AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 78, 22 May 1911, Page 3

AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE.

INDUSTRIAL AND OTHERWISE. London, May 20. At the banquet given by the Ayrshire Minors’ Union to Mr. A. Fisher, Mr. Batchelor. Minister for Internal Affairs for the Commonwealth, said that Australia was having strikes because its prosperity was so great that they had to readjust wages and could not keep pace with the increase in industry. They had done more as a people to prevent strikes than any other nation had attempted. “You don’t hear of strikes that have been averted.” he said. He had every reason to believe that the present prosperity would continue. There wore several great national projects in hand, notably the transcontinental railway, and the development of the Northern Territory, which was one of the biggest problems any Government could face. Rather than it should be developed by black labor, the Government would retire at once. There would bo a demand in Australia for many years for a great many people. Mr. Batchelor declared that during no period of Australian history was there such a splendid return for industYil capital. There was an "abundance of land awaiting workers. He advocated a reciprocal commercial agreement between Australia and New Zealand. THE DEFENCE QUESTION. Mr. Pearce. Federal Minister for Defence. said; “In matters of defence we bavO come here to learn. II is not going to bo all plain sailing, but Britishers were never daunted by difficulties in the past. Wo are facing the question of Australian defence.” Mr Pearce said defence was not a party but a national question in Australia. Some thought they wore attempting too much respecting defence but Australians were always willing to take risks.