THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31, 1912.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 31 January 1912, Page 2

THE Kaipara Advertiser, AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 31, 1912.

THE OPPOSITION DEIION- - SIRATION. : Mil Massey and his people did the right thing of course at Auckland, the thing they had the right to do. Their party is not yet possessed of a majority it is true, hut it has been to its ' own agreeable surprise made at least equal to if not more numerous than the other side which for twenty years has been ahead by an enormous prepondance of force. What more natural than jubNation? Aad at the same time what i more important than, the question of organisation? These two duties the party met to perform. One of these it got through with great brillancy and effect. It jubilated with the air of men just released from a long wandering in desert places, and even the most.mveterate of its enemies has not refused the sympathy proper to the occasion. As to tbe organisation, wo have been under the impression that this part/ was very much better organised than the other during the election. Still the need is so great for discipline aud her aids to loyalty that one cannot won dor at the harping on the note :t organisation" or at tlio want of further reference to the same, or at the repeated call to stand firm and in loyalty to the chiefs. All of which shows the Party ready to do its utmost to take advantage of the situation. On the otner side there is no demonstration to record. The silonce is suggestive of the doggedness of the defensive position In this case the defensive mustnecess- j arily begin by a severe defeat. The party will begin, that is to say, by losing the first move-the inevitable nocouiidence motion which the' Leader of the Opposition nust submit at the outset of the proceedings: i. c. after the choice oO Mr Speaker. Tho second stage for them will bo when Mr Mass • oy is forming this government; simultaneously they will be negotiating with tho Independents let loose by tho fulfilment of their pledges to turn out the Ward government." For tho present the parly is dispirited, its leaders arc not the happiest family on earth, and uuity of purpose is not conspicuous iv their position. Whatever may be ' the 'effect when Parliament meets, it is undoubted that the signs of victory and permanence are on tlio side of tho Opposition. A victorious army moves forward with orderly nisli siioutiii" and demonsitmtive. A beaten force | marches loose with'^a tendency to skulk and a. general air of coining" disintergration. It is always possible of course, for a leader to 'put new spirit into the worst deinoralistuion at a favourable moment. But in the present case the leader, it is half suspected., has a mmd to remove himself, knowing liimaelf to be the special torget for the shot o£ the enemy. Tho chunces are that nothing will occur to interrupt the process of breaking up. However; when the fateful fifteenth comes we shall see what we shall see.