RECIPROCITY IN DEFENCE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1642, 8 January 1913, Page 4

RECIPROCITY IN DEFENCE.

WHAT AUSTRALIANS WANT, THBIE EBNEWED INTEREST IN NEW ZEALAND. (By Tom. L. Mills.) '■-. | The interesting intimation was cabled from Melbourne to, Wellinston the other day by the Hon. James Allen to Premier,; Mnssey that the Prime Minister of Australia, tho Hon. Andrew Fisher, Loader of tho Labour party, had mado up his mind to pay a visit to New Zealand during the present recess of the Federal I'ar-liament-probably . during the present month. There is much more than a pleasure trip or a change of air desired in this decision of Mr. Pisher. He-is coming on a serious mission—to gather nt first hand the opinion of New Zealonders regarding, a probable proposal from the Federal Parliament for Reciprocity in Defence betiveen the Commomvcalth and the Dominion. When in Melbourno a few weeks ago I had the pleasure and privilege of a long and informal interview yvith Mr. Fisher. He, in common witli several of his Ministers and other members of his. party, as well as Mr. Alfred Deakin and a group of his fblloyvers-r with whom I also had' 6ome talk—dis-, played ' very keen interest in' matters referring to Now Zealand. One of the first questions Mr. Fisher asked was:. How do' you stand on the question of Reciprocity? Ho was not referring to the old Federation question, and'he was not tempted to express regret that'we 'had, not come into the' Federation. He., did' not even open the matter : of Reciprocity iri Trade or. Tariff, although it pleased: him to learn that thera. was a more, general readiness in Neiv.Zealand noyv to seriously discuss trade relations on the noliticnl side than at any previous time. But the thing that .lay heaviest on Premier Fisher's' mind was' New Zealand's ■ attitude towards proposals for Reciprocity in I Defence.'. v . - No details of the ; 6cheme. were mentioned,; and Mr,-. Fisher, mode. the-obser : ration again arid ngain. that it was only Andrew Pisher who: .was discussing the question—ho yvas not talking in or out of caucus.'. For my part; I, too, could only give an individual view .of the matter, ond that was .'that oh-the defence question New Zealanders felt that "hey must I bo actual blood-brothers yvith Australians in matters of defence. The enemy of one yvas the enemy of both; particularly'the foe that came < overseas as ( a naval force. "If you have a definite scheme," said I, "yon will find Now Zealanders quite sympathetically inclined towards it, for a etart." ■: The /Premier ',<. ilearly showed that he' .yvas delighted to get this, assnriince, even though, it camo froih' a country. ■ .journalist, yvhich goes to prove how .close- - to;' Andreyv, .' Fisher's heart is . this'.,-. ; matter.;. of ; dofence--'a rather;surprising .thing, : coming from the Leader of; a Labour'party. After some further talk oh the subject, during which T discovered .that';-Mr.'Fisher, had been following, the 'editorial articles on defence matters in' the .'■> Neyv Zealand papers very closely. I urged him to take an early opportunity of visiting the Dominion, and gather, at first hand for himself, the,opinion';of the public men.and the press on the subject which he so, evidently had on the brain.:. "Come over and talk to us about your Reciprocity in Defence proposals," said 1.. "I should like above all things to; go oTOrnnd visit New Zealand," was his. reply; "but I can't get the time." : "A Visit is;-the'.quickest-way, and the best, to:cet;an, assurance such;.a* you want." He acknowledged .that, but paid it yvpnldn't be etiniietto to eive public addresses. in New Zealand. "Not on such an-Imperial question?" I. suggested, - He smiled. , And now that Mr. Fisher.has'decided to ;come over, would it not'bo wise to set aside diplo-' matic and, political 'precedents, and invite •the Prime' Minister of Australia to give an address, on; tho. Federal Government's views, upon- n question ■ that is of.; rnp-. rnent hot only, to-.every:'Australian, and-. Neyv Zealander, but also