THE DEATH OF MR SEDDON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13653, 24 July 1906, Page 6

THE DEATH OF MR SEDDON

GREAT SENSATION IX LONDON. (Fboh Oor Own Corkespoxdext.) LONDON, June 15. It was on Monday' morning, when I was on my way to 30 Pleet street, that. I such denly received a shock. Upon a newspaper contents-bill carried by a. "jandwichina.il" I read in large- black letters the startling words "Death of Mr Seddon!" ft did come as a sharp and sudden shock to think of that, vivid and impressive personality as a mere memory of the past; of that fiery energy, fervid enthusiasm, indomitable' will, and tireless energy nonlying mute and inert. Nor was there, I believe, a. single quondam Now Zealander now resident in the Mother Country, or one of the almost innumerable visitors at present in these islands, upon whom tho same effect was not. produced by these few simple, words, " Death of Mr Scddon."

It is not for mo to obtrude my reminiscences of the ox-Promier—although, as one who had very exceptional opportunities of watching his public career from its inception to its pathetic close, these avo neither nor uninteresting, Bather is it my function to set forth certain matters which are not so well known in the country of Mr Seddon's adoption. One of these is the fact that Mr Scddon could havo had a baronetcy, at tho least, whenever ho chose to claim it. His Majesty the Kintr was deeply improved with tho value of the services which New Zealand, at Mr Seddon'9 instance, had rendered to the Empire during the South African war. and was ■ exceed-in oily anxious when Mr Scddon came Homo for the Coronation to include his name amonir those chosen for tho beslowal of Coronation honours upon their owners. King Edward, in the course of an audience, personally pressed upon Mr Scddon the acceptance of a baronetcy; hut Mr Scddon respectfully submitted to the King that such an honour, while it would bo most deeolv valued by himself and his family, would nevertheless hamper him in the work which ho s*ill had to do. and to which he had "set his hand." Ho explained that inhis view, any honour that, his Sovereign might graciously confer-would bo hotter timed for its bestowal when the recipient should be retiring for repose on the completion of his nclivo career than at a time when he was still an activo worker, when it might have the effect of compromising him in appearance—at- anyrate, with his ".articular party in polities, tho extreme democratic section. His Majesty listened attentively, and at length remarked, with evident reluctance: "It ■ may' he so: no doubt yon arc right: you should know best "—or words to that effect,—adding that at any' future time, if Mr Scddon could see his way to accept tho honour which his Sovereign was eager to confer noon him, that honour would ho at, his beslowal. Tndeed, it was even hinted that a yet higher rank might he- his if lie wished it.

My authority for this statement is Uio late Premier himself, who was sood enough lo relate to me at my request, in the course of a lone; conversation, all that missed._ during his audience of his Sovereign—so far as this could he done without indi«crelion or breach of confidence. It may bo remembered that, at the time I duly related for the benefit of my New Zealand readers as much as I could, without breaking confidence, of what he then'told me, and I did it with his express sanction. -

It was a very curious and striking experience to a. quondam New Zealander to observe how entirely the death of the Now Zealand Premier was the event of that, day in London, especially when one could carry back one's memory a few years and realise how very different would have been the experience had a like event then occurred. To London New Zealand was almost terra incognita before' the Seddon era; but, however much one may ha-ve disagreed with Mr Seddon as a politician or disapproved much of his legislation, no one rti.ii possibly, without, disingenuousness, deny that Mr Seddon did more than anybody else ever has done to make New Zealand known on this side of the world. If it bo merely regarded as advertising, it was advertising most excellent of its kind, most effective in its method, and most valuable in its results. "The man in the street" knows New Zealand by name now, but ho associates the colony exclusively with two memories. O.io of these is Mr Seddon, the other is tho "All Blacks." And- there is a widely prevalent, if not openly uttered, idea that in some unexplained way even the " All Blades " either derived their skill and power from Mr Seddon or owed their unprecedented series of victories to his potent influence. In short, as one newspaper pointedly declares, the people of Britain have in the main eomo to think of New Zealand as " Scdidon's Place."

As might havo been expected, there is a vast outpouring of newspaper comment upon the deceased Premier, his career, administration, and acts; but of these I only send a lew. The Times says: " The news of the sudden death of Sir Scddon has been received by the people of this country and of tho Empiro at largo with very sincere regret, ... No man can achieve success without calling forth abundance of criticism and suffering some detraction. Least of all can he keep his party in power for a loinr term of years without being pictured by his political opponents in very unflattering colours. Mr Soddon, like all strong men, cared very little for these thing?, and probably did noti attach much more importance to the flattering portraits painted by his political friends. He bad strong convictions of his own, founded, it must, bo said, upon a large store of information and of knowledge of men as well as of things. So lonjr as he could give effect to these convictions he cared little what view other people took of his conduct. Though he had his weaknesses like the rest of us; though ho could, and did, like every other politician, great or small, play to the nailery; thouob there are all ' sorts of stories about how ho 'put his foot in it' hero and there—all these things are as nothing in comparison with the mass of solid achievement giving incontrovertible evidence of exceptional qualities of head and heart. He was a big man with a very firm grasp of realities—a man of noble ideals and of generous sentiments,— albeit a man who bore traces of his ancestry and of tho hard conditions of bis life, with which criticism, and especially superfine criticism, might make merry for the delectation of people not fit to tie his slioe-Jatohets. The keynote of Mr Soddon's home policy was hatred of the principle of unlimited competition—tho principle of 'Every man for himself and the devil take the hindmost.' ... It is said' in New Zealand that his legislation is only good for fine weather—that it will do very well so long as tho country is prosperous,—but that in bad times there will be a great revulsion of feeling, which will sweep away meat of hie work. AVe should -be sorry to see New Zealand less prosperous merely in order to put these assertions to the test; but we do . not quite follow the argument. It is the poorest who suffer first and most when times are bad, and we should rather expect, if prosperity ceases in New Zealand, that big landowners will find the tendency of legislation to lie even more 'Socialistic' than Mr Scddon's. But ii is idle to play with names and predictions. New Zealand is admittedly prosperous in spite of, and not because of. Mr Scddon's legislation; and, should that legislation break down, its aims at anyrato are generous," A similar view is taken by the Daily Telegraph. Naturally, Sir Joseph Ward and Mr VT. Pcmber 'Reeves were promptly sought by representatives of the London papers for "interviews" and "impressions" and

