MR SEDDON IN ENGLAND

Otago Witness, Issue 2524, 30 July 1902, Page 15

MR SEDDON IN ENGLAND

PRESENTATION BY ANGLOCOLONIALS.

A GIFT FOR MLiS SEDDON. LONDON, June 22. Sir Montagu Nekon, on behalf of a

number oi: Anglo-New Zealanders presented the Right Hon. Mr Scddon with a ma^-ive silver centrepiece and Mrs Seddon with a diamond ornament, together worth t'oOO, m recognition of Mr Seddon'- patriotism in promoting the solidarity of the Empire. The subscribers included opponent-- of Mr Seddon's domestic policy, though all were admirers of hi-- Impel ial -prvice-. Mrs Seddon w.i^ prcsint. Mr Seddon replied that the war had proved the virility, energy, and determination of New Zoalauder-. He claimed that New Zealanders recognised the dangerous character of the South African difficulty before the Motherland. He referred to the overwhelming character of British hospitality. He was confident the future would show that the ties of Empire would become closer and closer. He believed good results would follow from the Imrjerial Conference and become

apparent much quicker than many suspected. New Zealand desired to Great Britain a self-contained nation, less de-pendent on foreigners who mu>t allow the British the same liberty of action that they claimed and exercised. He considertd the gigantic American trusts a great danger to Great Britain. If Great Britain were once aroused she would be able to avert the evil consequences. New Zealand was willing to concede preferential relations to the Motherland without exacting a reward, though the Motherland was ftble by means of sub-

-sidies to steamers and bounties in other ways to help the colonies. July 26. Mr Seddon, speaking at the Marine Engineers' Association dinner, said the navy would not be needed if trade and commerce were allowed to collapse. Dwelling upon the preferential trade question, he said he feared the Motherland did not realise the extent of her dependence on the colonies or how much the colonies contributed to her commercial supremacy. He recommended a university for teaching technical subjects, wherein the men of the Motherland and the colonies would receive advanced instruction. This would greatly assist in promoting trade.