THE OPPOSITION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 340, 29 October 1908, Page 7

THE OPPOSITION.

MR. MASSEY INTERVIEWED. —' u t HIS NORTH ISLAND CAMPAICN. "THE 'GAG' IN ANOTHER FORM." Mr. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, arrived in Wellington yesterday evening, and caught the ferry steamer for Lvtteltou at S o'clock. Ho will deliver some addresses in tho south, and return to Wellington ou Sunday. He is greatly pleased with tho result of hu North Island campaign, which up to the present has been successful, oven beyond expectations. Everywhere he has spoken to crowded audiences, and his reception both on and off the pla.tform lias been enthusiastic. Asked what lie thought about tho date of tho election being fixed for November 17, Sir. Massey said it was most unfair and improper to fix such an early dato after they liad been informed by Ministers that the elections would not ta.ko place before the end of November at the very earliest. By their action the Government had made it impossiblo for many candidates to get round tho large electorates. "I can only come to the conclusion," said Mr. Massey, "that it is the 'gag' in another form." "Too Many Faddists." In reply to a question about a possible strengthening of the Opposition in the new Parliament, Mr. : Massey said that opinions were being very freely expressed throughout the country, and even by many supporters of tho late Seddon Administration, that the present Cabinet is a w : eak-kneed one. "The idea," he said! "'s becoming pretty general that there are too many faddists in the Cabinet, while it is also pointed out that all the fiaddists are on the Government side in politics. Not only is that the case, but wo find now Government candidates like Mr. M'Lean, who has the hall-mark for Wellington East, only last night telling his audience frankly that, he was a State Socialist, and that ho would even-go'the! length'of establishing a State Bank. It is no wonder, therefore, that a great many people are coming to the conclusion that it is becoming absolutely necessary that the Opposition, party in Parliament should bo strengthened. Undoubtedly that will be the result of tho coming election." . .. . . . What about your own. electorate ? ."Oh," replied the Leader of the Opposition, "the usual attempt is being made to bribe the electorate with its own money, but I have been faithful to Franklin for a.bout twelve years, and I know that Franklin will remain faithful to mo." Reply to Criticism. - Asked if he had noticed the comments made by Mr. Wilford iu his recent speech, Mr. Massey said that he had, but ho was inclined to tliink that Mr. Wilford's political principles were Only skin deep, and therefore anything lie might have to say need not be taken quite seriously. Ho appeared to have quoted a _sta.temei}t made by Mr. Hardy, who, ho said, was the Opposition Whip. No doubt Mr. Wilford referred to him as the Opposition Whip to give ' tho statement more weight, for Mr. , Wilford must know perfectly well that Mr. Hardy, though one of the most respected and useful members of the party, was not; and never had been an Opposition Whip. Moreover, he liad no doubt that the statement attributed to Mr. Hardy, if made at all, was made jocularly. Mr. Wilford had also _ criticised Mr. James Allen. In this connection it was interesting to noto that the men who wero providing material for the Government candidates had to go back fifteen years to find any flaw in Mr. James Allen's armour. He, Mr. Massey, ventured to say that it .' was hardly necessary to go back fifteen years or fifteen months to find a flaw in Mr. Wilford's armour. , Ancient History. , Mr. Wilford had quoted the schedule of relief works in 1887, ajid endeavoured to mako out that the present Opposition was responsible for what occurred then. '• The fact of the matter, however —and '.Mr. 1 Wilford knew it-r-was that the colony was on tho verge of bankruptcy then, and the Atkinson Government had to retrench in every possible way. Even the late Mr. Seddon,' who was in the Hon so at the time, approved of what Sir Harry Atkinson had dojjo, and went so far.as to state that oil tho relief works no man should have the opportunity of earning nioro than 4s. or ss.:' per .day. The point, however, was thatj f the present Opposition was being misrepresented by Mr. Wilford and others. They were not responsible for what occurred at tho time, neither ;was Sir Harry Atkinson. It was a legacy from tho previous Liberal administration. Mr. Wilford Misses the Point. Mr. Wilford also had-teforred to him (Mr. Massey) as having been" inconsistent in regard to his advocacy that tho moneys of the Post Office Savings Bank should be used for advances to settlers- arid lands for settlement purposes. Mr. Wilford scorned to think the suggestion had been answered by the fact that- the Government had borrowed from tho. Post Office. Ho had, however, missed the ■point entirely. vHis (Mr. Massev's) suggestion was tliat .the Post Office should lend direct to tho. Settlors or local bodies in the same way as, was done by tho Government Insurance and' Public Trust Office..7 Machins-Made. What about that machine-made speech for ithe Government candidates? / . "I havo got a copy of it in my bag now," replied;-Mr. Massey, "and further I have with mo sheets of an immense amount "of literature that is being forwarded from Wellington in tho interest^..of the Government candidates. Tho curious' thing, about it is that this printed matter bears no imprint upon it. It would bo* interesting to know whoro it is printed and 1 who is paving for ■it." . ' . *. . Speech at Woodvllle. _ Mr. Massov gave probably the best political speech that has ever been given here, on Tuesday oveuing (writes our Woodville correspondent). . Tho hall was 'crowded,' and tho -audience listened with keen interest to tho speaker. Had the wehther been 'fine thero would hayo-been a record attendance but it was misorably cold, and the rivers had risen, which kept a number 6f tho country people away. .