MR SEDDON BANQUETED.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4607, 11 March 1902, Page 7

MR SEDDON BANQUETED.

G ATUERINO IN DUNEDIN. PEESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, March 10. Tho banquet tendered to Air Seddon by tho citizens of Otago prior to kia dejiarturo to attend tko Coronation ceremonies took place iai Victoria Hall'this evening. About 150 persons woro present. Tho Mayor of Dunedin, Air G. L. Donniston, presided, supported on kis right by the guest of the evening, and on kis left by Sir Joseph Ward. The Legislature was represent ed by, tho Hons. D. Pinkerton, W. M. Bolt, H. Gourley and A. L. Smith, and Messrs Millar, Barclay. T. Mackenzie, Carncross, Sidey and Bonnet, M.H.R’s. Among tho apologies received were letters from Air Justice Williams, tko Rev. Air Fairdough and Air John Alill (Alayor of Port Chalmers). It was mentioned by his Worship that since tho Premier had come into the room ko had received a cablegram from St. Helens, Lancashire, asking him on tho occasion of bis visit to England to visit St. Helens and accept tho freedom of tho borough. Tho Mayor, in proposing tho toast of tho evening, said ho yielded to no man in his appreciation of tho qualities of mind and of tho distinguished services of Air Seddon. Mr Seddon occupied the proud position of doyen among colonial Premiers; he had guided tho destinies of New Zealand for nearly ten years, and had given the best period of bis life and many spontaneous years of work to tbo public service. It was not the Premier exactly they honoured that night; nono there were for party, but all were for tho State. Alany seated round that table bad consistently differed from Air Seddon in his methods of government, and disagreed witli some of tho legislation 1m had introduced, but there was a general accord of belief in tho community lhat men of all parties joined in the opinion

that from the beginning of tho 1 rootle

in South Africa, Mr Seclclon had realised • to tho fullest; extent; that great Imperialistic sentiment which had appealed so closely to our patriotism. He had soon clearly that this was no time for half measures, and that whatever support the colonies were to offer to tho (British Government at tho present crisis, it should be effective, thorough, liberal and without stint. (Cheers.) This was whore the qualities of tho statesman were manifested. In conclusion, Mr Denniston said: Mr Seddon goes Homo next month as an honoured guest of the King at the Coronation ceremonies. The people of Dunedin thought it fitting that on the eve of such departurethey should express by the goad old-fashioned means of a public dinner their appreciation of the manner in which he sustained the honour of the colony we live in, their belief that in this respect if in no other he has achieved, or at least deserved, a place in the council of the Umpire, enjoyed perhaps by no ether colonial statesman, and that his opinion and advice will be welcomed and received with respect by oven Mr Chamberlain himself. If by this and similar evidences of respect and confidence we can by oven so little strengthen Mr Sodden’s hands in his forthcoming trip to England, wo shall fool that nor action has been amply repaid. The Premier, who received a great ovation (the company rising to their foot and cheering), began by saying;— This is truly a representative gathering, and the manner in which the toast has been received commends itself so much to mo that I feel humbled, and do not think I deserve it at your hands. (Cries of dissent.) His Worship has truly said that at this table are gathered together those whose political opinions and actions differ from mine and from tho party which I lead, hut “The Empire” is tho watchword. (Cheers.) Mr Seddon went on. to say that ho had endeavoured to the best of his ability to further the interests of New Zealand. To-day New Zealand was in the van, and Now Zealanders were looked up to all over the civilised world, and deservedly so, because relatively to our population we / had as much intelligence and patriotism as could he found in any other part of the Empire. Ho was proud to say that this colony had been singularly free from pro-Boers. (Cheers.) Had tho same feeling prevailed on the part of the . public men and statesmen of Great Britain, and had they followed in the footsteps of tho men on both sides of politics in Zealand Parliament, the probabilities were that the war raging at the-present time would ho at an end. (Loud cheers.) As this would he the last opportunity ho would have of speaking to representative people of Otago and Southland for some time, ho wished to tender them a little advice, and ho tendered that advice on broad general grounds. Ho wanted to see our patriotism fully maintained. He complained that newspaper attacks on the financial position of tho colony were sent Home, and were used to the disparagement of tho colony. _ Party should ho set aside, and “ patriotism.” should become our watchword. The lasi communication he had from the AgeniGeneral said, “ One of my greatest difficulties in trying to hold the fort« hero is the attacks made against us by New Zealanders. Every damaging article written against the finances of New Zealand is carefully marked and sent over here, and New Zealanders and exNew Zealanders seem to take a sort of joy in running the colony down. There is no colony I know of, outside South Africa, which has to meet nearly so much of this particular form of _ enmity, innuendo and misrepresentation.” Canadians and tho Australians did not everlastingly decry their countries as was being done by New, Zealanders, who thus helped to take away from the colony much of tho glory achieved by its sons in helping to plant the British flag in South Africa. Only a few days ago, when Do Wet had on three occasions broken through British lines, who stopped him? It was .the New Zealanders.- (Cheers). The Bothasberg affair he did not look upon as a disaster, hut as one of the glorious achievements of the campaign. It may be that the work was not finished in South _ Africa. Yet there was to bo no turning till freedom, justice and happiness reigned supreme in that country. When it did, the future historian would say New Zealand played no unimportant part in bringing that result about. Tho Premier next referred to the conference of Premiers to he held in London. He would endeavour to- have granted through our Customs duties a rebate on British goods carried :in British ships to the colony. Then there was the question of increasing the strength of the 'Australian squadron—our first lino of 'defence. He would guarantee the Imperial authorities that New Zealand would subscribe its share thereto on a peculation basis. He would ask that members of learned professions, skilled professions, and surveyors in New Zealand—who had permits from this colony —should be entitled to practise in what would ultimately ho British territory and what was formerly the South African Republic. While ho would bono.jpartx

to having a paid force in tho colony, ho thought a reserve force might be formed under an agreement between the Parliament of New Zealand and the British Government, which would bo ready at a moment’s notice to take the field when required by the Imperial authorities. Concluding, Air ,seddon said lie was only saying good-bye for a tirnoT and ho looked forward to again addressing a representative Dunedin meeting. ~ After tho cheers had died away Air Seddon proposed tho Mayor’s health. A move was a-t one© mado to tlio Agncultural Hall, where a conversazione was hold, and Air Seddon delivered another address.