POLITICAL PROBLEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 72, 25 March 1919, Page 9

POLITICAL PROBLEMS.

AFTER THE WAR. POSITION OF PARTIES. ABSENCE OF LEADERS A DIFFICULT POSITION. (By Telesraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday. A guarded reference to coining political events was made by tho Hon. G. W. Russell this morning, in reply to the Otira Tunnel deputation, ltown to February 28, said Mr Russell, the Dominion had spent £ 60.000,000 on the war, and he would not be surprised if the money raised averaged 5* per cent, including interest and sinking fund. There never was a time when the country required to be more united on the subject of increased production, the extension of 'settlement, and the development of its resources. He was a member of a Government formed in August, 1!>1.">. for the purpose of winning the war, and everything had been laid aside for that purpose. Rightly or wrongly the domestic interests of tiie country had not been considered while the war was on. How far the countrywas prepared for the conditions arising out of the close of the war and the liuot responsibilities undertaken \v;u- a matter of grave consideration. The National Government in the course of a few , months would come to an end—he at least presumed so. The leaders were away rendering the Dominion v most important service in lnvint; the foundations of the future peace, but he could not shut his eyes to the fact that tie Government itself was tremendously handicapped by tho absence of its lenders at a time when the country required that every possible effort should 1»' made to meet the position that had arisen out o< the war. What was more, no sooner would the leaders arrive than the country would be faced with a general elee-

would the leaders arrive than the country would be faced with a general election. What the result of that election would be he could not predict, but. to his mind, and he said so after full consid'ra- ,- tion, it would be a disaster to New Zealand, if, through any political development, Parliament and the people of the country did not undertake before Parliament met in the ordinary course m June, 1920. the work of reconstruction arieing out of the war.

Many thins"? would require consideration, but on tho.-p matters hi- could not trust himself to speak. He would say. however, that as the Government was not formed for the purpose uf providing , for the policy of the country after the war, the members of the Government were now placed in an exceedingly difficult position, because, however much they misht feel that the country needed a political lead with regard to matters that must be dealt with after the war, their hands were tied, their feet were tied, and their tongues were tied. They dared not with a consciousness of loyalty to their leaders, say what they thought should be done.

The position was one that ha<l given him the gravest anxiety. Mr Rues*-'.! added, because lie felt that now was tjie time when the country oufrht to t>e using every effort for the purpose of assisting development. in view of the tremendous obligations undertaken. He had spoken from his heart, because he realised it was merely a question of a few months when the present combination -would come to an end, and that in the meantime the full 'interests of the country could not be adequately represented by the public men of the country until it was decided what form of Government Was to follow the Government of which he was a member at present.