SALE OF POSTAGE STAMPS. Mr. HUTCHISON.-I desire to ask the Postmaster-General if he is aware that a person in Adelaide, and I presume that the same thing occurs in other States, wishing to get a New South Wales 2d. stamp is charged 3d. for it. Seeing that we have a Commonwealth Postal Department, it should be possible for residents of each of the States to obtain anywhere stamps of the other States at the price charged in those States?

Mr. AUSTIN CHAPMAN.-I was not aware of the circumstance to which the honorable member has referred. If what he says is the case, I shall have an alteration made. I hope we shall soon have a Commonwealth stamp.

LOADING AND DISCHARGING OF CARGO AT PORT ADELAIDE.

Mr. HUTCHISON.-I wish to ask the Minister representing the Minister of Trade and Customs whether he will see that a stop is put in future to the present practice of taking in and discharging cargo, with the exception of mails, by steamers at Port Adelaide, on Sundays, as such a practice has not obtained for over twenty years there.

Mr. AUSTIN CHAPMAN.-I shall be glad to give the honorable member's representations every consideration.

PAPUA BILL.

Mr. DEAKIN (Ballarat-Minister of External Affairs) [4.55].-In order to maintain the time-honoured privileges of the House, I present a Bill for an Act relating to grants and dispositions of freehold estate in land in the Territory of Papua, and move

That the Bill be read a first time.

Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill read a first time.

ELECTION PETITION.

KENNEDY V. PALMER.

The CLERK laid upon the table a copy of an election petition received by him from the Deputy-Registrar of the High Court, under section 202 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act, wherein Thomas Kennedy petitioned against the return of Albert Clayton Palmer as member for the electoral division of Echuca, in the State of Victoria.

PAPERS.

MINISTERS laid upon the table the following papers:

Memorandum setting out the terms on which the Northern Territory of South Australia is to be surrendered to the Commonwealth.

Ordered to be printed.

1906.

Correspondence relating to the convention with France re the New Hebrides, dated 20th October, Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the present conditions of Papua, and the best for their improvement, together with Minutes of Evidence, appendices, and maps. Annual report upon British New Guinea for the year ended 30th June, 1906.

means

Ordinances (Nos. 4 to 10 of 1906) of the Territory of Papua.

Report of the International Workmen's Congress in Vienna, 1905, with an account of the system of workmen's insurance, including old-age pensions, in Germany, by the Hon. Sir John Cockburn, K.C.M.G.

Second report on Dr. Danysz's experiments in rabbit destruction by Dr. E. Angas Johnson and W. J. P. Giddings.

Despatch from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated 7th December, 1906, intimating that he proposed deferring, until after the Colonial Conference, rendering any advice to His Majesty regarding the Customs Tariff (British Preference) Bill 1906.

Return of the number of persons to whom certificates of naturalization were granted during 1906 under the Naturalization Act.

Regulation No. 5A, S.R. 1906, No. 70, under the Immigration Restriction Acts.

Regulations re orders for deportation, S.R. 1906, No. 71, under the Pacific Island Labourers Act.

Copyright Act regulations, S.R. 1906, No. 119. Designs Act regulations, S.R. 1906, No. 117. Amended Distillation Act regulations, Nos. 48, 69, 70, S.R. 1906, No. 115.

Excise Act Sugar regulations, S.R. 1906, No.

I20.

Excise Tariff and Excise Act regulations relating to scents and toilet preparations, S.R. 1906, No. 116.

Spirits Act regulations, S.R. 1906, No. 118. Sugar Bounty Act regulations, S.R. 1906, No.

.121.

Trade Marks Act regulations, S.R. 1906, No.

122.

Transfers under the Audit Act approved 22nd January, 1907, financial year 1905-6.

Notifications pursuant to the Property for Public Purposes Acquisition Act of the acquisition of land at Epping, N.S.W., as a post office site; at Ross, Tas., as a drill hall site; and at Mt. Nelson, Hobart, Tas., as a road of access to a battery site. List of permanent officers in the Commonwealth Public Service, 1st January, 1907.

Amended Public Service Act regulations :-No. 104, telephone indoor supervisors, S. R. 1906, N. 96; No. 276A, boards of inquiry, S.R. 1906, No. 100; No. 43A, soliciting presents, S.R. 190b. Âu. 113; No. 163A, 104, 148, 17, 18, 21, 90, bicycles, fines, &c., S.R. 1906, No. 112; No. 40, performance of duties, S. R. 1907, No. 6.

