The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1907. AUSTRALIA’S AWAKENING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2045, 23 November 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1907. AUSTRALIA’S AWAKENING.

There aro many signs that our friends of the Commonwealth are at last waking up to a sense of their, responsibilities ias a nation in possession of a 'great- continent onel of the dangers attendant upon apathy. For mlany years that 'Unique publication, the Sydney “Bulletin,” •was almost alone in appealing to Australians to show some glimpse of a spirit of -nationhood by taking a really live interest in tho important matters affecting its future. Its persistency in this matter is at- last bearing fnu.it, and now wo find ,all the leading dailies of Melbourne and Sydney laying down in clear terms the policy that the Commonwealth must commence preparations for its own defence. Then .again Sir 'William Lyne has made a rigorous effort to stimulate industries iby setting up an extremely high protective tariff. His proposals aro naturally meeting with ‘strenuous opposition, and there ,is never any difficulty in finding arguments against a policy of protection, ‘blit it -is certainly an encouraging sign that "the Acting Premier of (the Commonwealth is .prepared to .make such a determined fight for a purely -national object. Then .there iis the tremendous problem of how to deal with the great Northern Territory, which has-,bean~eoiipo.i-~~‘‘ lr—try—VWfio'us generations of politicians, and the kindred subjects of transcontinental .railways to connect the furthermost points of Australia’s vast territory. On this lat-tej'- subject- Mr. Lyn-e said recently:—

“That transcontinental railway is going to do considerable good. Take the question of defence. Wo can hare no .true defence until able 'to mobilise troops at Fremantle and Per,tli, and 'Until we have a railway to Port (Darwin. The people at- the south and south-east of the 'Commonwealth don’t realise how open to attack 'are the north and northwest. While they dream, we are helpless. Seeing that we are so near to Ohi.ua and japan, we should bestir ourselves. The cost •of that railway ito Kalgoorlie is not going •to be .anything like £ 1,000,000. The same -may .be said of the railway to Port JAimvin. Unless we have railways of that description we cannot hope to defend this'eountry.

“A sum of £20,000 lias 'been voted for survey purposes. Just bcii'oro il left 'Melbourne we got a reply from the Premier of 'South Australia, who has conformed to the request of the Federal Government to subunit the proposal to both Houses of Parliament at the first opportunity. It has been deferred oil account of the deadlock between the two Houses, but that lias now been settled. The South Australian Premier has promised tonsilhmit also .the question of the (Northern Territory. We shall shortly bo an a position .to carry out a survey of the transcontinental railway. It would he no use making a narrow-gauge railway. I would be against a 3/it Gin gunge.' The proper gauge is 4ft Siiii. For either line to bo of any avail they Must permit quick .passages to ho made. A speed of from 40 to 50 miles would he necessary .in .the long-distance runs. That 'we must have the transcontinental railway for defence purposes is :r certainty.”

Another important announcement was made at the Lord .Mayor’s banquet iiu Melbourne recently, when ' ilie Commonwealth Premier informed 'the nsscmbly that it is his intention to p, l ace the sum of £200,000 oil 'th e Estimates in connection with the immigration scheme. This •proposal should have a vital hearing on the future of the country, as the amount is substantial enough to enable .the Commonwealth to" conduct an advertising campaign for inunignnits on si.mi.hir lines to those which have met with such signal success in' the case of Canada.