PRESENTATION TO CAPTAIN RUSSELL.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 29 October 1901, Page 3

PRESENTATION TO CAPTAIN RUSSELL.

(pee pbess association.) Wellington, This Day. A gathering of the Opposition members was held in the Parliament Buildings this afternoon for the purpose of making a presentation to Hon Captain Eussell. The presentation took the form of three massive silver table vases, which had been specially imported from Home. They bore the following inscription:—"Presented to Captain Russell, M.H.R., as a mark of esteem from friends associated with him while leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of New Zealand." Apologies for absence were read from several ex-members of the Opposition party and others who were unable to be present. Mr Massey, in making the presentation said it came from the Opposition members in the present Parliament, and thoso who had been Opposition members in previous Parliaments who decided to express their esteem and appreciation of the many sacrifices made by Captain Russell on behalf of that Opposition. They believed him to be sound ia his principles and in the desire for the welfare and good Government of the country. He said very few peoplo knew how difficult it was and what hard work it was for a numerically weak Opposition to properly criticise the proposals and finances of the Government, when everything possible is done to conceal the real position, and when members knew that for any hostile criticism on their part, sooner or later an attempt would be made to punish them. He had never known f/aptain Eussell to allow himself to be swayed by personal considerations, and no one could help admiring the consistency and pluck with which he stuck to his post. The Opposition would always pursue a sound progressive honest policy.

Mr Duthrie said all recognised how in a spirit of self sacrifice, Captain Russell had struggled on from a Btrong sense of public duty. He went to adversely criticiso tho actions of the Government and he contented the Government party h<ul really no coherence and its majority did not represent the confidence of the people. In the Government the Seddon party had set itself t 3 establish an autocracy inconsistent with any real popular Government.

Captain Russell, in expressing his thanks, said he could claim for himself and for every one of the members of the Opposition that they had struggled on in circumstances of almost unparalled difficulty to do that which had been their duty. To believe that any member of the Opposition party had for one single instant wished to bar the road to progress or to do anything which should keep their weaker brethren from rising to an equal level with themselves was to mistake altogether the attitude, function hopes and desires of the Opposition. Time had proved in almost every instance the truth of the criticism which they had beßtowed upon measures brought forward by the Government. Many of the measures now on the. Statute Book had emanated from the Opposition party, and they had boon licked into shape by tho very men who had been charged with a desire to obstruct their passage. Had it not been for the unselfish desire of the Opposition to endeavour to perfect crudities, which had been put before them ithe success of the Government party would not have been half so great as it had been. It was pleasing to think that in the past ten years there had been no secession in any instance whatsoever from the ranks ofthe Opposition, whilst they had had additions from the Government ranks. He believed the day would come when the Opposition would receive that meed of praise which was their due for having fought an uphill fight. In conclusion he said their beautiful present would remain to his children for ever, to prove, at any rate, what his fellow members thought of him. Captain Bussell's health was enthusiastically toasted.

John Duthie'a Denunciation of

Government.

A Bitter Biting Speech.

Not fit for such an Occasion

[pUB EABHAMENTAEY. BEPOBTBR.]

A report of the presentation to Captain Bussell will have reached you through the ordinary channel. Besides members of the Opposition now in Parliament, three ex-members of the party were present : Hon. T. W. Hislop, Messrs J. Duthie, and It. D. McLean. Apologies were received from Hons. J. Bryce, "W. Bolleston, and E. Mitchelson, Messrs B. C. Bruce, "W. C, Buchasan, and others,

Speeches in excellent taste were delivered by Messrs Massey, J. Allen and Captain Russell, but Mr Duthie delivered one of those studied bitter speeches which marked his political career. Here are a •few excerpts from his harangue which was not fitting tho occasion. " Under our constitution, as it exists, the precedent of a Minister on a difference with the Governor appealing to tho Colonial office instead of to tho people of New Zealand was a grave outrage, and unfortunately that office has further lent itself to assist the Premier into the position of an autocrat, and we learn that as a result ho has now assumed a right to tender his advice to the Home Government, as to his Excellency's re-appoint-ment.

The Legislative Council has been emasculated and has ceased to be an independent revising body. Ins'cad of experienced men, its men are now chosen for any reason but their fitness, and depending on the Premier for their reappointment they enjoy to use the words of Disraeli, "A closely watched slavery, mocked with tho name of power." In tho House the party is not being ranged on principles, and has ceased to serve its purpose.

Electoral support is systematically purchased by tho bribery of the constituencies, and still more so is the factions and the blind following of a leader now the highest conception of duty. The success of a member is largely assessed on the provision he gets for the wants of his constituency and trading on this, the Minister's system, to hold back the Public "Works Statement and Estimates until close on to the end of the session. Members are so held in hand and deprived of free action.

Simmering discontent is kept alive by appeals to class jealousies and animosity, and by the profuse patronage of all recognised by Government as workers. The constitutencies are debauched by lean expenditure and the public service at every point is corruptly utilised for the political purposes of Ministers. Selecting "plant" colleagues our verile Premier enjoys almost absolute hands, and every active obstacle to free exercise of his will is now subdued, except perhaps by that authenic, but brainy man, the auditor-General. Under conditions which I have imperfectly sketched, it seemed useless for us at the present to longer follow British Party precedents, since under the corrupt autocratic system that has sprung up, an organised opposition has hero become a strength to the Government.

As a minority we have fought for years a good fight for men's rights and liberties against those who, inspired by an insatiable lust for power, were engaged in destroying the constitution. The Government party has really no coherence. Its majority does not represent the confidence of the people in the Government.

Stoalingtho title of " Liberal" the Seddon party set itself to establish an autocracy tempered by bribery inconsistent with any real popular Government. With the retrogression of recent years, and tho debasement of government I have still confidence that our peoplo with their sturdy British instincts will as they realise the position into which Government has been degraded, yet arise in indignation and purge tho aug< au stable for there still exists a great force in the country, for honesty of constitution.