THE OPPOSITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2340, 5 November 1908, Page 2

THE OPPOSITION.

GROWING IN PUBLIC FAVOR! MR. MASSEY’S ■SUCCESS. [Special to “Times.”] WELLINGTON, Nov. 3. There is a* remarkable feeling in favor of the Opposition "rowing throughout the country. Even m Otago; 'where the 'Government was supposed to be absolutely impregnable, the change is evident; andi .reliable advices from Southland tare to the effect that the Minister for Lands will have hard work to retain his seat, even if he is not beaten. Evidence of the change is seen mor'e particularly in the packed and enthusiastic meetings that assemble to receive Mr. Massey. His Palmerston meeting was an .unprecedented success. The “Post,” •though bitterly opposed to him on' the land question, admits his success in a leading article. It says, “Not .for 18. years, that is to say, "never since the Liberals came into power, has tho Leader of the Opposition loomed so largo at a general election as he is looming just now. Whether .in liis own constituency, where, in spite of the rewards which have been showered upon those who on previous occasions have endeavored to oust him, his position appears to he quite impregnaLfo, or before strange audiences at Feikling, Tcmuka, or Palmerston North, lie. has invariably anet with the most flattering reception, and lias carried liis hearers with him from start to finish. If the enormous power of the patronage in tile hands of the Government be allowed for, tho Leader of the Opposition must be allowed for once to have played tlio popular game even better than tho Premier. In the House and among his own people his genial personality has always won ihim many friends, hut liis power on the platform, in spite of some excellent performances three years ago, lias recently' developed to a quite surprising extent. Even as a humorist he scored very heavily at Palmerston, and he left a large audience of which a considerable part had. to be content with standing room, even more enthusiastic at the end of a, performance lasting two hours and a-half than it was at the beginning.”