[Editor: This article, which refers to the Post and Telegraph Bill, is an extract from a report on proceedings in the Australian parliament, published in The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), 6 September 1901. When it became law, the Post and Telegraph Act played a minor role in the White Australia Policy.]
House of Representatives.
Post and Telegraph Bill.
White labor question.
The Speaker took the chair at 3 o’clock. A petition was presented from the directors of the A.N.A., of Victoria, in favor of the Immigration Restriction Bill.
Mr. CHANTER (N.S.W.) presented a petition from the residents of Wentworth in favor of locking and conserving the waters of the Rivers Murray and Darling, to aid navigation.
POST AND TELEGRAPH BILL.
The Post and Telegraph Bill was further considered in Committee.
On clause 14, “Arrangements to be made for British or foreign mails,” and 15, “Contracts,”
Mr. HUGHES (N.S.W.) moved the addition of a new clause, to follow clause 15, as follows:—
“1. No contract or arrangement for the carriage of mails shall be entered into on behalf of the Commonwealth unless it contains a condition that only white labor shall be employed in such carriage.”
“2. This condition shall not apply to the coaling and loading of ships at places beyond the limits of the Commonwealth.”
Mr. KNOX (Vic.) considered this a most important matter, and held that by passing such a clause they were imposing on a commercial transaction an unnecessary obligation. He had risen to enter his dissent upon this prostration before an ideal, however great, when it was not considered on broad general commercial lines.
Mr. SOLOMON (S.A.) twitted the Government with repeated changes of front, and only bowing to the inevitable after a count of noses when they found themselves in a hopeless minority. (Government laughter.) A provision of this sort might entail the loss of the handsome subsidy paid by the British Government in support of this service.
Mr. WILKS (N.S.W.): Well, let us wait and see.
Mr. SOLOMON: The expenditure of the Commonwealth was far greater than originally estimated.
Mr. PAGE (Q.): How do you know?
Mr. SOLDMON: Well, I have seen the figures.
Mr. PAGE: No other member has.
Mr. SOLOMON would be glad if Mr. Page would allow him to proceed.
Mr. PAGE: I can’t help interjecting when I know you are telling untruths.
Mr. SOLOMON asked that the words be withdrawn.
Mr. PAGE withdrew and apologised.
Mr. SOLOMON questioned whether it was wise to hamper a purely machinery bill like this with such a clause. He thought it would have been better to deal with it in a comprehensive measure, covering the whole question of colored labor.
Mr. G. A. CRUICKSHANK (N.S.W.) thought the Government had taken the right course, especially in giving an opportunity for thoroughly debating the matter before coming to a conclusion.
Sir WILLIAM McMILLAN (N.S.W.) pointed out that the result of last night’s debate had been to modify the original proposal and render it less objectionable. He must again enter his protest against putting a clause in this bill which was absolutely unnecessary at the present time, and would give rise to a great deal of unnecessary irritation. The new clause was agreed to, as also were clauses 14 and 15.
Source:
The Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW), 6 September 1901, p. 6 (Second Edition)
Editor’s notes:
A.N.A. = Australian Natives’ Association
See: “Australian Natives’ Association”, Wikipedia
bill = a proposed law, or an amendment to an existing law
See: “Bill (law)”, Wikipedia
Commonwealth = the government of the Commonwealth of Australia, i.e. the federal government of Australia
count of noses = a count of people, especially 1) regarding a count of people in favour of, or against, a decision, idea, or policy; or 2) regarding a count of the number of people in a country, group, or organisation (similar to the phrase “count of heads”)
Hughes = William Morris (Billy) Hughes (1862-1952), one of Australia’s longest-serving federal parliamentarians (1901-1952); he was Prime Minister of Australia 1915-1923 (which included the First World War, 1914-1918); he was born in Pimlico (London, England) in 1862, migrated to Australia in 1884, and died in Lindfield (Sydney, NSW) in 1952
See: 1) L. F. Fitzhardinge, “Hughes, William Morris (Billy) (1862–1952)”, Australian Dictionary of Biography
2) “Billy Hughes”, Wikipedia
twitted = made fun of, teased, taunted (especially in a humorous, jocular, or light-hearted manner)
[Editor: Changed “in supoprt of” to “in support of”.]
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