MR SEDDON AND THE AUSTRIANS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8408, 6 January 1899, Page 2

MR SEDDON AND THE AUSTRIANS.

» WHAT WILL MR CHAMBERLAIN SAY? MR SEDDON MAY EXPECT A SNUB. THE QUESTION INTERNATIONAL, i AND NOT LOCAL. (Per Press Association.) Auckland, to-day. Information has been received that over forty Austrians will arrive from Sydney on Monday week. It is understood from communications from Wellington that the Premier will maintain the attitude adopted with regard to the Austrians who came by the Waihora, namely, that they must each show means of maintenance for thirteen months.

Electric Telegraph-Copyright— United Press Association, Sydney, Jan. 5. In connection with the New Zealand Premier's actiou with regard to the Austrians, important developments are expected in a day or so. (Received January 6, 9.45 a.m.) Jan. G.— The Daily Telegraph, in a leading article, states that it is nob surprising to learn that the Austrian Consul in Now Zealand lias entered an official protest against the virtual prohibition of immigration from his country. For peaceable, well-conducted white men on the mere grounds of nationality to be refused admittance to British territory is a novelty New Zealand has the credit or discredit of having introduced. After referring to the hardships indicted on the Austrians and their good qualities as colonists, the Telegraph goes on to state : " The question of invidiously excluding them from British territory is one which every part of the Empire' is concerned in, and in the present position of European affairs it is hardly likely that the Imperial Government will he a party to such a proceeding. If Austrians are to be excluded, Great Britain must do it. Whether the action of the New Zealand authorities is in accord with the law of that particular colony or not is a question of little or no importance. It is a matter beyond the reach of local legislation, as affecting the law between the Governments of Austria and England. The law of New Zealand does not count. If the Imperial Government lias been induced to consent to a law ostensibly for regulating the gumdiggings, hut really designed to exclude Austrians from British territory, it has been misled, and' cannot be expected to raise a serious international question simply on that account." POSITION OF SHIPPING COMPANIES (Electric Telegraph-Copyricht— United Press Association.) (Received Jan. 6, 2.30 p.m.) Sydney, Jan. 6. The Orient Company and North German Lloyds, after consulting their solicitors, have jointly informed the Union Company that they must throw the onus upon therm of refusing to carry Austrians. They are advised that the Union Company as common carriers can only refuse to carry these passengers at their peril.