SIR JULIUS VOGEL’S REPLY.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 633, 29 June 1876, Page 3

SIR JULIUS VOGEL’S REPLY.

The following is Sir Julius Vogel’s reply at the close of the Piako Swamp debate, as reported in the Press of this morning : Sir J. Vogel, in replying, said as far as the Government were concerned, the debate had not been uninstructive or without some compensation for the great annoyance of seeing so much valuable time wasted. Speeches had been made on both sides of the House, he might say, showing how generally the charges brought forward had been discredited, and how much sympathy was felt for Government in the position in which they had been placed, He then referred to some of the speeches which had been made, first taking that of the member for Franklyn (Mr Lusk), pointing out how completely his colleague (Major Atkinson) bad refuted the assertion of that hon member, and then referring to the documents which had been before the Select Committee last year in corroboration of the flat denial given by Major Atkinson; Government had barely carried out their agreement. He next referred to the closing remark of Sir G. Grey, in regard to Sir D. McLean. He need scarcely say that there was no truth in that statement. The supposition of the member for Auckland West that Sir D. McLean had grown rich at his (Sir G. Grey’s) expense, accounted for the strong animus which he was in the habit of displaying towards his (Sir J. Vogel’s) colleagues. The member for Auckland West had complained of not being allowed authority to institute certain legal proceedings. To other members on tl e Opposition side he had complained of not being given the right to sue in the name of the Crown on a writ of scire facias to upset the agreement with Mr Russel. Apart from the question, that the name o£ the Crown was never given by way of proceedings by scire facias, the member for Auckland West wioHod to get the power .of the Crown and its responsible advisers r-nied into one, in order to upset the leg al acts of the Crown. If allowed to go into court in the way he proposed, his counsel would have to be instructed this wise:—he was empowered on behalf of the Crown to bring an action to recover damages from persons who had acted in obedience to constituted authority, Such a thing was unheard of and out of the question. If the hon gentleman was right or Government wrong, he had his legal redress, but his demand to exercise the powers of the Crown in the direction and for the purpose named, was ridiculous. Referring next to abolition, he said Government intended this session to ask the House to provide for it in this manner. One day after the expiration of this session, all Provincial Government officers became officers of the General Government, except political officers, and Provincial Government property would revert to the possession of the colony. During the recess the House had had unmistakable evidence of the inclination in certain parts of the colony to call into question the power and position of this supremo legisla. ture, and it was the duty of Parliament to arm the Government with the means of vindicating their position. A statement had been made during the debate by the member for Dunedin (Mr Stout), that if the voting was by ballot, Government would certainly go out. This was a most offensive insult to the intelligence of hon gentlemen, for which he should apologise to the House. He took leave to think the members would vote openly just the same as if by ballot. [Hear, hear.] It was to be regretted that the amendment should have been proposed, as it was intended to convey a personal reproach against the members of the Government. He next referred to the speech of the member for Christchurch City, who had expressed a modified approval of what Government had doue. His opinion was that Government had committed an administrative error in judgment; with such opinions Government had no right to quarrel. The member for Avon had spoken strongly, but did not believe any personal discredit to Ministers from the transaction, bn adopting the course they had, Government Ijad shown every possible consideration for consistent with retaining the their position and the respect due next referred to the speeches of Pearce, and Button, whose was very gratifying to the With regard to the member HHB (Mr Wood), that gentleman 3 n extraordinary speech to It was in fact not a speech understood a speech, but a dancing. The accent seemed to have more than tho words, Kcarguments, he said to rise to the level f Representatives, the Provincial ?V- :^ and heard or the * Bpho for ' ; ‘ “ “ * Bkc its -V~‘ ■ting

