WHITE AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2402, 6 March 1915, Page 8

WHITE AUSTRALIA

AN INDISCREET SPEECH

COMMENT IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

By Telejraph.—Press Aisodatdon—O/pyrieW London, March 4.

In the House of Commons, Mr.-Lewis Harcourt, Secretary of State for the Colonies, replying to Mr. Outhwaite, Liberal ' MJ. for Hanley, stated that his attention had been drawn to the condemnation by Mr. Fisher (Federal Prime Minister) of a speech made by Sir Henry Galway, Governor of South Australia, recently. Mr. Harcourt denied writing to any of the Governors of the self-governing States suggesting that they endeavour to secure the remission of restrictions against Indians in view of the services of Indian troops.

[Speaking at the Urialda Show, about the development of the Northern. Territory, Sir Henry Galway said that the hardest nut the Federal Government bad to crack was the development of the Northern Territory. "How that country,"'said the Governor, "is going to be developed by white labour alone I, for one, am unable to conceive. By all means, have a White Australia, if nnder that principle you can fully develop the country, but it would, be a thousand pities to allow what is undoubtedly a splendid country to remain undeveloped purely on account of a White Australia policy. Looking at the splendid services being rendered to the Empire by our Indian troops and by our Japanese allies, I am one of those who think that the feelings of Australians on the colour question will undergo a considerable change, or should I say softening, when the war is over. I have probably trodden perilously near what is forbidden ground to State Governors, namely, politics. I, cannot, however, allow that the future development of the Northern Territory comes strictly under that head." Commenting upon Sir j Henry Galway's speech, Mr. Fisher said: "If the words published in inverted commas- in the Press attributed to His Excellency the Governor of South Australia were uttered _ by him,they constitute a grave official indiscretion, which cannot be allowed to pass without notice, not for a day, without protest." Mr. Fisher added that he had sent extracts from the newspapers to the Premier of South Australia (Mr. Peake).]