Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1911.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXII, Issue 28, 2 August 1911, Page 6

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1911.

SESSION AND OBSESSION. Addresa-in<lleply debates are traditionally not very pertinent replies to the matter of the Governor's Speech, but that is commonly the fault of the Speech. This year the King's representative had' to voice amiable> generalities, of a particularly banal brand, and the members therefore have some excuse for j not giving anything hotter than they got. This i<s a. time when the members of both Houses have a licence- to Waftder into any wilderness and pluck figs from thistles and thistles from figs. The people have grown a-ccustomed to look foT florid rhetorical exaggeration and tiresome prolixity from both parties when each unit is permitted to b« infinitely wearisome. Each representative is allowed to pour an hour's exuberance into Hansard, and a Legislative Councillor has not the indignity of a time limit at all. It seems impossible to convince come politicians that quality is more important— -even from the speaker's viewpoint— than quantity in speech-making. In the popular Chamber the Gfovernmenfc off rather limply with Messrs. Jennings and Witty, whose words went mostly at a halting gait. Mr. Jennings, a freeholder by-the-way, naturally projected the land question, which will keep the parties in 6ha,rp conflict this session, even without the aid of a Land Bill. Mr. Witty threw in the Hine chargea and other controversial topics, and tluw the way was cleared for lengthy recriminations which may suit Sir James Carroll's book for the present. The House was listless till Mr. Ma-ssey compelled it tc> be attentive, but interest flagged when the Leader of the Opposition had finished his spirited attack, >His successor on the floor, the Hon. J3-. Fowlds, purported to be in fighting form, but his voice was too gentle to epark the atmosphere. Air. IWlds, when he is in the mood, ran be an incisive speaker, but seldom a biting one (which can be a good qtial* ity rather than a defect). Much was expected from the Leader of the Opposition, and it hns to be re corded to his credit that he spoke breezily and vigorously. Ho avoided the shrill note, and was careful nob to revert to the captions criticism which characterised some of his recess campaigning. A passage which was aj> plauded from the frovernment side was a frank expression of Mr. Ma*«ey'p man' | Hnase. Hefotviag briefly to m Rteteraini yihkh be mi 4% during j,b* J'Blwk d«>. '

bate" last year about the late Mt. T« E, Taylor, the Leader of the Opposition remarked : "I withdraw the statement unreservedly, and regret that it was made." This action, was in admirable conformity with Mr, Massey's words of last Friday, and thus the difference waa settled in al! decency. Discussing the much-debated Mokau lands, Mr. Massey firmly adhered to his charges against the Government, but his remarks were rather in the naturo of a notice o! motion to attack, with fire and eword, at another opportunity, which will not be lacking. Mr. Ma«sey is conndfcfit that he has the Government in a, cleft stick, and the Government invites the public to believe that it can make Mr. Maasey sorry that he ventured into th* romantic territory of Mokau. We shall return to this subject presently, when Mokati is mete conspicuously set upon tho floor. Mf. Massey gate other hints of troublous times, notably in reference to the Imperial Conference and th<s Coronation invitations. On this last subject Sir Joseph Ward's explanations have obviously not satisfied the Opposition, which is naturally eag-sr to see copies of all the correspondence that passed. A weakness of Mr. Massey's speech— -and it is an old fault— was that he tried to run over too much ground in his hour. He was, therefore, something out of breath in some of the sprints. He practically announced that he had certain bombs to fire, ahd thus gay» the Government timely warning to build shelters, if any are deemed necessary.