THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1899.

Grey River Argus, Volume LVII, Issue 10271, 29 April 1899, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus PUBLISHED DAILY. SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 1899.

Owing to circumstances which everyone sincerely regretted, the Leader of the Opposition was prevented up till this entering upon that long promised political campaign in the course of which the shortcomings of the Administration were to be laid bare before an expectant public. , Anticipations were notlessenedinariy way in consequence of the postponement, but; rather the reverse. People had somehow, reasonably or otherwise, got themselves into such a frame of mind as to expect some more than usually seriousdisclosures. They omitted to reflect that threats of a similar kind ha/c been mado with more or less vehemency for years past. sTet session after session has gone by without the character or prestige of the Administration being appreciable damaged. We do not desire to say that there may hot be damaging charges to bring forward that can be made good ; but it must be admitted that so far nothing of the kind has been substantiated either within the House .or \v ithput it. .Of course it will be apparent that until the Leader of the Opposition shows by something more than move assertion the culpability, of the Administration in the conduct of the public business of the country the opinipns of the electors cannot be expected to undergo any vevy material change as to the merits or demerits of the present occupants of office or 'so as to weaken

their claims to public confidence. As a i rule man kind, or anyrate ..a" very ilarge section of it, is only too prone to believe the worst. Yet, with this strong point in favor of the Opposition, they seem to have made singularly little headway in, changing the current of public opinion, or even in making out such a case as to call for at least a suspension of judgment. A perusal of the summary of Capt. Russell's address to the electors .of Hastings was followed by a feeling 6f dis^ appointment, not that he did not succeed in convicting the Administration out of .their own mouth of miatakesand wrong-, doings, but that he seemed to be so/ far from being able to do anything of thp. kind. It is therefore only fair to say that \ if none of the other members '.-of the Party who are to take parkin the campaigu now fairly opened can make out no better case, then, the campaign will have effected very little and might as well not have been; entered upon.; In an organised attack of this kind mere assertions cannot be expected to count for much, because people have long been accustomed to listen to charges and counter charges from both sides— from Ministers charging the Opposition" with all sorts of .sins against the people in tho past, and, frori the Opposition against the Ministry for the alleged continuous maladministration of, the present time and since they have been in power. These tu,quoque recriminations have been deplored by all but eager, partisans. For instance, as the allegation that if ■ the Opposition acceded to power their. fU'st: task -would be to repeal all the Liberal legislation of the last few-years,, we never gave the slightest credence to it. "Such an act by a political partyy even if it were possible for them to do so, would be altogether unprecedented. The Liberal clock is* never put back in pro-, gressive conntries, and any Government that would attempt such an outrage would only sign its own death warfaiit. r Captain , Russell is standing oni-, solid ground when he says that the land held by the Assets Realisation Board should be cut up for settlement.. From all we have, seen of the Board they have done nothing to show" that they are a realising body, while it ' has seemed.tp everyone . that they have done a gpoddeal toshow that they are anything but that. ' They have held and; managed the lands under their control just as any ordinary large land- : holder would do. It is altogether an incongruous proceeding for;. Government to be buying up large landed estates for „ subdivision while the Assets Realisation Board hold such large areas as they do. But we cannot go with Captain Russell in the maintenance of the freehold tenure,, and thatis evidently the. most important plaukin:his programme.- - (Aaioma doubt existed on this matter, we are; I glad that the Leader of the Opposition has. .given us a jelear .and; emphatic deliverance: on this point. ■ MrHutchisorcand MrDuihie we now see were representing the ! =views ot their -leader and their -party when they : announced, that freehold tenure would be, one of the chief planks of .the party; \ Itis one too on which Mr Rolleston cannot stand with them. While the lease in perpetuity, as given-' by the Minister of Lands is not what is most desirable in the interests of- the people, the final alienation of Government lands by sale is the very worst possible ,way 6£ . dealing -with the lands of a country. The doctrine of freehold tenure may serve ts bind the Opposition firmly together ; Jbul^ it will scarcely help to assist iv briuging about the dismemberment of the Liberal PaVty.'' . "■"-''■ "■■ '•■" > --=--; : * > 3" '■': is almost needless to say that we are ontirely with the Leader of the Opposition in holding.; that there-should be a; great' reductipn. in the taxation on the necessaries of life. There is nothing like; ."equality of sacrifice" under. our tariff, and its speedy amendment is urgently called for ; it is neither more or less thaii the most flagrant piece of illiberal Liberalism in fche taxing, of the- people that could be pointed, to. ' We quite agree that "there never was anything in the taunt about the " breeches -pocket " policy, , aud thecharge came very badly indeed from the Liberal side, considering the many advantages enjoyed by Ministers'in canvassing atthe expense. of; the country. As to the charge that Government have sent men about the colony to canvass ' it in the interests of the Liberal Party and pay out of the Treasury that is something that the Premier may be expected to give a flat 'denial to. But whether denied or nofyit is a specific accusation of so compromising a nature that the House is the only proper place to. deal' with it,. and there is no doubt ifchat it will fully threshed out there in due I course. ....... ;