LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1880, 14 October 1913, Page 8

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

OPPOSITION TACTICS: A PROTEST. Sir, —Ib it not time some dccided expression of opinion was forthcoming from tho constituencies, in regard to the fearful wasto of time, money, and energy for which the Opposition Party in Parliament is responsible? Reading the reports of the happenings in the House of Representatives 011 Friday and Saturday last, and of the "obstruction" tactics adopted by' Messrs. Russell, Isitt, M'Ctillum, Witty, Hindmarsh, Forbes, Payne and others, I cannot help wondering what their constituents think of these gentlemen, who persistently and deliberately block the business of tho House. Do they approve of what you righly term "tho shocking waste of Parliament's time and tho taxpayers' money," for which theso members are responsible? Returning to Wellington 011 Sunday, trow a (lying trip through the country, I may say that I found, at almost every centre I visited, a generally expressed feeling of disgust, and in some cases strong indignation, at tho unworthy tactics that are being adopted by tho Opposition, apparently with the sanction and concurrence of its leader. Bettor things wore certainly expected of Sir Joseph Ward, but . the first obstruction of the session followed so closely upon that gentleman's assumption of tho Leadership of his party, that it seems impossible to dissociate him from the responsibility for the fearful waste of time that then took place. Nor is it possible for Sir Joseph Ward to disclaim responsibility for tho present obstructive tactics pursued by the extremists who support him. Reading between tho line 3 it would appear that the Leader of tho Opposition is indeed secretly pleased at the r\ction of tho obstructionists, although himself a supporter of tho Land Bill that is being blocked, and that their action has his tacit, if -unexpressed, approval. When the second reading of the Land Bill was carried by 49 to 18 on Wednesday, it must have been apparent to every unprejudiced mind" that tho .feeling of the House and of tho country, ns reflected by tho majority, is overwhelmingly in favour of the principle at the back of that measure, which is the granting of the freehold, or tho right of option, in the settlement of all Crown lands other than those held for endowment purposes. Six ex-Ministers of tho Crown, included in tho Opposition Party,,viz., Sir Joseph Ward, Mr. Buddo, Mr. Buxton, Mr. Mac Donald, Mr. Myers, and Mr. Russell, supported the Bill on tho second reading, and twelve Oppositionists altogether recorded their votes in its favour. Some at least of" these gentlemen, would certainly never be returned to the House, if their constituents were not assured thqt they remained, staunch freeholders. That being the'• case, it is surely as much their business as that of the Government, to see that a -measure, in which they are vitally receives fair play in the House itself. That is just what it is not receiving, and at tho back of tho obstructive tactics that aro again being resorted to Is an evident intention to hold up the Bill, and to so force the Government to tho country 011 the principle of tho measure, in order that tho whims and wishes of. tho extremists comprising the rag, tag and bobtail of the "Liberal" Party may be gratified. Tho hope they may have that the electors will pronounco against it is a vain one. Since tho time when the late Mr. Seddon sent his celebrated Land Commission, roaming through tho country in search of a land policy, the fact has been demonstrated, again and again, that public feeling is overwhelmingly in favour of tho freehold principle. Why then should the leaseholders, and tho extreme section of tho House, ho allowed to obstruct public business in the way they are doing, and why should Sir Joseph Ward give, as he has done, his tacit consent to such obstruction? You, sir, have very properly pointed out that tho'obstructionists, after wasting hours of valuable time 011 Friday night, in protesting against being unduly driven and overworked, abandoned' that pretext 'altogether, and showed very clearly that they were blocking the Bill, simply becauso of their antagonism to its principles. Now, sir, if' any Bill that a section of the Opposition objects to, is to be blocked in this fashion, Parliament may just as well close its doors. Tho country certainly expects batter things of its Parliamentary representatives than it gets from certain members of tho Opposition. It takes littlo or no interest in tho "inaro's nests" that Mr. Russell, and other of his colleagues delight in unearthing, and upon which so much time and money has been already wasted this session. Nor, as I gather in my travels, does it approve of members of Parliament continually hint-ins at political corruption and infamy, on the part of a Government that is too transparently honest in its methods and policv, to lend colour to the belief that "political pull," which lias, always been the great stand-by of tho present Opposition ' Party, is at all possible in connection with its administration. . May I suggest that the constituents of tho gentlemen who aro so pronounced m their hostility to the Reform Government, and so persistent in their obstruction of the measures it brings down, should take an early opportunity of dealing with them, and that they should advise them to either settle down to the business of the country, or resign their seats? ■ Tho reckless class of politician wo aro breeding in this country is a distinct menaco to tho best interests of tho nation. Tho sooner tho electors recognise that fact tho better. There aro at least a dozen men on the Opposition side of the House today, who would be hotter out of politics altogether. There would bo a healthier tone in the debates, and a kindlier feeling amongst members that would be reflected through tho country if they were sent to tho right-about. To hear some of them is painful in tho extreme, for they aro always imputing tiie most unworthy motives to others. It is time they mado way for men of loftier feeling, nobler mind, and moro charitable impulse. If they not so completely given up to tho habit of measuring the capacity of other people's minds, by their own littleness of thought and vision, and if thoy were not so ready to always estimate the motives and actions of their political opponents by the thoughts and feelings that influence their own, thero might bo some hope for them. But there is none. May I then, as 0110 who desires above all other things to see this country of ours truly prosperous, and filled with : a happy and contented people, urge my fellow-electors throughout tho Dominion to make short shrift of tlioso gentry, and of their class generally, when'thoy conWs seeking their suffrages as they surely will do.—l am, etc.,

ANTI-OBSTRUCTIONIST AND SQUARE DEALER, Wellington, October 13, 1913.