REFORM PROSPECTS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2324, 4 December 1914, Page 8

REFORM PROSPECTS

IMPROVING PROM DAY TO DAY MR. FISHER'S TOUR An account of his tour up to Hawke's Bay was given by the Eon. F. 11. B. Fisher to a Dominion reporter yesterday. Queer accounts of Mr. Fisher's meetings at Napier' and elsewhere have been published here, but Mr. Fisher's own story 6b.ows theiu.to be palpably misleading. . 'My first * meeting: was held at Feildinßr" said Mr. Fisher, "and it was without doubt the largest political meeting ever held in the Eangitikei district. The meeting was very .strongly in favour of the Government. Indeed, I should have been veryglad if it had been possible for that meeting alone to'determine who were to be the administrators .of the Dominion's affairs for the next three years. As usual, there was a minority which made a noisy demonstration at. various parts of the address, but at'the same time tlio rowdy ones were fairly swamped when it came to a vote on the question of confidence in the Government.

"At Napier, also, I had.the pleasure of facing thp largest audience that ever assembled in Hawke's Bay. It was even necessary to removo the scenery from'the stage in order to make room for the additional 4/10 or 500' people who were unable to get into auy other part of the building. I suppose the audience that night must have totalled closo on 2500 people, and that means a great audience for a town like Napier. Here, again, the noisy element were very much in evidence; and they frequently indulged in the countout and other well-known methods to restrict the right of free speech. However, we got through successfully a splendid meeting. I was very well satisfied; as the result of my visit to Napier, that the anxiety, which is being shown by the sitting- member,' Mrl Vigor Brown,' is not' without/good' cause. Our candidate is carying behind him the solid backing of the 'Reform Party, and as a working man who has made his way up from the ranks, Mr.,. Venables, commands the widest re6peot.amougst all those with- whom ho has come in contact. He is a popular candidate,, and he is going to put up a big fight, I look upon;the,issue at Napier as "being what sporting men term 'an even money chance;'", ' " "I spent a day or two in the HawkeV Bay electorate, and I came to tho conclusion that probably Mr. H. M. Campbell will soore one' of the biggest wins in New Zealand; Mr. M'Nab has met with a most chilling reception, and his prospects have gone down very materially. There seems tor be no doubt about Mr. Hunter winning tho Waipawa seat, whilst Mr; Escdtt, for Pahiatua, is commonly, supposed to have what is known as 'a' cake walk.' In the Masterton electorate, Mr. Sykes will probably come back with an increased majority, and Sir Walter Buchanan will carry the Eeform colours first past the post'on December 10 'without any doubt. "I also gathered from reliable sources in the north that in both the Bay of Plenty and the Gisborne electorates the' Beform' candidates. are putting up big fights/ and in both electorates it is generally agreed that the.issue is in doubt. It would not be at all astonishing to' see Reform capture one if not both of those seats. ... "The general position seems to be'improving all over the country. All our candidates are in. good heart, and the spirit, of 'Reform seems to be increasing from day to day. I think there is every prospect of the Reform Party coming back with about fifteen scats to the good. Tho public have not fully realised yet what'tho effect of the alliance'has been between the Red Feds, and the Liberals. It has shown to the loyal followers of the old 'Liberal' Party the degree of degeneration which the. present Opposition ha 3 undergone, and the fusion has been strongly resented by many supporters of the old Liberal Party. These are now coming under the banner of Reform-;:.to fight for a strong Administration, and a courageous and fearles/j Government." ,