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COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
JOURNALS
No. 72.
OF THE SENATE.
THURSDAY, 18th NOVEMBER, 1920.
1. M eeting o f S enate.— The Senate met at three p.m., pursuant to adjournment.
2. PRAYERS.
3. P rinting Committee : Second R eport.—Senator Adamson brought up the following Report from the Printing Committee :— R eport.
The Printing Committee have the honour to report that they have met in Conference with the Printing Committee of the House of Representatives. The Joint Committee, having considered the Papers presented to Parliament since the last meeting of the Committee, recommend that the following be printed :—
Industrial Troubles on Melbourne Wharfs : Report of Royal Commission. Shale Oil Bounty Act.—Particulars of Bounty paid, &c., Financial Yhar 1919-20. "*Railways of Australia : Break of Gauge Problem—Statement by Secretary to the Common wealth Railways Commissioner.
Commonwealth Bank Act.—Aggregate Balance-sheet of Commonwealth Bank of Australia at 30th June, 1920, together with Auditor-General’s Report thereon. Inscribed Stock Act.--Dealings and Transactions during the year ended 30th June, 1919. * Presented to House of Representatives only.
J o h n A d a m s o n ,
Senate Committee Room, for Chairman.
18th November, 1920.
4. P apers.—The Minister for Defence (Senator Pearce) laid on the Table the following Papers, viz. :— Pursuant to Statute— Northern Territory.- Ordinance No. 9 of 1920.—Supreme Court. Public Service Act.—List of Permanent Officers of the Commonwealth Public Service as
on 30th June, 1920.
5. Questions.—Questions on notice were answered.
6. P ostponements.—Ordered—That Notices of Motion Nos.· 1 and 2, Private Business, be postponed until this day week.
7. Navigation Bill.—Governor-General’s Message.—The following Message from His Excellency the Governor-General, intimating the reservation of the Navigation Bill, was presented, and the same was read by Mr. President:— FORSTER,
Governor-General. Message No. 22.
A Bill intituled “ Navigation 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 reserved the said Bill for the signification of His Majesty’s pleasure.
Government House, Melbourne, 17th November, 1920.
8. P ostponement.—Ordered—That Order of the Day No. 1, Government Business, be postponed until after the consideration of Orders of the Day Nos. 2 and 3.
9. Commonwealth B ank B ill.—The Minister for Defence (Senator Pearce), according to Order, moved—That the Bill be now read a second time. Debate ensued. Question—gut and passed. Bill read a second time.
F.251.
206 No. 72.—18th November, 1920.
The Senate, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee for the consideration of the Bill.
In the Committee.
Clauses 1-4 agreed to. Clauses δ and 6 debated and agreed to. Clause 7 read— Senator Lynch moved an amendment, viz., page 3, after “ re-appointment”, in line 18, insert “ and no
Director shall be removed from office during the term of his appointment except by resolution passed by both houses of the Parliament”. Debate ensued. Amendment temporarily withdrawn. On motion of Senator Crawford, the following amendments were made, after debate, viz. :—
Page 3, line 12, after “ appointed” insert “ and shall hold office, during good behaviour,” ; Page 3, line 16, after “ years ” insert “ subject to good behaviour”.
Amendment by Senator Lynch, in line 18 (see above), again moved, and negatived. On motion of Senator Pearce, the following further amendment was made, viz., page 3, line 19, after “ absence ” insert “ from the Commonwealth or absence from duty on leave ”, · Senator Pratten moved a further amendment, viz., page 3, lines 24-26, leave out “ (8.) A t meetings
of the Board of Directors the chairman shall have a deliberative vote, and, in the event of an equality of voting, a second or casting vote.” Debate ensued. Question—put. Committee divided—
Ayes, 2.
Senator Pratten.
Teller.
Senator Duncan.
Noes, 14.
Senator Adamson. Buzacott. de Largie. Fairbairn. Foster. Guthrie, R. S. Henderson.
’ J. D.
Payne. Pearce. Reid. Russell.
Lynch Milieu
Teller.
Senator Earle.
Amendment negatived accordingly. Senator Pratten moved a further amendment, viz., page 4, line 5, leave out “ Five shillings,”. Debate ensued. Amendment negatived. Senator Lynch moved a further amendment, viz., page 4, after line 38 insert “ (d) in approved rural
industries, .particularly agricultural and mining ”, Debate ensued. Amendment negatived. Clause 7, as amended, agreed to.
Title agreed to. Biil to be reported with amendments.
The President resumed the Chair ; and Senator Bakhap, from the Committee, reported accordingly. Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders.—The Minister for Defence (Senator Pearce), pursuant to contingent notice, moved—That so much of the Standing and Sessional Orders be suspended as would prevent the Bill being passed through its remaining stages without delay. Question—put and passed. Senator Pearce moved—That the Report from the Committee of the Whole on the Bill be adopted. Question—put and passed. Senator Pearce moved—That the Bill be now read a third time. Question—put and passed. Bill read a third time and passed.
10. L and Tax B ill.—The Minister for Defence (Senator Pearce), according to Order, 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 and 2 agreed to. Title agreed to.
No. 72.—18th November, 1920. 207
Bill to be reported without requests.
The President resumed the Chair; and Senator Bakliap, from the Committee, reported accordingly. Whereupon the Senate adopted such Report. Ordered—That the third reading of the Bill be an Order of the Day for the next day of sitting.
11. Commonwealth E lectoral (W ar-time) R epeal B ill.—The Vice-President of the Executive Council (Senator Russell), according to Order, 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 and 2 agreed to. Title agreed to. Bill to be reported without amendment.
The President resumed the Chair ; and Senator Bakhap, from the Committee, reported accordingly. Whereupon the Senate adopted such Report. Ordered—That the third reading of the Bill be an Order of the Day for the next day of sitting.
