THE AUSTRALIAN MOVEMENT.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12505, 5 April 1909, Page 3

THE AUSTRALIAN MOVEMENT.

•: THE STATES' DECISION. A PEOPLE'S.DREADNOUGHT. Sydney, April 3. Mr Huges, Federal Attorney-Gen-eral, referring to the attack on Mr .-Fisher's, finance and defence - policy, declared that the bulk of those prying out for Dreadnoughts were doing so for no other reason than to "dish" the Labour party. They were not so ir.uch afraid of an attack on Britain as of an attack on monopoly. . The "Sydney Morning Herald," in an appreciative article on the decision tj present a Dreadnought, saj^s that 1 piobably ' other States will be compelled by public opinion to follow the lead of New South Wales and Victoria. "■"... The Lord Mayor has decided that the movement to'present a people's Dreadnought shall go on. London, April 2. "The Times" says that Mr Fisher's programme shows "that the Commonwealth is in line in naval policy, both favouring following New Zealand's precedent. The paper adds that if these gifts be decided upon they will bo welcomed-with pride and gratitude. It will not be detracting from a burden -wKicK Britain is- fully 'competent ■ and determined to bear; but a proof that the colonies uphold Britain's resolve to maintain the. supremacy of the sea. ' Future interest, however, would centre in the;local naval, services which Australia and' Canada are preparing to develop. ;.. "The Times" recalls Mr Balfour's speech o:i Mr Harold Cox's amendment to the address in the House of Commons in February, _1907j- as; a classic exposition of British Imperialism. " ; ■■ - -