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Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 9009, 19 December 1907, Page 4

Speaking at a social at Pukekohe, on Tuesday evening, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr W. P. Massey, alluded, amongst other things, to the coming political struggle. He believed that the next election would find a third party in the field—the Soc:'albtic party, which had lately been asserting itself. That party had hilhsrto been the power behind | the throne, but now desire to seize the throne itself. In Mr Masopinion the time had come when the line should be drawn between Socialism and genuine Liberalism. The people had to decide whether they were going to be governed by straigh-out Liberals or straight-out Socialists, or by the Oppoitunists, who had pandered to the Socialists in the way experienced during the past five sessions. There are vei*y many who will agree with Mr Massey's view of the question, but we and they may be pardoned for not accepting without qualificatioh his declaration that "the most liberal men in Parliament were those who sat on the Opposition side of the House." We may go this far, however, and express a very <| ec ided opinon that in proportion to numbers, there are more politically virtuous men in the following of Mr Massey than in that o* the Prime Minister—men who would rather die with their cause than swallow their convictions for the sake of retaining power and pelf. Small though the number of his supporters in the House is, Mr Massey has never lost heart, and that is because he rather seeks the good of his fellow colonists than self-aggrandisement, and there can be no question that ho and his parly have done much to modify the wild Socialistic schemes of the Ministry. Cheered on by such encouragement as he received at ; Pukekohe on Tuesday evening, Mr Massey said he was determined to • go on fighting as he had been fighting— For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, I For the future in the distance, • And the good that we can do.

The Inspector-General of Hospitals has arranged for a conference of Hospitals and Charitable Ai'l Boards throughout the dominion, to be held in Wellington during-■the "first week of June next, for the purpose of discussing the new Hospitals and Chari table Aid Bill to be brought down next session. This i?. as it should be. We have over and oi'er again urged that all proposed .new legislation affecting the well-being of the com munity should be submitted for public criticism before being brought into Parliament. There would then be le?s liability of legislation being in conflict with public opinion, and the passage of such measures through both Houses would be greatly facilitated. We can hardly hope, however, that the Government has any intention of making a practice iT submitting their policy bills to the scrutiny of the people beforehand. It would not suit Ministerial party views to do so; but the time will doubtless come when the constituencies, disregarding party considerations, s will insist upon knowing before the dying days of the session the character of the legislation proposed. Local bills have to be advertised long before the}' are introduced. The Standing Orders insist upon this in order to safeguard the interests of the residents of the locality. Surely it is ol' much greater importance that measures affecting the weal or woe of the whole of the dominion should be "understanded of the people" before they are translated into law.