Old news from Armidale and New England

Tuesday 24 August 1920, The Sydney Morning Herald

NEW STATE MOVEMENT.

CONFERENCE AT GLEN INNES.  

GLEN INNES, Monday.  

There was a large gathering to-day in Glen
Innes of delegates from the new State
leagues to deal with matters concerning the
creation of a new State in the northern por-
tions of New South Wales. The Mayor, Ald.
W. A. Cramsie, presided over an attendance
of 50. Delegates were present from Glen
Innes, Inverell, Tamworth, Manilla, Grafton,
Deepwater, Dundee, Tingha. Wingham, Kyogle,
Tenterfield, Guyra, Armidale, Walcha, Uralla,
Delungra, Clarence River, Casino, Wollo-
mombi, and other centres along the table-  
land. A welcome was extended by the Mayor.
to the delegates, and the hope was expressed  
by Alderman Cramsie that the present agita-
tion would result at least in the construc-
tion of a railway to the North Coast, if not
the establishment of a new State. Parliamen-  
tarians - present included Dr. Earle Page,
M.P. for Cowper; Major Alex. Hay, M.P. for
New England; Colonel Bruxner, M.L.A.,
Northern Tableland; and Mr. D. H. Drum-
mond M.L.A., Northern Tableland, all of
whom manifested keen interest in the doings
of the conference.  

Major Hay delivered an address to the con-
ference, pointing out that power was in the
bands of the people of the area to better
their existing conditions by agitating for an
alteration of the affairs as at present ad-
ministered. He pointed out that there was
water power running to waste within the
territory to the sea sufficient to, if har-  
nessed, create the greatest manufacturing
industries in the Commonwealth. He referred
to the Gorge electric scheme. All the wool
grown in the Commonwealth, and every hide
grown, could be treated in the new State
area by this means.  

The principal resolutions of the conference
were:—To hold a convention at Armidale early
in February to draft a constitution for the
new State, and decide upon the boundaries,
delegates to be present from every league
within the area; to hold a new State day to
raise campaign funds on the third Saturday
in October next; and to indulge in a cam-
paign among the newspapers to further edu-
cate the people of the area in favour of the
idea.