The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 93, 19 April 1904, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

For the cause that laclts assistance. For the wrong that needs resistance, For the -future in the distance, And the good that we can do.. TUESDAY, APRIL 19, 1904. ~l

Mr Massey's first political address to an Otago audience seems to have been received with some cordiality; hut we hope that none of his supporters will attach too much significance to the courtesy with which the people of Lawrence listened yesterday to the Leader of the Opposition. Mr Massey has many qualifications for the position that he now fills; and his reputation, both personally and politically, commands respect even from his opponents in the House. It is not surprising, therefore, that some degree of friendly appreciation was displayed at Lawrence last night; but we fear that Mr Massey will be grievously disappointed if he imagines that the applause that greeted him in Otago will shake the foundations of Mr Seddon's political authority. The ineradicable weakness of the Opposition policy is that it has not even the merit of novelty to recommend it. Mr Massey asserts that there are as good Liberals on the Opposition side of the House as on the Government benches. Very possibly, but that is surely the weakest of all reasons for expelling the Government. A change in administration may be desired by a country which has lost faith in one kind of policy and desires to substitute another for it. But why should Mr Massey expect the people of New Zealand to turn one lot of Liberals out for the purpose of letting another lot in? It would doubtless be convenient for Mr Massey and his friends; but the country does not yet see how it is going to profit by the change. Mr Massey has much to say about the faults and follies of our present Government's administration; but the country's experience of previous administrations does not conduce to the hope that even a Ministry headed by Mr Massey would in every rpspect satisfy the highest possible standards of public efficiency. To criticise administrative errors is one of the easiest and cheapest of political diversions; but we believe that the people of this country require some more solid argument to convince them that the time has come to substitute Mr Massey for Mr Seddon. The major part of Mr Massey's Lawrence address appears to have been occupied with the land question. We agree with the Leader of the Opposition, that much might be done to improve our existing settlement system. The objections to the land ballot are strong and manifold; and we have constantly urged the necessity for some alteration iv the manner of allotting sections t? would-be settlers. As to the Homestead Act of the old provincial day 9, Mr Massey should know that the Premier has already indicated his intention of reintroducing this system of settlement under favourable conditions. We do not propose at present to enter into the difficult question. Freehold v. Leasehold, but we have not yet been able to discover why Crown tenants who, having had the choice between perpetual lease and lease with right of purchase were content to forego their claim on the freehold, should have their contract with the Government subsequently modified in their favour. The provision suggested by Mr Massey to prevent the accumulation of large estates might possibly be useful; but we are quite at a loss to understand what he means by asserting that the tendency of the freehold system is in the way of subdivision rather than aggregation. However, the question will doubtless occupy the attention of Parliament next session, and we will then have a better opportunity of discussing it on its merits. Much of Mr Massey's speech seems to have been taken up with reflections and attacks upon Mr Seddon and his methods of Government. It is not easy to see why the Premier should be supposed to be responsible for the unsatisfactory working of our bi-cameral system; for everybody knows that Mr Seddon has emphatically expressed his determination to "end it or mend it." As to the hurried legislation at the end of last session, we have frequently regretted that the most important measures of the year were rushed through a wearied House without due time for discussion. Government is certainly answerable here for lack of judgment; but that is a very different matter from the reckless charges which Mr Massey is always ready to produce in profusions as Boon as Mr Seddon's name occurs to his mind. We venture to suggest that it would be better for Mr Massey's personal reputation, and for the tone of our political life, if this wild and meaningless talk about Tammanyism were dropped once and for all. We presume that Mr Massey is aware that "Tammanyism" in America signifies deliberate political corruption. If Mr Massey and his. friends can produce any single instance of such misconduct on the part of Mr Seddon or ■ his Ministry, their remedy is obvious. Let them bring their charges in definite form, and let them be submitted to proper judicial or Parliamentary investigation. It is easy to shout, "Tammany," or to make portentous in-

siiraaticms about "the spoils to the vie-! tors" j but it would be certainly more manly and courageous to bring definite accusations in clear and precise terms against the Ministers from whose cor- j rupt tyranny Mr Massey alleges that 1 this colony is suffering. If Mr Masseywill accept rpur advice in this particular I we will go so far as to Say/that he has before him the prospect of a long and creditable career as — Leader of the Opposition.