THE OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13386, 12 September 1905, Page 5

THE OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN.

PRELIMINARY'..MEETING IN WELLINGTON.

(FRok Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 11. An onthusiastio meeting of Opposition supporters was held hero < this evening. , Tliomeeting was merely a preliminary one, under under tho; auspices of the Wellington'Politieal Reform League; .with a view to organisation in iconnection with the coming general election! • ••• . • Vy.-: ■ ;

■ Mr Brandon, 'a well-known "Wellington barristoiv pceunied.,tho chair,, ancl in introducing Sir JVillium Russell, the first spanker, said the opinion was "gaining ground that the time liad eomo wbeu tho Government should.bo,broughtintc honest grooves, and tho spoils system afcolishod. ' ' ' Sir W.illiata"'Russell, who was well receiyod, epoko qf,£no necessity that existed for improving the system of.parliamentary government. Of recent years, ho: slid, the more trulydcihocratio form of government had passed away,, and now we had government by.what .they .might almost call,a ruthless autocracy,. The. Constitution of the colony had been changed, and each branch of tho Legislature 'had had its( power, materially .weakened,' till novy all'power centred in the hands of ono man, whoso followers did exactly as,lie thought fit. What was wanted in our Parliament was not simply weakkneed delegates,, but strong-willed, f.elf:assortivo men', who would bo influenced neither by fcar_ nor favour, 1 but would 1 do their best in tho interests nf their constituents, ancl of tho colony, Sir William Russell was frequently heartily applauded. • Mr A, L.' Hcrclman, tho next speaker, dealt with the question of civil service reform, The Premier, lie said, had admitted that our publio life had degenerated, but the Premier himself was responsible for that. In connection with, our public tervioa thero was, a feeling of uiircst growing in tile minds of the public, and no doubt thero was a reason for -this. A I'olio? Commission only tho other d_!iy had let a little light info the . administration of that. department. There had also beiin a . necessity for an inquiry into tho management of the State coal mines, And they had had a Land Commission. He dealt with the favouritism that obtained in regard'to appointments to the civil service, Ministers of tho Crown made these appointments not on the grounds of efficiency, but: for- the purpose of nurchasing political power.—(Applause.) .They appointed to tho civil service boys and girls who had not even pawed the civil servico examinations, and tliev did this simply as a quid pro quo for political purposes rendered or expeeted. Ho made a strong appeal for tho appointment of a Civil Service Board, arid pointed out that the New South Wales board had effected a saving of £1.200.000 in that colony. 'S.o long as Mr Secldon remained in power he would not agreo to e.uch a board, or to any diminution of tho patronage now held.—(Applause.) Mr Massoy, who was received with loud applause, mado a telling speech, his subjects being local government reform by the establishment of a system of sound finance and economical expenditure of public money, and the land question. He expressed pleasure at tho fact that tho of Wcllimrton voter! consistently, against tho Government, and ho e*aitl that if tlio people of other districts know as much concerning tho Government as the people of this city, there would be a much larger vote against the Government. Speaking of local government reform, he stnd that under tho present public work* scneme tho money wnp. voted not so much for the carrying out of necessary works as thfl puvehnM of political support. The rublic Works Estimates were" never considered until tho dying hours of the session when members wero anxious to get away, and thus they escaped the searching criticism which should bo given to them. As showing tho extent to which the 'principlo of spoils to tlio victors was carried, he quoted tho remark mado by tho Premier in tho North of Auckland a fow months ago to tho cffcct that they could not expect tho Czovernment, when all other things too* equal, to look with tho eamo kindly oyo on districts returning Opposition members as on t-hoso returning uotcrnmcnb supporters. Tho present system was demoralising from the head of tlio Government down to the electors. They had for years been promised an amendment of the present local government system, but this promise had not been kept. They should havo a system of subsidies to local bodies based on tlio principle of helping thoso who helped themselves, and thus do iway with tho.present element of roads and bridges in tho parliamentary life of tho colony.—(Applause.) Ho wanted to seo Parliament tako up its proper position as tho council of tho "nation—(applause),— under which it would bo possible for a member to walk into tho lobby against the Government withpiit being punished for so doing.—(Applause.) Coming to tho land question, ho referred to what occurred last year, when a majority of members voted that they were not competent to deal with tho land question.—(A Voice: "Thoy wero quito right," and laughter.) Yes, probably they wore quito right.—(Laughter.) The Government, instead of appointing three or four impartial men, appointed a commission of 10, including - nine Government supporters—(laughter),—who got 21 guineas a week.—(Laughter.) • Ho reforre.d to' tho cost of tlio commission, and tho bringing down of a report whioh was not in accordance with tho evidence. Ho briefly touohed on th£ extraordinary nature of tho land proposals brought down by tho Premier this 3 f ear, proposals tlio like of which had never been presented to any Parliament before. In concluding, Mr Massoy announced his intention of a public meeting in' Wellington, before tlio election, and ho would then mako clear his position, not only on the land but on all other publio questions.—(Loud applause.) Mr James'Allen, M.H.R., who followed Mr Massoy,' directed his remarks to einphjsising. the necessity for reform in educational matters.' Ho spoko of tho need of means for properly training teachors, and condemned,tho - 'delay that hnd taken place in. tlio, establishment of training colleges at Auckland and TVollinßtoiu Parliament, ho S'.id, liad never refused to grant money which was asked. lor educational purposes, but the money could not lib nut to the best advantage owing to the chaotio condition of tho department and.the lack of organisation, brain power, and thought. _ Ho said there was a great need for giving more attention to scientific research, with a view of assisting the further development of our indigenous industries. • Ho strongly advocated .tlio establishment of a system of superannuation for teachers, and said that what Parliament was boimr asked to do this session was only what should havo been done years ago'.' Tho report of the Education Committeo on tlio bill would come beforo tho Hqvso'in the courso of a few days. Hnd whilst ho was not at liberty to divulsre tlio contents of the report, lie might sav that teachers would find that the com? niitteo had improved tho measure. The fciiialo teachers as a whole and male teachers between tho 'age of 40 and 60 would find that, their position under the bill was .improved.—(Anplause.) Messrs Dnthli oUd Aittcn. M.IJ.R.'s. also spoko briefly, and (bo mcetinor closed with a h.oartv vote o( thank's to Sir Wm. Russell nnd Messrs Massoy. Herdman, and Allen for their presence and speeches.