Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Thursday 14 November 1912, page 10


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

In the House of Representatives to-day, the Minister for Customs gave notice that on Thursday he would ask for leave to introduce hills to amend the Bounties Act of 1907, the Manufacturers Encouragement Act of 1933, and to provide for bounties on wood pulp, rock phosphate, and rewards for the discovery

of phosphates.

NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTORATES.

The Minister for Home Affairs informed Mr.' W. E. Johnson (N.S.W.) that the New South Wales redistribution scheme had been referred back to the Commissioners for reconsideration. There had been no delay in in-structing the Commissioners to prepare a fresh redistribution. He did not know whether the amended scheme would be submitted in time to be dealt with before the close of the

session

Mr. Cook (N.S.W.) : You don't know?

The Minister for Home Affairs: How can I The scheme has been sent back to the Commissioners.

THE ESTIMATES.

The Estimates were further considered in committee. On

the External Affairs Department," Mr. Cook (N.S.W.) castigated the Government for subsidising a Labour paper for circulation in Great Britain, when that journal contained malicious attacks on the public men of Australia. The Government should not stoop to the subsidising of a paper which attacked political opponents. The Government, although making a lot of fuss about Its belief in immigration, had turned down two important proposals by the High Commissioner and the State Governments, which if carried out would improve the flow of new arrivals.

IRISHMAN'S IMMIGRANTS. The

Minister for Customs gave some additional information regarding the outbreak of measles on board the Immigrant steamer Irish-man. He said that the first case of measles was that of a passenger who apparently must have been Infected before leaving England. Measles was, he was informed, a very Infec-tious disease, and was infectious from its earliest stage. The other cases were apparently due to infection from this and subsequent cases. He was informed that the only way to curb such an outbreak wasted) For the medical officer to make routine thorough Inspection of all passengers daily on the voyage; (b) to provide sufficient proper observation and isolation hospital necotnmodalion;. (c) to remove to hospital any passenger showing the least suspicion of communicable disease. If such measures were not carried out, an outbreak like that on the Irishman was almost certain to occur. The total number of baths on board for passengers was tell a wholly inadequate provision for 1300 persons. The Board of Trade did not apparently require any baths, hot or cold, to be installed

The Minister for External Affairs pointed out that it was not he, but his predecessor (Mr. Batchelor), who gave Mr. Page the advertisement to the Labour Call." The advertisement was approved by Mr. Clarke, the advertising expert of the department. Mr! Clarke's idea was that if such an advertisement, together with a special article on Australia, was sent to the unions of Great Britain, it would do much to sweep away the wrong impression which existed in those circles as regards the views of the Labour party on immigration. If it had not been for the advertising of Australia by the Common| wealth, the States would not have had so many Immigrants. He did not think the Commonwealth ought to pay anything towards the passages of Immigrants. When they had

land available in the Territory, he would be in favour of assisting those who wanted to

settle there.

Referring to the Territory, he said that settlers could not be sent there till the officials had paved the way. Settlers could not be sent there till the place was ready.

Sir John Forrest: What do you mean by "till the place is ready."

The Minister for External Affairs: Survey-ing land, fixing rents, classifying areas. It would be suicidal to place people on the land before It was ascertained whether the land

was suitable.

Sir John Forrest: They can select for themselves.

The Minister for External Affairs: It was necessary first to ascertain If the land was of a quality, otherwise the Territory would get a bad name. It was intended to erect stores, so as to have £20,000 worth of material on hand. Then people, anxious to build might get the material when it was necessary. He had favoured work being done by day labour, but he had given way, and had called for tenders. But even on that Plan, it was impossible to get all the work done. He had offered the Isis! »J*»" to find money and material and buildings, if they would find the men. No reply had been received to this offer. A steamer was to be sent up to trade from Darwin to the Daly River so that settlers might send their pro-ina in a market. He hoped that some land

would be thrown open by the end of the year,

A mining man would shortly be sent up to as

sIsttÄloElst. and assist in the develop-

"Territorial Central." or Kingsland.

Progress was reported