·ge Pollock, who had themselves been sworn before His Exccilency the Governor on 14th December, 1936, 'and the Hon. Porcy Pease, who had been sworn before His Excellency the L!Cutenant-Governor on 5th August, 1937), then administered the oath or affirmation of allegiance to the following other members present:-

Mr. Randolph Bedford. Mr. William Alfred Brand. Mr. Samuel John Brassington. Mr. John Innes Brown. Mr. James Clark. Mr. Ernest Henry Collet Clayton. Mr. Harold Henry Collins. Mr. Charles William Conroy. Mr. l'atrick Kerry Copley. Mr. William John Copley. Mr. John Burton Donnelly. Mr. ,John Edmund Duggan. Mr. Thomas Dunstan. Mr. Jamrs Braidwood Eclwards.

2 Lieutenant-Go1·ernor's [ASSEMBLY.] Opening Speech.

Mr. Vincent Clair Gair. Mr. David Alexander Gledson. Mr. Ed"ard Joseph Hanson. Mr. John Joseph O'Connor Healy. Mr. Paul Jerome Remigius Hilton. Mr. Roland William Hislop. Mr. Cccil George Jesson. Mr. James Da.vid Kane. Mr. James Patriek Keogh. Mr. William Thomas King. :Mr. James Lareombe. Mr. Edmund Bede Maher. Mr. John Henry Mann. Mr. J ames Francis Maxwell. Mr. Bernard i\IcLean. Mr. Arthur Edward Moore. Mr. Godfrey Morgan. Mr. Ado!£ GuBtav Muller. Mr. George Francis Reuben Nicklin. l\h. Thomas Nimmo. Mr. John O'Keefe. Mr. Thomas Flood Plunkett. Mr. William Power. Mr. Ernest Joseph Riordan. Mr. Gcorge Cuthbert Taylor. Mr. Edward Joseph Walsh. Mr. Francis John \Vaters. Mr. Herbert Wiiiiams. Mr. Thomas Lewis Williams.

The following Ministers were re-sworn before His Excellency ihe Governor:-

14th December, 1936-Hon. Henry Adam Bruce, Hon. Frank William Bulcock Hon. Frank Arthur Cooper, ' Hon. John Dash. Hon. Edward Michael Hanlon, Hon. Maurice Patrick Hyncs.

17th December, 1936-Hon. Thomas Andrew Fo!ey.

At 10.14 a.m.,

Mr. SPEAKER: I shall resume the chair at 2 minutes to 12 o'clock noon.

At 11.58 p.m., Mr. SPEAKER resumed the chair.

LIEuTEXJcNT-GOVERNOR'S OPEl\T\G SPEECH.

At noon His Excellency the Lieutenant­Governor came in state to Parliament House. was announced by the Sergeant-at-Arms, and received by Mr. Speaker (Hon. G. Pollock) at the bar.

The members of the Assembly being seated,

His Excellcncv read the following Open­ing Spee<'h :- ·

" Gn:TLE>IEN OF THE LEGISL.iTIYE AssE:YIBLY,-

" It gives me great pleasure to meet you at the opening of this the Third Session of the Twenty-seventh Parliament' of Queens­land.

" In May last the people of Queensland celebrated in fitting manner the Coronation of Their Majesties King Gem·ge the Sixth and Queen Elizabeth. Throughout the cele­l)l·ations, the loyalty and affection of the people towards the Throne and Perwn of our Sovereign were clearly manifested.

" Since mv assumption of Office as Lieu­tenant-Govel~nor in May, following upon the departure from the State . of Sir Lesl•\e Wilson I have had opportumtl8s of makmg­short 'official visits to the central and northern coastal regions of Queensland. I was received everywhere as the repre;enta­tive of His Majesty with the greatest loyalty.

"I was particularly impressed by the pl:o­gress that has been achieved in these <:\!s­tricto and by the splendid manner m wh10h the e~ttlers are developing the great natural resources available.

" It is with very great regret that I refer to the death of one of the oldest members of this Hous•e, the Honourable J ame, Stop­ford, Secretary for Mines, who, during a long and useful career as a member of Par­liament and as a Minieter of the Crown, endeared himself to all his fellow members, and rendered great service to the State.

" Early this year infonuation was received to the effect that the International Sugar Conference to which reference was made at the opening of the last session, would be hel-d in April of this year. My advisers con­sidered it was essential that this State should be represented at the Conference, and after consultation with the Commonwealth Govern­ment it was decided that the Premier should attend the Conference in London with the Commonwealth Minister. The result of the Conference w <Ls satisfactory to Austral! a m general and to this State in particular. An International Agreement was arnved at pro­viding for a five-year plan towards the establishment and maintenance of an orderly marketing scheme in the world's 'free market.' By the terms of ~his Agreement, Australia will have the nght to export 400,000 long tons of raw sugar annually.

"In a-ddition the Government of the united Kingdo~ agreed to recommend. to Parliam<:mt the extension for a further perwd of five wars of ·the existing tariff prefer­ences on~ Australian sugar.

"As a result of the favourable growing conditions, Queensland's production of raw sugar for the 1936 season was the h1ghest vet recorded in the State. The output of '719. 600 tons of bagged sugar exceeded. by approximately 106,500 tons the pr_evwus highest output, wh1ch was reached m the 1933 season.

" The transaction! of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the financial year just closed resulted in a deficit of £280,190, which was £370,474 lesc than the Budget Estimate, and was the best Budget result recorded smcc thi) financial year 1928-1929.

" Receipts amounted to £16,535,038, or £466,803 in excess of the estimate, while expenditure totalled £16,815,228, or £96,329 in excess of the estimate.

" Loan Fund expenditure during thB year amounted to £3,760,300, which enabled the Government and local bodies to proceed

further with their public works nolicy towards the successful development of the State's remurecs. The total works financed directly or indirectly by the Government amounte-d to £7,825,239.

" The benefit of this policy is clearly demonstrated by the employment figures for the current quarter, which show a reduc­tion of the percentage of unemployment from 23.3 to 6.0. These figures can be taken as a fair indication of the generally improved employment position.

Lieutenant-Governor's [10 AUGUST.) Opening Speech. 3

"The buoyancy of the revenue derived from various sources indicates a continued improvement towards the recovery of the State's prosperity.

"The expenditure from the Unemploy­ment Relief Fund enabled the Government to . subsidise works, valuable in character, whrch could not have been undertaken in the normal way by local authorities. Such local authority works are carried out under award wages and conditions.

" The State Government Insurance Office, which was established twenty-one years ago, has proved a useful and profitable national institution. It has more than justified its establishment, in that it has given economi­cal insurance service, not only in workers' compensation but also in the fire, life, and miscellaneous departments. Greatly improved rates of compensation have been provided, and approximately £6,000,000 has been paid to injured workers or their dependents.

