The West Coast Times. THURSDAY JUNE 20, 1912. MR. SEDDON “ALSO STARTED.”

West Coast Times, 20 June 1912, Page 2

The West Coast Times. THURSDAY JUNE 20, 1912. MR. SEDDON “ALSO STARTED.”

Ihosk who take the trouble to peruse the speeches delivered ■at the social given in honour of Mr. Seddon on Tuesday evening and also take notice of the telegraphic apologies forwarded bv the members of Mr. Mackenzie’s Ministry and from Sir Joseph Ward, must find some difficulty in understanding why the once great, but now despised Liberal Party should be torn with dissension and enmity whilst here in Westland we have the man of the hour—the man who could save the paity—“hiding his light under a' bushel.” There was one foundation upon which all the speakers based their remarks, namely, the wonderful statesmanlike capabilities of Mr. T. Seddon. It is almost superfluous for us to attempt to “paint tho lily,” indeed, our contemporary has done quite enough of that already. - But wo must admit that time after time wo have endeavoured to discover in Mr. Seddon’s utterances something worthy of a statesman, but wo have always come butt up against the strong wall of this stern reality: Mr. Seddon may understand political economy and the science of Government from A to Z, but he has

a very ingenious way of keeping that knowledge to himself ! His speeches are always as lacking in'logic as they arc full of hackneyed generalities and

painful irrelevancies. He “pricks the ears of the groundlings 'I as Hamlet would say. After being a member for over six years Mr Seddon has still to

jase lus claim for the suffrages of the K’ople upon his ability to gain the Ministerial ear when the loaves and fishes ire being doled out; and, also that he s still the “son of his father.” We make bold to say that had Mr. Seddon been anything approaching the politician that his ardent admirers claim him to be, he could, with the greatest of

ease, have won for himself a place among the personnel of the Mackenzie Cabinet. Once the country had given the W!ard Cabinet its marching orders, and the pledge-breakers had saved the “Liberal” Party from being sent into the cool shades of the Opposition, the number of members eligible for Ministerial rank was very small, and men possessing even limited qualifications for Ministerial rank were few and far between. Here then was Mr. Seddon’s opportunity. He had been through several sessions; he bore the name of one honoured among the “Liberals”; ho could always ask a question intelligently; he represented a constituency in the part of the Dominiqn which claimed Cabinet

recognition. , Everything was in his favour and there was only one condition: Was he as well or better qualified for Cabinet rank than were the secondrate Cabinet’s second raters like Messrs Russell, Ell, Buxton, and Colvin ? The “son of his father” and as some held, “greater than his father,” had only to equal such political nondescripts and parliamentary nobodios to gain for himself Cabinet rank. How he failed to reach even the low standard of statesmanship as reflected in such men as Messrs Ell, Buxton, and Macdonald, everybody knows! The advantage, if anything, was bn Mr Seddon’s side, for ne had been in the House longer than three of tho Ministers who were included in tho Stopgap Ministry. Beaten by such men as those we mention ! What cause then can be assigned for his failure. Pushed aside by men possessed of cranky ideas and hair-brained nostrums; beaten by men whoso Parliamentary experience "'as shorter than his own; indeed, his name was scarcely mentioned, and all this despite the fact that he had been such a slave to his party, and that ho is the “ son of his father.” Our contemporary thus gave the reason for Mr. Scddon’s exclusion: Indeed, if Mr. Seddon wore nulling to accept the position (the Premiership ! !), it would prove an admirable appointment. Mr. Seddon has all the tact necessary to fill the delicate position at this stage, and he would easily bo a conspicuous success at the post, for, strange to say, there is not a, more popular • personage in tho whole House with both sides than the present Member for Westland. Mr. Seddon, however, will elect to stand aside for others.”

I'lns sort of palaver and cheap humour may go clown with a certain section of the people of Westland, but there are many who swallow that variety of journalistic drivel with a big chunk of salt. Here is what the well-inform-ed “Otago Daily Times” of March 2Sth had to say. This is, wo believe, the true statement of what really did happen. Says the Times: There is some reason to believe that the withdrawal of the Hon. Roderick Mackenzie .of his demand to be included in the reconstructed Ministry may bo connected with the fact that in the last few clays I'OWEiti'un influence had been exerted in favour of the inclusion of Mr. T. Secldon in the Govern-

ment in some capacity.” It will, therefore, bo seen that “powerful influence” failed to gain for the Member for Westland a seat among the very weak and ill-sorted crew which now holds the Treasury Benches. The la so choice was narrowed clown to the West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough members. Sir Arthur Guinness, the Hon, Roderick Mackenzie, and Mr. H. Atmore were, of course, impossibilities and Mi-. McCallum, of Wairau, is not an oyer zealous supporter of the Mackenzie section of the party, so that it remained for dear old “ Uncle” Colvin to crush the intrigues of the “powerful influence”; to thwart the little Westland coterie; and to blast the aspirations. of the budding statesman upon whom is showered such empty platitudes and meaningless effusions. Boaring those facts in mind, wo felt highly amused as we perused the Ministerial telegrams which were received by Mr. Seddon’s committee. Mi-. Mackenzie would not havo our Member at miy price; but then there is Sir Joseph Ward’s prophecy:— "l am not yidiy prophesying when I say that he “has before him a great career which ‘‘will assert itself and will bo of great “ value to the dominion.” This too can bo taken with the proverbial grain of salt. Indeed, whatever 'gifts Sir Jcseph Ward may possess, experience has demonstrated pretty conclusively that ho has not tho gift of prophecy.' Mi . Soddon participated in the race fo- Cabinet honours in which a lot of political hacks competed and tho “son of lus father” could get no nearer than also started, despite the fact, tiiat there were nine prizes of Cabinet seats offering J