MR HOGG AND THE CABINET.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 215, 16 October 1909, Page 2

MR HOGG AND THE CABINET.

HOW A FINANCIAL CBISIS WAS AVERTED. "~ PREMIER AND JIR. HOGG CROSS DWORDS. SOME CANDID UTTERANCES. By Telegraph,—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives this evening, .Mr. Hogg, touching on land and labor, .said there was the spectacle of an unlimited quantity of land lying idle .'i the country, while in the towns a large amount of labor was crying out for occupation. What stood between the land | and laborV Such a state of affairs was scandalous l in a young country, an I would not exist under proper government. The outstanding feature of the Address-in-Reply debate was the land question, the most important of the day, affecting, as it did, every member of the community. The land question was the root of the whole sociil problem. He reviewed his attitude on the laud question and his experiences since he left the Cabinet in the course of his tour of the Dominion.

The Premier expressed pained surprhe at Air. Hogg's statements. Ileforc Air. Hogg joined the Cabinet he (Sir Joseph Ward) explained the policy of the Coveminent, and asked him if lie could support it. Air. Hogg replied in the affirmative. During his Ministerial career Mr. Hogg had never raised t*e land question. The Premier had felt it necessary in the kindliest way to point out to 'Air. Hogg the inndvisableness of speaking in a certain way on financial questions. It was contrary to fact that Air. Hogg retired from the Ministry localise he would not alter his views on the land question. It was the duty of every Minister to conform to constitutional precedent in his relations with his colleagues. The real reason for Air. Hogg's retirement was his speech in the House, which entirely was at variance with the views of his eolleagucs', without warning the Premier. If he (the Premier) had been weak enough to allow Mr. Hogg's 'financial statements to eo unchallenged, the result would have heen a financial crisis. After tins incident the Premier felt it his duty to write to Mr. Hogg, and the result was a friendly interview between the Minister and himself. They parted friends, and he hoped

they would always he friends. He had never assumed an autocratic attitude towards his) colleagues, and he did not think it fair that Mr. Hogg should by inuendo indicate that he (the Premier) was to blame for the former's retirement from the Cabinet. The Premi -r then read a letter lie had addressed to Mr. Hogg asking him to resign, and the reply thereto. The Cabinet was opposed to the aggregation of large estat 's and monopoly, and in favor of helping the oppressed and distressed. Mr. Hogg, in reply to Sir Joseph Ward, said he had never expected co lsideration nor had he received it. Afar as the policy of the Government was concerned, he did not know what it was, nor was it once alluded to. Sir Joseph Ward: Then you joined the Cabinet without knowing what its policy was? Mr. Hogg, continuing, related the circumstances under which he received the offer of the portfolio. No explanation of the policy of the Cabinet, he said, was tendered to him. He did not yet know what the. Government's policy on the land question was. Regarding the State currency, having observed its success elsewhere, he did not see any rensoi for its non-success here. It was quit; true that Sir Joseph Ward had remonstrated with on this subject. Why was he excluded from Cabinet? Was it not on account of his views on the lan 1 question? Sir Joseph Ward affirmed that Mr. Hogg had been informed of the Government's .policy. Mr. Hogg himself stated that he knew what the policy was when he joined the Cabinet. Mr. Hogg had asked for the lands' portfolio, but the Premier informed him that he intended holding this Jiimself, and offered him the portfolio of roads and bridges. Mr. Hogg reiterated that the policv «t the Government was not explained to him. Regarding the offer of theDrcadnonght he had only approved of that on the representations of extreme urgency, but was not a strong supporter of It. Still, lie hnd not repudiated his action. Sir Joseph Ward said if Mr. Hogg joined the Cabinet without knowing its policy he took a false step.