SIR JULIUS VOGEL AT WANGANUI.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 545, 17 March 1876, Page 2

SIR JULIUS VOGEL AT WANGANUI.

By Electric Telegraph.) [Per Press Agency.] Wanganui, March 16. Sir J, Yogel addressed his constituents at the Oddfellows’ Hall, to-night, which was crowded, and great enthusiasm prevailed, On the platform were the leading citizens and a number of ladies, Mr Beaven occupied the chair, and congratulated the meeting on the divulgence to them of what interested the whole colony. Sir Julius Yogel rose amidst vociferous applause, and said he appeared before them under gratifying circumstances, for notwithstanding the strong debates which had taken place during the session, and the attacks made upon him in his absence, he had been returned by a large majority for Wanganui. When he heard of his return, in Melbourne, he was anxious to visit Wanganui. He desired to give explanations both as their member and as Premier. He was sensible of the generous exertions during the elections which had been made on his behalf by strangers. He would co operate with Mr Bryce, as he held the same opinions as he did, and he would not be guilty of disenfranchising them by going into a different lobby. What he had seen of Wanganui advanced the pleasure he felt in representing them. He was pleased to see not only his constituents present that night, but he was glad to see their wives and daughters there also, which he hoped was the commencement of an interest in the public affairs of the colony by the ladies. Personally he bad strong convictions not to confine the franchise to the male sex but to extend it to women. But this was his private opinion, and not as a member of the Government. In the municipal election of Liverpool 10,000 females voted. He was sorry that he would not be able to visit the other parts of the district, ill health preventing him. He proposed to speak that night not as their representative, but as Premier. Large responsibility devolved upon him,as his address was colonial, not local. With reference to the abolition of the provinces, no district more consistently maintained its necessity than did Wanganui. He would speak first on his visit to England. The cable had been successfully laid since he spoke at Wellington, and communication completed with the civilised world. No large cable had been laid before without a single hitch and before the contract time. Its commercial, social, and political results could not be exaggerated. The cost was small to the colony, and the tariff exceedingly low. He had made an arrangement withtthe Bank of England regarding New Zealand stock, subject to approval. Under this arrangement debentures would be payable to bearer, and be used for permanent investment. Other colonies, through their Agents-General, wished to effect the same arrangement, and he (Sir Julius Vogel) had assisted them in the matter, Speaking about the harbor in Wellington, he had said that the harbor should not be under the management of the city, which remarks were misconstrued. People thought the Government wanted to upset the harbor arrangements, but that was a great mistake. Its management should not be confined to municipal representatives, whose government must be more or less successful in theory, but rest on a larger scale than in Wellington, Wanganui harbor was useful to itself, but Wellington to the whole district. In confining it to that limited body they would not carry out the true theory of representation. They should be in a measure elective, and not of a nominee character. Nominees started well, but fell asleep from want of being criticised. Elective bodies get abuse, but that kept them up to work. He hoped that to-morrow the two boards, harbour and municipality, would coalesce. Some £9600 to improve the navigation of the Wanganui river had been granted. Provin cialism could not last long, and Wanganui would have a large sum of money to begin with. In the session of 1874 he found all hope of preserving provincialism at one end of the colony at an end, and so great was his regret at being forced to that, that he only wished to dispose of the provinces of that island. He was forced to act under a strong sense of duty. It had cost him many personal friends, and had caused the disturbance of political ties. He instanced Mr Macandrew, and said he felt the severance which-*-sense of duty and , the needs o! the colony alone dictated and rendered imperative. No public man was

more disinterested than was Mr Macandrew. He had not been all along a disbeliever in provincialism, like his friend Mr Bryce, but thought it beyond the strength of the colony to continue it. With regard to the question of finance,bethought thatthe provinces should be dealt with without favouritism. They had been endeavoring to emulate the public works policy, and ten bodies were trying to spend all the money they could procure. The Home Government took away the troops and left them with a debt of six millions ; and as a vigorous colony, with settlements on a long fringe of coast line, (they must introduce more people to revive their energies. Some called theirs a bold policy ; few other countries could adopt it. At the same time the policy was one of necessity. The money expended in opening the two islands could not be misapplied. The working classes saw that in introducing others they enlarged the wants of the colony, and increased employment. Immigration could be overdone, but as long as labour and capital acted concurrently—as long as those who had the means settled on the land, with their present communication with England, they were safe. He next referred to the public works pjlicy. The Government first