" The assets of this great Queensland office exceed·· £4,700,000, while the reserves in the Fire Department total £390,00(),

" In the Life Department the funds total £3,555,686; claims paid by death or maturity have amounted to £855,502; 46,662 policies were in force at the 31st December last, with •-urns assured totalling £10,206,706.

" \'cry satisfactory trading in the 1\Iiscel­la.neous and Marine DPpartments is also rf'ported.

'' l·1 the settlement of the Crown Estotc in QncpJ,s1and. the Department of Pnblic Lands has satisfactorily maintained progressive rlPvPlopment. The number of new selections a.equired during the vear was 386, the total area thereof bcing 921.315 acre~. New pas­toral holdings to the ·number of 139 were takc11 up. the a.rea comprised therein being 17,056 equare miles.

''.After a C'cssation for some time on acf'~uut of. drought relief investigation, n1y "dvJ"::r;;, 1n l\1arch last. again commenced the openinr;- of sheep lands for new grazing sPlcrt-ion. These openings \Yill continue tl;ro.tghout the year.

" The provisions of the ""col Relief Act with respect to grazing selections and pre­ferential pastoral holdings were extended to the 3let D<•cember next. and the aggregate valu" of this form of relief to lessees in the sheep arcn,s is C3timated at £617,000.

" During the year 104,000 acres of rechimed prickly-pear land ,t·ero made aYailable for mixed farming and dairying, 399 000 acres for grazir::g, 350,000 arres for forf'~t grazing !ea,.c', and nearly 2.000,000 acrec- for pa3toral lease. It is interesting to note that the total area of reclaimed lands which has been >Plf'dcd nbject to dcYelopmcnta.l conditions i-; 1warly 18 OOO,OOJ acres.

''The a·hnlH'S of the Public E-,tatc Improvement Branch last vear on road con­struction and land r~clamation were Pxtor:ded throughout the State. and work has br·cn in progr0ss frorn the southern borrler at Coolangatta to as far north as the Daintrec RiYer b!'yond Cairns.

" Similar:y large areas of ;;aluab1e tin1ber have been rendered acccssihle for marketing by the Sub-Department of, Forestrv. Record activity in logging and reforestation has r6suhcd in the cutting of 162,000,000 super­ficial feet of timber.

" The progressive policy of the Government in making money available to local autho· rities under its subsidised loan schemes has bce•1 responsible for the maintenance of the e,divities of the Irrigation and Water Supply Department in the provision of town water sv.pplies and sewerage schemes. Through­out the year, eighty-two schemes of water supply and sixteen sewerage schemes have be~n dealt with, involving an aggregate expenditure of approximately £2,000,000.

" Seasonal conditions throughout the pas­toral districts of the State have been mainly satisfactory, but throughout the farm and dairying lands the season was probably the most unfavourable for many years.

" :My Government recognises the great v·• luc of the live stock and meat industry to th0 State, and views witl;r satisfaction the increasing quantity of meat exported over­seas during recent years, and the efforts undertaken to secure a gain in prestige for State products in overseas markets.

" My advisers are fully seized with the importance of the chilled beef trade and the necessity for its proper development, not only with respect to processing methods, vo;:r.gf~ J1f'riod~ of ::3hort duration, and re>gu­larit · of arrival of cargoes, but also to impt:o,·ecl produdion.

" In all these matters, continued cfforh will be made to secure for live stock producers the greatest ad,-antagc of the export trade in meat products, and to promote within the indu,try, employment to the fullest extent.

" It is the purpose of my Government to stimulate. also, standards for domestic markets equal to those adopted for the export trade, and thus enconrage the industry to a higher status as a who:e.

" Iu order that diseases of sheep, particu­larlY sheen blowflv. and nutrition problems m.,,;, be m'Ore fully in,·estigated, my Govern­me:>t has made available to the Council for SciPntific and Industrial Research two pas­toral areas in the Cunnamulla district, a.nd it is hoped that the result of the re,ear~hes '"ill be' of great benefit to the pastoral industry.

" Although wheat crop expectations 1vere not r('alised, farll1ers were compensated to "0111<' extent by the good qua:ity of the grain ami the higher prices obtained.

" On the Atherton Tableland a record rnaizc yield was harvested, and a profitable 1narket is in prospect.

" A dairy research laboratory has been cc.tablished at Toowoornba, and dairy schools also have been instituted for the benefit of dairy factory operative,.

" During last year an amount of £576,147 1ms expended by the Department of Public \Vmks on new buildings and tho mainten­ance o£ existing buildings. The result of the year's work has been gratifying, and has enabled my Government's policy of provid­ing employment to be successfully carried on. It is hoped that the same vigorous policy will be maintained during the current fmancial year.

" Satisfartory progrefs has been main­tainecl on the Yarious works undertaken bv the Bureau of Indu,trv. Construction work on the Story Bridge over the Brisbane River is proceeding in ac~ordance with the pro­gramme laid down, and the Stanley River Dam works are also making good progress.

4 Lieutenant-Governor's [ASSEMBLY.] Opening Speech,

" During the financial year just closed 462 workers' dwellings were completed, and 76 were under construction at the beginning of this year. The total amount advanced in respect of all the housing schemes adminis­tered by the State Advances Corporation was £314,399.

" The report of the royal commission appointed by the Government to inquire into and report upon the regulation and supply of electricity in the State has been received and considered by my Government. A Brll dealing with the subject is in cour'e of pre­paration, and will be submitted to you during the current session.

"The revenue of the Railway Department last year has been well maintained, and the earnings considerably exceeded those of last year. The additional collections have been derived principally from goods and live-stock traffic, a ma:·ked increase having resulted from the carnage of general mer-chandise. '

" During the year U\:e new pa_ssenger loco­motives were placed mto servrce, and,. m addition, two suburban passenger tra_ms, each of eight carriages of modern desrgn. The number of rail motors was increased by the addition of two 102 horse-power Diesel engine cars and six trailers. To the wagon stock were added twenty-five insulated for the carria"e of chilled meat and ten pig or EhceP van~. Six passenger locomotives;, . as well as four Diesel rail motor cars, wrtb eight trailers, were under construction in the Railway Department's workshops at Ipswich at the commencement of the current financial year.

" The report of the Royal <:;ommission on Transnort has now been rererycd. Careful consideration will be given by the Govern­ment to the recommendations made by the commissjon, and, if necessary, legi;:;lation will be introduced.

" The activities of the Touri~t Bureau increased considerably during the year, and there is every indication that Queensland is being more and more recognised as a winter tourist resort.

"Up to the 30th June last the M~in Roads Commission had c_ompleted 3,879 m1les Df roads and app1·oximately 13 miles of bridges. Many important road links were complet<'d during th.o year both in settled districts and in areas in process of settle­ment. The Federal Aid Roads Agreement has been renewed for a further period of ten years from 1st July, 1937, on the same basis of distribution as hitherto, but an extra ~d. per gallon customs and excise duty has been made available to the State.

" Tho cx11enditure on n1ain roads during the year ]!last was £1,481,530.

