RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CABINET.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7931, 3 January 1906, Page 5

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE CABINET.

(To the Editor). Sir,— Replying to a question prior to the General Eleotion, Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R, emphaticallly stated "that the present Administration ■of the Government, in his opinion, is the mo9t honest and eftloient we have ever had." Such being the •case, therefore, any alteration in the personnel of the (Jabinet is ■needless. Why should we endeavour to eject a practical farmer, and a "freeholder politically, out of the Land and Agricultural Department, ana put Mr Hogg, a visionary and disoiple of that individualist, Henry George, the land-nationalist and aingle-taxer, in his place? The Hon. T. Y. Duncan believes in putting all landholders on one level by giving all leaseholders the option of the freehold. Mr Hogg does not; he believes in taxing one section of the farming community for 999 years without ever giving a chance —like the private mortgagee does—to pay off this eternal and irredeemable mortgage. Heaven help the landholders if ever the House of Representatives can so stultify fchemselvos as to sit calmly by and allow a man, who does not know anything about laud, agriculture or stock to be ap pointed Minister fur Lands over a practical farmer and good, honest and conscientious politician like the Hon. T. Y. Duncan. On Mr Hogg's testimony the administration of the Government 1s thoroughly honest andJefßoient.; the executive muot be likewise; why not leave well alone? —1 am, etc., SUUM CfQUE.