The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1929.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 October 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1929.

I AUSTRALIA AND' NEW ZEALAND. The general tenor -of the' sentiments expressed at the “New Zealand dinner’ in Melbourne arranged by the Trade Commissioner for this Dominion in Victoria and reported in the cable news recently should be widely approved. It is satisfactory to observe that speaker after speaker dwelt upon the importance of the establishment of more irftimate relations between Australia and New Zealand. It is an .extraordinary circumstance that it should have been deemed necessary to enlarge upon a consideration of this *~nd. No doubt a closely reasoned explanation might be given why within that part of the Empire which is, or was, known as Australasia there.should be two countries of a common origin, working out their destinies side . by side, and yet approaching one anothei scarcely more closely than the obligations of ordinary neighbourliness might lie, the explanation would not be wholly satisfactory. . It is sufficiently clear, considers an exchange, that in the relations between the two countries there is an absence of the warmth that might be naturally expected and that a certain aloofness exists that is not accounted for by the mere existence of the twelve hundred miles of ocean that lie between them.,. Their attitude one to the other seems.to have been evolved by a gradual process, but it is certainly not helpful to either country, for each could benefit by the existence of a closer friendship and the establishment of a more cordial contact. When those things which they have in common are taken into account, there are overwhelming grounds noon which it would he only reasonable to suppose that they would he in direct touch and . genuine symonthv with one another. Australia and New Zealand have a common heritage, they are the products of British colonisation. thpir reop’os a r e steeped in the British tradition, their destiny is bound up w’tli that of the Emnire. and their k’mshin should h° the strongest bond of all .between them. O v er and above that, the tyo countries are thrown Geographically into, a conjunction which should make them realise with particular force their sisterhood as dominions of the Emnire, and which might he expected to create in their peonies a peculiar interest in mm another. Australia, and New Zealand are outposts of the Empire in the great Pacific, and in their propinquity each should realise the o'her to ho a source of strength to ilscTT, and thus both should make their contribution towards the common aim of security. The argument that their peoples should know each other hotter and he more closely concerned with each other’s do-

ings and welfare than they actually are is one of irresistible cogency. Something beyond a friendliness that seems to be content with formalities, and have little of real heart in it, must appear, desirable. Perhaps the most important factors in bringing about a much better mutual knowledge and understanding would be improved communications, the need for which between the two countries is sufficiently apparent. Improvements in that direction would do more than anything else to bring the life of the one community into touch with that of the other. The trade relations between Australia and New Zealand reflect the mutual aloofness which has been permitted to subsist. It should not be so. I jin fh is connection adequate communications are important; but still more important is a spirit of reciprocity in trade which should be manifesting itself to a much greater extent than is actually the case.