A POLITICAL PUZZLE.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 14205, 2 September 1919, Page 5

A POLITICAL PUZZLE.

The Christchurch "Sun," in an interesting editorial comment on the Liberal caucus, says: —One of its curious, and, -as yet, unexplained, features was that two ex-Ministers in Mr Russell and Mr Hanan were neither present nor accounted for. Mr Hanan’s absence is in part understandable. It is no secret, that, as Minister for Education in the Coalition Government, he had serious differences with Sir Joseph Ward on questions connected with the Roman Catholic schools and State scholarships. It would bo premature to suggest that the member for Invercargill, who has always boon the staunchest of Liberals, had definitely split with the party on that account, but his non-appearance at the caucus in- such critical times is a matter of considerable significance. The reason for Mr Russell’s aloofness is harder to fathom. He, like Mr Hanan, is in Wellington, yet stays away from this most historical conclave. The member for Avon is becoming more and more a political mystery the longer he remains in politics. He can be very adroit when the mood tabes him, and seemingly some dark influence has again moved him to refuse the call of the party bugle. It may Vie he is temporarily out of favour with prominent colleagues. Perhaps he has not recovered from the shock of having his robes of honour so suddenly stripped from his shoulders. Perhaps he has a scheme of his own which does not dovetail with Sir Joseph Ward’s ideas. It surely cannot be. that he is apprehensive of his own future! Whatever the meaning of the strange behaviour of these two Liberal henchmen, it lias added to the complexity of the situation which was already bowildoringly inchoate.