AN EXPRESSION OF OPINION FROM SIR JULIUS VOGEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5022, 7 June 1884, Page 3

AN EXPRESSION OF OPINION FROM SIR JULIUS VOGEL.

Sir Julius Vogel writes to the Lyatelton . Times of this morning as follows : — TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Accidentally I have seen your issue of June 5, containing a brief report of a meeting of Mr Wason, and a long letter from Mr Dorney. I deem them suffiiently important to telegraph a reply, trusting to your fairness for insertion. I have nothing to do with Mr Dorney's dispute with Mr Howland, but I ask Mr Dorney and your readers "to suspend their judgment, as to my opinions until I have addressed the electors. On many points Mr Dbmey is entirely mistaken as to my opinions, and he fails to do me justice on the subject of borrowing. As to the borrowing under my responsibility, I submit the objects served have justified it. That it costs bhe Colony so much is because I was over-ruled in the precautions which I wished to take to make the land responsible for the cost. It is no fault of mine that private individuals made large suin3 which should have passed to the State. As to future borrowing, I utterly repudiate the profligate policy of borrowing for the sake of expenditure. I doubt if there are many public men who would be more strict in exacting rigorous conditions as to the objects for which the Colony should borrow further, and the precautions it should take to protect itself. As to my standing in the interest of any particular class, I wish anj' of those who may be supporting me under such impressions to withdraw their support, for they will find themselves woefully mistaken. I will favour no class. All classes have equally my consideration. There are many thousands of persons of all classes through the Colony who can bear witness to the fact that my sympathies have never been of an isolate character. I have the highest respect for Mr Wason and should profoundly regret beiug the means of permanently keeping so able a man from public life. I was reluctantly compelled to oppose him because, having signified my willingness to enter Parliament, I could not consistently refuse the opportunity offered by an existing vacancy and be the means of creating another vacancy by accepting Mr Pilliet's generous offer. Mr Wason, however, must have been amusing himself at the expense of his hearers when he said lny return is more likely than his own to continue the present Government in power. Surely he ought to know the exact contrary is the case. — I am, &c, JULIUS VOGEL.