MR. PIPER AND SIR JULIUS VOGEL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXI, Issue 310, 20 October 1887, Page 3

MR. PIPER AND SIR JULIUS YOGEL.

To thh Editor of the •' Evening Matti." -Sib — I was greatly surprised to Bee Mr , Piper'e.sweeping and uncalled for condemnation of Sir Julius VogeJ, especially coming from one who as a oandidate four wot-ks ago pledged himself to support the Stout Ministry. When he committed himself to this line of action he was aware that the then .Premier had determined to stand or iall with hu colleague; hence Mr Piper as one willing to follow Sir itoberti Stout must support th>Ministry as a whole. Yet within a month he stigmatises the prnotical leader of that party as "the curse of New Zealand." Surely political consistency aud political morality must have sunk to a low ebb in the erred of , this aspiraut to Parliamentary honors. Mr Piper's political coat h&o been turned on different occasions and on various subjects ; to wit, once he was a ralid freetrader; his late utterings at the hustii ga proclaim him a decided Protectionist. When he contested the Waimea seat he opposed the late Government ; at the last general election he, for the time being, was a staunch supporter. His last deliverance indicates that the weather- . oook has gone round again, and Sir Julius Yogel is an utter failure. There can be no doubt, in the face of this " turn-about-jump- Jim-Crow-business " that the electors of Nelson did wisely in declining to be thus represented. However, let us examine the evidence upon whioh Mr Piper sees fit to throw mud at the ex-Treasurer now that he

is oat of power, a feat he dared not do whilst >. the Ministry retained their position. Mr Piper asks "what is the value of my opinion?" Not muoh, we all admit that, tut we deem it right to look carefully at what he chooses to call evidence, and we have to confess that after a careful perusal there is no evidence to warrant the assertions made, " that the inoeption of the publio works policy was a huge mistake " " that Sir Julius Yogel is an utter failure," " that he has no judgment, " "that he has no foresight." Against the , Unsupported testimony of Mr Piper, we have the opinion of Sir John Hall. From a speech of his in 1878 we have the following extract. " Sir Julius Yogel Bhowed the Colony that it would be wise to carry out the great scheme of Publio Works he had initiated, and when they considered the extent of the benefit that hik scheme had resulted in to the whole of New Zealand, they must applaud the ability which had conceived, and the perseverance | brought to bear in carrying out the first i instalment of the' great soheme. " Such an opinion from a political opponent is conclusive. Is it not an undeniable fact that since the date of the initiation of this polioy in 1870 New Zealand has made wondrous progress that could not possibly under other circumstances have been attained? In 17 years the population has more than doubled. In 1870 we had less than 50 miles of railway, now the Colony possesses over 1,700, then we had 1,600 miles of telegraph, now 4,400 Our exports of grain and wool have increased enormously, and when we take into consideration the development of the mining industry, the impetus given to agriculture and manufacture throughout the colony, traceable to this policy, it cannot be called a " huge mistake." That in its execution and details there has been maladministration no one will deny, but it may fairly be asked is Sir Julius Yogel daring his absence responsible for the blunders of those who carried out his scheme? In 1877. the present Premier said, " It is possible we have wasted money, necessarily wasted money, owing to the rapid manner in which the soheme has been carried out, for which the late Government are certainly not wholly responsible, still we have got good value tot our money. At any rate that is my opinion, and I think we should rather congratulate ourselves upon what we have got •than waste regrets over what might have been." To whom is due the credit of the system of New Zealand Life Insurance ? By whose efforts was the Inscription of Stock Bill passed? Who vigorously aßd successfully defended New Zealand through the press in London when help was needed 1 By whose instrumentality was New Zealand 'connected with Australia by cable, and put in communication with the whole world ? .What colonial statesman by his judgment .and diplomacy saved the Colony £600,000 in connection with the said cable, by effect ing (3 contract on more advantageous terms than . &c was empowered to do by the New Zealand flegialature? Are these matters of history " otter failures."

Alao the theoretical eideof Sir Julius Yogelß statemaoship. Regarding his "judgment" and "foresight" he ia ia this respect "head and shoulders" above any colonial politioiaD. Proof of bis ability is -evident from the fact that 17 years ago he flirged the advisability of making New Zealand a naval station for par* of the British 6duadr6n. "To-day it is aD accomplished fact. Again '• did -lie not earnestly advocate the annexation; of Samoa by England or she would lose this important island. Tet no English. statesman was prepared to endorse tfee - policy. What is the result? The Germans are tebing possession of this island &k moßt^valaable of .the group. Who pointed <$&' the) desirableness of appropriating the danger of allowing it rt<rpaM into the. hands of a Foreign Power ? trbentfce Scheme was laughed to scorn. JN ow it; has. figured prominently in European polities, and to all intents and purposes the country ia now the property of France. Space forbids referring to other parts of his letter, but I would advise Mr Piper in conclusion that, as Jje killed himself at the laßt election, now in >a l ttaobing Sir Julias Yogel he appears anxious 40 wirlbrm bis own obsequies. ..•••■... lam, <fee, ! . A«1)I AIiTBBAH PABTBU.

>■ 1o ira Editor of the *' Evening Mau.." fiflßi'i-iJoanoillor Akersten'a fierce oppqsition to the payment of the premium offered for the beet drainage plan would lead the ratepayer? to imagine that ha had sent in a plan wirioih unfortunately for the peace of the Council, happened to be one of those rejected by the expert, Mr Hay. If this ia tbe «ase it accounts for his opposition, bat we do not wanb Mir Akeraten's pet ideas forced down oar throats, any more than we want those <jf the Ciity Surveyor. We simply want the best plan, no matter who may be its originator. Nelson has been notorious for the * TBUBerable old fogey ideas of its public bodies in. the past, and if Cr. Akersten succeeds in getting his way in this matter, it will be another exploit in this direction. . . • I am &0., A. Ratepayer.