§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received a reply to his dispatch of 15th March asking for information as to the working of the referendum in Australia; and whether, in the event of the answer being in the negative, he will, in view of the necessity for such information being laid before the House, communicate by cable on the subject with the Commonwealth authorities?
Mr. HARCOURTThe Governor-general's reply to my despatch of 15th March has just arrived. Replies have also been received from three of the Australian States, and papers will be laid as soon as possible.