AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 24, 11 January 1912, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN AFFAIRS.

COMMENT ON LOR]) DUDLEY’S PAPER. NAVAL DEFENCE. London, January, 9. Lord Dudley, ex-Governor-Genoral, read a paper before the Royal Colonial Institute on some impressions of Australia. He declared that federation had enormously facilitated the adoption of improved defence, and it was also of the greatest value in matters of external affairs. As Australia’s importance increased the Imperial Government .would find it necessary and advantageous to consult Australia very closely on some subjects. It would have been wiser to wait developments before transplanting the Federal capital to the middle of the bush, away from the broadening intinonccs to be derived from contact with the various interests in the centres of population. Australia had too many professional politicians, and too many politicians iltogether. Fourteen houses of Parliament was an overgrown allowance. He denied suggesting that Australian politicians were guilty of corruption. On the contrary, the purity of the public service was one of Australia’s proudest boasts. Ho advocated immigration, a White Australia, and an Australian navy. 'The Hon. James H. McColl disagreed with Lord Dudley’s approval of the Australian navy, which would bo in enormous load, on Australians. Ho says it would ho far better to contribute half what tbo cost would bo to the* Imperial navy. Lord Dudley, replying, admitted that many Australians thought like Mr MeOoll, hut Australians would not make an adequate contribution in ■i nv other way. The poonlo were rightiv opposing taxation without representation. CLEAN POLITICAL HANDS. (Received 11, 9.40 a.m.) London, January 10. The “Daily News” says Lord Dudley’s tribute to the purity of Australia’s public service is a great thing to sa.v. “We believe,” it says, “tliata the Canadian polities are notoriously "orrnpt. a. charge "ddeb applies equally to Liberals and Tories, but Australia lias kept her bands clean.” It agrees tent Australia is oversupplied with Parliaments.