UNHOLY ALLIANCES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2197, 9 July 1914, Page 4

UNHOLY ALLIANCES

OPPOSITION OF SHREDS AND PATCHES

BITING CRITICISM

Criticism of the Opposition Party and its tactics came from an unexpected quarter .yesterday afternoon, when Mr. G. M. Thomson introduced his speech on tlio Addross-in-Roply with a brief hut very pithy dissertation on the constituent elements of the party. Ho stated that the Opposition had not presented anything in the way of constructive criticism. "From (ho timo that we loft this Ilouso last year up till the present timo," ho said., "we linvo had hut a storm of destructive criticism. 1 don't think it lias heen of much effect. My own opinion is that it has been a futile thing. We have not had a single suggestion ns to anything of value. I can find only one tiling that hinds the present Opposition together, and that is a desire to oust the present Government. They seem to have put before the country the simple* proposition: 'CodlinV your friend, not Slior!.' If the present Opposition were by any mischance to get into power the country would at once get into' n state of chaos. . . . Tiio reason for that is that tho present Opposition is held together by a bundle of unholy alliances. I find that first of all it is n Liberal Party.. This Liberal Party holds together only on what it has done in the past, and'they put their faith in a leader who has travestied tho first principle of Liberalism by tho introduction into Nov Zealand of a hereditary title. I find also a moderate Labour Party as represented by my friend the member for Wanganui. This party tho Liberals in 1908' attempted to tlirottlo hy tho introduction of the Second Hallot Bill. 'In tl'.e third place there is tho Social Democratic Party, who are out against every other party, and who nre only agreed in wishing to introduce, such a set of ideals which aro incapable of fulfilment, and which, if they did succeed in introducing them into this country, would land us in a stato of chaos.. Then there is tho fourth Party of one, represented by the member for Hutt. l|e croaks from his own.treetop,'and lie doesn't seem to' have much hold on any of the others The fifth Party is represented bv the member for Christchurch North, lie doesn't claim to represent either Liberal or Labour because he is an 'Independent. He thinks ho leads the Temperance Party, hut I think he is the most inteni|>orato man in his language in this House. I find him sitting there in tho sent of the seorner, and he is in daily collaboration with tho representatives of that party which represents the publicans and sinners. . . . What good can we expect from an Opposition made up of so many diverse elements? I am certain of this, that if they wero let loose tomorrow there, would ho chaos. There is not one of theso parties that has power to rule this country alone, and we have also this. Hint three of them arc up against one another. Atiylhinc in the wav of Government that could follow from the dominance of the present Opposition would lie ti'tiling of shreds and patches, which would he torn to pieces in a verv short time. I am sorry that when 1 come back to this House next session' I shall miss so many familiar faces. Thev will he relegated to tho shades, and'they will have time to consider and think coolly."