The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE. SEPT. 19, 1906.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1864, 19 September 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. GISBORNE. SEPT. 19, 1906.

The liabit of dispensing political trums with champagne appears to be taking firm hold in this colony, and it is ono that should not in the least degree commend itself to thoso who desire to take a completely sober view of the present situation or future necessities of this colony. By the methods of the late Rt. Hon. Mr Seddon and his individual creation, the Liberal and Labor .Federation, the plan has becomo fashionable, and it now appears as though a free How of political fervour cannot be obtained unless aided by thoracic lubrications of champagne. Hitherto the Govorn' ment party have monopolised the fashion, and no important announce' ment of policy or statement of detail could be given by them outside the House without first going through

•opavatione of this exhilarating treat-

ment. Tiio adoption ol' t‘m practice was most probably duo to tho recognition of tho fact that gullibility in oner inanely increased by a sumptuous dinner washed down with sparkling wine ; tlmroforo political bfin<|uots under any llimsy pretext sol ved iho double purposo of satisfying the avarice of tho principal spoakors for personal praiso, and nll’ording tho chance to palm oil political nostrums that would

otherwise fall on unrecoptivo oars Thero is just as much appropriateness in preaching sermons over tlio festive board as tlinr-i is in discussing the worldly welfare of humanity amid tho samo surroundings, and for that reason wo want to see politics discussed in tho cloarost atmosphere by those who aro oloctod by tho peoplo to think those matters out for thorn and to expound thoir thoughts in tho open when they aro matured. It is encouraging, therefore, to find that the public function at which tho unsuccessful candidate for Taranaki waß honored on Monday night did not follow tho fushion sot by tho other side, and that tho utterances given there by the Loader of tho Opposition and some of his colleaguos were not befogged by prior imbibitions Whether that fact accounted for his extromo caution in not acceding to the general expoctation that ho was there to ‘‘lay down a now policy for the Opposition ” cannot now bo stated ; but it is evident that sober earnestness took tho place of fulsomeness and llippaucy that have too often characterised the utterances of others when dealing with their opponents Tho oxamplo was a good one, and although one may not jump iuto agreement with all that was said, tho fact that it was said in sobc-r earnostness entitles it to a degree of credit and consideration that might otherwise be justifiably withhold. Iu thi3 respect Messrs Massey and J. Allen scored decisively, and in showing how liberal measures were conceived, fought for, pushed on the attention of | the Government until they coula no longer be resisted, and were then appropriated by the Government, the former left no doubt on the minds of - his audience as to who deserved the credit for them. It is only fair that the real authors should receive the credit, for it was not their fault that they are not in the position to carry them into legal effect. “The Opposition,” says Mr Massey, “ believed in equal opportunity to all,” but the Government party have professed a belief in the same principle, only that in practice it has always been found that with them the “ all ” was generally confined to “ all ” those faithful people who ranked within the favored circle, and when their wants were satisfied the definition was extended along the lines of greatest party benefit, but there had to be a quid pro quo in some shape or form before the “ oppoitunity ” was allowed to expand beyond party linos. The Opposition have certainly not supported that way of affording “ equal opportunity ”; but until the details of the policy which he has promised to expound more fully at the next election are available it will not be fully understood what the phrase as he uses it implies. Theoretically, it is a very nice one, and for political purposes it is a useful one also ; but practically it is an impossibility, and will remain so until each succeeding generation is born simultaneously with equal mental aud physical endowments so that everyone can be started fairly off the same mark. But before that happens the miflennium will have arrived and politics will be a thing of the past. The time is past now for generalisations of that nature, except as pointers to the general trend of legislation, and in that sense we accept the phrase as an indication that the Opposition is prepared to administer the affairs of the country for the benefit of all alike, and not, as has been the case for the past decade or so, for the special benefit of a few. In that sense it must be welcomed as one of the most important pronouncements of the year, because that is the thing that the country at present most requires. Quite apart from the items of policy that have been I filched from tho Opposition one or two still remain that are worth filching, and on which Mr Massey has exposed his hand. These are, to make the Legislative Council directly representative of the people ; to regulate appointments to the Civil Service according to fitness, and not as at present, according to the amount of political influence that can be wielded ; to open up and settle native lands by Europeans and Maoris; and to elevate the latter to a higher scale of civilisation than has been found practicable under the present system. Those are not things to which much objection can be raised ; they are democratic in principle as they are honest in intention, so why hold on to the obsolete, undemocratic forms in vogue at present ?