SIR J. VOGEL AT CHRISTCHURCH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1527, 7 April 1887, Page 2

SIR J. YOGEL AT CHRISTCHURCH

Chbistohuboh, April 6. Sir Julius Yogel addressed bis oonsti* tuents tonight m the Oddfellows' Hall, which was crowded. After saying that the colony had sustained an immense loss m the deaths of Meßsrs Macandrew and Bradshaw, he referred to the mea* euros, passed last session. The Govern* rnent Loans to Local Bodies Aot was exceedingly useful. It was to some extent spoiled by the Upper House Insisting that there should be' a majority 7, of all votes exeroisable. An endeavor would be made to get that altered next session. He explained why he. bad nofc. voted for the Representation Bill "last session. There was not time to pass it, and itoould only have been passed with the support of the Opposition, who; - would h^ve insisted on altering it mated* \ Ally. He «*ould do his best to have It passed this session. It would be brought /„<>■• before the House somewhat modified. Ha hoped that the results of the year would prove better . than might be ex~ peoted from the deficit m the Oojtomt and Railway revenue. Government, had constantly occupied themselves m re* trenching expanditure. He did not lefl that any great reduotion could be made] m the expenditure on Defenoeand Edu* ..•■• aatlon. He did not think that a reduc* „: tion shoald bb made m the honorariums >f members, , Borrowing should not allip*, gether oaase, and should be regulated according to the fluctuations of revenue. There was likely to be considerable curtailment of borrowing. It would be the duty of Government to push on railways m hand. He thought there. would. be considerable hesitation about beginning'./^V uew railways, but for Certain purposes,' ■■■'*' howeeer, borrowing could net oeaie, suoh tv as for the purposes of settlement, road:" making, telegraph construction, purchase' of Native lands,, and loans to looal ' >"' bodies The rail wayo already construotsd wtfre a vast benefit to the colony. Ho ' ' oouvdered he publio bad saved fully one and a ha f time* the whole gross : receipts for the carriage of goods by haviDg the use of the railways, Uhf 5 ; • ' railway charges were not so high as--' r hay would be if revenue purposes were the first object. He did not think the dbuntrf-" would approve of »he railways being handed over to commissioners as In Via* t irla. He was of opinion it was too late ro substitute a land tax for a property u\x The mortgagees were m effect-, already paying the tax on the money they' borrowed as the mortgagees added $ per cent, iotereat to cover the risk of; pro* : periy tax He thought the general deilre • ..* to bring the publio expenditure within the revenue did great credit to the pnhtlo opinion of the colony. ' Mr Ballahca'a" Bill, though enabling portions of large "" ea^tes to be opened for settlement, did not involve the question of the national* isatlon of the land, which he considered

was impoisible to carry out. The Midland Railway contract was well oonoelved. It was not yet signed, but he, thought they were awaiting Mr Brodie Hoare'fc arrival m England, and that It Boonwould be executed, The interests of the. colony were amply protected, arid th» expense of unnecessary surveys would be* saved. He concluded {by saying that be had indicated Boffloiently * tbat the measures most demanding consideration were the Representation Bill, a Bill to smooth the working of the Government Loans to Local Bodies, a Bill to promote settlement, and some measures relating to cimlnal laws. The condition of th'S finances should be thoroughly considered, the nature of taxation reviewed, and the expenditure of the country adjusted to Itt v

revenue,