AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13502, 29 July 1907, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE.

It is sometimes made a matter of complaint that the public docs not gain the benefit of the University ami its professors to the extent that might be expected in the discussion, of what may be classed as national questions (says the Sydney Morning Herald). When the Federal issue was before the country no outstanding contributor to the discussion came from that quarter,' and the same criticism might be offered in respect of other questions. Professor David, however, is one of those who protest in the most practical fashion against that reproach by coming out into the open now and, then and publicly discussing great issues in his Own thoughtful and illuminating way. The other evening he made a lecture on some recent travel experiences an occasion for referring to one of the greatest of the national problems that Australia will have to face in the near and remote future. In the ordinary course of things wo could hardly hope to be always exempt from the common responsibility of defending ourselves, but the lecturer professed to see in our circumstances a special reason why we should be prepared to face that contingency. We occupy one of the favoured spots of the earth" he told his audience in effect, and the ; evident truth of that remark has struck i most travelled Australians. We have the most temperate of climates, and we are growing richer year by year. We are directly in the path of the world's trade and territorial expansion, and our vast empty spaces invite settlement by the crowded neighbouring peoples. "We are sitting here in Australia in one of the seats of the mighty," said Professor David, "and unless we develop quickly into a higher nation, one stronger than us will come and take our seat and make us their footstools." Coming in that way and from such a quarter, perhaps the reminder may set people thinking who have never seriously regarded the responsibility of national Australian defence before. .On this subject it has always been found difficult to arouse public interest, partly because the Australian public will persist in regarding national defence as something remote and far away. The fact that. every five years has brought it nearer, by. changing the whole outlook in the Pacific, is not yet appreciated by the masses. It is therefore for the thinkers and leaders of thought to guide their attention in that direction, and counsel of this nature comes wiln the more weight when the counsellor is not a politician. In this and other matte;; we lie too much under the disadvantage of being a stay-at-home and isolated peopK We do not- realise with any sense of practicality what other nations and peoples are doing. "Travel brought home to one the great preparedness of other nations for defence and attack," said Professor David to his audience the other evening, " and the alarming unpreparedness for self-defence of our own land." This is a point on which Australian sentiment distinctly needs educating. Some day '.'C Australians will be in arms, fighting for all they hold dear, and in that day they will forgive all the errors of all their Governments if only those Governments have given them weapons, organisation, and discipline. .