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83

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

JOURNALS

No. 28.

OF TH E SENATE

THURSDAY, 20 th MAY, 1920.

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

2. PRAYERS. (

3. Questions.—Questions on notice were answered.

4. Government Business- P recedence.—The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen), pursuant to notice, moved—That until the twenty-first day of May, 1920, Government Business, unless other­ wise ordered, take precedence of all other business on the Notice Paper, except questions and formal motions. Question—put and passed.

5. Suspension op Standing Order No. 68 (New Business after H alf-past Ten p .m.).—The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen), pursuant to notice, moved—That Standing Order Number 68 be suspended up to and including Friday, the twenty-first instant, for the purpose of enabling new business to be commenced after half-past Ten o’clock at night. Question—put and passed.

6. Message from the H ouse of R epresentatives.—Appropriation Bill 1919-20.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :—

Mr. P resident, Message No. 20.

The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to grant and apply out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund a sum for the service of the year ending the thirtieth day of June One thousand nine hundred and twenty and to appropriate the Supplies granted by the Parliament for such year,'' with which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

W. E lliot J ohnson,

House of Representatives, Speaker.

Melbourne, 20th May, 1920.

7. Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders.—-The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen), pursuant to contingent notice, moved—-That so much of the Standing and Sessional Orders be suspended as would prevent the Appropriation Bill 1919-20 being passed through all its stages without delay. Question—put and passed. Ordered—Thjit the first reading of the Appropriation Bill 1919-20 be an Order of the Day for a

later hour of the day.

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

In the Committee.

Consideration resumed of the Schedule, and the amendment moved to section 7 thereof, viz., leave out “ obtained ”, F.251.

84 No. 28.— 20th May, 1920.

Question—That the word proposed to be left out be left out—-put. Committee divided— Ayes, 5. Senator Bakhap.

Earle. Keating. Mulcahy.

Teller.

Senator Grant.

Noes, 15

Senator Barker. Bolton, Buzacott Fairbairn. Foil.

Millen. Newland. Pearce. P ratten.

Reid. Russell. Senior.

Shannon. Thomas.

Teller.

Senator de Largie.

Amendment negatived accordingly. Remainder of schedule to and including section 13 agreed to, after debate. Section 13a considered—· Senator Earle moved an amendment, viz., leave out “ a s ” and insert “ which in the opinion of

the Commonwealth ", Debate ensued. Amendment negatived. *

Section 13a agreed to. Section 14 considered—■ Senator Flatten moved an amendment, viz., leave out “ and administrative ”. Debate ensued.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Sections 14-16 agreed to. Section 17 debated and agreed to. Sections 18-22 and remainder of schedule agreed to.

Postponed clause 2 agreed to. Title agreed to. Bill to be reported without amendment.

The President resumed the Chair ; and Senator Shannon, from the Committee, reported accordingly. Whereupon the Senate adopted such Report. Senator Pearce moved—That the Bill be now read a third time. Question—put and passed. Bill read a third time and passed.

9. Governor-General’s Message.—Assent to Bills.—The following Message from His Excellency the Governor-General was presented, and the same was read by Mr. President:—

R. M. FERGUSON, Governor-General. Message No. 4.

The following Bills intituled :— “ Invalid and Old-age Pensions Appropriation Act 1920,” “ War Pensions Appropriation Act 1920,” “ A ustralian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1920,”

“ Supplementary Appropriation Act 1917-18,” “ Supplementary Appropriation Act 1918-19,” “ Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1917-18,” “ Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1918-19,” “ Sugar Purchase Act 1920,”

as finally passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth, having been presented to the Governor-General for the Royal Assent, His Excellency has, in the name and on behalf of His Majesty, assented to the said Acts.

Federal Government House, Melbourne, 19th May, 1920.

10. W ar Gratuity B ill (N o. 2).—The Minister for Defence (Senator Pearce), according to Order, moved—That the Bill be now read a second time. Debate ensued. Question—put and passed.

