THE PREMIER AT LYTTELTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIX, Issue 11539, 28 March 1898, Page 4

THE PREMIER AT LYTTELTON.

The chief value of the meeting at Lyttelton on Saturday evening, when the head of the Government was, in the presence of a large gathering, presented with a complimentary address, lies in the demonstration it; affords of the existence of a living bond between the Premier and the people. This testimony is cheering, coming as it does at a time when the enemies of the Liberal Administration are busy at work disseminating rumours of discord and discontent. There is little sign of Mr Seddon’s popularity waning, to, judge from the hearty warmth of the congratulations offered him and the enthusiasm and unanimity of the meeting ; while the true, ringing notes struck' by him in his reply give no indication of failing power or courage. If the address of the Premier bad nothing in it that was new, it contained a few points that call for remark, and several interlinear readings which appear to us to be fair inferences from the general trend of the speech. Passing over the retrospective portions, we find Mr Seddon making the somewhat trite remark for a democratic leader, that his Administration is simply carrying out the will of the people. This is, perhaps, a necessary reminder, byway of counteraction to the assertions of “ autocracy ” that are so freely made. The statement is absolutely correct as a description of the relations that exist between the Government and the public; but the obvious qualifying remark that will spring to the lips of most Liberals is that the process of “ carrying out the will of the people •’ is not going on at a pace rapid enough to be satisfactory. Ministers are, however, doing their best with the existing constitutional machinery to express the popular will in legislation. What is required is a reform of the Upper House and a referendum in cases of difference between the two branches of the Legislature, so that the policy demanded by the country shall be realised without the unconscionable delays and wasteful friction that are now the rule.

As regards the minority who protest against progressive legislation and administration, and who are now finding fault with the Government for trying to provide the farmers with cheap lime for fertilising purposes, they require to he reminded that they have no standing until they have discharged their first duty of converting themselves into a majority. The country wants more ‘‘ Socialism,” not less. Mr Seddon’s reply to the criticisms on his action in accepting a seat on an Advisory Board while acting as Premier will, we hope, prove to be the last word on that vexed question. A dozen blacks do not, of course, make one white; but for very shame’s sake the Conservatives ought to desist from raking up this question, as by doing so they only disclose their special animus against the present head of the Government. The remarks of Mr Seddon which suggest readings “ between the lines,” are those that deal with Conservative calumnies, with the misrepresentation and misapprehension from which this country suffers in England, and with the Ministerial policy in the future. There have been no particular iniquities perpetrated by the Conservatives of late, and this fact suggests that the Premier’s intention was to frame a general indictment against his political opponents; and the query at once arises, “ For what purpose should he do this if there were not a general election in sight?” His explanation on the subject of the Technical Education Bill also suggests that an appeal to the electorates may be near at hand ; while his line of reasoning on the old age pension question distinctly gives the impression that he is preparing a plan of campaign for the inevitable conflict with the party and chamber of obstruction, on that important subject. The conviction cannot fail to he forced in upon those who read the address that Mr Seddon has determined that the coming parliamentary session shall resolve the ci'iais in the relations between the two branches of the Legislature, and that he is prepared to maintain that he will be entitled to claim a dissolution of Parliament if the Old Age Pensions Bill should bo again rejected or emasculated. From the Premier’s remarks on the question of irrigation, it would seem that his ideas have undergone some modification since he chatted with a representative of this journal on public matters. It would, we believe, be more satisfactory if the lands improved by irrigation could be made to bear a large proportion of the cost of the works. A system of Governmentsale of water on the same principle as prevails on the West Coast in the case of water supply for gold-mining purposes, would work satisfactorily. There would require to be some guarantee that a certain quantity of water would be taken before the Government undertook the cost of constructing the works; hut State management of the whole business appears to be the most satisfactory way of dealing with the question. We hope to find the idea developed and a practicable scheme evolved. The Premier’s references to the need for active means being employed to keep the colony right in the estimation of the British public do not necessarily imply that he intends going Home as Agent-General, hut we should not bo surprised to learn that some such possibility was present to his mind when he spoke. That, however, is a matter too far in the future to speculate upon at present.,

What appears to be certain in the near future is that Mr Seddon will be found leading a spirited campaign in the cause of the people, with “ Old Age Pensions ” and “ Reform of the Legislative Council ” as his battle cries.