OUR PREMIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1761, 30 May 1906, Page 3

OUR PREMIER.

Mil KINGSTON AND Mil SEDDON

RECIPROCITY PROPOSALS,

By, Electric Telegraph—Per Press Association—Copyright. Adelaide, May ‘29. Mr Seddon was enthusiastically received at the Town Hall. The Mayor paid a tribute to Mrs Soddou on the occasion of her birthday. He referred to the help she had given her husband. Leading commercial men were present at the gathering. The Mayor said Mr Seddoti was the greatest history maker south of the Equator, and would live in the hearts of the people of his own country and Australia for ever. Everyone received a Welcome in New Zoaland, and in wcL coming Mr Seddon they were only voicing the desire of Australia for closet connection Mr Seddon replying, said what they must remove was the ignorance of the outer world in respect to New Zealand am Australia, and their aims and aspirations, Their country should realise their strength, and that they were not undesirables, that they wore one people, one in language, and as Sir Henry Burkes said, they had one destiny, that was the solidarity of the great British Empire. He thanked the Mayor for this tribute to his wife. Subsequently a public reception was held. Betwoen two and three thousand people were present. There was great cheering. Mr Seddon said that at no time had he received a greater reward than that accorded him by that vast assembly. It was a reward that no wealth could purchase. To live and be in the hearts of the people nerved him on to great efforts it the interest of broader humanity. Hi; great love was for New Zealand and its people, and nothing would rejoice them more than to feel that what the people had dona had its reward and appreciation in Australia. Credit was not only due him and those who labored with him, but to tho people, who had been true to them selves, and had worked out to some cxtenl their own salvation, and solved the prob lem of society. Mr Seddou explained the labor legislation, as well as that protective of children, unemployed, factories, old age pensions, and the annuity scheme

Time iifter time there were cries of fi You are wanted here ! Come over!” Mr Seddon made reference to the Bight Hon. 0. C. Kingston as being tlie greatest statesman Australia ever had, and whose strenuous labors on the tariff had impaired his health. This statement was received with tumultuous applause. 11 Ojb pleasure ot my visit,” said Mr Beddoo, " was ti see my o!d friend?.” The great work of D.’mcoraoy oudined by Sir George Groy also evoked great eotbusiaatio applause, and a tribute to the memory of the first Demoorat of Australasia. Oa retiiiog to his #:at Mr Seddon met with a great ovation. Tbe Now Zealand Premier wai then entertained at lunob by the State Government. Ia tbe afternoon be attended a B|tting of the Sooiety for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. His Exoellenoy, the Chief Just : oe, was in the obair. Mr Seddon told the story of speoial legis'ation to prevent the shooting of "Pelorus Jaok,” and the speoial instructions given the polioe to help tbe society, and tbe good work being performed The work in Sooth .Australia was not to be oompared with the work in New Zealand. We were more humane than South Australia. At a meeting at whioh Mr Kingston and his wife, Mr Saddou and his wife, and the Premier were present, the yeil of secrecy whioh surrounded the reciprocity treaty between Sooth Australia and New Zealand was lifted a little. The, party first disoossed the progressive legislatidn of the last fifteen years, th's'who had taken part, and the importance of it all were passed in review. Mr Kingston said in his efforts to improve the position of Australia he had been guided by tbe action of the sturdy Democrat who ruled New Zealand. An bistorioal event had been kept from the people, bat the ban was removed to-day. It Beamed that in 1897 a oommeroial treaty agreement, signed by Mr Kingston, and the Premier of New Zealand, was in existence. Mr Seddon, owing to the Federation Conference, had been asked by Mr Kingston to treat it as confidential. Federation subsequently eventuating, the matter was allowed to drop. To-day the confidential pledge, with the approval of Mr Kingston, was removed. The reoiptocal treaty between New Zealand and South Australia would be given to the press. Mr Seddon says it la. on the lines laid down on whioh Mr Deakin and himself will consider reciprocal relationship, praotioally tbe only addition being sngar from Australia to New Zealand, and maize and wheat. „ A deputation of producers wailed ou Mr Seddon and laid tbeir views before him. Sydney, May 29. ■The Herald, commenting on Mr Saddon’s references to reciprocal trade, says : “ At present grapes are worth half a orown a pound in New Zealand, though South Australian vignerous woald be Rlad to supply the market at four pence, the cost of transit inoladad ,/ Australian wines oda hardly be obtained in New Zealand, not on aooeunt of the alleged teetotal proolivities of the people, but simply because the Customs duties on their introduction are eo high, but a treaty with New Zealand must contain some supposed quid pro quo. Mr Seddon will not allow his fellow colonists to pay less tban half a orown for grapes unless it is oonoeded to him that Now Zeeland shall be permitted to unload goods in Australia at a smaller duty than other countries, and what goods has New Zealand that Australia is without ? What manufactures, what produoe ? If she has a statesman or two of Mr Seddon’s type for exportation we might come to terms. If, meanwhile, she reduces her heavy sugar and wine duties in our favor Aus tralia might well oonsider the advisability of gran ing reasonable concessions in return.

REOIPROOITZ PROPOSALS. By taligragh, Prasa As»’ni Copy.rJgkt I Received 6 a.m., May 29. Adelaide, May 29. The Chamber of Manufacturers desire i in any proposals of reoiproaity with New Zealand that there Bhould be a redaction of duty of 50 per cent, on dried fruits, oarrants, raisins, perserved fruits, and olive oil; that wine up to 85 per oent. proof spirit and grape bandy be reduced to Us per gallon ; that fresh graprs should be allowed to be imported into New Zealand if accompanied by a certificate that they are free from disease. Mr Seddon favorably replied to the de» putation on the matter.