ELECTION PROSPECTS.

Clutha Leader, Volume XLI, Issue 2, 14 July 1914, Page 5

ELECTION PROSPECTS.

INTEEVIEW WITH THE REFORM ORGANISER. (From .Alexandra Herald). Mr D. T. Fleming, the secretary and organiser for. the -Reform Party in Otago and Southland, was in Alexandra on Wednesday night last, and left again for Clyde and Cromwell on Thursday. During his visit here he took the opportunity of meeting the leading supporters of the party and discussing various matters of political interest with them. In the course of a short chat with the editor of the Herald'-he talked, interestingly of politics in general and party prospects in particular. He has recently travelled over almost the whole of Otago and Southland, ami probably no man has a better grip of the political pulse than he. He has many personal friends on both sides of politics, and although he can size up a situation fairly accurately, he is nqt a man to divulge confidence. Asked as to what he considered the .prospects of the Reform party to be Mr Fleming said decisively that he had no manner of doubt that the party would have no difficulty in holding the seats at present represented by supporters of the Government.- He judged that the feeling was shared by the other side from tihe difficulty which he had reason to believe they were ex- J poriencing in securing candidates to run in their interests. To say the least, at all events, Opposition candidates were not like the .proverbial autumn leaves in he,took i.t that Opposition candidates were not anxious to risk their time and money on a forlorn hope, no matter how rosy enthusiasts might paint the 1 prospective colours. The Reform Party, he said, was strong and solid, and thougli quiet were ready for effective action aijd were determined that no party-.woulU get into power that would be dominated by the Federation of Labour and the extreme socialistic element. It was from a realisation of the prospects in' this 'connection that many who were supporters of the Liberal party were now'casting in their lot with the Reform Party. He cited quite a number of instances where this was the case. As to seats-at present held by the Opposition, "Mr Fleming said that a strong candidate was to be put up to carry the Reform colours in every case, and, while not wishing to appear over sanguine, he would say that they "had as good a chance of winning as the other fellow." In reply to a question "What about Chalmers 1 !" Mr Fleming would not say more than "the Reform candidate is going to win," On "being asked to say something regarding' Central Otago Mr Fleming said it was a large and scattered constituency with no community of interests, ;i a'nd one of the most difficult seats to work in the Dominion. Mr Scott had succeeded to a remarkable 1 degree _in '' keeping ', iii close touch with "ail parts of it) and even his ■' opponents admitted that he had attended well to its requirements. In addition to that, Mr Scott enjoyed a large measure of personal popularity. "Of course," added Mr Fleming, "no one seriously contends that there is any possibility of ousting Mr Scott." Mr Fleming then went on 'to say that, Speaking generally, the next election would be undoubtedly most strenuous, for it would be a life and death struggle with the Opposition as at present constituted. New parties were in process of evolution—on one side the real Liberals and progressives, and on the other the extremeists and reactionaries from solid progress. The alliance between the present Liberal leaders and the Red Feds, was not likely to prove captivating to the. country after last year's experience. The forces of law and order must prevail along solid, progressive, and liberal lines, and as things are. at present the electors have only one choice. Mr Fleming's manner inspires confidence that he knows of what he speaks, and his party leuders are not likely to be led far I astray by his judgment.