House of Representatives
11 August 1915

6^th Parliament · 1^st Session

ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF WAR
QUESTION
- WHEAT EXPORT
QUESTION
- SALE OF RED CROSS GOODS
QUESTION
- QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT ACQUISITION OF SUGAR
QUESTION
- MILITARY CAMPS
QUESTION
- SOLDIERS’ AND SAILORS’ WILLS
QUESTION
- WHOLESALE PRICE OF SUGAR
QUESTION
- POST OFFICE REPORT
PUBLIC WORKS: AUSTRALIAN TIMBERS
QUESTION
- EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
QUESTION
- SMALL ARMS FACTORY
QUESTION
- FEDERAL CAPITAL WORKS
WAR PENSIONS BILL (No. 2)
QUESTION
- KALGOORLIE TO PORT AUGUSTA RAILWAY
QUESTION
- CONTRACT IMMIGRANTS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA
QUESTION
- HOTELS AS RECRUITING PLACES
QUESTION
- RED CROSS FUND
QUESTION
- TRIAL OF MR. SOLLY BURVILL
QUESTION
- CAMP DRILL INSTRUCTORS
QUESTION
- POSTAL SORTERS AND SUNDAY WORK
QUESTION
- WOODLARK ISLAND WIRELESS STATION
QUESTION
- PROPOSED STORES DEPARTMENT
QUESTION
- SMALL ARMS FACTORY
QUESTION
- ELDER, SMITH, AND COMPANY
PAPERS
ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Speaker took the chair at 3 p.m., and read prayers.

page 5624

ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF WAR

Mr. SPEAKER reported the receipt of the following message from His Excellency the Governor-General in reference to a resolution of the House on the 4th August: -

Commonwealth of Australia.

Governor-General’s Office,

Melbourne, 10th August, 1915.

Memorandum from the Governor-General.

To the Honorable

The Speaker,

House of Representatives.

The Governor-General transmits herewith copy of a cablegram which has been received from His Majesty the King, in reply to the Resolution agreed to by the House of Representatives on the 4th instant.

M. FERGUSON,

Governor-General.

Decode of cablegram from Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated London, 7th August, 1915, 3.20 p.m.

His Majesty the King was much moved by your telegram,5th August, conveying the Resolution passed by both Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament recording their determination to continue to a victorious end the struggle for the ideals animating the allied nations.

I am commanded by His Majesty the King to desire you to express to the Senate and the House of Representatives his warm appreciation of the generous support which the Parliament and people of the Commonwealth have given to the common cause, of the sacrifices theyhave made and are making, and of the brilliant and effective services which His Australian Naval and Military Forces have rendered in the prosecution of the war.

Mr MATHEWS:
MELBOURNE PORTS, VICTORIA

– Is the AttorneyGeneral aware that a practice is growing up in the sugar trade under which men who do not even handle the sugar, but only have a cross entry in their books regarding it, obtain 6 per cent., and that this charge increases the price to the public? Can the Attorney-General see his way clear to insist that the 6 per cent. shall not be passed on to the consumer? The honorable gentleman is making arrangements whereby the people shall get sugar at a fair price, and the grocers are losing profit; and, under the circumstances, something ought to be done.

Mr HUGHES:

– The position is that the wholesale distributor is allowed 6 per cent., though, as a matter of fact, he does not get all of that 6 per cent., but only, I think, 3½ per cent., while the other per cent. - though I am not quite sure as to the proportion - goes to the retailer.

Mr Richard Foster:

– For spot cash it is 3 per cent.

Mr HUGHES:

– And if I do not make any mistake, 1 per cent. goes to the carrier. I shall refresh my memory in regard to the matter. I know, however, that the wholesaler does not get the whole of the 6 per cent. ; and the retail grocers, when they were before me, carefully omitted to state that they got the sugar, not at the wholesale price, plus 6 per cent., but that they got it plus, say, 3½ per cent., leaving only the balance to the wholesaler for his labour. I venture to say that the wholesaler has a good deal to do in distributing sugar throughout the country parts of Australia. I have made inquiries with a view to ascertain whether the Commonwealth could do this distribution any cheaper, and my investigation goes to show that we have not the machinery at our disposal, nor could we create any, to do it at less cost.

page 5626

QUESTION

POST OFFICE REPORT

Mr JOSEPH COOK:
PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES

– When does the Postmaster-General propose to lay on the table Mr. R. McC. Anderson’s report on the Post Office? Why is it being kept back?

Mr SPENCE:
Postmaster-General · DARLING, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– I shall lay it onthe table as soon as some of its recommendations have been considered in Cabinet.

Mr JOSEPH COOK:

– I should be glad if the Postmaster-General would explain a little further as to what is the trouble in connexion with the delay in presenting Mr. Anderson’s report ?

Mr Spence:

– It is only just to hand.

Mr JOSEPH COOK:

– We are told by the newspapers that it came to hand a good many days ago. Is there any reason for the delay in the presentation of a report of the kind? Could its presentation prejudice any consideration of it by the Cabinet?

Mr SPENCE:

– I suppose that there have been about two days in which I could have given any consideration to the report since I received it. Important departmental business kept me three days in Adelaide, and I could not deal with the report until I returned. There has been no chance to present the report for consideration by the Cabinet.

Mr Joseph Cook:

– But would placing the report on the table prejudice its consideration by the Cabinet?

Mr SPENCE:

– There will be nobody more ready than the right honorable gentleman to ask a series of questions as soon as the report is laid on the table, with a view to ascertaining what I propose to do regarding a number of the recommendations. I, therefore, intend to have the whole of the answers to such questions ready before I lay the report on the table.

Mr Joseph Cook:

– That is a new doctrine to lay down.

page 5626

PUBLIC WORKS: AUSTRALIAN TIMBERS

Mr HAMPSON:
BENDIGO, VICTORIA

– In view of the fact that the State Government of Victoria are using large quantities of native timber in the erection of public buildings, notably State schools and railway stations, and also that flooring of mountain ash is being used for the Commonwealth Buildings in London, will the Minister of Home Affairs give instructions to his officers that local timbers must be used wherever possible in the erection of drill halls, instead of so much imported timber.

