Presented by the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
to Parliament by Command of His Majesty,

June, 1926.

LONDON:

PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.

To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses: Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2; 28 Abingdon Street, London, S. W 1; York Street, Manchester; 1 St Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff;

or 120 George Street, Edinburgh;

or through any Bookseller

1926.

Price 1s. Net.

Cmd. 2683

4. The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to

the Governor of New South Wales (Telegram) 8th October

8. Mr. T. R. Bavin, Leader of the Opposition in the

Legislative Assembly of New South Wales, to

the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs 6th October

(Received 16th November)

19

15. The Taxpayers' Association of Queensland to
the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs 18th December
(Received 25th January, 1926)
1926

16. The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to
the Officer Administering the Government of
Queensland

17. The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs

29

29th January

31

1925

..

24. The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to
the Governor of New South Wales (Telegram) 8th March

41

of Governors of the Australian States.

No. 1.

The Governor of New South Wales to the Secretary of State for
Dominion Affairs.

(Received 10.45 a.m., 30th September, 1925.)

[Telegram.]

30TH SEPTEMBER. Ministers request me to send you following

Begins Memorial* addressed to the Secretary of State for the Dominions transmitted by the Governor of Western Australia now en route signed by the Premiers of all the Australian States except Victoria. Following is a summary of the Memorial for your information in advance. We beg to submit for consideration our views regarding the question of alteration in the method of the appointment of State Governors. Several State Governments have approached His Majesty's Government urging the appointment of citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia. Resolutions to that effect have been carried by responsible public bodies in Australia showing that the trend of public opinion supports request. We have fully considered the terms of previous proposals and replies of His Majesty's Government. We entirely agree with the views expressed by the Premiers of South Australia and Western Australia, 13th August, 1908, 25th July, 1913.

Lord Milner has expressed readiness of His Majesty's Government to give effect to the wishes of the State Governments in this respect provided that they are unanimous. This statement shows that with one exception States are agreed. Our petition is that successor of present Governor may be Australian citizen appointed by Letters Patent by His Majesty the King. Message Ends.-DE CHAIR.

No. 2.

The Premiers of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia,
Western Australia, and Tasmania to the Secretary of State for
Dominion Affairs.

DEAR SIR,

(Received 20th October, 1925.)

Premier's Office, Sydney, 20th August, 1925.

We, the undersigned Premiers of five of the six Australian States, beg to submit for the consideration of His Majesty's

* No. 2.

!

portant question of an alteration in the method of appointment of State Governors.

You are probably aware that several of the Governments of the Australian States have from time to time approached your predecessors with an expression of opinion that it would be of advantage if a change were made in this regard, having for its objective the appointment of prominent and respected citizens of the Commonwealth to these important positions.

Resolutions to the same effect have also been passed by responsible public bodies in Australia, tending to illustrate that the trend of public opinion supports the attitude which the Governments of the Australian States, with one exception, have now unanimously adopted.

We have very carefully considered the terms of the despatches which have previously been presented to His Majesty's Government on this subject, and also of the replies which have been made. to such representations by your distinguished predecessors in office. It will serve to avoid unnecessary repetition if we state that we are in entire agreement with the views expressed in the undermentioned official despatches from certain of the Governments of the Australian States which we have the honour to repre

1. Despatch from the Honourable Thomas Price, Premier of South Australia, dated 13th August, 1908,* addressed to the Right Honourable the Earl of Crewe, P.C., Secretary of State for the Colonies.

2. Despatch from His Excellency the Governor of Western Australia, dated 25th July, 1913,† transmitting a minute embodying the views of the Honourable John Scaddan, Premier of Western Australia.

We have also been made aware of the nature of the representations made in the course of interviews with the Right Honourable Lord Milner, Secretary of State for the Colonies, by the Honourable (now Sir) William McPherson, Treasurer of Victoria, 1919, and by the Honourable E. G. Theodore, Premier of Queensland, in 1920.

Lord Milner expressed the view, on the occasions referred to, and in the course of a speech made on 12th January, 1921, in London, at a farewell dinner to the Earl of Stradbroke, then Governor Designate of Victoria, that His Majesty's Government would not hesitate to give effect to the wishes of the Governments of the Australian States should it be clearly demonstrated that there was an unanimous desire that in future the Governors of the States should be selected from the citizens of the Commonwealth.

We now humbly submit this statement, evidencing the fact that, with one exception, the Governments of the Australian States No. 3 in Appendix.

* Enclosure 1 in No. 1 in Appendix.