The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 23, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3381, 23 November 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 23, 1911.

.Low di.Lcult it is, for outsiders at any rate, to form anything like an accurate estimate of the political feeling in any district! As a case in point, one has only to turn to the electorate of Awarua, which has for many years returned as its representative the gentleman who at the present time holds the Premiership of this country. It will be recalled that for some time prior to the recent visit of Sir Joseph Ward to Iris electorate a report to the effect that his popularity was on the wane travelled far and wide. Then followed a speedy tour of the electorate by the Prime Minister, who delivered in all somewhere about twenty-four addresses. Winton was, of course, the honored town in respect of the big speech, in view of the fact that it is the chief centre of the electorate. Here Sir Joseph Ward was, as usual, met by the Mayor and leading citizens, and played to his headquarters. What was even still more gratifying, even if it were inconvenient, was the circumstance that the hall originally taken proved too small for the large crowd who desired to hear the address. Fifteen hundred people, so ran a Press Association telegram, were present in the larger hall where the speech was afterwards delivered. Nor could Sir Joseph Ward have wished a more cordial reception. He was doubtless delighted at the close of the meeting to receive not only a hearty vote of thanks, but also an added expression of opinion on the part of the electors that “they had every confidence in the Government of which he was the distinguished head.” Now there may, or there may not, have been ground for the suggestion that had previously been made to the effect that Sir Joseph Ward was felt to be losing ground. It will lie sufficient, in this regard, iust to mention that the ‘‘Southland Daily News,” a strong Ministerial journal, afterwards avowed “that the tour of the Prime Minister (throughout his electorate) has created quite a different feeling to that which previously prevailed.” Sir Joseph Ward, too, was quite satisfied with the i results of his tour —so much so, indeed, at after deprecating allegations of loss of popularity he publicly announced that lie was bound to win by a handsome majority. But Winton had yet to show that it is a very remarkable town for its size! One would surely have imagined that on top of such a splendid meeting that fell to Sir Joseph Ward in his own stronghold, Mr. Massey. the Leader of the Opposition, would have had to rest content with a somewhat less enthusiastic reception ? I But what was the position? Mr. Massey. .it seems, was also received—as was only proper—by the Mayor, but in addition was also played by the town hand up to the hotel where he was staying. There was then a banquet, at which the health of Mr. Massey was honored, and expressions of success to the Opposition made. How many were present at Mr. Massey’s meeting in the evening is the subject of some doubt. According to the special reporter for the “Otago Daily Times,” fifteen hundred—or the same number that attended the meeting held by Sir Joseph Ward—were present. The

Whal Dr' it Spell?

“Dunedin Star” and the “Southland Times” (winch are not opposed to the Government), together with the Press Association, gave the number at between 1900 and 2000! Now when it is borne in mind that Winton itself has only a population of about 600, it will be agreed, we think, that this was truly a great meeting. “It is safe to say,” comments the “Southland Times,” that never before in the political history of Winton lias there been such a gathering.” In this connection the people throughout the Dominion must be surprised at the attempt which is being made by Sir Joseph Ward to minimise the importance of Mr. Massey’s meeting. The hall at Winton, ho is reported as saying, would not hold more than 1500 people, and he had been

advised after the meeting that the majority of those present were not electors of Awarua! As was the case when the Prime Minister himself spoke at Winton, a special train was, it is admitted, inn from Invercargill on the occasion of Mr. Massey’s meeting. Many of the visitors by train would, however, be electors of Awarua, but it is equally certain that there were present at the meeting quite a large number of people who belong to neighboring districts. It would seem that in his calmer moments Sir Joseph Ward will regret having made such hasty suggestions about his lival loader’s meeting, as, for instance, that it was deliberately “packed.” Surely Mr. Massey, in his capacity of Leader of the Opposition, might be expected to draw a large crowd in Winton, as has been his experience in other centres ? But the portion of the whole affair that is, we take it, hurting Sir Joseph Ward most is the striking vote which was accorded Mr. Massey by such a large gathering in the Prime Minister’s own electorate. It was as follows: “That this meeting accords a very hearty vote of thanks to the Leader of the Opposition for his able and instructive address, and is of opinion that the time has arrived when every effort should be made to remove the present Administration from office.” Says the “Otago Daily Times” in regard to the close of this great meeting: “An amendment was called for, hut none being forthcoming the motion was put and declared carried by acclamation. Mr. Massev’s rising to return thanks was the sign for a tremendous outburst of enthusiasm. The great crowd rose en masse, and for several minutes the hall was a moving scene of waving hats and handkerchiefs, while cheer after cheer rent the air. It is rarely that at a political meeting such enthusiasm is manifested.” Of course it cannot he said, even on the strength of what lias been mentioned, that Sir Joseph Ward is certain to lose his seat, but taken in conjunction with the success of the meetings of the Reform party elsewhere, the prospects in regard to the coming appeal to the electors throughout the Dominion cannot too pleasing to the Prime Minister and supporters of his Government.