Mr ARCHIBALD:
Minister for Home Affairs · HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

– It is, I understand, the policy of the Department at the present time to use as much local timber as possible. If the honorable member will be kind enough to put his question on the notice-paper, I shall have an opportunity to inform him what the Department is doing in this matter.

page 5627

QUESTION

EXPEDITIONARY FORCES

Employment for Wounded Soldiers : Militia Officers : Liverpool Camp

Mr W ELLIOT JOHNSON:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES

– I desire to ask the Minister for the Navy a question regarding the employment of returned wounded soldiers. One or two cases have come under my notice, in one of which the man has been discharged as unfit for further service; and I desire to know whether any facilities are being provided by the Government for the employment of such men in the various States, if the men desire employment?

Mr JENSEN:
ALP

– It is the intention of the Government to assistreturned wounded soldiers as far as possible in the way mentioned by the honorable member; and the Minister of Defence is endeavouring to see that that intention is carried out. That is all I can say at the present juncture.

Mr McGRATH:
BALLAARAT, VICTORIA

– Is the Minister for the Navy aware that a number of militia officers, who will not volunteer to go to the front, are being put into every position of profit in connexion with the forming of new camps?

Mr JENSEN:

– I am not aware that such is the case, but I shall bring the honorable member’s question under the notice of the Minister of Defence.

Mr PIGOTT:
CALARE, NEW SOUTH WALES

– When will the Minister for the Navy place on the table Mr. Justice Rich’s report on the Liverpool Camp?

Mr JENSEN:

– At the earliest possible moment.

page 5627

QUESTION

SMALL ARMS FACTORY

Proposed Removal to Canberra

Mr CARR:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES

– May I ask the AttorneyGeneral, in the absence of the Prime Minister, whether it is the intention of the Government to give this House an opportunity of discussing the advisability of removing the manufacture of small arms from Lithgow to Canberra, if the removal is still in contemplation?

Mr HUGHES:
ALP

– Yes. The Minister of Home Affairs proposes to give the House an opportunity of discussing the whole subject.

Mr GREGORY:
DAMPIER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

– Will the Minister of Home Affairs lay upon the table of the House a plan of the town of Lithgow showing the area of 10 acres at £300 per acre, and the 100 acres at £250 per acre, which the Director-General of Works stated would be necessary if the works were to be continued at Lithgow?

Mr ARCHIBALD:
ALP

– The honorable member was kind enough to give me notice of this question, the answer to which is as follows: - The DirectorGeneral of Works states that he had to make an approximate estimate at short notice, and that he did not refer to any particular block of land, but to the locality between the Small Arms Factory and Lithgow, which, some years ago, had been inspected by Mr. Scrivener and himself, and considered a likely site for workmen’s dwellings. He was informed, during a visit to Lithgow with the Public Works Committee, that land in this locality had been sold at £1 per foot, and upwards. The only recent valuation of land at Lithgow in the Department at the moment was in respect of 11 acres on the north of and adjoining the Factory, at about £650 an acre. Under these circumstances, he considered a fair approximate price was about £250 an acre, based upon £1 per foot.

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:
EDEN-MONARO, NEW SOUTH WALES

– May I ask the Minister of Home Affairs if he can tell the House what is the price per acre of the land at Canberra required for the purposes of the proposed Factory? Will the Minister also say whether it is the fact that the land-owners at Lithgow have reduced their prices very considerably since they saw that the Factory was vanishing ?

Mr ARCHIBALD:

– I think that, in the report of the Works Committee, the land at Canberra was put down at £4 10s. per acre. I am only able to speak offhand, however. If the honorable member will put his question on the notice-paper, I will endeavourto get him the exact figures.

page 5627

QUESTION

FEDERAL CAPITAL WORKS

Reduction of Working Hours

Mr CHARLTON:
HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES

– Is the Minister of Home Affairs aware that, with the exception of the gangers and time-keepers at the Cotter works, the men’s time has been reduced four hours per week at all the works at the Federal Capital? In view of the high cost of living, and the fact that some of the workmen are married men, who have to keep two homes going, will the Minister take into consideration the desirability of restoring full time ?

Mr ARCHIBALD:
ALP

– The honorable member was again kind enough to give me private notice of his question, the answer to which is as follows : - This work is carried out under the Builders’ Labourers Award, which provides for forty-four hours per week, and an hourly rate, and those hours are worked accordingly, with the exception of the clerk of works and the foreman, who, in accordance with general practice, have to be available for longer hours, and are paid a daily rate.

ADJOURNMENT (Formal).

Export of Wheat and Flour : Chartering of Freights

Mr SPEAKER:

– I have received a letter from the honorable member for Wannon in which the honorable gentleman expresses his desire to move the adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a definite matterof urgent public importance, namely, “ the export of wheat and flour, and the chartering of freight space for the forthcoming Australian wheat harvest, and any agreement or arrangements in relation thereto.”

Five honorable members having risen in their places,

Question proposed.

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

.- I regret that this motion should have happened to make its appearance on the day that we are expecting so important a statement as that which I understand is about to be delivered by the Treasurer.

Mr Higgs:

– Why not postpone this adjournment motion ?

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

– The only object I have in bringing this motion forward is to enable the fullest consideration possible to be given to the best means that should be adopted in these troublous times for handling the wheat harvest, the exportable surplus of which, ranging as it possibly will, from 60,000,000 to 70,000,000 bushels, will no doubt be a big factor in the successful financing of the country’s operations during the next twelve months. My desire is to enable every aspect of the question, apart altogether from the arrangement recently made by the Government through the Attorney-General, to be brought under review. So far, the House has been placed in possession of only very indefinite and incomplete information on this subject. That is one of the reasons why I moved the adjournment of the House at this particular stage. I am aware that on Friday next a conference will take place between some of the partners to this arrangement, and that the Attorney-General has been invited to the conference. I take it that the conference has not been initiated by the Attorney-General, but by one of the partners, who, apparently, does not see eye to eye with the methods adopted by the Attorney-General.

Mr Hughes:

– That is not so.

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

– I assume that is the case, judging from the conflict between the public statements made by the AttorneyGeneral on the one hand, and by the Minister of Public Works in the Victorian State House, Mr. Hagelthorn, on the other.

Mr Hughes:

– There is no conflict as to freight.

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

– I did not say there was; but there seems to be a great deal of conflict between the interpretations of the agreement, that have been arrived at as to the methods to be adopted.

Mr Hughes:

– Not as to freights.

