THE OPPOSITION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13602, 22 November 1907, Page 5

THE OPPOSITION.

ORGANISING THE FORCES. FEELING IN THE COUNTRY. PROSPECTS FOR NEXT ELECTION. [BY TKtF.GR.UMt.— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Thursday. Mr.. R. R. Martin, organising secretary of the New Zealand Political Reform League, lias arrived in Wellington from an organising tour throughout the Dominion, and was interviewed by a representative of the New Zealand Herald.

On being asked to express his opinion as to the cause of the small number of Opposition members returned at the last general election, Mr. Martin slated that as it had been necessary for him to visit several of the electorates in both islands he had had excellent opportunities of ascertaining the. views of'his party supporters. The feeling was pretty general that sympathy for the late Premier in reference to the voucher question, the wholesale promises of public money, and the very exceptional, organising ability of Mr. Seddon, who had managed to reconcile certain opposing interests and secure support from them all, were the principal factors in the Government securing so many seats.

As to the coalition question, he said: "T met people who were of opinion that the moderate men on the Government side and the Oppositionists ■ must eventually join forces, so as to check the ultra-socialistic party, which appears to have inspired much of the legislation of the present session, and which will probably make a, strong effort to strengthen itself at the next election; whilst others were very strongly opposed to coalition on the ground that the supporters of the Opposition policy are numerically very much stronger than the general public realise; 'and I consider there is a good deal to be. said in favour of this view, as the luimber of votes which were required to give the Opposition an actual majority at the last general election is far less than many imagine. The aggregate number of votes recorded to each party was as f0110w5:—206,886 10w5:—206,886 for Government candidates and 157, for Oppositionists. . tfo that had the latter party been represented in Parliament in proportion to their voting strength, Mr. Massey would have had 31 supporters under his leadership and Sir Joseph Ward 43, exclusive of Maori members.''

In regard to the prospects for next election, Mr. Mai tin said it was fur too early yet to attempt to prick the card, hut lie had not the slightest hesitation in predicting the gain of a number of teats to the Opposition. "The result of the two byelections in the North Island," he said, "has been most encouraging to our supporters. In the Manukau election last December Mr. Lang practically doubled the majority secured by Mr. Rirkbride at the general election, the actual majority being 1248, as against 646 the previous year; whilst in Taranaki Mr. Okey, who was defeated at the general election by 219 votes, was returned last May with a majority of 364 and this in an electorate that the Government looked upon as one of their strongest seats."

"Then you consider the Opposition partyis gaining strength''" Yes, certainly. I found throughout the Dominion an .intense feeling of admiration for the splendid fight Mr. Massey and his supporters in Parliament have put up ever since tho Land Bill was introduced by the Minister for Lands last session. I also, found a disposition, particularly ' amongst the farming community, to do their utmost to strengthen the Opposition, and in several instances by men who had previously given their support to Government candidates."'