SIR JULIUS VOGEL.

Colonist, Volume XVII, Issue 1980, 16 October 1875, Page 4

SIR JULIUS VOGEL.

During the debate on the San Eranciscp mail contract, in the House of Eepresentatives, on October 12th, Sir George Grey said: The present attitude of the House was a revolt against constant misuse of authority ; why, it was a notorious fact that Sir Julius concealed from that Parliament his intention to return to England the moment he had got rid of the Assembly. He would ask was this Parliament —so august in its nature, and so skilled in debate —having no respect for its own. dignity, to allow itself to be thus treated? Each of these facts were insults to the Parliament— that Sir Julius Vogel should have gone Home in such a manner, and that before going he should hare set this House at defiance. Then, when at Home he had remained there instead of returning to discharge the duties pertaining to his office. Mr Ltjckie : Because he was ill. ; Sir Geoege Geey • If ill why did he not i allow some other person to take his place, and content himself with his just salary ? He was astonished to hear the member for Nelson make such an answer. No sick man should draw such large suma as he had. But this Ministry also set the law at defiance in every respect. [Mini^tees : No.] He said yes. How many instances had been brought before that House. Even the name and attributes of their august sovereign had been used by the Ministry for unjust purposes. Mr Ltjckie ; And by yourself. Sir George Grey: How by himself? WhaFhe said was a fact known to all. He could give instances. [The speaker then proceeded to show how the Queen's right of pre-emption had been used in the acquirement of native lands, and so using the Queen's name to take away the rights of one subject in order to give them to another.] He for one hailed the revolt, and he should give his best support to the amendment proposed to the resolutions of the hon. the Colonial Treasurer. Mr Ltjckie : It was not a difficult and not a courageous thing to assail an absent man. [Mr Beeves : Hear, hear.] The hon member for Selwyn said hear, hear; but there were members in that House who would not have dared to speak as they had done, had Sir Julius Yogel been in the House. Therewwats t more noise made about the thing than it was worth, and he had no doubt that time would show the arrangement made was the best which could have been made.