LIBERALISM. SIR JAMES CARROLL ON THE OPPOSITION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 145, 21 June 1911, Page 2

LIBERALISM. SIR JAMES CARROLL ON THE OPPOSITION.

POLITICS FOR LADIES. "LET US PLAY THE GAME.". The view the Acting.Prime Minister (Sir James Carroll) takes of the Opposition was given to the public at a Liberal "social" last evening. The Minister commenced by referring to the political domestic field and tho preponderance of ladies present. A straw, tie said, indicated the way the wind was blowing, and it seemed to him that the fight they were entering upon this year would be carried but chiefly by the ladies o£ the various- electorates. (Hear, hear). He had observed how they .were nerving themselves, for tfc battle, and it would be. they who would lead the van. tio ,wa* certain tb*y would keep the flag flying." had only to go back 18 or 20 years when the Liberal banner was unfurled by tho late Mr. t John. Ballance, who promulgated principles which were, livine today. It was left t*> the late' Mr. Soddon to shoulder the work, and it teemed to the speaker as if he Mtefcy present that evening. Ml. Seddon's heart was always down in the bosoui fit the people I' or success they relied on the women of the country. (Hear, hew). They must co-operate and band- together, pressrving individual merits and allowing ample margin fof individual excellence, but only moynig by 'columns to oppose a force • moving by columns. To combat them, organisation was ny weapon, the women were to make a coherent force, and the trouble was ovei. Ihey need not worry about local diffeiences. AH could be brought together by harmonising influences if they had any pride in their party. For 20 years they had survived aggiession. If they took any pride in that they were livint 1 aa foster relatives of those of the past. The younger generation should join and keep the cause predominant. NO REFRACTORY ELEMENTS. "We don't want chaos I" the Minister proceeded. "We don't want any refractory elements that require cyaniu ling or other chemicals to bring together Noj wo want a harmonised party, brought together by oue purpose— by an acknowledgment jt one great . mission. We say nothing about the Opposition on this occasion. We have given them free play, and they have been playing— especially wibh the flute— all over the Dominion. They have been telling ihe people how virtuous they have been, hud they have also been, parading before your eyes a catalogue of the crime* to which all llie Ministers and all the members of the Liberal ptirty have budscribed. Well, that is their way j per> haps ib pleaseu the audience. It is a comedy— a kind of melodrama,, but very interesting, and does not seem to catch on with the people, but that ii . their trouble, not ours at all. We don't in. terfere with them because we are playing the gattle. 1 should be very sorry , if anyone of our side 6fcepp&d over the boundary line in order to g«t one on to the Opposition. Of eourße, if ne will go into your backyard, ans wilt leave the gate open, and do dtunagfei th&re ie a way of dealing with him. Let them play thfeir game as ,'long as they don't hurt us, nntt they have &ot dbllfeso yel— A voice': And never will ! i "Or caused any great damage," Sir James proceeded. "Let them .gp on; let us be fair and always plajj 1 inVgamtj. If they hit us below tab. beltH-^se ate their tactics— we can' l'orgiv'6' 'ton', because we rise superior to aMytliinK of that kind, tl anyofte deals r with you foully, U-oat hint with' conbetafi't, and don't come to a low level in order to meet him. Their (the' Oppositibn's) only line hsis been abuse and personalities. Not satisfied with, that, they have insulted the people of this country— (Heat, hear)""by describing .the tact that the present p&rby is in power to be only due to your being dishonest, that you have been bribed, intimidated, corrupted. There jb no other way they can account for th* Liberal l?arty being in power than by insulting ihe people of this Dominion. (Hear, Jieat), We n«ver say that of the Opposition} we never charged them with infidelity, with crimes; we never charged them with indecency and dishonesty. Rather, 1 wo hold them up as patterns of that old time.woi'U order of Conservatism. (Applause.) They reviled BallMtco, and Seddon, but to-day they throw into sharp contrast) the present Ministry with our chiefs who have passed and gone, and say they were noble men, ,_ and say they were great men in theit time, but look at tho present I I remember the time when Mr. Seddon wti* in England, and Sir Joseph Ward was Acting.^rime Minister, how the Opposition press, were loud ill their praises of how smoothly things were going on, and landed Sir Josfeph to the &kies in the absence or our chief, but to-day, no, oh, no s They say that the present party iv, power, representing the great Liberal 'Party, is not fit to be there. Mr. Wisher and ( several other members of the Opposition ! seem to have exhausted theif whole voi eabulary. But these are mere' comments? th© people- are to judge. When you are tired of us, put us out and somebody else in, but, for God's sake, don't change over to the other side. (Applause.) The only use for the Opposition w to kcop them where they are." (Hear, hear.) In conclusion, the Minifeber said : 'We look to the ladies to fight this battle of the Wellington seats. I hope th&» will be a transformation in Wellington. Ii we only captured one, two/ or three seats, that would bo something.'^ (Loud applause.)