SIR JULIUS VOGEL AT ASHBURTON.

Colonist, Volume XXVII, Issue 3857, 14 June 1884, Page 3

SIR JULIUS VOGEL AT ASHBURTON.

I '- ' [Per' Press Association.] I.' '' " ' AsiißtjiiTON, i<June 13. .Sir Julius Vagel addressed' fchb-'electors at jA'shburtbn this'evening."" The;'; Hall was I crowded. .On the platform were'thany leading settlers ' and influential visitors from Christchiirch Sir Julius wa9 very warmly I received.', He said it was on the 'advice of his I friend, 3^r Bbbert Stout, that he 'decided to come forward as a candidate, and' explicitly contradicted the statement thatf'he did so j with the view of advancing hia claim against I the Government. 'He explained liis connecj tion wiih'the bonsof'y'ative3 in English poliI ties as due.'to "the. fact'1 that they had the welfare of the Colonies! and' maintenance of the unity of the Empire atheart'inuch more than the' Liberals'.' He expressed himself as strongly against' laigo' .borrowing';- and that J even moderate" borrowing should J.only be for I well-defined ' useful ' works, He" strongly dissented from the idea that* railways I should be expected to pay full interest on borrowed money. If revenue came within two per cent of the charge for interest he considered their construction fully justified, and J where district railways did not do this the deficiency should be raised by local taxation. On the above terms he would favor the extention of line 3, and the North Island Trunk Railw-iy and Otago . Central having been sanctioned should be completed without delay; and the West Coast line should also be constructed through. Before the Government took it in hand they should carefully consider the advisability of entrusting it to private enterprise. ••' He justified the opposition to the-recent increase of railway tariff, which, if quietly accepted, would have placed a dangerous power <in the hands of the Governments He would not attack a moribund Government, but' if; the present Government remained in office he would oppose them in very many things. He would never>do ianything;.calculated to reduce the wages of working classes, and was in favor of the extension of franchise to women. More population is required for the country, but in future immigration should be regulated so as to bring labor and capitalin just'proportions. He opposed the Tax;: but, if necessary, would support a Land Tax, all improvements toibe exempt.1' He was:snot >. a Protectionist, but "encouragement' of' local rproduction demanded earnest: consideration.. fie* was not opposed to federation,-'but no legislation of the Federal: Council ; should apply to any Colony till suchi: Colony . had adopted such ■ legislation. : There could be no greater blunder than the proposed nationalisation of land, and he did not think.. perpetual leasing would work. The cost of Education shoulcl , be reduced, ■ but secular sj stems retained. A large number of questions were masked aud replied to. At;the conclusion a vote of confidence was proposed and carried. ■ si