Evening Post. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1902. THE LOST PURSE.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 47, 23 August 1902, Page 4

Evening Post. SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1902. THE LOST PURSE.

On the 23rd July last we drew attention to tho following disclaimer which Mr. Seddon had issued :— "Mr. Seddon roquests Reuter's Agency to state that before his departure from New Zeuland a report, which he finds has also gained currency on this side, was circulated to the effect that he hod been .presented with a, sum of money in recognition of his services to tho Empire. This is unfounded. The presentation which actually took place was that of an illuminated address signed by Borao 20,000 New Zealauders. As a matter of foot there was a movement in the colony for presenting the Premier with a sum of money, but at his request it was nob proceeded with." This statement, we pointed out, contained two assertions which were quite news to the people of the colony. It was well known here tnat the money hr 1 not been presented, although it had been collected after a vigorous canvass. It wot not known here that Mr. Seddon had requested that the movement should not be proceeded with. On the contrary, in presenting the illuminated address, Sir John Hall said expressly that it would be supplemented by a purse, which was not yet ready. Moreover, in his reply, Mr. Beddon referred to this as "something tangible," and gave no sign whatever ot repudiating the gift. Mr. Seddon allowed the movement, to proceed uninterruptedly up to this stage, and did, nothing to prevent money from being raked in, even after the Christchurch .presentation. The next thing wo hear of his connection with this "National Purse" is his public repudiation -of it 'in the columns of the London press. Assuming that the ostensible promoters and actual collectors of the purse must, in face of thiß oniciajl disclaimer, have acted contrary to the Premier's wisheß, we were faced with the question : "What is to be done with the money?" We suggusted thab with tha consent of the Premier and subscribers the fund might well be handed over to the Treasurer of tho v eterans' Memorial. Our proposal was warmly supported by our Christchurch contemporary, the Lyttelton Times, which has always looked with t friendly eye upon the Premier and his Administration.

We have waited in vain for any action on the port of the trustees of the purse fund. Have they communicated vrith Mr. SeddonT Ii not, what have they to say to the mbacribera whose gift hot been rejected? If they have, what are Mr. Seddon'u wishes? It ia turcly lush time that the subscribers were told the fate of thoir money. Tho British press apparently accepts hit repudiation of the puna as a fact, and the trustees of the fund cannot do otherwise without intuiting him. Mr. Seddon cannot in such a caao be expected to act as the Chinese Viceroy, Li Hung-chang, is said to have acted upon a similar occasion. The merchants of Tientsin, which was tho official soat of hia Viceroyalty, desired, the story runt, to make Li a presentation in toturn for favours shown them. They therefore subscribed to purchase a valuable jewelled brooch. A well-known Tientsin resident of high poaition was deputed to present the gift. At tho Yamen Li received the gift-bearer in full state, amid tho officers of hit province and household. He tlwnked tho merchants of Tientsin through their representative for their kindly feeling and generous liberality, but felt compelled to decline the costly present. The dignity of his position and the anti-bribery laws of. his country forbade him to receive such rewards for services renderod in tho performance of his public duties.' The merchants' representative retired with a smile— he was an "old China hand/* In the hfll he was met by the Viceroy's major-domo, who quietly and privately took delivery of the brooch. Now, we fully realise the impossibility o* instituting any comparison between Li Hung-cbiuig and Mr Seddon in a matter of this kind, and we' would therefore urge >the trustees of the purso fund to take some steps to give effect to Mr. Seddon's refusal, .in order to keep Dame Rumour from suggesting inconceivable points of likeness between the Chinaman and the New Zealander.