SIR JULIUS VOGEL AT AUCKLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1969, 19 February 1885, Page 3

SIR JULIUS VOGEL AT AUCKLAND.

Sir Jimia Voi.ki. addicted a ciowded meeting ft tho Theatre Royal, Auckland, on Tv M«l.iy evening on the public politics of the d.iy. The chair was occupied by tho Mayor. Su JuliiiH, who spoke from his clmii, w.i < subjected to some interruptions at first, but ho soon tho ears of the ""(hence Ho. commenced with a reference to the gieut progress made by Auckhuid, a progiess which he ventured to predict would continue to be appaient in e\en a gi eater degiee. After glancing .it the events of hist session the speaker p.ud a passing compliment to Sir tiomge Grey, and then pi oceeded to explain tho cbaiacter of the piosont Government, wlm*e position ho consideied was very similar to th.it of tho l'o\ Government when ho (Sir Julius) took othce in lHliil. Tho country was suffenng th.-n, as it was suffering nnw, from comtuoiciul depiession, and too rniith attention was given to tho coiisideiation of plulo•<..pJiic.il schemes t<i tho exclusion of practical i)ohtics. Many questions which it was propo.r to discuss m the nverciowdeti c-ountiios of the old world were out of place m a new coiintiy. There was no need to take measures to secure the Government of tin* c >untry to the masse*, as no power could take, it fiom thflin. They could •iff old to lot abstract question* sleep for a tmio and devote themselves to tho prosecution ..f public vvorkx, ruilways &o. Speaking of tiee trade and protection, the Treasurer -aid he was not in favour of one 01 the other as tho terms were generally und.-i stood. Ho thought the conditions of life vveio different heio from vv hat they were in Hmtland, and quoted tigme'Uo show that a modified form of piotection, by giving uniplnyiiieiit to those within the colony, would confer a bonofit on the whole population. He cl. iimed the principle of going to tho cheapest markets wai not invariably Hound, inasmuch as the Government had only recently found that the colony was bring supplied with railway material from Fugl.iud winch wiw utteily unfit for the purposes to which it was to bo applied. He said they placed much more reliance on plant obtained from America. Sir Julius Hpoko strongly in favoui of forest conservation, and advocated the importation of a foieat po|>\ilatiou and the giving institution in the ait <»f fnreitiy. He referred to tho great destruction of tho forests of America and the evil results which had flowed thtiefiom H»al»odwi'.lt at some length on the propriety of developing the rich fisheries lying around these islands. Tn the year INK 3, ho Haiti, no less than fcV>o,ooo worth of huh had been imported into New Zealand. The necessity of encouiaging subtiopicil industries wiis also insisted on, and the foi thcoming series of colonial exhibitions vvero lefemd to at coiisidoiublo length, occasion being taken to show how gieatly Mich institutions benefited the artisan class. ( )n the subject of technical education ho said :—": — " In connection with this 1 should liko to draw your attention to acucular which wan lately issuad by my colleague, Mr Stout. Ho h.w announced his <letei initiation to intioducu into the schools of tho colony a .system "f technical education. I cannot help thinking that if it is cained out it will be the means of developing a vast amount of wealth and piospenty. I cannot conceal fi oin myself the feeling that I would rather be the authoi of a Miccostiul scheme of technical education, than of all the so-called Radical mi asm os with which niv colleague's name is associated. It has lately been said by a gentleman in the southern p.ut of this cnlon> — Air McKeuzie I mean— that I cue only foi tiddo and cuiuineice. Now, I admit that 1 am very utiht.uian in my mows, but I do not make tiado and coinliieico nry t-tand.ud. 'ihe staudaid I make H nidiistiy. 1 say that when you have the miximum of well - employed labour and the inimiiuin of ill-employed, there jini have tlie best test of the prosperity of the people of tlio country." kefening to the question of Federation and theeontemplaced annexation of Samoa, the Ti casurer spoke bh follow h :—'' I will ask you now to allow me to sny something on tJio sul.jert of federation, and I c.innotdo so without expiessiiig the gip.it admnation I have for the eneigetic ability which the Piemipr of the neighbouring colony of Victoria (Mr Service) has devoted to this question. It in an oxtraoidinary thing how he Ins managed to force this question under the notice and on the aftectimn of the people. I tako it that Mr Service feels that, as Victoria in thp most heavily populated