THE HON. A. W. HOGG'S SPEECH.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 534, 15 June 1909, Page 5

THE HON. A. W. HOGG'S SPEECH.

:•: SEVERE PRESS CRITICISM. ' (BI TBLEGIUI'U— SrfI I«L OmKEsrONnKXT I . ,';■■-.■■ Chrlstchurch, June 14. Concerning Mr. Hogg's remarkable utter ance on Saturday, the "Press" says:—Hi obviously regards the! Prime Minister as s mere nonentity, to whom , he owes no allcgi anco, and whom he is not bound to rcopect Ho "treats with equal contempt the views'o! all niombers ; of his own party when Uiej happen to differ from his own. Th< coareences'and vulgarity of the whole speed will make every decent New Zealondcr blusV wjth shame. AVo do not understand how Mr Hogg ever came.into, the Ministi-y, especially as'he. assures us that'itwas not owing t< any solicitation-on his part; . We shall fine it still more difficult to understand ify aftei bis display on Saturday, he is retained in nil office, especially as the Prime 'Minister n&> declared that Mr. Hogg's views arenot entertained by his colleagues. That statement; which js nothing!less than a public rebuke oj the Minister, snould ensure his. resignation. If. we looked at. the- matter from ,a , partj point of view, we'should say that no-thins could be more delightful' than the prospect of, Mr. Hogg disporting himself with, Chestoffieldian grace and the discretion of:a Talley. rand during Sir Joseph Ward's, absence at Home. From the broader " view. of . th« oouptry'e welfare, we confess that-the possibility excites, in , .us the most serious misgivings. ~ ' ■. • .-'•■ ■■■ ■■ .'• ■ . ■ • .' Auckland, June U. Reioning to the Hon. A. W. , Hogg'i speech; the "Herald" says: .The extraordm iry.' speech with which the new Minister foi Uabour has :celebrated" his appearapcf ipon the Treasury ' Bench will no! sneourage our agricultnrists to hope fpq my assistance from the reconstructed Adninistration of Sir Joseph Ward in th« ;reat work of opening up the land. Thrablic attachos very , little importance to the personal amenities which , pass between Govsrnment and Opposition Benches, bnt. must lecossarily be concerned ■at the accumulatng evidence which shows that our .Nev Zealand Administration , is constructed solely or the purpose of making a majority, and rithout any regard whatever for the great wlitical questions upon the solution >f ; which tho development and ty of the Dominion depend. 'Tho Governnent policy engineered ■ by Mr. Carroll, and Supported by men like Mr. Hogg, to whom i freeholding settlor.is a criminal, aims.at ireventing in every possible manner the !ac[iiisition by the Crown of what aro termed 'Native lauds."

■ The" "Star," a Government organ,, says: What all Liberals in tho House and outside it are asking themselves, in some- perplexity, just now is how it is possible for a Minister to retain-office after striking out such an- irresponsible course as this for himself, without consulting his colleagues, and without making any nttempt?to square his utterances with their declared policy. It seems to'us that there is only one course open to Mr. Hogg. \Vhen we. consider, how ;indispensable caution, discretion, and an acute sonso of personal responsibility . and party loyalty are for the tenuro of such an office we (lb not think that wo exaggerate the heiuousness of Mr. Hogg's offence, when we state our conviction that Saturday's opi«cW<; ought to cluto hit'career w a. Min« ister. .••-..'.■ " . )