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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
No. 25.
JOURNALS OF THE SENATE.
THURSDAY, 13t h MAY, 1920.
1. M eetin g op S en ate.—The Senate met at three p.m., pursuant to adjournment.
2. PRAYERS.
3. N ew S enator S worn.—Edward Mulcahy, a Senator for the State of Tasmania, made and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance at the Table, pursuant to the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, and took his seat.
4. P a pers.— The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen) laid on the Table the following Papers, viz.:— By Command— War-time Wealth Increases: Memoranda submitted by the Board of Inland Revenue to
the Select Committee of the House of Commons. (Paper presented to British Parliament.) Pursuant to Statute— Lands Acquisition Act.—Land acquired for Repatriation purposes at Victoria Park,
Western Australia. Public Service Act.— Appointment of A. S. Robertson, Department of Works and Railways. War Service Homes Act.—-Land acquired for War Service Homes purposes at— C ran bourne, Victoria. ·
Footscray, Victoria. Newtown, Geelong, Victoria.
The Vice-President of the Executive Council (Senator Russell) laid on the Table the following Paper, viz. :— Pursuant to Statute— Customs Act.—Proclamation, dated 27th April, 1920, prohibiting exportation (except under
certain conditions) of Meat, and revoking proclamation of 2nd May, 1911, relating to the exportation of Meat.
5. P ublic A ccounts Co m m it t e e— Sec o n d G e n e r a l R et o r t.— Senator Earle brought up the Second General Report from the Joint Committee of Public Accounts.
6. Q uestions.—Questions on notice were answered.
7. S u p p l e m e n t a r y A p p r o p r ia t io n B il l 1917-18.—The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen), according to Order, moved—That the Bill be now read a third time. Question—put and passed. Bill read a third time and passed.
8. Su p p l e m e n t a r y A p p r o p r ia t io n B il l 1918-19.—The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen), according to Order, moved—That the Bill be now read a third time. Question—put and passed. Bill read a third time and passed.
9. Supplem en tary' A p p r o p r ia t io n (W orks and B u il d in g s) B il l 1917-18.—The Minister for Repatria tion (Senator Millen), according to Order, moved—That the Bill be now read a third time. Question—put and passed. Bill read a third time and passed.
10. Su p pl e m e n t a r y A pp r o p r ia t io n (W orks a n d B u il d in g s) B il l 1918-19.—The Minister for Repatria tion (Senator Millen), according to Order, moved—That the Bill be now read a third time. Question—put and passed. Bill read a third time and passed.
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74 No. 25.— 13th May, 1920.
11. S ugar P urchase B ill.—-The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen), according to Order, moved—-That the Bill be now read a third time. '
Question—put and passed. Bill read a third time and passed.
12. Message from t h e H ou se o f R e p r e s e n t a t iv e s.— A u str a lia n So l d ie r s’ R e p a t r ia t io n B il l .— The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :— Mr. P r e s id e n t , Message No. 16.
The House of Represen tatives returns to the Senate the Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to make provision for the Repatriation of Australian Soldiers and for other purposes,” and acquaints the Senate that the House of Representatives does not insist on its alternative amendment to Amendment No. 30 disagreed to by the Senate, but has inserted a new alternative clause, 47a., in the Bill, as set out in the accompanying Schedule.
The House of Representatives desires the concurrence of the Senate in the new alternative amendment. W . E l l io t J o h n s o n ,
House of Representatives, Speaker.
Melbourne, 13th May, 1920.
The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen) moved—That the Message be considered in Committee of the Whole forthwith. Question—put and passed. ·
In the Committee.
Message read. The Committee proceeded to consider the new alternative amendment, which is as follows :—-Sc h e d u l e of t h e A lt e r n a t iv e A m en d m en t m ade by t h e H ou se of R e pr e s e n t a t iv e s and D isa g r e e d to b y t h e Se n a t e , not in s is t e d on b y t h e H ou se o f R e p r e s e n t a t iv e s, b u t in
PLACE OF WHICH THE H O U SE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS MADE A N E W ALTERNATIVE AMENDMENT.
Alternative Amendment not insisted on :—
Page 14, after clause 47., insert the following clause, 47 a. :—-47a .— (1.) The Commission shall, subject to the approval of the Minister, Establishment of have power to assist soldiers by way of loan to the extent of pound for pound llldustncs· contributed by them in cash or war bonds for the purpose of establishing industries on a co-operative
basis, such industries to include the manufacture of boots, woollen goods, and clothing, tanning, wool-scouring, fellmongering (and kindred industries), sawmilling and other enterprises.
(2.) The regulations may prescribe the conditions upon which any loan granted in pursuance of this section shall be repayable.
