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Senate
29 July 1915

6^th Parliament · 1^st Session

ASSENT TO BILLS
QUESTION
- EXPEDITIONARY FORCES
QUESTION
- MAIL SERVICE: CROOKWELL
QUESTION
- HORSES FOR DEFENCE DEPARTMENT
QUESTION
- LOAN FROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
QUESTION
- SUPPLY OP SUGAR
QUESTION
- NORTHERN TERRITORY
LEAVE OF ABSENCE
APPROPRIATION BILL 1914-15
- Second Reading
PRINTING COMMITTEE’S REPORT
APPROPRIATION BILL, 1914-1.5
UNSYMPATHETIC
PAPERS
SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT
ADJOURNMENT
- Expeditionary Forces : State Percentages of Enlistments : Allotment or Army Medical Work, Brisbane Patagonian Immigrants - War Taxation - Transports for Wheat

The President took the. chair at 3 p.m., and read prayers.

page 5446

ASSENT TO BILLS

Assent to the following Bills re ported : -

War Census Bill.

WarLoan Bill (No. 1).

page 5446

QUESTION

EXPEDITIONARY FORCES

Telegram to Mother of Soldier : Use of Automatic Pistols: Nurses’ Outfit Allowance

Senator MULLAN:
QUEENSLAND

– Has the Minister representing the Postmaster-General obtained any further information concerning the complaint to which I drew his attention last evening, that the Post and Telegraph Department had charged the sum of 5s. for the delivery of a telegram to a mother announcing that her son had been wounded at the front?

Senator GARDINER:
Vice-President of the Executive Council · NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

– I have received information to the effect that this matter is under consideration between the Post and Telegraph and Defence Departments, with the object of reviewing the charge which was made - quite a legal charge, although, in view of the exceptional circumstances, not altogether warranted - and to prevent the occurrence of similar cases.

Senator GRANT:
NEW SOUTH WALES

asked the Minister of Defence, upon notice -

Are members of the Australian Expeditionary Forces allowed to carry Colt’s automatic pistol?
If so, will the Department provide them with ammunition when at the front?
If the Department is not prepared to provide them with ammunition, is it prepared to provide facilities for the delivery of the special ammunition necessary for the weapon?

Senator PEARCE:
Minister for Defence · WESTERN AUSTRALIA · ALP

– The answers are -

Members of the Australian Imperial Force authorized to be armed with the pistol are allowed to carry any weapon which will fire the service ammunition (.45). Members desirous of carrying pistols of a pattern other than that issued free by the Department, must submit same for examination, in order that it may be ascertained whether the pistol complies with the above condition. 2 and 3. The Department cannot undertake to provide or convey any ammunition to troops other than of the service pattern.

Senator KEATING:
TASMANIA

asked the Minister of Defence, upon notice -

What is the amount of the uniform, costume, or outfit allowance granted to nurses leaving with the Australian Expeditionary Forces?
How was such amount arrived at?
Will the Minister ask the officer or officers primarily responsible for the fixing of such amount to furnish a list of the requirements and the estimated cost of same covered by such allowance?

Senator PEARCE:

– The answers are -

£15 on appointment, in addition to which a half-yearly allowance of £8 is provided for upkeep of uniform and other articles of clothing to nurses outside Australia, and an allowance of £6 is made to nurses in Australia for a similar purpose.
When nurses were first accepted for active service, a list of uniform and other articles considered necessary was prepared, with the assistance of one of the principal matrons, and it was ascertained from inquiries from a business firm that the whole of the articles in this list could bc procured at a cost approximating 15.
The officer primarily responsible for fixing the amount is at present on active service. The list of requirements and the estimated cost of same is -

In addition to the foregoing, a grey cloak,, costing about £1, would also be required.

page 5447

QUESTION

MAIL SERVICE: CROOKWELL

Senator GRANT:

– Can the Minister representing the Postmaster-General now answer the questions I put to him somedays ago regarding postal matters at Crookwell, in New South “Wales?

Senator GARDINER:
ALP

– The answers to the honorable senator’s questions, to which an interim reply was given on the 22nd July, are as follow: -

The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney, reports that the frequency of the Crookwell mail service was reduced, on 30th May last,, from six to three times weekly consequent on the curtailment of the frequency of the railway service between Goulburn and Crookwell.
Answered by 1.
The Postmaster-General was not aware of the fact until his attention was drawn to it by the question of the honorable senator. The Deputy Postmaster-General, Sydney, is submitting a report, on receipt of which the matter will be given full consideration.

page 5447

QUESTION

HORSES FOR DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

Senator BUZACOTT:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

– Will the Minister of Defence take into consideration the advisability of instructing the officials who purchase horses for his Department to avoid, as far as possible, the purchase of mares suitable for breeding purposes ?

Senator PEARCE:
ALP

– Instructions to that effect were given some time ago, and, as far as possible, the Department has avoided buying mares, but owing to the large number of horses required at times it was impossible to avoid buying a certain number. No horses are being purchased now, owing to the fact that the Light Horse are not being used in the present operations.

Senator STORY:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

– Has the Minister of Defence yet given any consideration to the idea of establishing horse-breeding stations, in the Northern Territory, and has he taken any action on the suggestion I made some months ago, that he might confer with the Postmaster-General, with the idea of utilizing the telegraph stations in the Territory as horse-breeding stations on a small scale?

Senator PEARCE:

– This matter has’ been looked into very closely by myself and officers of the Department, and it has been the subject of a number of reports.

I am strongly of the opinion that, as soon as possible, we should have horse-breeding stations established in the Commonwealth, but at the present juncture it is impossible to spare officers from the Defence Department to make the necessary investigations, nor would it be possible, if such horse-breeding establishments were formed now, for any benefit to be achieved in the present war. As we have to bend all our energies, both financial and otherwise, to the prosecution of the war it is not possible to take up the question now.

page 5448

QUESTION

LOAN FROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Senator LYNCH:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

– In view of the fact that a large amount of loan money will be wanted in the near future for carrying out public works, and also, in view of the fact that the London money market is practically closed to this country, and that Canada and other nations engaged in the war have already been trying the money market of America, I ask the Minister representing the Treasury whether the latter will deem it advisable to inquire, through the High Commissioner or other source, what are the prospects for the Commonwealth as to raising a loan there ?

SenatorRUSSELL. - I do not know that there is any immediate intention on the part of the Treasury to float any loan outside the £20,000,000 loan which has already been announced, but I will bring the honorable senator’s question under his notice.

page 5448

QUESTION

SUPPLY OP SUGAR

Senator READY:
TASMANIA

asked the Minister representing the Attorney-General, upon notice -

Is the Attorney-General aware that serious complaints are being made by the grocers of Launceston as to a shortage of sugar?
Willhe have a full inquiry made into the distribution of sugar, in order to prevent a repetition of such complaints?

Senator GARDINER:
ALP

– The answers are -

No.
Yes.

page 5448

QUESTION

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Immigrants from Patagonia.

Senator MAUGHAN:
QUEENSLAND

asked the Minister representing the Minister of External Affairs, upon notice -

Under what conditions are the Welsh and other immigrants from Patagonia being sent to the Northern Territory ?
Will the Minister lay on the table of the Senate the papers dealing with the matter?

Senator GARDINER:
ALP

– The answers are -

The party of immigrants from South America has gone to the Northern Territory with the intention of settling on the land, and land will be set apart for them as soon as they are in a position to take it up. In the meantime employment is being provided for most of the male adults on the railway construction works.
The papers will be laid upon the table of the Library for the honorable senator’s information.

page 5448

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Motion (by Senator Lt.-Colonel

O’Loghlin) agreed to -

That a fortnight’s leave be granted Senator Shannon, on account of urgent business.

page 5448

APPROPRIATION BILL 1914-15

Second Reading

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

– In moving

That this Bill be now read a second time,

I have nothing to add to the statement which I made on the motion for the first reading of the measure. I merely wish to remind honorable senators that our object in getting the Bill through quickly is to enable us to save the Commonwealth a. few pounds by permitting us to make use of the type which has been kept standing in connexion with this Bill.

Senator Mullan:

– How much of the money is unexpended ?

Senator PEARCE:

– About £3,000. It consists of hundreds of small unexpended balances on the various votes.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time.

