The Premier's Health.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 285, 6 December 1904, Page 3

The Premier's Health.

IN THE HANDS OF THE DOCTORS. HARD TASKMASTERS. THE HIGH COMWISSIONERSHIP. ANOTHER INDEFINITE STATEMENT. (N.Z. Herald Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURSH, Dec. 2. In conversation with the Christchurch interviewers, the Premier, speaking about his health, said his doctors were hard taskmasters, and insisted upon him mortifying Ms flesh at every turn. They had taken two stone of his weight, and were now demanding two stone more. He was not allowed to eat or drink this or that. He was made to walk and to ride, when lie felt far more inclined to rest, and in a little time they would probably devise some fresh means of bodily torture. He was getting rather tired of the exactions and was beginning to wonder whether it would not be better to take to (»ick .and shovel work at once than ,iay this constant penalty for his sedentary life. " However," he added, as he saw he was being taken seriously, " the doctors have been my very good friends. They have pulled me together in a wonderful way, and I trust that when they have done a little more starving and driving I shall be as fit as ever." That Mr Seddon is in fair health must be knagimod from the fact that on Tuesday, in Otago, he delivered four speeches, attended three functions, and had ridden 21 miles on horseback. Yesterday he travelled straight through from Ophir to Ohrisl church, leaving early in the morning and arriving here at eleven o'clock last nig-ht. To-day he has been very busy with shop-keepers' deputations, and left for Wellington to-night.

On the subject 08 the High Com-missioner-ship Mr Seddon remarked that he observed that two of his few Mends to the newspaper world, ibe Lyttelton Times and the Dunedin Star, have 'drawn exactly opposite conclusions from 'Ms reference to the subject at Naseiby. The Times lias assumed that he had giuite made up his mind on the matter, that his trunk was packed, and that he was inly waiting for a convenient season to take him to London. The Star, on the other hand, hod definitely stated that he would remain in Una colony, awl that he had never t;ad aw intention of exchanging the Premiership of the su.bondina.te office. The only thing they were good enough to agree about was that in his present position he had been of some little service to New Zlaaland. "The truth is," Mr Seddon added more seriously, "that I should be \ery sorry to leave the colony under any circumstances. All my ties are h.re. I have done my work here, and I should like to end my life here. My friends mean well, of o-urse, in suggesting- that I should ;o Home to an' easier position, but L'bey are not paying me a very high ;ompliment when they imagine that i. should he ready to act the part it the splendid invalid in the London office. The duties of the High Commissioner, if they were carried >ut ,as they should be, would be /ery little less exacting than those ->t the Premier. There are no attractions for- me in London. The people of New Zealand have been • ery good to me, particularly during the last few trying months, and if only to show my appreciation of their generous kindness I should like c 0 remain among- them if my health permits, and 1 hope for the 'best. I shall not leave my present position except at the bidding of the people. Then I think I should prefer seeking rest on a farm or in some quiet country occupation to mingling in the ceaseless bustle of a great city. In the meantime I am getting l along pretty well, and the farm and London arc in the distance."

The Press says : "Notwithstanding the enigmatical utterances of the Premier with regard to the High Commissionership, we have verygood reason for believing that he intends to accept the position, and will leave for England during the coming year."