MR. SEDDON IN AUSTRALIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8124, 1 June 1906, Page 3

MR. SEDDON IN AUSTRALIA.

CONFERENCE WITH FEDKEAL PEEMIEB.

WINSTON CHURCHILL'S SPEECH TRAVERSED.

' Becked 31,11.30 p.m. •faLBOUENE, May 31. At the ccL/atfice between Mr Deacon and MrW*tyn to-day, a reciprocal agreement*"?) discussed, and the question of dealt' with. Everything to far is confidential i but it is understood with regard to ?. reciprocity, that the agreement of 1897 will be extended, and form the basis of the present negotiations. Mr Seddon dined with the Common- * wealth Government. He declares he is harder worked here than if he were in New Zealand. He expressed great pleasure at the tone of Winston Churchill's speech. Allowing that Mr Churchill made ths speech with a new to improving his position with the colonies, or to please fbcm, he thinks it showß that our aspirations and ideals are being realised, and that we will brook no inter- . ference with our rights as self-govern-ing cojonies. ft was pleasing to, see that the steps taken in the direction of inter-Colonial " preference would meet with the approval of the Imperial authorities. It would, also lead np to preferential trade with the Mother Country. He also mentioned in this respect that the com-

paratira tables he had prepared, of Jfeif fy&land trade would, puV i Ushed, prove an object lesion to those j who wen sceptical and jeered at the < scheme of preference to Great Britain. ' With regard to Mr Churchill's al- j losioiu to defence, he said the sooner , someone told the British Government , what was underlying the Australian desire respecting naval protection [ the better. During a tijie of war It was feared that the British Government would withdraw the squadron from Australia and leave her open to marauders. We in New Zealand, said Mr Seddon, had stipulated in our agreement that there should be at nil times two warships in New Zealand. He had been adversely criticised by the i Imperial Minister for War, the Lords of the Admiralty, and gome of the f'rime Ministers Who attended the last mpenal Conference. Personally, he did not fear that Australia or New Zealand would suffer if left unprotected during war. Mr Churchill's opinion on collectivist ideals was to him the most satisfactory feature of the speech. The Government had some time ago expressed a wish thata member of the royal family and Mr Churchill should visit New Zealand . about Exhibition time. AN INCOEBECT BEPOUT. PKB FBESS ASSOCIATION. Wellington. June 1. The Acting-Premier has been advised that the report of the Premier's remarks at Adelaide concerning the New Zealand Press Association, to • the effect that the Government a large sum annually toft Wards the upkeep of that Association, is incorrect: What the Premier did say. and is prepared to stand by, was that the concessions given to the Press Association amounted to £20,000 annually, and the confirmation of this will be found in a return presented to Parliament some time ago.