MR SEDDON IN MELBOURNE

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXIX, Issue 134, 9 June 1906, Page 1

MR SEDDON IN MELBOURNE

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DINNER. Mr Seddon was entertained at dinner on the 31st tilt by the Commonwealth Government. Mr Deakin (Prime Minister) presided, having on his right Mr Seddon and Mr Bent (Premier), and on his left the Chief Justice of Australia (Sir Samuel Griffith) and Mr Higgins, M.H.R. Among the guests were the Irish envoys, Mr J. Devlin, M.P., and Mr J. T. Donovan, and others present were Senator Plavford, the Lord Mayor (Councillor Weedon), Mr O. M. Williams, Mr A. B. Robinson, Captain Steward, Mr D. C. M'Lachlan, Professor Lvle, Sir Malcolm M'Eacharn, Mr AtWHunt, Mr D. Mills, Mr C. G. Duffy, Mr Justice A'Beckett, Mr C. C. Salmon, M.H.R., Professor Osborne, the President of the Chamber of Manufactures (Mr Joshua), Mr G. T. Allen, Mr D. H. Maling, Mr ti. G. Blackmore, Professor Moore, Mr L. E. Groom (Minister for Home Affairs), Sir Edmund Barton, Mr Isaacs (AttorneyGenoral), Mr Mahon, M.H.R., Lieut.Colonel Reay, Mr JR. J. Larking, Mr Justice O'Connor, and Sir John Forrest (Treasurer). Apart from the loyal toasts, the only toast on the list was that of the guest (Mr Seddon). It was proposed by Mr Deakin.

Mr Deakin said that Mr Seddon came to Australia, not merely as the official representative of the people of New Zealand, but as the recognised leader of that fertile and beautiful colony. After a period of conflict and jealousy, he had succeeded in overcoming jealousies and harmonising difficulties, and had submitted and gradually achieved a policy which would be marked in the history of his state and in the history of Australasia, and the influence of which had already extended to the great republic of the west. (Applause.) Though he did not enter upon his individual leadership at the time when strife and turmoil for many years haH interrupted the political progress of his colony, he was able to follower Ballance and Sir George Grey in the practical application of the principles which they held in common, and by the strength of his own personality and the force of his own character he gradually set upon the policy of New Zealand an individual stamp that would remain for all time. (Applause.) He had made New Zealand prosperous, and had made it prosperous by making it progressive. (Applause.) He had no fear of facing Eroblems, and had not been terrified y the spectres which were raised by those who feared what they termed "experimental legislation," as though all legislation were not experimental, and as though the changes of time did not demand the adaptation of old principles. (Applause.) Mr Seddon had not feared to open new paths. He had not, moreover, opened paths which experience had shown should have remained closed, but paths which the people in other countries recognised should be followed. (Applause.) We realised that we in Australia were passing through a period of strife and storm most unfavourable to the consistent development of our legislation, and the principles of any party. (Hear, hear.) But with all these difficulties surrounding us, we had recognised that in solving the problems of his own country with such signal success Mr Seddon and his. Government had been of the greatest service to Australia. (Applause.) The best hope of many Australians was to try the path that Mr Seddon had opened. Mr Seddon represented his country thoroughly, ana he came to Australia charged with serious matters of business. Some of those he (Mr Deakin) had discussed in a preliminary fashion with Mr Seddon, and they led him to say that Australians looked forward to a time when Australia and Australasia would, if not convertible terms, know no division and no separation, but would be one in policy as they were now one in destiny. (Applause.) There were opportunities that should be utilised at once, by which even in commercial matters Australia and New Zealand might come together, by agreements which would be of benefit to both parties and to the Empire at large. These and other questions relating to other islands in which both states had interests, and to possible perils in these seas, would be open to consideration by him and Mr Seddon, and perhaps to the consideration of the Parliaments of their states. The outcome of their labours would, he trusted, be fruitful. (Applause.) People had seen Mr Seddon in the past represented in niany characters—powerful, threatening, sometimes desperate. (Laughter.) It was healthy to find Mr Seddon reported in columns in which he had only appeared in connection with prophecies of disaster. As one who appreciated the press which Mr Seddon had had to race, he had often regretted that Mr Seddon's efforts should have been so little appreciated here. He had thought that kinder criticism should have been accorded to a man who was evidently honest in the endeavour to render the Government of his country more satisfactory. Instead, Mr Seddon had been represented in very "different colours, to which he would not further allude, except to venture the hope that the welcome which Mr Seddon had received in his success would carry the moral, that those who were endeavouring to accomplish the task nearer home were not so very violent in their aims or so desperate in their means. The welcome to Mr Seddon was extended even to his policy, and that which was "anathema marantha " in this country was discovered to be advantageous—or almost entirely advantageous—in New Zealand. (Applause.) Mr Seddon said that, personally, he did not merit all the kindness containei in Mr Deakin's remarks. John Ballance, and before him Sir George Grey, had really laid the foundation of liberalism and progression in Australasia. (Applause.) Statesmen in Australia shared the credit. One who was sitting at the table—Sir Samuel Griffith, the present Chief Justice of the Commonwealth—-had done great work. (Cheers.) He would like also to pay due honour to his colleagues and to the people of New Zealand, who, notwithstanding adverse criticism, fears and doubts, and alleged dangers, had stayed true to themselves and to democracy, and who to-day rejoiced in a prosperity unequalled elsewhere in the world. He had been reading the speech delivered at a meeting in London by Mr Winston Churchill, and if the opinions in that speech were given effect to there would be no doubt as to where Australia and New Zealand would be. He could assure Mr Churchill that we in the colonies belonged to no English party—all that we a.skecj from all parties at Home was justice, and respect for the constitutions iinder which we worked, so that we would live untrammelled and work out our own destinies. (Applause.) Though New Zealand did not join in the federation of Australia, but decided to "wait a bit," yet Australian sentiment and aspirations were theirs also. (Cheers.) New Zealand had sympathised with Australia in her time of adversity, and now rejoiced in her prosperity. (Applause.) He was not an orator —he spoke perhaps sometimes too plainly—(laughter) —but in the hour of Australia's difficulties, when there were those in the Home country who talked of repudiation, he did not hesitate to say that this talk was cruel in the extreme. (Applause.) Those persons in the Mother Country must now regret what they had said. (Cheers.) Yet only the other day, when an Australian state sent Home some of its spare cash, the fact was used agains£ Australia, and it was said that she must have lost confidence in herself. (Laughter.) That was adding insult to injury. (Laughter.) Slanders had recently been uttered on Australia with regard to the effects of the education system, but whatever reflected on Australia or

