TROUBLE.

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2576, 6 March 1915, Page 4

TROUBLE.

A GOVERNOR AND A WHITE

AUSTRALIA

QUESTION RAISED IN HOUSE OF

COMMONS

London, March 5. In the House of Commons.. MiLewis Harcourtj Secretary of State for the Colonies, replying to Mr Outhwaite, Liberal M.P. for Hauler, stated that his attention had been drawn to the condemnation by MiHerbert Fisher (Federal Prime Minister) of a speech made by Sir Henry Galway, Governor of South Australia, recently. Mr Harcourt denied writing to any of the Governors of the self-governing States suggesting that they endeavour to secure the remission of- restrictions against Indians in view of the services of Indian troops. [Speaking at the Urialda Show, about the development of the Northern Territory, Sir Henry Galway said that, the hardest nut the Federal Government had to crack was the development of the Northern Territory. "How that country," said the Governor, "is going to be developed by.white labour alone I, for one, am unable to conceive. Hy all means, have a White Australia., if under that principle you can fully develop tho country, but, it would be a thousand pities to allow what- is undoubtedly a splendid country to remain undeveloped, purely on account of a White Australia policy. [Looking at the, splendid services being rendered to tne Empire by our Indian troops and by our Japanese allies, I am one of tho.se who think that the feelings-of Australians on the colour question will undergo a considerable change, or should I say softening, when the Avar is over. 1 have probably trodden perilously near what is forbidden ground to State Governors, namely politics. 1 cannot, however, allow that the future development of the Northern Territory comes strictly under that head." Commenting upon Sir Henry Galway's speech, Mr Fisher said: "If the woixls published in. inverted commas in the press attributed to his Excellency the Governor of South Australia were uttered by him, they constitute a grave official indiscretion, which cannot he allowed to pass without notice, nor for a day,, without protest." Mr Fisher added that he "had sent extracts from the newspapers to the Premier of South Australia (Mr Peake).]