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Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1928, Page 4

Tnn contest for tlic Westland seat is part of the whole. Readers will be familiar with the candidates contesting the seat and their policies. At this date it does not appear necessary to go over the ground in any great detail. The sitting member, Mr Seddon, has been in Parliament since lpiJO, when his illustrious father, who was then Premier of New Zealand diod. Mr Seddon was out of Parliament for 1922-25 period, during which term hi.s present opponent occupied the scat. Mr G’Brien’s election at that time was due to the vote splitting caused through four candidates being in the field, but even then Mr Seddon was the runner up. With the prestige of a term of Parliament to It is credit, Mr O’Brien met Mr Seddon three years ago on improved terms, and the polling was a dead heat. The casting vote went to Mr Seddon, and following the hearing of an election petition, Mr Seddon retained the scat with a clear majority of 12 votes. The battle will be fought to-morrow with the odds undoubtedly in Mr Seddon’s favour. Mr Seddon has a fine record as a man ami a representative. Jlis family connections endear him greatly to Coasters, and lie is by birth himself a Coaster. He is a native of Kumara and therefore a Wesllander, of whom hosts of friends are very proud. He has been Mourner for Westland now for upwards of twenty years, and it can be said of him that he has never failed the people. As a representative in Parliament lie Is held in high esteem. .Tn the war be served his country, again with credit and distinction, and there is every reason to be proud of this young man who has borne himself so nobly through the whole of his career. His character and conduct stamp him as one of outstanding usefulness in the public life of the country, and we believe Westland will he wise indeed to again entrust him with her fortunes in Parliament. Air O’Brien claims to bo the workers’ friend, and to have done his duty while in Parliament. But Mr Seddon lias been equally friendly to all, and in the performance of his duty has never spared himself. So far as party polities are concerned, Air Seddon is imbued with Liberalism which has been always the politics of the Coasters. He ranges under the United banner, with Sir Joseph Ward, his father’s lieutenant and sueessor, for his leader. Mr Seddon also has the good wishes of the lit. Hon Mr Coates in this campaign, for he has given pledges which assures the stability of the Reform Government, should Labour trouble to assail it. The Labour platform, however, savours always of tlie extreme. It is varied considerably on this occasion, but it is impossible to forget what both Mr Holland and Mr O’Brien have said here in former years of the advanced Socialism they would practice were Labour to dominate Parliament. The mild and moderate speeches by Labour of late suggest that the candidates supporting that party desire to !>e taken on trust. The people would have to risk the future. There is too much danger in that. On the other hand there is not any danger in trusting Mr Seddon. Hi.s work and worth are as an open book, and the people can repose their confidence In one who is straight and manly in all his bearing, and whose past work and record deserve the recognition of the electors hv returning him to-morrow with the bumper majority he has earned so well.