Sir Julius Vogel Interviewed.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 191, 10 July 1884, Page 2

Sir Julius Yogel Interviewed.

A Wellington paper gives the result of a supposed interview between a newspaper reporter ami Sir Julius Yogel. The following are extracts of the conversation that is supposed to have taken place. Reporter : "Why do you object to the property-tax, or any form of direct taxation? Sir Julius : Because ifc brings people face to face with the conse- j quences of borrowing 1 ; its effect has already been to create a laige party m the country averse to any further borrowing. By introducing indirect taxation, the effects of borrowing will not^be felt while the borrowed money m being 1 spent. It does not concern me to look beyond that tirue. Reporter : Ton propose then to largely increase the Custom? duties t Sir Julius : Yes, but T shall not put it m that way. I shall call it " encouragement of local industries." For instance, I shall say that m the present depressed condition of the wheat and wool industries, it would be desirable for farmers to turn their attention to the growth of beetroot, and the establishment of sugar manu factories. This will enable me to put on a protective duty of, say, 25 cent, upon the imported article, and the consumer will not feel the extra payment while work and "wages are plentiful. I only mention sugar as an example, but I should promote.

the lo ol manufacture of other things, and pub on protective duties accordingly. The establishment of these local manufactures will give plenty of employment to the working men. Whether the industries will ultimately succeed or not dots not concorn j me. Reporter : As you object to the facilities for settlement offered by " perpetual leasing," how do you propose to put people upon the land ? Sii Julius; T don't propose to encourage the settlement of the land by people of small means. A country of small holdings U not a country that will attract capitalists. My sympathies and interests are all with capitalists and companies, and my object is to make the lands of New Zealand again attractive to speculators ; this, I understand, to be the desire of those »vho are supporting me m the present crisis. With the future of New Zealand we have no concern. Reporter : Did you think you were leaving a sinking; ship when you left Now Zealand m 1876 ? Sir Julius ; I thought the condition of Nhw Zealand then very critical, and m 1879 1 thought national bankruptcy inevitable. But as my successors have managed to keep the ship afloat, I shall u«.e it again for my own purposes. I look to the support of my friends here, who desire to .sell out of their properties as speedily as possible, and to the support of the working men, who do not care at what cost present prosperity is secured, to keep me m office for the next three years. Dining that time I shall have secured my own future. 1 grant that 1 lira using New Zealand and its people as counters m a game of chance, but I have always believed m a gambling policy, and iv this case I shall play to win. I have no stake m the country, and shall leave its shores with the utmost unconcern when the game is played out.