MR HOGG AT KURIPUNI.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3036, 5 November 1908, Page 4

MR HOGG AT KURIPUNI.

The address delivered by Mr A. W. Hogg, at Kuripuni on Monday evening last, must certainly be a cause of jubilation to Mr Hunter's supporters. If Mr Hogg had been speaking in the interests o F . Mr Hunter, he could hardly have been more effective. Mr Hogg's remarks in regard to his opponent, and his general criticism of thejprogressive policyadvocated by the Independent candidate, have caused a good deal of surprise, and we may add that Mr Hogg's attitude on the close settlement question, and his address, as a whole, was not; at all what we expected. Mr Hunter has criticised, and very rightly, Mr Hogg's political actions, and some of hia expressed "principles," but he cannot be fairly accused of having been personal. Mr Hogg, on the other hand, has descended to personalities. The Kuripuni address consisted simply of personalities, abuse, and rubbish. Mr Hogg might, with | advantage, "take a leaf out of the books" of any of his fellow members in respect to the matter of delivering a political address. Some of Mr Hogg's criticisms were, however, of a most amusing character, and it is not surprising to hear that they created roars cf laughter. For instance, when he seriously alleged, by way of objection to Mr Hunter's candidature, that he (Mr Hunter) was a vote hunter, the audience must have immediately reflected that Mr Hogg was at the very time hunting for votes just about as hard as he possibly could, and has been doing so for over eighteen years past. Candidates for Parliament usually endeavour to obtain votes, and it is no discredit to either Mr Hogg, or Mr Hunter that they should be "wooing the electors." A Parliamentary candidate who did not try to gain the people's votes would be a curious spectacle. No wonder Mr Hogg's audience roared! Then again, according to Mr Hogg, his opponent smokes cigars. This is a very serious al • legation, indeed, and should be made the subject of a searching inquiry. We would suggest a Royal Commission, with Mr Hogg as Chairman. How could a man, who smokes a cigar, really favour the economical administration of his country's finances —perish the absurd suggestion! Mr Hogg was, also, unconsciously amusing in other respects, but as the reports of the speech are very clear as to what sort of an address the residents of Kuripuni had the pleasure of listening to, there is no necessity to comment any further.