MR SEDDON AND THE LABOUR PARTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2727, 20 June 1906, Page 80

MR SEDDON AND THE LABOUR PARTY.

Mr Ffddon, speaking in reply to the toast of his health at a lunch gi\on to him by the Federal Labour party in Melbourne, said: — ''I have watched with the greatest interest and sympathy the growth of the work of the Labour party in Australia. The ( Labour party is engaged in a noble work. You, ita members, must endeavour firvt of all to improve the material condition of tho poopli*, to see that bread and buttor are placed within the reach of all. Wo must shape our labours so as to aveit from our children the heritage of degradation and misery they have had in the Old Country. I have been for years the butt of imu.li abuse and ridicule for what has been called my experimental legislation, but where am I to-day? Tho greatest cun?e of our day >s the sacrifice of principlo to expediency. Men are too much afraid of pushing the principle to its logical conclusion. — (Cheers.) In New Zealand the class which has reaped thq greatest advantage^ from Labor legislation is tho capitalistic, land-owning clats. — Cheers.) lam pleased that you have Mr Watson as your leader. This advice I give you : There are time-s when you must rely absolutely on your leader or leaders. — (Cheers.) Occasions arise when a party must subordinate its own views of a situation to the general weal as it is seen by the

, mnn in supremo command. If that is not done, cohesion is "impossible. — (Cheers.) Judge- your leader by results. If they are satisfactory and conducive to the public welfare, the masses behind should give the credit and confidence deserved. — (Cheers.) Were the labour members exercising in the Federal Parliament an administrative and legislative influence- in proportion to their number? If they were> in New Zea. land, and in a situation parallel to that which exists here, I should expect them to be exercising a very large influence in the affairs of the country." Mr Seddon advised the party to deal with -combines and trusts to promote settlement, and to make Australia a paradise. Ho referred to Mr Deakin ac ''a noble character, whom I lovo very much," and wound up a long speech . by urging thei Labour party to be careful 1 and moderate.

LAND SCANDALS. The New South Wales land scandals are again developing in a sensational manner. A few days ago Mr Justice Owen, the Royal Commissioner, who investigated the matter, issued his report. The report alone, apart: from the evidence, would occupy about 20 newspaper columns, but the conclusions are given in a summary at the end, and of these conclusions the most important is tho first — (1) That of the sums received by Mr Close, as land agent, in respect of matters then being dealt with by the Minister for Lands, Mr Crick accepted one half, but that no officer of the department received any money from Mr Close." Mr Crick, it may be recalled, was Minister of Lands at the time. The authorities wore not long in taking action. Yesterday Mr Crick and Mr Bath, one of the land agents, were arrested, the charge against Crick being that ho conspired with W. N. Willis (now trying to avoid extradition in South Africa) and Bath to corruptly take large sums of money. Mr Crick affected to treat the matter nonchalantly. " I appear for Bath," said Mr Levien, when the cases came on. "And a very good man appears for mo," said Mr Crick, " myself." Crick objected to a remand for eight days on the ground that he had a hundred cases on hand, and his business was being injured ; but tho remand was nevertheless granted. It may be mentioned that Mr Crick has already taken out a summons against Mr Justice Owen charging him with illegally administering an oath.

QUARTZ KING'S WILL.

The estate of the late Mr George Lansell, the well-known mining magnate of Bpndioro. has hf>en valued for probate. The valuation is £595,000. This is exclusive of 10.000 acres of land in Western Australia, valued variously at from £30,000 to £50.000. During the nast few weeks valuators have boen busily engaged in tho work of vn'uing thp mining property. This include? the private Lansell mines now returning yields — namely, the Sandhurst mine. Comet mine, South and North Red. Whifo and Blue, th« No. 180, No. 83, and No. 222 mines, as well a«s lartro lnterpsts held by tV>p family in the New Red. White, and Blue; Virerinia, Catherine Roof. Unity, Great Northern, and other public companies.