THEY BUILT NEW ZEALAND,

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 23, 27 January 1940, Page 13 (Supplement)

THEY BUILT NEW ZEALAND,

VIII. Richard John Seddon (Continued from last iccclc.) ONE cannot help but feel shockcd at the depths to which New Zealand sank during those years; there were mass charitable schemes, and unemployment which reached staggering figures. Those were the days when women workers received fourpence halfpenny for a completed shirt, and as no woman could possibly make more than three shirts in one day and half the night, vou can imagine what dire poverty was abroad in the land. Southern citizens appealed to the Victorian Government to assist them to emigrate to Australia, which, ironically enough, was just then going through a boom period. It is understandable then that the questions which came before Parliament were economic rather than political. In ISufi the British Government had instructed the Governor that he was to accept the advice of his Colonial Ministry upon all but a few matters. These later also catne under the Ministry's control. So overwhelming was the Conservative party that no ether Ministry was possible, and after many years the younger politicians woke up to the fact (lint party politics in New Zealand were almost a dead thing. There was no longer any distinct division between parties, and the politics of the early eighties turn mainly upon personal issues. Meanwhile Richard John Seddon was making a name fur himself as a speech-maker and a stonewaller extraordinary. lie kept always before hint that he was there to represent, tiie Westland miners. More than that, he wr.s I lie champion of the working classes, who were almost entirely unrepresented. Although lie knew that in New Zealand Liberalism and Conservatism had no real meaning, he believed that there was too distinct a line of demarcation between classes. During those years of Parliamentary battles he became thoroughly learned in legislative law. Jle read newspapers, Blue Hooks, Budgets and Parliamentary papers. It is a well known and amusing fact that the only time he was ever seen with a book the volume turned out to be one on pirates on the Spanish Main. lie threw every energy into politics, and the disturbed state of New Zealand government at that time did nothing to tire the boundless zest lie alwavs had. Sir George Grey, crochettv and domineering, was in 187H deposed from the leadership of the parly he himself had ushered into Parliament. But the Lilieral party grew steadily stronger. Seddon was no orator, but "his words catr.c tumbling"; he would talk untiring for hours on any subject at all. particularly if it were one with much opposition. Those were stirring times. For the first time in history the working people were beginning to realise that the Imlancc of life was not entirely against them, that politics were a weapon that would be wielded by them, that education was one of the most potent things in life. Women's

franchise, unionism . . . these things were assuming an importance never before known. Under the last return of Conservatism, New Zealaiulcrs began to migrate at an alarming rate. The Liberal party gathered more and more supporters, and in ISB9 chose John Ballance as their leader. At that time the Labour Bureau was established to deal with the shocking sweating evils of the day; in ISOO the general strike was followed In* the general election. Trades and Labour Councils rallied round the Liberal leader, and a brilliant victory was gained. For the iirst time labouring men were represented by men of their own class. We lirnl in the records that Mr. Ballance was Premier, and Mr. Seddon, in a strong Cabinet, was Minister for Public Works, Mines and Defence. As might have been expected, Seddon sprang into his duties like a whirlwind, swept through his Department abolishing unnecessary clerks and out-of-date methods, and reduced his expenses by many thousands yearly. He regarded his work as an exalted position. He had an ambition to do something for the colony and here was the means to achieve it. Seddon loved the sense of power; he was shrewd, careful and practical. Soon after his appointment he began his famous policy of travelling throughout the colony. He went from the Bay of Islands to Duncdin, speaking to the people, mingling with them, listening to deputations and mak-

ing promises. And Seddon's promises wero always considered and fulfilled. Thus the people, thousands of whom lie met personally, looked on him as a real friend. He was "Kin" Dick"' even then. lie loved banquets, and was the most popular politician of his dav. In the House lie was the most frequently interrupted speaker ever known; lie thrived on interruptions, and always came out victorious; he took chfirge not only of his own Departments but of everybody elscs, and amazed them by his knowledge. When Mr. 15allance became ill it was natural that he should take over in his charge; though, strangely enough, no one was more di indent than when the Premiership finally came to him. His humanitarian legislation led the world. For thirteen years "King Dick*' dominated the life of New Zealand as no other man had ever done. If there can be a dictator hacked by a democratic Parliament, with the welfare of his people and nothing else at heart, then Dick Seddon was a dictator. His personal ideas were brought into legislation by the force of his personal character. Dick Seddon died in 1000. Thirty-four years ago! ]t seems impossible, for his spirit is just as much alive to-day as it ever was. Jn this country he is spoken of as a living man; the legislation with which he led the world still stands; his vigorous spirit, his very sayings, arc with us all the time. Dick Seddon built more than New Zealand history ... he built an everlasting memorial to his own open-hcartcdncss and eternal championship of the weak and the poor.