THE THIRTEENTH PARLIAMENT: 16th May, 1899-4th February, 1902.
The year 1899 was remarkable for the passage of two great measures—the Australasian Federation Enabling Act, passed in a session specially summoned for the purpose, which authorised a referendum to be taken on the new Constitution; and the invaluable and monumental Criminal Code Act, extending with its four schedules over 270 pages of the Statute-book. The Code was compiled by Sir S. W. Griffith, and was afterwards submitted to the whole of the Judges of the Supreme and District Courts before being presented to Parliament. A bill was also passed legitimising children born before marriage on the subsequent marriage of their parents. The other public measures of the session were for amending purposes.
The session of 1900 was a fairly active one, thirty-four measures being passed. A short Act of far-reaching importance empowered the Government to enter into arrangements with the Governments of the United Kingdom, Canada, Victoria, New South Wales, and New Zealand, for laying a Pacific cable. By a short measure the Government were empowered to prohibit the exportation of arms or naval stores. A great consolidating and amending Health Act was passed; also a measure, in connection with the appointment of Dr. Maxwell, of Honolulu, for the establishment of sugar experiment stations. In this year the Railway Commissioner was reappointed for three years at a salary of £2,000 per annum, being an increase of £500. The Factories and Shops Act of 1896 was repealed, and a more comprehensive measure passed. An amending Defence Act was passed providing, among other things, for the military training of boys between twelve and eighteen years. An Act also became law providing for the inspection of grammar schools by a graduate of a British or Australian University. Another measure provided for the holding of the first Commonwealth elections, and for the temporary division of the State into nine electorates for the House of Representatives election. Several bills authorising the construction of railways to mineral fields by private companies evoked the bitter opposition of the Labour party. To force them through the popular House the Government were obliged to introduce an amendment of the Standing Orders, colloquially known as the "guillotine," and to closure the bills through the House.
In the session of 1901 twenty-seven Acts were passed. The Chief Justice's salary, on the retirement of Sir S. W. Griffith to accept the Federal Chief Justiceship, was reduced to its former amount of £2,500 a year. The first legislation to eradicate the prickly pear took place in this year. The bill was introduced by a private member, Mr. Bell, who has always taken a keen interest in the destruction of this pest. It was based on the principle that close settlement is the only effective remedy, and offered inducements to settlers to select infested lands. The Public Service Act was so amended as to constitute the members of the Ministry for the time being the members of the board. A measure was passed requiring every life assurance company carrying on business in Queensland to hold £10,000 in Queensland securities, and otherwise protecting policy-holders. An Agricultural Bank Act was passed authorising the Government to advance to settlers on the land loans for carrying out improvements. An Animals Protection Act was also passed for the more effectual prevention of cruelty to animals.
THE FOURTEENTH PARLIAMENT: 8th July, 1902-21st July, 1904.
The fourteenth Parliament opened on 8th July, 1902, twenty-seven public measures becoming law in the first session. An amending Aboriginals Protection Act, chiefly dealing with the sale of opium, was passed. The sum to be paid as duty on totalisator stakes or bets was increased to one shilling in the pound from the sixpence provided by the Act of 1892. A Railway Act amending measure was passed authorising the appointment of a Commissioner for a term of seven years, and making other changes to facilitate the working of the department. In consequence of the drought and Federal embarrassments, the Public Service Special Retrenchment Act was passed, reducing the salaries of public servants on a sliding scale; and an Income Tax Bill became law, imposing a tax of sixpence in the pound upon incomes derived from personal exertion, and one shilling in the pound when derived from property, incomes under £100 being mulcted in 10s., and when not exceeding £150 £1 a year. Provision was made for the appointment of a Government department for collecting the tax, and the last section enacted that the tax should cease on 1st January, 1905. The monumental Local Government Act of 1902 also became law in this year.
The next session opened in July, and closed in December, 1903, but in mid-September progress was suspended by a change of Ministry, the Morgan-Kidston Government assuming office. Among the measures passed after the change of Ministry was an Act providing that the senior puisne Judge resident in Brisbane should be the senior puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, and discretionary power was given to the Governor in Council with regard to filling the vacancy created on the Supreme Court bench through the acceptance by Sir S. W. Griffith of the more dignified position of Chief Justice of the High Court of the Commonwealth. The Government were subjected to severe criticism for making no appointment, but the number of Judges was allowed to remain at four until the appointment of Mr. Justice Shand in November, 1908.
Parliament reassembled in May following, and sat two months, when a dissolution was granted on 21st July, in consequence of the Government being left without a working majority.
THE FIFTEENTH PARLIAMENT: 20th September, 1904-11th April, 1907.
The fifteenth Parliament opened on 20th September following, and sat until Christmas. Among the measures passed was a comprehensive Dairy Produce Act providing for the appointment of inspectors; the registration of premises, a fee being charged proportioned to the number of cows kept; for compulsory grading of butter for export; and for the general regulation of dairies. The Income Tax was continued, but gave relief to persons with small incomes, though on the whole it yielded more revenue. Owing to the exigencies of the Treasury, the Public Service Special Retrenchment Act was continued for a further period of nine months, but the rate of retrenchment was reduced by one-half, and provision was made for devoting any surplus revenue at the close of the year to the repayment to public servants of the amounts so deducted from their salaries, and in this way they received a return equal to 8s. in the pound.[a] A Registration of Clubs Act and fourteen other measures were also passed.