33 
the attention I am capable of. I will investigate it in every 
possible way, and if I am convinced that the scheme is sound, 
and that we will get the results they suggest, there is very 
little limit to the co-operation and assistance which my 
Government would not be prepared to give them in carrying 
out such a scheme. (Hear, hear.) I have gone so far as to 
tell them that if it is a great development scheme, one that 
will mean the prosperity of the whole of the Commonwealth 
of Australia, and will really help us to solve one of our 
national problems, the Government would be prepared to 
guarantee the whole or part of the interest over a period of 
years, until the scheme could come to fruition and give 
a return on its money. I have told them I will undertake 
to induce the States to build railways or to build harbours or 
any other great public utilities that are necessary to let the 
scheme be carried into effect and be made a success. (Hear, 
hear.) I put that side of the question to you because I want to 
enlist your assistance also, and I want to appeal to you to under- 
stand that really an obligation rests upon your shoulders to 
try and lend a hand in the solution of these great problems 
we are faced with to-day. Governments have certain things 
they can do reasonably well, but I can assure you that 
Governments are not capable really of initiating great schemes, 
sifting them to their bottom and carrying them through. It 
ic only rather by luck when they pull a good one off. 
(Laughter.) But with your assistance, I am sure there are 
many things that we could do. 
One particular thing I would appeal to you to consider. 
There are many industries that could be established in 
Australia. There are some of those industries that could be 
very much better established in Australia than anywhere else. 
It is for you to tell me, not me to tell you, which of them are 
in that position, but I do suggest that where there 1s an 
industry that can be better conducted in Australia, that it is 
really the wisest course that we should recognise that fact, 
and that Britain should be prepared to come in and establish 
an industry of that character. I am sometimes told that 
Australia should not have anything to do with anything except 
primary production ; that we may be permitted to produce the 
raw material and the food stuffs that you require, but that we 
are to go no further. Well, I can tell you what Australian 
sentiment is on this point, and that nothing will ever change it. 
We are certainly not going to spend the rest of our history being 
the hewers of wood and the drawers of water for other people. 
We are going to develop ourselves and develop in every 
direction. It is absurd to suggest that that policy is in any 
way against the interests of industrial Britain. It is nothing