TASMANIA'S ILLS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17437, 8 April 1931, Page 11

TASMANIA'S ILLS

1 DESIRE FOR SECESSION MOVEMENT LAUNCHED HYDMEY, March JO. I Definite ulep.s were t:tken in Hobart last week to launch at Slate-wide I cession movement. > ft i« not so much that the State is smarting under its particular griev- . anees that has led to the movement, ' but. tli<‘ realisation that present, conditions are absolutely hopeless. Prob--1 ably in no other State have publicspirited citizens done so much volun--1 tecr work with the view of pushing 1 ahead the progress of the State than have Tasmanians, but there lias been the feeling that every effort lias been thwarted by Commonwealth policy. Those who have been following closely tile eflects of the Federal pol- . k ‘Y 1111 Tasmania have had no doubt what the ultimate result would he, and it was predicted that sooner or later other Stall's would find themselves in a. similar position; indeed, it was so forecast in the report of the special committee set up by the Lyons Government in 102:7 to report on "Tasmania's disabilities under Federa t ion." There is said to be a widespread feeling in Tasmania that the various Governments that have held office in Tasmania have not shown .sufficient backbone in standing up to the Commonwealth, and that the crisis should not have been allowed to develop until it has reached its present very acute stags'. ''•lni" lucre is a very considerable tooling' ot dissatisfaction with Commonwealth policy as affecting Tasniania, and a loeling of absolute despuir. there is a doubt in the minds ot many people whether it would he a good thing for the State to sever completely the Federal bond, but tho advocates of secession ask what is the alternative'.' It lias been proved, they aver, that Tasmania cannot carry on under the present policy, that she has not. the resources to permit of being taxed by two Governments, and cannot. stand the drain ol so much money to the mainland. Students of the position ask whether a. modified form of secession could not be brought about. They ask whether Tasmania could not be given control "1 her own customs, on agreement that free trade among the Slates was allowed to continue, leave the Post Office under Federal control, and exempt Tasmania from ad Commonwealth policy affecting trade, commerce. and intercourse among the States, industrial legislation and Federal taxation, Tasmania to take over at) her obligations, except her share of expenditure on mainland public works.