TROOPS FOR THE FRONT

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2521, 23 July 1915, Page 2

TROOPS FOR THE FRONT

COMMONWEALTH & DOMINION

"HATS OFF TO AUSTRALIA"

Comparison between Australia and New Zealand in regard to the sending of men to the war was made in the House yesterday afto-noon. Mr. C. J. Parr gave notice of a question to the Minister of Defeneo on.the subject. . Mr. Parr drew the attention of tho Ministerto tho following statement mado by the Eight Hon. Andrew Fisher, Primo Minister of the Commonwealth, on July 7, as to the part played by Australia by comparison with other Dominions in sending men to tho war, and 1 he suggested that the Defeneo Minister should make an authoritative statement on tho subject. Mr. Fishci's statement was as follows:— •'Canada.~Population, eight millions. Troops: Latest advices are that Canada will attempt to raise 150,000 men. So far she has raised 115,000, iuclusivo of those locally mobilised. "Australia. —Population, five millions. Troops: 83,000, exclusive of local mobilisation, 8000. 1 "New. Zealand.—Population, 1-J millions. Troops, 19,000.'

"These figures show that to reach tlio equivalent of Canada's contribution of troops oil the' proportion of population, Australia would nave liad to furnish 72,000 men. Now Zealand's contribution of troops for the front is 19,000. Tliia is equivalent to 84,000 from Australia, approximately the number already sent." .

The Defence Minister happened; to ho out of the Chamber, but the Prime Minister said lie would like to make a remark on ..the subject. "I have seen soma of this in the Australian papers," said Mr. Massey.

Mr. Isitt: The whole tiling is .unworthy. Mr. Massey: Perhaps so. I really don't think there should be any rivalry except a patriotic rivalry among the different Dominions of. the Empire. But I should like to point out that Mr. Fisher is not right in saying that the population of this country is one and a half millions. As a matter of fact it is a little over a million. 1 believe— I can't be sure of the exact numbers — that we have trained, equipped,\ and sent away from New Zealand approximately 20,000 men. I can't go farther than that, except to say that in jroportion to our population—perhaps it is easier for us than for Canada or Australia—l believe we have done more than any other Dominion of the Empire.

Mr. Wilford: But Australia lias sent battleships and submarines. Mr. Massey: We quite admit that. Mr. AVilford: We ought to take our hats off to Australia.

Mr. Massey: I agree with' that. It is not often that I agree with the honourable gentleman,, but I do agree that we Bliould take off our liafcs to Australia.

An hon. member; That is jio reason why wo should be misrepresented. Mr. Brown: We have been hogging in this House about what we have a he more than Australia.

Mr. Massey: No bragging on my part. Mr. Brown: The Minister for Dfcf'ence has.

Sir Joseph Ward, saiJ he thought it would be a great blunder to cttcuss in the Houso what Australia wis doing. Ho did not believe it was. desirable that we should institute comparisons between New Zealand and Canada or Australia and the Motherland.