Bill read a second time.

No. 28.—20tli May. 1920. 85

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

In the Committee.

Clauses 1-3 agreed to. Clause -1 read- -Senator Pearce moved—That the House of Representatives be requested to amend the clause by inserting after “ service’ in line 9, page 2, the words “ or who is totally and permanently

incapacitated as a result of such service,”. Request for amendment agreed to. Clause 4, as requested to be amended, agreed to. Clause 5 read— Senator Pearce moved—That the House of Representatives be requested to amend the clause by

inserting after “ service" in line 23, page 2, the words “ or who is totally and permanently incapacitated as a result of such service Request for amendment agreed to. Senator Pearce moved—That the House of Representatives be requested to further amend the clause

by inserting after “ service ” in line 28, page 2, the words “ or who is totally and permanently incapacitated as a result of such service ’. Request for amendment agreed to. Senator Pearce moved—That the House of Representatives be requested to further amend the clause by inserting after “ service” in line 42, page 2, the words “ or who is totally and permanently incapacitated as a result of such service ”, Request for amendment agreed to. Senator Pearce moved—That the House of Representatives be requested to further amend the clause by inserting after “ service” in line 5, page 3, the words “ or who is totally and permanently incapacitated as a result of such service '. Request for amendment agreed to. Senator Pearce moved—That the House of Representatives be requested to further amend the clause by inserting after “ service” in line 19, page 3, the words “ or who is totally and permanently incapacitated as a result of such service ". Request for amendment agreed to. ·

Clause 5, as requested to be amended, agreed to. Clauses 6-8 agreed to. Title agreed to. Bill to be reported with requests.

The President resumed the Chair : and Senator Bakhap, from the Committee, reported accordingly. Whereupon the Senate adopted such Report.

.11. Message from the H ouse of R epresentatives.—Committee of P ublic A ccounts Bill.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :—

■ MU. P resident, Message No. 21.

The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to amend the ' Committee of Public Accounts Act 1913 . and for other purposes, " with which it desires the concurrence of the Senate. W. E lliot J ohnson,

House of Representatives, Speaker.

Melbourne, 20th May, 1920. Bill read a first time.

12. Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders.—The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Milieu), pursuant to contingent notice, moved—That so much of the Standing and Sessional Orders be suspended as would prevent the Committee of Public Accounts Bill being passed through all its stages without delay. Question—put and passed.

13. Committee of P ublic Accounts Bill.- The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Milieu), moved— That the Bill be now read a second time. 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.

Tn the Committee.

Clauses 1-9 agreed to. · The Schedule agreed to Title agreed to.

86 No. 28.— 20th May, 1920.

Bill to be reported without amendment.

The President resumed the C hair; and Senator Bakhap, from the Committee, reported accordingly. Whereupon the Senate adopted such Report. Senator Milieu moved—That the Bill be now read a third time. Question—put and passed.

Bill read a third time and passed.

14. A ppropriation Bill 1919-20.—The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Milieu), according to Order, moved—That the Bill be now read a first time. Debate ensued.

15. The Great War—Vote of T hanks to the Sea, L and, and Air F orces, and the Voluntary Workers of the Commonwealth, and Others. -The President informed the Senate that the Resolution conveying the Vote of Thanks passed by the Senate on 5th May, instant, would be presented to the representatives of the various persons concerned, in the Queen’s Hall, at half-past seven o’clock this evening. He invited honorable Senators to be present.

At twenty-five minutes past six p.m. the sitting of the Senate was suspended till half-past eight p.m.

Sitting, interrupted by the suspension, resumed.

The President, addressing the Senate, said—“ I have to inform the Senate that this evening, in the Queen’s Hall, I presented the Resolution agreed to by the Senate on the 5th May, conveying a vote of thanks to the Sea, Land, and Air Forces, and the Voluntary Workers of the Commonwealth, and others, for their services in connexion with the Great War. The Resolution was received by Admiral Grant, General Sir Henry Chauvel, and General Sir John Monash, representing their respective Services ; and they, in reply, expressed their deep gratitude, and asked that their sincere appreciation be conveyed to the Senate for the Resolution.”

