CAPTAIN SEDDON IN AMERICA.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 November 1918, Page 4

CAPTAIN SEDDON IN AMERICA.

A BUSY BOUND OF LECTURING. Captain T. E. Y. Seddon M.P. for Westland, is having a busy round of lecturing in the United States, where he continues to do excellent propaganda Avar work in the interests of the Allies. When he left France in April last ho was supposed to be absent only a few weeks, but so much A\ r as found for him to do in the States, that his time was extended again and again. In the end he was promised leave to make a short visit to New Zealand before going back to the front, but the authorities in America asked fora further• extension of his services in the States. Instead, therefore, of coming to the Dominion last month, he was secured for a further three months’ speaking engagement by the National Secuiity League. This was to have begun in August but his Pacific Coast tour was next extended, and his return to New York Avas delayed for a further six weeks. Apparently the National Security League av ill require his services up to December, and as he is due back to t.be New Zealand Division shortly thereafter, his chance of visiting the Dominion is not now very promising

A private letter received from We'lington says that Captain Seddon had a remarkable success in his lecturing tour at St Paul, Minneapolis. He had to follow Captain lan Hay of the British Army, author of “ The First Hundred Thousand,” aud was evidently on his mettle At North Dakota, too, Captain Seddon had good meetings, but the German, Swedish and Hungarian element was hard to combat. On the Pacific Slope, Captain Seddon filled a great itinerary all through September. From the 20th to the 2Dth of that month be addressed thirty-five meetings, the aggregate attendance at which was i;9,600 people. During the period the amount of travelling done was very great so that some idea can be formed of the amount, of hard Avork done on this special mission work.

Writing from Seattle on October 2nd, Captain Seddon says he is kept hard at it. The previous Friday and Saturday be bad been taken to Everett, wlure be bad three meetings, aud was then motored to the Mountains to Index. It Avas a, wonderlnl drive,""very like the road betAveen Knmara and Harcourts, but more mountainons. The trees Avere tremendous. He writes:—“Sometimes 1 smile to myself Avhen 1 think of my stern opposition to the dumping in New Zealand of Oregon pine from Seattle, from Puget Sound, arid here I am, right in the heart, of the industry. Now lam talking to audiences here bringing about a better understanding and feeling between them and us—and forgetting the timber trouble. 0 tempera, 0 mores! It seems such a pity that so much good timber is wasted by being burnt in bush fires. These fires ha\e been raging lately covering the Sound with smoke. The fires can’t be pub out, aud thousands of dollars’ Avorth of timber are being destroyed. “Seattle is a wonderful city ol 450,000 population. It is very spread out and every provision is made for future expansion. The place is agog with excitement over the Liberty Loan campaign. Across the streets are displayed most wonderful banners, and at every corner there are bell boxes avi l l l soldiers or sailors tolling the bells; sirens shriek at noon and keep up the dir. ; fire engines scream round the town. The noise and din are awful. Street speakers orate from lorries. One lorry had inside it, a ghost with red paint dripping from its fingers and plenteously spread over the floor. The orator depended upon some other attraction than his talking to draw a crowd. A window display was “a home in Washington,” and “ a home m Belgium 1 ” Another, an American soldier tied up in barbed wire and the snow falling. Another, two Belgians, the little girl with her hands cut off! It is curious how all the appeals are to the pity of the crowd. Bands of all sorts go round the city. If noise is going to do anything, then Seattle will “go over the top,” as they put it here, in the Fourth Liberty Loau with flying colors. “ To-day I am leaving for San Francisco. [go on to Los Angeles aud then Santa Barbara, and then back Eust. The Americans are the kindest people on the earth, but this is the only place so far they have not overdone me Avith meetings. “ I Avas sorry to miss Mr Massey aud Sir Joseph when returning to New Zealand as they passed through Vancouver. Sir Joseph expected me with him, but the offer of the National Security League Avas so important that I could not miss it. lam glad to hear that the Otira Tunnel is through at last—the work ought to be speeded up now. lam communicating Avicli Ministers regarding Westland affairs.”