1904-03-02 2 1 0 SENATE 5 0 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES. first |tossi0n of tfe Second Parliament . OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. The First Parliament was dissolved on the 23rd November, 1903. The Second Parliament was convened for the despatch of business on the 2nd March, 1904, and the First Session commenced on that day. Senate. 1904-03-02 5 miscellaneous The Senate met at 2.30 p.m. pursuant to the proclamation of His Excellency the Governor-General. The Clerk read the proclamation. The Commissioner appointed by His Excellency the Governor-General' - the Right Hon. Sir Samuel Walker Griffith, P.C., G.C.M.G., Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia - having been introduced by the Usher of the Black Rod, directed the Usher to request the attendance of the members of the House of Representatives to hear the Commission read. The members of the House of Representatives being come, Commission read by the Clerk. The COMMISSIONER said- . Gentlemen of the Senate : Gentlemen of the House of Rep)"- sentatives : I have it in command from the Governor-General to let you know that, as soon as the members of the Senate recently elected and the members of the House of Representatives shall be sworn, the causes of His Excellency's calling this Parliament \v-ll be declared to you by him in person in this place; and it being necessary that a President of the Senate and a Speaker of the House of Representatives should be first chosen, you, Gentlemen of the Senate, will proceed to choose some proper person to be your President; and you, Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, will repair to the place where you are to sit, and there proceed to the choice of some proper person to be your Speaker; and that thereafter you respectively present such persons whom you shall so choose to His Excellency, at such time and place as he shall appoint. I will attend shortly in the House of Representatives for the purpose of taking the oaths and affirmations of honorable members of that House. The members of the House of Representatives having withdrawn, 5 miscellaneous The Clerk laid on the Table returns to the writs issued for the election of members to the Senate. The following honorable senators made and subscribed the oath of allegiance :: - Best, the Hon. Robert Wallace (Victoria). 5 5 Dobson, the Hon. Henry (Tasmania). 5 5 5 5 5 Macfarlane, James (Tasmania). McGregor, Gregor (South Australia). Mulcahy, the Hon. Edward (Tasmania). Neild, Lt.-Col. John Cash (New South Wales). 6 6 6 Trenwith, the Hon. William Arthur (Victoria). 6 The Commissioner then withdrew. 6 miscellaneous 6 K0X South Australia Protectionist Vice-President of the Executive Council 1 0 PLAYFORD, Thomas Senator PLAYFORD . - I have to remind honorable senators that the time for the nomination of a President of the Senate has now arrived. The Clerk will receive nominations. Motion (by Senator Sir Josiah Symon) proposed - That Senator Lt.-Col. Gould do take the Chair of this Senate as President. Senator MILLEN (New South Wales).I second the nomination. Senator WALKER (New South Wales). It affords me pleasure once more to propose - That Senator Sir R. C. Baker do take the Chair of this Senate as President. It is nearly three years since I had the pleasure of making a similar motion. 6 K7V 0 0 SYMON, Josiah Senator Sir Josiah Symon - No speeches ! 6 KAH NEW SOUTH WALES 0 0 WALKER, James Senator WALKER - Why not? 6 K6M 0 0 CLEMONS, John Senator Clemons - Because it would not be decorous. 6 KAH 0 0 WALKER, James Senator WALKER - At that time I was allowed to say a few words, and I do not see why I should not do so now. It is uncommon for the House of Commons to refuse to re-elect a Speaker so long as he remains a member, unless there is very good reason for making a change'. I do not hesitate to say that in my opinion there is no good reason why the late President should not be re-elected. When we elected him to the office on a previous occasion, he had come into the Senate as a gentleman who had had great experience as President of the Legislative Council of South Australia. Many of us also had the privilege of knowing him as Chairman of the Federal Convention which sat in the years 1897 and 1898, and a better Chairman of Committees I do not believe there has been in the whole world. For these reasons I have pleasure in once more proposing Senator Sir Richard Chaffey Baker as President. 6 KTF South Australia 0 0 MCGREGOR, Gregor Senator McGREGOR - For very similar reasons I have much pleasure in. seconding the proposition of Senator Walker. A ballot having been taken, The Clerk announced that Senator Sir R. C. Baker had received 25 votes and Senator Lt.-Col. Gould 9 votes. 6 L2E South Australia 0 0 BAKER, Richard Senator Sir RICHARD BAKER - I am deeply grateful to honorable senators for the great honour which they propose to confer upon me; but at the same time I feel the difficulties and responsibilities of the position. I shall, however, endeavour to overcome those difficulties and to fulfil those responsibilities to the best of my ability. I submit myself to the S Cil el te Then the PRESIDENT ELECT, being taken out of his place by Senator Walker and Senator McGregor, and conducted to the chair, standing on the upper step, said : - Before taking the chair, I again desire to express my gratitude' to honorable senators, and my earnest hope that the business of this session of Parliament will be carried out in such a way, and the conduct of members will be such, as will redound to the credit of the Senate of Australia. The difficulties of the dual position which I am called upon to fill are very great) and I ask that allowances may be made for me. In the first place, I have to perform the ordinary duties of a President or a Speaker, and in the second place, under our Constitution, I have to give not a casting vote, but a deliberative vote when, as it sometimes happens, party feeling runs high. The difficulty of reconciling these dual positions is very great, and I hope that I shall have the co-operation of honorable senators in .performing my duties. I earnestly trust that in the discharge of the arduous task imposed upon me honorable senators will help me to see that the proceedings of the Senate are conducted in so decorous and so dignified a manner that the people not only of Australia but of other parts of the world will be able, to say that the Senate of Australia sets an example to. other deliberative bodies. Senator PLAYFORD (South Australia - Vice-President of the Executive Council). - I beg to congratulate you, sir, on being elected for the second time to the office of President of the Senate. I feel quite certain that honorable senators will support you in your endeavour to preserve order and decorum, and that their record for the next three years will be equally favourably spoken of as their record for the last three years. I beg to inform you, sir, that His Excellency the Governor-General will be pleased to receive you at 20 minutes past 4 o'clock this afternoon in the Library of the Parliament. 