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

– The first intimation that honorable members had of any action at all in this matter was in an announcement which appeared in the public press of 24th July last. This statement, carefully prepared and presented by the Attorney-General to the press of the country, was as follows: -

As already stated, the wheat-producing States - New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia - have, as the result of negotiations, decided to place the arrangements for securing freight for transporting the wheat available for export at the next harvest in the hands of the Commonwealth, and the Federal Attorney-General (Mr. Hughes)has the matter in hand. For some time past he has been negotiating for this purpose, and yesterday an agreement was arrived at whereby the freight arrangements to be made, by the Commonwealth have been placed in the hands of Elder, Smith, and Co. and Gibbs, Bright, and Co., who are to act as exclusive agents of the Commonwealth for the above purpose. Mr. Hughes was quite convinced that the Commonwealth’s representatives would carry out the task in a way satisfactory to the Government and to the producers. It would no doubt be a great relief to the farmer to know that arrangements for the successful marketing of his crop were thus provided for.

Speaking as to the amount of wheat that would probably have to be dealt with, Mr. Hughes said that this must be largely a matter of speculation, and much would depend upon the season, but a fair estimate on which the Government agents intended to act was that the exportable crop would amount to about 1,500,000 tons. Elder, Smith, and Co. and Gibbs, Bright, and Co. had expressed confidence that they would be able to secure freight which, with that already available, would be sufficient to meet all requirements. The arrangements made were entirely satisfactory to the Government, and were such that would not be open to criticism.

That was the first announcement made, and honorable members availed themselves of the first opportunity that offered to seek from the Attorney-General definite details of the arrangements made. On the 28th ultimo the honorable gentleman was asked in this House the following question : -

Has the Attorney-General, acting on behalf of the Government, concluded an agreement with Messrs. Elder, Smith and Company and Messrs. Gibbs, Bright and Company, under which they will have the exclusive right to engage the charters necessary for the exportation of the wheat gathered during the approaching harvest?

I shall not read the whole of the question, or others that were put on the same subject, since they are already on record. The Attorney-General’s reply was -

The Government have made an agreement with Messrs. Elder, Smith and Company, and Messrs. Gibbs, Bright and Company, with a view to obtaining sufficient freight for the exportation of wheat and other commodities from Australia, flour being included with wheat. In -doing this we have carefully considered the wheat buyers. I had an interview to-day with Messrs. Dreyfus, and one yesterday with Messrs. Darling. Messrs. Elder, Smith and Company, and Messrs. Gibbs, Bright and Company are in daily consultation with those firms. The arrangements which the Government have made include and depend on the heartiest cooperation of every interest and every agency concerned in the harvesting, handling, and transporting of these commodities. . . .

I have every reason to believe, as the result of deliberate inquiries, that the AttorneyGeneral, prior to concluding this arrangement, had not consulted those interests which are primarily concerned in producing wheat in this country, nor those interests concerned in buying it, in arranging for its shipment, and in financing the harvest. The States, we are told, are to be copartners with the Commonwealth in this transaction, but I believe, from subsequent statements made by the AttorneyGeneral, that a full and sufficient conference had not taken place before the making of this arrangement. The Attorney- General, in my opinion, entered into it with an insufficient knowledge of the conditions under which the whole of the har vest has to be handled, and of the various conflicting interests connected with it. I shall not weary the House by going into details, for I know that the Treasurer has an important financial statement to submit, and that engagement necessarily restricts my opportunity of dealing with this matter. The Attorney-General made a statement in this House that he had consulted all the interests concerned, that they were in harmonious co-operation, and that he had appointed the two firms named to act as the exclusive agents of the Commonwealth. “We may take it that, since they were to act on behalf of the Commonwealth, it was intended that they should deal with the whole of the wheat harvest of the Commonwealth, and in view of the Attorney-General’s clear statement that they had been appointed exclusive charterers for Australia we may reasonably assume that he would have required the assent of the State Governments concerned to that arrangement. I now propose to read a deliberate and carefully prepared statement made on behalf of the Victorian Government, one of the partners in this arrangement, by Mr. Hagelthorn, speaking on behalf of the State, in the absence of the Minister of Agriculture, which has an important bearing on the subject. In the Argus of 9th inst., the following paragraph appeared : - ‘

At the conference of Ministers for Agriculture of the four wheat States, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia, which will be held in Melbourne on Friday, a number of questions affecting the disposal of next season’s harvest will be considered. The main subjects to be submitted by the Victorian Minister (Mr. Hutchinson) are: - (1) The supply of cornsacks; (2) transport to the seaboard; (3) storage of grain in bags and, if necessary, in bulk. These are the main questions that affect the States only, but the principal question to be considered by the States, in conjunction with the Commonwealth, is the shipping of the grain. “We come now to the deliberate statement of the Minister - “Tlie present attitude of the Victorian Department,” said the Minister for Public Works (Mr. Hagelthorn) on Saturday, in the absence of Mr. Hutchinson, “ is that, as far as possible, shippers of wheat who have been conducting this business for many years in Australia should still be allowed to “conduct the business without any interference by Government, just as in the case of cornsacks it was decided by Victoria to allow trade to operate through the ordinary channels, and that, as faT as can bc gauged at present, is having the desired results.

– I accept the assurance of the Attorney-General that they are not final; but I must also accept his prior statement that these rates represent the arrangement under which the wheat was to be carried.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order ! The honorable member’s time has expired.

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

– I ask leave of the House to continue my remarks.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order ! I would point out that there is a specific standing order dealing with this matter; but, of course, it is within the competence of the House to extend the time allotted to the honorable member. Is it the pleasure of the House that the honorable member be granted an extension of five minutes?

– There may be something to be said against Elder, Smith, and Company, but as a firm I know nothing against them, and the honorable member did not dare to advance anything. I never before met one man connected with these firms. I am perfectly satisfied that both firms are firms of good reputation. Neither were known to me previously, but I have never met one representative of any shipping firm who has not said that these are firms of good standing, and firms to be relied upon. I propose to rely on these firms. At this juncture I believe that they will do what is fair and proper by the Commonwealth.

Mr SPEAKER:

– The honorable member’s time has expired.

– Which he has not done.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
INDI, VICTORIA · ALP

– The AttorneyGeneral has definitely told us that the arrangements are. almost complete

Mr Richard Foster:

– To do the best to secure space.

