SIR JULIUS VOGEL'S RESIGNATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4836, 21 September 1876, Page 3

SIR JULIUS VOGEL'S RESIGNATION.

The following is Sir Julius Vogel's retiring address to his Wanganui constituents : Gentlemen, —In announcing to you that I have resigned my seat as one of your representatives, I desire to explain the reasons which have led to it.

I have already assured you of my gratification at finding, on my arrival in Australia from England, that you had in my absence done me the honor of electing me. On my return to Wellington I resumed, at the request of my colleagues, the Premiership which I had previously held. I did not disguise from my colleagues my opinion that the state of my health, and the attention I owed to my private affairs, would not allow me to continue at the head_ of the Government for a lengthened period. During the present session nothing has occurred to induce me to change that opinion. On the contrary, I have found that my health has suffered very much from the necessary labor.

On the occurrence of a vacancy in the Agent-Generalship, an impression obtained, not from any action of mine, that it was likely I would receive the appointment. I may explain that it would not have been inconsistent with precedent that the Government should have continued in office, and on its retirement have nominated me to the position. Such a course would not, however, have been agreeable to me ; and when the question came to be generally mooted whether or not there was likely to be a change in the Government at the end of the session, I felt that—irrespective of the Agent-Generalship—it was impossible I could assure the House that I would be able to continue to hold office for any length of time. Under these circumstances, it was strongly represented to the Government that the House was entitled to be brought face to face with the. Ministry, which would have the responsibility of administering the laws, as well as of conducting them through Parliament. It was forqibly urged that it was not fair to the House, or to the future Government, that the business of the session should be conducted by an Executive that might probably cease to hold office as soon as the session was ended. These were the circumstances and the reasons that led me to tender to his Excellency my resignation, leaving the future Government to take its own course as Jo the appointment of an Agent-General ; I, also, being left free to take such course as I might . consider desirable. After consultation with many members of the party, I recommended hi 3 Excellency to send for Major Atkinson, as the gentleman most likely to be acceptable to the party as a whole, as the future Premier. You are aware that Major Atkinson accepted the duty, and has formed a Government. That Government has since offered to me the AgentGsneralship, and has expressed the opinion that it is desirable I should lose no time in assuming the duties of the office. When I announced to the House the resignation of the Government, I did not deem that it would be necessary for me to resign my seat before the end of the session. But it has been cogently pointed out that to continue to sit in the House with an implied appointment before me would be inconsistent with the spirit, if not the letter, of Parliamentary law ; and so, with great regret, and, until within the last few days, unexpectedly, I find it necessary to resign my seat.

I hope you will believe that only the conviction that I can be of service to the colony induces mo to accept the appointment. Much has been said concerning my retirement during the ' session ; but I am unable to see how I could have adopted any other course. You must not suppose that the contingent appointment as Agent-General solely led to thS result. I could not, under any circurastaucos, see my way to continue in office ; and, with the prospect of a change in the Ministry, it seemed to me that the House had a right to demand that the change should be made at as early a date as possible. Before arriving at the conclusion to resign, I anxiously considered whether my i so doing would be inconsistent with the interests of the colony, and of the party with which I was identified. The conclusion to which I came was, thut it was not undesirable I should leave to others the completion of the work of the session. Apart from my conviction that, in my present state of health, that work was too onerous for me, I have been made to feel throughout the session, that a few members were personally bo strongly opposed to me as to make it difficult to carry on the business of the House with that decorum which has hitherto characterised the proceedings of the New Zealand Legislature. Members of a Government who have been very long in office have necessarily to contend with a great deal of opposition, partly personal in its character, partly cumulative and resulting from past political conflict. I do not complain ; but it is due to myself to say that my feeling has been that the services I have rendered, or endeavored to render, to New Zealand, gave me the right to consider that; I was not called upon day by day to reply to personal attacks. During the years I have been in office, great changes in the colony have taken place, largely in consequence of the policy of Immigration and Public Works, with which my name has been identified. That policy the country has heartily adopted, and the benefit of it has been almost .unanimously admitted.

I cannot allow that the fact of my having introduced that policy makes it necessary that I should continue in office when the state of my health has rendered it undesirable I should do so. Nor can I suppose that that policy, which has become the policy of the country, cannot be satisfactorily worked out by others. A very large question, apart from that of Immigration and Public Works, has from the force of circumstances obtruded itself upon the attention of the country, indeed, the abolition question, for thetimebeing.oecupiesmost attention. With that question I am so far identified thatlfirstproposed it, when I became convinced that it was a necessity from which the country could not escape with advantage to itself ; and I have been no less zealous than others in endeavoring to give it effect. But lam not more closely identified with the policy of abolition than are many other prominent public men ; and whilst I felt it my duty, as long as I was able, to support and to promote it, I see no reason to doubt that it will be effectively completed without further assistance from me. I say this much, not in defence but in explanation, for I feel that there are in New Zealand thousands upon thousands of persons who would be glad to constitute themselves my defenders, so as not to leave me a task the performance of which would savor of egotism. I confidently appeal to the people of New Zealand for their verdict whether I have not done my utmost to be of service to the country. To yourselves, gentlemen, I owe a debt of gratitude, inasmuch as during my absence, and without personal acquaintance, you did me the honor of chooßing me as one of your representatives. I very greatly regret tbat I am not able to hold the position for a longer time ; but it may be that, in future years, I shall be able again to take part in the public affairs of the colony ; and should that be so, I know of no constituency to whose approbation I should with greater pleasure submit myself. I cannot conclude without expressing my conviction that there is not a country possessing greater elements of prosperity than New Zealand. Its climate is not only _ agreeable, but most serviceable for industrial purposes; its resources are enormous; and its people are willing to take, and capable of taking, advantage of the natural features in their favor. It is regarded by the outside world as a country possessing eminent • attractions. Without expense to the Government, a very considerable immigration is going on, and a very large amount of capital voluntarily finds its way here. There may be periods of depression. I have yet to learn that there is any country bo favored as to escape them. But that New" Zealand must steadily progress, seems to me beyond doubt ; and the impetus it has received—by which it has been enabled to do in seven years that which, without the colonising efforts that have been put forth, would have required many more years to effect—has placed it in a position to show, alike how capable it is of progression, and to invite from its people equal efforts in the future. Through you, gentlemen, I can speak to the colony at large ; and I venture to express the hope that active efforts in colonisation will never be allowed to cease until New Zealand has been made, as it is evidently destined to become, the home of some millions of people.—l have, &c, JOLIOS VoGEI.