MR RUSSELL'S INGENUOUS (?) ANSWERS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2345, 21 July 1887, Page 3

MR RUSSELL'S INGENUOUS (?) ANSWERS.

TO THIS EDITOR, Sir,— Mr Russell, at Cambridge last Wednesday, addressed a large meeting on the political situation. In replying to questions afterwards ho made a few statements which certainly should not he allowed to go unchallenged. 1. Mr Russell says ho will vote for the present (iovernment in a no-conlidence motion. That surely fixes Cl. W. R. as a Governincut candidate, fl, Mr Russell denies getting any support from the Government. In fact, would not take it. It will very soon be proved that he is being supported by Mr Rallance, and actively too; but when proved of course (I. W. R. will bo astonished to find that it is so, I’oor dear innocent 1 3. Ro the borrowing of £IO,OOO for Cambridge; Mr Russell maintains that it is possible to spend money wisely on “reproductive'’ works and yet go in for drastic retrenchment. It may be so, but in this case I fail to sec whore his simile re a farmer draining his land “in order to obtain increased production, &c.,” comes in. Cambridge Borough contains 1011) inhabitants. The interest on £IO,OOO at (>7, is £OOO, which, divided amongst 1C11) people means Us lid per head in extra taxation, to be paid either directly or in the shape of paying for a luxury such as water. The saving in insurance talked about would not amount to more than the lid per head, therefore it would really mean 11s of taxation on every man, woman and child in the borough. Is this retrenchment or reproductiveness? With regard to Vogel's £10,000,000 Mr Russell acknowledges that he did advocate it, but he had “changed his mind now.” Of course he has 1 Retrenchment is the order of the day, and (I. W. K. wants to get into the Hou.-c. I. Re the village .settlement business: Mr Russell approved of a Minister spending (or compelling the next .Minister of Rands to spend ; it means the expenditure any way) £70,000 on an experiment (which will bo a sure failure), for winch the House voted £SOOO, this being an unauthorised illegal doing away with £05,000 of colonial funds. Very well, (!. W. R., support Mr Ballanco (when you get the chance). 5. Re Agricultural College: Mr Russell wants retrenchment in Education, but Waikato must have its college. Of course, 0. W. R., charity always begins at homo, liully on your retrenchment 1 (1. Ro the fourth standard: Mr Russell has altered his mind in this matter to suit the times. Well done, G. W. K., we’ll get you to alter it a little more before we elect you. 7. Re freight on potatoes: Mr Russell wotdd not joke on such a serious matter. “He must have been misunderstood,” that is all. But all the same, at the time the statement was made it elicited cheers from li. W. K.’s supporters and groans for Maxwell.—l am, Sir, yours truly, Xo. !).