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
INDI, VICTORIA · ALP

Mr POYNTON:
Grey

.- It is to be regretted that this motion has been submitted. With the exception of the Attorney-General, there is no honorable member who knows what the agreement is.

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

– We have the statements made in the House.

Mr POYNTON:

– But whatever the agreement may be, it has not done away with the middleman, but has created what I may call a super-middleman, who will have to treat with other firms whose special object it has been for years past to obtain freights. The ships which will be available to the Government after the matter of sending recruits away has been dealt with will be increased.

Mr SPEAKER:

– Order ! The time allotted for the debate under the Sessional Orders has expired. I desire at this stage to direct attention to a practice that does not appear to me to be a very desirable one, but that seems to be growing in the House. The standing order dealing with a debate like that now concluded stipulates that each member who speaks shall be allocated a certain time for his speech. If a member has desired to go beyond that time, under the practice to which I refer, leave has usually been granted to him. That is a violation of the Standing Orders, and it seems to me that sooner or later trouble will be caused if the practice is persisted in. Now that the matter is under notice, I desire to say that if members wish the period allowed to them under the Standing Orders to be extended, they must take the proper course of moving the suspension of the Standing Orders, and the motion must be carried by a statutory majority.

Debate interrupted under standing order 119.

page 5642

WAR PENSIONS BILL (No. 2)

Bill returned from the Senate with amendments.

page 5642

QUESTION

KALGOORLIE TO PORT AUGUSTA RAILWAY

Accidents and Fatalities

Mr DANKEL:
for Mr. Yates

asked the Minister of Home Affairs, upon notice -

How many cases of accident or death on the East-West Railway construction works have been met by compensation?
What are the names of those who have met with accident or died on each side (east and west), together with the nature of their injuries, and the amounts paid?

Mr ARCHIBALD:
ALP

– I lay on the table of the House , a statement giving particulars of accidents on the East- West railway, and of compensation in each case. It will be seen that compensation has been approved in fourteen cases - three being in the eastern, and eleven in the western division. The particulars are as follow : -

In addition, a number of employees have been granted 50 per cent. of their average weekly earnings in the case of minor in juries, as provided by clause 1 (b) of the first schedule of the Commonwealth Workmen’s Compensation Act 1912.

page 5644

QUESTION

CONTRACT IMMIGRANTS IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Mr CHARLTON:
for Mr. Burchell

asked the Minister of External Affairs, upon notice -

_ Whether it is a fact that a further number of Norwegians have been admitted into Western Australia under contract conditions?
If so, what action does the Minister propose to take to enforce the Contract Immigrants Act?

Mr TUDOR:
ALP

– In the momentary absence of the Minister of External Affairs may I say that the answers to the honorable member’s questions are -

An additional number of 143 Norwegians, making the full complement for the work of this season (extending over a period of four months) arrived at Point Cloates on the 3rd July under the same conditions as the first batch. All of these men return to Norway at the end of the season.
The Customs authorities had previously been instructed to notify the Western Australia Whaling Company of the necessity of obtaining approval of the terms of contracts under the Contract Immigrants Act before any further men landed. Through a misunderstanding on the part of the Customs authorities the company believed that such requirement was intended to apply only to future seasons’ operations, and that my decision as to what action should be taken against the company, which decision I waa only in a position to make on the 3rd July, before I knew of the arrival of the last batch referred to above, would probably cover the whole of the men engaged for the present season’s work. I may further add that these men are virtually partners in the enterprise, and that there is no power under the Act to prevent them continuing at work. The whole of the agreements, however, so far as they relate to shore work, are null and void, but after giving the fullest consideration to all the special circumstances of the case, I have decided not to prosecute the company in respect of any of the men engaged for this season’s operations.

page 5644

QUESTION

HOTELS AS RECRUITING PLACES

Mr RILEY:
for Mr. Finlayson

asked the Minister for the Navy, upon notice -

Whether the Minister of Defence is aware that licensed hotels are being utilized as recruiting places in the country districts of Victoria ?
Whether this is being done with the knowledge of the Minister ?
Whether the Minister will take steps to stop further employment of such places for recruiting purposes?

Mr JENSEN:
ALP

– The answers to the honorable member’s questions are -

No.
No.
In country districts, except Ballarat, Bendigo, and Geelong, the recruiting arrangements are made by Mayors and Shire Presidents. As far as is known the recruiting offices are situated at the various Town Halls and Shire offices, but inquiries are being made as to whether licensed hotels are being used as recruiting places in any localities. If it is found that such is the case, immediate steps will be taken to remedy such a state of affairs.

page 5644

QUESTION

RED CROSS FUND

Mr BAMFORD:
HERBERT, QUEENSLAND

asked the Prime Minister, upon notice -

Whether the Prime Minister has given any attention to reports appearing in the daily papers in regard to the immense sums of money being collected for various funds, including that of the Bed Cross?
Whether the latter fund is or is not directly connected with the Australian Imperial Forces, now at, or being sent to, the front ?
Can the Prime Minister say in what way and by whom this fund is controlled and distributed ?
If the Bed Cross Fund is one directly connected with our Forces, should not the Government have some control, or at any rate be represented upon the central body which is directing this fund!
Is the Prime Minister aware that much dissatisfaction is being expressed that no information is published or audited balancesheets made available, so that the public may definitely know the destination of these moneys, and how and to whom they are distributed?

Mr HUGHES:
ALP

– The answers to the honorable member’s questions are -

On the 16th July, 1915, a circular letter was addressed to the Premiers of the several States asking for full particulars of the different patriotic funds, showing the purposes to which they are devoted, the amount subscribed, and, if possible, the proposed method of distribution in each case; and suggesting that some scheme of co-ordination should be devised in regard to these funds. Earnest consideration was invited bf the question of the appointment of some central and properly representative body in each State for the control and distribution of the funds. 2 and 3. The Red Cross Society funds are not controlled by the Government, but by the Committee of the Society.
Colonel Featherston, Acting DirectorGeneral of Medical Services, acts on the Central Council in an advisory capacity in regard to the medical requirements of the Military Forces.
See No. 1.

page 5644

QUESTION

TRIAL OF MR. SOLLY BURVILL

Mr RILEY:
for Mr. Finlayson

asked the Attorney-General, upon notice -

Whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Solly Burvill has been three times placed on trial, and that the prosecution have been unable to secure a conviction against him, the Attorney-General will order that no further action be taken against that individual?
Whether, in view of the financial loss that Mr. Burvill has been put to by the prosecution,and that he is now unemployed, the Attorney-General will recommend that he be reinstated in his previous employment?

