Download PDF

325

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

JOURNALS OF THE SENATE. No. 79.

THURSDAY, 12t h MARCH, 1953.

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

2. PRAYERS.

3. Television Bill 1953.—Order of the Day read for the adjourned debate on the Question—That the Bill be now read a second time—and on the following amendment moved thereto by Senator McKenna, 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 resumed.

Ordered—That the debate be adjourned till a- later-hour of the day, and that Senator Tangney have leave to continue her speech on the resumption of the debate.

4. Banking Bill 1953.—Message from the House of Representatives.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read :— Mb. P resident, . Message No, 197.

■ The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate a Bill intituled “ A Bill for an Act to amend the ‘ Banking Act 1945 ’ ”, in which it desires the concurrence of the Senate.

. Archie G. Cameron,

■ House of Representatives, Speaker.

Canberra, 11th March, 1953.

Suspension of Standing Orders.—The Minister for National Development (Senator Spooner), 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 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 dhy of sitting.

5. Television Bill 1953.—Order of the Day. read for the· adjourned debate on the Question—That the Bill be now read a second time—and on the following amendtnent' moved thereto by Senator McKenna, viz.—leave out all words after. “ That ”, insert “ the Senate declines to proceed with the second reading until the matters contained ini 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 llth i 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 l l t h May, 1953 ” . Debate resumed. Question—That.the words proposed to-be left out be left out—put'. The Senate divided—

Ayes, 19.

Senator— ' Senator— Senator—

Amour. McKenna. Cooper.

Armstrong. Nicholls; Cormack.

Ashley. O’Flaherty. Gorton.

Benn. Sandfordi Guy.

Brown. Sheehan. Hannaford:

Byrne. , Tangney; Henty.

Cameron. Willesee. Kendall.

Cole. Cooke: Teller:

Laught. McCa-llum:

Courtice. Grant. Senator Critchley.

McBeay. Maher.

Amendment negatived accordingly.

M arriott. O’Sullivan; Paltridge; Pearson. Rankin, G.

F.2176.

Noes, 29. Senator— Reid. Robertson.

Robinson. Scott. Seward.

Spicer. Spooner-: Tatet Vincent; . Wedgwood. Wood. Wordsworth i

Teller·:

Senator Annabelle

J, Rankin,

326 No. 79.— 12th March, 1953.

Debate on Main Question continued. Question—That the Bill be now read a second time—put. The Senate divided—

■ Ayes, 28. Noes, 20.

Senator— Senator— Senator— Senator— '

Cooper. Reid. Amour. McKenna.

Cormack. Robertson. Armstrong. Nicholls.

Gorton. Robinson. Ashley. O’Flaherty.

Guy. Scott. Benn. Sandford.

Hannaford. Spicer. Brown. Seward.

Henty. Spooner. . Byrne. Sheehan.

Kendall. Tate. Cameron. Tangney.

Laught. Vincent. , Cole. WiHesee.

McCallum. Wedgwood. Cooke.

Teller: McLeay. Wood. Courtice.

Maher. M arriott.

Wordsworth. Grant. Senator Critchley.

O’Sullivan. Paltridge. Teller:

Pearson. Senator Annabelle

Rankin, G. J. Rankin.

And so it was resolved in the affirmative. Bill read a second time. .

The Senate, according to Order, resolved itself into Committee for the consideration of the Bill.

Clause 1 agreed to. Clause 2 debated and agreed to. . Clause 3 agreed to. Clause 4 debated—

In the Committee.

And General Business taking precedence of Government Business after 8 p.m.— 6 .'C ommonwealth E lectoral L aws—J oint Committee.—Order of the Day read for the adjourned debate on the motion by Senator Guy, viz. :— (1) That a Joint Committee be appointed to consider and report upon the electoral laws of the

Commonwealth. (2) That five Members of the Senate be appointed to serve on such Committee. (3) That a report on its deliberations be submitted by the Committee to both Houses of the Parliament within four months after its appointment. (4) That, notwithstanding anything contained in the Standing Orders—

(a) the Committee have power to send for persons, papers and records, to adjourn from place to place, and to sit during any adjournment of the Parliam ent; and have leave to report from time to time the evidence taken ; . (b) the Committee have leave to report from time to time its proceedings, and any

member of the Committee have power to add a protest or dissent to any rep o rt; (c) five members of the Committee constitute a quorum of the Committee ; (d) the Chairman of the Committee have a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equality of voting, have a casting vote ; (e) a Message be sent to the House of Representatives requesting its concurrence and . asking that six Members of the House of Representatives be appointed to serve

on such Committee.

The Minister for Repatriation (Senator Cooper) moved—That the debate be now adjourned. Question—put. The Senate divided—

Ayes, 20.

Senator— Senator—

Noes,

Senator—

18.

Senator—

Cooper. Robertson. Amour. Kendall.

Cormack. Robinson. Benn. McKenna.

Gorton. Scott. Brown. Nicholls.

Hannaford. Seward. ' Byrne. O’Flaherty.

Laught. Spooner. Cameron. Sandford.

McCallum. Tate. Cole. Sheehan.

McLeay. Vincent. Cooke. Tangney.

O’Sullivan. Wedgwood. Courtice.

Teller:

Paltridge. Teller: Grant.

Pearson. Senator Annabelle Guy. Senator Critchley.

Reid. Rankin.

And so it was resolved in the affirmative. Ordered—That the resumption of the debate be an Order of the Day for the next day of sitting.

N o . ?9.— 12Ih M a rc h , 1953. 327

And consideration of Government Business being resumed— 7. P apers.—The following Papers were presented, by Command of His Excellency the Governor-General— Tariff Board Reports—

Tractors. Tractors (Interim Report). '

Ordered to be printed.

8. Television Bill 1953.—The Senate, according to Order, resolved itself into Committee for the further consideration of the Bill.

In the Committee.

Clause 4 further considered, and agreed to. Clause 5 debated and agreed to. Clause 6 debated and agreed to. Clauses 7 and 8 agreed to.

Clause 9 debated and agreed to. Clause 10 debated and agreed to. Title agreed to. Bill to be reported without amendment.

The Acting. Deputy President (Senator McCallum) resumed the Chair ; and the Temporary Chairman of Committees (Senator Reid) reported accordingly. .

On the motion of the Minister for Repatriation (Senator Cooper) the Report from the Committee was . adopted, and the Bill read a third time.

9. Commonwealth Bank Bill 1953.—Order of the Day read for the adjourned debate on the Question— That the Bill be now read a second time. Debate resumed. . '

On the motion of Senator Henty the debate was adjourned. Ordered—That the resumption of the debate be an Order of the Day for the next day of sitting.

10. Adjournment.—The Minister for Trade and Customs (Senator O’Sullivan) moved—That the Senate do now adjourn. Debate ensued. Question—put and passed. . The Senate adjourned at nine minutes to eleven p.m. till Tuesday next at three p.m.

11. Attendance.—Present, all the Members except Senators Arnold, Dexdin (on leaye), Finlay, Fraser (on leave), Hendrickson, Mattner, Ryan (on leave) and Wright.

JOHN EDWARDS, Clerk of the Senate.

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