Legal Opinions

I understand that recently some members of the crew of the s.s. Biloela which was discharging coal in the Northern Territory declined to supply steam to enable the winches to be worked, and as a consequence the vessel could not be unloaded.

I am in receipt of your minute of 4 October, forwarding copy of memorandum from the Acting Public Service Commissioner in connection with the determination of the Public Service Arbitrator in the matter of the Australian Postal Assistants' Union and the Federated Public Service Assistants' Association, and asking for advice as to whether the Public Service Arbitrator was acting in excess of his statutory powers in including a provision granting leave on full pay to officers called as witnesses for the organisations under certain prescribed conditions.

The Secretary, Home and Territories Department, forwards the following telegram from the Administrator of the Northern Territory for advice;

Registrar of companies inquiring if application for registration firm consisting A., B., C. and D. can be granted. D. Russian subject others British all equal shareholders draft Ordinance as sent under cover your [communication] is returned to you by this mail with immaterial alteration please advise.

The Secretary to the Department of Works and Railways has forwarded for advice the following memorandum:

In connection with the provision of a new General Post Office building in Perth, Western Australia, the Commonwealth Government acquired a large block of land between Wellington and Murray Streets with the object of making a new street connecting these main thoroughfares to afford frontage to the Post Office and other Commonwealth buildings.

The Secretary, Home and Territories Department, forwards the following memorandum for advice:

The following telegram, received from the Administrator of the Northern Territory, is forwarded for favour of advice:

The Chief Electoral Officer has forwarded for advice the following memorandum:

A question has been raised as to the qualifications of candidates under the Northern Territory Representation Act. In paragraph (a) of section 4 of the Act the following words occur:

The Chief Electoral Officer has referred to me a memorandum from the Secretary to the Department of Home and Territories relative to the eligibility of members of the Public Service of the Territory to stand for election as member of the House of Representatives to represent the Northern Territory and has added the following minute:

The Secretary to the Prime Minister's Department has requested advice as to whether there is any objection to the granting of permission to Messrs Miller Raynor and Haysom to register a design including the Commonwealth coat of arms, for buttons used by officers of the Commonwealth Government Line of Steamers.

Sub-section (2) of section 113 of the Trade Marks Act 1905-1919 provides as follows:

The Comptroller-General of Customs has forwarded me the following memorandum for advice:

Section 46 of the Navigation Act provides that:

1. The master of a ship, other than a limited coast-trade ship of less than fifty tons gross registered tonnage or a river and bay ship, who engages any seaman in Australia, shall enter into an agreement with him in the prescribed form, in the presence of the superintendent.
   

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The Controller of the Clearing Office (Enemy Debts) has forwarded me the following memorandum for advice:

Prior to the outbreak of war various persons purchased in Australia from German steamship companies return passage tickets available for certain periods. On the outbreak of war these shipping companies were obliged to discontinue their services, and the holders of these passage tickets were unable to make use of them and had to pay considerably advanced fares for passages on other companies' steamers to reach their destination.