EMPIRE BILL
Extraordinary Controversy
In Australia
STATUTE OF WESTMINSTER
Rec. 1.30 p.m. CANBERRA, this day. An extraordinary controversy has developed in the Australian House of Representatives over the request by the Attorney-General, Dr. Evatt, for leave to introduce the Statute of Westminster Ratifying Bill. Numbers of the Opposition members expressed hostility to the introduction of the bill in wartime.
The Minister said he was horrified to have met with such a barrage of suggestions that the bill was antiBritish. The bill was not anti-British-it was simply intended to clear up legal difficulties by ratifying the legislation passed by the British Parliament. itself.
" J ,f imagine the propaganda which will be made out of this bv the Axis powers, said an Opposition member, declaring that, since the bill had remained quiescent on the statute book since 1931, there was no reason why it should now be rushed through. The introduction of the bill was finally agreed to on the voices.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 233, 2 October 1942, Page 3
Word Count
159EMPIRE BILL Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 233, 2 October 1942, Page 3
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