SIR JULIUS VOGEL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1192, 17 June 1884, Page 1

SIR JULIUS VOGEL.

Sir Julius Vogel addressed the electors at Ashburton on Friday night. It was the largest meeting ever held in Ashburton, the Town Hall being crowded. The Mayor of Ashburton, Mr Donald Williamson, occupied the chair. Sir Julius apologised for not being able to speak standing, owing to his invalided condition. He said that both his opponents, Mr Mason and Mr Jolly, were able men. He had been iudueed to contest the seat owing to the critical state of the colony. He defended himself against the personal charges brought against him, and spoke of his reasons for meddling with politics at Home. He felt it his duty to do what he could to prevent the disintegration of the Empire, and he was wholly with the Conservatives at Home in their colonial policy. The position he had taken in politics at Home had, however, nothing to do with his politics here. He denied that he wished to go into Parliament to enfore an alleged <3l ami against the Government. If it were necessary for him to undertake political responsibilities he would be pre pared to remain in the colony. After referring to his railway scheme and the way it had been carried out, he noticed his action in connection with the Sub scribed Stock Act, which Major Atkinson said had saved the colony £30.000 a year. In referring to his o.sn Native Lands Biil, he said it had been shelved after he left the Government, but »«w » similar Bill was being brought forward. He had no fear in speaking to a New Zealand audience anywhere, as he cnuM point to thousands of happy homes that were so because of his policy. (Clivers, laughter and hisse*). His Government had held that the land benefitted should bear a large proportion of the burden of the railway, and that the price of land should be raised to help to defray thencost, but the Parliament had not Wen i with them in this. He was strongly

against the sale of the lines by tha Government. He thought that if a line could be constructed that could be worked at a return of two per cent, it might bo made. It was the colony's duty to make roads, and the railway lines were only roads in another form. He did not believe it was in the colony's intercut for the Canterbury people to oppose the construction of the North Island Main Trunk Line. Before any borrowing took place, how it couid be judiciously expended should be carefully considered. He dwelt.on the state of parties in the House. There was a strong majority of members in the House who hated the Government, but lh« Opposition had two parties who so loved one another that they quarrelled about who was to move a vote of want of confidence in the Government. He hoped to see a strong consolidated party in the House, able to pass good and useful measures. Speaking of the stats of -th«? colony, he said he believed the hsppiest state of a country was when the wages were high and sufficient. The working classes were the predominant power in the colony, and on this he founded his faith in them, first in their selfishness and second in their intelligence. He believed the selfishness of the people would prevent them trom being imposed upon, «nd their intelligence would show them what was best for themselves. When capital had not its proper rights the working classes could not earn good wages. No one would deny the value of thrift, but Major Atkinson was not advocating thrift in m's National Insurance scheme. He would favor the influx of small capitalists. The colony owed a debt of gratitude to Mr Coster for instituting the noble line of direct steamers. The property tax was calculated to encourage cheating and deceit. He was in favor of a land t&x. He was neither a protectionist or a free trader, but he thought no fad should interfere wiih the collection of Customs for the purposes of revenue. He thought the colony did not produce enough, and was of opinion that it should monopelise the whole of the trade of the So*ith Sea lalands. He did not believe in .the federation proposals. He was sorry that the manufacture of sugar from beet root and sorghum had been neglected in the colony as he thought a great and profitable industry in that article might be built up. It. might seem strange for him to tell them that they lacked enterprise, but he had the interests of the colony at heart. In reply to questions, Sir Julius said the Nationalisation of the land was one of the biggest humbugs ever introduced into a colony with millions of acres to sell. They could call him a fool, if, in a few years, the gentlemen who were now leasing land from the Government did not come to the Government, wanting the fee simple of that land. He was against denominational education, favored the construction of the West Coast railway line by private enterprise, thought those men who needed the hoteh to be closed during an election were not tit to be electors, and he would cling to the recreation reserves for the public use. He believed £13,000,000 had been raised while he was in the Ministry, and if he left burdens behind him he found bnrdena there when he came into office. It was only a question uf time for the direct line of steamboats to carry the mail. He had, he believed, in eleven years received £27,000 from the Government. A vote of confidence was passed.