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Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5168, 15 June 1891, Page 2

At the very outset of the session the awkward position of the Opposition has been made manifest. They are without a leader, and to all appearance they are no nearer to a solution of the difficulty of choosing one than they were when Sir Harry Atkinson retired from the strife of parties. The debate on the motion for the Address-in-Rep]y came on even earlier than usual, and several members of the Opposition had not arrived in "Wellington when the mover nud seconder had finished their speeches. ThereupDn Mr Rolleston suggested to the Premier that it would be advisable to adjourn the debate till Tuesday, there being plenty of other business to go on with in the meantime. The Premier declined the suggestion on the ground that he thought the feoling of the House was in favour of continuing the debate. Then Mr Bryce, feeling aggrieved at the action of the Government, moved the adjournment, and urged that his side of the House would be prepared to continue the debate on Tuesday. Still the Premier would not yield the point, and said that tho invariable custom was that when the mover and seconder of the Addressin-Reply had finished their speeches, the leader of the Opposition continued the debate. This elicited from an Opposition member the remark "We have not got a leader," to which the Premier replied with the taunt that there were five Opposition leaders. That is just where the trouble comes in ; if there are not really five leaders there are four or five gentlemen whose political standing would entitle them to the leadership if only they could secure the following of a united Opposition. But which of them is it to be, or are the Opposition to continue through the session and for an indefinite period in their present state of disorganisation ? They were long ago warned of the folly of pursuing such a course, and we believe that some attempt at agreement was made but without success. The nearest approach to a settlement was the proposal for a committee of management in place of a leader, an arrangement which seemed to us to border on the idiotic. The Opposition might very well learn a lesson from their opponents. Unquestionably not all those who at the present moment are supporting the Government are believers in Mr Ballance. He ib disliked and distrusted by some, and positively hated by one or two who nevertheless are marching under his banner. The renson is not far to seek. They came to the conclusion that Mr Ballance was the best choice they conld tuuke, and so they sank personal considerations and some not unimportant political ones, with the result that they hardened up the party, and placed it in a position which it never could have ocoupied if divided counsels had been allowed to prevail. Is it quite impossible for. the Opposition to act in a similar manner ? It is certain that they will accomplish nothing without a leader ; and yet there never was a time in the history of thetcolony when a Government required more careful watching, and their policy more thorough examination, checking, nnd modification.