POLITICAL.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16437, 3 February 1919, Page 6

POLITICAL.

THE GENERAL ELECTION. HON. G. W. RUSSELL'S HINT. The Hon. G. TV. Russell, Minister of Internal AiToirs, ni;i(3e passing reference to political questions in tin interview he accorded to a "Press'' representative on Saturday, hinting at the possibility of a general election as soon as Mr Massey and Sir Joseph "Ward return to this country, with the holding of the session after the election instead of before.

Mr Russell declined to make any statement, regarding tho proposed new political pany which is being mooted. The National Government, he said, was formed for the purpose of preventing party action during the progress of the war in order that the Government might be strengthened on its administration side, and particularly in order that the attention of the entire country might be concentrated on the winning of the war. The war had now been won, aud the question of whether the National Government would continue or would resolve itself once more into its constituent elements would, he had no doubt, be decided very shortly after the return of the party leaders. "In the meantime,added Mr Russell, "wo are carrying on, and political organisation and warfare is naturally suspended while the Government is in existence."'

The Minister had his attention drawn to remarks made concerning him at a meeting called to form a branch of the Labour Party in his electorate. "My only comment," he said, referring l'o a statement that there was a good chancc. of his losing the seat, '"is that I have heard that statement more than once before."

Asked as to when he thought the general election would be held, he said ho was not prepared to express an opinion. Parliament granted Supply usually till June 30th, and it consequently became absolutelv necessary for Parliament to meet again before that date to pass Supply, but this yp.ar Parliament had extended the date of Sunply till December 3]sfc. Consequently it was not necessary for Parliament to meet before the month of December, and one of the possibilities of the situation was that the peneral election might be held before Pari inment met. Ho would like to add while stating this as a possibility th.it he did not suggest. in any war'that it was to be regarded ns a probability.