The Taihape Daily Times SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1915. THIS AUSTRALIAN DRIFT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 108, 9 January 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times

SATURDAY, JANUARY 8, 1915. THIS AUSTRALIAN DRIFT.

AND W AIM AKIN 0 ADVOCATE ("With which is incorporated The Tai hapo Post '/iid Waimarinn News.)

Owing- to the now altogether obvious fact that a preconcerted and determinod'effort is being undertaken by supporters of the pan-Australian idea of an Australasian nation, to entangle NewZealand Statesmen in Naval partnership proposals in such a way that will render withdrawal difficulty if not-particularly troublesome, it is just as well we should take a careful view of Australian politics .and definitely note how Australian affairs arc drifting. We cannot conceive of Mr Massey or Mr Jas. Allen being will- 1 ing subjects to the lion. Andrew Fisher's coquetry. Mr Massey is at the head of what is -termed a Conservative Government, while Mr Fisher is the Premier in a Labour Government, and under ordinary circumstances they might, safely be regarded .as incompatibles. It has been'said, although we hesitate to believe it, that our Government looks upon Mr Fisher's naval partnership proposals with some degree of favour. We have never regarded the Reform Party's naval policy as approaching anything of the kind. Everyone knows that the lion. Jas. Allen favours a New Zealand navy, pure and simple, as opposed to Sir Joseph Ward's view, that New Zealand should pay an annual contribution to the British Government so that the Empire's ' ships may be stationed in Now Zealand waters, adequate for out protection. In reading .Australian newspapers one cannot help noticing the copious references to New Zealand; Australian journalism is' remarkably unanimous in the suggestion that Australian interest in Ncav Zealand is at present intensified and focussed, and we have read that, "Mr Andy Fisher is'teaching those New Zcalanders a thing or two." Whether that be so or not, we do hope that the supreme effort lie is engaged upon will teach Vim that wo know how to look alter our own business before he leaves our shores.

Why is the Labour Government ill Australia bo particularly anions to cuter into a naval partnership with us? They must have some very urgent ronton or, we may rest assured, they would not be taking such trouble, nor would Iheir journals be displaying such keen interest in the lion. Andy's mission. The fact is, the Australian Labour Government can see financial di. .cullies of a brobdignagian character looming up in the near future. The Labour-cum-Socialist. policy is not panning out according to hopes and anticipations. Its trading institution balance sheets are disclosing enormous deficiencies, and its internal finances are in a bad way generally. In building their local navy their estimation of cost, upkeep and future additions were faulty, and the cvassness of the various sections of Labour who created- the Government is, afi ' landing it into extreme■ financi-.l difficulty, going,to encompass iis down-fail. Labour-Socialists in Australia k ave .'temporary coke-

sioTi; and homogeneity sufficient to establish a Government, but their splits and rifts arc such as to make successful legislation and administration utterly impossible. We have no difficulty in finding the explanation of Premier Fisher's earnestness in the mission lie is engaged upon, for Australian journalism is cabling to us daily. Reading between the lines of yesterday's cables from Australia alone, furnishes us with ample explanation. Air Carmicliael speaks feelingly when he says that me war is going to tax tin 1 .utmost. resources of the Allies, and they must provide for the worst, Tin Farmers' and Settlers' Association is up in arms against the-Go-vernment; there is a crisis in the. butchery .business; Mr Deaken is turning down his appointment a* Australia's representative at the Panama Exhibition ; a flour-mill-ing firm is failing, with liabilities in the reigon.of £30,000,' owing to the wheat situation, notwithstanding the fact that Australia can make it convenient to lend New Zealand one hundred thousand bushels. What is in finitely worse is the insane altitude of Labour and Socialist factions. Although Australia averagcly pays immensely more for Government than ai.y other nation under the sun, there is a growing clamour for splitting up X:w South* Wales into two States, presumably to find 'scope for the superfluity of heaven-horn Socialist Statesmen, for it is indeed difficult to attribute it to anything else. Australia already lias 'from six hundred to seven' hundred legislators' for about five million people, and why it still wants more is an enig ma; but of course the people do not'want more, they know the cost of those they have is impoverishing administration. It is the agitators alone who really want to create another State with all its governing appendages.

While Australian Premie i Fisher is approaching our Government with suave suasions, Ave should not fail to note what is taking- place the while in the country helias left, and then ask ourselv<. whether it would not be dan go ous in the extreme to place ourselves under the power of such people. While the Premier of iLabour Government is inviting New Zealand into a naval partnership, that Labour Party is, if yesterday's cables say anything, closely federating; joining into one huge body, the Australian Workers' Union; because the present system of sectional trade union-ism is unable to successful! combat the encroachments of capitalism amalgamation of all unions is necessary. . The prime agitator is a Mr o'Sullivan, a Socialist oi the most extreme character. We know Australia has bitten oif more than it can swallow in buying its navy and although we may sympathise as far as human na.ture should permit, we must, m order to preserve our national impendence, refuse to be dragged at the tail of a party in which such agitators as Mr o'Sullivan are leaders. Because Australia entered into a naval business altogether beyond that its available-capital warranted is surely no valid argument why New Zealand should i poverish its people, in a sentimental effort to snatch her chestnuts from the fire.

When such journalistic bullying' effort as the following hay, tub*; i.osortcd to then if is indeed time that Now Zoalanders shoulcj shako off their indiJi'm-euee. Oucrjournal says, "Already Australian taxpuyers are giving New Zealand something' for nothing, and New Zealand is rather in the position of a poor relation, cap in hand, not worthy of having a design for a national coat of arms, shirking responsibilities, and enjoying benefits without making' fair payments This is not the means of making a sturdy nationhood." This is a strong flashy indict!noil, but is il true? Who is it that is cap in hand" if il is not the Hon. Andy FisliS!', it is eei''.a:r.-y not New Zealand. The very wording of the'.indictment is enough, without the thousand and one other- evidences, to indicate the extreme plight Australian finance is in. New Zealand is rather in the position of tin- successful, careful man who is being importuned by he-. profligate brother for money lo tide him over till another, approaching a much more insurmountable kind, overtakes him, and who says no! Face your difficulty while there is hope and refrain from future rashness. New Zealand is paying the Mother Country for naval protection, and were it not for the presence of British ships in the Pacific, the AustrrTan Navy could not nave save*! us. We contributed to (he pros nee of British ships, Aus trail r. lid not, she had her own. \7ny . -aid we be asked to help Aus- : lilia to pay a debt she had no occasion to contract? This miserable .'••id contemptible business of playing at nations must be discountenanced by our Government at" our

independence and existence as _ a self-reliant people is to be maintained. The traditions of New Zeaalnd are something its people can take a pride in, do not let it be said this generation besmirched them. "Shirking responsibilities" they call it, but is it not because of our sturdy nature that they have recourse 1o bullying to try and coerce us into some form of political Union that would mean our downfall. New 'Zealand Sfaiosmdn have hitherto surpassed everything in Nation building. Will those of to-day prove traitors to the trust they have inherited, by entering into a naval partner-. "snip, in which our voice would be overshadowed; and by committing us to a political Union that would take awav our Nationhood?