COMING POLITICAL EVENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 154, 25 March 1919, Page 8

COMING POLITICAL EVENTS

STATEMENT Br TlOiV. G. W. RUSSELL. By Telegraph-l'ress Association. Christchurch, March _21. A guarded utterance on coining political events was made by the Hon. G. W. Russell this morning, in replying to tho Otiiu Tunnel deputation. Down to .February 28, Mr. Russell siiicl, the Dominion had spent, sixty millions on the war, and he would not bo surprised if it figured out «it 0£ per cent., including interest and sinking fund. There never was a time when the country required to be more united on tho subject of increased production, extension of settlement, and development of resources. He was a member of a Government formed in August, 1915, for the purpose of winning (he war, and everything had been laid aside for that purpose, and, rightly or wrongly, (lie. domestic interests of the country had not been considered while tho war was on. How far tho country was prepared for the conditions arising out of the close, of the war, anil the huge responsibilities undertaken, was a matter for grave consideration. The .National Government in the course of a few months would come to an end, he presumed. The leaders wero away, rendering tho Dominion most important sen-ice in laying the foundation cf future peace; .but he could not shut his eyes to the fact that tho Government itself was-tremendously handicapped by the absence of the leaders at a time when the country required that .every possible effort should be made to meat tho position that had ariseu out of the war. What was more, no soouer v.-uiild the leaders arrive than the country would be faoed with a general election. What the result of the election wouid be Tie oouldi not predict, but to his mind, afld he said eo after full consideration, it would be a disaster to NewZealand it through any political developments the Parliament and people of'tiie country did not undertake, Before Parliament met in the ordinary course of June, 1920, the work of reconstruction arising oui: of the war. Many things would reuuire.consideration, but on tneso matters lie could not trust himself to speak. Ho nuuld eay ,that as the Government.was not formed for the purpose of providing ioi- the policy, of-the country after the war, the members of the Government were now placed in an exceedingly difficult position, because, however much they might feel that the country needed a political lead with regard to matters that must, be dealt with, after the war, their hands were tied, their feet were tied, and their tongues were tied, and they dared not, with consciousness of loyalty to their chiefs, say what they thought should be done The' position was one that had given him the gravest anxiety, Mt. Rns&ll added, beoause he felt that now was the time when the country ought to be using every effort for the purpose of assisting development, in new of the tremendous obligations undertaken. Mr. Russell added that he toad spoken from his -heart, because he α-ealised it was merely a question of a few months when the present combination would come to an end, and! that in the meantime, tlw full interests of tlie country could not be adequately represented by the public men of tho country until it was decided what form of Government was to follow the Government of was a member at present.