CLOSER RELATIONS WITH AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2377, 5 February 1915, Page 4

CLOSER RELATIONS WITH AUSTRALIA

The interesting statement made by Mil. Andrew Fisher, tho Federal Prime Minister, on his return to Sydney from Nw Zealand indicates that his tour of the Dominion is likely to result in practical steps being taken to bring us into closer relationships with our neighbours across the Tasman Sei. Mr. Fisher touches upon some problems of farreaching importance which may not, at present, bo ripe for solution, but frank discussion cannot fail to bo useful as a means of educating public opinion by providing the material out of which the average man and woman may form sound views on questions which must sooner or later come within the sphere of practical politics. Full information and free discussion are to prepare the way for definite action. In his reference to the question of Austraacross the Tasman Sea. Mr. Fisher shows that he.realises that he is treading on very delicate ground. There is a great difference between actual federation and co-operation in certain directions for mutual benefit. The term federation implies the creation of firm and definite, political and administrative relationships, and conveys the _ idea of a much more rigid connection than that entailed by an agreement as to clearly defined reciprocal action in specific matters such as trade and defence. Mr. Fisher _ states that reciprocity in some directions between the Dominion and the Commonwealth is assured, but he_ is careful to point out that federation is not an essential condition to agreements regarding defence and trade. The two countries may cooperate in quite a number of ways without raising the question of federation at all. It is for each of them to say how far they desire to go. This will no doubt be decided largely by experience. If it is found to work well on a small scale the system of reciprocal action will probably be extended in the course of time in order to meet new needs as they arise. A slurt has already been made. New Zealand officers ■ are being trained at the Australian Military College at Duntroon, and the two Governments are co-operat-ing to some extent in connection with the payment of-old age pensions. There, is, as Mr. Fisher savs, "abundant room" for reciprocal action in ways that could hardly fail to be beneficial from the point of view of economy and efficiency, besides intensifying that sense of comradeship and mutual trust which is one of the strongest of those .invisible bonds which hold the self-governing British communities together. It is interesting to know that Mr. Fisher's views in regard to Imperial a.id inter-Do-minion Conferences coincide with those of the New Zealand Government. His opinions on the question of naval defence are now well known. The war in which we are at present engaged is sure to provide some valuable lessons on this and other matters of great importance to tho whole Empire, and the experience gained in the conflict is bound to have a very powerful influence in shaping the policy of all the overseas Dominions as _ regards their Imperial responsibilities.