THE PROGRESS OF MR. HOGG.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 503, 10 May 1909, Page 4

THE PROGRESS OF MR. HOGG.

L-'W«een Me.' A. W. Hogg.; was; elevated to the; Ministry 'the general conclusion .waa.thatSiK Joseph^Waeb Had embarked on a :yery risk}' experiment... Mn. Hogg certainly possesses qualities : which .have been.useful to him in retaining his .seat : in Parliament -for: a good many years, .but it is difficult to, find his' qualification's /for ;Ministerial .office. ' Since, his' lelevation he• has'been'travelling far and \ wide,; and whefeyer..he has :gone-heihas not..pnly,:been notable for his affability to deputations, but he has even 'gone out of his way to'lay down theories or : make promises which his '.colleagues find it necessary -to confute .or .repudiate without ;delay.'. At Wanganui not long-ago : Mb.vHooo appeared as ; a convert to the issuei ■ of> inconvertible notes' by;,tho State, and .expressed approval' of the remarkable ..arguments swith which the scheme ,'was 'commended, to tis'i support; '. Sie Joseph -l Waed spent.:' .an-., unnecessarily large portion of his Invorcargill 1 speech in;. demonstrating •in remorseless, detail ..the absurdity of his colleague's '■ ideas. Replying, to a deputation 'in Auckland •the other day, Me. Hogg was enthusiastic over a. proposal'that a railway should be built botween Tauranga.'arid To Puke. To his kindly: eye such a railway appeared to be Very desirable.. It ought to'be.built, and he was certain that it "would pay at once." Now we have Mr. It/'' M'Eenzie assuring the 'people of Tauranga that "a line between Tauranga and To Puke" .'"would. ;never pay.": "While 1 I am .Minister for• Public ■Works," he added, with an emphasis heavy enough.to, suggest,that his words were aimed at his colleague, "I have.no intention of starting a railway, between Tauranga and Te Puke." It begins to appear 'that a large'part of the time of Ministers will require to be devoted to contradicting. Me. Hogg. . It is just as "well; perhaps, 'that 1 the Peime Ministee told the people of' Otago that he would riot be; bound by any past promises, of Ministers. ! It will be interesting -to. nbto •Mb. Hogg's progress during the coming session of Parliament. We suspect that tho _ Prime Ministee will spend some anxious half-hours when 1 his amiable colleague catches Mr. Speaker's eye.