SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL'S VIEWS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 6

SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL'S VIEWS.

WILL PARLIAMENT COMMIT HARIKARI? VEItY nil'IfOllABM;. (By Telegraph.—Suecial Correspondent.} Auckland, 'December 22; ■ Sir AViltiam Russell, who. arrived from England to-duy, in the course of an interview, said:— "My priva Ig correspondence forecast, of th<; political • position in the Dominion n-as fairlv arcurale. All my letters from Kuw.'-Zcaland 'stated ;that, the .writers, klievtd Sir Joseph Ward would go down, but they doubted whether there would bo a sufficient majority to carry on another fjovernment. lam not always for fighting under all circumstances, but I sincerely trust that the Opposition will not itx any way sacritico any. of its political ronvictious with the object of turning the present Government out of power. It is not that I am not iir favour of legislation of the most liberal kind, but I am always anxious that men who have formed strong opinions and have held to them sonic-weal come woo for years should not be prepared to make a compromise which might bo attributed to a desiro for office. I believe that there are' men oil the Opposition side who nro (juitn capable of forming a Government which would givt! every satisfaction, and that their sympathies are. happily, as much in accord witli the ideas of the I.il>enil party as the present Government." Askod for opiiiitm .concerning .tho probability of another-general election ;tf. aii rarl.v date, Sir Win. Russell said that from his own experience, as a. man who had fought many elections, he thought it'very improbable that a. newlr-clectod i'.-ii-liitini-nt would wmmit li»»tt»iri if it (jwuiJ pißiiljlj- bo aroWtd.

"The worry, annoyance, and unecr- c tainty of a general election," ho con- ] tinned, "aw such that no man yolun- i tarily submits hinise.lf to them Iwice iu "- a sliort 'period if it can be avoided, i Therefore, I think it probable I bat somo J means will be devised by which a fr?.-.h election will be avohled. As I ain not | likely to !be a candidate at any' fu hire election,; ! speak dispassionately when I ny that a new election would be likely , tn fesult very largely in favour of Mr. Massey and his party. I should like lo add the testimony of my praise to Mr. . Massey aad his leading supporters for the very vigorous fight which tliey put . up throughout New Zealaud durjjig Ilia j last few months,, and I believo that tho | more th?, ivorlil knows of flwur capacity •. ami their disinterestedness tno moro j general will lw tho supimrt gneu to them." ; ' ~ ' - 1