7 JXT FT 0 0 NEILD, John Senator Lt Col NEILD -Col. GOULD (New South Wales). - Before your presentation to His Excellency, sir, I wish to offer you my congratulations on your re-election to the Chair. I can assure you that although I have been defeated I have no feeling in the matter, and I trust that our personal friendship will remain as it ever has been. One of my very best friends in the Senate considered it his duty to nominate you for the reelection, and there will be no bitterness between him and me, as I hope there will be none between you and me. I shall be very happy at all times, sir, to assist you in your efforts to insure the orderly and decorous transaction of business in the Senate. 7 10000 0 0 PRESIDENT, The The PRESIDENT - I again return my thanks to the mover and seconder of my nomination, and to honorable senators generally. I cordially reciprocate the remarks which have been made by Senator Gould, who is a strong personal friend of mine, and will, I hope, ever be so. So far as I am concerned no bitterness can possibly come between us, and I hope that we shall long continue to be good friends. As I understand that His Excellency the Governor-General will receive the President, and such members of the Senate as choose to accompany him, in the Library at 20 minutes past 4 o'clock, the sitting will be suspended until that hour. Sitting suspended accordingly. The Senate having re-assembled, 7 miscellaneous The Senate at 4.30 p.m. proceeded to the Library of Parliament, there to present the President to His Excellency the Governor-General. The Senate having re-assembled, The PRESIDENT. - I have to report that, accompanied by several honorable senators, I presented myself to the Governor-General as the President of this Senate, and that His Excellency was pleased to express his satisfaction at the choice. 7 miscellaneous 7 miscellaneous NOR-GENERAL entered the chamber and took the chair. -A message was forwarded to the House of Representatives intimating that His Excellency desired the attendance of honorable members in the Senate chamber,, who, being come with their Speaker, HIS EXCELLENCY was pleased to deliver the following speech: - "Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives : It affords me extreme gratification, on this my first meeting with the Parliament of the Commonwealth, to' congratulate you Upon the passing of the severe drought which has occasioned grievous losses to all classes of the community. You will have learned, with regret, that a state of war has arisen between the Empire of Russia and the Empire of Japan. The neutrality of Great Britain has been proclaimed, and will, it is hoped, be maintained. My' advisers have had under consideration the provisions of the Constitution for taking over the public debts of the States and the compensation to be made for transferred properties. A discussion by a Conference of State Treasurers, under the presidency of the Treasurer of the Commonwealth, has produced a much better understanding of the difficulties surrounding these subjects, and a further meeting is proposed, when it is hoped that some mutually satisfactory arrangement will be attained. 4; The re-adjustment of Federal and State finances contemplated in such an arrangement will, it is hoped, present an opportunity for the adoption of an uniform system of old-age pensions throughout the Commonwealth. The reaping of bountiful harvests over the greater part of the Commonwealth revives the problem of insuring to the agriculturist a return which will repay his labours, and encourage increased efforts. The preferential trade proposals now engaging the attention of the people of Great Britain will, if approved, secure to us an immense and reliable market. My advisers are pleased to note the cordiality with which these are generally regarded in this country, and are- confident that the feeling will be strengthened when the statesman who is their author is able to visit us. With a view to giving assistance wherever possible to those engaged in the cultivation of the soil, and as a preliminary to the establishment of an agricultural bureau, you will be invited to consider the best means of assisting the farmer, by bounties and otherwise, to grow new crops and find new markets. Speedier and cheaper transportation to the large centres of population of meat, butter, and fruit, under improved conditions, is much to be desired. In view of the vast undeveloped resources of this continent, and the small increase in our numbers from oversea, my advisers consider it a matter of urgency to attract the population needed to enable the Commonwealth to maintain her great and responsible position in these seas. The State Governments, as represented at the. Treasurers' Conference, have been addressed upon this subject, in the hope that united and effective means may be devised for securing desirable European immigrants. The interests of the Commonwealth in London have hitherto been temporarily in the charge of the Agents-General of the States. You will be invited to make provision for the appointment of a High Commissioner, whose supervision of all matters of Australian concern will include the duty of directing public attention to the resources of the States, and their advantages as fields for settlement. You will be asked to deal with the Bill, introduced last session and partly discussed, having for its object the establishment of Courts of Conciliation and Arbitration for the settlement of disputes extending beyond the limits of any one State. A Bill relating to navigation and shipping will be submitted to you specially providing for the regulation of our coasting trade. The Royal Commission appointed to consider the advisability of encouraging the establishment, of iron and steel works has furnished its report, which will be laid before you, and you will be invited to give it effect. No acceptable tender for the carriage of mails and perishable produce upon vessels manned with white seamen having been received, the whole question of subsidies for these purposes, and of the postal and other services rendered, is now under review. