THE OPPOSITION AND THEIR SINS.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXII, Issue 848, 2 December 1905, Page 6

THE OPPOSITION AND THEIR SINS.

In a defence of the Atkinson Government, Mr Rolleston last night referred to the increased taxation which that Government xesorted to as a means of reducing' the colony's debt. They had been much reviled for this increased' taxation by this Government; but ae a matter of fact the' .. 1 movement, was supported by members of ': the party n6w in power, among them Messrs Iv Seddon, Ward, Steward, Reeves, and • others; while Sir William Russell, Messrs Jas. Allen and Buchanan were Oppositionists of to-day amongst its opponents. He quoted the: words of Mr. W. .P- Re.eyes ; in that occasion, speaking to the second reading of the Bill r ; J>rought in' by Sir H: Atkinson—probably the" most eloquent and W beautify}, which .could have bees used —" I ; thank' Ijjia ; honourable gentleman for what ; "fee for my .people in their need; f I thank him for his courageous and states- '; manlike conduct in bringing.. us. face, to " face with our real financial position: and in 5 r insisting upon the annual payment o& oui' just debts. If it is possible, to amend t his measures in certain directions I-will ■'t;"i support: ithdse who endeavour to do'so. If not I will <t£tke them as awh'ole. Presently I shall follow that! honourable gea-" tleman into the lobby, although I Tepresent although' I speak only < x tor mysfelf and' represent no one but my-: *' sself, ,'H know that : whfeh I -.follow-• -the hoa-v ourable'gentleman across the floor of {Jus ■V s House to do ;that I "shall not do it alone. - .As -. I said before, we' have come to- the":: .. . You ask as who* . have hit'h6rto , been in opposition ws the honourable gentleman and those who are with ' whom we shall follow. You ask 'un'def king,- Bexoman? Speak or die;*' knd I say ' under King .Harry.'" It was 'true, that:a circular was issu^in

reference to M reduction of wages, in purof the same object ;;but- the ment ih.ever'.t-old; how Sir Harry Atkinson 4.- started by reducing his own salary from 'St to £IOOO, and ! Sthose of' the*? other ? Ministers in proportion,' so r t)nit they could go to ihe varices officers and' their salaries too. And the only ains wer. the Go-, p. vernment iad for .fhi» was that probably 'x the Ministry wese,; not .wc-iih any, f. more .than they themselves • They :' need , t a Se Mr Reeves' , words ialcne; -the Pteinier, too, was generous in those days. ''"He -said in regard to the reductions; that those* responsible to the people' should .' put in pruning knife. ' The resporisi-' "Jjjlity should .rest upon-the right- shoulders—- ■, those o^^^he,members 1 ofAthe;House:-;: not alone of the occupants of the Government: benches. And yet Mr Seddon now went \ from end to : end of the Colony, abusing the men he supported, the men who |had ' "the pluck--the nnpoipular step. was said,,that he voted against the Bill . for the increased tariffs; but in the second r reading of the Bill,. he'voted'for it', this : indicating his of- its principle.