of tho AuHtralasinn colonies, it ought to have assumed the loading position, and that by taking up the question of establishing a protectorate over New Guinea, in which it had only a remote interest, ho would best show how unselfishly the people of Victoria were inclined to act in harmony with their brethren in the other colonies, which were more directly concei ned. But the mo.st remarkable thing, and the greatest evidence of this unselfishness is that, although Victoria haw an inteicst more iomote than any other colony in this nuttei, yet it has l>een so fastened upon the minds of the people there that only recently meet ing» were held all over the colony to take the necessary steps for urging Great Bntaiii to make a remonstrance again-t the action of Germany in annexing part of New Guinea. Therefore it is a matter of rcgiet to mo that I am not able to go the whole length that Mr Service has gone with reg.ird to the proposals of the I'edoral Council Bill. You may perhaps be aware that ui»7>rojMw»(d at the md of last session resolutions with repaid to tho provisions of the Bill, which was approved by the Convention which had previously been hold at Sydney, and that these resolutions suggested somo maten.il alterations in it. jJriehV, they were that, whiUt the bill prepared by thu Convention would enable the Federal' Council to pass law s which would Juive to bo adopted by the v.uioiis colonies, whether or not they approved of the t^im* of these laws, uo said that no Inw passed by the Federal Council should be binding on any colony, unless accepted and passed by the Legislature of that colony. Wo further M«Md that instead of tho Federal Council being at liberty to make representations on behalf of the whole of the colonies to the Colonial Office of the mother country, that the representations made by the Federal Council should be made separately to the various colonies, allowing them the name freedom of action as they would with regard to their internal affnits. It seems tomoth.it these differences aip very distinct, and that it would be not dafe t>> leave the approval of these laws to an outside autltoiity, but that each colony must sec and onddis-' the law before accepting it, and that it inu-t go through the legislature of each colony h tho oidinary way. Thi* is th»( point of difference between us and the propo^ils made in this Sydney Convention, and not less emphasized m the ntwcial bill now nent out by Lord Derby, with some amendment*. I do not believe ».hat we in New Zealand vvill go further than the resolutions panned last session, to wliich I have referred. Ido not believe that the colony ought to go further. At tho same time, if the other colonies would go into the question of affording machinery by which common measuies might be passed for tho benefit of all, I think tliat it would be of great service to the wholo of tho colonies. Gentlemen, there is, I think, very deep sympathy— and there is no good overlooking it — between the various colonies. lam quite sure that a deop throb of pude and pleasure must have inng thiough the wholo of tho colonies when we read of the splendid and patuotic offer of New South Wales to supply troops tn the Knglish Gnvumuifint— (loud applause)— -for the purpose of avongiug the awful death of General Gordon. J feel suio that we havo our full share of pride in this action of New South Wales ; Just as much, indeed, as if the action had come fiom ourselves lam glad, therefore, to say that our Government immediiitely telegraphed its congratulations to New South Wales upon itu patriotic action. Now, there haw been a great deal of misiippiphcnsion with regard to our views upon annexation, and particularly ahout our intentions in legard to the Hinemoa some weeks since. (Laughter.) Oentlomen, I wish to explain this to you. There was no desire on the pait of the Government to lend the Hmeuioa to Samoa for thepurpo»eof annexin* the islands of that group. It had been communicated to us that the leading chiefs and a great part of tho white population of those island* dowred to enter into more Ultimate relation* with New Zealand, and all that we desired to dp wa» to iond the ateuiuur there to ascertain the true position of atfans, and to find some moans of reconciling the vai'iou* interehts of the natives with those of the different Kuropean population-, with the view, p«rhap», of concentrating tho trade in New Zealand— a work of great importance. It seems to me that, although bound to bow to the decision of the Home Government, it is a matter of regret that we should not have been al lowed to nond down the steamer for tho purpose of assisting to remedy such a state yf thing* 83 oxiuted on tho»e iH]and»-thut u

