SIR JULIUS VOGEL’S ADMINISTRATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4820, 2 September 1876, Page 2

SIR JULIUS VOGEL’S ADMINISTRATION.

TO THE EDITOR OE THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —I am one of those who are much vexed and disappointed at the retirement of Sir Julius Vogel,, the presiding Government genius of New Zealand; not for the same reasons given by the Opposition and, by .some of his political supporters, but simply because hia state of health will not permit of his bringing to a climax the great policy of the Public Works scheme which he enunciated, and up to . now has carried out with such glorious effect for'the prosperity of the whole of New Zealand. Sir, X have been in New Zealand for thirty-five years, and 1 have never been indifferent to the politics of the country during that time. I have seen the rise and fall of every. Ministry, and have seen and felt the effects of the policy of each and all of them, and I have impartially considered the policy of Sir Julius andhis colleagues. Idonptmeantosay thutofchor Alimofcries have not,according to their ability; done the best they could for their country; but each and all have retired and left New Zealand in the same . stagnant form in which they found , it. And in. spite of prosperous goldfields and the high, prices of wool, and the energy and industry of the settlers, the country was at the time when Sir Julius took the reins in hand in a very low state of depression. Ido not say this was the fault of former Ministries." But. if not their fault it was the want of that talent, courage, and skill to grapple with and carry out the same policy which Sir Juli.us has done with such glorious effect for the prosperity of New Zealand. Sir, this is no chimera; it is an uncontested truth. Sir, it is not only that , for the last five or six years the country has been prosperous beyond precedent, which is a vast thing for any one man or Ministry to accomplish. Had the foregoing Ministries done the same New Zealand would always have prospered. It is true that it is not unmixed good—the gods never bestowed all good and ne evil upon any people. No doubt the country is in debt—so are all prosperous countries and firms. But let us look at the state of affairs in a business-like way—let us look at the assets we have to set against this debt; first, then, what is the difference in value of the public property of the country brought about by the Public Works policy of Sir Julius? This needs no other answer than what the Parliament has confirmed by more than doubling the price of the territorial property of the country ; and what it has done for the Government lands is not a mite in comparison to what it has done for private landholders, both great and small Mr. Waterhouse, in his speech, seemed very angry with Sir Julius for resigning on account of his ill health; and lam not surprised at it. Let Mr. Waterhouse or any one else compare the value of his own district now with what it was when Sir Julius took the reins ; or even take his own property, and I am sure that he has great cause to be "angry. - Sir Julius’ illness ought to have been no excuse ; he ought to have' continued at his post till he died,; so that the prosperity of the district and the; value of such gentlemen’s propertyin the - same position as Mr. Waterhouse's should be doubled and trebled in price; then what matter about the goose wh-ef 1 she has laid all her golden eggs. The cities like-'*’ wise, have they not benefited by Sir Julius’s, policy ? Our houses were empty, our streets were deserted, our tradesmen and laborerswere idling, and their families suffering in proportion. 1 There was ho national education, our children were growing up in idleness and ignorance, and gaunt despair seemed making way everywhere amongst us. Let the merchants and the people compare the present state of things with the past, and then ask themselves ’ what has caused this great change? Look at the new and beautiful stores and banks. Look at the beautiful villa homes of our merchants. Look at the comfortable homes of our tradesmen. Look at your • busy streets, your new and well-filled schools, your well-fed and wellclothed wives and children, and then ask yourselves what has caused this great change ? Has not the value in the country rose in the last five years more than double the money borrowed, putting aside the happiness of five years, which is no small item in the calculation? And I say all this has come about by the policy, the courage, the talent, and industry of Sir Julius Vogel and his colleagues in the late Ministry. Let those that think the contrary come forward and take the reins. They have a good foundation to build on. The country is prosperous; properties are valuable ; there is plenty of money and plenty of labor. They have everything on their side. All that is wanted is the skill to govern with wisdom. There can be no want of honesty and integrity in those that have always accused Sir Julius of having none ; let them now show ns that they are the great statesmen, and that Sir Julius is all they have said about him. Let them prove their words by their works, or else come forward like gentlemen should and make the amende honorable. If not they will only be, in my view, like I have seen when a noble mastiff has been trotting up the street and all the gutter curs have kept up yelping at him till he has turned to look at them, then they have ran away with their tails between their legs. Sir, I have never heard of any of those who accused the Government of

wasting ths rsTeQOS' sod loans o£ 4hfl country* asking the Government, not to spendin their districts. J have often wondered, if they were sincere in their accusations, they had not,dona so, and I have come to the conclusion that they did not care how any other district was neglected ,so long as 'they got the lion's share of the plunder for their own. lam not writing because of any motive ! have for flattering, hut because ! think ; it is honestly due to Sir Julius "Vogel that we are, and have been for the last five years, in a most state ; and I am independent enough to subscribe my name to it.—l am, &0., John. Pliumer.