THE OPPOSITION ABROAD.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14169, 18 September 1906, Page 6

THE OPPOSITION ABROAD.

The Opposition excursion, to New Plymouth appears to have been a less impressive affair than we had expected. Mr Massey talked a little about the Land Bill, and Mr Jamas Allen a little about the “Government’s intentions,” but the most important part of the proceedings seems to have been the introduction of the party organiser who is to prepare the country for the contingency of a dissolution. Incidentally Mr Massey mentioned that the “optional system ” was the most important feature of our land laws, showing that ho has been studying his Year Book to come purpose sinco he declared at Kaiapoi a year or two ago that no such thing as an “optional system” existed. Having progressed so far wo may hope that in another decade he will realise tliat there are other good things

in the Liberal land policy. In the meantime he can see nothing but deception and disaster in tho Government’s proposals. The endowments for education and charitable aid are merely excuses for depriving the people of their birthright and the Now Plymouth Harbour Board of part of its revenue, the renewable leases are simply delusions and snares which no sensible man will touch, and the limitation of areas is nothing but a sop to the agitators and the lawyer®. No doubt these are the lines on which the leader of the Opposition will develop hie speech on tho Land Bill in the House of Representatives, and there is no need to stop to discuss them now. It is a little amusing, however, to find him saying that if tho Government's policy had been in force from the beginning of settlement, tho colony would have been tho poorer for its operation. He is, of course, mistaking a handful of wealthy land-owners, as so many gentlemen on his side of politics are apt to do, for the colony. If New Zealand had never sold an acre of its land it would now be reaping for the whole of its people the advantages that are falling to a few individuals. It is not too late to save the remnant of the public estate, hut if the ©lectors allow tho present opportunity to pass no snob opportunity will ever” occur again. Mr Massey has expressed his determination to remain in office—the office of Opposition—and we trust that he and his friends will be allowed to remain there, at least till tho Liberal land policy is secure.