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THE SENATE.
QUESTIONS.
Replying to Senator Gardiner, the
MINISTER of DEFENCE said that in
structions had been issued to State
Commandants that non-commissioned
0 ,'. ers aj . ic * lut’ii of the Royal A us -
tralian Field Artillery, Royal Austra
lian Garrison Artillery-, and Royal
Australian Engineers,' -who were eli
gible bivt did not volunteer for active
service, wer-o not to l>c rc-eugaged ox*
allowed to continue serving without re
engagement. The Commandant, of
New South Wales had convened a
[.court 1 oil enquiry . to investigate all
jcases of men serving in ilicse units
and adegcu' ■■to have not volunteered
ifor active service. A small- number
I of men of the permanent, forces did
pJP.t. volunteer for active service uncon
ditionally, their, reasons being mainly
tnat they had large.-families depend
! . upon them, arid they were re
quired To . a lower rank; oh enlistment
foC active service. No man wag cdfn-
-by higher military., authority, to
volunteer for. active service uncondir.
tionally. . Senator Pearce added- that
-there; was nothing to prevent any man
poining forward and giving any rele
vant evidence at the court -of enquiry.
Sfi3iator -- BakJiap,....the
,AIIN ISTEr, of DEFENCE said that it
was true that the ...Naval Departriient
tvjas . now- paying over £9 per ton for.-
some of its supplies of fuel oil for naval
. .from Australian sources,'
. f 1 ® 11 . the local shale oil companies.
?i®S e V - a. position to supply liquid
•fueT. *6 the Nayyof suitable quality,
and in suitable quantities, the Gov
ernment would purchase it, provided
the' priee : -was satisfactory.
Aife-ri'SfilX'- to Senator Gardiner, the.
. of . DEFENCE.. said" that
- E? 19? - :’?P e Government. xvas to
awaref rates in all
ea^ek.whCTc such an. award , applied to
djpuvticular. callfng,' aud in cases where
rtljere was no- Government. award
tqcal rates, were .paid.- It' wias riot s
considered desirable to depart ' from'
this practice.- • '. ~
;lii. Senafor' Payne.' Sena-;
tejr RDS&EIiIi-,said, that it was .pro
posed- to- hold-*an-,inquiry- into the al
legations which. indicated the existence
$ a .hugey
not-"only -embrac^d^-large-, numbers of
.Ivaterfront.-.-workefe,*. but- se : emed/a'l3o to
iriv.orye ..:many ; ;q]ffieers' .of the -Gristoma
Department;.
jS-In reply to .' Senator -De Jiargie,
Senator PJEA®CSB ; fgia» iti;was pot pr<£
pqsed to.,- reduce .or abplish ; .the JGriter
t® nmeiit .Tax- in' jresraotlx of' eritertain-
ofa .^partly,/educational •charge-;
pro-'
th&exratmg : law--suck en>
- from' the
TA J&heif? tfie ertbeih
institution or committee, and nob con
ducted "or established, for.prafit
In reply to Senator Lynch, Senator
RUSSELL said that if farmers sold
their wheat certificates they must acr
cept their present value, and therefore
bear the discount charges. It was
nob unlikely that . sufficient wheat
wourd he delivered before 30th April,;
1921, to realise the whole amount of;
5/ per bushel which was to be ad
vanced.,
I meaSres dealt with.
The Cbrnmonwealth Bank Bill passed
through all stages, and the Electoral
Bill and Land Tax Bill were put j
'through their second reading;. The
Aliens Registration Bill was takfig, in
to committee, and the amendments
made by the Representatives agreed" to
INQUIRY INTO INDUSTRIES.
Senator DE BARDIE resumed the
debate on Senator Lynch’s motion pro
posing a commission of inquiry into
rural and other industries. He said
that if Australia received a preference
irr the British market for her woof,
wheat, etc., we could compete with the
Argentine.
The MINISTER for DEFENCE said
that Senator Lynch’s proposal meant
a costly and-cumbersome inquiry.
Senator LYNCH ultimately said that
as Senator Pearce had undertaken to
make, inquiries lie. would withdraw his
motion.
ESTIMATES.
The Estimates were submitted, and
the Senate rose.. - . — :
$