16. A ppropriation Bill 1919-20.—Debate resumed on the motion—That the Bill be now read a first time. Question—put and passed. Bill read a first time. Senator Millen moved—That the Bill be now read a second time.

Debate ensued. 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 1-3 agreed to. First Schedule agreed to. Second Schedule debated and agreed to. Preamble agreed to.

Title agreed to. Bill to be reported without requests.

The President resumed the Chair; and Senator Buzacott, from the Committee, reported accordingly. Whereupon the Senate, after debate, adopted such Report. Senator Millen moved—That the Bill be now read a third time. Question—put and passed.

Bill read a third time and passed.

17. Message from the H ouse of R epresentatives.—Supply Bill (N o. 1) 1920-21.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :—

M r . P resident, , Message No. 22.

The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to grant and apply a sum out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the service of the year ending the thirtieth day of June One thousand nine hundred and tiventy-one,” with which it desires the concurrence of the Senate. .

- W . E lliot J ohnson,

House of Representatives, Speaker

Melbourne, 20th May, 1920.

18. Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders.—The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen), pursuant to contingent notice, moved—That so much of the Standing and Sessional Orders be suspended as would prevent the Supply Bill (No. 1) 1920-21 being passed through all its stages without delay. .

Question—put and passed.

No. 28.— 20th May, 1920. 87

19. Supply Bill (No. 1) 1920-21.—The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Millen) moved—That the Bill be now read a first time. Debate ensued. Question—put and passed. Bill read a first time. Senator Millen moved—That the Bill be now read a second time. 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 1-4 agreed to. Schedule debated and agreed to. Preamble agreed to. Title agreed to. Bill to be reported without requests.

The President resumed the Chair ; and Senator Buzacott, from the Committee, reported accordingly. Whereupon the Senate adopted such Report. Senator Millen moved—That the Bill be now read a third time. Question—put and passed. Bill read a third time and passed.

20. Audit B ill.—The Senate, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee for the further consideration of the Bill.

In the Committee.

Clause 2 agreed to.

Clause 3 read— Senator Millen moved—That the clause be left out with a view to inserting the following new clause in lieu thereof :— 3. The Principal Act is amended by inserting therein after section ten the following

sections :— “ 10a. The Audit Department of the Commonwealth shall be a separate Audit Department and the Auditor-General shall be the permanent head of the 1)1 i’artme,lt· Department.”

“ 10b. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Commonwealth Public Auditor-General Service Act 1902-1918 or the regulations thereunder, the powers and functions commissioner by that Act and those regulations conferred upon the Commissioner, a Permanent ^mcS-'for Head and a Chief Officer shall, in relation to the officers of the Audit Department, purposes of

be exercisable by the Auditor-General and any reference in that Act and those p“™ i™ 0scrvke‘ regulations to the Commissioner, a Permanent Head and a Chief Officer shall, A|t. in relation to the officers of that Department, be read as a reference to the Auditor- General.”. Debate ensued. To report progress and ask leave to sit again.

The President resumed the Chair ; and Senator Buzacott, from the Committee, reported that the Committee had considered the Bill and had made progress, and asked leave to sit again. Ordered—That the Committee have leave to sit again on the next day of sitting.

21. A djournment.—The Senate adjourned at half-past eleven p.m. till to-morrow at. eleven a.m.

22. Attendance.—-Present, all the Members except Senators Barnes, Ferricks (on leave), Gardiner, Guthrie (on leave), Guy, Henderson, Lynch (on leave), Maughan, McDougall (on leave), O’Keefe, O’Loghlin, and Rowell.

C. GAVAN DUFFY, Clerk of the Senate.

Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J. Mullett Government Printer for the State of Victoria. F.251.·—2