THE COLONIAL PREMIERS, CONFERENCE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11333, 24 July 1902, Page 5

THE COLONIAL PREMIERS , CONFERENCE.

THE MAIL SERVICES. (raou or/n owy cokbespoxdent.) LONDON, Juiy 21. The western wing of the Cecil Hotel has been set apart for Royal guests, and therefore there is a good deal of "State" about that section of it. Colonial troops perform sentry duty in front of the hotel, and attendants wearing scarlet and gold liveries — the Royal liveries—look after the guests. In Mr Seddcn's suite of rooms I had an interview with New Zealand's Premier upon points not, dealt with in other interviews, and he has afforded a, rare amount of "copy" to the newspapers. In view of the fact tbat the mail services are so important to New Zealand, and that tha question will be dealt with by the Conference of Premiers, I asked Mr Seddon to define the colony's position. . 'T do not think there will be any alteration so far as New Zealand is concerned," said Mr Seddon. "The best mail service for New Zealand that we can get- at present is that via San Francisco, but there is no reason why we should not get an extension —get another service, in point of fact. I am glad to see there is an alteration for the batter in regard to the Vancouver route. When we were connected with Canada, the Canadian Government agreed to take the Vancouver service tram us to Queensland. That is not quite forgotten. But- I am pleased now to find an indication of a desire to re-establish that connection. Properly speaking, it should come from-them." "From Canada?' 1 "Yes. They took it away. Of course I nuikn no promises as to New Zealand joiniug with Canada as to a mail service. But 1 think they made a. mistake for themselves, and they certainly didn't help New Zealand." "Generally as to the Conference: Do you think anything~\vill actually come of it ?" "I think something will be done, - ' was the reply. "I said at the New Zealand dinner that you cannot have free trade in its entirety because moneys are required for revenue. Free trade, absolute, for New Zealand, would mean a loss to revenue of one and a quarter millions, and would not in the slightest degree help the Mother Country." "Do you anticipate the effect of the Conference to be an actual one, or purely an educative one?" "Well, so far aa New Zealand is concerned we are prepared to act- Our revenues will permit of remission of indirect taxation, and in that remission we can carry out the principle of favouring the Mother Country." Our conversation then turned to the treatment meted out to the Boers. "The British Press and public men appear to be extolling the Boers to such a degree that the Boers will take it in a light not intended, and will pose as martyrs," said Mr Seddon. "They will make out that they were justified in the declaration of war against us. I say we have gone quite far enough. What has struck mc- since I have been Home lias been that there has not been a word said showing the slightest sympathy with the unfortunate loyal colonists in both Cape Colony and Natal, and the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, whose sufferings have been worse than any experienced by the Boers. Nothing whatever has been said by the Ministry until at the. New Zealand dinner, when Lord Onslow referred to it No doubt Lord Onslow knew my views, but his declaration was the first we have had from the Ministry. I say that the i loyal colonists ought to be the first put back, and that they should be much, more liberally treated than those who have put such a burden upon the Empire. Then we hear of Boer commanders coming here. If they do they will be probably lionised, i believe we should show fhemeverv hospital, ity and respect; but demonstrations in their favour would be. in my opinion, resented by the people in the colonies whose loved ones remain in South Africa." I then asked Mr Seddon to explain really his so-called Maori speech with regard to which much has been written here—in anything but a complimentary sense. Mr Seddon maintained that his speech, fairly taken, could in no way bear the interpretation that had been put upon it. The question of the Maoris, he said, had cropped up in an application that they should be allowed to fight with the contingents. The Maoris were now civilised and were always chiv-1 rous fighters. His speech had been made in reference to foiming voluntary corps of Maoris and making them a disciplined force V\i Pere followed him, and had said that ' m the pist. if the Maoris had been allowed to roam in South Africa, their enemies Would not have troubled them a second time It had all to do with the past. This was Mr Seddon's explanation of an incident which has given rise to much adverse criticism here.