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Wednesday, 22 October 1919

Mr GROOM (Darling Downs) (Minister for "Works and Railways) (3:54 AM) . - I move -

The object of the measure is to allow the continuation, until the 31st day of December, 1920, of the operation of the War Precautions regulations in relation to enemy shareholders, land transfer, mining, and shipping. . The intention is that during that period the regulations in question shall have the force of law. Nothing new is being introduced. Under the War Precautions Act the regulations would continue in force for a period of three months after the issue of the proclamation referred to in the Act. Honorable members know the object of the enemy shareholders regulations. Regulation 4 provided that every enemy subject who was, on and after the 29th day of January, 1916, a shareholder in any company must, on or before the 15th day of April, 1916, transfer his shares to the public trustee. Similar provision was made to apply to naturalized persons of enemy origin, unless an exemption was obtained from the Attorney-General. The trustee has power to hold the shares for a period of twelve months after the war, or to sell t them. Under regulation 11 power was given for the disposal of the proceeds. Regulation 12 provided for the disposal of dividends, and regulation 14 dealt with the transfer of shares in contravention of the regulations. The general purpose of this series of regulations was to prevent the control of companies by enemy interests.

The object of the land transfer regulations was to prevent the transfer of land to enemy subjects, or to naturalized persons of enemy origin without the consent of the Attorney-General. The prohibition extended to the making of certain leases, and the giving of certain mortgages.

The object of the mining regulations was to preserve for British subjects the interests in mining or metallurgical companies and businesses.

The shipping regulations, which are most important, bring us to a consideration of the conditions arising out of the war. Honorable members know the heavy loss of shipping caused by enemy action during the war, and the consequent dislocation of Empire trade. Requests were made to Australia to allow as great a transfer as possible of Australian ships from Australian waters. It became necessary in the interests of the Empire and of Australia to constitute a Shipping Controller, with Deputy Controllers, an InterState Central Committee, and local committees, with power of control over these vessels. Machinery was provided in the regulations for requisitioning ships, fixing the charter rates, and fixing also certain rates and charges. The Controller was given power within certain limits to vary the rates and charges without the consent of the Prime Minister, but it was necessary to obtain his consent for any increase of more than 10 per cent. The control provided for in the regulations was absolutely essential in order to obtain the best results from the limited quantity of shipping left in Australia. On the whole, the control has made for the effective transport of goods between the Australian States, and at the same time has given material assistance to the Empire. The conditions arising out of the Avar wi.th respect to shipping have not yet ceased, and the Shipping Controller is of the opinion that he requires these powers for at least twelve months longer, for the purpose of regulating shipping in the interests of the Commonwealth.

Mr Boyd - I thought he desired to get rid of them as soon as he could.

Mr GROOM - The honorable member is quite wrong. When I introduced the Bill for the extension of the War Precautions Act in November last, the Shipping - Controller reported in favour of an extension of the regulations. That is the advice I have received from him personally. In his opinion, the continuance of these regulations for at least twelve months is necessary, in order to allow the industry to settle down after the war.

Mr Boyd - He has expressed a different opinion to me.

Mr GROOM - But honorable members know that I have stated the facts. The shortage of shipping still prevails, and the honorable member for Henty (Mr. Boyd) must realize the difficulty there is in getting adequate tonnage to carry our goods on the , Australian coast. Very great pressure to alleviate the necessities of Queensland has been brought to bear on the Government. Certainly some of the disadvantages of the shortage of shipping were accentuated by the- recent strike. Queensland is suffering through inability to get fodder from the southern States, whilst the latter have experienced difficulty in obtaining sugar from the north.

Mr McWilliams - The strike made all the difference.

Mr GROOM - It ' intensified the trouble. There was also the interference with shipping by the States in connexion with quarantine. In one State the health authorities kept the ships seven days in quarantine, and then the Government complained because no more ships were being sent to be similarly detained. But, apart from those particular difficulties, the shortage of shipping is still acute, and the necessity remains for having a Committee of control which will insure that the Commonwealth gets the best returns possible from the tonnage available.

Mr McWILLIAMS (FRANKLIN, TASMANIA) - Do the Government propose to continue in existence the present Shipping Committee?

Mr GROOM - The Government propose to continue the existing regulations; but there is power to vary any of them from time to time, in order to meet the changing conditions. In the meantime,in order to secure shipping in the interests of . Australia, it is deemed advisable to extend the duration of the War Precautions regulations relating to shipping.

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