SIR JULIUS VOGEL'S ADDRESS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1042, 17 May 1884, Page 3

SIR JULIUS VOGEL'S ADDRESS.

* The following are the more important points of the address issued by Sir Julius Yagel to the East Coast eleolors j—

I will venture to hope that it ia unnecessary that I should vindicate my past career in New Zealand. The power which I exer* cised I owed solely to the confidence of my fellow "colonists, and it was tbeir support which enabled me, with the assistance of my colleagues, to be the instrument of raising the Colony from the depths of overwhelming depression to a height of prosperity that made it assume the position of one, of the most prominent of the Australasian Colonies. Once more the Colony ia iv the depths of depression, though, it appears to me, |he causes are somewhat different to thqse wh}ch operated in the former pa«e. The primary ca.usies, tiben., aB I remember them, wera : Ist The reaction consequent upon the cessation of inordinate expenditure on wars with ihe Natives. 2nd. Insufficiency of the population. 3rd. Want of convenient m,eansof Communication between the producing, d.«» triqts and the markets fqr the &hs\X ship*; ment QftbepToduc°. 4*^» Generally a want, of energy and enterprise, occasioned by tnV prevailing depression. , ; . It appears to me that New Zealand has' everything in its favour just now, as I shall presently relate, except that it is suffering

'fronTr'wSHrof 'con'fiden'ce "ifiTKe faltiVcX property-*-* .want of confidence engendered by 'he operations of various causes during several years past. For obvious reasons Ido not wish to refer to particular Governments and particular Ministers ; but am I wrong in saying that one seems 10 vie with the other which shall say thehurshest things, and inspire the most dread in the minds of holders of property ? If they wish to hold and improve tbeir properties they are stijmatised as monopolists, who must be bursted, up whatever that means. If they wish to sell their lands they are denounced with equal warmth as speculators, it seems to be quite forgotten that these people bought their land off the Government and paid for it what was required of them at the time. As far as I can ascertain, about half the property in the Colony can be purchased on easy terms, so fright ened are its owners. It is to be remem - bered that uuidious influences of the kind may go on for years, exerting a corroding effect without that effect appearing obviously, on the surface. The frightened landowner who longs to sell out and go away from the Colony dare not say so He must wear a cheerful face to his equally nervous but apparently as cheery neighbour, and so the'eirele enlarges — smiles without, bitterness within. As property becomes less " liquid," to vie a well-known phrase, the depression in business and the difficulties of individuals become more and more emphasised I am as great a friend to education as anyone can be, as I have shown in times past, but I must express the opinion that the pre sent expenditure on education out of the Consolidated Bevenueis excessive. I believe as good an article can be furnished at a less coßt. At any rate, it is impossible to justify tbe impoundment of so large a portion of the Consolidated Revenue. Nothing can, I think be more extravagant or unwise than to slowly construct railways in short lengths, instead of endeavouring, as rapidly as possible, to put them to pro ductive uses. I attach as much importance to the indirect effect which a railway exerts in opening up country and settling population as to its immediate money return. Major Atkinson, in a speech he recently made here pointed out that low rates had been found to stimulate the use of railways, and that the effect of that use was that passengers and goods were earned at an expenditure of something like £2,000,000 less than the same work would have cost in former days. Surely the benefits to industrial arts of every kind that this saving confers should be taken into account. It is a false economy to limit the uses of the railways by the imposition of excessive tariffs. I observe that the Government think the railways should be made to yield 5 per cent. I think that for many years to come such a standard is too high, and calculated to do more harm than good. In my opinion the trunk lines should be completed without delay. Wellington and Auckland should be joined, Nelson and the West Coast be united wi'h the Eastern trunk line, and the Otago -Central line be completed. Meanwhile, settlement should be promoted, and districts like your own well favoured one, fitted as it is to become the home of thousands of happy ettlers, should be opened up. I am of opinion that the^tirae has passed for a separation of the Iwo Islands, politically or financially. At some distant future it may be found practicable, but at present I doubt it s being either practicable or desirable. The progress of either Island is and ought to be beneficial to both. lam not surprised, however, that tbe demand for separation has arisen, for there are reasons plainly apparent which abuudantly account for the dissatisfaction existing. But I think that some le3s severe remedy than amputation may be found for these grievances. As at present informed, I greatly doubt the advantage to New Zealand of the proposed federation with Australia. New Zealand ought undoubtedly to occupy an important position with regard to the Pacific Islands. Had the plan of a chartered company, which I proposed been carried out, the Colony would have hnd a commanding influence over the South Sea islands. Later still a brilliant opportunity was lost. No words can r'o justice to Ihe folly of the quarrel with Sir Arthur Gordon. As High Commissioner, Sir Arthur had the power of bringtog the whole control of the islands to New Zialaud, and if, instead of quarrelling with him for performing those duties, facilities had been given to him, there ie little doubt the High Commissionership would have been permanently planted in New Zealand, with a portion of the fleet and other advantages. The trade of the islands would, in short, have converged to New Zealand. I have said New Zealand has everything in its faror now, and that I attribute iti depression to the want of confidence engendered by insidious attacks on the value of property. I shall briefly refer to the many advantages the Colony possesses. Its splendid climate is brought into strong relief by the deplorable losses which the droughts have recently occasioned in Australia. If graiu and wool ari somewhat lower in price than formerly, th* facilities afforded by the railways go far towards making up the difference. The direct steamers promise to be of incalculable advantage to the Colony. Lastly, there is a new industry developed which opens a whote world of occupation to settlers. I ailude to supplying frozen meat to the British markets. Even now it has been found to pay, and as the costs and charges of transmission become less the profits will become larger. An enormous quantity of land in the Colony is capable of being laid down in fattening grasses, and, in short, a new iudustry of a most encouraging kind is open.