PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES. SESSION 1907-8. (SECOND SESSION OF THE THIRD PARLIAMENT.) VOL. XLVI. (Comprising the period from 5th May to 5th June, 1908.) SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Printed and Published for the GOVERNMENT of the COMMONWEALTH of AUSTRALIA by F.7128. 1908. Mr. J. H. CATTS. Of late these prorises have been weakening, Now that the Mr. BRUCE SMITH.-To whom is the guarantee given? Mr. J. H. CATTS.-Exactly; and what security is there that the guarantee will be We have had guarantees Tarif is nearly through, there seems to be carried out? s disposition to bring the new protection to existence. Mr. CROUCH.-The Prime Minister has stated that when the Tariff has been dealt with he will see that effect is given to the new protection. Mr. J. H. CATTS.-He has also said, n effect, that directly the Tariff has been dealt with he will resign. If the new protection is not seriously brought forward I stall consider that I have been deceived by the Ministry in regard to several of my Tarif votes. We have been told that if the method of applying the new protection is found to be unconstitutional, the Ministry possesses other means to give effect to it. Mr. WILKS.-The Constitution could be amended. in relation to the harvester legislation, but member not had an opportunity of reading some of they have not been put into effect. I have the papers relating to the case which the honorable for Macquarie has perused. I asked him to let me have them earlier in the day. But, without wishing to reflect upon the judgment of any other honorable member, I am prepared to take for my guide what the representatives of the men said in my hearing at the meeting of the Sydney Labour Council, and at the Trades' Union Congress in Sydney. I am satisfied that these men had no object in misleading me and other members of the community. But on the other hand, there is every inducement at this juncture for the corporation to take steps to conciliate the men, so as to secure a favorable vote in this Parliament. Only last Thursday I had the story of the dispute between the corporation and its employés related to me; but between Thursday and the present time we find that the dispute has been settled, although it has been going on for months, and the men have been treated in the most shameful Mr. J. H. CATTS.-We have been told that there are other immediate means of giving effect to the new protection than that which it is claimed is unconstitutional. I hope that if Ministers do not intend to bring forward the new protection proposals, they will give honorable memhers who, like myself, have times voted under a misapprehension, an opportunity to reconsider some of their manner. some Tariff votes. I am going to vote against this duty, because of the way in which the Commonwealth Oil Corporation have treated their employés, and also because they are not satisfied with the business that natu ally pertains to them, but are also grab Mr. CARR.--Why did not the State Government take up the work? Mr. J. H. CATTS.-That is no answer to my objection. Rather than assist powerful monopoly like this, I should pre delayed for a few The way in which matters have been fixed up, so as to leave an impression that the corporation has acted magnanimously, does not appear to me to be bonâ fide. Mr. CARR.-That does not say much for the honorable member's confreres. Mr. J. H. CATTS.-Possibly what may satisfy other people may not satisfy me. Mr. CARR.-The honorable member does not know what he is talking about. not; and perhaps the representatives of a Mr. J. H. CATTS.-Possibly I do fer to see the development of the works the miners who attended the meeting of Government takes up the question. years until the the Sydney Labour Council last week did norable member for Macquarie says that I am not here to act upon evidence which The not know what they were talking about. the corporation will give certain under- convinces somebody else, but to act acakings with regard to prices. guarantee have we of that? What cording to my Mr. CARR.-A written guarantee. own judgment upon the facts placed before me. So far, I have not had sufficient facts placed before me Mr. J. H. CATTS. That guarantee to clear away from my mind what the re may be broken at any moment. directors of the company may hold another In saving so much, I am not conveying Teeting, and may decide to depart from any reflection upon any other honorable The presentatives of the men convinced me of. [386] } member. The honorable member for |