THE NEW ZEALAND NATIONALISTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5514, 14 March 1896, Page 6

THE NEW ZEALAND NATIONALISTS.

• (From the Lyttelton Times.) The National Association of New Zealand is making so much stir in the way of meeting, organising and issuing propagandist literature all over the colony that it is time to ask what its political aims are and whoro it stands as regards political parties. A good deal of confusion — perhaps purposely caused— prevailfl on these points. In Auckland, where the Association originated, and where for some years the sble " branch "of; the National Association of New ''Zealand existed, no doubt is felt as to the position of the Society and the trend of its political sympathies. Nationalism is- there recognised as being synonymous with Conservatism; the personnel of the society embraces all the leading Conservatives, and the organ of the Association, Liberty, is rioted for its virulent opposition to the Liberal Government. In other quarters the National Association seems to be but imperfectly known. It is by some people hailed as the nucleus or* a new party in politics, and in Canterbury and Otago it appears to be drawing to its ranks a number of adherents who discover too late that they have been misled by fake pretences. The Otago Daily Times recently laid it down that " Nationalism is not Conservatism in the party sense of the word ; it is not necessarily even the' policy of the present Opposition qua Opposition." This was stated in order to prevent the Otago branch of the National Association resolving itself into "a black-coat affair," and on the strength of this it is said that working men would be ".eagerly welcomed ". as members. Our contemporary laid especial Btress upon the necessity for popularising the movement, to which end it declared it to be "eminently desirable that the promoters of the Otago branch of the National Association should display (especially in these initial stages) tact, good temper, a popular manner, so to speak, and a thorough desire to secure the public confidence." Now, all this is very pretty, and would be highly commendable if the Nationalist movement was designed to establish a new political party, or if it had any existence whatever apart from the Conservative Party. But when it is plain that its method of "securing the public confidence " is a variation of the " confidence trick," it is time to raise a protest. In the North Island, where the Association had its birth, and where its objects are presumably best understood, no such deception is practised. The Associationis frankly proclaimed as an opponent .of the Liberal Party, and is accepted as such. Captain Russell, in the course of his late address at Hastings, apparently claimed credit to the Conservatives for starting the national movement and keeping it going. He said, according to the report in the Eaw7ce*B Bay Herald, "The Opposition had had a very heavy task. Their object had been to.create, a National spirit in New Zealand, and to endeavour to frame laws useful for every part of the colony." The identity is here plainly established. Whether the Conservative Party is the head or tail of the National Association does not much matter. Our Opposition friends maybe left to decide among them* selves whether the head wags the tail, or the tail the head ; the essential fact iB that the Nationalists and Conservatives form one political party. This much is indirectly admitted by the Otago Daily Times, which, after in» sisting in a variety of phrases that the National Association is free of all party ties, wrote that " it would be i idle to disguise the antagonism which I necessarily exists between the principles of Seddonism and the principles of Nationalism." If any doubt remains as to the aims and methods of the National Association, it may be removed by turning to the report of the proceedings at a meeting of the Otago section, held on Tuesday evening. Some three ' or four gentlemen well known as holding Liberal views attended the meeting — perhaps misled by the professed non-party character of the Association, perhaps desirous of exposing the hypocrisy of the pretence — but before any business was done, the Hon Thomas Fergus demanded that these gentlemen should be," expelled," declaring that they "would never be allowed to be members, 1 " that they went there "as a parcel o£ spies," and were " unworthy of such company as this." Mr Colclough, one of the gentlemen indicated, rose and said that he had been invited to attend and he came for information as to the objects of the Association. Mr Fergus, whose Conservatism is too well-known to require explanation, then hotly exclaimed : " Tou have no right here. We should not remain in the room if you were a member of the Association." The Chairman deprecated this " strong language ;" but, save for its strength, it was accepted as representing the views of the Nationalists as to who should be admitted to membership. It may be remarked, parenthetically, that it was proposed to exclude the Press from the meeting at which these interesting proceedings took place, Mr Fergus, probably with good reason, strongly advocating such a course ; but other counsels prevailed, and the public have been enabled to Bee the National Association revealed in its true colours. From the . admissions made it is now perfectly clear that, even in Otago, the Nationalists must soon abandon all pretence of being non-partisans. An association that is "necessarily antagonistic" to Liberalism, and whose members consider Liberals "unworthy of such company," may call itself by what name it chooses, but it will never succeed in imposing upon intelligent people the belief that it has a monopoly of political honesty, patriotism and national spirit.