AUSTRALIAN NEWS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 102, 11 April 1933, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

ELECTION RETURNS SOUTHERN LABOUR’S CRUSHING DEFEAT. THE WESTERN SECESSION VOTE. SYDNEY, April 10. The progress of counting of the ballots in Western and Southern Australia have not affected the results already announced. The Labour Government in South Australia, led by Mr Richards, has 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 other parties. Tho position in Western Australia is that tne Labour Party, led by Mr P. Collier, will have a clear majority, probably of tea, in the next I’arHain ent. The secession vote is i»t ill overwhelmingly affirmative. The Prime Minister has communicated with the Premiers of all States inviting them to express their wishes on the question of holding u constitutional convention. W. AUSTRALIAN SECESSION THE FEELING AT HOME LONDON, April 10. Editorials unanimously stress the futility and impossibility of Western Australian secession. The ‘‘Financial Times" emphasises the desirability of conciliatory treatment of West Australia by the Commonwealth. The ‘‘Financial News" says: “On the face of it the vote might be disturbing to iuvestors in West Australian stocks, who quite properly regard the resources of the Commonwealth as a real security, hut it is inconceivable that the Commonwealth as a whole will approve either secession or legislation by tho Imperial Parliament.” The “Daily Telegraph" says: “The referendum must not be taken too seriously. The result is no surprise to loose who know the dissatisfaction of farmers with the high tariffs imposed in the interests of the eastern States, and as showing how unreliable the referendum can be, voters threw out the very Government which engineered ths secession agitation." £6,000,000 SURPLUS REVENUE SYDNEY, April 10. The Federal Government accounts for the nine months disclose a surplus of £*2,331,000. Treasury officials express the opinion that for the full 12 months revenue may exceed the estimate by £6.000,000. Customs receipts alone will be £5,000,003 above the estimate. MR. MASSY GREENE RETURNS* HIS OPINION OF DOMINION SYDNEY, April 10. Mr Massy Greene has arrived, but declined to discuss the outcome of bis mission to New Zealand. He merely commented in general terms upon the effects of the depression there, remarking that the Dominion apparently had failed to realise as soon as the Commonwealth the need for grappling with the situation.