Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JUNK 22, 1901. THE PREMIER’S ADAPTABILITY

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 22 June 1901, Page 2

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JUNK 22, 1901. THE PREMIER’S ADAPTABILITY

The tact, or, in other words, the adaptability to circumstances, is the strong forte of the Premier. Without being a political genius like Peel or Gladstone he has risen to his present position by sheer force of indomitable perseverance. When he first entered the House he was regarded as a mere windbag, and was looked upon for a time as one of the butts of Parliament. But like the Eight Hon. B. Disraeli, Prime Minister of England, who was looked upon similarly when he first entered the British House of Commons, and like the Hon, John See, the present Premier of New South Wales, who for years seemed to be the laughing stock of the Sydney House, “ The West Coast digger,” as he was contemptuously termed, showed that he was not to be played with, and he has risen to his present position not so much by consummate political abi ity, but by consummate tact. He first began to know his surroundings and then to study their weak points. It was no good assailing a man on his strongest side ; therefore, like a good general, he took advantage of the weakest position. By his strong advocacy of Sir George Grey he managed to gain not only the great pro-consul’s confidence, but a thorough knowledge of the inner workings of New Zealand’s political

world, and was, therefore, included in the Balance Ministry. Once having - taken a seat on the M inisterial benches, his perseverance and industry was ' remarkable, and it soon became to be 1 recognised in Wellington that “The , West Coast Digger ” was a power to be accounted for. There was no department that was safe from his scrutiny. In the juggle that ensued on the death of Mr. Ballance, Mr. Seddon was one too many for the present Chief Justice Sir Robert Stout, who was an aspirant for the Premiership. Mr. Seddon was not long in this position before he found that there were two members wbo would not bo interfered with—one was Hon J MTvenzio, Minister for Lands, and the other the Hon. W. P. Reeves. MTvenzio was a man something of his own stamp, but ho had not the adaptability of the Premier, accordingly he was humored and let alone. The other, Mr. Reeves, was altogether different—cold, cynical, a thorough logician, with a jibing tongue, be was in reality the only statesman in the Cabinet. His labor measures which after all was the foundation of the Seddon Government’s popularity testifying to his ability. He was too dangerous, ambitious, and irreconcilable, and was accordingly shelved by being appointed Agent-General. After this the ruling of Parliament was an easy matter. There was no real but only a factious opposition, and the Hon Gapt. Russell, although a very amiable man, was thoroughly unfitted for a fighting parliamentary leader. By clever strategy the Premier visited England

as New Zealand’s representative on the occasion of the Queen’s jubilee. He then refused knighthood as being inconsistent with his position as a Democratic leader, but accepted a Privy Councillorship, which is a far higher position. He pacified the Parliament last session by increasing the honorarium. It is now rumoured as a consequence of the Yorks visit that the Premier will go to England on the occasion of the Coronation of King Edward, and there is more than rumor in the matter. If the |Right Honorable Mr Seddon desires to go he will go at all hazards. But there is another rumor, and that is that he will be appointed to the Governorship of one of the South African Colonies—• the Transvaal. The British Government might do worse than appoint him. His knowledge of human nature and his shrewd common sense would stand him in good stead against the “ slimness ” of the Boer. With all his short comings New Zealand would be sorry to lose him, and wo only hope there is no truth in the rumor. South Africa’s gain would be New Zealand’s loss.