CUTTING THE PAINTER.

Wairarapa Age, 10 March 1922, Page 5

CUTTING THE PAINTER.

A FOOLISH IDEA. AUSTRALIA SOUND FOR EMPIRE. (Press Association—Copyright.) London, March B.—Mr H. N. Barwell (Premier of South Australia) wa.entertained at luncheon at the Royal Colonial Institute by the Grocers’ Hall. Sir Godfrey Lagden presided, and the Australian Agents-General and large rumbers of South Australians were present. Mr Barwell voiced a strong'indict ment of those Australians who said the time had come to cut the painter and cast adrift from the Mother Country. The man in Australia who said th was either a fool or a traitpr. There were people in Australia who would perhaps glory in England’s downfall, but they were few. The average Auswas too hard-headed to take a step which was clearly suicidal. Where v ould Australia be without Britain’s Navy? She would undoubtedly be the prey of the first foreign Power seeking to extend its territory. Cut the painter and Australia’s doom would be immediately sealed. But who would dare say that Australia was not alive to its obligations to the Motherland After the part played in the war Australia desired to strengthen the bon is v.’ith England. Referring to Australia’s production, Mr Barwell deplored the fact that it v.as now less than ia 1913, due to the policy of go-slow practised by Labour extremists. "Some people in Australia,” he said, "strongly object to my referring to these matters; but while they are prepared to continue to live in a 'fool’s paradise I am not.” Mr Barwell, in alluding to post-war depression consequent on fall' prices, remarked, "Wages are still on the high level, but they must come down. I gained the name of the Low r - Wages Premier, but I don’t deserve