THE AUTHOR OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SCHEME.

Evening Star, Issue 4244, 3 October 1876, Page 3

THE AUTHOR OF THE PUBLIC WORKS SCHEME.

There has been a newspaper controversy in Wellington as to who is entitled to be regarded as the originator of the Pacific I scheme. Mr Coleman Philips, an Auckland barrister ont ofpractice, claims that he and not Sir Julius v ogel was its originator; but the latter, in a cleverly written letter, disavows any idea or 4 intention of opposing the former's claim to the honor, though he points out that Mr Philips, both in his petition to Parliament and letters to the Press, fails to understand "the difference between the mere suggestion of ideas or plans, and the responsibility which a Government undertakes in proposing them." Passing on then to the general question of originality, Sir Julius makes the following interesting statement:—" I am popularly regarded as the author of many proposals which have been adopted in New Zealand. If by the authorship is meant original conception, instead of working out the details, then I do not know an instance in which I could make the claim ; indeed, he would be a bold man who claimed to have been the first thinker upon any subject. Take, for example, the Immigration and Public Works Policy, of which lam termed the author. Nothing is more certain than that its conception passed through many minds. Mr Macandrew and Mr Moorhouse thought of it before I arrived in New Zealand, and in one shape or another proposed it. Mr Stafford often had it on his mind, and had spoken of it. Mr Bunny, on one occasion, at least foreshadowed it. Mr Fitzherbert actually entered into negotiations in the same direction, and had a Bill prepared to give them effect. When I came down with the policy on the responsibility of the Government, it was so much aid to me that others had thought in the same direction. To take an opposite case, Mr Fitzherbert effected the conversion of the loans. He would, I am sure, willingly admit that for a considerable time I had advocated a measure of the kind; but it would be as absurd for me to claim the credit of Mr Fitzherbert's work as it would be for him to claim credit for mine. I am, again, largely identified with the Californian service. But I did not conceive it; Mr Crosbie Ward did. When Mr Stafford and Mr Macandrew proposed it in the House, I rather opposed it, and they carried it against me. There are two undertakings of which I am considered the author, and which are likely to be vastly beneficial to the country. I allude to the Government system of life insurance and public trusteeship. But I do not claim to be the conceiver of these things. Dozens of men probably thought over and suggested a Government system of life insurance; and the public trusteeship was suggested to me by Mr Stevens, now member for Christchurch, and Mr Fitzgerald."