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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

No. 118.

JOURNALS OF THE SENATE.

WEDNESDAY, 27th AUGUST, 1919.

1. Mkkting of Senate.—The Senate met at three p.m., pursuant to adjournment.

2. PRAYERS.

3. The Seamen’s Strike’—The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Milieu) informed the Senate that the Seamen’s Strike was settled, and stated the terms of the settlement.

4. Aliens R egistration Bill.—The Acting Minister for Defence (Senator Russell), pursuant to leave granted on the 2Gth June, 1919, brought up a Bill for an Act relating to the Registration of Aliens. Bill read a first time, and second reading made an Order of the Day for the next day of sitting.

5. P apers.—The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen) laid on the Table the following Papers, viz. :— · *

Pursuant to Statute— ' ’

Audit Act 1901-1917.—Transfers of amounts approved by the Governor-General in Council -Financial Year 1918-19—dated 19th August, 1919. Public Service Act 1902-1918.—Promotions, Department of the Treasury— . L. M. Craigic.

P. Daniels.

G. Questions.—Questions on notice were answered. .

7. Moratorium B ill.—Order of the Day read for the adjourned debate on the Question—That the Bill be now read a second time. Debate resumed. Question—put and passed. .

Bill read a second time. The Senate, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee for the consideration of the Bill.

’ In the Committee.

Clauses 1 and 2 agreed to. ‘

Clause 3 read— On the motion of the Acting Minister for Defence (Senator Russell) the following amendments were made, viz. :— Line 28, after “ and " insert “ 201 ”,

■ Line 35, after “ and ” insert “ 202 ”.

Senator Earle moved a further amendment, viz., at end of clause add “ one”. Debate ensued. Question—That the w'ord proposed to be added be added—put. Committee divided—

Ayes, 7. Noes, 14.

Senator Barker. Senator Bakhap.

Ferricks. . Bolton, Lieut.-Col

Foil. Buzacott.

McDougall. Crawford.

O’Keefe. Fairbairn.

- O’Loghlin, Lieut.-Col. Henderson.

Lynch.

Teller. Plain.

Senator Earle. Prat-ten. '

Reid. Rowell, Colonel. Russell.

Shannon.

Teller.

Amendment negatived accordingly. Clause 3, as amended, agreed to. Clauses 4-7 agreed to.

Senator de Largie.

F.6282.

No. 118.— 27 (h August, 1919 . 384

The First Schedule read— .

Senator McDougall moved an amendment, viz., page 9 (Regulation 13(1.), leave out “ February”, insert “ July”. Debate ensued. Amendment negatived. The First Schedule agreed to. The Second Schedule agreed to. Preamble agreed to. Title agreed to. Bill to be reported with amendments.

The President resumed the Chair; and Senator Shannon, from the Committee, reported accordingly. Ordered—That the Bill, as reported, be considered to-morrow.

8. Commercial Activities Bill.—The Senate, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee for the further consideration of the Bill.

- In the Commil tee.

Clause 1 further considered and agreed to. Clause 2 debated and agreed to. Clause 3 road— . Senator Ferricks moved an amendment, viz., page 1, line 6, leave out “ twenty ”, insert “ th irty ”.

Debate ensued. .

Amendment negatived. Clause 3 agreed to. .

Clause 4 read— Senator Pratten moved an amendment, viz., page 4, lines 47-49, leave out “ and in particular fur repealing altering or adding to any of the VVar Precautions (Dairy Produce Pool) Regulations ”. Debate ensued. '

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. 1

Clauses 4 and 5 agreed to. Clause 6 debated— '

At half-past six p.m. the sitting of the Committee was suspended till eight p.m.

Debate, interrupted by the suspension of the sitting, resumed. Senator Ferricks moved an amendment, viz., add the following new sub-clause :— “ (4.) Notwithstanding anything appearing to the contrary in any Act or regulation or agreement, all books, vouchers, and documents in the possession or under the control of the Colonial

Combing, Spinning, and Weaving Company Limited, and Whiddon Brothers Limited, and relating to the purchase, manufacture and/or sale of the sheepskins, wool, and wool tops referred to in any agreement made or to be made with the said companies by or on behalf of the Commonwealth Government, shall be produced to the Auditor-General of the Commonwealth, who shall inspect, audit and examine such books, vouchers, and documents, and shall from time to time prepare and

sign a. report for submission through the Treasurer to both Houses of the Parliament. And the said companies shall facilitate in every way the checking by the said Auditor-General by a continuous audit of all calculations made by the said companies in ascertaining the net earnings of the companies for the purposes of any agreement. I t shall be the duty of the Auditor-General to decide what amounts should be credited and debited in order to ascertain the net earnings of the companies, and his decision shall be final and binding on both parties. The Auditor-General may disallow any items, and such items shall be omitted from the accounts. The Auditor-General may

by wi iting under his hand appoint an\' person to exercise such powers and perform such duties of the Auditor-General under this Act as he thinks fit. The Auditor General of the Commonwealth or his officers shall inspect, audit, and examine the books, vouchers, and documents of all persons, firms, or companies having contracts with the

Central Wool Committee.” Debate ensued. Amendment negatived. "

Senator O’Keefe moved an amendment, viz., add the following new sub-clause :— “ (4.) The Government of the Commonwealth shall pay to the employees of the Colonial Combing, Spinning, and Weaving Company Limited, and Whiddon Brothers Limited, twenty per cent, of the net earnings received from the said companies under agreements between the Government and the companies, the said twenty per cent, to be distributed amongst the employees in such sums and in such manner as a committee of ten persons appointed by the employees may decide.” Debate ensued.

To report progress and ask leave to sit again.

The President resumed the Chair ; and Senator Shannon, from the Committee, reported that the Committee had further considered the Bill and had made progress, and asked leave to sit again. Ordered—That the Committee have leave to sit again to-morrow.

9. Adjournment.-—T he Senate adjourned a t nineteen minutes past ten p.m. till to-morrow at three p.m.

10. Attendance.—Present, all the Members except Senators Barnes, Gardiner, Grant, Guthrie, Guy, Mulcahy, Needham, Newland, Pearce (on leave), and Senior. "

C, GAY AN DUFFY, Clerk of the Senate.

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