placed in horse-races, boat-races, boxing bouts and military and naval engagements, in all of which he is either leading in the contest or defeating his opponents.
Punch could hardly be expected to let Mr. Seddon’s visits to England pass without notice. New Zealand would probably have felt rather slighted if the famous humorist had failed to take notice of the Premier from over the seas. Shortly before he arrived in London in 1902, Punch published some notes from his diary at sea. The following extracts are taken from them:—
(Communicated by Marconi wire).
“Thursday,—Mr. Seddon has had a busy day. Directly after breakfast he summoned all the crew into the saloon and addressed them in a stirring harangue on the duties and privileges of the British sailor. One passage has excited considerable comment: ‘I am not sure,’ said Mr. Seddon, ‘judging by what I have observed since I came on board, that there is not a disposition to impose too many restrictions on the sailors who do the work on board this ship. I strongly advise you when you receive an order to ask yourselves whether its execution is consistent with the inalienable rights of a Briton. If you find that it is not, it will obviously be your duty not to carry it out—at any rate, not without consulting me. I shall at all times,’ continued Mr. Seddon, amidst great applause, ‘be ready to give you advice on these points.’ Some of the ship’s officers, including the captain, seem disposed to think that Mr. Seddon spoke, if anything, just a little too strongly. They urge, too, that the captain’s consent should have been asked before the crew were summoned to the saloon, as the absence of the men from their work might, under certain circumstances, have involved the ship in various risks. These remarks were, it is supposed, conveyed to Mr. Seddon, for during lunch he was heard to say that, as Premier of New Zealand, and a friend of the Colonial Secretary, he could not possibly submit to dictation from anyone—certainly not from the captain of a merchant vessel.”
Punch also honoured him with a “Pæan” while he was in England on that occasion:
Oh, what an honour ’tis to be
The Premier of a colony!
Who is there wants to hear a speech
From B-l-f-r, Ch-mb-rl-in, or B-ch?
But all eyes fill and cheeks redden
At every speech from Mr. S-dd-n?
When during this colonial week
Anyone else essayed to speak,
A deep depression settled down,
I noticed, upon London Town,
Our hearts were cold, our spirits laden—
Until aroused by Mr. S-dd-n!
