Unwieldly New South Wales.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1921, Page 3

Unwieldly New South Wales.

TWO BREAKAWAY MOVEMENTS

SYDNEY, April 19 : This week, in the northern portion of New South Wales, there is being held a, convention which is seeking ways and means by which the northern districts may break away from “The Mother State” anil form a new State.

A similar convention has been called for May 19th. at Albury, on the New South' Wales-Victorian border. The proposal here, however, is not a new State but, a plan under which the wide and rich Riverina districts are to break away from New South Wales and join up with Victoria.. There are 2,000,000 people in New South Wales. Fully one million of them are within, or very close to, the Sydney metropolitan area. The whole State administration, and practically the whole of the commercial and industrial activities of Eastern Australia are centralised in Sydney. Naturally, in all matters affecting the welfare of the State as a whole, the interests of Sydney city tend to become paramount. It «s a fact that there appears always to bo public money available for Sydney, while the remoter country districts wait in vain for those necessary administrative acts which will allow the rapid development to which they are entitled. The northern districts, particularly have a grievance. The whole of that huge.area that lies north of the Hunter river is only partially developed. It should he the richest part of the State, carrying an enormous agricultural and pastoral population. Instead of mat., it waits decade after decade for roads and railways and those other activities which would encourage closer settlement. Finally,' the northern people, in disgust, are taking steps to form their districts into a new State freed from the smothering influence of Sydney. The movement is not likely to come to anything but it will certainly force the State Government to do something for the north. The Riverina movement is more serious, however. These southern districts trade almost wholly with Mell>ourne and their interests arc largely Victorian Victoria has no adventures, with Labour, and is easily the best-governed Australian State. For these reasons the southern people, neglected by the New South Wales Government seem very determined to become incorporated with Victoria. Melbourne interests, of course i,re assisting the movement in every possible way.