A HINT FOR THE OPPOSITION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 978, 19 November 1910, Page 10

A HINT FOR THE OPPOSITION.

I ;->!AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN WANTED.

■Sir,—ln the ; leader from your' coli[ umris read to the Houso by the Prime '"; Minister you say that the Governf .: nient's hold on the country has slack- {. oned and is weakening every day. Now, ;. that may be'tliq simple truth! b ut '* £.-■'. does not follow that-.this means' a'trans- ,'■'■.; fer of support to the Opposition'. Poli : ;•'. ticaj principles have.long ceased .to bo : )■■; thej;dividing line between parties; the [-.-,' Government captured the- term "Lib- {!'-': eral," and have sinco used it to cover !. all';'; which promises to bring them popu- ; 'larity. They have induced' and mainstained a transient prosperity by enor- ; mdiis borrowing and by tho expenditure , of ; excessive taxation levied on' : tho' i- . classes. Beyond this, the Government [largely holds tho country under the- !■'-' mina of the lato Mr. Seddon, who, in }.'•' his. long career-and by indefatigablo cxi ertion made himself personally known ['■ to„tho. great, bulk of; electors', winning : their support by his "bonhomie" and :.; real or affected broad.human sympathy, i..ln,'a democracy this personal equation, S;whether individual, or its equivalent for j a caiiso, has to be reckoned'with, sinco .-probably not over one-third of the eleci .tors, ever trouble about general poli- ;, tics,.and are- without any settled con- ■ 'V« victions. An Opposition, the members 'j.' of ; ;which'are only known through the \ . coridensed reports of their Parliamenv ;tary. utterances, and'theso while en- ;'..' gaged in the'ungrateful task of oppoi "sition, create no feeling of enthusiasm', I but rather they are extremely liable to' ; bo \prejudicially misunderstood. To in-; ' 'fluence.or convert tho community is i/therefore no light,task, but if not at-' jv : tempted'the chances : of much increased j ./.support, coming to the Opposition at ;.'.;. the. next election through general dis- ; ' satisfaction with Miuisters is extremely [■-. improbable. At.present.tho. country-:is | .-'■'■ perhaps ■as ripe for-a change as it ever, r'will be,'but all the'same., it will bo ' .. necessary for those': who are to win to j•."; actively bestir- themselves; .expounding ' .fronj-the platform the true position of ;'■ ; public questions, allaying popular fears ,'.;; oft their repeal of such' Acts as,"for ex- ' V.ample- the Old Age Pensions; showing : '-. that by their reforms they will : hot : -: - create depression. By intercourse, as '.-'.': the; various constituencies are visited, i .'. they may thus dispel the illusion aris- .'■'.- ing. from their, holding themselves so long aloof, viz., that thoy are hot, as Home fear, bugbears to the public weal, ' "but; in fact that they aro .really en- :,. lightened citizens, with a souud appre- ; . -ciation of all that 13 ■ proper in tho shape of government, and in the broad > ?3ncf true interests of tho community. r Democracy . desires ' good government, :■', tout it must know and be in touch with ;.. its-.rulers, and this before it will, ex--5 . tend its;:confidence to any fresh body '■■"' of-men.—l am, etc., CITIZEN/