SIR JULIUS VOGEL'S BANQUET

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1979, 14 March 1885, Page 3

SIR JULIUS VOGEL'S BANQUET

Sin Juirs Voc.vl was enteitained at a banquet by his constituents in the Theatre Royal, Chnstchurcb, mi Thur-day e\onmg. The Mayor was in the chair, and a Luge number of piominent colonist* were |>ie sent. Responding to the toast of his health. Sir Julius, after referring to the circum stances connected with his return to this colony and his le-entry Mito colonial politics, said : Particulars relating to the young Government, and to the history of the last session would be more in place in his ad dress to his constituents. Theio was one mihject which so occupied the minds of men, and indeed of the fair se\ also, throughout the colonies that he would not omit reference to it. Kveiy person must be de.snous of knowing the intentions of Government as to rendering aid to the mothei country in regard to the Soudan campaign and also as to placing this colony in a fairly efficient condition of defence. Were the people of New Zealand to run a chance <>f loss, not only of that resulting from the \isit of a privateer, but of that set ere shock that would be felt by all if a powerful English colony like this were lying helpless at the mercy of an enemy r> Material losses would sink into insignificance before such humiliation as that. The circumstances of New Ze viand and New South Wales were so different that what was expedient in one c »se might not be so in the other. Firstly, nothing could give to the offer of troops f:om New Zealand or any other colony that freshness and spontaneity which distinguished that of New South Wales, which had stood forth as the representative of the colonial Empire, ready to aid England if necessary. Would it not be mistaken patriotism to offer men to defend other parts of the Empire when we had not done sufficient to defend ourselves? Government did not think anything should be dono without consulting Parliament. If it were decided to send men to the Soudan, no doubt a very fine body might be sent. In defending this colony we were defending the inteiests of the whole Empire ; for our disasters or successes would have effect throughout that Empiie. He looked upon tlv>e culoniesas nui -enesof futuiedefenders of the Empire, and felt tint we should be doing the best thing for the glory of the Biitish Ciiiun by laismg up men capable of b >th extending the prosperity of the colonies and of defending the honour of Britain in these seas. Gomu ment had determined to propose a definite scheme by which, within a reasonable time, they would put into efficient condition of defence the foiu pimcipal h.ub'juri of New Zealand— Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Dunedm It was not, however, enough to say they intend"d making their proposals to Parliament. The piesent was stnring times, when there was more or less emergency No time, therefoie, must be lost in mounting the guns now in the colony. He (Sir Julius) could not help feeling that whilst he would not in the smallest degree d> rotate fro n the patiiotic action of ><ew South Wales, the Soudan cunpaign, apart from the necessity of avenging Gordon, was not one which would excite much enthusiasm throughout the Empire. It might, however, be well for Pailiament to consider whether this colony could not contsibute, not men, whom they could not spare, but perhaps money or produce foi aid of the tro >ps fighting in the desert. R'jfening to the Eist Coast Railway, he said th it he was an ardent believer in it. The more he learned of it the more conMncad was he of the justicj of his opinion that that line sh mid ba niuie by private enterprise, if possible, and if not by Government. He proceeded at some length to detail the ad\antages of the line. Coming to the subject of 1 ical goternnient, after confeiring with lih, colleagues ho had concluded that it would not be necessary to call together th<; chauinen of local bodies ro confer with tho Go\ eminent n« he had before suggested. The views of the Government on the subject were definite enough to act before Paiha ment, and under present circumstances tune for tho c inference could not be afforded. The Government's idea w,ws to lead up to a system wheieby all district-) in the colony should bo either within towns or within counties. Obviously, if that was to be the case, subdivision of counties must be so arranged as to afford duo protection to local finance, and due consideration for local wants. Government thought that local bodies should have some system of nuance, so that they need not have to come as suppliants for exceptional Assistance, to Parliament. The main objects of local go- \ ernment were attention to roads, bridges, andsanitarymatters. In the law t term he included attention to the dwellings of the working classes, to settling people on the land and on to village settlements. By planting these in the neighbourhood of larger towns tliey would be doing something to prevent the tecurrence of unemployed and other difficulties. He did not believe a return to the piovincial system was possible. One good point of that system was the facility ft .iffoided for delegation of power to local nuthoiity, and the present Government thought that a system of delegating certain powers to local dodies could be established with advantage. He paid a warm tribute to the memory of William Sefton Moorhouse, lemarking that he felt that the proixf.ih of Government in 1808 were not so Utge in piopoition as tho heioic proposals nude to a meio handful of people to construct the Lyttelton tunnel. Canterbury should also be proud of the fact that a local company—the New Zealand Shippiner Comprny—had been the pioneer of direct steam, He would not, however, undervalue the service of Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company, and must express his deep regret at the death of one of their directors, Mr Galbraitb. With regard to the management of railways, the people of Christchurch bad that day seen a sight which they would not perhaps ha\o seen had not tho KtontVogel Go\ eminent beeu in power— the Urge number of visitors from Timaru to Chustchurch. Excursion trams were part of the policy introduced. These excursion trains inaugurated a new er<\ of railway management. The Government idea was that it was better that six peisons should contribute to the railway than that one Hhould do so. Therefore they strove to induce the public to uae tho linos. Theie

could be no absolutely satisfactory management <>f the lailway, no matter how Rood the Minister, till they were invested in a non political board. (Government were of opinion generally that in older to avoid scrambling for tiew lines it be dis tmctly understood as soon as possible wh.it weie to be coniidoicd as tiunk lines. Persons asking for l.ulways should be prcp.ued to hear part of his cost. Dealing with the subjact of finance, Sir Julius said th.it the brilliant success of the last million loan v.is i complete vindication of the hn.uici.il policy of the Go\ eminent Libt session. In formation at his command led him to believe that New Ze.il.md, m companion with other countuey, «ai exceptionally piosperous, and it was not to be expected that depression would long continue to l.ige in other poitions of the colony. He concluded by again heaitily thanking the people of Christchuich for the kindly ie ception given to him. He piopos-ed the health of the Mayoi. The speech w.is received \\ ith great ap probation tluoughout, and at the close was loudly applauded.