" Queensland retains its position as the second greatest gold-producing State of the Commonwealth, the yield for the year ended 30th June last being 115,000 fine ounces. The State's yield of minerals other than gold is also increasing, and for the last financial year the value of production was ever £3,000,000.

" The working of Queensland's low-grade tin deposits is a matter of primary concern to mv advisers and financial assistance is made- available' to tin miners where war­ranted. Following the provision of depart­mental assistance to test bore and investigate large low-grade alluvial tin deposits at

Return Creek, l\Iount Garnet, near Herber­ton, it is pleasing to learn_ that the result will be tin dredging operatiOns on a larger scale than ever attempted in this State previously.

" Although the general unemployment position ho.s improved, my advisers are still giving the greatest consideration to this important social problem.

" The training of youths for farm careers has also occupied the attention of my Govern­ment, and with a view to encouraging unemployed youths in towns to accept farm work a scheme has been introduced for pay­ment of wage subsidies based according to ago and experience. Although this scheme is in the experimental stage, it is being fully availed of by both boys and farmers.

" Cotton 1growers were' further a.ssisted with short-term loans on crops during the year, and efforts are being continued to increase the acreage planted with a view to meeting requirements of the Australian market.

"'The relief provided by the Financial Emergency Acts has been freely "lVailed of by those adversely affected by conditions over which they had no control. The Hire Purchase Agreement Act also has afforded protection to purchasers of furniture and other neces~ary household articles under hire­purchase agreement, while the Contracts of Sale of Land Act has given further security to purchasers of homes on instalments.

" The necessity for the revision of laws dealing with trust moneys resulted in an amendment of the Auctioneers and Com­mission Agents Act, and this amendment will effect further protection both to the public and all reputable agents.

" The usefulness of the Public Curator's office as a public trustee, and its other spheres of activity, is indicated by its continued expansion. In this office beneficiaries have c.ecurity, while its administration is both dficient and economical.

" Following investigations made during the rPCess by the SPcretary for Health and Home "\!fairs. my advi;ers are giving further con­sideration to the aboriginal problem, par­ticularly in relation to the nomadic sedions in the North and in the direction of making distinct provision concerning persons of white and coloured parcnto.ge and the Torres Strait Islanders

"The district hospital systc:n which has developed and modernised hospital activities now serves over 90 per cent. of the popula­tion. The establishment of a hoc.pital and medical service at Thur"day Island, aided by a sea-plane, is under review.

"The new women's hospital at Brisbane is fast nearing completion, and the child wel­fare sen·ice is now operating in eighty-nine centres.

" The Local Government Act passed last sc;·.ion. which came into force from 1st Janu­ary last, has been very favourably. received, particularly by the ~nancml mst1tutwns up~m which local authonties are dependent for their borrowings.

' During the year the services of the Department of Public In~truction were _mam­tained, and progress contmued. _The Prrmary Correspondence School has contmued to pr?­vide effecth·ely for a large number of chrl­dren whose location make attendance at a school for oral instruction impossible.

Lieutenant-Governor's Speech. [10 AUGUST.] By-election During Recess. 5

" School proj oct clubs ha vo increased in 1oopularity, and the membership is approach­ing S,QOO .. These clu_bs ~re flesigned to pro­mote mquuy. mve,t1gat10n. and responsible practical 'vork in matters of common interest in the school locality.

" The number of children who qualified for rtssisted secondary education by success in the State scholarship examination last year increased from 3,811 to 4,012, being th<~ largest number of scholarships ever awarded.

" During the year over 36.000 children were PXamined by members of· the staff of the School Medical Service, and 25,000 were examined and treated by Dental Inspectors. The Motor Dental Clinics operating in the South-\Vestern, Central-\Vestern. and North­V\' est ern portions of the State have proved a boon to i'olated families.

""fhe activities of the Agricultural High School and Colkgo at Gatton, which is reg::;rde_d as an important departmental mst1tubon, have been continued during thP year.

" Plans are now in courso of preparation fo1· a now University at St. Lucia costing approximately £500,000, and early oppor­tumty w1ll be taken to commenr'l work on the preparation of the site and on the buildings.

" The FacultiPs of Medicine. Dcntistrv and Vetorina:·:r Science were brought int~ -operation dunng the year 1936.

" Employees of the Crown continue to render faithful "nd efficient service. By the amendment of the Arbitration Act made last year acces.s to the Industrial Court was afforded all Crow'! employees Following a hganng of the cla1rns lodged by the vario•1s 'Cmons the Court awarded substanti,•l increases in wages and salaries) co1nmencing as from the 1st July, 1936. The salaries and wages of Crown employees were also adjusted as horn the 1st April. 1937, to accord with the lilcrease of the basic wage.

"The Iii ',~ltnates for the cu!'rent f1nancia.i y~ar arc now_ in course of preparation, and Will be submitted for your consideration at

• an early date. In these Estimates my adviser> are giving full regard to the essen­tial requirements of the State at the same time keeping in view the 'necessity for PConoinic{tl ad1ninstration.

" Among the proposals which hro11ght before p,,r!iamcnt :you mvned to give consideration to the 1neasures :-

Electricity Bill; \V ages Acts Amendment Bill;

will b2 v, ill be

following

Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Acts Amendment Dill;

Hc~lth Acts Consolidation and Amend­ment Bill;

Policn Acts Consolidation and Amend-ment Bill;

Insanity Bill; M0nhl Dcfectivos Bill; Pri>oncrs Parole Bill; Aboriginals Protection Dill; Land Acts Amendment Bill; Timber Industry Stabilisation Bill; Air X1.vigation Dill; Sugar Experiment Stations Acts Amend­

ment Bill; Disca"'s m Poultry Act Amendment

Bill;

Animals and Birds Ach Amendment Bill;

Pure Seeds Act Amendment Bill ; Brands Acts Amendment Dill; Public Service Superannuation Acts

Amendment Bill. "To those and all other matters which mav

be submitted to you, I invite your earnest consideration, and I pray that the blessing of Divine Providence may attend your labours."

His Excellency then left the Chamber. At 12.29 p.m., Mr. SPEAKER: I shall resume the chair

at 2.30 p.m. At 2.30 p.m., Mr. SPEAKER resumed the chair.

COMMISSION TO ADMINISTER OATH. Mr. SPEAKER: I have to inform the

House that His Excellency the Lieutenant­Governor ha,; been pleased to issue a com­mission under the public seal of the State empowering me to administer the oath or affirmation of .allegiance to such members as may hereafter present themselves to be sworn, which I now direct the Clerk to read to the House.

Commission thereupon read by the Clerk.

MEMBERS SWORN. Messrs. Roy Mackenzie Dell, David John

Marlais Daniel. vVilliam Arthur Deacon, ,John Vincent Hayes, and Harry Frederick \Yalker took the oath of allegiance.

DISTINGUISHED VISITOR. Ho:<:. R. SE~IPLE, M.P. (NEw ZEALAND).

