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473

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

JOURNALS OF THE SENATE.

No. 128.

THURSDAY, 17th MARCH, 1966.

1. M eeting of Senate.—The Senate met at eleven a.m., pursuant to adjournment.—The President (Senator the Honorable Sir Alister McMullin) took the Chair.

2. PRAYERS.

3. D eath of Senator R. D. Sherrington.—The Minister for Supply (Senator Henty) referred to the death on 16th March of Senator Robert Duncan Sherrington, and moved, by leave—That the Senate expresses its deep regret at the death of Senator Robert Duncan Sherrington, Senator for the State of Queensland, places on record its appreciation of his meritorious public service, and tenders its sincere sympathy to his widow and family in their bereavement. And the motion having been seconded by the Leader of the Opposition (Senator McKenna) and supported

by the Minister for Repatriation (Senator McKellar) and Senators Gair, Branson, Benn, Morris and Dittmer— And all Senators present having risen, in silence— Question—passed.

4. Suspension of Sitting as M ark of R espect.—As a mark of respect to the memory of the late Senator Sherrington, the sitting of the Senate was suspended until a quarter-past two p.m.

The Senate having resumed—

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

6. N ational R adiation A dvisory Committee—R eport—Pa p e r —The following Paper was presented, by Command of His Excellency the Governor-General— National Radiation Advisory Committee—Report for period June, 1962 to November, 1965. The Minister for Supply (Senator Henty), by leave, made a statement in connexion with the Report.

7. P apers.—The following Papers were presented, by Command of His Excellency the Governor-General— Tariff Board Reports— Copper and brass strip, &c. Garage and workshop test equipment.

Glass grains (Ballotini). Peanuts, peanut oil and olive oil. Phenol formaldehyde moulding material (Dumping and Subsidies Act). The following Paper was presented, pursuant to Statute—

Public Service Act—Appointment—Repatriation Department—D. G. Alsop.

8. M inisterial Arrangements.—The Minister for Supply (Senator Henty), by leave, informed the Senate that, during the absence abroad of Mr. Hasluck, Senator Gorton would act as Minister for External Affairs.

9. F oreign Affairs—J oint Committee.—Message from the House o f Representatives.—The following Message from the House of Representatives was received and read— : Message No. 273.

M r . P resident, The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate the following resolution which was agreed to by the House of Representatives this day:— (1) That Mr. J. M. Fraser be discharged from attendance on the Joint Committee on Foreign

Affairs.

(2) That until such time as Opposition Members of the House of Representatives are nominated to serve on the committee, Mr. Bowen be a member of the committee.

J. M cLeay, Speaker.

House of Representatives, Canberra, 16th March, 1966.

F.1191/66.

474 No. 128.— n th March, 1966.

10. P arliamentary Standing Committee on P ublic Works.—The President announced the receipt of a letter from Senator Scott resigning as a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. The Minister for Supply (Senator Henty) moved, by leave—That, in accordance with the provisions of the

Public Works Committee Act 1913-1965, Senator Branson be appointed to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works. Question—put and passed.

11. Loan (Airlines E quipment) Bill 1966.—Order of the Day read for the adjourned debate on the Question— That this Bill be now read a second time. Senator Murphy moved an amendment, viz.—At end of motion add “ but the Senate is of opinion that the financing of the purchase of aircraft by the Australian National Airlines Commission and Qantas

Empire Airways Limited should be met from revenue and not from a loan raised overseas ” . Debate ensued. Question—That the words proposed to be added be added—put. The Senate divided—

Ayes, 22. Noes, 26.

Senator— Senator— Senator— Senator—

Benn, McClelland. Anderson. McMullin, Sir

Bishop. McKenna. Branson. Alister.

Cant. ; Mulvihill. Breen. Marriott.

Cavan agh. Murphv. Bull. Mattner.

Cohen, Nicholls. Cooper, Sir Walter. Prowse.

Devitt. Ridley. Cotton. Rankin, Dame

Dittmer. Turnbull. Davidson. Annabelle.

Drury. Wheeldon. Drake-Brockman. Webster.

Fitzgerald. Willesee. Gair. Wedgwood.

Hendrickson. Gorton. Withers.

Keeffe. Teller: Henty. Wood.

Kennelly. Senator O’Byrne. Laught.

Lawrie. McKellar.

Wright.

Teller:

McManus. Senator Scott

Amendment negatived accordingly. Question—That this Bill be now read a second time—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.

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole, and agreed to, after debate. Bill to be reported without amendment.

The President resumed the Chair; and the Chairman of Committees (Senator Drake-Brockman) reported accordingly. On the motion of the Minister for Supply (Senator Henty) the Report from the Committee was adopted, and the Bill read a third time.

12.

13.

14.

H olt M inistry—Policy Statement—Paper.—Order of the Day read for the adjourned debate on the motion by the Minister for Supply (Senator Henty), viz.—That the Senate take note of the Paper— And on the Amendment moved thereto by Senator Kennelly, viz.—Leave out all words after “ That ” , insert—

“ the Senate records— (1) its most emphatic opposition to the despatch of conscripted youths for service in Vietnam and the increased military commitment in that country, and (2) its disapproval of and grave concern at the Government’s failure—

(a) to maintain the purchasing power of the Australian community; (b) to retain an adequate and proper Australian share in the ownership and develop­ ment of our national resources, particularly in Northern Australia; (c) to alleviate the effects of the drought and take steps to rehabilitate rural industries

and conserve water resources; (d) to make adequate provision for housing and associated community facilities; and (e) to submit to referendum the two Bills to alter the Constitution in respect of Aborigines and the Parliament which were passed last year and, in connexion

with the latter Bill, to disclose the related distribution proposals ”. Debate resumed. Ordered—That the debate be adjourned till the next day of sitting, and that Senator Wright have leave to continue his speech on the resumption of the debate. A djournment.—The Senate adjourned at three minutes past five p.m. till Tuesday next at three p.m.

A ttendance.—Present, all the Members except Senators Lillico (on leave), Ormonde (on leave), Sandford, Tangney (on leave) and Toohey. J. R. ODGERS, Clerk o f the Senate.

By Authority: A. J. A rthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.