MR RUSSELL'S LITTLE WORRIES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 15138, 30 November 1914, Page 8

MR RUSSELL'S LITTLE WORRIES.

«. AN UNFAIR LABOUB CANDIDATE." MB SULLIVAN'S " PRESUMPTON." Mr G. AY. Russell poured some oi his troubles into the cars of a more or less sympathetic audience at the corner of Heywood terrace and Fitzgerald avemio on Saturday night. Why, he asked, was a Labour candidate opposing him. he who had never voted against Labour in his life, and had fulfilled. all his pledges? It had been agreed by the Liberal and Labour parties not to oppose one another in the constituencies "so that they could put Massey out," and for this reason no Liberal was standing cither against Mr McCombs for Lyttelton, or Mr Webb for Grey. It was not fair of Mr Sullivan to stand against him, considering that he had been the Liberal member representing the Avon constituency for the last six years. What had ho done against Labour that he should be treated thus? It might mean the return of Mr Acland, the Reform candidate. Sir Joseph Ward had promised, if returned to power, to introduce proportional representation, so that at the next election there would bo no harm in Air Sullivan or any other Labour candidate standing against him.

"What about Christchurch East?" interjected someone. ~ "Well, Dr. Thacker is a good man,' replied Mr Russell, ignoring the point of the interjector's question, * aud 1 think he will get in easily. "The Opposition have decided not to criticise any action of the Government in connexion with the war." declared 3lr Russell, "though I could say one or two things." ho insinuated darkly. "Yes, I am in favour of the Defence Act while the war Jasts," he declared to another questioner, "and I am prepared to train some of the men between forty and fifty after al! tlie young fellows have gone to the front. Questioned with regard to the big strike, 3lr Russell said he considered that any disorder could have been set-

lied ear-ilv by tho ordinary police without tho assistance of the "*P"™ ] *: X practically ousted, ho averred, the Sormed police when they appeared .on ff-ccn.. .No, ho did not believe in -tho formation of bogus unions. - heu formation should not have been allow - <_luring tho strike. Tho "Liberals * ivc-jld ha-.o taken care to prevent tho . foiraation of theso unions. Was 3_i- Russell awaro ot tbe formation of a bogus union at Waihi during ' tho .Mackenzie Government's term ol offi-e? asked the questioner. Mr Russell was plainly disconcerted. "WV-11, 3lr Lauronson was tho -mister of' Labour at tho time, ho said, and, *. nf course, there was not-ning m the law 'to prevent the formation of bogus -nious. Legislation would have to bo int'rodueed for that purpose,- and iv any ■ ease, 3lr Laurenson, poor fellow, was t.qw m his grave, and he (3lr Russell,. I accordingly did not wish to comment on I his actions. ''„■.., I Questioned as-to bis at.itudo on tho Bible-in-Schools question, tiio ccindri- ■ date declared lie would fight the proI petal for a referendum to the last j ditch. Ho alleged that the railways under Reform administration were los- '. ing money, and tho reason tvas that tvjp expresses daily -were being run bo•Ucou "Wellington and Auckland in- , stead of ono. He hinted that if Sir Joseph 3Vard were returned to power , thero uould quickly be but one express - el/ply. He claimed that between the time of 3lr 3lackcnzie's resignation of " tbe leadership of the Opposition and * Sir Joseph Ward's election, ho was tho leader of tho party. Ho pledged, ; , without his leader's consent, that i*' / returned ho' would introduce, or have •$ introduced, into Parliament, a scheme ;- for subsidising Labour unions,, friendly "- societies and contributors to the Na- \ 'tionat Provident Fund, for the purj jxho of providing insnranco against % -lckuess and unemployment. ..- Assuming tho mantle of the prophet, -• Mr Russell predicted -that three mem- .*" bers of the 3linistry—Messrs Allen. Hemes, aud.Fishor—would lose their -i fS s*-5*-- °* the coming elections, and that - -Sir Joseph Ward's narty -would be returned to power with a* majority of at .*. kast eight. Mr-Herdman, he considerims safe, because his electorate was L the most conservative in "Wellington. -, *Mt of all, ho imnlored tho electors of - Avon to return him once moro to Par- " lttment. A,- -"■ rote of thanks to. and confidence m. the ca r.didato, was declared carried - *»nq tmon a call for same three mem«ra of the crowd gavo feebJo cheers.