The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 1908. THE OPPOSITION PARTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2293, 11 September 1908, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 1908. THE OPPOSITION PARTY.

It is to bo hoped Unit the meeting called four.to-niglit by local supporters of the Opposition party will be well attended. .There are in this district a very large proportion oi the electors who, from one cause and another, are dissatisfied with the present Government, and would gladly look forward to a reform both in the legislative and administrative sections of our political life. As a general thing such peopje are usually satisrfied to mutter their discontent when privately discussing politics with their friends, or to grumble fiercely when political ills afflict them personally, but the idea of attending a formal meeting for the purpose of giving expression to their views never seems to enter their heads. Yet without meetings of this kind, followed up by combined action, there is not the slightest likelihood of obtaining political reform. Those who are alarmed at the immensity of our public debt, which lias now reached £06,000,000, and tlio reckless financial methods of tho present Government, those who are sick to death of tho objectionable and disastrous system followed in the expenditure on public works whereby tho public purse is utilised to provide patronage in order that a particular party may be maintained in power, tliose who realise how the present Government is signally failing in the task of land settlement bo that, instead of attracting fresh settlers, our own aro leaving for Queensland, those who can appreciate the gravity of the present industrial crisis brought about by the utter incapacity of tho Government to enforce ito own laws, thoso who look in vain through the dreary record of Parliamentary proceedings for some glimmer of real statesmanship and honest desiro to foster national welfare, all these owe it to themselves and to the country to see that their views obtain full expression at the coming elections. At the meeting to bo held to-night it is quite possible that a candidate may be chosen to represent tho Opposition interests in the political campaign that is shortly to be commenced. It is to be hoped such a course will be taken. In .the first place it would be deplorable were the contest for the Gisborne electorate to be confined to Messrs Carroll and Darton. The first-named, despite some .admirable porsonal qualifications, represents the worst features of the present Government and stands in an impressive manner for all tho evils of the present system of legislation and administration, whilst his political indolence makes his seVvices us a district representative practically valuelees. Mr. Darton, on the other hand, is scarcely likely to be acceptable to that large section of the community which considers that this country has already gone quite far enough with socialistic fads of one kind and another. The more thoughtful class in tho electorate, men and women who approach the consideration of political affairs with reason and with patriotic instincts, will want other representation and if a candidate to represent those interests is to he brought forward it is quite time he made his appearance and placed his views before the public. In this connection wo trust that the local supporters of the Opposition view-point will not inako the mistake of pinning tlieir candidate, whoever he may he, to a slavish support of any particular party. There has been in the past a long way too much of this constant subservience of national interests to party conveniences. A candidate in tho Opposition interosts should be a man of progressive viows, with .independence of thought and unimpeachable integrity, and filled with the conviction that when the Ward party blocks the way to progress it should bo voted out of power to make room for a fresh administration. Ho will naturally find a good deal to support in tli© programme set forth so ably by Mr. Massey when that gentleman was in Gisborne a few months back, but it would bo particularly unfortunate in our opinion to ask from the candidate that he should give .a rigid adlieronco to Mr. Massey or any other party leader. There are already more'thair'onough of the votingmachine type of politician in Wellington, and Gisborne would be doing herself honor by making a change and sending to Wellington a representative who would consider the planks of his political platform and his pledges to his constituents more important than tho political necessities of any Parliamentary leader. No one who studies our public affairs can fail to recognise that there is a grave need for political reform, and it is to be hoped that tlio electors of Gisborne will do their part at the coming election in working and voting -for what they honestly believe will bo for the advantage of the Dominion.