Mr. SPEAKER: I have to inform the House that Mr. Sample, Minister in the ~ew Zealand Government, is present, and on behalf of hon. members I have invited him to take a scat on the dais of this House.

HoNOURABLE ME}!BERS: Hear, hear ! \Yhereupon Mr. Sample was seated on the

dais.

DY-ELEC'l'ION DURING RECESS-XEW MEMBER.

MARYBOROUGH. Mr. SPEAKER: I have to report that

during the recess I received from the Registrar-General a certified copy of the registration of the death, on 30th 1\'ovembor, 1936. of ,J ames Stop ford, Esq., lately s~Jrving in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland as member for the electoral district of Maryborough.

In accordance with the direction of the tenth section of the Legislative Assembly Act of 1867, I issued a writ for the election of a member to serve in the Legislative Assembly for the electoral district of Mary­borough, in the room of J ames Stopford, Esq., deceased; and the said >vrit was duly returned to me with a certificate endorsed thereon by the returning officer of the election of \Villiarn Halliwell Demaine, Esq, to serve as such member.

Mr. Demaine was then introduced, took the oath of allegiance, and subscribed the roll.

6 Accession of King George VI. [ASSEMBLY.] Papers.

:MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. The PREMIER (Hon. W. Forgan Smith,

Mackay) laid on the table a copy of the Government "Gazette," dated 17th Decem­ber, 1936, containing notification of the appointment of the Hon. Thomas Andrew Foley as a member of the Executive Council and as SccTotary for Mines consequent on the death of the Hon. James Stopford.

ACCESSIO:'\f OF KH\G GEOHGE VI.

ADDREss oF CoNGRATULATiON. Tho PHE:\HER (Hon. W. Forgan Smith,

lffackay) [2.37 p.m.], by leave, without. notice: I move-

" 1. That the following address of ~.onpatulation to His Majesty be adopted:-

' To His :Most Gracious Majesty, George the Sixth,. by the Grace of God. of Great Bntarn, Ireland, and of tht:: British Dominions be) ond the Seas King Defender of the Faith, Em1;eror or' India.

'May it Please Your Majesty,-' We, the Members of the Legis­

lative Assembly of Queensland in Parliament assembled, respectfully submit congratulations on Your Majesty's acceosion to the Throne.

'vVe pray that under the Divine Guidance Your Majesty may be long spared to rule the British Common­wealth of Nations, and that Your Majc·ty's reign may be distinguished by peace, prosperity, and a general advancement in the social and economic conditions of Your Majesty's subjects.' " 2. That His Excellency the Lieu-

tenant-Governor be requested to forward the above address to His Majc&ty."

Mr. :M.,,\HER (lV est M ore ton) [2.38 p.m.]: The Opposition joins moot whole-heartedly in the congratulations, expressed in the motion, to His Majesty King Ge01·ge VI. on his accession to the thronco. Ten years ago, the King and Queen, as Duke and Duchess of York, visited Australia for the purpose of inaugurating the first meeting of the Commonwealth Parliament at Canberra. On that occasion their Majesties visited Queens­land, and the people of this State entertain the happieot recollections of their visit, The Coronation of a British Monarch has from ancient times excited world-wide interP.<t, but I doubt whether any previous Coronation reoeived such universal recognition and interest as the great ceremony at Westmin­ster Abbey a fow months ago. The develop­ment of radio brought the historic event to the homes of millions of people throughout the world. Even though in some countries radical political changes have eliminated the monarchical system, nevertheless, I feel that all races of people are monarchists at heart, hence the deep, world-wide interest in the Coronation of their Majesties the King and Queen. Somebody has said-

" Oh happy Kings whose thrones are raised in their subjects' hearts."

It is on the secure foundation of the hearts of our fellow countrvmon that the British throne rests. The 'terms of the motion expre"es our loyal feelings and the hope that His Majesty King George the VI. and

[Mr. Maker.

his mmt gracious consort may have a long, happy, and peaceful reign.

HoNOURABLE MniBERS: Hear, hear!

The PRE1HER (Hon. W. Forgan Smith, Mackay) [2.41 p.m.J : Before the motion is put I just want to say that as the represen­tative of this State, I had the honour and

.,privile&e of. attending. the Coronation and also of takmg part m the vanous cere­monials attached thereto. There can be nn doubt at all that the Coronation of King Ge01·ge and Queen Elizabeth was hailed with great pleasure by all sections of the people in Great Britain and in Australia. (Hear, hear !) I voice the feelings of all ~·itizer;s when I say that Kmg George, wrth hrs gracious con,ort, will carry on the best tra~r­tione of th8 Britich Monarchy, that he wrll act as a constitutional monarch, and that his endeavours and his influence will all be m the direction of the promotion of peace and the wellbeing· of the great countries ovc1· which he reigns.

The British Constitution is itself a very interesting thing. It is unwritten and based very largely on precedent,. but it <;an a·dapt itself to any change m condrtwns a' required, and is sufficiently strong. to meet any crisis that may arJ'e. \Vhat I!!1Pr?ssed me most in regard to the Coronation rtself was that ready adaptation t? changing ~on­ditions. Since the coronatiOn o~ the last monarch the Statute of W estmmster ha& been passed and become law; so that Dominions like Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada are wholly inde­pend0nt cou;1tries l~gislatively, with . ~he monarch as a connectmg lmk m the Brrtrsh Commonwealth of Nations. So that the King is the King of Australi':', .of New Zea­land anJ of thf' other Dommrons, and w<:: hav~ complete legislative power .. A very significant fact in the ceremony rt.self was that the whole ceremony emphasised the soverE>ignty of the people. They wer~ crown­ing a King-they were not acclarmmg a dictator.

HONOT'RADLE '!YlE)fBERS: Hear, hear ! The PREMIER : They were crowning a

king under the constitutional. system under which the sovereignty rests wrth the people.

HONOT'RABLE ME)fBERS: Hear, hear !

Question put and passed.

PAPERS. The following paper was laid on the table,

and ordered to be printed:-Report of the Agent-General for Queens­

land for the year 1936. The following papers were laid on the

table:-Regulations under the Public Service

.\cts, 1922 to 1924, dated 17th December, 1936, 14th January, 1937, and 18th March, 1937.

Order in Council dated 22nd April, 1937. under the Salaries Act, 1930, and thE> Financial Emergency Act, 1931.

Orders in Council (2), dated 4th March. 1937 under the Bureau of Industry Act;, 1932 to 1934. relating to the University Works Board.

Order in Council, dated 6th May, 1937, under the Industries Assistance Acts, 1929 to 1933, relating to the C.O.:'\f. Proprietary Ltd.

Address in Reply. [10 AuGusT.] Address in Reply. 7

ELECTIO~S TRIBUNAL. JUDGE FOR 1937.

iYir. SPEAKER announced the receipt of a letter from His Ho11our, the Acting Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Macrossan, intimating that he would be the judge to preside at the sittings of tha Elections T'ribunal for the year 1937.

