Prosperous Days.

It was fortunate for Mr. Seddon and his fellow-apostles of advanced legislation that for the greater part of the Liberal regime the country was in a prosperous condition. Economic conditions had improved steadily since the freezing process for export of dairy produce and meat had been developed satisfactorily. Markets were good,

Mr. Seddon, Sir James Carroll and party, in King Mahuta's war-canoe, “Taheretikitiki,” on the Waikato River at Huntly, 1898.

land was being settled rapidly and a fleet of large steamers of the latest design for carrying refrigerated cargoes was engaged in the trade to England.

The end of the Nineties was high-water mark for the products of the land. There had been hard times, but Seddon was never faced with a period of heavy economic pressure and a huge unemployment problem. What a Seddon would do to-day if he were with us makes a tempting subject for speculation. I shall leave it to others to debate.

A New Zealand historian (Miss N. E. Coad) has summed up the great Premier's work and efforts in these words: “He was indeed the poor man's friend.” He could have no better epitaph.