THE OPPOSITION LEADER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 255, 29 October 1901, Page 3

THE OPPOSITION LEADER.

PBBBWIATION TO OAPXAIN . RUSSELL. Wkllisotoh, October 28. _ A fathering of Opposition members Was held at Parliament Buildings this afternoon, for the purpose of making a presentition to Captain Russell. The presentation took the form of three massive silver table which had been specially imported from Home. They bore the following inscription : "Presented to Captain Russell, M.H.R., as a mirk of esteem from friends associated with him while Leader of the Opposition in Parliament." Apologies for absence were read from several ex-members of the Opposition party, and others who were unable to be present. _ Mr Massey (M.H.R. for Franklin), in making the presentation, said it came from Opposition members in the preasnt Parliament, and those who had been Opposition members in previous Parliaments, who desired to express their esteem and appreciation of the many sacrifices made by Captain Russell on behalf of what the Opposition believed to be sound principles and a sincere desire for the welfare and good Government of the country. Be said very few people knew how difficult and what hard work it was for a numerically weak Opposition to properly criticise the proposals and finances of the Government when everything possible was done to cover up and conceal the real position, and when members knew that for any hostile criticism on their put sooner or later an attempt would be made to punish them. He had never known Captain Russell to allow himself to be swayed by personal considerations, and no one could help admitting the consistency and pluck with which he stuck to his post. The Opposition would always pursue a sound, progressive, and honest policy. Mr John Duthie (ex-member' for. Wellington City) said they all recognised bow in a spirit of self sacrifice Captain Russell had struggled on from a strong sense of public duty. Mr Duthie went on to adversely criticise the actions of the Government, and he contended that the Government paity had really no coherence, and its majority did not represent the confidence of the people in the Government. The Seddon party had set itself to establish an autocracy, tempered by bribery and inconsistent with any real popular Government. Captain Russell, in expressing his.' thanks, said he thought he could claim for himself and every one of the members of the Opposition that they had struggled under circumstances of almost unparalleled difficulty to do that which had been their duty. To believe that any member, or the Opposition party, had for one single instant wished to bar the road of progress or to do any-) thing which should keep their weaaer brethren from rising to an equal level with themselves, was to mistake altogether the attitude, functions, hopes and desires of the Opposition. Time had proved in almost every instance the tenth of the criticisms which they! had bestowed upon the measures brought j forwaid by the Government. Many of' the measures now on the Statute Book) emanated from the Opposition party,! and they had been licked into shape; by the very men who had been obarg' d with the desire to obstruct their pas-' sage. Had it not been for the un- ! selfish desire of the Opposition to e - deavour to perfect tbe crudities which > had been put pefore tbem, tbe success of the Government party would not have been half so great es it had been.' It was pleasing to think that in the pjst ten years there had ben no seceesioDS in any iobtance whatsoever from the ranks of the Oppsition, while they had bad additions Irom the GoveromeDt ranks. Be believed the day would come when tbe Oppo-icion; would receive that meed of piaiael which was their dua for having fought ; an up-hill fight. In conclusion, he] said their beautiful present would re-: main to his children for ev>r, tj prove at any rate what his ftllow members thought of him. Captain Russell's h alth was then enthusiast'cally to,s ed.