Download PDF

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

155

No. 52.

JOURNALS OF THE SENATE.

TUESDAY, 7th NOVEMBER, 1950.

1. Meeting of Senate.—The Senate met at a quarter-past three p.m.—The President (Senator the Honorable Gordon Brown) took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS. .

3. Conciliation and Arbitration Bill 1950.—Governor-General’s Message.—The following Message from His Excellency the Governor-General was presented, and the same was read by the President:— W. J. McKELL, Governor-General. Message No. 7.

A Proposed Law intituled “ Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1950 ” 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, 3rd November, 1950.

4. Leave of Absence.—Senator Critchley moved, by leave—That further leave of absence for one month be granted to Senator Tangncy on account of ill health. Debate ensued. Question—put and passed.

5. Question.—A question on notice was answered.

6. Papers.—The following Papers were presented, pursuant to Statute— Commonwealth Public Service Act—Appointments—Department— Health—R. H. Farrant. Interior—13. J. Grant. Defence (Transitional Provisions) Act—National Security (Industrial Property) Regulations—

Orders—Inventions and designs (2). Papua and New Guinea Act—Ordinances—1950— No. 22—Ratavul Lands. No. 23—Dog (Papua). ,

No. 24—Fire Brigades.

7. Motion for Adjournment , to Debate Matter, of Urgency.—Senator O’Flaherty, in order to discuss a matter of urgency, viz.— “ The behaviour of Ministers in the Senate in dealing with questions asked by Honorable Senators, and in particular their failure to answer such questions, their evasiveness in supplying

answers and their undue delay in furnishing answers to questions so asked ”— moved—That the Senate, at its rising, adjourn till to-morrow at a quarter-past three p.m. Debate ensued. Question—put. 'The Senate divided—

Ayes, 27. Noes, 18.

Senator— Amour. Armstrong. Arnold. Ashley.

Beerworth. Benn. Brown. Cameron.

Cole. Cooke. Courtice. Finlay.

Fraser. Grant. Hendrickson.

Senator— Katz. Large. McKenna. Kash. Nicholls.

O’Byrne. O’Fiahcrt.y. Ryan. Sandford.

Ward. Willesce.

Teller:

Senator Critcldev.

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.

Senator— Cooper. Gorton. Hannaford. Henty. Kendall. McCallum. Maher.

Mattner. O’Sullivan. Piesse. Rankin, G. J.

Senator— Robertson. Scott. Simmonds.

Spooner. Vincent. Wedgwood.

Teller:

Senator Rankin, A. J. M.

F.328.

156 No. 52.— 7ih November, 1950.

8. Statute Law R evision Bill 1950.—The Minister for Trade and Customs (Senator O’Sullivan), at the request of the Attorney-General (Senator Spicer), pursuant to notice, moved—That leave be given to introduce a Bill for an Act to revise the Statute Law of the Commonwealth. Question—put and passed.

9. Commonwealth Bank Bill 1950 [No. 2].—Order of the Day read for the adjourned debate cm the Question—That the Bill be now read a second time. Debate resumed. Senator Ward moved—That Senator Willcscc be granted an extension of time for thirty minutes.

Question—put. The Senate divided— Ayes, 24. Noes, 18.

Senator— Senator—· Senator— Senator—

Amour. ‘ Large. Cooper. Robertson.

Armstrong. McKenna. Gorton. ■Scott.

Arnold. Hash. Hannaford. Simmonds.

Ashley. Nicholls. Henty. Spooner.

Beerworth. O’Byrne. Kendall. Vincent.

Benn. O’Flaherty. McCallum. Wedgwood.

Cameron. Ryan. McLcay.

Cooke. Sandford. Maher. Teller: Courtice. Ward. Mattner. Finlay. Willesee. Piesse. Senator Rankin,

Fraser. Grant. Hendrickson.

Teller:

Senator Critchloy.

Rankin, G. J. A. J. M.

And so it was resolved in the affirmative. Debate continued.

And it being 10.30 p.m.— .

10. Adjournment .—The President, under Sessional Order, put the Question—That the Senate do now adjourn. Question—resolved in the affirmative. The Senate adjourned at half-past, ten p.m. till to-morrow at a quarter-past three p.m.

11. Attendance .—Present, all the Members except Senators Aylctt, Harris, Morrow, Murray, Reid, Sheehan, Spicer, Tangriey (on leave), Tate, Wood and Wordsworth.

JOHN EDWARDS, Cleric of the Senate.

By Authority: L. F. -Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.