Feilding Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1885. Stout and Vogel

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 61, 31 October 1885, Page 2

Feilding Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1885. Stout and Vogel

"When Mr Stout, in his address to his constituents in Dunedin, enunciated the remarkable policy of spoliation his Government intended to pursue regarding the one million loan authorised for the North Island Trunk railway, we had some hopes that he was misreported, or was, at the worst, only giving utterance to his individual opinion. We find that he was not at all misreported, and that in place of his giving vent to his opinions as a private member, he was actually speaking the views of Sir Julius Vogel. We find that the latter gentleman, in his address to his constituents in Christchurch, said : — Auckland was new rerv much exercised at the fact that Captain Bussell's resolution had virtually impounded the North Island Trunk Loan. The purpose for which loans were designed had for years not been faithfully kept. In the Appropriation Acts they were all lumped together, and the votes charged indiscriminately against them. For example, some £300,000 were to be spent on fortifications. These were not provided for in any loan, and the Government designed a new loan to include them, and intended postponing the issue of the Trunk Loan. Captain Russell and his supporters would have no new loan, and consequently, untill anew loan be provided, tha Trunk Loan would have to do the same service for other purposes as other loans had hitherto done for it. Major Atkinson had, of course, been aware of this, and it was incredible that any other North Island member was not. ' At any rate, it did not say much for the intelligence of any member who did not ask himself out of what loan the fortifications and defence expenditure was to come. A great many North Island members followed Captain Russell in voting for the virtual suspension of the North Island Trunk Line. There was a million of money available for constructmgit. What object could th«y have had in arresting it but to enable their loan to be used for other purposes f After what he had said last week, and after the Premier's exhaustive speech, it was unnecessary to refer further to hut session. This is mere sophistry— not to say trickery. It means that the Government will devote this money to whatever purpose seems good unto them, calling its misappropriation u * mere matter of account " than can be adjusted put of new loans. But it will also enable them to find an excuse for raising an additional million in order to pay it back when the time comes for the money to be expended in the manner authorised. In its last session Parliament would not sanction a new loan, but the astute Colonial Taeasurer has found a means to counteract the obstinacy or prudence of members who would not be persuaded that increasing the indebtedness ef the colony means increasing its wealth and prosperity. It is much to be regretted that two gentijpnen holding such high positions, and te. whom the people of the colony ought to be able to look up to as their leaders — not only in politics, but in honor — should descend to such questionable means to raise funds to carry out their public works policy.