SECESSION REFERENDUM

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIII, Issue 103, 12 April 1933, Page 7

SECESSION REFERENDUM

WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S VOTE. HOW FINANCE IS INVOLVED. INVERCARGILL, April 11. Referring to the secession referendum in Western Australia during an address to Rotarians to-day, Sir Heury Braddon said: ‘‘Although a vote has been taken, the question arises: How can Western Australia get out? It is unconstitutional to get out. What is going to happen? The people may say that they don't care, but that they are going to get out. Let us look at gome of the issues that will be raised, even if they do succeed in separating. “Take finance: Western Australia gets a grant of £500,000 from the Federal Government towards disabilities suffered, and with other concessions she benefits to the extent of approximately £700,000 from the Federation. If she secedes, what happens! Not only will this grant disappear, but she will have to carry £10,000,000 of short-term indebtedness. This is at present guaranteed by the Commonwealth Bank and the Federal Government. It is questionable if this guarantee would be continued after secession. There is also £6,000,000 to be renewed within two years. Western Australia could not expect the same terms without her previous backing. “Thus it can be seen that the people who so gladly used their vote are facing quite a serious situation, for should they actually secede they will bo greatly hampered financially.” He ventured to say that the vote that had just been taken would mean nothing more serious than an expression of public opinion on the question. He did not think that the Federation would be broken.