Looking Backwards.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 287, 8 December 1904, Page 4

Looking Backwards.

SOME REMINISCENCES OF THr MINISTER FOR LANDS.

SEND FOR OLD TOM DUNCAN.

WEI..LINT.TOX, k ov -, In the course of some reminiscences in his speech at the Land Conference luncheon. Mr Duncan, Minister tor Lands, slated that Mr Seddon entered the House only one session before he did, and at 'that time was a man 01 athletic figure and the strength almost of a Hercules Mr Kecldon was, 23 years ago, one'of the best men you could have seen in New Zetland, or (Hlt ()f K } ■spotted" Mr Seddon at that time as one of the strongest men in the House, ami his old friend. Mr McKerroiv. agreed with him. 11,. never knew Mr Scddon to lose a friend but he has gained lm ,nv. As lor himseli, be was doing his best to carry on the good work initialed bv his predecessor, the late Sir dolm Mckenzie, a stronger i !ml , thnn ever he could pretend to be. He could not expect to (ill his shoes but so lar as he was able, he would earnon the good work. Xobodv in the House had Sir .John McKenzie's confidence more fully than he, not eve,, the Ministers. Whenever he was in any trouble he would sny, "Send foold Tom ibmenn." "j' nluavs divi iu.v best to help him along, and be a ways depended upon me," u<Me { | Mr iiunean. •■Before I took oltiee wh >n U'.e portfolio was offered to me bv the Cabinet, 1 Mem and had a conversation with him. u scarcelv suited me at the time to leave mv family, and the work of the department was very onerous. Any ,„,„ „.,,„ wanted more work to do than this department could give him would ,| H . a thorough glutton., ]( included lands, roads and bridges forestrv and agriculture." If,, took it howl ever, and would do what he could to continue Sir J. McKenzie's work