“AUSTRALIA FOR AUSTRALIANS.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3742, 24 January 1907, Page 2

“AUSTRALIA FOR AUSTRALIANS.”

' The news that Lord Northcote, Governor - General of Australia, has made a speech upholding the Bulletin’s war-cry “Australia lor the Australians ’ ’ is a little thoughtcompelling. It is the first time , possibly in the history of the colonies that a Governor has gone so far and unquestionably Lord Northcote’s advocacy of selfsustaining nationhood will tickle popular fancy immensely. There is no indication that Lord Northcote said or meant anything about ‘ ‘ cutting the painter ’ ’ from the Old Band, but there is an indication that he has seen the necessity of advocating loyalty to Australians, to Australia and Australian ideals. Lord Northcote knows as well as : anybody else that Australia will have to be defended. He thinks it should be defended by the “ strong right hand of Australians.” “Strong right hand” is merely allegorical or imaginative for although Australians and New Zealanders are likely enough to defend their countries to the best of their ability, the ability isn’t very good merely because there are very few Australians and a large quantity of Australia. Loyalty in New Zealand and Australia means the loyalty that is exemplified in the action of the Northcotes who buy everything they are able to get of Australian manufacture. The increase of manufacture in New Zealand or Australia means the increase of population. The increase of population in either country means increase of safety, increase of money, increase of independence. There is no man so despicable as he who, while making his living in a country, decries it. Let him “go for ” the abuses, but let him be loyal to the land that gives him his bread and butter. Never mind about howling for the Empire. You’re not looking’after India, Vancouver or Hong Kong. The New Zealander’s job is to boost New Zealand along. The Australian’s work is to shove Australia forward. “The Times” tells the world that Australia’s ideal is a very nice little ideal but that it is necessary that there should be more Australians as the civilised peoples have forced progress on the Asiatics, who naturally desire to expand in the manner taught them by the white man. Every small thing an Australian or New Zealander. can do to help forward the prosperity, the true patriotism and the population of the continent, or these islands is a little step towards making independaut nations in these seas. It is urgent that both countries shall be independant of outside help and the only way to be thus independant is. to have enough New Zealanders to make the cry of “New Zealand for the New Zealanders ” a cry that must not be scoffed at, and the cry “Australia for the Australians” a sound that will be respected because there are tens of millions of Australians uttering it.