“NOT A REBEL”

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1933, Page 7

“NOT A REBEL”

SENATOR RESENTS ATTACK. WEST AUSTRALIAN REFERENDUM SYDNEY, July 8. In tlio Australian Senate Senator Johnston, a. Western Australian United Country Party member, indignantly repudiated a sugegstion that his activities in the recent referendum campaign in Western Australia had loft him open to a charge of rebellion. He referred to attacks made by Senator Brennan,. of Victoria, on secessionists in general, and on himself in particular. Senator Brennan had described lum a rebel. Senator Rae (Lang Labour, N.S.W.): What is wrong with being a good, healthy rebel ? Air Johnston said that lie resented the charge that he was a rebel. Senator Brennan had made a personal attack oil him, although a former senator —Sir H. Colebateh—and Messrs Gregory and Prowse, M.H.R.’s, had taken just as active a part in the campaign as lie had. A coloured representation of a Union Jack with a black swan upon it was produced by Mr Johnston. Far from being rebels, he said, secessionists had chosen this emblem as the flag o c the future Dominion. The League of Western Australia never met without singin <? the National Anthem at least once. Efforts to obtain self-government in Western '.Australia were being conducted by constitutional means. Senator Brennan had stated that the former Premier of Western Australia. Sir James Mitchell, who had led the secession movement, had been relegated to obscurity. The present Labour Ministry jo "Western Australia, added Mr Johnston, be-

b’eved in the appointment of Australian Governors, and he (Senator Johnston') hoped that the nevt Governor of the State would he Sir James Mitchell, whose work for land settlemeut in the last 25 voars had him to he one of the builders of the Empire.