Force will be only means left
Item
Title
Force will be only means left
datePublished
May 27, 1935
pageStart
1
identifier
84175466
Description
A newspaper article reporting on H.K. Watson's threats following the failure of the secession delegation.
content
"FORCE WILL BE ONLY
MEANS LEFT"
Mr. Watson's Fiery Threat
on Secession Petition
COLLEAGUE'S DISCLAIMER
LONDON, May 26.
A threat by Mr. H. K. Watson, a member of the
Western Australian secession delegation, that if the
Imperial Parliament adopts the report of the joint select
committee on the petition "force will be the only means
left," has caused no serious uneasiness at the Dominions
Office, and the Agent-General for Western Australia (Sir
Hal Colebatch), who was also a member of the delegation,
has hastened to dissociate himself from Mr. Watson's pro-
nouncement.
'Let it be clearly
understood that if
the Imperial Par-
liament adopts the
report of the joint
select committee on
Western Australia's
secession petition, it
will mean that
Western Australia
will be denied fur-
ther recourse to ar-
gument, and force
will be the only
means left," said
Mr. H. K. Watson,
a member of the
Western Australian
secession delegation
in London today.
referring to the rejection of the petition
as recommended by the committee.
"I will not hesitate to inform West-
ern Australians of this fact," said Mr.
Watson, "and will play a full part my-
self in whatever course is decided no
matter how unorthodox.
"Western Australians do not de-
sire further discussions with the
Federal Parliament, and will no
longer submit to such expedients.
They want action," continued Mr.
Watson.
Mr. Watson said that the Prime Min-
ister (Mr. Lyons) on more than one oc-
casion has shown hostility by refusing
to contemplate constitutional modifica-
tions designed to relieve the States.
The Agent-General for Western Aus-
tralia (Sir Hal Colebatch), who was
Mr. Watson. Help
Mr. Watson.
also a member of the delegation, in a
statement today, said: —
"No member of the delegation
has authority to make a public
statement at this stage. I cannot
associate myself with Mr Watson's
sentiments."
Fiscal Freedom
Sir Newton Moore, in a letter to the
'Times,' reiterates the arguments
against Western Australia federating
which he employed in 1901, but he ex-
presses confidence that the leaders of all
Federal parties will now realise that
something must be done. to remove the
disabilities, possibly, as the Royal Com-
mission suggested, by granting 25 years'
fiscal freedom.
"I cannot conceive of Australian
statesmanship being so bankrupt as to
be unable to evolve an adjustment of
grievances," he says. "The secession dele-
gation has done a great service to the
State, and can return satisfied that
every constitutional method has been ex-
ploited."
Delegation's Recall
Resolutely declining to comment on
Mr. Watson's statement, the Acting Pre-
mier (Mr. Drew) said today —
"My intention is that the seces-
sion delegation shall be recalled
without delay, as apparently there
is nothing further for it to do in
London."
Mr. Drew was not able to say
whether Cabinet would discuss the ques-
tion this afternoon, but the indications
are that in the near future the Acting
Premier will move in the matter.
The general consideration of secession
and of any possible further Government
action probably will not be dealt with
until a full Cabinet meeting is held after
the Premier's return from Canberra.
MEANS LEFT"
Mr. Watson's Fiery Threat
on Secession Petition
COLLEAGUE'S DISCLAIMER
LONDON, May 26.
A threat by Mr. H. K. Watson, a member of the
Western Australian secession delegation, that if the
Imperial Parliament adopts the report of the joint select
committee on the petition "force will be the only means
left," has caused no serious uneasiness at the Dominions
Office, and the Agent-General for Western Australia (Sir
Hal Colebatch), who was also a member of the delegation,
has hastened to dissociate himself from Mr. Watson's pro-
nouncement.
'Let it be clearly
understood that if
the Imperial Par-
liament adopts the
report of the joint
select committee on
Western Australia's
secession petition, it
will mean that
Western Australia
will be denied fur-
ther recourse to ar-
gument, and force
will be the only
means left," said
Mr. H. K. Watson,
a member of the
Western Australian
secession delegation
in London today.
referring to the rejection of the petition
as recommended by the committee.
"I will not hesitate to inform West-
ern Australians of this fact," said Mr.
Watson, "and will play a full part my-
self in whatever course is decided no
matter how unorthodox.
"Western Australians do not de-
sire further discussions with the
Federal Parliament, and will no
longer submit to such expedients.
They want action," continued Mr.
Watson.
Mr. Watson said that the Prime Min-
ister (Mr. Lyons) on more than one oc-
casion has shown hostility by refusing
to contemplate constitutional modifica-
tions designed to relieve the States.
The Agent-General for Western Aus-
tralia (Sir Hal Colebatch), who was
Mr. Watson. Help
Mr. Watson.
also a member of the delegation, in a
statement today, said: —
"No member of the delegation
has authority to make a public
statement at this stage. I cannot
associate myself with Mr Watson's
sentiments."
Fiscal Freedom
Sir Newton Moore, in a letter to the
'Times,' reiterates the arguments
against Western Australia federating
which he employed in 1901, but he ex-
presses confidence that the leaders of all
Federal parties will now realise that
something must be done. to remove the
disabilities, possibly, as the Royal Com-
mission suggested, by granting 25 years'
fiscal freedom.
"I cannot conceive of Australian
statesmanship being so bankrupt as to
be unable to evolve an adjustment of
grievances," he says. "The secession dele-
gation has done a great service to the
State, and can return satisfied that
every constitutional method has been ex-
ploited."
Delegation's Recall
Resolutely declining to comment on
Mr. Watson's statement, the Acting Pre-
mier (Mr. Drew) said today —
"My intention is that the seces-
sion delegation shall be recalled
without delay, as apparently there
is nothing further for it to do in
London."
Mr. Drew was not able to say
whether Cabinet would discuss the ques-
tion this afternoon, but the indications
are that in the near future the Acting
Premier will move in the matter.
The general consideration of secession
and of any possible further Government
action probably will not be dealt with
until a full Cabinet meeting is held after
the Premier's return from Canberra.