Evening Post.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 168, 7 December 1896, Page 4

Evening Post.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1896. A STRONG OPPOSITION. ♦ If the victory of numbers is on the side of the Gorernment as the result of the election, there is much compensation in the fact that the new Parliament wijl contaii 1, in point of capacity, high character, freedo/m from sinister influences, and debating pow er, a stronger Opposition than the Hou»"e 'of Representatives has known for a quarto r of a century. If Seddonism is not yet muzzled, it will certainly be curbed, and that in itself will be an immense gain for the country, . No longer will the Standing Orders be suspo nded at the nod of the Premier, information, denied, returns refused, or the state of the 'national account be permitted to remain obscure, In the

coming Parliament there will be a capable body of the representatives of the people, who will en force every legitimate demand, because, happily for New Zealand, the great, majority that was composed of the humble instruments, the docile aud unquestioning agents of the Premier's imperious will, lmi . passed away, never, we most devoutly hope, to return. ■ In debating power the strength of n'he new Opposition, by comparison with the feebleness of the Government, is inoV ed extraordinary. Of the new members, m ost of whom will revisit the scene of foi^ner triumphs and conspicuous public servica , the country could not have sent to Partial aent a stronger group of men than Messrs. Eolleston, Richardson, Scobie Mackenzie, Fish, Wright, Wason, and Thomson (Clutha). These are men of the stamp, who will have Constitutional practicn observed and Parliamentary usage mafoj tainedj or stop the business of the country until the law has been observed. To the autocracy of one man, backed by servile numbe rs, they will oppose such an array of reaso n and precedent as will convince the people of the justice of their cause, and make I;he readiest mode of opposition that the fonjis of, the House will permit an imperative duty. It will thpn follow, however reluct antly, that Ministers must disclose the triflf fch as to the affain of the country, and Once that is known the end of Seddonism will be at hand. As to the relative strength of Parties, there is of courso the usual difference of opinion that alwaj's exists in the days immediately following a general election. The Premier claims a working majority of twelve, but the wish must largely influence the thought. For our part, we cannot discern more than half the number, and in face of' such a compact and capable Opposition Oj'e Premier will soon come to learn the unpalatable but wholesome lesson that he is. the servant and not the master of the 1 J arliament of the country. During the campaign the Premier, with his ofttimes daring disregard of facts, has time and again alleged' that there exists what he calls "an unholy alliance" between Sir Robert Stout and Captain Russell to oust the Government , from office. "We have stated our utter disbelief in such an alliance more thun once, and we now repeat it. Tho Opposition will, according to present appearances, be led as hitherto, and Sir Robe/ 1 Stout will, as during the late Parliament, sit in the same place, and be the big political watch-dog of the House and country. He has done splendid work in that capacity and place already, and so long as the prese nt Ministry remains in power we look for its continuance. Sir Robert Stout cannafi be expected to follow any leader, and hii has never sought, nor does he, we belie* -e, seek any following. That the day witl come when a, Party will seek his leadership there can be but little doubt, but that time is not yet. Meanwhile there is no alliance, "unholy" or otherwise, and events have yet to shape themselves for fa'fcure probabilities.