A PRONUNCIAMENTO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22268, 22 May 1934, Page 8

A PRONUNCIAMENTO

Ox a first perusal, the circular issued by. an anonymous but sonorouslyentitled body, "the Christchurch Executive, Central Depot, South Island Separate Government Movement," might inspire the exclamation, "A Hitler come to judgment!" . There is nothing timid or niggardly about the demands which are made, in the name of "the South Island Citizens, Kesidents, and . Subjects," in this ..stirring pronunciamento, neither does it appear that the authors of it are persons who would hesitate to second their appeal by appropriate action. But, while the Hitler influence may be perceived in the uncompromising heartiness of the assault upon those who have been exploiting the South Island for their wicked ends, those who are responsible for this publication have a purely disinterested aim. What they require' is not a dictatorship, but "Unadulterated Democratic Legal Sovereign Law, legislated under true administration principles . . . in other

words equity for the masses as a whole." These masses comprise the half million South Islanders who are now writhing more or less silently beneath the wheels of the Government machine. They are, it might lie thought, rather a small and spiritless mass in Whose behalf to expend so nuich indignation, but the ChrisL-hurch

Executive of the S.I.S.G.M. is hoping to increase their numbers shortly, by securing the return of all Now Zealanders who are now, it would seem, feloniously expending abroad some four hundred millions which arc actually the property of the South Island as a whole. This accretion to our assets of cash and population is, however, only one of the minor benefits which the South Island would receive under the programme that is outlined. We should benefit by the reduction of taxation "on a par with . Population. Status of North Island Subjects''; a fast State shipping service (destination unstated) would be provided for us; Parliamentary representation would be improved numerically by computation on an area basis, thus, perhaps, enabling the neglected and uninhabited constituencies in Fiordland to return their chosen members to Parliament; canals would be constructed "where suited"; all railway lines would be completed; public service salaries" of South Island subjects" would be restored to the pre-depression level, and public servants would be compelled to "fulfil their Public Obligations to the people of the South Island." It is what might be called a visionary scheme for the restoration of the selfesteem and, presumably, the prosperity of the South Island, which is outlined in this circular. The promoters, of it will, no doubt, command the interest of their fellow-sufferers in this blighted island, but sunk in apathy and despair as we have so obviously . become, it appears doubtful whether the response will, be as complete as they hope. But the appeal, it is to be noted, is directed not alone to the older, down-trodden generation, of South Islanders. It is a challenge also to " Youth, male and female," to take up arms against their sea: of troubles, "to extracate. (sic) themselves from the difficulties confronting andsui-rounding them." . And it is perhaps to the cradle and the kindergarten that these Christchurch crusaders should look for their most vociferous support. *.••;• -