Mr HUGHES:
ALP

– The answers to the honorable member’s questions are -

The Attorney-General has filed a nolle prosequi in this matter.
This matter is not within the cognisance of the Attorney-General’s Department.

page 5645

QUESTION

CAMP DRILL INSTRUCTORS

Mr PALMER:
ECHUCA, VICTORIA

asked the Minister for the Navy, upon notice -

Is it the policy of the Defence Department to appoint young men who are well fitted for service at the front to the position of camp drill instructors?
How many men under the age of thirtyfive are so employed?
Are there no experienced and qualified men who are over age for enlistment available to fill such positions?

Mr JENSEN:
ALP

– The answers to the honorable member’s questions are -

In view of the great need of instructors to train the large numbers now in Australian Imperial Force camps, and the inability to secure men of a reasonable age capable of imparting instruction, qualified men between, say, twenty and fifty-fiveyears of age will be gladly accepted for the duty of instructors at the camps of training.
Approximately 120, which includes a large proportion of permanent instructors employed before the war.
Practically no applications.

page 5645

QUESTION

POSTAL SORTERS AND SUNDAY WORK

Mr RILEY:
for Mr.Finlayson

asked the Postmaster-General, upon notice -

Whether it is a fact that in the interval between the hearing of the case of the postal sorters before the Arbitration Court and the deliverance of the award, the Public Service Commissioner altered the regulation governing Sunday work?
Whether the altered regulation restricts the privileges previously enjoyed by the postal sorters ?
Whether the altered regulation is, in its application, antagonistic to the award of the Court, and the facts on which that award was based ?

Mr SPENCE:
ALP

– The Public Service Commissioner has furnished the following replies : -

page 5645

QUESTION

WOODLARK ISLAND WIRELESS STATION

Mr HIGGS:
for Mr. Bamford

asked the Minister of External Affairs, upon notice -

Whether men were engaged at Townsville and Cairns to erect a radio-telegraph station at Port Moresby?
If any men were so engaged was it agreed to pay them Wages Board rates; if so, what were the rates, and of which State?
Did Wages Board rates commence at the time the men embarked at Townsville and Cairns respectively, assuming any men were engaged; if not, what were the terms and conditions of their engagement?

Mr SPENCE:
ALP

– The answers to the honorable member’s questions are -

No. Men were, however, engaged at Townsville and Cairns to complete the erection of the station under construction at Woodlark Island.
The men so engaged were paid the rates obtaining at Woodlark Island, viz., labourers, 16s. 8d.; carpenters, plasterers, plumbers, and painters, 20s.; foremen, 23s. 6d., per day of eight hours - forty-four hours constituting a week’s work.
Those rates commenced at the time the men landed at Woodlark Island, and the travelling rate was half pay. The fares were provided by the Department.

page 5645

QUESTION

PROPOSED STORES DEPARTMENT

Mr RILEY:
for Mr.Finlayson

asked the Minister of Home Affairs, upon notice -

Whether there is any foundation in fact for the statement appearing in the press that the Minister is considering a suggestion for the appointment of a Departmental Board, to purchase and control supplies for all Departments ?
Whether he will, before arriving at a final decision on this matter, invite the House to deal with the motion on the business-paper on this subject in the name of the honorable member for Wakefield?

Mr ARCHIBALD:
ALP

– The whole question of stores for the Department of Home Affairs is under consideration, also how far it is possible for the various Federal Departments to co-operate in purchasing stores. A decision is not likely to be arrived at immediately, as Mr. Anderson is now inquiring into the methods of various Departments.

page 5646

QUESTION

SMALL ARMS FACTORY

Stocks in Hand.

Mr PATTEN:
for Mr. Gregory

asked the Treasurer, upon notice -

Will he have further inquiries made as to the approximate value of the stock in hand at the Lithgow Small Arms Factory, stated to be £111,000 in value, as, according to the evidence of the manager on the value of material in each rifle,£ 111,000 would provide material for the factory working one shift for eight years, whereas it was stated in evidence that there was only sufficient material on hand some three months ago to keep going eight or nine months ?

Mr HUGHES:
ALP

– The Prime Minister consulted the Minister of Defence with regard to the question asked by the honorable member. The Minister of Defence is of opinion that information of the nature sought should be regarded as confidential. If the honorable member so desires, it will be made available to him confidentially.

page 5646

QUESTION

ELDER, SMITH, AND COMPANY

Mr PATTEN:
for Mr. Gregory

asked the Attorney-General, upon notice -

Were Elder, Smith, and Co., prior to the war, agents for Beer, Sondheimer, and Co., of Frankfort?
What connexion had Elder, Smith, and Co. with the Elder Metal and Mercantile Co.?
Were not Beer, Sondheimer, and Co. connected with the Elder Metal and Mercantile Co.; and, if so, to what extent?

Mr HUGHES:
ALP

– The answers to the honorable member’s questions are -

No.
A half interest in the company.
Yes, to the extent of a half interest; but on the outbreak of war, Messrs. Elder, Smith, and Co. took immediate steps to place the Elder Metal Co. in liquidation, and thus severed themselves at one stroke from all enemy interests.

page 5646

PAPERS

The following papers were presented : -

Steamship Service to Darwin - Contract with the Eastern and Australian Steamship Company Limited.

Ordered to be printed.

War, The-

Neutral Shipping - Policy of His Majesty’s Government - Despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies forwarding copy of Memorandum communicated to the United States Ambassador.

Prisoners of War, etc. -

Treatment of Prisoners of War in England and Germany during the first eight months of the War. - Paper presented to British Parliament.

Civilian Internment Camp at Ruhleben - Note from the United States Ambassador, transmitting report, dated 8th June, 1915 - Presented to British Parliament.

Correspondence (further) with the United States Ambassador respecting the treatment of British Prisoners of War and Interned Civilians in Germany.

Public Service Act - Regulations Amended (Provisional) - Statutory Rules 1915, Nos. 132, 133.

War Precautions Act - Regulation (Provisional) - Statutory Rules 1915, No. 135.

Northern Territory -

Ordinance of 1915 - No. 5- Health.

Norfolk Island -

Ordinance of 1915 - No. 6 - Marriage.

