SPEECH BY MR. G. W. RUSSELL

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 47

SPEECH BY MR. G. W. RUSSELL

CRITICISM OF THE GOVERNMENT CHRISTCHURCH, March 2. . Mr G. W. Russell, M.H.R., addressed a meeting at Riccarton lasa night. His speech was mostly devoted to criticism of the Government. He opposed sending more troops to Africa, and deplored the loss of a properly organised Opposition last session, saying that when the right of criticism was abrogated it was going a long way towards setting, up an autocracy. He was of opinion that next session both the Address-in-Reply and the Budget would be debated. The speaker criticised the weakness of the Ministry, which really consisted of Messrs Seddon and Ward, and did not represent the real strength of the Liberal sentiment. He went into figures to show tfiat the expenditure had increased in greater ratio than the revenue, and spoke strongly against the Premier’s Crown Tenants'* Rent Rebate Bill. Mr Russell supported federation, and said he did net think the industries of New Zealand would suffer by union. Continuing, he condemned the Premier's display at Sydney of a bodyguard of Maori warriors, contrasting; it with the probable attitude of John Ballance or of John McKenzie. He denied that he had voted for the “£4O steal,” and strongly condemned the Public Revenues Act. He protested against the Government’s meddling between Education Boards and teachers in connection with teachers’ salaries, urging that the Boards should be first consulted. Mr Russell concluded by advocating that the Government should be brought under the awards of the Arbitration Court, and by stating that he would oppose the Government whenever it departed from the principles of true Liberalism. A vote of confidence in Mr Russell was passed.