"KING DICK" OF MAORILAND Or Lieutenant-Governor Seddon of O.R.C.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 70, 2 November 1901, Page 8

"KING DICK" OF MAORILAND Or Lieutenant-Governor Seddon of O.R.C.

THE "persistent rumours,' which are heard with the greatest frequency by the Opposition press, that the Premier will be asked to assume the Lieutenant-Governor-ship of the Orange River Colony, opens up a vista of political possibilities interesting alike to his friends and foes Naturally, on this issue the Premier is silent, or when he does speak he professes that he is so wrapped up in the life of the colony that he has no desire to quit it even for Imperial or gubernatorial honOUIS » • • Of Mr Seddon s fitness to ably fill the position of Lieutenant-Governor of the African State there is no question All are agreed on the point, but on Mr Seddon s compliance with any lequest to assume the position there is room foi much doubt He has been made by New Zealand, and he has in return helped to make her. The humorists of the Opposition tell us that, in consequence of the awful state of things the Premier has brought about m New Zealand, he will be awarded a distinction foi which he is eminently fitted ' * • * Those who disparage professionally have paid the greatest compliment — unintentionally, of course — to the administration of the Premier by this admission In older that they may get rid of a strong leader whom they dislike, and who possesses in fullest measure that popular confidence which they have vainly tried to sap and undermine, and in order that they may have a chance of running the country under their own particular brand of Liberalism, or whatever they call it, they hail the prospect of a distant Governorship for him as a solendid means of getting rid of King Dick Now, this supposed opportunity is to crop up at Coronation time, and the Oppositionists want him badly to take it No amount of opposition, organised or guerilla, has shaken the absolute tiust of the people in the leader of the Government * • • It is a part of the Opposition tactics to magnify the possibilities of the governorship, and to conclude for the public, that the Premier will gladly accept it While he is 'King Dick" in New Zealand, he could only be governor in the Orange River Colony We believe that when the time comes for him to say "yea" or "nay" as to whether he shall remain the "Dick" of New Zealand, or the potentate of a Crown colony, he will be consistent in sticking to the country to which he is proud to belong, and to which he has promised to adhere * • • It is reasonable that should the honour be offered to Mr Seddon Ins supporters will raise their voices in an endeavour to obtain his refusal of it Aheady the anti-every thing party see Mr Seddon safely (from their point of view) at Bloemfontein. dealing out autocracy to the Kaffirs, and making discontented Dutchmen quail The worst, m the opinion of the one or two persons m New Zealand who do not believe that Mr

Seddon deserves all the names in. a menagerie so freely bestowed upon him. is that he v.\\\ remain in a country he loves, and which he has always served to the best of his ability, and prevent the sowing of new legislative seeds of doubtful quality by those who wish to see his back