ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4734, 16 August 1902, Page 3 (Supplement)

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

COLONIAL STATESMAN IN" STAFFORDSHIRE. THE PREMIERS AT SANDON HALL. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON. June 27. The tnil-cnd of the British Empire League’s provmciul programme for the Premiers Was carried out last Saturday and Monday. Staffordshire was the lucky county to get first visit from the colonial statesmen. Air and Airs Parlor., Mr and the Alisscs Seddou, Sir John and Latl.t Forrest. Sir Robert Bond (Newfoundland;, tho Hen. F. W. Haultaiu. Premier and Attorney-General, North-west Territories of Canada; the Hon. F. W. Borden, Alinister of Alilitia and Defence. Dominion of Canada, and Airs Borden; the Hon. R. Roblin, Premier, Manitoba; the Duke of Argyll, Lord and Lady Land union, and a company of other distinguished visitors travelled from London to Staffordshire on Saturday and spent the week end at Saudon Hall as the guests of the Earl and Countess of Harrowby. Tho town of the potteries hastened its coronation decorations and the line of the route to Sandon Hall wa.s gay with bunting. At the railway station a large crowd assembled to witness tho civic welcome given to tho guests from over sea.- The Mayor in chain and scarlet robe, his mace-bearer in blue and scarlet, and the ancient town officers, the Mayor’s sergeant and the burgesses’ sergeant, beaded the deputation, which included beside the aldermen and councillors, the borough and county 'magistrates. The Earl of Harrowby and his son. the youthful Viscount Sandon, conducted the party on tho train's arrival to a waiting room gay with flowers and introduced them to the Mayor, who bade them a hearty welcome on behalf of the ancient borough. The products of the industries of Staffordshire (said tho Mayor) were well known, not only throughout the Empire but throughout the world. They welcomed Ifie representatives of tho colonies all the more heartily because they recognised that the closer the relations between them and the Atother Country the greater the advantages to every member of the Empira. SPEECHES TROAI PREMIERS.

Air Barton, in reply, said that they were aware of the great importance of tho trading industries of that part of the kingdom, which they wished every prosperity. They we.ro visiting England for a great purpose and on a great occasion, and bo hoped that the result; of their visit would bo that they would take back words and facts which would help them to still further increase the unity with which thev were bound together. So far as Australia was concerned—and his friend Mr Seddon would back him up as regarded New Zealand—England need have no doubt of the sincerity of the, attachment which prompted them to continue, as they hoped to continue for over, the. pride of a glorious Empire.

Air Seddon followed by expressing a hope that the country's industries would soon be even belter known in the colonies and by making a few‘remarks of the “ties that bind” nature. He believed that the Empire, tried by adversity, was stronger than ever before, and that Great Biitaiu might in the future rely absolutely upon the people in the colonies. In response to calls for Mr Borden, the Canadian Defence Minister, reminded the Englishmen assembled that now that the war was over it would be for Great; Britain and every -park of the Empire to turn attention more closely than ever before to the development of industries and to maintain the first place as greatest manufacturing country in the world. DEPARTURE OF THE PARTY.

The party chon cnterced the carriages and drove away amidst the cheers of the populace, escorted by a detachment of Staffordshire Yeomanry. 3u the first carriage were Lord Harrowby. Viscount Han(l on, the Duke of Argyll, Mr Barton, and Mr. Seddon. After the depressing-drip-drip of the London rain the change to the bright sunshine and the drive along the five miles of pretty rural roads were .much appreciated. At a new entrance to the park, close to the Dog and Doublet Inn, tbe name of which much amused the colonials, the tenantry and school-cuiliren assembled and greeted the guests with au appropriate hymn and the National Anthem. After lunch a garden party was given to which about 150 guests were invited, including the members of the North Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, the Movers of adjacent boroughs, and the' rural clergy. The band of the Shropshire and Staffordshire Artillery played in front of the hall during the afternoon and evening, and from the well-kept grounds the visitors obtained views of the loveliest of English landscape. Looking north from the front terrace the eye ranges along part of the picturesque Trent Valley and over miles of richly wooded hills and slopes. To the south. Tixall. Wolscley, Shughorough, Ingestrc, 'amongst the finest in the country, and ruined Chartley, famous for its unique herd of cattle, can bo picked out of a long stretch of beautifully-wooded • country reaching up to the heights of Cannock Chase. Sandon Hall itself is GO years old. and was built from designs partly drawn by the Earl of Harrowby, who was" the first chairman of the Staffordshire County Council. The general lines belong to the Tudor period of architecture hut are,modified by Grecian influence. Octagonal turrets 'with gilded, vanes and tapering chimneys break the roof line, and give lightness and grace to the handsome pile. The hall possesses many relics of a bygone age, and occupies a site which has many historic associations. From the day when Wulfsphore, one of the Kings of Mercia, slew his two sons in the district because they had embraced Christianity; from the first Bishop of Lichfield. Sandon has been intimately associated’ with STIRRING EVENTS. At the top of the grand staircase are the pistols with which Pitt fought his bloodless duel with George Tierney, when the first Lord Harrowby acted’ as Pitt’s second. There is a fine portrait of Pitt, by Hoppncr. and a memorial column in Uie grounds erected by Lord Harrowby; "Mourning as a friend for a friend; as a citizen for the fatber of his country.” Another portrait, from a photograph taken after death, is that of Spencer Percival. assassinated in the House of Commons. A small Gothic temple in the grounds commemorates the tragedy with the following inscription <iu Latin): "No disgraceful death can befall the brave man; no ’premature death the man who had reached the highest honours of the State; no unhappy death can befall the wise man.” The bed is preserved with its rich silk’ hangings in which Charles X., of France, slept when on a visit here. Warren' Hasting’s bed and his vyriting-tablc. are among the treasures of-Sandon. One of the vestibules is given up to articles associated with the struggle of Poland, in which a former Earl of Harrowby gave the Poles whole-hearted support." THE VISIT TO STOKE. On Monday the colonial party tool: train to Stoke, which received them with sunshine. lavish decorations, cheers and a civic welcome. On arrival the Mayor bade them welcome to the.pottcries, and hoped they would enjoy their visits to the china and catbcnware manufactories. Messrs Barton, Seddon. Borden, and Sir R. Bond responded in the usual patriotic vein. Mr Seddon expressed his conviction that the English workman was not going back. For generations, he said, (he people of the potteries had maintained the premier position, and ho did not, believe they had lost any cf their art and skill. The only question for the Premiers to consider for the interests of all was to see how much closer they could come together, and. if possible, to confine their trade to their own kindred. After speechfying came sightseeing. The visitors were divided into three parties and driven to various parts of the district. No. I Party inspected the works and showrooms of Mintons. Copeland and Sons, and the tile works of Minstons, Hollins and Co., of Stoke-on-Trent; No. 2, the works of T. and J. Meakin, Limited, and the showrooms of Brown-Westhead. Moore and Co., of Hanley; No. 3, the works of Johnson Bros., Hanley, and the