New Zealand reflected on Britain's own'flesh and blood. (Applause.) As for preferential trade, he would like to show what the effect of the preference between New Zealand and Britain had been.

Mr Seddon then read the following table of results. It showed the increase of trade from Britain, as the result of preference, between ISO 3 and 1905: —

Bicycles, tricycles, etc., increase 20 por cent. ; boots and shoes, increase 20 per cent. ; candles, increase 25 per cent, (foreign candles decreased from 25 per cent, to 3 per cent.); carriages, increase 20 per cent. ; carriage material, increase 32 per cent.; fish potted and preserved, increase 26 per cent.; hardware, increase 1 per cent, (foreign decrease 1 per cent.); pianos, increase 10 per cent.; iron, bar, bolt, and rod. increase 23 per cent.; iron, sheet and plate, increase 5 per cent.; canvas, increase 20 per cent. In fancy goods and other articles the change had been slightly against the British trade.

Mr Seddon (continuing) said that the whole trade from Britain had increased by 2 per cent., and the increase of foreign trade had been checked by the tariff. The home industries of New Zealand had considerably increased. He*" was now proposing reciprocity with Australia, and he hoped that the result of the visit to Australia would not simply end in the extending of a welcome to him. (Applause). For our relations with the Home Country, he said, allow us to work out our"'own destinies. The colonies would not brook interference. We knew the goal we aimed at, and it was to the best interests of the Empire, and of the Mother Country, that we should be allowed to carry out self-government in its fullest and truest sense. (Applause).

The toast of the Prime Minister (Mr Deakin) was then briefly proposed by Mr Seddon, and briefly responded to, and the proceedings ended.