Lands Acquisition Act -

Land acquired under, at -

Copmanhurst, New South Wales - For Postal purposes.

Kingoonya, South Australia - For Railway purposes.

Port Lincoln, South Australia - For Defence purposes.

Queanbeyan (near), New South Wales - For Federal Capital purposes.

Sandy Bay, Tasmania - For Defence purposes.

Transcontinental Railway Route - South Australia - At 250½ miles from Port Augusta - For Railway purposes.

Urayarra and Tidbinbilla, Federal Territory - For Federal Capital purposes.

Wangaratta, Victoria - For Defence purposes.

Customs Act - Regulations Amended (Provisional) Statutory Rules 1915, No. 87.

Public Service Act - Promotion of E. T. Hall, as Inspector, 1st Class, Landing Branch, Victoria.

Defence Act -

Military Forces -

Regulations Amended(Provisional) - Statutory Rules 1915, No. 123.

Financial and Allowance Regulations Amended (Provisional) Statutory Rules 1915, Nos. 124, 125, 126.

War Precautions Act - Regulations - Statutory Rules 1915, No. 130.

page 5646

ADJOURNMENT

Adjournment of the House - Wheat Charters: Personal Explanation - Expeditionary Forces : Officers in Charge of Military Encampments: Drill Instructors : Soldiers Reported Missing: Non-delivery of Letters - Forage Allowance to Country Letter Carriers - War Pension Claims - Unemployed: Plan of Selection at Broadmeadows.

Motion (by Mr. Hughes) proposed -

That the House do now adjourn,

Mr J H CATTS:
Cook

– I should like to know why it is proposed that the House shall adjourn at this early hour?

Mr Joseph Cook:

– There is no business.

Mr J H CATTS:

– The Prime Minister was present this afternoon.

Mr Watkins:

– He was too ill to remain.

Mr J H CATTS:

– I was not aware that he was so ill that it was necessary to adjourn the House, and I think that the Attorney-General should explain why it is proposed now to adjourn. I do not consider this to be an unreasonable request.

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

.- I desire, by way of personal explanation, to refer to a statement made by the AttorneyGeneral at the conclusion of my remarks on the motion for the adjournment of the House to discuss the wheat charter question. The honorable gentleman attributed to me a. statement “ reflecting contemptibly,” as he put it, on Messrs. Elder, Smith, and Company. I desire to explain that the statement to which he referred was not made by me. All that I did was to quote a question of which notice had” been given by another honorable member, and to draw the Attorney-General’s attention to the fact that that question was answered by the company’s advertisement in the Shipping and Commerce Journal of Australia. I did not say that Messrs. Elder, Smith, and Company were associated at any time with an enemy firm, and the Attorney-General has done me an injustice in attributing such a statement to me, in view of the fact that I stated that I had had business relations of an eminently satisfactory character with the firm. I am thoroughly familiar with the reputation of Messrs. Elder, Smith, and Company. Every one in the Commonwealth has perfect confidence in the firm, and the Attorney-General should at least do me the justice to say that I merely quoted a’ question on the business-paper to-day in reference to the particular matter mentioned by him.

Mr MCGRATH:
Ballarat

.- I wish to draw attention to a matter relating to the Department of Defence. We are all endeavouring to-day to induce lads to enlist for active service. I, like others, have been doing all I can to induce our young men to go to the front, but I find that the military authorities are doing their level best to discourage enlistment. We have in Australia a number of militia officers who have been associated with our Defence Forces for many years, and who have been trained and paid by the country for their services. These men are fit to go to the front, and ought to volunteer. Many of them, however, have what is colloquially known as “ cold feet.” They will not volunteer, but, instead of disapproving of their attitude, the military authorities appear to be doing their best to encourage such men not to volunteer. A military encampment has recently been formed at Ballarat, and has been placed under the control of Major Sauer, a militia officer, who would not enlist, and who ia a Clerk of Courts, for which he receives a salary of something like £300 or £350 a year. “Sauer” is a rather peculiar name for an officer in charge of a military encampment. It does not suggest British origin.

Mr Spence:

– It is not sauerkraut?

Mr McGRATH:

– It suggests sauerkraut. This officer would not volunteer for active service, but he has been taken from his position as clerk of courts and placed in charge of the encampment at Ballarat at a salary of something like £700 a year. This is patriotism. How patriotic these men are ! They are prepared to avail themselves of all the good things going in the country. The second in command of the camp is Captain Vickers, who is also a militia officer. He i9 about thirty-five years of age, is physically well fitted to go to the front, and should have been one of the first to enlist. He has been receiving about £9 per week, but has been selected as second in command of the encampment at Ballarat, and in that position will receive anything up to £500 per annum. Young fellows in Ballarat are naturally asking why these men are not going to the front, and why they are not prepared to take some of the risks of war. They have been trained at the cost qf the country, and it was naturally expected that they would be amongst the first to enlist. We cannot compel them to do so, but they should be the last men to be engaged by the military authorities to control our various local encampments. I trust that the Minister for the Navy will bring thismatter before the Minister of Defence, and that the services of these men will be dispensed with without any delay. No difficulty will be experienced in finding efficient officers to train our men. I visited the Department of Defence to-day, and the answer I received there to my complaint was that there were 20,000 additional men to train, and that it was difficult to find officers to give them the requisite instruction. If the Minister would give the sergeant-majors a chance, the difficulty would disappear. . They are well fitted to occupy higher positions ; and if the Minister would do away with a little of the class feeling existing in connexion with the Army to-day, and give a few of the non-commissioned officers an opportunity to demonstrate their fitness to hold commissions, he would experience no difficulty in securing competent officers to train the men.

Mr Joseph Cook:

– I would suggest that the officers’ schools of instruction should be expanded.

Mr McGRATH:

– I agree with the Leader of the Opposition that that would be a wise course to adopt. Some of our sergeant-majors should be given commissions and afforded an opportunity to fill positions that are being given to-day to militia officers. Those who are not prepared to enlist should not be encouraged in the attitude they take up by being appointed to the good positions that are offering in Australia. I recognise that among our militia officers there are young men who have volunteered for service abroad, but who have not been allowed to go to the front because their services are required at home; and my objection applies only to those militia officers who have not volunteered, and will not do so. They realize that by staying at home they can obtain good appointments worth about £700 a year. It is unfair that a major fighting in the Dardanelles should receive no more than an officer of the same rank placed in charge of a camp at Ballarat or elsewhere in Australia. The one man is risking his life, while the other is taking no risk, and is making no sacrifice. When it is suggested to the Department of Defence that sergeant-majors should be given the opportunity to fill these positions, the reply made is that we have no one to take their place. I would point out that in Ballarat there are one or two retired sergeant-majors of the British Army who are anxious to serve the Commonwealth. One of these, Sergeant-Major Burrowes, superintendent of the Benevolent Asylum, is in the very prime of life, and has offered his services. He is willing to do anything to assist the Commonwealth.