: TiOwi on:v.> and studios cf Doulton and Co., Bnrslein. Alter Inspociing so many earthen bowls it was high time to see whether they would ‘‘held (he juice of grape.” Tho visitors reassembled at the. North Stafford Hotel to be entertained at luncheon bv the. Chamber of Commerce, whose preGdent. Air J. S. Goddard, occupied (lie chair. Among those present wove Sir A. S. Haslaui, M.P.. and many other big “pots.” The chairman proposed Hie toast of tho ‘‘Colonial Premiers,” desiring the latter to fake back In the colonies the message that tire English hoped their cousins across the sea would continue to manifest their predilections for the manuf'nctures cf their cousins in the Old Country. ( "A CANNY MAN." ' Air Barton, Mr Seddon. and Sir Robert Bond replied at some length. Air Barton was as canny as usual. Without anticipating discussions he would say that there were a vast number in the selfgoverning colonies who regarded fiscal policies as nothing but. policies, and policies. except so far ns they were the necessary results of moral principles, wore regarded in the main as expedients. As regarded future operations of inter-imperial trade tho institution of the Australian Commonwealth was the only instance in history in which a whole continent had been placed under one government. That continent occupied moro than a quarter of tho area of the British Empire. Tt offered a field ill imitablo not only for internal production but for trade in those articles which would be internally produced. Greater knowledge would lend to a larger outflow' of population from this country to tho new countries, and the greater that outflow the greater tho increase of tho home trade.

Mr Seddon explained that Uie colonial statesmen had como over not to place tho parties in the Alother Country antagonistic to each other, but to bind together. They wished to give their trade to thoir kindred whoso protection and power they knew they would continue to enjoy. They were offering a pure gift. \Vh v should not the trade of the Mother ( itry be helped by following in tho fo steps of foreign nations and subsi' ing th* steamers that carried their g s. Thor# fva uI cl be no interference there with tho fiscal relationship. After seeing tho works and conditions under which tho workers were operating ho should go back to New Zealand and say they had no need to fear for tho Staffordshire potteries. Sir Robert Bond contributed some purple passages for Newfoundland, and Mr It. P. Roblin advertised “Canada, tho granary of the Empire.” Canada hod corn for the loyal and was loyal to tho core, sums up his speech. It had boon intended to toast “Our other Colonial Visitors,” but the flow of soul after tho feast of reason had been so strong that Lord Harrowby and his guests had to boat a. hasty retreat to catch tho 3 p.xn. special train to . London. A DAY OP BEST. Tho Sunday at Sandon. was a real day of rest. In tho morning the colonial party went to Sandon church where, tho Bishop of Lichfield preached. In tho afternoon they strolled about the grounds, and in the evening the servants sang hymns and songs of welcome. Alias May Seddou accompanied tho Premier in the party that visited the potteries lost Monday, Miss Seddou joining the Australian Premier’s company. Tho reception given them by the workpeople was very hearty. At one place a workman struck a note on a tuning fork and he and his fellows trolled out tho National Anthem; in nearly all the rooms the girls clapped lustily. Mr Seddon asked many questions about the wages and conditions of employment, and Aliss May put similar queries to tho girls. What struck them most forcibly was the smallness of the boys at work on the one hand, and the healthiness, good physical development and good looks of tho girls on the 'other. Air Seddou cracked jokes with the workmen, and landing one little undersized chap was 16 told him to eat as much New Zealand mutton as ho could get as that would make him grow. The conditions and surroundings of labour in the workshops Air Seddon pronounced as good ns prevailed in the colony, whore moro stringent factory , laws were in force.