The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, JUNE 15th, 1922. THE OPPOSITION.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, JUNE 15th, 1922. THE OPPOSITION.

A oooi) opposition can he the liie ami the very soul of useful Parliament. Xou Zealand has the in kings of a goo 1 Opposition, but it is sjdit in twain, if not in quarters'. According to our Par. liamentary correspondent this v.eelt, ihe so-called United party constituting the ofli dal Opposition is not in correct concert yet. The details of its policy are nut fin lly adjusted or its accredited leader is not yet in full authority to speak for the party. Tile sooner this necessary adjustment of the party policy is affected, the hotter. Mr AVilford’s leadership is not yet distinguished by any master stroke. This need not occasion any nlarm. Mr Milford is I not by any menus incapable of fearless leadership, nor can he l>c short of a policy. He has the Liberal heritage of a great democratic policy to build upon and he can, ive are persuaded, build surely. We do not know, but we should say, he has to move warily. He is not in the full confidence ns yet of ! pi] the liberals, Some of the old st’iil,'

warts do not approve of his leadership ai nil which ir, it handicap. At the same time they do not suggest a su'n ititt->- liiti tln> hick of• cohesion within the party proper i, a weakness. As to the newly aci|tiired members of t:

United party the sane Labor iiientiieis and Mr Staihrtin twlto now stands aftvo, his only follower Inivihg lately die., there has been little of public evidence to show liov. far they tire nttnrh'-ti to ; Mr Will old's leadership. There would ; occasion to move warily on that acount. Also Mr Wilford may have >hi listed misgivings that if he dm-s- >• 1 oitf the party window with a dazylui.' i display of policy, this being the year |o| election, lie may liml tint better j points of his policy appropriated by the 1 Government. But again, as has been ]nj<l down so olten, it is not the duty of ' the Opposition, necessarily, to proclaim I its policy in advance. But it hits a | duty, its chief duty; to he critics, and I in that respect Mr Wilford and his I fololwiiig could serve a very useiul ! pm pose at this stage in publicly eritiI rising the Government and indicating to the people at large some of the short- | comings for which the Dominion is paying dearly. It would not he a difficult task for a critic of Mr AVilford’s ability to perform that duty very effectively, and that lie does not do so. is probably for reasons which for tip, time being he keeps to himself and the party. He is an experienced campaigner, and may have some useful reasons for the reticence displayed. At the same tinie, while there is ample scope for criticism along the lines indicated, we believe there is. also, need for it. and the time seems to lie at hand, when the platform should be the main vantage ground of a genuine opposition attack on the Government. This is the year of elcition, and nneritieised the Ministry is having a very comfortable time. The lack of criticism will induce many to believe that there is nothing to criticise. Furtliei'. we gather that Air AVilford has been busy selecting candidates, but the people will want to know their qualifications and the quality of their ammunition. Just as the Liberals are busy seeking out candidates, so are the other parties, anj public support might be swayed to the disadvantage of the Liberals at this stage for the reason that there is no disclosed policy or line of action. The view of the political situation as it strikes us is that the public at this juncture, need the fullest enlightenment of the present trend of polities, and the means whereby the country can recover itself with the least disability. Along those lines the Opposition can offer a good deal of constructive criticism aflrl it should not delay now in taking up the task it is necessary to follow,