THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1900.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11366, 8 May 1900, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1900.

We are quite sure that universal regret will be felt at the announcement that the health of the Premier is in such a condition that he has been ordered to take an extended holiday ; in fact, to completely abandon public business until the meeting of Parliament at the end of June. The Premier, we hope, will be able to carry out the instructions of his medical advisers, and we ask that his personal friends, who are numerous in all parts of the colony, and who in such cases are often injudicious, will co-operate in endeavouring to let him have the perfect rest which he requires. Mr. Seddon, when in Auckland a few days ago, seemed in good health, but we are now told from Wellington that he has lately had three seizures, "slight in severity, but ominous in their nature." This news will be received with general sorrow, and Mr. Seddon's respite from political work will be accompanied by the hope that he may return with renewed health and vigour when Parliament meets.

Somehow or other, New Zealand seems to be a fatal place for its politicians. Sir Harry Atkinson broke down, and soon after his virtual retirement he passed away. Mr. Ballance suffered greatly from tire toils of office, and there is no doubt that his death was hastened by his devotion to his work. Quite lately Mr. Cadmau has been compelled to retire from political life, simply because of the continuous strain erf Departmental administration. Mr. McKenzie, it is to be feared, will not be able to administer his Department and take his full share in Parliamentary work. Now, statesmanship does not seem to be so fatal in other countries. A very large proportion of the men who have taken an active part in public life in England have reached extreme old age, although some of these have had long spells of the burden of official cares and worries. We doubt whether the consideration of political questions and the discussion of these questions in Parliament has any tendency 'to shorten life, or to weaken vitality. But apparently outNew Zealand politicians of recent years have not found out the system employed elsewhere. We suspect that the reason is, that they insist upon doing routine work which should be left to Under-Secretaries and permanent officials. They worry themselves with trifles instead of reserving their mental energies for the great questions which have to be dealt with, and which, after all, are not very many. As for Mr. Seddon, his case has really been an exception in every way. He has been gifted with a physique which is perhaps not given to one man in a thousand ; perhaps not to one in many thousands. But the very strongest may over-task his strength. During the two or three sessions past, he has been the Ministry and the Government. He received very little assistance from his colleagues. He conducted the business in Parliament almost alone, and he took a part in every matter of any importance in all the Departments. Not only was that so, but the calls upon his time and his energies from outside were incessant, and every call was responded to. Everything connected with the parly throughout the colony came under his notice. The claims of all the multitudinous office-seekers were submitted to him. He made all the appointments, even down to the women who washed out the Government offices. Mr. Seddon has nov been Premier for seven years, and during the whole of that time he has worked on a strain, and performed prodigies of labour. It cannot be said that in undertaking all these details be neglected the larger questions of politics. His accession to Ministerial office was coincident with a significant political chang?. The great body of the " workers,' as they are now officially termed, had resolved to take a more prominent part in politics than they had befjie taken, and to obtain certain advantages by legislative means. Something like a revolution was in the air. To some of the most import-air; measures brought in by the Government, we have taken strong obi-32-tion, and have endeavoured to poinl: out the particulars on which we held them to be unsound. We do not retract any of our arguments. Tha consequences of political measures are not evident on the day after 'her become law. But there is no clou ,t of the magnitude of the changes thai have been made, and of the enormous labour that these have cast

upon the Premier, He may almost say with Coriblamis,'4-Alone;I did it !" Every measure; of .importance has been drafted by. him, has bem introduced by him to Parliament, has been fought by him clause : by.' clause- through committee of the House. Day- by day .he had to attend Select Committees, where enormous labour had to be undertaken: Some of these committees, such, 'fpiinstance, as that of the Bank of New Zealand investigation, involved' toil and worry enough for a lifetime. And then we have to take into account what Mr. Seddon has done outside. He was always, even in the pressure of Parliamentary work, ready to address meetings', some of them in 4 remote parts of the colony, and involving toilsome journeys. The way in which he went over the country last general election was the wonder of every man. He thought it necessary to do what he did, and there is no question but that his exertions contributed greatly to the result. We question whether, in the whole history of politics, there is any record of labour equal to. that which Mr. Seddon has put up for the last seven years,

We regret now to learn that Mr. Seddon's health has been affected. This regret indeed will be general. Bu,t probably no man will feel greatly surprised. Even the strongest men have their limitations. Fortunately, Mr. Seddon has a prospect of relieving himself in the ensuing session to a greater extent than he has been able to do for some time past. It is true that Mr. John McKenzie is not recovering rapidly, and he may not be able for hard work in the House. But probably he will be able to take entire charge of his own Department. In Mr. Ward, the Premier has a' colleague of exceptional ability in the House, and as an administrator he wiW relieve him from the necessity of being in constant attendance in the House, Next session, indeed, bids fair to be a comparatively quiet one. The extreme democratic programme has been almost exhausted. Amendments are spoken of to some of the measures, but the Government are not pledged to any new measure of importance or of a revolutionary nature. Mr. Seddon may therefore work easy" during the session, if his nature and disposition will allow him to do so. Meantime, we wish him every benefit possible from his holiday, and again ask that all should co-operate in allowing him perfect rest.