Guide 3 to NSW State Archives relating to Responsible Government - OCR - Flipbook - Page 235
A Guide to New South Wales State Archives relating to Responsible Government
Premier's Department
Letters received — File 67/119: Proposed creation of a new
state, 1958-69
This file comprises papers relating to the New State Movement in
New South Wales, which had re-emerged in 1949, and to the 1967
referendum on the creation of a new State in New England.
CGS 12060,
File 67/119 in
[14/4514]
Following years of agitation on the part of the New England New
State Movement and others for a referendum on the creation of a
new State in New England, by the 1960s the New South Wales
Government had succumbed. At its meeting on 17 January 1967
Cabinet confirmed the polling day for the.New State Referendum
as 29 April 1967. The referendum was submitted, as a first step,
only to the electors enrolled within the boundaries of the proposed
new State. As reported in The Sydney Morning Herald of 13 May
1967 the Noes were in the majority by 30,709 votes; as the
proposal was defeated, further action on the part of the
Government was unnecessary.
The file contains correspondence from the New England New State
Movements, and some from the Riverina New State Movement,
requesting information, advising of resolutions, pressing for a
referendum, transmitting documents such as the Summary of
National Executive's Views on Attorney-General's Memorandum
June 1966, and seeking deputations with the Premier; from the
Liberal Party of Australia transmitting resolutions about the New
State Referendum; and, from a Norbert Lawrence Hertslet, a vocal
opponent of the New State Movement, including that about his
intention to take Supreme Court action in relation to the New
State Referendum.
Included are papers relating to: arguments against the creation of
a new State; the New State Referendum Bill and New State
Referendum Act, 1966; preparation of material in favour of and
against the creation of a new State; and, the holding of the
referendum on 29 April 1967.
Also included are: representations from organisations, such as the
Kotara Progress Association, expressing support for the
referendum and/or for the New England New State Movement;
roneoed circulars and other material from and about the New
England New State Movement; letters from individuals seeking
information about New States; historical notes; newspaper
clippings; Cabinet minutes; extracts from the Nicholas
Commission concerning the boundaries of the Northern area; and
multiple copies of the Referendum statement A New State? The
Case "FOR" and "AGAINST", prepared by an independent panel
from the Department of Government, University of Sydney, and
the School of Political Science, University of New South Wales,
which was published in 47 country newspapers.
Parliament of New South Wales: Report from the Joint Committee
of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly upon the
Australian Constitution together with the Minutes of Proceedings of
the Committee and Appendices, ordered to be printed 6 November
1958 (section 7 gives recommendations in relation to New
232
State Records Authority of New South Wales
