THE OPPOSITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15331, 14 June 1910, Page 8

THE OPPOSITION.

JIB ALLEN AT HOKITIKA. FAVOURABLE IMPRESSIONS Of? THE WEST COAST. Mr James Allen returned to Christchurch from the West Coast last evening with very favourable impressions of tho Coast, its people, and their grasp of political questions. He told n reporter that Hokitika, at aii3' rate, did its little best to sustain the reputation of the Coast as the wettest place in New Zealand, but that his meeting on Friday night, in spite of the weather, was a very gratifying one from all points of view. It was large, attentive and enthusiastic. There were absolutely no interjections, and, although questions were invited at the conclusion of his speech, none wore put forward. " Are you as well satisfied in regard to the prospects of the Opposition on the Coast P" he was asked. " I did not form any idea of the prospects," he replied. " I did not go for that purpose. All I can say is that the people listened to Mr Massey and to pie most attentively- They had not heard lis for twenty years, but they will hear vis now, and will listen to us, and listen attentively and it Is very encouraging. It is well known, of course that the people of the W T est Coast are hospitable. I found that out for myself, but I also found that many of them are deepthinking politicians. Thoy know a good deal more about politics than people in other parts of the dominion give them credit for, only they have not previously, for many years, had the Opposition side placed clearly before them. They are certainly very active-minded, intelligent people about Hokitika.' In reply to a question in regard to Opposition candidates on the Coast, he said that the point had not been raised. The Opposition leaders had not gone to Hokitika to create dissension. They wished merely to place the position before the people, to let them see what sort of men the Opposition members were, and to remove misapprehensions and misunderstandings. As to the West Coast from other points of view, Mr Allen said that he was delighted with the scenery and as much of the country as he could see from the window of his railway carriage. It was intended that he should be taken down the big mine at Ross, where large pumping operations have been carried on in the old flooded workings. He was present at the ceremony of opening the original mine, nearly thirty years ago, and is interested in the enterprise now in hand. The typical West Coast weather, however, interfered with arrangements in that direction, and on Saturday he had to hurry back to Greymouth. There the position in regard to the Maori leases which are interfering with the district's development was explained to him. Greymouth impressed him as being a very thriving town, and he noted many improvements since he was There moro than a quarter of a century ago. He is somewhat disappointed with the country as far as farming is concerned, but he says that, the sawmillinpj industry of the Coast is much more extensive than he had believed before his visit. He said that he had read with interest the article in the " Lyttelton Times" yesterday morning criticising his Hokitika speech. The "Lyttelton Times," he said, professed that it did not see very clearly why Hokitika should have been made the chief scene of political strife during the recess. The reason was a very simple one. It was the fact that Mr Massey and he had been invited to epgak there. The people wished them to go there; and those. who expressed that ■ wish were not at all afraid to let their names be known and be placed before the public. It was quite true, as the "Lyttelton Times" said, that Hokitika had "opened its warm heart to Mr Massey and the member for Bruce." He had never dreamt, indeed, that lie would receive such a reception as was given to him on Friday' night. Touching on another point of criticism, he said that he could not understand how the " Lyttelton Times," or anybody else, could try to excuse the Prime Minister for being extravagant " in response to a. clamorous demand for concessions and conveniences." If a Minister had not the backbone to resist that kind of thing, he was not fit to be a Minister. It was utter nonsense for tho "Lyttelton Times" to say that the Roxburgh-Beaumont railway line, in his district, would be amongst the most expensive lines in the dominion. Ar a matter of fact, it could be constructed for about £6OOO a mile if money was not wasted on it. "Yes, it is quite true," he added ; " I did claim that the Government owed its constructive policy with regard to defence to some members of the Opposition, at any rate—myself for one —and I can prove it to the hilt." " What about the session from an Opposition point of view?" he was asked.

" Well," ho replied, " I don't suppose the Opposition will get much further forward until we have another election. The principal debatable subject is the land question. Sir Joseph Ward has promised to bring it up, but in what shape goodness only knows." Mr Allen will visit Little River today. He intends to return to ChristchuTcb to-morrow, and will leave again for the south.