The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1909. THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13833, 19 February 1909, Page 4

The Timaru Herald FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1909. THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

During the late GoncrH ;'!o;-i! n In.. journal i■«■ ruiniiu m., d t-iie etci ..'rs ot South Ciii!torbbi'\ t-> v.te'i.u- O'-.ip'.'f-i----tion candidates, on tke general ground of the value of the Opposition -as a 1 distinct part of the legislative machinery, whose function was that of critic of Government proposals, a function not performed by members of the Government party. It was, we believe, generally admitted by those who are familiar with the legislative process in New Zealand that a strong Opposition is much to be desired in any circumstances, and as the Opposition was numerically weak in the last Parliament, there was especial reason for endeavouring to increase its membership through the election. It was also admitted, without any qualification whatever, that the Leader of the Opposition, Mr W. F. Massey, had applied his own knowledge and energies, and those of his comparatively few followers, to excellent effect during the last Parliament, and it is unquestionable that by his tour of the country during the election campaign he did a great deal of good by explaining what the duty of the Opposition had been, and what it would be during the life of the new Parliament. Mr Massey has been the leader for some years now, and his practical knowledge of the affairs of the country, political, financial and industrial, has enabled him to do yeoman's service in that capacity, and he has done it. A movement has been started in Auckland to present Mr Massey with a national testimonial, in recognition of his long, eminently practical, and patriotic services to the Dominion; and now that it has become the fashion to fete and make presentations to successful and unsuccessful candidates for Parliament, it is immeasurably more fitting that such a compliment should be paid to the man who has done so much for his country. And it should be national. Mr Massey's services as Leader of the Opposition arc rendered to the Dominion, and not to his own constituency merely. On his side of

the House lie represents tlic whole of the electors officially, and within the limits of his powers and privileges, as much as the Prime Minister or any other Minister does. The- initiators of the movement therefore rightly feel that '' outside of the ranks of Mr Massoy's supporters and friends, there are many hundreds, probably thousands, of people in the Dominion who will be glad of an opportunity of testifying to their practical' appreciation of Mr Massey's sturdy integrity and sterling worth." They therefore decided to invite subscriptions of ono shilling and umvards to a " Massey National Testimonial Fund." and to seek the co-operation of all interested in the movement. The moveni n.t might have been more successful il it had been made immediately after the election; but it ought to lie successful now, and as an outcome of a calmer consideration of the value of the services of Mr Massey as Leader of the Opposition, the testimonial, if of less intrinsic value,, will have a greater moral value. A subscription list has been forwarded to us, and subscriptions will be gladly received at the " Herald " office.

AGRICULTURE IN SCHOOLS. A rc;)ort of an interview with tho Minister of Education on the subject of agricultural instruction in schools oiyjht to be interesting reading to tho formers and all interested in agriculture in this district; but we are afraid that the report of such an interview which appears hi another column will be found by most of our readers to bo disappointing. Mr Fowlds is surprised that the Education Board have not before now engaged an agricultural instructor; the Department is a long way ahead of public opinion, having long ago made provision for such instruction. But "the people must take it up themselves by organising classes." They have not taken it up, do not seem inclined to take it up, and the reason is, we believe, that they do not know how. It is not their business to know. That is the business of the Educational Department. We have said (a few days ago) that the Agricultural and Pastoral Association should take up the matter, and we adhere to that; but it is still more the duty of the Minister of. Education—in this case with the co-opera-tion of the Minister 'of Agriculture—to give the people of any agricultural district a lead and guidance, to push them on if necessary; but with a good organising officer whoso methods and manner of dealing with the subject inspired confidence, there would be no necessity for pushing the people. At the last meeting of tho Ashburton Agricultural Association their representative on the Technical Classes Board, Mr Reid, said . he had been for ten years trying to get a class started for agricultural chemistry, and at length had succeeded. Mr Itcid deserves credit for his porseverance, but it ought not to liave been called for.