MASTERS OF EMPIRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6090, 29 January 1898, Page 1

MASTERS OF EMPIRE.

SOME NEW ZEALAND PUBLIC MEN. The following is an extract from an article by 11.I 1 . A. M'Kenzie in the current issue of the Windsor Magazine: — The Englishman, accustomed to more vividly accentuated social conditions, is sometimes apt to despise the colonial parliamentarians because of their easy ways, and to mentally estimate our colonial Cabinet cousins as about on an equal footing with our provincial mayors and aldermen. There could not be a great mistake. These Ministries of the south are the rulers of great and growing nations; they have not, it is true, to face the complex problems of European foreign relations ; but in internal administration their work is as momentous and as responsible as that of the over-lords of Downing Street. They are the pioneers of AngloSaxon politics, and are boldly conducting experiments in legislation from which the whole world is benefiting. Question after question that the English Parliament has shrunk back from, not daring to deal with, these colonial administrators have TACKLED AND SOLVED. The problems of the unemployed, the enfranchisement of women, the solution of the liquor question, the prevention of strikes — to name only a few out of the many topics of the day — our assembly at Westminster has timidly put on one side. The Colonial Legislatures, more daring, have taken steps which may in the future teach us how we can deal witli them. Of all the Australasian colonies, the most interesting in many ways is . New Zealand. Politically, the jewel of the Southern Pacific represents what England may be in sixty years' time. It is hard to realise that, less than sixty years ago, the Southern Island was nearly being taken by the French as ,a convict settlement, and was 1 only saved by the arrival, a few days earlier, of an English captain, who hoisted the Union Jack. For some time it seemed likely that New Zealand would prove the aristocratic colony. The people who went there were, on the whole, possessed of more means ard of higher education than the usual run of emigrants. Large numbers of Scotch farmers threw up their old holdings and took up land in the - Northern Island, and even to-day there are, I. believe, more M'Kenzies in New Zealand than in Scotland itself. New Zealand is rapidly becoming the earthly paradise of the English race; where the humblest toiler has free access to those joys of life here mostly confined to tho leisured classes; where women are given political rights; and where the most dread disease of England, consumption, is almost overcome, except among natives and imported invalids. Such is New Zealand ; and the only wonder to me is that .; . , , ...^ MULTITUDES OP THE TOIL-WORN SLAVES. of our London workshops and factories do not sell the coats off their backs to get enough to make their way to this workers' elysium. This is not the place to describe the very striking laws which have helped in the making of New Zealand. A concrete instance will best show their result. Writing about three years ago, the Hon W. Pember Reeves, then Minister of Labour, said: — "While I write these words, the fan and long gloves of our general servant are lying on the kitchen dresser. She is an excellent servant, and the dresser is a very clean one. She is going out to-night, in full evening costume, to the W Boating Club ball. This club is composed chiefly of young working men. Her invitation comes through the captain, a well-known barrister, the secretary and treasurer, who will introduce her to plenty of partners — all in swallow-tail coats ! I anticipate that her programme will be filled at up once. She will meet there, and may dance in the same set with the daughters of the Premier of New Zealand and other notable personages." In the recent history of New Zealand four men have stood prominently out. The pioneer of the modern democratic movement, the one whom most New Zealanders gladly recognise as the father of their colony, is SIR GEORGE GRET. " The dear old man — God's Englishman," as Olive Schreiner passionately calls him, went as Governor to the colony when it was at the point of ruin, the whites and blacks in fierce conflict, and the treasury empty. He brought peace and prosperity, and then found himself confronted by an Act of Parliament, sent out from England with orders that he should enforce it, .which would at once have plunged the country into a worse state than before he came. Sir George took a bold step, refusing to enforce the Act. He had to come home in disgrace, but he saved New Zealand. Some years later, when the colony was granted self-government, he was again made Governor, and at the conclusion of his term of. office he took the extraordinary step of entering colonial polities. He became leader of the Liberal Party, and inaugurated the new era in the politics of the islands. He 1 was succeeded by Mr Eallauee, a good specimen of the self-made colonist. MX BALLANCE was the sen of a psor Irish tenant-farmer, and emigrated to the colony when twentyseven, with practically no money, but plenty of ambition. He started a newspaper, and nuido this a steppiug-stoue to political life. As a member of Sir George Grey's Ministry he took active part in framing many progressive measures. When he became Premier in 1891, he initiated still bolder schemes ; but death cut him off in 1893, and he was succeeded by the present Premier, the Right Honorable Richard Seddon. "dick" seddon — as he is popularly known among his mining constituents — is, even his political opponents allow, "a jolly good fellow." Robust, sincere, with unaffected manners, and utterly lacking in "side," lie is a typical colonial. Yet by birth he is English — a Lancashire man — and when a lad he emigrated to Victoria as a railway engineer. From Victoria he made his way to the mining district of New Zealand, and there set up a store. He was very popular with the miners, and when a vacancy occurred for the representation of their district, some one proposedthat " Dick' should stand. " Dick " did stend, and came out top of the poll, A man of immense physical strength, and of an unlimited capacity for work, he sooned forced himself to the front. It is not too much to say that he is the present New Zealand Cabinet. He undertakes five different portfolios, besidos the Premiership, himself, and absolutely dominates the remainder of his colleagues. The only man able to stand against him was wisely sent as Agent-General to London. Like all strong men, Mr Seddon dearly love 3 to have his own way, and his opponents loudly complain of what they call his "autocracy." But they like him, all the

same, and when he went to London for the Jubilee celebrations they agreed to dedare a political truce till his return. Mr Seddon's ambition is to help on the federation of the Empire, and to sit as the representative of New Zealand in a truly Imperial Parliament. But if ever that time comes, he will want to combine the London representation with the colonial Premiership. The fourth of the men who have democratised New Zealand is THE HON. W. P. BEEVES, the present Agent-General of the colony in London. Mr Reeves is of a different type from Ms chief. A student, a man of j letters, and something of the courtier, he I has already made his mark in London. He ; is colonial born, and had a brilliant j collegiate career, finishing up with a short course at Oxford. He started life as a journalist, became Minister of Education in the Ballance Cabinet, and then took over the newly formed Ministry of Labour. Here his greatest success was the carrying of a measure wMch has absolutely put an end to strikes and lock-outs in the colony. Mr Reeves is a very advanced Liberal, and as he is still quite young there can be little doubt that, if he cares to confine himself to New Zealand affairs, he will in course of time occupy the highest office the colony can give.