CHANGES AND CHANCES—MINISTER AT LAST.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 31

CHANGES AND CHANCES—MINISTER AT LAST.

Among his many qualifications for the post of party leader, Mr. Ballance could claim to be a good judge of men. He had long ago recognised Mr. Seddon's political abilities, and he appreciated to the full the Westland champion’s “enthusiasm for humanity,” and his faith in the future of the people; the times were ripe for a great political change, and he was prepared to take full advantage of the opportunity afforded him by the trend of public feeling, and the growing disunion and anarchy that now pervaded the ranks of the Conservatives. A great deal of political history was made for this country between 1832 and 1887. Sir -John Hal! resigned, and Sir F. Whitaker took office in April, 1832. Sir Harry Atkinson succeeded in September, 1883. The Stout-Vogel combination momentarily ousted the Conservatives in August. 1884: but in 12 days’ time. Sir Harry Atkinson was back again in power with his “Continuous” Ministry. But within a week the fortune of war had changed again. The Stout-Vogel Ministry took office on August 16th. 1832; the Atkinson Ministry succeeded it on August 28th; the Stout-Vogel combination again superseded the Conservatives on September 3rd. It was amidst this aimless and distracting political turmoil that Mr. Seddon was slowly, but surely, forging his way to the front. During the three years for which the second Stout-Vogel Cabinet was in office (1884-1387), he was accumulating an immense fund of political experience, and acquiring a reputation as a debater and a “fighter” second only to that- of his two friends and comrades, John Ballance and John McKenzie. Gradually the eld Liberal party was merged into what Mr. W. P. Reeves has called a “Liberal-Labour fusion:” and the new party, as thus reconstructed, was immeasurably superior in coherence and fighting power to the disorderly body whieh Sir Geo. Grey had led to defeat. But it was impossible to gain the complete confidence of the country or to secure permanent tenure of office with the materials represented by the Stout-Vogel combination. After three years there was another temporary reaction, and the Conservatives under Sir Harry Atkinson once more attained office. They held power for a little over three years (1887-911 ; but bv this time the doctrines of Liberalism had become part and parcel of the people’s faith: and Mr. Ballanee and his followers were now at last within reach of that era of progressive legislation and social and industrial reform for which Sir Geo. Grey had sighed and worked so long in vain. In 1889, Mr. Ballanee was chosen leader of the Opposition, and be put forward a policy whieh contained in germ nearly all that Las since been developed with such splendid success by Mr. Seddon and his colleagues. Mr. Ballance was especially popular at this time, because as Minister of Lands be had advocated State tenancy, and had opposed the freehold. The three leaders of the Liberal party—Ballance, McKenzie, Seddon —were men whose force of Character and publie spirit might have commanded authority and success in any legislature in the world; the three leaders of the Conservatives, Sir Harry Atkinson, Sir F. Whitaker, and Sir John Hall, were not only broken in health, but were nflieted with that hesitation and indecision whieh always characterises Conseryatism when it is compelled to face the inevitable facts of social and political progress. A struggle of this kind eould have but one end: and after the election of December, 1890, it became clear that the Conservatives must soon be dispossessed

of power. When the House met in January 1891, tbe Conservatives proposed Me, Rolles ton as Speaker: the Liberals proposed Major Steward. The Liberal candidate eras chosen by 36 votes to 29; but the Conservatives, seeing that the position waa hopeless, had already resigned. Mr. Ballance had already been sent for, and on the same day the new Cabinet was sworn in. with Mr. Seddon included in it as Minister for Public Works, Defence and Mines. By 1891. therefore. "Digger Dick” had realised the highest hope? and expectations of the few who knew him intimately while he was still only "the miners' member” from the wilds of Westland. Without wealth, without political influence, he had made his way by industry, by determination, by courageous devotion to hxs duty and his principles, and more than all by the aid of that instinctive capacity for seizing chances, that keen insight into the meaning of current events that distinguishes the true statesman from the rank and file of the political world. From the camp and the store on "the diggings," he had risen to a seat in the Cabinet, to share in the government of his country; and “Digger Dick" would have been less or more than human if he had not felt a thrill of conscious pride, when, for tbe first time, he realised that he was now the Hon. R. J. Seddon. Minister for Public Works, in the most powerful Cabinet that had yet administered the affairs of his adopted home.