The Wanganui Chronicle AND Patea-Rangitikei Advertiser. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1899. THE OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 15000, 23 February 1899, Page 2

The Wanganui Chronicle AND Patea-Rangitikei Advertiser. "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1899. THE OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN.

Owixcs to the unfortunate illness in Captain Russell's family— his son, Mr. L. Russell, having been stricken down with' typhoid fever— the leader of the Opposition will not be able to lead off, as he intended, in (he coming campaign. Referring to this untoward event in his telegraphic notes to the New Zealand Herald on >Saturday last, the Wellington correspondent of that journal wrote :— " The delay in the political campaign that was to have commenced towards the mid of tho present month is now explained. The anxitey tuid attention necessary for the Lender of the Opposition to give his family must havo disarranged the whole of his plans. A meeting of the Committee of the Opposition has been held, and (he political posi- \ lion discussed, Lut nothing of the result | has been made public. The event which lias happened cannot fail to have mi important intlaence upon the coming campaign. The immediate effect will be that the members of the Opposition, either under tte direction of Captain Russell, its leader, of of the existing Political Committee, will proceed to their electorates and deli- ' ver the speeches which are necessary to en able them to give an account of their stewardship. Every member of the Opposi- , tion is strengthened by the encouragement given by the electorates throughout the country, that they are not satisfied either with tho policy or the administration o! the present Government. The campaign will not have the suavity of Captain Russell's Parliamentary oratory ; instead of that the members of the Opposition will probably be more tenacious, certainly less compliant with the artifices by which information has been withheld from Parliament hitherto. It is probable the event that has happened will have some effect in forcing the hand of the Opposition, so far as to impart additional vigour to the poli- 1 tica! struggle about to take place." The alteration in Captaiu Russell's plans appears to have given rise to all kinds of lumouivs, one of which appears to be that tho giiUjint Captain contemplates resigning his position as Levd»r of the Opposi tion. To this Captain Russell gives an tmpbatic denial. In yesterday's Chronicle we published ;t Press Association telegram from Napier, as follows: — "Captain Russtll states that the rumour emanating from Wellington that he is about to resign the leadership of the Opposition, is absolutely untrue. Illuess in his family will only-de-lay his opening the proposed campaign for two or three weeks." As we have before said, we do not think unj thing will be lost by the delay. There will be plenty of time for :i vigorous campaign in the months o'J March, April, and May.