GENERAL CABLES

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 153, 26 December 1914, Page 7

GENERAL CABLES

MR. FISHER'S VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND WHAT HE DESIRES TO SEE CLOSEiTttONDS. (By Telegraph—Pre^ Asßooinlion-'-Cowt-ight) SYDNEY. 25th December. Mr. Fisher, Prime Minister of Aus« tralia. previous to his departure for Hew Zealand, said that, he earnestly desired to see the two countries linked in closei' bonds of national sisterhood. He intends conferring with the leading public men with a view to the inauguration of a comprehensive scheme of reciprocal relations, (.'.specially in regard to navnl defence. Up expects to have little difficulty in > persuading New Zealand tl&t the combined efforts of the two countries would provide the best means for defence in the Pacific, and would be of the greatest value imperially if New Zealand embarks on a vigorous policy of warship building. There is an immediate opening, lie said, for reciprocal trade rok' tions. which should be placed on surer and more cordial lines, based on reciprocity and national sisterhood. Mi*. Fisher also proposes to discuss reciprocity in the compilation of statistic^ Both countries conduct elaborate statistical departments, each ignothig the other. PftESS COMMENT. SYDNEY, 25th December. The Telegraph, commenting on. th© object of Mr. Fisher's visit, say 6 that it was New^ Zealand's fault that the movement Mr. Deakin started a decade ago did not reach its natural goal. With Australia sympathetic, New Zealand had much to gain, and the two countries would have been bound by ties impossible to shatter. There should be ho obstacle to an understanding to find practical expression in a legislative enactment. There are no substantial imme« diate reasons why tariff reciprocity should not be attained, and useful negotiations begun which would lead to a navy representing both tho Commonwen [th and Dominion.