EXIT STOUT—RE-ENTER WARD.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 35

EXIT STOUT—RE-ENTER WARD.

The session was, however, rather lively; for the Marine Scandal and the detection of Mr. John Hutchison from bis chief introduced a strong flavour of personal interest into the work of the House. But Mr. .Seddon was opportunely reinforced by the return of Sir Joseph Ward, and he was in a better position to face any contingency that might arise. Sir Robert Stout had retired to the honourable obscurity of the Supreme Court Beneb, and there was no one left in political life who eould for a moment contest Mr. Seddon’s undisputed sway. The establishment of an Accident branch of the Government Insurance Department and the passing of the Immigration Restriction Aet were hardly matters of momentous importance to the general publie. But it was in this year that Mr. Seddon attained the completest measure of ascendancy over the people of New Zealand; for it was in 1899 that he taught the colony to identify itself at once and for ever with the Imp-rial interests of England by the despatch of the contingents to take part in the South African war.