THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR WILL NOT SUPPORT MR. HOGG.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5497, 28 November 1896, Page 3

THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR WILL NOT SUPPORT MR. HOGG.

[to the editob.] Sib,—ln tbe year 1890 the Hasterton Knights of Labour decided to support to Mr Hogg, the conditions being that Mr Hogg should with Mr Ballanccbring about certain reforms that tho Knights required. 1893, tho As. sembly again decided to giyo him their support, resolving to give the Gorernment under Mr Seddon a further opportunity to carry out the planks of reform needed by the order. The Knights of Labour are an independent Society and are not bound to give their support to any candidate or Government and the leading members of the Order determined to closely watch tbe action of our member and the Government he supported, and after three years observation have come to the conclusion that the Seddon Government is a corrupt one and that they have not effected or tried to effect the reforms demanded by the Knights, and that Mr Hogg is a servile follower and is no longer deserving of the confidence of the Masterton Knights of Labor. The following arc tome of the reforms demanded(l). That all polls connected with the drink trsf&o should be carried by the bare majority vote. This Mr Hogg has not given us, but has helped to play into the hands of the brewers and the publicans, and robbed us of our right that the majority should rule. (2). Itelief of tho people from taxation on tbe necessaries of life. The duty was to have been removed from tea, sugar,'and coffee and other goods largely used by tho working classes, but, instead of relief being afforded, further taxes were imposed to the amount of nearly £IOO,OOO a year. The goods taied being calico, flannels, woollen goods of all sorts, boots and shoes, and ready mado clothing which arolargely used by the workers of this country. Mr Hogg would, if be could, haye put on a tax of one shilling a pound upon tea, the only luxury and really necessary beverage that the poor get. (3rd). That there should bo no. more borrowing. Yet in a short three years tho Seddon Government haye increased the debt of tho Colony by 'Five Millions of English Pounds and havo dono nothing with it to benefit tho people. No important public works carried out, works that have been uncompleted for years, still unfinished, and hundreds of men seeking employment last winter and could not obtain it, But tho Government were able lo spare the Bank of New Zealand five millions live hundred thousandofthopeoplo's money. (1), WaSthis work for the people. This was lobe provided in the snape of co-operative labor. But that sort of work Mr Hogg himself has acknowledged to be a failure. It is worse than a failure, it is a delusion and a snare to the working man. A Charitable Aid system of a pernicious kind, lowering and impoverishim; tho worker. In the past a worker might havo to touch his hat to an engineer or contractor. But at the present time he has to go, hat in hand, to a policeman to ask him for work and then on his knees to dozens of petty bosses, called overseers,

who do not flt their positions and understanding but littlo of-the work that they are in charge of, cover their imperfections by loud words and bounce. The fifth reform was land settlement. The Government promised to help settlers who were poor; but instead, havo driven them from the land, as their first demand is the rent in adyance. The next improvements must be done. No use in saying you are short of capital, improvements must ho done or off you go, As an example: out of nearly 200 settlers on the Masterton Eeform Block and Pahiatua Nos. 1, 2,3 and 4, only about twentyretain their land. This, Sir, should be enough to show that Mr Hogg no longer retains the confidence of the Knights of Labour.—Yours, etc., Knight of Lidob.