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321

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

JOURNALS OF THE SENATE.

No. 78.

WEDNESDAY, 11th M ARCH, 1953.

1. Meeting of Senate.—The Senate met at three p.m., pursuant to adjournment.—The Deputy President (Senator G. J. Rankin) took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. Vacancy in the R epresentation of Tasmania—Choice of Senator J ohn E dward Marriott.— The Deputy President informed the Senate that he had received, through His Excellency the Governor-General, the Certificate of the Governor of Tasmania of the choice by the Parliament of that State of John Edward Marriott to hold the place in the Senate rendered vacant by the death of Senator John Hartley Chamberlain. The Certificate was laid on the Table by the Clerk, and reads as follows:—

Government House,

. Hobart, Tasmania.

His Excellency the Governor-General, 4th March, 1953.

Government House, Canberra, A.C.T.

Sir, . .

I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that, pursuant to Section 15 of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly held a joint sitting yesterday for the purpose of choosing a person to hold the'place in the Senate of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia rendered vacant through the death of Senator John Hartley Chamberlain. . .

I have the honour also to transmit to Your Excellency a letter which I have received from the Presiding Officer of the Joint Sitting, The Honourable L. T. Spurr, Speaker of the House of Assembly, certifying that Mr. John Edward Marriott was chosen to hold the seat.

I have the honour to be, Sir, ■

Your Excellency’s most obedient, humble servant, RONALD CROSS, Governor. Speaker’s Room,

Hobart. .

His Excellency the Governor, ■ · 4th March, 1953.

Government House, Hobart.

Your Excellency, I have the honour to advise you that, pursuant to Section 15 of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, the Legislative Council and the House of Assembly held a joint sitting yesterday for the purpose of choosing a person to hold the. place in the Senate of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia rendered vacant through the death of Senator John Hartley Chamberlain, and that Mr. John Edward Marriott was chosen to hold the seat.

. I have the honour to be,

• Your Excellency’s obedient servant,

L. T. SPURR, Presiding Officer of the Joint Sittinq.

F.2176,

No. 78.— \\th March, 1953. 322

Deputy President’s Commission to Administer Oath or Affirmation.—The Deputy President also advised the Senate that he had received from His Excellency the Governor-General a Commission to administer the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to Senator John Edward Marriott. The Commission was read by the Clerk, as follows :—

His Excellency the Governor-General in and over the Commonwealth of Australia To Senator George James.Rankin, D.S.O., V.D., Deputy President of the Senate of the Commonwealth of Australia. Greeting : _ , , -

• Whereas by section forty-two of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia it is amongst other things enacted that every Senator shall, before taking his seat, make and subscribe before the Governor-General, or some person authorized by him, an Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance in the form set forth in the Schedule to the aforesaid Constitution:

Now t h e r e f o r e I, Sir William John McKell, the Governor-General aforesaid, do by these Presents command and authorize you, at Parliament House, Canberra, to administer the said Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to John Edward Marriott before he takes his seat as a Senator for the State of Tasmania.

Given under my Hand and the Seal of the Commonwealth of Australia this (l.s.) 10th day of March One thousand nine hundred and fifty-three.

W. J. McKELL,

. Governor-General.

By His Excellency’s Command, ROBERT MENZIES, ' ‘ · .

Prime Minister.

New Senator Sworn;—John Edward Marriott, Senator for the State of Tasmania, was then introduced and made and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance at the Table, pursuant to the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act.

4. Governor-General’s Messages—Assent to Bills.—The following Messages from His Excellency the Governor-General were presented :— W. J. McKELL, Governor-General. Message No. A3.

. Proposed Laws intituled :— “ Taxation Administration Act 1953 ” ■ “ Land Tax Abolition Act 1953 ”

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 Her Majesty, assented to the said Laws. Government House,

Canberra, 4th March, 1953. W. J. McKELL, Governor-General. Message No. 44.

Proposed Laws intituled :— • ' “ Fisheries Act 1953 ”

“ Pearl Fisheries Act 1953 ” “ War Pensions Appropriation Act 1953 ” ' 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 Her Majesty, assented to the said Laws. ' ■ ■ ■ Government House, Canberra, 6th March, 1953.

5. Questions.—Questions on notice were answered.

6. Papers.—The following Papers were presented, by Command of His Excellency the Governor-General— Tariff Board Reports— Catches for ladies’ handbags and wallets.

Domestic sewing machine heads. Flax canvas and flax canvas fire hose. Frames for handbags. Internal combustion engines.

Ironing machines and washing machines. Kit bag frames. Leads for wooden pencils. .

Matches and mechanical lighters. Precision test indicators and micrometers. Turnbuttons and snap fasteners. .

Severally ordered to be printed. Nauru—Report to the General Assembly of the United Nations on Administration of Nauru for year 1951-52. New Guinea—Report to the General Assembly of the United Nations on Administration of

' New Guinea for year 1951-52. . Norfolk Island—Report for 1950-51. Sugar—International Agreement—Protocol, dated 30th August, 1952, signed in London.

