A SUCCESSFUL TOUR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2316, 25 November 1914, Page 6

A SUCCESSFUL TOUR

PRIME MINISTER IN THE SOUTH., (By- Telesrrasli.—Special Correspondent.! Invercargill, November 24. The feeling in favour of the Government in the Awarua-, Wallace, and Invercargill' electorates has been greatly augmented as the result of the visit of the Prime Minister, which came to an end to-day. During the four, days ha spent in the province Mr. Massey addressed huge, meetings' at Invercargill, Otautau, Bluff, and Winton,. and at each meeting votes of confidence were carried with substantial majorities. At the' Otautau meeting on Saturday the Prime Minister was called upon to deal with the interjections of a, number of Nightcaps coal miners who had apparently heard only: one story concerning the Huntly disaster, and this gavo Mr. Massey an opportunity to Igo into the subject thoroughly. This he did with such effect that the tone of the interjectors wa"s modified, in a space of ten minutes from one.of fervid hostility to one of puzzled uncertainty, and there was no volume in the negatives to ' the . motion, of confidence .which was declared carried. Similarly, at Bluff, the fish merchants gave tho Prime Minister a chance to say something about'the Government's proposals m regard to fisheries, ana hero again he apparently more than satisfied his critics. At "Winton on Monday about 1600 people turned out ; to hear his address, and a vote of thanks' and confidence was carried .by an overwhelming majority. During the course of his address a wag in the rear of the liall called for' cheers for the Leader of the Opposition, but the response was very feeble. Later on, while Mr. Massey was dealing with the Huntly accident, another interjector called for cheers for Sir J. G. Ward,' but this time there was no response.

"A 1 dead silence," remarked" the Prime Minister. "Very good! Try again, my friend." No further attempt was made, and at the conclusion of this, the last meeting of the lour, Mr. Massey received a tremendous ovation. Soi'ernl woll-lniown settlers in ' the various districts havo expressed their belief that the following of tlio Government has been greatly augmented as a result of the visit.