SECESSION TALK IN AUSTRALIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18822, 10 March 1931, Page 12

SECESSION TALK IN AUSTRALIA.

denounced by high authority. Halted Press Association — By Klectris Telegraph—Copyright (Received, March 9, 9.38 pjn.) MELBOURNE, March 9. Sir Harrison Moore, former Dean of the Faculty of Law, at Melbourne University, speaking at a lunch hour gathering sounded a warning against the secession movement, and suggested co-operation between the Commonwealth and State Governments, "if this very serious movement is to be checked.”

SEPARATION AGITATION. DR. PAGE SEES WAY OUT. The wild cat schemes put forward by the Premier (Mr Lang) have been responsible for the renewal of the agitation for the formation of a new State in northern New South Wales. The leader of the movement is the former Federal Treasurer, head of the Country Party, Dr Earle Page and he is securing a great deal of support. Many enthusiastic meetings have been held, and at all of these the speakers have said in very definite terms that If the producers are to be protected if they are to be saved from dishonour, separation is the only way. It is recognised that there are great constitutional difficulties In the way, but in some quarters threats have been made that the people as a body would refuse to pay taxes to the State if they were not permitted to have their own way. Dr Page sees a way out. "Mr Lang has been made the dictator of New South Wales,” said Dr. Page at a meeting at Grafton, on the North Coast, on Tuesday night, "and he is steadily and relentlessly pursuing a policy of destruction of capital and private assets by taxation that cannot be met from income. Every effort is directed towards Communism and State ownership. Mr Lang has now placed the coping stone on his efforts to damage Australia by his policy of repudiation. The Commonwealth Constitution provides for the Commonwealth taking responsibility for State debts. If New South Wales repudiates her interest payments, the Commonwealth law no longer holds, and New South Wales becomes an outlaw. Like West Virginia. "The Commonwealth must then appeal to New South Wales to obey the law and the Constitution, and, on refusal, New South Wales automatically breaks loose from the Federation. Will the North be content to remain with the repudiationists or will it appeal to the Federation as a complete unit willing to pay its debts and demand admission to the Federal authority?" He went on to explain that repudiation, such as was proposed by Mr Lang, would mean a stoppage of all loans to the State, and money was necessary for the complete development of the rich North.

Dr Page explained that the procedure of forming a new State would be the same as adopted by West Virginia (U.S.A.) in 1861. Virginia infringed the Constitution of the United States and placed herself outside the Federal Union. One-third of the area seceded, or organised a loyal Government, appointed an executive, elected a legislation and a convention, which provided by ordinance for a new State. The North of New South Wales would take similar action.

Tho new State agitation has now extended to the South, and several meetings held this week in Riverina have favoured the formation of a new State in that area in order to get away from domination, by industrialists, and, more particularly, Mr Lang.