Editing Hal Colebatch (section)

===Mitchell Government===
Mitchell did not like travelling interstate for meetings with the prime minister and other premiers, so he often had Colebatch represent him instead. Colebatch attended a meeting with Prime Minister [[Billy Hughes]] and the other premiers in October 1919. Hughes wanted to enlarge the powers of the Commonwealth Government, which Colebatch was opposed to, as he believed local self-governance improved economic efficiency and individual freedom. Starting in May 1920, he visited the north-west of the state, a place usually neglected by the state government. When he visited [[Onslow, Western Australia|Onslow]], it was the first time in ten years a government minister had visited there. The visit to the north-west lasted three months and he travelled {{convert|8000|km}}.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=76}}

He met with Hughes again to show the prime minister the [[Group Settlement Scheme]] and the [[Fairbridge Farm School]].{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=80}} Colebatch managed to help convince Hughes of the need for an increase in immigration to increase the state's population and develop its infrastructure, an interest of Mitchell's. Hughes wrote a letter to Colebatch in March 1922 committing to increasing immigration, and later an agreement was signed between the Australian, Western Australian and British governments for seventy-five thousand British migrants to settle in the state. Reducing unemployment was one of Colebatch's other responsibilities, and he instituted various public works to help with that. Although some saw trying to increase immigration as working against efforts to decrease unemployment, Colebatch believed it would be short-sighted to not do so.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=81}}

In addition to showing Hughes around Western Australia, Colebatch did the same for several other figures. In 1922, he guided Colonel [[S. F. Newcombe]], who was sent by the British Government to investigate settling discharged soldiers there.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=81}} He also guided [[V. S. Srinivasa Sastri]], who was sent to ensure that Indians settled in white British countries were not discriminated against.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=82}} Another task for Colebatch was to negotiate with John Forrest's widow, [[Margaret Forrest]], over a statue of Forrest which the government wanted to erect in [[Kings Park, Western Australia|Kings Park]]. Lady Forrest wanted for the statue to depict him as a "slim young explorer", but Colebatch convinced her that a statue depicting him as a "mature and portly statesman" would be best.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=83}}

From 1921 to 1922, Colebatch was the president of the [[West Australian Club]]. He was also a life member of the [[Royal Perth Yacht Club]]. Following the [[1921 Western Australian state election|1921 state election]], Colebatch was the only minister in the Legislative Council. He was therefore responsible for introducing and handling all bills and other business of the upper house, placing a large workload on him. As there was much hinging on him, the house adjourned when he became sick. Several of his colleagues thought the burden on him was too much.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=83}}

In the [[1923 New Year Honours]], Colebatch was made a [[Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George]]. Later that year, his title of "Honourable" was made permanent. In early 1923, Mitchell announced that he had chosen Colebatch to be the next [[Agent-General for Western Australia]] in [[London]]. He resigned from the ministry and from parliament on 17 June 1923, and was succeeded by [[William Carroll (Australian politician)|William Carroll]]. Over the seven years he had been a minister, the state's expenditure on education had risen by 73%. To show their admiration, senior [[Education Department of Western Australia|Education Department]] officials arranged a special function for Colebatch's departure.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=84}} He had given equal shares in ''The Northam Advertiser'' to his wife and two sons as a reward for their service in the army. Harley became editor though Hal continued to write for it.{{sfn|Colebatch|2004|p=85}}