XXXV11 



geology, botany, and natural history of the island we live in ; their 

 labours do not add to the value of our exports, nor add to the pecuniary 

 wealth of the people ; but they are none the less valuable, and we look 

 with pride on our little volume of transactions as our modest contribution 

 to the ever-accumulating stores of scientific knowledge. The programme 

 for the proposed Antarctic voyage, as sketched out by our Victorian 

 confreres, presents a varied and numerous array of subjects for investi- 

 gation, subjects on which additional information will be welcomed by 

 the scientific men of all countries. The commercial advantages, too, 

 are sufficiently promising to have induced the Victorian Premier to lend 

 his powerful support to the movement, and I notice that the Premier 

 of Queensland approves of the project, although he doubts if the time is 

 opportune ; and seeing that the Geographical Societies of England, 

 Germany, Italy, and Denmark, are all anxious to see the woriz 

 undertaken, I think we may rest assured that some good results will 

 follow, and that we shall be in good company if we join in the work. 

 Lastly, it is incumbent on Australia to take part in this exploration. 

 We aspire to be the leading power in these Southern Seas; we are 

 gradually setting up a Monroe doctrine of our own ; and we are working 

 ourselves into a perfectly hysterical condition at the bare thought of 

 Frenchmen or German poaching upon what we consider our preserves. 

 All this may be very good policy if we can persuade other nations to 

 see things as we do, but we must make up our minds to act as well as 

 talk, and that it is useless for us to expect the whole force of the British 

 Empire to bo exerted in favour of our schemes, unless we can prove 

 that our aim is calculated to promote the welfare of the Empire as well 

 as our own. If we expect to be the ruling power in these seas, the 

 sooner we show ourselves upon them, the sooner we shall see our claims 

 recognised, and it is only by fostering a spirit of adventure and enter- 

 prise that a maritime power can be built up. The great commercial 

 Empire of Great Britain was forwarded by adventurers, who, in the 

 days of Queen Elizabeth, made their way into newly-discovered lands, 

 establishing themselves in the most promising regions, and defying all 

 efforts to dislodge them. If we wish to build up a maritime power we 

 must follow their example, and if we wish to preserve the islands of the 

 Pacific for our commerce we must turn our attention to forming an 

 Australian navy, and show the Mother Country that we are able to 

 hold what we may acquire. Australia has already shown the Mother 

 Country that she is prepared to share the dangers as well as the benefits 

 of our connection ; let ua now show her that we are ready to send an 

 Australian Contingent to share her work of science ; if we do we 

 May be certain that in this line there is more lasting honour to be 

 gained than in fighting the battles of the Old Country against half 

 armed savages. No time is more opportune for such a demonstration 

 than the present, when the colonies are so prominently before the 

 public of the world. We have shown the rapid progress of our 

 eornmerce, and the vastness of our resources ; we have proved that in 

 Manly sports we can hold our own with all comers ; now let us show 

 that the old Anglo-Saxon love of adventure is strong within us, 

 ar >d that although during our infancy we were content to share the 

 benefits of scientific work, in our manhood we are ready to share the 

 toil. The scientific world is anxious to see a renewal of Antarctic 

 exploration, and nothing would be more gratifying to them, nothing 

 Jill be more calculated to give the world an earnest of our desire to 

 help, than for Australia to take up thiswork ; certain it is that it would 

 »e a standing disgrace to Australia if she took no part in the exploration 

 °f the seas that wash her own coast, and if Australia determines to 

 Undertake this work, I trust that this time Tasmania will act with 

 them." (Applause.) 



