The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1908. A GREAT DEMOCRAT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIX, Issue 14681, 12 May 1908, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times. TUESDAY, MAY 12, 1908. A GREAT DEMOCRAT.

It nas in many ways, a romarkablo group of mon. that assembled in London in 1597 to represent tho colonies at tho celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Sir Wjilfrid Laurier, a French Canadian and a true statesman, was sent over from Canada, and Sir J. Gordon Sprigg, then holding ofßeo ior the third term, went from Capo Colony, while Australasia sent Homo seven men, all of whom were counted strong and forceful loaders. Sir Wilfrid Ln.uriar had taken office- only in 1898, hut among the Australasians Sir John lor rest had been Premier of Western Australia since the election of tho first representative Assembly in 1.890, Mr Seddon and Mr C. C. Kingston, of South Australia, -had become Premiers in IS9o, and Sir Georgo Turner, of Victoria, Mr G. H. Reid, of New South Wales, and Sir E. C. Braddon, of in 1894. During the nineties Mr Reid was commonly regarded «:? tho most astute of the political leaders, Sir George Turner as the most careful, and Sir John Forrest as tho most autocratic, while Mr Kingston and Sir Seddon were coupled as tlis most earnest reformers. The Premiers of South Australia and New Zealand had many points of resemblance. Both were hig men, big. of body, of heart and of mind. Both were sturdy democrats, and both strongly appreciated the folly of perpetuating in those young countries tho conditions which had produced the terrible social problems of the Old World. In temperament, too, the men were strangely alike, impatient of shams, earnest and masterful. But there were differences. Mr Seddon was a Lancashire man, who had earned his living among engineers and miners. Mr Kingston was a native of South Australia, tho son of a politician, and a lawyer. His father, Sir George Kingston, had boon Speaker of tho South Australian Assembly for twenty years. Mr Kingston entered Parliament in 1831, two years after Mr Seddon’s “arrival,” but with his legal training he had not long to wait for promotion, and he became Attor-ney-General in 1884. Mr Seddon became Premier of New Zealand in May, 1893. A month later Mr Kingston succeeded to the Premiership of South Australia. His legislative record was scarcely less remarkable than Mr Seddon’s. liis interests ranged from State banking to women’s suffrage, and ho was largely responsible for tho famous State Children’s Act, probably the best measure ever devised for dealing with unfortunate and neglected children. He led the way in tho reform of factory legislation, and gave to labour a dignity and an .influence such as it possessed nowhere else in Australia. He introduced the first Industrial Arbitration Bill in Australasia, and tho Hon Yv . P. Reeves was not ashamed to admit that he drew the inspiration for Ids own proposals from those' of the South Australian Premier. Less fortunate than Air Reeves, Mr Kingston could not persuade his Parliament to sanction a fully compulsory law. Ho gave Australia, moreover, a wise system of graduated taxation for land and incomes. As on Australian native, he was a firm advocate of the White Australia policy, and tho country had no more earnest federalist. Like too many others among colonial statesmen, he sacrificed his health in tbp service of his country." While Mr George Reid wisely kept an eye on the law courts and varied lu’s political life by making little legal excursions, Mr Kingston abandoned his private practice, and gave himself wholly to the service of the State. Ho lacked, as it proved, Mr Seddon’s superabundant energy and wonderful vitality. When he joined Sir Edmund Barton’s first Federal Ministry as Minister of Customs his health was already broken. But he worked on until he saw the federation firmly established, and by that time there was no hope of a complete recovery. Had lie been more considerate for his own health he would to-day bo Premier of Australia, because no man possessed the confidence of Australians to a greater degree than ho did. Ho was a man of conspicuous ability, broadminded, far-sighted, and of unquestioned integrity. His influence was felt in every State, and the services fie rendered to tho cause, of progress wore of inestimable value. Ho was one of tlio truest of patriots, an Imperialist and yet a whole-souled democrat, and his death leaves Australia the poorer by one, of its really great men.