SIR 'JULIUS VOGEL'S ADDRESS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 598, 21 March 1876, Page 2

SIR 'JULIUS VOGEL'S ADDRESS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Wfc give so much of the address of Sir Julius Vogel to his constituents at Wanganui onThursday lastas is "of general import. Especially that in reference to the local Government substitute for iProvin'cialisrn, mich as it is :—": — " The policy of the Government was one of decentralisation. In the session of 1874 iie found all hope of preserving provincialism was at aireftd, and so great was his regret at being forced that he only wished to 'dispose of the provinces of the island, but he was forced to act under a srtroligisense of duty. It cost him many personal friends and disturbance to political ties. He instanced Mr Macandrew, and felt the severance which a sense of duty and the needß of the Colony alone dictated and rendered imperative. No public man was more disinterested than Mr tvlacftndrew. fie had not been all along a disbeliever "in provincialism, like his friend Mr Sryce, but thought it beyond the strength of' the colony to continue. With 'regard to the 'question of financej he thought that the provinces should be dealt with without favour. (JPhey had 'been endeavouring to emulate the public works policy, and ten bodieß "were trying to "spend all the 'money they 'could procure. The f €roverdmerit took away the "troops, and leYt us with ft debt of six millions, and as a vigorous 'colony, with settlements on a small part of the coast line, we must introduce mor& people to revive our energies. Some call ours a bold policy, and few'othdr countries cotild adopt it. At the same time, it was a policy of necessity. IVToney expended in opening the two islands oould not be misapplied, notonly in immigration, but the attracting people into the colony with capital to invest in it. Ihe working classes see that in introducing others, we enlarge the wants df the fcolony and increase employment. Immigration could be over, done ; but as long as labour and Capital act concurrently, as long as these who had means settled on the land, with our present instantaneous Communication with England, we were safe. In the Public Works policy, Government first proposed trunk lines, at a cost of ten millions in ten years, the Legislature pat pressure to finish them at once> and save interest ; and since 1871 as much has been done as was intended in double the time, and hence we had to go again on the money market. Notwithstanding spiteful expressions, the four (4) million loatl had been successful-, and was borrowed in the English market within 48 hours. Some colonists in London who should have assisted had done agi'eat deal of injury to the colony. We should not exceed the credit wfc possess. Wo could not expend money on large works year after year fand let the proTince do tht same, and then p&y thtir