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

Motion (by Mr. DEAKIN) agreed toThat a Committee, consisting of Mr. Wise, Mr. John Thomson, Mr. Chanter, and Mr. Storrer, be appointed to prepare an Address-inReply to the speech delivered by His Excellency the Governor-General to both Houses of Parliament; and that the Committee do report this day.

The Committee retired, and, having reentered the chamber, presented the proposed address, which was read by the Clerk, as follows:—

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY

We, the House of Representatives of The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, in Parliament assembled, beg to express our loyalty to our Most Gracious Sovereign, and to thank Your Excellency for the Speech which you have been pleased to address to Parliament.

That the Address-in-Reply to His Excellency's speech, as read by the Clerk, be agreed to by the House.

Honorable gentlemen will have gathered from the speech of His Excellency the Governor-General that the House has been called together, not for the despatch of business, but to give effect to the letter and spirit of the Constitution, which requires that the newly-elected representatives of the people shall have an opportunity, as soon as possible after the general election, to express their opinion as to the conduct of public business, and to declare whether the Government of the day possesses their confidence. There being no intention to proceed to legislation during the present session, the only legitimate question for us now is whether the proposal of the Government to postpone the consideration of measures until a later session is justifiable? It seems to re to be perfectly justifiable for two or three reasons. As His Excellency has informed us, an Imperial Conference is shortly to be held in London, at which it is absolutely necessary for the Prime Minister of Australia to be present. I am aware that it has been contended in some quarters that this Parliament might proceed with business in his absence, the arrangement being made between parties that

no attack should be made on the Government while he was away; but I regard that as an absurd contention. In my opinion it is impossible for Parliament to proceed with business in the absence of the Prime Minister. The first question which this Parliament will have to consider is the re-arrangement of the Tariff, because, undoubtedly, the recent general election turned upon the fiscal question. Some nersons endeavoured to bring other questions before the constituencies, but before very long they were compelled, by the force of public opinion, to give the fiscal question the most prominent place in their addresses; and they dwelt more and more on that question the nearer they got to the day of the election. The fiscal question being the principal one upon which the Government appealed to the country, it is ridiculous to contend that the Tariff can be dealt with in the absence of the Prime Minister. He would be placed in a humiliating position if he went to London as the representative of Australia under any arrangement between political parties of the nature to which I have referred. Whoever goes, must be supported by Parlia

ment.

Mr. REID.-Hear, hear.

Mr. WISE. I am satisfied that the present leader of the Government will go, and that he will carry with him the confidence of the majority of the members of this Parliament.

Mr. JOSEPH COOK.-The honorable member speaks very confidently.

Mr. WISE. I am quite confident, and am satisfied that if it is attempted to test the feeling of the House, the fact will be placed beyond doubt.

Mr. REID. The meeting has been held! Mr. WISE.-Meetings may have been held; but other meetings have yet to be held to discuss whether the proposal of the Government shall or shall not be opposed, because, as has already been pointed out, there are several parties in this House. As I have said, the Prime Minister, if he goes Home, must go as the representative of Australia, with the confidence of Parliament, and not under any arrangement made by grace of his political opponents. A second reason for postponing legislative action at the present time is that the Government must be given an opportunity to prepare its measures. Six months is the customary length of recesses between ordinary sessions. During the life of the last Parliament each

of the two Governments in office took recesses of that length, which I presume is evidence that that is the period which it is considered is required to enable a Government to recover from the work of one session and prepare its measures for the next; but if it is necessary to have a six months' recess between ordinary sessions, a similar recess is still more urgent when two or three months have been occupied with the worry and turmoil of a general election. I have said that the first question which must be considered by Parliament is the alteration of the Tariff. The Government has the responsibility of considering and placing before Parliament proposals for fiscal reform; but the subject must be dealt with as a whole. Ministers must consider every detail of importation, not merely from the protectionist, but from the revenue point of view. This is no easy task, and will take time. The need for an opportunity for consideration is by no means lessened by the fact that the Tariff Commission, which for two years has been investigating the subject, is now reporting. The work of the Commission cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, too, it was not unanimous, and in regard to some items presented more than one report. If these reports have taken the Commission some months to prepare, in addition to the time spent in hearing the evidence of expert witnesses, surely Ministers require a few weeks' leisure in which to peruse the evidence and to consider the reports based upon it. They have to propose to Parliament, not only a complete scheme of Tariff reform, but a Bounties Bill as well. I have pointed out that the general election turned upon the fiscal question. It was my experience and I have gathered that it was the experience of other country representatives

that the farmers and graziers of Australia are now as pronounced protectionists as are our miners and manufacturers.

Mr. WILKS.-Question.

Mr. WISE.-I have no hesitation in making that statement, because I have canvassed and have been returned for a pastoral and agricultural constituency.

