THE PREMIER.

Hastings Standard, Issue 419, 7 September 1897, Page 2

THE PREMIER.

To-moiirow the Right Honorable R. J. Seddon will set foot in New Zealand, and, notwithstanding the carping of the extreme section of the Opposition, we are satisfied that the good sense of the people of Wellington will assert itself, and that Mr Seddon will be accorded a reception befitting his position and high office. Huch of the other Premiers who have returned to their colonics have been so honored, and there is no reason why the Premier of New Zealand should be subject to different treatment. It is not a political matter to welcome back the person who represented us at the grand function in London on the 22nd June last, and those who wish to give it a political coloring are belittling themselves. In honoring Mr Beddon as our Jubilee representative we shall be houoring ourselves. He was chosen to represent us in London because he was the Premier, and in that great London pageant he stood as the symbol of free New Zealand, the representative of a young nation. Surely it is possible for politicians to forget the stir of party strife, and to combine to do honor to New Zealand's lepresentative at the Jubilee celebration. There need be no abandonment of political creeds, no dereliction of the right of criticism, nor do we think that such a demonstration need have the least political coloring. It is an event in which the nation as a nation can well take part without a single individual in the community losing his political status or forsaking his political doctrines. However, there are people small-minded enough to stand aloof from the demonstration, but notwithstanding all this \ye have no doubt the reception of the Premier will be done in Wellington's best style on behalf of the whole of the colony.