LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2019, 2 March 1907, Page 3

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

To those persons who arc in anyway interested in the political life of the colony (says a writer in the Foilding Star) the Header of the Opposition (Mr. Massey) is just as well known as any member or tho Cabinet; in fact, hotter known than some members of the Ward Cabinet, anil certainly as well known us the present Premier. This, despite tho fact that Mr. Massey has not lnul the facilities for passing to and fro over tlio land which are enjoyed by Cabinet Ministers.

Whilst this thought is still in mind, ono might drop in the suggestion that thore is something of an unfairness in the treatment of the Loader of the Opposition by tho unwritten law of politics. Owing to his position as leader of tho party out of power ho has quite a respoinsiblo position Lo occupy, a position that is probably of more importance to the colony even than his own party. For it is his management of the Opposition party that applies the brake to tho Stato coach when it is being driven rashly and furiously by the person who happens for tho time to he in the box seat. It is no new suggestion that the leadership of the Opposition should be recognised by tile Stato, and that an allowance at least equal to that of a Cabinet Minister should bo made to the holder of the position, who should bo made to the holder of tho position, who should also bo provided with a parliamentary private secretary, and havo facilities equal to those enjoyed by Cabinet Ministers in gotting up and down the country. This lino of thought is by no means out of the picture when Mr. Massey is undor consideration. For it is impossible to consider Mr. Massey apart from tho Leadership of the Opposition party. For years ho acted as first lieutenant under Captain (now Sir William) Russell, and has had quite as hard a row to hoe as tho latter veteran, who led the forlorn hope from 1891 until ho surrendered the reins to Mr. Massey. The latter lias been a much more aggressive loader of his forces than was the member for Hawke’s Ray. Mr. Massey is chock-full of fight, and ready, even without provocation, to trail a coat-tail on the floor of the House, and to throw down tho gauntlet before tho Ministerial benches. He is a most faithful representative, as well as leader, for it is very rarely that he is out of his sea't in the House during session. Indeed, there have been times without number when he has deemed it his duty to sit tight and watch the other side with fully opened eyes: faithful, action which, in itself, kept the late Premier in the straight and narrow path from which he might have been tempted to stray had it not been for the vigilance of the Leader of the Opposition. It is a frequent charge made against Mr. Massey that he is not a constructive politician, that he does not show the work of a statesman, that he does not present schemes for the betterment of tho colony. His obvious retort is that he -is not a member of tho Cabinet, he is not Leader of the Opposition for the purpose of acting as incubator for tho party in power, and it is no part of his duty to make proposals which might help to keep the “ins” still longer in. The Leader of the Opposition is, it must be stated, essentially an iconoclast of a typo; lie is there to pull down the idols' of the people for the purpose of showing that they have feet of clay 1 done, then the Leader of the Opposition is tho watchdog of Parliament, and Mr. Massey is of tho most tenacious and persistent breed. Ho is an opponent of bulldog pertinacity, familiar with the forms of tho Houso, keen after the other fellow, and armed with a whole arsenal ol weapons for the political fight. Tho disheartening thing that Inis been his experience all his term of leadership has been tho small fighting force behind him. But liopo tells as flattering a talc to Mr. Massey as it does even to Premier Ward, and' so he goes forward ever believing that as suro as “every clog has his day,” so sure will there be promotion for him and his followers in the future.