THE PREMIER AND SIR J.G. WARD.

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 4

THE PREMIER AND SIR J. G. WARD.

AN ALLEGED DISAGREEMENT.

The Southland Times ie persuaded that the relations between Mr Seadon and Sir Joseph Ward are not harmonious. Our contemporary, referring to the speeches of the two Ministers at Omakau, says : " These open contradictions on the public platform point to a disagreement so far advanced that neither the Premie* nor the Minister of Railways deems it worth while to attempt to disguise it. At the same gathering- the Premier treated Sir Joseph Ward with most noticeable discourtesy. He knew that Sir Joseph Ward intended to return to Dunedin by the afternoon train leaving Omakau at 2.30 o'clock, and that before leaving he had to address the gathering, and yet he continued to speak until after 2.15. Mr Seddon could not urge the excuse that he had a message of importance to deliver, for his whole speech was a flagrant compound of banality and ineptitude, generously flavoured with solecisms. In fact, the Premier on the platform at Omakau strongly suggested Polonius when the impatient Hamlet sketched him in a few rapid strokes as " a tedious old fool." and that he should have prolonged his remarks to the disadvantage of Sir Joseph Ward was an act of discourtesy that would l.ot have been committed between friends. Further, although Sir Joseph Ward travelled from. Dunedin in a Ministerial car, a second and much more sumptuous carriage was attached for the Premier's use, and the two Ministers travelled apart. Again, while the Premier remained at Omakau for the banquet, Sir Joseph Ward returned to Dunedin on the score of public business. These things strengthen the reports spread by industrious rumour that the Premier' and the Minister of Railways do not ' pull together,' and so far as we have been able to observs the Premier is responsible for

the rupture. At all events, he seems to make it his business wherever he goes to bring himself into special prominence and to keep his colleague in the background, as if he feared that with equal opportunities he would appear at a disadvantage in comparison with Sir Joseph Ward. This ia a matter of importance in view of future changes in the Cabinet. For our part, we are quite satisfied that Mr Seddon will noc retire from active politics, even to become High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, unless ill-health compels the step. He will cling to the Premiership if for no other reason than to keep Sir Joseph Ward out of office. In the same way he will, so long as he is able, take the principal business of the colony into his own hands so as to diminish the chances of Sir Joseph Ward becoming a figure of equal importance with himself. The Premier's nature is such that he can brook no rival, and it is to the working of this trait of selfishness and egotism that we ascribe the discord that quite evidently exists between himself and his next in command."

We received the following telegram on Wednesday evening, addressed to theeditor, from the Right Hon. the Premier and thr Hon. Sir J. G. Ward, which we publish with pleasure: — "Seeing that you were present at the opening- of the Otago Central railway to Omakau with my worthy colleague and myself, like ourselves you would be surprised at what sppeared in the Southland Times, and which was reproduced in your columns to-day, to the effect that there w%s a disagreement between Sir Joseph Ward and myself. Given a few hours' start, it is difficult' to overtake a statement, however incorrect. To remove at the earliest possible moment any false impression caused by the publication of the matter complained of, will you kindly give, on our> behalf, a most emphatio denial to the statement that there was any discourtesy, disagreement, or contradiction? further, we desire you to inform your readers that perfect harmony prevails, and that our relationship is, as ever, of the most friendly and cordial character, and we trust that, with us, the public will treat with profound contempt the baseless assertions made.— R. J. Seddon, J. G. Ward, Wei-, lington, 7th December, 1904."