hardship as a result of the great depression, and the election of jack lang of the labor party as premier of new south wales, sparked the formation of the "riverina movement". throughout the riverina in early 1931, a series of rallies were organised by the movement, culminating in a great meeting in wagga wagga on 28 february 1931. the meeting called on the state and federal governments to alleviate the concerns of producers in the district or hold a referendum to determine if the riverina should secede. the movement petered out following the dismissal of lang in 1932 and the recovery of the regional economy.