1936-03-19 14 1 4 SENATE 349 0 Senate. 1936-03-19 The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. P. J. Lynch) took the chair at 10 a.m., and read prayers. 349 Questions 349 349 K0F 0 0 PEARCE, George Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE - On the 13th March, 1936, Senator Sampson asked the following questions, upon notice : - Is it a fact that importers of British earn are unable to get delivery of Australian-made bodies owing to builders having more orders than they oan cope with, and being engaged almost exclusively on American cars? Will he take ste]» to give relief to British car manufacturers who are reported to be sustaining serious loss awaiting bodies ordered months ago? I am now able to furnish the honorable senator with the fallowing information supplied by the Minister for Trade and Customs : - Some delay has occurred in the delivery of a proportion of the body orders for British and foreign chassis given to one or twolocal body builders owing to the abnormal demand. On the other hand, the bulk of orders for bodies for British carshas been filled without delay. The present position of the principal motor body builders in South Australia is that they are not working to full capacity. These firms are anxious to obtain any contracts which may be available. The Government is keeping closely in touch with the position. 350 K0F 0 0 PEARCE, George Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE - On the 13th March, Senator Collett asked the following questions, upon notice : - Is it a fact that regarding the importation of motor cars, or parts thereof, the percentage of those of British origin has shown, of late, a marked shrinkage? Is it a fact that the supply of Australian-made bodies for British cars is most irregular and unsatisfactory, and that orders to factories are only filled after long delays? La it a fact that orders for British bodies, placed by Western Australian distributors with Eastern States manufacturers, are asmuch as six months in arrears, and that the sale of cars has, in consequence, almost ceased? Is the delay mentioned in questions 2 and 3 above caused by a preponderance of American interests in the body-building factories, or through an arrangement between the manufacturers and vendors to give preference to American cars? The Minister for Trade and Customs has now supplied the following information in reply to the honorable senator's questions : - The percentage of United Kingdom chassis to total imports for the last three financial years are - Per cent. 1932- 33 .. 40.3 1933- 34 .. 35.3 1934- 35 .. .. 20.2 The imports into Australia of motor vehicle chassis during the eight months ended February, 1935, and eight months ended 1936 are - There has been delay in the delivery of orders for motor bodies for certain British chassis. On the other hand, a number of orders for bodies for British chassis has been, and is being, filled without delay. In the case where delay has occurred the delay is attributed to the abnormal demand and partly to a shortage of skilled labour in the bodybuilding industry. No. Inquiries indicate that no deliveries to Western Australiaare six months in arrears. It has been ascertained that delay has occurred in the delivery of three orders for Western Australian distributors. In two of these instances, a delay of eight weeks occurred, a portion of which was attributed to the shipping strike. The manufacturer concerned claims that the arrearshave, however, since been overtaken. The remaining order has not yet been executed, and delivery is ten weeks in arrears, but it is expected that the initial delivery for this contract will be made almost immediately. The firm which has not supplied bodies in accordance with the datesspecified in the contracts states that its twobest contracts are one American and one English, and it is the policy of the firm equally to divide the skilled labour over the two contracts. 350 K0F 0 0 PEARCE, George Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE - On the 18th March Senator Johnston asked the following questions, upon notice : - Is ita fact that a serious position exists in Western Australia, as the distributors of English motor cars are unable to obtain body supplies manufactured in Australia for English oars? Has the Minister received requests for cancellation of all duty and primage on English panels and bodies for English motor cars? Would such, action result in increased revenue in chassis imports from Great Britain and create extra employment in Australian chassis employment plants ? Is it a fact that the duty on galvanized iron was lifted owing to inadequacy of Australian supplies? If so, could this precedent be extended to English bodies and panels? If not, why not? The Minister for Trade and Customs has now supplied the following information in reply to the honorable senator's questions : - My information indicates that the position in Western Australia is not serious. Yes. The abolition of all duty and primage duty on United Kingdom bodies and panels could not result in increased revenue collections. The protectionist aspect is, however, the most important consideration, and not revenue. Certain quantities of galvanized iron have been admitted under by-law. The Government is keeping closely in touch with the position. 351 351 JZD 0 0 FOLL, Hattil Senator FOLL asked the Minister representing the Minister for Trade and Customs,, upon notice - What is the total quantity of cement imported into Queensland since the reduction of duties on cement? 351 K0F 0 0 PEARCE, George Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE - The Minister for Trade and Customs has supplied the following answer to the honorable senator's question: - The total quantity of cement imported into Queensland from the time the reduced duties caine into operation until the cml of February, 1030, was 752 tons 2 cwt. 351 351 K6P 0 0 BROWN, Gordon Senator BROWN asked the Leader of the Senate, upon notice - If Japan is no longer a member of the League of Nations, what is its position in relation to the mandated islands, namely, the Caroline, Marshall and Marianne groups? Does it follow that, if a nation leaves the League of Nations it loses its rights as a mandatory nation? Has the League of Nations discussed this matter and made any pronouncement upon it? 351 K0F 0 0 PEARCE, George Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE The answers to the honorable senator's questions are as follows: - ] . The matter is a controversial one, but it appears that Japan can continue to hold its mandate provided it continues to fulfil the qualifications and obligations of a mandatory, and is prepared to co-operate in this connexion with the League of Nations. 