THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1919. THE LIBERALS IN OPPOSITION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17713, 26 August 1919, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1919. THE LIBERALS IN OPPOSITION.

Some of our contemporaries have expressed satisfaction over the dissolution of the National Government for tlie reason that it will have the effect of bringing an organised Opposition once more into existence and consequently of securing that useful criticism shall be passed in Parliament upon the actions and proposals of the Government. One of the disadvantages by which the formation of'the National Government was attended unquestionably consisted in the fact that tho supporters of the parties represented in the Government felt constrained to forgo in large measure thoir right of criticism. The Government escaped a good deal of the criticism that might fairly have been directed against it simply because it was felt that it was undesirable that it should be opposed to any extent greater than • was absolutely necessary. The revival of an organised Opposition will, consequently, be of undoubted benefit. It is in tho interests of the community that tho policy and administration of tho Government should be subjected to full and free criticism. A government incurs criticism as much and as severely in respect of its administration as in respect of its policy. The administrative blunders of governments have led

to their undoing not less frequently than their legislative errors. Tho administration, of tho past four years in. the dominion, has, however, been administration on the part of the National Government. The Reform Government, reconstituted a few days only before tlieopening of the session, will have a clean slato to submit to Parliament. And tho Liberal members of the National Government will, under tho political thoory of collective responsibility of a Cabinet, have to accept their share of tho onus of its mistakes, administrative or legislative. It is reasonable to expect of them that they should be prepared to defend tho acts of that Government against criticism even though this may not be directed against departments controlled by themselves. Their retirement from the Government, because tiro time has arrived when the cause for their acceptance of Ministerial office no longer exists, does not absolve them from their joint and several responsibility for whatever was done by the Government while they wero members of it. It seems hardly likely, therefore, that there will bo more than a partial restoration in the coming session of the place which should be filled by the Opposition in the scheme of parliamentary business. The legislation which the Government will introduce will, it may be presumed, be only of such a character as must necessarily be passed. One of the Labour members of the House has suggested that it would be just as well to terminate tho Parliament at once. From some points of view it might be advantageous that the voice of the country should be ascertained as speedily as possible, but Mr Massey will not be ill-advised if he makes an endeavour to secure the enactment of as much as possible of the non-controversial legislation which was left in suspense during the war. Any idea that controversial measures can be passed may be completely dropped. It will, indeed, only be through the forbearance and co-operation of the Opposition that the enactment of non-conten-tious legislation can be effected. But Parliament should recognise that there is a distinct reason why legislation which is really necessary and to which there is no strong objection should be passed before the country goes to a general election, two years overdue although this is.