The Dominion. SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1909. THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 592, 21 August 1909, Page 4

The Dominion. SATURDAY, AUGUST 21, 1909. THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

. $ , The gathering hold in Auckland last night in honour of the leader of the Opposition, although mainly a very striking testimony to the esteem in which Mn. Hassey is everywhere held, by political opponents as well as friends, has a political significance' that cannot' be overlooked. . As is only to be expected, there are many people who.strongly opposo Mr. MassßY's pblitical ideas, but it is very doubtful indeed whether he has any personal foes, or whether" anybody really harbours any unkind feelings towards him. If there is one thing more than another which has distinguished his political career, it t is his innocence -,of anything like crooked or unclean inothods. .He'ifi a vigorous fighter, but he has always fought 'fairly and honestly. He has never resorted to the halftruths and misrepresentations which feome of his opponents seem unable to do without, for he has trusted to his policy as his best weapon. Even his sharpest opponent? would,, probably admit that Parliament is the better for his presence. The magnificent testimonal which he received last night reflects very faithfully the high regard which the public of the whole country has for an honest and unspoiled politician and a wholesome and attractive man. But not less than his integrity and' his fidelity of purposo, Ma. Maßsey's courage and persistence in the face of the most discour- [ aging circumstances have appealed very j strongly to ■ the popular mind. In the late 'nineties and in the early years aftor ! the turn of tho century the country was I bo prosperous that its political conscience had been dulled. By borrowing largely 'the Government obtained abundance of moncy r for the purchase of support, and the • conviction that tho cbuntry could never be anything but enormously prosperous and that there could dovor be bad times destroyed in tho minds of .most people all inclination to consider whether this was not a policy of,boom-and-squander that would have unpleasant results in the long run. Tho Government gradually increased its majority, and reached its climax in 1905, when Me. Seddon, who had at last openly announced that the spoils wore reserved for the districts returning Government members, was ablo almost to wipe Out tho Opposition and to fill Parliament with men whose presence in Parliament in many cases reflected little credit on the colony. Being powerless in the face of thcßo conditions to check "the current of the Government's success, Me. Massey might excusably have lost faith in the country and in his,own cause. But he lost none of his courage, and evon developed a new keenness. His party was small) but it was still as effective for criticism as ever. As tho years have passed Mn. Hassey has had the satisfaction of seeing many of his own proposals 'ultimately adopted by tho Government. It would have been an easy matter to abstain from criticism, and so allow the Government to work it own speedy ruin. Nothing would have been easior, for example, than to allow the Government to have its way with tho Land Bill of 1906. But for-the Opposition, that Bill would ,'havo become law—a Bill which Dr. Findiiay a year later declared to be so bad and so injurious to tho country as to defy every attempt to amond it. It is to Mn. Massby's credit that he sacrificed political strategy to tho public interest. The last general election, as everybody knows, was the first striking piece of evidence that tho country is waking up, and is on tho way back to the sobriety and prudence that it abandoned ten .years ago. For that awaken-' ing much of tho .credit is duo to, Mr. Massey himself, who now, we arc quite sure, enjoys the full confidence of the !bulk of the people of tho Dominion. There is one class, , at anyratc, which is practically solid in its devotion to Mb. Massey. We refer to the farming community. In tho past tho farmers , have boon content to put up. with tho .Govern-

hiont, falling to hco that Lhb direct btneflln thoy received woro really abetractad from thorn in indirect ways. To-day the fiirrnoru know exactly who Ihcir fricndu .really aro, They hitvo roalined—late, but not too Jato—that the' Government is dominated by the classes which aro sharply hostile to all landowning intcrfcnk Mil. Mabhey has fought long for tlio froohold, and his victory is at hand, tor it is inconcoivablo that tho Govorntnont can juggle any longer with the land (juD/jtion, lint tho Leadar of the OpjJOHiLioii'o hardest work in tho future will bo in purifying tho methods of govorrimont now in vogue. Tho party in power will resist to the uttermost every attempt to place tho. public: services and tho disbursement of tho Public Works Fund beyond tho reach of conversion to party onds, The* unique tribute to his uprightness and tenacity of purpose which ho' received last night will naturally bo a permanent source of pride to Mr. Massey, but tho best testimonial that his admirers can give him will bo energetic organisation for tho next elec* tion and a decisive vote r on tho -pollingday. ; ..-. .; ' ' .-■;;,■■■' •': ■: ~ ,:•. ;