ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1902. THE PREMIER'S SPEECH AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVI, Issue 84, 11 April 1902, Page 2

ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express. PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1902. THE PREMIER'S SPEECH AT CHRISTCHURCH.

The Premier should be, and no doubt is, supremely proud of the splendid reception given him when he appeared on the platform at Christchurch on Tuesday night. It was an occasion and a function unprecedented in the history of tho colony, and creditable in. the highest degree to both the principal figure and the vast audience which had assembled to do honor to the colony's Prime Minister. Sir John Hall's speech was a model of brevity, common sense, and good feeling delicately and yet eloquently expressed, and the presence, in such a position as ho occupied that evening, of one of Mr Seddon's most determined political opponents was in itself a striking and convincing refutation of the charge made in certain quarters that the testimonial to the Premier has been in any way "engineered" by party politicians or for party purposes. Sir John Hall hit the right nail on the head when he said that, although he was sure Mr Seddon would be the last to claim that he had created the'feeling of intense loyalty to the Empire which now prevailed throughout the colony, the Premier deserved the greatest credit for having interpreted that feeling, and, as head of the State, given it practical expression. The untiring energy, the wise judgment, the courageous seizing of the right occasion to say the right thing and to do the right thing, were all very properly eulogised, and in the address presented there was an eloquent expression of the national satisfaction with the course which has been followed by the head of tho Government. The Premier's reply was in every way characteristic of the man. He accentuated the special importance of colonial aid to tho Empire in the hour of the Empire's difficulty. Such aid had disproved forever the old and long-believed fallacy that the colonies were a source of weakness rather than of strength to the Mother Country. It is pleasing to hear from the head of the Government that out of each thousand men who had left in tho contingents 900 had loft orders on their pay for those dependent upon thorn. Passing on to tho gravely important question of what should be tho terms of settlement, we rejoice to find the Premier holding fast to his long ago expressed opinion that there must be unconditional surrender. Upon this point Sir John Hall had, in his speech, expressed some anxiety, but it is evident that New Zealand (whose right with the other colonies to a voice in the terms of settlement has been publicly admitted by Mr Chamberlain) will say, through her representative, that the settlement must be one of whose finality there can be no reasonable doubt. The Premier's programme on this point is unconditional surrender first, then conditional representation and an exhibition of generosity to tho vanquished. We are glad to notice Mr Seddon's declaration, creditable alike to his common sense and modesty and knowledge of tho facts, that " New Zealand's prompt action had come from the people of tho colony, supported by almost the entire press of the colony and by all parties in the Legislature," and his definition, towards the close of his address, of his own position as representative of New Zealand in London confirm a exactly the contention ol! this journal made some weeks ago as to what that position would be. "He left New Zealand," he said, "not simply as the Premier, not as the representative of a party, but as the representative of the whole colony, tG convey expressions of loyalty and devotion to the Throne and constitution." Very correctly did he add that any detraction of the colony's representative was a detraction of them, a remark which might well be taken to heart by the few bilious and jealous journalists and minor politicians who have attempted to sneer away the importance of the Premier's mission, to misrepresent his motives, and to vilify him as a statesman. Tho address has already been signed by nearly 30,000 colonists of all shades of political opinion, and will prove to the British Government and the people of England that New Zealand's representative at the Coronation goes to London as the spokesman for a united and enthusiastically loyal people. As to the " national purso," that has not yet been presented, and it will be time enough to refer to it when it is handed to the Premier. We may say, however, that It is more than probable that Mr Seddon's disposition oi the money will bo such as to do credit to his feelings of patriotism, loyalty, and, leC us add, personal unselfishness.