THE PREMIER AND MR HOGG.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9623, 16 October 1909, Page 5

THE PREMIER AND MR HOGG.

THE REASON FOR MR HOGG'S RETIREMENT. INTERESTING DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 15. In the House thi3 evening during the course of the Address-in-Reply debate, Mr A. W. Hogg, Masterton, touching on land and labour, said that there was the spectacle of an unlimited quantity of land lying idle in the country, while in the towns a large amount of labour was crying out for occupation. What stood between land and labour? Such a state of affairs was scandalous in a young country, and would not exist under proper Government. The outstanding feature of the debate was the land question, the mos*, important of the day, affecting as it did every member of the community. The land question was at the root of the whole social problem. He reviewed his attitude on the land question, and his experiences since he left the Cabinet in the course of his tour of the Dominion.

The Premier expressed pained surprise at Mr Hogg's statements. Before Mr Hogg had joined the Cabinet, Sir Joseph explained the policy of the uovernment, and asked him if he could support it. Mr Hoge replied in the affirmative. During his Ministerial career Mr Hogg never raised the land question. The Premier had felt it necessary in kindness to point out to Mr Hogg the inadvisableness of his speaking in a certain way on the financial ques tions. It was contrary to fact that Mr Hogg retired from the Ministry, because 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 Mr Hogg's retirement was his speech in the House, which was entirely at variance with that of his colleagues. If he (the Premier) had been weak enough to allow Mr Hogg's financial statements to go unchallenged the result would have been a financial crisis. After this incident the Premier felt it his duty to write to Mr Hogg, and the result was a friendly interview.

The Minister and himself parted friends, and he hoped would always be friends. He had never assumed an autocratic attitude towards his colleagues, and did not think it fair that Mr Hogg should by innuendos indicate that he (the Premier) was to blame for the former's retirement from the Cabinet. The Premier then read a letter he had addressed to Mr Hogg, asking him to resign, and the reply received thereto. The uabinet was opposed to the aggregation of arge estates and monopoly, and in favour of helping the oppressed and distressed.

Mr Hogg, in repiv to Sir Joseph, said that he had never expected consideration nor had he received it. As far as the policy of the Go vernment was concerned he did not know what it was nor was it once alluded to.

Sir J. G. 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 a portfolio. No explanation of policy was tendered to him. He did not yet know the Government's policy on the land question. Eegarding the State currency having observed its success elsewhere he dil not see any reason for its non success here. It was quite true that Sir J. G Ward had remonstrated with him on this subject. Why was he excluded from the Cabinet? Was it not on account of his views on the land question 9 The Premer affirmed that Mr had been informed of the Govern • ment'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 to hold this himself, and offered him the portfolio fit Roads and Bridges. Mr Hogg reiterated that the policy of the Government had not been explained to him- Regarding the offer of a Dreadnought, he had only approved of that on representations ot extreme urgency, but he was not a strong supporter of it. Still he had not repudiated his action. The Premier said that if Mr Hogg joined the Cabinet without knowing its policy he took a false step.