THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LIX, Issue 9212, 3 November 1908, Page 5

THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

MR HOGG AT KURIPUNI,

Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., coiitinuod his political campaign in connection with the Mastertou seat, last evouing, wlieu ho addressed about seventy electors, iucludiug a number ofladios, at tho Kuripuni Hall. , Mr Robt. Rigg occupied the chair, ami iv his opening remarks, said it was not necessary to introduce Mr Hogg, as he was well-known to every man and womau in Masfcerton.

The candidate was 'well received and his remarks were listoued to attoutively. At tho outset ho said he felt honoured at finding around him so many familiar faces of people he had kuown iv this part of the borough for a good number of years. He was particularly ploasod to see so many ladies present, which showed that all that had been said prior to tho passing of the Womou's Franchise- Bill did not apply to Mastertou. ■ Instead oil reading "yellow-backs" as 'was often said of ladies, they were lookiug into matters for themselves and taking a healthy interest in the politics of tho country. Beforo passing on to politics proper, Mr Hogg said ho would like to make a few observations on his campaign, as far as it had goue. Mr Hogg roferrod to his trip round tho district, ami said he was pleasad with the appoaranco of the country and was particularly-gratified at the welcome lie had everywhere received at tho hands of his constituents. If his bod had not been oue of roses he had rested ou good clean chaff, and the only mud he discovered was the mud on the roads, which was washed off his trousers by oue of Nature's noblewomon beforo lie was entertained at a graphophoue concert. (Laughter.) Everywhere ho had lartro audiences and plenty of applause and encouragement, although they were not offered as bribes, for he never couvorted himself into an animated promissory note. (Renewed laughter.) Ho never liked to iujure auyoue unnecessarily or give them a cause of grievance, and ho noticed that his opponent complained bitterly that lie had boeu treating him with contempt. Now, what could ho do? He did not know his oppouont sufficiently to take much notice of him. He opened the battle by saying he would avoid personalities, yot his address at Kuripuni had been "Hogg" from beginning to end. If "Hogg" was loft out tlioro was little left in Mr Hunter's speech. He did not wisli to imitato him; in fact, he conld not criticise Mr Huutor proporly because he knew so little about him. From what '.ie could learn he was an ardent vote-hunter, and tho frantic appeal* that appeared iv print showed that to be die case. For instaueo, they were asked to "Vote for Hunter, ami"-sound progress. " Now, ho did nor know tho difference betweeu sonud ami uusonud progress, but ho did not uotico that this gentleman had made much progress of any kind iv the Borough Council, aud he was sure lie would not make much progress this week when ho got on tho road to the Waterfalls. (Laughter.) Then they were asked to vote for him aud "economical administration." Had he given any proof of his economy '! What was his tea bill? Were cigars economical? Next we have "Vote for Hunter and-the opening up of backblocks by railways." He would support this ambitions candidate himself if ho thought the promise was worth the cost of the As. however, ho was neither a Yankee millionaire, a Minister of Finance, or a Minister of Railways, ho could only regard it as au attempt to humbug the electors. (Applause aud laughter.) Next ho promises '"close settlement." Rats ! (Laughter.) Had not Mr John McKay aud tho speaker laid siego to Ministers again aud again in the interests of close settlement? Next he offers "land tor farmers' sous." Ruts again! (Laughter.) This was a sugar plum for the Farmers , Uuiou. Have no persons but farmers got sons? How many estates has he ou baud? Then look at tho bagful of Christmas gifts advertised in the Eketahuna paper! They were scattered about iv the advertising columns like the pennies that the Maori children dive for at Rotorua. (Laughter.) Fancy " Vote for Hunter aud the freehold" ; "aud a duty on imported timber"; "the pledged enemy of Socialism" ; "and uniformity of school books"; "and closer settlement" ; "the real working man's friend." That individual always made his appearance, like a tired mongrel with his tongue hanging out at election time. He never liked to see good stuff going to waste, and ho would summarise the iugredieuts offered. Hunter's puddiug would be found compiled by Mary Jewry in Warne's Cookery Book. It was No. I!)BB—Eight eggs, oue pint of cream, lib flour, lib snot, lib currants, }£lb dessert raisins, two ounces of orange or lemou peel. Gibs bread tax, two estates, half-a-dozen farms, eight ounces timber duty, three ounces uniform school books, one fluid ounce of working man's friend, 21bs railways aud close settlement, ooz land for farmers' sous, 3ozs sugar, loz tea, and two tablespoonfuls of whisky. Beat the eggs, pour in the whisky, put into a well-buttered mould, aud boil it. (Roars of laughter.) They could add some Hogg sauce just to make it palatable. (Renewed laughter.) Why did he not speak out plainly— speak the truth and shame the devil? Why did he not say: "I am a supporter of trusts and combines," the organisations that the late Mr Seddon referred to five years ago in these terms:—"We had now raising its head in this country the element of trusts and combines. Off that head must go." Why did he not exclaim in plain English : "Millers, merchants »nd speculators. I am a supporter of the duty on flour. 1 shall help you to retain the bread tax. It will enable you to continue to collar £100,000 a year from the workers' earnings, even if their children starve! "Sawmillers aud timber merchants, your rings have worked well. They are doubling the price of timber, dwellings and rent aud throwing builders, carpenters, plumbers and painters out of employment. I will increase the duty on foreign timber, produce a famine, make dwellings impossible to the worker, and you will grow rich as Dives, while your men will be like Lazarus." But why was his opponent treated with contempt? pimply because he was a man that nobody knew. He was no chicken hatched recently, but what were his performances? He had travelled a lot. Where? Was he the hungry man from 'Frisco who went into an American restaurant, ate his way through a long menu and was asked to pay two, dollars instead of half-a-dollar because as the landlord said he"didn't believe in a hereafter." (Laughter.) He declared that he knew all about Oregon pine and the kind of employment and wages paid where it was produced, but he questioned whether' he would spin the same yarn in presence of the producers. Why did he leave the land of cheap timber and Asiatic labour? How did he get into the Borough Council? This was a surprise to many. Was it due to private canvassing and unlimited promises? Presumably it was because ,the people didn't know him. (Laughter.) Like the fly in amber, he probably did not know himself how he got there. He had heard of a member of Parliament who was returned because lie was unknown and when lie

