The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1897. AN EXODUS OF PREMIERS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 183, 5 February 1897, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1897. AN EXODUS OF PREMIERS.

The Hon. Mr Chamberlain as Colonial Secretary has invited the Premiers ot the British colonies to be present in London on the occasion of the approaching celebration of the record reign of Queen Victoria. We certainly approve of the invitation being accepted for the reason that such a meeting of representitives would do much to remove those insular prejudices which tend so much towards retarding that federation in fact as well as in feeling which ought to obtain among the subjects of Her Majesty. The only question that arises is : Can the colonies do without their Premiers? We think they can. Admitting that in the case of New Zealand the absence of Mr Seddon would much weaken his party next session because it would practically leave them without a head, but that difficulty could be met by making an arrangement with the Opposition under which the latter would undertake not to make unex pected attacks, or advances into the enemy's country. The Premier when in England would not be merely the representative of a political party, but tbe representative of the whole colony, therefore a temporary fusion of both parties in the House while certain to be productive of some good, could do no possible harm. Our members of Parliament would also experience tbe novel sensation cf working for the benefit of the colouy and not for that of a political party. There is one contingency which will meet not only Mr Seddon but every other Premier who accepts the invitation. It is customary, as our readers are already aware, to confer the honor of knighthood on distinguished guests on much iess important occasions than that now under consideration. It is only reasonable to expect therefore that Her Majesty would like to confer on these gentlemen, the political heads of her colonies, an honor which would be reflected through them on their fellow colonists. It would be ungracious if any or all of the Premiers refused to be so honoied at the hands of their Sovereign. We know little or nothing ot* tbe other Premiers, but we do know this of Mr Seddon that in his case the title would not only be well earned, but he would do honor to the distinction. Of course the extremists of his party would exclaim against his becoming Sir Kichard, but that could only be looked upon as natural, and therefore pardonable. We hope the several colonies will offer no objections to their Premiers accepting the invitation of Mr Chamberlain, in the same liberal spirit in which such invitation has been tendered.