The Hastings Standard Published Daily. TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1897. IS HE GOING HOME?

Hastings Standard, Issue 278, 23 March 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily.

TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1897. IS HE GOING HOME?

For the cause that acks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance. And the good that we can do.

Parliament has been prorogued for another fortnight, and in the meantime the important question asked above is to be considered and decided. Mr Seddon professes to be disinclined to go Home, but states that he is willing to make a martyr of himself if it is the wish of the people that he should represent the colony at the celebrations in London. Mr Seddon must know by this time that the consensus of opinion is in favor of his visiting London. He is for the moment the head of the Government in New Zealand, it is as'such that he is invited, and it is in bis official capacity that the colony wishes him to proceed to London. Perhaps if we had the choice of a delegate, the people might see fit to choose somebody else to represent them, but there is no choice in the matter for it is the Premier that is invited. Why does the Premier profess a disinclination to accept the invitation ? We venture to think that not even his best friends will accuse Mr Seddon of diffidence; the people are willing that he should go ; he has the time at his disposal and the colony will pay the piper and yet Mr Seddon is disinclined to accept Mr Chamberlain's invitation.

Mr Seddon is not taking the dignified course that we have a right to expect that he should take. It is most undignified for the Premier of the colony to run about trying to find out whether thiii body or that set of men will let him go to England or seek to prevent him doing so. The Premier is the head of the country, and holds a responsible position ; he ought to be able to determine the matter without making any bargain about it. There was no bargaining about hirf Australian tour ? Mr Seddon simply decided the matter for himself and went. Why should not the same course be followed with respect to the

greater and more important matter ? Then again Mr Seddon does not hesitate about committing the country to an enormous expenditure with respect to the despatch of military forces, which compared with the importance of his own visit to England is very trifling. The Premier's assumed diffidence is most amazing, and the real reason for its display has not party. There are many tangles that cannot be loosened in a moment, indeed the tangles are of such a nature as are likely to give the Premier more trouble than he will appreciate, and from present indications will, we think, effectually prevent him from visiting London. This then is the position. The colony is desirous that it should be represented at the Royal festivities in common with the other colonies, and although its Premier is free to go, as far as the people of the colony are concerned, yet the curse of party politics will deprive us of that representation. The festivities in connection with the record reign are of less importance to us than the conference which is indicated in the letter conveying the Imperial invitation as certain to be held. At this conference some very weighty matters are to be considered, and it is most desireable that the Premier of this colony should be present and cake his part in the discussion. All the good to be derived from this is to be practically lost to New Zealand, simply because of the exigencies of a political party. Whatever views may be entertained on the subject, few we think will be inclined to dispute the fact that it is the bounden duty of .Mr Seddon at all hazards and at all party risks to go Home. We hope that the Premier will be able to free himself from the party entanglements which now appear to block the way.