NEW STATES

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1931, Page 5

NEW STATES

SCULLJN’S REPLY

TOO MANY PARLIAMENTS NOW

(Australian Press Association.)

CANBERRA, September 30,

The Prime Minister, Mr J. H. ScutJin, to-day made it qtiite plain that the Federal Ministry was definitely opposed to any constitutional change which would mean an increased number of self-governed legislatives in Australia. Indeed, he said, the Government’s aim would rather he directed towards unification, giving the Commonwealth a parliament with complete sovereign powers, and delegating purely local powers to provincial councils.

Mr Scullin made a reply in these terms to a delegation of the Union Country Movement, led by Mr Charles Hardy, who had sponsored the case for separation in the Riverina. Mr Hardy explained that country folk were very determined to ohtam constitutional reform along the lines of the recent agitation in the North and South of New South Wales. He said that Riverina people were most anxious for a convention to discuss a sub-divi-sion of the existing states of Australia. Mr Scullin rejected this idea also, but he indicated that the people would have the opportunity, in the near futmre, to express their views concerning these constitutional charges that were now being suggested. He promised to submit all of the representations made to the Cabinet, but he hinted that the delegation could expect no assistance from the present Government in attaining its objective.

AUSTRALIA N TR ADE. WITH CANADA.

EDMONTON, September 29. Mr Crownley, Premier of Ontario, assured tlie Australian trade representatives that the Ontario Provincial Government was sympathetic to any goodwill effort, and to a greater exchange of products, if it did not involve on the part of either country, importations unduly competing with the home products. He also indicated a willingness to arrange, through schools, for the observance of an "Australian Day” on the date that the "Goodwill” ship reaches port from the Antipodes.