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Hokitika Guardian, 9 March 1933, Page 4

'ln connection witlli the secession movement, a warning was issued to the ©lectors of Western Australia by the Prime Minister (Mr Lyons) who stated a vote in favour of secession can have no legal or constitutional effect, but it does not follow that it may not have other very serious consequences. I know that many people who realise that such a voile would be ineffective are nevertheless inclined to support secession at the 'referendum by way of a demonstration. I address this appeal to oil the people of Western Australia, but more particularly to those who may lie dv{'osed to cast their votes hy way of protest against some particular Federal policy. I am a life-lorg reddest in, and a renresp’t+’tive of, Tasmania, the smallest ■State of the Commonwealth, and it is known that for many years I have supported the canoe of the smaller and less influential S l ato". T am glad T have recently tonnd it +n do to al-os’st the sr-Wler States.! My '’lose association with Tasmania enables me, with the utmost Gympat(hv and friendliness, to ask the eaople of Western Australia, before oasting their vetee, to giro full

consideration to wlmt may be the cuu,sequences of their action. It is of the first importance to every .State that, the imancial ciudk. ol too LUmmouwealth in London shall remain unimpaired. Notiiiiig could lie more fatal to that- Crete* than for anything to. happen in Australia which would .•jugge.-t i.o the holders of State securities the posable breaking-up of the Federation. A majority vote for secession would be ltgarded ats such an indication, and in my considered judgment, would have a. most injurious effect on our credit in London. It would do very 'serious damage to any conversion operation, with consequent loss to the people of all the States. A repudiation, of the Commonwealth Constitution and of the Financial Agreement by the people of any State would, though legally ineffective and nugatory, be mo-.t seriously prejudicial to the credit of Australia as a whole, and iparticularlv to the credit of the States.”