WORKMEN'S PARADISE

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 235, 1 October 1920, Page 5

WORKMEN'S PARADISE

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND GENERAL BEftDWOOD S VIEW. GOING SLOW ON DEFENCE. CBy Cable.—Press Association.—Copy-ig-ht.) {Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, September 30. Mr. Andrew Fisher, High Commissioner, presided, over the Australian and New Zealand Club's luncheon to General Sir Wm. Birdwood. A hundred and lift}- guests, including Sir Jas. Allen, the Agents-General, Lords Lnchcape, Ashfield, and Rawlinson, and General Hutton attended the luncheon. General Birdwood, in a long speech, paid a tribute to the Australian and New Zealand Governments' treatment of returned men. He said he could not believe that any other country had done more. It was also amazing what the municipalities and private committees were doing. He ascribed the excellent results of repatriation firstly to the adaptability and resource of the returned men, secondly to the generosity and farsighted policy of the Dominion Governments, thirdly to the loyal cooperation of employers and the civil communities, fourthly to the. enthusiasm of the employment committees. General Birdwood, commenting on the vast productive areas unpopulated, said that he told Australians that if the British race did not populate the vacant spaces the time might come when others would think they could do better, and make the attempt. He urged Australians to welcome their British comrades' aid in .1 the development of their resources. Australia arid New Zealand were workmen's paradises, but be felt sad at the numerous strikes. He longed for sanity on the part of Labour, the cessation of agitation, and for the employers to aive genuine evidence that they were willing to co-operate and give concessions at the right time. Both Dominions were naturally going slow in their defence policies in consequence of the enormous burdens of the war. They were anxious to curtail expenditure to the minimum consonant with safety. He hoped that the fine prewar citizen service would be fostered and not allowed to fade away. He hoped that Australia and New Zealand would encourage interchanges of officers with India, nnd also exchanges of university professors, school masters, and civil servants between the Dominions and En.land. He was disagreeably shocked at the heat and strength of sectarian feeling in Australia, amounting nearly to exasperation in certain parts of the country. Surely a free people should all live harmonionslv together, irrespective of religious feelings. He concluded with an appreciation of- his treatment by the Dominions' Governments. The speech was punctuated with humorous stories of bis experiences witb soldiers and which the large 'audience thoroughly enioved. He prcfncod bis speech by holding up a small picture of n nlncard which the digeers displnved at Fremantle on his arrival, the picture of an outstretched hand, inscribed. "Diegers' greeting."' with a diminutive sketch of Getjcral Birdwood. !>nd the words. "Put it there. Birdie." General Birdwood remaVkin.T, "Tint v/ns my first grcctinc in Australia." The speeeb pave evidence of very remarkable pr.«-,»rs of observation nnd study nf_Australian Hfe and conditions. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.)