The Ensign. FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1912. THE OPPOSITION.

Mataura Ensign, 26 January 1912, Page 4

The Ensign. FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1912. THE OPPOSITION.

Tlie meetings which were held in Auckland, Christchurch and Winton on Wednesday night are striking evidences of the strength of feeling which animates the electors who voted against the Government at the recent general election. The action of the huge meeting, which greeted Mr Maasey as he rose to speak in the Auckland Town Hall, made it clear that the defeat of Sir John Findlay and the Hon. Mr Fowlds was not an accidental occurrence, hut the deliberate and determined intention of the electors. An attempt has been made in some quarters to use this demonstration for the purpose of raising the cry of North Island versus South Island, but there is no justification for this. The Leader of the Opposition has always been personally popular in the Northern capital, and it has not been an uncommon thing for him to be enthusiastically greeted at public functions in Auckland. On this occasion, however, the assemblage made it plain that their demonstration of welcome was intended to encourage him to go forward. The Opposition has no intention of neglecting the South Island,

nor <o£ allowing tlie North, to toave more favoavid treatment th*n it i s entitled to; but'the fact that there is a vast amount of Work to be done in the "North cannot bo overlooked, and it therefore may be to continue spending sums of money upon "public works in that island. 'Die Speeches at the I Northern meeting were in keeping with the intention of its promoters. The

demonstration, was hcl-di for th© purpose of introducing th© Opposition .members! to the Auckland public, and the success which attended it must have been most gratifying to the committee.. -Mr Massey outlined his policy once more, and intimated that if he were entrusted with the leadership of the House, he intended to carry that policy through or submit it once more to the electors. MiAnderson, speaking at Winton on the same evening, at the social tendered to Mr J. R. Hamilton, advised his hearers that this would no doubt be Mr Massey's intention, and that if the new Government did not rise to the occasion

and to their opportunities they would deserve to be dismissed promply by the electors. This fact should' be kept prominently before his colleagues by Mr Massey, for their every action will be closely scrutinised. They will have a heavy task before them to rectify the mistakes which have been made during late years, and not the least difficult of these tasks will be tho reversal of the Public Works policy which has been one

of muddling for years. To remove the requisitions for tlie " expenditure of public money upon roads and bridges solely to the local bodies will save huge sums to the general taxpayer, but it will create a considerable amount of feeling-, among those faithful followers of the late Government who have had gravelled roads made to their doors and bridges constructed for their special convenience without consideration for the welfare of others. Civil Service reform will be another difficult task, for the hunters after Government billets are many and their votes count. Legislative Council reformation will be a most severe task for the new Government, for it will cause much controversy and heartburning. But all these difficulties are as nothing compared

witn tne iana question, ana Mr jviassey must take tliis in hand immediately. He has pledged his party to provide more land for settlement and that is no easy matter. If, however, he takes off his coat and goes to work earnestly there is no reason why the population of Hawke's Bay, Canterbury and Marli borough should not be more than doubled within the next five years. The large estates in these provinces must be subdivided. The country cannot afford to allow the rich grazing lands of the Hawke's Bay district to remain in

large blocks. They must be either purchased by the Government and subdivided, or their owners must be taxed until they subdivide them. The Native land must also he settled either by the natives or by Europeans. We congratulate Mr J. It. Hamilton on the success of the social tendered him at Winton. Mr Hamilton is a native of the Winton district, he lias resided there all his life, and his abilities and his worth are known to his fellow settlers. They have apprised them highly, and the handsome presents made to him and the enthusiastic reception he received were richly deserved. The fortunes of the Iteform Party are on the up grade. It remains to bo seen whether its leaders will take full advantage of their opportunities.