MR SEDDON’S CAMPAIGN

Hokitika Guardian, 26 November 1919, Page 4

MR SEDDON’S CAMPAIGN

ADDRESS AT HOKITIKA

There was a large attendance at the Princess Theatre last evening Avhen Mr T. E. Y. Seddon addressed the electors. The candidate and the Mayor Avere heartily applauded as they came on the stage. Throughout the address Mr Seddon received an excellent reception and was warmly applauded at the conclusion.

The Mayor, (Mr G. A. Perry) presided and in opening th® meeting said they had before them that night, Mr Seddon, who was- well-known to them . all. He must he proud to' find such a large nsemblage present to meet him. He /would! withoAit delay call upon Mr Seddon to address them.

Mr Seddon who Avas received with applause is!aid that five years ago he came before them and asked them to send him to Parliament to Represent them, and they had honored him then Avith their coifidence. At that time he did not know that the life of. the Parliament would have been extendied to last five years. He wanted to-night to put the Liberal Party on side, and explain their attitude on a number of matters. When he Avtent to Parliament Mr Massey had 41 members pledged to him and Sir Joseph Ward 33. With the great war in full progress it Avas necessary to-consider what steps should be taken to prevent a dead-lock arising. The Liberal Party put countrV first and dropped politics and had joined with the Reform party, in a programme to assist in carrying the war to a successful conclusion. He did not Avjsh to stand as an apologist for the National Government. Mistakes had been made, but life did say that a determined attempt had. been made to carry on in the best interests of this country and the Empire. He wanted to, thank the people of Hokitika for the privilege of being allowed to go to the front and to take his stand Avith his fellow-men. With Mr Downie Stewart he had gone to the war front. Now they Avere back again, and he felt that as much as possible shotild be done for the soldiers who had returnied. He was proud to see on the other side Mr Hine and Mr Coates in the Cabinet, as representing the soldiers. He was also pleased to see other soldiers placing their services at the disposal of the electors in varkms parts of the Dominion. He felt that we want in this parliament of this country men who had virility and a broad minded view of the happenings, and so he said to the Diggers who were standing, good luck to them, feeling sure if returned they would prove of advantage and value to Parliament.

Then dealing with the Liberal Party and the. Coalition, he said that Sir Joseph Ward and his party had been accused in some quarters of having-stolen a march on Mr Massey’s party. This was not so. The terms of the agreement were written. It was for the duration of the war. When the war was over and our representatives had come back the Liberal Party dropped out of the Coalition because the agreement had come to an end, and they were not invited to stay in the Coalition. When matters came up in tne House for consideration that had been dealt with the previous soss?< ns which he had not been present at, he studied the matters very carefully, and had found r any mailers requiring most careful attention. One of the greatest problems of the day was that of the cost of living. No one denied that the cost of living was higher, but it was higher in Australia than, in New Zealand. It was twice as high in England and thrice as high in France. The evil does exist here, but they were doing their best to reduce the evil. There wafl a. bona fide atempt made last session to deal with this huge question. Reference was made to the danger of the American meat trust, and to the inflation of money values, which were given as some of the causes of the great unrest. The root cause of the trouble was the profiteering class who had made such huge profits at the cost of the masses of the people. The Board of Trade Bill passed last session was, he considered . a straightforward attempt to grapple with this grave menace. The Board undier the Act had great powers to deal with all matters affecting the making of excessive profits out of their businesses or trading concerns. He did not think any piece of legislation was perfect. This Bill had to stand the test of time, but he thought there was power in it to give some effect to their desires to remedy some df the evils of profiteering. Other matters dealt with last session were also referred to. The Bill dealing with the admission of Avomen to the House Avas humorously referred to. The mandate; for Samoa was again dealt Avith on lines of the Greymouth speech. He considered that a fair Avarn ing had been given in the order that indentured labour should be ended within twelve months, thereby giving the planters and OAvners an opportunity to save their plantations from ruin; hut a fair warning was given that indentured labor had to go. ' Dealing with public works he pointed out the urgent nature of the proper carrying out ,of the main roads and other public Avorks. An interesting explanation on the subject followed and references Avere made to the necessity of an improved carrying out of public works undertakings. He wanted to make an interesting anouncement in reference to mining matters. He had been informed that evening that the Rimu mining scheme had been taken up, together with the Toaroha water supply for power purposes. He assured them that every possible assistance would he given tol ensure the carrying out to a successful conclusion of these promising propositions. He had been disappointed that last session, the Mining Bill had not included any reference to alluvial mining. He would urge the making of greater inducements to prospectors to go into the hills to endeavour to locate the gold that hie Avith many others believed to be there. He showed how every possible assistance should be given especially as the price of gold had not risen at all to correspond Avith the increased cost of production. Miners’ disease, in the quartz mines Avas dealt Avith and the inadequate recompense granted to them. Last session they had enacted that a Abater spray drill should be placed in every quartz face to prevent as far as possible, the terrible disease that tlio miners suffered from. Other provisions of the Coal Mines Act of last session were dealt with, including the provis-

