MR. SEDDON IN AUSTRALIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13193, 2 June 1906, Page 5

MR. SEDDON IN AUSTRALIA.

«*, THE NEW HEBRIDES. ' ' —- ■ . 7 DEPUTATION FROM PRESBYTERIAN 3 MIS. OX. 3 THE WAYS OF DOWN INO - STB EET. 'M By Telepraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. * J Mci.no trim:. June 1. L Mn. Dkakin- says that Mr. Seddun and h* have arrived at an agreement on all points 'M regarding I lie. New Hebrides, which it was necessary fur them to touch upon. (Received June 1, 10.55 p.m.) t '.ft Melbourne, June 1. ; f l A deputation representing the Ptesbr* . , ,j terian Mission to the New Hebrides, tited on Mr. Deakin and Mr. Seddou to-day," " and urged the critical state of affairs in the '* ' I Islands should they pass to the French. Tho question was approaching a crisis. They urged Mr. Sedduii, who they said was " one of the strongest men in the Empire, < ,J "| to admit the products of the New Hebrides ,■ V; into New Zealand. That would be one -j'St means of solidifying Australasian interests. Australia bed refused to give preference to products of the group, and they hoped Mr. Seddou would show a. better example. ■ Mr. Deakin. replying, said lie. would not , occupy time, so that the deputation might hear Mi. Seddou, who had made a deep study of the question. He hoped the resultof his coufeienco with Mr. Seddon would j! secure some satisfactory arrangement. Mr. Seddou, replying, said he hoped pub- ' *f lie opinion would be awakened to the dan- M gers of delay in regard to the New Heb-. ,*rf| rides, and that steps would be taken to settle the question for all time. The New -A Hebrides islands were at one time in com- ,*-jf mission for New Zealand. That was the" - "I§ providence watching over them, but stupid ' ; men undid l the work. He lengthily referred „, 1 to the work of Downing-street in the past. in relation to New Caledonia, Hawaii, Fiji. .v-#l Tonga, and Samoa. Coming back to the V'4t New Hebrides, the eiuise of the trouble, he , said, was the supineness ol the British Go- *| vernment. What he objected to was that ■ in. these great questions they were- sent "U dispatches" marked cbntidentiaE Why did* the Imperial Government put them in that position? They made these things con-* "•> fidential and secret, and when public opinion „ j might be aroused a.nd swayed: for the good a, 6 of the Empire, nothing could be said of what was going on, and yet their liberties and privileges were being infringed, Ho " ' was almost tired of it. . (Mr. Deakin: Hear, hear.) : Mr. Seddon continued: "I stand bete to-day with my hands tied. What are they ' „ a,f raid of They say it will prejudice their position with friendly nations. The fact J is it will prejudice our position, hence there will be no leakage, but. while I notice the ' Imperial Government is anxious to have 'y the proposed convention kept secret, it was ;i/& published in the French papers. The native ~/W phase has not been equitably considered by 'ysm the Imperial Government. The natives are entitled to ais much consideration.as the, '*T' Maoris received. They owned the land," ../? and their interests should be considered." 5| He said he had had one cablegram from, g the British Government—" Thanks * very much for the assistance rendered." He did , not want thanks; lie wanted; action. They were now asked to revise the provisional •• agreement. There had been no one to re- - «'•; present Australia and New Zealand in . - drawing up (ho convention. Ho did not mean to say anything about the people ! irepresenting Great Britain, but if they • were to he judged by the agreement sent £ out here they knew very little of tho subject. The French, however, had not"'* ,3| been so unmindful of 1 licit people's interests. He admired truth diplomacy, ->t.| but Australia and New Zealand had cause to complain that in a matter in which they -Slll were so deeply interested they had not been _ consulted'. They ought.to have been con- ' : < sulted. He agreed with tho deputation , I that if they could get the French to a,band-oil < their interests in the Now Hebrides, re- ■ ceiving compensation in some other country I '*'!>■ from Great Britain, that would be a proper solution of the difficulty. ".%• New Zealand would adhere to the position, iifS she had taken up from the first, and re-' '*. k i presentations would follow from the Com- _ monwealth and New Zealand on these lines. % The boldest course was the best. It was the right course to state what their views J were in the interests of the Empire and of . V- ■ Australasia. ... He added : When New Zealand had suggested the division of the inlands rather 'Js than a protectorate it was painful to her; but in view of what happened in the past, and in view of the fact that Britain had , surrendered interests to other nations, ho believed the better way would be to divide ' - Jjj the islands and make one section French ~ 5 * and the other British. France as a colo- • <{§| itiser had not been over-successful, and the chances were that Britishers would be so 'I successful that it would be only a question • of time when the French colonists would ' throw in their lot with them. There was a danger of France trading her interests to America, and where America went her ||J|| shipping Jaws would apply. Mr. Deakin IkS!? himself would do his best to make a pro- ' tectorate such as would prevent danger arising to the natives and to British set-„ -iffi tlers., The joint Commission over the New - Hebrides should have the right to conclude | reciprocal treaties with New Zealand and - Australia. Mr. Deakin in reply to a ques- 1 tion said nothing would be confirmed without hearing our views. Mr. Scddon added :.; Wc have decided strongly to recommend that there should be one code of laws for ,jj every soul in the place. -<<- f (Received June, 2, 1-20 a.m.) •\ : .V'' Mki.ijoub.nk, June 1. . Mr. Seddou has had a further conference. ,Y| with Mr. Deakin regarding a reciprocal , tariff. _ _ "M Mr. Scddon•• was accorded an enthusiastic reception at the Commercial Travellers' ' Club. He will visit Ballarat to-morrow, ami Beudigo on Wednesday. p