MR SEDDON'S MEETING.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8651, 28 November 1893, Page 2

MR SEDDON'S MEETING.

TO THE EDITOR OT THE PRESS. Sir,—l was present at the meeting held here by Mr Seddon on Saturday last, and I must say I was sadly disappointed with what he had to tell us. There was really nothing in it He began by telling us what occurred in 1879, and went on to 1883—a decade back—but failed to enlighten us upon any of the many great results said to have been accomplished during the time the present Government have been in power. It might be described as a speech of " vapourous froth." I won't go so far as ] to say "all rot-" although this expression was used several times during the evening. We know the Liberal Government-came into power just after the great strike in 1890, when all trade was disorganised through it, and things were bound to improve so soon as it was finally settled. Again, with regard to the exodus of our population, what took the people away from New Zealand was the boom on at Melbourne and all through Australia ; also the openings offering at tbe new Zeehau mining field, bub the collapse of these two great attractions has brought back our population. With regard to the muchtaiked of prosperity of this colony, how is it that there are so many hundreds of people out of employ at the present moment ? With regard to the settlement of the ] people on the land, what a farce the sale of j a portion of the Cheviot Estate has been in ' "settling people on the land." Why, the Government have merely sold sections of land at a far higher price than many private persons would be only tno glad to dispose of, ' equally good, and far more convenient, and freehold land, too. lam just informed by a puichaser of several sections there that the Government intend charging 15. a 1000 ft on all timber landing from the steamer when she arrives at Port Robin_on to the shore, and 7d each for a straining post; also, 5s a ton on all goods landed. This is a pretty way to treat the poor settler who may have been unfortunate enough to have bought sections. I wonder what it will cost by the time sufficient timber is carried up to build say a four-roomed house on the village settlement ? Some more "liberal" means than these will have to be devised to assist poor men to «' settle on the land." Shall I sum up in two words the reason why many farmers are better off than they were a few years back 1 Frozen meat is the secret, and Mr Seddon knows it.—Yours, &_., I P.. Christchurch, November 27th. 1893. i