WEST AUSTRALIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 64, 17 March 1910, Page 7

WEST AUSTRALIA.

PREMIER BANQUETTED. IMMIGRATION NECESSARY. ALSO MONEY. Bj Telegraph.— Press A«*ociatioa.— Copyright. (Received March 17, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, 16th March. Tho Lord Mayor of London (Sir John Knill) presided at a luncheon to the Hon. N. J. Moore, Premier of \Yos>tem Australia, at the Fishmongers' Hall. There were one hundred and twenty-five guests, including Sir Gerard Smith (Gov- , ernor of West Australia from 1895 to 1900), Sir Charles Lucas (of the Home Office), Hon. C. H. Rason (Agent-General for We»t Australia), Mr. E. T. Doxat (chairman and managing director of the London Board of Dalgety and Co., Ltd.), Mr. Nivison, Mr. Arnold, and Mr. Doolette. Admiral Sir Frederick Bedford, exGovernor of Western Australia, presided. In proposing the health of "Our Gues-t," Sir Frederick said that Mr. Moore's record as a Premier would be quite as worthy by comparison as that of any of his predecessor*. He referred to the great growth of West Australia's agricultural possibilities, a state of things which was in a great measure due to Mr. Moore's work. Mr. Moore, in replying, said he »<as highly gratified by the presence of the commercial, banking, and mining sections of the Western Australian community. Perhaps the most important duty of tfie Western Australian Government is to arrange for immigration. In that direction he hoped to be able to co-operate. Sir George Reid, Australian High Commissioner, said Western Australia desired to encourage Englishmen and Europeans prepared to go on the soil and to assist in developing a great territory. Western Australia wanted capital and population, and, added Sir G-eorge, ''she must look to the Old Country for these." In proposing the health of the chairman, Sir George Reid .«aiil he must emphasise Australia's need of immigrants, which would be a far better investment for Great Britain than money.