The N.Z. Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1904. PREMIER AND PEOPLE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 5310, 23 June 1904, Page 4

The N.Z. Times

(PUBLISHED DAILY). THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 1904. PREMIER AND PEOPLE.

vith wmen ib iiicoaroEATED ths “ wa^UHOToa WDMPENDEXT.*' EUTiJiLIIUKD I^l3.

The complimentary banquet tendered to Hr Seddon last night, on the occasion of tho fifty-ninth anniversary of his birth, was, in more ways than one, a notable event. It was, first of all, a striking demonstration of tho high place occupied by the Premier in the esteem and affections of the people of this country. In no sense was it a party celebration. . It was a representative gathering, enfbracing men of widely diverse political opinions, including visitors from all over the colony, bound together by the common tie of attachment to, and admiration for, tho man —for tho commanding human personality—rather than for the great and successful political leader. No doubt the fact that Mr Seddon has ' lately emerged from a critical illness did something to intensify the feeling and add to the size and enthusiasm of the gathering. Among the sweet uses of adversity, ill-health, or other affliction, none is more precious than the drawing out of sympathy, the making of new friends and the closer cementing of the old, and this gracious experience has in full degree fallen to the lot of Mr Seddon. Tho huge bundle of letters and telegrams conveying congratulations and good wishes from all parts of Now Zealand aud beyond it were so manyadditional evidences of tho powerful hold ho has obtained of the hearts of tho people with whom aud for whom ho has laboured so- long and arduously. Proof that the feeling is reciprocal was amply provided in tho earnest and sincere utterances in which Air Seddon expressed his gratitude to all, and gave renewed assurance of his devotion to tho interests of New Zealand and its inhabitants. His latest humanitarian crusade, to which ho made brief hut interesting reference —his desire to preserve infant life and to provide better nursing for' the sick poor—is but part of tho expression of his zeal for the welfare of tho people and his desire to make New Zealand in every fespect at once tho paragon and envy of other countries.

Another feature of the meeting that is worthy of remark was the good speechmaking that it evoked. The chairman’s eulogy of the guest of tn© evening was delivered with all the force and point and oratorical effect for which Air Kennedy Macdonald is famed. The references to the trials that the wives of public men have to undergo, and especially to the good deeds and helpful actions of Airs Seddon, were excellent in taste and feeling. Air Alacdonald used a flattering phrase in describing the Premier as “an Imperial statesman of the first rank,” but Air Seddon justified the description by the Imperialistic note he sounded with true and resonant ring in his references to New Zealand in her relations to the Mother Country, to tho New Hebrides and Samoa. With one remark of Air Alacdonald, however, we are scarcely in sympathy, viz., that in which ho suggested that the time had arrived when a anau of Air Seddon’s distinguished ability and services should he called to some wider sphere of Imperial usefulness. No one would begrudge the Premier any honour, title or position that the British Sovereign or nation may think fit to confer upon him; but we believe we express the sentiments of the people of New Zealand when we say that their mostardent wish is that he may continue to serve them for many more years to come, as exponent of their political and social ideas and aspirations and as leader of the Ministry and Parliament. If we may judge from Air Soddon's own statements, he is disposed to recognise as his highest reward the continued confidence, loro and esteem of the people of this country, and to find his greatest gratification in serving them in the future as he has done in tire past. No man. outside of Great Britain, has do-

served Imperial recognition of his services in a higher degree, but if that recognition entailed his departure from lho colony it would be a source of regret. High as was the standard of excellence maintained by the various speak-, era, it is undoubted that Mr Seddon’s reply to the toast of his health was the best speech of the evening. It was by far tho greatest effort of the kind that ho Ims yet made, and it was so mainly because it was an unaffected utterance, pregnant with lino feeling and breathing tho spirit of natural eloquence. In tho personal passages it vibrated with genuine emotion: in thoso touching upon social reform it was instinct with humanitarian enthusiasm ; and jit thoso dealing with matters of national concern it expressed in modest yet eloquent language those sentiments of Imperialistic patriotism which lie has done so much to foster in Xew Zealand, and which have—backed up a.s they have been by actions—given this colony a renown that belongs to no other. Tho most significant feature of tho gathering was the proof it gave of tho Premier’s restoration to good health, ds ho hnlf-jocularly put it, the function was a sort of trial trip, to test whether ho was fit to take his placo in Xhirliamcnt as head of tho Government; and after the demonstration ho gave of clear thinking and vigorous ,speaking, all dubioty on that score must bo at an cud. Premier and people are alike to bo congratulated upon this; and no doubt, as Sir Joseph Ward gracefully phrased it. Parliament will join in the chorus of rejoicing and felicitation.