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53

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

JOURNALS

No. 16.

OF THE SENATE.

THURSDAY, 27th MARCH, 1941.

1. M eeting of Senate.—The "Senate met at half-past ten a.m., pursuant to adjournment.

2. PRAYERS.

3. P apers— The President laid on the Table the following Papers, viz. :— Pursuant to Statute— Audit Act—Finance—Treasurer’s Statement of Receipts and Expenditure for the year 1939-40,

accompanied by the Report of the Auditor-General. Commonwealth Bank Act—Balance-sheets of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Commonwealth Savings Bank as at 31st December, 1940, and Statement of the Liabilities -and Assets of the Note Issue Department at 31st December, 1940 ; together with Auditor-

Gcneral’s Reports thereon. '

The following Paper was presented, pursuant to Statute— Lands Acquisition Act—Land acquired at Cronulla, New South Wales—For Postal purposes.

4. Motion for Adjournment, to Debate Matter of Urgency.—Senator Keane, in order to discuss a matter of urgent public importance, viz.—“ the necessity for improving the wage standards of employees, with particular reference to the basic wage and allowances relating thereto ”, moved— That the Senate, at its rising, adjourn till ten a.m. tomorrow. Debate ensued. Motion, by leave, withdrawn.

5. P ostponement of Orders of the Day.—Orders of the Day having been called on— Ordered—That the Orders of the Day be postponed until after Questions on Notice have been answered and placing of Business has been dealt with.

6. Questions.—Questions on notice were answered.

7. Australian -Broadcasting Commission Bill 1941.—The Senate, according to Order, resolved itself into Committee for the further consideration of the Bill.

In the Committee.

Clauses 2 and 3 agreed to. Clause 4 debated— Question—That the clause stand as - printed—put. The Committee divided—

Ayes, 17. Noes, 13.

Senator— Senator— Senator— Senator—

Abbott. McBride. Amour. Fraser.

Brand. McLachlan, A. J. Armstrong. Keane.

Collett. McLachlan, James. Arthur. Lamp.

Cooper. McLeay. Aylett. MacDonald, Allan.

Crawford. Spicer. Cameron.

Gibson. Grant. Hayes, J. B. Hays, Herbert. Johnston, E. B.

Clause 4 agreed to

Uppill.

Tetter :

Senator Dein.

accordingly.

Ceilings. Cunningham. Darcey.

Teller :

Senator Ashley.

F.6318.

54 No. 16.—27th March, 1941.

Clauses 5 to 10 agreed to. Clause 11 read— Senator Codings moved an amendment, viz.—line 9, after “ programmes ” insert including news services, ”.

Debate ensued. Question—That the words proposed to be inserted be inserted—put. The Committee divided—

Senator— Abbott. Amour. Armstrong. Arthur. Aylett. Cameron. Codings. Cunningham.

Ayes, 13.

Senator— . Darcey. Fraser. Keane. Lamp.

Teller:

Senator Ashley.

Senator— Brand. Collett. Cooper. Crawford. Gibson. Grant.

Hayes, J. B. Hays, Herbert. Johnston, E. B. McBride.

Noes, 17.

Senator— MacDonald, Allan. McLachlan, A. J. McLachlan, James.

McLeay. Spicer. Uppill.

Teller:

Senator Dein.

Amendment negatived accordingly. Senator Codings moved an amendment, viz.—after sub-section (1.) of proposed section 16 insert the following new sub-section :— “ (1a.) The Commission shad provide an adequate and independent news service under its

own control in addition to any contracts or arrangements it may make in respect to news services.” Debate ensued. Question—That the proposed new sub-section be inserted—put. The Committee divided—

Ayes, 14.

Senator— Darcey. Fraser. Gibson.

Keane. Lamp.

Teller :

Senator Ashley.

Amendment negatived accordingly. Clause 11 agreed to. Clauses 12 to 16 agreed to. Clause 17 read—

Senator— Abbott. Amour. Armstrong. Arthur. Aylett. Cameron. Coldngs. Cunningham.

