THE PREMIER AND VOGELISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7782, 28 January 1887, Page 4

THE PREMIER AND VOGELISM.

TO THB EDITOE.

Sib,—Sir Robert Stout was last night very nappy and forcible in his enunciations about the need for retrenchment, Self-reliance, and cessation of borrowing, but he seemed to fail all tnrough in stirring enthusiasm in his audience, and there was just a suspicion of an indication^ abroad that his words were felt to be vox, et prceterea mini. He was weak when he sought to explain away the difficulties of cutting down expenditure; for although he is right in asserting' that the impetus for doing this must come fromthe people, he forgot that it-is the duty of a strong Government—strong, I mean, in moral courage, though it may be not so firm in their seats of office—to give the people a lead, to quicken and encourage the languid impulse and show them practically what might be done if they willed it so, even if their own position were thereby imperilled. His Government utterly failed to do this when a most favourable opportunity occurred; and not only so, but they took advantage of the infinitely selfish urgency of the Canterbury members and people to reverse the most creditable stand taken by I the Atkinson Governmeut in the matter of the railway rates, which virtually cost them their place and power. . However, all this was not, I conceive, the first cause of the lack of interest and sympathy in. the Premier's earnest enough protestations. Sir Robert Stout's character is well known, and most people have confidence in his honesty of purpose, patriotisna, and anxiety for the real good of New Zealand; and rightly so. I rather tfcmk he has been the means of creating more of the love of country in the colonists—especially the younger generation of colonists—than any other New Zealand politician. But the uncomfortable feeling prevails that in this particular department of government his interest is m ore or less of a dilletanti character, different altogether from his attitude; towards eJucation, the Native,1 and suchlike social questions; and that in this, at any' rate, he is entirely under the influence—or perhaps I should rather say does not sufficiently resist the influence of his Treasurer, and so cannot rise .superior to the chronic disorder which has' afflicted the colony for so long, and which has been fitly called Vogeh'sm. It is true that Sir Julius Vogel has also appeared among the prophets of self-reliance; at any rate he has mildly hinted that we must restrict our future borrowing. But he is a late and unwilling convert, and not a soul-believes what he says in the least. At the moment Jupiter has hurled his dart at him, while engaged in his usual unlawful quest of fire from heaven. The Bank of England has spoken, and in such a way as respectable" borrowing British colony was never spoken to before, and even the audacity of Sir Julius has been compelled to quail before it. And so he whines an unwilling concurrence—a year too late—with the desires of the whole people, every one of whom believes that he can no more carry out honestly the gospel he has been^ forced to preach than the leopard can change his spots, or himself stamp upon quicksilver. ■ Imafm<?_ s« JnIJM Vogel pursuing a policy of self-reliance! Imagine him refusing all help tor a few years of the Lombard street capitalists! Imagine his boldly leading the people to suffer restriction of public conveniences and extra taxation, so as to pay their way without borrowing ! The most daring conception fails in the attempt; and so we are forced to the depressing conclusion that in spite of all that the Premier says we are in danger of the same' chronic disorder which has afflicted us for so long and threatens to sap our very vitality, or that the Treasurer must sink into the position—not unknown already in the present Government—of a mere drawer of salary, and of no active advantage to the Ministry, and more or less of a clog upon the public credit of the colony and its aspirations after a more healthy and vigorous financial state.

Now, I venture to affirm that this, is a fair, and I hope not unduly severe statement of the influences which last night told materially against the force of Sir" Robert Stout s speech so far as it related to the finance * of the colony, and which: have told seriously against the Premier's public reputation for two years past. And who, I would ask, is this Sir Julius Vogel that he should be allowed to be such a minister of public evil to the colony? Is the colony deeply in debt to him?" Has he grown with the growth and shared in the labours which have beeu the making of New Zealand ?— Or has he not ra her climbed to a certain eminence or notoriety by the fame and the gold of the colony ? I leave all who know the cii-cum- ; stances of the past to judge of this. - No doubt those interested would have us believe that there is a symptom of a mitigation of the disorder of Vogelism in Sir Julius' conversion. But I maintain that as it defies diagnosis it is just as likely to point in some way to increased activity at the seat of mischief. Equally so does the extraordinary failure of interest in the question of Protectionism on the part of the Treasurer, as represented by a paltry £10-note. as one might say " Heads or tails?" for a court iat tennis! Remember, £10 byway of bet can only stir the most languid interest, can hardly quicken the pulse of such a man as Sir Julius Vogel; and yet this is all he cares for the principle of what, is to make or mar the whole future of the colony. Sir Robert btout shares this languid interest. How gingerly he trod the delicate ground last night! With him I believe it is all opposed to his philosophy and intelligence and sense of • moral g£?P™*y« this idea of prohibitive protection. With his Treasurer it is a question of " running with the hare and hunting with the hounds." If this is coming to the front as the Premier says, it must be on a straight and unmistakable issue. There is not a Freetrader in the colony who will object to the most stringent Protection if it can be clearly shown that it is for the unquestionable good of the country. Inere is no sentimental nonsense abroad on the subject. The issues lie between a prohibitive tariff, which shall make industries possible waich are impossible now—but at a huge cost to the colony—and a tariff which shall stop short ab the point of maximum revenue, and leave such industries only to grow up as the circumstances of the colony are calculated to encourage, and which are not a few already, are yearly increasing, and are relatively about as extensive as those of Victoria All the talk about shaping the tariff so as to encourage local industries is specious nonsense— merely the introduction of the thin end of the wedge, which must be driven home sooner or later—nothing but a gentle gulling of the public. So soon us the tariff becomes prohibitive and fails to collect the maximum revenue we Freetraders say, better tax land, incomes or anything else—and better thisj for land, for incomes, and for everything else. Let this then be clearly stated, and let the battle be fought on a distinct issue. If the majority say we had better pay and pay heavily in order to establish a maximum of possible industries^the question will be set at rest, and we shall all make the best of it. But this shuffling with the question, this betting £10 that Protection is the proper thing is a form of latter-day Vogelism which is calculated to cause grave alarm to all seriousminded men.

I approve of your suggestion about Sir Robert Stout's visit to London to attend the Colonial Conference. No better representative man could be found. He is well known by reputation to many men of eminence in England, and would do New Zealand much credit. If his loyalty, failing his better judgment and sense of public dignity, prevents him from parting company with Sir Julius Vogel, let him leave this gentleman by himself for a Parliament. The result would probably be highly advantageous to all but, the Treasurer himself. And if his fall from power occurred while the Prime Minister was at Home preaching the doctrines which he did so ably and eloquently at Knox Church last night, it would be found that incalculable advantage would result to the colony, and to the ultimate reputation of Sir Robert Stout as well. — I am, &c, J. M. Ritchie. January 26.