TWO OPPOSITION LEADERS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 95, 19 October 1908, Page 6

TWO OPPOSITION LEADERS.

* The Leader of the Opposition and his first lieutenant, Mr. James Allen, both opened fir© in their respective constituencies on Thursday last, and the Premier's reply will be delivered at Palmerston North this evening. It is to be ] hoped, though we cannot say that it is | to be expected, that by the time the Premier has spoken Mr. Massey will no longer bo able to say, as he said at ■Pukehohe, that " he would like to criticise the policy of the Government, only he did not know what it was." As we stated in our leading article on Saturday, there are few tangible and definite issues dividing the two great parties, and \|;bei lack -is not likeiy to be (made, good before tho puzzled and tked voter goes to the poll next month. In the absence of clear lines of cleavage he will, if he is wise, attach, far more value than hitherto to the character and capacity of the individuals between whom tho , choice may lie in hi& particular constituency. Regarding the matter from this personal side, we have no hesitation in saying that Mr. Massey thoroughly deserved the enthusiastic welcome which he received from hia constituents, and that it would be a serious' loss to public life if he lost his seat, even though he were replaced by a candidate of far less reactionary views upon the land question. In his thorough-going advocacy of the freehold Mr. Massey may appear to us sadly antiquated ; and as a leader he may lack magnetism and tactical skill. But that he has faithfully followed the light that is in him and etuck manfully to his position in the face of great discouragement is BeyoriH dispute. It is also clear that he possesses some of the personal gifts that make for leadership in no small degree, for how else is the enthusiastic appreciation of his constituents to be accounted for? It is a pleasure in these days to witness such devotion when one can be quit© sure that there ,ia no billet-hunting or other cash-nexus at the bottom of it. The land question of course figures prominently in Mr. Massey's speech, and we regret to see that he still professes to regard the 999 years' lease as a preferable tenure to the renewable lease with a term of 33 to 66 years. But as the land question may be regarded as laid temporarily to rest, we need not re-open the controversy which was raging so fiercely two years ago. It certainly cannot be the dominant issue at the coming elections, even if it bo an isMie at all. In dealing with the worst blot upon the Government's miserable record for the session Mr. Massey was severely handicapped. He referred to the Second Ballot Bill as "imported from Germany, like a great many other cheap and nasty imitations," but, though the Bill was undoubtedly introduced as an electioneering device, he must remember that the principle is supported by many honest reformers who have no taste either for Germanising or for Gerrymandering the constituencies. The one utterly outrageous and unpardonable feature of the measure was the "gag" clause which Mr. Massey, whether he had compromised himself by the- Premier's private sub-, mission of the clause or not, had failed to denounce ■at the proper time as it deserved. To have fired a broadside into the clause when it first came before the House would have won the Opposition great credit and great popularity, but the chance was missed, and another illustration was thus provided of the general truth at which we hinted on Saturday— that the blunders of the Government do it more harm than they do good to the Opposition. Both Mr. Massey and Mr. Allen laid a proper emphasis on the administration of the Public "Works Fund and the steady increase of expenditure all round. Mr. Allen expressed his surprise at the raising of £1,250,000 for public works when the approaching completion of the North Island Main Trunk Railway should have induced a tapering off. "Ministers were, however," said Mr. 1 Allen, "playing to the gallery," and we agree with him in hoping that when electioneering considerations have ceased to operate, common prudence will assert itself and persuade Ministers to check a headlong pace which can only end in disaster. While Mr. Allen referred to the need for developing the finance of local bodies, Mr. Massey made specific reference to the remedies which are needed for the two main phases of the spoils system as it exists in New Zealand "With our rapidly increasing public services," asked the Leader of the Opposition, "were we to have the present system of appointments, which allowed underhand methods and improper influences to be brought to bear in appointments, or was the country to have a Public Service Board? Was tho country to go on with the system of public works expenditure which allowed people to be bribed with promises of expenditure of their own money ? These were the issues before the country." We agree that there are no issues before the electors, or likely to be laid before them by the Premier in his speech this evening, which are comparable in importance with these. If the Opposition were not handicapped in these statesmanlike proposals by tho weight of old traditions and a general lack of popular sympathies, there would be a better outlook both for the party and for tho country.