THE PREMIER AND AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12270, 14 May 1903, Page 4

THE PREMIER AND AUCKLAND.

The statements made yesterday by Mr. Seddon, in an interview granted to a representative of the New Zealand Herald, will be generally appreciated by the people of this province. It will be seen that in a variety of ways the Premier has endeavoured to meet the wishes of the public as expressed in our columns. The drainage of Eotorua is to be attended to and dimngrooni cars run on that line. A dairy expert is to be obtained from Denmark, the blueribbon butter country, and though another is to be inquired for in Canada we may hope that the singular custom of obtaining experts from among inferior butter-makers is coming to an end. Matamata is to be compulsorily acquired under the Lands for Settlement Act, which we hope will induce the Assets Board to reconsider the policy of perpetual trusteeship and place its other Waikato estates frankly on the market while high prices are ruling. On land-settlement in general the Premier declares himself in agreement With us, and while he is doing something commendable on behalf of his "Alpha and Omega," it would be ungracious to recall the past too ardently or to analyse his land-settle-ment figures. There has been a suspicion that Mr. Seddon does not hail with enthusiasm the prospects of a visit to the northern capital, and perhaps Auckland has had too little administrative consideration in the past to lend warmth to the hospitality it is glad to show to all members of the Cabinet, regardless of partisan affiliations. But however much many may differ from Mr. Seddon in colonial politics we can all appreciate fully the impartial Ministerial consideration of our provincial claims and can reciprocate cordially whenever a genuine effort is made to advance the legitimate interests of Auckland.