NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 107, 13 January 1912, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA

A PLEA FOR CLOSER RELATIONS.

By Oable—Press Association—Copyright.

Received 12, 10 p.m. Hobart, January 12.

At the Labor Conference Mr. Fisher, speaking to his motion on the desirability of entering into closer relations with Jvew Zealand, declared he was impressed by the belief that the interests, welfare and safety of the Commonwealth and New Zealand were mutually bound up with each other. It was extremely desirable that closer political, industrial and commercial relations should be established between the two countries, and recommended the Commonwealth Government to immediately open negotiations with the New Zealand Government on the lines of the resolution. Mr. Fisher said the Dominion was undoubtedly in favor of federation of the two peoples, who both' recognised that the fate of one would be the fate of the other if ever they happened to come into conflict with greater peoples more powerful than themselves. It was, he thought, becoming on the part of the Labor Party to take the lead in opening negotiations with New Zealand.

Mr. McGowen, in seconding, said Australia had to deplore the fact that NewZealand was out of the federation when they realised that the Dominion had led them all in the early days of democratic and progressive legislation, and was not now allied but rather a formidable opponent in certain directions. The wisdom of her being with the rest of Australia was admitted, and he believed from every standpoint it would not only be in the interests of Australia but in the interests of Australasia that New Zealand and the rest of the islands of the Pacific should be allied.