"ABSOLUTE NONSENSE."

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10122, 19 October 1910, Page 4

"ABSOLUTE NONSENSE."

The member for Selwyn was severe on Mr. Hogg—and rightly, too—after the latter had made his now notorious.speech in the House of Representatives on the Defence Bill. Mr. Hardy said:—"For a piece of political buffoonery I have never listened to the like of it, and it astonished me that an old member and an old man should get up and talk such absolute nonsense, and what he said is hardly worthy of criticism. The honourable gentleman continually talks about the horny-handed sous of toil, and he speaks of workingmen in disparaging terras, as though they were not prepared to defend their homes and families. I guarantee to say that the working-men he is championing will come forward and be the first to fight for their homes, liberty, and happiness. The honourable gentleman talks of class distinctions, but I repeat that the workmen are prepared to fight, and the other men are prepared to lead them. Who went out td Sovth Africa to fight ? The working-men ; and the men with plenty of money, who had no necessity to go out, also went there and fought for the old flag—■ both classes were prepared to fit themselves to light for their hearths and homes. The, honourable gentleman talks rubbish, though we do not expect much more from him. -When he talks about expense I would like to ask him, was he not a member of the Ministry that gave away the Dreadnought without consulting the House? Certainly he was. Therefore I say that when the honourable gentleman comes down hero and declaims against this measm-e he is talking humbug and nonsense. I like to hear of members practising what they pr.each, and not, after assisting to give away a. Dreadnought, blaming the Ministry for the splendid way they are acting now."