Richard John Seddon, Statesman.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXVI, Issue 26, 30 June 1906, Page 13

Richard John Seddon, Statesman.

(Sketch and Interview by the Special Representative of “Australian • Country Life.”) The Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C., LL.D. (Cantab, et Edin. i. Prime Minister of New Zealand and its Dependencies. This is the cold, official description of cm* of the most remarkable figures in the political arena of to-day. As laterday Empire-builders, the names of the late Sir John MacDonald. Cecil Rhodes, and Sir George Grey will go down to posterity as leaders in the first flight. And when (in a distant future, we hope), the inevitable happens, closely linked with theirs will l>e that of the stalwart lad.” Richard John Seddon. whose genius for administration has placed New Zealand in a position which i- at once enviable and unique. The island colony presents to an inquiring world the curious contradict ion of bring a country famed for its democratic legislation, yet. to all intents and purposes, ruled by an autocrat. To the man in the street. “King Dick” has l»een the Government for something like 13 years. How well and wisely he has exercised a power which is almost absolute the New Zealand statutes testify. The first serious effort of the Opposition to overthrow the Seddon Government is recent, history. One episode at least reacL like comic history. Two “honourable gentlemen” out of the three who tried to trip up the old warrior have returned to that obscurity from which it seems unnecessary they should ever have emerged. The third. being the of his father, saved hi- political life. Does he survive as the solitary representative of a party known as the ‘’New Liberal,” which figured in the last election returns as one member? Or. more happy, is he an exact half of a semi - detached political nondescript waich holds a position of melancholy exclusiveness in the New Zealand House of Representative-, as “lnde|iendent — two members?” The humiliation and disa-ter of the Opposition is briefly recorded in the return- as 13 memlters. Yet it was strongly supported by an influential section of the pns«, which hinted that the veteran was growing old and weary. ‘’There were loose joints in his armour, his star was failing, his was on the wane, hi- day was over” To us. in Australia the reply of the

New Zealand voters was flashed across the wires with dramatic brevity—“Seddon sweeps the polls. An overwhelming majority." THE PRIME MINISTER. What has he done? He has been Prime Minister of New Zealand for 13 successive years. He has shaped the destiny of the country he rules, by daring acts of progressive legislation, and he crushed op]>osition when it wore its goldest face. To-day Mr. Seddon can reckon one member in opposition for each year of his Premiership—l 3 souls all told. For presumably the two who are “Independent" and the solitary remnant of the “New Liberal Party" sit apart in “splendid isolation.” Amongst those acts of legislation to which the Seddon Government justly points with pride, the Advances to Settlers Act. the Factories Act. the Industrial Conciliation ami Arbitration Aet. the Land for Settlements Act—cutting up large estates for close settlement —Free Rents to Settlers on Bush and Swamp Land. Old-age Pensions, Bank of New Zealand Guarantee Aet—which protected New Zealand from financial disaster such as swept over Australia—State Fire Insurance. Universal Penny Postage, may lie fairly quoted as examples of far-seeing statesmanship, which have had the happiest results. That New Zealand was the first to extend the franchise to women formed for many years one of the levers used by the Women Suffragists in Australia to Influence local politicians. In the Advances to Settlers Aet there is a clause, rigidly carried out. which is particularly interesting to Australians. \\ hile tile Advances to Settlers Act provides for the immediate assistance of the struggling settler by means of loans at abnormally low rates of interest, and has incidentally helped to erush professional usurers, who fatten on the necessities of the needy, it has also struck a blow at various other birds of prey who regard the man on the land as the pigeon to 1h- plucked by all-comers. "The Act provides penalties for persons employed in the business of the Advances to Settlers Office taking any fee or reward from an applicant for a loan under the Act: for persons acting as valuers of land in which they have any pecuniary interest:' and for persons who may attempt to bribe anyone employed under the Act. It should be understood that no commission, charge, or procuration fee is payable in connection with an application for a loan.” The Seddon Government, by providing

free of charge competent midwives and nurses for those unable to pay. has reduced the rate of infant mortality in New Zealand to the lowest in the world. Dealing with averages of five year-, in New Zealand only 82 infant- under one year are found to die out of every 1.000 bom. against 111 in New South Wales ami 110 in X ietoria. In European countries. however, the average deaths are higher than in the Australian State-. Great Britain. 150 (under one yeari to every 1.000 birth-: France. 170: Austria, still higher. Sweden is a notable exception. A LATE AUSTRALIAN INTERVIEW. Mr. Seddon is built on generous lines -—brain and body. When he sits on a chair—though it be of liberal proportions—he gives the impression of being too big for it. It is an ordinary chair, and it fails to hold am extraordinary man. He expand- and seems to want more elbow-room than the upholsterer had arranged to supply to one person. When he gets an idea, it is a big idea, and he works it out on a large scale. An International Exhibition and a scheme for universal pensions mav be supposed at present to run side by side somewhere in that capacious head. Yet he holds it easily enough, a little on one side, and leans baek in the chair, which -inks into an unconsidered minority—a genial man with a homely kindliness of speech, and an air of goodhumoured. blunt simplicity suggestive of the prosperous farmer rather than the state-man. Simplicity? The fresh complexion and sturdy figure give the impression of vigorous out-door life. Look again! The eyes are remarkably keen in their swift. ]x-n<‘t rating glance. According to the Maoris. Mr. Seddon “wears his eyes all over his head." They are never off active service for the fraction of a second, during interview or debate. They baffle the scrutiny of the curious, and they give to the big. kindly face that owns them the intense personal hold on every man. woman, and child who comes under their influence, which, for want of a better definition, we call “magnetism.” Here is one of the secrets of “King Dick's” sway over the multitude. His thought- travel at express speed, his eyes telegraph the signals. The average man's mental rolling stock is built to move along more slowly—like a Sydney suburban train, it jolts and hesitates and pulls up for frequent “waits.” In the meantime the Seddon Express has got to the end of the journey; it is half-way hn.-k while

