LIBERAL LEADER'S DEATH

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 136, 10 June 1940, Page 11

LIBERAL LEADER'S DEATH

Today is the thirty-fourth anniversary of the .death of Mr. Richard John Seddon, the great Liberal leader in New Zealand politics. Mr. Seddon is remembered for the many, social reforms introduced during his regime. He was a member of Parliament for 27 years and was Prime Minister for 13 years. Mr. Seddon entered Parliament as member for Hokitika. In the eighth, ninth, and tenth Parliaments he represented that district as the Kumara electorate, and as Westland from the eleventh to the sixteenth Parliament. After having been a Minister of the Crown under the Ballance Administration, he formed his own Ministry in 1893, and. was Prime Minister from May 1, 1893, until his death on June 10, 1906. \

excellency cooked. At the moment a new officers' mess is nearing completion.

The recreational training consists of Rugby, Association, and hockey competitions confined to the garrison and in which the men take the keenest possible interest. They have nine Rugby teams, four Association teams, and four hockey teams. Rugby is played on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and Association and hockey on, alternate Friday afternoons. Saturday afternoons are usually left free, but occasionally are occupied by special matches. For the evenings and other spare hours a building containing reading and writing rooms and a billiard room is provided. It is controlled by the Salvation Army. ILL-INFORMED CRITICS. During recent months there have been occasional regrettable instances when men from this fortress on leave have been subjected to jeering remarks by civilians in the streets. They have been referred to as '.'chocolate soldiers" and so on. It is a pity that i the people making these remarks could not be forced to spend the whole of a winter's night during southerly weather in one of the open searchlight housings on the coast. At the same time they should remember that these men are either outside the age limits or otherwise prevented from fulfilling their practically-unanimous wish to join the Expeditionary Force. It is to be hoped that they are never called upon to fire their guns, but if they ever do they can be absolutely relied upon to give an excellent account of themselves. i

Photographs appear on page 1,