MR. SEDDON AND THE COLONIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 45, 22 February 1905, Page 6

MR. SEDDON AND THE COLONIES.

(By Telegraph—Own Correspondent,

WELLINGTON, this day '- The toast of "The Colonies'' 1 -™. »■: those which the Austrauaf , C SLS were asked to honour at the accorded them by ex-AusLSf Wellington on Friday the Premier with an occasion 4 for S casting the development o f intercom ruumcation and reciprocity ia commercL as well as. in cricket, between New Zα land and the CommoirweaUh ■ tt* painted a picture of a tri. across the lasman Sea in steamers likJ the Lucania. Australian ttapers c6m plained that the Conference of Premier! who were gathered together in the enervating climate of Hobart had" done'"' nothing. They should come to New Zealand to do their business. The Com momvealth had had the Prime Ministers! and New Zealand had not had an official visit from any one of them. We took part in the Commonwealth celebrations and it would be only courteous for » Commonwealth Premier to come here and do what the Australian cricketers were doing. ' The Premier then stepped u» into higher politics ana voiced the argument, not altogether new, that Ttie inter-Imperial fiscal issue should not be used for party capital in the home elections. It appeared, he said,' as though in the Mother Country the colonies were going to be the shuttlecock, and the rival parties the battledores. The colonies should refuse to be placed.in that position by political parties, and should take up a more dignified position, .-',