THE FEDERAL PREMIER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 303, 17 May 1911, Page 5

THE FEDERAL PREMIER.

welcomed in England. By Cal/ie. —Plena Association. —Copyright. London, May 15. Mi - . Ramsay Mac Donald met Mr. A. Fisher, the Federal Premier, at Paris, and on liia arrival at Dover lie was met by Sir George Roid and Captain Collins. He was also welcomed at Charing Cross by Sir Charles Lucas, the Agents-Gen-eral, and many other Australasians, as well as by Messrs Henderson, Barnes, Crooks, and other Laborites.

Mr. Fisher, interviewed, referring to the referendum regarding monopolies, said the approval of the proposal was merely deferred. Dwelling on the progress of tlie Labor Party, he said he was satisfied with the present situation, as they had an ample working majority in both Houses. "We are," he haid, "a steady progressive party with definite aims and aspirations, and have every confidence in our cause." He added that industrially and socially progress had never before been so marked during his twenty-eight years' experience in Australia.

MR. FISHER INTERVIEWED. THE LABOR PARTY'S PLATFORM. Received 10, !) p.m. London, May 16. Reuter interviewed Mr. Fisher, who stated that the referendum in no way reflected upon the position of the Labor Party, which desired to give Parliament, not the Labor Party, greater control of trade and commerce. By far the most important matter at the forthcoming conference would be Imperial defence. The Australian Labor Party's view could be summarised thus: Australia must first be able to defend herself before she can consider taking a share in general Imperial defence. The Australian Government was not hostile to the All-Red route. She refused, however, to join Canada and New Zealand in subsidising the Vancouver service. Her attitude was due to New Zealand selling the same class of produce. Consequently the feeling among Australian producers was that they were subsidising competitors. FURTHER INTERVIEWS. Received 10, 11.30 p.m. London, May 16. Sir Joseph Ward and Mr. J. S. T. McGowen (Premier of New South Wales) welcomed Mr. A. Fisher at Charing Cross.

Interviewed. Mr. Fisher stated that he intended to study Mr. Lloyd-Gen 're's insurance and social legislation. T' * kind of thing would soon be adopted ' ' , '' - tralia. He wished to dissipate the idea that the Labor Party were hostile to immigration, though they objected to attempts to exploit settlements. Personally he favored making the Mother Country better aware of the splendid opportunities in Australia, which wanted honest and healthy immigrants, whether possessing money or not. ITe was not in favor of the referendum as a method of taking a popular vote on matters of policy.