In Committee:

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clauses 2 and 3 postponed.

First schedule agreed to.

Salary of Clerk of Senate - Historic Memorials - Dominions Royal Commission - British Science Congress - Cotton Growing - High Court: Travelling Expenses - High Commissioner - Dr. Norris - Export Trade - Advertising Resources of Commonwealth: Immigration - Papua: Government Plantations : Oil Fields - Northern Territory : Administration and Development : Contract Work at Tanami - Panama Exposition Commission - Australia and the United States. ^Second Schedule.

Divisions 1 to 10 (The Parliament), £38,113.

Senator DE LARGIE:
Western Australia

– When the Estimates were ^printed the increase in the salary of the Clerk of the Senate caused some press criticism.

Senator Givens:

– Very ignorant press -criticism.

Senator DE LARGIE:

– The Age drew attention to an increase in’ the salary, and severely criticised tlie Government for granting increases to highly-paid officers during the present period. It threw the whole responsibility on to the Government. When I read the article . I was somewhat surprised, and looked up the Estimates. As these were printed with the previous gear’s and last year’s amounts in parallel -columns, the criticism appeared to be justified, because an increase of £100 per annum was shown, apparently as being given during the life of the present Parliament. On inquiry, I found that the increase had really been made in the -year before last, but was not shown on the Estimates for that year. It appeared that when those Estimates were originally made up, the then President of the Senate, Senator Turley, furnished the Government with the usual amounts, and suggested no increases. After the elections a new President and a new Speaker took office. The new Speaker increased the salary of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and also, I understand, suggested to our President that a similar move be made in this branch of the Legislature. I believe Senator Givens declined to take that step, and the ‘Estimates were printed showing the Clerk of the House of 3 Representatives’ salary as £1,000, and that of the Clerk of the Senate as £900. Subsequently the President made application that the Clerk of the Senate should be placed on the same level as the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Senator Givens:

– They were not isolated applications, but applied to pretty nearly the whole staff, down to the doorkeeper.

Senator DE LARGIE:

– I hardly think that that is correct. Although the increased amount came before the Senate very few of us knew much about it. Although I attend fairly regularly, I knew nothing about the increase having been passed, and on looking up the records I found that, when it came before the Senate, some honorable senators, including Senator Pearce, who was at that time sitting in opposition, protested against it. Although this was towards the end of the year, the salaries dated back to the beginning of the year, and were paid accordingly. I should not mention this somewhat outofdate matter except to clear away misapprehensions as to the right parties to bear the responsibility. It was not the Labour Government that was responsible. It was the Fusion Government that put the amount on the Estimates, and if there is any responsibility, they must take it.

Senator Givens:

– The Speaker and myself were responsible.

Senator DE LARGIE:

– The honorable senator must shoulder his share, but it is nearly time the whole matter was placed on a different footing. It should be decided by the House Committee.

Senator Givens:

– The House Committee have nothing to do with it.

Senator DE LARGIE:

Senator de Largie:

– Does the honorable senator mean tosay that he put on the increase for the Clerk of the Senate at the same time as Mr. W. Elliot Johnson put on the increase for the officer of the House of Representatives?

Senator GIVENS:

Senator STEWART:

– No, but I think that he might be doing something more useful, at any rate, than coming in and sitting there. I was of the opinion that those in charge of this matter might very well have effected a reformation and a little saving by making the Clerk Assistant Usher of the Black Rod as well; but, apparently, they have thought otherwise. When I compare the schedule to the Appropriation Bill with the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, I find that in the former the Clerk of the Papers and Accountant is down for a salary of £500 a year. In the Estimates he is down for £420. That sum was an increase of £15 on the salary paid during the previous year. I would be glad if Senator Givens will tell us exactly what is the salary of the Clerk and Accountant. Then there is the Clerk of Records. I do not find his office set out in the Estimates at all. He gets £440. All these officers have received increases, and instead of a less sum being paid to them this year than last year, the reverse will be the case. Last year their salaries totalled £6,373, whereas this year they will amount to £6,424. I protest against the continuance of the office of Usher of the Black Rod. I think that it is entirely unnecessary, and that even if it were necessary it might advantageously be conjoined with the office of Clerk Assistant.

Senator DE LARGIE:
Western Australia

– When I was speaking upon the question of the salary of the

Senator DE LARGIE:

– No injustice was being done to the officer when he was receiving £900 a year for the position.

Proposed vote agreed to.

Divisions II to 14 (Prime Minister’)! Department), £64,351.

Senator STEWART:
Queensland

– In these times, when every farthing is needed for the preservation of the country, money should not be spent on such items as “ Historic memorials of representative men, £1,225.” That kind of expenditure might well be left until better times come round again. Our first duty is to perfect our defence and keep our people from want, which, I believe, will be the fate of many of them unless the different Governments come to their assistance. I move -

That the House of Representatives be requested to leave out the item “ Historic memorials of representative men, £1,225.”

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

– The money has already been expended. If the Committee thinks the painting of the memorials should not continue, it can demonstrate the fact to the Government in an effective way on the next Supply Bill.

Senator Guthrie:

– And then you will tell us that the paintings have been ordered, and that we shall have to pay for them.

Senator PEARCE:

– I shall certainly oppose any such request, but if carried on the next Supply Bill, it will be effective. The way now chosen by the honorable senator is not effective. All the money appropriated under this Bill has been spent with the exception of £3,000 spread in small sums over 100 items or more. The probability is that every penny of this item has already been spent. As the cheque has really been cashed, and we cannot repudiate it, I appeal to Senator Stewart not topress the request.

Senator STEWART (Queensland) £4.30]. - This shows with what wonderful wisdom the country is governed. We are asked to pass Estimates amounting to several millions to-night, while the House of Representatives has been chewing over them for months. This kind of thing is a deliberate insult to the Senate.

Senator de Largie:

– And we take it lying down !

Senator STEWART:

– We do. The Committee ought to register some protest regarding these historic records. At a time like the present, when all the money we have is required for powder and shot, and we are running the country into debt tothe tune of over £100,000,000, every farthing we can muster ought to be saved for that and other necessary purposes. I beg leave to amend the request to read -

– If Senator Ferricks thinks that I am objecting to the continuation of the painting of these portraits because two Labour men have had their portraits painted, I can tell him that there is nothing further from my mind.

Senator Ferricks:

– I said that the painting of their portraits is what gave rise to the ridicule of the movement.

Senator STEWART:

– I think that this is one of the luxuries that we” could very well do without at the present time. I did not for a moment suggest that the movement should be altogether discontinued, but I do think that it should be suspended until better times come round. We shall have to pay for these pictures if we keep on painting them, with bor rowed money, and I do not think that is a very nice thing to have to do. If I get any support I shall divide the Committee on my request, because, under present conditions, I regard the painting of these portraits as pure extravagance.

Request negatived.

Senator STEWART:
Queensland

– Can the Minister give us any information in regard to the item of £1,150 for the Dominions Royal Commission ?

Senator PEARCE (Western Australia - Minister of Defence (“4.51]. - This Commission was established as the result of the Imperial Conference of 1911, and comprised representatives of the United Kingdom and the various self-governing Dominions. .Australia was represented by Mr. Donald Campbell, but, as he was withdrawn from the Commission about three months ago, no more money will be spent in this direction.

Senator BAKHAP:
Tasmania

– Although the war overshadowed the Congress of the British Association for the Advancement of Science which was held in Sydney last year, that meeting of scientists must have been of considerable interest, and the result of their deliberations may be of benefit to humanity after the present war is among the terrible things of the past. As I take a great deal of interest in reading the papers presented, and reports of discussions at such conferences, and as this was the first occasion on which such a conspicuously scientific and learned gathering has taken place in Australia, I am anxious to know from the Minister whether the report of the proceedings of the Congress will be published in a handy form.

Senator FINDLEY:
Victoria

– The fact that this Congress was the most important of its kind that has been held in any part of Australia is recognised by the sum provided in these Estimates to cover the expenses of these gentlemen of high scientific attainments, who came to Australia to attend it. Had it not been for the titanic struggle in Europe, the leading newspapers of Australia would have devoted considerable space to the proceedings of the Congress. I followed with more than a passing interest a number of the papers read there and the discussions thereon, but since then events have so overshadowed the Congress that its proceedings are not as well retained in memory as they would be if a handy report of them were published. Such a report would be very helpful as well as historical ; but, instead of having a voluminous report containing the whole of the proceedings of that Congress, the Government should consider the advisability of issuing pamphlets dealing with the separate subjects discussed.

