MR SEDDON'S VISIT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8153, 1 June 1906, Page 5

MR SEDDON'S VISIT.

Received May 31, 11.30 p.m. MELBOURNE, May 31. At the Conference between Messrs Doakin and Seddon. ,to-day, the reciprocal agreement was dismissed, and the question of tbe New Hebrides was dealt with.

Everything so far is c jnfidential, It is understood, however, ttiat with regard to leciprooity that the agreement of 1897 will be extended and form the basis of tbe present negotiations. Mr Seddon was entertained at din nor by the Commonwealth Government. In tha course £of a speech, Mr Seddon declared that he was harder worked here than if he were in New Zealand, and expressed great pleasure at the tone of Mr Winston Churchill's speech at the West Australian dinner in London. Allowing that Mr Churchill made the speech with a view to improving the position with the colonies or to please them,he thought it showed that our aspirations and ideals are being realised and that we brook no interference with our rights as seifgoverning colonies. It was pleasing to see that the steps taken iu the direction of intercolonial preference would meet with the approval of the Imperial authorities. It would also lead up to preferential trade with the Mother Country. He also mentioned in this respeot that the comparative tables Ue had prepared of Now Zealand trade would, when published, prove an object lesson to those who wore sceptical and jeered at a scheme giving preference to Great Britain. With regard to Mr Churchill's pllueions to defence. Mr Seddon uaid that tbe sooner someone told the British Government what was underlying the Australian desire respecting naval protection the better. During the time 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 all times two warahipa in New Zealand waters."

Personally he did not fear that Australia and New Zealand would suffer if they were left unprotected during war. Mr Churchill's opinion on the collectivist ideals was to him the most satisfactory feature of the speech. The Government had some time ago expressed a \Vish that a member of the Royal Family and Mr Churchill should visit New Zealand about Exhibition time.