AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 April 1933, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN ELECTIONS

TWO NEW GOVTS. RESULT

“SECESSION” MOVEMENT *

[BY CABLE —PBESS ASSN. —COPYBIGHT.]

(Recd. April 11, 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 10.

The progress counting of the ballots in Western and South Australia has not affected the results already announced. The Labour Government in South Australia, led by Mr Richards, suffered a crushing defeat, its representation being reduced from 20 to four, while the Liberal-County League, led by Mr Butler, has an absolute majority over all the other parties. The position in Western Australia is that the Labour Party, led by Mr P. Collier, will probably have a clear majority in the next Parliament.

The secession vote is still overwhelmingly affirmative. The Prime Minister has communicated to the Premiers of all the States, inviting them to express their wishes on the question of holding a Constitutional Convention.

MR. COLLIER’S PROMISE

(Rec. April 11, 10.30 a.m.) PERTH, April 11. Premier-elect Collier, announced

that when his Government has assumed office, the necessary steps will be taken to give effect to the decision of the people in favour of secession. Latest referendum figures are: For secession 107,884, against 55,703.

LONDON PRESS OPINIONS.

LONDON, April 10.

In their editorials London newspapers unanimously stress the futility and impossibility of Western Australia’s secession from the Commonwealth.

The “Financial Times” emphasises the desirability of conciliatory treatment towards West Australia by the Commonwealth.

The “Financial News” says: On the face of it, the vote of West Australia might be disturbing to the investors in West Australian stocks, who, quite properly, regard the resources of the Commonwealth as their real security, but it is inconceivable that the Commonwealth as a whole would approve either of secession or of legislation thereon by the Imperial Parliament. The “Daily Telegraph” says: The West Australian referendum must not be taken too seriously. The result is no surprise to those who know the dissatisfaction of West Australian farmers with the high Commonwealth tariffs imposed in the interests of the Eastern States, and, as showing how unreliable a referendum can be, the voters threw out the very Government which has engineered the secession' agitation.

EX-PREMIER’S REVIEW.

(Recd. April 11, 1 p.m.) 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 Sir Newton Moore.

“The promise by Mr Lyons to hold a convention to examine the difficulties of the position, with a view to adjusting anomalies that undoubtedly exist, seems to me the practical way of securing relief,” he said. “Western Australia has been, a very heavy per capita contributor to the bonusing of industries, which have been no benefit to her, and has justifiable grievances. The Commonwealth was created by the six sovereign States in order to secure a universal system of defence, post and telegraph and a single customs tariff, with inter-State free trade. Western Australia, in view of the fact, she had only some ten years before received responsible government, and had not. time to establish her secondary industries, was allowed to retain protection against the other States for five years, reducing 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 of the Eastern States.”