THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1340, 18 January 1912, Page 6

THE POLITICAL CRISIS.

+ VIEWS OF ME. G. TV. RUSSELL. (3y TeleeraDh— Press Association.! Christchurch, January 17. Speaking at a social gathering in his honour at New Brighton, Mr. G. W. Russell, M.P., discussed the political situation, He said that Mr. Massey clearly did not command a majority of tho Bouse, and the balance of power lay with the Independents and three Labour members, who, by the way, were not all recognised members of the "Labour party." He was reliably informed that these three gentlemen, while prepared to carry, out their pledges and eject from office a Government of which Sir Joseph Ward was Prime Minister, were not prepared to vote for any Government of which Mr. Massey was the head. It was believed in some quarters that in the event of Mr. Massey forming a Ministry and being defeated, he would be entitled to a dissolution, but in his opinion there would be no constitutional authority for a dissolution until the power of the H'ouso to form a stable Ministry had'been exhausted. It might be that some other incmber might have the responsibility of forming a Government from tho Liberal side, and if that were done it would be quite on the cards that the Labour members would group themselves with the Liberal party, for Liberalism and Labour had gone hand in hand for twenty years. Ho had no doubt that a stable Government would be formed with the Liberal party in office, and without an election, It would be disastrous to turn back to a reactionary policy. The public accounts to the end of December showed an increase in revenue of .£600,000. Would it be wise to fling from office a party that had brought the finances of the country tc such a satisfactory slate? It had beer said that a change of Government would be followed by a cessation of borrowing, but if Mr. Massey attempted to stor borrowing for workers' homes and ad vances to settlers and workers, then would be a state of chaos in tho buildinp trade, for the people would be compelled to turn to flic capitalistic classes for theii money, and pay a high rate of inleresl fur it. At all events there were twentj members in Parliament who were pre pared to band themselves as one man tt , resist anything reactionary that might. 1m proposed by a Conservative Government There would be no tinkering with th< Advances to Settlers Act, no cutting dowr of workers' homes, no abolition of ole age or widows' pensions.