MR HOGG'S SPEECH AND OTHER THINGS.

Southern Cross, Volume 17, Issue 15, 24 July 1909, Page 6

MR HOGG'S SPEECH AND OTHER THINGS.

(To the Editor). Sir, —The thanks of the people of Southland are' due to "The Southern Kiross " for publishing the notable Speech delivered by Mr Hogg during the recent debate on the Address-in-Reply. The daily Press, had it been fair to the public, would have done [what "The Southern Cross" alone has done in this matter. In this case ■we hape again strong evidence of the iact that as public purveyors the daily papers in this country are onesided and unreliable. The newspapers which support the present so-called Liberal party make frantic effort's by belittling, suppressing, and distorting to cover up the sins and the enormities of the Ward Administration. The editorial columns of some of these journals are little short of a national disgrace, because of the! superfluous and unwarranted amount of "Ward slobber" that is dished up day by day. They seem to be utterly incapable of giving either an independent or unreasonable opinion of any subject connected with the present party who occupy the Ministerial benches. The Press Association wires ivrhich appeared in our da'ily papers, also the expressions of opinion given to the people through the editorial columns of these journals, regarding Mr Hogg's speech, were not only misleading, but were petty, servile, and mean in conception. Surely anyone outside an academical fop would not foe deeply troubled as to whether Mr Hogg is letter-perfect a French scholar, yet several of the censors of public opinion had to practically restrict their comment on the speech to a telegraphed sneering allusion to the -'struggle"—-as they termed it —that Mr Hogg had w r ith the pronunciation of the French words used in some leading hotels in the British Dominion of New Zealand, in describing to British-speaking patrons such ordinary items as onions, leeks, potatoes, etc. To such academical humbugs the substance of what is said is largely a secondary consideration—if it really is any consideration at all —but the manner in which it is spoken, including the pronunciation of foreign lataguages determines its national worth, according to the judgment of some of those who are responsible for what news is allowed to pass on to the general publie per medium of the Press Association. The country has a right to demand fair value for the trust reposed in its Press, and the iweak, servile, and misleading methods that are growing increasingly apparent will have to make way for something more genuine, straightforward, and able, than has existed in far too many instances during recent years.

Mr Hogg may rest assured that, should he deliver an a'ddress in Southland, he will get such a, reception as will convey to him beyond amy doubt that' the people at this end of the Dominion heartily appreciate bis plain, practical and humane views Those who have anything- like a practical knowledge of the history of the land and labour difficulties in this country will recognise the truthfulness of Mr Hogg's statements. Mr Hogg, in common with thousands throughout the country, recognises that it is useless to expect any refrom such as make up Mr Massey's of anyone but the capitalistic class, rota such aa make »p Mr Maee«y's

chief supporters. No reasonable person wants to. see such as Mr James Allen, M.P. for Bruce, for instance, Jin power, consequently during recent elections the Liberal party has from j time to time been returned to power not because they, themselves, merited the support of the people, but chiefly because the Opposition were simply unthinkable as a Government. It must now be clear to the workers of j this country that the present Government does not by any stretch of 'imagination, represent them. Neither 1 do they represent the landless people lof this country, their blundering at(tempts at land settlement being a ; mere hollow sham. The term "Liberal Government" has become a mocjkery. The people are sick \mto death of the miserable, spineless creatures, j whose most conspicuous characteristic has become that of sinking every I vestige of principle and independence, so .that they may find favour in the eyes of Sir Joseph Ward, because he I happens to be Premier. Political life lin this fair land has become useless, l rotten, and corrupt to an extent that j leaves only one road open to the people if they will have truth, justice, and humanity, and that is to make a clean sweep of the political parasites that have for far too long misled and disgraced us. It is high time we had an increase in the number of straight-going' politicians in our Houses of Parliament, and if the outspoken and determined attitude of Mr Hogg brings about or assists in bringing about, the formation of a strong political party throughout 'New Zealand — from the North Cape to the Bluff — founded on true Liberal principles, embracing an advanced land settlement policy on proper lines, with more men of the John Ballance type in evidence, instead of weak, wobbling "apologies" that mis-represent us to-day in far too many electorates—then Mr Hogg will have done New Zealand a service she is sorely in need of. —Yours, etc., BEACON.