THE "EMINENT FINANCIER."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 405, 1 September 1869, Page 2

THE "EMINENT FINANCIER."

In making his Financial Statement, Mr Vogel said that the over-expenditure of the late Government for the past year was £433,232. Naturally, the members of the late Government did not like the appearance of this fnct, aDd Mr Hall moved for a Select Committee to inquire into Mr Vogel'a allegations. Mr Steven s was very vigorous in denouncing this part of the Treasurer's Statement. He said Mr Vogel had attempted to mislead the House "by accident, or incapncity, or by something worse." And, also, that " a more unfortunate occurrence than that never could have taken place. The entry had either been made without sufficient attention, or in the perpetration of a huge blunder, or they were in the position of being* to their sorrow, obliged to understand that the thing had been done for political purposes." Mr Vogel showed clearly enough that he was perfectly righs in what he had stated, and that the Government had dealt ! very leniently indeed with their predecessors in office. In opposing Mr Hall's motion for a Select Committee, which he did on the ground that it was an indirect motion of " No confidence," he made the following remarks on Mr Stevens' position in the House: — Honorable members can, if they choose, gather the facts for themselves from the financial statement and the tables accompanying it. Notably, I may say that the hon. member for Nelson and the lion, member for Selwyn do not appear to understand it. I must say I am surprised at the hon. member for Nelson not understanding it, because he generally has shown himself to be clear in respect to matters upon which he speaks. If I understood him, he endorsed the statements made by the hon. member for Selwyn. Now, I make a considerable allowance for the hon. member for Selwyn. I am told that he has a great personal complaint against myself; and I am very sorry that he should be under the impression that if I were not here he might be on these benches. I can assure the hon. member that I have not stood in his way, and I do not think my hon. colleague will object to my saying that I again and again urged him, if he could be content -with the hon. member, not to allow me to stand in the way. lam very sorry the hon. member has a personal feeling in the matter. Mr Stevens : It may save my hon. friend's time, aud minister to his peace of mind, if I tell him that what he imagines is a pure delusion altogether. Mr Vogel : When I find the hon. member go out of his way to ascribe motives, I must say I cannot help thinking of the rumours which have reached me. I hope I shall not pain the hon. member when I say that it would be becoming on his part to speak with more modesty upon questions of finance. The hon. member for Timaru may aay, " Ob, oh," but I ascribe to him a large amount of responsibility for the injury he has done to the hon. member for Selwyn. It was the hon. member for Timaru who used to indulge in exaggerated praise of the hon. member's financial abilities, until He found that the hon. member accepted the praise but did not give hia vote, when he became very plain-spoken. I think a great wrong has been done to the hon. member for Selwyn, He has been flattered in this House by some hon. members, and notably by the hon. member for Timaru, with the idea that he possessed glaring financial abilities— that he was a heaven-born financier, and consequently he is rendered miserable during the whole session, wandering through the lobbies, pondering over difficult financial questions which he is not able nor required to disentangle. He tells us be thinks it ia his duty to say so and so, and be has always some

constituent behind him who has pressed him to know why this is so, and what that means, and then he always speaks under a sense of obligation and responsibility which it is positively painful to think of or witness. The hon. member professed to give what he called an explanation about the condition of this account, and impugned the accuracy of the statement in these words The Speaker : Tb.3 hon. member cannot refer to a previous debate. Mr Vogel : Sir, the hon. member for Selwyn is very much indebted to you for interposing on his behalf ***** The hou. member for Selwyn— l am not going to refer to a previous debate— carries about, in a melancholy manner, the idea that a wrong has been done in supposing that the £192,000 should be charged to the service of 1868-69, instead of to the service of 1869-70. That is a matter of opinion. I told the hon. member that I found it necessary to take on myself the responsibility, and I believe the House will fully endorse my action. The hon. member for Lyttelton, in a few words, put the matter very clearly before the House, and told the hon. member for Selwyn, as he might tell some young gentleman in his office in whom he wished to instil a knowledge of the first principles of business, that money paid during the year should be considered as belonging to the accounts for that year * # . * * i(i * * * * I cannot help remarking that although hon. members were determined to find fault with the statement, it took them some time to decide what to find fault about. Hon. members' opinions were sometimes to be gathered more accurately from what appeared in "Letters from our own correspondent" which appeared in a ne'ghbouring province, than in the lobbies, or even in the House itself. The complaint made against the financial statement was that it was not sensational enough, and did not contain any larga features. I told the House that we did not pretend to come down with any revolutionary proposals, but that it was the policy of this Government to disturb existing institutions as little as possible. As far, however^ as concerns the substantial accuracy of the statement, and the information we endeavoured to give the House, I believe that hon. members have no right to complain.