NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 29, 17 January 1912, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND AND AUSTRALIA.

SHOULD AVE FEDERATE?

VIEWS OF N.S.W. POLITICIAN.

Mr. J. C. L. Fitzpatrick, M.L.A., of New South Wales, a member of the Totalisator Commission, was interviewed by 7 a Palmerston reporter on Alonday for his opinion on the suggestion made by Mr. A. Fisher, Federal Premier, at the Australian Labour Conference, in favour of the federation of Nev. 7 Z< aland and the Commonwealth.

Mr. Fitzpatrick said that a good deal depnded on the point of view. He thought the proposal was a good one. although it emanated from the Labour Party ,to which he was opi I It seemed that in the S i Hemisphere, where the t ere largely British and \ t il tn there should be close combination on the part of Australia and New Zealand, if only for the purpose of maintaining a solid front against any probable aggressors. Despite all that might be said to the contrary by the optimistic section of the cc.mmunity, there was strong ground for the belmf that in he days to come we would be confronted with something m ibe shape of aggression from Eastern peoples. This might come from Chirm. Japan, or the Dutch Indies—the a-t-aam. 1 being only a few days’ sail from Australia. There was a danger, owing to the growing population and limited area of these countries, 1 bat they 7 would attempt to take advantage <>f the. isolated position of Australia, with its spare population, to occupy its waste spaces. What would be a dingm D> Australia in this respect would be especially menacing to New Zealand. One had onlv to realise how ciose '> the top of Australia were the Dutch Indies, the Philippines, China, and I ip-in to know tne tiemendous possibility that existed foi an invasion bv the coloured laces. Though Australia could depend on the assistance of Great Britain when the latter was not involved m a European vai it \ ould be in po sible to do very much until such help arrived. With the betterment ot cable facilities the distance between New Zealand and Australia would be cut very short. Even if it did not pay the Dominion to enter the union it might be possible lor her to become one with Australia m relation <’ matters of (life lie quit Li’Hne t gulations, postal and telegraph arrangements, cable seivicen, and other matters in which their welfare might be mutual. If union could be effected even in these matters it might settle some of the great problems of the Southern Hemisphere in tire near future.