THE CANDID FRIEND.

Evening Star, Issue 11661, 21 January 1902, Page 4

THE CANDID FRIEND.

A GOVERNMENT SUPPORTER'S PLAIN SPEAKING. [Special to this Stab.} WELLINGTON, January 21. Mr Hogg, speaking at Masterton, said that Parliament bad been doing its best to turn out good legislation, bat the departments did not work satisfactorily. Expenditure seemed to increase without giving a fair return. Their gaols, lunatic asylums, hospitals, and charitable institutions needed overhauling. Some of the departments were either paralysed or congested. The Defence Department was virtually a dead letter office. Referring to tie Estimates, he said that money was voted in an amazing manner. Last session a few members, including himself, refused to be Minister-ridden. They bucked in vain against the increase of big salaries. These votes were carried by Ministers, with tbe assistance chiefly of the Opposition. Dealing with Defenee, he expressed the opinion that the country was spending too much in playing at soldiers. The expenditure on Defence this year was nearly double that of last year, and more than was set apart for roads and bridges had been voted to the military to waste. A few years ago the Premier and his colleagues boasted that they were able to furnish money for public works from the Consolidated Revenue. What were they doing now? The colony required a strong hand to pull it out of' the military qnicksand. Dealing with the war, he said no war in which the British Army had been engaged for the last century had been more deplorable in its consequences. The sacrifice of the lives of women and children must be regarded with pain and regret. Whilst the exploits of the New Zealanders must be admired, he trusted that on due reflection the State would see the desirability of directing the aspirations and energies of the young New Zealander to a holier and a nobler direction than the field of battle.