SMALLER STATES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 310, 24 September 1921, Page 3

SMALLER STATES

SEPARATIST MOVEMENT IN AUSTRALIA FEDERAL CONVENTION TO BE HELD Plans for a Commonwealth conference of those supporting the movement for the subdivision of the larger States of Australia, to be held in December or January, are now under consideration (reported the Melbourne "Age” of September 6). It is intended to hold the conference before the campaign for the election of delegates to the Federal Convention opens, so that the separatist supporters may go before the country with a definite programme contacting proposals for the subdivision of the three larger States. The leader of tho Country Party (Mr. E. Page) has returned from a visit to West Australia, where an active campaign for the subdivision of the State has been proceeding. Mr. Page, who addressed a large number of meetings on the subject, stated that the movement was irapidly gaining, ground, and !he expected that at least three-quarters of the West Australian delegates to the convention would be pladged to the new State ideal. In such provincial centres ns Albany, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, and Bunbury,” the movement had been enthusiastically taken up, and the provincial Press appeared to be unanimous in declaring that the time was opportune for a drastic subdivision of the huge State, which had so far remained largely undeveloped. The present position/of West Australia was in many respects comparable to that of the esstern side of Australia, 70 years ago, when Victoria broke away from New South Wales and claimed the right to govern and develop its own territory. The progress achieved by Victoria stood as an illustration of the wisdom <f the division. The basic aim of the movement was simply , a restoration cf the right of appeal which had been granted to new colonies ever since the British Empire was founded. This right had, unfortunately, been omitted from the Federal Constitution, sb that any section of a State which now desired to separate from the parent body was practically dependent upon the decision of the capital of that State. Reports from other States indicated that the movement was claiming mr.ny new adherents. In Queensland the demand for a new State was insistent, and at the last conference of the ..Farmers and Settlers’ Association in New S-mth Woles, a. resolution was adopted supporting the movement. The delegates to this conference wfio representative of the whole ’ State, and the adoption of the resolution indicated that support was not confined to those areas i hich sought separation. Although there was no demand for the partitioning-of T’ictoria, it was expected that the delegates from this State ,to the convention would support the campaign, realising that much of the success achieved in the government and development of their own State was due to its small size. Mr. Page also said the consensus of opinion in those Stairs he had already visited was that the Feneral Convention should lie entirely elective, each Slate 1 being divided into electoral units. 9 hi' principle was unanimously approved ar the West Australian Primary Producers Conference. It was suggested that the State should be divided into flye electorates, each returning three delegates, making fifteen representatives from each State The Primo Minister had promised that tho enabling Bill tvould be introduced this year, and had also promised' the subdivision of the States for the campaign. A scheme with this rs its basis had been under consideration by tho electoral authorities, who hoped to have proposals in readiness for L'clu'»ion in the measure when it came before Parliament. An effort would be made also to provide for the appoinumen. of preliminary legal and financial mittees to co-ordinate the data required for the information of delegates io the convention. f