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79

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

No. 22.

JOURNALS OF THE SENATE

THURSDAY, 26th JUNE, 1941.

1. Meeting of Senate.—The Senate met at eleven a.m., pursuant to adjournment.

2. PRAYERS.

3. Questions.—Questions on notice were answered.

4. Ministers of State Bill 1941.—Governor-General's Message.—The following Message from His ■ Excellency the Governor-General was presented, and the same was read by the President:— GOWRIE, Governor-General. Message No. 12.

A Proposed Law intituled “ Ministers of State Act 1941 ” , 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 Law.

Government House, Canberra, 26th June, 1941.

5. Ministerial Statement— Changes in Ministry.—The Minister for Supply and Development (Senator McLeay), by leave, informed the Senate that, following on the assent by His Excelleney the Governor-General to the Ministers of State Act this day, the following changes had been made in the administration :—

At a meeting of the Federal Executive Council held this day, approval had been given for the creation of five new Departments of State, viz.:— The Department of Aircraft Production ; The Department of Transport;

The Department of War Organization of Industry ; The Department of Home Security ; and The Department of External Territories. Three additional Members had been included in the Cabinet, viz.—The Honorable E. S. Spooner, the Honorable J. P. Abbott, and the Honorable A. McK. McDonald.

Senator the Honorable George McLeay had relinquished the offices of Postmaster-General and Minister for Repatriation, and in future would administer the Department of Supply and Development, which up to the present time had been in charge of Senator the Honorable P. A. M. McBride.

Senator the Honorable P. A. M. McBride would continue to administer the Department of Munitions. Senator the Honorable Η. B. Collett would administer the Department of Repatriation, including War Service Homes.

The Honorable T. J. Collins had become Postmaster-General. The new Departments would be administered as follows :— Aircraft Production .. .. Senator the Honorable J. W. Leckie.

Transport .. ..

War Organization of Industry Home Security .. ..

External Territories

The Honorable H. L. Anthony. The Honorable E. S. Spooner. The Honorable J. P. Abbott. The Honorable A. McK. McDonald.

The Ministers had been sworn-in at Government House this day and would take up their new duties forthwith. Other administrative arrangements were :— The Minister for External Territories (Mr. McDonald) would also assist the Minister for the

Interior (Senator Foil). The Minister for Aircraft Production (Senator Leckie) would also assist the Minister for Munitions (Senator McBride). ·

The Minister for Transport (Mr. Anthony) would also assist the Treasurer (Mr. Fadden) and the Minister for Commerce (Sir Earle Page). The Minister for Home Security (Mr. Abbott) would also assist the Minister for Defence Co-ordination (Mr. Menzies) and the Minister for the Army (Mr. Spender). The Postmaster-General (Mr. Collins) would also assist the Minister for Supply and Development

(Senator McLeay).

F.6318.

No. 22.—2&lh June, 1941. so'

Ministerial Representation of Departments.—Senator MeLeay also announced that the following arrangements had been made for Ministerial representation in Parliam ent:— In the Senate— Senator MeLeay would represent the Postmaster-General (Mr. Collins).

Senator McBride would represent the Minister for Commerce (Sir Earle Page), Transport (Mr. Anthony), and War Organization of Industry (Mr. Spooner). Senator Poll would represent the Minister for Home Security (Mr. Abbott). Senator Collett would represent the Minister for External Territories (Mr. McDonald). ·.- ; In the House of Representatives—

' . Mr. Spender would represent the Minister for Supply and Development (Senator MeLeay), -- · for Munitions (Senator McBride), and Aircraft Production (Senator Leckie). Mr. Holt would represent the Minister for Repatriation (Senator Collett). Otherwise, the representation of Ministers in the respective Houses would remain as at present.

6. Supply B ill (No. 1) 1941-42.—Message, from the House of Representatives.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :— Mr. P resident, . . " Message No. 57.

The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A BiU 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 forty-two ”, in which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

W. M. Nairn,

House of Representatives, Speaker.

Canberra, 26th June, 1941. ' Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders.—The Minister for Supply and Development (Senator MeLeay), 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. The Senate divided— Ayes, 17.

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

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

Senator— McBride. MacDonald, Allan. McLachlan, A. J. McLachlan, James. MeLeay. « Spicer.

Teller :

Senator Uppill.

Senator— Amour. Armstrong. Aylett. Brown. Cameron.

Collings. Courtice. Cunningham.

Noes, 14.

Senator— Darcey. Fraser. Johnston, E. B. Keane. Lamp.

Teller :

Senator Ashley.

And so it was resolved in the affirmative. Senator MeLeay moved—That the Bill be now read a first time. Debate ensued. Ordered—That the debate be adjourned till the next day of sitting, and that Senator Fraser have leave

to continue his speech on the resumption of the debate.

7. Next Meeting of the Senate.—The Minister for Supply and Development (Senator MeLeay) moved— That the Senate, at its rising, adjourn till to-morrow at ten a.m. , Question—put and passed.

8. Adjournment.—The Minister for Supply and Development (Senator MeLeay) moved—That the Senate do now adjourn. Debate ensued. Question—put and passed. The Senate adjourned at twenty-five minutes past eleven p.m. till to-morrow at ten a.m.

9. Attendance.—Present, all the Members except Senator Wilson.

' R. A. BROINOWSKI,

Clerk of the Senate.

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