Senator HIGGS. The Eastern Extension Company represents a dangerous monopoly. I cannot for one moment understand why newspapers which cry out against trusts and combines should favour such a proposal as that to which I refer, unless it be in their own particular interests. It seems to me that the Eastern Extension Company play into the hands of certain sections of the press of Australia, and that the press plays into the hands of the Eastern Extension Company. Senator PLAYFORD. That is all right"Scratch my back and I will scratch yours." Senator HIGGS.-Senator Playford, in his anxiety to protect the people of South Australia in connexion with the miserable little expenditure which they may be put to if the Pacific Cable be a success, can see no fault with any of the business methods of the Eastern Extension Company. But I take very great exception to their methods. Senator PLAYFORD.-Tell us what the methods are. Senator HIGGS.-Having read something of the doings of the Eastern Extension Company, it is my opinion that they are willing to resort to any method, short of murder, to carry out their designs. Senator STANIFORTH SMITH.-One thing that the Eastern Extension Company does, is to give repetitions free of cost, no matter whose fault the mistake may be; and that is contrary to the spirit of the agreement. Senator HIGGS.-What was it possible for the Eastern Extension Company to do in the old country? They were able to obtain from an official in the British Civil Service an expert report to the effect that it would be impossible to lay a Pacific Cable, because the depth at some points was not less than ten miles, but when the ground was gone over it was found that the greatest depth was three miles. The Eastern Extension Company were even able to move the British authorities in such a way as to cause the removal of a vessel which was supposed to be making a trial survey, and the fact was not known to the public until some four years had elapsed. Senator GIVENS.-How is it managed by bribery? Senator HIGGS.-As a man of the world, Senator Givens ought to know that this sort of thing can be done only in one way; unless physical violence is resorted to, these results must be brought about by the use of a well-filled purse. I do not pro pose to "beat about the bush," and if Senator Playford asks me a direct question, I shall say that the company would resort to such means to gain their ends. What is meant by the vast expenditure in which the Eastern Extension Company indulge on social entertainments to people who are likely to aid them? What is meant by the use of free cables to certain individuals? Does Senator Playford deny that certain gentlemen who have been useful to this company, get their cables sent free across their lines? Senator GUTHRIE.-Who are they? Senator HIGGS.-I am not going to say. Senator GUTHRIE.-Give us all the information, now that so much has been said. Senator PLAYFORD.-Who are they? Senator HIGGS.-Senator Playford may be able to get the information if he tables a motion. Senator PLAYFORD. I know one Charles Cameron Kingston. Senator HIGGS.-I shall not mention any names. If Senator Playford can give us one name, I dare say he can give us a number. I have seen the success that has attended the efforts of the Eastern Extension Company. Let honorable senators read the very interesting work entitled, The All Red Line, and they will realize the success which has been achieved by this very clever company and their representatives. Before I leave the subject of the Cable " ring," let me draw honorable senators' attention to the fact that it is impossible for any company or person in, say, the city of Melbourne to start a newspaper without the consent of the Melbourne Age, Melbourne Argus, Sydney Daily Telegraph, Sydney Morning Herald, and other newspapers, which have entered into an arrangement with the Eastern Extension Company. Senator FINDLEY.-Permission reed not be asked to start a newspaper, but a new newspaper would not be able to get cable messages. Senator HIGGS.-What is the use of a newspaper unless it can furnish its readers each morning with reliable cable news? Senator FINDLEY.-This shows the inconsistency of the Melbourne Age, which published articles attacking monopolies, and yet is involved in one of the biggest monopolies in the Commonwealth. Senator HIGGS.-Will honorable senators believe that some time ago, a gentleman in Tasmania wrote asking me whether it was possible for him to obtain press cable news, and suggesting that some newspaper Senator HIGGS.-The company charge proprietor in Queensland might join him in full rates to an individual. All the prinan endeavour to get press messages at the ciples underlying our post and telegraph usual rates. This gentleman had found that services are rendered nugatory by the fact in Tasmania it was impossible, owing to the that the Eastern Extension Company have huge "ring," to get press cable messages. made arrangements with the newspaper We talk about fair play, and equal oppor-"ring," and in consequence those newstunity for all we talk about the Berne papers can get cables at a cheaper rate than Convention, and its decision that everybody can the man in the street. shall be able to send press messages over the wire at uniform rates and yet there is in Australia this infamous "ring." I can characterize it as nothing but an infamous "ring" of newspaper proprietors, who have combined with the Eastern Extension Company to block any competition. If honorable senators desire that Australia shall go ahead, and that the public of the Commonwealth shall obtain reliable cable news, instead of the wretched twaddle at present sent here, they will support the Pacific Cable. Senator PLAYFORD.