Evening Post. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1914. AUSTRALASIAN FELLOWSHIP

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 153, 26 December 1914, Page 6

Evening Post. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 1914. AUSTRALASIAN FELLOWSHIP

Mr. Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister of Australia, is crossing the Tasrnan Sea with a great message for the people of New Zealand. He will gay to this public how the new naval policy of the Commonwealth ha-s put a pride of race into Australians and has broadened and deepened their patriotism. He will say how the personal interest of the average Australian has been aroused and maintained, and- how the whole continent has been thrilled by the Imperial service of the Australian fleet during the past four months. The visitor will not have a listless, lackadaisical audience. Ho will be gladdened by the evidence that New Zealanders are not ignorant of the splendid work done by the Australian ships. The people of these islands have been as hearty as their kinsmen across the Tasman Sea in their admiration of tho naval achievements. When H.M.A.S. Sydney ended the raiding career of the Emden, the Australian vessel also made some havoc among the " Toy Navy " and the " Tin-pot Navy " of the Ward Party. Sir Joseph's advocacy of tho easy-going, uninspiring subsidy scheme has lost some of its floridness during the past two months. He knows as well as anybody else that the average New Zealander has been deeply impressed by the exploits of the Australian cruisers — and each political party is obliged to have a profound respect for the average New Zealander. In the years when this country threw a dole, an unworthy pittance, to the Mother Country for the protection' afforded by the Imperial Navy, the people here were not proud of the petty policy. That meagre offering waa not in accordance with New Zealand's generous temperament; the public left the assessment to the politicians, who ridiculously under-estimated the willingness of the people to be just to Great Britain. Mr. Fisher is coming in the hope that New Zealand's public men will recognise the advantages of co-operation with Australia in a system of naval defence. It is hard to understand how a difference of opinion can long exist on such a common-sense matter among thoughtful, far-seeing men. It is nominally a party question, but Mr. Fisher's mission is above paji'ty. During the paafc few weeks the politicians who have clung to the old soulless subsidy — an indefinite period of pittance — have proved themselves out of sorts with a public opinion that is developing steadily against such a puny policy. The people will soon have the opportunity to call the tune for the politicians when they welcome Mr. Fisher. This statesman has proved himself a good Australasian, one whose gaze goes far onwai'd and sweeps the horizon. He has given dignity to the word Labour in politics ; he has won over to the Labour side many a reasonable Liberal who once feared that Australia's Labour Party was as eager as New Zealand's Social Democratic Party to reach El Dorado by an all-Red route. While Mr. Fisher is here he will discuss that old subject of reciprocity, to which various sad accidents have happened sinco Mr. Seddqn's death. The war has given Australians and New Zealanders a better understanding of each other and a *better respect for each other. We arc confident that some of the thoughtless,- untenable objections raised against a fair basis of reciprocity some time ago will not prevail against the community's better judgment. No reform in the world has been accomplished without protest from some individuals or groups. Reform necessarily means disturbance ; one section looks for a benefit and another fears disadv antage from the change. If tho politicians allow themselves to be scared by the clamour of persons who quail at bogeys of their own creation, then the Australasian fellowship will have another <leplotable postponement. Xew Zealand's politicians, of all parties, are agog with Imperialism at present ; well, a great opportunity is here; there is not yet a proper Imperial linking of Australia and New Zealand for mutual advantage. We do not suggest a federation ; we have still in mind the old ideal of The Post — a mode of living in strong friendly neighbourliness, -.each country eager to aid the other.