THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Grey River Argus, 23 December 1911, Page 3

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

INTERVIEW WITH SIR WM. RUSSELL. OPPOSITION CAN FORM A PARTY • (Per Press Association). AUCKLAND, Dec 22. Sir Win Russell, a passenger by the Mooltan, returning after an absence of 21 months, in a.n interview on the New Zealand political situation, said : "1 am. not always for fighting under all circumstances, but 1 sincerely tru-.t that the Opposition will not sacrifice any cf its political convictions with the object of turning the Government out' of power. It is not that J am not in favour of legislation of the most liberal kind, but I am always anxious that men, who > have formed strong- opinions and held to them, come -weal or come woe far years, should 'not be prepared to make a. compromise which might be attributed to a desure for office." Continuing Sir' William believed that (there were anon 'in the Opposition capable of forming a Government 1 which would give every .satisfaction, and whose sympathies were as' much in accord with the ideas of jbhe Liberal party as the prese-nt Government. Speaking as a man who had -fought many elections, he thought it very 1 improbable that the newly elected PafI liament would commit suicide if it could possibly be avoided. Probaly some means wll ibe devised iby which a frc-Jh bleo-ticn will l , ibe avoided. He was net likely to foe a candidate at any future election.