ioii for the purchase of ships to carry coal or timber, and the power for manning coal mines placed in the hands of the Mihister to place inexperienced men in mines, and to which he had strongly protested to its inclusion in the Bill. Dealing with timber industry and the timber regulations he said if it had not been for the agitation of the people of this district, a very serious set-back would have been given to the industry .in this district. Thje action of Sir F. Bell and the regulations brought forward were roundly condemned. The subject was dealt with at length. He expressed his gratification that as a result of the agitation they had obtained a promise from Sir F. Bell which had to some extent mitigated the effect of the very stringent regulations brought down. At the end of 1922 the export of timber would come to an end, if the present regulations continued in force. He would maintain the agitation and see that a fair and reasonable export trade was arranged for. Mr Seddon concluding said he had referred to the manifestoes put forward by tbe two leaders. He then proceeded to deal -with the Liberal programme, which he set out briefly. Dealing Avith education he Airged thte increase of school buildings, new schools Avith every possible improvement. He had found the American school buildings fat ahead of those doing duty in New Zealand. The necessity of preventing land aggregation was Airged, with a stiffened graduated land tax. There was also a necessity of settling; soldiers on the land. In this district there had been 110 soldiers placed on the land, and though it was a small number it was a beginning.

Dealing with the soldiers gratuity lie pointed out hoiv the members had agreed to the grant being a flat rate. Speaking as the soldier representative of the Liberal Party he had endorsed the flat rate of payment, considering this was the only democratic Avay. He had been charged with having urged a differentiation of the amount paid to men and officers, but this was not so. He had, ivith all other members agreed to the flat rate. After that Avas agreed to he had at the request of the Wellington Returned Soldiers Association on behalf of the married officers, requested Government to give consideration to the claims of officers for the increase made in salaries, of officers in 1918, to he made retrospective. Continuing Mr Seddon said when the New Zealanders Avent to the front they had found that their officers received a lower rate of pav than any other forces and they were not in receipt of separation allowances, and married officers with fami lies had found it very difficult to keep themselves ‘and their families. Brief reference was made to the necessity of speeding up the completion of roads and bridge works; of the nationalisation of the ferry service; the carrying out of hydro-electric extension; the prevention of profiteering; workers compensation; the building of workers’ homes. The Liberal Party offered their programme to the people in all confidence. They were carrying on the campaign in all confidence. Tlvpy stand for antiBolshevism, anti-any kind of disloyalty, and in support of law and order. They Avere not out looking for this revolutionary support. They were OAit for country first, and the good of the people. If the Liberal Party get an opportunity to occupy thb Treasury benches again they will do their best to make this country as famous as it was in years gone by. It was a young country, with a great reputation won by tlie boys Avho had fought for Noav Zealand, and if the Liberal Party weile returned to poAver they would endeavour to -make it the best spot in this Avorld to live in. (loud applause). QUESTIONS. The Chairman invited any questions to be asked.

A question Avas handed in from a returned soldier: —Are you in favour of CAilled coavs being branded as such Avhen sold in the open market?

Air Seddon stated that this Avas a serious matter. If any returned soldier has suffered in this way he Avould advise him to take action as there Avould, undoubtedly have been fraud.

Question: —If war should break out again would h« be in favour of applying the Conscription Act again? Air Seddon—l want to say Yes, (applause). In doing so he desired to point out that in the last struggle there was England engaged in a terrible struggle for existence. There AA r as France bleeding Avliite. In England they had brought in conscription and in France also did so. He was proud to knoAV that in New-Zealand the same spirit had been given effect to. It was right for every one to go, the willing, one and also the shirker. It was the Avilling spirit who went and volunteered and so conscription was brought in so that all did their part. He considered it a fair means, a British means and tire right attitude to take, (applause). COMPLIMENTARY VOTE.

Mr R. Wild, (Chairman of the Hokitika Harbour Board) said he was very pleased to have the honour of moving “That this meeting of the electors of Westland tenders to Captain Seddon its hest thanks for his wide and valued services in connection with the war to the Empire and Dominion, and accords him the assurance that he is considered a very fit and proper person to continue in Parliament as the representative of Westland.” When he had first read the resolution he had felt it was a poor expression, hut after all when the war was on it was the only thing that mattered. It was the proper place for every fit and able man to' go. There were many who were inclined to sneer at the services of Captain .Seddon, but those who had heard the words of Lieut Frickleton, V.C., in that hall would be entirely satisfied as he was. The fact remains that Capt. Seddon went to tire war and placed his life and services at the call of Empire. Mr Seddon had said something that night of his Road Bill, but they would be surprised if they had read Hansard as he had done to find how the members of both sides of the House had spoken in very flattering terms of this'Bill, showing the great esteem in which h.e was held. He very heartily moved the resolution. (Applause). Mr T. W.. Duff, (County Chairman), seconded the resolution, feeling sure that the people of the district did appreciate tho services given by Mr Seddon in connection with the war. They also did appreciate the manner in which he had represented them in Parliament, and he felt sure they would again return him as their member, (applause).

The motiori was put and carried tihanimoUsly. Air Seddon thanked them for their vote and expressed the hope that the present contest Avould be carried out in the same spirit that had signalised previous contests in .Avhicli he had taken part. He mentioned that in spite of the spirited contests in previous years with Mr Alichel as an opponent, they had continued to be friends and he was glad to be able to say that on this occasion Air Alichel was with him. He moved a hearty vote of thanks to the Alayor for presiding. This Avas carried by acclamation and the Mayor briefly responding a very orderly meeting came to a conclusion.