MR A. W. HOGC.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 303, 26 June 1909, Page 6

MR A. W. HOGC.

ADDRESS IN WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Thursday. Mr Hogg said ho had been told that his first duty was to explain Iris conduct to his constituents, but after over a quarter of a. century they knew him well, "for it is said," remarked Mr Hogg, "that I am a. strong parly man. , The •individual who makes that remark does not know me or my political history. When I was returned nearly twenty j years ago as a representative of a \ constituency, I- was bound to no. policy, statesman or party. I have always exercised a free hand. I have claimed that freedom, and have supported good government, but I have never been the slave of party, and never will be a slave of party (applause), and 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, ami "" to speak out my opinions and convictions in -all honesty. Because I still claim that right I occupy this position to-night.'' ' . ■ Continuing, Mr Hogg said it was tho right of every man and woman in this country' to speak fearlessly and freely, to think for themselves and 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 ouo sacrificial act one could 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 people jof this country would have, their rights demonstrated. (Applause). ' Mr Hogg 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 settle* ment. In the King Country recently ho found splendid land crying aloud foi- settlement. The Government had purchased a. small block here and

there, but had -not developed it,, but the private investor Mas making his bargain with the natives, instead of' transactions being carried out ill ft fair and open way through the medium of tho Crown, and Land Board, land was being leased wholesale for 21 .years, and before that term expired would become freehold property of the lessees, who were mostly speculators. When he returned from that trip he remonstrated about these private dealings, and 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 land and buying up tho little farmers that he regarded laud monopoly -with disgust, and the man who practised it . as a criminal. •_ (Applause). The splendid weapon of the late Johii Ballance placed on the Statute Book 18 years ago had not been used. If tho late Mi- 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 oxit 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 tlie producing community. As to State currency he had advocated that for years. If 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 the financiers that it was going to issue theso notes with a proper reserve that stringency, would have evaporated like the morning mist under the sunshine. Referring to a suggestion that his recent utterances, would affect our credit in London, he maintained, it would rather do the [ reverse, by demonstrating that we were consolidating our credit and were willing to help Ourselves instead of relying upon. money lenders. He had detached himself from the Cabinet because, his views did not coincide with his colleagues on some vital questions. One was the suppression of land monopoly against which he would battle so long as he had life. Not a single syllable of his speech would. he retract. (Loud apj'plause.) ' _