proposed trunk lines at a cost of ten millions in ten years; but the Legislature put pressure on them to finish them at once, and save interest, and since 1871 as much "had been done as was intended to be done in double the time, and hence they had to go again into the money market. Notwithstanding spiteful expressions, the four millions loan had been successful, and was borrowed in the English market within forty-eight hours. Some colonists in London, and who should have assisted, had done a great deal of injury to the colony. They should not exceed the credit they possessed. They could not expend money on large works year after year, and let the provinces do the same, and then pay their debts, and few people would realise the position when the Government took them over. He would then be happy to find no overdrafts, liabilities, or outside engagements unprovided for which did not exceed halt a million. He knew of one province having £200,000, and considerably on to the extent of £150,000 more before September. The policy of the Government was to apportion to each the general revenues. The consolidated revenue must be so regulated that it must not exceed their demand, and money must be expended on hona fide public works, and if borrowed must be for reproductive works, and the ordinary revenue must be devoted to general purposes. Their financial position required careful consideration no doubt, and they must not be unduly elated to expend beyond their means. They had all the money and the credit, which for the interests of the colony it was desirable they should spend. The proposal to have two provinces in both Islands the Government would uncompromisingly oppose. The compact of 1856 was not undesirable, if they considered it so ; but some of those who spoke of it thought that it was the only thing sacred. Yet those very gentlemen were those who wished to incorporate the land fund of the Southern Island. A great deal had been unnecessarily said on the subject, and there was a strong feeling that the land revenues should have a special application. His experience was that not much would be said on this subject in the House, for the prophets were generally wrong, and subjects which were anticipated were those neglected. With regard to the future, the duty of the Government would be to supply a form of local government of a more inexpensive character than that now existing. The difficulties cleared away as the subject approached. With extra work in Parliament they would be able to give a local system which would (not?) entail the difficulties first anticipated, The principle the Government wished to lay down was a broad and general distinction between works which did not require Provincial Government supervision, such as gaols, harbors, &c. * * * ; and people would know no difference when they were taken over than they did in the conduct of the telegraph and postal service by the General Government at present. People, while recognising no change, would admit the economy ; there would be no difference, yet a saving ; there would not be so much friction between the new system and that of the Provincial and General Governments, The law says now that one day after the end of the coming session the provinces would cease. The first step the Government had to take was to place themselves in a position to tell Parliament next session the cost of carrying out the new services, and the strength of the staff, they would incorporate from the Provincial services temporarily till they could be handed over to the local bodies. They intended to invite the cordial co-operation of the Superintendents as to whose services, should be retained. To combine the police and armed constabulary force would create offence, for the police force was older, and from his own experience they had an old force in Otago which deserved the highest considertion. He proposed that the police force should become a department of the Minister of Justice as well as the gaols, See, Crown lands, survey, sheep inspectors, &c, to be in the Crown lands department, afterwards to be absorbed by the local government bodies. But they did not wish to make any rapid or irritating changes. It was necessary in the first instance to be cautious. The gold fields were not entitled to that exceptional treatment which their members wished, but were entitled to be placed under a local body to determine what was to their interest as well as other districts. This might create dissatisfaction, but this was better than by treating them exceptionally. Something must be done to facilitate settlement on the land, less by artificial means than by throwing open land to all who should pay, but they should have it on easy terms of purchase. Concerning the railways and public works, there were many lines the Government must take charge of after next session, and would be taken over by the Public Works department, but only temporarily. He had a great desire to avoid inconvenience to the majority of the people by preserving their local arrangements. So there would be a local treasury for the payment of contractors and others. The harbors would pass to the Customs department, not including improvements. He proposed that education, hospitals, asylums, &c, should be under the Minister of Justice, but only temporarily, so that Parliament might localise education, which would be greatly under local control. But at the same time it would be the duty of the Government to watch over it and charitable institutions with jealousy. The Government would send round the ablest civil servants in the colony to all the provinces, to carry letters of introduction to the Superintfea. dents. They could refer them to the Prom.

