VISIT TO DUNEDIN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16296, 1 February 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

VISIT TO DUNEDIN.

He Right Hon. A. Fisher, Prime Minister of the Australian Commonwealth, found himself greatly in demand on January 26 on the occasion of his brief visit to Dunedin. He was eagerly sought after not only by those who desired his mature counsel and advice, but by public men who wished to pay honour to so distinguished a guest, and to show him the most interesting sights about the city.

At noon Mr Fisher and Mr Boyd were given a civic reception at the Town Hall, the council chamber being crowded to the door.

The Mayor (Mr J. B. Shacklock) said that they were met to welcome to their city tho Right Hon. Andrew Fisher, Prime Minister of Australia, and tho Hon. J. A. Boyd, a member of the Commonwealth Parliament.

The Hon. Jamas Allen said that he had already had tho pleasure of -welcoming Cheir two guests to New Zealand, and it was an added pleasure to welcome (hem to his own city. Mr Fisher and Mr Boyd were on opposite sides of the House, and the fact that they had embarked on the present trip together was significant. Ho would would not enter into any political questions, but ono could say generally that the two lands were fairly Close together, and the Empire had committed to them the destinies of the dominions in the Pacifio Oceon. He believed that Australia was doing, and that New Zealand was doing, and would do all in their power to carry out the glorious responsibilities that had been placed upon them. It was tho business of a statesman to look into the* distant future. It took long years to prepare him for the tasks that he would be called upon to perform. Ho was one of those who were in favour of joining hands with Australia; it was his belief that the destiny of New Zealand was similar to tfiat of Australia, although they existed apart.—(Applauso.) Wo should help tbem whenever we could, just as they had helped us with their military college, and he wanted, as Minister of Defence. to say how grateful the people of Now Zealand were for tho splendid opportunities given to us for tho training of our officers at {lie military college at Duc-troon. He wished to thank the Australian Minister of Defence (Senator Pearce). and say how we appreciated the splendid work that was being done at Duntroon. In the opinion of experts there was no better military college existing anywhere in the Empire than at Duntroon. lie hoped that the day was coming when tho same facilities at Duntroon would bo given to those who wanted to train themselves for the Now Zealand unit of the Imperial Navy. We wanted to send our young men to the naval college in Australia, to be there trained in a manner similar to that given to New

Zealanders at Duntroon.—(Applause.) Un- | fortunately bo far the arrangements had not been completed, but ho hopod that they would be completed. So far as New Zealand was concerned, she was always ready to help them in every possible way.— ("Hear, hear.") Referring to Mr Boyd, ho said that he did not know whether those proeent realised how pleasant it was to make the acquaintance of a breezy and genial, and generally nice fellow—(laughter and applause.) He had sat alongside Mr Bovd at dinner, ami ho hoped to do so again. In conclusion ho thought that the example set them by Mr Fisher should be followed by thoir own Primo Ministers, whoever they might be.—(" Hear, hear.") They extended to Mr Fisher and Mr Boyd a hearty welcome, and hoped that the remainder of their visit might be spent very pleasantly, and that they would take back to Australia ploasant recollections of the people and tho country.—(Loud applause.) Mr J. A. Johnstone spoke on behalf of the Navy League. He said the privilege and duty of welcoming- the visitors to l);inedin in the name of the Otago branch of tho Navy League should, under ordinary circumstances, have fallen to their distinguished president, tho Hon. James Allen. As he was, however, with them in another capacity, ho (tho speaker) had been asked, as a vice-president, to tako Mr Allen'a place. It gave him much pleasure, on behalf of tho league, to say that they were delighted to see their visitors. They welcomed Mr Fisher not only because he was the Prime Minister of the great Australian commonwealth, but also beoeiuse thev were aware that one of the objects of his visit was that his country and their own should be drawn closer together in the bonds of Imnerial citizenship.

