SECESSION VOTE.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20829, 12 April 1933, Page 11

SECESSION VOTE.

WESTERN AUSTRALIAN BALLOT. ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY PREMIER-ELECT. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —BY KEffICTBW TELEGBAPH —COPSBIGHT.) PERTH, April 10. The Premier-elect, Mr P. Collier (Labour), announced that when his Government assumed office the necessary steps would be taken to give effect to the decision of the people in favour of secession. The latest referendum figures are:— For secession ~ 107,884 Against - - 55,703 GRIEVANCES OF STATE. SECESSION DIFFICULT TO CARRY OUT. MONTREAL, April 10. The decision of the voters of Western Australia to secede from the Commonwealth will be very difficult to carry out, now that the finances of the States are so interwoven, according to Major-General the Hon. Sir Newton Moore (who was born in Bunbury, Western Australia, and is now president of the Dominion Coal and Steel Corporation of Canada). "The promise by Mr Lyons (Prime Minister) to hold a convention to examine the difficulties of the position, with a view to adjusting the anomalies that undoubtedly exist, seems to me a practical way of securing relief," he said. "Western Australia has been a very heavy per capita contributor to the payment of bonuses to industries which have been of no benefit to her, and has justifiable grievances. "The Commonweal th was created by six sovereign States in order to secure a universal system of defence, post and telegraphs, and single Customs tariff, with interState free trade. Western Australia, in view of the fact that she had only some 10 years before received responsible government, and had not had time to establish her secondary industries, was allowed to retain protection against the other States for five years, reducing the inter-State tariff by 20 per cent, yearly. But five years in the history of a nation does not allow much time to establish her industries, and there has always been a feeling that Western Australia has been a dumping ground for the manufacturers in the eastern States." SOME OF THE ISSUES. SIR HENRY BRADDON'S VIEWS. (PKBSS ASSOCIATION T2LEOBAU.) INVERCARGILL, April 11. Referring to the secession referendum in Western Australia during an address to Rotarians to-day, Sir Henry Braddon said:—

"Although a vote has been taken, the question arises 'how can Western Australia get out?' It is unconstitutional to get out. What is going to happen? The people may say they do not care, and that they are going to get out. Let us look at some of the issues that will be raised even if they do succeed in separating. Take finance. Western Australia gets a grant of £500,000 from the Federal Government towards the disabilities suffered, and with other concessions she benefits to the extent of approximately £700,000 from the federation. If she secedes, what happens? Not only will this gain disappear, but she will have to carry £ 10,000,000. of short term indebtedness. This is at present guaranteed by the Commonwealth Bank and the Federal Government. It is questionable if this guarantee would be continued after secession. There is also £ 6,000,000 to be renewed within two years. Western Australia could not expect the same terms without the previous backing. Thus it can be seen that the people who so gaily used their vote are facing a serious situation, for should they actually secede, they will be greatly hampered financially." Sir Henry Braddon ventured to say that the vote that had just been taken would mean nothing more serious than an expression of public opinion on the question. He did not think that the federation would be broken.