The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact to all men, of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2953, 18 June 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact to all men, of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Tin-; ivliri'im'iil of Sir li. Atkinson t'niiii i.ii'it ■ ••;! 1 life has nceessitati'd rh'- , srl'.i-liDh of a U'fulcr for tin: partv which, cluriiiL' an.l since tin , short session, bus imen ii flock withfnit n .sln;|)li(.'rd. The unauiuious clfctimi to tin , , ollicii of leader of Lh.()ppositiou of the Hon. Mr Mryof should In- Hntiiil'iictory to inwi of all shiuk'S of politics. It is a guamnteo that the. interests of the country will not bo sauriliood by the party ho leads in for ollioe. Tin , position is one of great responsi bility, only soeond, it has lieen :isserti'(l by wi'ili'rs on Parliainontary f iovornniont, to that of Proininr. A nunicricilly sfronij Opposition, well and honestly led. is security tli.it the Ministry ot" the day will coiisidei- ilic wi-lt'are of rJI classes unci noi or tidniinistcr nff.iirs s.-.l'-ly in Ihe int.cref;t«i of that elass which may happen to have been paramount jif the last election. The p;H'ty which Mr l.lryv: li-ada has probably a more ditlieult rule to fulfil than any olluT whieh has preceded it. The working |.|a.<s".s have now awalcened from the political lethargy which was their i:h;i.''aferistii: till (juite lately, and are bent upon exercising the power which the constitution has placed in their hands. Their political education is still very incomplete, and in i.:oiiM'i|uenee. liiey are apt to be the i uioi.s of Their ears have Uet ii uckiird by the speeeh'-s of tlnj.se v.'hu MX. at pirsent in j)owt.:r, j ami they ik'.vr, beou li.xl to expect lovululioiiary legislation which was i,U ma!:n uvery man happy and prosperous if they would only com-liin-j tu .Mr lialiaii.X' it working majority in Parliament. Those who tickled their enrs, excepting those who have repcUed, aft,i-r the manno r of the parrots, the sayings of others, wore perfectly aware that it was impossible! to i;ive elFect to this wild measures and, if it were possible, that ruin must follow, I and the clas- pandered to be the wotat sulVerer.s. These men repre- ] sent for the most part certain coustituencie? which are composed ' largely of nieciianios, labourers, clerks, and small tradesmen. These men of riecssitv know little of the troubles and anxieties of the country settlers. Their leaders have given them tin; impression that the owner <>f land is a species of bird-of-prey, and in consequence entitled to little consideration at their hands. The f ict is carefully concealed by the i_;itato;.- that the. much-abused lauduwiier is the man and nearly tin: ■jiily o;u: v, hu jiroduce-i the v.'e.Uth which enables wages to be paid, no matter what tin- cal'ing. The inisleadin.i: rry is raised that there is no land. f"i- the jjcujjle to settle upon ; this, of course, to settlers in this part of the uolony is known to be nons.'ii.se. The real fact of the matter is that the men who are loudest in the declamation of the untruth are those who are not possessed of the energy, perseverance, pluck and skill which must be the stock-in-trade of the successful settler. They cry " no land " in order to screen themselves from the charge '.hat they are out of place in a new country. The duty devolves upon the Opposition to watch that no li.'gtslution takes place which is calculated to add t'j the burdens of the occupiers of land There is another danger now thut the labouring classes have in tin:) country ;u in oth'T:; taken the bit in their teeth ■l1!'1 arc e!amourin,i for legislation to secure to them high wage; and short hours. The Opposition wili haVI- , to watch that the State undertakes no such function ; by ail means establish cuiupet'-iit arbitrati'jii conns to s-.:l U>: disputes between eiiipluyt-rs and their woi-kiuen, if it is possible to do so, whieh we much tloubt. I'o cOiistituie a court is one thing, bin to compel obedience to its decisions is anoih. r. Xo Legislature eon Id !■■• broughr in these days to •:,<, tw fUidtii'y ii .i-ll" as to cnuct liiiu Lin- .-;i rtiiiii oi the c-ommmuty slo.ll earn good wages ami another 'itarve. This i-: practically the position v/hich trade unionists have laken up and would compel by legislation. .I'-irfiurncnt cannot possibly interfere between the adult labourer uv.n his \"li.::ouc doiug a g.viii Jia. ol lurf;"i. The only i\;.ic- ! , t\nn of Government in this matter i is ;. ■ protect each iu the exercise of j ihf. natural rights—the workman , f,-. sell hfs Iftb'jiir ami the employer '

in purchase il. en terms mutually :i":ve;nili\ We have cm I lit I ■-Tiei' fii;it tilt! Opposition IllnliT ill" £llirl moot .Mr Im-vc- ui!l miccsHiiilly pni .'lit. dii' p i^iii , , , '»!' <1 ■iif.'i'.rnw.-i iiii'Hsurtis, and will hcif) til<• < Jovi.TUin.'iit tu tuiiki! law iliom' which nro calculated to peov" liciKili ,-ial. .Mr IJryiM! li'in too ir.n<-Ii rt.-spf.-t fur himself, tikes too keen :in interest iu tin. , wcifiiie or tlic colony, and values l';irli:uiH'iit:trv institutions too highly to :ill(>'.v his party to indulge in political trickery in <>r<l<:r to oust the' Ministry from oliice. If they tall it will he from dek't.-at on a vital (iiu-rft ion, or, from what is still more likely, tht; aoii-tiUhesivL-nead of their followers.