MR SEDDON’S POLITICAL TESTAMENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1833, 14 August 1906, Page 3

MR SEDDON’S POLITICAL TESTAMENT.

A SPIRITUALISTIC COMMUNICATION. » Under tho liGadiug of “ Tho Political Testament of Richard Sodden, Into Pro infer cf New Zealand,” tho West Gipps land Gazette, Warri.gul, Victoria, has published what purports to bo on interview with Mr Soddon by morns of a spiritualistic medium. Evidently tho writer was well acquainted both with - Mr Seddon and New Zealand politics The late Premier is made to say that he was really mo;o socialistic than most persoas wero aware of, but his discretion heps him from going too fast. Spirit forces a:e roferrod to as an explanation of tho 1a to Premier’s succo-s, Mr Seddon being made to say : *■ I believe, in fact I know as a positive fact, that Stito socialism will ultimately coma. It must do so, because it oilers tho only remedy for poverty. 1 have expressed this opinion privately many tiuv.'s, and I have hinted at it publicly ; bu-, at the same time, it caDnot cores all at once ; and I consider tLat I have taken New Z -aland at as rapid a pace as it was possible to go in that direction. 11 I oau clearly enough now seo that there wus a power behind me which rendered me invincible. I perceive the reason of the—as it appeared to ms—phencmsnal succoss which attended everything I undertook for the accomplishment of my social ideals aDd my labors to raise New Zealand from tbo ruinous condition in which Vogel left it into a state of prosperity. Owing to this foico behind me, my

power acd irfluotco wero un quo. I was virtually the Kiog of Now Z-alatd. Net that I sought the position, or acted for a single moment with a v.ew to ray own personal aggrand zamect. I wo k d for the good of tho country, my influerci grew tbo whip, and honor end position came to me nnso'ioitod. I was ofien as. toDished at the way in which obstacles and difficulties used to melt away like vapours before me. It used to emprise mo not a little that I was allowed to have my own way so long and uninterruptedly as I did. I could not explain it to myself ;

I could not attribute it to my' personal energy and hard work exclusively, beoauso thore wore others just aa energetic and hardworking as I was who did not moat with the same sucoess. I could only explain it by good luck. And there is such a thiDg as luck, after all, if people rightly understood what luck means. My own oon sisted in the tremendous spiritual influenoe which was at tho back of me, and whioh neither the people nor myself could peroeive. I could only marvel at the extent of my influenoe and at the way in whioh everything I wished was done, I being all tho time the medium of a power ful band behind mB who were pushing me along towards a definite goal and making me invincible by an opponent. So far as I was personally concerned I was exempt from ambitioD, and did not seek place or power for their own sake. In ail I did I had one single aim in view, and that was to benefit New Zealand, and to rusks it a pattern of what good legislation oan accomplish. Tho consequence is that it contains tho foremost oommuoity on the face of the earth, and is a model of responsible governmsnt for the whole world to follow (in reply to a ques’.ion from the New Zealand visitor).’’ A FORECAST OF THE FUTURE 11 The present Premier will not acquire the same influence or most with the same sucoess whioh I did ; but I can inflooQce Ward when he comes out. Of ooursp, there is bound to be a little friction. In fact, I oan see a split coming. It is to be regretted, but I feel it is inevitable. Toe prespnt Premier is not strong enough to maintain the portion. There will probably be a change of Government, but tho next Ministry will bo a short lived ooe, after which our party will return stronger than ever, and the people will be moro firmly convinced (bat Government on tho oid liues is tbe best after all ; and tho men in power will exhibit a daterminatioo to pursua my policy.”

PARTY GOVERNMENT. (Ia reply to s question ) “ Yts, I have always beeD agaiast party government, and meant to abolish it if I could. Ob, I have far greater schemes in my mind than those I carried out, The referendum was what I wished to introduce, in order that the public might be consulted direotly. and have a voice in every important question. I wished that all those obstructions to legislation which arecaustdby petty jealousies and party strife, and are inseparable from party Government should be removed. I wanted to eee the oountry governed praoiioaliy by the people, and to Bpare them that useless waste ol time and money which results from frequent changes of Government and numerous elections. I wanted to preclude the possibility of motemary and unsoiupul ous politicians wrigglieg themselves into power, and making the country sub servient to tbeir own silfish interests and sordid purpose?. My idea was to simplify the machinery of Government, which is far too oumbeisomo and too domplioated as it is. It is' net the professional politicians not fhe capitalists but the people themselves who are the baet judges of their own and the country’s needs. You can trust the majority, for they krow what tbry want; while the scheming politician is only oonoernod with his personal interests, aod will support that party which will play into his handß and will eDablo him to rmiob himself at the pnblio expense, and to filch their birthright from tbo pooplo. In New Zealand the average prosperity and happiness of oaoh individual is greeter than is to be found in any other country in tho world. Nor will it go back, havo no fear cf that. For the present, its htpes and fears must rest on Ward, for ho is tho man on whom tho spiritual . forces will be concentrated for a time.

HIB SUCCESSOR. Bat tho man who is destined to take my place is not yot in Parliament, tie is a ycung man now living in Now Zealand, and is beiDg prepared for tho work. He is not a Maori, but will bo closely iu touch with that raoe. It will bo through— —(a name beginning with Car or liar, apparently Maori, which tho stenographer failed io catch) that ho will coma to tho front. He will prevent Now Zealand alip pi r g back from the position she has won, and will serve as a rallying point for tho younger di mocrats wbo are rising up. For tbo prosen*, however, Ward is our bcp.=, and I think you will find that what I have told you will cotno true, namely, that there will bo a split and change of GoY’, _yarnment, after whioh our party will como bccl? stronger than ever, end more firmly consolidated, eftcr which at d beforo long our opponents will bo converted ioto friends.”

HIS SON. In reply to a question respecting the candidature of his son : 11 Yes, I am glad to sco him come forward, firstly because he is m,y son, and eocondly because I havo endeavored to bring him up to look at tbiDgs from a broadly democratic point of' view. He does not possess my energy; he is slower and moro dreamy, but be is plodding, pugnacious and vory steady. Ho certainly possesses ability, aud has'fio special vice to keep bim back ; he js calmer ‘and more meditative than I was ; his ideals ore high, and ho wi'l eD joy the benefit of his fa'her’s name, wbioh will possibly draw around men on bis own Bide of life who will uphold

him. I have no misgivings about him ho will ho all right, lio will not toko my place, but whoever steps into tny shroi will find him a sympathetic supporter. Net possessing my energy, ho will tot, strictly speaking, walk in my foo'steps; but allhough lie will not mako a chief ho will prove a splendid lieutenant. There is a great time coming for New Zealand, Thero is no doubt about that.” After referring at ler-glh to Australian politics Mr Seddon is undo to soy : “Sir Robert Stent (Chief Justice) is another I man who has done very much for our country, and ho has been a groat luornl help te myself. I always admired him, and road IPs spoeohrs and lectures with rquttl pleasure end profit. They hud a great sustaining fffoet upon me, and I aomider him <o have oxoieiiod a very beneficial ictlu.uico upon tbo oonntry. Of ocurse, in bis position, bo could not go in for politics, but bo bns bad considerable political infliiOLOJ all the time, inasmuch as bo has iutluouocd public men. He has strong leanings towards psychic ecionc.-, I know, and when opportunity s.-rvos you might show him theeo communications.”