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145

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

No. 45.

JOURNALS OF THE SENATE.

TUESDAY, 25th NOVEMBER, 1941.

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

2. PRAYERS.

3. Tasmania—E conomic P osition—Ministerial Statement.—The Minister for the Interior (Senator Collings), by leave, informed the Senate that, at the request of the Premier of Tasmania, a Committee would be appointed to make a survey of the economic position of Tasmania as afl'ected by and in relation to Australia’s war problems and war effort..

4. Suspension of Standing Order No. 68.—The Minister for the Interior (Senator Collings) moved— That Standing Order No. 68 be suspended up to and including Friday, 5th December next, to enable New Business to be taken after half-past ten o’clock at night. Question—put and passed, there being present an absolute majority of the whole number of Senators,

and no dissentient voice.

-5. P apers.—The following Paper was presented, by command of His Excellency the Governor-General— Use of Special Funds for Security Purposes—Report of Royal Commission, dated 21st November, 1941.

The following Papers were presented, pursuant to Statute— Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act—Report of the Repatriation Commission, for year 1940-41. '

Lands Acquisition Act—Land acquired at— Darwin, Northern Territory—For Administrative purposes. Nhill, Victoria—For Defence purposes.

National Security Act— National Security (General) Regulations— By-laws—Controlled Areas (2). Orders—

Control of lights and traffic (2). Navigation and Anchor Lights. Navigation (Darkening Ship). Navigation (Sailing and Routeing Instructions). Protected Areas. Protection of Shipping (Defensive Armament). Taking possession of land, &c. (36). Use of land (5). National Security (Internment Camps) Regulations—Orders—

Classification of Overseas Internees (No. 1). Internment Camp (No. 4). National Security (Prisoners of War) Regulations—O rd e r- Prisoners of War Camp (No. 2). Papua Act—Ordinances of 1941—

No. 8—Customs Tariff (No. 2). No. 9—Port Moresby Water Supply. Seat of Government Acceptance Act and Seat of Government (Administration) Act—Ordinance No. 17 of 1941—Nurses Registration.

War Service Homes Act—Regulations—Statutory Rules 1941, No. 264.

■6. Questions.—Questions on notice were answered.

7. E stimates and Budget P arers 1941-42 (R evised).—Order of the Day read for the adjourned debate on the motion bv the Minister for Trade and Customs (Senator Keane), viz.— That the Papers he printed. Debate resumed. Ordered—That the debate be adjourned till a later hour of the day, and that Senator Clothier have

leave to continue his speech on the resumption of the debate.

F.6318.

146 No. 45— 25th November, 1941.

8. T emporary Chairman o f Committees.—The President read and laid on the Table his Warrant appointing Senator B. Courtice to act as a Temporary Chairman of Committees, as follows:— Pursuant to Standing Order No. 28a, I hereby nominate Senator B. Courtice to act as Temporary Chairman of Committees when requested so to do by the Chairman of Committees, or

when the Chairman of Committees is absent.

Given under my hand this 25th day of November, 1941. J as. Cunningham, President.

9. Australian Soldiers’ R epatriation 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. 85.

The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to amend the 1 Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1920-1940 ’ ”, in which it desires the concurrence of the Senate. W. M. Nairn,

House of Representatives, Speaker.

Canberra, 25th November, 1941.

Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders.—The Minister for the Interior (Senator Collings), 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 the Minister for Aircraft Production (Senator Cameron) the Bill was read a first

time.

Senator Cameron 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 Committee for the consideration of the Bill.

In the Committee.

Clauses 1 to 6 agreed to. Clause 7 debated and agreed to. Clause 8 agreed to. Title agreed to. Bill to be reported without amendment.

The President resumed the Chair ; and the Chairman of Committees (Senator Brown) reported accordingly. On the motion of Senator Cameron the Report from the Committee was adopted. Senator Cameron moved—That the Bill be now read a third time. Debate ensued.

Question—put and passed. Bill read a third time.

10. War-time (Company) Tax Assessment 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. 83.

The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to amend the ‘ War-time (Company) Tax Assessment Act 1940 ’ ”, in which it desires the concurrence of the Senate. W. M. Nairn,

House of Representatives, Speaker.

Canberra, 25th November, 1941.

Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders.— The Minister for the Interior (Senator Collings), 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 the Minister for Trade and Customs (Senator Keane) the Bill was read a first time. Senator Keane moved—That the Bill be now read a second time. Debate ensued. Question—put and passed. Bill read a second time. Senator McLeay moved—That it be an instruction to the Committee of the Whole on the Bill·

to consider the insertion of a new section in the Principal Act. Question—put and passed, there being more than fifteen Senators present, and no dissentient voice. The Senate, according to Order, resolved itself into Committee for the consideration of the Bill.

No. 45.—25th November, 1941. 147

In the Committee.

Clauses 1 to 5 agreed to. Senator Leckie moved an amendment, viz.—After clause 5 insert the following new Clause :— “ 5a. After section thirty-seven of the Principal Act the following section is inserted :— ‘ 38. This Act shall continue in force until six months after the end of the Duration oi

financial year during which the present war between His Majesty the King and Germany terminates, and no longer.’ ” . Debate ensued. Question—put. The Committee divided—

Ayes, 16.

Senator— Brand. Collett. Cooper. Crawford. Foil. Gibson. Hayes, J. B. '

Hays, Herbert. Leckie.

Senator— McBride. McLachlan, A. J. McLachlan, James. McLeay. Sampson.

Spicer.

Teller :

Senator Allan MacDonald.

Senator— Armstrong. Arnold. Arthur. Ashley.

Brown. Cameron. Codings. Courtice.

Noes, 14.

Senator— Cunningham. Darcey. Fraser. Keane.

Large.

Tetter:

Senator Clothier.

Proposed new clause agreed to accordingly. Clauses 6 and 7 agreed to. Title agreed to. Bill to be reported with an amendment.

The President resumed the Chair; and the Chairman of Committees (Senator Brown) reported accordingly. On the motion of Senator Keane the Report from the Committee was adopted, and the Bill read a third time.

11. War-time (Company) Tax 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. 84.

The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to amend the ‘ Wai -time (Company) Tax Act 1940 ’ ”, in which it desires the concurrence of the Senate. W. M. Nairn,

House of Representatives, Speaker.

Canberra, 25th November, 1941.

Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders.—The Minister for the Interior (Senator Codings), pursuant to contingent notice, moved—That so much of the Standing and Sessional Orders be suspended as would prevent the Bid being passed through all its stages without delay. Question—put and passed. On the motion of the Minister for Trade and Customs (Senator Keane) the Bid was read a first time. On the motion of Senator Keane the Bid was read a second time. The Senate, according to Order, resolved itself into Committee for the consideration of the BUI.

In the Committee.

Clauses 1 to 4 agreed to. Title agreed to. Bid to be reported without requests.

The President resumed the Chair; and the Chairman of Committees (Senator Brown) reported accordingly. On the motion of Senator Keane the Report from the Committee was adopted, and the BUI read a third time. '

12. Adjournment.—The Minister for the Interior (Senator Codings) moved—That the Senate do now adjourn. Debate ensued. Question—put and passed. The Senate adjourned at ten minutes to eleven p.m. till to-morrow at three p.m.

13. Attendance.—Present, ad the Members except Senators Amour, Aylett, E. B. Johnston, Lamp (on leave), Uppill (on leave), and Wilson (on leave).

R. A. BROINOWSKI, Clerk of the Senate.

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