NEW GOVERNORS

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 91, 14 October 1920, Page 7

NEW GOVERNORS

FAREWBLLED IN LONDON

BELIEF IN AUSTRALIA'S FUTURE.

(SKITEB PfißScS ASSOCIATION.—COPXRIanT.) (AVSTRALIAN • NEW ZEALAND GABLE ASSOCIATION.^ .(Received October 14, 9 a.m.) LONDON, 13th October. Lord Lamington (an ex-Governor of Queensland), the Countess of Stradbroke, Sir Gerald Strickland (ex-Governor of New South Wales), Sir George Le Hunte (ex-Governor of South Australia), Colonel L. C. Amery (Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies), Sir Arthur Lamley (ex-Governor of Western Australia), Major-General Sir Harry Barron (ex-Governor of Western Australia), Mr. Andrew Fisher (High Commissioner for Australia), and the State> Agent-Gen-erals attended a luncheon at the Royal Colonial Institute to the Earl of Stradbroke (the new Governor for Victoria) and Sir Matthew Nathan (the new Governor of Queensland). Sir Arthur Stanley (the retiring Governor of Victoria) was absent owing to being indisposed.

Mr. Laydea_. who presided, intimated that the Institute intended shortly to admit women to Fellowship. In proposing the health of Lord Stradbroke, he paid a tribute to his work in national defence and fisheries. Sir Matthew Nathan had held most important posts under the Crown. He was going to a State where in many difficult problems his knowledge would prove of great value. Lord Stradbroke, in reply, «aid he was going out to Australia with the keenest interest. He hoped to meet many friends he had made during the war. Australia gave of her best in the war, and he was confident she would do her part in the general reconstruction which was going on in the world. Australia would become a power in the world, and he believed her power would go on increasing because of her resources. He had learned that Australians did not give up the whole of their time to finance, but found some time for sport. He was fortunate in going to Australia when her prospects were so bright. He would do his utmost to benefit Victoria.

Sir Matthew Nathan compared the development of the_ States of America with those of Australia. The former ransacked Europe for cheap labour, and had secured a heterogeneous population ; Australia had gone more slowly, and had not sacrificed the wealth of the future to the wealth of the present. From his experience, the coloured races applauded the firmness with whic.ii Australia maintained the AVhite Australia doctrine. The maintenance of a high standard of living naturally called for advanced legislation and administration, and the schemes developed in Queensland would be watched with keen interest in the Old World. It remained for Australia to see that the whole continent was irrigated, and that no drop of water needed for the land should enter the sea.