P Ai\EL OF TE~1PORARY CHAIRMEX Mr. SPEAKER: Pursuant to the require­

ment of Standing Order No. 13, I hereby nominate the foliowing members to form the Panel of Temporary Chairmen for the pn.,~ent session :-

William Alfred Brand, member for the E!octoral District of Isis;

David Alexander Gledson, member for the Electoral District of Ipswich;

William Thomas King, member for the Electoral District of Maree;

Thomas :'\immo, member for the Elec­toral District of Oxley;

John O'Keefe, memher for the Electoral District of Cairns.

PAPER PRINTED DURING RECESS. Mr. SPEAKER: I have to report that

the following paper was ordered to be printed and circulated during the recess, in accordance with the resolution of Parliament passed by both Houses during the session of 1901 :-

Report of the Roval Commission on Transport.

DISALLO\VANCE OF QUESTION. :MR. SPEAKER'S RcLING.

Mr. NIM110 (Oxley) proceeding to give notice of a question relating to percentages of unemployment appearing in His Excel­lency's Speech,

;\lr. SPEAKER: Order! The hon. mcm­Ler knows that that is not a question. He is volunteering information instead of seeking it,

LIEUTENAKT-GOVERNOR'S OPENING SPEECH.

Mr. SPEAKER: I have to report that His Excellcncv the Lieutenant-Governor this <lay delivered to Parliament an Opening Speech of which, for greater accuracy, I ha,-e obtained a copv. I presume hon. mem­bers will take this Speech as reacl.

HoNOcRABLE MniBERS: Hear, hear !

ADDRESS IN REPLY.

OPENING DAY. -:y1r. DEMAINE (Jlaryborovgh) [2.59 p.m.],

who was received with Government cheers, ;<aid: I rnove-

" That the following Address be pre­sented to the Lieutenant-Governor in reply to the Speech delivered b:- His Excellency in opening this, the third session of the twenty-seventh Parliament of Queensland :-

'May it please Your Excellen<'y,-' vVe, His Majesty's loyal and dutiful

subjects, the members of the Legisla­tive Assembl,· of Queensland, in Parlia­ment assembled, desire to assure Your

Excellency of our continued loyalty and affection towards the Throne and Person of Our Most Gracious Sovereign, and to tender our thanks to Your Excellency for the Speech with which you have been pleased to open the present session.

' The various measures to which Your Excellency has referred. and all other matters that mav be brought before us, will receive ~ur most careful con­sideration, and it shall be our earnest endeavour so to deal with them that our labours may tend to the advance­ment and prosperity of the State.' "

Although I am the latest arrival in this House, and may be spoken of as " the baby of the House," I think I may claim to be the oldest man in it. It reminds me of a story I once read of an American legislator. He ha·d taken Horace Greeley's advice to " go west," and virtually disappeared. For some years nothing was heard of him. One day his mother received a letter from !urn in which he ,aid that he was in the State of Texas and in the legislature there Not knowing what he meant by t~e legislature she showed the letter to a nerghbour, who said, " He says that he is in the legislature, but he does not say what for.'' (Laughter.) I was beginning to wonder what I am here for. However, I am pretty old in the tooth in the movement that I have thought fit to espouse. I am a new chum at making speeches in this Assembly, but not in the advocacy of the cause that I have at heart.

GovERNMENT MEMBERS: Hear, hea.r!

Mr. DE;\IlAIKE: Before I get right into my stride I should like to say a few words concerninl' my prede;;essor in the electorate. ,Jim Stopford and I were friends long before he came into Parliament, and I was very pleased indeed when he offered himself as the parliamentary representative of the people of Maryborough. I did my lev<>l best to have him returned for that electorate, and, of course, hon. members know how we succeeded. J i m Stopford was a man you could tie to, a man on whose word you could rely. If he gave his pledge it was always carried out, unless circumstances over which he had no coYitrol prevented him from doing so. Taking him b:v and large Jim was what I term a "white man," from the toes up. (Hear, hear!) I am very sorry that I am here to take his place-not that I am not plcase,d to be here or that it has fallen to my lot to succeed him-but I deeply regret that it should he necessary for anybody to­take the place in Parliament of so honour­able a man.

\Ye owe a debt of l'ratitude to the Premier for his splendid work overseas on behalf of the sugar industry. I do not wish to depreci­ate the action of the other members of the Australian delegation, the representatives of the Co:umonwealth Government-they also contributed to the success that was attained -I am just pointing out that the Premier contributed very largely to the success of that mission, and we are indebted to him for his efforts.

GovER:-;:l!ENT 11EMBERS : Hear, hear !

Mr. DEMAIXE: The G-overnment expected a deficit of £650,000 for the last financial year, but the actual deficit was rmly £280.190, a great performance consider­ing all the circumstances.

"~11·. Dcmaine.]

8 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address in Reply.

Unemployment has been considerabl,v reduced by the sQheme of granting subsidised loan' to local authorities. An hon. member opposite gave notice of a question to-day concerning subsidised loans to local authori­ties, but I am sure that he will receive a very effective answer from the Government, in which it will be clearly shown how unemployment ha.s bnen reduced to 6 per cent. partly by thi~ means. That is certainly a great achievement. "' e can congratulate otu,elves upon the present satis­factory position, and I n.m sure it will be freely admitted that the subsidised loans have helped considombly in this connection. I know »hat it is to be out of work, be<;:ause when I la.ndecl in l\1aryborough fifty-seven years ago I was compelled to walk round the streets of that town-it has since risen to the dignity of a city-for almost four months, and accept any odd iob that was offered. I know how I and my family suffered during thn.t period. Later T got a constant job, a.nd I have never had occasion to regret that I came to Australia. IHear, hear !) I recognise that there are many people who, through circumstances o,-er which they have no control, are in need of help, and it is to them that ~his House, representing as it does the people of this grelii State, has a duty to perform. I {':in n£>YC'r forget n1y own mif'fortunes and I 0011• aqnently h :ne R, soft spot in Jr,y heart fa,· the poor devil who is clown all'l out. (Hear, hear !) I am hopeful that better times will come.

\Ye have a Labour Government in this State. We have a large number of hon. rnembers sitting on thr~ Governmcn~ bt.•JJdlCs professing the Government pohcy an~ Ln.bour prinQiples. "·e have on the Opposi­tion benches another political party, con­siderably smaller in numbers. Although I hope that they will always be found striving to emerge from their political discomfiture, I recognise that it is merely the fall of the dice that has placed them there. It is their turn to-clay; it is our turn to-morrow.

Mr. MAXWELL: You are right. I)P!'OSITJ0:-1 JYfEMBERS: Hear, hear!

Mr. DEMAI::'\E: I hope that tlw turn of the Opposition to regain the Treasury benches will never come, at least while I am her<'. (Laughter.) I hope that they hold their politieal opinions as sincerely as I do mine. I give them Me<lit for doing so. They have a perfect right to their opinions, but I am more concerned about the po,cty of whom I am one. for I recognise that 1bey can take care> of themselves.

