MR A. W. HOGG'S RESIGNATION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7826, 19 June 1909, Page 2

MR A. W. HOGG'S RESIGNATION.

STATEMENT BY -THE ' EXMINISTER. '

interviewed by a representative of the Dominion, Mr Hogg said -."'it w»s his views on the Subject of-State notes which had led to the request for hii resignation: He had held those 1 views, and also the opinions on the landlquestionj which he expressed 60 strongly in his speech on Saturday last, for more than the twenty years- that ha had been in Parliament. His opinion* in regard to State notes he had written for the Press thirty years ago. On both questions his opinions ■ were well known, and when he joined the-Cabi-net in January last there was no -understanding or request that he shouldkeep these opinions in the background." " I would not subordinate my opinions on. any consideration," said Mr Hogg. J"I hold that they are principles, ana principles are immutable. No man whovalues his reputation as a publio man will sacrifice his principles on ,any consideration whatever. If ho does, he 13 unworthy of public life." -. • Mr Hogg stated that the view* which he had expressed on- the land question had nothing to do with "the request for his resignation, >. which sprang from his remarks made in tha same speech on Saturday" ab/OUt.' State} notes. ■ The Constitutional position is "that a Minister cannot be made to resign from the Cabinet if he declines to do so of his own accord. The Ministry- must resign and be reconstituted- before h« can be discarded. In regard to the request for his resignation, Mr-Hogg remarked; "I don't care a,fig. The only thing is, I could have saved them a heap of money with regard to roads* and bridges. That is, in connection. with the way the work is carried on; but I think that the new engineer, M* TV right, will see that things are altered." Mr Hogs gave a resume of the remarks which he made on Saturday relative to Stato notes. He said that in 1904 the Canadian Government passed a Bill empowering the issue o* State notes. The Bill provided that ;hese notes could be issued to any ex;ent, and there was a further provision Jiat there should bo ■& gold'reserve, he thought, to the extent of 25 per cent, up to six million pounds, and beyond that sum a reserve of- 15 per cent. In Switzerland, France and other countries of Europe, as well as Canada, Stato notes were, issued by th« Government. He denied that he waa in favour of any unlimited paper currency; but he saw nothing unreasonable in the practice of the State issuing notes. Practically, they were doing that now by means of postal notes and " nisjdea wmild be simply an'extension or the postalsnote system • '