Western Australia

Inangahua Times, 7 November 1934, Page 1

Western Australia

Western Australia is petitioning for the right to speede from the Commonwealth Federation. This State occupies almost'a third of tbe Australian Continent, and exceeds in size the combined area of France. Germany. Italy. Austria, Belgium, England and Wales. Portugal. Huagary, Holland, Denmark. Albania. Corsica and Sardinia. New Zealand. Victoria and Tasmania Thp secession movement may be said to date almost immediately from inclusion in the Federation 34 years ago. In 1932 the Secession Referendum Act was passed, and in 1933 a vigorous campaign was waged. The Prime Minister of Australia and Federal delegates visited Western Australia to oppose the movement, but a State wide referendum resulted in (138.653 people voting in favour of secession, and 70,706 against. The number of people entitled to vote was 237.198. Supporters of the secession movement claim that Western Australia’s greatest burden arises from Australian protection and inter-State free trade. Under the provisions of the Commonwealth Constitution, the Commonwealth tariff must apply uniformly to all States ; the one single tariff wall must surround the whole oP Australia ; and trade between the States of the' Commonwealth must be free. Western Australia claims that tbe burden of protection falls unfairlv upon her export industries of wheat,, wool and mining. Western Australia is almost totally dependent upon the overseas consumers of her, products, in which wheat, flour and wo*l are predominant, and together provide 78 per cent, of ’ the State’s tota> merchandise exportable overseas. She claims that in order to ensure the profitable and efficient conduct of stable export industries, oroduetion costs should be maintained' at an irreducible minimum. The burden of protection, however, has so increased costs as to make tteie industries unprofitable, even in prosperous times This arises directly from increased price* fir machinery a**d equipment, forcing and water setem*s. building materials, and certain fertilisers, and •n the increased cost of living due to tariffs.