The National Purse Untruth.

It will be remembered that a great and fittingly representative send-off was tendered to the Premier in page 17 Christchurch on the eve of his departure for London to represent this colony at the Coronation ceremonies in 1902.

For months before everyone knew that a collection was being made throughout New Zealand to enable a national purse to be given to him as a token of the colony's appreciation of his Imperial services in despatching contingents to the Transvaal. When the farewell meeting was held it was generally understood that as the amount the promoters desired to raise (£5000) was not then in hand, it was decided to postpone the presentation of the money until the Premier returned from England. The farewell meeting was, therefore only used to present an address signed by 20,000 men and women of ealand.

Can any words be clearer? In the Old Land, where patriotism is not yet a thing to be bought an dsold, where men are yet to be found whose sense of honour is greater than their love of gold. A national purse in payment for patriotic services rendered would be equivalent in its effect upon a man's social opportunities to an act of cowardice on the part of a soldier in the face of the enemy—either, act would mean social ostracism. It was therefore politic that an emphatic denial should be given to the national purse movement, and it was given. The Premier said to the people of England whose hospitality he desired to enjoy: "It (the purse) was not proceeded with."

What was the sequel to this declaration that at his own request the movement to give him money for patriotic services rendered had not been proceeded with?

The Right Hon. the Premier, upon his return from London at the end of 1902, proceeded at once to rake up the "sum of money" the proposal to present which he told the English people had been abandoned "at his request."

In Wellington, on Dec. 22, 1902, he seized the first instalment—a cheque in a silver urn amounting to about £857. At the other chief centres semi-public gatherings were held, at which his hunger was appeased. In the aggregate about three thousand pounds were handed over to the Right Hon, gentleman as the result of the movement which he told the English people upon his honour had at his request, not ben proceeded with.

How did the Right Hon. gentleman defend his cupidity or explain away the asurance he had given to English people on this score?

Read his statement made when he received the first instalment of the payment for his patriotism in Wellington on Dec. 22, 1902.

"For your information, I beg to say that pars. had been cabled er- page break page break

Members of the New Liberal Party.

Messrs H. D. Bedford, F. M. B. Fr George Laurenson and T. E. Taylor.

page 20 roneously to the Home press prior to my leaving for the Mother Country that a purse of sovereigns had been presented to me at Christchurch. This being incorrect, I, through the medium of the press, corrected the error and stated that it had been intended to make me a presentation of a tangible souvenir at the same time as the address at Christchurch had been presented, but at my request this was not then proceeded with.

Note the word in italics—"then."

Well done, Mr Seddon!

In London.: "It was not proceeded with." In Wellington: "It was not then proceeded with."

When "Marguerita's" vanity caused her to fall a victim to Faust's "jewel" presentation, one could not withhold pity from her.

For the man who sacrificed this colony's love of the Motherland upon the altar of his personal greed one can only feel contempt.

There were scores of women whose sons died for what they conceived to be the need of the Empire in New Zealand—some widows contributed the children of their affection to their instinctive love of country. In their need they could easily establish claims upon this money far stronger in their equity than those of this mercenary patriot. Did any of them share this souvenir with the great Imperialist?