RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2344, 29 December 1914, Page 6

RECIPROCITY WITH AUSTRALIA

HON. ANDREW FISHER'S VIEWS THAT OLD AGE PENSIONS AGREEMENT (By Teleffraph.—SpeolaJ Correepondonti Auckland, December 28. The first visit to New Zealand by S Prime Minister of Australia is being made by-the Right Hon. Andrew Fisher, who arrived from Sydney by tho Makura this afternoon. He was welcomed on bis arrival by the Prime Minister of the Dominion, whom he had not met boforo. Mr. Fisher was greeted with cheers by a chance crowd that watched him leave the steamer in Mr. Massey's company, and he afterwards remarked that he greatly appreciated the cordiality of his reception. "I have been longing for 25 years to visit New Zealand," was Mr. Fisher's response, when Mr. Massey shouted a welcome to him as the Makura drew into hor berth. Hβ explained last' evening that he had on several occasions planned to journey to the Dominion, but had never previously been able to do so. Hβ was now glad to have the opportunity to spend a holiday in Now Zealand to recruit his energies after a strenuous ipolitical campaign, and to renew the many friendships which he had formed with visitors to Australia. • An earnost desire to assist in tho promotion of more intimate relations between the Commonwealth and the Dominion, is the principal motive of Mr. Fisher's visit. Apart from his anticipation of personal pleasure from the tour, he hopes to meet the leading publio men of New Zealand and to discuss with them his ideas for a co-operation, between tho two countries for naval defence and for a comprehensive scheme of reciprocal relations.

"I think there is room for reciprocity in many respects, to the advantage of both countries," he remarked. "It seems to me that it is unreasonable for the Commonwealth and the Dominion to maintain tariff restrictions against one another, and I should like to see these obstructions to our trade relations greatly reduced. Then I am quite sure that the people of Australia are not well informed regarding the affairs of New Zealand and the same remark is prob- , ably true of the people of New Zealand, and there is opportunity for closei relations in this respect. After all, only a narrow waterway separates the two and there are many reasons why their association should be more intimate than it is."-.

Mr. Fisher said his Government intended to give effect to the reciprocal arrangement regarding old age pensions in terms_ of the agreement made between him and the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher in June, 1913. " That agreement' has already been given statutory force in. New Zealand and Mr. Fisher eaid the scheme would already have been brought into operation had not his Government been displaced from office. The Australian currency was suggested by Mr. Fisher as another opportunity for reciprocity. A civic reception will be given to Mr Fisher in the Town Hall to-morrow morning.. The Prime Minister of the Dominion will be present and the Mayor has given an invitation to the wiblio to attend the gathering. Mr. Fisher will visit the principal cities and the more important holiday resorts, Tiis tour extending over three weeks. He is accompanied by his secretary, Mr. A Box During his, tour Mr. Fisher will boaccompanied by tho Hon. J. A. Bovd a member of the Federal Parliament' and a member of the Melbourne Harbour Trust, and Mr. Keith A. Murdoch, a Melbonne jpnrnalist. The party will leave for Rotorua probably on Saturday. ■ ■ ;•-■■