CAN WE TRUST MASSEY?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1277, 4 November 1911, Page 13

CAN WE TRUST MASSEY?

Sir—Wherever one goes (and the writer "goes" regularly over almost the whole Dominion) ono hears i'rom a particular section of the public certain objections to the general and widespread desire for a change in the government of New Zealand. Tho objections of which I speak aro not so much as concerning the lino of policy a Massey Government would take, bu'i rather of a kind suggesting a lack of i-.bility on its part to successfully administer the ali'airs of this country. Let us then examine tho commonest of theso objection;! and try to deal with them in order-.— 1. "If Ward wero defeated thero is no one to take his place; Massey as a Premier is unthinkable." The latter part of the above are tho words of Mr. Ngata, though he makes no attempt to elucidate 'the point. Now, Mr. Massey has nover had tho opportunity of showing his administrative ability on the Treasury Benches, tho party in power having been in possession for some twenty-one years. In leading the Opposition, however, he has proved himsolf to bo possessed of positive genius. In its most distressful days he has held it together as a united party; ho has stuck to it when almost all the country was against it, dancing to the syrenic music of Seddon-Wardism in its heyday, and when it was the correct thing to decry the Opposition willy-nilly; when as yet the ultimate effects of tho SeddonWard policy were unsuspected by the great body politic. Ho has succeeded in keeping his party's policy clearly and irrepressibly before the country and in faeo of Titanic foroes and un-nameablo abuses of privilege, and also in unmasking, so far as at present it is possible to unmask it, tho political rottenness and hollowncss of tho Ward Administration's alleged Liberalism. He has succeeded in converting a vast army of voters to his way of thinking and through it all, by personal acumen and integrity, has won his way in public confidence and retained the unswerving loyalty and confidence of every man of his party. He is a clear and forceful speaker and possesses great personal magnetism on. or. off the platform. Mr. Massey has been credited with the power of moro quickly diagnosing a Bill, of being able to pick its shortcomings and excesses, its anomalies and administrative weaknesses and lo offer sounder practical advice thereon than any man in Parliament. He is strong, yot sympathetic, uncompromising, yet reasonable, practical and businesslike, yet kindly and amiable; lucid, yet not verbose, and added to all these tliero has never fallen against his fair name the accusing breath of a shady action er a doubtful deal. This, then, ie tho man; his political ideals are and havo been for years beforo the public to be judged independently of him. Ho has won his spurs ns a born leader of men, and as a shrewd far-seeing North Irishman has added yet another leaf to tho garland of that versatile country that has given to the Empire so many true patriots, leaders and heroes. And oven if it were true tfiat Mr. Massey is not the equal of Sir Joseph Ward in brilliance, what is wanted at this time of day is not brilliance, not necessarily popularity, but a reliable man, having behind him a party who staud for clean politics, clean administration, clean Parliamentary character, and who can tell us how and where we stand financially and administratively, and who will bring in a new era of political conscientiousness and sincerity. Sir, I believe that in Mr. Massey we find the man.

3. "Mr. Massey is responsible for scarcely any Acts in his name."! This is another of the objections raised. Mr. Massey is responsible for scores of clauses, amendments, and even Acts, though not alw-iys in his own name. He is a man who, above, tho interests of himself or his party holds dear the welfare of the country. Where another might have reserved ideas to his own self-glory. Mr. Massey has given them forth from his place in tho House; they hnvp been inserted wholesalo into Government measures and, indeed, as Bills have been pirated, put into law, and coolly claimed by and accredited to the present Government. 3. "Any parly in office would abuse its power as badly as the Ward Government lias done"! The answer is: llow do you know? The present Opposition has not been fried. It has stated its policy and appeals to the country on clear issues. Should it abuse thai power, or betray its profession, it can be turned out in threo years. Let it have a trial.

. I. "Wo could not trust a Massey Ministry further than any other"! The prepoai QpßOsition has proved itself to be a

party of principle, Through twenty-ono long years it has never bought nor bartered its ideals. When almost tho entire country was against it, when it sank so low in numbers as to muster only fourteen, when its a force, excepting iii a critical sense, it did not count, when it was ignored, ridiculed, counted ns nothing by a bludgeoning majority on tho other side, when by a volte faco it could count on popularity, on tho fawnings of the masses, in safer scats in tho Iiouso; yea, on probable Cabinet places in Uio seats of tho mighty, it held on its way, maintained its principles and without' a single secession, save one, stands to-dny a noblo monument to a conscientious faith. And the one solitary seceder from its ranks is now a Cabinet Minister. And withal, as a progressive factor, and according to tho needs of the times, it has added lo its programme, clarified it* ideals and now represents Democracy in its truest sense. It has proved that it has faith in itself and in its doctrines, and that it has the courage to pursuo them. Therefore, with 6itch a record of unflinching devotion to its articles of faith it commends itself to the confidence of every fair-minded person. Most positively it is trustworthy. 0. "The Opposition has not the individual ability to form a 6trong Cabinet." Let us see. Take the following pretty safe members as examples:—Jlassey, Allen, Ilerries. liuchanan, Fraser. Fisher, Herdman, G. M. Thomsou. What portfolio is there that could not be admirablyfilled from among these men? Not one"! Analyse men and office side by side and wo find such a rare compatibility between requirement and qualification very hard to pqnnj in any colonial Parliament. Trusting I have not vainly used your columns,—l am, etc., A NATIONAL THINKER. Wanganni, October 27, 1911.