The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1882.

Kumara Times, Issue 1768, 31 May 1882, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. WEDNESDAY, MAY 31, 1882.

The Opposition tn the House ol Representatives for a long time took for their motto " DitX et attctor nobis opus est," but thpy have at length emerged from the doubts and diflirnl ties which beset and over-shadowed them. They have fixed upon their man, and lie is the honorable member for Akaroa, Mr Montgomery. Probably und r the circumstances no more judicious selection could have been made. It may not be generally known that in 1877, after the defeat of the Atkinson Government, Mr Montgomery would have been Premier but for a little jealousy on the part of Another member who at lhat time belonged to that party, but who seceded from it shortly afterwards. Snob, however, is positively the. c;i.se. As a politician,

Mr Montgomery is what may be termed in every respect an independent member, too much so perhaps for the party warfare into which he is about to plunge, while he most certainly would find it a matter of extreme difficulty bo fin-l suitable colleagues it, the event of being victorious in the campaign in which lie is to act as leader. He is a man with a very large amount of political experience, and, it may be added, of ability and integrity also. Perhaps the greatest mistake into which he is liable to fall is to imagine that he knows all about colonial finance. Since Mr Oswald Cnrtis was rejected by a basely ungrateful constituency, there is possibly no one left in the House who knows very much about the subject except Mr Atkinson, the present Colonial Treasurer. Mr Montgomery can talk with great confidence, and at considerable length about colonial debentures and the inscription of stock, and his thorough commercial training and his strict business habits fit him in a peculiar manner for understanding accounts upon a tolerably large scale; but the possession of such kuowledge does not necessarily constitute the owuer a colonial financier. Mr Montgomery has been in the House for a number of years, and has throughout won for himself the respect of all parties. He speaks but seldom, at the same time he carefully guards himself against making any unconsidered remarks. He has always been listened to with attention, and when in opposition, is almost invariably followed by a Minister in debate. His manner of speaking is extremely emphatic, and those who listen to him cannot fail to admit that he evi. dently believes most thoroughly in every word whic!< he utters; but for all that, his style of delivering cannot be said to be good. Having been chosen Leader of tbe Opposition, his party may rest thoroughly assured that he will he true to them, and not indulge in such political schemes and dodges as Sir George Grey, who evidently has some little game of his own on hand. The ex-leader boasts that he has twelve trnsty followers who will stick to him through thick and thin, and he is perfectly aware of the undoubted fact that the Opposition proper are not nearly strong enough to successfully cope with the Government; knowing this, he evidently has put himself in a position where he cannot be entirely ignored. He thinks that in the melee which must inevitably take place when there are three armies in the field, by good luck and good management combined, he may perchance succeed in scoring a win. He did it once before, and what has happened once may happen twice. It is true that in 1877 he was in a much more advantageous position than he now occupies, but his pride and lust of power will make him hold on to the very last. His expressed admiration of the Native policy is causing extreme surprise, more especially when only a few days before he pronounced it to be most detestable and outrageous. As a matter of course he has not changed his opinion in any one particular, but he has merely produced a political somersault of a similar description to that of many of his former feats. The position of affaiis in the House at the present time is most peculiar : but one and all who will not he actively engaged in the fray must, in thft general interests of the colony, heartily wish that the office-holders and office-seekers will settle their difference as soon as possible, so that the real business of the session may be attended to.