The Dominion. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1911. RIVAL LEADERS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1293, 23 November 1911, Page 4

The Dominion. THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1911. RIVAL LEADERS.

v- • The public must have c)e rived some amusement fvom the painuuly elaborate efforts of the Prime Minister to .assure them that Mr. jVlassey's Winton meeting was altogether a very poor thing as a political demonstration and of no account at all as indicating the waning popularity of the member for Awarua. It is in its way a pathetic spectacle to witness the head of the Government rushing all over the country and at every place he stops at button-holing the electors, as it were, and begging them not to believe that the Leader of the Reform party had scored the huge success that the reports published in the press would lead them to infer. Il the published reports were not true we suspect that Sir Joseph Ward would have kept his head better and have realised that his repeated efforts to belittle his rival's triumph were more likely to emphasise than to discount it. However, since lie has disputed the accuracy of the Press Association's report of the meeting, it may interest him and tbe public to learn, what a Government organ said of it. The T)uncdin Star, a staunch supporter of the Government, published a special report of the meeting which opened as follows: , . Mr. W. F. Miissey l (lolivCrW'hA' nuflrcss in the Rinlc Hall, Winton, last niKht in the presence of between 190 ft and 2000 persons. The Opposition leader was ..played into Winton by the Town Ban:!, was entertained at dinner, and met T.itli. a most enthusiastic reception from liis large audience, over 500 of whom camo miles by train lo bo present.

This Government journal had its report of Mr. Massby's spccch fairly bristling with parenthetical remarks, such as (applause), (cheers), and (prolonged dicers). In parts tho "cheers" arc rccorded'at.the end of about every-third sentence. And this is how the report concludcs: He [Mr. Masseyl trusted that the 7th December would see the deposition of tho Ward Government and tho appointment of an improved parly to power. (Prolonged applause.) On tho motion of Mr. G. Chilton, seconded by Mr. D. Henderson, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Masses' for his ablo and instructive address, adding that tho meeting was of opinion that the time had arrived when every effort should bo mado to move the Ward Administration from office. Tho motion was declared carried and tho chairman's announcement was received with prolonged cheering. Will Sir Joseph Ward say that the Duncdiu Star is a biased journal desirous of injuring the Government? But let us see what the Bluff correspondent of the same Government journal has to say of the meeting. He telegraphe'd to his paper as follows:

-• Bluff, November 18. Tho extraordinary outburst of enthusiasm at Mr. Massty's meeting at Winton has greatly intensified tho political situation in Awarua. The Opposition party consider that thoy have a big majority of votes in the Winton district, while Sir Joseph Ward's supporters have their stronghold ill tho Bluff. The outburst of political enthusiasm last night was totally unprecedented in Awarua. Some elector's regard a second ballot as certain.

"The outburst of political enthusiasm last night was totally unprecedented in Awarua"—this is the statement of a representative of a paper which has faithfully supported the Liberal party for the past 20 years. It Dears out absolutely the report of the Press Association. Tho Southland Times, which of course is published on the spot, wrote of the mecbing:

Mr. W. F. Ma-ssoy's mooting at Winton last night will probably long bo remembered by thoso who wore present as being one of the most exciting and memorablo experiences of tlio kind they havo ever taken part in. Eight from the start it was evident that the strength of tho audience lav with those whoso sympathies wero with Mr. Massey. Tho usnn] non-committal comment that "the address was punctuated by outbursts of applause" would give a most inadequate impression of the reception that, was accorded to Mr. Massey. The applause that his remarks "drew forth consisted of cheers—full-throated, unrestrained checrs. It was not a cas-o of whining approval by making clever points or by glowing peroration. Tho feeling was there beforehand and everything that Mr. Massey raid was something to be cordially approved. Such, at leasL was tho impression that an outsider, standiug clear of Iho excitement that prevailed, could not fail to gather. . . . In tho circumstances described it was only natural that Mr. Massey should havo bwm tuned to concert pitch. Ho certainly rose to tho and d<v livered a vigorous and compelling fighting speech. Tho scene in tho hall when tho vote of thanks was put to the mooting was something to remember. Tho air wa.s a whirling mass of waving hands, hats, and sticks, and cheers followed

cheers for sovcral minutes. It is quite possible of course that Siti Joseph Waru will continue to rush about from placc to place bogging the people not to believe that Awaruit, like the rest, of thfc country, has at last recognised the desirableness of a change of Government. But docs anybody really doubt that the Leader of the Eoform party met with the enthusiastic demonstration in the Piumb Minister's electorate as reported ! Cannot the Pmhe Mixisteb,. even in his

great alarm, see that, his constaut contradiction of everything that swills likely to injure, the chances of himself and bis followers is overstraining the credulity of the public ! Tho truth is no doubt, that •Sin Joseph "Ward is a bad loser. With the battle showing signs of going against him he presents a sorry contrast to his rival who has fought courageously year in and year out against overwhelming odds, chcerful in adversity, and always ready to begin anew the uphill fight for clean and honest administration of the country's affairs.