THE COLONIST. Published Daily Morning Nelson, Thursday, Feb. 15, 1906. PARLIAMENT AND THE EMPIRE.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11554, 15 February 1906, Page 2

THE COLONIST. Published Daily Morning Nelson, Thursday, Feb. 15, 1906. PARLIAMENT AND THE EMPIRE.

At the recent banquet to the Post-master-General, Mr Skerrett, in proposing the toast of the Parliament of New Zealand, spoke with force. • It was true, ho remarked, that it was not possible to make men wealthy or wise by Act of Parliament, but they could be made worse and more undesirable citizens by bad legislation. No country and no Legislature could by any possibility divest itself of its past; and the Parliament of tbis country had a noble history, and a splendid record in the servipes rendered by such men as ; Sir f; George Grey, Sir Harry Atkinson, Sir John McKenzie, and John Ballance. But the services rendered byj the . present Premier were, ■he thought, worthy of the most hearty approval. Mr Seddon, i aided by his distinguished colleagues, had done many things which would be more greatly appreciated in the future than perhaps they were now. The Parliament had set its' plough in the field, and had carried its furow through fairly and truly. He felt sure the time was > fast approaching when the people of ' New Zealand, at all events, would see and understand that no really ; honest and good cause could be : helped by personal abuse or vilification, and that here there was no attraction for men who breathed bitterness, calumny, or envy. Parliament in this country was the crea- ' tion of tbo people. If the people wero corrupt it would of necessity be ] a reflex of their characteristics. But i he believed the people desired to ' breed a race in this beautiful land that would love it as a child loved . its mother— a race, true to itself and < to- the best traditions of human ; history. ( In his response 'the Premier .

h'jv,v.i that bo is actuated by lo(t.. spi rations. He alluded* to the j liversity of opinions held by tho.se. J v iresent, and wlio had shown that Sir 5 "oseph \Vn,rd represented all shades <> if publio opinion in Now Zealand. Ie proceeded to say :— ■' • That fact _ vould st J rent,thcn him to carry out t nany of the reforms which would be < if benefit to tho people of this ] Uolony." Ho claimed that the Par- . .iament of New Zealand was the first ! Parliament in the world, because ' what it had done, and what it was 3oin,£f, was being copied and emulated in other countries, and what this Parliament had done and the others were doing was in the interests of humanity. "It was," 1 he said. " the dutyofJParli*'" ? conserve the rights"^* .jfillt-!'' J protect the '* •* «ste jpMgra.a'ndj but-'* * *i4wrtV?& f 6f the people ;; , «&e>xft ftfo, lie thought it was the; f *rt"t *i& Parliament, 'tb pto^ote the solidarity of *th© feftfci're. They did not ivairt h- New Zealand, a ybkiifc Australia, or a. young (Canada. They wanted a united Empire. They did not want the Empire, which had co.st their raeej so much to build uj>, diMntegtA'ted; —that the work of tho&a who had! gone before s«feou4d go Tor naught, i No; that work should be intensified 1 — glorified ." Ife MU<.^. xo the suggestion tivfc'fc ft "substantial reduction should be riiade in the B'riti'Sb! naval estimates, and "said it appeared; to him that the "strength of VhV. 'navy: should lie infe'r^ed rather than: diminished, lie safa ho was satisfied i that had the conference between the Prime Ministers of the s9lf-govfirh'-' ing colonies been hold it would have strongly urged upon the Imperial Government the necessity of insreaa* ing our naval Strength, If moro assistance tfls required ho believed .Vflß people oi. New Zeaalnd would I cheerfully contribute towards the strengthening of the navy. He concluded his speeoh by S&yirig: — No .doubt Pari.&nv&ni. could not pass law* that would make a man either I moral or wealthy : but Parliament could see that equal opportunities were given to every mati, that the youth of the eoufltfy \JH\£ 'edilcail.i'Onally equipped tot the battles of life, and tbAtj the old wore relieved from ? tire cares an A* trouble's '6^ want", . . . i^he look forward wl'th 'ii'vhvy Confidence to those who were entrusted with legislative repsonsibility doing their best for the good of New Zealand, and for the solidarity ofthe Empire to which they all belonged. " In a sense, of course, Mr Skerrett was absolutely co*rreet in saying that you fcanho't mhke men wealthy pr wise by a6't of -Parliament, but you can help them to acquire for them ! selves both wisdom and wealth, and it may well be that in years to come tho important work that has been dono by the present Government in connection with education will bo acknowledged as its greatest achievement. The improved syllabus for the primary schools, which is calculated to encourage children to observe, and think for themselvevS : the facilities giyen for children to pass from the primary to the secondary schools without direct cost to their parents, save for books; the opportunities that are given for many to pass on to the university; and the establishment of technical schools are all designed for the cultivation of knowledge, which, properly applied, should lead to wisdom and to wealth. With equal opportunities given to all in this direction, aud with the removal of the carking worries attendant upon absolute want in old age, a brighter future has been opened out, and if this is taken advantage of, as wo fully believe it will bo, conditions must continue to improve. That mistakes will bo made, however, goes without saying. Mr Seddon is quite right in placing the unitod Empire before a part, even if that part be our own home, I because without mutual protection, i security, and even freedom, might ! vanish, while in respect to material welfare we cannot forget that we are dependent largely on the Mother Oountry, of which all are justly proud. As regards the navy, however, 'the recent treaty with Japan has I paved the** way for some" reduction in expenditure, while there are indications that rearrangements are adding to efficiency. Besides that, it is hoped that lesaaned expenditure for a time may induce other nations to curtail their naval programmes, and if it does not they will seriously tax .their resources, and to an extent that'in the long run may prove beneficial. The , expression of opinionjby the Premier is calculated to do good, as showing the interest taken in Imperial matters in the Colony, but there does riot appear to be any immediate i cause for anxiety, concerning the ! navy.