The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 12, 1903. THE PREMIER’S THREAT.

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 914, 12 June 1903, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE, JUNE 12, 1903. THE PREMIER’S THREAT.

Our' telegrams to-day show that there was no niisreporting of the Premier in regard to his threat to the Motherland, that if she did not choose to adoj)t reciprocal tariffs will) the colonies, the latter would themselves make arrangements with foreigners to the disadvantage of the old country. A remarkable fact in connection with this bounceablc and certainly not. fervently patriotic attitude is that a cable has come at a most convenient time, stating that Continental linns propose dealing direct with New Zealand for crossbred wool. This fact, taken with the threats of the meat rings, will no doubt have considerable influence on the minds of people. Mr Seddon’s statement, however, looks very much like “ bluff ” of a most objectionable kind. it is not a statement that comes well from one who lakes pride in declaring that he is an Englishman. Certainly it is not for the colonial statesmen to talk in such a style. At present we get the advantage of the Motherland’s frcelradc policy without giving anything in return. An open market is allowed to us. but for our part we charge the Motherland goods as heavily as wc do tiie nation that talked so loudly of retaliating upon Canada. There is this, however, to he said in favor of the extraordinary position taken by Mr Seddon, that the colonies having set up fiscal harriers against all nations (including the Motherland) is therefore the better able to make a bargain in the way of reciprocity with any foreign power. Ridiculous as tiie threat, may be, it will have ' a good effect, perhaps, in advertising our products. There was a time when -Mr Seddon was well-known in j Kumara ; steadily there has been a j widening oi the sphere wherein his ( name has been well-known. Lately j it has become as a household word ] throughout the British Empire, but s now it will be one of the most fam- i iliar British names on the Continent, j ’l'he journals of other nations will no doubt make much of the fact that Mr t Seddon has in effect threatened to £ throw the Motherland over in their f favor it the Motherland does not * speedily acquiesce in his suggestions. J Probably the people in England will also take the threat very seriously, s hut we doubt if it will have any ] ; direct influence on the public mind, a When the Kaiser next makes a tour t.

abroad he misht give New Zealand a call and personally thank our Premier.