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

– A voluminous report of the proceedings is now being printed, but I believe that it is also the practice to print some of the papers as separate subjects. These reports are available to the various societies represented at the Congress. There need be no fear that the valuable knowledge displayed at that Congress will be lost.

Senator KEATING:
Tasmania

. - Some honorable senators would be glad to receive copies of the very valuable Handbook of Australia published under the authority of Mr. Knibbs for the benefit of the visiting scientists.

Senator Pearce:

– Copies of that handbook are available. Honorable senators should apply to the’ Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Department for them.

Senator STEWART:
Queensland

– In regard to the next item, providing £500 for an expert to report on the possibilities of cotton growing in Australia, can the Minister say whether that expert’s report has been published, and, generally, how the matter stands; is the expert still in the employ of the Commonwealth ?

Senator PEARCE:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA · ALP; NAT from 1917; UAP from 1931

– I shall have inquiries made into that matter, and acquaint the honorable senator with the result.

Proposed vote agreed to.

Divisions 15 to 27 (Department of the Treasury), £1,670.662, agreed to.

Divisions 28 to 33 (Attorney-General’s Department), £58,684.

Senator STEWART:
Queensland

– Can the Minister give the Committee any information in regard to the item of £5,000 for travelling expenses for the Justices and officials of the High Court?

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

– I am not. It is quite possible that it may have arrived to-day. .Personally, I am entirely iri accord with the policy of the Department of External Affairs in regard to rnining and pastoral matters in the Territory, save that T think some of the pastoral areas have. been tied up for too long a period. I do not expect much development in agriculture there in the immediate future. Before agriculture can he successful in the Territory, markets must be created and means of communication and transport provided. In my judgment, the best method of attracting population to the Territory is b.y stimulating mining development. It has been the experience of every State of the Commonwealth that population invariably follows mining development. I feel sure that if a profitable mineral field were opened up in the Territory there would be a great rush of settlers there in just, the same way as there was a rush to Kimberley and other parts of the world.

Senator Keating:

– Even to Klondyke

Senator FERRICKS:

– Even to Klondyke, as the honorable senator remarks. In the preface to the Administrator’s report for 1913, the position of the Territory is not put in a very attractive light. Certainly it is not put in a manner that is likely to appeal to the people. Indeed, the whole of that preface rather throws a damper upon the prospect of attracting population there, and we all recognise that population is what is wanted. For instance, the Administrator says -

Southern residents rarely appreciate the fact that the journey to Darwin occupies at least twelve days from Sydney: that mails ure infrequent and practically only twice monthly - in some cases four weeks elapsing between mails. Even applicants for land and other would-be settlers seem to fail to grasp these facts.

On arrival in the hot, small township nf Darwin, where the amenities of civilization as known to most Australians are absent, the natural feeling nf home sickness is aggravated, and they are prepared almost at once to accept the most pessimistic of local advice (which i> unfortunately plentiful), and to return sooner or later disappointed, without having made any real effort to combat the natural difficulties. The south, with its climate, friends and pleasures, keeps calling, and most naturally sooner (often soon) or later they succumb.

I do not think that that is the most attractive picture which the Administrator might have painted in regard to this most tropical country.

Senator O’Keefe:

– He practically tells people that it is a good country to keep away from.

Senator FERRICKS:

– He puts a clamper upon the whole place.

Sen ato r Blakey. - His statements are fairly accurate.

Senator FERRICKS:

Dr. Gilruth had no alternative, under existing conditions, but to employ a Chinese cook. I wish, in justice to him, to put these facts in Hansard, so that he may not think when he reads the report of the debates that he has been condemned by the whole Senate. Senator Ferricks painted an awful picture of what is occurring at Port Darwin at the present time. The Chinese to whom he referred are peaceful, law-abiding citizens, living in the main street of Port Darwin, and many of them are naturalized British subjects. I am not “prepared to say that they should be called upon to leave the place because they were introduced by a Liberal Government to assist in building the railway from Port Darwin to Pine Greek.

Senator Bakhap:

– A large number of half-caste Chinese are fighting to-day in the ranks of our Expeditionary Forces. Some of them have already been wounded or killed. Ten came down from Ballarat in one batch the other day.

Senator Ready:

– Senator Ferricks said that the Chinese of whom he was speaking were vaunting their disloyalty.

Senator BLAKEY:

– I was in pretty close touch with the inhabitants of Fort Darwin while I was there, and I do not believe that the Chinese population would rise in a body against the militant whites that I know to be living there at the present time. I wish to refer to another question raised by Senator Ferricks. He blames the Administrator for not doing more than’ he has done in the way of building homes for Government employees and ordinary workmen at Port Darwin. One of the principal reasons why Dr. Gilruth is criticised by the press of Port Darwin, and by many of the townspeople, is that he has done the very thing which Senator Ferricks has blamed him for not doing. An outcry was raised by the Port Darwin press, and its echo found voice in the Melbourne Age, because it was stated that Dr. Gilruth was taking the park lands and the public lands of the people of the Territory. That outcry arose in this way: When the Commonwealth took over this Territory, which is six and a quarter times as large as Victoria, the Government spent a considerable sum of money there. The people of Port Darwin naturally thought that they would obtain the unearned increment arising from Commonwealth expenditure. They said that, as the Commonwealth were sending an army of officials to Port Darwin, they would make the Government pay through the nose for the land which they had held for a number of years, and on which they had spent little or nothing in the shape of improvements. Dr. Gilruth, recognising that the officials should be properly housed in that tropical climate, asked these patriotic citizens of Port Darwin what they would sell their land for, in order that he might build homes on it for the Government employees. They at once put the price of the land up by 50, 60, and 100 per cent., and left him no alternative but to take certain lands that were not required by the people of Port Darwin as a park, because there are many square miles of land available for such a purpose in the vicinity of the town. He built homes for the Government employees on these lands, and he was then charged with taking the park lands from the people.

Senator O’Keefe:

– That would make enemies.

Senator BLAKEY:

– Dr. Gilruth has made enemies because he has trodden on the corns of vested interests up there. He has fallen foul of Messrs. Allen and Company, and others who have been holding land there for a long time. He has trodden, also, on the corns of the man who is the Port Darwin correspondent of the Melbourne Age, and who sends down reports to that newspaper intended to inflame the minds of members of this Parliament and of people outside against the Administrator of the Northern Territory. I am not saying that Dr. Gilruth is infallible. Like any other man who has undertaken a big task, he has made mistakes; but I do not know any one to whom honorable members of this Parliament could point as a better Administrator of the Territory. He is a big man, and a big Australian. He has a large faith in the capabilities of the country, and is prepared to take his coat off and work. He lias taken his wife and children up to Port Darwin that he might be able to show that white women can live in the tropics without deterioration, which some critics of the White Australia policy hold to be impossible. We have been told by Senator Ferricks that, according to the Administrator, people who go up to the ^Northern Territory are lured back again by the call of the South. I believe that that is a fact. Men go up there expecting that the conditions under which they will have to live and labour will be much the same as those they have experienced in the southern States, and it is no wonder that they are lured by the call of the South. I can give a concrete example in the case of a man who was very anxious to go to the Territory, and who went up to Port Darwin with me three or four years ago. He is a nian who stood for election to the Federal Parliament. After making repeated representations, and having the necessary qualifications, he was appointed to a certain position in the Territory. He had not been five minutes in the place before he said, “ This is no good to me ; I want to get back again to the South.” In making the statement referred to by Senator Ferricks, Dr. Gilruth only spoke the truth. Unless intending settlers are of the pioneering type, possessed of stout hearts and strong right arms, it is of no use for them to go to the Northern Territory. I Should not like any man in the position of Dr. Gilruth to report otherwise than he has clone on these matters. I wish to say a word on the subject of the development of the oil-fields of Papua. A certain amount of money has been spent upon investigation, and I have read with interest the report presented by Dr. Wade upon the development of the oilfields on the Valala River. Only this week the price of kerosene has risen by 6d. per tin in Melbourne, and, although the Government cannot have very much money at their disposal, in view of the very heavy drain upon their funds to prosecute the war, I hope they will try to do something to develop the Papuan oil-fields, and to place on the market in :i commercial way the petroleum that we know exists in the region of the Valala River. I think that Dr. Wade has proved that oil can he obtained there, and I should like to know whether, without an alteration of the Constitution, we would have the power to place it on the market in Australia, and sell it generally to the people at a cheaper rate than is being charged at the present time for kerosene oil. When people are crying out about the high price of kerosene, I hope the Government will do something to carry out the recommendations of Dr. Wade, and., if petroleum is found to exist in large quantities in Papua, as we have reason tobelieve it does, they will take the necessary steps for the erection of refineries in order that, after the referenda proposals have been carried, we may be in a position to compete with the oil trusts and other people who are at present charging an exorbitant price for this illuminant, which is so necessary, particularly in the homes of the poorer people of the community.