12. Aliens R egistration B ill.—The Senate, according to Order, resolved itself into a Committee for the consideration of Message No. GG of the House of Representatives, and amendments.
In the Committee.
Message read. The Committee proceeded to consider the amendments, which are as follow
Schedule of the Amendments made by the H ouse of R epresentatives.
No. 1 .— Page 2, clause 6, line 25, omit “ One hundred ” and insert “ Fifty ” , No. 2.—Page 2, clause 6, line 25, omit “ six ” and insert “ three ”, No. 3.—Page 2, clause 6, line 34, omit “ One hundred ” and insert “ Fifty No. 4.—Page 2, clause 6, line 34, omit “ six ” and insert “ three No. 5.—Page 2, clause 6, line 37, omit “ one month ” and insert “ three months ”. No. 6.—Page 2, clause 6, lines 40-41, omit “ the child, and ” . No. 7.—Page 2, clause 6, line 42, omit “ severally ” , No. 8.·—Page 2, clause G, line 43, omit “ One hundred ” and insert “ Fifty No. 9.— Page 2, clause 6, line 43, omit “ six ” and insert “ three ” , No. 10. Page 3, clause 8, line 43, omit “ agent for ” and insert “ owner, agent or charterer
of
No. 11 .--Page 5, clause 14, line 44, omit “ One hundred ” and insert “ F ifty ” . No. 12.—Page 5, clause 14, line 44, omit “ six ” and insert “ three” .
Amendments agreed to after debate. Resolutions to be reported.
The President resumed the Chair : and Senator Bakhap, from the Committee, reported that the Committee had considered Message No. 66 of the House of Representatives in reference to the Aliens Registration Bill, and had agreed to the amendments made by the House of Representatives in the Bill. Whereupon the Senate adopted such Report.
A t half-past six p.m. the sitting of the Senate was suspended till eight p.m.
Sitting, interrupted by the suspension, resumed.
13. P rivate B usiness.—Order of the Day No. 1, Private Business, was called on, and not being proceeded with, disappeared from the Notice Paper.
14. R ural and other I ndustries: P roposed Commission of Inquiry.—Order of the Day read for the adjourned debate on the Question—That, inasmuch as the financial needs of the Commonwealth arising out of the war require a substantial increase in our surplus wealth to enable it to meet its obligations, and as such increase can only follow on a corresponding increase in the output of commodities, and this in turn requires a free field having no artificial restraints or burdens ; and that, in order to insure that each industry shall be given the opportunity to yield its maximum by standing on its own base, and neither leaning upon or being leaned on by any other industry, the Senate is of opinion—
(1) That, for the purpose of determining the true standing of conditions in the industrial field and removing, as far as the power of Parliament can do, any maladjustment whereby one or more industries stand to be systematically sweated for the direct gain of other opulent industries, the Government should, as a commencement, instruct the
208 No. 72.—18
Inter-State Commission to inquire into and report upon the following seven industries, viz., the pastoral, metalliferous mining, wheat-growing, coal mining, shipping, textile manufacture, machinery manufacture (embracing only machinery used in agriculture and mining) in respect to—
(a) the general result of operations extending over the last seven-year period ; (b) the earnings of capital in each industry viewed as a whole ; (c) the scope there is (if any) in each industry for the further absorption of labour and capital, and to what extent men of small means can engage in
each industry ; (d) the hours of labour and rates of pay per hour, per day, or per year, according to custom obtaining in each industry ; (e) what wages an average employee could earn in a year in each industry—
working to the standard “ a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay - ; (/) the amount of time lost in each year, and expressed in money, in each industry, through industrial unrest and the effect of same on that industry as well as sister industries ; (g) nature of each industry as affecting the lives and health of the operatives.
(2) That, as wheat raising and metalliferous mining between them provide homes and livings of a kind for a vastly outstanding proportion of our population, the Commission should commence its investigations of them, in order that any discovered grievances found crippling or retarding their progress may be thoroughly ventilated and effective remedies applied without further delay. Debate resumed. â
Motion, by leave, withdrawn.
15. A ppropriation Bill 1920-21.—Message from the House of Representatives.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :— Mu. P residunt, Message No. 67.
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-one and to appropriate the Supplies granted by the Parliament for such year.'' with which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.
E lliot J ohnson,
House of Representatives, Speaker.
Melbourne, 18th November, 1920.
Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders.—The Minister for Defence (Senator Pearce), pursuant to contingent notice, moved—That so much of the Standing and Sessional Orders be suspended as would prevent the Appropriation Bill 1920-21 being passed through all its stages without delay. Debate ensued. Question—put and passed. Senator Pearce moved —That the Bill be now read a first time. On motion of Senator Payne, the debate was adjourned. Ordered—That the resumption of the debate be an Order of the Day for to morrow.
16. Commonwealth Bank Bill.—Message from the House of Representatives.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :— Mr. P resident, Message No. 68.
The House of Representatives acquaints the Senate that it has agreed to the amendments made by the Senate in the Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to amend the ‘Commonwealth Bank Act 1911-1914’ and for other purposes." E lliot J ohnson,
House of Representatives, Speaker.
Melbourne, 18th November, 1920.
17. Adjournment.—The Senate adjourned at twenty-four minutes to ten p.m. till to morrow at eleven a.m.
18. Attendance.—Present, all the Members except Senators Cox, Foil, J. F. Guthrie, E. D. Millen (on leave), Newland, Plain, Senior, Thomas, and Wilson.
GEO. H. MONAHAN, Clerk of the Senate.
Printed and Published for the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia by Albert J . Mullett- Government P rin ter for the State of Victoria.