IN OPPOSITION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16193, 20 March 1913, Page 6

IN OPPOSITION.

EnniNTLT tho member for Aren it? enjoying, as some of the rest of us aro, the new situation in which the Liberal Party finds itself. The party in opposi-

tion has privileges and opportunities which can never fall to the lot of the party in office. Tho reflection may not seem very heroic when all tho great interests at stako aro remembered, but it is very natural in tho circumstances. Tho address which Mr Russell delivered to his constituents last night is tho best of many admirablo addresses that stand to his credit. Speaking more carefully than ho usually docs, and marshalling his facts and figures witli clearness and precision, ho made his points one by one until even the'little band of dissentients, in whom under different conditions our Reform frionds would havo found tho authors of “ organised interruption,” was induced to listen and actually to applaud. Perhaps ho departed somewhat from tho high noto ho struck in tho more serious parts of his address when he referred to tho necessity for an alliance between tho Liberal Party and tho Labour Party for tho purpose o f turning tho Massey Government., out of office and suggested a dirge by which its expulsion might bo celebrated. Tho alliance between tlio two parties must havo a bettor object than tho removal of tho Massey Government from tho Treasury benches. That will follow as a matter of courso, but it must bo only preparatory to tho introduction of the progressive legislation and tho institution of tho sound administration of which tho country stands so much in need. However, this was Mr Russell’s only lapse from tho high standard lie had sot himself and evidently it mot with no disfavour from *his audience Ho was on firmer ground, when he proceeded to criticise tho Government's finance and to show how littlo it made for economy or efficiency or stability. The public havo heard so much about tho good fortur.o of tho country in possessing a Minister of Finance who can raise a great loan in tho London mcnoy market at 4i por cent in a timo of financial stringency that they aro half-persuaded that Mr James Allen has some mystic influcnco with tho British capitalists that lias been denied to all his predecessors in office and to all his contemporaries in the other dominions. But Mr Russell dispelled this delightful littlo fantasy by showing that Mr Allen lias simply speculated on money remaining dear ‘for the next five or six years. If it docs ho will bo entitled to tho credit that falls to tlio lot of tho successful gambler. If it does not New Zealand will liavo to pay pretty dearly for Ids mistake. It is not necessary to refer in detail to any portion of Mr Russell’s address. The reporters have supplied an excellent summary of his remarks and electors who want to get back to plain facts and well-defined principles after tho Prime Minister’s strenuous party appeals will find it both interesting and instructive reading.