The whole trend of modern legislation is in the direction of soci alisation. W ~ are concerned about our fellows. After all, we are our brother's keeper, and we cannot get away from that responsibility. If ,,,_. can only instil that idea into our brains then a better community spirit wi.ll prevail.

I am pleased at the wn.y the Government have freely spent the fund. at their disposal in trying to improve the conditions of the people and in trying to find work for thoee unfortunn.tes who cannot find it for them­selves. I hope that the Government will nob heeitate to continue to spend all the avail­able money it is necessary to spend for that purpose. We cannot do too much for our fellow crtn.tures. We cannot do too much to help the lame dog over the stile. I

[Mr. Demaine.

trust that that part at any rate of the Government policy will be continued.

1 desire, too, to congratulate the Govern­ment on the institutions they hn.ve founded -for instance, the State Government Insur­ance OffiQe, which is doing excellent work, and the Public (;urntor, who is giving­excellent community service in a domain where it is absolutely necessary.

The Secretary for Public Lands is also to be congrat,_;lated on his administration of his department. The results reflect credit not only upon his administration but also upon those officers who are carrying out the policy of the Government. (Hear, hear!)

There is also the Bureau of Industry. 1 wggest that the sphere of influence of the bureau be extended in every possible way, because its policy tends to create employ­ment, which has beneficial effects on the community. A few days ago I was in Howard, where I wn.s reminded of a pro­posal made some few years ago to establish the cement manufacturing industry in that coal-mining town. \Ve are all acquainted with the need for cheap cement. Our main roads, for instance, demand it. Here was an opportunity to found a new industry that in all probability would have produced cement at considerably less than the present market price. For some reason or other the people in Howard blame the people of 1\Iaryborough for not being energetic or speculative enough in the launching of that scheme. I mention this subject because it is one to which I believe the Bureau of Industry could- verv well turn its attention with considerable advantage to the State.

If we can get cheap cement we shall be able to build roads that will endure wben some of u- are under the sod.

Tlv~ \Vorkers' dwelJings and workers' hon20s branch of the State Advances Corpo,·ation reprc·,ents a very fine effort on the part of the Labour movement; and although it ha' pnnh1ccl great nu1nbcr~ of pcoplQ to aequire their homes, I hope that its activities will bo ,,a increased tho,t greater and greater numbers of the workers will be enabled to bCI:efit by it.

.Amongst the Bills to be introduced this session I notice an Electricity Bill. I trust tft<lt it will be so framed that the public utility of electricity supply will be taken out of the hands of private exploiters and plaeecl in tbe hands of the people. Recently a royal commission on electricity travelled throughout the State, and I hope that as a result of its findings the Bill to be intro­duced will be so framed that if it does not take this public utility completely out of the lmnds of private enterprise and place it in t];o hands of the people it will go so far as to make it clearly understood that private enterprise will have to depart from this field within a certain period.

I trust that the measures taken as a result o£ the report of the Royal Commission on Transport w·ill be of general benefit to the community. and that not on!:,- will the traffic method; of the State be improved but also that the lives of our citizens will be safe­gmll'clecl as far as possible.

:\1uch of the legislation contemplated by the Government appears to have the object of protectiniT those who need protection. Hon. P!ernbcrs" arc aware that it is said that " there is ono born every minute." (Laugh­ter.) Much of our legislation has the object

Address in Reply. [10 AuausT.] Addres.o in Reply. 9

of p;otecting poor innocents from those who wonltl exploit them. They say God wets gooJ because he protected fools, and thoro aro only too many persons arnongst us '\:vho nPcd ):>rotcction of some sort. Seeing th~tt 'n~ an~ here on the job our obvious duty is to do our best to c·•1sure that every citizen an1o11gst us gets a square deal.

Ho:>OURABLE MniBERS: Hear, hear ! :Vh. DE:\1AINE: When I see anyone who

is down on his luck and out of wcrk taken dmnt by some cunning fellow, and when I '"e the criminal in the dock, I am reminded of the person who, seeing the executioner's eart takillt: the criminal to the gallows said, "Dut for the grace of God there go I." I de:sir0 to impress upon every hon. rnember of this House that no matter how priYiloged he is to-day, but for the grace of God he might be in gaol or the victim of some other misfortune for which he might not be wholly to blame. Hon .• members should keep that in mind when they are dealing with their fellow human beings and do their lev"l best to give them a square deal.

HoxouRABLE MEC\l:BERS: Hear, hear!

Mr. HEALY (lFaru·ick) ['3.18 p.m.j: Mr. Speaker, I have very much pleasur<> in secon-ding the motion EO ably artd eloquently proposed by mv esteemed colleague, the hon. member for Maryborough Although we regret the sad circumstances that necessi­tated the by-election in the electorate of Maryborough, we nevertheless heartily wel­come to this Parliament the hon. rnembBr who, for more than fifty years, has been actively and genuinely associated with the Labour movement of this State. He has rendered very valuable services to it for a very long time.

GovBRNMENT MEMBERS : Hear, hear !

Mr. HEALY: I acknowledge the compli­ment conferred upon me and the honour done to the important electorate of War­\Yick by my being chosen to second this motion.

Hon. members arc indebted to His Excel­lency the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir J ames Blair, not only for the very fine speech .delivered by him this morning, but also for the very thorough and capable manner in which he is carrying out the high office entrusted to him during the absence overseas d His Excellency Sir Leslie Wilson. From the Press I observe that Sir Leslie \Yilson, in a.ddition to enjoying a well-earned holiday, is giving the State of Queensland due pub­licity oversea.s. Speaking on the 15th July last, in London, His Excellency praised the possibilities of Queensland and pointed to the great work awaiting to be done in this State by the co-operation of capital and con­fidence. His Excellency agreed with the Premier regarding the future possibilities of Queensland, which he said required only the trust and goodwill of Land®. He also said that stones about excessive taxation in Queensland were unwarranted and untrue, and that extensive borrowing for sound devl)lopment in the interests of the people could be justified. I am sure hon. members admit the truth and wisdom in the remarks of His Excellency, and that the people of the State appreciate his eulogistic references to Queensland, and realise that in Sir Leslie they have a splendid amba,sador.

An OPPOSITION J\olE~fBER : YOU would not say that if he was on the other side. (And other Opposition interjections.)

Mr. I-IEAL Y: I am sure some of the interjectors will fmd it very hard to combat s:r Luolie \Vilson's sound advice overseas.

The Lieutenant-Governor's Speech refers to tho Prernier's visit overseas as a 1nernber of the .\ustralian delegation to the Inter­national Sugar Conference. The results of that conference are well known, and as stated in the Speech a re very satisfactory to the people of Australia generally and to Queens­land in particular I extend to the Premier my congratulations upon the results achieved. The success of the efforts of the delcg11tion can be well gauged from the statements that h11ve appeared in the Press during recent weeks. I refer more particularly to that made by the Commonw_ealth sugar adviser, Mr. Townsend, who sard that he expected that the national income of Australia would be incrcaocd thereby by £2,000,000 a year.

