THE MINISTER FOR MINES.

Evening Post, Volume XLI, Issue 77, 2 April 1891, Page 2

THE MINISTER FOR MINES.

(Bt Telegraph. J fUNIT£D PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HoKiTiKi, Ist April. Tha Hon. E. Seddon had a public reoeption to-day. To-night he wa3 banqueted at the Towu Hall, when there weie 200 present. It was an enthneiastic assembly. Mr. Seddon said the onrdinal point of the Government policy was the repeal of the property tax and tho imposition of a graduated land tax. Ho expected to effect a saving ia his departments of £20,000. Large savings would be effcoted in othor departments. He advocated payment of further works from Consolidated revenue. The Government had determined there shonld be no more borrowing, and proposed to encourago mining by aiding prospecting, having surveys of new fields, and giving all possible information. He said the report of tho survey of Seddon's tarrace lush, Back Creek, showed the working 1 of three separate leads. He would not advocate Government works on the goldfiolds, but they might subsidise them it they thought it would benefit the community. Mr. Seddon is to be entertained at four banquets in this district. Tonight's was tho largest; held within the memory of the residents. Mr. Seddon predicted a very hard struggle next session, especially by the large landholders and their friends, against the repeal of tbo property tax and the imposition of a graduated land tax.