THE SEDDON PURSE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 14

THE SEDDON PURSE.

DECLINED BY THE PREMIER.

(FBOII OUK OWN COKHE3POXDEXT.) , WELLINGTON, . July 23. There was a good deal of talk in, the- loTtbies to-night about Mr Seddon's refusal to accept the national purse of sovereigns recently subscribed for him in New Zealand. Mr Seddon's attitude in regard to the purs© i 9 contained in a recent issue of the London Times just to hand. The paragraph states • that "Mr Seddon requests Keuter's Agencyto state that before his departure from New Zealand a report, which he find? has also gained currency on this side, was circulated to the effect that he had been presented with a sum of money in recognition of his services to the Empire. This report is unfounded. The presentation which actually took place was that of an illuminated address, signed by some 20,000 New Zealanders. As a matter of fact, there was a movement in the colony for presenting the Premier with a sum of money, but at his request it was not proceeded with." To-night's Post, referring to the attitude taken up by Mr Seddon, says: "A large sum — over £2000 — was collected, and now that the movement has been publicly and officially repudiated by Mr Seddon the question is, What are the trustees of the fund to do with the- money? Surely the should roturn it to the donors, so that they mayhave the opportunity of presenting it to some more worthy national purpose, such a-, the veterans' memorial, in which his Kxcellency the ' Governor and Sir J. G. Ward (the Acting-Premier) are so deeply interested. The various committees for raising the purse might do well to give the list of .-üb.-crihers to the canvassors for the memorial in order that the latter may arrange with the subscribers a transfer of the <>uiii3. Now that Mr Seddon does not want the purse, it would be a. mistake, and worse* than a mistake, to keep tlie money hoarded up. We need not say how sincerely we congratulate Mr Seddon on his refusal to> accept tho money, but we must regret, for his own sake, that he did not definitely refuse until he reached the Old Country, and found his roimtation suffering from his alleged connection with eut-h a- movement."