Tho Hon. J. T. Paul said ho did not need to emphasise tho fact that Mr Fisher and Mr Boyd wero welcome to this city; in fact, tho only trouble was that these visits wero so few. It was a distressing fact, ho thought, that the opportunities for discussing many matters which we in New Zealand and Mr Fisher and his colleagues in Australia would have, wero exceedingly few. Mr Fisher prefaced his remarks by thanking tho citizens of Dunedin for their cordial welcome, and then broke into tho subject of naval defence in tho Pacific. He said that our distinguished Minister of Defence (the Hon. Mr Allen) had on his way to tho Mother Country consulted. the Australian Government regarding the matter. Perhaps he might be pardoned for mentioning that Mr Allen had then a very unsettled opinion, but when he came back to New.Zealand his opinions were very settled indeed. But whatever might bo said of those missions and intercommunications in regard to the defenco of the islands of New Zealand and the great continent of Australia, nothing but good could como from such intercommunications directly between the parties concerned. They had all been good enough to refer to tho littlo service his Majesty's Australian fleet had been able to render in theso waters. Australians were just as proud and as glad to oongratulato New Zealanders on the work done by New Zealand's gift battleship in the North Sea.—(Applause.) As regards the reference to the work of tho Navy .League, Mr Fisher pointed out that the commonwealth had developed the question in a different way. And what thev had in the form of equipment and personnel for tho purposes of defence would bo given to tho Mother Country at any time. He would not enter into any local policy for New Zealand, which was entirely a question for decision by tho dominion's representatives, but it ' did strike him that the island continent here must ultimately be a naval country. Now Zealand's interests wero even in some respects greater than Australia's, and New Zealanders' public duty would be as great as theirs. But that would be determined later on. There was no hostility in the Old Country regarding the status of tho Australian Navy. There was no doubt in the minds of the King's advisers as to placing, without equivocation or objection at all, absolute oonfidenco in his Majesty's citizens in Australia, represented by Parliament for the time being, and relying upon them to do the right thing at the right time, in co-operation with them, or acting individually, as Australia thought best.— (Applause.) As a result of that complete confidence Australia was stronger to-day and more closely united to the Mother Country than ever. They in Australia had been handed over tho great resources of that great continent, and we in New Zealand had obtained possession of these beautiful islands. Were we, as manly men and womanly women, to .ask the Mother Country to provide for her own defence and also to help provide for our defence?— (Loud applause.) iSurely we belonged to a race and land capable of doing for ourselves what our forefathers hod done in the Mother Country. It was for us to say what we should do. —(Loud applause.) It had been said that politicians should agree to differ without straining personal friendship at the present time and crisis. When the position of these islands and the position of the Empire, and, indeed, when civilisation was being put to the test, there was no room for difference of opinion on the broad question of vital policy. Tho geographical position of Australia and New Zealand was such as to call for reciprocal relationship, apart altogether from the question whether they should join in defence of the Pacific or not. They should have closer association than they had at the present time, and ho could assure them Australia desired it, without infringing upon New Zealand's autonomy as a self-governing dominion, -iuestions as to reciprocity, intercommunication, a;id so on should be examined properly when the time came for conferences. Sperfking of tho pleasures of his trip, and the lessons ho and his friends had gained, Mr Fisher considered that it was an absolute marvelalmost a miracle—that a great war like this liad not staggered the Mother Country, and had left practically untouched her overseas dominion?.—(Applause.) That was a state of affairs unknown in the history of the wocld, and if they saw their opportunities at the present time, and had the knowledge available, public men and business men should do their utmost to help the Mother Country.—(Applause.) The Mother Country opened her shores to every subject of the world, while wo here had opened our doors really to those who were now our enemies. "And yet, and yet. and yet." declared Mr Fisher, "it has been stated that the Mother Country ha 6 been tyrannising over the world and practising injustice. They lie; they know they lie." —(Ix>ud applause.) If there came out of this great war, concluded Mr Fisher, a great council, greater than the Hague Convention, with powers to adjust international disputes without the destruction of war, the tremendous cost of the war would have been worth it.—(Loud applause.) He expressed the hope that representative New Zealanders would be able to visit Australia, whero ho could assure them a cordial welcome. —(Applause.)

Mr Boyd expressed pleasure at the opportunity of thanking the people of Dunedin for the hearty welcome they had extended t i Mr Fisher and himself. They had been in New Zealand for a month, and had been treated with the utmost kindness from the oxrremo north to the extreme south. They had not only enjoyed their hospitality, but had learned much by being brought into closer touch with their public men, privato citizens, and tho country itself. As Mr Fisher said, he had only formed the same idea as nearly all Australians formed—that little sympathy could be offered them in regard to the drought they complained so much about. They had that morning had the pleasure of driving through some magnificent country covered with fine grasses and clover that they would be very proud of in Australia. They were making the trip for the benefit of their health, and as evidenco of- success they had only to look at Mr Fisher.—(Laughter.) They got on well together, and he believed that all public men ought to be able to differ in opinion and yet be good friends. They would go back with their minds broadened and filled vit.h information about New Zealand. Its loyalty had always filled him with a thrill of pride; it had been the first, of tho Empire's dominions to come to the assistance of the Mother Country.—(Applause.) Ho had desired for many years to become more closely acquainted with New Zealand, and ho felt that his visit had brought him cioselv in touch with men who were shaping tbe destiny of .the country. Mr Fisher and himself regarded all tho public men of New Zealand as men whom the people of tho country had placed in power to do their work. Referring to naval matters, he said ho knew that thero were differences of opinion as to tho desirability of tho establishment of a local navy. A large section of the people of Australia had been opposed to the idea at one time, but they had now fallen below 10 per cent. The local navy was now in existence, and it had convinced the people that it was a good thing. It had required a war to bring about the change of opinion If a dreadnought had been in these waters when tho war broke out, the Australian battleship which had to be used to convoy the troops to Samoa would have accounted for the German warships in the Pacific, and Britain would have been better off, in that; she would not have last the cruisers which were sunk in the fight, off the South American coast. They believed thev had adopted the right policy, and ho wished that people would banish from their minds the idea that the establishment of a local nary meant their separation from the Brt.iish Navy.—(Applause.) Tho Australians <vcro proud to belong to tbe Mother Country Whenever the call of the Mother Country camo it would always find the Australians ready to advance her interests. In

