The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. TUESDAY, 30TH NOVEMBER, 1886.

Southland Times, Issue 9388, 30 November 1886, Page 2

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. TUESDAY, 30TH NOVEMBER, 1886.

Sir Julius Vogel's speech at Lawrence will be a disappointment to those who expected a declaration of the Government policy. We have seldom read a Ministerial address that had less political significance ; and yet it is one of the very beet addresses that Sir Julius has delivered since his return to the colony. It is quite devoid of controversial matter. The hon. gentleman indeed said that his visit was a friendly rather than a political one ; and though he could hardly help making a political speech, he carefully eschewed all reference to party politics. Ths tone of tbe address was perfect throughout. There was not a single reference to the Major and his works, nor to any other discordant subject. Sir Julius began with some remarks on the advantage of bringing the different parts of the colony acquainted with one another, and then glided easily and naturally into a kind of eulogy on the great gold industry. Is not Lawrence the capital of the goldfields of Otago ? Nay, is not Sir Julius Yogel himself in. some sort a product of the goldfields ? A good part of bis early life, he said, had been spent on them ; he had known their hardships and their fascinations ; and he had no doubt that in the Tuapeka district he had not a few friends and acquaintances of many years' standing. The miners of Victoria, who were on the whole a grand race of men, had spread themselves over all the colonies. Sir Julius spoke rather wishfully than hopefully of a revival of goldmining ; but he believed there wa3 enoagh gold in the Clutha river alone to make everybody in Otago rich ; and he added that it did not say much for the energy of the community that so precious a treasure should still lie buried under the running water. Alter a flattering reference to the other industries of the Tuapeka district he took a passing glance at some of the measures passed last session, especially those affecting the local government of the colony. He then said that it waa too early in the recess to give a forecast oi the policy of ! tbe Government. His hearers however I might depend upon their .continuing to. ' ;

give the greatest possible attention to the development of the colonial industries. But the Colonial Treasurer spoke with great moderation and circumspection on this subject. He said nothing to raise the hopes of the Protectionists. He gave much prominence to those industries which, as he said, were natural to the colony, ench as agriculture, woolv growing, gold and coal-mining, &c. It was beyond doubt that New Zealand would continue to be an important agricultural country . The nearest appro ach to Protectionist doctrines was when he said that if the country districts were to be prosperous there must be prosperity in the towns. This is indeed in one sense a mere common- place, though it would perhaps be more in harmony with the natural order of things to say that if the towns were to be prosperous there must be prosperity in the country. But there was nothing in the speech that could mfc be interpreted consistently with sound economic doctrine. "When we remember that the leanings of Sir JuUus Yogel are towards Protection it is clear that this part of his address had been carefully studied, so as not to give offence to any section of the community. Before concluding he remarked that it was an open secret that the revenue had not kept up to the amount it had been expected to yield. The chief fall, he said, had been in the Customs, and he added that they were all aware that this decline was principally in consequence of the more temperate habits of the people of the country. We wonder if the Colonial Treasurer is quite sincere in entertaining this delusion. It is very much to be feared that this extraordinary temperance of the community, so inconvenient to a Colonial Treasurer, is rather a consequence of tbe long severe commercial depression. But we will not at present controvert the honourable gentleman's position. He said the Government were making it an object to retrench as far as possible in all directions the expenditure of the colony. The choice, of course, lies between retrenchment and increased taxation ; and it is not at all probable that the country would approve of the latter course. It may, however, be doubted whether the J Government will have sufficient courage to cut down the expenditure to the necessary degree. Hitherto they have shown no tendency to move in this direction. But we have no wish to say a word that would jar on what we may call the harmony of £ir Julius Vogel's Lawrence speech. There will be plenty of opportunities for discussing the action of the Government in respect of the falling re ■ venue. The Coldnial Treasurer practically acknowledged that the comparative failure of the recent loan has justified the opposition that was at once raised by the press of the colony to his last year's Lawrence manifesto. He says indeed that there has been a change since then, but the change is only tbe Treasurer's own view of the situation. It is, however, satisfactory to find this saiiguine politician at last recognising the necessity of " abstaining as far as possible from going to the London market for fresh loans,"