PRAISE INDEED!

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14396, 12 June 1907, Page 6

PRAISE INDEED!

The Land Bill has fallen from its high estate, and the Press’ Association, recording a speech of Mr Massey's at Huntly, tells us merely that “ihe aho dealt with tho Land, Bill.” The phrase ie sadly reminiscent of tho “ also started” of a race report. We are bound to, admit, however, that the Press Association agent has exercised a wise discretion in thus dismissing Mr Massey’s sentiments on the Land Bill in. a line. We know them all eo well. And the rest of the speech appears to have been quite" sensational, coming from such a quarter. For almost the first time on record the leader of the Opposition has admitted that there is a -real suspine, that the country is prosperous, and the revenue buoyant. It has to* be remembered that these happy conditions have followed on sixteen years of Liberal administration, 1 sixteen yeans of steady political and material progress. Does Mr Massey wonder that the people are not anxious to change? The leader of the Opposition actually admits that ho sees no way by which the colony can avoid borrowing money for necessary works and for remunerative investments. There ie hops for the member for Franklin. At last-ho appreciates the folly of clamouring for public works expenditure in-one breath and denouncing borrowing in the -next. This whole-souled admission of the success of the Liberal policy is none the less welcome because it is amazing. The good Conservatives of Huntly must hat*© doubted,their senses. Perhaps the truth is that there are no CsnGervativ-qs in Huntly, and Mr Massey knew it. The revision of the tariff has been definitely promised for the coming session. It would have come on last session in the ordinary course, but the circumstances of ministerial changes) and* the necessary brevity of the session compelled a postponement. It is now clearly understood that reductions are to be made in the* clutiea on foodstuffs and articles of daily use wherever possible. At Huntly Mr Massey gravely declared that these reductions ought to he made.. Next year we shall have him, with equal gravity, quoting tho revision of tho tariff; aB another of the instances in whi oil the Opposition has supplied tho Government with a policy. We feel that wo are coming to know our Mr Massey very well.