Mr. FULLER.-Others who have done the same thing are of the contrary opinion.

Mr. WISE.-I have been surprised at the hold which the policy of protection has taken upon our farmers and graziers.

Mr. FULLER.-The honorable member speaks for Victoria only.

Mr. WISE.-I cannot speak from personal experience as to the position in the

other States.

This Parliament, however, has been called into existence to deal with matters which affect Australia as a whole, and a very large majority of the members of the House, returned by constituencies in various parts of the Continent, were elected to support the policy of protection. protectionist, I consider Tariff reform the most material question before us.

As a

Mr. JOHNSON.-Some honorable members got elected by sinking the fiscal question. Mr. WISE.-Who are they?

Mr. JOHNSON.-Most of the protectionists did so.

Mr. WISE.-I do not know of any protectionist who got himself elected by sinking the fiscal issue. In this State the fiscal question was a very live issue; so live that not a solitary free-trader has been able to keep his head above water. Undoubtedly sectarian feeling entered into the contests, but there are always electors who vote in accordance with their sectarian beliefs. The sectarian feeling did not, however, affect the result of all the elections in the liament to give it a thoroughly effective sysState, and the public now expect this Partem of protection, and a satisfactory bounties system.

Mr. REID. And preferential trade.

Mr. WISE.-Yes. What is desired is sible for, but will induce, capitalists to ina Tariff which not only will make it posvest money in manufactures in Australia; which will settle the fiscal trouble for some years to come; and will give a fiscal measure which protectionists will have pleasure in fighting to maintain if it be attacked. But I do not feel justified on this occasion, when there is practically no business proposed to be done, in detaining honorable members longer.

Mr. JOHNSON.-Why are we here?

Mr. WISE.-I am dealing with His Excellency's speech. I do not know what business the Opposition intend to bring forward.

Mr. REID. Or the Labour Party?

Mr. WISE.-Or any party. As it is not intended by the Government to proceed with legislation at the present time, I do not think I should be justified in prolonging my remarks. At the opening of next session, the Government should be able to place before us a matured Tariff scheme. Some people seem to think that we should deal with Tariff matters piecemeal.

Mr. JOHNSON.-The Government thought so last session.

has always been the course taken in Tariff reform so far as my recollection of politics goes, and that recollection extends back to the introduction of the first Victorian Tariff in 1865. Not only has it been. contended that the Tariff can be dealt with piecemeal, but some persons seem to think that we should accept the reports of a section of the Tariff Commission.

In

my opinion that Commission was appointed, not to rule Parliament or the country in regard to Tariff reform, but to take evidence and report for the information of the Ministry and Parliament. The responsibility of proposing a new Tariff must rest with Ministers, and the responsibility of accepting or rejecting the proposals of the Government will attach to Parliament, honorable members being unable to shelter themselves behind the reports of the Tariff Commission, even if those reports were unanimous, which I do not think any of them are. Moreover, it must be remembered that some of the members of the Tariff Commission are not members of Parliament, and are therefore not directly responsible to the people. Not only will the Government be able to place before us, at the beginning of next session, a matured Tariff scheme, but Ministers will be prepared with proposals affecting cther questions of great national importance foreshadowed in the speech of His Excellency the Governor-General. There will be enough questions of magnitude to satisfy all those who are continually demanding that this Parliament shall deal with great national problems. But it must be remembered that many of these great problems cannot be dealt with unless there is a large expenditure of money, and the necessary funds will have to be obtained either by the floating of loans a course which the Commonwealth has not taken vet-or by increasing taxation. I hope, therefore, that those who are urging the present Government to deal with great national problems, will be equally ready to assist Ministers to find the means necessary to do so. It will be their duty, too, to remind the country that the States of Australia federated to deal with great national problems, which no single State was in a financial position to face, though the expense might easily be

borne by the Commonwealth as a whole. When the people are educated up to that point of view, there will not be so many complaints about the unsatisfactory results of Federation. There was one modest announcement towards the end of His Excellency's speech which I think will give great satisfaction to every true Australian, namely, that the Government have agreed with the Government of South Australia to take over the vast Northern Territory. Sufficient problems will arise in dealing with

the transfer and administration of that Territory to satisfy those who are now most anxious that the Commonwealth Parliament should consider great national questions. Concerning the popular disappointment

with the results of Federation, I wish

simply to say that if the public are spoken

to, and if matters are discussed with them from a Federal stand-point, they do not find much fault with Federation. Their great disappointment has been-and I speak as one who has hitherto been one of the people, and who has therefore heard their view of the matter more freely perhaps than have honorable members-that in our National Parliament many of our public men have failed to deal with questions from an Australian stand-point, and have kept the interests of their respective States too much in the foreground.

