THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1880.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5794, 12 June 1880, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald. AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1880.

The question of Sir Julius "Vogel and the Agent-Generalship has advanced a stage, and in one respect it is very satisfactory— we have a prospect of getting rid of him. Having made use of his position to the utmost to further his personal objects, and the election for Falmouth being over, he has tendered his resignation, but he has imposed conditions. The phrase appears a strange one to apply with regard to a public servant, but the fault is that of Sir Julius Vogel, not ours ; he liaß imposed conditions. In one respect there need be no surprise; all Governments have shown so much timidity in dealing with him as to encourage in him the belief that he is master of the situation. It is but justice to him to say that if he has displayed boundless assumption it has been to a great extent a result of the apologetic and deprecatory tone which his prevaded the instructions forwarded to him, if we may be permitted to use such a term. It is something novel, highly objectionable, and certainly somewhat derogitory to the dignity of the colony that one of its employe*, even though occupying so important a post as that of Agent-General, should feel himself strong enough to dictate conditions to it; but it is hardly surprising in Sir Julius Vogel, since its '• saviour," as he describes himself, would be entitled to think that he held an exceptional position with regard to it. It would be somewhat humiliating for the colony to owe its salvation to its Agent-General, and it may accept our assurance that it occupies no such wretched position. The salvation achieved for it, which refers to the floating of the last loan, it paid for in solid cash, by accepting a recklessly low price for that loan. Anybody could have floated the loan at the price at which it was offered, and considering what that price was we suggest that the Government should instruct the successor of Sir Julius Yogel, provided his resignation be arranged, to make the mo3t searching inquiry into all the circumstances connected with it.

The conditions imposed by Sir Julius Vogel are that he is to have the floating of all future loans and to be paid onetwelfth per cent, for the business, to remain a director of the Agricultural Company if it please him, and to go into Parliament and enter into any speculations he may choose. It appears that the Government have accepted these conditions, but refuses that he shall take toll of the last loan and conversion of the loans. Modesty i 3 as little a feature of the_ character of the Agent-General as decision and firmness that of the Governments which have had to deal with j Ministers in»ist that Sir Julius

Vogel's pecuniary interest' in the welfare of the colony'should lDe -Hftiitfed" to- future' financial operations, they reject all claims aB regards the past. This -will be a serious "hitch," because he of course regards present profit as-. >-far more valuable than prospective gains. We are told that the despatch in which Sir Julius Vogel enforces his claims is " a work of art,'" and we can quite believe it. Fortunately, however, the Government have proved unappreciative—they refuse to mix up high art with, business. It would be much more satisfactory if Sir Julius Vogel were disposed of without any conditions ; if in future he had nothing whatever to do with the financial transactions of the colony, because there is ample reason for having a profound distrust of him. It is most objectionable that the colony should be placed in his hands for the future, if for no other reason than that should it be found necessary to aefc him aside he would be in a position to claim large compensation However, to this the Government have committed us; and, considering the widely - spread feeling of dissatisfaction which exists with regard to the Agent-General, we think it would have been more prudent and moie courteous to have done nothing till the sanction of Parliament had been obtained. It may be anticipated that the result will be to cause great dissatisfaction, and the Ministry must not forget in connection with this as well as other matters that if it presume too much on the disorganised state of the Opposition, it may seriously imperil its own position, which would be a matter for regret. We quite admit that it is wise to make a sacrifice to be rid of Sir Julius Vogel, but there must be some limit to it. ' Should we at last obtain relief from our " Old Man of the Sea," the Government, it is to be hoped, will be careful to select as a substitute one whose personal character will carry weight, and whose ambition will be satisfied with the possession of so high and honourable a position, and will be content to subordinate his personal aims to the large and important interests of which he will ba the representative. The Ministry [will acquit us of any desire to dictate to it if we suggest that the selection of Sir E. W. Stafford, now in England, would give universal satisfaction. A man of considerable ability, unblemished character, and keenly solicitous with regard to his personal honour, he is held in esteem by men of all shades of opinion, and would do honour to this or any other position which tho administrators of public affairs might see fit to confer on him.