HANDS ACROSS THE TASMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23083, 7 July 1938, Page 12

HANDS ACROSS THE TASMAN

All New Zealanders will heartily greet the announcement that, at the centennial celebrations in 1910, a party of Australian surf life-savers will pay this Dominion a visit, in acceptance of an invitation given some time ago. It will be remembered that this invitation was extended as an answering gesture in acknowledgment of the hospitality enjoyed by a New Zealand surf life-saving team that visited Sydney on the occasion of the sesquicentenary celebrations there. Also it will be remembered that the body of New Zealand returned soldiers similarly entertained then in Sydney was moved to promote arrangements for a corresponding visit of Australian "diggers" to this country. These things point the way to a more comprehensive use of the New Zealand celebrations as an opportunity of cementing the bonds of friendship between the two South Seas territories of the Empire. It is manifestly right that an effort should be made to assemble here a representative company from all British lands, near and far; but particular attention ought to be given to the possibilities of encouraging a large influx of Australians. In its earliest days of European enterprise and settlement New Zealand was intimately linked" with New South Wales by many interests. The centennial will naturally bring a reminder of these. In course of time this country attained independence and set about the winning of its own place and influence. Now circumstances are impelling renewed thought of common purposes and perils, and to get closer to each other in a manifold fraternity is as much a duty as it can be a delight. In all our centennial planning, therefore, every opportunity should be used to make the celebrations an experience of "hands across the Tasman." Other contacts are desirable ; this one ought to have a very large place in all arrangements.