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

.- With respect to the suggested1 delay in the presentation of the report on the Northern Territory, the explanation is that a change has been made with respect to the Administrator’s reports .concerning the Northern Territory, so that in future they will refer to the financial year ending on 30th June, and not as hitherto to the calendar year. Consequently, the current Administrator’s report, which, in the ordinary course would refer to the year ending 31st December last, will on this occasion deal with the eighteen months expiring on the 30th -June. As soon as it is received, copies will be laid on the table of the Senate. I am sure that honorable senators do not expect me to traverse the various matters to which they have directed attention. The Minister of External Affairs proposes to visit the Northern Territory and make himself acquainted at first hand with many of the questions that have arisen in connexion with its administration. I have no doubt that after his visit he will be better armed to cope with the many problems arising in that Territory.

Senator LYNCH:
Western Australia

– I have here a letter from Mr. Laurie, a prospector at Tanami, which reveals a condition of things in that portion of the Northern Territory requiring a remedy. Mr. Laurie has been at Tanami for eight years, and has persistently stood to his ground there. The field suffered for a long time from the lack of a mail service, until the Federal Government saw the wisdom of connecting this place, where there are so many pioneers, with Hall’s Creek, and there has been a .mail service to the place for the last three months. To get to Tanami at present the traveller has to depend on the wells on the route, and the work of keeping those wells in repair has been thrust upon the prospectors at Tanami from time to time. Sometimes they did the work, without payment, on their own account, and in their own time, but the Government gave a contract to one of the prospectors to keep the wells in repair.

I find that this man had to wait about fifteen months before he was paid for his work, lt was expected that the Warden would visit Tanami in the ordinary course and make the payments necessary, but the wet season supervened, and it was impossible for him to do so. Mr. Laurie writes -

When the Warden arrived here one of the prospectors asked him to pay the balance due on the contract. He said that he knew nothing about it, and had received no instructions, but would pay if they had any papers to show that the money was due.. I happened to have a copy of their agreement which the Director of Mines gave me, and produced it, and he paid the amount due. So that that matter is fixed up after the men waiting fifteen months for their money.

I think that the Government should make better provision to meet the needs of people in such remote places as Tanami. It is not very encouraging for men so far removed from civilization as are the pioneers of Tanami to have to wait for fifteen months for payment for work performed for the Commonwealth. I have said that the wet season supervened and prevented the Warden reaching the place at the time first arranged, but the Warden or some other official of the Mines Department could have gone to Tanami by the mail route. He could have gone round to Western Australia, and on to Hall’s Creek, and from there to Tanami; and if that course had been followed, this man would have been paid for his work long before he was paid.

Senator Turley:

– It might have cost the official as much to go by the mail route as the account he had to pay.

Senator LYNCH:

– I realize that possible disadvantage, but on the face of it it is hardly fair to ask pioneers in such a remote district to wait fifteen months for payment for work they have done.

Some criticisms have been passed upon the Administrator of the Northern Territory in this Chamber. So far as I know or have read of this gentleman, he appears to me to be the right type of man to fill an awkward and difficult position. He is no armchair official, but has gone about the Territory more actively than perhaps any other man occupying a corresponding official position would have done. He does not depend on others under him to supply him with the information that he needs. He makes personal inquiries. He seems to be the most industrious man that I have read of for many a long day in the position which he holds. The papers laid on the table in connexion with the Daly River settlement indicate it. The type of settler selected for the Northern Territory has been anything but the right kind. Men totally unfit for pioneering work in a climate such as that of the Northern Territory were sent to the Daly River, and they endeavoured to take advantage of the Government to an unreasonable extent. They were receiving assistance on such a lavish scale that the Government, apparently regardless of the Treasury aspect, must have been prepared to spend their last pound in order to support these men on their holdings. However, -Dr. Gilruth found that one settler had had a case of grog delivered to him as one of the necessaries that a settler should receive from a paternal Government. This fact shows the manner in which the Administrator is carrying out his duties. He very quickly brought up with a round turn this man who had been endeavouring to get at the Government in such a glaring manner. The Government have tried all they possibly could to pull through the settlers on the Daly River, but, unfortunately, the settlement has not been successful. Mr. Laurie, who has had a lengthy experience of the Northern Territory, says that the Administrator is a man who can be trusted, and that he is holding the scales fairly ; he says that though the Administrator has not done everything that should have been done for the mining -industry, because of the scarcity of funds at his disposal, his administration, as it has filtered down through minor officials, shows that he is the best man who has yet been in control of the Territory. We should recognise the difficulty of the Administrator’s position, lt is not an attractive country, but he is taking the utmost pains to acquaint himself with it. At the same time he is trying to deal fairly and fearlessly with all sections of the community. The fact that he has certainly incurred the ill-will of many property-holders at Port Darwin - the men who have gained most through the action of the Commonwealth in taking over the Territory, and who have been interested in booming the place - has, in my opinion, done a great deal to set his reputation at a very high level. I have seen reports in the press painting him in many colours, but when possessed of the information disclosed to us this afternoon by Senator Blakey we can understand these reports, and look behind them and see the object that the writers have in view. These people would not provide the dwellings required, and yet they find fault with Dr. Gilruth for having done so. The Administrator has steadily endeavoured to preserve the interests of the Commonwealth, irrespective of what the local residents might think of his actions, and that he is fulfilling his duties well and faithfully we can gather, not only from Mr. Laurie’s opinion, but from the regard in which he is held by others who have come in contact with him. I hope the Minister will take a note of the circumstances that I have spoken of where men employed in such a distant place as Tanami had to wait fifteen months for payment for work performed by them for the Commonwealth. I arn aware that the floods cut off all communication from Darwin, thus preventing the officials from carrying out the arrangements entered into, but had there been more money at the disposal of the Administration, and more officials employed, the work would have been paid for considerably earlier.

Senator DE LARGIE:
Western Australia

– Some time ago there was quite a heated press controversy, that took a very personal form, with regard to the officials sent to the Panama Exposition; in fact, I do not think that I have seen newspaper correspondence equal to it for a long time. Charges were made by Mr. Deakin against Mr. Mahon, and by Mr. Mahon against Mr. Deakin, and there was doubt in the minds of the people as to where the real fault lay, but I have heard that neither of these gentlemen was to blame, and that both of them were misled by a third party. I do not know how much truth there is in the statement. I thought that the mystery would have been cleared up by the Prime Minister or by some member of the Government. It is time the public should know something about the real facts behind that controversy. The current rumour is that an official, in order to secure a trip to San Francisco, suppressed certain information in the correspondence in his Department, and that Mr. Deakin was not responsible for having misled the Minister. I am informed, on very good authority, that the person really responsible was an official in the Department of External Affairs. I know that this is a very grave statement to make, but I do not make it without having some reason for doing so. I cannot speak dogmatically upon the subject, but my authority for making this statement is in a position in which he can speak with some knowledge of the facts. Can the Minister of Defence give an explanation of the position, so that the people may know the real facts 1

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

– I have no further information than the statement made in the press and in Parliament by Mr. Mahon, the Minister of External Affairs. If Mr. Mahon has discovered anything to qualify the statement which he made clearly and unhesitatingly some mouths ago I am not aware of it. As I have not heard of anything having occurred to cause him to do so, there is nothing more to be said, so far as the Government are concerned. Their case has already been put before the public and Parliament, fully and clearly.

