The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1909. A NEW ZEALAND PATRIOT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2430, 19 February 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1909. A NEW ZEALAND PATRIOT.

The nows that public subscription lists have been opened up in Gisborne in recognition of Mr. W. F. Massey’s services to the country should be welcomed by all who take an interest in our public affairs. It is an old saying that nothing succeeds like success; and the men who at various times have been given the privilege of leading the Government of the day -in the capacity of Prime Minister arc given opportunities which are denied to the less fortunately situated leader of the Opposition. On the one hand a Premier stands in the limelight, always. He is able to take credit for work done by subordinates, and lias the power of bestowing an enormous amount of patronage, and, as we all know, patronage astutely bestowed spells popularity. This is where he scores over an Opposition leader most effectively, for the latter can offer no reward to those whose assistance and support he seeks. Again, the Prime Minister can travel up and down the country at the people’s expense, and, with a retinue of State-paid clerks, lie can meet the people face to face under the most favorable circumstances. The Opposition leader, on the other hand, has to put his hand in his pocket at every turn, and frequently the sole result for his disinterested work is that he is credited with criticising merely because lie is out of power, and desires to-oust the occupants of the Treasury Benches. As a matter of fact, the Opposition is just >as important a factor in the affairs of a country as is the Government, its beneficial influence upon legislation cannot be over-estimated, and its leader has most onerous duties to perform. In the House lie is at a great disadvantage, for here again the party in power hold all the keys to the position. They have the whole of the public departments under their control, and.can obtain any information on any subject at a moment’s notice. If the Opposition leader, however, wants to know anything, lie has to go to the Government for it, and lias to bo satisfied with just ns much as the Premier is willing to supply. It is his duty to peruse measures with a view to efficient criticism when they are submitted to Parliament, and here onco more he is largely at the mercy of the Premier, who withholds the issue of Bills until such time as will best suit himself from a tactical point of view. These facts will give some notion of the disadvantages underwhicli the Loader of His Majesty’s Opposition carries out his most important duties. Thus handicapped, Mr. Massey has worked in the public interest with a zeal and aii indefatigableness that have earned for him the admiration of the whole of the people, no matter of what political persuasion they may be. He has stuck to.his post in the House under all circumstances, working early and late, never shirking a public duty, nor sparing himself, however discouraging the. odds or hopeless the fight. He has, when occasion demanded, stumped the country in defence of principles he believed to bo right, and has set up a standard of public service that could he well set forth for emulation by all who desire to enter the political arena. All this lie has done without any reasonable hope of reward beyond' that of duty

well done, for there lias been no time since he accepted the leadership that there seemed a reasonable prospect ol his displacing the Ministry, and securing the more pleasant and vastly more lucrative position of Prime Minister. Throughout lhs political warfare it has never been gainsaid that Mr. Massey has invariably fought lairly, and in this respect he has materially assisted to maintain the reputation of the Now Zealand Parliament at the eommcndably high plane which it occupies. For these reasons, therefore, wo have no hesitation in commending to the general public the proposal ’ that is now being made to present Mr. Massey with a national testimonial as an indication of the esteem in which he is held by reason of Ills exceptional public record.