REPLY TO "JULIAN."

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 2998, 1 October 1891, Page 2

REPLY TO "JULIAN."

TO THE UIHTO!:. Stlt,—'The letter of ".Julian " in your issue of to-day leads the writer into the not-un-common mistake of tinder-valuing the intelligence of the public ho addresses. In the application of hi; argument your correspondent assumes for the benefit (';) of your readers that Mr Like, who wears his colours openly as an opponent of the present Government, is therefore " pledged In vote as the leader of the Opposition shall dictate * * and who will lie obedient to the call of the leader of the Opposition regardless of his own convictions and the wishes of his constituents." (fas your correspondent any justification for such an assumption as this? 1 venture to say ho has not. Does he boliove. it himself? Again the answer must be X". Or is it the case that knowing better himself he is trying to mislead the electors by perverting and distorting the position. "Julian" does not require to be told— ho knows it well—that in all organised political oppositions thei e is a freedom of action among its members which, as a rule, is unknown among Government supporters. A pledged supporter of the Government might well be "dictated to" by his leader, but a member of the Opposition, although acting ill concert with others to secure common ends is, as compared with a Government supporter, a free lance. "Julian" known this well, but the unfairness of his argument, hue mi is in ire manifest when we rellect that an avowed Government supporter, with a good chance of being returned, would have had nothing but approval and support trom him. There need be no doubt of this—it will not be denied—but it is curiously inconsistent with "Julian's " present attitude. Your correspondent proceeds to say that " it has always been the independent members who have dimu the work of Parliament." This italeiiient is so exactly and absolutely contrary to well known and established fails that it would be ail insult to the knowledge and intelligence of "Julian " to suppose that he has the slightest belief in his statement. In Great Britain, and in all its colonies where constitutional government exists, " the real work of Parliament " is done by the majority in power, aided by the Opposition, if the latter does its duty; but constitutionally the independent member bus no place, and practically he must either be useless or drawn over to the Government of the day. The latter consideration is doubtless the one which at the present moment weighs with "Julian," but it cannot justify such a perversion of the position he has placed before your readers. The cause must inde >d be a weak one which requires to be so supported.—l am, Sc., Ohskuvek. TO THK JCDITOK. fin:, — Vour correspondent. "Julian" in his last letter accuses Mr Like o; not hav. ing criticised the Government measures and not enunciating any policy of his own. " Julian " is evidently trying to throw dust in the eyes of your readers for any one who listened to the plain, practical, and sensible speech delivered by Mr Lake must admit that throughout it was a hostile criticism of the Government and its proposals. He reviewed the linancial administration showing the extravagance instead of retrenchment of the Government pointing out how the indebtedness of the colony was being increased in a covert manner. The Lr.id Pill, the incidence of taxation, the Pavment of Members Pill, were all dealt with adversely, indeed it was a relict to hear Mr Like after reading the frothy clap-trap and the crude notions of the half educated faddists who are now ruling the country. Nero fiddled while Koine was burning and we have much the same spectacle in New Zealand now. Population and capital are leaving the colony daily; property of all kinds is depreciating in value ; wages have fallen so low that men can scarcely maintain their families and the Liberal Legislature of which "Julian" is so enamoured instead of seeking for means to restore confidence are devoting the whole of their tune to the discission of political fads, and making New Zealand the laughing-stock of the world. Now, " Julian " asks what is Mr Lake's policy. It is easily answered. It runs through all his speech and all his actions; it is rigid ecor.umv in administration ; it is crushing with an iron hand all experimental and Socialistic politics, and restoring prosperity to the country by restoring confidence in it This can only be done by plain, practical legislation on business lines. "Julian" endeavours to be sarcastic with Mr Lake's answer re Vailo's railway scheme, but the answer was a straightforward one. I have lisard hundreds of people talking about this scheme—many of them supporting it —hut I never yet met with anyone who said they understood it. Perhaps, "Julian," it will not be too severe a task upon your great mind to explain it. And now for the concluding pirtion of "Julian's'' letter and his remarks about the Independent candidate, and here it is necessary to read between the lines. "Julian" is not supporting the Independent candidate because he has a policy and a backbone, but just the reverse. "Jnlian" thinks, and I quite agree with him, that a man who can trim his utterances and his policy no as to try and suit both parties in order to catch votes will be easily amenable to such influences as the present Government can bring to baar, and it is bccause "Julian" thinks he is voting for a Government supporter that his votrt will be recorded for the Independent candidate. On the other hand, the great bulk of the electors in Waikato will voto for Mr Lake, because they behove in his integrity and sterling worth ; in short, that lie has an honest policy and a staunch backbone.—l am, etc., T. G. 11. Hamilton L ist, Sentemhpr SO.