MR MASSEY INTERVIEWED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14357, 29 October 1908, Page 7

MR MASSEY INTERVIEWED

OPPOSITION PROSPECTS. (Fr.oa Otm Own - Correspondent.) , r ~ ISLINGTON, October 28. Mr Massey Lender of tho Opposition, aimed in Wellington this evening, and caught, the ferry steamer for Lyttelton at f. o clock. He will deliver some addresses in the south and return to ton on Sunday. He is greatly pleased with •io result of his North Inland campaign, which up to tho present has boon sucoessn! even lioyond expectations. Everywhere no has spoken to crowded audiences, and lira reception both on and off the platform has- keen enthusiastic. Asked what ho thought, abput tho date of the election Ming lixeu for November 17, Mr Massey said it was most unfair and improper to lis sucli an early date after they had been informed by Ministers (hat the elections would not take place before tho end of November at, the very earliest. By it« action the (Government had made it impossible for many candidates to get round he large electorates. "I can oiily come - to ilio conclusion," said Mr Massey, "thafc it is the gag in another form." In reply to a question about a possible strengthening of the Opposition in the new Parliament, Mr Massey faid that opinions were ' n S very freely expressed throughout, the country, and even by many supporters of the late Scddon_ Administration, that the present Cabinet is a weakened one. "Tho idea," lie said, " is becoming pretty general that there are too many faddists in the Cabinet, while it is also pointed out that , all the faddists are on the Government 6ide in politics. Net only is that tho. cai-e," said Mr Massey, "but we find new Go« vernment candidates like Mr M'Lean, who has the 'hall mark for Wellington East, only last- night telling his audienco frankly that he was a State Socialist, and that ho would even go the length of establishing a Stato bank. It is no wonder, therefore, that a> great many people are coming to tho conclusion that it is becoming absolutely necessary that the Opposition party in Parlin ment should be strengthened. Undoubtedly, said Mr Massey, that will bo the resuit) of tho coming elections. " What about your own electorate?" " Oh," replied tho Leader of tho Opposition, " tho usual attempt, is being made tQ bribe tho electorate with its own money;; but I have been faithful to Franklin far about 12 years, and I know that Franklin will remain faithful to me." Asked if ho had noticed the comments made by Mr Wdlforct in his recent speech, Mr Massoy said that he had, but he was inclined to think thao Mr Wiiford's political principles were only skin-deep. Therefore anything he might) have to say need not be taken quite seriously. He appeared to have quoted a statement made by Mr Hardy, who, ho said, was ith& Opposition Whip. No doubt; ■Mr Wilford referred to him as the Opposition Whip to give tho statement moro weight,, for Mr Wilford must know perfectly well that Mr Hardy, though one oE tho mcst respected and useful members of the party, was not and never had- been an Opposition Whip. Moreover, he had no doubt that the statement attributed to Mr Hardy, if maxle at- all, was made jocularly, Mr .lames Allen had also been criticiscd. In this connection it was interesting to note that the men who wero providing material for the Government candidates had to go back 15 years to find any flaw, it» Mr Allen's armour. Ho (Mr Massey) ventured to say that it was hardly necessary to go back 15 years or 15 months to find a flaw in Mr WHford's armour. Mr Wilford had also quoted the echcdulo of relief works in 1887, ami endeavoured to make out Wiat the present Opposition was responsible for what occurral Alien. The fact of the matter, however—and Mr Wilford knew it,—was that tlie Dominion was oil tho verge of bankruptcy then, and the Atkinson Gowirnrimt had to retrench in every possible way. Even the late Mr Seddon,' who was m tho House at tho time, approved of what Sir Ham Atkinson had done, and went so far lis to-, dale that on the relief works no' jnan should' have itho opportunity of cumin,<c nioro than 4s or 5s per day. Tho point, liowevor, was that the present Opposition was being misrepresented by Mr Wilford and others. They wero not responsible for what occurrcd at tlief time. Neither was Sir Harry Atkinson. It was a legacy from tho previous Liberal Administration. What about that' machinc-maido speech for tho Government candidates? " I have a copy of it in my bag now," replied Mr Massey, "and, further, I ihavo with me sheets of an immense amount of literature that is being forwarded from Wellington in the interests of the Government candidates." The curious thing about it is that, this printed matter liears no imprint upon it. It would bo interesting to know where it. is printed, a;iwl who ia paying for it. (Per United Press Association.) _ WELLINGTON, Ootobcr 28. Mr Masley addressed a largo audience at Wcodvillo last night. He spoke for about two hours on leading political subjects, aixl at tho conclusion answered a number of questions. Mr Massey expressed himself very pleased with his reception.