The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette Published Daily. FRIDAY. MAY 29, 1896. THE PREMIER.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 277, 29 May 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette Published Daily. FRIDAY. MAY 29, 1896. THE PREMIER.

A great deal has been said against Mr Seddon for accepting a position of profit from a German syndicate, therefore, in fairness to that gentleman we feel bound to accept the explanation given by him in a speech delivered at Napier on Tuesday last : — " He said he had been accused (we are quoting from tbe report published in the Napier jSews) of joining a German syndicate formed to obtain gold-min-ing concessions from the Government. There was not the slightest truth in the statement. It was true that he had just joined the Advisory Board of three, but the company was an English one, registered in London, and was comprised of men holding the highest positions in the Mother Country, whose names stood as high on the Exchange as Directors of the Bank of England did. He only took the position on the clear understanding that there was to be no application to the Government for any concessions. His duties were to advise the company as to mining properties they proposed to buy. He considered some time before he accepted the position, and his object in doing so was to prevent * wildcat ' companies being floated on the English market, to the detriment of the mining industry and the injury of the colony. The only thing German about the company was its manager." j Even tbe bitterest fos?, politically ' epeaktng, of Mr Seddon should admit that every word uttered here bears the impress of truth. <