SECESSION MOVE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 115, 12 April 1933, Page 7

SECESSION MOVE

WEST AUSTRALIA’S DESIRES.

A COMMONWEALTH CONVENTION?

MR LYONS’S STATEMENT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph .—Copyright.) Received April 12, 10.0 a.m. SYDNEY, April 12. The State Cabinet has informed Hon. J. A. Lyons that the New South Wales Government will bo pleased to bo represented at the convention of representatives of the Commonwealth and State Governments to discuss the Commonwealth Constitution. Mr R. B. Stevens has received a telegram from Mr Lyons to the effect that the Commonwealth Government is prepared to assist in the arrangements for a convention to make recommendations on tlio question of amending the Constitution of the Commonwealth, should the Parliaments of the States, or the majority of them, agree that such a convention should be field at Canberra.

Mr Lyons stated that, even if a Western Australia delegation went toEngland to make representations to the British Government on secession, the Commonwealth Government would not consider sending a federal delegation to put the other side of the case, “We certainly are not going to waste money on a movement to combat a political and constitutional impossibility,” he said. THE LATEST FIGURES. Received April 12, 10.0 a.m. PERTH, April 12. The latest secession figures are as follow : For secession 115,394 Against 61,188 For a convention ... 75,680 Against 99,110 STATE PREMIERS CIRCULARISED SYDNEY, April 11. The Prime Minister, Mr J. A. Lyons, has communicated with the Premiers of all the States inviting them to express their wishes on the question of holding a constitutional convention. VITAL ISSUES INVOLVED. SIR HENRY BRADDON’S OPINIONS. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, April 11. Referring to the secession referendum in Western Australia during an address to Rotarians to-day, fcjir Henry Braddon, the well-known Australian politician, said: —“Although the vote has been taken, the question arises, How can Western Australia get out Y It is unconstitutional to get out. What is going to happen ? The people there may say they don’t care; they are going to get out. “Let us look at some of the issues that will be raised even if they do succeed in separating. Take finance: West 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 gain 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 B ederal Government. It is questionable li this guarantee would be continued after secession. There is also £6,000,000 to bo renewed within two years. W estern Australia could not expect the same terms without previous backing. “Thus it can be seen that the people who so gaily used their vote are facing quite a serious situation, for, should they actually secede, they will be greatly hampered financially. car Henry ventured to sa.y that the vote that had just been taken would mean nothing more serious that an expression of public opinion on the question. He did not think that the lederation would be broken.