STATE SOVEREIGNTY

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1942, Page 1

STATE SOVEREIGNTY

AUSTRALIAN CONTROVERSY. SYDNEY, June 17. The State Cabinet decided not to contest the validitv of the Commonwealth uniform taxation legislation, before the High Court. Premier Mc ; Kell, announcing this decision, saia it had been made after Cabinet had considered the views of the Labour Conference. A Speaking at Bendigo, the Minister of Customs (Senator Keane) predicted that the move being made Ijy some State Governments to test the validity of the Uniform Taxation Acts would open the greatest campaign for the abolition of State Parliaments ever conceived in this country. “Remembering that State Parliaments represent the same people as we do, and spend the same people’s money, the course iwhich has been taken appears absurd.” “The States can do useful wori< on local matters, hut their day for posturing in the robes of sovereignty has gone,” said Mr W. M. Hughes, addressing the Australian Natives’ Association. “The time is" ripe for the Federal Government to declare its intention of submitting to the people- proposals which will make the Commonwealth Parliament, the supreme national legislative and executive authority of Australia.’’ The uniform tax law was a hesitant step, since it was to end twelve months after the war. If Australia was to have a worthwhile new order there must be far-reaching national planning and the Commonwealth Government should have complete control. Mr Hughes referred to the State Premiers as “Pinchbeck Caesars, standing aloof and babbling about State rights when not only the rights but the very existence of their people is in deadly peril.” The most urgent among imperative changes of the great national policy of post-war, planning was the unification of the Australian railway systems.