The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1905. DESTRUCTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12844, 29 November 1905, Page 4

The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1905. DESTRUCTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE.

riH- speech which Mr Rolieslon delivered j in the Theatre Royal last night, while] unexceptionable in tone, was a great advance on the initial address he gave from tiie same platform three months ago. His points were driven home with unmistakable emphasis, his indictment of the Government was framed with an admirable attention to detail and illustrated with local instances which were-handled in a manner that was the more effective because it was so free from any personal offensiveness. His vindication of his father's memory from the imputations which have been set afloat the dead statesman with the object of injuring the candidature of the son, and the spirited protest which he uttered against the mischievous rumours regarding himself set on foot by unprincipled opponents, formed an excellent feature of a strong, yet temperate, speech. We can only hope that the local political atmosphere will be cleared by Mr Rollestoou s appeal for the scotching of these . discreditable stories, whether they are directed against Mr Hall-Jones or against himself. We feel sure that the two gentleuien, however much they may differ politically, entertain only the highest esteem for each other in his private capacity, and neither would thank his supporters for besmirching the personal character of his opponent, or of his opponent's family. Let l the campaign be fought cut on political principles, and let the electors form their: opinions of each candidate's principles by attending his addresses, or by studying the repoits of his speeches. There is anipie material for the public to criticise and discuss in these speeches, without paying any attention to the vagus- whispers which! Hy about the air whenever a political contest is in progress. Mr lilies ion's address last night provided probably more pabulum ! than the average listener could absorb at 1 one sitting, but we hope that what he said I will be well weighed between now and j next Wednesday, und that the result will

l>e seen in the polling. Hi* speech w,w both destructive and constrnclivc. He showed himself an .able critic of the Government, hut he did not confine himself to purely destructive crilicifin. As Mr Hali-Jones has been telling his audience*, it is no very hard matter to pull down what another has built up, but it required ability to erect a .structure for one's self. L;vst night Mr Roilesion showed that he possesses the superior qualification of constructive ability. He pave him audience a policy which he pledges hints-ilf to assist in carrying out, so that the people will not be taking a leap in the dark if they return him as their representative. It is rather a novel thine for an Opposition party, or an Opposition candidate, to formulate a policy as Mr Rolieston has done. In the United Kingdom at the present time there axe signs that the Balfour Government is tottering to its fall and that the Liberals will shortly be called to take up tin* reins of office. Prominent members of the Liberal party —Lord Rosebcry and others—have been warning their followcss not to enunciate too elaborate a policy which may prove impossible of attainment when they come to investigate the condition in which the affairs of the country have been left by the Balfour faction. " The primary duty of the Liberal party." said Lord Ros*bery in a recent speech. "is to wipe its slate clean and consider very carefully what it is going to write on it in the future. Let us write on it. not policies adapted to 1892, or 1885. but a policy adapted to the present day." The " Spectator," though opposed to Lord Rosebery in politics, commends the wisdom of this advice. " Nothing could be mora foolish." says this great London journal. " than for the Liberal pa:ty at the present moment to commit itself in the abstract to details of policy. It cannot safely prescribe till it fully understands the condition of the patient, and this understanding it cannot achieve till it is in office. This is true of all parties in opposition, but specially true of the ono which has been l< ng out of power/' Tho Opposition in Xcw Zealand has, goodness knows, been kng enough out or power, nnd its members are wise to give only the bioad outlines of the policy they will follow. Rot they have done what Lord IWebeiy has advised the Liberal party in Great Rritain'to do—they have written on their slate a policy adapted to the retirements of the present day, to the needs of twenty years ago. They have, as Mr Rolleston pointed out last nisht, nothing to do with the corkscrews of 1887. They have to deal with the failings of the Government, and they have their remedy for the political evils which exist to-day. Tlr- iand question. the constitution of the Legislative Council, the staffing of tlie Civil Service, the administration of the Public Works Fund, the c«mp:ehensive treatment of tensions schemes—all these are big questions which demand serious and earnest-treat-ment. Mr Seddon and his Minsters shrink from touching them. Do tiie electors want tb<m dealt witb or do they not? That is the issue before them next Wednesdav.