POLICY OF THE OPPOSITION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 146, 20 June 1906, Page 5

POLICY OF THE OPPOSITION.

ML TWWBTnr DECLINES TO SB DSAW3C.

consraucr against kb jcwefh WARD. *

(By Telegraph—Special to tne "Star. , !

WELLINGTOISr, Tuesday.

air. W. F. Massey arrived from the North yesterday. Tlie Leader of the Opposition, when seen to-night, had little to say concerning the political situation. "It is not for us to move," said Mr. Massey (in effect, suggesting that it was for the party in power to formulate a policy), and that Opposition criticism would come later. There was little in this guarded statement to get hold of, and probably little more could have been expected from the diplomatic gentleman who presides over the destinies of the Opposition. But, if it suggests anything at all, it confirms the opinion previously expressed that the main function of the Opposition during the coming session will be to '"sool" the quarrelling factions of the Government party on to one another.

Locally, the opinion grows more and more pronounced that a quiet conspiracy is at work with a view to inducing Mr. Hall-Jones to retain the Premiership and form a Cabinet for practical purposes without the assistance of Sir Joseph Ward. Apart from every other consideration, the Acting-Premier has a reputation for having "played the game" always, which makes a suggestion of his engaging in political intrigue almost absurd. His original manifesto was certainly a trifle ambiguous, but, when he was confronted with the fact, his power was definite enough. It is worth repeatin GT that when he was seen two days ago and asked concerning thia particular point, his reply was: "The man of honour will understand what honour dictates; the opinion of the man without honour does not matter." There can be no absolute doubt as to the meaning of this specific statement, and. whatever influences are being surreptitiously brought to bear, it is safe to assume that Mr. TLill-Jones ia not a party to them, and that he will honestly and openly, without any reservations, hand over the reins of Government to Sir Joseph Ward as soon as he arrives in the colony.

"THE WRECKERS."

The whole suggestion seems to have arisen from an idea that whnt was known last year as the Young New Zealand party will be resurrected in a new form as a thorn in the side of whoever is apDointed Leader of the House. The party, pven before its formation, has already been christened "The Wreckers," but anybody within the inner political circle can hardly conceive of its ever being a. power in the House. THE COUNTRY PARTY. The country party will also be reestablished this session. It is, of course, not a purely political organisation, and is purely intended to watch the interests of the country as against those of the town.. "If you call the new party of meddlers 'The Wreckers, , " suggested the hig member for Hunrnui, "you had better christen us 'The Keas/ We don't mean to deal specifically with anybody's liver, but we certainly mean to shepherd our own intei - ests. The discontent and the portents of disruption are not general even among those members who legitimately consider that they had claims when the allotment of portfolios is under consideration." MR. BAUMITS VIEWS. Mr. F. Baume. chatting to-night, expressed the feeling that the whole consideration of the political situation might well have been postponed until after the Premier's funeral. "To my mind," he said, "the question is not one of individual ambitions just -now. Surely loyalty to the party counts for more than anything , elsft." THE TEMPORARY CABINET. The Ministry which was outlined specially from hert , a few days ago has met with an approval among members and Departmental officers which is really singularly appreciative. A little group of members of the party and private secretaries, discussing the subject upon the steps of the buildings, selected the paragraph in question, wronsrly enough, of course, as being Ministerially inspired, and they unhesitatingly adopted it as being certainly the best and most useful Cabinet that could be selected. It is probable, in view of recent developments, that the suggestion that there should be a caucus of members of the Liberal party after the funeral will be acted upon. It is understood that there has been some pronounced difference of opinion between the Governor and the ActingPremier with regard to the instant formation of a Ministry. The Governor, sticking for etiquette, demanded that a j Cabinet should be at _ once announced, 1 but Mr. Hall-Jones, stieinng doggedly to ; his guns, declined to deal with the quesjtion until after Thursday. A LIBERAL LABOUR WARNING. (By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") CHPJSTCHURCH, this day. The "Times," commenting on the political stiuation, and incidentally on Mr Arnold's Waimate address, jays the workers will have to watch political developments very closely during the next few months. Parliament has been steadily more Conservative in recent years, and it is quite possible that in New Zealand, as in Australia, it may be necessary for the workers to create a party of their own in order to secure recognition of their views. But we would not have that , development regarded as inevitable. A great effort win no doubt be cade by landowners to capture the Liberal party, and if they succeed the name that has been associated with compulsory land purchase, graduated taxation, ground values, and popular principles generally, may be used to cover just those iniquities of class rule and aristocratic administration which. oppressed the colony in the late "eighties." We want to see the Liberal party saved from that degradation, and only workers of tlie colony can save it. If they stand true to principles and to party now they will be able to perpetnate the successful old alliance between Labour and the progressive liberalism,, and on the vigour of their crusade wiH depend the extent to which their views are to find expression in the legislation of the future. There can be no doubt as to the wisdom, of Mr Arnold's advice to the Waimate workers. Now, more than ever, they must be true to their principles. OBJECT OF THE ADJOURNMENT. In another leader the "Lytteltou Times" declares the "New Zealand Times" nrast have misunderstood the purpose of the proposed adjournment. It was not to add further tribnt* to the memory of Mr Seddon r which will bft honoured" in a hundred other "way*, but to avoid dtißaultin inseparable from

a change of leadership in the middle ol the session. If Mr Hall Jones intended to hold the position for himself if ■would be different, but m' have ittt •]*• Binned that he it merely filling it until. the arrival of Sir Joseph Ward, and that he mil then hand over it* digni* ties and responsfbilitiei to hie col« league. Of course, he will have to g$ through the f m of resigning and advising the Government to send for Sit Joseph Ward, but that will be simply part of the prescribed routiner Sir Joseph should be. ready to meet Parliament about the middle of August, and two months , earnest work should see the end of all absolutely necessary business. The sensible it seem 3 to us, would be to prorogue Parliament after voting supply, and passing a resolution in connection with Mr. Sed* don's death next week, on the underetending that Parliament should he called together again on a date to b* arranged by Sir Joseph and his col" leagues, Tnis would enable Mr. HallTones to confine the "speech from the throne" to a few simple sentences, and would leave Sir Joseph free to submit his policy in the ordinary way at the beginning of the second session. If Parliament were merely adjourned, there could be no second "speech," and, though the new Premier might enunciate his policy from the floor of the House, it would not be, preperly speak" ing, before the whole of the Legislature. This point may not be of much consequence in itself, but it is typical of other points that would arise out of a divided leadership,, and we trust that Mr. Hall-Jones will not be persuaded into embarking upon a very hazardous experiment.