There are dozens of men of this class throughout Australia, and they could be made acting sergeant-majors, and could do the work being done by the sergeantmajors. In regard to the instruction of officers, no man under the age of twentythree is permitted to enter the schools. I recognise that we should not send men under that age to the front as officers; but, judging by appearances, this war will last a long time, and we must look into the future. We have not only to train officers to send abroad. There are plenty of brilliant youths in the community who have passed severe examinations, and who could be qualified by twelve months’ instruction to take military positions in Australia. The Defence Department would, be well advised to allow those young fellows to enter a school of instruction. By a course of study, they would become competent to take the place of many permanent officers, some of whom are anxious to go to the front, but who are not permitted by the Department to do so. I trust that some action will be taken in regard to ..the militia officers in the camps. We must not encourage the officers who are showing “ cold feet “ at this juncture. We must not give them the good positions. Let us give an opportunity to the sergeantmajors to fill these positions. In times of peace they have done splendid work in building up the defence scheme, and they are receiving to-day no encouragement from the Defence Department. There is another matter of importance. I have heard that a person at Ballarat with a German name has been the successful contractor for the supply of certain articles to the Defence Department. Another person of strong German proclivities has been appointed to a position. To my mind, the position is serious, and we ought to make very full inquiries before we appoint any one with a German name. I feel sure that if we we were in Germany we would not be treated as considerately as we are treating many Germans to-day.

Mr PALMER:
Echuca

.- I desire to say a few words in regard to camp drill instructors, concerning whom a question appears on the notice-paper. To my knowledge, an experienced man who has had active service, and is well qualified to act as drill instructor, but who was refused for active service on account of age, has proffered his services to the Department in the capacity of a drill instructor in the camp. Eis offer has not been accepted; he baa been rejected because he is not a unionist. That is a very serious matter. One almost trembles for the welfare of the country if a question of party politics, such as preference to unionists, is to bo allowed to obtrude itself into the administration of the Army which is playing such an important part in the present great war. This action on the part of the military authorities is very much to their discredit. Another matter that I should like to mention is that two fine strapping young fellows who are in the prime and vigour of life, but who are not prepared to volunteer for service at the front have been appointed camp drill instructors.

Mr McGrath:

– That is correct; those men get all the fancy jobs.

Mr PALMER:

– The policy of tie Department should be to appoint experienced men as drill instructors, because the men entering camp resent being instructed by young fellows who have no qualification other than book knowledge. Those instructors, merely because they have been able to pass a certain examination, have been appointed as over-lords to men whose shoe latchets they are not fit to unloose.

Mr Patten:

– Are those men unionists ?

Mr PALMER:

– I suppose so; otherwise they would not have received the appointments. I shall endeavour to produce the letter from the man whose services were refused on account of his not being a unionist. I . do urge upon the Minister that he should give attention to this matter. There are men in this country who are qualified to act as drill instructors, and who would volunteer for the front if they were not beyond the age for active service. They are willing to serve the country in another capacity, and they should be appointed drill instructors, while the younger men should be allowed to go to the front.

Mr GROOM:
Darling Downs

– The first casualty lists which were received from the Dardanelles included the names of a great many men who were reported missing. In several instances nothing further has been heard of those men from official sources. There has been brought under ray notice the case of a young man who was reported missing, and several private advices which have come to hand indicate that he was killed and buried on the peninsula. Yet no official information of a specific character can be obtained from the authorities. In another case, a young soldier has been officially reported missing, but private information, received by cable, is to the effect that he is in hospital at Lemnos. I suggest to the Minister for the Navy that he might send a special request to the authorities overseas to have the cases of the missing men re-investigated, so that final information may be conveyed to the relatives. Nothing could be more painful to relatives than the state of suspense in which they are kept by the fact that these men are officially reported missing, whilst private advices state them to be either dead or in hospitals. If a special appeal were made to the commanders of the different battalions a final answer would be obtained which would set at rest the doubts of the relatives. Complaints are still received of the non-delivery of letters to the troops at the front, and I should like the Postmaster-General to inform the House whether he has received any information in regard to an improvement of the postal service to Australian troops overseas. There is another complaint affecting the local administration of the Postal Department. Those mail contractors whom the drought had affected seriously received an allowance from the Department. In some country districts where the drought was experienced in all its intensity, the letter carriers are obliged to go their rounds on horseback, and they provide their own horses. They receive the same salaries as the postmen who deliver on foot, but an allowance for’ the upkeep of the horse is made on the basis of the prices that prevail in normal seasons. I am informed that the cost of feeding a horse is in excess of the allowance made to these men, and the consequence is that they are obliged to devote portion of their earnings to pay for the carrying on of a service of the Commonwealth. In view of the concession which has been granted to mail contractors - and which I regard as a reasonable one- I would like the Postmaster-General to make a public statement on this matter. I understand that some arrangement has been arrived at. Then, in reference to war pensions, the Bill at present engaging the attention of the House provides for the transfer of the administration of the Act from the existing Pensions Board to the Old-age and Invalid Pensions Department. In the meantime,a number of claims are being considered. In one case I know that a claim has been under consideration for some time. It is that of a young man who has been in several hospitals, and who is now going about practically is a crippledcondition. His pay has been stopped. Is the Board still considering these claims, or are its hands tied until the transfer to the Invalid and Oldage Pensions Department?

Mr Jensen:

– It is still considering them.

Mr GROOM:

– I hope that is so. I would like the Minister for the Navy to inquire into the matter. If claims are to be hung up for any considerable time, a great hardship will be inflicted upon men who are incapacitated, and who, pending the decision of their claims, will be left without means of support. I cannot conceive of anything more prejudicial to our recruiting campaign than to have invalided soldiers, after having rendered this country such gallant service, kept without pay.

