WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1920, Page 1

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Special Correspondent)

THE LIBERAL LEADER. ) POLITICS AND PARTIES. WELLINGTON, March 31. ’ The Hon W. D. S. MacDonald lias been suffering a good deal from bis injured arm since he returned to "Wellington three weeks ago and is not even yet able to give prolonged attention to bis duties as leader of the Liberal Party. An hour or two a day in liis room in Parlament Buildings receiving visitors and dealing with his more urgent correspondence is as much as ho 1 can manage at present without absolute • ly flouting the orders of his medical adviser. But resting tliiis afternoon, having completed his tale of work for the day, he chatted interestingly with a representative of the on 1 tlio political stuation and the party prospects. Wliilo he does not admit that the pre sent. Government represents the deliberate choice of a majority of the electors, Mr MacDonald frankly recognses that Mr Massey and his colleagues are the 1 men in possession and entitled to the ’ legitimate fruits of their victory. “Mr Massey and his friends must hear the blame for tlie existence of a system that permits of minority rule,” be said, “Sir Joseph Ward’s second ballot perhaps, was not an ideal system, but it at least secured the representation of majorities. When the Reformers came into office and abolished this system Mr Massey promised on their behalf to provide something bet-1 ter. The reversion to the old system j certainly lias proved very much better! for bis own party, but I should not like ; to imply this was wliat bo bad in Ins mind at tlie time. We shall not mend matters by imputing improper motives to our opponents, but we ought to have their assistance in bringing about reform.” This is a common-sense view of the position, quite characteristic ol the man. Mr MacDonald does not accept without very considerable modification the popular view that the first duty of an Opposition is to oppose. He would rather put it that the first duty of an Opposition is to criticise, and its last resource to oppose. Opposition, merely for opposition’s sako be regards as futile, even politically immoral. Nine-tenths of the politicals in this country, ho thinks, are more honest than people believe them to be. Differences of opinion are not necessarily differences in sincerity or in zeal for th public welfare, but differences m judgment and points of view. "While bolding this charitable opinion of bis j follows, however, Mr MacDonald does not discount the value of a strong vigilant Opposition. “This country lias a very critienL time before it,” be went on to say. I . am no pessimist and I am no prophet of - evil, but T realise, as every observant J , thinking man must, that the Parlia- j ( meat just elected lias bigger tasks be- , fore it than any other New Zealand j Parliament ever lias faced. Finance, % land settlement, production. in- j Austria! reorganisation, all are tremendons problems ,involving scores of other | problems ,scarcely less important, and they have to be tackled now, not ten or j twenty years hence, and upon tlie cour- f age and prudence with which they are R handled will depend in a. great measure the happiness and prosperity, not only of this generation, but also of the gen- r erations to come. Reconstruction must c mean not merely getting back to the 1 old conditions, but the making of a , new world, a better world than the one that went into the melting pot ( with the war.” t

With the grave responsibiities resting upon lit© present Parliament Mr MacDonald hopes to see all party bitterness and all' factious opposition laid aside. Differences of ’ opinion there must be ,and for bis part be stands for the great Liberal principles as sturdily as ever be did, but the eternal struggle between the “ins” and “outs” over matters that may be of little or no consequence to the country should cease. He does not wish his attitude to be misunderstood. There will bo an Opposition and it will fight to the very last ditch against anything in the the way of legislation or administration it considers inimical to the best interests of the country and its people. But it will not light simply for the purpose of embarrassing tho Government nor for its own personal aggrandisement. That is, at any rate, his own view of what progressive electors will expect from tho Liberal and Labour Opposition in the. new Parliament. “Tho great need of the country” Mr MacDonald said in conclusion, “is a united effort towards increased and more economic production. To secure this wo must widen tho opportunities of the mass of the people, put them in a position to bear tlieir share of the country’s burdens, make the rural b <> more attractive, dare to bo really progressive in land settlement and public works and encourage the spirit of patriotism that expresses itself m hard work and personal and national achieve inent Given these thugs there will he no fear either for the present or for tho future.”