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379

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

No. 116.

JOURNALS OF ' THE SENATE.

THURSDAY, 2 1 s t AUGUST, 1919.

1 . -Meeting of S enate.—The Senate met at three p.m., pursuant to adjournment. "

2. PRAYERS.

3. Papers.-^Xhe Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen) laid on the Table the following Papers, viz.:— By Command— W ool: Correspondence between Central Wool Committee and Overseas Central Shipping

Committee relating to shipment of wool; and other documents.

Pursuant to Statute— Repatriation Department.—Report on the Organization and Activities of the Department over the period 8th April, 1918, to 30th June, 1919. '

4. T he late S ir Simon F raser.—The President informed the Senate that he had received from Lady Fraser a letter expressing her gratitude for the Resolution of the Senate, placing on record its appreciation of the public services of the late Honorable Sir Simon Fraser and its sincere sympathy with his widow and family. ^

5. Questions.—Questions on notice were answered.

6. Message from the H ouse of R epresentatives.—W ireless T elegraphy Bill.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :— Mr. P resident, Message No. 96.

The House of Representatives returns to the Senate the Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to amenl Section Two of the ‘ Wireless Telegraphy Act 1905-1915 and acquaints the Senate that the House of Representatives has agreed to the Bill without amendment.

W . E lliot J ohnson,

House of Representatives, Speaker.

Melbourne, 21st August, 1919.

7. P ostponements.—Ordered—That Private Business, Notices of Motion Nos. 3 and 11 be made Orders of the Day for Thursday, 11th September next, and that Order of the Day No. 1 be an Order of the Day for Thursday next.

8. Commercial Activities Bill.—Order of the Day read for the adjourned debate on the Question— That the Bill be now read a second time. Debate resumed. An extension of half-an-hour was granted to Senator Crawford under Standing Order No. 407a. Debate continued. Ordered—That the debate be adjourned till to-morrow, and that Senator Crawford have leave to

continue his speech on the resumption of the debate.

A t half-past six p.m. the sitting of the Senate was suspended till eight p.m.

Sitting, interrupted by the suspension, resumed.

F.6282.

}fo. 116.—2l$Z August, 1919. 380

9. Self-Government for I reland.—Senator Lynch, pursuant to notice, moved—■ (1) That inasmuch as the good name and well-being of the British Empire arise from a recognition of the basic essentials that True Liberty, Good Order, and National Contentment should obtain throughout all its parts and establi-hed rule respond to the matured ideas and

aspirations of its several peoples ; and as any departure from these fundamentals in any particular part creates a blighted welfare and induces civil discord for that part as well as injuriously affecting the sister parts in the Empire structure: Therefore, the Senate is of • opinion—

(а) That the present critical condition of Ireland is of vital inter-Dominion concern, and fraught with grave potential danger to the safety and unity of the Empire, and (б) That nothing short of the immediate grant of a full and just measure of self­

Government, preferably on Dominion lines, to that country will meet the needs ' of justice, end an age-long quarrel, and restore Ireland to its rightful place

as one of the family of self-governing sister nations within the Empire ; (c) That a generous settleinent0of the Irish question on the lines indicated herein would give the greatest satisfaction to all the self-governing Dominions, and cement and make enduring the Anglo American friendship which gives the best

guarantee for the preservation of the peace of the world ; (2) That the foregoing resolutions be transmitted by cable to the Prime Minister of Great Britain, . the Right Honorable Lloyd George.

An extension of half-an-hour was granted to Senator Lynch under Standing Order No. 407a. Debate ensued. On motion of the Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen), the debate was adjourned. Ordered—That the resumption of the debate be an Order of the Day for Thursday, 25th September

next.

10. Adjournment —The Senate adjourned at thirty-five minutes past nine p.m. till to-morrow at eleven a.m.

11. Attendance.—Present, all the Members except Senators Barker, Lieut.-Col. Bolton, Guy (on leave), Maughan, Pearce (on leave), Col. Rowell, and Senior. .

C. GAVAN DUFFY, Clerk of the Senate.

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. MdLlktt- Government Printer for the State of Victoria.