LIBERAL INCONSISTENCY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 626, 4 October 1909, Page 5

LIBERAL INCONSISTENCY.

: .Sir,—From.'latest news to hand,:andin I the the 5 people of'the-Dornrnion will have, with them .tho Eight .Hon. the Ereimier,.Sir .J.'Gr.-Ward.- The 'populace awaiting his'.return, naturally.will.be anxious to hear of him, "and the messages he-will deliver. This .done,- and the,' news'so. anxiously- awa]ted : being'delivered, lve are then-brought face to:iacfl. with a political crisis'that is inevitable. •;; | "Thogreat forces of ,Goveniment and Opposition,, neither lacking. ' in': sound' political .ability,' and both, being strongly supported I 'by 'adherents'and students of political economy, ■will' meet' to dc battle on the political plane. ;The ;horizbn looks-indeed dark lor our ;present. . Cabinet V administration. The'outlook? ■AVell, 1 can foresee a much-needed consultation with the Premier and his,colleagues; : Their object : being^tho-formation' and arriving at something definite' as- regards- their policy. Rumour hath :it that;it-was lost'on a voyage, and.our friend :and worthy, detective'(Mr.- Cassells) : is deputed ito; search' the .'coal :and; frozen meat, and sort ,one f up. • Frsm"'the'.nbrth' to south the people of■ all thoughts politically, ire on'the outlook, ,ahd. this 'announcement- regarding 'their land policy -is, the'one to which I' look; to for .'the :-people; to have''some say in:ere'it'.is settled. Th'e.land'policy .will andmust.be'thought 'out, land'al'consensus of-opinion taken in' the sbhijbre"'silence of; tho Cabinet room. . They''may, .remaining, true''to.the ,terms_ahd.:advocacy of Ithe old party, and as true Liberals, soon seti tie. this fital.:QU63ti6n.Torin,the oncoming flgh.t 'stands out predominant, Freehold and its attributes'versus' 'the"leasehold. "'We-have "truly arrived at the crossing of. the ways,, and is the >Cabinet-prepared' to meet the House-? I'think 'not.' ■■■."■ ..',..,.,'.

! The'liberal candle for so'many years kept so'.-Tell;-lighted.bf such men.os.the lato.SeddOn:and',Ballance,''is about to Bicker but, and the people-seek in honesty, some fresh, beaoon.j.'The, member -.for Mastertoii, 'honest staunch, and: in .principle true ' (Mr. A. W. Hogg), ideal follower' of the two previous fino democratic lustre-bearing' , leaders, hasbeen. :.throughout. New Zealand, and'he./too true, has •had personified the feeling arid pulse of tho people,'-proving'beyond doubt in sympathy and■accord with..the two .refqrme he/so splendidly i.adv6cates,' : land and the currency.._:. The re'riiarkable.;. thing, is the V absence 'of- opposition : and-the muteness.of those, he lcftZin-the Cabi- ' net.'pn.the question "of currency. ■■>. Those noble .traditions of his.old party stamp'him , 'as'their■ 1 advocate,-' and he deigns to'-sink- or swim by : the ■."•.meagre*.flickering: candle of 'Iriberalism, .-Uit,Ehtfne : 'but:to:the"people-ih.-t]ie' years gone .by.i Time ilone'can tell. The ears -of.- the: electors -.will?'list«n-- (b his■Fpeechcs, arid- iho ,in.trWtictionCof. any. bills he may :bring 'forward will-.prove. worthy of sound-debate. The overthrow of- th'e'present- partywill- come ere- the next' election, iuhlese. the rights.'of the : people apd- posterity are maintained..' :'; . ■■ Tho. writer/has, watclied the .slow but'sure' progress'the leader, an honest 'man, a gentle-mani'-who'is in., the forhyan of the Opposition : and:, his' party,, ; and . theirs organisation,'■ have made.,;:.ebmnienton' a large scale is needless, theit, awakening has aroused tho people to." be up-..and'doing,,, arid they, are well armed with honest and sound intentions.". Retrogression'is , n'ot;ih their 'train,'''and' an 'open clear' policy! by' thorn , is required tby tho public, and I hope will nOt.-'be-Jong'before , it 'is defined. .■ They, I be. lieye; p'ersbsally, will comeintd-poweribut the .name' Opposition is," to : my mind, wrong,, end : th'ey.ehbuld.bscon-e-the powers that are for. a .time; •Then;'they: will" fall 'out, end -a new Liberal carry the .day.': arid Jnbriesti'metiiiwiu.'Teceive the • fair oonsidera' tfon, ; arid; hearing/that.- is. denied them now. ', : ThadumbHj6g.:-Ministry.is on its laFt:.legs, and 'are '.willing;--to • grab-, political straws,,-but ' the ,'trtmor ■ haj ,'commericed,' and' the vibration iwjll : ;shake; the , lid off- the '■ present /so-ca'lM ■ Liberal-kettle..;'.The:steam<is risintrl'arid the :sand'<is; running .'thto-righ'' the. political - timer". What''of' f ,thVfutnre? rlt is'to.be hoped, that. ;Sir. .iWin'.. 'jwill; as •«oori. as. tho'.Hotiso niee,ts,':give:'nolice-.to introduce his'.Bill cnipow'ering the members' to, elect their .own-Miriis-Urs:for:a;penod^of.,three;years.' Should this be ;done,''we.will; have .one ' of' the' 'grfa test .wrongs--of j our present' dav>,rectifisd, -and' the wishes.'.of-,the".ffassj's'iu'fiVlei)'.through them. Not -Iforgctting'-that .from' Engla.nd.'means solely' into' pawn;- and .these;.fair .• islands' nlp.oed'. nV +hcmercy.' of ■ the .English -mbney-lenders. • What do v.oii'.think, ch?-I am,'etc,'; V V ■' HOBNAILS.'