THE OPPOSITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2313, 5 October 1908, Page 2

THE OPPOSITION.

A SUCCESSFUL BANQUET.

FAREWELL TO RETIRING M-P.’S

[Puebs Association.]

WELLINGTON, Oct. 4. The Opposition gave a highly sueocssfui banquet at tlio Grand Xxotel last night to bid good-bye to those M-P.’s who are not seeking re-elec-tion. The jwhole proceedings wore marked by the utmost enthusiasm. There wore present: Messrs W. F. Massey (Leader of the Opposition, in tlie cliair), J. Allen, AV. Hornes W. Fraser, Lang, Aitken, D. Reid, Mandor, Alison, Bollard, Lethbridge, ami Okey, M-P.’S, and also Messrs Duthie and Martin. After an excellent dinner, .and the .loyal toast having been duly honored, - ~ Mr. AV. F. Massey (leader of the Party) proposed the health of his friends who were retiring from politics for the present. The regret which, tho Party felt at the retirement of Messrs Lethbridge, Reid, Alison, Aitken, and Lewis was, he said, shared by many men on the other side of the House. (Hear, hear.) It was not sufficient compensation to know- that the men who would fill their places would, for the most part, take their seats on the same side of the House; it was not sufficient compensation to know that others from th'e other side of the House were ako voluntarily retiring; nor was it suificient comnonsation to know that others on that side would be compulsorily retired within tho next few weeks. Their retiring comrades were men who had stood shoulder to shoulder with them in many stubborn contests, both inside the House and outside it. They w r ere experienced and reliable men, whoso services the Dominion could ill afford to lose. there had not been a time within the last twenty years in the history of New Zealand when strong, . reliable men wore so much needed in the Parliament of the country as at the present time. In saying that he did not wish to reflect in any wav on members of the other side of the House. _ Ho was condemning more tlie political system into w-hich they had drifted, 1 system that was inherently bad and capable of manipulation leading to waste and extravagance. That reform was necessary and that they

were going to hare to reform the was certain, but strong men would need to he selected to bring it about. What would happen within the next few weeks it was impossible to predict, (but one thing was certain, namely, that there was a very large section of the community that was desirous of having an improved Parliament; a Parliament worthy of- the Dominion and one that would be less parochial and that would do justice, not to one section of tho community, but to all. '(Applause.) They wanted a Parliament that would make just and liberal laws, and not such laws as the Second Ballot Bill, with its “gag” clause, aimed at the freedom of the press and the liberty.of the people. (Hear, hear.) A Bill intended to prevent minorities having any representation in Parliament at all, and one not intended to benefit tlie community as a whole, but only those in power for tlie time being. Anyone who had read those figures that, on the preceding evening, were placed before Parliamnt by tho Prime Minister, must have come to the conclusion that there was a critical time ahead. When that time came they would be very glad to have the men who .were now retiring back in the fighting line again. Mr. Lethbridge (who apologised for tlie unavoidable absenceof Sir. Lewis) was the first to respond to the toast. He said he was retiring purely for private reason's, and because he wished to see something of the world. If, after a time, his fellow •' settlers thought he could be of use to them in Parliament he would hold himself at their service. (Applause.) . He paid a very high tribute to their leader (Mr. Massey) and to his lieutenants (Messrs Berries and James Allen), whose ability and untiring industry were recognised on both sides of the House. Messrs Aitken, Reid, and Alison also responded. The two former explained that they were retiring in order to give more attention to their own businesses, while Mr. Alison said that his medical adviser had told him lie must give up politics for some time. One and all" said they were extremely sorry to disassociate' themselves from the Party. Mr. Alison said there was no more energetic, vigorous, zealous, and whole-hearted man in Parliament than their leader, who was endeavoring honestly, to serve, not only those whom he specially represented, but also tlie whole of the people of the Dominion. (Applause.) Ho was a man actuated by the highest spirit of patriotism. Air. Aitken proposed the. toast of “The Leader of the Opposition,” and said, that he often marvelled at his assiduity and his strength. Day after day and night after night he stuck to his work in Parliament. He had a grasp of every situation discussed and of every clause in every Bill, and was alert all the time to all tlie work that was going on. (Hear, hear.) If the community realised the splendid work ho was doing, it would return a verv much larger percentage of his Party to power. He was sanguine tliat the next Parliament would be a very much stronger Opposition one than tho present one. One thing was certain, that never in the history of the country avas there'so much need for ■a strong Opposition as there was at. the present moment. The country had given,. the Government too much power, with the inevitable result that neither logic rior argument availed in Parliament when the leader of the dominant party made up his mind that a Billl must bo put through. It was necessary that occasionally there should be a change of Government for the country’s good. Air. Massey, who was received with hearty applause, said a man who led the Opposition in .a country such as this, in which the Government had at its disposal all the power of the purse and public patronage, had a hard task, and yet the position had its compensations. In tho first place ho knew the work of the Opnosition was thoroughly appreciated " by a very large number of their felloav colonists and, in the second place, he kne\v that he had always tho loyal support of the men of sterling character who formed his Party. He paid a special tribute to the two men who sat on his right and left in Parliament, ATcssrs James Allen and Herries. No leader could have had better support than he had received from those gentlemen. (Applause.) ITo also said that, in proportion to their numbers, tho House and tlio country had every reason to ho satisfied with the work tlio Opposition had done. They had influenced to a very considerable extent the legislation put upon the Statute Book, and they had influenced, also, the politics of the country. They had also prevented, to some extent, tho extravagant expenditure of public money, and had succeeded in altering very materially the Government proposals contained in tlio Land Bill of 1906. (Applause.) They could take pride and pleasure in the fact that, had it not been for their exertions in Parliament, it would liave been impossible for many young Now Zealanders to make their homes tlieir own. To Air. AV. Fraser he gave great credit for the excellent work he had done on the Lands Committee of tlio House in connection with the famous Land Bill of the present Government. (Applause.) The Opposition, he said, stood for true Liberalism and genuine democracy, and they had always steered a straight course. (Applause.) He did not say they had not made mistakes, but ho did say that they had very little to regret—(hear, hear) —and tlieir record was a good and a clean one, A few- people had been expressing a hope that tho Opposition would be wiped out altogether. That would bo a calamity to tho country. Ho did not, however, fear any such result, and lie confidently predicted that when the new Parliament met more pegs would bo. needed in the Opposition' whip’s room and moro scats would ho needed on the Opposition side of the House than was at present the case. (Applause.) The timo would oomo when a majority of tho people in the Donation would re-

cognise tho good work done by tho present party in Opposition. Air. John Duthie (who w-as one of tho honored guests), in responding to the toast of his health, said tliore was no doubt that tho present Administration had, by their use of the public purse, debauched tho constituencies till the country was now- in tlio position of having an autocracy under democratic institutions. . Tho system could only end in financial embarrasniont, and though they must all pray (hat that was a long way off,, it seemed as if it W-as the only thing that would bring tlie country to its senses.