Senator DE LARGIE:
Western Australia

– If there was anything in the statement I made, the Minister should have been in a position to verify or contradict it. I arn loath to thrust myself into a matter that should be revealed by the Minister, but, it is well known that facts have been discovered since the controversy between Mr. Mahon and Mr. Deakin.

Senator Keating:

– That, controversy came to a very abrupt termination.

Senator DE LARGIE:

– And Mr. Deakin took his departure quite as abruptly. I was quite disappointed at his action, because I thought he possessed more spirit than to accept the appointment as Commissioner in the circumstances as the country understood them. However, what I have learned subsequently has given quite a different complexion to the whole matter. Instead of Mr. Deakin having been at fault, I understand that he was chivalrous enough and manly enough to accept blame which should have attached to an official in the Department of External Affairs. And Mr. Deakin, perhaps thinking that he should have acquainted himself with what was in the correspondence, and having taken the responsibility for the report which misled the Minister, felt that he was, to some extent, responsible, and, therefore, could not go back - could not, in fact, make a clear statement of the case. If there is anything in what I have said, surely the Government have some knowledge about it. All that I have said is known in the Department where this business was initiated. I do not think it is very creditable to the Government if they know these facts, and refrain from making them public, because I see nothing wrong in giving publicity to them. If they were misled in the matter, and the fault does -not lie with Mr. Deakin, I think that the public should know the truth, in fairness to both parties, because fo leave the controversy as it is would be to leave it at a very unsatisfactory stage.

Senator Bakhap:

– What does the honorable senator think should be done in connexion with the matter? What does he want investigated?

Senator DE LARGIE:

On these Estimates there are happily two items, one following the other, which have a very intimate connexion with our relationship to the United States. I refer to the item for the Panama Exposition, and the item for advertising in that country. It is with the latter rather than with the former that I am concerned. I know that there is in this chamber one honorable senator at least - there are probably more - who believes that any expenditure on advertising Australia’s resources in America is wasted money. I am not one of that class. I trust that I am capable to a certain extent of looking beyond the present, and glancing at the future. It is most essential to the future of the Commonwealth it is most essential to the future of our Empire - and the Commonwealth is by no means an unimportant unit -that we should cultivate the closest and most amicable relations with the great Republic. Further evidenceis given, if it is required, of the desirability of that state of affairs when we reflect on the fact that even to-day Senator Lynch addressed to a Minister a certain question, and it is evidently his opinion that in the United States there is a fairly fruitful financial field to which Australia might have recourse if this unhappy war be prolonged to a greater extent than we expect.

Sitting suspended from 6.30 to 8 p.m.

page 5474

PRINTING COMMITTEE’S REPORT

Motion (by Senator Barker) agreed to -

That the report from the Printing Committee. presented to theSenate on 22nd July, 1915, be adopted.

– I heartily associate myself with very much of what Senator Bakhap has said on the subject of cultivating a closer friendship with the great Republic of the West, as much for the purpose of responding to the self-evident desire of that country to form a closer friendship with us as for any selfish interests of our own. We cannot ignore the fact that in the

United States of America there are thousands, if not millions, of our own kinsmen. That country, in the first place, sought its independence and found ite nationhood in creating a greater measure of freedom than existed in any other country at that time, .and as we in Australia .are enjoying equal freedom there must necessarily be- a kinship of feeling between us. That was plainly shown when Mr. Roosevelt, the late President of the United States of America,, referred rather eulogistically to this country as the giant young Commonwealth of the South. If any evidence is needed of the growing friendship between this country and that it is shown in the development of trade. The statistics of imports and exports for the last five quinquennial periods prove clearly that the United States pf America has shown an increasing interest in this country so far as trade is concerned. During the last recorded year period we purchased from them goods to the value of about £9,000,000 per annum, or about five times as much as during the quinquennial period of twenty years ago. We buy more goods from them than, from any other country, save Great Britain.

– There are thousands of square miles for them.

Senator STEWART:

Senator Long:

– They are, because of the limit of £16 per head, which the honorable senator will remember I brought under his notice when he took charge of the Defence Department.

Senator PEARCE:

– I can only say that the serious charges which have been made by Senator Ready will be investigated.

Senator Findley:

– Senator Ready said, “if it is true.”

Senator KEATING:

– Exactly. As the result of that statement an inquiry was made, and, as I said, I asked the Minister of Defence if he would lay on the table of the Library, and so make available to the Senate, the result of the inquiry, and he did so as far back as April last. The report has been lying on the table of the Library since that date ; at any rate, it was there up till a week or so ago, if it is not still there. Seeing that these reflections have been made in the Senate on Mr. Piesse, who is a reputable citizen of Tasmania, I think it is due to him that, at any rate, his character which has been, if not directly, inferentially aspersed here should be cleared here. That, I think, is the least which any one of us would expect if he was in a similar position. I have here a copy of the report, which is addressed to the secretary of the Minister of Defence, Melbourne, and. signed by the Commandant of the 6th Military District, Colonel W. J. Clark. It reads as follows: -

Secretary, Department of Defence, Melbourne.

Referring to Defence memo. No. 22847, of the 24th inst., forwarding extract from Hansard re purchase of horses in this district, I have to report as follows: -

When instructions were received to proceed with the purchase of horses for the 1st Expeditionary Force, the S.O.V.S. was called on to submit names of suitable gentlemen to assist him in purchasing remounts. These names were carefully considered, and all interested in the horse trade were struck out. The following Boards to purchase horses were appointed : -

1 ) For the northern part of the Island, Captain K. C. T. Philp, A.A.V.C., and Lieut. D. L. Archer, Unattached List. This Board was assisted by Farrier-Sergeant Winfield, of the Remount Section, Permanent Army Service Corps.
For the southern part of the Island, Captain D. C. Lewis, 26th Light Horse, Lieut. L. C. Whitfeld, and Mr. George E. Piesse, of Bridgewater, who was known to Lieut. Whitfeld as having considerable experience and knowledge of horses. All horses purchased by both Boards were subject to examination by the S.O.V.S. before being finally rejected.
On 26th August, 1014, Lieut. Whitfeld was appointed Veterinary Officer on the staff of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, and Captain Lewis and Mr. Piesse carried on. When circumstances prevented Captain Lewis from being in attendance Mr. Piesse made purchases on behalf of the Department.

The prices paid for the horses were limited by the instructions contained in Head-quarters wire No. W357, of 15th August. 1!114. The increase of prices was approved after the whole of the horses for the 1st Expeditionary Forces had been purchased.

There were only five rejects out of the whole of the horses purchased for the 1st Expeditionary Force, vide this office memo., No. W8/32/38, of 23rd December, 1!)14.

The average price of all horses purchased was a little over ?14 10s., vide the return sent from this office on 16th December, 1914, in reply to the Quartermaster-General’s memo. No. 2167 of 2nd December, 1014.

The result of the purchases, considering the prices paid, was highly satisfactory, and in many cases, horses ‘were sold to the Department at considerably under their true value by patriotic citizens.

Mr. Piesse is well known to horseowners throughout the country, and it was only due to his efforts and knowledge of local condi- tions that it was possible to get horses of the standard at the price in this district. Mr. Piesse exerted himself very considerably on behalf of the Department, and allowed himself to be put to great personal inconvenience and’ trouble in securing the best available horses for the Department in a very limited time.

I was not personally acquainted with Mr. Piesse prior to his appointment, but, from inquiry, ascertained that he was qualified and reliable.

I am satisfied that he carried out his duties, conscientiously and solely in the interests of the Department. He was very particular as to soundness of the animals purchased, and the few rejects (five), all of which were not purchased by the Southern Board, is, I think, satisfactory proof.

It is admitted that some of the animals were aged, but, with two exceptions, these were fit for service. Owing to the difficulty of securing remounts at prices so much below local quotations, and to the pressure of time, the Board were placed in a difficult position.

When the horses were mustered, many were in low condition owing to the drought; but I considered them a very satisfactory lot, and1 I speak from long experience.

The same horses were at the time subject to adverse public criticism, but after a few weeks on the lines they improved wonderfully, and when the troops marched through the cityprior to embarkation, the horses were universally commended.

