ENLARGING OUR BORDERS.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 36

ENLARGING OUR BORDERS.

One convincing proof of the popularity of Mr. Seddon's Imperial policy was the great victory won by the Liberal party at the polls in 1899. With his Cabinet weakened by the loss of Mr. McKenzie, the Premier opened the new Parliament with a very voluminous programme. The Municipal Corporations Act, revising, systematising and supplementing previous legislation, was a measure of great and permaw-nt value. The Workers’ Compensation for Accidents Act was a genuine boon to the wage-earner, and the Maori Councils Aet was a timely charter of local government to the natives. More than 60 other Bills became law in 1900, the most important lieing, perhaps, the Public Health Act, which created a Department of Public Health, and the Public Revenues Amendment Act. round which a fierce controversy has raged ever since. Towards the end of the year, Mr. Seddon took advantage of tlie strongly imperialistic feeling aroused by the war to arrange for the annexation of the Cook Islands by this colony. As soon as this step was sanctioned by the Imperial Government, he made an attempt to extend the limits of the colony bo as to include Fiji; and the Fijians, who undoubtedly had many genuine grievances to complain of, displayed as much enthusiasm as they dared over the prospect of coming under Mr. Rcddon’s authority. Nothing is more remarkable in this episode than the extraordinary confidence that the natives showed in the good intentions of Mr. Seddon and his power to right all their wrongs. However, the Colonial Office was not prepared to accept Mr. Seddon’s proposals on this point, and he Buffered one of the few defeats that the chronicles of his life record. In this same

year a Commission was appointed by Parliament to collect evidence an the •übjedl of Federation; and the report which it ultimately made, fully confirmed Mr. Seddon’s decision to keep New Zealand outside the territorial limits of the Commonwealth. The only original measure of serious note dated 1902, is the State. Coal Mines Act, marking the determination of the Government to break down such monopolies as are manifestly detrimental to the public welfare. During the session. Sir John McKenzie died, to the grave loss of his party, and to the deep personal grief of Mr. Seddon. Next year the work of Liberal legislation was again temporarily stopped by the absence of the Premier in England at the Coronation ceremonials; and this visit, including his stay in South Africa, marks the climax of Mr. Seddon’s career as an Imperial statesman of the highest rank.