MR SEDDON'S RECEPTION AT CAPETOWN.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7466, 3 July 1902, Page 4

MR SEDDON'S RECEPTION AT CAPETOWN.

Cape files show that the Premier of New Zealand received a cordial welcome on his arrival at Capetown. Replying to sis addresses—from the Corporation, from the New Zealanders resident in Salisbury, from the SouSh Afu'can League, from the Trades and Labour ■ Council, from the working classes, and from Major Pilcher and the residents of Port Elizabeth—Mr Scddon said he ] might be told by those who criticised i anyone who had the boldness to express ! an opinion—(laughter)—" Why, you are | forcing the British Government to pny more than they otherwise would have paid; you ought to leave it to those guiding the destinies of our Empire in London." He (Mr Stfddo-.i) said nothiug of the kind. He had as much right to ."peak on a question of advanced policy in South Africa as the Secretary of Slate himself. ■ (Hear, hear.) THE PORTUGUESE IN ARRICA. It he held a responsible post under the Imperial Cabinet, did they know the first thing ho woulddu? Under friendl / arrangement, and on ground.? which he felt sure the Portuguese. Government would consider souud, he would acquire that territory.—(Loud cheers.} Did not history and the events of the last two years leach us how short-sighled the .English statesmen had been in the matter of acquiring territory ? Now was the time. It would remove at once a source of danger; it would remove anxiety, and tend, in his opinion, to government-in South Africa on safer lines. Now, he might tell them, speaking for his colony, that they were prepared still further to help them. He did not think they would want further soldiers ; but there was no doubt they would require further settlers, and hoi believed that a number from hi* colony, to South. Africa's profit a>.id New Zealand's loss, would come to South Africa. Then, after all the destruction of the buildings, they would require material. He was surprised when he went to their mines the other day to} fiod that the timbers required were all obtained outside Great Britain. Ho said, after careful inquiry, tbat they (New Zealand) meant, and wove able, to offer them what was required for the development of'their mines ; and in respect to the stock tbey required, the restocking of the country was a'mest difficult problem. They would require millions to be imported to give them a stock. There was no part of the world that could send them better sheep or better muttou than New Zealand, and he proved this from the fact that some ah en nations were largely supp'ying South Africa, and were largely drawioc from New Zealand to improve tiieir breeds. Thwi. lie said : ''Do not go indirectly, but directly to that country." INTERCOLONIAL TRADE. He believed that they should trade well within themselves and as much as possible. — (Hear, hear). They knew that a very heavy' impost had beea put on their kindred at Horn" owing to iho war. They should, therefore, do their best to liqhfcen their burden by trading as far as they could with them.—(Hoar, hear.) Why should tbey treat other notions on the same lines as their own, seeing the great responsibility obeir own had voluntarily undertaken ? ( They would not be true to their country and nation if they did not alter the existing conditions and give to the Mother Country the open door in their colouies. — (Cheers.) Not doing .it had had ibe effect of strengthening other nations, and with the profits imido oa their goods those nations were'building men-of-war to protect themselves. They had closed their doors to all British manufactured goods, thoreforo Great Britain, inuso alter her fiscal policy to nieec the existing conditions. If they did that, ho believed it would bring about that dream of Cobden, for the other nations would see that they could not do very well without British trade and th 9 trade of the British colonies. (Hear, hear.) Then thoy would say :— (> Let us reciprocate." In regard to the policy of New Zealand, and advanced as it was in regard to other colonies a'ld countries, underlying the whole Ibing had been this: the colicy of " trusting the people." To ' those who wera struggling against difficulties, who were human beings like themselves, they stretched out the ri^ht hand of fellowship, with the result that to-day ' they never hoard or saw a beggar in New Zealand. Poverty was unknown. They had no millionuiros, thoir wealth very evenly distributed, and when he told them of tbo prosperity of New Zealand he should say tbat the money iv the savings bank of that colony had increased oyer five millions sterling in the last sis years. Where they had hnppiness and contentment. It should be the aim of every well-wisher of humanity to endeavouv to promote that most desirable condition. Let them follow on tho lines New Zealand had adopted, and South Afiica would indeed be a great country. MR SEPDON'S HEALTH. The Cane Times reports that Mr Seddon appeared to bo iv the best of health and spirits, and evidently took the keenest interest in his surroundings, and in the general arrancenients made for his reception, paying close attention to tbe sentiments conveyed in the various addresses with which he was presented, Ais speech in reply occupied siightlv over three-quarters of an hour, and was characterised by all that vigor and robustness with which his utterances are usually associated its general tenor was of a distinctly optimistic character, and tbe allusions it contained to the probabilities of peacebe.'iig proclaimed at ai early stage were naturally welcomed w itl profound satisfaction. Throughout th( speech the sentiments to which the righi hon. gentleman gaye utterance were re ceived with marked signs of approval and hearty cheers were raised when, ac comuaniect by his party, he drove of : esco/ted by a mounted detachment oJ . colonial troops, who accompanied his I carriage up to the Mount Nelson.