The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, 4th JULY, 1889.

Southland Times, Issue 10200, 4 July 1889, Page 2

The Southland Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. THURSDAY, 4th JULY, 1889.

The Opposition ha\e done a wise thing in appointing a leader ; whether they hare done quite wisely in choosing Mr Ballance remains to be seen. That gentleman has never shown much capacity for leadership, but the 3ense of responsibility may develop unsuspected qualities. However, better even such a leader than no leader, though of course better still to have the best man possible in that important post. There was, to say the truth, not much choice. Sir George Grey is presumably as much out of sympathy with the Opposition as he is with the Government and their supporters. Ever since bis deposition some ten years ago he has held practically aloof from what used to be' called the Great Liberal Party. He has in fact frequently shown as much pleasure in thwarting as in supporting his old associates ; and. he is now, and has long been, in the fullest sense an independent member. The infirmities of age are moreover beginning to creep upon him, so that even if be were heart and boul with the opposition he would scarcely venture to undertake the onerous duties of leader. The natural leader of the party, if party either section of the House can be properly called, is of course Sir Bobert Stout. But Sir Robert is not in the House, and even if be had not been beaten by Mr. Allen at the lest general elections, it is very doubtful if he would have consented to lead the party when in Opposition. That would not have been good enough, to use a slang expression, for the Dunedin Knight. He deserted the Grey Government when he saw that it was hopelessly moribund, and left his dear Liberal friends to fight the long weary battle with the Continuous Ministry whilst he himself was more profitably engaged in attending to bis private affairs. But as soon as the country had declared definitively agaiust the Major, Kir Robert entered into a compact with his old Tory acquaintance, Sir Julius Yogel, the bete noir of his former chief, and struck in gallantly for the Premiership. And be will in all probability do the same again. It is his part, or his pleasure, to intervene in our parish po'itics, as if he were a kind of small divinity. Had he been anxious •t\ lead the party after its defeat at the general election he could easily have secured another seat. One of the Wellington papers the other day told Mr Ballance that it was not worth his while trying to oust the Government on ther Property Tax Amendment Bill, or any other measure, as he would have no chance of the Premiership although he succeeded •; t>ir .Robert Stout would be sure to step iv and reap the frnit of his labours. It was rather an ungracious thing to say, but it was too tempting for a pariizan paper on the other side to resist. Mr Ballance, how ever, is Sir Kobert Stuut's henchman, and may thus be regarded as deputy leader of the so-called, or self-called, liberals; It is to be boped fee will be

able to exercise all due authority and ' turn the party from a A . disorganised rabbie into an efficient Opposition. There are rnmours to the effect that some would-be leaders are showing signs of insubordinatidn. Tbiß was only to be expected where there is no predominating mind, where perhaps a dozen or more members have an equal claim to the position. But good" sense and good feeling will no doubt prevail, and the Opposition are to be Congratulated on having at length' obtaiofd a leader. A vigorous vigilant .Opposition is as necessary to good governmenV as a capable Ministry. , r