It is admittedly very difficult to ascertain the age of a horse above eight years, and while admitting that two animals proved to be too old, I do not admit the extreme ages quoted.

Mr. Piesse’s position in this country is sohigh that it can scarcely be affected by an ex parte slanderous statement.

J. Clark, Colonel,

Senator READY:

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

– I cannot answer that question off-hand. I know that some of them are in the employ of the University. Others are engaged for only a portion of their time in discharging censorship duties. I will endeavour o get the information for the honorable senator.

Senator BLAKEY:
Victoria

.- Those honorable senators who opposed the establishment of the Commonwealth “Clothing Factory, have, I assume, by this time, realized that. that Factory is conferring a distinct benefit upon the Commonwealth. I know that most of the officers in the Defence Department are solicitousfor the welfare of the employees in that Factory. To-day it has been brought under my notice that there are indications of industrial unrest there. A fairly large number of girls who are employed in doing certain work in connexion with soldiers’ uniforms have been given notice of dismissal. As a result, thereis a certain amount of dissatisfaction among the whole of the Factory employees. I do not say that those employees are on the verge of a strike. I hope that they will not strike at a time like the present. But

I ask the Assistant Minister to endeavour to pour oil on the troubled waters. The matter is really a very small one. Aboutthirty girls are engaged in an operation connected with the manufacture of soldiers’ uniforms, and they have been given notice of dismissal. The reason advanced by the Department for its action is that it cannot continue to employ these girls on this work because private firms are not performing similar work ?

Senator Findley:

– What is that statement ?

Senator BLAKEY:

– I am informed that these girls are about to be dismissed because the work on which they have been engaged is not being done by private contractors, who are turning out almost similar articles.

Senator Barker:

– The work is cut out.

Senator BLAKEY:

– That is so. The private contractor is not putting into the soldiers’ garments the work that the Department is putting into them. Consequently the Department takes the view that it need not do this work, and, as a consequence, these girls are about to be dismissed. I have been asked to bring the matter forward by the secretary of the union which is particularly interested in it.

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

– I am very sorry that the honorable senator should have used the word “ strike” in connexion with this matter, because to a certain extent it implies a threat. The facts, as they have been represented to me, are that a certain operation in connexion with soldiers’ breeches was done some time ago by hand. Subsequently it was found that that operation could be performed equally well by machines, and that as a result a greater number of garments could be turned out by a smaller number of employees. The Examiner of Stores recommended that the operation should be done by machines, because the adoption of that course would have the effect of cheapening the garments, as well as of increasing the output. Moreover, the operation as performed by machines was superior to that which could be performed by hand. The conditions of contract were altered in regard to these particular garments so as to allow contractors to undertake the work with machines. The Manager of the Clothing Factory was questioned on the matter, and was given authority to machine this operation. As a consequence, some twenty-five girls will be displaced from that particular work. But the immediate result will be that we shall be able to increase the output by about 900 garments per week, and the Factory Manager will be enabled so to extend his operations as ‘not only to find employment for these girls, but for .m additional number, in other directions. Of course, I am merely giving honorable senators the statement of the Manager, because I have not yet had an opportunity of hearing the position from the union’s point of view. It will be understood, therefore, that I am not committing myself to the Manager’s version at all. But that is the view which has been put to me. I understand that when my parliamentary duties will permit of it, tho secretary of the union intends to interview me on the subject. In the meantime I suspend my own judgment in the matter. I do not think that the word “strike” should have been used, because I am sure that no union in Australia would dream of striking over a matter of this sort. The. time when strikes would occur over that kind of thing has gone by 100 years. I shall give the union as representing the employees every opportunity to state their side of the case, and endeavour to do justice to the employees as well as to the Commonwealth and the taxpayers, because it must be remembered that this Factory has to compete with private factories outside.

Proposed vote agreed to.

Divisions 84 to 97 (Department of Trade and Customs), £483,956; and Divisions 98 to 106 (Home Affairs Department), £845,014, agreed to.

Divisions 107 to 116 (PostmasterGeneral’s Department), £4,982,993.

Senator STEWART:
Queensland

– The Deputy Postmaster-General in Queensland has on occasions decided particular cases affecting employees, and when the employee appealed to a Board of Inquiry the Deputy appointed himself a member of the Board, and actually took the position of chairman. A Board so constituted is a farce, and if the Deputy had any sense of decency he would not attempt to sit on the Board after deciding a case. The Deputy in Queensland is noted for his autocratic conduct. He is, I believe, the most autocratic in Aus tralia, and the one who causes the most dissatisfaction amongst postal employees. A notification should be sent from headquarters to Deputies and others that if” they decide an officer’s case they must not sit on any subsequent Board of Inquiry. Complaint also reaches me from Brisbane regarding the number of sorters employed there as compared with the number employed in other capitals. In Sydney the proportion is four assistants to twentytwo sorters, in Melbourne three to eighteen, in Adelaide two to five, and in Brisbane nine to one. Assistants are men. learning the work, and when their number is so great in comparison with thenumber of sorters a great deal of additional work is- thrown on the qualified men. I trust the Postmaster-General will see that the proportion in the capitals is made more equal.

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

.- I shall bring the honorable senator’s representations under the notice of the PostmasterGeneral. I take it that his complaint has reference to the disparity in the proportion of assistants to sorters.

Senator FERRICKS:
Queensland

– A registered letter containing a £10-note was sent recently from Cue, Western Australia, to Tannymorell, near Warwick, Queensland. Its receipt was noted at Warwick, and its transmission to Tannymorell accounted for, but the postal official there left the service, compulsorily or otherwise, and the letter never reached the addressee. The sender was a nurse,, and the addressee was her widowed mother. Senator Buzacott and I asked that compensation should be paid, but the reply of the Deputy PostmasterGeneral in each State was that under the regulations the amount of compensation payable was limited to £2. It would not be good policy to pay all such claims in full because of the possibilities of fraud, but this case was exceptional. It was brought before me by Mr. Brennan, a most reputable solicitor at Warwick, whom I have known from boyhood, and who was acting in an honorary capacity in the matter. Senator Buzacott had similar assurances from Western Australia, and we knew that the representations would not have been made to us if the case had not been genuine. I have criticised Mr. Templeton before, and would have no hesitation in criticising him again if the necessity arose, but I do not blame him in this case for following the regulations. The point which I placed before the Postmaster-General, and which I thought he might have entertained, was that he should have the power as an act of grace to pay compensation in full in special cases. The regulations should be elastic enough to allow this to be done in hard cases, and this case is particularly hard. The nurse has gone to the front, the money is lost, and in the unusual circumstances, seeing that both Senator Buzacott and I are prepared to vouch for the honesty of the parties, the Postmaster-General might well, as an act of grace, pay full compensation.