2 and 3. The theory of mandates has been discussed at various times; but, though opinions have been given by individual delegates, no authoritative pronouncement appears to have been made. It seems clear, however, that a mandatory docs not necessarily have to be a member of the League of Nations. For example, on the 26th April, 1920, the United States of America was invited to accept a mandate for Armenia. 351 351 KP8 0 0 JOHNSTON, Edward Senator E P> JOHNSTON (through Senator Hardy) asked the Minister representing the Minister for Commerce, upon notice - With reference to the deputation from the Wheat-growers Union of Western Australia which waited on the Minister for Commerce in Perth on the 17th February last, and to Dr. Earle Page's statement (reported in the West Australian of the following day) that "he had pointed out to Mr. Powell, the president of the union, when he was in Canberra recently, that whether it would be possible to make £900,000 available for the assistance of distressed farmers depended entirely on whether the home-consumption price legislation went through the State Parliament. . . . It is on record, and it is a fact " - will the Minister kindly indicate the date on which the said statement was made to Mr Powell, and where the record referred to by Dr. Earle Page can be found? If it is a fact that at least four States failed to pass legislation applicable to last year's harvest, will the Government make the sum of £900,000 available to wheat-farmers who have suffered from drought this year, as desired by Dr. Earle Page in the record referred to? It not, why not? 351 K0F 0 0 PEARCE, George Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE The answers to the honorable senator's questions are as follows : - It is understood Dr. Earle Page did make the statement to Mr. Powell referred to. Dr. Earle Page's intimation of the Government's policy is recorded in the report of the Australian Agricultural Council held in Canberra in October last. This report is confidential to the members of the council. The £900,000 is included in the £1.878.906 provided in the bill now before Parliament for the provision of relief to wheatgrowers. 351 K0F 0 0 PEARCE, George Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE - On the 18th March Senator Johnston asked the Minister representing the Prime Minister the following questions, upon notice : - Has the attention of the Government been drawn to a statement made by Dr. Earle Page in Perth on the 17th February last, and reported in the West Australian of the following day, that the Federal Government had provided machineryto give the wheat industry a home-consumption price, and " the only reason why it was not already functioning was that Western Australia and South Australia had failed to pass the necessary legislation. Had that legislation been passed in time there would have been available for the assistance of distressed farmersa sum of £900,000 which had been collected from the flour tax. Owing to the failure of these two States to pass that legislation only £250,000 was available for drought relief. . . . The inadequacy of the amount available for relief was not in any way due to action or failure of action by the Commonwealth, but to the failure of the States named to finalize legislation as had been done by New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland"? Is it a fact that the New South Wales legislation applies only to the 1936-37 harvest - to wheat that has not yet been planted? In view of Dr. Earle Page's statement that the assistance provided for distressed wheatgrowers this year is inadequate, is it the intention of the Government to increase the amount of such assistance to £900,000 in accordance with requests made to the Prime Minister by the State Government, the Primary Producers Association and the Wheatgrowers Union all of Western Australia? If not, why not? The Prime Minister has now furnished the following replies to the honorable senator's questions: - Yes. Yes, 'because of the delay in the States of South Australia. Western Australia and Victoria in introducing their legislation. No. See paragraphs 2 and 3 of the answer to the preceding question. 352 bill Bill returned from the House of Representatives without amendment. Sitting suspended from 10.15 a.m. to 4 p.m. 352 bill Bill returned from the House of Representatives without amendment. 352 miscellaneous The following paper was presented : - Norfolk Island - Report for year ended 30th June, 1935. 352 leave of absence Motion (by Senator Sir Georgb Pearce) agreed to - That leave of absence be granted to every member of the Senate from the determination of the sitting this day to the day on which the Senate next meets. 352 special adjournment 352 K0F Western Australia UAP Minister for External Affairs 1 0 PEARCE, George Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE [4.2]. - I move - That the Senate, at its rising, adjourn till a day and hour to be fixed by the President, which time of meeting shall be notified to each Senator by telegram or letter. This may be taken to mean that the Senate will not re-assemble until, the House of Representatives has dealt with the tariff. 352 JY7 0 0 DUNCAN-HUGHES, John Senator Duncan-Hughes - How long will that take? 352 K0F 0 0 PEARCE, George Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE - It is expected that the tariff will be disposed of before the Easter adjournment and be ready for discussion in the Senate after Easter. We hope that there will be no other cause to bring senators back earlier. Question resolved in the affirmative. 352 adjournment Perth-Adelaide Air Mail - Wireless Licence Fee 352 K0F Western Australia UAP Minister for External Affairs 1 0 PEARCE, George Senator Sir GEORGE PEARCE [4.3]. - I move - That the Senate do now adjourn. I take this opportunity to furnish answers to questions of which notice was given this morning. Senator E.. B. Johnston asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence - Has the Minister received requests from the Perth Chamber of Commerce for the addition of a second weekly air mail between Perth and Adelaide and vice versa? What decision has been arrived ait in the matter ? The Minister for Defence has supplied the following answers : - Yes. The representations are receiving consideration. 352 K7P 0 0 COLLINGS, Joseph Senator Collings asked the Postmaster-General - In view of the satisfactory condition of the post office revenue, has ho considered the matter of a reduction of the annual wireless licence fee to 15s.? On behalf of the Postmaster-General I have to advise the honorable senator as follows : - Thu wireless licence fee is under constant review, but there is no intention of making any change in the immediate future. It has to bo remembered that very heavy expenditure is being incurred for new studios and broadcasting stations in various paris of the Commonwealth. Question resolved in the affirmative. Senate adjourned at 4.4 p.m. till a day and hour to be fixed by the President.