Mr Seddon on Current Topics.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XI, 14 March 1903, Page 754

Mr Seddon on Current Topics.

CHRISTCHURCH, March 7. Mr Seddon addressed a large meeting at Hamner Springs last night. Referring to the South African condition of peace, he said that had the conditions been what were wished by the people of the colony and himself, there would have been no occasion for Mr Chamberlain to visit South Africa. The Boers would never realise the generosity of our nation. They were absolutely beaten .and never intended to fight any more, and yet they were treated generously and admitted to a conference, and an arrangement was made so that they could come in voluntarily and surrender. Referring to New Zealand, the Premier said that what the whole colony wanted was population. He had been told that the number of children was falling off in

the older settled districts, while in ths newer districts there was a considerable increase. He had just received a cable from the War Office that the Imperial Cold Storage Company had obtained the meat contract for Cape Colony and Natal. That meant a great deal for the eoleny, because he hoped under this arrangement that -we should have a market for a large portion of the beef and mutton of New Zealand. Under these circumstances he was pleased that the contract had gone where it had, though he would have much preferred it had come to some colonial contractor. He hoped the time was not far distant when the duty of the War Office to amend the conditions of the colonies were realised. They oould supply the Army and Navy in that manner and share in the good things, not send good British money to foreign countries. He would deal next night with the “bears” who beared the New Zealand stocks. During 11 -months the actual revenue had been £5.551.366, and the estimate for March was £740,637. The total for the year would thus be £6,292,000, giving an estimated surplus of over a quarter of a million pounds. The colony to-day stood out as one of the most prosperous of any within the Empire, and the outlook was never better than at the present moment. He was delighted to feel that all the bitterness seemed to have passed away, and that men and women could grant others that which they claimed to enjoy themselves—independence and freedom of thought .and action. He concluded by saying that he would undertake to master every detail of what was required by Hanmer, and that which was in the interests of the colony and the district would be done, so far.as the Government was concerned.