THE SEDDON MINISTRY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1262, 7 May 1896, Page 34

THE SEDDON MINISTRY.

WHAT IT HAS DONE IN TIIRBB YEARS OF OFFICE.

A UNIQUE RECORD

To-day the Seddon Government has been in oflico threo years. Hero is its record :

What Government has dono in acquiring private lands for settling the people upon them and breaking up tho big estates is a big and substantial story. The Women's Franchise. The Licensing Act. The Shipping and Seamen's Act, protecting tho lives of seamen. Proceeds of auction sales mado trust moneys, thereby protecting the public against wild-cat company promoters and fraudulent bankruptcy. Secured insurers with foreign com-

panies. Banking legislation, which has saved tho country from financial disaster.

Passed the Employers' Liability Act, and several othcrs,a big budget of measures, giving the toiler increased security for life and limb; lightened his labours and made bis wages a first charge on moneys due to contractors.

Arbitration and Conciliation Act, for the prevention of strikes. Labour Bureau established for tho distribution of labour; 11,000 men have been found employment, with 35,000 people dependent upon them. lias reduced the charges for tho carriage of sheep on the railways. Made provision for carrying produce, and for grading it. Leaflets to farmers, diffusion of information, appointment of experts. School children's trains. Reduced taxation to the farmers through the tariff. Encouraged fruit-growing. Provided co-operative work, and through that employment for the struggling settlers so as to get them on tho land. Under tho Family Homes Protection Act the head of a family is now enabled to settle his home up to 1500 acres for ever for himself and family. Protected infant life, and prevented the desertion of wives and children. Codified the criminal laws, which successive Governments for years wero unable to do.

Facilitated manual and technical education in public schools and separate institutions.

Fostered and encouraged tho mining industry, tho timber industry, and tho butter trade. Many statutes passed for these purposes The lands of tho country have been thrown open for settlement by poor people. Twelve thousand settlers have boon placed on tho land sinco tho Government has been in oflico.

Empty houses in the towns have been filled. New buildings have been erected. Tho building trade has nover been brisker than at tho present time, whilst in tho country the settlers have hope, and, compared with what they wero when Government took oflico, are fairly prosperous. Tho difficulty with the Native race has been romoved'. Tho two races aro now living in peace and friendship. Tho Government has now settled tho Pahiatua difficulty, the IJrewera difficulty, tho Pacroa difficulty, tho difficulty with the Wairarapa Lake. Tho settlement of tho Opuatia Block, ovor which there had been a largo arrest of Natives.

Tho removal of obstruction to tho navigation of tho Wangaimi River as far as Pipiriki. Tho passing of tho Native Townships Act, under which Pipiriki was handed over to tho Government to cut up for a township. Recently tho settlement of titles on tho East Coast of this island, whereby tho Crown will derive, for tho purpose of settlement, about 300,000 acres to disposo of, and the Natives a larger area even for the sanio purpose, put iu a position easily dealablo.

Resisted tho Midland Railway claim for £1,800,000, obtaining an award of nil.