MR SEDDON'S LIFE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8132, 12 June 1906, Page 3

MR SEDDON'S LIFE.

FROM HIS OWN LIPS.

" May Day," the Ist May, 1906. was a red-letter day in the diary of the late Premier, for on that day he completed his thirto-nth year of his Premiership of Xew Zealand. On the occasion Mr Seddon gave to a Wellington "Post" reporter one of the most interesting accounts of his political career in the Colony that has ever been published. ME SEDDOX ABBIVES.

"How came you to select New Zealand as a pi ice of residence V the Premier was asked by the inter. viewer. The reidy was tint the climate of Victoria Bearing summertime did not agree with him, he had the gold-rush fever very bad, and there wis an uncle, a miner, residing on the West Coast, who was anxious that "young Dick" should join him. He was twenty-one years of age, when ho arrived in Hokitika, having made the passage direct from Sydney. "At Hokitika," said the Premier, as he recalled the olden golden days, " I | came into contact with a body of men who, physically and mentally, were unsurpassed as men, and were the pick of the world. They needed great physique to stand the hardships and privations of life in those early days, on the Coast j and mentally they stood out as men who not only had the adventurous nature, but followed the craving and desire to get away from Old World environment. They wanted something new, and went to the places they could find it. We had miners from Olago, Australia and California, as well as some of the most enterprising spirits of Australia and New Zealand.

THE WEST COABT IS 69 And the adventurers had a fine breaking-in as they wended their way to the West Coast, especially those who overlanded from Canterbury. On this track they had to ford the Teremakau River sixteen times. As it rained for months on end along the Coast, the gold-seekers had to swim the river almost as often as they forded it. For those who could not swim a rope of flax was made, with which a swimmer would cross the river, fix the rope, and then the traveller would pull himself across hand-over-hand ; or rafts of flax-sticks would be constructed for the ferry service. Dry blankets were almost unknown on the journey, yet, said Mr Seddon, as he concluded this reminiscence, when you met these adventurers afterwards upon the streets of Hokitika, you took them tj be the happiest, merriest fellows on earth. For that was the year 18t>t>, when money was plentiful along the coast, for the earth was yielding her uolden grains and nuggets, and rushes to fresh fields were of weekly occurrence. Yet with it all, these hardy hunters of the new world were peace abiding, orderly men. What became of them ? Some of course kept on the move, adventuring further afield, but a much larger number than is generally supposed took up land in various parts of the colony. '• I meet these old timers of the Coast in all parts of the country," observed the Premier. As in the days of 'fid, mining is still the paramount interest there, and timber comes next. Large acres are now being settled, and more land is coming under settlement every day. The changes along the coast are similar to those of other parts of the colony. It has had its ups and downs, but the Coast has neyer been extremely prosperous, nor over depressed.

ENTEBINO PUBLIC LIFE. On landing in the colony, Mr Seddon became a miner for a while, going up the right branch of the Wairuoa. Then ho went into business as a storekeeper. It was three years later, in 1869, that he was induced by the miners to enter public life. The reason ? Bad tracks and worse roads. These conveniences had been greatly neglected in the locality where the future Minister of Public Works then resided, and Hummers thought "young Dick" was just the chap to shake up the local powers. He had two opponents in tin contest for the seat in the Arahura Boad Board, but in this, as in ail subsequ nt contests, the name of Seddon was on top It happened that the board was heavily in debt, and when this strenuous young advocate of better roads and tracks was dropped into their midst, the members of the board were struck with a quaint idea of " getting even." They put the "drop of new blood "in the chair! "Perhaps this youngster can show us how to meet liabilities and make tracks without money," was their suggestion. The 'cuteness of the coming politician j marked the young chairman's counterstroke. He studied the position, and then brought down a report, in which he advised the board to stop all works then in hand, dispense with its servants, and "close the shop" for twelve months, unless the parent body, the VVestland County Council, came to the rescue. This policy meant casting the responsibility upon the council for the closing down. "The council came to the rescue," said the Premier, as ho finished the story.

