The Sun MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1914. THE IMPATIENCE OF MR G. W. RUSSELL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 272, 21 December 1914, Page 6

The Sun MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1914. THE IMPATIENCE OF MR G. W. RUSSELL.

■ ■-;■.. . """~~ ■'. : : :hV ■;. Pending the result of proceedings to test the accuracy of the official declaration of the poll in Dunedin; Central,; Wellington, East, and elsewhere, it is i rather 4dle to' say positively what the Government; should We can understand ' Mr G. W. Russell>s impatience.Those short weeks in 1912, when he reigned as Minister for local bodies or something or that sort.and. was entitled to style himself "The Honourable,'' are such a sweet memory that he longs for history to repeat itself and enthrone, him on the Treasury Benches once more. Why, therefore,. should Mr Massey tarry .on the order of his going? It does not seem to trouble Mr Russell now any more than it did in 1912 that his party hasn't got a majority either.. The Mackenzie Go-: vernment, of which he made himself: such an important member,, only lived by reason of its refusal to call Par- ; liament: together till it was necessary: to obtain statutory authority to spend the people's money, and then it was unceremoniously kicked out. The Ward, and Labour Parties to which Mr Russell belongs are in no better position today. If Mr Massey chooses to advise his Excellency to summon Parliament and simultaneously tenders his resignation, how will that benefit Mr Russell? If his party appoint a Speaker they are thereafter in a minority for three years, and surely Mr Russell does not imagine that the Reform Party is going to be so accommodating as t'o provide the Liberals with a Speaker, so that the country may suffer the infliction of a Liberal-Red Red. Administration? Mr Russell scouts the idea that the.Reform Party may get more assistance from his side than he from theirs. Well, Mr Russell, should not overlook /the fact that those Independent member's who thought their constituents would prefer a Massey Government to one containing Mr ,G. W. Russell were all reelected, whereas at least one of the two pledge-breakers who got elected in 1911' by promising to vote against Sir Joseph Ward, and didn't, is now relegated to private life. The other shares with Mr Russell the doubtful honour. of being a minority representative, no less than 5675 votes being cast against him, as compared with the 2924 he obtained. We imagine that Mr Russell's eagerness for favourable developments is not untinged: with anxiety as to the: disintegrating influences that may be at work in the Liberal ranks. There are several men in the Liberal Party who will have little stomach for a Liberal . Government that is at'the mercy of Red Feds. A man like Mr Myers who is flatly at variance with Liberal leaders on the naval defence question, and whose seat is his own, irrespective of the party to which he gives a nominal adherence, might feel it his duty to take a step which would save the country the turmoil and expense of another election, and give it a stable Government during the remainder of the war. Then ,there are others, frankly opportunist, who would make a virtue.of obviating another election by declaring their pendence,'' and their ■ preference for the maintenance of the status quo, to plunging into another ; contest that might mean the disappearance of the narrow majority by which they secured their seats. Mr Russell need have no

fears regarding Mr Massey. He will do the right thing at the right time. The only thing he need worry about is the outstanding fact that the resignation of Mr Massey will not necessarily put Mr Eussell into office. On the contrary, it is more likely to demonstrate the hopelessness of Sir Joseph Ward's position, and result in Mr Massey being asked to remain at the head of affairs.