The budgetary position, which is also referred . to in His Exc~llency' s Speech, is very satrsfactory, and wrll be welcomed by the great majority of the people of Queens­land. The deficit, amounting to £280,190. is the lowest that Queensland has experienced for eight years and, if further proof were needed, is an i_ndex of Labour's ability to handle the affarrs of government rn a busi­nesslike way, as the people of this great State have a right to expect.

GoVERNMENT MEMBERS : Hear, hear !

Mr. HEAL Y : During the past financial year the expenditure upon all works financed directly or indirectly by the Government totalled £7,825.239. This expenditure has mcreased the number of workers employed in full-time jobs 11nd at award rates of pay. It has al~o . had a reflex on the unemploy­ment statrsttcs whrch reveal a reduction in the number of unemployed in this State from 23.3 per cent. to 6 per cent. Although that is a very satisfactory and appreciable reduction in our unemployed, it will not eause1 the Government to slacken their efforts to give full-time employment to every employable worker in the State. The inter­mirtent. relief work system will in time be '' holished. There is no doubt that the con­ditions of those of our people who have been forced to relv on it as a means of livelihood have been immeasurably ameliorated during the five years this Government have been in office. But the mere amelioration of con­d_itions of !he workers is not the final objec­trve of thrs Government. We desire that every employable worker who ha:s been forct~d to relY on intermittent relief work should be placed in a full-time job at award rat<'H of pay, and only when this is done shall w0 be ahle to write " finis " to a schmne that should never have found a place in a fair land like Australia.

It ;,, pleasing to note that, as a r0sult of the judgment of the Industrial Court in March last, the basic wage of this State has been increased by 4s. a week for males nnd 2.s. a wed< for females. By that judg­rncnt Queensland has enhanced its position as the highest basic-wage State amongst the Strr':-·s of the Commonwe11lth. That increase, like C'Y<'ry other basic wage increase, was a w:Hrlcd by the court to meet the cost . of living at the time of !he dedaration. lJnfor­l unatcly, however, the full benefit of the court's judgment is not received by the workers because of the unjustifiable action of big businC'Fses, trusts) and con1bines which incrc.t>·•' the cost of commodities immedio.tely a basi<: wage increase is awarded. This

Mr. Healy.]

10 Address in Reply. [ASSEMBLY.] Address ·in Reply.

~Yil re~ult goes on from one basic wa.ge ]ndgment to another and the workers, instead of receiving the fu11 measure of bencfL that the Court intended are, a' it wer•,, chasing the rainbow, and cannot catch up with the increase in the cost of living. l s;eriously commend to the consideration of this House a review of price-fixing legisla­tion with a view to ensuring to the workers the full benefits of any future basic-wage Increase.

Throughout the la't financial year the Gover~1ment have continued their policy of su!Js](1Jsmg local authorities. J claim that such expenditure from the Unemployment Relief Fund has been fullv justified. The sqheme has enabled local authorities to under­taiw important pub:ic works of great value to tl.e community, and at the same time it has re-turned to the payer of relief tax a benefit· in the increase in public utilities. Fnfortunately, the advantages that the Government intended to result from the ocheme ha vc not been completely realised. Thoro has been a tendency on the part of somo local authorities to confine all the "~·ailable work to a few fayoured employees. T11c result has been that many of our deserv­ing people have not had any adYantage from the loan-subsidy scheme. f know of decent aLle-borlied hard-working citizens who have rpc·,]yed very little, if any, full-time employ­ment as a result of the loan-subsidy scheme that the Government brought into operation. At one time the regulations provided that the local authorities could select onlv 25 per cent. of the labour required, the rcnJain­ing 75 per cent. being drawn from the ranks c,f the men on intermittent relief work ScJbccquently that regulation was altered, and now local authorities arc allowed to choose 50 per cent. of the labour required ltlld the rest is taken by the labour agent from the ranks of the relief workers.

I suggest that the original regulation be reintroduced so as to spread the available work over a greater number of people. Having regard to the funds at their disposal, the Go,-ernment have dealt fairly with every section of the community, and every penny of public funds has been used to the best possible advantage.

I admit-in fact, we all must admit-that much more developmental work remains to be done in this State, but I look forward to the time, a few months distant, when th•" Commonwealth Parliament will be control.ed by a Labour Government. \V e can expect the removal, when that time arrives, of the financial restrictions that are at present retarding progress in every State. The Australian Labour movement has been responsible for many reforms that havE' improved the lot of the Australian citizen, the most notable being the establishment of the Commonwealth Bank Year in and year out the Labour movement has maintained that the scope of the bank should be enlarged and its activities extended so that it may become a real bank for the people instead of a bankers' bank, as it was made by the shackles fastened on it by the Bruce-Page Government in 1924. The Australian Labour movement has continually claimed that the monetary system of this country is such au important phase of our national life, that the people's banking is so vital and 'o sacred a matter, that it cannot be left outside the scope of legislation. The protests that it has made have not been in vain. The

[Mr. Healy.

Royal Commission on Banking, set up by the Commonwealth Government, recently furnished its report, and its recommenda­tions completely vindicate Labour's policy.

I want the financial system of this country altered so as to give amelioratioi1 of the conditions of the people, eopecially those engaged in primary production. In Queens­land, and in the other States of Australia., too, we must devise fodder and water conserva­tion schemes to protect the primary producers from the ravages of drought. It is well known that during the past three years droughts in the pastoral and grazing districts of this State have caused economic losses estimated at £10,000,000, and that the effects of the accompanying discouragement of our producers cannot be estimated. I claim that the cost of these schemes would be small in comparison with the lo;,es suffered by the individual and the State in recent years. \Ve cannot, as a nation essentially dependent upon primary production, neglect or ignore the plight of a large section of our primary producers. :Many of them are hopelessly involved to banks, private financial institu­tions, .and other money-sharks, somP of them so much so that their daily or nightly worry is how to meet interest and redemption payments so as to retain their farms and carry on until better times come.

Mr. McLLER: What are you doing to remedy it?

Mr. HEALY: If I could only induce the hon. member to support the policy of the Australian Labour Party in the Federal Parliament we should -soon remedy it. I have been in personal contact with the primary producers in my electorate for many years past, and their spirit has always appealed to me as being identical with that of the old gold prospectors. They both cherish the same hope-that some day they will " strik<:1 it rich." It has been often glibly stated that it is necessary for the we:fare of the primary producers that they should be per­mitted to enjoy the amenities of life avail­able to the people in the cities, but in my experienc<' these do not count for very much.

