AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE.

Evening Star, Issue 14572, 22 May 1911, Page 6

AUSTRALIA’S FUTURE.

THE PROBLEM OF DEFENCE. A MINISTER ON STRIKES. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. "LONDON. May 21. Senator Pearce said that Deience was nut a party hut a national question in Australia. Some thought that they were attempting too much respecting Defence, but Australians were always willing to take risks. In matters of Defence we come here to learn. It is not going to be all plain sailing, but Britishers have never been daunted by difficulties in the past,- and it is in this way that wo are facing the question of Australian Defence. Mr Batchelor, in the course of his reply, said that at no period in Australian history had there been such a splendid return for industry. There was capital in abundance, and tin; land was awaiting workers. He advocated a reciprocal commercial agreement between Australia and Now Zealand. Australia was having strikes because tho prosperity was so great that the readjustment of wages could not keep pace with the increase of industry. As a people they had done more to prevent strikes than any other nation had attemnted. Yon don’t hear,” he said, "of the strikes that have been averted.” There was every reason to believe that the present prosperity would enutimip. They had great national projects in hand, notably the Transcontinental Railway and the development of the Northern iorrituiy, which was one of the biggest problems that any Government could possibly face. Rather than that it should be developed by black labor tho Government would at once retire. There would be a demand for many years for a great number J people.