MR HOGG, M.P., AT FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 472, 26 August 1909, Page 3

MR HOGG, M.P., AT FOXTON.

A HEARTY RECEPTION.

Mr A. W. Hogg, M.P., delivered an address in the Masonic Hall last night to a good audeince, which included many ladies. His Worship the Mayor (G. H. Stiles Esq.) occupied the chair. As Mr Hogg entered the all, he was greeted with a hearty outburst of applause, which was renewed and prolonged when he rose to speak. A pleasing tribute was paid Mr Hogg just before opening his address. A lad stepped up to the platform and handed a pretty buttonhole to Mr Hogg and also a buoquet for Mrs Hogg. The Mayor, in introducing Mr Hogg, said his visit to Foxton was by invitation from a number of his (Mr Hogg’s) admirers. He referred to Mr Hogg as a distinguished member of Parliament. This was not the first time that Mr Hogg had addressed a public meeting at Foxton. On a former occasion he delivered an address ' on the subject of Rating on the Unimproved value of land. Those who had not previously met .him, had heard of him through the newspapers in reference to his retirement from Cabinet (loud applause) which had in no measure injured his reputation in the eyes of the people. It proved that he was a man who possessed the courage of his opinions—a man who was prepared to sacrifice all monetary considerations to his principles. He felt certain that the audience would listen to Mr Hogg with pleasure, and accord him a patient hearing. The Mayor then formally Introdued Mr Hogg to the audience, amidst prolonged applause. Mr Hogg, who was received with acclamation explained that he resigned from the Cabinet because he differed with Ministers on two questions of policy—hand and Finance. Personally there was no disagreement between himself and his former colleagues. The land, he contended, with its coal and timber and flax was the national asset of the people. Long before he entered Parliament he had agitated for the establishment of State coal mines. Yielding to the

pressure of public opinion the Government had opened up mines, r with the result that in the city of Wellington coal had been reduced from 40s to 20s per ton. (Applause). - There was no objection to legitimate private enterprise, however, and in illustration of this he citted the Waihi mine, which was producing millions of money. '''‘"’The Land Act 1902, and subsequent land legislation was intended to open up the country, prevent monopoly and promote close settlement. Had it dcChe this ? Since 1891, in sixteen years, 57 holdings of over 50,000 acres, each representing 6,300,000 acres had been alienated. On the other hand -£6,000,000 of borrowed money had been spent in acquiring 1 % millions of acres and placing 4000 tenants on the land. This was a costly process for they had cost the Dominion an average ©£ ,£ISOO each. The big estates had largely increased rather than diminished, and the aggregation of holdings in the Forty Mile Bush and other places had frustrated close settlement. Commissioner Flanagan in Canterbury, had complained of the number of land transfer and the amount of , speculation, in terms, that if he "V had been a Minister of the Crown it would have involved his retirement, (Applause and laughter). Here as well as abroad there was too little sympathy between the privileged wealthy class and the poor. He gave some illustrations of the position of the unemployed. The Waterside Workers at their conference decided that legislation was needed to limit the number of the employable, but he would be sorry to see the gate locked against the worker, and he agreed with the New Zealand Times that the proper remedy for labour congestion was the land. When the flaxmills were closed he thought the administration might have tried the experiment of a State Flaxmill instead of sending men to bush felling. (Applause). Harsh names were applied to labour >, unions, but workers were quite ~ justified in protecting their earnings and insisting on reasonable conditions of work. Owing to rent and cost of living, he contended, no worker should be asked in New Zealand to recognise 40s or 45s a week as a living wage. (Applause). Labour should always have access to the land, which was the best bank and most reliable and humane employer. (Applause). To prevent monopoly and aggregation, the graduated tax should be properly applied. He referred to what had been done in Denmark, and maintained that an im- - proved system ©f Settlement would largely increase the exports of ’ New Zealand and add to the general comfort and prosperity of the people. (Applause). Dealing with the question of finance, he attributed the depression and financial stringency to the operations of the banks in restricting the currency and the calling in of money on mortgage by financial institutions. The farmer, business population and workers under existing circumstances were almost entirely at the mercy of the money lenders, who were making a rich harvest by sweating the industrial masses. The worker, who had others to maintain besides himself was the worst suffererof all (hear ! hear i) The power now enjoyed by the banks of regulating the paper currency or issue of £1 notes should be in the hands *of the State, which meant the people. Ttyere was no danger in this and those who predicted ruin and U .

disaster were only throwing dust in the popular eye. He enjoined his listeners and especially the workers to be united and make use of their political power in seeing that the land was so administered that every toiler should have the opportunity of enjoying a home if he was capable of manufacturing one, and that the control of the currency is vested in the people themselves and not confined to directors of banks, whose sole concern was not to help the community, but to make dividends for shareholders at the expense of the community.

Mr Hogg sat down amidst loud and prolonged applause. The Chairman, before a vote of thanks was passed, paid a tribute to the speaker’s address, and expressed the hope that the Dominion would yet see Mr Hogg Minister of Lands. (Applause). Mr L. Keade proposed, in highly complimentary, terms, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Hogg. At the suggestion of Mr J. K. Hornblow the vote was made to include approval of the course adopted by Mr Hogg in severing himself from the Cabinet sooner than sacrifice his principles, which was carried unanimously. Some one at the rear of the hall called for “three cheers for Mr Hogg’’ which were lustily given. In acknowledging the vote of thanks Mr Hogg said he would be pleased to again visit Foxton, and devote an address purely to the subject of the currency (applause). He then moved the usual compliment to the chairman and the meeting terminated.

Here is a sample of letter sent out to “ put on the screw ’’ during

the recent financial stringency and read by Mr Hogg during his address: —

“Trust and Agency Company of Australia. Dear Sir, —Owing to the high rate of interest ruling, we cannot continue your mortgage to us, due Ist December, at a less

rate than 6 per cent, from that date. If you decide to accept that rate, the mortgage will be renewed, subject to six months’ notice on either side. Kindly reply to this at once, and inform us what you wish to do, and if the mortgage is to be renewed, we will send for you to sign a short agreement which we can get drafted at a cost of 15s 6d. We are sorry we have to adopt these measures, but as no doubt yon are aware, the rates have been put up from one to two per cent, on loans on first mortgage during the last six months. We do not propose to raise your interest to the current rate, which is at least 6 ]/i per cent, now, with every prospect of tighter times ahead.—-Yours etc.”

Here is another quotation : Ye Pharisees that rule the land In politics and trade ; Ye money kings whose least command The world has long obeyed;

Ye portly millionaires who choose To live in pious style, Whose bald heads punctuate the pews Far up the middle aisle.

Ye that suck ground rents from the soil, Ye usurers of the banks, Who love to live on others’ toil, And to the Lord give thanks.

Ye hypocrites that cannot read The signals of the times ; Who know not that the age of greed Is doomed with all its crimes. The following in respect to the Mortgage : We worked thro’ spring and winter —thro summer and thro’ fall, But that mortgage worked the hardest and the steadiest of us all. It worked on nights and Sundays, it worked each holiday— It settled down among us, and it never went away. Whatever we kept from it seemed a’most as bad as theft ; It watched us every minute, and it ruled us right and left. The rust and blight were with us sometimes, and sometimes not: The dark-browed scowling mortgage was for ever on the spot. The weevil and the cut-worm, they went as well as came ; The mortgage stayed for ever, eating hearty all the same. It nailed up every window—stood guard at every door— And happiness and sunshine made their home with us no more.