THE PREMIER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1666, 3 February 1904, Page 81 (Supplement)

THE PREMIER.

ENTERTAINED AT TOGMARTJ

TIMARU, Sunday.

The Premier, who is paying a short visit to Timaru, on the invitation, of the Mayor and Borough Council, was given am enthusiastic reception by a large crowd on arrival yesterday. In the evening he was the guest of the Council and Harbour -Board at dinner at the Grosvenor Hotel.

In the course of reply to the toast of his health, the Premier, after congratulating the people of Timaru on the signs of prosperity on every hand, referred to a. few matters of Imperial moment alluded to by the Mayor in a eulogistic speech in proposing the toast. The measures of last session., said Mr Seddon, included some of the most important ever passed in New Zealand, especially the preferential tariff and tlhe Reciprocal Trade Act. The .Premier looked forward to New Zealand’s step being followed by the rest of the Empire, when the pressure thus put on other nations would lead to the breakdown of the tariffs by universal recipiucity and open ports all over the world. He explained and justified his protest against the introduction of Chinese into the Transvaal mines, as placing an Imperial question of social troubles over private questions of mining profits. He touched on the importance to New Zealand and Australia of the dispute between Russia and Japan, and hoped that war would be averted, and Russia checked in her designs on Manchuria, for fear that the Russiamised Chinese might become a danger to Australasia.

Referring to the new school syllabus, the Premier announced that arrangements had just been concluded for its further consideration by the conference of inspectors, and lie had arranged lu refer it to a joint Committee 'of Inspectors and the Teachers’ Institute. r i Jc-n it would bo finally reierred, fi.) him as Miniriler l'or Ediicariun. Alter such consideration, fie bad no hesitation in saving that they -would hare the most ikm I'ee-t syllabus south of the equator.

The Premier was the guest of the Mayor to-day. He visits the harbour works and quarries to-morrow, and returns North at night.