COMMONWEALTH PREMIER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2357, 13 January 1915, Page 6

COMMONWEALTH PREMIER

LOCAL NAVY QUESTION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) , Chrlstohurch, January 12. Speaking at the civic reception to-day the Right Hon. Andrew Fisher said:— "My friend, Mr. .Boyd, and I are on opposite sides of politics, and hold our Views strongly, but there is one question we axe not divided' upon after & lcng series of strenuous politioal contests, and that question is the South Paoific Fleet, for defence principally of this most distant part of His Majesty's Dominions, and incorporation if possible in that idea of Canada and South Africa. I have met many distinguished and representative citizens in New Zealand, and I have found, if I have gauged their opinions correctly, that you are not indifferent to the call of a united fleet in these waters, orat any rate of a fleet of two units in these waters, but you are rather anxious about expense. IW be it from me to suggest that the difficulty of raising the necessary money to provide efficient defence at sea is a light matter, but whother it he light or heavy it is a duty that we owe to ourselves, and that we owe to those who are ;coming after us. You have had this country handed over to you as we have had: our country handed over to residents of Australia, without tribute to anyone. If it is worth having to govern, it is worth providing for its defence—(applause)— and it is not becoming our dignity, and our independence, and our manliness, to lean on any. other country for its defence. It is not lijie our people to do it.' Wo ought to be glad to do it; glad to provide for our own defence in these rich young countries, and'if we have something to spare lend a helping hand to the.Mother Country, who gave it to us without a single penny of tribute; (Applause.) That is our view of v'tho situation, speaking for Australia,,, but not speaMnjj for New Zealand as regards, the pnncipleof having a separate unit such as H.M. Australian Navy, owned, manned, and controlled by Australians. I believe that principle also is the safest, and I am only embracing this opportunity of telling you what w© had to .do in Australia. When this question'was argued in Australia, from every platform the question of a separatist movement was raised.- '. Argument sucoeeded in allaying it,.and although the feeling against .the navy was bitter and strong and almost squal to. the votes in favour of it, yet at the same time it was not till that proposition was put to the test like it was lately that we realised the necessity and urgency of haying an Australian Fleet in those waters. 1 will carry this point no further, but I believe I am stating bare -facto when'l mention that the last four Admirals that came to these waters oame. antagonistic to the principle of a separate fleet and wont away actively in favour of it. That, I think, is a compliment to what we have done, and I hope the principle will be extended." '.- At the New Zealand Club luncheon he said nothing was nearer his heart in his public capacity than to see established reciprocal, trade relations between New Zealand and Australia. (Applause.) It would take time and great patience and much trouble before they arrived at any advance on the present position, hut with patience ; and 1 with set purpose and policy, and if public men of both Dominions got together, he was sure that they would grow, he hoped, into something like trade unity, which will enable interchange of the products most desired by one Dominion from the other, and the products of one not produced in the other, with the least possible irterference of tariff or any other circumstances. . (Applause!) 'It would take time to grow, but it was desirable that it should' come about.- His wish was that.this his.first visit to New Zealand would lead to further and more frequont visits of' New Zealand- representative men in their official capacity to Austj-a-lia. (Applause.)