THE COLONIES AND THE EMPIRE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9352, 22 January 1909, Page 8

THE COLONIES AND THE EMPIRE.

lord northoote on AUSTRALIA. United Press Association.— By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. London, January 20. Lord Nocthcote was given an ovation'on rising to reply to the toast of his health at the banquet in his honour. He said he was proud »of the opportunity of serving the Empire in India and Australia. Many present would corroborate him in saying that the people of Australia endeavoured at all times to show the Thing’s representative cordial Kindness. There was a warmth of feeling which made the representatives feel that they had but exchanged one home for another. Australians of all parties were absolutely agreed in to the throne, and the King ;/S &£eat personal popularity in Aostr&la I was at very real and material/benefit to representatives there. Lord Northcote folly endorsed Earl Crewe’s reference to the infinitely greater difficulties attend- ' iug the American settlement after the termination of the .War of Independence. Australia’s difficulties were teething troubles—mere trifles —compared with the Amerncan troubles. Australia had a less difficult task than Canada successfully accomplished in blending two great * nationalities. Some people in Australia thought that the advent of Federation meant the millennium. A considerable minority who opposed Fedeiationl not unnaturally made themselves heard when the Commonwealth was first confronted with some temporary difficulty. Doubtless the Federal Constitution had some ambiguities respecting the relative rights of States and the Commonwealth. If the millennium had not arrived yet, very great material benefits had already accrued to Australians from federation. The great mass of quiet country voters appreciated very deeply the removal of barriers to free inter-State commerce and would not readily assent to the re-establishment of any such drawbacks. The people were every year getting more used to the new state of affairs. It must be remembered that the highly respected High Court was authoritatively entrusted with defining the respective rights and privileges of States and the Commonwealth. He therefore looked I forward without a shadow or shad© of apprehension to the continuity of the federal system. THE NEED FOR POPULATION. Australia’s greatest difficulty was the necessity for increasing population No doubt occasional mistakes by over-zealous officials in regard to immigration had created prejudice. Anything in the nature of a fixed desire to exclude from the Commonwealth men able to sustain themselves by their labour never existed. Australians had unemployables of their own and were not prepared to import more from the Old Country. Regarding coloured immigration, Britishers would do well to consider the Australian standpoint. It was a physical impossibility for Britain to "be swamped by coloured labourers, bat Australia was differently placed regarding Asiatics, therefore it®was quite conceivable, from* the Australian standpoint, that unless the Australians rigidly secure themselves against the possibility of being swamped by Asiatic labour they might be confronted with a problem even more serious than the great negro question in the United States. Much depended on Australia’s ability to populate the huge northern territory with whites. He hesitated to pronounce a definite opinion, but he believed it possible for steady, sober, careful men to colonise for a time that great tropical land, but it was a serious matter to consider how far the climate would be suitable for women and children, and whether they could hope that in the course of generations a healthy virile race could continue to live and breed in such a climate. At present there were only 2000 whites on half a million square miles. It was impossible to iiope cr wish that to continue indefinitely. Evidently the settlement of the northern territory was cue of the very greatest questions confronting Australia. They must remember that if, instead of cordial friendship they were on bad terms with China or* Japan, it would be possible for an Asiatic force to seize Port Darwin and southward at theirleisure. It would not be possible for five millions of Europeans, no matter how hardy, to defend and develop a continent three-fold the size of Europe. Neither commercially nor financially would they be able to do it and they must rely for a considerable time on the aid of the Motherland in time of need. The Empire’s resources were not illimitah’o and, with a world-wide Emjure, Britain might be called to make great sacrifices in all parts of the glebe. The amount of aid Australia could expect from the Motherland was necessarily limited, and Australia mnst be largely dependent on herself for defence. Whilst unable at present to contribute very materially .in men or money to that defence, she could render a great service to the Empire and herself by co operating vigorously in a liberal policy of immigration, which would return to British dominion, numbers now diverted to foreign countries.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. THE FISCAL QUESTION. There was, continued Lord Northcote, plenty of land in Australia for generations for steady sober hardworking men. He gave instances he had personally seen in West Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and Mildnra, where splendid land had been rendered available by individual effort aided by State irrigation. Whatever were the merits or demerits of Mr Doakin’s defence scheme, it ought to be recognised as unselfish, inasmuch as it assumed larger obligations than were imposed under the old naval agreement. Regarding the fiscal question, without entering into controversies, he emphasised the fact that Australia was growing more protectionist and was determine! to protect her manufactures against outside competition, therefore it-'Was'inaposaible to anticipate the establishment of anything resembling a commercial zoilvereln between Britain and the colonies so far as Australia was concerned on the basis of equal access to colonial markets. . , , , He eulogised the grim pluck nnptralia had shown in the development of the country. He thought the relations between, capital and labour might to con.

siderably improved, but he had no desire to be a censqrof the country which had received him with so much kindness and generositj 7 . It was desirable that more puolic men should visit Australia and sway the colonies. He spoke of the great advantage it would be to the Empire if the Colonial Office arranged tor the interchange of officials, allowing some cf its staff to take service in the colonies. , The Hon. JA. Lyttelton proposed the health of the Chairman. Lord Crewe, who responding, promised to consider the possibility of the interchange of officials. PRESS COMMENTS. Newspapers eulogising the speeches agree that Australia’s chief problem is the need of men. Once this difficulty is solved others will prove of secondary importance. A USEFUL PAMPHLET. “Advice to Inventors - ’ is the title of an excellent little book published by HENRY HUGHES, Patent Agent, Queens Chambers, Wellington. It contains much useful information regarding patents and patent laws, and will be found or inestimable value to all inventors. Free on application. Have you ever tried a “Ready Tailored Suit.” They are made of first-class material, stylish cut, and fit well. Call in at Neal’s, Feilding, and you can see them without being pressed to buy. The prices are very reasonable, 47s 6d, 555, 59s 6d. The stock is large; you can be easily fitted.* How much do you care for your head? If it is worth much to you don’t let it ache. Stearns’ Headache Cure relieves all kinds of headaches quickly and without had effect.