AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 8

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.

The regret expressed in the Fedesal House by an ex-Minister of the Crown that New Zealand is not represented in that Parliament may strike New Zealanders as curiously out of touch with realities. This country could be represented in that Assembly only if it were part of the Commonwealth. It decided over thirty years ago that it would not join the Commonwealth, and it has never regretted that decision. Indeed, the experience of two outlying States of the Commonwealth under federation has confirmed New Zealanders in their conviction that it was and is better for New Zealand to work out her own political destiny. The reasons, however, that Mr. Fenton gives for wishing to see New Zealand represented in his own Parliament are important in fact. The two nations, as he says, have much in common, and there is. need for a greater degree of unity. They are; situated in the same political and economic j sphere in the world, are brothers in blood, are members of the same Empire, speak ihe same language and inherit the same traditions, and J face the same problems of defence. Their fates are bound together. . That they have not achieved the greatest possible degx*ee of co-operation and unity is evident. Look, for j example, at the long intervals that have elapsed between visits of Australian warships' to New Zealand waters. Mr. Fenton's remarks are a reminder that Australia and j New Zealand have problems and ideals in common. j