MR A.W. HOGG.M.H.R

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4905, 18 December 1894, Page 2

MR A.W. HOGG.M.H.R

his Lady Suppprters.

■ Several of Mr A, 'W. Hogg'sladyV'; supporters met at the Masterton': ■•'■;; ;,| Liber'alAssociation's;meetin'g»room' T [y't last night,"to present' Him "with ; the , : '.'•■?■..:}. pvoceods of the late social as their. . especial gift. The chair was ocou- :;■■; ; : :j:f pied by Mrs P. Tayler, who, in open • ;'•: ■,■. f: ing the!proceedings said/she : had much pleasure in presenting a small ; ''/ token of the esteem 1 iuwhioh Mr ./v Hogg's lady supporters held him. ;.::;; Many of his lady friends arid snp- ; :>; porters had watched with pleasure his doings in Parliament; withwuich. ,; ' one and all were pleased and proud, and sincerely hoped he might long ,;' continue to represent them.. : ■ £'. Mr Hogg, who was„receiv)d with 4' applause, said he codfcaßsnre them M he was highly pleasaßwith a ''■ ™ compliment from the ladies of Mas- '.' •■. terton. It had been predicted by > those who, wereautagonistio to his ;',.■ , action in supporting thooxtonsion of the franchise to women that they would prove his political ruin, He , had never been addicted to flirting or kissing the babies at electioneering times. In a ballroom, too, if he , was to attempt a waltz, liemightbe i, as clumsy as an'elephant, and altogether he looked upon himself as a . bashfulman. But he had confidence , , , in the good judgment of the ladies, and although hisopponents had been assured that the Indies would all go i, against him,he had supported giving i, them the franchise. He • had not r, had the heart to address meetings' of '

ladies only, as his opponents had ' : done, as lie folt sura he should break down. But when he found that committees of ladies -had been voluntarily working on Mb behalf, and found the receptions accorded ' him during his last election campaign, he quite got over his shyness. (Laughter). Bouquets had been given to Mm by them at Pahiatua and Mastertou. Tho flowers had ■ ' faded, but the ribbons he still trea-' sured. One basket of artificial ,: flowers worked by a lady on her sick bed for him, he should always trea- . sure. (Applause). On election day the ladies had done him good service, and in returning thanks after the . ; poll it might have been noticed the . ladies Avere ever uppermost in his mind. He hod always been an advocate of women's rights, and had , written in support of his views for • ' years. At tho same time he did not_ , believe in silly extremes. The best ] way to secure tho rights of women . was to remove their wWgg,;. To j preserve the independence ot tho j individual, it was equally neoessary to arm and equip woman to fight her way in the world, Thoy would then . have even happier homes; no domes- ,► ! tic slaves and no brutalslavo-drivers. ' (Applause). He believed that the ladies supported Church so much, ,1 because they were always looking \ Ij forward to a better, and happier , state; Poets, writers, and painters, ( ', always depicted Paradise as peopled ,' with■ women—for wlioeversdwor '. hoard'of a male angel.' (Laughter). ' It had -without doutt always been his' ambition to secure a little moro ' of the happiness for the' peoplo in

this life, so that the women might be really angels in their Mines. He had most heartily to thantlipkdies who had dono so.much"fmiim, and he hoped-that they wouldfneyer regret having supported hims While he had always.been'looked upon as the■ Radical of Radicals in Now Zealand, no one had been paid a higher compliment by the ladies' of his constituency than Mmself. Again thanking them for their graceful acknowledgment of his past services, Mr r Hogg sat down amidst applause, . Mrs Taylor moved a hearty vote ■. of thanks to the Press for support . given to their offorts in connection t with Mr Hogg's late social. Mr Cullen moved a votoof thanks . to Mrs P. Taylor as chairwoman,and , to all the ladies of the Committeo ; for their sharo in the work, [ The motions were earned by ac- ) clamation, and tho gathering broke np after singing "Auld Lang Syno.'\