PETITION TO KING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 171, 12 March 1932, Page 5

PETITION TO KING

» .v (Press. Assn.—

NEW GUARD MOVES PRAYER FOR DISSOLUTION OF 1 NEW SOUTH WALES # PARLIAMENT PRESENT ATION TO GOVERNOR

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

Rec. Mai*. 11-, 8.30 p.m. SYDNEjY, Friday. Members of the New Guard, without ' ceremony, presented to the Governor, * 'Sir ' Phili'p Game, a petition foh forwarding to the King, praying that actio'n be takeh to dissoive the NeW South Wales Parliament. " A pr'ocession ' of New 'Giiardsmen was drigiiiall'y" planned' t'o pr'oce'ed th'e Visit 'to ' GoYehnment House, but \vas abandoned, ostensibiy "dn tbe ground that a number of tbe members were unable to leave work. To-day 20 Guardsmen, wehring official arm bands, mai'ched in fours to Government House, but only four Were allo'Wed to enter, including tbe leader, Colonel Erie Campbell. : A large _ gathering of the public waited about the gbtes in idle curios- ; ity,'but there Was no disorder of ariy kind. * ' C'olonel Campbell sought to preface the ^resentation of the petition with a few eomments, but His Excfellency politely suggested 'that be had hetter'read the petition fifst. Colonel Campbell acquie'sced, after whibh his Excelleney hemarked, "I am quite ready 'to f orward the petition to' Hfs Majesty, but as "far as I can ascertain, I do not tbink it is my duty to forwafd tbe aecbmpanying eomments, nor'do'I think it wise to enter into further explanation or discussion." Colonel Campbell said: "As your Excelleney pleases. I sliall hand you a tjfpewritten statement of my eomments." ' The Governor : "Do you wish it sent to His Majesty?" Colonel Campbell: "I do." Tlie 'Governof: "Then I sliall liave

to investigate my position before doing so." The petition and the statement were tben handed to the Governor. The main feature of the statement was an undertaking to abandon the New Guard's physical organisation immediately after a dissolution is granted. Upward of 50,000 signatures were attached to the petition."