CANNOT SECEDE

Grey River Argus, 27 May 1935, Page 5

CANNOT SECEDE

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Petition Fails (Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON. May 24. Western Australia’> secession petition has been disallowed by 'the House of Lords’ Committee, which did nor consider that its duty was’ limited to reporting merely on the propriety ami form of the petition for the purpose of its reception by Parliament. There was no question as to the undoubted and ancient right of Parliament to receive whatever petitions it thought lit. or the, historic right of the subjects of the Crown to present petitions to Parliament, the committee said, but thesv rights, like the abstract right of Parliament to legislate for 'the whole Empire. wore only exercised im relation to the affairs of the Dominions in accordance will) certain long-established ami clearly-understood constitutional principles/, to which Parliament more - reeently had given its formal and statutory approval in the Statute of Westminster.

Western Australia, in joining -‘the Commonwealth; surrendered all the powers it previously had enjoyed as a self-governing colony and thereafter continued to exist as a, political entity in respect only as to tin* powers which remained vested in the States. Western Australia, hail no locus standi iu asking for legislation from the Parliament of the United Kingdom in regard to the constitution of the Commonwealth any more than it would have in asking for legislation to alter the con stitution of another Australian State, or than the Commonwealh would have in asking for an amendment to the constitution of the State of Western Australia. The Parliament of the United Kingdom, in enacting that constitution, was giving effect to the voice of the people of the continent of Australia and not th? voice of any State or States. lit was

only, therefore, when invoked by the voice of the people of Australia, that, according to constitutional usage,, the Parliament of the United Kingdom could properly vary. or dissolve, the Federal union. It was true that as things stood, the Parliament of the United Kingdom alone could pass an Act which would have that result; also that this Parliament had in law full 'competence to do so. even ngai.nts the wish and without the consent of the Commonwealth. The report added: “The legal competence of the Parliament of 'the United Kingdom to legislate for the Internal affairs of any Dominion or sei f-govern ing Strife, or colony, can. [only he reconciled with the fundamen- ■ ital' conception of them as autonomous and it would be easy to state the practical difficulties ■which would follow from any departure from this principle.’’ DELEGATION’S COMMENT The secession delegation in a joint statement declared: “The report will oe the occasion for great and widespread disappointment and, we fear, much resentment in Western Australia, Its adoption by the Imperial Parliament might bo fraught with grave consequences. The delegates will consider the report further at the week-end. MR LYONS PLEASED.

Air Lyons in a statement. said: “1 am pleasedj. of course, with the substance and unanimity of the report, not because of a desire to suppress discussion of Western Australia’s special problems hut because I feel strongly that any such discussion should take place in the proper forum, namely the Commonwealth Parliament, or before any Commission, each as Grant’s Commission. established for that purpose. The report marks out the respective jurisdictions of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the Parliaments of 'the Dominions in such a way as* to avoid future embarrassment for any of them.’’

WESTRALIAN PREMIER’S STATEMENT. MELBOURNE, May 25. The Premier of Western Australia, Mr Phillip Collier, who is visiting Melbourne, said that the committee’s report on the secession petition in London did not represent the end of matters as far ns Western Australia was concerned. There certainly would have to be a change of mind and attitude on the part of the Federal Parliament towards the smaller States as the position existing to-day was absolutely intolerable. Unless grave changes im the constitution were made the federation would not last ten more years.