the slow suburban is n aking an uncertain start. In short, the business is done while tiie "other fellow" is beginning to think about it. In the early days of the gre at gold rush to the West Const of New Zealand a big. athletic young man of 21 arrived in Hokitika. His physical prowess in those days is -till held in respectful remembrance by old pioneers, who recall many exciting incidents in which “King Dick” dominated the rougher element- on the goldfields. Now. the Premier of New Zealand sways men by his intellect, just as in the golden era he forced his way to the fr >nt by Ins indomitable personal courage. HIS VIEWS. “if I were to cast in my lot with Australia. I think I should join the no-license party, and cry. ‘Water, water, water!’" There is a merry twinkle in the Premier's eyes at this allusion to tne no-license party. The interviewer recalls tin- sad fate of a certain N.Z. prohibitionist—rejected of the electors .n December, 1905. “X es, that's what you need most in Australia—water. I refer to irrigation, of course! Ami when that idea is once thoroughly grasped—a national scheme for irrigating vast tracts of otherwise useless land: but. mind you " He stops short. “I mustn't have the audacity to come here ami tell you what you ought to d>i—they might suggest that I'd better mind my own business!” “With regard, then, to the conservation of water in New Zealand?" “Well, for the most part New Zealand has i>eei» so bountifully irrigated > v Nature—running streams, a generous rainfall —that. excepting in isolated places, it dm- not need artificial help. XX here it doe-, we are going to supply the deficiency. In Ventral Otago, for instance, we have just bought the Bonanza water rights for £13.000 in order t< carry out a useful scheme of irrigation.” ‘•hviotisly Mr. Seddon is an enthusiast on this subject, which, with the laud for closer settlement, and a proper defence scheme, represents Australia'- crying necessities at the present moment. “Near Salt Lake City—l merely quote it as an instance of what irrigation will do.” There is an air of gentle banter aliout a playful reference to tile more famous .Mormon settlement which i- -harm-tens-tie of the man. who seems to lie making holiday while he discusses national problems with the grip of a state-map. “A friend of mine, a resident in Sult

Lake City, pointed out to me a tract of land, once a sandy desert, now green With vegetation — to-day, literally an oasis in a desert. In Canterbury (N.Z.), a property once considered not worth more than five shillings an acre, has, under irrigation, become most valuable. In Australia, where devastating droughts ruin hundreds of your settlers —where you have everything but water —but I mustn’t talk alxait Australia, you know, <?! make comparisons with a country so richly endowed by Nature as New Zealand.’ “You were very linn in your attitude towards the Commonwealth, Mr. Seddou. You have seen no reason to alter your views will regard to keeping outside the union of federated colonies?” ‘‘None." The answer was most emphatic. That the average New Zealander is immensely pleased with himself for being on the other side of the Commonwealth wall is common knowledge. “No. none whatever. 1 feel assured now. as I felt then, that Australia and New Zealand must each work out their destinie- separately. Had we joined the Commonwealth, where should we have been when a few representatives from New Zealand came over here? Supposing 1 had come over with others—why, I believe they’d have looked on us as tne Nationalists are looked on in the J louse of Commons!’’ “Rebels, eb. Mr. Seddon ?’* But “King Dick only laughs. The whole idea seems too absurd for serious discussion. “They would have pigeon-holed you in some obscure corner in Melbourne Parliament House, in company with cracked window-panes and Sydney door-knobs, waiting for repairs, till the Commonwealth can give them serious consideration—is that so, Mr. Seddon?” But he only laughs again—New Zealand pigeonholed in a Melbourne office seems to tickle his fancy. “In the Land for Settlements Act you have made a most successful forward movement ?’’ “By cutting up big estates we have materially advanced the solid prosperity of New Zealand both directly and indirect k. By putting more settlers on the land, we get more producers—the whole question in a nutshell.” “You an satisfied with the prospects of the coming International Exhibition?” “Oui Exhibition is going strong, if I may put it in that way. Its success is already assured, and I can just add this in conclusion. In New Zealand to-day we have a happy, prosperous, and contented people. Labour has been raised ami dignified, and our settlers are helped and encouraged in every possible way. ‘Humanity and progress* is the motto of th< Liberal and Labour Federation of New Zealand.”