The Advocate. [Established 1888.] SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1909. NOTES.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 297, 19 June 1909, Page 4

The Advocate. [Established 1888.]

SATURDAY, JUNE 19, 1909. NOTES.

[PUBLISHED DAILY.] OLDEST ESTABLISHED PAPEB ,'/■ AND aUABANTEED LABGEST OIBOTJLATION IN THE DISTBIOT.

CIRCULATES IN Dannevirke Mangatoro Tamaki Ngapaeruru Mangahe Weber Ti Tree Point Waione Wimbledon Herbertville Akitio Horoeka Oringi Kiritaki Maharahara Woodville Umutaoroa Matamau Piripiri Makotuku Ormondville Norsewood Takapau Whetukura Awariki Otanga • Kumeroa Rangitane Raumati Rua Roa S. Norsewood Tiratu Tipapakuku Mangapuaka Mangatuna Makiretu

Politics have loomed up largely during the*" week. After a- short but strenuous session, the Government proposals were carried. The offer of a battleship to the Home Government was approved and an adjournment of the 'session to October, to permit the Premier to attend the Naval Conference, was agreed to. Great interest will attach to the gathering of representatives of tho overseas dominions at liOiidon to discuss the naval policy of the Empire. Momentous issues may hang upon the. result of the deliberations. One point is assured. The colonies must face their responsibilities on this question, and it is certain, whether the offer of a battleship is accepted or not, we in New Zealand must expect that our liability for naval defence will bo increased. On the attitude taken by the members of the conference will largely depend tho form in which that liability will be liquidated. . Sir Joseph Ward may bo expected. to act with a full sense of his responsibilities.

In tli is connection, it may be pointed out that as the result of the- gathering of press delegates in London, the Australian representatives sir© convinced that the idea of a local naval force is untenable. Having now witnessed the assembling of a great fleet at Home, and having seen what an. enormous cost is involved by the organisation and maintenance of a lino of effective fighting machines, it is admitted that the Australian idea of building up a fleet worthy of ■tho name Is impracticable. . The Canadians, too, who previously favored the idea of undertaking their own naval defence, aro also apparently coining into lino with the idea thai; their efforts must go in the direction of strengthening the British Navy. This is so much gained without the assistance of the Naval Conferonee, and should go towards clearing the way for the. deliberations of that conference.

The retirement ot Mr Hogg 'from the ]\1 inistrv has provided the political sensation of the week. Now that the ex-M misters sido of tlio caso has been pl.-iced before the public, it is imiiossible not to admire the sturdy independence he has shown. Ho claims that t-ho views ha advanced last Saturday are precisely the same that he has advocated during his x'olrtical

life, and rather than givo* up the right of the public enunciation of his' opinions ho cheerfully resigned his fort folio," witli all the personal sacrifices that step must involve. The taunt lias often been thrown at members of the Liberal party that their one object is to obtain pay, place, and power. The manner of Mr Hogg's retirement from the Cabinet is a telling illustration of the fact that this charge cannot be laid at his door. It is satisfactory to know that his reduction in status will not in any sense limit the efforts the member for Mastorton will continue to make in future against land aggregation. In the course of an interview with a pressman, Mr Hogg stated that it was his "views on the subject^of State notes which had led to the request for i his resignation. He had held those : views, and also the opinions on the | land q\iestion which lie expressed so strongly in his speech on Saturdaylast, f«r the 20 years that he had been in Parliament. His opinions in regard to State notes he had written for the press 30 years ago. On both questions his opinions "were well known, and when, he joined the Cabinet in January last there Avas no understanding 1 or request that he should keep those opinions- in the background. "I would not subordinate my opinions on any consideration," said Mr Hogg. "I hold that they are principles, and principles are immutable. No man who values his reputation a\s a public man will sacrifice his principles on- any considera-tion-whatever. If he does, he is unworthy of public life." Mr Hogg stated that the views which he had expressed on the land question hatL nothing to do with the request for his resignation, which sprang from his remarks made in the same speech oh I Saturday about State notes, " Next week will be an interesting one for dairymen and small farmers, when the National Dairy Show will be held at Palmerston North. The usual excellent arrangements have been made and the display all round promises to be one of the best yet held. There will he a large gathering of dairy farmers from all parts of the island, and the attendance of the general public tis certain to be large. . Holiday ex^ cursion fares will be available on the railways. .