MR. FOSTER FJRASER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 599, 30 August 1909, Page 3

MR. FOSTER FJRASER.

INTERVIEWED IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA Interviewed on his arrival from England at Perth on August 17, Mr. Foster Fraser, th'e famous snap-shot writer, said ho was not sure whether he would, writo a book or not. It depended on tha time at his disposal. He wanted to do the subject justice, and Had to return to Parliamentary duties in January or February. ■' Hβ intends writing up his experiences in the London "Standard" and other papers. Three or four publishers had offered to publish any book he might write on Australia. Mr. I'r.iser added: "A suggestion was thrown, out some time ago that I was paid to come to Australia to write it up. As far as I am concerned, that is as far as it went. I wanted to come out as an unbiased critic, and could not assume that role if paid for my services. I would bo in the position of , a guest who criticises his host. I am very glad to como to Australia. It is tho only paTt of the-Empire I liavo not visited;" ■' Respecting his methods, Jlr. Eraser said it was his plan to get in touch with tho leadors, and then interrogate the people, themselves. Lots of people have "said, that Air. Eraser gets his facts too quickly, that he picks up his information in railway trains and smokcrooms of hotels. "That is quite true," ho said. "There is no better place to obtain freedom of. expression of. opinion than in a. railway train. There are a dozen men I could pick out indiscriminately in the streets of Eremantle, talk to them, and get a better idea of what I' wanted than if I consulted a like •number of specialists. The special must necessarily bo biased. "I shall inquire," continued Mr. JYasor, "into tie results ef thfl enironebjeemeai of

your women. I am in favour of female Suffrage, and feel sure' it will come about in England one of these days." • After' being informed of the Tsnr s visit to England, and the condition of Siberia, Mr. Fraser referred to tho , European unrest. He said:. "No doubt Europe is in' dread of an explosion in the struggle for Eta supremacy between Britain and Germany. Then there ia that seething trouble with the Balkans. There is also bound to bo trouble with Austria-Hun-gary;'when the old Emperor dies. There is an agitation constantly increasing' in Poland, with-the object of overthrowing the rule of Eussia, but I am not so sure that the explosion, will originate in one of the big Powers. 'It is "more likely to come from tho, Balkans dispute. ■■ ' ■■■■!■■: '■■'■• ! '■•'.•■ '~ : • Sei supremacy nie.-ins ■ overything to. us, while; comparatively it is • only of slight importance to Germany. There may not be a maritime conflict for 100 years. No doubt we should have had to fight France over Fashoda but for the magnitude of our fleet. "There has been a< tremendous uplifting of German workmen'in recent: years. 1 think tae average ■ German workman is better than the British as a class, but Germany's best workmen are not equal to the 1 best British."