No:· 78.—1M March, 1953. 323

■ The -following Papers were presented, pursuant to Statute— ■ · Broadcasting Act—Australian Broadcasting Control Board—Fourth Annual report for year 1951-52. ' .

Customs Act—Regulations—Statutory Rules 1953, No. 13. ■ ■ · 1

Defence Forces Retirement Benefits Act—Defence Forces Retirement Benefits Board—-Fourth . . . Annual Report, for year 1951-52. · -

Defence (Transitional Provisions) Act—National Security (Industrial Property) Regulations— Order—Inventions and designs. , ........

Egg Export Charges Act—Regulations—Statutory Rules 1953, No. 12. Lands Acquisition Act— Easement acquired for Defence purposes—Richmond, New South Wales. Land acquired for Postal purposes— .

Bithramere, New Sotith Wales. '

Timboon, Victoria. Land disposed of under Section 63—Return showing manner of disposal. Naval Defence Act—Regulations—Statutory Rules 1953, Nos. 14, 17, 19. Public Service Act—Appointments—Department—

Civil Aviation—D. M. Biackshaw. Defence—H. C. Fallu. National Development—M. C. Konecki. Parliamentary Library—A. Nolan.

Repatriation—C. M. Mortal. Social Services—G. D. Banfield, N. G. Stewart. . Supply—E. M. Phillips. '

Works—R. Atkins, J. E. L. Bailey, D. H. Beck, Η. M. Beck, R. S. Berglund, S. M. Burke, K. D. L. Clement, A. H. Cornish, A. S. Gow, Η. P. Hine, B. E. Lumb, D. W. Moffat, L. F. Ryan, D. W. Sullivan, R. S. Wardrobe, J. C. Webb. ·

Public Sendee Arbitration Act—Determination—1953—No. 7—Electrical Trades Union of Australia. . .

Quarantine Act—Regulations—Statutory Rules 1953, No. 15. Seat of Government (Administration) Act—Statement of Receipts and Expenditure of the Australian Capital Territory for year 1951-52. Spirits Act—Regulations—Statutory Rules 1953, No. 16. . Supply and Development Act—Regulations—Statutory Rules 1953, No. 18. -

7. J oint Committee of Public Accounts—Report.—Senator Byrne (Vice-Chairman) brought up the following Report from the Joint Committee of Public Accounts :— ■ . First Report, for year 1952-53—Supplementary Estimates 1951-52.

8. Commonwealth Bank Bill 1953.—Message from the House of Representatives.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :— Mr. President, Message No. 196.

The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to amend the ‘ Commonwealth Bank Act 1945-1951 ’, and for other pturposes ”, in which it desires the concurrence of the Senate. .

Archie G. Cameron,

House of Representatives, Speaker.

Canberra, 6th March, 1953.

Suspension of Standing Orders.—The Minister for Trade and Customs (Senator O’Sullivan), pursuant to contingent notice, moved—That so much of the Standing 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 National Development (Senator Spooner) the Bill -was read a first

time.

Senator Spooner moved—That the Bill be now read a second time. On the motion of Senator McKenna the debate was adjourned. Ordered—That the resumption of the debate be an Order of the Day for the next day of sitting.

9. Television Bill 1953.—Message from the House of Regnesentatives.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :— Mr. President, . Message No. 195.

The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act relating to the provision of Television Services, and matters incidental thereto ”, in which it desires the concurrence of the Senate. .

. Archie G. Cameron,

House of Representatives, Speaker.

Canberra, 27th February, 1953.

Suspension of Standing Orders.—The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Cooper), pursuant to contingent notice, moved—That so much of the Standing 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 Cooper the Bill was read a first time. Senator Cooper moved—That the Bill be now read a second time. Debate ensued. ■

324 No. 78.— 11th March, 1953.

Senator McKenna moved an amendment, viz.—Leave out all words after “ That ”, insert “ the Senate declines to proceed with the second reading until the matters contained in or arising from the Bill are impartially investigated and a report thereon furnished to the Senate ; and that, for such purpose, the terms of the Royal Commission on Television issued on the 11th February, 1953, should if necessary be extended, its personnel increased to secure broader and more effective representation, and the evidence and the report made available to the Senate not later than 11th May, 1953 ■

Debate continued. .

. . And it being 11 p.m.—

10. Adjournment.—1 The Deputy President, under Sessional Order, put the Question—That the Senate do now adjourn. .

Question—resolved in the affirmative. The Senate adjourned at eleven p.m. till to-morrow at eleven a.m. .

11. Attendance.—Present, all the Members except Senators Devlin (on leave), Finlay, Fraser (on leave), Mattner, Paltridge, Ryan (on leave) and Wright.

JOHN EDWARDS, Clerk of the Senate.

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