THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3331, 25 September 1911, Page 5

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

MR MASSEY GIVES AN INTERVIEW. i' : Mr W. F. Massey, Leader of the Opposition, interviewed by a- Manawatu “Standard” reporter, said: MR FOWLDS’ RESIGNATION. “How is the withdrawal of Mr Fowlds from the Ministry likely to. affect the political situation?” asked the pressman. “We have had other resignations of Ministers in recent years,” replied Mr Massey. “Mr Hogg, for instance, and previously Mr McGowan, resigned their portfolios, and the political world rolled on even without those gentlemen, who were of the same political calibre as Mr Fowlds. The difference between Mr Fowlds and Mr McGowan is that the latter resigned after the fight, while the former vacated his position before—but whether on account of the impending fight I am unable to say.” THE THIRD PARTY. Asked what he thought about the suggested new party on Radical lines, Mr Massey replied that he did not know what the members concerned had in view, but he should say that single tax would not go down either in country or town —that was pretty certain. He anticipated that there would be more Independent members in the new Parliament than in the present, but how this would affect matters he could not say. OPPOSITION PROSPECTS. As far as the Opposition were concerned, the outlook was good ; in fact, it was better than at any time since he had been connected' with politics. He was not going to predict a majority, or anything .of that sort, biit he was certain that the Reform party would go back much stronger than at present. He had received several invitations to speak at diffei-ent places, and he intended, if possible, to fulfil all the engagements he had made. PROBABLE END OF THE SESSION. Mr Massey informed the reporter that, judging by present indications, he thought the session would end in the last week of October.