The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, December 5, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1333, 5 December 1914, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, December 5, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The Otaki No-License Council has expressed regret for its delay in publishing Mr John Robertson's reasons for bis absence from the House during the division on the Licensing Bill, and published fully elsewhere in this issue. The Council, however, has left the public to draw its own conclusions as to whether Mr Robertson’s explanations are satisfactory or not. An open verdict has been returned so far as the Council is concerned. Mr Robertson forgot to tell his audience last night why he did not send the telegram (accepting the pair arranged for him in his absence) from Taumarunui, where there was ample time and opportunity for doing so, instead of attempting to get a message through from Ohakune, where the post office is some distance from the station ? Such culpable neglect on his part deserves the severest condemnation.

If any further proof of the alliance between the “ liberals” and the “Red Feds” were required, it has been furnished by no less a “ Liberal ” authority than Mr G. W. Russell. It was in a speech at Christchurch on Saturday evening last that he “ gave the show away ” so completely as to make any further denials of no avail. “ Why,” bitterly asked Mr Russell in referring to his Social Democratic opponent, Mr' Sullivan, “ was a Labour candidate opposing him, he who had never voted against Labour in his life and had fulfilled all bis pledges ?” He went on to say that “ 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 either against Mr McCombs for Lyttelton or Mr Webb for Grey.” Mr Russell is hoist on his own petard. He it was who worked the oracle, and foisted the Social Democratic candidate on the Opposition supporters in this constituency. Mr Russell will find on election day that he has been reckoning without his host. The intrigues connected with the unholy alliance are now coming to light. It remains to be seen whether the Red Fed. tail is to be allowed to wag the Opposition dog.