PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES. SESSION 1907-8. (SECOND SESSION OF THE THIRD PARLIAMENT.) VOL. XXXIX. (Comprising the period from 12th September to 3rd October, 1907.) SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Printed and Published for the GOVERNMENT of the COMMONWEALTH of AUSTRALIA by 1908. F.7128. To interpret the whole course of Nature by the Struggle for Life is as absurd as if one were to define the character of St. Francis by the tempers of his childhood. Worlds grow up as well as infants, their tempers change, the better nature opens out, new objects of desire appear, higher activities are added to the lower. The first chapter or two of the story of Evolution may be headed the Struggle for Life, but take the book as a whole and it is not a tale of battle. It is a Love story. That spirit permeates the whole of ProThe old fessor Drummond's writings. theory that every step in the path of progress was the result of a struggle for life is altogether unsuitable to the present age. We are now beginning to pay more regard to the interests of the whole people. Senator MACFARLANE.-I desire to ask the Vice-President of the Executive Council, without notice, whether he will see that a copy of the report of the Navigation Commission is circulated amongst honorable senators before he moves the second reading of the Navigation Bill? Senator BEST.-The report is being Mr. JOSEPH COOK.-The writer does not printed, and will, I am informed, be cireliminate the element of struggle? Mr. SPENCE.-He speaks of the strug gle for the lives of others. culated to-morrow morning. NORTHERN TERRITORY. Senator WALKER.-I desire to ask the Mr. JOSEPH COOK.-It is, nevertheless, Vice-President of the Executive Council, a struggle. Mr. SPENCE.-In this Parliament we We are struggling for the lives of others. are endeavouring to improve the lot of the individual. Members of the Labour Party claim that those who are the most downtrodden are receiving our first considera tion. Mr. JOSEPH COOK.-That is a very convenient application of the honorable member's theory. Mr. SPENCE.-The competitive system The wage is one which cannot endure. system is merely a system of wage slavery; Whatever the future may have in store I know not, but I do believe that a change will come rapidly. To talk about permanency in connexion with the competitive system is to ignore the actual conditions of life. I am sorry that I have trespassed so long upon the time of the Committee. trust that the attempt which we are about to make to improve the lot of industrial employés will be absolutely justified. It is en tirely a new proposal. I without notice, whether he can lay before the Senate any information in regard to the agreement for taking over the Northern Territory from South Australia? Senator BEST.-I hardly know what my honorable friend refers to, but a little time ago, when replying to a question, I stated that it was not the intention of the Government to seek the confirmation of this Parliament to the proposed transfer of the Northern Territory until the provisional agreement had been confirmed by the State Parliament. Senator WALKER.-Is the provisional agreement in print, and, if so, has it been circulated? Senator BEST.-It is in print. PERSONAL EXPLANATION. ENTRY IN PAIR BOOK. Senator Colonel NEILD (New South Wales) [2.34].-1 desire to bring a question of privilege before the Senate, and of course I shall conclude my remarks with a motion. I regret that Senator Clemons is not in his place, and that I have not been able to acquaint him with my intention to bring the matter before the Senate, but if I did not avail myself of the first opportunity at my disposal I should have to let it stand over indefinitely. I suppose that I shall be met with a little difficulty. It is the matter of an entry in the pair book, which is provided by the Senate for the use of honorable senators, and which lies upon the table. The PRESIDENT.-Order. I remind the honorable senator that the Senate cannot take notice of a question of pairs. The pair book is simply placed upon the table for the convenience of honorable senators. Pairs are not entered in the Journals. Certainly they are entered in Hansard, but I do not regard the matter of a pair as involving a question of the rights or privileges of the Senate or of a senator. Standing order 112 says- Whenever a matter or question directly concerning the privileges of the Senate, or of any Committee or member thereof, has arisen since the last sitting of the Senate, a motion calling upon the Senate to take action thereon may be moved, without notice, and shall, until decided, unless the debate be adjourned, suspend the consideration of other motions as well as Orders of the Day. On two or three occasions the question of pairing has been raised, and it has been distinctly held by my predecessor that pairs cannot be taken cognizance of by the Senate. With this opinion I am distinctly in accord. Senator Colonel NEILD.-Pardon me, sir, if you would hear what I wish to say you would see that the matter I desire to bring before the Senate is quite different from that with which you are dealing. The PRESIDENT.-If that is the case I shall hear what the honorable senator has to say before I give a definite ruling. Senator Colonel NEILD.-I shall state the facts very briefly. It was physically impossible for me to be present when the division on Senator McColl's amendment to the motion for the second reading of the Bounties Bill was taken, and, therefore, I requested Senator Walker to arrange a pair for me. The PRESIDENT.-Order! Senator Colonel NEILD.-Mr. President, it is not a question of the making of a pair or a dispute about a pair, but a question of an alteration of a pair in the pair book being effected by an unauthorized person on the day after the division took place. The PRESIDENT.-I can see clearly what the honorable senator is aiming at. I do not consider that he can bring the matter forward as a question of privilege. Pairing is arranged for the convenience of honorable senators, and is not taken cognizance of by the Senate. That being the case, I cannot regard any question affecting an entry or a non-entry, or a change in the disposition of a pair into which an honorable senator may have entered, as involving a matter of privilege. If, through illness, or othe cient cause, he is unable to vote, arranges with another honorable for a pair, and that is duly entered pair book, and, I believe, recor Hansard. Senator Colonel NEILD.-That is the difficulty, sir. The PRESIDENT.-It is not an record of the Senate. n Senator Colonel NEILD.—Of sir, I recognise the accuracy of ruling, though I beg to point out th proceedings are governed by the St Orders, and that they contain which prevents me from bringing f this matter. With great respect t sir, I point out that in the Imperia liament, under a long established pairs are not recognised. We have n established custom, but only St the code, and I see no rule which p Orders to guide us. I have inves the question, not of a dispute as to me from raising, as a matter of pri but of a written alteration of a record has the effect of misrepresenting me The PRESIDENT.-Order! I allow the matter to be pursued any in this way. I have given my rulin may be quite true that in the St Orders there is no rule dealing wi question of pairs, but where the silent, there must be some authority Senate to act, and that authority is in the Chair. I consider that it duty to give a ruling on a questi this kind. The Senate would be le all sorts of strange by-ways at di times if a President were not in the tion to take the responsibility of gi which can be raised by the honorable ruling. I rule that this is not a tor as a question of privilege. n Senator McGREGOR.-Will it competent, sir, for the honorable s to make whatever explanation he on the motion to adjourn the Senate? The PRESIDENT.-Senator Neil be quite in order in alluding to the then if he sees fit. |