ADDRESS BY SIR JULIUS VOGEL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 216, 20 August 1887, Page 3

ADDRESS BY SIR JULIUS VOGEL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Dunepiny August I<\ Tiik Princess Thoatro was crowded in all parts, this evening, when Sir Julius Vogej addressed a mooting in compliance with a requisition. The Mayor of Duilodin prosided. Sir Julius Vogei referred to Sir John Hall's recent speech as moderate and of course able. Hi.s object appeared to be to preserve freedom of action, while explaining his views. Ho accused the Government of extravagance and fondness for borrowing. The coinp.n-i.son he gave between the expenditure for 1 883-84 was fallacious. It had already been explained that the latter expenditure w 'i- on a lower scale, and he would not weary them by reiterating the figures. It would be sufficient to say that the following -was an accurate return of the salaries paid, namely, 1883-84, L 540.000 ; and 183(387, L52!,000. All that could bo said a^tinsl the Government or himself about tho expenditure of borrowed money and extravagance applied equally to Hall, Atkinson/and Bryee. In 1879-80 there was a gigantic deficiency. If permanent retrenchment was fea^iblo and desirable, why did they not institute it? They soon drifted back fiom their so-called .savings. Nothing of a permanent nature was attempted. Tho present Government had not only administered economically, but by the Civil Sen ice Reform Act provided for tuture letrcnchment. lie enumerated three special features— iir^t, doing away with tho prevailing practice of giving officers dispensed with, besides compensation, twohi 1 months' leave of absence ; the Act limited such leave to tlneo months ; second, instead of new officer.- beinir compensated, they were only to be entitled to three months' notice, and such new ollicors could enly enter the service as cadets. Undoubtedly thi-« Act would lead to I<^ <^. pendituie. It might be questioned on the ground of expediency, for it would gi\e a le^s reliable service. H« »u'mitted a gi-eat deal might be saver! or mane if tluuc were serious reductions of .services and subsidies; but would thu people he content with le^s >»er\ice-. ? Would tho settlers especially be .s.iti^lied ? For example, the 'Frisco service was pointed to as a good subject for retrenchment. Taking the postage receipts into consideration, it gai c a small profit tor the first time in its history in 1883-86, and in 188L5-S7 it left a profit of L 230, or if its subsidy to the Union Company for distributing the mails were left out of consideration a profit of L7OO. A^ the direct service a 10.r,5, it -was clear that the 'Frisco service was profitable if they were to have a repular and prompt mail seivice to the colony, and distribution m ithin the colony. But they might say, what do speed and regularity matter? Only a small proportion of tho colonists care if their letters are 50 days on the way instead of 4w ; the same rates might be charged, the mails allowed to take their chance in unsubsidised vessels. Of course, that would give considerable profit ; but the question would arise, was it fair to make a heavy charge for a seivice for -w hich we were not paying ? Unfuilwdised boats would mean, probably, cheap postage and loss of revenue. He had said enough about retrenchment to make them feel that it depended on the peoj le and their representathe I*.1 *. There might be economy as opposed to wasteful expenditure ; theio might be an inferior quality of M-nico, but equally serviceable ; theie might be le^s sorvices or services of a le--' comprehensive character. His own opinion va-. that it wai desirable to take what, could be done with retrenchment, and he meant to try, (Applause.)