Noes, 15.

Senator— Codett. Cooper. Crawford. Grant. Ha yes, J. B.

Hays, Herbert. Johnston, E. B. McBride. MacDonald, Allan.

Senator— McLachlan, A. J. McLachlan, James. McLeay. Spicer. Uppill.

Teller :

Senator Dein.

Senator Codings moved an amendment, viz.—line 38, after “ Commission ” insert “ either to take or ” . Debate ensued. Question—That the words proposed to be inserted be inserted—put. The Committee divided—

Senator— Amour. Armstrong. Arthur. Aylett. Cameron. Codings.

Cunningham. Darcey.

Ayes, 13. Senator— Fraser. Johnston, E. B.

Keane. Lamp.

T e l l e r :

Senator Ashley.

. Amendment negatived accordingly. Clause 17 agreed to. '

Title agreed to. Bid to be reported without amendment.

Senator— Abbott. Brand. Collett. Cooper. Crawford. Gibson.

Grant. Hayes, J. B. Hays, Herbert.

McBride.

Noes, 17.

Senator— MacDonald, Allan. McLachlan, A. J. McLachlan, James. McLeay. Spicer. Uppill.

Teller:

Senator Dein.

The President resumed the Chair ; and the Chairman of Committees (Senator James McLachlan) reported accordingly. .

On the motion of the Postmaster-General (Senator McLeay) the Report from the Committee was adopted, and the Bill read a third time.

No. 16.—27th March, 1941. 55

8. Acts I nterpretation Bill 1941.—Message from the House of Representatives.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :— Mr. P resident, Message No. 34.

The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to amend the ‘Acts Interpretation Act 1901-1937 ’ ”, in which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

W. M. Nairn,

House of Representatives, Speaker.

Canberra, 26th March, 1941.

Smpension of Standing and Sessional Orders.—The Postmaster-General (Senator McLeay), pursuant to contingent notice, moved—That so much of the Standing and Sessional Orders be suspended as would prevent the Bill being passed through all its stages without delay. Question—put and passed. On the motion of Senator McLeay the Bill was read a first time. Senator McLeay moved—That the Bill be now read a second time. On the motion of Senator Cunningham the debate was adjourned. Ordered—That the resumption of the debate be an Order of the Day for the next day of sitting.

9. Defence Bill 1941.—Message from the House of Representatives.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :— Mr. P resident, Message No. 35.

The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to amend the 1 Defence Act 1903-1939 ’ ”, in which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

W. M. Nairn,

House of Representatives, Speaker.

Canberra, 27th March, 1941.

Suspensmi of Standing and Sessional Orders.—The Postmaster-General (Senator McLeay), pursuant to contingent notice, moved—That so much of the Standing and Sessional Orders be suspended as would prevent the Bill being passed through all its stages without delay. Question—put and passed. On the motion of Senator McLeay the Bill was read a first time. Senator McLeay moved—That the Bill be now read a second time. On the motion of Senator Ceilings the debate was adjourned. Ordered—That the resumption of the debate be an Order of the Day for the next day of sitting.

10. P aper.—The following Paper was presented, pursuant to Statute— Supply and Development Acts—Regulations—Statutory Rules 1941, No. 56.

11. Next Meeting of the Senate.—The Postmaster-General (Senator McLeay) moved—That the Senate, at its rising, adjourn till Wednesday next at three p.m. Question—put and passed.

12. Adjournment.—The Postmaster-General (Senator McLeay) moved—That the Senate do now adjourn. Debate ensued. Question—put and passed. The Senate adjourned at thirteen minutes past four p.m. till Wednesday next at three p.m.

13. Attendance.—Present, all the Members except Senators Brown, Courtice, Foil, Leckie, and Wilson.

R. A. BROINOWSKI, Clerk of the Senate.

By Authority: L. F. J ohnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra,