SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1902. KING DICK'S HOME=COMING. "There's Bound to be a Row."

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 121, 25 October 1902, Page 8

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1902. KING DICK'S HOME = COMING. "There's Bound to be a Row."

BY the time these lines meet the public gaze, no doubt Bang Richard, with has Coronation Contingent, will be once more in sight of his dominions. His arrival will be a regular godsend to the Opposition press. They are in dreadful straits for fresh material for editorial articles. And, they have got so many questions to ask, too. Look at the poor old "Post," for instance. It can hardly control its impatience to get at the People's Dick. The chances are it will be waiting at the Queen's Wharf, with a telescope cocked to its eye, and its own political catechism in its pocket, at the very moment when the Tutanekai's numbers go up on the Mount Victoua signal staff. • » • It virtually promises him a hot reception, unless he is prepared, the moment he sets foot on shore, to answer a few political conundrums to its entire satisfaction. For instance, he has eot to show good cause for contradicting the "Post's" version of his Papawai speech, early in the year. This, by the way, is the unforgivable sm. Then, the "Post" is still uneasy in mind about that "national purse" — does Dick really mean to give it up? It wants, likewise, to know why he alone of all the Premiers at the London Conference was ready to encourage the formation of colonial corps for service abroad? » • • It demands why he dares to dispute the statement of Mr. McCulloch, of Victoria, that he tried,and failed, to float a loan in London. It does not seem to occur to the "Post" that, touching Mr. Seddon's ow n actions, the onus of proof lies v ith McCullooh, and not with Stddon. There are a number of othei points in the "Post's" bill of indictment, but they are of minor import. Now if this is all that, by diligent research can be raked up against Mr. Seddon in the six months he has been absent from the colony, what a remarkably clean bill of health he brings back with him p • • • And, if this is really all, would it not be really more politic, and in better taste, to defer its "little list," and lay down its shillelagh until King Dick gets safely ashore, and has survived the first couple of banquets? Although he labours under the terrible disadvantage of thinking for himself, instead of accepting the "Post's" tutelage, he has really managed wonderfully well at Home, considering he lacked its infal-

hble guide nc<.> Diggei Dick wa& able to put Austialia's noblest son, Toby Barton, completely in the shade, and even Sir Wilfred Launer, of Canada, 'oute lawyer and polished man of the world thoughi he be, had to sing small when Richard John was in the neighbourhood. No matter how much you may dislike Mr. Seddon's politics, or his methods, you must, if you are a staunch New Zealander, admit that he represented the colony most worthily at Home, and brought it into a prominence which on former occasions it never attained. Little fear of New Zealand being confounded ary longer with Australia. The chances are rather that in some quarters, where Dick has been in evidence, they may conclude that New Zealand is the big island continent, and Australia the somewhat adjacent islands that Maui fished up from the sea. * * • If you are also a patriotic Brtisher, in the large Imperial sense, as well as a New Zealander, then you must still more readily admit that King Dick has done invaluable service at Home m educating public opinion up to the grand conception of Imperial federation. Let his shortcomings be what they may, his deserts far outweigh them, and, at the the moment of his homecoming, there ought to be no discordant notes. If, as the "Post" prophesies, "there is bound to be a row" — well, Richard will not be behindhand in whipping off hiscoat, and rolling up his shirt-sleeves But there is time enough for that ♦ ♦ ♦ New Zealand's first duty is to rise nobly above party feeling, and give a rousing reception to her special ambassador to the seat of Empire. He has played his part like' a man and a Briton, and has earned his welcome home. After that', you may be sure he will not be found timorous about eontering the Donnybrook Fair of election politics. So far, they cannot work up an ounce of excitement without him. Well, just bide-a-wee. Wait till King Dick gets his foot on the platform. * • * He has been kept out of the arena a trifle longer than he has been used to, and, if he is not just spoiling for a fight — -well, Richard's not himself at all, at all If the Opposition will only trail its coat, and the "Post" keep hurling all the stale eggs it can lay its hands on, it may achieve its object, and be able, with gleeful voice, to exclaim again, and yet again, "There is bound to be a row."