THE OPPOSITION AND ITS PROSPECTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5570, 20 May 1896, Page 4

THE OPPOSITION AND ITS PROSPECTS.

The Conservative Opposition unable to devise a counter policy,' or to successfully attack" the results 'accomplished by the Seddon Government, want to steal the present Liberal policy and at the same time put themselves in office. — Nelson Star. Captain Russell never led a more forlorn hope than that which he now leads, in endeavouring to storm, with a mere handful of distracted followers, the citadel of Democratic Government which is held by the present Ministry, and baoted by the masses of this colony. — Manawatu Farmer. The sound of the onward rushing tide of Liberalism is drowning out the croaking, the unpatriotic mouthings and the multitudinous untruths of the Opposition. The tattered ranks of the National Conservative^.ssociation are already a pitiable sight, and no amount of booming by means of money, leaflets, free copies of newspapers or shoddy speeches can put any hope into the hearts of the smashedup party. — Napier Neivs. . The Conservatives in New Zealand have been left behind in the race to such an extent that they almost occupy the position of reactionaries. But when they face an audience in which every adult has a vote, they do not venture on any alarmist screeches about Socialism ; they . are prepared to take the Statute Book as it stands, and to swallow labour legislation and every other dreadful nostrum, so long as the people will only put them in office. * * * There is a sullen acquiescence with what has been put on the Statute Book, and the rest is a personal bid for office. Under these circumstances, and with class interests directly in prominence, we 'do not think that the old Opposition wUI obtain a very extensive. support. — Nelson Star The emissaries of the Opposition, who have been out campaigning for some time past against the Government, have never been able to obtain a single vote of confidence in their party. In this respect their very energetic efforts— we cheerfully give them the credit they deserve for their energy' and enterprise — have hitherto been without the sign of a result. The Ministers, on the other hand, get votes of confidence wherever they go. The climax of the contrast was reached on Tuesday night

with three votes of confidence in the Ministry gi-ven in three places far, apart. The Premier got one at Johnsonville,which may be described as in the heart ot the enemy's country. The Colonial Treasurer got the same mark of public confidence at New Plymouth, immediately after an elaborate attempt on the part of the united Opposition organs to make capital out of an inquiry which thsy were pleased to term a " dum *?y hunt." The Minister of Lands got the third vote at Rangiora, where hitherto Liberalism has been supposed to be weak, probably for no other reason than the local jealousy of the neighbouring town ot Kaiapoi. The vote, therefore, implies increased solidarity of Liberalism in northern Canterbury.— New Zealand Times. It is a ridiculous, and yet withal a pitiful sight to see the Opposition, whether represented by members of the House, or the Conservative Press, endeavouring by means of distorted meanings, twisted from the speeches of Liberal leaders, specious arguments, and unequivocal falsehoods, to, mislead an enlightened people. The people are too well informed nowadays, however^ to be influenced by such. They can now clearly discriminate between their friends and foes. They have learned that the Seddon Government stand in the true interests of Democracy ; for the close settlement of the land (the great desideratum in this country), and the rights of labour ; and having become convinced that the existing Government have upheld, are upholding, and will continue to uphold, their interests at all hazards, ■ they will never be foolish enough to hand over the reins of government to those whose interests are in the main diametrically opposed to theirs. — Manawatu Farmer.