STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1307, 9 December 1911, Page 6

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER.

PINS HIS HOPES ON THE SECOND BALLOTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Invcrcargill. 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, "J. am firmly convinced that when the returns on tho second ballots are taken the verdict of tho people will bo in favour of tho Liberal party continuing to guide the destinies of this country.

'T 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 tho object of discrediting the Liberal party, and it. is gratifying to find that, notwithstanding this, the results are such as to inspire pno with tho 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 tho 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 tho dominant commonsense and tho progressive sentiments of the people of the country, and I look forward with confidence to these views being confirmed when tho members of our party who arc in tho second ballots appeal to the judgment of tho electors next Thursday. They include some of the strongest, ablest, and most progressive men of the Liberal partv, and I therefore entertain no doubt that tho Liberalminded and progressive people in the electorates where second ballots take .plnco will stand loyally by them. "It will be recognised that our candidates who are now in tho second ballots have had to contest their elections against two opposing forces with nothing in common, yet distinct in' aims and policy. Where the majorities recorded are two or more against them, if in some cases substantial arid spread amongst those in favour of the Liberal party, whatever differences may exist between tho two nrogressivo parlies in this country, in their common interest it will I b2lieve._ be found that thev will un'ito and solidly surtport tho candidate of the Liberal party."