THE RECENT ELECTIONS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12628, 26 November 1908, Page 5

THE RECENT ELECTIONS.

I Mr Massey Interviewed (Per United Press Association.) PALMERSTON N., November 25. Specially interviewed by a Standard reporter to-day, Mr Massey said that at the recent elections' the Opposition had done as well as they had expected to. They had won Sine seats, including Dunedin North, about which there was some little doubt, and<six of them (Palmerston/ Manawatu, Ashburton, Tuapeka, Wel-J. lington North, and Dunedin North) were" wrested from the Government, while Egmont (a new scat) had been won for the Opposition. "Sir Joseph Ward has expressed himself *a's being proud of the Government victory, but the fact is," said Mr Massey 1 , "we have captured the outworks, and it remains to be seen t whether the Government will be able to hold the citadel at our next attack. Nothing is more significant than the fact that the large Government majorities of three years ago have in nearly every case been reduced to insignificant proportions." Replying to the query as to whether he had seen a statement made by the Hon. Mr Fowlds that the Opposition had been considerably weakened in' the Auckland district, Mr Massey said he had read the Minister's remarks, but, like many other statements made by the hon. gentleman, they were grossly misleading. "The fact is that there were no Opposition" candidates for the three' city seats at Auckland, and Mr Fowlds apparently counts the whole of the votes recorded, in the 4 city as votes for the Government, whereas the Opposition, at Auckland had no opportunity of recording their votes in favour of a candidate on their own side, and in such cases, they simply voted for the Government candidate they considered would make' the best representative. Sir Joseph Ward referred to ."unfair methods" in his speech at Wellington last night, but I think one of the meanest things I have ever heard of in connection with politics in this country was the reflection on ' the memory of • Sir Harry Atkinson, by the distribution throughout the Dominion of painpnlets containing the schedule of wages paid upon relief works during a depression for which he was not in any way responsible, but which was brought about by the reckless finance of the so-called Liberal Government which had preceded him. With regard to the second ballot, Mr Massey said the relative strength of the two parties had practically not been altered from what it wond have been had there been only one ballot. ..The principle of the second ballot was bad,' inasmuch as it was intended to prevent minorities from 'having any representation whatever, and it would be for Parliament to say whether or not it would be continued. Any change from the old system should be in the direction of what he (Mr Massey) himself had repeatedly advocated,"*' proportional representation. Mr Mas"sey said he believed the new Parliament would be a •great improvement on the old Parliament in the way of being much more independent, and he imagined that most o.f. the new members on the Government .side of the House would have greater freedom than they had had in the past.

NELSON, November 2p. • Of 12- teamen's, penaftar Atmoro"Jttnd'Graham got six each. Graham's return ■ is now certain, as Atmore required 15 of the 17 permits to win. There is talk of a recount, and irregularities are alleged.