AGITATION FOR A NEW STATE

Horowhenua Chronicle, 18 February 1931, Page 7

AGITATION FOR A NEW STATE

NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES. NO TIME FOR REPUDIATION Received Wednesday, 12.55 a.m. SYDNEY, Feb. 17. In launching a campaign for a new State in the northern portion of New South Wales, Dr. Earle Page, former Federal Treasurer and leader of the Australian Country Party, in a speech at Glenreagh to-night, said the farmers could no longer submit to the insidious domination of the extreme Labour element of Sydney. He declared that if the New South Wales Government defaulted to bondholders as intended, this State would automatically put itself outside the Federal Union. Mr. Lang would be unable to obtain further credit from the banks and he would have to adopt some emergency form of currency. The people of the north had no desire to be associated with Mr. Lang’s dishonourable repudiation scheme and were preparing to cut adrift from New South Wales. They intended to appeal to the Federal Government for recognition as a State under the Federal Union and for a provisional government pending the adjustment of boundaries, liabilities and parliamentary sanction. An appeal -would also be made to the British Government for assistance in carrying out their object under the Separation Act of 1850. GETTING UNEMPLOYED BACK TO WORK. AUSTRALIA’S FIRST PROBLEM. SYDNEY, Feb. 17. Mr. E. G. Theodore, .Federal Trea--1 surer, interviewed at Sydney to-day said: “I cannot hope to restore fin ancial stability while one-fifth of out workers are unemployed or a large proportion working short time. The problem of getting the unemployed back to productive work is therefore the most outstainding matter for solution. If this necessitates balancing the Government Budgets, reducing interest rates and supplying ah increased volume of bank credit for the primary and secondary industries, let us attend these things immediately. The responsibility lies with the Governments and the 'banks. I believe the Governments will do their part.” “While the country can meet its just obligations, it is sheer lunacy for any Government to rush into repudiation When a country is driven to make default through uncontrollable circumstances it is usually considered a disaster, but that a Government should of its own volition declare it shall not pay while it still has the means to pay, is an act of ruinous folly. Repudiation will not solve a single Australian problem, but will increase uncmploymen? and destitution through the interruption of business and industry.” BAVIN TO MOVE CENSURE MOTION Received Tuesday, 9.25 p.m. SYDNEY, Feb. 17. In the Legislative Assembly, Mr. T. R. Bavin, leader of the Opposition, gave notice of intention to launch a censure motion against the Lang Ministry in connection with the repudiation proposals enunciated by the Premier at Canberra on February 9.