POLITICAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 248, 13 October 1908, Page 2

POLITICAL.

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, V*i«t Night. The Prime Minister is to speak at Palmerston next Monday and at Feilding next day. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones inspects the central section of the North bland. Main Trunk lino be lure proceeumg to Timaru. On Friday tile lion. it. McNab will attend a complimentary lunijuet to Mr. Jlfcijor, M.P., at Hawera, returning to Wellington on Saturday and proceeding sontlii on Monday. The Hon. G. Fowlds leaves for Auckland on Wednesday morning, THE VACANT PORTFOLIO. Palmerston N., Last Night. At a meeting of electors at Foxton addressed by Mr. Krankland to-night, ft resolution was carried urging that the vacancy hi the Onbinet should he filled by a North Island representative, and that no one was more deserving tlhan Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P..

TVAKATIPU SEAT. Gore, Last Night. .Mr., Martin, Government candidate for Wakati-pu, opened his campaign at Wuikaia on Saturday. A vote of thanks and co-.illdencc was accorded him. THE TIMARU SEAT. Timaru, Lajrt Night. The Timaru branch of the Political Lnlbor League (now 120 strong) determined to run as a candidate for Tininru Mr. George Koller, a carpenter and H7i active member of Hie League. RANGITIKEI SEAT. Taihape, Monday. Mr. K. \Y. Smith, Independent Liberal candidate for Rangitikei, has opened liis campaign. He stated that while. Liberal in tendency he would not fellow the IParty leaders on questions where he luid decided views. He \v;is n freeholder and opposed to local option, hut if it were decided hy a vote affecting the whole colony ho would lie inclined to try no-license.

Mr. 0. K. Bellringer, the Government candidate for the Taranaki seat, will address the electors at the Theatre Royal on Thursday evening at 8 o'clock. OPPOSITION PROSPECTS: MR. MASSEY'S FORECAST. How will the Opposition candidates get. oa at the elections? asked a Dominion reporter of Air. Masscy. , "I think they will do well," replied the Leader of the Opposition, "but further than that I do not care to predict. We have done our duty to the House, and the future rests with the electori," Do you expent tile second ballot system will make much difference to foo result of the elections? "Not on the whole, though it is an experiment thv effect of wiiidi no one can foresee. There are all sorts of possibilities in connection with it, but in some cases 1 have good reason to believe that the effect will be exactly opiposito of what the Prime Minister expects."

In tiio course of an interview with Mr. Martin, Opposition organiser, who is at present in Wellington, the question of the prospects of his Party at the coming elections was discussed. Jfr Martin said that it was, of course, impossible to prophesy the result of the elections, but he had every reason to believe ■ttiftt, not only would tlie present Opposition members who were again contesting their seats be re-elected, out the Opposition strength in the new Parliament would be considerably increased. particularly in the North Island. There was undoubtedly, Mr. Martin said, a general desire, especially in the country, to have an Opposition numerically stronger than at present, and more than ordinary interest would be concentrated on the coming elections.