MR VOGEL AT AUCKLAND.

Southland Times, Issue 1987, 23 September 1874, Page 3

MR YOGEL AT AUCKLAND.

Mr Yogel addressed his constituents in the Choral Hall on the 15th September. Mr Russell took the chair. The Hall was crammed, and there was barely standing room. In introducing the Premier, the chairman said that this wns the most difficult Colony. of the Empire to govern. Mr Yogel explained that his addressing them at such short notice was in consequence of his leaving the Colony that night for some months. He had expected to remain for some days longer, but the arrival of the steamer had cut the visit short, and rendered it impossible for him to speak at the length he had intended. He aad always done -what he could for local matters, but had experienced considerable difficulty in ascertaining the feeling of his constituents. He asked them to go back with him to 1869, when he took office. The North Island was then in a most depressed state, and it was impossible to penetrate into the interior without risk of life. There was a general belief that war was inevitable, and the question was, Would the South consent at once to the expenditure asked them ? Compare the present with the past, and give him some credit for the part he had taken. l?oads and telegraph wires now penetrated through the whole Island, and settlement was extending everywhere. A large landed estate was being purchased, and would be available for settlement and revenue. There was no doubt that in the future this would result in the prosperity of the North Island being unsurpassed by any island of the same size. If asked what difference there was between the last five years and preceding years, it was that the present Government had endeavored to make a peaceful conquest of the island, and show that industrial arts would provide the excitement which was supposed to be inseparable "with fhe interior of tlie North Island. Their policy had been a progressive one. Had the expenditure carried On during the last five years been proposed in 1869, it would have received very little support. It would have been a very easy matter for the Government to introduce such a policy if it was only intended for the Middle Island. The Assembly had voted £700,000 for the purchase of landed estate in the North, and it was unfair for the speakers at a recent meeting to have kept that fact back when urging the seizure of the Southern lands. Although the North made a bad bargain in 1856, yet it might now make a worse if it secured the land fund as Colonial revenue. The lands of the North would ultimately support a larger population than those of the South, and therefore be more valuable. The speaker next alluded to the State Forests Bill, and the importance of conserving forests. When this was made a political question it was naturally asked how much longer would Provincial Governments interfere with great State questions, and it was concluded that if the Provincial Governments continued obstinate in this way they must yield. The Government nad suffered many difficulties rather than make constitutional changes, but this was thought a favorable time for making those changes- The constitution of the Colony rendered it extremely difficult for any Colonial policy, as the Provincial Governments combined could make any Government very weak. But this was not really the cause of the proposed change. Estimates were made of the total Government expenditure in the North, which showed most startling results. During the five years ending ,■ 1874, no lees than £3,389,000 had been expended by the Colonial Government, while only £180,000 had been spent by the Provincial Governments. Then, he it was useless to continue this cumbersome machinery to do so little .work. The institutions of the North Island were not satisfactory. The Government found that, while paying £80,000 capitation for gaols, hospitals, &c, in the Provinces, only £51,000 were being expended. Licenses and goldfields revenue should be expended within the districts where they were collected. While recognising that the land revenue should be preserved for particular purposes, yet it was a fact that the Consolidated Revenue had been charged with things improperly, and the Government had' been compelled to refrain from charging on the land fund expenditure which properly belonged to it. Referring to the abolition resolutions, he said the 'reason for combining the resolutions brought down by him, was that when the Government announced their intention to abolish the Northern Provinces, the Superintendents assumed a most hostile attitude, one saying, '•' that means loss of land revenue," and another said, "it means removal of the seat of Government to Christchurch." The Govern--tnent could not be constantly contradicting su^h misstatemente, and they deemed it necessary to state generally what they meant. There was no probability of the seat of Government being brought back to Auckland, and it was idle for anyone to believe otherwise. At a meeting held in his house, at which 45 members were present, it was suggested that a vote for Government buildings would determine the question of the seat of Government, without forcing the supporters of the resolutions into a direct expression of opinion. That was the general feeling of the meeting, With regard to the land fund, he did not think Mr v\ ood's version of the caucus was correct. When the Government proposed the third resolution, affirming the Compact of 1856, they meant it was not" possible to alter that Compact. Shpuld it ever be reversed — even if no such Compact existed — it would not be desirable to mix the land revenue with the -• Colonial revenue. He believed a in the constitution of the North .Island would soon be remarked by the $outh lahmd with envy, and the time was not distant when the Middle Island wou! d B*ji," That is what we want." Apart

