The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21. THE PREMIER AND THE COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 21 November 1907, Page 2

The Daily News. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21. THE PREMIER AND THE COUNTRY.

No doubt it is too early yet for anyone P 10 attempt to write the life, diameter, ' and work of the late Premier, tile Right , Hon. K. J- Scddon. lime is required ' to mellow feeling and to mature the judgment. During his life, however, • .'his wors:; enemy could - " not deny to him ' a wonderful industry, immense energy, and entire devotion to the interests of his adopted laud. What is interesting to remember at this time is the fact thai he left to his successor perhaps the most unique legacy that ever was given to a public man—a following of three- i fourths of the number of members of Ui<! lower, the popular chamber of le- | illation, and the right to nominate j some twenty members to the second, or upper, chamber. How the lite Premier stood by his friend during a very critical period is a. matter of common property to the people of New Zealand, and certainly any service he rendered in that respect was amply repaid to him in the end, but surely the bequest left to Sir Joseph Ward of overwhelming majorities in both brandies of the legislature stands without a parallel in history.

The strength of the late Premier lay in the country. lie popularised himself so that if a member of the House of Representatives proved himself troublesome or unduly obnoxious, he could be thrown out of his seat. The people did not always vote for principles, or character, or personality, but for Seddon, so that the late Premier had a commanding hold of the legislature. A statesman who seemed to have a eontrolling influence in the election of members necessarily exercised a dominating power, and any public man who, by force of circumstances, "steps into his political shoes, must labor under very great disadvantages. It is fair to remember, on Sir Jocsph Ward's behalf, that he suffers from succeeding such a powerful character as the late Premier. Still, the interest of the people is paramount, and there are [questions that will arise.

The third session of the present Parliament will close this week. It has been an unusually long, very arduous, and a very trying session. The Liberal party eleoted under the auspices of the late Premier, have adhered to Sir Joseph Hard consistently and loyally throughout. How many of these members are, in their hearts, satisfied with the leaaerslnp of the Premier; how many ol them are_ disposed to kick over the traces at the lirst convenient opportunity r is one of H,e questions /lint present themselves. What is the strength ot the present Premier in the country' this is perhaps the most important quesUon of all. It will be conceded hat during the present session the Government have worked hard: that its aIXv rS 8 '"^ 1 very considerable ab iitj ; hat a number of very useful nnl H 'f C ; ,SUrcS ' ,avL ' •*<■'» 1> I: >«<' upon the Statute Book; but it will also be said that the Minister for Lands in Mr feeddon's u inktry Iw<l , )reviouslv prepared a Land JBUlj that Mr Duncan Ti \?T 0l the Lai " ls Committee, and in that capacity brought a very large amount of practical experience and much official knowledge to bear in the shaping „f «,„ measure just passed the late Premier had previously detcrS TV ]W}ky ° f reftm which the Government of Sir Joseph I Ward found already to their hands. P

■3 £ ° " ,an ~n* *P>-"eiators, and every Government has its dctra tors lhe conditio,, i s natural «„,, in ,,p,,., 1t o .™ mvffJ ; ,nan 5 PS; SCCk t0 '"thorn «■« eon r r mOt T ; th( '- v "<■- °» the coif.ary, swayo,, )ly a miml f Micros, feed- „•-, .-.nine, perhaps the majority of em. quite trivial or outside tl.c lead>g question*. It is ~ true saving tlu" there ,s „„ gratitude in politics." P^ bnWy next session, when mcml.ors of -th T-' fll '° T'' " Pai ''- 7 fa ™ to face with the.r constituents, their real sentiments, politically, to the Premier will be more clearly revealed.