THE FIRST SEDDON CABINET.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 32

THE FIRST SEDDON CABINET.

The personnel of Mr. Seddon’s original Cabinet is worthy of detailed reference. The list as gazetted reads as follows: — Mr. Seddon, Premier, Minister of Public Works, Defence, and Native Affairs. Sir P. A. Buckley, Attorney-General, Colonial Secretary, and Minister of Marine. The Hon. W. P. Reeves, Minister of Labour and Education, and Commissioner of Stamps. Sir John McKenzie, Minister of Lands and Immigration, and Commissioner of Forests. Sir Joseph Ward, Colonial Treasurer, Postmaster-General, and Commissioner of Telegraphs and Customs. Sir A. J. Cadman, Minister of Mines and Justice. The Hon. J. Carroll, Representative of the Native Race (without portfolio). The Hon. W. Montgomery, member of the Executive Council. In the light of subsequent events we can afford to describe this Cabinet in terms that thirteen years ago would certainly have been greeted with shouts of derision. Even in the ranks of the Ministry itself there was a general sense of uneasiness and insecurity, and in the outside world, more especially among the Conservatives, there was not the least expectation that the new Premier would be able either to control his colleagues or to administer the affairs of the country with success. At the Record Premiership Celebration three years ago, Mr. Seddon referred with pardonable pride to the gloomy prognostications of his opponents and their pessimistic prophecies of his speedy downfall. An extract from the report of his speech will give our readers a good idea of the difficulties that the new’ Premier had to face in 1893: “Mr. Seddon went on to say that it would probably be somewhat interesting if he gave his audience some of the comments of the press at that time. (Laughter.) This was one:‘Had anyone a few years baek predicted that the rough, little-educated, and excessively talkative member for Westland—(laughter)—would be the Premier of New Zealand, he would have been scouted as a madman. (Laughter.) Of the science of government as carried on outside New Zealand he Is as ignorant as a baby.’ (Renewed laughter.) Another paper said:—‘Mr. Seddon is stubborn’—(‘And so he is,’ interjected the Premier, amidst laughter) .—‘and now that he is the man in possession, it may be found a very difficult matter to shift him.’ (Great laughter and cheering.) ‘That gentleman,’ remarked Mr. Seddon, ‘realised that weight W’as bound to tell.’ (Laughter.) It has taken ten years, continued the Premier, and he had not been shifted yet; and he thought he might fairly claim, taking that vast assemblage as indicative of the feeling throughout the colony, the people did not desire a change. Another writer at that time had said: ‘Mr. Seddon is a good fighter, but will be a dismal failure as leader. His training is deficient, but his aspirations are good.’” After ten years of unparalleled success in office, the Premier naturally derived a good deal of pleasure from these reminiscences; more especially as many of those who had denounced him most loudly in 1893 were, after a decade’s experience of him and his government, loudest in his praise. Another newspaper had said: “Mr. Seddon is impossible as Premier. We give him credit for capacity, but we cannot see the Statesman in him.” The same paper not long ago stated: “Our Premier is the greatest statesman in Australia (cheers and laughter), and has held his own with the statesmen of the Empire.” But even the marvellous change through which public opinion has passed since 1893, should not cause us to forget the difficulties and dangers, the apprehensions and the forebodings that surrounded the accession of Mr. Seddon to the highest office that his fellow-citizens had it in their power to bestow.