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Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 475, 16 July 1902, Page 1

It has been reported for some days past that the old Opposition party were determined to elect a leader this session, having had enough of carrying on without one, and that they were only awaiting the arrival of Mr James Allen from Fiji before holding a meeting. The member for Bruce arrived by the Waikare, and a meeting of the "members opposed to the Government was held last week, presided over by Mr J. \V. Thomson (Clutha), one of the oldest members ot the House. After a lengthy discussion it was decided not to elect° any leader, but to continue the same method as ivas pursued last year. It appears, according to the official report of the proceedings, that although not forming any party organisation or electing a leader, members generally expressed the opinion that they would mmvidually criticise the policy and financial administration of, and the measures introduced by the Government, from the point of view of the welfare of _ the colony, while doing their best to facilitate the progress of business. It is not very easy to divine why de. partmental reports on Maori Councils, the Health Department, and Tourist Kesorts, should be found in the middle of_ the Financial Statement. Sir Joseph 'Ward, however, seems to have been unable to divest himself of the strange idea which clings so closely to his chief, that a Financial Statement is no good unless you make it so long that people haven’t time to read it. Filled with this delusion, the ActingPremier probably set to work to pad out I the Statement with the extraneous matter I to which we have referred,—Press.