Untitled

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 253, 28 November 1914, Page 8

Mr G. W." Russell is such a political curiosity that we may be pardoned for once more drawing attention to his little vagaries. . It is of very little use the electors of Avon trying to be certain of the versatile Liberal'-when he is not at all sure of himself. He indiscreetly raised the Defence Act against an opponent when, on his own word, he thought,the same measurejin-. necessary and " impracticable. He banned the principle 'of proportional representation from his own little policy, but changed round and accepted it when Sir Joseph Ward' made it a plank of. the Liberals' platform. Mr Russell, the emphatic foe of the large land-owner, holds a little matter of some 60,000 acres of land in the North Is)and. . He has insisted loudly.that the Government has broken many of its, pledges. Mr Russell, on past performances, is surely entitled to* speak on this question as one having authority. Many of _ his pledges beai' the mark of the political tinker, who has been hard put to piece together the broken fragments. Mr Russell on No-License is, mostly, Mr Russell on any vital principle. His uncertainty of himself is well ex.emplified in the following colloquy that took place at a meeting this week: —rA Voice: Do you recognise the Hon. .'R. McKenzie as an authority upon mining matters?" Mr Russell: "I'm not sure that I do —unduly." He's "not sure" that he (note the hesitancy—the ex-Minister of Mines frowns) —"unduly" (the characteristic saving clause —Mr McKenzie is mollified). Is' this amiable and accommodating politician sure of anything under ; the "sim? Is he sure that at last his political sins will not find him oiit —of Parliament?