The Evening Star. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1902.

Evening Star, Issue 11677, 8 February 1902, Page 4

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1902.

Thk Premier possesses the rare faculty of intuitively perceiving what Tra le ought to he done under any I’ropomds. circumstances that arise, and m that perception he never hesitates to net promptly. These are the secrets, if secrets there be, of his success—clearness of view and promptness of action. Tliere is no hesitation with him, nor any beating about the bush ; so soon as he sees an opportunity he snatches at it, and conquers difficulties by daring to circumvent them. He was sagacious enough to correctly diagnose, at an early period of the war in South Africa the popular sentiment in the King’s dominions beyond the seas, and to take at once the patriotic course which has gained for New Zealand so distinguished a position in the Empire, and brought himself into such honorable prominence os the leader of the movement in Australasia. Whilst other Premiers and colonial Ministers were calculating chances and gravely considering Possibilities, Mr Seddon was raising and equipping a mounted contingent for service in the field, and had despatched them to the seat of war before the other woke up to the full significance el the situation and a sense of their duty to the Empire. The right honorable gentleman is now again to the fore in the allimportant matter of the establishment of an Imperial Zollverein (or Customs Union), and Parliament, it is understood if not formally announced, will be asked next session to approach the Imperial Government with that purpose in view, whilst Mr Seddon will bring the subject before the conference to be held in London next July between the Secretary for the Colonies and the Premiers who will be in attendance at the coronation. He is likely to be jsup-

ported by public opinion in the Home Country, where a strong feeling is growing up against foreign interference with British trade and production. Mr Seddon indicates that in the meantime his Government will be prepared to advocate commercial reciprocity in a greater or less degree between New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and British colonies. Possibly also, he broadly hints, the aggressive commercial policy of certain foreign countries may render it desirable to confine the oversea, intercolonial, and coastal trade of the Colony exclusively to British shipping, which would, in the case of the United States of America, be a Roland for an Oliver, and literally hoist the Government at Washington with (heir own petard. The Commonwealth Parliament, there is reason to believe, would not be indisposed to adopt such a course, since vessels under a foreign flag are cutting seriously into inter-coastal trade, especially in regard to passenger traffic. The opinions of Sir Joseph Ward, who will lead the House for the Government in Mr Seddon’s absence, arc sufficiently pronounced in favor 1 of commercial reciprocity to remove all doubts as to his strenuous advocacy of sricn a policy. And we tire inclined to think that, realising the very grave objections expressed throughout the Colony to the granting of subsidies y~> an’ American line of steamers, Sir Joseph will not he sorry to see a way out of even considering the question of the renewal of the Spreckels contract when it expires. All things considered, it is not surprising that tiro Premier has influence with the Imperial Government, who evidently realise his determination and his ceaseless activity on behalf of Now Zealand interests. Ho was able to inform the delegates of the Chamber of Commerce at (he Wellington banquet on Thursday evening that reasonably satisfactory assurances had been given to the Agent-General by the War Office that the contractors for the supply of meat in Snath Africa wilt obtain such supplies, so far ius possible, from Australia ami New Zealand in preference to the Argentine. This settlement of the meat trouble has been mainly brought about by Mr Seddon, who expressed himself very plainly on the subject in Iris communication through His Excellency with the Secretary of Stole.