A NAVAL COUNTRY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 22, 27 January 1915, Page 7

A NAVAL COUNTRY

WHAT NEW ZEALAND MUST ULTIMATELY BE SPEECH BY FEDERAL PRIME MINISTER. (BY TELEQIUPH.— SPECIAL TO THE POST.) DUNEDIN, This Day. Speaking at the civic function, the Right Hon. Andrew Fieher, Federal Prime Minister, 6aid they had all been good enough to refer to the little service' His Majesty's Australian Fleet hacf been able to render 'in these waters. Australians -were just a 6 proud and as glad , to congratulate New Zealanders on the work 'done by New Zealand's gift battleship in the North Sea. As regards the veferenco to the work of the Navy League, Mr Fisher pointed out that "the Commonwealth had developed the ques- j tion in a different way, and what they had in the form of equipment and personnel for the purpose of defence would be given to the Mother Country at any time. He, would not enter into any local policy for New Zealand, winch was entirely a question for decision by the Dominion's representatives; but it did strike him that the island continent here must ultimately be a naval country New Zealand's interests .were even in some respects greater than Australia's, and the New Zealander's public duty would be as great as that of the Australian's. But that would bo determined later on. There M-as no hostility in the Old Country regarding the status of the Australian Navy. There was no doubt in the minds of the King's Advisers as to the placing — without equivocation or objection at allabsolute confidence in His Majesty's citizens in Australia represented by the Parliament for the time being, and Telying on them to do the right thing at the right time, in co-operation with the King's Advisers, or acting individually, as Australia thought best. As a result of that complete confidence, Australia was stronger to-day, and more closely united to the Mother Country than ever. " WE ARE CAPABLE OF DOING FOR OURSELVES." " We in Australia have been handed over the great resources of that great continent, and you in New Zealand have obtained possession of these -beautiful islands. We boa-st of their productive- | ness, we boast of the capacity for . a ' higher standard of comfort than is d?ji tamable In any part of the world. Are | we, a^ manly men and womanly women, to ask the Mother Country to provide for our own defence, and also to help provide for your defence ? (Loud applause.) Surely, we belong to a race and land capable of doing lor ourselves what our forefathers have done in the Mother Country. Ifc fa for you to wiy what you shall' do." It had been said, the right hon. gentleman continued, that politicians should agree to differ without s.tiaining personal friends-hip. At the present time and rriMS. when the position of these islands and tho position of the Empne. and, indeed, when civil' nation, jv£u& being put to tho testy. th^, i

was no room for difference of opinion on the broad question of vital policy. The geographical position of Austrafia and New Zealand was such «» to call for reciprocal relations. Apart altogether from the question whether they should join in the defence of the Pacific or not, they should have closer association than they had at the present time, and he could assure them Australia desired it without infringing upon her autonomy as a self-governing dominion, Questions as to reciprocity, intercommunication, and po on should be examined properly when the time came for conferences.