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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3767, 11 August 1883, Page 2

TnE Christchurch Press is very severe on. Mr Montgomery, but the remarks that it applies to him are Avonderf ally applicable to many members who recognise that gentleman as their leader. There is no talent on the Opposition benches—no administrative talent, Aye mean. Thero never Avas a greater fiasco in the ivay of government than Avhen the "Heaven-born Statesman" aims entrusted with office, and the country will havo to send a very different stamp of men to the House than now represent the Opposition if it is hoped to save the colony from "Continuous Ministries." The very fact that they can find no better man than Mr Montgomery to lead them shoivs the holloAvness of their ranks, while thenoverthrow of Sir Georgo Grey shows that they havo endorsed public opinion concerning the only one amongst theni ivho rises above mediocrity. Referring to Mr Montgomery's capacity the Press says :— '•Ho has evidently got it into his head that it is the correct thing for a Liberal leader to support a land rax, and as he has just capacity enough left to percoive that a land tax alone as a aourco of rovenuo would not be sufficient to meet the requirements of the colony, ho has coupled with it an income tax. He has never mado any real attempt, however, to show how his scheme of finance ivill work out in actual practice. Tho member for Akaroa has a wholesome dread of details, knowing, from sad experience, that ivhen ho has ventured on producing them on any occasion they have generally met ivith rough treatment at the hands of his dreaded opponent. Last session, we haA'e just said, he did venture to revioiv at length the incidence of taxation, and to criticise somo statements and arguments of the Colonial Treasurer on the subject. But tho result was not encouraging, and during the present session he has avoided making a similar blunder. The speech ho delivered in favor of his resolution for a return to Provincialism, said nothing upon tho ono point regarding which the public wanted to bo informed—tho effect Avhich the chango would have on the ijua»ces of the colony. He eoafce&ted. J4«setf-witl} assuring the':

House that it was all right, for he had Avorkcd it out. But members ivanted something more than Mr Montgomery's assurance, and proceeded to reject his scheme by a large majority. Tho same is the case as regards his land and income taxes. The House naturally want to knoiv lioav they will work out, .and as Mr Montgomery is, avc are satisfied, quite incapable of telling them anything about the matter, they naturally refuse to take his assurance that the alteration ho proposes will be any improvement. If Tuesday's debate is a fair index of the capacity of the Opposition to deal with financial questions, most assuredly it Avill he the duty of the House to pause before committing the affairs of the colony at any future time into so incompetent hands.