RELATIONS WITH AUSTRALIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22391, 12 October 1934, Page 10

RELATIONS WITH AUSTRALIA

MR FRASER’S REMARKS DEPRECATED

Discussing the remarks made by Mr J. M. Fraser, president of the Otago Cricket Association, in reference to Abe attitude of Australians to New Zealanders the Dominion states that, they are to bo deprecated. It is in every way 'desirable (continues the Wellington journal) that a good understanding founded on friendly sentiment and British kinship should be promoted between the two peoples whose geographical juxtaposition brings them on common ground as neighbours. Mr Fraser declared that the Australians do not take much notice of us. “They are surprised,” lie said, “that we are not black, and one woman even told mo that she expected me to eat with my knife.” On the face of it this description of the Australians’ mental attitude towards us is exaggerated and absurd. Mr Fraser may have been jesting, but in cold print bis words convey the impression that they were uttered in all seriousness. There arise from time to time questions between the two countries which call for negotiations between representative officials or Ministers, and the success of these depends to an extent perhaps not sufficiently realised on the atmosphere of their relationships, which in the final analysis is public sentiment as reflected in the exchanges of courtesies and the respective mental attitudes of the two peoples. The Anzac tradition should be kept alive, for there may come another testing time in the future. In the meantime, let ug by all means -strive to be good neighbours.