ESTABLISHED 1875. THE MANAWATU DAILY TIMES The Manawatu Daily Times. The Oldest Manawatu Journal. Published Every Morning. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1904. THE PREMIER'S HEALTH.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7956, 13 April 1904, Page 2

ESTABLISHED 1875. THE MANAWATU DAILY TIMES The Manawatu Daily Times. The Oldest Manawatu Journal. Published Every Morning. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1904. THE PREMIER'S HEALTH.

The Lyttelton Times, referring to Mr Seddon's illness through overbanquet and overwork, says :—Last year we were promised that there should be a reconstruction during the recess. Another session of Parliament is upon us, and there has been no change in the Ministry. Indeed, with the Hon W. HallJones away, the Premier has been taking a larger share of work on his j own shoulders, with the inevitable result that his health has suffered. We know there are difficulties in the way of reconstruction, but it is sheer folly for the Premier to meet Parliament with a Ministry from which he can receive little real support. Sir Joseph Ward is practically the only lieutenant who can safely be left in charge of the House, and if the session proves as arduous and difficult as it promises to be, Mr Seddon will have no opportunity of obtaining the rest which he clearly needs. If he cannot relieve himself of some of his departmental duties, he should at least spare himself the hard inseparable from the small ornamental duties of opening bridges and attending complimentary banquets. . , . The Premier's journeys

through the country are often arduous in themselves, but they are more serious still because of the departmental work which is allowed to accumulate and which has to be overtaken when he returns to Wellington. There seems to be no immediate occasion for alarm, but Mr Seddon cannot afford to take liberties with his health any longer. He has been doing the work of two or three men for ten years, and even his iron constitution has naturally suffered. The Star suggests that the party caucus should remonstrate with him. We are afraid that no power on earth can prevent a man from overworking if he has made up his mind to it, but such an appeal to the Premier's common sense should not go unanswered.