PARLIAMENTARY.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 147, 6 September 1876, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

[per press agency.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wellington l , Septembers. The House met at 2.30. Mr Whitaker gave notice to introduce a bill to represent the Attorney General’s Bill. Tbo debate on Mr Andrew’s motion that the House does not approve of Sir Julius Vogel being Agent-General, occupied all the afternoon and some of the references to Vogel were very severe, especially by Reader Wood. Mr Andrew argued they should not appoint a man whose health was liable to break down, .vho was incapable of occupying a subordinate position, or co-operating amicably with any one. He quarrelled witli the late Agent-General, Crown Agents and banks. Set the wishes of the House at defiance, as in the ’Frisco service. The appointment would be a slur upon Crown agents who served long and well. It was not wise to encourage tbo class of professional politicians by giving a high reward to one. He admitted ho had noble qualities, great abilities, did much for. the Colony and while on personal grounds, lie would like to see him Agent-General, public duty compelled him to ask the House not to vote upon personal grounds. Mr Bowen said an Agent-General was wanted at home just now, in connection with financial arrangements, inscription of stock, ect., and none was so suitable as one possessed of all the knowledge relating to the Colonj', and who had possessed the confidence of the House for some time./, The course proposed was in accordance with the usage of other Colonies. Hje said Vogel’s high character would be borne testimony to when the heat of party strife had cooled.

Mr Rolleston spoke against the appointment and in deprecation of the course of the Ministry mistaking their existence on it. The Agent-General's department wasalready far too costly, and Vogel was not the man to bring about economy. He it was who beguiled them first from tho simplicity of their ways and demoralised the House. Mr. Stout said if the Ministry could not be trusted to make an appointment of that kind they were not fit to be trusted at all, and a no confidence vote should be tabled. If Vogel was not fit to be Agent General he was never fit to be Premier so long. In order to settle the matter he moved that the question be now put. Mr. Reynolds defended Vogel, pointing out that he was not in the colony when the quarrel with Waterhouse arose, lie denied the allegations by Andrew that Vogel could not act as subordinate and quarrelled with those he came in contact with, and said he spoke after fifteen years knowledge. He considered him the most suitable man to organize the Agent-Generalcy. Mr. Reid defended the course of the Government as proper, and voted for the appointment because Vogel was too expensive a man for tho Colony, aud it was to our interest to get rid of him, though admitting that Vogel did a great deal for the Colony, always doing what wlrat lie thought was best for. it- Tho Colony could not do without an Agent General for a year, Messrs. Murray and Wason opposed the appointment. Sir Donald McLean paid a high tribute to Vogel’s general ability, and personal character, and said so conscientiously asone of his oldest colleagues. The Colony' would yet admit he was one of, if not their greatest statesmen. Mr. Reader Wood took up the same lino of argument as Andrew, and_ delivered at withering speech In denunciation of Vogel being appointed. He denied he had a single statesmanlike quality, or ever did good for the Colony, Ho gave them nothing but taxation, He disorganised the House and the Colony, and after leading' them bit by bit into the swamp abandoned them. He accused him of being a man witli whom in transactions of business, everything should be taken in writing, and, in support of this statement referred at considerable length to correspondence between Vogel, the AgentGeneral and the Crown agents. He had? also been accused in 18T1 b3 r Stafford of stating what was false, and the statement still appeared in Hansard.