NO CONFIDENCE IN EITHER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XV, Issue 4088, 14 November 1911, Page 5

NO CONFIDENCE IN EITHER.

MR HOGG ON THE PARTIES

A POLITICAL FREE-LANCE

Mr A. W. Hogg, member for Alasterton, opened his political campaign last night by addressing a large meeting in that town. The most interesting portion of Mr Hogg’s address was that in which he explained his attitude to existing parties. On this subject Mr Hogg said: Although I have been for twentyone years your representative, and this is my eighth campaign—for I have always had opposition, and political life would not be worth living if I*did not get it—there would seem to be some doubt about my political creed. The question has been put to me in this way: “We have the Government, of which Sir J. G. Ward is head, and the Opposition, led by Mr Massey. One is labelled “Liberal,” the other “Refdrm.” Which are you going to support?” Another way of putting it is this. “Should a no-confidence motion be brought in, will you vote against the Government and put Mr Massey into power?” I clearly defined my position in the Wellington Town Hall over two years ago, after I resigned from the Ministry. I then said, “It is said that lam a strong party man. The individual that makes that remark does not know me or my political history. When I was returned nearly twenty years ago as the representative of a constituency, I was bound to no policy, statesman nor party. I have always had as much support from have supported good government, but 1 have never been the slave of a party. And in my constituency, where the people know me well, I have always had as much suport 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. 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 honesty. Because I still claim that right I occupy that position to-night.” The Ministry lost confidence in me when I expressed my views on land monopoly and banking privilege. Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. I lost my confidence in the Ministry, and proclaimed the fact all over the Dominion. I am told that there is a rumour that 1 have made a compact with the Government to vote for them on every no-c-ondence motion, and that is the reason no Ministerial candidate hag been put forward. I can only say that there is no foundation for such a rumour. I have not been in communication with the Government, and I have in no way tried to keep a Ministerial candidate out of the field. I am indebted to my constituents for the independent position I occupy. They have never bound me to support any party, and if they are satisfied with what I have done in the past they will return me. I have only supported measures that I believed would be beneficial to New Zealand. Personally lam as friendly with Mr Massey as with Sir Joseph Ward, but politically I agree with neither. My political creed is “Progress.” I have lost confidence in the Government because it fails to move with the times I have no confidence in the Opposition because their policy is retrogression. When the time for action arrives, I will endeavour to place a new party in power.

IN THE CABINET. Dealing with his resignation from the Cabinet Mr Hogg said: —“I offended my colleagues in the Cabinet, and some of their supporters, because I spoke out vigorously on the subject of land monopoly and a State paper currency. I regarded the control or the currency by the Government as a matter of great importance. Tho intelligent portion of the community had long been in favour of it. The late Mr James Macandrew, Superintendent of Otago, advocated it, and the Hon. Mr Seddon spoke encouragingly about it. When I visited Wanganui, the place represented by Mr JJallance, and one of the staunchest Liberal strongholds in New Zealand, a deputation waited on me, and f gave them a favourable reply. So far as I was concerned, 1 believed in the people issuing their own money. But never in the remotest way coniprom • d the Premier or my colleagues. That, I distinctly affirm.

It was probably the first time, however, that a Minister of tho Crown had expressed his approval of this mode of relieving the money market and removing depression. My sentiments gave certain farmers or settlers at Pahiatua, who called themselves a branch of the Farmers’ Union, the fright of their lives. A conference ot the Union at Wellington shortly afterwards took up the running, and resolved that ‘Hogg must be watched.’ I forget whether a Detective Committee was set up for the purpose, but I have no doubt I was placed under close surveillance. I cannot rememb r whether the conference prayed ; ; me. (Laughter). It may have lelt. that for the bank directors, at their annual festival.'’ Mr Hogg complained that the Prime Minister had condemned his proposal tli m a he had now promised a Hill art In t dug a not e issue by the State. TH . ROADS DEPARTMENT. Lie rating a complaint that the Road department, over which he presid* d, >va- >queexcd to death, M r Hogg said: “1 took charge of it in January, 1909, and resigned in June. Here is the record of co-operative hands employed:—January 4827, Eehruary 5243, March 5039, April 4240, May 3544, Juno 2016. In four months the men employed on the roads were reduced from'sooo to 2000. During the same period the hands employed on the railway works, which were of infinitely less importance to the settlers, were only reduced from 4711 to 4068. Before the end of the year the Department was virtually wiped out, the number of hands being reduced to considerably under 1000, while the number on the railways never fell below 3500. Is it surprising that country members complain that the money voted for roads i s not expended ?” DUTY ON FLOUR. Dealing with other phases of poli-

tics Mr Hogg came to the conclusion that the Legislative Council was doing little harm and there was no pressing need for reform. There was no need for any alarm about the National Debt. The most regrettable feature in connection with our indebtedness was the huge amount that travels annually to the foreign investor. There was no guarantee that any part of this money would be reinvested in New Zealand. To reduce the cost of living the candidate advocated the removal of the duties on Hour, oatmeal, potatoes, butter and other articles of common use. Illustrating this point Mr Hogg said that the duty on butter enables the holder, after exporting the season’s produce to London, to lock up the remander and demand a price for it equal to what it would cost if it was imported from other parts and besides shipping charges the duty was paid. Hence, it happened that this season, when New Zealand butter was selling at Is per lb in London and Australian butter was only lOd and lid in Melbourne, the price was raised to Is 5d and Is 6d in the Wellington city and country markets. Between the factory price of butter and the price paid by the consumer there is usually a difference of 4d to 6d per lb. Who gets the difference? The milk supplier does not get it, and the storekeeper only asks a reasonable profit. Someone must have a splendid innings. THE LAND. Of the land question Air Hogg said: —“All the best lands in New Zealand are freehold, and its value is constantly increasing. Speculators and monopolists want to rob the community of their endowments. The party to which I belong have no desire to interfere with the freehold, but they mean, if they can, to preserve the State leaseholds. With regard to the Mokau estate and Native lands generally, the administration has been most inimical to settlement. Native lands should have been taken, the owners compensated, and the landless worker should have been provided with the material for a homestead.” The compulsory provisions requiring men 21 years of age to enrol themselves and take up the profession of arms under pain of fine, imprisonment and disenfranchisement, was described as a disgrace to a free country. It was a gross insult and injustice to our youth, and he trusted they would resent the affront. Mr Hogg opposed the Opposition scheme for a Civil Service Board, but agreed that the public works policy required a complete overhaul. THANKS AND CONFIDENCE. Air E. G. Eton moved, “That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded Air Hogg for his address, and the many valuable services rendered by him to the district during his long term of ofiice, and that this meeting expresses its renewed confidence in Air Hogg as member for the district.”

Air E. Flanagan seconded the motion, which was carried without one dissentient.