THE GREAT IMPERIALIST.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 37

THE GREAT IMPERIALIST.

When he returned to New Zealand, he was evidently resolved to push the great questions which he had urged forcibly upon the attention of the Premiers’ Conference —Preferential Trade and the naval defence of the Empire. But for the moment the need for reorganising his party and proceeding with the usual course of progressive legislation fully occupied his energies. The Liberals scored heavily once more in ♦he 1902 election; and the Premier’s majority was sufficient to carry the Naval Agreement through the Houses. But Preferential Trade roused a heated discussion, and the measure that was eventually passed near the end of the session, did not go so far as Mr. Beddon anticipated or desired. The three local burningquestions of the hour were Land Tenure, No-License, and Bible in Schools; arid on all of them Mr. Seddon took up a somewhat non-committal attitude. Already he had shown signs that he objected to being driven to extremes by his more Radical followers; and critics of the Premier have never yet done sufficient justice to the great difficulties of his position in this particular respect. However, no one could complain of the amount of work done during the session, as no less than 140 Bills of various sorts became law. The Coastwise Trade Act, the Preferential Trade Act, and the Shipping and Seamen Act were all more or less Imperialistic measures. More directly characteristic of the Liberalism with which Mr. Seddon had always identified himself, were the State Fire Insurance Bill, the Secondary Schools Bill, and the National Scholarships Bill. The first of these Acts attempted to counteract the growing tendency toward a certain financial monopoly; the others brought secondary and academical education within the reach of many who otherwise would have had no chance of obtaining it. But unfortunately, several of the most important measures of the year were rushed through hastily in the last hours of a heavy session; and many complaints were justly made against this practice of “legislation by over-pressure.” The fact was that the Premier, himself gifted with abnormal powers of industry and endurance, did not realise the importance of leisure and time in the work of legislation; and as the sequel unfortunately proved, he was almost oblivious of the inevitable effects of this long-continued strain upon even his magnificently-equipped body and intellect.