Untitled

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 11687, 21 February 1902, Page 2

Notwithstanding the favourable verdict of the country in regard to the Premier's services in eonneci.cn with the war in South Africa, the proposal to present him with a, purse of sovereigns is very far from meeting with gcneial approval. The centre where the movement has prospered most is, perhaps, Christcluireh, though there are a good many dissentients even there. Auckland is also favourab.e, if we may judge by the newspaper reports. Dunedin is clearly against the proposal; and so. ove think, is Wellington, though there*-5i comparatively small favourable minority. v There appears to be a fairly general opinion that the Premier is entitled to an address of recognition and thanks ; and if the movement had gone no further than that it would undoubtedly have been an unqualified success. The Opposition, as well as the supporters of the Government, give the Premier credit for what lie has done in the cause of the Empire, and are quite williu? to publicly acknowledge the debt, colonial party politics being put on one side altogether. But a very large majority of the Opposition are averse to the proposed cash payment, and many of the Premier's friends are of the same way of thinking. In Dunedin they intend to banquet the Pre-

proposed at a meeting of the committee to I take part in the " National Purse movement, the idea was scouted. One of tlie most energetic of the promoters of the banquet said that the presentation of a purse of sovereigns " would be lowering the dignity of tie occasion." A further suggestion that a purse should be given to Mrs Seddon was coldly received, and the matter was allowed to drop. As to the feeling in Wellington, we can pretty well judge of it from what took place at a public meeting held on Tuesday night "for the purpose of taking steps in Wellington to recognise suitably the efforts . of the Right Honourable the Premier on . behalf of the Empire." There were only sixty or seventy people present. The Mayor, who had convened the meeting 'on the invitation of a deputation, occupied the chair. There was no feeling adverse to the presentation of an address, but it was evident that many disapproved of the purse of sovereigns. The Bishop of Wellington sent a subscription, but, in the letter which accompanied his cheque, he said that "though glad to have the opportunity of showing his sense of what the Premier had accomplished for the nation, he felt sorry that the recognition was to take the form of a monetary gift." Several of those present spoke to the same effect. Mr F. O. B. Loughnan thought that the money had better be devoted to the purchase of an object of beauty and which would always be in evidence. The meeting first passed the following resolution: —"That the eminently patriotic and statesmanlike services rendered by the Premier on behalf of New Zealand to the Empire in the late season of anxiety and stress call for due and cardial recognition by the people of New Zealand." That resolution was carried unanimously, and subsequently the following was moved : "That the people of this district tender the Premier fitting recognition of his services in the cause of the Empire, such recognition to take the form of (1) a testimonial and (2) a purse of sovereigns. The mover said, amongst other things, that he could not understand the objection to a gift of money. " They had," he said, "precedents in the gifts made by the British people to Mr Chamberlain, Lord Roberts, and to others." Mr Chamberlain never received a purse of sovereigns for his services as a Minister of the Crown, and the grant to Lord Roberts was entirely outside the arena of politics. Following a precedent which is hundreds of years old, Parliament made a money grant to the great soldier on the occasion of his being raised to the peerage, and to enable him to support the dignity. There is no analogy between the case of Lorjl Roberts and the" case of Mr Seddon. In the " Evening Post's " report of the meeting it- is Dot stated that the second resolution was carried, but it obviously was, because tHe Mayor, in putting it to the meeting, said: —"He understood that the question of the form which the testimonial should take was to be left in the hands of .the committee. The resolution mentioned both a testimonial and a purse of sovereigns. It might be either or both —that the committee would decide." We take it, however; that the effort will be made to raise the cash ; and as the Premier has in no way signified his dissent, we suppose that he approves of the movement and will accept this extraordinary and ill-judged payment for his services. If so, he will establish a very bad precedent, and will lower himself in the estimation of a large part of the community.