The Marlborough Express. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1891. MR SEDDON IN NELSON.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVII, Issue 235, 16 October 1891, Page 2

The Marlborough Express. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1891. MR SEDDON IN NELSON.

It is one of the features of .the Hon Mr ■ Seddon that ho cannot long remain silent, ' but even his moat energetic opponents agree that m the main he talks sense. Even his long stonewalling speeches of a few sessions back sounded well and read ' well. His verbosity i 3 not clouded by any wanderings into distant subjects, and his , choice of language has often been the subject of comment. In Nelson on Wednesday 1 he seems to have spoken briefly, but to the point, and m the commonsense manner I which distinguishes him. His firat utteri ance was at the laying of the foundation stone of the new Oddfellows' Hall, where as ' an Oddfellow himself he was called on to I say a fbw words. After alluding to the , objects of the Order, and the great good it : accomplished Mr Seddon went on to refer 1 to Sir George Grey's Bill m the following terms : — " Lately attempts had been made by large employers of labor to undercut Friendly Societies, and which had been looked on as insidious attempt* to destroy these Societies. As the Government had been asked whether they would t»ke part m assisting such an objeot, he said distinctly that they would not take part m. anything that was liable to injure the Friendly Societies of New Zealand. Neither did he think it wise for the Government to undertake the work which they so well performed. Government machinery was necessarily cumbersome and expensive, so that he believed it was far batter that Government should confine itself to heaping a watchful eye on the financial position of Societies that there might be no risk to members. When the Government had done this he thought they had done all that was neoessary." It is clear from this that Mr Seddon doe 3 not approve of the Union Company's projected benefit scheme, and how anyone can expect the laboring classes to do so goas beyond as. The Company would control the whole management, appoint virtually its own managers, and leave those who had to find most of the funds the privileges of paying and of growling. Voluntary support of a Friendly Society h much more preferable to enforced enrolment m such a society. On the evening of the day on whioh this speech was delivered Mr Seddon attended the Volunteer parade, and then gave an encouraging address. He said:—"Withregard to the maintenance of the Volunteers, the Government had decided that they would not reduce the capitation allowance, which at present was as low a3 it possibly could be if efficiency wa3 to be maintained, and m order that their future might be assured, the Government had decided to continue the present capitation allowance for three years certain. With regard to encampments, he might inform them that there would be a change this year, for instead of having two large encampments, one m the North Island and the other m the South, an endeavor would be made to have camps at tho four defended ports, . when the batteries would be manned and the Permanent Artillery supported by the Volunteers. It was also anticipated that they would have some of the oruisers of the Auxilliary Squadron to take part m the operations. The Admiral of the station 1 had been? written to asking him to take part. As regards the West Coast of the Middle Island, he had had it under consideration to have an encampment at some given point, and Nelson, from its central position, would, he thought, be most convenient for Marlborough and the West Coast. It had seemed to him that an encampment could be held 'm Nelson at tho least expense, and with the best chance of getting the men together, while there would also be an opportunity for one of the cruisers to co-operate. It was his intention, however, to consult Major Bonar and other officers beforo the matter would be finally decided." This is good news for tho Marlborough men, who -have been hoping that Nelson would be the spot fixed on for-their next Easter encampment. We are not so well pleased with the statement as to the continuance of the capitation at the present rate for three years. It is not encouraging to volunteers to receive such enumeration for the work expected of them. Hid Mr Seddon promised a new rifle within a reasonable time the Volunteers generally would have been encouraged and pleased. If he had even said he would reduce the price of Martini' Henry ammunition to the old rate they would have been inclined to have voted him " a jolly good fellow."