'What these men and women want is something more tangible-some means by which they can ho.d on to their farms and maintain themselves and-it is so w.th most country people-their large families. In this State we have !Ju]t up an industrial code that is the envy of industrial workers, not only of other States but aho of other coun­tries. Althou!' h our duty as a Labour Government will be to still further improve those conditions as the opportunity o:fer,, !he changing conditions of world and local affairs have thrust upon us another duty, that of giving to the primary producers, particularly the swall men, some security in their industry. I believe that the time is not far distant when •ome method will be devised t<'l' secure to the small pnmarv pro­ducers an annual inccme at least equi.valent to the basic wag<' enj ycd bv the indu,,trial >~·orkers of this State.

HONOURABLE MEMBERS: Hear, hear ! Mr. HEALY: s, me rde1 encc has been

made to the comtruct on of workers' dwell­ing·'· For the wdf ·re f Qucc,nslanders and Australians gcnerall:v it is essential that there should be no limit to the amount avail­able for the construrt:on of workers' dwell­ings. I know of no means bv whi ·h we can better promote the happiness of the Australian people than, fir~t, affording them

Address in Reply. [10 AUGUST.] Address in Reply. ll

-some security of en1ployment, and, secondly, giving them the ownership of their own homes. It will be seen in the Governor's Speech that last year 462 workers' dwellings were built in this State, and that another ~eYenty-six were in progTess of construction a.t the end of the financial vear. It will be interesting, however, to know the number of applicants who were unable to get advances ·owing to the limitation of the amount avail­able for this purpose. I am not suggesting that the Government are responsible. \Ve have another Government~the supreme Government of the Commonwealth~who are actually responsible for that limitation. I might add, too, that a similar state of affairs is happening this financial year. \\'hen applications for workers' dwellings were again invited on the 1st July, there was an abnormal rush of applicants throughout the State. After all, investment in a worker's dwelling is a very sound one. As hon. mem­bers have already heard in the Governor's ~peech, £315,000 was made available for workers' dwellings last financial year, but side by side with that fact there is the <>ther interesting fact that in the same period the -State Advances Corporation received in interest and redemption payments on moneys previously advanced for this purpose of no less a sum than £485,748.

The PREMIER : amount included

Mr. HEAL Y: infcrmation.

There will be a further this year for that purpose.

I am pleased to get that

Some reference was made bv the mover of the resolution to the report of the Royal Commission on Transport._ Like every other hon. member, I have recmved a copy of that report. but only within the last twenty-four <Ol' forty-eight hours; consequently I hav,' not had time to make a close or complete study of the commission's recommendations, but I am pleased to know that one of them <e·ontains a suggestion for a revicew of rail­way freights and fares. In 1932, after twenty-seven years' experience in the Rail­way Department, I made a spe~ch in this House containing a similar suggestion, because I realised that the department has no Qhance of retaining its high-freight traffic against the competition of motor transport at much lower rates. As an illustration let me quote the railway freight between War­wick, in my own electorate, and Brisbane. On the highest-rated commodities it is £7 8s. 4d. a ton. I have known motor trans­port to handle similar commodities for £3 a ton. That reminds me of two pork butchers carrying on business side by side in the same street, one selling pork at 7d. a lb. and the other at 3d. a lb. We can a]] visualise what happened to the high-priced pork butcher. I trust that when Government policy as to transport is being formulated due re((ard will Le paid to that part cf the report of the commission.

The expenditure upon main roads during the last financial year was £1,500,000, the length constructed being 3,879 miles. That. f)xpenditure indicates the extent of the activities of this important department of the State, and there is no doubt that had the Federal Government been more liberal in the disbursements from the petrol tax revenue many more requests for roads would have been granted than the Queensland Government have been able to agree to. There is one important point here to which I desire to call the attention of the House,

and particularly that of the Secretary for Public Works. I trust that when the Estimates for this financial year are under consideration liberal provision will be made for the comtruction of that \'cry important State highway in the southern part of this State, the Cunningham State highway, which will eventually connect Goondiwindi with Brisbane, via Cunninghan1's Gap. This 18

not a parochial matter by any means. This highway will pass through three State elee­torates~Carnarvon, \VarwiGl<, and Fassi­fern. In addition, it wilJ form a very important link in our chain of State high­ways.

Many years ago the \Varwick district received a very eerious setback through the omission of the Government of the day to construct a short length of railway between Mount Eclwards and Maryvale. As a result the people of \Yarwick and .those to the south and south-west of Warwick have ever since been paying a penalty by railway fre1o-hts and fares from Brisbane that they need not have paid. I trmt the Secretary for Public Works will take due notice of \Varwick's misfortune and compensate it bv at once making liberal provision for the commencement of that highway and it.s early completion.

HoNOURABLE MniBERS: Hear, hear ! Mr. HEALY: I am also pleased to notice

in the Governor's Speech a reference to tho Tourist Bureau, which is attracting- many southern visitors. It is beyond questiOn that North Queensland is an ide.al winter resort. Last year I had the privilege of visiting that part of the State, and I was so fascinated by its scenic attractions that I repeated the trip this year. Many Southern Queenslanders have never seen the beauties of the North. I am keenly anxious that our people should be afforded every possible facility to see their own State first. With that object in view, I suggest that the Railway Depart­ment grant special excursions, similar to those operating in New South Wales, whereby the people in that State are allowed to travel to Sydney three or four times a year on the payment of the ordinary single fare for the return journey. I commend that sugges­tion to the department, bee a use I feel that if it was adopted the tourist traffic to the North would be enormously increased. It is not necessary that these excursions should be granted during the southern-tourist season; they could operate ·when it finished.

To the critics of the Gm·ernment, some of whose criticism borders on coercion, I say that on every hand there is cogent evidence of a definite recoverv in this State. Evidence of that fact may be found in official statistics, newspaper reports on trading, the activitic3 of commercial concerns. QOmpany reports. banking statistics, financial returns, and annual shows throughout the State. As a member of this partv I claim that we as a Go,-crnmcnt have played a very big part in bringing about that recovery. GoYEn~;~JEXT :r\1EMBE:t:S: Hear, hear !

i\Ir. IIEALY: I challenge our opponents to bring forward any really valid criticism of any phase of the activities of the Govern­ment during the p:tst five years-activities w~1ich have had for their objective the better­in'\ of the conditions of the people of this State and h"ve succeeded to a remarkably gratifying extent in achieving it. In a fc '" short months the Government will face

M1·. Healy.}

12 Quast?"ons. [ASSEMBLY.]

the ekctors with a platform as sincere as any political party could place before any constituencv and with a record of deeds done, pledges vindicated, sane govcrnn1ent, and good management.

GOYI:RNMENT :ME1IBERS: Hear, hear! ::\1r. ::\LH-IER (TT' est M orcton): I moye the

adjournment of the debate. lJacstion put and passed. }{pnnnption of debate made an Order of

t lw Day for to-morrow.

SPECIAL ADJOURJ'\:MEN'l'. The PREMIER (Hon. W. Forgan Smith,

Jfackay): I move-" That the House, at its rising, do

ad.Jolun until to-morrow at 2 o'clock p.m.''

Question put and passed. The House adjourned at 3.50 p.m.

Questions.