Senator GUY:
Tasmania

– There is a matter connected with the Post and Telegraph Department which has come under my notice, and about which I should like to say a word. I have noticed that in Tasmania, for many years past, it has been the practice of the Department to employ casual labour. Men are put on for six months as letter carriers, and I think also as sorters. Then they are put off for six months, and then put on again. That practice has obtained in Launceston for the last four or five years. It is impossible to secure the best results from such a system. It is not adopted to meet any particular rush of work, and these casual employees are engaged to fill what are really permanent positions. It can be easily understood that it will take two men to do the work which might be done by one man who had been constantly employed at it. The citizens are very much inconvenienced by the practice. I know of one round where, upon the appointment of a new man, the letters are not delivered until after 11 o’clock, when they should be delivered before 9 o’clock. I wish now to refer to the practice of dispensing with the services of men employed for some time by the Department because they have not been able to pass a certain educational examination. I brought this matter before the notice of the Minister representing the Postmaster-General some time ago. I referred to the dismissal of three men because they had not passed some educational test. The reply given to me was very ingenious. It was to the -effect that, with the exception of two, the men had nob been in the employ of the Department for more than nine months. Of the two to whom I referred, one had been in the service of the Department for six years, and the other for three years. They evidently believed that they were in the permanent employ of the Department. I can appreciate the difficulty which the Public Service Commissioner may have in determining who should be considered a permanent employee and who should not. But I submit that any examination to test the qualifications of a man who is employed digging post-holes, splicing .wire, and using an axe or an adze should be a practical rather than a theoretical one. I have here a copy of the examination paper given to one of these men in the practical duties of ‘his position, and 1 find that, for sinking 5-feet holes for poles, the maximum marks obtainable were 150, and this man obtained 150 marks. The next matter upon which he was examined was climbing wooden poles with stirrups, or climbing irons, regulating wires, .and making joints in iron wires while on the pole, and for this he obtained 120 out of a possible 150 marks. For fixing brackets, spindles, and cross-arms to wooden poles, he obtained 135 out of a possible 150 marks. For knowledge of timbers used in the construction of telegraph lines he obtained 30 out of a possible 100 marks. For the use of adze and axe he obtained 100 out of a possible 100 marks. For jointing and soldering copper wire he obtained 42 out of a possible 50 marks. Fo’r tying wires to insulators he obtained 42 out of a possible 50 marks, and for knowledge of knots and use of tackle he obtained 45 out of a possible 50 marks. To pass in this practical test an examinee required to obtain 400 marks, and this man obtained 664 marks; but, because he did not pass some little educational test, or perhaps failed to spell some word correctly, he was put down after being employed in the service for six years. This man ‘has a wife and children to support, and it seems to me rather cruel, at a time like the present, to dispense with the services of such a man, when it would be scarcely possible to get any other two men in the State to do the work he was accustomed to do. Other men have been put in the places which were previously filled by the men to whom I have referred. I have here a list of fifty odd men who passed the practical and educational examination, and there is not one of them who secured the same number of marks in the practical test as did the man to whose case I have specially referred. If we went outside the Department we should not be able to find a single private employer who would be guilty of such a stupid thing as to turn such a man down, in the circumstances. When I was at work I never had to undergo any educational test. If I could do the practical task set me, I satisfied my employer. These men could do, and have done, the work they were employed to do. I do not care to mention the names of officers of the Department, but I have it on the best authority that the officers of the Department in Tasmania, up to the head, are extremely sorry that these men have had to go out, because they cannot replace them for the practical work they had to do. I think it is time that the Post and Telegraph Department did something more in accordance with the fitness of things than to dispense with the services of men who Have proved themselves thoroughly efficient in the practical work they are called upon to do, merely because they may be somewhat lacking in education. I hope that in future something will be done to obviate a repetition of this kind of thing. If, when men are put on, they are given to understand that in twelve months’ time they will be called upon to pass a practical and educational test, they will then know what they have undertaken to do. To keep a man in the Service for six years, leaving him to believe that he will be continued in his employment, and then, because he fails in what appears to nae to be, in the circumstances, a quite unnecessary educational test, to throw him out on the world, is very unfair indeed. I hope that some good result will follow from the few remarks I have made on this subject.

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

– Senators Ferricks and Guy will not expect me, since I am not the Minister representing the Postmaster-General in the Senate, to give any definite reply to what they have said. I can only say that I will bring the representations they have made under the personal notice of the PostmasterGeneral.

Senator MULLAN:
Queensland

– It was my intention to deal with several matters connected with the Post and Telegraph Department, and particularly affecting Queensland, at considerable length; but as the Minister is anxious to get on with the Bill, and the hour is late, I shall defer what I have te* say until we are considering the Supply Bill, which will be brought before the Senate next week, or the week after. There is, however, one matter suggesting inhuman treatment of one of the employees of the Post and Telegraph Department, which I regard as of so much importance that I think it proper to deal with it for a few minutes on the present occasion. The complaint is based upon the following letter, which appeared in the Baily Standard of Brisbane of the 26th May, 1915, under the heading “ Sympathetic “ -

Sir, - On Saturday, 22nd inst., word was received from the Defence Department of the death of one of our soldiers at the battle of the Dardanelles. Three of our leading city firms, on being apprised of the sad news, immediately told three of their respective employees (relatives of deceased lad) to cease work out of sympathy; but our Post and Telegraph Department not only refused to allow a brother of the fallen soldier off duty at 1 p.m., but kept him at work two hours extra. Is this theway to show sympathy and respect to our departed soldiers, who arc fighting to help keepthese heads in their high positions? ThisPost and Telegraph Department is surelyworked on a queer system.

I anl, &c.

Joseph F. Gregg..

Queen -street.

I read that letter at the time it was published, but it seemed to me incrediblethat a Government Department could act thus to one of its employees in such circumstances. I, therefore, suspended)judgment until, during the last couple of days, I received a copy of the Transmitter, in which is published the proceedings of the Queensland Post and Telegraph Association, and in which, I regret to say, this charge against the Department is confirmed in the following; reference : -

page 5488

UNSYMPATHETIC

Attention of Council was drawn to a regrettable incident which recently occurred in the Telegraph Branch. A certain” officer, it was stated, received word that his brother, who left with the Expeditionary Force for the Dardanelles, had died of wounds. Intimation waa received at 11 a.m., and at 1 p.m. the officer in question asked, in writing, for relief. Apart from personal feelings, he. was actuated by the highest motives, inasmuch as he desired to he with his parents in their hour of trial. He- was verbally informed later that he could not be spared. He would ordinarily have ceased duty at1 p.m., but, as the Saturday schedule had been suspended for elections, he was detained until 2.40 p.m., and then only released on representation being made by the VicePresident.

The following resolution was eventually carried: -“ That the A.C.A. be asked to invite the attention of the Postmaster-General and Minister of Defence to the matter.”

This, I hold, was an outrage on the feelings of the people of Queensland and the Commonwealth which should not be tolerated in any Department. I hope that the Minister of Defence will suggest to the Postmaster- General, in whose Department this occurred, the necessity of instituting an inquiry. I consider that the officer responsible for this outrageous conduct should be dismissed from the Service. Nothing short of dismissal would be adequate punishment for the inhuman creature who could subject an employee to such treatment in such trying circumstances. I shall not labour the matter further; but I hope the Minister will make inquiries, and possibly, after the inquiries are made and the truth or otherwise of the statement proved, we may have more to say on the matter.

Proposed vote agreed to.

Postponed clauses 2 and 3 and abstract, preamble, and title agreed to.

Bill reported without request; report adopted.

Standing and sessional orders suspended, and Bill read a third time.

page 5489

PAPERS

MINISTERS laid on the table the following papers: -

Dominions Royal Commission: Minutes of Evidence taken in Newfoundland in 1014.

Lands Acquisition Act 1906 - Land acquired under, at -

Burwood, New South Wales - For Defence purposes.

Chippendale, New South Wales - For Postal purposes.

En more, New South Wales - For Postal purposes.

Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta Railway Route (3) - For Railway purposes.

Launceston, Tasmania - For Defence pur- poses.

Townsville, Queensland - For Defence purposes.

Waverley,New South Wales - For Postal purposes.

Wynyard, Tasmania - For Defence purposes.

Military Camp, Liverpool, New South Wales : Further Interim Report by His Honour Mr. Justice Rich, upon administration.

page 5489

SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT

Motion (by Senator Pearce) agreed to - That the Senate, at its rising, adjourn until Wednesday, 4th August.

page 5489

ADJOURNMENT

Expeditionary Forces : State Percentages of Enlistments : Allotment or Army Medical Work, Brisbane Patagonian Immigrants - War Taxation - Transports for Wheat

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

– I move - That the Senate do now adjourn.

Senator Millen:

asked me whether the information given in regard to the enlistments in the various States was based upon State boundaries or military dis tricts. The answer is: -

The figures showing the population are obtained from the Commonwealth Statistician. The figures showing enlistments are as close to the mark as the Department can arrive with the records available.

Northern rivers of New South Wales, Broken Hill, and a small portion of country near Deniliquin, which form portion of New South Wales, actually belong to other military districts.

Men from northern rivers of New South Wales have been permitted to enlist either in the first or second military district. Some have gone to Sydney, and some to Brisbane.

In view of this, the percentage of enlistments in New South Wales would actually be greater than that obtained by comparing the population of the State with the enlistments recorded in the second military district.

That is the statement made by the AdjutantGeneral, whose branch submitted the return upon which Senator Millen’s question was based.