became known the people turned him out. Mr Hunter objected to be called au acrobat, but it took a. clever man to be a good acrobat. 1 bad one was dangerous beoauso he was apt to hurt others besides himself. Whore wore Mr Hunter's performances—his works —his monuments? He (Mr Hogg) had a record of 18 years' active political sorvioe. He had been told that, sonic' of his constituents were tired of him and wanted a change. This they could easily got by crossing tho Waingawa river or going to tho Upper Plain. But ho could diagouoso their complaint. They objectod to tne poople getting their rights and they had boon wanting a ohuugo for tlio lust oighteon years. (Applause.) At tho time when lie onterod Parliament labour was uuemployod and tho roads wore covered with swaggers. Bad Jogislatiou had always a depressing effect. Ho had taken part in tho battles that had rosulfcod in legislation that made us admired and copied by cho Australian States, tho United Statos aud ovou Groat., Britain. (Applause.) The struggle was a severo one, for tliero wore strong men on both sides. Ho was proud to have been a warm and energetic supporter of fcho Liberal aud Labour party and to havo stood behind such men as Mr Ballauco, Sir George Grey, Sir John MoKonzie,aud Mr Seddou when they faced such men as the late Sir John Hall, Mr Rolloston, Mr Fergus, aud Mr Valentine, all active and powerful debaters. (Applauso.) He gave a list of tho principal measures that had been passed, briefly describing their object aud stating that ho accepted tho full responsibility of tho action he had taken in helping to placo them on the Statute book. in a political sense these measures had placed Now Zealand in the front rank among the dopeudencios of tho British Empire. There were local works and institutions for which he might readily claim some credit, but his natural modesty anil the advanced hour would prevent him doing so. (Laughter.) Ho thought he had given them the ingredients of "Hogg's pudding" and lie asked wnothei' it did not compare vory favourably with "Hunters —(Renewed laughter). In conclusion he thanked the audience for the patient hoaring tlioy had given him. (Applause. ) Questions being invited, Mr Hogg was asked wJiethor he did not consider tho salary attached to District Agents of tho Official Assigneo was too large? Mr Hogg ropliod that ho could not say what amount was paid, but responsible work in such a department should bo adequately remunerated. Mr John Cross moved a vote of thanks to Mr Hogg, but this was not seconded.

Mr E. Collie moved a hearty voto of thanks aud confidence. This was seconded by Mi , Martiu, and carriod unanimously, amidst cheers. Mr Ho£g, in returning thanks, expressed his keen appreciation of tho continued confidence everywhere expressed by his constituents.