THE TOUR OF THE MINISTER OF MINES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1936, 2 April 1891, Page 22

THE TOUR OF THE MINISTER OF MINES.

Hokitika, April 1.

The Hon. R. Seddon received apublic reception to-day. To-night be was entertained at a banquet in the Town Hall, when 200 were present. The assemblage was an enthusiastic one. Mr Seddon said the cardinal point of the Government policy was the repeal of tbe property tax and tbe imposition of a graduated land tax. He expected the effect of the saving in his department would be £20,000, and there were large savings in other departments. He advocated farther works from the consolidated revenue. The Government determined that there was to be no more borrowing. He proposed to encourage mining by aiding prospecting, having surveys of new fields, and giving all possible information. He said the report of tbe survey of Seddon's Terrase rush, Back creek, showed the men were working three separate lea's. He would not advocate, Government works on goldfields, but might subsidise them if found of benefit to the community. Mr Seddon has been entertained at four banquets in this district, but to-night's was the largest held within memory. Mt Seddon predicted a very hard struggle next Parliament, especially by the large landholders and their friends against the repeal of the property tax and the imposition of a graduated land tax.