peaceful cciiniriunity like that of New Zealand should not ho allowed to keep open tho«e islands ti) the tiade of the, whole world. I c.uiuot help thinking tli.it tho people of Gioat Bntain will not long unbuilt to tlio present stite of things wlion they learn that thoro is one poition of the globe which Ins been shut to English commerce ande.iteipnso. It was ,i mistake on the p.iit of the Home Goveinriiciit t<> issue its veto .it all. At.mvi.ite, our iiction in tin) nutter was of some benefit aftei all, bt cause it t«>iced tho hand of the l'mti'.h Government to the extent of sending down a man of-\v.u the .Mn.uul i - and although liefoiu it .uined extreme .iction had been taken by the Gei man poiwl.itioii, yet I think when tho news coinc-. to ivmd we sli.ill Imd th.it steps luncheon taken to abandon tin* aiiaiigemcnt wliicli tin* (ieimaiih had foicod upon the native population, and by winch in < Meet the people of .ill othei eiuntiies on tho>e islands would 1)0 outlawed. Tho aiiauge incut wns such, and the provision-, applying to the Couits of justice such, that tho Grimans would alone bo able to obtain n dres-<, whilst the Germans might with utter impunity pitch the English population into the sea. Ido not think foi a moment that that anangement will be nppioved by tho Impcii.il Government of Germany,- and T think that we ha\e been to sonio extent serviceable in c dling attention t > it. I may say thin, that I .nn not one of those who feel that theie is much impoitauc ; to bo attached to tho political annexation of tho islands to Now Zealand. We do not want outside native difficulties to contend with." Sir Julius next lefeued to his proposed Pacific trading bclieine, and lamented the apathy shown concerning this snbiect by the people of Auckland. He said that the subject would have to be taken up again. Referring to the Customs treaty locontly ananged between Victoi m and Tasmania, lie thought such treaties between other colonies would have a good result. On the subject of local government, Sir .Tnliu.s made the follow ing icniarks:— "Now, I have to refer to a question to which a great deal of attention Jinn been directed — the local government question ; but I will not at this late period of the evening go into it at very groat length, but I wish to say this : It has been a matter of unceasing thought upon my part for many years past, and 1 have come to the conclusion that tho local government question really resolve'? itself primarily and principally into a financial question. I believe that a large niganic alteration id not required. I believe, moreover, that what is most essential is to ascertain what am tho leal feelings and wishes of those who hare now the chaige of the local government of tho colony - J allude to tho chairmen of the county councils and to the mayors of tho various towns; anl ho impressed am I in mgard to my portion of the subject— tho financial portion of the subject— with the necessity of obtaining their views, that I have m.ule up my mind, unless my colleages disapprove of it— that, at any rate, to satisfy myself upon such questions as come within the cognizance of the various departments which I hold, that it will be a desirable thing to summon a meeting of all the County Chairmen and all the Mayors of the towns in the colony with a view to eliciting from them generally thoii opinions upon what is really required to make inoie satifif.ictory tho position of local government within tho colony— e*i>ecially in relation to its financial aspects. I believe we may ascertain from those who aie really concerned in tin, local government of the countiysuch amendments n» are required to itr prove tho present system. For my j).ut, F bohe\o that what is piincipally and primal lly requnod is moiu ceitam, laiger, and more elastic local l.nenues, so that local bodies may know what moan they have to depend upon, and mvy fanhion their works accmdiugly, instead of depending, as thuy have been doing for years past, upon what seems to mo has been practically authorised -that is, a system of benefactions distributed by the Government or the Home, accoulingto a more or less aibitiary pleasure, or caprice. What they want is something certain and well-defined, and I believe we may ascertain that when we are able to obtain their opinion jointly. Mmeover, what is veiy essentially leqnhed is to piot.