-If the Pacific Cable is available for everybody, why have not press messages been sent by that line? Senator HIGGS.-For the reason that cabling is a very expensive item. The press rate is somewhere about Is. a word, and the charge for 1,000 words is what a struggling newspaper cannot stand. There is no speculation or industrial enterprise in which a fortune can be sunk more quickly than a newspaper, and that is owing mainly to the excessive cost of cabling. Senator CLEMONS.-Is that not due much more to the newspapers than to the Cable Company? Senator HIGGS.-The Eastern Extension Company have an arrangement with certain newspaper proprietors. Senator CLEMONS. I know all about that. Senator HIGGS.-The newspaper proprietors, having made that arrangement, are not going to allow any other individual to start a newspaper in opposition to them if they can help it. Senator CLEMONS.-Ought the blame not, as a matter of fact, to fall on the newspapers? Senator HIGGS.-The blame does fall on the newspapers, but there are two parties to the agreement, and the chief party is "the man behind the gun "—the man behind the Eastern Extension Company. Senator PLAYFORD.-The Eastern Extension Company will take anybody's message. Senator HIGGS.-Yes, at full rates. Senator GUTHRIE.-They charge newspaper rates. Senator CLEMONS.-But it is those newspapers which shut out a new newspaper— it is not the Eastern Extension Company. Senator HIGGS.-When we see an article in the Melbourne Age, as we did on Monday morning last, making the most of the loss on the Pacific Cable, and suggesting that that cable should be let to the Eastern Extension Company-an article which attacked Sir Sandford Fleming, who, after some twenty-five years of fighting has almost beaten the Eastern Extension Comin the interests of the newspaper "ring" pany we know very well that it is written and the Cable Company. My view is that we ought to keep Victoria and Queensland as a close preserve for the Pacific Cable. If we did so we could make that cable a financial success, but if we allow the Eastern Extension Company to come in and exploit the ground, they will adopt their own methods. The Eastern Exten sion Company will make secret arrangements with business people. Senator PLAYFORD.- "Allow the company to come in "! The company was here before the Pacific Cable was laid. Senator HIGGS.-The honorable senator knows that there is a section in the Post and Telegraph Act enabling us to exclude the Eastern Extension Company from Victoria if we wish. That company were only able to get permission to come into Victoria through the Government to which the honorable senator belonged. Senator STANI FORTH SMITH.-The company were allowed to come into Victoria by an evasion of the Act; they have no right to have an office in this State. Senator HIGGS.-They came into Victoria by an evasion of the Act by acting unfairly to the partners in the Pacific Cable. The arrangement is discreditable to the Barton Government, of which Senator Playford was a member. Senator PLAYFORD.-I was not a member of that Government. Senator HIGGS. -I beg the honorable senator's pardon. Senator DRAKE. It is only an assertion that there has been an evasion of the Act. Senator STANI FORTH SMITH.-The Eastern Extension Company availed themselves of the clause which was not put in for that purpose at all, as I can prove from the remarks of Senator Drake, as reported in Hansard. entered into the Pacific Cable a success, than to continue to pay £30,000 per annum, and perhaps more, owing to the Eastern Extension Company absorbing business which rightly belongs to the other line. ments which I have taken an opportunity to verify, and which show that a great deal of discourtesy, hardship, and unfairness is displaved towards certain persons by the Commonwealth. In the latter part of 1902, the Public Service Commissioner advertised that a competitive examination would be held to fill twenty-eight vacancies in the clerical division in Queensland, and invited persons to compete for the positions. An examination was held in April, 1903, but not one of them has yet received an and it was passed by fourteen candidates, official intimation that he has been successful, or whether his services will be required immediately or in the future. Senator GIVENS (Queensland).—I wish Senator HIGGS.-I was here when that to bring under the notice of the Attorneyclause was discussed and passed, and it General a matter which, though small as was inserted simply to enable certain sta- compared with the Pacific Cable question, tion proprietors to erect telegraph lines from is very important to the men concerned. I one station to another. If the Government hold that it is no part of the duty of this with the Parliament to inflict any injustice or hardan agreement Eastern Extension Company under that ship on any citizen, and that, above all, the section, they have distorted the Act. Government in its dealings with citizens The Eastern Extension Company, if should be not only fair, but also courteous. allowed to come into Victoria, will, as II have in my hand a letter containing statesay, adopt their old methods. They will go secretly to business people, and arrange to take cables at a lower rate than that charged by the Pacific Cable. Senator Playford must know that the Pacific Cable being a national concern, promoted in the interests of the people, is bound to charge everybody equal rates. It is not likely that the managers of the Pacific Cable will go to one merchant, and, on consideration of his sending all his messages by that line, offer to charge him so many pennies per word less than are charged to his competitors. But the Eastern Extension Company is prepared to do this, and I believe they are doing it at the present time, and it may shortly be too late for the Pacific Cable to make up the ground. With reference to the loss which Senator Playford fears South Australia will suffer, it is the duty of the Commonwealth, if the fears benounced at the time, but no official intimarealized, to bear that loss, because the Pacific Cable is a national concern. Merchants and other cable users of Australia, are at the present time reaping an advantage of something like £750,000 per annum by the construction of the Pacific Cable. Senator CLEMONS.