Australia and New Zealand

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21903, 2 October 1936, Page 10

Australia and New Zealand

There are fortunately some signs that the need for close co-operation between Australia and New Zealand in defence policy is already recognised by the governments of the two countries. Last year and the year before the Royal Australian Navy and the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy held joint manoeuvres; and from time to time in the last few, years there have been conferences of experts on air and land defence. Whether co-operation is yet as full as is justified by the proximity of the countries and by their common obligations in respect of the defence of the Empire as a whole may be doubted. Presumably Sir Archdale Parkhill feels that the existing machinery for consultation and joint action leaves something to be desired. It seems a pity, however, that he limited his plea for co-operation to the field of defence, for linked with the defence problem are cognate problems of foreign policy, shipping, air services, and trade. The history of trade relations between Australia and New Zealand is a lamentable record of shortsighted squabbling; the question of air mails has, until recently, been approached by. each government without regard for the policy of the other; and now there is the curious spectacle of the Australian and New Zealand representatives at Geneva differing widely as to the best means of promoting peace and security. This separatism goes no further than governments; there is no lack of sympathy and understanding between the two peoples, and it is time the politicians accommodated themselves to the realities of the situation.