THE MASTERTON SEAT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 3034, 3 November 1908, Page 5

THE MASTERTON SEAT.

MR HOGG AT KURIPIJNI.

There wa<3 an attendance of about seventy persons, including a number of ladies, at the Kuripuni Hall last evening, when Mr A. W. Hogg gave an address in connection with his election campaign. The chair was taken by Mr R. Rigg, who briefly introduced the speaker. Mr Hogg, who rose to speak amidst applause, said that before he would touch on general politics he would deal with the campaign itself. During his progress through the electorate he had met with the most encouraging success at his meetings. The greatest interest had been shown in his candidature, and particularly by lady electors. The only mud he had thrown at him was off the roads. Everywhere he had had large and enthusiastic audiences, " which bad been brought together without bribes and promises. The speaker knew very well that it was no use trying to bribe friends. He had never been a walking promissory note, and had not endeavoured by holding out promises for one thing and another to bribe the electors. The speaker had an opponent in the contest about whom he had said very little for a very good reason. This opponent had complained that his candidature had been treated with contempt by the speaker, and in reference to Mr Hunter's speech at Kuripuni the speaker found that it was "nothing but Hogg, Hogg, Hogg, from start to finish." In fact, if the ''Hogg" portions were left out there was little else left. (Laughter). The speaker did not wish to treat anyone with contempt, but averred that he never knew Mr Hunter before either in Masterton or elsewhere, and for that reason had said nothing about him. One thing that his (Mr Hogg's) country friends had told him was that his opponent was an ardent "vote-hunter," and he had certainly made some "frantic" appeals for support in the advertising columns of newspapers. The speaker had noticed in the columns of the local morning paper advertisements requesting electors to "vote for Hunter and sound progress." He did not know whether there were two such things as sound progress and unsound progress, but he did nbt think Mr Hunter had made much sound progress as a Borough Councillor. Another advertisement read "Vote for Hunter and economical administration." The speaker knew not whether Mr Hunter's Borough Council administration had been economical—he would leave his opponent's Borough Council colleagues to answer that. And he did not know the cost of Mr Hunter's teas or cigars. (Laughter). If Mr Hunter's economical administration meant, as it would almost appear, that he intended to advocate railways for settlers between their sections he was surely humbugging the electors. Then again "Vote for Hunter and closer settlement." If Mr Hunter had a secret method whereby such a desideratum cojld be achieved he should surely reveal it to not only Masterton but to other electorates. (Laughter). The speaker only knew that he and one gentleman present —Mr John McKry —had laid siege after siege to I'..e Ministerial fort to get closer set iement for this electorate, and with what success as was known to all. Another invitation was "Vote for Hunter and land for farmeis' sons." The speaker thought that there were more than farmer's sons wanting land. (Hear! Hear)! Perhaps larmers' sons already had more land than enough, and did not work it as they should. The speaker had noticed the Eketahuna paper contained the offer of a "whole bagful of Christmas presents" from his opponent. An example was "Vote for Hunter and a duty on foreign timber," which, said Mr Hogg, meant dear houses for the masses. Another example was "Votefor Hunter, the pledged enemy of Socialism." The speaker was not. surprised that Mr Hunter had pledged himsell'—he was one of those who would pledge himself to anything so long as it suited his purpose. " Vote' for- Hunter, the working man's friend," was another very familiar, triennial friend, brought out to capture votes. Mr Hogg summed up his opponent's promises by alluding to them a 3 "Hunter's pudding," comparing them amidst loud laughter, to a dish of that name he had discovered in a recently issued cookery book. The speaker enumerated sundry ingredients contained in the real recipe, and added others such as a few ounces of "economical administration, timjber tax, uniform school books, estates and a working man's friend," also "an ounce or two of tea—strangers' tea (laughter) —and two tablespoonsful of whisky." As a final relish the speaker suggested "Hogg's sauce." (Loud laughter). Mr Hogg continued that he liked a man to speak out plainly—"speak the truth and shame the devil" was his own motto. If Mr Hunter observed that maxim he would tell how he favoured trusts and combines, the members of which were rolling in wealth. It was only five years ago that the late Premier had said that "off the heads of trusts and combines must go!" When he (Mr Hogg) read the remarks of Mr Hunter, a candidate for public honours, he could understand his opponent as addressing merchants and flour millers to this effect; "I am going to support you, and to assist yoj to get £IOO,OOO out of the pockets of the people every year;" and the timber merchants to this effect: "Your rings are doing well; they are increasing the cost of building and keeping carpenters, painters and artisans generally out of employment." These were really Mr Hunter's sentiments, and yet the speaker was taxed with treating him with contempt. Mr Hunter was no chicken—he was not hatched yesterday, and he (Mr Hogg) would like to know what were his performances? The speaker had heard he had travelled, and that in America. Perhaps he was the hungry man from 'Frisco, who had gone through a whole menu at dinner at a country hotel, and who had eaten enough for six ordinary persons and wished to pay the usual tariff to the landlord. (Laughter). He seemed to know all about Oregon pine and how it was grown, but the speaker questioned whether Mr Hunter would "spin the same yarn" at the places where the Oregon pine was grown. Why did Mr Hunter ever come away from a

place where timber could bo grown and cut so cheaply, as houses should be procurable there for nothing? The speaker wondered how Mr Hunter had got into the Borough Council, but suggested it might have been through promise making. Perhaps it was because the did not know

him, and it might be the same with him as with a certain politician who got into the House the same way, and when the people did come to know him he quickly went out again. Mr Hunter objected to being called an acrobat, but the speaker thought that it took a clever man to be an acrobat, unless there was a danger that in a feat of equilibrium a bad acrobat might topple over the wrong way. The speaker asked, where were Mr Hunter's performances? Where were his works—his monuments? Referring to his own record, Mr Hogg said that he had heard that some "old friends" were tired of him. If so, he suggested that it was only a short distance for them to shift into another electorate. (Laughter.) He thought that those who were tired of him now were the same persons who were tired of him eighteen years ago—persons who were always tired of Liberal rule and a progressive policy. He believed he could correctly diagnose their complaint, those changeful, -restless, unhappy "tired" ones.' Looking back over his own record, the speaker found that on entering Parliament the country was in an unenviable position. There were worthless people in town and country, and the conditions of labour and the Dominion generally were most unsatisfactory. He had consistently supported the Liberal and 'Labour policy since his advent into the House, when the measures introduced harmonised with public opinion. Battles had been fought against great odds in the earlier Liberal days, when able statesmen were found on both sides of the political arena. Measures then denounced as experimental and likely to prove failures had been crowned with striking success, and many has! been the admiration and envy of other countries in the Old World. In reviewing the legislation of the Liberal administration, Mr Hogg quoted a long list of enactments which he claimed hau materially benefited the Dominion, and were throughout of a progressive and enlightened nature. He affirmed that he accepted full responsibility for the support he had accorded these measures, and in conclusion termed them "Hogg's pudding," as opposed to the dish he had previously described, the allusion being greeted with laughter and applause. He thanked those present for the cordial and patient hearing. (Prolonged applause.)

The only question asked the candidate was whether he would support a reduction in the salaries paid to Official Assignees. Mr Hogg said he was nut conversant with the amount paid to those officials, but the neture of their positions was such as to call for a substantial salary. Mr John Cross moved a hearty vote of thanks to the speaker for his address. This was not seconded.

Mr E. Collie moved that a hearty vote of thanks and confidence be accorded to Mr Hogg. Mr Martin seconded the motion, which was put and carried without dissent, amid applause. Mr Hogg briefly returned thanks, and moved a vote of thanks to the chair, which was duly carried, the meeting then closing.