Senator HENTY (Tasmania) (Minister for Civil Aviation) . - in reply - I thank the Senate for the reception it has given this Bill. It is understandable that support for it should come from representatives of Western Australia, but it is pleasing that senators from other States from both sides of the chamber also have given it their support. I was interested in Senator Prowse's remark that in the early days gold production in Australia was inhibited by a lack of water. In Tasmania the opposite was the case. The great Tasmanian gold mine unfortunately struck an underground source of water and the extremely high cost of pumping was the final factor which decided the management to close down that great mine. I hope that this subsidy may play some part in reviving it. Today, with plenty of electricity available and with modern pumping facilities, the Tasmanian gold mine on the River Tamar may come to life again. Beaconsfield, like Kalgoorlie, was once a great city. It has now been reduced to very small dimensions and relies for its livelihood practically entirely on the rural interests around it. Once again I thank the Senate.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill read a second time.

In Committee.

The Bill.