AN OPPOSITION RALLY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 124, 18 February 1908, Page 6

AN OPPOSITION RALLY.

' After tlie long series of Ministerial addresses that- have been occupying so much space in the newspapers, it was a pleasant change to hear, something from the'other side. The great gathering at the garden party tendered to Mr. Massey on Saturday afternoon afforded an' opportunity for Opposition members to air their eloquence, and the speeches published yesterday indicate .that, in spite of its long/ uphill struggle, there is- still plenty'of fight left in the party. The personal popularity of the member- for Franklin is very great, but it was mainly to hear the Leader of the Opposition that 4000 people attended Saturday's function. As; lie is shortly to speak at Hamilton in reply to the countless orations of the Premier in the Auckland district, Mr. Massey confined his political criticism on Saturday to a warning of the Socialistic menace that is becoming a subject of the gravest concern to. all thoughtful " moderates." 1

Although the Socialistic trend of the past decade's legislation has not until recently become so pronounced as to alarm the Liberals whose Liberalism is untainted either by academic theories or by considerations of expediency, yet last year's legislation, and the express declarations of the Attorney eral, have shown that the danger is a very real one. The issue, as Mr. Masssy put it, is " whether a man in this country shall be allowed to reap the reward of his industry, or whether, by taxation or othor wetWdis,. ho shall .be pommelled to Miare the fruits a? his.

liard labours with others less energetic or less industrious." • Mr. Massey did not outline his whole policy, preferring to keep it in reserve for the proper tactical time. Of the other, speeches the most interesting was Mr. Laug's trenchant commentary upon the Government's readiness to compromise at the first, hint of unpalatableness in the proposals which tliey introduce with the most lofty expressions of unswerving - fidelity to principle. The Ministry, as Mr. Lang reminded the gathering, declared that it would stand or fall by the Laud Bill of 1906, " but they had not the courage of their opinions, and they split- the difference." As in. the Land Act, so in the Gaming Act, the Government, while posing as the, guardian pf a principle; split the difference to appease the contending sections of the community. Like everyone else, Mr. t Lang is puzzled by the Premier's declaration that he'is a Socialist, Imt not a revolutionary Socialist, and we commend this example of the Government's invertebrate habit to. the attention of the critics 'who "'complain of Mr. Massey's ''vague negations. 1 ' In this connection] it may be noted that a policy consisting of What Mr.. Deakin has called " a necklace of negatives " need not discredit a politician. The Decalogue _ itself is the .perfect example of negation. ■ The Opposition has work to do in the politics of this country. Its existence was never more necessary than now, when the Government is rapidly completing its destruction of (lie coinpass, the charts, and the nautical tables of Liberalism, preparatory to a wild voyage 'into the unknown.' The activity of Ministers is evidence that the Government intends to bring on the elections as soon as possible after the session ,and it behoves members of the Opposition, therefore, to exhibits a counterbalancing activity. 'The great success of Saturday's function shouldstimulate the friends of moderation and sanity to further efforts; without delay.