THE COLONIAL TREASURER.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1931, 14 July 1869, Page 3

THE COLONIAL TREASURER.

The Xctson Colonist-, -writing upon the subject of Mr Vogel’s appointment as Colonial Treasurer, says : Regarding Mr Vogel there will be an outcry among some people and some papers who have a personal aversion to the man. Repeatedly Mr Vogel has been denounced, in season and out of season, as “ a man of no political principle,” and this charge has been reiterated as a foil to the arguments used against the late Ministry, whom the enemies of Mr Vogel extol as the saviours of the country. But what have been the political principles of the Ministry who have just resigned '! They, or their friends on their behalf, “ are not the men " to accuse others, or to cast stones on that subject. They have boxed the compass of New Zealand politics, have disregarded their promises, turned their backs on their former selves, been *' everything by turns, and nothing long,” so that office and its power and attractions might be theirs. Qn the other hand, the career of Mr Vogel in the House of Representatives has been thoroughly consistent. He has never in that House unsaid one year what he said or advocated in a previous session, and he has brought |q bear on the finance of the country a patient power of investigation, and a masterly knowledge of figures which for years has been acknowledged by the House as being useful to it and to the country. His late speech as reported in Hansard, far too long for our columns, was one of the best and most effective and most practical speeches ever delivered in the House of Representatives. It was calm and just in its tone ; and bristled with fact, argument, and quotation, against

the force of which Ministers found it vain to strive. It is quite probable that a cabal may be raised in the House, with antagonism to Mr Vogel as its basis, but history should make ex-Ministers silent. We are aware that certain actions of Mr Vogel in connection with the Province of Otago, on the occasion of the election of Mr Macandrew, will be adduced as an instance—and Ave think it is the only instance—of his political inconsistency. He opposed Mr MacandreAV until he was elected by a large majority of the Province, and then he supported him, and condemned the action of Mr Stafford in attempting to limit the powers of the neAv Superintendent. He was right in the latter action, and the House of Representatives concurred in the principle. He Avas Avroug in so suddenly turning his coat, although at the same time he had this argument, that the A r oices of a vast majority of the elector’s had chosen their chief. But if Mr Cargill, who was a member of the executive of Mr Dick, the opponent of Mr Macandrew, can pardon this inconsistency so as to consent to work with Mr Vogel as a member of the Government of the Colony, surely it is not too much to expect that, at this distance of time, and considering the history of Mr Stafford's mistake in the matter*, the House and the country should not lay stress on that fact. No member of the late Ministry, at least, can for shame’s sake taunt Mr V ogel on that head. Amidst much that is sound and practicable, Mr Vogel has now and then advanced some extreme theories) but there is nothing like the responsibilities of office for curbing the merely theoretical procliAnties of politicians ; and if Mr Vogel has a fair chance we do not doubt that rule Avill apply to him. Judging from the admirable and effective speech he delivered the other night, and from his previous displays in matters of finance, Ave believe that, if he sink mere theories, there Avill be found in the House feAv men Avho are his equals in that department.