THE WESTLAND SEAT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8172, 4 July 1906, Page 6

THE WESTLAND SEAT.

MR T. SBDDON'S SPEECH. PRESENT VIEWS AND FUTURE INTENTIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association. KUMARA, July 2. There was a heavy downpour or rain for to night's meeting, which signalised the opening of Mr Tom Seddon's election campaign for the Westland seat. Despite the rain the Theatre Royal Was crowded. The Mayor (Mr Murdoch) occupied the ' cfc'iir. Mr Soddon reoeived a great ovation on rising tc speak. He oombatted the statement that he bad no right to stand. He wis a West Coaster, bred and born, and he claimed the right to place his services at their disposal. He bad the same right as any other colonial, and whs anxious to enter the politioal arena, and do bis best foi the people and humanity at large. It had been said he knew nothing of politics. Well, as a matter of fact, he had been born into politios, and had politics for breakfast, dinner and tea, end sometimes for supper, fur the whole of his life. The atmosphere of'bis life bad been politios, and naturally he had kept in touch with tbe progress of events. He pronounced himself a straight-out Liberal supporter of tbe present Government, with the right to criticise legislation in a friendly spirit. He was not a freeholder, and was strongly in favour of the Lands for Settlement Aot, and any land acquired thurauuder should not be Bold. He strongly endorsed tbe Workers Homes Aot. In dealing with Local Government reform he favoured a basis of re adjustment, so that the lighter the rates were in a district the larger should be tbe Government subsidy, tie agreed with the principle of the Annuities Bill, which he hoped would do as much good for humanity as the Old-age Pensions Aot had done. He spoke at some length on education, and dealt with the reforms needed, approving that free education should be given from the primary schools to the university. He favoured an extension of technical education on the lines of Germany and Canada. After referring to the International Exhibition, the speaker went on to the Old Age Tensions Aot, for whioh tbe late member for tbe district had made a great fight, at times being 88 hours on the floor of the House. He went on to deal with the prosperous oondition of the oolony. He favoured a free breakfast table, and to enable the public works policy to go on be agreed that while the buoyant nature of the oolony was. so pronounced borrowing might go on. The Government State properties wonld alone meet their indebtedness. Many great measures bad been passed, but there was still muob to do. He was proud that his father had been a Humanist, and if returned to Parliament he oould see before him a large field for futare work for greater elaboration, aud it would be his set purpose to devote himself to the great work. r Je eulogised tbe labour legislation and tbe neoessity of persisting further in that direction. He thanked his opponent for referring to him as "a fair young gentleman," and refuted the statement that the Liberals who had followed his father had said that if Westland returned young Saddon the constituency woulc 1 , be tbe laughing-stook of the oolony. At this juncture he read a telegram from 46 Liberals In Parliament wishing him suooess;? he also read a oable message from Sir Joseph Ward, wishing him success in his campaign, as well as a glowing telegram from the Native Minister. The Mayor of Hokitika had struok "a mare's neat" wh,en he stated that young Seddon was bringing a long-tailed family and Parliamentary support to help him. He was there before them alone—a young man fighting his own battle—and he resented the imputation in regard to outside support. He was quite prepared to fight his own battle, and meant to do so to the best of bis ability. He concluded with a peroration in which he pleaded for a place in the Parliament of "God's Own Country." Mr W. J. M'lroy moved a vote of thanks and confidence in the candidate. Mr W. Rankin seconded the motion. The motion t»as oarried unanimously amid applause.