MR. SEDDON AT CAPETOWN INTERCOLONIAL FREE TRADE.

Evening Post, Volume LXIII, Issue 153, 28 June 1902, Page 2

MR. SEDDON AT CAPETOWN INTERCOLONIAL FREE TRADE.

The recoptiorr of Mr. Seddon at Capetown ia reported nt great length in the files of Cape uewbpapers to hand. Tho right hon. gentleman and liis numerous party were accorded a most hearty -welcome, and addresses were presented, from the Corporation, the New Zeaianders, tho South African League, the Trades and Labour Council, the working clns&cs, and New Zoalanders at Port Elizabeth, and all of them exprossed high apprecintion of "the spirit in which you have displayed to the world the unsworwng loyalty of the colony of New Zealand to tho Mother Country." Mr. Seddon, we are told, spoke for three quarters of an hour in reply, ami from the roport it is evident tliat his eloquence has not suffered any materiul deterioration since his departure frum the colony in which he hua exorcised ii for so many years, and with such great effect. He remarked that it was not to himself in person that the tributo was being puid, but it was a tribute to tho colony and tho people of New Zealand. As to the address from the Trades Council, "he could assure them that organised labour in New Zealand had been the means of bringing employed and employers together, and in such a way that Capital was never moie confident, never better satisfied, than it wns at the present time in that colony." After somo highflown remarks about the help tho colonies hnd given to tho Mother Country in the war, Mr. Seddon went on to speak of what must bo done after peace was declared. Ouco tho victory was achieved we must treat generously those whom we had defeated. They wanted railway extension, and they must put people on tho land on the same terms as they put them on the laud ia the colony of Now Zealand. He had, he declared, as much right to speak on a question of advanced policy in South Africa as the Secretary of State htmticlt. "If ho held a responsible post under tho Imperial Cabinet, did they know tho Urst thing he -vould do? Under friendly arrangement, and on grounds which ho felt sure the Portuguese uovonunent would consider .sound, he would acquire that territory. (Loud cheers.) Did not history and the event* of the last two years teach us how short-sighted the English statesmen had been in the matter of acquiring territory? Now was the time." New Zealand, ho went on to say, could supply all the material required for developing the South African mines ; no part of the world could send them belter rfheep or mutton tb<ui New Zealand, and he also believed that a number of bottlers would go from Now Zealand to South Africa. As to the policy of New Zealand, he informed his hearers thut tho "secret of tho whole hud ben that thoy had trusted the people." He then turned to tho subject of intercolonial freetrado. He believed, he said, that they should trado well within themselves, and ns much as possible. (Hoar, hear.) They know that a very heuvy impost hnd been put on their -kindred at Home, owing to the war. They should, therefore, do their best to lighten their bin don by trading as far as they could with them. (Hear, hear.) Why should they treat other nations on the same lines an their own, seeing the great responsibility their own had voluntarily undertaken! They would not be true to their country and nation if they did not alter tho existing conditions, and give to the Mother Country the open door in their colonios. (Cheers.) Not doing it had had tho effect of strengthening other nations, and with the profits made on thflr goods, those nations wore building men-of-war to protect themsolve*. They had closed their doors to nil British manufactured goods, therefore Great Britain must alter her fiscal policy to meet the existing conditions. If they did that, ho belived it would bring about that dream of Cobden's, for the other nations would sco that they could not do very well without British trado and tho trade of British colonies. (Hear, hear.) Then they would say : "Let us reciprocate." In regard to the .policy of Now Zealand, and advanced as it was in regard to other colonies and countries, underlying the whole thing had been Ihis, the policy of "trusting the people." To those who were struggling against, difficulties, who were human beings like themselves, they stretched tho right-hanu of fellowship with the result that to-day they never heard or saw a beggar in New Zealand . Poverty was unknown. They liad no millionaires. Their wealth was very evenly distributed." And when he told them of the prosperity of New Zealand, he should say that the money In the Savings Bank «f that colony had increased over five millions sterling in the last six years. Where they had genernl prosperity they had happiness and contentment. It should bo the aim of every well-wisher of humanity to endeavour to promote that most desirable condition. Let them, urged Mr. Seddon, follow on the lines New Zealand hud adopted in South Africt, and South Africa would indeed be a great country. South Africacould s lvp dome of the problems that were troubling the Imperial Government. They h.id room here for inuny who at the present time were dragged down and kept in the lower strata in the Motuer Country. Ho said let the aim and object of those who were engaged in the government of this country bo to promote the happinoss and well-being of all. They would obliterate the wretched past. They would look bnck on the time and say it wns all for good. In the meantime strong men must come forward— they wero never moro needed than at the present time. In (^inclusion, the report informs tts, Mr. Seddon expressed his thanks for the coidial icepption he hnd received, terminating his remarks with a quotation in the Maori ton^iip, signifying "Good wishes and good l'iek to vo\i, for ever ftnd for over, apd for ever.*' Those who know and npjironate the full extent of Mr fl"ddon's acquaintance with the "Mnori Win<?u?" can onsilv imagine the situation I