to Canadians and Britons the Empire over? ;',: • '~'•,'".' .There is no division - of Atisti'nlia'npoli-'. ticians-r on ■ this' question, of i members,.of all pnrb'esi.are'ingreed' that 'there'-..is' urgent.,n*cd :for; diilcfmate .pro/ teo.tioni In both Sydney and Melbourno this-.need; was discussed /in, th"»-w«'t. serious strain by business.menj and politicians.' It is Hie spaces of their great country that -havo. nronwd 'thiVfeeling-'of iinmsinessin the minds, of Australi-ino. It'.is notso mnch'that thev .have the Tel-' low Peril scare-r-thouirh that is still'bein? persistently and consistently preached at them' by romp of 'their 'influential: ionrnalsVbnt they.have reasoned out for them'olves that. China ;and .Tapflli must overflpyv DOpulntionnlly—and the 'North"™ Territory,-;thht : great back door ■■ of 'the Commonwealth,- stands invitingly;.wide open.'for.', tho • alien,- Solid business .;m'en ; ', in New .South; Wales : end Victoria "do, not like to; admit it in .discussion, but they arc convinced in th«ir own' minds-nnd eivo the Now'.Zenlnnder the impressinh that they an «> (convinced —that.olrMdvthefo are' ifar bx>' many unrecorded aliens .-in . the:.'. ■ open Spaces along the seaboard;■ ; And how- can 'th»v' nrevent the influx under present conditions? .For there is one small fmnboat nnlicin? a thoii'-and mileS' of water-front. The Northern' Territory is a terra inc"g. as well ns ,a ; verit.iblo terror, to" the Australian, 'who ' has "something of a conviction thot the .Territory is better' known to and even -more. intimately explored .'by-, the; Japanese, than 'bv its present. ■- owners -and . supposed occupiers. Of course, .the real need _ Aristrnlift is - population i of ■; the white sort, .which Is not,coming into the Oommonyvealth fast enough to supply the• needsof the various States.- And tho evil .of the present system of immigration-is that it only-helps to swell the population of; the instead of helping to settlo tho waste, places. Almost half the pormlation; of New , South Wales is guttered together in.the.city arid suburbs of Syd-ney-rand the boosters of that capital are 'reaching out for an early realisation of tho. million idea!: That is far from helping to 6olve the' Problem of tho Empty ■ Spaces. " ' ;''.-'. ; ; What.', is the "'Australian- interestwl in pjgardins New Zealand affairs? Almost every phase of our life. Ho is riot nearly •as well informed in New Zealand matters and events as the average Neiv Z?alnnder is in Australian affairs, Over hero the United Press Association provides Tenders of' the newspapers with at least half a column of Australian' neyvs gathered daily. On'the other side of tho Tasman'Seai there is not an average of one tiny littlo Neyv Zealarid news item to the day. Therefore the Australian can.be kept intereste<l:on any news yiva voce from Neyv' Zealand. He,cannot quite ihake: out' the position of the No-license movement; he thinks ho' has'been toldthat it'is an absolute failI ure. Who is your new Premier, this Massey.mnn? What's the matter yvith Word, ! and yvhy did Mackenzie chuck up the sponge? The Australian is astonished to i learn that there is not, and never really ! has been,'any Labour porty in New Zealand politics. He seems to have gathered an impression that our industrial condition is a permanent state of Waihi riot, and that even our football is a failure. Ho believed, that everything quakes over here—even' tho employer of labour;. and that it,is nluoh better to have droughts than geyseis. ;Bu't there aro many wellinformed Australians, who folloyv closoly the reports of our markets and commercial interests. These men envy us our equable .ftlimate, and they say truly, what could yve not do if Australia had tho yvator and the climato of New Zealand! Yet that's just vrhat makes all tho difference. Australia will bo Australia and Neiv Zealand will bo New Zealand all the time. Whether these twain will become as one in reciprocity, defence, or commercial, or bcth, is just noyv.in tho lap.of tho gods or in the hands of the politicians. . • .