POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1562, 19 September 1905, Page 3

POLITICAL.

jf SPEECH BY SIR W. RUSSELL.

MANLY REFERENCE TO VOUCHER ATTACK. ' ! 1 ; 1 XPer Press Asaociaticn.) Napier. Ibbl night. Sir Williacn Russell, M.H.R., addressod bit constituents at the Princess Theatre, Hastings, to-night, Ho was well received by a very large gathering. He took ocoasion to deny rumors that be would either be called to tbe Legislative Council or would at the last moment retire from the contest for the Hawke’s Bay seat in favor of some other person. There had been no suggestion of appointing him to the Upper House since bo had declined ■uoh an honor twenty years ago, and neither for feat of ahy foe or to favor any friend would he withdraw from a seat to which his constituents had honored him by electing him as their representative for thirty years. Referring to the vouchor incident he expressed his very great pleasure that the Premier and Captain Seddoa had emerged Jrom tbe enquiry with their honor absolutely unsullied. He deprecated very •tiongly the system of po'itical warfare which was based on attacking a man through his family afieotions, and be fell •it was the duty of the Parliament and the country to guard jealously the fair fame b! their publio men from being uselessly and unnecessarily assailed. 1 He spoke in favor of the leaseholders under the Government being granted the option of Ibeir freeholds if they wished. He also touched upon railway matters, and advooeted. an alteration in the constitution, which at the present time left too much power in the hands oi one man.