SIR JULIUS VOGEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22504, 23 February 1935, Page 12

SIR JULIUS VOGEL

The last issue for last year of the Observer, the highly esteemed Sunday paper which ia published in London, contained a list of the centenaries that would call for observance in 1935. The list comprised some 32 names. Among them was that of Sir Julius Vogel, who was born on February 24, 1835 —a hundred years ago to-morrow. The mere fact that the name of a man who, as journalist and statesman, spent the greater part of his life in New Zealand and owes wholly to his achievements in New Zealand- the reputation which he possessed, appears in such a list is in itself striking evidence of the value that is even now placed on his public service. t Sir Julius Vogel was unquestionably a remarkable man, a man of vision and foresight, of marked initiative and of uncommon ability, and a confirmed optimist. Gisborne, writing in “New Zealand Rulers and Statesmen,” described his leading characteristics as restless energy, great self-confidence, quick perception, intellectual power, persistent tenacity, fertility of resources, ' constructiveness, and capability of rapid combination. There were mentally bigger men engaged in the political life of New Zealand in Vogel’s time than there are now, but he had not been long in Parliament before he compelled a recognition of his qualifications for responsible office. He is chiefly remembered in the political history of the country for his bold and successful advocacy of the public works policy of the seventies, under which large loans were raised for the opening up of the country by construction of railways, employment being thus provided for the immigrants who were encouraged under his scheme to come to New Zealand. But his brain was ceaselessly busy, and with many less spectacular achievements, such as the inauguration of mail and cable services with Great Britain, the establishment of the system of State life insurance, and the creation of the Public Trust Office his name must be always associated. It may justly be said of him that he was the first- really Imperially-minded statesman whom New Zealand knew. We have described him as a statesman, and statesman rather than mere politician he undoubtedly was. New Zealand presented —especially at that time —a rather small field for the exercise of his varied talents. He would have made his name in a much wider sphere. Sir Julius Vogel was, however, as we have said, a journalist as well as a statesman, and in the former capacity his association with this paper gives us especial cause to remember the hundredth anniversary of his birth. It might not be entirely accurate to say that he was the founder of the Otago Daily Times, for Mr W. H. Cutten was certainly associated with the enterprise which brought this publication into existence and was in fact its original proprietor. On the other hand, it is easy to believe that it was Sir Julius Vogel who inspired, and was the guiding spirit in, the establishment of the first daily newspaper in New Zealand —that distinction belonging to the Otago Daily Times. He it was, also, who was the first editor of this paper, and anyone who has access to its early files can hardly fail to be impressed with a sense of the literary quality and the vivacity of his writings and of the versatility and ivide knowledge of affairs which were exhibited in them.