Settle Aboriginal issue - Howard

Canberra - The Australian Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, last night pleaded for a speedy resolution of the argument about Aboriginal land tenure, which could force a general election on the divisive issue of race. Aboriginal leaders said the Liberal-National Party coalition deserved to be thrown out of office if it decided to go to the country on this issue. In a nine-minute televised address to the nation, Mr Howard said his so-called Wik native title legislation was a fair and just compromise between the needs of farmers and miners and the rights of Aborigines.