MR HOGG INTERVIEWED

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 122, 21 June 1909, Page 4

MR HOGG INTERVIEWED

STANDS FIRM TO HIS PRINCIPLES. WILL REMAIN fX POLITICS. HIS COX'STIII JvXTS TO BE CONFIDED IN. The Hon. A. W. Hogg was interviewed on Thursday .by a Xew Zealand Times reporter. .Mr. Hogg, in reply to questions, said:—

"So far as I am concerned, my views on the iand ([uestion, and also with regard to the currency being in the hands of the Sute, are not of recent development. because I have virtually held those views all my life. Before I entered the political arena at all 1 held the same opinions, considering that,the land was the property of the people, and that, to a great extent, the monopolist of land ana capital had been the cause.

of poverty, destitution, and industrial strite in every part of the world. These views' 1 hold as principles, and, recognising principles to be immutable, I have never swerved from them. Sooner than abandon them, I have always been prepared to make anv sacrifice". HIS IXCLI'SIOX IN THE .MINISTRY. "Had 1 thought for a moment that my inclusion in the Ministry would have I necessitated the suppression of my strong convictions respecting the effect of land monopoly on the labor market and on the circumstances of t hj people, 1 should never have entered the Ministry. I have always claimed the right 011 the platform, or in the Senate, to express my opinions, and il would be utterly incompatible with the privileges' 1 have enjoyed if that right was abandoned. That has been the sole cause of the split between us. "Personally, I have always been on the very best terms with" the other members of the Ministry, but, unfortunately, their views' on the important questions of finance and land settlement have sever been in harmony with mine One thing to which I have- called attention and taken strong exception to is the manner in which the line land that 1 saw in the King Country is, through the medium of the Native Land Court, being handed over in the form of long leases to the speculator, instead of being properly settled as it should be by the State.

THE LABOR AND ROADS DEPARTMENTS. | "If I had contained at the head <'f the Roads Department I have no douot I would have been able to carry out important requirements in regard to roads and bridges'. As. head of the La'bor Department I have had a lot of exceedingly difficult duties to perform. The position has been very acute ever since I took office. The unemployed have become more numerous, and "the heartrending appeals I have had from both meji and women and heads of families have been a source of great distress to me.

"As to the labor difficulties, I must say that both trade unionists and employers have surprised me, because I was led to believe that harmonious action "was impossible; but there has been very little friction. The men appear to be thoroughly well disposed, whilst the _ employers themselves have Shown a disposition to carry out the awards of the Arbitration Court to the letter. In fact, it has been a pleasure to preside over a department that has been working so. well. The only thing I have regretted all through 'is that there are so many men and women all ready and willing to work and that we have -been unable to find remunerative employment for them. "I have always considered the land of a country to be the great employed and provider for the people, and I attribute now the position of the industrial classes in the Dominion to be largely due to the way in which land that Ought to be occupied by small communities is held in many instances in an enormous unproductive state and in a few hands. HIS VIEWS SUPPORTED.

"Within the last day or two 1 have had numerous letters and telegrams from different parts of the Dominion, both from union* and associations, expressing great satisfaction at the views on the land question that I have just given utterance to." MASTERTON CONSTITUENCY ?

With regard to your constituency ? "They have always known my views, and understand me thoroughly! I am prepared to represent them in the future as I have (Tone in the past. The resignation of my portfolios does -.lot involve my resignation as the representative of the Alasterton electorate. , SEVER AN OF-FICK-SKKKER.

"I have been in political life now for about nineteen years, and 1 can safely say that I never personally solicited Cabinet rank, either directly or indirect ly. What came tp nie was offered to me absolutely. When 1 entered political life first, it was not of my own accord, but in consequence of a great many requests I sot from the people of Masterton who knew me, and letters I received from Sir George Grey and John Ballance, urging me to come forward on behalf of the Liberal party. jllastertr/ was previously regarded as one o£_ the most secure Conservative strongjiolds in New Zealand. "It is quite likely that before long I will give my constituents a full explanation of my experiences and the cause of my retirement."

BEFORE THE RESIGNATION, SEVERE PRESS CRITICISM. Concerning Mr. Hogg's remarkable utterance recently the Christehurch Press says:—He obviously regards the Prime Minister as a mere nonentity, to whom he owes no allegiance, and whom he is not bound to respect. He treats with equal eoiitempt the views of all members of liis own party when they happen to differ from his own. The coarseness and vulgarity of the Whole speech will make every <ke.ent Xew Zcainnder Mush with shame. W'k Ap not understand haw Mr. Hogg ever' cjnie into the Ministry, especially as be as- i Sures us that it was not owing to any. solicitation ou -lik part. W'e shall find it still more iifljcult to understand if, after bis display os Saturday, lie is retained in his office, Ohppcially as the Prime Minister has declared f.hat Mr. Hogg's riews are not entertained ] f y liis colleagues. That statement, which S»\ nothing less thai) n public rebuke of the Minister, should eiwirp his resignation. If we looked at the mutter from a party point of view, we should ssitv that nothing could be more delightful tiim; fj]e prospect of Mr. Hogg disporting himself with t'Uestertieldinn grace mid : ';i* discretion of a Talleyrand <1... i Sir ■Joseph Ward's absence at Hume, From the broader view of tile counirv'* ivelfare. we confess; that the possibility excites in us tile most serious misgivings. The Auckland Herald says:—The extraordinary speeoli with which the new Minister for Labor lias- celebrated liis appearance upon the Treasury Bench will not encourage our agriculturists to hope for any- assistance from the reconstructed Administration of Sir Joseph Ward ill the great work of opening up t)je land. the public attaches very Titt'lv importance to the personal amenities u'hicii pass between Government and Oppositioi, benches, but must necessarily be coueenieri ;i : i Uie aecuinulating evidence wh:eh >liow- liiti,!. ( >iir Xew Zealand Ailmiiiii>tralion is ' euiftt/iict?!) solely for the purpose of making a niu'jority, and without any rcgai'd 'whatever for the great political questions upmj the solution of which the develop, nrent and prosperity of the Dominion depend. The fiovernineiit policy engineered by ifj'. Carroll, and supported by men like Mr. Hflgg. to whom a freeholding settler is u gfiniinal aims' at preventing in every possible manner the acquisition by -the Crown of "tijt are termed ' native lands."

The Auckland Star, a Government organ, say*:—Wlmt aW Liberals in the House and outside it are asking themselves. in some perplexity, just m>w f how it is possible for a .Minister to retain office after striking out such an irresponsible ..course as this for himself without consulting his colleagues, and without making any attempt to square his utterances with their declared policy. It seems to us that there is' only one course open to Mr. Hogs:. "When we consider how indispensable caution, discretion. and an acute sense of personal responsibility and party Joyalty are for tlie tenure of such an office »we do not tbiirk vLat we exaggerate the lieinousness of Mr. Hogg's offence when we s'tate onr conviction that Saturday's episode plight to close his, career as a Minister.