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Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 196, 23 September 1914, Page 6

As will be seen from our Parliamentary correspondent's report of the matter, the member for Avon made a quite unnecessary fuss yesterday over a remark by the Minister of Justice to the effect that Mr Russell would rather seq the Germans overrun' Europe than that' the present Government should continue to occupy the' Treasury benches. This .was in reply to a strong criticism by the member for Avon of the handling of the War Bisk Insurance Bill by the Minister, when Mr Russell coneluded liis remarks by stigmatising the Minister's efforts >a s "an exhibition of folly and incompetence." This is 1 a typical example of Mr Russell's unrestrained manner of criticism. He.takes pride to himself for not mincing matters, but that quality alone places him only on a level with a blustering cabman. He has yet to learn that genuine and effective criticism ends when abuse begins, and he would cut a much more imposing figure as a critic to be regarded if he introduced into his indictments of Ministerial incompetence _a. little dignity and less of that cheap political abuse made up of mere catchwords, which are the refuge of the unimaginative. The member for Avon lacks that necessary dignity and reserve, and has the habit of looking for and magnifying grievances. He is as fond of a grievance /as an Indian colonel is of his liyer---it gives him an opportunity to talk about it at great length. Th is is apparently what occurred in the House- yesterday afternoon. Mr Russell became melodramatic in his anxiety to impress the House with the tremendous wrong that the Minister had done him. He pretended to see in the retort an imputation of disloyalty that, if placed oil record in Hali-

j sard, would stand against him and his J children for all time. Of. course, this is all a childish exaggeration. Mr jHerdinan's remark 'was no more to be 'taken .literally than, '••■ say, Mr Russell's I mot that Mr Fisher true German so far as -his .political- tactics were concerned, and that he ''took the cake as a follower of Wiliiain :the Weed. -" Mr Riissell will "have to learn to take himself less 'seriously. His unlicensed criticisms invariably bring him a counter, and when this arrives he plays the injured innocent to the point of weariness. However, the fearsome imputation will not follow him and his family through life—the Minister withdrew the words objected to. If a majority q£ Mr Russell's constituents do not look his way next December he will not be able to ascribe their fickleness to the Minister of Justice.