STATE PETITION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 16 February 1935, Page 10

STATE PETITION

FEDERAL SECESSION ISSUE LONDON, sth February. Government circles are stated to be astonished by the report that the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr J. A. Lyons, “conveyed the House of Conunons the Commonwealth’s strong objection to the House .receiving the West Australian secession petition, which properly should be 'directed to the Commonwealth.”

It is asserted that Mr Lyons not only completely misunderstands the situation, but misinterprets the meaning of the Co ions Public Petitions Committee, which recommended that a Select Committee bo appointed merely to determine the advisability of the petition’s reception by the House of Commons. Professor Berricdale Keith, the constitutional authority, stated to the “Daily Telegraph” representative: “It is perfectly, clear that any action by the British Parliament will be wholly unconstitutional and completely out of the question in view of the terms of the Coinin'-'nwealth Constitution, but Parliament is bound by its-own precedents. “The only issue to be argued is the pure question of admissibility of the petition.. There is no precise precedent binding, but the strongest considerations of convenience suggest that rejection of admissibility will be in accordance with tlie natural development of the relations between the United Kingdom and the Dominions.”

Writing in the ’ “Scotsman” the professor says: “There is no doubt that every consideration of expediency and constitutional propriety, which ranks far above bare legality favours refusal to receive the petition. It is regrettable that West Australia has placed a Crown Parliament in such an embarrassing position.”