A MEMORY OF SEDDON

Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1919, Page 1

A MEMORY OF SEDDON

(From “Politics and the Public.”)

Richard John Seddon had a strong man’s joy in feats of endurance. After the arduous session of 1905 he began his last election fight by a rush to the south. He went by the Tutanekai to Lyttelton, and sped on by special train to Ethelton. He choose this little place for the making of his first big policy statement of his campaign. The Premier’s platform was' the floor of the little railway goods shed—and he spoke enough to fill five or six columns of the Christchurch papers, even with condensed reports. Afterwards he received on the hillside about six deputations, introduced by the late Mr Andrew Rutherford (the member for Amuri). It was one of these paternal days, dear to the heart of “Digger Dick.” After this strenuous time, Air Seddon returned to Wellington at top speed by special train and steamer.

The following reference to the excursion is taken from the Christchurch “Star” of 2nd November, .1905: — “The Premier had a day’s outing, after liis own liking, yesterday at Ethelton, where he declared another section of the Waiara-Blenheim railway open for business. His arrival in a “special” was a signal for a volley of cheers from hundreds of throats, and the Westinghouse brake had scarcely stopped the train when a multitude of beaming people surrounded the carriages and clustered around Air Seddon as he stepped on to the platform. He was first bajied by a rugged but honestlooking old man whose beard and garments were weather-beaten by many' a day in sun and storm. “Do you remember Red Jacks?” exclaimed the hardy settler, and a rapid light flashed in the Premier’s eyes as fie nodded genially at the inquirer. Other well disposed taxpayers tried to touch the hem of Mr Seddon’s garments, and eventually a couple of policemen bad to exert themselves to prevent the crowd from taking the Premier to their homes in cherished memorial fragments. The most homely scene was on the slope near the station at lunchtime. The menu included trifle on tussock, chicken on grass, apple-pie on a log of wood, and other comfortable arrangements. The Premier, enthroned on a chair, like a patriarch, was naturally the central figure in an unconventional band of picnickers. His hat had taken a perfectly virtuous little tilt to one side of. his head, and he seemed at peace with the wide, wide world. He was in the act of lifting a morsel from his plate when a wicked photographer snapped him.”