THE UNRATIFIED TREATY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81859, 6 October 1906, Page 3

THE UNRATIFIED TREATY.

STATEMENT BY MR. DEAKIN. JUSTICE TO THE LATE I'REMIER. Received sth, 11.43 p.m. Melbourne, October 5. Speaking regarding the South African reciprocity treaty, Mr Deakin said it was with the deepest regret that he informed the House that the treaty with New Zealand had faiied to obtain the acceptance of the people of that colony. The telegraphed reports of the objections ueie very brief, so he took it they were merely the giat of those objections. He wai in a position to say that those objeciens were in the mind of Mr Seddon, who mentioned them to Federal Ministers as from the point of view of New Zealand making the ireaty less attractive, but Mr S«ddon accepted them as the sacrifice New Zealand would make under the treaty for other advantages. It \va« with a clear appreciation of a loss ot revenue involved by these proposals "hat Mr Seddon set his signature to the treaty. He mentionej this matter in justice to Mr Seddon. It was with a full and clear view of all the circumstances that Mr Seddon threw the great weight of his knowledge and reputation into the scale in favour of the treaty.