Image TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage TileImage Tile
Image size: 6656x9216 Scale: 35% - PanoJS3
Page overview thumbnail

Article text

MINISTER FOR DEFENCE.
Discusses Federation.
A Point for Explanation.
^The Minister, for Defence (Mr. ,E. K.
'Bowden). who 'will leave on; his return
journey to Melbourne to-night, has been
rather worried during his stav in 'PWHi
That which aas disturbed him is local
criticism of Federation;. 'A 'West
Australian' representative, . conversing
.wifh \ the Minister yesterday, did. not
mention the subject. ??' It was Mr. Bow
tte^who introduced the 'topic, after
'puffing reflectively at his pipe for a min
ute or ao. ' . ????:?
'O:''!. am convinced that Western Aus
-rali» tas jiothing to fear from Federa
%M-B,'\ae,Saud. 'There seems to be a
strong undercurrent against Federation;
'i& Perth particularly., -But in 20 or 30
^earB. Western Apstralia will be one of
,.tBe strongest State's in the Federation,
I am sure. . You are getting enterpris
'tog young men from the East all - the'
-time and a very good'lype of settler.
Tour population now is increasing ax
fast as that of any ether State. It will
;aot -be many, decades . before' Western
ftasferalia will. Gave achieved a. splendid
'position in the Commonwealth'.', - ???
'.'As some 'explanation for bitteraiesa
'against Federation and rthe Eastern
''States, the interviewer mentioned local
?aecondirv industries killed in their in.
xancy. . . ? . :- ? ? ''-?''.'
'/'Oh, when yon get population tou wEB
.get over that,' remarked Mr. Bowden
-Be slowly prodded the air withv Bis
,;pipe' as he went on. 'You see, w*
tad tlie. same difficulty in Sydney when
'federation started. The .Victorian
'sSanufactiirers were all well ahead' of
as under the protective system, and we
Cleared our' industries would be crushed
?sat altogether; but they have com*
-ilonjg. Here,' of course, it is a' question
it your local, market; you have eo few
people.' '????' ?'--? * . ???. .'.'?? ? ????????-:????
??'?: 'Yes,' pointed ' out the ' pressman,
~?but, few as we are, we are not catering
^Jb'r our. owa. needs. Every year we
spend much money on Eastern- States'
'foodstuffs that ' could be produced
%eally.» ?-??.-??!:
1'.''One thing that has staggered me,'/
,'epnf eased the Minister,; 'is that you are
T.aot doing ?more dairying. Why yonr
: butter and'ehetee and bacon are chiefly
*'-ominjj' froia the Eattjwitn the magnifi
'cent country you have all: round here is
« point that requires considerable ^ex
'planation. '??It seems strange that Kal
''gooirUe should get butter and cheese' from
'South Australia,' ?- .
2£ Mr. Bowdeu will carry one obiddne lm*
pressi«n. away with him— the quality of
'the citisen forces in this State. ,'Tho
'' youths are a .very fine type and compart
AJno8t favourably with those in all the
'?other States I, have seen. I have not
'yet visited Queensland. I was very
-'much impressed with the' .guard of
'Honour at the opening of the new G:P.O.
*!F6ir. young chaps in their first' camp,
(they we're excellent.'
???'tast week Mr. Bowden announced tne
-renewal of the Geraldton-Derby contract
'iwjth W.A. Airways, Ltd., 'for ' twelve
'jhonths, at omy rate.' 'Airways, Ltd.,
* sought an extension for three years. Yea
-'terday the Minister was asked whether
'Jthe1 renewal for twelve months meant a
''refusal of the three years' claim. * Ha
'^iras quick to, deny that 'We will let
.-them have as early as possible a definite
''?answer reeardins th» sroposal .for ?
''three years' contract' '?/ :
VV\'I have got all the facts in' connection
with the desired extension of the service
'to Perth,' he added, 'but I cannot giv»
-'«? definite answer on that point just at
?'?jjresent'
-Mr. Bowden is grateful for the hos
pitality extended to him by the Premier
-(Sir James Mitchell) and other leading
^members of the community. He hopes,
'fcext time he visits the State, to go to
TWyndham and Broome.
$