POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 462, 22 June 1909, Page 3

POLITICAL.

MR. A. W. HOGG

An open-air meeting held on Sunday, under the direction of the Auckland branch of the Socialist Party, passed a resolution endorsing the utterances of Mr Hogg on the land question, and state note issue, and expressing its deep regret at his retirement from the Ministry. A fund was opened for the presentation of a testimonial to Mr Hogg. The Wairarapa Daily Times says“ Mr Hogg is once more ‘ a free lance.’ In our opinion he was unwise to attach himself to a Liberal Ministry with Conservative instincts. We regret his loss of power and position, because ' Fortune knocks once at least at every man’s gate,’ and Mr Hogg cannot be sure of a second call. But Mr Hogg’s future career as a public man, and the measure of the service which he will be able to render to his fellowmen, will depend entirely upon Mr Hogg himself. We shall be very pleased to find the member for Mastertou, whether in or out of office, worthily retaining the confidence and esteem of the large constituency which he represents.”

The Post concludes an article referring to Mt Hogg’s retirement from the Ministry in the following words ;~Thus after a few months in charge of his portfolios he has become a private member again. His courageous and emphatic adherence to his convictions will win him much sympathy, though even many of his best friends will i recognise that his resignation was inevitable. Mr Hogg has given sturdy service in the cause of land reform, and the days of his usefulness in this all-important domain are not yet numbered. In other departments of public life he has earned the gratitude of the people, and he will, no doubt, continue to prove a valuable member of Parliament. Napier, June 21. A meeting of the Napier Unions last evening adopted the following resolution:—“That this public meeting condemns the action of the Cabinet in dismissing Mr Hogg, whom we regard as one of the best friends of the wageearning class and one of the most enlightened and capable statesmen who have ever held office in this country. This meeting also calls upon the workers in all parts of the Dominion to assemble and declare themselves in favour of Mr Hogg’s policy for the destruction of land monopoly and the removal of all obstacles to national progress and the just distribution of national earnings.”