MR. VOGEL AND HIS RESOLUTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3997, 3 September 1874, Page 3

MR. VOGEL AND HIS RESOLUTIONS.

To the Editor of the Hkkald. Sin,—Mr. Vogel's real intentions with regard to his resolutions seem to have puzzled politicians of all classes. Perhaps Mr. Vogel does not know what his intentions are himself; lie will, I have 110 doubt, be guided by coming events. He very naturally thinks that if the provinces are to be maintained by money from the funds of the general revenue, then the sooner the General Government has the entire control of the provinces the better it wi l ! be for the whole of New Zealand. I think that the Superintendents may bid farewell to the pride, pomp, and circumstance of their office ; the Superintendents' occupation ic gone or about to go. The people of this island ought to direct all their energies towards securing the land fund for the benefit of the whole colony; at any rate, they ought to insist on something of this sort being done. 1 will put the case thus : that, taking into consideration the large amount of interest which will have to be paid 011 the borrowed money, the people of the North Island are of opinion that the unsold lands of the colony, or any money arising from the sale oft tlicui, should be held as a reserve, to go towards the payment of the. debts of the colony. Looking forward to the great increase of taxation, which, unless some unforeseen event takes place, must come 011 the inhabitants of New Zealand, they think that the Government ought to prevent as much as possible an excessive taxation, for an excessive taxation would greatly retard the progress of the country. It must also be taken into account that the greatest part of the interest money goes out of New Zealand. Political economists say, that "wherever stock is held by foreigners, the dividends received by the foreigner are in the nature of tribute, and impoverish the country jnst as the payment of tribute would do. The present system of disposing of the lands of the South is injurious to the colony. Owing to the large profits lately made by slieepowners they are enabled to buy up large tracts of fertile country. This prevents settlement. If this alienation of land was accompanied by settlement, the people located would add to the general revenue and permanent income of the colony, by the payment of duties and the development of the resources of the country. Alienation of land without this corresponding settlement of population is of very little advantage ■ - the colony. I consider that the two gij -itest obstacles to the success of Mr. \ ogel's schemes are these : The difficulty of inducing a numerous population to come to New Zealand, and the fact of the interest money to be paid 011 the loans going out of the country. If Mr. Vogel can get over these obstacles, he will prove himself: to be the greatest as well as the most daiingaud adventurous statesman in the Australian colonies.—lam, &c.,