1902-04-25 1 1 0 REPS 12033 0 House of Representatives 1902-04-25 Mr. Speaker took the chair at 2 p.m., and read prayers. 12033 miscellaneous 12033 KYD South Australia ALP 0 POYNTON, Alexander Mr POYNTON Last night when the Minister for Home Affairs was discussing the proposed tour of inspection of the federal capital sites, I asked him by way of interjection if he considered it necessary that the press should be represented on the occasion in question, seeing that newspaper representatives had visited the various sites with the senatorial party. In my innocence I thought that having once inspected the sites, if they wished to repeat the trip, they might be patriotic enough to do so at their own expense. As a result I notice that the Age report of yesterday's proceedings states - Mr. Poynton, notwithstanding an expressed desire for economy, appeared to be so keen upon having an enjoyable time that he suggested to the Minister the advisability of debarring the attendance of all representatives of the Press, in order presumably that the public might be kept in darkness regarding the proceedings. I have no hesitation in characterizing that statement as a deliberate and diabolical misrepresentation of facts, and one which is only worthy of an Ananias. I may add that it is on a par with the conduct of the press upon a previous occasion, when its representatives participated in what they alleged to be a " guzzle," and afterwards made capital out of it. 12033 questions 12033 12033 L2G 0 0 MCMILLAN, William Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN I wish to ask the Minister for Trade and Customs whether, in view of the great difficulties imposed by the Tariff, some better mode cannot be devised of dealing with cases of probably pure' error than that of police court prosecutions ? Of course, a new system of taxation is bound to result in error at its initiation, and I ask, whether in view of the character of the traders, which, in most cases, has been fairly maintained through many years, the system of regarding possible errors as absolute crimes cannot be discontinued till the whole system has got into working order. We have been altering the Tariff from day to day, so that it is impossible for others to appreciate its full bearing. I may inform the Minister that there are a large number of small importers in Australia who have no machinery of their own on the other side of the world, and who depend for their invoices entirely upon indent agents and other representatives of manufacturers. I understand that errors have occurred in many cases in which the individuals concerned are willing to make statutory declarations that such errors have resulted from no fault of their own. Seeing that an error in an invoice cannot be discovered until the goods have been opened, it seems to me that more lenient treatment than that at present in vogue might be meted out to those who have committed a technical breach. I am as anxious as is the Minister for Trade and Customs that the honest trader shall be protected 12033 KEW Protectionist 1 0 KINGSTON, Charles Mr KINGSTON There is not the slightest desire on the part of the Government to be unnecessarily severe, but we have a great desire that the Customs revenue shall not be unfairly evaded, and that dishonest, or even careless, people shall not secure an advantage over honest or more careful traders. I am inclined to think that a very lax system has grown up in this connexion, that some people do not recognise their duty in regard to the making of entries. They' risk it. They' prac-ticallj'pledge their oaths to the truth of statements which are not correct, and which they would not dare to declare correct had they' looked into them more closely. It is also noteworthy that the great majority of these cases are mistakes—or "errors," if the honorable member chooses to call them such— against the Government, and in favour of those who make them. By the exercise of reasonable vigilance, not only will the honest and careful trader be protected, but I believe that the revenue will be considerably augmented, by compelling people to pay what they ought to pay, thus avoiding the necessity for the further taxation of those who more fully recognise their liabilities. There has been, and will be, no unnecessary severity. We shall simply endeavour to do what we can for the?purpose of securing a true statement of the facts for the guidance of the Government, and of preventing the evasion of customs duties to the advantage of those who make the errors, and to the disadvantage of their competitors in business. Mr. Speaker left the chair at 2,15 p.m.; the House resumed at 4.18 p.m. 12034 12034 009LR 0 0 BARTON, Edmund Mr BARTON Upon the 3rd April the honorable member for Darling _ asked for information in reply to the following questions:— What is the number of mail contracts subsidized by local residents interested in such mails ? What is the number of persons contributing? What is the amount of liability undertaken by such persons ? He was promised the information when it could be procured. It is not yet complete, but perhaps the House will allow me to supply what information I can to the honorable member. The answers to the questions are as follow :— There are such cases in New South Wales, but the number cannot be stated as no record lias been kept. There are four cases known to the department in Victoria, and two in Queensland, but none in the other States. Number of persons not known in New South Wales and Victoria; two persons in Queensland Amount not known in New South Wale3; about £107 in Victoria, and £6 10s. 5d. in Queensland. 