The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1896. THE PREMIER AT NELSON.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 220, 20 March 1896, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 1896. THE PREMIER AT NELSON.

In his speech at Nelson the Premier said that he was positive there would be a Stout- Russell combination. His alleged reason for holding such opinion was that the Conservative papers of the colony did not recognise Captain Russell as the leader of the party. He further said that he had heard in Christchurch that an attempt was to be made to put forward Sir Robert Stout as the leader of the Opposition instead of Capbain Russell. This has evidently alarmed the Premier because Sir Robert Stout is bhe one man in the Colony of whom he is afraid. Otherwise he would not have said " tf this is the case he would prefer that his opponents should come out into bhe open and face the Liberal party before the couutry as their opponents. Let them come forth before the public with their programme, and let the public judge between them." To the ordinary mind it would appear that when Captain Russell made his speech at Hastings he had openly challenged and criticised the policy of the Government and no more could be expected of him because it is not the duty of the leader of the Opposition to " declare a policy " until the eve of the general election when " the public shall judge between them." A policy suitable to the political exigencies of the Colony will be formulated and enunciated by the Conservative party at the proper time, but not at a time chosen by the PremierIt is a moot pomt — Mr Seddon notwithstanding — whether Sir Robert Stout would be acceptable to a majority of the party in Opposition as leader. Sir Robert was at one time a member of the alleged Liheral party— and although his conversion to a faettejc faith may be sincere yet bis former M color " will not be soon forgotten, even by his presewb admirers. It certainly may be argued that if the Premier is afraid of Sir Robert Stout, the latter would be a power against Mr Seddon, but it may also be said that in the inevitable wrangles which would ensue between them in the House, the cause of wise Legislation would be lost sight of altogether. However, the next few weeks will see this and other interesting polititical contingencies definitely settled.