THE The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, JAN. 28th, 1904. MR SEDDON ON THE WEST COAST.

Southland Times, Issue 19262, 28 January 1904, Page 2

THE The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luc eo Non Uro. THURSDAY, JAN. 28th, 1904. MR SEDDON ON THE WEST COAST.

When the Right Hon. the Premier visited the West Coast recently, ho was rat her a^'ontod by the report sent over from Greymouth by the ccvrespondojit of the Chxisttlmrch Press. He .seemed to think that a,n attenipl had been made to belittle the importance of the gatherings that took place, and the heartiness of the reception he received. Comparing its roport, howuver, with that furnished by the West Coast corres^ correspondent of the Christchurch terial organ, the Press is at a loS9 to understand what was the cause oi the Premier's displeasure. The Press's correspondent stated that Mr Seddon was well received, a»d feted all round. He went on to add with reference to the banquet at Greymouth, that about 70 persons attended, the Civil Service being very largely represented, and that large numbern of the business people absented themselves from the gathering. It \v a s to this description of the (Jrevmouth banquet that the Premier objected, and he called upon the Mayor ol Uroymouth and the Chairman of the County Council to testify that tho badiquet was the most social, the most representative and the most successful ever held in Oreymouth. One of these witnesses however, was precise enough in his "evidence" to use figures, and he agreed with the correspondent of the Press that the number in attendance was 70, of whom seven were Civil Servants, statements which showed that the Premier's objection to the telegraph report was not of ;l very substantial nature. Then, as to tlie statement thai, a largo number of the business people absented themselves from the gathering, the County chairman, while he could not deny the fact, explained it away by saying that they could not get in, which leads one to vogret that they were excluded from so delectable an entertainment and to express the hope that when tho Premier visit.s the Coast again a larger hall will ,be engaged. But the cream of the incident is that the report of the opposition correspondent was as "mild as milk" in. comparison with that ot the reporter who r/epreseuted the Lyttelton Times. The correspondent o< the Ministerial journ>ajl declared that in the Grey electorate Mr Seddon's | popularity had suffered a good deal lately, there being a feeling that the district is made to suffer in many ways througfli hiy hostility to Mr Guinness. At tho banquet Mr Seddon denied a statement made by both Greymouth papers that he was hostile to the district, but Mr Guinness described the Premier's conduct in regard to tho Harbour Board's appointments a- s a, slight on the diatrict. Mr Guinness accused the Government of breaking its pledge in regard ito the erection of a now Postt Office, and of making ho effort to go on with the Midland Railway at the West. Coast end. This Ca»did correspondent added that the 'banquet was very cordial to Mr Seddon from o personal point of view, but "politically he undoubtedly had a bit of a set-back." It is probably this report, rather than that which appeared in the Press, thai made Mr Seddon angry, and notwithstanding that he invoked the assistance; of the Mayor of Greymouth and the Chairman of the Count 3' Council to vindicate the dignity o f the banquet in the eyes of the country, we are disposed to conclude from the reports of both these correspondents that it was rather a hollow affair, and not altogether so splendid a tribute to his powers a s Mr Seddon would fain have us believe. As a matter of fact these political banquets are, in nine eases out of ten, the hollowest shams, at which there is more ijiisincere speaking, more nauseating and sei> vile flattery a,nd a more open display of the most contompti'ble hum a ,n frailties and weaknesses than can be seen in any other assembly of men. If the Premier coimes to Invercargill, to the banquet promoted by the Libai'al and Labour Association, we have no hesitation in sayiflg that that gathering will deserve nothing but the scorn of tho town, from which a** a whole Mr Seddon has received not a semblance of an rnvitation. The Liberal and Labour Association is not as yet a boidy o/ any 9ocial or political importance, a.nd it in no sense represents even the supporters of the Government in this tiown. However, Mr Seddon seems willing to accept an infvitation to a banquet at any time and from any source, but we shall be very much surprised il a candid report of the Inirercargill gathering! proves any more acceptable to tho Right Hon. gentlenan than that of the Greynio'uth janquiet.

— . . a Mr J. A. Sheriff, of Invercurgill, hns 1« I&ineil a partial pass as Associate of the P 1 nstitute of Accountants of N.Z. ai