MR FISHER AT HOME.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10768, 17 May 1911, Page 4

MR FISHER AT HOME.

DEFENCE AND THIi ALL-RED : ROUTE. [Bt Electiuc Telegkaph—Copvijioht.]; (Per Press Association.) Received May 16, at 11.30 p.iii. London, May i 6. Sir Jqseph .AVard and Mr. M'Gpwen; welcomed Mr Fisher at Charing, Cross, ' Mr Fisjie'r stated that- h'e intended .to. study Mr - Lloyd-George's iris'iirance: scheme, as social legislation of that kind would soon be adopted in Australia. He wished to, dissipate-jthe :; idea thatjtho Labor party though-,thej)ob'jecV to attempts<to ex-, ploit settlements-: tiPersdnally he faVpred> making i.-the Mother, ■; Country • , better: aware of the * splendid '" opportunities.' Australia wants nonest, healthy immigrants, whether with money or not. He did not favor the referendum as a, method of taking the popular vote on. matters of policy. ■•,■»» A Reuter agent interviewed Mr Fisher, who!stated.that the;ref eijendum■ had in "ho way upon the.position of the Labor'party, which "desired to give Parliament, not the party, greater control of trade and^commerce. Mr Fisher said that byjfj&ir the.;mostiraportant matter at the Conference-will be Imperial defence. The. Australian Labor party's view could be summarised thus: Australia must first ho able to defend herself before she can consider the, question pr'sharing general linperiflil de-i fence. ' . - i : : ' . ; The Premier said the Australian Government was not hostile to the All-red route, but refused to join Canada and New Zealand in "subsidising the Vancouver .service. -This was due to New; ! Zealand.''selling the; same class of .produce, consequently the feeling of Australian producers was that they were subsidising competitors.