Senator FERRICKS (Queensland. [10.5]. - I am again obliged to referto the inequality and unfairness of the wort of the medical profession in Brisbane in connexion with military examinations and camp necessities. From further inquiries I have made from the Minister and other sources I have come to the conclusior that the Defence Department is notso culpable in this matter as a small coterh of medical men - what I may call the military medical section - in Brisbane. Newspapers have informed us at various times that there has been a scarcity of medical men. That fact has been deplored in connexion with the agitation for increased activity in recruiting, and I have had it brought under my notice repeatedly by newspapers sent to me from Brisbane. A paragraph in the Brisbane Mail of the 23rd July is very pertinent. It states -

The Defence Department has intimated that anything which will assist in recruiting will be heartily welcomed by the authorities. The Department will render all assistance possible, !but it must not be forgotten that its resources -are not unlimited. The shortage of qualified medical men has already been a problem to -the authorities. This is a matter for patriotic -action on the part of our many medical men who, busy as they may be, are easily in a position to alford to give some of their time to assist a national cause.

This has particular application to Brisbane, as shown by representations »that have been made to me and, I believe, to the President of the Senate. In Brisbane, medical men can be found to carry through the necessary examinations and so forth. I trust that the Minister will renew his instructions that this matter must be expedited. I am satisfied, from the representations that have been made, and the inquiries that have followed upon these representations, that there is inequality in the distribution of the medical work, and if the medical men in Brisbane who are not permanent military officers, but who may be designated as attached to the Military Forces, are overbearing and confine the work to a few special favorites, I believe that the Minister will take drastic action, such as he has been forced to take in connexion with other prominent directors of medical and other phases of recruiting, enlistment, and general Defence operations. Another matter upon which I desire to touch is one upon which, on account of the despatch with which the Temporary Chairman, Senator Needham, was putting through the Estimates, I was not able to speak this evening. I refer to the Patagonian immigrants who are on their way to the Northern Territory. I understand that the ultimate idea is to have these people settle on the land .as landholders. This evening I quoted from the report of the Administrator of the Northern Territory to show that he was of the opinion that men from other parts of the Commonwealth would not make the most desirable settlers in the Northern Territory, and that he did not think that even people from the north of Europe would be the best class of settlers. Dr. Gilruth thinks that the inhabitants of Southern Europe would be the best class of people to stand the climate of the Northern Territory. I understand that the great majority of the Patagonians are of Spanish descent, and that the authorities believe that they will be particularly adapted constitutionally to stand the conditions in the Northern Territory. The Administrator has also pointed out in his report that it will be well to employ these immigrants at first on railway construction work, so 0that eventually they may become landholders, and I understand that this procedure will be followed in regard to the Patagonians; but from inquiries I made at the Department of External Affairs a few days ago, on behalf of a man who was anxious to get information regarding the prospects of work and the rates of wages in the Northern Territory, I received a letter from the Department, from which I quote the following paragraph -

At present, the construction of the Pine Creek-Katherine railway is the chief work in progress in the Territory. The rates of wages paid vary from ordinary labourers, who receive ls. 9d. per hour, to foremen carpenters, fitters, te., who receive 2s. 4d. per hour for a week of forty-four hours.

If the Department were to announce that they required men to go to the Northern Territory to take work temporarily, while looking about them and choosing blocks of land, and that these men would be paid 14s. a day on railway construction, within forty-eight hours 500 men, bond fide workers, would be found in Queensland prepared to go. I speak of men who have not the capital to go to the Territory on their own account, but are anxious to select blocks of land, and eventually become permanent settlers, and I say this from the knowledge that I have gained from letters that I have received from all over the State of Queensland, written by men who have become tired of a roving life in the northern fields of the State, and are anxious to go to the Territory, but prefer to go where the prospects of obtaining temporary work are favorable. I think that these men would be infinitely preferable to Patagonians as settlers. However, we shall see how the experiment is carried. out_ I attribute it to the representations made in the report of the Administrator - time will show whether these people make better settlers than ordinary Australians. When speaking on the War Loan Bill yesterday, I endeavoured to have recorded in Hansard a letter which I had received from a prominent business man in Melbourne, dealing with the financial difficulties coming upon the nation as a consequence of the war; but, as the Chairman ruled that I could not quote this letter, with’ permission, I shall do so now, because it appears to be rather pertinent to the present financial situation. I shall not give the name of the writer, but the letter proceeds -

The new war taxes are interesting us. I think that cither an income tax or a wealth tax is good, with a preference for the latter. If a tax on income is decided on, it overtaxes tb( worker and undertakes the drone. When I say “ worker,” you will understand that I refer to the capitalist who works. This man pays wages and produces wealth.

The PRESIDENT:

– The honorable senator is not entitled to ass a question at this stage. The discussion is closed, and the motion must be put

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Senate adjourned at 10.20 p.m.

Cite as: Australia, Senate, Debates, 29 July 1915, viewed 22 October 2017, <http://historichansard.net/senate/1915/19150729_senate_6_78/>.

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Senate29 July 1915

ASSENT TO BILLS

QUESTION

EXPEDITIONARY FORCES

Senator MULLAN:QUEENSLAND

Senator GARDINER:Vice-President of the Executive Council · NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

Senator GRANT:NEW SOUTH WALES

Senator PEARCE:Minister for Defence · WESTERN AUSTRALIA · ALP

Senator KEATING:TASMANIA

Senator PEARCE:

QUESTION

MAIL SERVICE: CROOKWELL

Senator GRANT:

Senator GARDINER:ALP

QUESTION

HORSES FOR DEFENCE DEPARTMENT

Senator BUZACOTT:WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Senator PEARCE:ALP

Senator STORY:SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Senator PEARCE:

QUESTION

LOAN FROM UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Senator LYNCH:WESTERN AUSTRALIA

QUESTION

SUPPLY OP SUGAR

Senator READY:TASMANIA

Senator GARDINER:ALP

QUESTION

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Senator MAUGHAN:QUEENSLAND

Senator GARDINER:ALP

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

APPROPRIATION BILL 1914-15

Second Reading

Senator PEARCE:Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

Senator Mullan:

Senator PEARCE:

Senator DE LARGIE:Western Australia

Senator Givens:

Senator DE LARGIE:

Senator Givens:

Senator DE LARGIE:

Senator Givens:

Senator DE LARGIE:

Senator Givens:

Senator DE LARGIE:

Senator Givens:

Senator DE LARGIE:

Senator Givens:

Senator DE LARGIE:

Senator GIVENS:Queensland

Senator de Largie:

Senator GIVENS:

Senator de Largie:

Senator GIVENS:

Senator de Largie:

Senator GIVENS:

Senator de Largie:

Senator GIVENS:

Senator de Largie:

Senator GIVENS:

Senator de Largie:

Senator GIVENS:

Senator de Largie:

Senator GIVENS:

Senator de Largie:

Senator GIVENS:

Senator de Largie:

Senator GIVENS:

Senator Stewart:

Senator GIVENS:

Senator de Largie:

Senator GIVENS:

Senator de Largie:

Senator GIVENS:

Senator STEWART:Queensland

Senator Givens:

Senator de Largie:

Senator Givens:

Senator STEWART:

Senate
29 July 1915

Senator MULLAN:
QUEENSLAND

Senator GARDINER:
Vice-President of the Executive Council · NEW SOUTH WALES · ALP

Senator GRANT:
NEW SOUTH WALES

Senator PEARCE:
Minister for Defence · WESTERN AUSTRALIA · ALP

Senator KEATING:
TASMANIA

Senator GARDINER:
ALP

Senator BUZACOTT:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Senator PEARCE:
ALP

Senator STORY:
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Senator LYNCH:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Senator READY:
TASMANIA

Senator GARDINER:
ALP

Senator MAUGHAN:
QUEENSLAND

Senator GARDINER:
ALP

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

Senator DE LARGIE:
Western Australia

Senator GIVENS:
Queensland

Senator STEWART:
Queensland

Senator GIVENS:
Queensland

Senator STEWART:
Queensland

Senator DE LARGIE:
Western Australia

Senator GIVENS:
Queensland

Senator DE LARGIE:
WESTERN AUSTRALIA · ALP; NAT from 1917

Senator DE LARGIE:
Western Australia

Senator STEWART:
Queensland

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

Senator PEARCE:
Minister of Defence · Western Australia · ALP

Senator DE LARGIE:
Western Australia

Senator FINDLEY:
Victoria