Mr Seddon in Australia

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8140, 2 June 1906, Page 6

Mr Seddon in Australia

The Ninr Hebrides?. (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright,) (Par f'mn Aiwoeiationn : MKI-POUIiNK dune L A deputation representing the Prcsbyterian Mission of the New Hebrides watted on Mr Deaktn and Mr Scddon and urged the critical stale of affair* at the 'Inland* should they pass io the French. The quciition was approaching a erisis. They urged Mr Seddon. who was one of the sffonKest men in the Kuipire, to admit fhe prodnct* of the' Kew Hebnde* io New /Cealynd. That would be one means of solidifying Australasian interests. Australia had refused to give preference to the produets of the group, but they hoped Mr Scddon would sshow a better example. Mr Peakm, replying, uaid ho would not occupy any time, so that the deputation might hear Mr Scddon, who bad made a deep study of the question. He hoped the result of bh conference with Mr Seddoo would »eeuro some satisfactory arrangement. Mr Seddun, replying, hoped public opinion would bo awakened to the delay and that steps would be taken to settle the question for all time. The New Hebrides were at owe time in commission for New Zealand, That was Providence watching over them, but 6tupid men undid the work. Ho lengthily referred to the work of Downing Street in the past in relation to New Caledonia, Hawaii, Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa, Coming back to the New Hebrides, the cnu-e of the trouble was tbo snpincncKs of the British Government. What ho objected to wan that sn these great querdiona they were sent depp'ttchi'S marked '• confidential." Why did the Imperial Government put them in tint position? They mr.de these things confidential and secrct, "aud when public opinion might be aroused and swayed for the good of the Empire they could not say what is going on ; and yet your liberties and privileges are infringed «o that I am almost tired of it. '

Mr Dealan : "Hear, hear." Mr Scddon, contiuuiug, eaid:— 11 1 stand here to-day with my bandit tied. What aro they afraid of? They aay it will prejudice their position with the friendly natives. The fact is it will prejudice our position. Hence there will be no leakage, but I notice that while the Imperial Government is anxious to have the proposed convention kept Fecrct. it is published in the French papers." The native phase bad not been equitably considered by the Imperial Government. The natives were entitled to as much consideration as the Maoris received. They owned the Sand. Their interests should bo conserved. He had bad one cable from the British Government : " Thanks very much for assistance rendered." He did not want thanks, he wanted action, i'bey were now asked to revise the provisional agreement. There had been no me to represent Australia and New Zeahiml in drawing up the convention, He did not mean to say anything about the people representing Britain, but if they were to .be judged by the agreement sent out here they knew very little on the subject. The French, however, had not been so unmindful of their people's interests. He admired the French diplomacy, but Australia! and New Zealand had cause to complain that in a matter which tliey were so deeply interested they had not been consulted. They ought to have been. He agreed with the deputation that if they could get the French to abandon their interests m New Hebrides, receiving compensation in some other country from Britain, it would be the proper solution of the difficulty. New Zealand would adhere to the position she took up from the ilr.-d, and representations would follow from the Commonwealth, and New Zealand on these lines. The boldest eosir.-e was the hoi. It was the right cour.-e to hjate what vie\\i> were in th-i .ir.'.rr;-.-!.- of the Empire and of Aiistraias:;!.

Mr iSe-nicm ».»id thai when' New Zealand had a Uhteicn of the inlands rather than a protectorate, the uproar wst painful to hear, but in view of what had happened in the past, and in view of the fact that Britain had surrendered' her interests to other nations, he believed the better way would be to divide the Ishnds am? make one M-ciiou Fier:eh and the other Btiti.-di. France, a-j ft coloniser, had m 4 been over Buecec-:fn!. Tlic chanced v.era that the Britisher would be so successful that it would be only a question of time when the French colonists would ih,-ovv their lot in with them. There was a danger of France trading her interests to Amorica. and where America wont she would appiv her shipping laws, Mr ].>eakin and. himntif would do their best to make a protectorate auch aa to prevent d«ngtr arising to tbo natives and Buti*h >■ Ulcr«. A. joint Commission over the New Hebrides should have a righi to couv'.u-Je reciprocal treaties witli New Zealand end Australia.

Mr l,)caki<i, i;i reply to a question, said noihing ccuul bo confirmed v.'i:hout hearing our views. Mr Sodden tut do d: Wo hive decided to strongly rveommend that there should be cmo code of iuw for every soul in the place. June 1. ! Mr .Sudd on bad a further long con- ! Terence with Mr Dertkin on recinrocal tariff. At a meeting of the Exhibit ton Commission the reduction of pussuigy rates was still urged upon the .Huddart-Par-ker and Union Company, who will give a final answer before Tuesday. Mr pent promised to double the contribution of Victoria towards the Exhibition. MrSoddon was accorded an enthusiastic reception at the Commercial Travellers' Club, He visits Ballnrat to-morrow and Bendigo on Wednesday.