278 Australian Life 



Colonies to increase their naval contributions 

 have employed the very arguments calculated to 

 defeat their own ends. Australia, like Canada, 

 has been led by these enthusiasts to believe 

 that the defence of Commonwealth shores rests 

 with the Commonwealth. The national spirit in 

 Australia contemplates nothing more certainly 

 than that the nation shall be self-protective. 

 Otherwise, says the young Australian, we shall 

 not be protected at all. 



But for the efficient protection of so large a 

 country a much greater population is required. 

 On this point all political parties in Australia are 

 now agreed. The most remarkable effect of the 

 apprehension caused by the rise of Japan is dis- 

 played in the modification of the L,abour pro- 

 gramme. Mr. Watson, the L,abour leader in the 

 national Parliament, has been quick to recognise 

 the danger of the waste, unoccupied plains of 

 Northern Australia. So long as these fertile lands 

 remain undeveloped, they afford the best possible 

 reason for a demand that Australia should open 

 her ports to coloured labour. Opportunities for 

 growing cotton, and a score of other valuable 

 tropical products, are let slip year by year for 

 want of suitable labour to develop these lands. 

 It is not probable that British immigrants would 

 be able, in such a climate, to do the hard work 

 that is required in a satisfactory manner. The 

 suggestion is now made that immigration should 

 be encouraged from the races of Southern Europe, 