12034 12034 KNJ Protectionist 1 0 MAUGER, Samuel Mr MAUGER I wish to ask the Minister for Trade and Customs whether he will, at the earliest possible moment, make inquiries regarding the number of men in his department who are working seven days per week from one year's end to the other without a respite? 12034 KEW 1 0 KINGSTON, Charles Mr KINGSTON - To what branch is the honorable member referring ? 12034 KNJ Protectionist 1 0 MAUGER, Samuel Mr MAUGER To the launches. 12034 KEW 1 0 KINGSTON, Charles Mr KINGSTON If the honorable member will give notice, I will obtain the particulars desired. 12034 12034 KYR 0 0 KIRWAN, John Mr KIRWAN I would direct the attention of the Minister for Trade and Customs to the fact that many complaints have reached me from Western Australia regarding the difficulty which exists in securing copies of the Tariff as amended to date, and I wish to ask if he will be good enough to send not only a sufficient number of copies for the use of the officials there, but also to supply the wants of business people who niay desire to apply for them ? 12034 KEW 1 0 KINGSTON, Charles Mr KINGSTON his is the first intimation I have had that there was any scarcity of copies of the Tariff in Western Australia. Of course it is difficult to insure a full supply of copies of the amended Tariff to date. However, I will look into the matter and see what can be done. I hope that very soon we shall be able to supply copies of the Tariff complete with the Governor-General's signature attached to them. 12034 12034 L1D 0 0 WILLIS, Henry Mr HENRY WILLIS (for Mr. WILKS) asked the Minister of Defence, upon notice— When be intends to issue the Auxiliary Forces long service medals to the members of the New South Wales Military Forces ? 12034 KFJ Protectionist 1 0 FORREST, John Sir JOHN FORREST The answer to the honorable member's question is as follows :— A distribution of Colonial Auxiliary Forces long service medals was made last October to all entitled to them. The claims received since then are now being dealt with in accordance with the amended regulations which have been issued since last October. 12034 12034 K7U 0 0 CROUCH, Richard Mr CROUCH asked the Prime Minister, upon notice— Whether he will arrange that members of the Coronation Contingent who are also members of the Federal public service shall receive their pay and maintain their status in the service during their absence. 12034 009LR 0 0 BARTON, Edmund Mr BARTON The answer to the following question is as follows :— This matter will be fully considered ; but I do not think that any arrangement made will allow of officers and men receiving both pays. I am of opinion, however, that they should not be losers. 12034 12034 K7U 0 0 CROUCH, Richard Mr CROUCH I do not intend to ask the question standing upon the business-paper in my name as to whether, in view- of the utterances of an English general regarding the courage and character of the members of the Fifth Victorian Contingent, the Minister would take steps to have its members marched through the streets of Melbourne on their disembarkation. I have to thank the Minister for the very practical and satisfactory reply which he gave privately to me this morning when the contingent marched through the streets. 12035 bill Bill returned from tho Senate without amendment. 12035 motion 12035 009LR HUNTER MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS 0 0 BARTON, Edmund Mr BARTON I move—. That the House at its rising adjourn until Tuesday next. I think it is advisable that the Estimates for the Department for External Affairs and the Defence department should be dealt with before either the Minister for Defence or • myself leave for London. I have, therefore, asked the Treasurer to submit those Estimates for consideration on Tuesday. They will comprise tho first business taken upon that day. 12035 L2G 0 0 MCMILLAN, William Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN Does the Prime, Minister propose that a general debate shall then take place upon the Estimates ? 12035 009LR 0 0 BARTON, Edmund Mr BARTON No, because the financial debate was taken in Committee of Ways and Means when the Tariff was introduced. Question resolved in the affirmative 12035 adjournment 12035 Motion (by Mr. BARTON) proposed— That the House do now adjourn. 12035 KQP Kennedy 0 0 MCDONALD, Charles Mr McDONALD Theother day I protested against the right honorable member for Tasmania, Sir Edward Braddon, occupying a seat upon the Elections - and Qualifications Committee .to decide the petition which has been presented against the return of Mr. W. Hartnoll. • I regard his action in presiding over that body as a very unfair one. However, as a number of honorable members are anxious to catch their trains I shall take an opportunity of referring to this matter more fully on Tuesday next. Question resolved in the affirmative. 12035 16:26:00 House adjourned nt 4.26 p.m.