LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2924, 30 March 1910, Page 11

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

PROJECTED CAMPAIGN. {Fbosi Our Own CoimF.sroNDENTO WELLINGTON. March 22. j Mr W. F. Massey. Leader of the Or)position, arrived in Wellington from Auck- i land yesterday, and will be here for a > few days. He intends after the holidays j to deliver a number of public addresses in different parts of the Dominion, including Wellington City. " I had been hoping," said Mr Massey, when interviewed to-day, " that some member of the Government would follow the usual custom and deliver a policy speech, but whether they speak or not I intend to address the public as soon after the Easter holidays as arrangements can be made." Mr Massey added that his j addresses would range over a wide field j *f criticism of the policy and administra-1

tion of the Government, "and," he added 1 with a smile, " there are very many things that require criticism." Alluding to the questions of internal defence, the Leader of the Opposition 6aid he was opposed at present to increasing the age for compulsory training beyond 21. Any proposal to make the age 25 or 28, as has been suggested by Lord Kitchener, would be sure, he thought, to cause a revulsion of feeling, and might endanger the retention of the advance that had been made. He thought the present law in respect to the age (21 years) should be given a fair trial. Speaking of the difference of opinion as to the route that should be adopted for the noi-th of Auckland railway, Mr Massey said the position he took up was this : "The Government had decided to set up a commission to report on the best route to be adopted after the line had reached a certain point. If there was any doubt as to the route from the present terminus to the point fixed by the Minister for Public Works, that section of the

•proposed line should, fti M,r Massey's opinion, also be included in the scope of the commission, which should consist of experts.