WHO ARE THE OPPOSITION?

New Zealand Times, Volume LXX, Issue 3785, 6 July 1899, Page 2

WHO ARE THE OPPOSITION?

(By “ Radical.”) . •' I think it will be granted that the pre- ; sent is a lit time to give the above sub-.-; jeet some thought. •; When- a survey is made of the people’s representatives iiw Parliament one is forcibly struck with the incongruity of the admixture of .that. poption deemed to form the Opposition party. Now, an Opposition, to deserve the name, ought to lie a congruous collection of representatievs banned together for the purpose of keeping a watchful eye on' the Administration, to the intent that good government for Uie benefit of the people may result. \V hat lias been presented to us for a long period now by the Opposition, and by that somewhat nondescript section known as the Left Wing, certainly does not impress one with confidence as to the happy manner in which the affairs of this colony would he managed if either or both of the opposing forces were' called upon to form a Government. A true Opposition is of necessity temperate and consistent, for that is an essential element of good'government; but when it assumes a factious and unreliable character, then it is baneful and dangerous. It has been well said that " It will still he true, and reason will demonstrate, that all men are directed by the constitution of human nature to submit, to government, and that some men are in a particular manner designed to take care of that government, on which the common happiness depends.” Can it be said that the Qpposition. as at present constituted is, designed in a particular .manner to take care, of us? "Will you walk into my parlour?” said the spider to the fly. “No, thank you,” is the reply of the followers of the present Liberal Government; “we prefer to keep out of the parlour.” At an early stage of last session of Parliament we found the Opposition called together and numbers were counted. It was decided to take counsel together, and from what we have seen up to this date the commingling of intellects has produced hut little solid matter. However, - a leader was chosen, and he would confer with Messrs G. Hutchison, W. Rolleston, and M. .1. S. Mackenzie. it was opined that these faithful friends were chosen for their wisdom, sagacity and consistency. Let. us examine the''quartet. Of Captain Russell it has been said that he is a "soldier and a gentleman," and we may say of Mr Rolleston that his eyes look the world calmly and squarely in the face and seem, to say, "I am-not conscious of having done anything of .which I am ashamed.” I am not suggesting that either gentlemen possess any marvellous legislative or administrative ' ability. rr hey would be much more practical if tney', would only perceive that changes must.' come. We move along and mee' Sqohie Mackenzie—l make no apology for being, familiar. If I flatter him, I■ must say, his name has, after a fashion, become a household'word in our politics. There is. a good old expression which meets his case: "Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel.” - There will be much hope deferred before his vaulting ambition attains to tl/e Premiership. Vituperative oratory, is often a beating of the air, and hair-' splitting dealings with fhe use of he. Stand-. ing Orders is waste of time. .Rogers the poet once said a smart thing'about'Ward” afterwards Lord Dudley, who. had offended him. I cannot relate the anecdote in full, but I will just alter the epigram:—

They say that Scobie’s got no heart, but I ' deny it; He has a heart—and gets his speeches by j it! . ’ Sydney Smith, in his rasping fashion, said of Rogers, " When he produces a couplet he goes to bed, and tile knocker is tied up, and straw is laid down, and the candle is made, and the answer, to inquiries is that Mr Rogers is as well as can be expected.” Of a truth, the Mackenzie must cause his friends much'concern when the "swotting” business is in course of pro-, gress. And Scotia.'s orator, having delivered himself, is limp, flaccid and expressionless. Possessed of little adnlinistra-: tive capacity, not over-charged with wisdom —still he can talk. Our next picture is George Hutchison. ' There was a memorable occasion when it was said in connection with the political career of the member for Patea.. that "Honest John” retired to make room in the People’s Parliament for " Wily George.” He certainly ought to be ranked by Opposition and Government as a nondescript. He speaks well, but now there is a distinct appearance of garrulosity and recklessness, clearly indicative of insincerity, which will lapd him on the sunken, rocks of intrigue. Let him lav this to heart, that " Self-de-ception is the worst deception.” , And for the present I leave thfe quartet, who with their friends are to guide the destinies of our colony and save the ship of State from that awful reef charted as f ‘ Seddo.nisin.” Some of the, ignorant, and the fledglings and the frothy r mouthed ones Of the Opposition refer to the regime of the Liberal Government, as "Tammany.” Ugh! Sour grapes! '• "Honi soit qiu inal y ,pense,” which for convenience may'be turned into English as " First go' and clean your own stable before bothering abput your neighbour. ' It will he conceded that a healthy, honest spirit of powerful resistance is beneficial to good government, but the saviours of the country, in the shape of the present Opposition, are not going to replace the Seddoiiian Liberals fust vet. In conclusion,' it has been said that there ought to be interwoven with our political life a spirit of' religion which would have an effect that has heretofore been on unknown quantity. Mav ho so. Is (lie leaven to he cast iron Calvinism ? In this connection it has been said that the religid-political conscience is like indiarubber.