A NEW STATE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20180, 7 March 1931, Page 16

A NEW STATE.

;■ - W ■ . PROPOSAL IN NEW SOUTH WALES. SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT. • V:,.,y: ( " ■ f . .. . (ntox on svi' coniwonm,) , f n'-r '• SYDNEY, February 26. ; • The 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-en-thusiastic meetings have been: held, and I al( all, of these 'the speakers, have said; 1 in'veiy definite terms that if the prpr ducers are to be .protected,, if they are to bo 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 j 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 oil capital ; and private assets by taxation that cannot be met from income. Every effort is directed- towards Communism and State ownership* - Mr has now placedi tho coping-stone on his efforts to damago 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 lojiger holds, and New South Wales becomes an outlaw. '■" The Commonwealth must then appeal to, New South Wales to Obey . the law-and the Constitution, and,, on refusal; New S6uth Wales- automatically breaks'loose from the Federation. Will the-North be content to remain with the -repudiatidnists ot will it l appeal to the federation as a complete unit willing to' pay its dobts' and demand: ad-. .mission to the; Federa- authorityl" -Dr. Page went on to - explain ' that repudiation such as. waß proposed by Mr Laiig 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, United States, in 1861. Virginia. in-fringed-the Constitution of the United States and placed'herself outside the .Federal Union. One-third of tho area seceded, or .organised a loyal Government, appointed an -executive, elected 'a legislature and a convention, which. ' ■ provided ' for fqt ! ' State. ? r The North i*of *, Nowi; 'South.' f Wale» would take similac ftciion. 1 Tho ' new State h*#\aow exf itended' f and ,eeverftl ingil hOld .thia' week in- CEivedna hive ' of- imew 4 in that are# 1 in' to, get awairf!? rem < dojninitidn ; by arid^more