The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1906. MR. SEDDON'S LAST WORDS TO THE LABOUR PARTY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 145, 19 June 1906, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 1906. MR. SEDDON'S LAST WORDS TO THE LABOUR PARTY.

For the cause that lack* assistance. For the wrong that needs ratistanoe. For the future in the And the good that tee can do.

The last public address by Mr. Seddon in Australia was delivered at a luncheon given to him by the Federal Parliamentary Labour party in Parliament House, Melbourne. Mr. Watson occupied the chair, and there was a large gathering of Labour representatives from all the States of the Commonwealth. On this occasion our late Prime Minister offered some sage words of advice. Naturally, he spoke under some restraint, frankly stating that he was in merely as a visitor, and was, - therefore, precluded from speaking quite %$ candidly as he otherwise would," having no desire to arouse any internal controversy. But he intimated plainly enough *that the creation of a Labour section, aiming at the advancement of one class only, and putting forward extreme views had not been attended with success in the past, nor was it likely in the future to prove of benefit to Labour or to the country. In New Zealand, where there is practically no distinctive political party representing Labour in the narrow Australian I sense, legislation for the benefit of I the workers is more advanced than

in any other country. The successes of the Australian Labour party at the polls, both for the Federal and State Legislatures, have been remarkable, but they have pro-rod comparatively barren of legislative results. Of this, Mr. Seddon gently reminded his hearers. Looking around him at the table, and witnessing the strength of the Labour party, he asked the question, "Are you exercising on administration and legislation influence proportionate to your numbers, to say nothing of your intelligence? All I can say is that if you were in New Zealand, and in a situation parallel to that which exists here, I would expect you to be exercising—of course in a constitutional way— a very large influence in the affairs of that country. That is an aspect of the situation which I would seriously advise you to ponder well." Mr Seddon might have stated even more explicitly that in New Zealand, so wisely had he led his party that Liberalism had become the almost universally accepted creed; that no one suggests the possibility or expediency of a backward step in the legislation of the

past few years; and the continuous prosperity of the country affords the best justification for the overwhelming majority which had endorsed his policy at the last general election. Mr Seddon closed his address with an earnest ap peal for moderation. He said: "In the interests of Australia, as well as in its own interests, the Labour party should be moderate and ask only for such reforms as commend themselves to the people. Hit went to extremes, it would awaken fear, and fear would delay reforms. Extremists might be admirable characters, but they were not always worldly wise. As the 'old man' of New Zealand and a worker —for he would be a worker to the end—he urged that such measures should be adopted as would give the people plenty of work and adequate returns for their labour. That object would be best attained by being careful and moderate, and not barring progress by asking too much before the people had been educated up to it. That was his advice as an old man experienced in public affairs, and one who wisbeu the Australian Labour Party well."'

These are the words of a prudent and successful statesman —a man who always realised that our communities r.re so

I firmly bound together, r-ommerciallv and industrially, that no class can suffer without the others being injuriously afI fected. No one understood better than | Mr. Seddon did. that the immediate and i permanent welfare of the masses of the people can never be attained by the adoption cf crude and fantastic specifies which ludicrously violate- every known ! economic lav.-. His whole policy aimed I at the crushing of monopolies and the j opening: up of all the avenues of success ) to even- individual in the eommnnitv. jHe was aware that, although the State might do a great deal, it could never

obviate the need for individual effort— for industry, and prudence, and Belf-de-nial, and those cardinal virtues which build np character and make a country great. His last words to the Australian Labour party are an appropriate final message to us in the land he loved; and it will be well for us all if we ponder over them, and make them the solid foundation upon which to base our political ideals and legislative measures for the advancement of the people of this favoured country.