THE RIVAL LEADERS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 140, 9 December 1911, Page 5

THE RIVAL LEADERS.

THE PRIME MINISTER. INTERVIEWED CONCERNING THE VOTING. COUNTRY MUST AW ATI' SECOND BALLOTS. Invereargill, December 7. In an interview to-night, Sir Joseph Ward said that the country must await the result of the second ballots before coming to a definite conclusion as to the will of the people. "Notwithstanding the results recorded so far." continued the Prime "Minister, "I iu:i firmly convinced that when the returns on the second ballot are taken, the verdict of the people will be in favor of the Liberal party continuing to guide the d??.tir.ies of this country. ''l have no hesitation in saying that our party has had to contend against most unfair and unscrupulous tactics. Every device has been resorted to with the object of discrediting the Liberal party, and it is gratifying to find that notwithstanding this, the results are such as to inspire one with the belief that the outcome of the second ballots will be to give a solid working majority to the Government. I regret that a few old friends of the party have not been successful in the fight, particularly those who have so long and so ably assisted in the past to place on the Statute Book progressive measures for the benefit of the people, but I am not in, the slightest dispirited, because I place my confident expectations on the dominant common-sense and the progressive sentiments of the people of this country, and I look forward with confidence to these views being confirmed when the members of our party who are in the second ballots appeal to the judgment of the electors next Thursday. They include some of the strongest, ablest, and most progressive men of the Liberal party, and I therefore entertain no doubt that the liberal-minded and progressive people in the electorates where second ballots take place will stand loyally by them. "It will be recognised that our candidates who are now in the second ballots have had to contest their elections against two opposing force's with nothing in common, yet distinct in aims and policy. Where the majorities recorded by the two or more against them, if in some cases substantial and spread amongst those in favor of the Liberal party, whatever differences may exist between the two progressive parties in this country, in their common interest it will, I believe, be found that they will unite and solidly support the candidate of the Liberal party.-" MR. MASSEY. "THE WRITING ON THE WAUL." WHAT THE OPPOSITION LEADER THINKS. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. W. F. Massey) is well satisfied with the results of the first ballot, and is confident that the prospects of the party are very bright. The results of the election so far as they have gone are, of course, very satisfactory to the Reform party. Mr. Massey said this afternoon: "I notice that Ministers and the journalistic supporters of the Government are trying to explain the fact that the Ward Ministry is engaged in a life and death struggle, and that up to the present the honors are certainly with the Opposition. The fact is, that the piople of New Zealand are heartily tired of the spurious liberalism, sham democracy, and improper and extravagant methods of the present administration, and in their desire for a sane and honest policy and an energetic administration, are turning to men who, for years past, have consciously done their duty on the Opposition side of the House."

''Two of our men have gone down in the fight," continued Mr. Massey. "One, Mr. Hardy, has lost his seat on account of a local squabble over the Water Supply Bill which was before Parliament last session, and the other, Mr Dive, because he was not able to make so many promises as his opponent, the Minister for Agriculture. But the Government has lost Auckland West, Waikato, Taumarunui, Oamara, and Waipawa, and has failed to secure the new seat of Raglan. It is quite safe to predict that it will lose many more seats at the second ballots on Thursday. I am strongly of opinion that we 'shall secure a majority of the seats for which the representation has not yet >been decided, and that there will be more surprises next week than there were yesterday. I am not in the habit of boasting, but the "writing is on the wall," and I am convinced that the Ministry has received notice to quit in all directions, and from all sections of the community. I have heard the opinion expressed that the Government has been in office too long, and that a change would be in the best interests of the country. I believe that a change is coming." "Yesterday's polling," remarked Mr. Massey, "shows that the "new evangel" is not worth discussing."