A MINISTERIAL SCAPEGOAT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 534, 15 June 1909, Page 6

A MINISTERIAL SCAPEGOAT.

Mr. Hogg's utterances, during the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate on Saturday last, or such of them ae wefo heard by the Prime Minister, have, been formally disowned by tiho head of the Government. "They expressed the views v ,of neither the Prime Minister nor., his... colleagues," is Sir Joseph's, reported statement on the subject., This is quite bad enough for the new Minister for what makes j the position worse for him is the astonishing unanimity with which the Ministerial press are clamouring for his chastisement In Christchurch and Auckland Ilia continuance in.the Ministry is deemed to be impossible; in Dunedin it is urged that public opinion will support the Prime Minister "in any step he may take with a view to preventing a repetition of the scandal"; while it is declared by the official mouthpiece of the Ministry in Wellington that "Mn.. Hogg must either discipline himself or adopt an obvious alternative." All this must be vory unpleasant for Mr. Hogg, and perhaps a little surprising. Ho might reasonably ask'himself, "Why;all' this fluster? What have,l said or dono on this occasion that I have not previously said or done , ! When selected for Cabinet rank by the Prime Minister he knew my views on the land question. He knew of my attitude towards' the freeholder and tho land monopolist. I may have spoken strongly —I did speak strongly—but something required to be dono to check the rot that was setting in. Why am I thus assailed by friend and foe alike?" We have no doubt that Mr. Hogg expressed his honest convictions, and wb have no doubf at all that when Mr. Hoqg was offered a portfolio his views wero thoroughly well known to his colleagues. Where the mistake was made was in thinking that the new Minister for Labour.would be willing to have his opinions formed for him by his political chief. '

The Auckland Star says . Mr. Hogg made no attempt to square his opinions with tho declared policy of his colleagues. Oould anything be more absurd ? The declared'policy of his colleagues!- What is it? Who knows it? Will the Minister for Lands, Sir Joseph Ward, point to any occasion on which since he has accepted the portfolio ho has declared bho land policy of his. Government? Of course ho cannot. This backwardness on the part of his colleague was probably one of the causes of Mn. Hooa's outspokonness. Ho may havo felt that it was an opportunity not to te missed to drag tho question into tho prominence its importance deserved, and to ehow his colleagues the proper course to follow. There is no doubt that Mr. Hogg has been very indis. erect from tho standpoint of his party. It has been plain for some time past that Ministers were' anxious to keep tho land question in tho background as long as possible, and Mr. Hooa has not only dragged it into the public gaze, but has done so in a mannor that has caused genoral consternation. Ministers could hardly do otherwiso than disown the startling views'expressed by their colleague, but this is not sufficient. How far docs thoir policy go , in the direction forechadowed by Mn. Hogg? What is'their policy 1 Surely after the alarming pronouncement by a responsible Minister, familiar with the viows of his colleagues, it is only a plain duty on tho part of tho Minister for Latids to let the country know exactly,what tho Government's" policy is. Wo have no doubt that a determined attempt will be made to squeeze the Minister for Labour out of the Ministry, but that probably may not bo so easy a task as some of the Ministerial journals appear to think. Should Mr. Hoaa deem it necessary in tho interests of the leasehold cause to continue to hold his place nn the Treasury benches ho.cannot bo forced to resign. Ministers aro placod in

an awkward position,. end they , cannot hope to escape from it by merely making Me. Hoqq their scapegoat. They must tako the country into their confidence and discloso their wbole lands policy. Their continued silence will only aggravato the uneasiness and alarm'felt throughout the length and breadth of the country concerning the future intentions of the Government.