The Star. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1902. MR SEDDON AT AUCKLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7543, 28 October 1902, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1902. MR SEDDON AT AUCKLAND.

The Premier has arrived jus* in good time to instil a little of his 1 fighting spirit into the conduct of the general elections, and to bestow the final kick of expulsion to several pretty little eanairds which havo been meanly fostered in tho imaginative brains of his opponents. His address at Auckland, last night, differed in kind from that delivered the previous day. It waa less historical and autobiographical and more political. Ifc was couched, apparently, in a quiet incisive key, for Mr Seddon had so much to say of interest that he left himself little room for any fighting embroidery. His speech contained nothing ■dramatically new, but it elaborated into detail many points of governmental policy which have been exercising the rauk and file of the Party . Chief among these was his foreshadowing of an even more vigorous policy of landi settlement 1 than has been associated with the. name of the Government in the past. The acquisition of half a million acres of Native land, and possibly of 100.000 acres belonging to the Thames Lajnd Company would give an impetus to settlement in the North Island, and provide pj ready settlement of our latest "returned trooper" difficulty. The statement that the Government will, in future, not go outside the colony for locomotive? and rolling stock, but will call in the assistance of private firms in the event of congestion at the railway workshops, will be hailed with satisfaction among the ranks of labour, besides removing a pet reproach from Opposition lists. The personal participation of the Government in extending the markets for frozen, meat at Home will appeal to the pastoralists and farmers equally with the dwellers in towns. The development cf the iron and coal industries wtis another phase of economics upon which the Premier touched hopefully. Witih regard to finance, lie had a strong and emphatic endorsement to give of Sir Joseph Ward's statement of the position, and our detractors notwithstanding, he asserted confidently that the financial position of the colony had never been sounder or stronger. Naturally tho Imperial Conference figured largely in Mr Seddon's address, and' he briefly recapitulated the subjects submitted and the resolutions carried, adding that practically seven out of the twelve resolutions had been, initiated in New Zealand. These resolutions he promised should be submitted ' afc once to the' Cabinet, and supplied to the Press aind public of the colony without delay. Incidentally the Premier took occasion to state definitely that the rumour of his retirement from New Zealand was without foundation. He was here, he said, and his future public destiny remained in the ■power of the people of New Zeala-nd. Whereat it is hardly to be wondered that an enthusiastic meeting should close tho proceedings by promptly carrying a resolution thanking the Premier for his address, expressing " even- confidence in him and his administration," and hoping "he may long be spared to guide the destinies of the

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