debts. Few people will realiz e the position to be found when. Government take them over. He would then be happy to find no overdraughts, liabilities, or outside engagement unprovided for in excess of half a million. He knew one province having £200,000, and considerably on to the extent of £150,000 mO re before September. The policy of the Government was to apportion to each district the local revenues. The consolidated revenue must be so regulated that we mnst not exceed our demands. Money must be ?spent oa bona fidt public works, and if borrowed must be for reproductive -works, and ordinary revenue must be devoted to general purposes. The financial position requires 'catrefcr! consideration, no donbfc, and -we ttiiist 'ndt tmfiuly elated nor excited before Ive h&hre all the money afcd the credit which for the interests of the) colony, it is desirable we Should spend. 'The proposal to have two provinces in, both Inlands the Govei'nmeift wouia *tmcomproniisingly Oppose. The compact 'bf 185€ is&ot bades'irable, if we cdhsider so, but some of those who speak of it think that it is only sacred 'that they 'regard it so, yet those very gentlemen fere those whb wish -to incorporate 'the land fund of the Southern Island. A great deal has been unnecessarily said, and there was a strong feeling that land revenues should have a special application. Hib experience was that not much would be said on the subject in the -House for the prophets were generally wrong, and the subjects which tre anticipated are those neglected. With regard to the futdre, the duty 'of the Government would be to supply a form bf local Government of < a more inexpensive character. The difficulties clear away as the Subject approaches. It ib not unmfeed with difficulties, but with extra work in Parliament they woald be able to give a local system which would not entail the difficulties first' anticipated. He might draw p'ictbres of the approaching 'change, but as ydii get nearer the' difficulties decreased, although it still presered its locJtel character. The principles Government wished 'to draw wer'«, a broad and general 'tiistinctibn On wdrks which ditl not require Provincial Government supervision, iuch as gaols, harbors, <&c., fcncHhe people Would know no more difference than they did in the conduct of the telegraph and postal service by the Gerieral Government. At present these people, men who recognised nh change, would admit its economy. There would be nb difference, yet' there would be a saving. There would not ; be so much faction between the new system than in that of the Provincial and General Governments. The whole will be so smooth as nOt to come ih' conflict with other institutions. The law says no\v thkt one day after the 'end of the session thfe provinces would cease. The previous session this Was purely conjectural, but now Superintendents only hold oGee till that day, and the Government must take immediate steps to realise 'their responsibilities. The first step was to place themselves in a position to tell Parliament next sesskm'the c'cst of carrying Out of the niw service and strength of staft. They would incorporate provincial "services temporarily till they 'could 'be handed over tb local bodies, and thay 'intended to 'invite 'the cordial co-operation of Superintendents a"3 to whose services should be retained br not. These expenses would be 'paid from the department of the Colonial Secretary. To combine the Poli-e anil Armed Constabulary Forces would create offence, for the-pblice force Was older, and from his own experience they had rih old force iix Otago which Reserved the highest consideration. They proposed the police forces should come under the 'Department bf the Minister of Justice, as Well as gaols, Ac. Crown Land Surveys, Sheep Inspectors, &c, "Should gt> to the Crbwh Lands Department, afterwards 'to be absorbed by local Government ; but they did not wish to make any rapid or Irritating'changes, and it Was necessaty in 'the first instance 'to 'be' cautibus. •. •. •. », A County syßtetn was 'to be s"u omitted f tb Parliament, nbt for the purpose dPiric'feSsing the central fpdwer of 'the !©e"ilerA GbveVnment, 'but bfdimlfeisHing^t. The bill introduced 'ferit year, though fee^tfrne as in other colonies, will'hdt'fiti&'faVb'iirag it affords opporfchriitie's fbr'cfcfetfhg apposition arid against 'local boards. #hey wonld propose a system t 4n Which 'road districts and' counties shdu'la 1 'be'dis'lKhct £b 'regards revenue ; while at '£he ~Bame 'time it was left'bpen 'to 'to co-operate. The whole country Vbul^ then be divided int6 ebunties 'by 'either v the Government or Comtriissioners. These bfcnndaries would be "subject to alteration. They proposed in the thean 'time, thatthe Governor should make seven divisions, the febard to have an existence of twelve months, and afterwards the Boards tb determine their 6wh duration. The counties to elect a chairman by its constituents, who muit be paid out of itß own revenues* but not "to sit ill Parliame'ntif paid; that the counties have charge of the'ihain roads and construct all other works connected with the district, and confined to large arterial works, and be different frota Road &>a*ds. Liberal subsidies frbm land and consolidated fond to be eb^aally divided ; licenses, tolls, <fecy> to go to counties, but not to have special taxation without the consent of ratepayers ; the electors of counties to be'thoSe who pay rates, and also for Road Board Districts-. The County and Road boards to be perfectly independent. Next session only deals with Counties and not Road Boards. No borough to bo included in any County, but to stand distinot. The numerical voting power of boroughs not to Bwamp" Koad Districts. Any County wanting assistance for publi6 wOrks may carry it out, and save expense of management. Counties to have power to borrow under special circumstances bat the colony not to be responsible ', such money tb be expended on their own security, the trunk sjsteni of railways must be carried out so that Auckland will be placed in fcOmmttnicaton with every province in this Island, and every province in the other Island with eacliother, He would dispense with borrowing as far as possible, and givo bonfidnece to the public , creditor. This system would give the fullest local government that could be conceived] separated bodies, each carrying out iW

own functions more through local control than in the past. Gold fields, as comities, should be as able to look after their own interests as agricultural districts. He could ; not give any pledge about an. Educational ' Bill this session, but would like to abolish special rates, and there should be larger central and general School Committees, amenable to some superior Board. He did not desire to uspsefc the special -features existing, bub will not promise to go in for svreeping measures next year ; but will see education properly carried on from onf> end of the colony to the other. He would not allow an uneducated population to grow up. He would introduce all 1 immigrants lequired, but no more. He ' did not consider that the counties should be necessarily coterminous with the y provincial boundaries. The counties may 1 be divided. He would divide the land fund, ' half on theb*sis of population and half on 1 the area of the 'present system in which the provinces were responsible for debts and 4 interest. The railways manage mentf present insuperable difficulties, and -we propose to - ask Parliament to take over the control and resp"onsiblity of 'all railways in the * colony. Next we are going to carry cut a 'railway between Canterbury, the "boundary being- the middle of a river, which would ' make the accounts difficult. When the " charige in "provinces takes place you might visit it without missing the 'Superintendents. No expenses incidental to the Provincial management to be in tlie hand 'of local bodies; lavge harbours to be in the hands of local boards, with ample means; ' the General Government to have charge of ' immigration And railways. The system would be much less costly, while the Machinery would work more smobthly ' andiurmonicusly than ha 3 6ver been ' the 1 case.