cial Auditors, blit they prefer to receive the estimates from the Superintendents. He h oped that the Superintendents would recogn ise that it was their duty and privilege to h elp them to the utmost extent. In the Civil Services a great amount of money may be saved by dispensing with a great number of officers ; but if there is not a large amoiint of money saved, the theory of the thing wont work. Much pressure is often put on that another] appointment has to be found for quietness ; what would the effect be of dispensing with all Provincial officers, but so much trouble even to those who profess economy and Joe Humeism, There is a certain amount of kindliness in all natures not _to sacrifice men to political exigencies, 'but ito deal liberally with them. He should propose that Provincial servants dispensed with should be more liberally compensated than the present authority admitted of. He did not think civil officers over-paid, the rise in house rent and goods through the Public Works Policy making them suffer. Still Government would look into the matter and see that service was not extravagant; there should not be one superfluous officer, but each one should be well paid. The Government would submit a statement to Parliament regarding abolition; they were not going to seven men in the House to revise the law, but would accept it as it stood, and qualify themselves to make it take effect next session. So long as things go on so smoothly as at present, some Superintendents could not realise there was going to be a change; but when they sec things face to face they will be inclined to assist the Government county system to be submitted to Parliament, not for the purpose of increasing the central power of the General Government, but of diminishing it. The Bill introduced last year, though the same as in other colonies, will not find favour, as it affords opportunity for exciting opposition amongst local bodies. He would propose a system in which road districts and the counties should be distinct as regards revenue, while at the same time, if it was left open for them to co-operate, the whole country to be divided into counties, J but whether by the Government or a commissioner is not determined on; and that these boundaries should be subject to alteration. It is proposed in the meantime that the Governor makes seven divisions, and that each division of county boundary is not to return more than seven members to the first Board, and to be in existence twelve months, and afterwards each county Board to determine its own duration. The counties to elect a chairman by all its constituents, a chairman who must be paid out of its revenues, but not to sit in Parliament if paid; that the counties have charge of making the roads and the construction of other works connected with the district. This power to be confined to large arterial works, and be different from that of Boad Boards. Liberal subsidies from land and consolidated revenue to be equally divided; licences, tolls, &c., to go to the counties ; but not to have special taxation without the consent of the ratepayers. The electors of committees should be those who pay rates, and also for Road Board districts, County and Road Boards perfectly independent. Next session will only deal with counties, and not Road Boards. No borough is to be included in any county, but to stand distinct, so that the numerical voting power of a borough should not swamp road districts. Any county wanting assistance from the public works, the public works may carry it out, and save the expense of the management; the counties to have the power to borrow under special circumstances, but the colony not to be responsible, such money to be expended on their own security. The Trunk system of Railways must be carried out, so that Auckland will be placed in communication with every province in this island, and every province in the other island with each other. To dispense with borrowing as far as possible, and give confidence to public creditors. This system would give the fullest Local Government that could be conceived, and the relative members acting as arbitrators in local matters, separate bodies, each carrying out its own functions, Jmore thorough local control than in the preseut'goldfields, as counties would be as able to look after their own interests as in the agricultural districts. He could not give auy pledge about the Education Bill this session, but would like to abolish special rates, and there should be larger local control and general school committees amenable to some superior board. He does not desire to upset the special features existing, but will not promise to go in for a sweeping measure next year, but will see education properly carried on from one end of colony to the other. He would not allow an uneducated population to grow up. He would introduce all immigrants required, but no more. He does not consider that the counties should be necessarily coterminous Avith Provincial boundaries ; counties may be divided and divide the land fund, half on the basis of population, and half on the area. The present system, in which provinces are responsible for debts and interest in railway management, presents insuperable difficulties, and we propose to ask Parliament to take over the control and resposibilities of all the railways in the colony. Next week we are going to carry out a railway between Canterbury and Otago, the boundary being the middle of a river, which will make the accounts difficult. When the change in the provinces takes place, you may visit them without missing the Superintendents. No expenses are to be incidental to provinces, and the management is to be in the hands of local bodice, each town to have large revenues —educational, and flourishing, not isolated large harbors, in the hands of local Boards with ample means. The General Government to have the charge of the immigration department and the railway, so as to take a through ticket, and not care whether you make or lose money in auy one province, charitable aid to be localised, a system much less cpstly, while its machinery would work more smoothly and harmoniously than has ever been the case. He would always admit the great good provincial administration had done in the past, and the disinterestedness of those who administered them ; still, he thought the whole colony would benefit by the change. He hoped as long as he was connected with Wanganui they would never have less reason to be dissatisfied with him thau he had at the present time to be with them. A vote of thanks, moved by Mr Duthie, and seconded, after allusions to local matters, was carried amidst tremenduous applause. Sir Julius is to be entertained at a banquet to-morrow, and will probably leave next day by the Luna. [lf we have not rendered this address of Sir Julius Vogel’s with the correctness desirable, it ii due to the many unintelligible portions of the “ Press Agency” telegram. J "