Political Parties.

Manawatu Herald, 2 December 1902, Page 2

Political Parties.

THE PREMIER INTERVIEWED,

“Have you seen Mr Dnthie’s letter relative to the posit ion of parties?” was the initial question asked by a New Zealand Times’ interviewer.

“ Yes, I have,” replied Mr Seddon. “Bat whilst Mr Dathie is a good guide so far as his own party is concerned, I take it that the same, consideration should be extended to me when the classification of Government supporters and the setting apart of the independents is to be denied me now ! ”

Continuing, the Premier said the “ Evening Star,” of Dunedin, gave the number of Government supporters as being forty-eight, and even the “Otago Daily Times,” recognised as the leading Opposition paper of the South Island, gave the number at forty-four. The “Evening Post” estimated the number at between forty-four and forty-eight Through positive information in his possession, Mr Seddon pronounced the number of Government supporters to be forty-nine. Mr Seddon spoke of an independent member in the North Island who was fondly claimed by the Opposition to be one of their band. As a matter of fact, that particular member wired to the Premier congratulating him on the decisive victory the Government had achieved on Tuesday last. Further, Mr Seddon knew of several members marked down Independent Liberals by Conservative journals, who had intimated that on crucial questions they would vote with the Government. It was such little things as these, said Mr Seddon, that showed the dependence to be put upon the optimistic forecasts of the Opposition.

The Premier did not wish to disturb Mr Duthie’s peace of mind, but he would say that he had heard on very good authority that Mr Divine had lamented openly the uphill fight to be waged by the Opposition against a force two to one stronger than that party. How

did Mr Dattiie reconcile that statement with the assertion that the Opposition had improved its position by 76 pei* cent?” Surely, it must have been in a Very bad way before if there was any real foundation for the statement as to improved position of 75 per cent! It was a speaking criticism on the spirit of the Opposition that the party allowed the Grey Lynn seat to goby default) as well as seats in Auckland, Ohinemuri, Napier, Waiapu, Egmont,' Nelson Motueka, Buffer, Grey, Westland, Kaiapoi, Avon, Christchurch, Riccarton, Lyttelton, Waitaki, Waikouaiti, Invercargill, Awaraa, Thames and Parnell—a total of twenty-three seats. It was unnecessary, surely, reflected Mr Seddon, to say any more on that head!