THE WORKING MAN'S FRIEND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2667, 6 August 1887, Page 2

THE WORKING MAN'S FRIEND.

(Tojhe Editor.] Sir,—Wjll you, allow me space to say a few words about Mr Hogg's recent address, where he posed as the working man's savior and equolisator of the

Colony's land and wealth, jfroat Scott t Why has Mr Hogg kes(he iniet seclusion of his Editorial den all hese years of his life? Why did he tot come forward before now and ■escue the poor working man from the ron.hand of the capitalist and emiloyer of labor, Mr Hogg on that light brought to my mind the hero of 2aptain Maryatt's novel, "Equality '■ rack* in Midshipman Easy. Electors • jf'Masterton' procure this hook and : Mtfiogg's and''if-you don't lay the simile is, perfect I anr no critic, in election is iraf a very pleasant kind' )fthing,irstirs up a vast amountof-■ ' jealousy, bitterness, malevolence, and"-. other unworthy passions, and the well---' lar'eof the country.is too often forgeito .- teri; in ; the mere personal, element W •' fused in (he contest. People choose their.candidates not always for best or roost patriotic reasons, and make it a point of honor, almost of conscience—'.'. • if indeed there is any conscience in the matter—to try and get their man returned by hook orby crook, there arc local as well us persaal interests aud party cries, election watch- .-.'•• • words, such as Protection and Free-'■.'."-'■■'• trade, that enter largely into such con-.*'/. 1 ■■'■ tests The platform Mr Hogg depends . upon for his election to Parliament is* i-<"&-a heavy Protective policy to benefit the working man, the small settler, and the.farmer, and the general improves •;•'' me'nt of.the masses. Well, Mr Hogg's .y' dependence on the working man, the Small farmer, and the settler, will prove a rotten reed on the declaration ;.'"' of the poll. The working man is too*»'■ ; much enlightened now-a.days to support Mr Hogg or any candidate with the same fawning creed. No Mr Hogi; , there are two better men to chooso • from, whose abilities and political creed compared to yours are as powerful as electric light to a common tallow • candle. That Protection cry of Mr Hogg's and his comparisons of land under crop in Protective Victoria and ." ■••■■■ Freetrade New South Wales is about on a par with the rest of his : political knowledge. From my own knowledge being a'native of Victoria, and know- *.:'■.. iog.it a great deal better than most '•• people, and having lived years indifferent parts of New South travelled over a great deal of it, if I .. wrote for a week I could not give a niore: explicit understanding to your .'. readers than comparing the two Islands of New. Zealand—Victoria with the South Island, and New South Wales . ■'■ .with the North Island. Now in culm :■■■.:: reason I think auy average intelligent ■ ■maV.whow'ell analyses Mr Hogg's ■-..;,,.■■ address will find that his political creed is as (inapplicable as his compari-. sous of the two colonies referred to, and.their.';agricultural adaptabilities, I; thinkull.of us will remember v.. • when. Sir-George Grey stumped the •■:. colony from Inyercargill to Auckland ' : •what he promised the working man .-.- previous to his Ministry getting into , power, did we, get it V Yes! in as big a depression as we ever had, which '■'ended : in- the Grey Ministry retiring ; ■in-confusion'.'and shame. Now, great v-.; 'Offisar, show-me the man that wiMjjgve the effrontery to'compare Mr, Htigg /: with Sir George Grey, and yet ho takes in hand to dp what - Sir George Grey : failed thinking man knows <-<=■ that capital and labor will adjust ~;r themselves.'without politicul agitations. Mr Hogg refened to those 5000 acres of land that was auctioned- >}<■ at Masterton at one fell swoop, at 10s per acre, and' everyone knows that land to be the Annedale estate. The plucky purchaser of those rugged bush covered hills has since expended about £3 10s per acre, That money was expended in- labour on the land, awTz ' circulated in this district, and we aljjW felt the good of it. Unless we get the employer with capital to engage as at wages, we roust with our wives and families leave the colony, or else cease to exist, for our benevolent institutions can only support the frail and infirm, and Patience knows their numbers are excessive in our young colouy. Now, Mr Hogg is a blind foljawer of Sir R, Stout. Doeß he knowjpat Sir Robert Stout has cost the country eleven pounds eight shilling!, per day for his services. Now, in the name of fortune, is this not more than we can afford, and is he deserving of support while he draws the sum of £ll 8s per day from our over-taxed impoverished State, and nHiidreds of men going about willing and able to work, and know not where to get it to keep body and soul together. Ido not for one moment wish to see the Major Atkin> son Party- in power, as we had plenty of maladministration during their term of office, No, the working wants a Rational Government, with Jf the Mr Hogg and Sir Rohert,Stout class of political adventurers figuring bv their absence and seclusion in their professional callings that their abilities aud sincerity deserves. I am, he, • ■■' Waoe-earner.