FULL RECIPROCITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1347, 26 January 1912, Page 5

FULL RECIPROCITY.

DOMINION .^COMMONWEALTH

BrTelerraDh-Freaa Association— Oojjyriehl (Ecc. January 25, 8.55 p.m.)

Melbourne, January 25. In the course of an interview with Mr. E. D. Hoben, of the "Manawatu Times," who is visiting Australia, Mr. Fisher elaborated his ideas on closer relations with New Zealand. For many years ho had held tho view that everything should bo done to push this forward. His party was fully with him in the matter as was shown, at the Hobart Labour Conference, where his motion in favour of closer political, industrial,, and commercial relations with Now Zealand, was seconded by Mr. M'Gowcu, Premier of tho senioi State, was carried unanimously, that the New Zealand Government should be approached to see what wero tho best steps to carry this into effect. Ho regretted that New Zealand was not coming into the Commonwealth, but whatever difficulties there might be against Federation there should be complete co-operation in Iho matter of defence. Ho hoped that a few years henco New Zealand would see its way to assist in making tho Australian Navy an Australasian Navy by building vessels i>f her own. . Apart from this, he considered that thero should be vory full reciprocity beiween the Dominion an-! tho Commonwealth, amounting even to Free-trade. They must mutually gain strength and wealth if the productions were freely interchanged.