The Waikato Times With whioh Is Incorporated Tho Waikato Argus. MONDAY, JUNE 9, i 930. WEST AUSTRALIA.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 18041, 9 June 1930, Page 6

The Waikato Times With whioh Is Incorporated Tho Waikato Argus. MONDAY, JUNE 9, i 930. WEST AUSTRALIA.

A movement has been started in West Australia to - obtain secession from the Commonwealth, and the movement is not one sponsored by irresponsible people. It has the support of the Prime Minister of the State, of several of his Ministers, and of leading men of business. The particular grievances that have led to tho demand are stated to he the. extravagance of the Federal Government, the unfair incidence of the tariff on primary producers and the duplication of services and officials. It is In essence the same trouble that arises in every country where' protection Is established, while the primary producer sells abroad. In Amerioa the wheat grower has his complaints against the protected industrialist of the East, In Canada the Western farmer is in revolt against the Eastern manufacturer. Where legislation calls on one part of the population to pay higher prices in to benefit another part of the population there is naturally friction. In Australia they have carried this policy to fantastic lengths. They congratulate themselves oa the fact that certain manufacturers have opened works in Australia, and it is true that some good has resulted therefrom. The only market for the goods they make is In Australia, for the prices behind a protective tariff will be too high to compete outside. Unfortunately for Australia she owes large sums of money in Britain and the Jnterest of this money and its eventual repayment require that there should be a large export of produce. That is the position at present, and it is not likely to alter for very many years to come, for Australia will require much money to develop its immense area. The country cannot push its self-reliance policy td the extent of locking it up in the manner which Japan practised for centuries. Yet protection pushed to the extent that Australia has done must lead in that direction, It is not only West • Australia that is. discontented with Federal conditions; South Australia and Tasmania have exactly the same complaints. They have had financial troubles and have called on the Commonwealth Government for assistance, which to some extent has been, granted. The recent action of the Federal Government in greatly increasing the customs duties is likely to bring the various complaints to a head.

While one may sympathise with West Australia in their grievances, and hope that they may obtain some redress, we must recognise that it would be a real tragedy if there should be a split among the States of Australia. The great trouble among most states is to bring them into any kind of union. Australia has been fortunate to achieve unity at any early stage of Its history, and it would be a thousand pities if this should break up. The attempt to break away Is certain to be strenuously resisted in other parts of Australia, but if Western Australia is insistent it would be difficult to resist the demand. The Government should, of course, enquire to what extent the complaint is justified, but it is doubtful whether this would do much good in Australia. A strong vested interest has grown up under protection. Many people have been drawn into Sydney and Melbourne, and any attempt to lower the duties would provoke upedly the first necessity for Australia is to settle its wasted lands. A country of such a size cannot be occupied by a small population, yet Australia is doing little to increase her numbers. It Is carrying out its development in the wrong order, and must suffer from the mistake.

West Australia complains of the extravagance of the Federal Government, and of the duplication of services and officials. No doubt the complaint is justified, and it might be made of any and every Government. If officials were not duplicated there would not be enough billets to distribute amongst all those who help to put a Government in office. West Australia is far from headquarters, and probably enjoys but few of the favours, and is therefore qualified to protest. It would be well if some statesman or some State could be found to repudiate the whole system of rewarding supporters by quartering them on the State and providing them with a salary. There is a suspicion that the want of billets with which to reward supporters is the reason for starting so many new departments, which not only cost money; they also degrade the whole political business. The evil is too widespread to afford West Australia sufficient grounds for such a drastic step as cut.ing itself off from the Commonwealth. The agitation may have the effect of bringing home to Sydney and Melbourne the manner in which their cherished policy of protection is regarded outside. Not that West Australia is in any way inclined lo free trade; they would be found as infatuated as their neighbours; but fortunately or unfortunately l'or them their products cannot he protected. They are becoming the chief wheat-growing State of Australia, and under more favourable condilions might develop other forms of farming. We hope West Australia may obtain redress for its grievances, and that it may cease to wish for separation from the Commonwealth, but there can be no great confidence felt that either hope will be fulfilled.