-Does the honorable senator also suggest that the Commonwealth ought to bear the loss which Tasmania may suffer? Senator HIGGS.-If, through the act of any legislators in Tasmania, unfair arrangements have been entered into, it is the duty of the Commonwealth to remedy the wrong as far as possible. Senator FINDLEY.-How did these lads know that they were successful in passing the examination? Senator GIVENS.-The results were an tion has yet been sent to the successful candidates, who have been hanging on in the hope of getting the employment which they were led to believe would be given to them by the Commissioner when they had passed the test. What is the result of this system? In the case of these fourteen successful candidates, over eighteen months of the best portion of their lives have been wasted, while apparently are never going to come to them. they have been waiting for billets which That is manifestly unfair and unjust. When these youths were invited to go up for this competitive examination they had to pay a fee of 15s. each, and after having passed the examination they find that there is no work for them to do in the Public Service. Senator CLEMONS.-That can easily be Unless that money is refunded. I hold that done by paying up. Senator HIGGS.-It would, financially, be a better business transaction for the Commonwealth to "clip the wings" of the Eastern Extension Company, and make it was obtained by the false pretence that if they succeeded in passing the examination a situation would be available for them. It is grossly unfair and unjust that the money of these youths should be taken in that way, and that they should be kept hanging on as they are. I should like to receive some definite information from the Attorney-General, so that they may know where they stand. I hope that this injustice will be quickly rectified. I do not know whether it has been applicable to all the States, but in Queensland a new rule has been enforced in the Post and Telegraph Department. Letter sorters, although they have worked their full time, are generally expected in an emergency, such as the arrival of an English mail, to come on again and work overtime. For thirty-five years in that State they have received paymert for the overtime, but, following a pennywise and pound-foolish policy, an instruction was issued on or about the 27th July last-I do not know by which Government -that it should no longer be paid. Senator CLEMONS.-That must be the Government to which the honorable senator was partial. Senator GIVENS.-It may have been issued by that Government, or it may have been a continuation of a policy initiated months before it took office. If the honorable and learned senator knows anything about the methods of administration. he ought to be well aware of that. At any rate, we find that the leader of the present Government has had to take advantage of something done by his predecessor, in order to protect his own reputation. Is that not so? Senator Sir JOSIAH SYMON.-Do not go into that matter. Senator GIVENS.-It was not my fault that it was introduced. this heat? Senator CLEMONS.-Why Surely it was a harmless remark! Senator FINDLEY.-It does not matter which Government is responsible for the instruction; it is wrong. Senator GIVENS.-Whether it was issued by a Labour Government, or by any other Government, the payment for overtime should not be stopped. By this miserable cheese-paring policy, the Government will save from £2,000 to £2,500 a year in Queensland. At whose expense will this great saving be effected? If it was to be saved at the expense of highly-paid officials, who could very well submit to a little cheese-paring, the position would be different, because they would not be deprived of any of the comforts or luxuries of life. But it is to be saved at the expense of the hardest worked and poorest paid Letter sorters class in the Public Service. get very small salaries, compared with the nature of their very arduous work. It must be patent to anybody that if a man does more than the regular work for which he is paid, he is entitled to be paid for overtime, and if he is not, his employers are taking an undue advantage of his complacency in submitting to be called back to do certain work which he did not agree to do. The Department expect the men to work for certain hours, and to be always available in those hours. I contend that when a man has done his work, his time should be his own, and that if the Department wish to make a further claim on his time, it should be prepared to pay. Senator FINDLEY.-The Department ought to put on casuals. number of men out of work. There are any Senator GIVENS.-That is a proceeding which would meet with my approval at any time. If men are available for the work, they should be engaged rather than the regular hands, who have done a very large amount of work, and who, in many instances, receive very scanty pay. I hope that neither this nor any other Government will go in for a miserable cheese-paring policy of that kind, in order to save in one State £2,000 or £2,500 at the expense of a poor, badly paid, hard worked class of civil servants. It is not in consonance with the dignity of the Commonwealth that it should go in for such a cheese-paring policy at the expense of poor people. Senator STEWART (Queensland).