" appreciations" of their ex-chicf. Most of their utterance;, however, necessarily consisted of biographical reminiscences which would lie no news to New Zealand readers. Therefore I content myself with a few brief quotations.

Sir Joseph Ward made a feeling reference to tho decease of his chief, adding: "Mr Seddon's removal from the political stage in New Zealand create a void it is almost impossible to fill, for the reason that he was a man of extraordinary parts, and until the last was always full of fire and vigour. Mr Redden has been premier since 1893, and he has gone through four general elections, increasing his majority each time. This is, I believe, a record for any responsible Minister." Will his death make any difference to your party? ho was asked. "I do not think so," replied Sir Joseph. "The Liberal party is very ftrong in the oniony, and I believe its policy will go on the old lines, although it has lost its head. Nothing can displace it at present." The High Commissioner for New Zealand contributes' to the Daily Chronicle an " Appreciation " of his former colleague and loader, in the course of which he remarks that he (Mr Reeves) himself and Sir Joseph Ward arc the only survivors of Mr Seddon's original Cabinet, five other members having died. With .iofcrcn.ee to Mr Seddon's accei--fion to the Premiership. Mr Reeves says: "When Sir Ballahec died unexpectedly and tragically in 1893, Mr -Scddon was sent for, and re-formed the Cabinet, ill his old colleagues serving under him. He was at oucs

called upon to face a severe financial crisis complicated by the bank crisis in Australia', His Ministry faced the situation by guaranteeing and assuming a considerable measure of control over the Bank of New Zealand. Ultimately the hank was reconstructed, and, hacked by the Government, it has gradually regained a high measure of prosperity and financial stability."

In the Daily News, under tho heading "New Zealand's Uncrowned King." Henry Stead writes:—"No colonial statesman or politician of the many I have met gave me so deep an impression of virile, force and iron resolve as Mr Scddon. Tho very figure of the man commanded respect. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a great head set im a massive neck, he certainly looked as if lie could most effectively have thrown rowdies out of jus drinking saloon in the old days— an achievement, by (ho way, of which his political enemies were never tired of remind, ing him. It was, however, rather his keen eyes and his forceful way of putting things that most struck everyone wljo knew him. i was much surprised to find how very well informed ho was upon political and other matters outside their own sphere. To hear Ins frank criticisms of Imperial polities waa indeed refreshing. His comments, if some, times rather caustic, \ver o always much to the point, and showed that,' shrewdness which won him the. fame of being considered the cleverest politician south of the Line.

Hy command of his Majesty the King Lordl Llgm (Colonial Secretary) cabled to the Governor of New Zealand as follows: '• I am commanded by bis Majesty to convey to you the expression of ihe deep regret with which lie has received the intelligence cf the death of the Prime Minister of New Zealand. His Majesty is assured that the loyal and distinguished services which Mr Seddon has rendered during his long tenure of oflice will secure for bis name a permanent olace. among the statesmen who have most, zealously aided in fostering the sentiment of kinship on. which the unity of the Empire depends." Lord Elgin also cabled on behalf of the Imperial Government.;—" His Majesty's Government has received with greatest regret the news of the death of the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Please convey to Mrs Seddon the expression of my deepest, sympathy and to the people of New Zealand our sense of tho loss which they and we all have sustained by the removal of a statesman so distinguished in the history of the colony and the Empire." Two ex-Governors of New Zealand also added their tribute to the memory of tho ex-Premier. Lord Glasgow's was as follows:—"I much regret to hear of tho very sudden death of Mr Seddon, who will bewidely regretted. He has held the highest position the colony could give him for the long period of 13 years owing to his groat talents and his natural ability, as weil as lo his intimate knowledge of the requirements of the colony. He was a devoted Imperialist, loyal to his country, a most capable administrator, mid in privato life a most affectionate husband and father." And Lord Ranfurly said:—"By the death of Mr Seddon the Empire loses one of her strongest men. A strong Imperialist, ho wished not- only lo share Ihe honours of the Motherland, but also for New Zealand lo take her full share in her sorrows and her trials. His death will bo very heavily felt in the House of Representatives, the members of which have only recently been elected. and wham ho would have met for tho first lime this month. His majority was so large that one might almost say thero could he no Opposition. Dcsnite his great weight, ho was until quite lately a most active man, riding Ion" distances, and never seeming to suffer fatijttc when thero was work before him. In the session of Parliament he must havo worked at least 16 hours a day. During tho seven years I spent in New Zealand I got to know him and to appreciate his great Imperial instincts. Reciprocity with the Mother Country was his chief aim, and it was while, returning from a conference on this subiect that' his over-driven constitution at last gave way."