AN EX-MINISTER'S SPEECH.

West Coast Times, 6 September 1909, Page 4

AN EX-MINISTER'S SPEECH.

Mr Hogg, speaking at Christchurch on Friday nigkht, said : —

He had decided that no matter what took place he would stick to his convictions and his opinions. In the Cabinet he stuck to his principles, and consequently- he differed from his colleagues. (Applause). He had not wished to destroy the harmony of the Cabinet. (Laughter). It was a mutual admiration society. The members of it were always wreathed in. smiles.' The moment he knew that he held convictions spart from those of other members he said, "Good day, gentlemen; there is my resignatioiif'— (Applause.) He differed from them on two. very important questions, land and finance. He held that the people ought to control their own lands and their own currency, without the assistance of monopolies. (Applause). He denounced monopoly, the curse of the country, in he admitted, strong terms. He always liked to call a spade a spade. He had read over and over again the speech in the House which had given so much offence. It was in "Hansard" absolutely unaltered. He did not think that he had altered a solitary word. He was not ashamed of that speech now. (Applause.) The Press had told him that he had committed an indiscretion. (A voice: "Bunkum.") ' He would commit the same indiscretion to-mor-row. There was not a single sentiment in the speech that he wished to withdraw. (Applause). He knew that he had offended vested interests, and vested interests were very powerful both in Parliament and out of it, but he had never q'uarelled with members of the House or with members of the Ministry. (Applause.) He had shaken hands with the Cabinet on the most pleasant terms. No offensive word had passed between them. Now the Prime Minister, Mr Hogg continued, had gone to another part of the world to get the approbation of the aristocracy. (A voice : "And another title." Another voice : "Yes, Lord Bluff.") As for himself he had had remarkable manifestations of public approval in the country. He was prouder of that than if he had had all the honours and the wealth of England behind him. (Applause.) He had required no body-guard. (Laughter, and a voice : "And no private detectives.") Labour and its representatives had applauded his actions, and he felt proud of what he had done, although his head was not swelled. At all his meetings, and large ones were held everywhere there had been deafening applause, and not a single groan — pot for himself, but for others. (Applause).