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives : The revenue derived from Customs and Excise has been equal to anticipations. As the' incidence of duties under the Tariff contemplates the substitution of Australian for imported goods, no considerable' expansion of such receipts, under normal conditions, is to be expected. The estimates of expenditure will be framed with economy, having due regard to the magnitude and importance of the interests under your control. Gentlemen of the Senate and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives : My advisers readily associated themselves with the Government of New' Zealand in communicating a friendly warning, based upon Australian experience, to the Transvaal Government, on the subject of a proposed ordinance authorizing the introduction of Chinese to work in the mines of that colony. This, together with the reply, will be laid before you. The selection of a site for the Federal capital was considerably advanced by the discussion and votes of the last Parliament. A contour survey has been ordered, and is in progress in the Tumut and Bombala districts. An early and final settlement of this question is very necessary. The Defence Act has been proclaimed, and regulations under it approved. The forces of the Commonwealth are now subject to but one Act, and one code of regulations, insuring their effective organization. The operation of the Sugar Bounty Act has fostered the employment of white labour, so that the number of growers taking advantage of it is steadily increasing. A conference of representatives of the Governments interested in the Pacific cable will shortly be held in London for the purpose of considering its financial management, and the provisional agreement entered into between the Government of the Commonwealth and the Eastern Extension Telegraphic Company. The removal of vexatious restrictions upon commercial intercourse between the States of the Commonwealth has received attention. It is hoped that inter-States certificates upon the transfer of goods between New South Wales and Victoria will soon be dispensed with, or at least greatly modified. The consent of the Parliament of Western Australia has been given, and that of the Government of South Australia sought, for the construction of a railway to connect Western Australia with the eastern States, and you will be asked to make provision by Bill for a survey of the line. A Bill will be submitted creating an Inter-State Commission to carry out the provisions of the Constitution relating to trade and commerce. It is intended to introduce a short Bill enabling the Executive of the Commonwealth to assume direct control of the administration of New Guinea. A comprehensive measure will be framed, when inquiries, now being locally made, are completed. The improved steamship service to the New Hebrides and the Gilbert and Ellice groups of islands has resulted in some increase of settlement by British subjects, but, in order to keep pace with trade developments in the Western Pacific, a considerable addition to present means of communication is required,- and an adequate scheme will be laid before you. It is intended to examine the experience gained in the recent elections with a view to an amendment of the Electoral Act Bills to regulate copyright ; relating to trade marks and to merchandise marks - all three complementary to the Patents Act passed last year ; and Bills dealing with rings and trusts, with the Federal control of quarantine, and of light-houses, beacons, and buoys, will be placed before you. Under Divine guidance, I trust that the discharge of your high and honorable duties may promote the welfare of the. people of Australia. His Excellency the Governor- General having retired, The President took the chair at 4.57 p.m. and read prayers. 9 papers The PRESIDENT laid upon the table the following paper: - Treasurer's statement of Receipts and Expenditure for 1902-3, with report of Auditor-General. Senator PLAYFORD laid upon the table the following papers: - Return showing results of Commonwealth General Election of 16th December, 1903. Regulations and Orders for the Military and Naval Forces of the Commonwealth. Financial and Allowance Regulations of the Military and Naval Forces of the Commonwealth. Regulations under Excise Act of 1901. Provisional Regulations under Patents Act 1903- Report of Royal Commission on Bonuses for Manufactures Bill, together with proceedings, minutes of evidence, and appendices. Transfers approved by the Governor-General in Council under the Audit Act, Financial Year 1062-3.- Transfers approved by Governor-General in Council under Audit Act and Appropriation Act 1903-4. Repeal of certain Regulations under the Public Service Act and Substituted Regulations. 9 bill Bill presented by Senator DRAKE arid read a first time. 9 miscellaneous 9 10000 0 0 PRESIDENT, The The PRESIDENT - I have to report to the Senate, in pursuance of Standing Order No. 10, the Speech of His Excellency the Governor-General which has just been read in this chamber. Motion (by Senator Playford) agreed to - That the consideration of the speech of His Excellency the Governor-General be an Order of the Day for to-morrow. 9 adjournment Motion (by Senator Playford) agreed to- That the Senate, at its rising, adjourn until tomorrow at 2.30 p.m. 9 15:40:00 Senate adjourned at 5.7 p.m.