THE PREMIER’S SPEECH.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1687, 29 June 1904, Page 45

THE PREMIER’S SPEECH.

The Premier can he complimented on making a thoroughly interesting speech at Newtown on Saturday evening. There may he some disappointment that important disclosures of Ministerial policy for the session were not made in detail. But the avowal at the outset prepares the reader for any disappointment on this score. Mr Seddon explained that his first desire was to reply to the critics of the Government who have been perambulating the country almost unchallenged. We have pointed out from time to time how weak lias been the criticism to which the Government has been subjected; -Mr Seddon s reply of Saturday night is most effective and thorough. It may well he a “source-if pride” to himself and his colleagues that none of the critics have called for

the repeal of a single oneof the me a-' snres they resisted so uncompromisingly on the ground that. they spelled disaster.,And he can pointTo a content- . ; ed and prosperous community .supporting and applauding his lease' of power; ;, after a dozen years’ experience - of it/ with greater and more ' complete unanimity every day .At con- . tinues. This fact alone silences the critics, or, at any rate, robs their criticism of weight and value. Mr: Seddon ; also made a fine dismissal” of the com- : plaint that the Government has had to resort to “legislation by exhaustion.” As he put it, this cry is repeated with -rt parrot-like reiteration. It will continue to ho made as long as party politics* remain w,its us; but the question is riot whether the legislation was passed by an exhausted House so much as whether it satisfies the country. And the answer is a triumphant vindication of those who framed it. The question of day sittings is, of course, an entirely distinct one, and ’the public as well as members will certainly welcome Mr Seddon’s announcement that lie proposes to give a trial to the early closing / movement in Parliament.

Mr Seddon spoke out plainly on the rt land question, and we are bound to admit, supporters of the freehold option as we are, that he made the best pronouncement in favour of the retention of f lie leasehold system that has yet, - been, made on any public platform. Mi Seddon has promised legislation '7 which will bring licensing polls into ’line with the ordinary electoral system. This can, of course, be effected without touching the Licensing Acts at all, and Parliament will welcome the amendment. On the Chinese in the Transvaal question, Mr Seddon was y outspoken as ever. He is to be congratulated on having sounded the first note of protest on this great Imperial question, and on the fact that his note has echoed throughout the Empire. 7 Liko the Premier, the country holds that the admission of these yellow hordes into a British colony is a breach of the understanding implied by the ' appearance of our contingents in the field, that we were iissisting to add to the Empire’s self-governing territory, and it will warmly approve of a resolution by Parliament to that ‘effect. 7 The various other subjects dealt with were all of great interest. The public sees that tho question of. preventing infant mortality is being taken up elsewhere, 5 ’ and is ready to follow and support the Government in any upon it, experimental though that action must necessarily be; and it is satisfactory to 7 know that in this matter of social legislation New Zealand is likely, at Mr Seddon’s suggestion, .to provide still another good example. The peroration of the speech was impressive; it breathed the sentiment which has shaped the Premier’s political career, and helped to earn the character for nobility which the ; chairman suggested for the utterance at the. conclusion of the proceedings. No one can read without a thrill the Premier’s reflection upon his pride that ho \has lived to see the fruition of his work in office, in the shape of a happy, contented and prosperous colony.