The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1883. Wanted—An Opposition.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 941, 12 May 1883, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna Est Veritas et Prevalebit. SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1883. Wanted—An Opposition.

The date for the opening of Parliament has been fixed, and in little more than a month hence the representatives of the people will have arrived in Wellington, aftd the work of another session will have commenced. We have fre* quently expressed a hope that an Opposition worthy of the name would have been organised during the recess, and we have carefully studied the speeches of those members of the so-called Liberal party who have addressed their constituents, in order to discover if there is any chance of its formation. Previous to the Colonial Treasurer’s tour the political world, so far as this colony was concerned, was in a state of utter stagnation. One or two of the lesser Parliamentary lights, indeed, delivered speeches, but very little interest was felt in their utterances beyond the constituencies they represented. But Major Atkinson’s startling proposals served to arouse the sleeping energies of our politicians, and latterly a good many addresses have .been delivered,chiefly by members of the Opposition. The members for Akaroa, Timaru, Roslyn, and Dunedin South and East have each spoken in turn, but those who expected to find in what they said a clear enunciation of the policy intended to be pursued by the Opposition during next session must have been disappointed. Their sole aim appeared to be to heap abuse upon the present Ministry, who the people were asked to believe were solely bent upon one aim, namely, the ruination of the colony. This kind of thing is not likely to carry conviction to the mind of any person who takes the trouble to think for himself, and the success that has attended the policy of the Government is sufficient proof that they may confidently be trusted with the administration of our affairs. But at the same time it serves to show that the Radical Party is as disorganised as ever, and this begets the melancholy reflection that in all probability as much time will be wasted in factious opposition during next session as there was from the same cause last year. The latest voice from the other side has come from Waimate, where the member for that district addressed his constituents on Monday evening. Me W. J. Steward is principally known as the author of a measure having for its object the destruction of those feathered songsters which are the abomination of our farmers, while he has a leaning towards denorainationalism and an ambition to reform the present Education Act. He may not be one of the shining lights in the New Zealand Parliament, but he has the unusual merit among members of the party he belongs to that he uses tolerably temperate language towards those who differ from him in opinion. There is no need to enter into MtSTEWARiys speech in detail, as the greater part of it is merely a repetition of the arguments against the Loan policy of the Government and Major Atkinson’s scheme for the relief of poverty that we have had over arid over again. What he said concerning the state of parties is, however, perhaps worthy of special consid-

eration. When the New Parliament was elected, it will be remembered that the Opposition claimed (a have a rmjority. The precise number of this majority was variously estimated, but there seemed to be no doubt of its actual existence. And yet when the question came to be tested, the result showed that there was something wrong in the calculation. How this state of affairs came to pass is, in Mr Steward’s opinion, susceptible of easy explanation. He sa y S : —“ it is to be found in the fact that there are in the present House, as perhaps in every House, political weaklings, who are ready to sink party | principles if only they may obtain their j due or undue share of the loaves and fishes. Not for a moment that I would insinuate that there is so low a standard of political morality that members will give their votes in barter for personal benefits, for that is not the case; but that there are members who set the consideration of what they can obtain for their constituents above all considerations of party principles, and who practically, if not avowedly, give their support in exchange for an equivalent in votes or works for the special benefit of the particular localities they represent.” This certainly is an easy solution of the question, but we doubt if it is quite the correct one. Charges brought against members of their having sacrificed the interests of the colony for the sake of obtaining some slight benefit for a particular locality are as easily made as they are difficult to refute. The Opposition may solace themselves with flattering unction of this kind, but the true reason they lost ground last session, we venture ,to think, lies in the fact of there being too many leaders. Mr Steward reiterates the old charge which is brought against every Ministry, that their principal object is to retain office, and that they will stick at nothing to attain their end. Does anybody believe that the Opposition are actuated by any higher principle ? It is only natural that the Government should wish to keep their places, if for no other reason than to carry out the policy they have initiated. The member for Waimate also referred to the very common opinion that if the present Ministry were turned out there could not be found men in the Opposition ranks capable of taking their places, but according to Mr Steward, there “ are as good fish in the sea as ever were caught,” and he considered that “if the Ministerial side of the House took ship to England or Hong Kong to-morrow, it would be found that New Zealand would still survive, and that the creditable administration of her affairs would still be possible.” We all know perfectly well, as the French say, necessary men do not exist, and there . may be several heaven-born statesmen in the Opposition camp who have not yet given any sign of possessing extraordinary ability; but we sincerely trust that such an event as that referred to by Mr Steward will not happen. No doubt New Zealand would survive the catastrophe, but on the whole the colony may be congratulated on the chances ot it occurring being extremely remote. The experience of last session ! showed that there is little probability of the Ministry being defeated on any important question, but, as we have frequently said, a healthy Opposition is a good thing, and it is just this kind of Opposition which is wanting at the pre- ' sent time.