MR HOGG AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7831, 25 June 1909, Page 4

MR HOGG AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 24. Mr A. W. Hogg, late Minister of Labour, addressed a packed audience in the Town Hall to-night. Mr D. McLaren, M.P., presided. I Mr Hogg said he had been told that his first duty was to explain his conduct to his constituents, but after over a quarter of a century they knew him well. "It is said," remarked Mr Hogg, "that I am a strong party man. The individual who makes that remark does not know me or my political history. When I was returned nearly twenty years ago as a representative of a constituency, I was bound to no policy, statesman, or party. I have always exercised a free hand, and I have claimed that freedom. I have supported good government, but I have never been the slave of party, and never will be a slave of party. (Applause.) In my constituency, where the people know me well, I believe I have had almost as much support from the Opposition side as from the Government side, because even those opposed to me in regard to politics believed I was honest and fearless and had the courage of my opinions, and that I would not betray their interests. (Applause.) I have claimed the right to think for myself, to write as I thought proper, and to speak out my opinions and convictions in all henesty. Because I still claim that right, I occupy this position to-night.)? Continuing, Mr Hogg said it was the right of every man and woman in this country to speak fearlessly and freely, to think for themselves, and to do what was right and proper, and never to shirk their convictions. (Applause.) He would rather be a toad living in a dungeon than be a Minister tongue-tied, | gagged and muzzled, even at £1000 a year. By one sacrificial act one would do more' to attract public attention than all other public efforts of one's life. He was pleased to think the little act he had performed was likely to hasten forward that splendid period when the people of this country would have their rights demonstrated. (Applause.) ■ «. Mr Hogg then went on _at some length to give his views against land monopoly. He had seen in the Forty Mile Bush little dairy farms being aggregated into big sheep runs. Instead of progress in settlement, there had of late years been aggregation and retrogression ; there had been plenty of transfers, but no real settlement. In the King Country recently he had found splendid land crying aloud for settlement. The Government had purchased a small block here and there, but had not developed it, and the private investor was making his bargain with the natives, instead of the transactions being carried out in a fair and open way. Through the medium of the Crown and the Land Board, land was being leased wholesale for twenty-one years, and before that term expired it would become the freehold property of the lessees, who were mostly speculators. When he returned from that trip, he remonstrated about these private dealings. That land had been stolen from the people. Talk about the old days of gridironing ! The same exploitation was going on under our very eyes, and it was because he saw the land monopolist scooping up the little farmers that he regarded land monopoly with disgust, and the man who practised it as a criminal. (Applause.) The splendid weapon John Ballance placed on the Statute Book eighteen years ago had not been used. If the late Mr Seddon had agreed with the speaker on one subject more than another; it was on using the graduated tax. It was because he had expounded these views during the last few days he had fallen out with the Ministry. During the past two years the Advances to Settlers Department had been in a state bordering on collapse, and had not done half it should have done for the producing community. < As to a State currency, Mr Hogg said he had advocated that for years. It a few bank directors could issue paper money, surely the people themselves should have the same privilege. (Applause.) If, when depression first came along, the Government had shown financiers that it was going to issue these notes with a proper reserve, that stringency would have evaporated like the morning mist under the sunshine. Referring to the suggestion that his recent utterances would affect our credit in London, he maintained they would rather do the reverse, by demonstrating that we were consolidating our credit and were willing to help ourselves, instead of relying upon moneylenders. Ho had detached himself from the Cabinet because his views did not coincide with his colleagues on some vital questions. One was the supression of land monopoly, against which he would battle so long as he had life. Not a single syllabic of his speech would he retract. (Loud applause.) Referring to the retrenchment scheme, Mr Hogg said there was no need to cut down recklessly young branches doing good work. He had no grievance, and had never had an unpleasant word with any Minister. Ho trusted they would organise and form, if necessary, a Land and Labour League, a league which would gather in strength everywhere, and have branches in every part of the dominion. The workers had the ball at their feet if they liked to kick it. They had been dormant too long. A resolution of thanks, commending Mr Hogg's action, was carried unanimously. Mr Hogg had an attentive and appreciative hearing throughout.