out the sense of the House being taken. In making this sale Government had not in the slightest degree deviated from the course which Ministers were in the habit of pursuing. He Was of opinion, as he had already stated, that it was inexpedient that the Government should have too much license with the purchase or with the sale of native lands. The less discretion the Government had in dealing with the lands of the colony the better, and he was glad to be able to inform tbe House that Government proposed altering the whole system of dealing with Native lauds. He was but expressing his colleague’s mind when he said it would be some gratification to him when hound to exercise the law in respect to the Native lands as he found it, instead of exercising his discretion, and in justice to Mr Russell it should be stated, at the outset of the negotiations he intimated to the Government he was only the representative of a number of capitalists. His telegraphic correspondence with Sir George Grey and the correspondence with tbe bank managers was next touched upon. In reference to the latter he said the whole of his letters received the approval of the Cabinet, and he considered the right action had been taken in resisting the intolerable tyranny of the attempt to create a system of associated banks, such as some banks desired. The Government should simply consult the convenience of the colony, and give its business to the bank, in the best position to carry it on; and referring to the action of the loan agents in placing the four million loan with the Bank of New Zealand, he reiterated he was not solely responsible; it was their joint action, He complained of having been subjected to intolerable and unjustifiable calumny. Recurring to Mr Reader Wood, he said he thought such references as made by the member for Parnell about Such matters should not be dragged before the House except by way of congratulation. He positively denied that being the recipient of his Sovereign's favor had in any way altered his demeanour, and he could not understand how such as .idea could have entered any one’s mind. He had risen by his own exertions, and not attempted to cultivate those courtly arts which had converted the member for Parnell from the ardent advocate of abolition in 1874 to the obsequious supporter of the Superintendent of -Auckland in 1876, He might be, as the member for Parnell had termed him, vulgar, but he thought the exhibition of that member was unmitigated vulgarity. His pretended mimicry and buffoonery were more fitted for a theatrical board than the floor of the House, and Sir J. Vogel paraphrased, amid roars of laughter, Tennyson’s Lady Clara Vere as follows “ Trust me, Reader Wood de Wood, From yon blue heavens above us bent The grand old gardner and his wife Smile at tho claims of long descent; Howe’er it be it seems to me ’Tis only noble to be good. Kind hearts are more than coronets, And simple faith than Norman blood.” He went on to say he had had long and laborious work, and only continued in the hope he might be of some further good to tbe colony. He could not leave the member for Parnell without saying a few words in reference to his statement that the member for Timaru had been guilty of judicial murder. No duty was more disagreeable or distasteful to colonial Cabinet Ministers than having to advise the Governor in cases of carrying into effect or mitigation of sentences of capital punishment. He undertook to say that the statement that the member for Parnell had Sir G. Grey’s authority for stating—that Mr Stafford had on one occasion recommended an execution against the Governor’s strong feeling to the contrary—would be received with a feeling of i cproWtion, and if the member for Auckland West were still a civil nor-mnt of Oro«.t Britain, and the member for Timaru had written home to the Premier complaining of such use having been made of the advice he tendered in the sacred character of an Executive officer, instant dismissal would follow upon such a complaint, He hoped public social feeling in the colony would be sufficiently healthy to compel tbe member for Auckland West to make as explicit an apology as the Hon Mr Lowe had to make under similar circumstances lately. If such statements in reference to Executive advice in its most sacred form were allowed to go forth, where would gentlemen be found willing to odcupy such positions. Ho called upon the House, no matter what length the struggle, to support the Government in carrying into effect the wishes of the country, of which there could no longer be a doubt. Tho Government would not allow Select Committees to consider whether or not it behaved well. The decision of the House alone upon that point -would be taken, and he trusted the House would support the Government in insisting, if tho charges were made, that they should be dealt with specially-[cheers]-and not made merely with the view of interrupting business at every stage, as was the case la at session. If the business was proceeded with, he hoped the session would be brought to a close in three months. But for this interruption, he would have made his financial statement this week. He hoped to do so on Tuesday next. After that. Government measures would be laid before the House, to be dealt with in the ordinary course, and not with undue haste, but he hoped the business would not be further impeded by vexatious delays. [Cheers.]