THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1293, 23 November 1911, Page 6

THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

MR. MASSEY GOES NORTH.

Mr. W. F. Masscy. Leader of the Opposition, arrived in "Wellington from the South vesterday morning, end latex left by tho "Main Trunk express for Palmerston. His impressions of his successful southern tour were conveyed in an interview nublished in The Dominion yesterday/ and ■ Mr. Massey contented himself with stating that in the south, as .elsewhere in the Dominion, the tide of public opinion is sotting steadily against the Ward Administration. As to his health, Mr. Massey is still suffering from a so.ro throat, but is in great measure recovered from the fatigues of his southern journey. Touching statements recently made by tho Primo Minister, the Leader of the Opposition said it was quite truo that a special train was run from Invercargill to Winton on the occasion of his meeting at the latter place. The train was open to people of all shades of political opinion, us long as they paid their fares in the ordinary .way, and no preference was shown to Oppositionists anv more than to Government supporters. The train, picked up passengers at all the stations en route, and brought about four hundred people to Winton. "It is quite safe to say," Mr. Massey remarked, "that nine out of every ten people in tho huge gathering, estimated at very little less than 2")00 swuls, were supporters of the Ilcform party. The point is, however, that absolutely nothing was done in tho way of bringing peoplo from a distauce to pack tho meeting." Mr. Massey added that it ■Was 110 unusual thing, when an important political meeting was being held, lor people to come in from (ho surrounding ecu try to attend it. "I see it has been stated," the Leader of tho Opposition remarked, "that wo are going to 'lose a 'numbor of seats in the Auckland district. You can take it from me that tho Oppositionists aro coming back from the Auckland district with their numbers very considerably increased." To-night Mr. Massey is to deliver an address at Taumarunui, in reply to Sir Joseph Ward, who spoko there, last evening. Afterwards he is to proreed to Auckland, where he will continue tho campaign in his own electorate, besides addressing several meeting'- in other parts of the Auckland provincial district.