from the agreement of 1856, it woulc have still been a statesmanlike policy foi i the Government to propose to secure tht expenditure of revenue from land upoE , works within defined areas. "With reference to Mr O'Rorke, he re-asserted thai the Government were unaware of thai : gentleman's intention to resign, although , he knew he did not sympathise with the resolutions. Still, he did not wish anything lo be said, or to be taken as reflection on Mr O'Rorke for the course he had pursued. The members who voted against the resolutions were an extraordinary combination. Mr Gillies opposed them merely because he (Mr "Yogel) proposed them. Mr Gillies saw so little to support in anything he (Mr Yogel) proposed, that if he brought down a motion stating that Mr Gillies was a most excellent and estimable member, and an amendment was proposed, he believed Mr Gillies would vote for the amendment. It was quite certain that either Mr Gillies was right, and Mr Yogel wrong, or he (Mr Yogel) was right and Mr Gillies wrong. Either the whole Public "Works, Immigration, and Peace Policy was a mistake, or Mr Gillies was wrong. Mr Gillies had repeatedly made attacks upon him, but he did not wish to make any retaliation there. It had been announced by telegraph that a caucus, at which twentyeight were present, was opposed to the resolutions. It was held after the passing of the resolutions, and yet in reality only 18 members were there, and 10 persons were picked up out of the streets, in order to make the number appear large. No matter what was the opinion of that meeting, the country had endorsed the resolutions by an enormous majority. That meeting, he assumed, from the demonstration made by it, was favorable to the abolition of all the Provinces. It was a mere matter of prejudice to object to receive good because only one part of the Colony required such legislation. In passing those resolutions, the Government contemplated giving the -PsTorth the excellent institutions of the South. No one could fail to admire the institutions and educational system of Otago, aud it was to give the North these excellent institutions in place of its present disgraceful institutions that the Government desired the abolition of the Provinces. The out-districts would never be prosperous until real local government was substituted for the present scheme. It was not desirable to define all the views of the Government. He thought the land fund should be set apart for the interest and sinking fund of Provincial loans and educational purposes, for the subsidising of roads, and to be voted by Parliament for special district works. This would include harbors and branch railways. The capitation would support the public institutions. He would be very much disappointed if licenses and goldfields revenue were not made local revenue. The Government were determined to make the measure satisfactory, and had employed a barrister of Colonial reputation, who was instructed to visit every highway district in the Colony and confer with its Chairman before framing the Bill. He referred at length to the South Sea scheme, and its importance to the whole Colony, but especially to Auckland. He considered this what Auckland must mainly look to, and believed there was a great future before it. It was his desire to make some statement of the reason why he was now proceeding to England. He would be absent sis or seven months. His first object was to arrange for a cable with Australia, which he believed would soon be undertaken. His next was with reference to immigration. Although, in exceptional cases, there might be hardship to immigrants, yet all must have noticed the extraordinary absorption of the immigrants who arrived, which was mainly due to distributing them over the Colony. The conduct of the Immigration Department was now satisfactory, but circumstances at home rendered it necessary for a Minister to confer with the AgentGeneral, in order to obviate the irritating correspondence of the past. The Government resolved to bring the Home Department more into harmony with the views eutertained in the Colony. The third object of his visit was financial matters, which could not well bo dealt with by correspondence. He did not appear before them that night to sue for a renewal of their confidence. Perhaps they might find a representative more in accordance with their views, and he might find a constituency who would take his part better in absence than they had done. Circumstances had arisen which might perhaps render it undesirable he should again represent an Auckland constituency, and he had been asked to stand for nearly every city in the Colony, but ho was yet undecided. In New Zealand and out of it there was a growing impression that the Colony was rising from the depressed condition of 1869 to the foremost Colony of Australasia, aud they might yet see it take the chief position. He desired to see Auckland equally as prosperous as other parts of the Colony, and that hope kept him at work when he might desire rest from arduous labors. The Province had, however, been contending against many drawbacks ; but when a railroad was made throughout Waikato, possibly connecting it with the rich lands of Taranaki, and it was opened up by the operation of the Public Works policy, it would yet have a great future. He concluded by stating that he did not come there to commence a discussion with popular orators, but he would answer any reasonable questions. The speech, during delivery, was frequently interrupted by demonstrations of disapprobation, which prevented the speaker proceeding, and sometimes by applause. At the close there were loud cries of " Rees, Rees," and after waiting some time, the chairmau said as no elector came forward, ho declared the meeting afc an end. Mr Roes, barrister, jumped on the platform, and said he intended to speik.

i The Chairman said he was not an p elector. » Mr Rees (with an Electoral Roll in his i hand) said he was. A great tumult arose, the Chairman and t Mr Yogel essaying to speak, and being t stamped down. i Ultimately Mr Yogel obtained a hear- » ing, and said he had called the meeting • of City East electors to explain his views, ■ and not to hear Mr Eees speak. He > wished them good-night. [ The Chairman then vacated the chair, - and, with Mr Yogel and others, retired i from the platform amid prolonged howl- • ing. Mr Kees then commenced to speak, and • the meeting was about to elect a new t chairman, when some one extinguished l one chandelier. This caused confusion. Mr Eees proceeded, amid much applause, » to say that the action that liad just taken i , place was most disgraceful. Wh;it would ; j the people of Sydney and England ?ay | when they heard how Yogel liad left a j public meeting in the Colony ? Fancy i Mr Gladstone afraid to take an ex pros sion of public opinion on his actions at a meeting called to ventilate his views. He would not detain them, but would take the sense of the meeting. Were there six electors of Auckland City East who approved of Mr Vogel's action or considered him worthy their confidence ? — (Loud cries of "No, no.") The meeting, after cheering Rees, gradually dispersed. Nearly 2000 persons were packed in the building, and many went away unable to obtain admittance.