Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1908. AUSTRALIAN ASPIRATIONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9212, 3 November 1908, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Third of a Century.] TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1908. AUSTRALIAN ASPIRATIONS.

Alfred Deakin is au ominently patriotic Australian. In many respects, he is far and away the greatest colonial figure of the day. 'Australia for the Australians" is his motto, and if the strength of the community warranted it, Alfred Deakin would be the first to raise the standard of revolt and issue a "declaration of Independence." As it is, ho cordially detests the Japanese Alliance, and he is impatient of being defended by tho British Navy. He would be a Washington, but the opportunity is denied him. Iv the first place Australia is too remote and too thinly peopled to dream of independence, and in the noxt place British statesmen are very much more conciliatory than when Lord Bute and mad old George the Third ran the Imperial J show. If there is to be a quarrel or a rupture, it must arise wholly on j tho colonial side. We cannot but respect Mr Deakin's ardour even though we disagree with his views, aud regard his project as absurd, becauso utterly aud ridiculously premature. The idea of a community of such small numerical strength, so weighed down with debt, adding to itself the burden of a navy, applies to one ; s sense of humour rather than of proportion. Australia wants her shipping protected. Can any sane man suppose that sho could raise a naval force of sufficient strength to do this? If she fortifies her harbours, and arms aud instructs her able-bodied male population in the use of arms, she will have accomplished a task well within her powers; and provided an effective defence of her shores. The British Navy has command of ! the sea routes, and Australia, like j New Zealand, may well entrust its maritime iuterests to the care of that Navy. If Mr Deakin could do anything to restore vitality to the race, among whom vitality is diminishing, he would do more good in his day and generation than by deluding people with visionary projects of an Australian Navy. What threatens Australia most seriously to-day is not any possible European enemy of England, not England's brown ally, not the "fellow hordes" that may make descent upon her northern territory—but the waning of her own population. It is melancholy and disappointing. The Australian settlements were made by bold adventurers and pioneers—heroes of true industry; and all the world looked forward to seeing the finest types of our British race reproduced, with improvements, beneath, those sunny skies. And so, for some years, it was. The communities grew and flourished. Colonial life was a dream of health and prosperity, and while great cities rose ou the shores, the forest was felled and the laud utilised within, and a splendid rural population reclaimed the wilderness and lived in peace and plenty. But by and

by degeneration came, increase of population was arrested, and the sad background of a splendid progress is now the menacing shadow of a diminishing birth-rate. What are the deep causes that have led to this, has not been fully shown. Suffice it to say that family life is becoming less popular every year. Poverty aud stress are not alone accountable for it—for it is unfashionable nowadays to have families. What was once the crown and ornament of society is now its bogey —'and Australia stands to-day iv more danger from tho decline of its family life than from all outside forces.