A PBOVINCIAL COUNOILLOB. On the repealing of the County of Westland Act the county was merged into a province, with a miniature plrliamento r :if*een members. Mr Scddon became one of the two members representing the Arahura district in the first Provincial Council (in 187;!), Mr M. Houlihan being his colleague. Mr A. ft. Guinness (now Speaker of the House of Representatives) then occupied a seat in the Council for a neighbouring district. The future Premier was the first Chairman of Committees of the Westland Provincial Council. Party lines were not well defined in provincial polities, the primary points being country and locality, such as the contest between Hokitika (south) and Greyinoulh (north). But the Radical section, of which Mr Seddon was the leader, had an advanced policy regarding land and education. Mr Seddon's watchwords in those days were " the land for the people" and '• free, secular, and compulsory education,"

INTO PABLIAMENT. From provincial to colonial politics was an easy stage of progression, and 1877-78 found the subject of this interview an active worker, first as secretary, ■ hen as chairman of the Kumara coinnittcc. At a by-election Mr Seymour I'horne George (now a member of the Upper House) was returned as a supporter of Sir George Grey's Ministry When the next election came, Mr xeorge decided to stand for Rodney, .vliich decision left Kumara without a Liberal candidate and the committee n a state of division. Sir George Grey was appealed to by Mr Seddon is chairman of the committee, "and," said the narrator, " to the astonishment ■f the committee and myself, Sir Jeorge replied that I was well qualified o till the vacancy, it was my duty in place my services at the disposal <■( tincommittee and the community. I did •o, and, with the bile It.ilu-ri Riid.

<tood for iiokitika in September, ls7:>. Wc were both elected, defeating ikrlY, the sitting member, and Peter Duncan, .he Conservative nominees. That was twenty-six years ago, andlhavepraetieally represented the same community eyer since.

I'OLITICAI. ASI'IIIATIOXS. "In my first national political cam. paign the burning subjects of the dav were demands tor an adjustment of taxation, repeal of the gold duty, local government, manhood suffrage, representation on a population basis, and riennial as against quinquennial Parliaments. In public works, we of he Coast wanted a development of the goldfields and bridges for the dangerous nyers. For there has been i tremendous loss of life going on. What happened ? Well, all these things if which I was an advocate are to-day accomplished facts. My great political aspiration in my young days was to get for the people full powers of selfgovernment. It should be noted here, too, if you desire to get the complete record of my political progress, that I went from the Provincial Council, on the abolition of the latter, into the Weslland Counly Council, and in the I 'nitial working of the Counties Act we

found tlic same difficulties that councils find to-day—crippled finance, duo to liaviug too much to do and too little means to do it with."

TIIE IULLANCE-SKDDON FHIENDSIIir. The interview turned towards the friendship that existed between the cobny's last two Premiers. " I first met Mr Ballanee," said Mr Seddon, " during a visit which I nnvdo to Wangnnui in the seventies. I had gone up through the Manawatu, visiting Palmerst-in, and going on to Wanganui, on tin; lookout for a likely place to settle in the Nu.'lh Island. I was greatly impressed with Mr Ballanee, and our friendship dated from ou' first uioetiug, when I conceived a great liking and respect for him which lasted until his death. I felt that in him J had found a kindred spirit-. His views then were far in advance of the times, f looked upon him :is an advanced' thinker, and closer acquaintance and after experience proved him to be such a man Subsequent to our first meeting I met him frequently, rometimes as a deputation from the West Coast to u Minister, for Mr liallnuce held a portfolio in the Grey Cabinet. The principal men in that Cabinet were Sir George Grey, Ballauce, Sheehau, and Stout. Gisborne joined later, and Sir Patrick Buckley was also a member. In political life, when ] went into tho House, Mr Ballance and I became very close friends. When he was leader of the Opposition he often put me forward to lead attacks against the Government, and he nearly always voted with me on the things I brought forward in the House in my private capacity."

" I AM A HUMANIST." The list of the legislative achievements of Mr Seddon during his Premiership is of great length. There was the Coal-mines Act, under which the hours of labor were first fixed at eight hours j the Old Age Pensions Act, with tho later enlargement of the amount allowed; the penny postage, which commanded the attention of the Postal Conference at Rome; the industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act, a strike-ircventiug measure ; the extension of the franchise to women; the Factory Act, with its provision against the exploitation of the young and of women; the Act under which money advances were made to settlers at low rates of interest. The Premier was asked by the interviewer which of his enactments gave him the greatest pleasure and pride. Without any hesitation he replied :—" The Old Age Pensions Act." And he added that other measures of which he was proud were those which provided for the protection of children and women and for the payment of proper wages to children for their labor. " All the legislation which I have brought to bear upon the human side of life is the legislation which counts most with me. There is much talk of men being Radicals, Conservatives, Socialists, Liberals. I am neither-I am a 'Humanist.' I desire to improve the condition of the people, to inspire them with hope, to provide for their comfort, and to improve t hem socially, morally, and politically."