THE PREMIER AND MR. ATKINSON, M.H.R.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11870, 23 January 1902, Page 6

THE PREMIER AND MR. ATKINSON, M.H.R.

THE WELLINGTON PATRIOTIC : MEETING. ,:,...'v MR. SEDDON'S PATRIOTISM. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ■ % Wellington, Wednesday. An extraordinary pronouncement has been made by the Premier in defence of his attitude in the squabble with Mr. Atkinson regarding the recent patriotic meeting. Speaking to a New Zealand Times representative last night, Mr. Seddon said it was desirable that the matter should be put in another and proper light. When Mr. Seddon communicated with Mr. Atkinson asking for an opinion as to the despatch of the Eighth Contingent, that gentleman did; nob condescend to give a reply, and was therefore regarded as being opposed to more men being sent to fight for the Empire in .South Africa. It had been noticed previously, when members of the House of Representatives joined in singing "God Save the Queen," that Mr. Atkinson had remained mute. Now, when a Ninth Contingent is to be sent away Mr. Atkinson gives but a qualified approval to the step. Under these circumstances Mr. Seddon de-; clared it would have been quite out of place for a citizen holding such views as Mr. Atkinson concerning the present attitude of the colony to have been allowed to take first place at a patriotic gathering. Mr. Seddon declared that neither political nor personal feeling had weighed in the matter. AH that had been desired by him was that an assembly of patriotic people should bo addressed by patriotic speakers only. The Post to-night, commenting on this deliverance, says that the action of Mr. Seddon in risking the wrecking of Friday's meeting, so that he might place a slight upon Mr. Atkinson, was a regrettable instance of petty personal rancour; but this was far less damaging to: his reputation than the statements and innuendoes in his latest utterance on this subject. An to the alleged facts against Mr. Atkinson, they are paltry in the extreme. As to the " qualified" approval accorded by Mr. Atkinson to the despatch of a Ninth Contingent, says the Post, we ourselves, as our readers know, considered it an occasion for unqualified approval; bub we do not therefore condemn Mr. Atkinson's attitude, especially as we are well aware that the extravagance of the Premier's utterances and the personal element which constantly obtrudes through his patriotism, put a very severe strain upon the loyalty of many sober-minded citizens.