The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1928. MR. SEDDON’S SERVICE.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 November 1928, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1928. MR. SEDDON’S SERVICE.

.Mil Snnnox’s service for the Westland Electorate most have been extremely satisfactory to tlio constituency when it is recalled lie has been memlier continuously since 1006, except for one break, 1022-25, when owing to a. plethora of candidates and a splitting of the loyalist votes, Mr Seddon was supplanted temporarily. His record of service therefore may he accepted as stancfiVlg very high. We have referred before to his bonhommie and those personal characteristics which have given him such prestige wherever he goes. The period of his sacrificing war service for his country brought that fact vout. Mr Seddon entered the ranks as a private and rose to the

position of Captain. He held staff appointments, and moved with tiio.se of the highest rank. He was selected specially for recruiting services in the United States, where he had the right of entry wherever he went. Mr Seddon has been too modest to speak of all this, but at such a time as the present it is well to recall these Imperial services so that the rising generation and new arrivals in the district may realise the merits of his service big and large during his term of office as Member for Westland. In Parliament Mr Seddon is a persona gratia practically with all sides and has an influence and a standing cxelled hv few. Tn his own way he has proved personally influential in many ways. His personal help is often sought in many directions, even by those outside the electorate. As a ease in point the Sa.uniillers’ Federation lias specially thanked Mr Seddon for bis invaluable work on behalf of the industry when the tariff was under consideration, and the help derived on that occasion has been attributed largely to Mr Seddon’s personality in presenting the requests for special consideration. Mr Seddon appears to lie on the friendliest of terms with all the Ministers, duo to his outstanding character inside and outside the House. He is regarded and trusted as few parliamentarians by all shades of political I opinion. Me is a worthy son of a. noble sire, and when we recall how the sons of the late Mr Seddon sacrificed themselves in the war, we realise that service to them was as self-sacri-ficing as it was to Richard John Seddon himself. The latter never considered himself in his work for the people. and his worth was proved in the deeds he did for those he served. So with his sons. The three young men went bravely to the war. One was killed on the fields of France, another was seriously wounded in Italy and invalided, and our Member, after worthy service in some of the most sanguinary encounters in France, was selected for further very important service in the States. There are many who do not know, or do> not recall these loyal services of the Seddon family, and it is hub right and proper in fairness to all and for the information of all. that these family sacrifices should he known abroad. Service, we are told, is the essential thing in life. Mr Seddon’s services for the good of his country will stand comparison with the next. It is this fact which has contributed to the confidence of the people in Mr Seddon. Tbov are aware of the modest wav in which he has carried out his duty as lie has found it to do. Tt has been no small honor to "Westland to be represented in Parliament all these years hv a Seddon. The great man who has gone before was an Empire character, and he had a worthy successor in his son. our present Member. who did not fail to fight for the defence of that Empire when the need and plain duty called. "Westland has appreciated with its continued confidence the services of Mr Seddon. In

a few days now there will he the opportunity to renew that confidence, and the occasion is sure to bo seized readily by all those who appreciate loyalty to 7 their country, and who regard the safety and security of their homes with tne knowledge that it were wise to trust that safety and security to one whose services have been beyond question and against whom none can point the linger for any dereliction of honest dutv to home or country.