Mr HANNAN:
Fawkner

.- I wish to bring under the notice of the Minister of Home Affairs the method that is being adopted in regard to the engagementof men at Broadmeadows, or any other place where work is being carried out byhis Department on behalf of any other Department. If, for example, there are six vacancies for carpenters or labourers at Broadmeadows, instead of the Department selecting that number of men to fill the positions it probably sends out fifteen or twenty applicants to the officer in charge of the work, who is intrusted with the task of making a selection. I say that this plan inflicts a hardship upon men who are unemployed. It puts them to unnecessary expense and trouble in travelling to Broadmeadows, andpossibly having to return to the city again. I trust that the Minister will take the matter into his consideration with a view to devising some better method of selection.

Mr SPENCE:
PostmasterGeneral · Darling · ALP

– In reply to the honorable member for Darling Downs, I wish to say that the arrangements made at the other end for the delivery of letters are in the hands of the Defence Department. My information is that those arrangements have recently shown a very considerable improvement. Indeed, I think they are now about as good as they can be made. Admittedly; great difficulty is experienced in tracing the wounded. The two Departments, however, are co-operating with a view to making the postal arrangements as perfect as possible. In regard to the matter of assistance to mail contractors and others affected by the drought, the Deputy Postmasters-General were authorized some time ago to make an additional allowance to postmen who have to pay an increased price for fodder for their horses. If the honorable member has any specific complaint in that connexion, I shall be glad to have it investigated.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

House adjourned at 5.35 p.m.

Cite as: Australia, House of Representatives, Debates, 11 August 1915, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/hofreps/1915/19150811_reps_6_78/>.

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House of Representatives11 August 1915

ANNIVERSARY OF THE DECLARATION OF WAR

QUESTION

WHEAT EXPORT

Mr RICHARD FOSTER:WAKEFIELD, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Mr HUGHES:Attorney-General · WEST SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

QUESTION

SALE OF RED CROSS GOODS

Mr HIGGS:CAPRICORNIA, QUEENSLAND

Mr JENSEN:Minister for the Navy · BASS, TASMANIA · ALP

QUESTION

QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT ACQUISITION OF SUGAR

Mr GROOM:DARLING DOWNS, QUEENSLAND

Mr HUGHES:ALP

QUESTION

MILITARY CAMPS

Mr WATKINS:NEWCASTLE, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr JENSEN:ALP

QUESTION

SOLDIERS’ AND SAILORS’ WILLS

Dr MALONEY:MELBOURNE, VICTORIA · ALP; FLP from 1931; ALP from 1936

Mr JENSEN:ALP

QUESTION

WHOLESALE PRICE OF SUGAR

Mr MCWILLIAMS:FRANKLIN, TASMANIA

Mr HUGHES:ALP

Mr MATHEWS:MELBOURNE PORTS, VICTORIA

Mr HUGHES:

Mr Richard Foster:

Mr HUGHES:

QUESTION

POST OFFICE REPORT

Mr JOSEPH COOK:PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr SPENCE:Postmaster-General · DARLING, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

Mr JOSEPH COOK:

Mr Spence:

Mr JOSEPH COOK:

Mr SPENCE:

Mr Joseph Cook:

Mr SPENCE:

Mr Joseph Cook:

PUBLIC WORKS: AUSTRALIAN TIMBERS

Mr HAMPSON:BENDIGO, VICTORIA

Mr ARCHIBALD:Minister for Home Affairs · HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

QUESTION

EXPEDITIONARY FORCES

Mr W ELLIOT JOHNSON:LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr JENSEN:ALP

Mr McGRATH:BALLAARAT, VICTORIA

Mr JENSEN:

Mr PIGOTT:CALARE, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr JENSEN:

QUESTION

SMALL ARMS FACTORY

Mr CARR:MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr HUGHES:ALP

Mr GREGORY:DAMPIER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Mr ARCHIBALD:ALP

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:EDEN-MONARO, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr ARCHIBALD:

QUESTION

FEDERAL CAPITAL WORKS

Mr CHARLTON:HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr ARCHIBALD:ALP

Mr SPEAKER:

Mr RODGERS:WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr Higgs:

Mr RODGERS:WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr Hughes:

Mr RODGERS:WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr Hughes:

Mr RODGERS:WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr Hughes:

Mr RODGERS:WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr Kelly:

Mr RODGERS:WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:INDI, VICTORIA · ALP

Mr RODGERS:WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr Hughes:

Mr RODGERS:WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

House of Representatives
11 August 1915

Mr RICHARD FOSTER:
WAKEFIELD, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Mr HUGHES:
Attorney-General · WEST SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

Mr HIGGS:
CAPRICORNIA, QUEENSLAND

Mr JENSEN:
Minister for the Navy · BASS, TASMANIA · ALP

Mr GROOM:
DARLING DOWNS, QUEENSLAND

Mr HUGHES:
ALP

Mr WATKINS:
NEWCASTLE, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr JENSEN:
ALP

Dr MALONEY:
MELBOURNE, VICTORIA · ALP; FLP from 1931; ALP from 1936

Mr JENSEN:
ALP

Mr MCWILLIAMS:
FRANKLIN, TASMANIA

Mr HUGHES:
ALP

Mr MATHEWS:
MELBOURNE PORTS, VICTORIA

Mr JOSEPH COOK:
PARRAMATTA, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr SPENCE:
Postmaster-General · DARLING, NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

Mr HAMPSON:
BENDIGO, VICTORIA

Mr ARCHIBALD:
Minister for Home Affairs · HINDMARSH, SOUTH AUSTRALIA · ALP

Mr W ELLIOT JOHNSON:
LANG, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr JENSEN:
ALP

Mr McGRATH:
BALLAARAT, VICTORIA

Mr PIGOTT:
CALARE, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr CARR:
MACQUARIE, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr HUGHES:
ALP

Mr GREGORY:
DAMPIER, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Mr ARCHIBALD:
ALP

Mr AUSTIN CHAPMAN:
EDEN-MONARO, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr CHARLTON:
HUNTER, NEW SOUTH WALES

Mr ARCHIBALD:
ALP

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
INDI, VICTORIA · ALP

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr PARKER MOLONEY:
INDI, VICTORIA · ALP

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr HUGHES:
AttorneyGeneral · West Sydney · ALP

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917

Mr SAMPSON:
Wimmera

Mr RODGERS:
WANNON, VICTORIA · LP; NAT from 1917