METHODS OF TAMMANY "BOSS."

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13270, 22 November 1911, Page 5

METHODS OF TAMMANY "BOSS."

Mlt MASSEY'S AVINTON MEETING

(Special to "The Colonist.")

Christchurch, Nov 22

Questioned regarding Mr Massey's AYinton meeting, at which, according -to a Press Association messago, Mr Massey had an audience of 2000, and was enthusiastically cheered for several'minutes, Sir Joseph AVard replied, that it was difficult to attach the proper significance to a statement of the kind, because the Press Association representative, judging by the facts, .appeared to be pronouncedly prejudiced in favour of the Opposition, and against the Government. When he had had spoken at AVinton on the Tuesday night tho hall wa? packed and the local Press estimat od the attendance at 1500. At Mr Massey's meeting the hall was again packed, but even tho "Otago Drily Times'' did not claim a larger .attendance thaii .1.500, and omitted any reference to an ovation. However, he was pleased' to see that Mr Massey had had-'a good reception, as it was only right that public men should be so treated, but it was the attitude of the Press Association he wanted to call attention to. For instance when ho had visited Bluff practically the whole town had turned out, and he had been received by the Mayor and councillors. He had had a most enthusiastic reception from a platform erected in the street, and bunting had been flying everywhere. He had had a fine meeting in the evening, when the Drill Hall was full, and the same Press Association agent had telegraphed that he had been cordially received; This was in striking contrast to the report of the reception of the Leader of tho Opposition. Sir Joseph Ward-added that tho hall at-AViuton, in his opinion, would not hold more than 1500, yet it had been magnified to 2000.'

"Do you attach any importance to Mr Massey's reception?" Sir Joseph was asked.

"No," he replied, "I attach no importance to anything in the shape of a political trick. I knew before leaving Invercargill that the representatives- of the Opposition had gone out into the different districts urging Government opponents to conic to Winton, and I could name, if necessary, the representatives of two Opposition firms who sent out specially to have tickets sold for the special train to enable outside Oppositionists to attend the meeting. This was known to others, and leading settlers in my district saw me at invercargill and asked, in view of the efforts to pack the meeting, whether they should burst up the meeting. My recommendation was to do nothing of the kind, but to give tho Leader of the Opposition a fair hearing." Su Joseph AVard added that he had gone practically all over his-electorate and had not arranged for any special demonstrations, yet the utmost euthusism had developed into cheering and singing. He hail not been preceded by any organiser, and he had not sent out any eulogistic self congratulatory telegrams. He had been advised after Mr Massey's meeting that 500 Oppositionists arrived by special train, and that 300 more came in from outside, and he was assured that the majority were not electors of Awarua. No doubt it was a successful demonstration from the Opposition point of view, as an attempt to convey, the impression that the Government was weak and the Opposition strong, but instead of impressing outside electors it would harden up those in tho electorate aaainst what were really the methods'of tho American Tammany "boss."