MR MASSEY BANQUETED

Southland Times, Issue 19186, 26 October 1903, Page 2

MR MASSEY BANQUETED

SOME PREDICTIONS

Per United Press Association

WELLINGTON, Oct. Mr Mussey, leader of tho Opposition in Parliament," was entertained a.l a banquet in the Empire Motel lust night by a number of the Opposition party and a few personal friends. Sir Win. Russell occupied tin- chair and hud on his right their guest and on his left Mr H. v. bell. . ill i Ihe Chairman, in proposing tho loyal toasts of the King and the Government, said Lord Ranfurly had taken a keen, interest in the welfare of all classes of the community and he thought everybody throughout the colony would agree that he hul been n most excellent Governor. He regretted that Lord and Lady Kaniurlv were leaving the colony and added ihat Lady Itunftirly. by her gracious.demeanof. tact and unfailing syniputhy, had endeared herself to all. Sir Win. Russell, in proposing the I health of Mr Mussey. spoke of the unprecedented difficulties the Opposition party had to contend with during recent years They had decided on a strenuous I (itfht against what they believed to be the iniquities of the Government, and in Mr Mussey they had a man able to lead I that light' He' possessed all the elements essential to successful leadership—indomitable courage, perfect health, tho utmost pertinacity and tact. He was a man of sympathetic soul and great personal magnetism and there was no man of the party so capable of leading them to victory "as their honoured guest. Sir William went on to say that he genuinely and honestly believed tHe turn in the political tide had come and that it would be materially influenced by the many good and necessary qualities possessed by Mr Mussey. The toast was enthusiastically honoiire" Mr Massey. in responding, said it gavo him RTent pleasure to see around him so many old political friends and he hoped to again see them joining with him in Parliamentary life. With all its drawbacks. Parliamentary life had many recompenses and the party he led were struggling against difficulties for what they believed to bo in the best interests of the people- It was now admitted even hv thoir most obstinate opponents, thai tfie Opposition party had done good work during the past ten years. '1 he way in which • they had amended imper- ■ feet Government uiywisures had contributed to the letter government of the colony and they had. under great difficulties, endeavoured in every possible way to carry out the legitimate functions of a parliamentary opposition Imagine, he j said, how difficult it was for a country member, with roads and bridges required for his district, to vote against the Government upon whom depended a share of the Public Works expenditure each member would receive ? He deeply appreciated the position in which the party had placed him. If his leadership was to be successful— and he intended to do his best to make it a success— he wanted the 1 whole-souled support of the party, in and out of Parliament. That the country was satisfied with the reorganisation of the Opposition was shown by sheaves of telegrams and letters he had received. It was generally acknowledged that if the government of the country was to Ih> successful there must be a strong and vigilant Opposition to keep tho Government under supervision, and tho present Opposition were just the men to do that. They had been twitted with a desire to get on the Government benchos, but he did not know a single Opposition member who wanted to get there ; yet thero were many aimongst them who, if they had taken the other side in politics, could have been in office Ipng ago. They were, however, better satisfied to be in the right with the few than with tho majority iv the wrong. There was n great sphere of usefulness in front of the

party Ho believed the time had arrived when the public administration of tho colony was 'of more importance than the leirisintion. and regretted that full opportunity was not u Horded the House of

properly criticising thy finances and ad' ministration of the treat departments of the State. The facilities at present available of discussing them in tho Finuncial Statement and on the Estimates were not satisfactory, and ho cou tended a day ought to be set apart for considering each of these departments ami that the departmental reports should be before the House in ample time for full discussion. He complained that full information as to yie finances of th 0 Government was not supplied to the House. The last loan was floated in Fer.juo.ry, but to this day they had not been alilo to pet .from the Government anything t, o show the net return of it and the expenses connected therewith. A bad practico hud grown up of rushing important legislation through in the dying hours of tluj session and he hoped every thine would be done to stop that this session. Tho conduct of Parliamentary business during the present session had been scandalous Inere had been no obstruction on the part of the Opposition and the responsibihty must rest with the Premier himself. Important policy bills had not yet made, their appearance : the time had been wasted with frivolous and unimportant measures, and the Premier, by his driving instead of leading the House, hud caused long and acrimonious discussions. Ho did not think the time had yet arrived for tho Opposition to place a policy before the country, but they would do so before tho next election. <Fhe Upper Houtie was now almost useless as a revising Chamber and was representative, not of the people, but of one man only— tho Premier. Tho position was fast becoming intolerable and would soon Imve to he mended or ended. That Chamber would have to be made elective either by members of the House or the people. It must bo elective in some way or other If the Government's land bills came down the freehold question would hnve to bo faced and niehihers would have to face their election pledges on the subject. In conclusion Mr Htfamev S2 clared that what was wanted tathe co£ ony w« s clean, honest • one} eWo\*?c ft | administration, instead of waste extravagance and nepotism. Tho Opposition ,t* S i ie V° lift U P iliSteau of TeveilC down the mass of the people and if £«!»« «>oir energies in 'that dire" li nimri?' * q^ ° SUr ° theiP CfTort9 W OUld ♦ h«v ' ' T ? a A cd * " ot onl - v b y th « peoplo masse, wm y^ re P p wnted. but by the Sffi \«Y«- th C maua Re^nt of whose \ w-n* V lcy were entrusted. tJK* m } ll ML. An * n > in Prosing the thnt \u , Jnc °PPosition." maintained tnat the only true Liberals in the House lmrty meml * rs of the Opposition

Mr .Tns. Allen, in responding, said the opposition had had hard work through many years without any honoir, but that of their inner consciousness of hav< nip clone light. He deplored the ingrat' itude of Ministers in that they had given the Opposition no credit for having kept them on the Treasury benches ko Ipnc 1 . by keeping a keen eye on tho tiovernment's finances the Opposition had kept thorn in power, hut a Ministry with so ion K lv iif 0 was not to tho advantage of the colony. He did not hesitate to twj tlie country that the Opposition ft»d

been an opposition based on broad-min* ded Llheraliam and that they had don* a good deal to preserve the rights and liberties of tha people : this the country would come to recognise. lie lelieaed the present autocracy would flooa raak« itself distasteful to the country end that it was In fact already beginning to njako itself so felt. He also believed that th« Opposition could put before the country a constructive policy far and away ahead of what had been put before it by the Government.

Mr Herdnian deprecated the threat which he said the Premier had made In the House, to take into consideration the action of the Opposition in speaking disparagingly of the finances when tho Public Works Estimates came down : that simply meant that if any member spoke derogatorily of the Premier's finances the p-old for roads and bridges would not flow into that member's constituency. Mr Herries proposed the toast of "Tho Press," and Mr H. D. Bell that of the " Chairman," irtth which the banquet closed.