THE OPPOSITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2229, 29 June 1908, Page 1

THE OPPOSITION.

A FAVORABLE OUTLOOK. INTERVIEW WITH .AIR. MASSEY. [Special, to “Times.”] . WELLINGTON, Juno 28. Air. Massey, Leader of tho Opposition, .arrived in Wellington last evening, having travelled overland by the Alain Trunk railway route.

Speaking, in the course of an interview, of the meetings at To Kuiti and TaUmaranui addressed by him last week, Air. Massey said' that in • each instance he hud u very favorable reception. At To Kuiti the conditions, ho said, were not very favorablo, tho woathor being bad and tho night-very dark, lmt in spito of that, tho number who enmo together to listen to the address and attend the banquet which was givon in his honor constituted tho largest gathering that has boon .seen in tho King Country. The following day Air. Massey proceeded to Taum.arumii, whore lie was .mot on his arrival by a largo number of townspeople. Here, also, ho was joined by Mr. Lang, M.P. In the evening ho addressed 'another largo and “enthusiastic audience and was present at iu subsequent social at which a large number of ladies wero jiybsent. ,‘jVIK Lang, at the political meeting, wa&'qallcd -upon'for a speech and at the social which, followed he had to respond to the toast of “Parliament.” STATE OF PARTIES.

“Have you any comment to make upon the statement of the Hon. R. AloNab, at M a tour a, regarding the position of parties and as to tho retirement of a numbor of members of tho Opposition?” “I regret exceedingly,” replied Air. Alassoy, “that for reasons which appear to bo unavoidable several very useful members of the Opposition should have announced their intention to retire at tho end of tho present Parliament, but it seems to bo forgotten that, several Government supporters are also withdrawing (Messrs Houston, Rutherford, Mc- “ Lachlan, and tho Hon. O. H. Alills). I have had ono or two other names mentioned also, and I inn inclined to think,, from what I know, that the electors in the districts represented by the retiring Oppositionists will return Oppostion members in their places. Messrs Ale Nab and Fowhls have been makng a good deal of tho fact that Dr. Chappie has been returned for Tuapeka, but tile position is that we havo had three byo-elec-tions during the term of tho present Parliament (Manukau, Taranaki, 'and Tuapeka), and in neither case lias tho Government been able to get its nominee returned. In, all probability Dr. Chappie will lie a Government supporter, but the fact remains that Mr. Horne was tho Government nominee, and that the electors of Tuapeka declined to return him, in spite also of the fact that the Liberal. Labor Federation had their organiser oh tho ground to assist him.”

NO COALITION. “How about coalescence?” “We havo heard a lot from tho other side of the Houso about nailing their colors to the mast, and wo know what has usually happened, but you can take it from me that tliero will bo no backing down as far as wo aro concerned. The Opposition membore in Parliament intend to 6tand to the priciples which they have professed and in which they believe, and also to stand by the party to which they belong, both in tho House and in the country.” . “And about electoral boundaries?” “I take it that if is the duty of tho >Prime Afinister to submit bis proposal to Parliament in the usual way, and when .that is done I will then express by opinion in a manner that tlie Government apd tho people of the country will easily understand.” After having inspected the Parliamentary arrangements, Mr. Alassoy expressed the belief that tlie session would bo about average length on account of tho break in the middle for and for other reasons. They did not know yet, what legislation tho Government proposed to submit, and the miserable) , a rrangements made in tlie Chamber, especially in the way of seating accommodation and ventilation, would necessarily make the sittings short.