The Atkinsonian v. the Vogelian Theory.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1904, 19 November 1886, Page 2

The Atkinsonian v. the Vogelian Theory.

(Bt Colonial.) Wellington, Not 16, 1886. The following conversation is reported to have taken place between two gentlemen of opposite views in polities First Gent—So you do not agree with Sir Julius Vogel’s public works policy—or the policy of progress. Second Gent—To some extent I might agree ia theory with his policy, but as it never has, nor never can be carried out in practice at a profit I would rather have none of it. First G—l presume you do not agree with such works as the North Island Trank Rail* way ; a work which I consider will do more good to the North Island than can possibly be estimated. Second G—l think we could have done very well without it for the next ten years, and more profitably expended the money on roads and bridges to already settled land. First Q—Ah, you are one ol those who believe in roads in preference to railways—Atkinson's slow.going policy. •Second G—l am one of those who believe in railways to a certain extent, bat in roads to a greater extent—the slow and sure policy, to the fast and reckless policy. First G—l thought we were pretty veil off for toads, and that railway* were necessary to our prosperity. Second o—lou go to the difilffftt fioad

Board meetings in uewlv •eiHo't the «t'*nawatu am! Furi.i .Mil* Du hj f.'i instance, and you will soon begin to understand that the salvation of munttli.d is only to be aec«.m* pliahed by m-ikd g roads and bniU ng bridges. You will ascertain the fact that members of tbe Bond Board do not care a pin for political principles or who is in power ; roads and bridges is the burden of their song and the only political platform they have to stand upon. Give them money to make roads and they are happy. First O -What I want to eome to it, Waa thorn not greater progress made by tbe eons stmetiou of railways than by simply only having roads, ( >r in other words, could wa have attained our present position nnl ss we had constructed tbe railways we have done. Second G—Possibly greater progress waa made, but that progress cost doable the amount it should have done, or would have done had greater attention been paid to opening up tbe land to making roads and building bridges.

Firat G— Granted that we have paid a good price for the advancement we made under the public works scheme, was it not bettor than remaining almost at a standstill T Second G—Most decidedly not, we were quite capable of making headway without such an extravagant policy. The colony has been brought to tbe verge of rain in consequence of this nnbeard*of extravsganoe, the outcome ol Sir Julius Vogel's public worka scheme. First G—l contend that there waa not so much extravagance in reality at is put down to the public works scheme. There were useless works no doubt, bat the useful ones indirectly, if not directly, made np for them, and on the whole we are in a better position ; better In this way, that our taxes, tbongh greater, are easier paid in consequence of tbe advancement we have made, than they were under tbe old ayatem of trying te live within your income, ao to speak.

Scooad Q—lf we paid £2 when we abonld have only paid £l, which there is no doubt we did, it most be perfectly clear that ear taxes cannot be more easily paid. And future generation! will be made to pay for a debt which will be profitless to tnem ; that it to aay, we only get tbe benefit of tbe expenditure of £l, which may be said to be spent Srofitably, but £1 expenditure which waa tcrally thrown away, they will have to pay for.

Pint s—l am firmly of opinion that we have indirectly and will continue to indirectly Kain by the scheme inaugurated by Sir Julios Vogel, and that gentleman deserves the thank* of New Zealand.

Second Q-It ia well known how many rose up on a flimsy foundation in consequence of this shower of soTereigna, the result of a squandering policy, and bow much quicker they came down again as tbs records of the Bankruptcy Court will show. We know how men who had made themselves independent by the old style of adding shilling to shilling, and how they were dazzled by the gilded age and utterly ruined. And if we had continued much longer in snob a reckless course New Zealand would have foU lowed suit, and would hare failed in her payments, perhaps to as great an extent as Turkey. First G—You seem inclined to adopt Major Atkinson’s idea of teaching the people thrift and crawling along at a snail’s space on your resources kind of style, a system which I bold no new country can ever advance under while onr sister colonies adopt an oppo] Kite means of attaining prosperity. Second O—Major Atkinson’s ideas of getting along are more to my idea, and are more in accordance with common sense. No individual or community ever achieved sue* cess made any real progress only on their own resources. Let us have done with Sir Julius Vogel’s “ leaps and bounds ” process and adopt Major Atkinson’s idea of building the fortune of this country from its own resources and not from outside sources. First G—The expression “ leaps and bouuds ” was used by the late Lord Beaconsfield when he took, over the Government of England from Mr Gladstone. Second O—l am aware of the fact, and in both cases the opposite occurred. The Beaconsfleld Government increased' their expenditure and diminished their revenue, and if ws allow ourselves to be governed by Sir Julius Vogel the “ leaps and bound* •’ we will make will be into hopeless bankruptcy. The want of time prevented any further argument, and both gentlemen retired in opposite directions.