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Hokitika Guardian, 7 March 1931, Page 4

That the movement for secession within New South Wales is gathering a good deal of momentum is evident from reports indicating the stage which discussions of that project have reached. The movement represents si protest against Mr Lang’s talk of repudiating the obligations of the State of which he is Premier, and the Labour Government is warned of what it may expect should it fail to abandon any idesi of reducing New South Wales to the level of a defaulting community. The farmers, faced with serious economic difficulties, and thoroughly worked up bv their grievances against the Labour Administration, appear to ho very serious in this matter. Tn the circumstances says an exchange, it is of interest to consider the conditions which govern the formation of a new State in the Australian Commonwealth. Under the Federal Constitution it is provided that a new State may be formed hv separation of territory from a State, but “only with the consent of the Parliament thereof,” and that a new State may he formed by the union of two or more States or parts of States, but only with the consent of the Parliaments of the States affected. Tliis clause appears to be modelled upon the provision respecting the creation of new States, that appears in the constitution of the United Statos. it stands apart from the clause which gives the Commonwealth Parliament power to alter the limits of a State which the consent of the State Parliament and the approval of the majority of the electors of the State in question. Constitutional interpretations are fraught with pitfalls, but it would appear that in present circumstances the provision that the consent of the State. Parliament is indispensable must represent an insurmountable obstacle to the idea that a portion of New South Wales may break away from the Mother State and set up a Government of its own should Mr Lung fail to sec the error of. his ways.