-It is a very extraordinary thing that the Public Service Commissioner, after advertising that there were twenty-eight vacancies to be filled by competition, has not had the courtesy or the consideration to inform the fourteen successful candidates that their services will not be required. I wrote a letter to him recently on the subject, but I have not yet received a reply. I understand, however, that the reason why not one of these young men was appointed was because of a request received from the State Government that no further expense should be incurred. That may or may not be the position. But, in any case, one would imagine that ordinary feelings of consideration for the young men, whose time was being wasted, would have prompted the Commissioner to intimate to them that their services would not be required. His omission to do so was a distinct act of discourtesy on his part, and the Senate ought to express its disapprobation at such treatment, and to express a hope that it will not recur. Senator DE LARGIE.-Was there a promise made to the young men that they would get employment if they passed the examination? Senator STEWART.-A notification was published in the Commonwealth Gazette that there were twenty-eight vacancies to be filled, and that an examination of candidates would be held. Senator DE LARGIE.-Does not the honorable senator think that the complaint should be made against the State Government? Senator STEWART.-We owe no responsibility to the State Government, and the Commissioner is not bound to accept its advice or comply with its request. Senator DE LARGIE.--Was it the State Government that requested that no further expense should be incurred? Senator DE LARGIE.-Does the honorable senator expect the Commissioner to stuff the service, whether the men are required or not? But acting very graciously towards them that while allowing them to retain their clerical status he is giving them only general division increases and promotions. So that to all intents and purposes they are relegated to the general division, and will be there until, in the course of time, as vacancies arise, they will be drafted into the clerical branch. I submit that if these young men are employed on general division work that is not their fault, but the fault of the Department. Having passed their examination, they are classified servants, and are entitled to the same increases and promotions as other classified servants. I specially ask the attention of the AttorneyGeneral to this matter, because it appears to me that the legal rights of these young men are being interfered with. There seems to be a great deal of nagging going on in the Public Service. ParliaSenator GUTHRIE.-The State Government has been doing its level best to do ment did not ask the Commissioner to be away with any injustice which may have discourteous, anyhow. existed with regard to this branch. in some way or other, every effort of Parliament seems to be thwarted by some authoevery possible obstacle is put in the way of rity. I do not know how it happens, but the abolition of grievances. Take, for instance, the case of letter-carriers. Some time ago the Commissioner decided that their hours of employment should be 84 per fortnight; then he increased the hours to 93, and now a ruling has been issued that these men have no definite hours, as they are not under supervision. Honorable senators can easily understand the feelings of the men in these circumstances. They do not know what their hours are to be. They may be asked to work 83 or 93, or 103 hours per fortnight. The position is an extremely unsatisfactory one to them. I have asked the Commissioner to give a ruling on the matter, but he has not done so, and I think that the Government ought to intervene. If he is to be supreme in these matters, it is the duty of Parliament to see that he does not abuse his authority, or do anything contrary to the spirit which seems to pervade Australia with regard to its employés. Again, after mail money had been paid for thirty-five years in Queensland, it has been abolished by order of the Commissioner. with the result that a large number of poorly-paid officials have had their salaries practically reduced by from 18 to £26 per annum. I find, however, from a classification list that large increases have been given to a number of the more highly-paid Senator STEWART.-What the young men complain of chiefly is that they have received no official intimation that their services will not be required. Senator GUTHRIE.-The Commissioner is now advertising that it is intended to hold another examination. Senator STEWART.-Under the old régime in Queensland a certain branch in the Post Office was classed in the clerical division, and the work was done by young men who had passed the regular Civil Service examination. The Commissioner has put this work into the general division, and decreed that these young men, although they have passed the Civil Service examination, shall receive only the increases of pay prescribed for the general division. That, I maintain, is not only a distinct breach of faith with the young men, but also illegal, because the Constitution expressly reserves to every civil servant whatever rights he possessed at the time of his transference to the Commonwealth. These young men were doing clerical work for Queensland, had passed their examinations, and were getting exactly the same increases and promotions as other clerical employés. They are now classed in the general division, and the Commissioner has informed me in a letter and I suppose he thought he was |