THE WESTLAND ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12571, 14 August 1906, Page 5

THE WESTLAND ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

MR T. E. Y.-SEDDON. M.H.R..AND HIS EXPERIENCES. Ono of the most interesting election contests which have been fought in the colony of late years was that conducted recently- in the constituency of Westland, when Mr Tom Seddon, second son of the lato Premier, who also represented the constituency, and Mr H. L. Michel, tho Mayor of Hokitika, sought tho suffrages of the electors.

Partisianship was very keen, tho supporters of each candidate worked strenuously and enthusiastically, and the ejection altogether resembled one of the good old contests of the early days. Tho successful candidate was Mr Seddon, and that gentleman, who paeßod througih Ghristc'iurch yesterday on his return to Wellington, was invited by a "Press - ' representative to relate some of tho incidents whioh occurred during the campaign, and consented to do so.

"First of all," Mr Seddon stated, "I found tho etruggle a very much harder one than I expected, and 1 have been a bit knocked up since, and feel that I want a rest. I did not arrive on, tho Coast till Jnne 30th,—tihe election was fixed for July 13th, —so that I only had eleven days to work the <Jectorate. My first big speech I delivered at Kumara, my birthplace, on July 2nd, my birthday. The weather was wet during the whole of the campaign, and I had to get over tho country riding, driving or trolloying." Mr Seddon went on to add that his oppomonts had made a great deal of capital out of his age, and ha found that some people imacrinod that ho was a mere boy. In tliat connection t-He successful candidate tells an amusing incident- that happened at Otira, when he opened his campaign. "One old chap met mo on, tho Otira Railway Station," related Mr Seddon. "and askod, 'Are you youarg Seddon ?' and I said that I was. 'I thought you wero a kid.' the man replied, and as ho locked mo up and down ho added: •Well, I wouldn't liko to get a dirty left-hander from you!'

The time available beicg so short, neither candiidato was able to carry tho campaign further south than Ross, and the electioneering below that town was done by deputy. A good story is told jby Mr Seddo.n about a horse, which, being the only one available in a particular district, was in gre:it demand by tho representatives of each candidate. 'An old chap down at Waiho, Fran*** Joseph GJ-aoier,'' Air Soddon stated, "had a horse which' Mr Michel's eanva-asor wanted to hire. He was leading tho liorso away, when a friend of mine camo up. 'Do you know who that is?' ho asked. 'No.' 'Ho is a canvasser.' _ 'For young Seddon. I suppose.' 'No, for the ot ; h<*r man.' 'Come Imck!' thereupon yellicd tho old man to the retreating .horseman. 'I want that horse.' Aud tho discomfited canvasser had to return the animal."

That Mr Seddon does not yearn for the plaudits of the crowd was shown by another incident ho related. "On the night oT the election."' he stiid, 'as soon as I heard that I had bra-ten my opponent, I fled to the County Council offices. leaving a friend of mine, who resembles mc, behind. In the dark tho crowd mistook my frienrl for nrvserf, got hold of him, and carried him around, singing the party

song." Since the election Mr Seddon has been travelling through South Westland visiting parts he b-id not been able to reach before, and in addition to his other experiences in that district he refcreed in a big football match. Bruce Bay v. Cook's River. Mr Seddon is naturally well pleased with his viotory. for he confesses that ho did not think he would poll anything like tho majority of votes he did.