conclusion, he trusted that New Zealand's public mull would visit Australia more frequently, and thus obviate that narrowness of vision which was the peculiar danger of thoso living in an island community. OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE LUNCH ICON AT Y.M.C.A. ROOMS. Mr Fisher arid Mr Boyd afterwards proceeded to tho Y.M.C.A. looms, where they were entertained at luncheon by the Otago Expansion League. Mr A. BaUigate (president of tho leayue) occupied the chair, and thero was a very large attendance of Ihinedin representative citizens. At th# conclusion of the luncheon four speeches were delivered.

Mr Bathgate said that the league was honoured in having as its guests tho Right, Hon. Mr Fisher ana the Hon. A. Boyd. They had, ho had been authoritatively informed, come to the dominion for the benefit of their health, though to look at them, one would not think so.—(Laughter.) Proceeding, the speaker said that at tho risk of striking a slightly discordant nolo ho could not help referring to tho fact that the dominion had a preferential tariff with other portions of the British Empire, but in Australia their tariff applied only to the Mother Country, so they in New Zealand were in the saino position as tho Germans. — (Laughter.) COMMERCIAL QUESTIONS.

Mr G. W. Gibson, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said that it was his privilege to speak that day lor the business portion of the community, and on their behalf to welcome Mr Fisher on what, he believed, was his first visit to Dunedin. Ho understood that Mr Fisher was making his visit mainly one of pleasure, but with tile true instincts of a Scotsman he was endeavouring to combine a little business with his pleasure, his business being the promotion of closer trade relationship between their respective countries. Mr Fisher, who was received with loud applause, said he must thank them for tho manner in which thoy had received tho reference made to the service rendered to this part of his Majesty's dominions by their Davy. When they set out to build their navy they did not think that it would be brought into requisition so early, but it would bo admitted that it was a heaven born gift. The principle underlying their whole navy question "was tho inspiration it gave to tho people who owned it, manned it, and controlled it. It inspired them; they saw it was theirs; they controlled it, and were determined to do everything to make it as good as the best. As to reciprocal relations, ho did not quite agree that it was necessary for dominions to grant preference to each other. Reciprocity was a matter to be decided on a basis of arrangement, and if they had it without such a basis it would probably not bring them closer together. What he wanted them to realise was that there was no desire in Australia to embarrass New Zealand. There was an open door and a welcomo to negotiation, and if tho two countries could como to an agreement that would benefit both, let them set about making it. In a few years the time of communication between New Zealand and Australia would bo reduced by a third with the development of aviation, and it was the business of the young men to look into and prepare for this closer communication. But there was a link now of another kind between all progressive peoples, a moral code that developed yearly, and he believed that peace would come not through tho operations of •ho Hague Conference, or through the operations of peace advocates of tho world, but that it would como through a system more like to tho Imperial Conference system. He had never seen why a conference of that kind should not meet with delegates from every civilised nation of the world. _ Mischief was done in the world Cy living apart—by being ostracised. He thanked them again from the bottom of his heart for this further evidence of their kindness, and he wished tho Otago Expansion League every success. Ho hoped Siat it would extend beyond Otago and New Zealand, and would take in Australia m the way. They over there would join "vith them and co-operate with them, both politically and otherwise.—(Loud applause.) Tho Hon. J. A. Boyd said he had pleasure in responding to the kindly and cordial welcome they had given to the Prime Minister and himself. The first evidence of the league came under his notice at Queenstown, where he saw a booklet extolling the beauties of Dunedin. Being a Scotsman and coming from Edinburgh he read it from end to end, and thought that it must have been written by someone of experience and fair imagination.—(Laughter.) It had not been overdone, however; ho was delighted with Dunedin.—(Applause.) When they in Australia founded thoir Federation they were prepared for New Zeaalnd to join them as part of the great commonwealth, and so participate in Freetrade throughout Australia. The facilities that could be given to one another could be given as equally as they could bo to tho Mother Country. If anything now could make them grow closer together surely this war was the thing to do it. It had been mo6t gratifying to Mr Fisher and himself to realise the appreciation that had been 6hown to them on every occasion, and they appreciated the feelings of the people of New Zealand towards tho assistance given them bv the Australian navy. —(Applause.)