Mr. WILKS. They are mostly Victorians. Mr. REID. There is no doubt about that. The honorable member's remarks apply to one little spot in particular.

Mr. WISE.-If they will cease to regard the great questions claiming their attention from a State stand-point, and consider them from an Australian point of view-if they will avoid wasting so much time in wearisome and unnecessary discussion, and will transact the business coming before them more expeditiously-I think we shall find at the close of this Parliament that the people will not be disappointed either as regards their ideal of Federation or as regards the members whom they have returned to represent them.

Mr. JOHN THOMSON (Cowper) [5.18]. -I rise with much pleasure to second the motion which has been so ably moved by the honorable member for Gippsland. In these, my first remarks in this Chamber, I am sure that I shall have the indulgence of honorable members who have had more experience in the public life of the Commonwealth than I have had. I feel that I can freely ask honorable members, representing as they do all parts of the

Commonwealth, to reciprocate the congratulations offered by His Excellency the Governor-General upon its general prosperity. The expressions contained in the Vice-Regal Speech regarding the prosperity of the several industries mentioned therein as the result of the good seasons we have experienced, and of the energy of our people, are such as Australians may well be proud of. I trust that as the outcome of the work of this session, and of a continuance of the bountiful seasons which have been granted to us by Providence, the prosperity of the Commonwealth will be sustained during the life of the current Parliament. I observe from the Vice-Regal Speech-as has already been remarked by the mover of this motion -that Parliament is not to be called upon at the present stage to undertake any deliberative work. During the recent election campaign, honorable members must have experienced a good deal of fatigue, and I am glad to know that an opportunity will be presented to us-owing to the visit of the Prime Minister to London-to recuperate. I am sure that the matter which is the cause of the Prime Minister's projected visit to London is one of great interest to the whole of Australia. We are all pleased to acknowledge the benefits derived from the Conferences which have been held in London at different periods between the Prime Minis, ters of the self-governing parts of the Empire. These Conferences have met with general approval in the old land and in the Colonies, and we are pleased to know that the practice is to be continued, and that still another gathering of the kind is about to be held. We have every reason to expect that, when the Prime Minister attends that Conference, he will carry with him the confidence of this House and of the people of Australia, and that he will do the Commonwealth that justice which his reputation warrants us in expecting. I believe that we shall have every reason to be proud of the part which he will play in its deliberations. I am very glad to learn that he has decided to visit England, and I feel satisfied-irrespective of what the individual opinions of honorable members may be that every one of them will act in such a way as to facilitate his departure. We all recognise that very important subjects will be discussed at the Conference, and I have no doubt that the Prime Minister's experience will be of such value to Australia that we shall be large gainers by his visit. As the result of that gathering, and of the interchange of thought between

leading men from all parts of His Majesty's Dominion, I feel convinced that the consolidation of the Empire will be advanced. Almost simultaneously with the holding of the Imperial Conference of Premiers in London, another Conference will be held upon a very important subject, because, whatever our individual opinions as regards policy may be, we must admit that, Australia being an island, its oversea trade is a matter of great moment. It is certainly very necessary that the people who are engaged in trade and commerce in the Commonwealth shall be afforded such legislation as will adequately protect them, or will at least place them upon an equal footing with other nations with whom they come into competition. The proper way to secure that result is to permit of representatives of the Commonwealth attending the Navigation. Conference which is to be held in England next month. As the result of its deliberations, I hope that our delegates will return. fully seized with the responsibility attaching to their positions, and that they will be able to lay before us such legislative measures as will enable us to develop the shipping trade of the Commonwealth. I observe that the Governor-General's speech makes reference to a Conference which was held some time ago by the Premiers of the various States of the Union. At that Conference a good deal was said regarding the financial relationship of the Commonwealth to the States. One of the most important aspects of this matter relates to the transfer of the States debts.

I believe that it is in the interests of the States themselves that as far as possible, their public debts should be consolidated. By that means, I am convinced we could secure a reduction in the rates of interest at present being paid by the States, and that, in case of further borrowing, we should be able to place our loans upon the market to better advantage than we have done hitherto, for the simple reason that the States will not then be competing with one another. I hope that the Commonwealth will speedily be able to take over the States debts. I am sanguine that by doing so we could effect a considerable saving to the public revenue. Another phase of this matter bears upon the question of old-age pensions, and I am pleased indeed that the Vice-Regal speech makes reference to it. There can be no difference of opinion regarding the desirableness of enacting a Federal system of old-age pensions. We cannot question the wisdom of