A CONFIDENT LEADER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12840, 9 December 1911, Page 5

A CONFIDENT LEADER.

, MR. MASSEY WELL SATISFIED WITH THE FIRST BALLOT.

EXPECTS A LARGER MAJORITY ON SECOND BALLOTS.

} THE GOVERNMENT'S DAYS ARES

NUMBERED.

(Ver Pivjss Association.!

! ; AUCKLAND, Dec. 8. 1 The Leader of the Opposition tec. ; well satisfied with the results of the' first ballot, and is confident that theprospects of the party of securing a ; majoiity at the" second ballot are very ' bright "The results of the elections; so far as they have gone are, of" course, very satisfactory to the Reform Party," Mr. Massey said this^ afternoon. "I notice -that Ministers-, and. the journalistic supporters of theGovernment are trying to explainaway the fact tßat the Ward Ministry ,is engaged in a life and death* j struggle, and that up to the present . honours are certainly with the Oppo- . sition. The fact is that the peoplej.of New Zealand are heartily tired of" ; spurious Liberalism, sham democracy " j and the extravagant methods of the- | present Administration, and in their ; desire for a sane and honest policy and an energetic Administration are- A | turning to the men who, for yearsj past, have conscientiously done theirduty on the Opposition side of theHouse. Two of our men have gone*down in the fight," continued Mi\ Massey. "One, Mr. Hardy, has lost his seat on account of a local snuabbleover a Water Supply Bill, which was- | before Parliament last session, and" | the other, Mr. Dive, because he was. '■ not able to make so many promises !as hjs opponent, the Minister for— Agriculture. But the Government has lost Auckland West, Waikato,. Taumarunui, Oamaru and Waipawa,. and has failed to secure the new seat; of Raglan. It is quite safe to predict ! that it will lose many more seats at the second ballots on Thursdny. I am very strongly of opinion that weshall secure a majority of the seatsr? ; for which the representation has not I been decided, and that there will be- \ more surprises next week than there were yesterday. I am not in the habit of boasting, but the handwriting is on the wall, and I am conI vinced that the Ministry has received' notice to quit. In all directions, and from all sections of the community,. i; have heard the opinion expressed!" that'(he Government has been in office too long, and that a change would be'in, the best interests of the country,,. I believe that the change.i& j coming."