Mr Seddon in Australia.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8103, 1 June 1906, Page 6

Mr Seddon in Australia.

{By Electric Telegraph -Copyright) (Per PfflOT AwooiatioiU MELBOUENIi May 3L Mr Seddon dinc?d with tho Common wealth Government, He declared be was harder worked in Australia than if ho had been in New Zealand, He cxpreAaed great plo&xuro at the tone of Winston Churehill'ii speech. Allowing that Mr Churchill made the epech wt!» a view of improving the position with tho colonies or to please them, he thought it uhowed that our aspirations and idcah were being realised, also that " we would brook no interference with our right# m self governing colonics." It was plowing to ace that the step.* being taken in the direction of intercolonial preference would meet with the approval of the Imperial authorities. It would alio lead up io preferential trade with the Mother Country. Me atfio mentioned in this respect that the comparative tables he had prepared of New Zealand trade would when published prove an object lesson to those who were sceptical and jeered at the proposed scheme of preference to Great Britain. With regard to Mr allusions to defence, he said tho '• sooner #omo one told tho British Government what was underlying the Australian desire respecting naval protection tho better." During tho time of war it was feared the Britt«h Government would withdraw the equadron from Australia and leave hor open to marauders. Wo, in Near Zealand, had stipulated in our agreement thut there should be at all times two warships on our consta, He had been adversely criticised by the Imperial Minister of War and the Lords of the Admiralty, and some Prime Ministers who Attended tho last liii' perial Conference for that, but personnily he did not fear that Australia and New Zealand would suffer if left unprotected during a war. Mr Churchill's opinion on " collcctivist ideals n Wf»n to him the moat satisfactory feature of the speech. The New Zealand Government had some time ago expressed the wish that a member of the Royal Family and Mr Churchill should visit New Zealand about Exhibition time. At a conference between Messrs Deakin and Seddon to-uay a reciprocal agreement was discuascd and the question of the New Hebrides dealt with. Everything bo far is confidential. It is understood in regard to reciprocity that tho agreement of 1807 will be extended And lorm tho basis of present negotiations.