THE 'WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT' ON MR. VOGEL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 27, 1 November 1873, Page 10

THE 'WELLINGTON INDEPENDENT' ON MR. VOGEL.

XHB following extract from an article in the c Independent ' on the recent change of offices in the cabinet shows that the ' Independent ' appears to be determined to act up to its name, and be a slave of Mr Vogel s party no longer. It also explains the proposed establishment ot a new paper in Wellington, on the directory of which Mr Vogel's name is prominent, and the company about to start which propose to buy the ' Independent.' It may also be mentioned that the 'PPot's t' lias lately been the medium of semi-official announcements. The extract is as follows :— We appear to be gradually drifting away from the principles and practice of our Constitution. We have a Ministry nominally responsible to Parliament, but which is practically only responsible to its head, Mr Vogel. He is aiming too high, and in the intoxication of power he is inclined to forget the system of government which has placed him where be is. He has evinced a disposition I winch has for some time become more apparent to usurp to himself ' all real power. It is recognised that, practically, he is the Government, and this is a position which, although it may be held for a time, cannot endure nor be endured, however able any man in h.is position ? aT I"™ a3patenta -' 1 tht%ou g h th e session that, with the exception of Mr McLean, and possibly also Mr Richardson, the Ministry had no mind except that of the Premier. As for the rest, Mr Yo°-el might just as well have placed three marionettes at his elbow. And this state of things appears now to be the foundation of the administration of tiie important affairs of this colony at a critical period of its existence. We have all the show and pretence of representative and responsible government, whilst the least lift of the curtain will expose the fact that the government of the colony is almost absolutely in the hands of one master mind. Under such circumstances we might as well suspend tlie Constitution altogether, and appoint Mr Vogel as Dictator. He is practically so now. We know no man in whom the colony would put greater faith than Mr Vogel, and it would be far more creditable that his authority were formally recognised than that the people should believe that they are living under a free Constitution, when, in fact, they aie governed by one man alone. Bat if we are to preserve the spirit of the Constitution, it is impossible that the people will rest contented with personal Government in any shape. Mr Vogel has just now lus own way without let or hindrance, but we we warn him that his present position is fraught with danger. The events of last session have weakeued his position more than, probably, he can realise jutu t now, but outsiders ofte* see the most cf the game, and we say deliberately that the Ministry could not possibly have put themselves into a worse position than that which they now occupy.