>ct tho means which -ill o.ulv, to siiiiiq extent, cost, by which, for certain purpo-.es, and not beyond those pm pones unless desired, theie may be a combination between two or more counties, or between counties and towns, fur works of joint interest. As regards tho question of renewing tho piovincial system, about which much has been said, in my opinion it is utterly impossible to do wo, Tho piov incial system me.rely dopnnded upon two things— namely, the land revenue and tho power within the piovinces of borrowing large minis of money. I do not think that a renewal of tho Pro vincial Government in any sense can possibly be carried out. At the same time I believe we may enlarge tho objects and the scope of local government, and relievo the Central Government of some of its functions, and get- rid of the objection which has very properly been felt, that the General Government has much too much to do and much too much power, and the local bodies toolittle." Sir Julius, after rein.uk in % on the fact that wo now enjoy n fortnightly steam service between the colony and Great liiitam, H.ud he hoped to be Jna position to lay before Pailiament, next session, proposals for a more efficient service between Auckland and San Kianci«co, covei ing tho distance in 1(J days, thus rendering it )>oss)ble to do tho journey to England in a little over 30 days. Touching on the Native (Question, Sir Julius defended the action of tho Native Minister in offer ing to pay for the land required for the Tmnk Hallway instead of asking for it as a (rift. Jly paying lor it iv fixed price could be laid down Ify tho Land Court, to bo paid when'thetitlehad been detei mined i whuroas, if the land vveie accepted ius a gift, the rightful owner might tiiin up at somo future day, and, disputing the legality of the transaction, lay claim to Lugo compensation. He said the railway was a work of the greatest importance, and should be pushed on, as it would be. The broad view of tho Government iv relation to the lands of the natives, was that they should do eveiything they possibly could to ficcuie the land, and to convince tho natives that the one object to be gained is to put that land to useful purposes of settlement, whether by Europeans or Maoris, and not allow those vast tracts of land to remain unused and unoccupied, but to subject them to purposes of settlement by an industrial population. Referring to the railways, Sir Julius {.aid • — " I claim that in tho present Ministei for Public Works we have a gentleman who if thoroughly acquainted with tlio construction of railways and with their management, and already I believe he has done a great deal to impiou* the system of managing railways, but I am not blind to the fact thiit an jnnnenho deal mom remains to be done. It is the opinion of the Government that to inannge really with sngcess they must bo divorced from all political influence, and they should bo managed by local boards. (Cheers). I will give you an instance which may bo of interest, if not to you to your neighbours. Only a few days ago my attention was directed to tho very unequal and unfnir rates chat god for the carnage of ehuese between Wm'kato and Auckland— a charge which really seriously alfected the success of an mdustiy which promises to be a very lar^o one, I icpiesentcd the uiattci to my colleague, and !>■• has, I am glad to say, assured me that within a very few days there will be a sensible reduction made in the cost of fi eight of cheese between Waikato and Auckland. (Cheers.) That may seem a small matter, but it is a matter of great moment to a large number of settlers to whom it may maku tho difference between a profitable and an unprofitable industry." Sir Julius took occasion to refer to tho relative merits of the Mai ton and Stratford lines, and pronounced in favour of tho latter. He touched on tho importance of the Rotorua railway, and gave expression to a hope that the Government would be enabled to take it over, under the act of last session. After ft brief reference to the East and West Coast railway (South Island), and an appeal to the people of the colony to unite together for tho common good, Sir JuH«» oonpjuc}ad amid great applause. A vote of thanks was unanimously accorded Sir Julius Vogel for his able and interesting addiess, and tho meeting closed with cheeis for Sir George Grey and Sir Julius Vogol.

Why is F like a bullock's tail ?—Bocanse it is at the end of " beef." A man nhould always live within his ' income," Bays an American, " oven if he has to borrow." Moiiifrs Don' 1 Kno\v.~-How many children aropunulii'd lor being uncouth, wj'lul, and in different to mediations or reward simply because they .irr out of ho^ltli I An tntolliKcnt lady s.ud of .1 child nf tins kind : " Mother don't know th.it *be should give the littlr one moderate doics of Hop Hitters for two or tbrco weeks, and the ( hild would be all a parent could desire." Look fur.