THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13274, 27 November 1911, Page 4

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THE PREMIER'S OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK.

MR. MASSEY'S "INFORMATION.' [United Press Association.] Auckland, Nov. 26. The Prime Minister loft Auckland for New Plymouth to-day. Ho returns to "Wellington on AVednesday. Ho is confident that his Party will bo successful at the general election. Discussing the prospects of the Reform Party on Friday the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. W. F. Massey stated that judging from his information there are no less than 24 Government seats in danger, while there are only 5 Opposition seats that can be regarded as doubtful. Commenting on this estimate tins afternoon Sir Joseph Ward said thai as a general principle a Party leadi-i does not give out the expected results in detail prior to a general election "I am quite satisfied," he continued, "that tlie information obtained hy the Leader of the Opposition musl either be from a very unreliable source, or else buoyed up with false hope to convey a favourable impression to excite the sympathy and sup port of places that arc in doubt From the information I have receivee I can say that if 24 Government seats are in danger then, upon that basis of assumption, all the Oppositioi seats are in greater danger. I tliinl it will be found to be about as accurate as the information Mr Massey ha: received from the source to which he

refers. In the ordinary course wo must wait until after election day to learn who is more correctly informed. My own opinion is that we are going

to win some seats from the Opposition at the present elections."