New Alternative Amendment made by the House of Representatives :—· Page 14, after clause 47., insert the following clause, 47a . :— 47a . (1.) The Commission shall, subject to the approval of the Minister, Establishment of have power to assist Australian soldiers by way of loan, to an extent not exceeding ,udustrles· one pound for each pound contributed by them in Treasury Bonds issued under section thirteen of the War Gratuity Act 1920, or in cash, for the purpose of establishing co-operative businesses.
(2.) The amount of any loan granted in pursuance of this section shall not exceed One hundred and fifty pounds for each original shareholder engaged in the business in respect of which the loan is granted, and shall bear interest at such rate as the Commission determines. (3.) The aggregate amount of loans granted in pursuance of this section shall not exceed Five hundred thousand pounds.
(4.) An Australian soldier who has a share or interest in a business in respect of which a loan has been granted in pursuance of this section shall not transfer his share or interest—· (a) unless the transferee is an Australian soldier approved by the Commission, or (b) where the transferee is not an Australian soldier, unless, in the opinion of the Commission,
there are special circumstances which render the transfer desirable.
(5.) No person shall, without the consent of the Commission, enter into a mortgage, or give any lien, over the property of a business in respect of which a loan has been granted in pursuance of this section, and any mortgage or lien entered into or given in contravention of this sub-section shall be void and of no effect.
(6.) The Commission, or any person thereto authorized by the Commission, shall at all times have access to, and may inspect, the books and premises of any business in respect of which a loan has been granted in pursuance of this section and if, upon such inspection, the Commission considers that the business is being conducted in such a manner—
(a) as to depreciate the security of the Commission for the moneys lent by i t ; or · (&) as to prejudice the interests of the shareholders of the business, the Commission may require such alteration in the control or conduct of the business as it thinks desirable.
No. 25.— -13th May, 1920. 75
(7.) Notwithstanding anything in this section a loan shall not be granted for the establish ment of a co-operative business— (a) unless application for the loan is received by the Commission within twelve months after the commencement of this Act or the discharge of the applicants from the Forces, which
ever last happens ; (b) unless the applicants satisfy the Commission that they are qualified to carry on that business ; (c) unless the agreement, deed or articles of association entered into by the applicants is approved by the Commission ; and (d) if, in the opinion of the Commission, the applicants have been reasonably and satisfactorily
assisted to re-establish themselves in civil life. .
(8.) For the purposes of this section “ co-operative business ” means a business which, subject to the rights of the Commission in respect of any loans granted for establishing the business, is owned by persons engaged therein.
(9.) The regulations may prescribe the conditions upon which loans may be granted in pursuance of this section and the conditions upon which such loans shall be repayable. Senator Milieu moved—That the new alternative amendment (new clause 47a.) be agreed to. Debate ensued.
Question—put and passed. Resolution to be reported.
The President resumed the Chair; and Senator Shannon, from the Committee, reported that the Committee had considered Message No. 16 of the House of Representatives, and had agreed to the new alternative amendment (new clause 47a.) inserted by the House of Representatives in the Bill. Whereupon the Senate adopted such Report.
13. Message from the H ouse o f R epresentatives.—A udit Bill.-—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :— Mr. President, Message No. 17.
The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to amend the 1 Audit, Act, 1901-1917 with which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.
. W. E lliot J ohnson,
House of Representatives, Speaker.
Melbourne, 13th May, 1920.
Bill read a first time, and second reading made an Order of the Day for the next day of sitting.
14. P ostponement.—Ordered—That Order of the Day No. 6 be postponed until a later hour of the day.
15. P r o c e d u r e on B il l s—M in is t e r s ’ A t t e n d a n c e in e it h e r H o u s e.—Senator Thomas, pursuant to notice, moved— (1) That the Standing Orders Committees of the Senate and the House of Representatives be requested to consider the question of preparing Standing Orders providing that a
Minister in either House may attend and explain and pilot through the other House any Bill of which he has had charge in his own House. (2) That this resolution be forwarded to the House of Representatives for its concurrence. Debate ensued. Question—put and passed.
1 ti. A djournment.—The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Milieu) moved—That the Senate do now adjourn. Debate ensued. Question—put and passed.
The Senate adjourned at nine minutes to six p.m. till to-morrow at eleven a.m.
17. Attendance.—Present, all the Members except Senators Barker, Barnes, Ferricks (on leave), Gardiner, Grant, Guthrie (on leave), Guy, Henderson, Keating, Lynch (on leave), McDougall (on leave), Needham, Newland, O’Keefe, and O’Loghlin. .
C. GAVAN DUFFY, Clerk of the Senate.
Printed and Published for the G overnment of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J . Mullett, Government Printer for the State of Victoria.